In the Loop (Segments)

As COVID-19 cases drop and vaccinations continue, more and more offices are calling employees back to the workplace. Reset wants to know: Are you ready to give up remote work? Should bosses offer a hybrid situation? Crain’s Chicago Business reporter Danny Ecker gives listeners some insight into how different companies are approaching the return to the office.

Comedian, science aficionado and WBEZ alum Aaron Freeman joins Reset to wax poetic about his favorite passion… science!

Northwestern University’s recently named athletic director, Mike Polisky has resigned following mounting criticism by women faculty and a 400-person campus protest that included the Mayor of Evanston. Polisky is one of four defendants named in an ongoing sexual harassment lawsuit filed in January by a Northwestern cheerleader. Reset discusses the latest developments in this case with two trailblaz...

Reset brings on Chicago children’s book author Lori Orlinsky and Elliott Serrano of The Anti-Cruelty Society to discuss Balloons For Tiger, a new book that helps kids cope with pet loss.

The global esports market is projected to generate more than $1 billion in 2021. And the booming business is expanding in the Chicago area. Reset talks to the owner of BHOP Esports about his vision and plans for his new esports gaming center in northwest suburban Vernon Hills.

Reset brings on Democratic state Sen. Mike Simmons to discuss his new proposal to ban hair discrimination in Illinois schools.

The Food and Drug Administration’s emergency authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for kids aged 12 to 15 was a game-changer for young people and their parents as they make plans for summer and for in-person learning this fall.

It’s time to get your picnic baskets ready. In another sign that life is slowly getting back to normal, Ravinia has announced it will be open again this summer. Reset checks in with Ravinia’s Jeffrey Haydon for the details.

Reset checks in with Palatine Township Republican Chairman Aaron Del Mar to discuss the future of the GOP. House Republicans on Wednesday voted to remove Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney from her No. 3 leadership post for criticizing former President Trump and his false election fraud claims.

From Chicago’s mayor to U.S. ambassador? President Joe Biden is reportedly tapping Rahm Emanuel to be ambassador to Japan — a relationship that is increasingly important as Washington seeks support before getting more aggressive with China. We’ll dig into what skills ambassadors need to secure America’s interests abroad.

Reset checks in with Palatine Township Republican Chairman Aaron Del Mar to discuss the future of the GOP. House Republicans on Wednesday voted to remove Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney from her No. 3 leadership post for criticizing former President Trump and his false election fraud claims. Reset also brings on Democratic state Sen. Mike Simmons to discuss his new proposal to ban hair discrimination in I...

While Asian Americans have been part of American history for centuries, the group’s representation has been lacking in public school curriculums. The TEAACH Act aims to change that, ensuring more coherent and accurate lessons on Asian American history for students. Reset talks to one of the Illinois politicians who introduced the bill.

Reset’s sustainability contributor Karen Weigert introduces listeners to a group of Harvard researchers for a discussion on how clean electricity will save lives.

March of 2020 — that was the last time the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed for a live audience. Cultural institutions have been some of the hardest hit by the pandemic. Reset learns how they’re tuning up for their first live show at Symphony Center on May 27.

Journalist Arionne Nettles said she couldn’t help but notice the relatively little recognition Black mothers received for their efforts to deter gun violence in their communities. And so, she spent eight months speaking with Black mothers across the U.S. about how gun violence has shaped their lives and the solutions they envision to the ongoing crisis. Reset talks to Nettles about her New York Ti...

Renowned architect Helmut Jahn’s untimely death has sparked new debate over the sale of his iconic James R. Thompson Center located in the heart of the Loop. Jahn was killed Saturday in a bicycle accident in Kane County. He was 81. Reset brings on architecture writer Lee Bey for more on Jahn’s legacy and the future of the Thompson Center.

Coronavirus cases in Illinois are down to the lowest the state has seen in a month. What does this mean, ahead of the upcoming “bridge phase” set to begin Friday? Reset checks in with infectious disease specialist Dr. Emily Landon.

From shoveling snow to delivering care packages, My Block, My Hood, My City is a non-profit that embodies the true spirit of community leadership. For the second year, the organization is offering COVID-19 grants for small businesses and scholarships. Reset learns more about the initiative.

How do you respectfully get someone to reconsider a deeply held belief? How do you not get overheated, when debating a climate change denier? It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is delaying plans for a controversial car-shredding plant on the Southeast Side after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency flagged “significant civil rights concerns.” Reset checks in with a reporter, an environmental activist and a spokesperson with the company seeking a final permit to build its plant.

In our series Re-imagine Chicago, Reset is teaming up with the University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government at the Harris School of Public Policy to explore how Chicago’s systems and institutions work and how they could work better for residents. To kick off our discussion of community investment, we learn how recent Chicago mayors have approached economic development at the neighborhoo...

A public bank. A tax on futures trading. A just cannabis industry. Reset checks in with a local civic educator to explore several ideas as we begin to re-imagine how Chicago approaches community investment and economic development.

The pandemic is causing a home buying frenzy in Chicago. Plus, we remember architect Helmut Jahn. He died in a cycling accident Saturday at age 81. Reset’s “What’s That Building?” contributor discusses what’s driving the real estate market to new highs and what Jahn’s legacy will be in Chicago.

Reset brings on an infectious disease expert for our weekly check-in to provide clarity and answers to your questions, comments and concerns about COVID-19.

Resignations of top leadership at the Cook County State's Attorney and Civilian Office of Police Accountability offices. Governor Pritzker is ready to loosen COVID restrictions. Ravinia and Grant Park Orchestras announce their musical lineups and the Chicago Auto Show returns to McCormick Place. Reset breaks down the week’s top stories in our Weekly News Recap with guest host Susie An.