In the Loop (Segments)

Illinois is preparing to lift a mask mandate for businesses at the end of the month, and schools are split on whether they’ll follow suit. We checked in with school superintendent Michael Lubelfel to hear how things are going in his district. And WBEZ Education Reporter Susie An explains what a recent court ruling means for schools aiming to make masks optional.

From Issa Rae to Jonelle Monae and from Stacey Abrams to Kamala Harris, there is no shortage of the amazing Black women who shape, inspire and change us. In honor of them, Chicago artist Harold Green III aims to honor and celebrate trailblazing Black women through art and poetry in his upcoming book Black Roses.

Chicago sits amidst two important migration flyways. And conservationists say that your participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend will help gather data that they’ll use to identify how climate change affects bird population and migration. Reset checks in with a conservationist and an amateur birder about what can be gained from taking a moment to stop and notice birds.

Another few inches of snow is expected to hit the Chicagoland area Thursday. Reset gets the rundown on what to expect for snowfall.

Chicago’s newest music venue, the Salt Shed, opens this summer on the site of the iconic Morton Salt factory on North Elston Avenue. Reset talks to two music writers about the Salt Shed’s lineup and how music venues are doing right now as the omicron surge wanes.

More than 920,000 people in the U.S. have died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, leaving thousands of children without a parent and thousands of spouses suddenly alone. One of the obstacles so-called COVID widows face is securing survivor benefits.

For some, the news that Illinois will be lifting mask and vaccine card mandates is a relief—a sign that the worst part of the omicron surge is behind us. But for immunocompromised people, that’s not the case. We talked to infectious disease specialist Dr. Emily Landon and Atlantic staff writer Ed Yong, who wrote about this issue in the magazine. Immunocompromised people and caregivers of immunocom...

Chicago’s Southeast Side neighborhoods like Hegewisch and South Deering are ground zero for several environmental justice battles in the city. And major industry in the area means those neighborhoods are also home to some of the dirtiest air in the city. And by the end of the week, Chicago is expected to rule on whether or not to issue a long-awaited permit for a controversial metal recycling plan...

A controversial bill aims to hold tech companies responsible for posts containing child pornography. Critics say it could have unintended consequences that impact digital privacy. Reset digs into the Earn It Act and the impact the legislation could have on free expression online.

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is celebrating 100 years of helping Chicagoans understand what’s happening in the world and Chicago’s place in it. Reset gets the latest on the Ukrainian crisis and discusses whether diplomacy is still an option to avoid war.

Dion Dawson’s fight against food insecurity started with a public fridge that he stocked daily with fresh produce. Then, it expanded to delivering a 10-pound box of fresh produce to over 250 families on a weekly basis. Reset checks in with this week’s Chicago innovator to learn more about his mission to expand food access and create food security in the city.

Since America’s hurried evacuation of Afghanistan in August, the U.S. has welcomed thousands of Afghans into the country. In Illinois, resettlement efforts are ramping up again with more families expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Reset gets the latest from a reporter and two organizations offering services to Afghan families in the greater Chicago area.

A bipartisan group of state lawmakers has stopped Gov. JB Pritzker from reintroducing a mask mandate for schools. Dr. Arwady says mask restrictions could be lifted by the end of the month. And a new drug might be a breakthrough in treating COVID-19. Reset checks in with reporters from WBEZ and the Chicago Tribune for updates.

The Chicago Fire Department says more than half of its personnel, which includes firefighters and paramedics, are white. Only 15% of staff are Black and 17% identify as Latino. The Black Fire Brigade program aims to diversify the force, and by extension, reduce crime. Reset checks in with the head of the program to learn more about the initiative. GUEST: Lt. Quention Curtis, head of Chicago’s Blac...

A new survey shows anti-violence workers are underappreciated and overexposed to trauma with little support in return. Reset dives into anti-violence work and the hardships that are not being addressed in this field. GUESTS: Patrick Smith, WBEZ criminal justice reporter Kathryn Bocanegra, professor of social work at the University of Illinois, Chicago

The steel mill owner Cleveland-Cliffs has agreed to pay $3 million to settle lawsuits by government and non-profit organizations. The company is accused of violating the Clean Water Act more than 100 times, including a cyanide and ammonia spill in August 2019 that killed thousands of fish and closed Lake Michigan beaches. Reset checks in with Environmental Law & Policy Center for more. GUEST: Howa...

Cold weather and low light can spell doom for your greenery. Reset gets tips to help your foliage last until spring. GUEST: Jessica Gardner, greenhouse manager at Platt Hill Nursery in Carpentersville, Illinois

February isn’t just about Valentine’s Day. It’s also a month dedicated to raising awareness around teen dating violence, which affects millions of young people in the U.S. Reset checks in with two organizations about how the issue impacts lifelong health and well-being, and how teens can build healthy relationships from the start. GUESTS: Felicia Jia, youth and young adult organizer at KAN-WIN Chi...

How hard will the city fight to keep the Bears in Chicago? Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office is expected to present a package of proposals to the NFL team as it considers moving from Soldier Field to suburban Arlington Heights. Crain’s reporter AD Quig has the latest, and WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye Stout joins the show for that, and other sports news. GUESTS: A.D. Quig, government and politic...

The grandson of one Chicago mayor and nephew of another is now a convicted criminal. What does Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson’s conviction and removal from office mean for the Daley family legacy? GUEST: Heather Cherone, political reporter for WTTW News

The Chicago Fire Department reports that over half of the personnel, which includes firefighters and paramedics, are white, and only 15% are Black, and 17% are Latino. The training program is aiming to change that, and by extension they hope, reduce crime. Reset checks in with the head of the program to learn more about this initiative.

A new survey shows anti-violence workers are underappreciated and overexposed to trauma with little support in return. Reset dives into anti-violence work and the hardships that are not being addressed in this field.

State and federal governments, along with local environmental groups, have filed a consent decree to hold “serial polluter” Cleveland-Cliffs accountable. The steel mill owner is accused of violating the Clean Water Act more than 100 times, including a 2019 cyanide and ammonia spill that killed thousands of fish and closed Lake Michigan beaches. Reset checks in with the Environmental Law & Policy C...

Colder weather and low light can spell doom for your greenery. Here are some tips to help your foliage last until spring.

February isn’t just about Valentine’s Day. It’s also a month dedicated to raising awareness around teen dating violence, which affects millions of young people in the U.S. Reset checks in with two organizations about how the issue impacts lifelong health and well-being, and how teens can build healthy relationships from the start.