In the Loop (Segments)

There are roughly 5,300 unfilled positions at Illinois schools, according to a fall report by the Illinois State Board of Education. About 2,000 of those openings are for teachers. Reset discusses what’s being done to recruit and retain teaching, administrative and school support staff. GUEST: Alan Mather, president of the Golden Apple Foundation

Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear created The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical album, which won the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. They were allowed to perform the album for charity events but Netflix stepped in with a lawsuit when they started selling tickets for a for-profit concert. Reset learns more about their case and what it could mean for fan fiction works. Host: Sasha-Ann Simo...

A federal judge issued an order of contempt against the Illinois Department of Corrections over the state of health care in Illinois prisons. Reset sits down with a representative from the Illinois ACLU. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sarah Stark Guest: Camille Bennett

On the heels of Vocal Radio’s third Chi Sounds Like showcase featuring up-and-coming Chicago musicians, we hear more of these artists and their hit songs. This month on Vocalo Radio, tracks by emcees nombreKARI, Joel Q, Heavy Crownz and singers Christian JaLon and Grace Kinter are spinning on repeat. Reset sits down with Vocalo’s morning host to listen to his five favorite tracks on the airwaves i...

What began as a small group of Chicago women looking to enjoy the games of their childhood has become a nationwide movement. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Meha Ahmad Guest: Pamela Robinson

A recent report by the state board of education found there are roughly 5,300 unfilled teaching positions in the state. Chicago Public Schools has over 1,000 of those vacancies. Reset discusses what’s driving the shortage and solutions to tackle the problem. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Marie Mendoza Guest: Alan Mather

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Lynnea Domienik Guest: Juliet Schor, Allyson Chiu

It’s a celestial double-header. The year’s last supermoon rises Thursday evening — and it just happens to coincide with one of the best meteor showers of the year. As the Sturgeon supermoon fills the sky, so will the Perseid meteor shower, when thousands of visible meteors will streak across the night sky. Reset checks in with the Adler Planetarium for more on what to watch out for and where to ge...

The national program has run for 36 years but a report from the White House shows it’s repeatedly failed and crashed for hours at a time. Reset hears more about why this program has never been audited and how it could be improved. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Brenda Ruiz Guest: Joseph Menn

If your back-to-school stress dreams have already started, you’re not alone. The Illinois sales tax holiday, which lowers sales tax for some school supplies from 6.25% to 1.25%, aims to relieve some of that stress. Reset talks to an analyst and two Chicago parents about how to make the most of the tax holiday. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sarah Stark, Meha Ahmad Guest: Matt Adams, Jenny LeFlor...

The consumer price index report out Wednesday showed that the inflation rate is still increasing, but significantly slowed down in the month of July. Meanwhile, many households are reconsidering their budgets, what they spend and splurge on, how to pay off debt, and finding it harder to save money. So what do you do when you want to be smart about your money at a time when that seems kind of impos...

On Friday, Indiana became the first state in the nation to pass a near-total ban on abortion. One of Indiana’s largest employers, Eli Lilly said that the ban will hinder employment in the state. The pharmaceutical giant will be looking to expand its headquarters out of state. Reset checks in with a reporter on the story for more. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Marie Mendoza Guest: Greg Hinz

Baim got her start in community journalism working in Chicago’s gay and lesbian publications, to “make sure the breadcrumbs of our history can be found for future generations.” She’s currently the co-publisher of the Chicago Reader, and successfully oversaw its rocky transition to non-profit status. Reset sits down with Baim to learn about her inspiration and visions for the future. Host: Sasha-An...

Until last Friday, every post-Roe abortion ban came from state laws that were already on the books before the Supreme Court’s decision in June. Then, Indiana passed a near-total abortion ban—the same week Kansas voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have taken away abortion rights protections. Reset talks to two reporters about the state of abortion rights in Indiana and nationwide...

Early on in the pandemic, childhood immunization rates in the U.S. hit historic lows. While the latest federal data shows many children have since gotten the shots they need, tens of thousands of kids didn’t have all their required vaccinations in 2021. Reset discusses vaccination gaps among children, and what families should know about keeping their kids up-to-date on their required immunizations...

The Latino theater champion fought for intersectionality and representation in Chicago’s arts scene. Reset hears more about her impact on the local Latino theater community. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Brenda Ruiz Guest: Sara Carranza, Christine Perez

When you think of the Midwest, do you include South Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma? What about Buffalo and Pittsburgh? It’s an expansive, and hotly contested region that’s not easily defined. Reset checks in with a data reporter who is working to define regions in the U.S. by Airbnb data, and listeners to hear their take on which state’s and cities are in the region. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Lynne...

Since the pandemic began, student loan repayment has been put on pause providing relief for more than 40 million Americans in debt. The pause is set to end August 31st. President Biden confirmed that he will decide on wide-scale debt cancellation before the moratorium is over. Black borrowers would be disproportionately impacted by the student moratorium ending. Reset learns more about the proposa...

Staff participated in the ALICE Training in 2019 and retrained in 2022. In the past year and a half, the district has invested two million dollars in safety measures and mental health programming and upgrades. Reset hears more about the goals and plans the district is putting in place from the superintendent. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Lynnea Domienik Guest: Michael Lubelfeld

In a new series called “Reset: Lost and Found,” producers track down things in Chicago that a Google search can’t uncover. In this installment, a Reset listener emailed us searching for her deceased friend’s favorite drink, Swedish egg coffee. We assigned one of our producers to learn the history of the beverage and teach us how to make it. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Claire Hyman Guest: Clai...

With the Monkeypox vaccine supply unable to meet demand and Omicron-specific COVID boosters on the horizon, vaccines are on the mind. Reset talks to an infectious disease specialist and takes listener calls. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sarah Stark Guest: Dr. Mia Taormina

Officials at the Lake County Board discussed how to curb gun violence Friday and some officials and organizations are asking for an outright ban on some weapons. Reset hears from Mayor Rottering and March Fourth organizers on their ask. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Brenda Ruiz Guest: Nancy Rottering, Maureen Westphal

High-profile resignations are causing turmoil in the office of Cook County State’s Attorney’s Kim Foxx. Meanwhile, the Illinois Democratic Party gets a new leader. Plus, retiring South Side Congressman Bobby Rush seeks a pardon from the president. Reset goes behind the headlines with a panel of journalists on the Weekly News Recap. Host: Susie An Producer: Andrea Guthmann Guest: Alex Nitkin, Dave...

Swim Across America, an event that raises money for cancer research, returns for its 29th year in Chicago this weekend. Participants will swim at the Ohio Street Beach. Reset talks with one team captain about why he’s swimming in the event. Host: Susie An Producer: Lynnea Domienik Guest: Steve Schlegel

Music Box Theatre kicked off its monthlong food and film series this week with the 1985 Japanese movie TAMPOPO and Matzo Ball “Scotch Egg” Pastramen from Steingold’s Deli next door. Reset learns more about food and film pairings available in August. Host: Susie An Producer: Brenda Ruiz Guest: Cheo Melendez, Jeremy Marder