Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - WBEZ’s Weekly News Roundup

Governor JB Pritzker lays out his budget plan and promises no tax hikes. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is in hot water with the city’s inspector general. Plus, a political career spanning half a century is cut short by the fallout from a federal bribery scandal. Reset breaks down the week’s top stories in our Friday News Roundup with host Sasha-Ann Simons. For more Reset interviews, subscribe to this podcast and please leave us a rating. That helps other listeners find us For more about the program, go to the WBEZ website or follow us on Twitter at @WBEZreset.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Madigan Sends Shockwaves Around State With Resignation Email

Longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on Thursday announced he’s resigning from office at the end of February. The 78-year-old Democrat has been a fixture and a power player in Springfield for half a century, but questions about his ties to the ComEd bribery scandal laid him low in recent years. Reset looks back on Madigan’s reign in Springfield and gets reaction from state lawmakers. For more Reset interviews, subscribe to this podcast and please leave us a rating. That helps other listeners find us. For more about the program, go to the WBEZ website or follow us on Twitter at @WBEZreset.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Gov. Pritzker Acknowledges Pain, Sacrifice In Annual Address

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker delivered his State of the State address Wednesday on his plans for next year’s Illinois state budget. Reset digs into the main takeaways with WBEZ’s Tony Arnold and checks in with a lawmaker for her reaction. For more Reset interviews, subscribe to this podcast and please leave us a rating. That helps other listeners find us. For more about the program, go to the WBEZ website or follow us on Twitter at @WBEZreset

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Mother Nature Really Giving It To Chicago With Snow, Icy Temps

Monday night’s snowstorm created hazardous road conditions for commuters throughout the Chicago region. Reset brings on a local meteorologist, a traffic reporter and hears from for the latest on the storm and its impact on the region. For more Reset interviews, subscribe to this podcast and please leave us a rating. That helps other listeners find us. For more about the program, go to the WBEZ website or follow us on Twitter at @WBEZreset.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - How Congo Square Theatre Is Staying Afloat During The Pandemic

The latest COVID-19 stimulus bill earmarked $15 billion for arts funding, including relief for concert venues and theaters. Reset checks in with the head of Chicago’s Congo Square Theatre to discuss how artists are getting through the pandemic and what to expect from their 2021 production schedule.

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - To Solve Chicago’s Homelessness Crisis, Advocates Say We Can’t Look Away After The Cold Ends

Chicago’s deep freeze is expected to stick around for a while and could be the longest cold snap in February in 60 years. The leaves many homeless Chicagoans vulnerable to the bitter cold amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Reset checks in with local organizations working toward long-term solutions to homelessness in the city and around Illinois

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - GM Pledges To Produce Only Zero-Emissions Vehicles By 2035

American carmaker General Motors on Thursday announced an ambitious plan to only sell zero-emission vehicles by 2035. Reset finds out if the news is as game-changing as it sounds. For more Reset interviews, subscribe to this podcast and please leave us a rating. That helps other listeners find us. For more about the program, go to the WBEZ website or follow us on Twitter at @WBEZreset

Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Hotels And Restaurants Fight For Survival During COVID-19

Leisure and hospitality businesses are suffering due to COVID-19, but many in the industry are fighting — and getting creative — to survive. Reset hears from a hotel union that’s working to help its Chicago-based workers survive job losses and a local chef who is helping provide mutual aid for others in her industry as COVID-19 continues to force restaurants and other food businesses to close. For more Reset interviews, subscribe to this podcast and please leave us a rating. That helps other listeners find us. For more about the program, go to the WBEZ website or follow us on Twitter at @WBEZreset