In the Loop (Segments)

Gig workers have few labor protections, and they are becoming increasingly vulnerable to scams. Reset talks to a local reporter about her investigation. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Daniel Tucker Guest: Stephanie Zimmerman

In these times of reckoning with racist policies, police misconduct, and with mass incarceration, many in our country have been asking, “How can we fix this?” Former public defender and death row expert, Andrea Lyon, proposes one solution: an independent Defender General of the United States. Reset talks with the author to learn more about how a DG could advocate for the interests of the accused,...

In the United States, the vast majority of Monkeypox cases have been recorded in men who have sex with men. Some have likened the outbreak and government response to the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Reset sits down with community leaders to discuss the illness’ impact on LGBTQ people in Chicago. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sarah Stark Guest: Erica Gafford, Stephanie Skora

Last week, the CDC relaxed quarantine and testing guidance for unvaccinated people, students, and people who have been exposed to COVID-19. Meanwhile, isolation suggestions for people who have Monkeypox remain unclear to many. Reset breaks down new and existing isolation guidelines for both viruses with an infectious disease expert. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sarah Stark Guest: Dr. Mia Taorm...

From a budget shortfall to the biggest mass exoneration in the county, it’s been a busy news week in Chicago and Illinois. Reset digs deeper into those stories and more on the Weekly News Recap. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Lynnea Domienik, Stephanie Kim Guest: A.D. Quig, Jacoby Cochran, David Greising

The Illinois Right to Collective Bargaining Amendment would be a net positive for the state’s economy and would improve pay and working conditions for employees, according to a study released Thursday by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Reset learns about the proposed amendment and its potential economic impact. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Produ...

Summer is meant for fun in the sun but for those times when you need to cool off, why not go for a cup of Italian Ice? Reset explores the sweetest frozen treats in Chicago. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Brenda Ruiz Guest: Naomi Waxman, Louisa Chu

The 27th annual Black Women’s Expo kicks off Friday and runs through the weekend in Chicago. It’s the largest expo for Black women in the country, and this year’s theme is “The Legacy Continues.” Reset checks in with founder Merry Green about what to expect. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Meha Ahmad Guest: Merry Green

After a contentious meeting between community members and a Riot Fest contractor last week, a petition to remove the Riot Fest music festival from Douglass Park on the Southwest Side has collected nearly 1,400 signatures. Meanwhile, organizers from the surrounding neighborhoods of Little Village and Lawndale are calling on artists to cancel their performances at the event, which is scheduled to ta...

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