Author: WBEZ Chicago

When Illinois resident Sonya Massey called 911, she wanted help with a potential prowler. Instead, a police officer shot and killed her in her home. Illinois State Police released bodycam footage to the public this week, leading to renewed calls for police reform and accountability, as well as alternatives to police responses. A growing number of cities are redirecting some 9-1-1 calls to unarmed crisis workers, rather than police. One new program just launched in Evanston, and Chicago is continuing to pilot another approach. Reset checks in with a panel about these alternatives. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

llinois prosecutors are seeking first-degree murder charges against the police officer who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home during a 911 response call. Reset digs into the state’s response and how the country is reacting. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With Joe Biden’s bombshell decision to drop out of the 2024 race, he joins the small pool of former presidents who decided not to seek reelection when they were eligible. Presidents like Lyndon B. Johnson, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt. But no presidential incumbent has ever dropped out this close to an election. Reset discusses how Biden’s decision fits into a wider history, as well as what this means for his legacy, with Will Howell, a professor of the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

A majority of delegates say they’re backing Vice President Kamala Harris, but the DNC Rules Committee will meet Wednesday to determine an official framework for how the party's nominee will be selected. Reset checks in with three delegates from Illinois to discuss their concerns with weeks to go before the national convention. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

After President Joe Biden announced the end of his reelection bid, he and other Democratic figures shared their support for Vice President Kamala Harris as the new nominee. We talk with Chicago Sun-Times Washington bureau chief Lynn Sweet about what’s next. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

As we get ready for a historic Democratic National Convention, we hear how Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race could affect the way Chicago plans to host tens of thousands of visitors in a few short weeks. We’re joined by Mayor Brandon Johnson. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

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.