In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

The U.S. economy added 277,000 jobs in November. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.2%. Reset gets an update and hears what the latest numbers could mean for the local economy from KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

More than two newspapers shut their doors every week in the U.S., according to a new study from Medill. Closer to home, Illinois ranks No. 6 in the country for the most number of newspaper closures in one year. At least five counties in the state are considered “news deserts” and 40 Illinois counties only have one local news source. Reset learns more about what the current state of journalism mean...

Their sound is effortless, magical and all their own. Chicago duo The O’My’s blends beautiful melodies and raspy, colorful vocals with elements of hip-hop, jazz, soul, blues and house. Their latest album, Trust The Stars, was several years in the making, channeling the group’s natural evolution with passion and grit. Reset checks in with the men behind the music Nick Hennessey and Maceo Vidal-Haym...

Divide between Chicago’s mayor and its city council remains over how to close a nearly $1 billion budget gap. Meanwhile, drama in the Johnson administration continues as alders call for reforms to the city's “Do Not Hire” list. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and more with Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long, Chicago Sun-Times reporter covering government and politics...

The Chicago Board of Education offered the Chicago Public Schools CEO a buyout this week – though the move doesn’t seem to have worked. It’s the latest in the months-long power struggle between Pedro Martinez and the mayor’s office. Reset gets up to speed with WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp, and we look ahead to what could come next. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.or...

Back when the South Shore Cultural Center was a country club in the early 1900’s, it excluded Black and Jewish patrons. Since the Chicago Park District took over, the space has become a destination for weddings, private events, and classes. And now, it boasts a Black-owned restaurant that is open to the general public. Reset learns more about the vision and what the restaurant offers from Nafsi re...

Not looking forward to the higher gas bills this winter? One option to explore: switching to electric. Research has shown switching to electric can lower bills in the long term, and even improve indoor air quality. But where to start? The process can feel confusing – and can be expensive. Reset learns about local efforts to help families make that transition. We talk to Anne Evens, Elevate’s CEO;...

If you ask us, the Chicago theater scene doesn’t play enough Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. Enter: Chicagoans Ruth Guerra and Ricardo Gamboa. They are the co-creators of “Ruth on the Rocks,” a one-woman play starring Guerra that’s not your typical show. Each show, the audience picks a track from a list of songs that Ruth uses as inspiration in real time to tell a story from her life. Together, they creat...

The median increase in property bills was 20%, but in the majority Black southern suburbs, bills went up by 30% or more. This left some residents paying more than homeowners in the northern suburbs, where homes are valued higher. Reset learns about the factors leading to the increase and what could be done to lower these bills from WBEZ metro reporter Adora Namigadde. For a full archive of Reset i...

Humans have loved on our feline friends for thousands of years. The connection and history of the relationship between humans and cats is being featured in an exhibit at the Field Museum. The exhibit features cats from all over the world through photos, film, archaeological items, and more. Reset gets into the history of the human/cat fascination with Monisa Ahmed, exhibition developer at the Fiel...

What makes a diner nowadays? Is it the cheap eats? Is it the interior? What’s your go-to spot in or around Chicago? Reset digs into what makes a quintessential Chicago diner with Maggie Hennessy, WBEZ contributor and food writer. We also hear from listeners about their favorites .For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Studs Terkel’s 1967 book Division Street: America was an oral history chronicling Chicago life at the time, with a cross-section of residents sharing their thoughts, feelings, dreams and fears. A new seven-part podcast series now revisits Terkel’s Division Street, to answer the question: “What happened to those people and their hopes and dreams?” Through interviews with the descendants of some of...

One Curious City listener wrote in and asked, “Why are there so many birds in O'Hare?” So, the Curious City team took to the airport to find out. Reset checks in with Erin Allen, host and reporter, WBEZ’s Curious City. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Last Days of Cabrini-Green tells the story of seven-year-old Dantrell Davis and his mother Annette Freeman. Davis was shot and killed while he and his mother walked to his school on Oct. 13, 1992. His killing sparked raids and overpolicing in the neighborhood. Reset sits down with the creators of the podcast – journalist Ben Austen and writer Harrison Rivers – to learn more about their stories...

From savory waffles made from stuffing to pie for breakfast to soul food egg rolls, the possibilities for Thanksgiving leftovers are endless. Reset gets tips from parenting blogger Jenny LeFlore and Monica Eng, Chicago reporter for Axios and host of the Chewing podcast. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Thanksgiving is all about the blessings of home, but thousands of Chicagoans don’t have shelter this holiday. As temperatures drop, we’ll hear what services exist to help the unhoused find relief with Christine Haley, chief homelessness officer for the state of Illinois and Doug Fraser, executive director of The Chicago Help Initiative. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org...

Reset sits down with a bookish panel to hear about their favorite escapist and happily-ever-after fiction. The panel includes Sonali Dev, author of “The Vibrant Years,” Bryn Donovan, author of “Her Knight At The Museum,” and Jen Prokop, co-host of the Fated Mates podcast. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

NBC’s hit show “Parks and Recreation” ran from 2009 to 2015 and is now living a second life in streaming. A comfort show for many, it follows the staff of the parks department in the fictional Midwest town of Pawnee, Indiana. The show stars actors Amy Poehler, Rob Lowe, Nick Offerman and Chicagoan Jim O’Heir. Reset checks in with O’Heir as he releases his new book “Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Fr...

Chicagoans may have to dig a little deeper into their pockets to pay their electric bills next year as a result of advancing technology like data centers, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Reset checks in with watchdog reporter and assistant editor Brett Chase from Chicago Sun-Times to find out what the connection is between our electric bills and energy-hungry tech operations. For a...

Some Illinois residents checking the mail have been in for a big surprise: A letter confirming that their medical debt has been erased. Reset learns more about the program and looks at other recent efforts to erase medical debt in our area with Elizabeth Whitehorn, director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor at Trinity United Church o...

A year and a half ago, Oak Park’s architecturally significant Village Hall was headed for demolition. But the building, a modernist structure designed in the mid-1970s by architect Harry Weese, survived that threat. And late last week the village board selected a River North architecture firm to work out a plan for revitalizing the building for long-term use. For a full archive of Reset interviews...

Chicago footwork is essential to the city’s history of electronic dance music and culture. It was pioneered in the 1990s by dancers, DJs and producers like DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, DJ Clent, RP Boo and more on Chicago’s South and West sides. And it’s characterized by fast choppy vocal samples, interesting basslines and hi-hats and snares. Reset sits down with Litebulb, Steelo and P-Top of The Era Foot...

There’s a plot twist in the years-long Jussie Smollett case and we got a look at the “magic list” of former Illinois House speaker Mike Madigan. Reset breaks down those stories and more with CW-26 reporter and anchor Brandon Pope, WTTW Chicago politics reporter Heather Cherone, WBEZ criminal justice editor Patrick Smith and Chicago Sun-Times federal courts reporter Jon Seidel. For a full archive o...

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term, same-sex couples are preparing for potential setbacks in LGBTQ rights and legal protections. Reset learns more from parent Tia Lantzy and attorney Nidhi Desai. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

While the Thanksgiving meal can be delicious, making it — and getting it on the table — can be stressful, especially for the pies. Reset gets tips for crusts, fillings, time management and more with Martin Sorge, winner of Season 6 of the Great American Baking Show. And we’ve got a special guest for this episode: Reset senior producer Meha Ahmad!