In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

Police ban protests outside Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Logan Square home over safety concerns. Chicago Public Schools puts out its final remote learning plan. Plus, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris formally accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president and VP.  Reset breaks down the biggest stories of the week in our Friday News Roundup.

Illinois on Tuesday joined a coalition of 20 states in a lawsuit against Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and President Donald Trump, challenging drastic operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service. Facing backlash, the postmaster general said USPS would suspend operational changes until after the presidential election.  Reset checks in with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul about the la...

As the 2020 Democratic National Convention moves into Day 3, Reset checks in with Congressman Chuy Garcia of Illinois to discuss highlights from the virtual event.

Chicago writer Sam Weller is out with a new collection of short stories called "Dark Black." Weller is also the official biographer of the late, great author Ray Bradbury — he would have turned 100 this week.

Protests in Chicago for police accountability once again turned violent this weekend.  Reset talks with a reporter who was on the ground Saturday. Also, a law professor  discusses the legality of social media surveillance .

Mayor Lori Lightfoot restricts overnight access downtown following civil unrest and looting. Public health officials warn of rising coronavirus cases across the state. Plus, local officials react to Kamala Harris’ VP nomination.  Reset breaks down the week’s top stories in our Friday News Roundup.

Today is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, the day in 2020 the average black woman’s pay catches up to a white man’s...from 2019. We talk to two women studying and trying to change that gap. Plus the how’s and why’s of working women being hit hardest in this covid economy.

Sen. Kamala Harris has made history as the first Black and Asian-American to be put up as a candidate for vice president of the U.S. by a major political party We check in with Cong. Robin Kelly and Cong. Raja Krishnamoorthi, 2 Democratic members of the Illinois congressional delegation, to get their reaction to Joe Biden’s pick for a running mate in 2020.

Carol Moseley Braun broke a number of barriers in her political career. She talks about the possible barrier-breakers Joe Biden may pick as a running mate. Plus black small business owners react to their stores being looted early Monday in the city’s Gold Coast neighborhood.

Covid-19 is back on the rise in Illinois, CPS does an about face on remote learning, and House Speaker Mike Madigan stands firm. ProPublica Illinois’ Mick Dumke and WTTW’s Brandis Friedman break down those stories and more on Reset’s Friday News Roundup.

Chicago was once a coronavirus hotspot. So why are covid-19 positivity rates down in the city, but rising with alarming frequency in the suburbs and surrounding counties? Reset talks with a reporter, and two county health officials to find out where, and why rates of infection are up.

WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp brings us all the info, plus we get reaction from parents, teachers, students, and the teacher’s union president on today’s announcement that Chicago Public Schools will do remote learning for at least the 1st quarter of the year.

Reporter Heather Cherone on the latest covid numbers and info according to the Chicago Department of Public Health, and the Chancellor of the University of Illinois on the precautions put in place to assure the start of the fall semester in Champaign-Urbana

Thousands remain unemployed because of the covid pandemic. And despite Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker extending the deadline on Illinois’ eviction moratorium, thousands of renters in the state are facing eviction. Reset talks with a legal services group for Chicago tenants in need of help. 

From the continuing Covid-19 crisis to Mayor Lightfoot lashing back at President Trump to Mike Madigan feeling the heat, Laura Washington and Charlie Meyerson join Justin this week for the Friday News Roundup

Parents, teachers and students are informed and asking questions about Chicago Public Schools’ current plan to reopen schools in the fall. We talk to CPS CEO Janice Jackson about that plan, and how it could change depending on circumstances around the covid-19 crisis.

The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson studies and writes about our work habits. As companies extend their “work from home” timelines, how are we adapting, and what practices will we carry into the future?

6 months in, 2 reporters look at how the pandemic has changed life in Illinois, and the manager of a long-term care facility describes what he’s done to keep his residents safe, and their families informed.

From violence in Chicago to the Com-Ed scandal in Springfield, we unpack a lot of big news on this week’s Friday News Roundup. Joining us this time around is NPR correspondent Cheryl Corley and Better Government Association President & CEO David Greising

Opening Day without the threat of snow? Cheryl Raye Stout previews the Cubs and the Sox as MLB begins it’s covid-shortened season. And Illini head coach Lovie Smith has added another name to his already “most diverse college football staff in the nation”. We talk with new head of high school recruitment Ashton Washington

Chicago musician Daniel Knox is known for compositions filled with wit and dark humor and his deep-voiced delivery. But on his new album he plays straight, soothing renditions of some of Fred Rogers’ most beloved songs to help us cope with these difficult, often scary times.

Legendary civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis is remembered by the woman who wrote his biography. Prof. Duchess Harris is the author of John Lewis: Civil Rights Leader and Congressman. Also Congressman and former Black Panther leader Bobby Rush remembers his friend and colleague.

This weekend’s protests in Chicago over the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park devolved into violence between Chicago police and protesters. Reset talks with two legal experts on what rights and recourse protesters have in these situations.

All week we’re looking back 25 years to Chicago’s deadly heatwave in 1995. Today we wrap up the series by looking at the lessons we learned, and the plans the city’s put in place to make sure it never happens again.

Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot threaten to bring back COVID-19 restrictions if cases continue to rise. The Chicago Teachers Union pushes back on calls to reopen schools in the fall. Plus, a new report sheds light on the firing of former Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson. Heather Cherone and Lee Bey are the panel for this week’s Friday News Roundup.