Author: WBEZ Chicago

The Johnson administration has a new chief of staff, and Chicago has its first-ever chief homelessness officer. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra named its youngest-ever conductor and music director. Plus, swimming in the Chicago River? It’s happening. Reset dives into the top local news with Better Government Association president David Greising, Block Club Chicago reporter Quinn Myers and WTTW host and anchor Brandis Friedman. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

For many of us, a big part of traveling is dining and trying local specialties. Reset reminisces about the best dishes we’ve had while traveling and gets tips from pros like Reset’s Andrea Guthman, WBEZ’s Cianna Greaves and Eater Chicago’s Ashok Selvam on planning meals while on vacation. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Nine out of 10 Black women have used hair relaxing chemicals to straighten their thick curls. But lawsuits have been piling up in state and federal courts across the country for years claiming chemicals in hair relaxers are causing cancer. Reset hears from Traccye Love, one plaintiff in these cases, and learns more about an investigation by WBEZ’s Natalie Moore and the Chicago Sun-Times’ Andy Grimm. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Caring for yourself or a loved one after a sexual assault can be a harrowing experience, and an American Public Media investigation finds hospitals in Illinois have made it more challenging for victims. From delaying treatment, to throwing away rape kits and failing to notify child or adult protective services of the incident, Reset digs into how this can lead to a loss of evidence with American Public Media’s Kate Martin. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Jasper family in “Purpose” has been a pillar of Black American politics for decades as civil rights leaders, pastors and congressmen. But like all families, there are secrets and lies beneath the surface. Reset sits down with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Glenn Davis, for more on the rehearsal process and inspiration for this show. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Mayor Brandon Johnson appointed Sendy Soto to the position where she will be tasked with creating a five-year plan to address homelessness in Chicago. Reset learns more about this and other ongoing events in City Hall with WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Suburban Cook County confirmed its first measles case, bringing the total number of cases in the Chicago area to 53. City officials have vaccinated over 5,000 migrants since the first cases were reported at a migrant shelter in Pilsen. Reset checks in with RUSH University Medical Group’s Dr. David Ngyuen on best practices to protect yourself against these viruses. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

A new report from the ACLU of Illinois and the Women’s Justice Institute details the inadequate care pregnant women receive in jails across the state. Reset digs into those details with Women’s Justice Institute’s Alexis Mansfield, Alliyah Thomas who was pregnant while incarcerated, and the Marshall Project’s Shannon Heffernan. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Once considered “the Main Street of America,” Route 66 stretches from the Midwest in Chicago to the West Coast in Los Angeles. Today, there’s a campaign to preserve the untold stories of the 2,440-mile highway. Reset learns more about that effort from the National Trust of Historic Preservation’s Amy Webb. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.