Author: WBEZ Chicago

Chicago’s dance and electronic music scene will be on full display this weekend at Grant Park. But much of this scene started underground in basements and boiler rooms. This event is part of the London-based Boiler Room platform which puts a spotlight on underground music, culture and DJs all around the world. Reset checks in with Janesita, a local DJ performing at Boiler Room Chicago on Saturday, to learn more about the event, Chicago’s underground music scene and how she brings her culture and heritage to the party. Reset also hears from artist and musician Rebecca Black ahead of her DJ set at the Boiler Room afterparty and learns more about her latest album. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in a presidential debate, Chicago makes a deal with some protesters ahead of the Democratic National Convention, and NASCAR gets ready to shut down some Chicago streets. Reset goes behind these headlines and more in the Weekly News Recap. This week’s panel: Jon Seidel, federal courts reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times; David Greising, president of the Better Government Association; and Carrie Shepherd, Chicago reporter for Axios. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month and to commemorate we’re getting into the food traditions of the 33 Caribbean islands and continental countries in Central and South America. Reset talks Caribbean root veggies, herbs, and lesser known dishes, as well as fan faves with Urban Pilon’s Roberto Perez and D’s Roti and Trini Cuisine’s Dawn Lewis. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Article: There’s been a wave of bills making their way through state legislatures across the country – bills that directly impact trans youth by restricting bathroom access, name changes, healthcare, and participation in sports. So it was more important than ever for one Highland Park, Ill., family to find empowering and positive messages about trans youth – except they say they couldn’t find any. That’s when they created the GenderCool Project, which brings trans and non-binary youth together to tell their own stories and create community. Reset hears from two of the teens involved in GenderCool – Sky, a rising high school junior, and Chazzie, an incoming freshman at University of Arizona – and learns more about youth-led trans advocacy. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

After COVID-19 relief money runs out, Chicago Public Schools and the Regional Transit Authority, which oversees CTA, Metra, and Pace, are two of the agencies with the biggest projected shortfalls. Reset sits down with education and transportation reporters to learn more. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Families have been fleeing to Illinois to protect their transgender and non-binary children from anti-trans laws and enroll them in more inclusive schools. The Supreme Court agreed to review one law this week that restricts gender-affirming care. But many of the laws on the books directly relate to school policy. Across the nation, many educators are fighting back and confronting these school policies. A new book is hoping to give teachers a guide to create more inclusive classrooms – no matter the laws in their state. It’s called “The Advocate Educator’s Handbook.” To hear more, Reset sat down with the co-authors Rebecca Kling, a nationally known trans advocate based in Chicago, and Vanessa Ford, a former educator and a parent to a trans child. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Nearly half of Toronto’s 2.7 million population identifies as immigrants. As the United States doubles down on restrictive immigration policies, particularly around asylum, Canada is viewed as the friendlier neighbor where politicians describe immigrants as a possible solution to labor shortages. But Canada now faces immigration problems too — a housing crunch and a rising cost of living. The government has made policy changes aimed at reducing the influx of temporary foreign workers and international students. This spring, the Chicago Sun-Times traveled to Toronto to explore how the country’s approach to immigration differs from the U.S., where it is a highly debated and politicized issue. Reset sat down with Chicago Sun-Times reporter Elvia Malagón who made the trip. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Former 14th Ald. Ed Burke was Chicago’s longest serving councilman. Burke was charged with racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion while serving on city council. These corruption charges landed him two years in prison, $2 million in fines and one year of supervised release. Reset gets the details on the sentencing and other plans from the Mayor’s office from WBEZ’s city government and politics reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

A rise in small children accidentally overdosing and poisoning themselves from cannabis edibles is raising alarms for legislators and parents across Illinois. Reset learns about how to identify poisoning and overdosing symptoms in children, and what conversations legislators are having about reducing the risk to kids and teens. We sit down with the state Medical Cannabis Advisory Board’s Dr. Leslie Mendoza Temple and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mitchell Armentrout. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.