In the Loop (Segments)

For the latest in our series “Food Friday,” Reset talks to Paige and Ryne Iseminger about Freshie, the world’s first USDA-certified organic tequila seltzer. Their distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, is completely solar powered, with excess power that gets donated back to the company. They also purchase unsold fruit from the city's farmer's markets to use as fertilizer.

Observing Earth from space over the decades allows scientists to track even subtle changes in land masses, sea levels and our climate. Together, the data from satellites and ground-based missions help inform weather predictions and improve crop planting.

After a planning process that included multiple rounds of community engagement, the city of Chicago released its first climate plan since 2014. The plan sets a goal of reducing emissions in Chicago 62% by 2040 by retrofitting buildings, investing in renewable energy and reducing waste. Reset checks in with two policymakers to learn more about the plan.

What better way to celebrate poetry this month than to share our favorite song lyrics? Reset shares our top songs from Tupac and Common, to Lauren Hill and Janet Jackson.

In her new book The Memory Librarian, Janelle Monáe expands on the afrofuturistic world of her album Dirty Computer. The collection of five short stories center around Black and queer protagonists on a journey of self-love and discovery. Reset talks to Monáe about entering the literary space, afrofuturism and finding joy ahead of her book talk on Friday at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in...

Masks are now optional on all CTA buses and trains, Metra trains and Pace buses. They’re also optional at Chicago’s airports and on all major airlines. Reset checks in with NPR Chicago correspondent David Schaper to learn more.

Students and faculty from the Illinois Institute of Technology and ComEd are teaming up to develop an app that’ll showcase the Bronzeville neighborhood through an educational walking tour of the area. The app creators are hosting four public feedback periods, where they’ll solicit input from Bronzeville residents to shape the app. The first meeting is tomorrow, Friday April 22, 2022.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), of the U.N. has published three reports that show that humans are responsible for climate change, that the ability of humans and municipalities to adapt and live with severe weather is still possible if we act now, and that we have less than 2.5 years to stop the rise of greenhouse gasses. Many are calling it the most stark warning yet. Reset c...

Reset checks in with a cannabis professional to learn about the different strains of marijuana and get tips on finding the right products for you.

Legalizing recreational marijuana has gone far in de-stigmatizing the still-controversial (and federally illegal) drug. But the cannabis scene today is so much more than the stoner culture it’s often tied to, benefiting from a modern luxury makeover. And at the intersection of cannabis, culture and luxury stands… Manny Mendoza. He’s a chef who has worked in some of the best restaurants in Chicago,...

Cannabis edibles come in all shapes and forms, from magic brownies to pot-infused teas and gummies. Reset talks with a pioneer in the edible industry on how they work and what to expect when you take one.

When the push for legalizing recreational cannabis in Illinois was moving forward, people like Alicia Nesbury Moore and JR Smith — Black entrepreneurs who wanted to get into the cannabis business — were sold promises of social equity being an industry priority. Now, they say, the promises weren’t worth the paper they were written on. Reset gets a first-hand account of how the promises of social eq...

How is Illinois’ weed industry doing two years in? The state promised legalizing recreational cannabis would bring a windfall of tax revenue, and would incorporate social equity as a core value of the industry. Has Illinois kept its promises? Where is there room to grow? Reset checks in with Tom Schuba, Chicago Sun Times reporter covering cannabis, about what progress has been made two years into...

The Bulls made their playoff debut in Milwaukee this weekend, but failed to secure a victory despite a well-fought game. Reset gets a rundown on what went wrong for Chicago.

Inside Problems, the latest album from folk multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird, was announced today. He joins Reset to discuss the new music, summer tour, and past work.

More than 150 Chicago-area convenience stores are now selling a new low-nicotine cigarette that can help you smoke less. The company, 22nd Century Group, is able to market the product in this way after gaining special authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Reset learns more about this decision, what it means for the tobacco industry at large and why it’s drawn criticism from some med...

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and richest man in the world, wants to buy Twitter and turn it into a free speech haven by curbing content moderation. But some critics say this would allow hate speech to flourish and lead to the social media platform’s demise. Reset checks in with a technology correspondent for the latest.

Transitioning to non-profit status is in peril, and if that doesn’t happen, the popular alt-weekly, the Chicago Reader will not have the funds it needs to continue paying its staff. The union is saying this fate could be avoided if co-owner Leonard Goodman, signs documents allowing the transition to non-profit to continue. Reset gets the latest and hears how this is impacting staff.

The I & M Canal connects Lake Michigan to the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Some say this facilitated trade, making Chicago an important crossroads to the West and contributed to making Chicago the city it is today. Reset learns more about the history of the canal and the Discovery Challenge with the president of the canal association.

We learned about InspectIR System’s new COVID-19 tests from infectious disease specialist Dr. Mia Taormina. Plus, this time last year, as vaccines were becoming widely accessible, we were talking a lot about herd immunity. Dr. Taormina explains why we haven’t reached that state yet 12 months later.

Earlier this year, Congress passed the No Surprise Act, that looked to cap big bills from private medical companies and independent physicians. Yet, uninsured patients are still being blind-sided in tens of thousands of dollars in bills. Reset examines the inaccessible healthcare here in Chicago.

For the first time in 30 years, Ramadan, Passover and Easter are all being celebrated at the same time. Additionally, the holidays of Vaisakhi and Ridvan also occur this month. And Chicago faith leaders are using the holy convergence as a chance to educate communities and shape the public narrative about what it means to live well together in religious and cultural diversity. And much of that educ...

Massive enrollment loss at Chicago Public Schools and a 2018 coding error on behalf of the Illinois Department of Education is costing the state’s largest school district millions in funding this fall. Reset learns more about what fate schools, students and teachers face amid budget cuts.

When Dolen Perkins-Valdez first learned of the Relf sisters’ story, she wondered how their involuntary sterilization was allowed to happen. As a mother and author, she knew she had to write about it. Reset learns more about her new novel and how the legacy of history shapes our past and present.

Willy Wilson formally declares his bid for mayor, but Mayor Lightfoot has yet to address this directly, or to formally announce her re-election. But a committee meeting has approved a new Inspector General. Reset goes behind the headlines to bring you up to speed.