In the Loop (Segments)

President Biden says a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent. Reset discusses what tensions between Russia and the U.S mean for Ukrainian-Americans in Illinois.

Eco and the Flamingo is billed as the Chicago area’s first Zero Waste general store. Reset meets the co-owners. They believe sustainability is a profitable business model.

Omicron may have reached its peak, but protests over vaccine and mask mandates seem to be on the rise. Suburbs from north suburban Highland Park to Naperville are grappling with protests over COVID policies at restaurants and museums, and west suburban St. Charles has closed its public library indefinitely for in-person services after receiving threats over its mask mandate. Reset checks in with a...

Fulton Market has everything: Michelin-starred restaurants, chic cafes, boutique hotels and tech firms like Google. But it hasn’t always been this way. So, has Fulton Market’s transformation from gritty to glittery been for better or worse? Reset talks to a reporter and a former planning commissioner about the changes downtown.

A new petition calls for the city of Chicago to develop a sidewalk snow and ice removal service by next winter. Reset talks to advocates from Access Living and Better Streets Chicago about their push to protect vulnerable residents from slippery black ice.

Puppets run the range from tiny sock puppets, to larger than life puppets made from multiple materials that require several people to operate them; they tickle the imagination and delve into the otherworldly. Reset checks in with an artist from, and founder of, the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, to hear more about puppetry and the festival.

Parents with kids in daycare have faced constant closures during the pandemic. And without a vaccine yet available for kids under 5, some parents worry the cycle of fear and frustration won’t slow down anytime soon. Reset checks in with a reporter covering the issue in the Chicago area and opens the phones to listeners to hear about how they’re navigating child care during the pandemic.

Critics of the Mayor’s ordinance to sue Chicago gang members still haven’t warmed up to the plan. Reset discusses it’s finer details and how critics would want that plan to change.

Free N95 masks from the government are expected to arrive in Illinois this week. This comes as cases and hospitalizations remain relatively high across the state. But there is some good news: Dr. Allison Awady announced last week that the Omicron surge in Chicago has officially peaked. Reset checks in with Dr. Mia Taormina for the latest advice and guidance on COVID, masks, and more, including new...

J.W. Smith passed away this month at age 84. He was one of Chicago’s winningest high school football coaches, who went on to be an innovator as head of Athletics for Chicago Public Schools. Reset discusses Dr. Smith’s legacy with a panel of his friends and colleagues.

It’s been 49 years since the landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade established the constitional right to a safe and legal abortion. But now, due to restrictive state laws, women are traveling across state lines to abortion-friendly havens like Illinois to get the procedure. Reset talks to a bioethicist and the head of a downstate abortion clinic about the future of reproductive rights in the U.S. and the...

Chicago passes the Omicron peak as Lori Lightfoot returns to City Hall after testing positive for COVID, and the gubernatorial race heats up with an injection of big bucks to J.B. Pritzker’s campaign war chest. Reset checks in with local journalists about those stories and other big news of the week.

Chicagoans Amanda Harth and Felton Kizer started Monday Coffee Company in the middle of the pandemic as a way to foster community through inclusive and sustainable practices. Now, they’re pouring coffee, kombucha and more three days a week in the Horticulture Hall room at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Reset checks in with the two coffee aficionados.

Snow forts, snowmen and snowballs are fun, but have you stopped to admire the icy magnificence that Lake Michigan has to offer this time of year? Reset checks in with a lake enthusiast and meteorologist to learn what forces create such stunning ice formations on Lake Michigan.

People experiencing homelessness face many challenges when temperatures drop quickly like they have this week. Reset hears from two advocacy groups on an upcoming homeless count and what resources they have in frigid weather.

Chicago ranks third in the nation in deaths and health costs related to diesel pollution, according to a new analysis by the Clean Air Task Force. Reset digs into the findings of the report and checks in with environmental advocates for their thoughts on how the city and state can address the issue.

This week marks Joe Biden's first year in office but his presidential agenda seems to be in jeopardy. Plus, his approval rating just hit a new low. Reset checks in with a political consultant and a political science professor for their take on what’s next for President Biden and the Democratic party.

Stunning information has come out about an Illinois-based chain of COVID-19 pop-up testing sites. The Attorney General of Minnesota alleges that the company has given incorrect or falsified testing results or never gave test results at all, while billing the government for millions of dollars. Reset checks in with the reporter who has been covering this story and the Federal Trade Commission about...

‘Women of the Movement’ showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar joins Reset to talk about what it takes to retell the story and murder of Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till Mobley’s quest for justice.

Legendary photographer Steve Schapiro passed away at the age of 87 Saturday. Schapiro was known for his work covering the civil rights movement and icons like David Bowie, Muhammad Ali and even Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Reset checks in with friends of Schapiro about his contributions.

Many of our relationships seem to have gotten a little more challenging due to social distancing, video calls and the collective stress we’re all dealing with during the pandemic. Reset gets some tips on how to stay connected to the people in your lives.

WBEZ’s parent company Chicago Public Media is acquiring the Chicago Sun-Times in a deal that will close at the end of January. The move will create one of the largest nonprofit news organizations in the nation.

More than 36 million families got their sixth and final monthly child tax credit advance back in December. Now that the payments have expired, are families feeling the pinch? And what further aid could be forthcoming? We talk to a consultant with Get My Payment Illinois for more on what families need to know right now.

UIC epidemiologist Katrine Wallace is finding innovative ways to combat COVID-19 misinformation. Her latest endeavor: TikTok fame. With 243,000 followers and 4.2 million likes, Dr. Wallace is using the platform to debunk myths and encourage vaccinations.

The opioid crisis has gotten less attention during the pandemic, even though deaths have reached record-breaking numbers. What can we do to limit overdoses?