Author: WBEZ Chicago

Plastic Free July is a movement that sets out to address the skyrocketing rise of plastic waste in the city, suburbs, lakes — even in us. That’s right, even our bodies have microplastics in them. Reset sits down with sustainability advocates and the founder of a low-plastic start-up in Chicago to find out more ways we can ditch plastic, and what progress is being made on the state level. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Milwaukee hosts the Republican National Convention as Chicago prepares to host next month’s Democratic Convention. Meanwhile, a new poll shows nearly two-thirds of Democrats think President Biden should withdraw from the presidential race. Reset dives into these and other top local stories in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel this week: Alex Degman, statehouse reporter for WBEZ; Ray Long, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter; and Justin Laurence, government and politics reporter for Crain’s Chicago Business. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

On the Chicago Riverwalk, there’s a museum hidden inside a five-story limestone tower that rises from the DuSable bridge. The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum tells the story of the movable bridge and how the urban river has changed over time. Two Reset producers headed to check out the gears that move the bridge, the stunning views from inside the bridgehouse and learn the history of the river. It’s the first in a new series highlighting museums in the Chicago area that are off the beaten path. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Pitchfork music fest is back for its 18th year. With more mainstream headliners and new emerging artists, what should attendees expect? Reset gets a preview of the fest from a pair of in-the-know music folks. Plus, two local artists performing this weekend stop by to talk about their music and the pre-fest jitters. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) arts organizations have seen their funding from major donors nearly double over the past three years. Yet, the authors of a new report worry that this boost is temporary. Reset hears from a leader in anti-racist advocacy to learn why funding for BIPOC arts has been fluctuating, and what steps advocates may need to take to continue advancing racial equity in the arts. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In the midst of the fear and frustration that came with the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our outlooks, our priorities, and even our habits changed. The pandemic’s impact was far reaching – whether it be in pop culture to how we shop. That’s the premise of a new book aiming to help readers frame the current moment and reconcile their pre- and post-COVID lives. Reset sits down with the author of The Time We Have: Essays on Pandemic Living to unpack the changes and lessons learned from the pandemic. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

A majority of young voters are worried that Biden is too old to effectively serve a second term in the White House. Yet, some of Illinois’ youngest delegates are sticking by his side. Reset hears why these delegates are concerned by Trump’s campaign, and why they think Biden should stay in the race. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Some areas of Illinois’ Lake Michigan shoreline are losing up to one hundred feet of shoreline per year. Others are so poorly protected from high water that entire neighborhoods are flooding. These are just some of the problems erosion poses. But how does erosion work? And how can we stop—or at least slow—it? Reset digs deeper with an advocate and a reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Rush University Medical Center, Cook County’s Stroger Hospital and UI Health Stroger are preparing for the worst case scenario, be it a mass shooting, an explosion, or tear gas, but say they’re prepared for any contingency. Reset hears how the hospitals will ensure smooth service in the face of the expected traffic delays and in case of emergency. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.