In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

Some areas of Illinois’ Lake Michigan shoreline are losing up to one hundred feet of shoreline per year. Others are so poorly protected from high water that entire neighborhoods are flooding. These are just some of the problems erosion poses. But how does erosion work? And how can we stop—or at least slow—it? Reset digs deeper with an advocate and a reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews...

Rush University Medical Center, Cook County’s Stroger Hospital and UI Health Stroger are preparing for the worst case scenario, be it a mass shooting, an explosion, or tear gas, but say they’re prepared for any contingency. Reset hears how the hospitals will ensure smooth service in the face of the expected traffic delays and in case of emergency. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over...

Less than two days after an apparent assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention kicked off in Milwaukee on July 15th. Reset checked in with a WBEZ reporter who is on the ground at the RNC to get a preview and hear how the news is affecting delegates. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Enjoy a summery vibe with instruments reminiscent of the funk and soul of the 1970s. The new album Roger That! is out now and pairs reflections on love and loss with a fun, upbeat sound. Zac Bron, front person of Smooth Rogers, joins Reset to discuss the new album and their musical inspirations. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Mayor Johnson calls for federal help after more than 100 people were shot over the Fourth of July weekend. Multiple U.S Congress members from Illinois call for President Biden to step aside. Reset breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Fifty years ago, Mafat and Tulsi Patel opened their first grocery store off Damen and Devon avenues. Fast forward to 2024, and Patel Brothers is the nation’s largest Indian grocery chain with 52 stores across the country. Reset learns how the iconic grocer came to be and the impact of connecting the community with South Asian foods and ingredients with one of the partners, Swetal Patel. For a full...

A student’s elementary school is a key predictor of who gets into an elite, test-in high school, WBEZ found. Students from mostly low-income and Black neighborhood schools rarely get into these high schools. New WBEZ data analysis demonstrates the barriers to enrollment at these elite schools. Reset gets the breakdown from a WBEZ education reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head ove...

Lauren Doyle played four sports in high school, and was on the cheer team—none of them were rugby. It wasn’t until she was in college at Eastern Illinois University that she was recruited onto the team. After a successful college career, she was quickly placed on the brand new Olympic team for the 2016 games—the first Olympics with rugby as a sport since the 1920s. After playing again in Tokyo, sh...

Summer vacation doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’re low on PTO, strapped for cash, or just want to get out of dodge for a day, there are plenty of trips you can take within 3.5 hours of Chicago. Whether you’re looking for nature, swimming, antiquing, or small town charm, there’s a destination for you. Reset gets a roundup of must see destinations this summer from Lauren Viera, writer, author...

The Supreme Court recently struck down a decades-old precedent known as ‘Chevron,’ which instructed judges to defer to the expert advice of federal agencies in cases where laws are vague. Many of the agencies which are affected by the change deal with matters of public health, like the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control, Environmental Protections Agency, or Centers for Medic...

Mayor Brandon Johnson said there will be “consequences” for this past weekend’s gun violence that killed 19 people and wounded over 100. Reset gets the latest about the weekend’s shootings, including what help the mayor is calling for from the federal government. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Is it a flower? Flames? No, it’s a music venue! When the Jay Pritzker Pavilion opened in Millennium Park, many people struggled to describe the venue. Despite the debate over the shape, you’ll rarely hear the structure described as a lousy place for a concert. Reset met up with our resident architecture sleuth, Dennis Rodkin, to understand how the open-air design still creates the sound of an indo...

Dr. Anthony Fauci served under seven U.S. presidents. Before COVID-19, he fought the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Ebola, and Zika. Reset’s Sasha-Ann Simons sits down with Fauci to discuss his new memoir, his “nightmare” that came true, and what really went on behind the scenes between him and the Trump Administration.

Sports cars. Divorce. Loneliness after retirement. The 40’s, 50’s and 60’s have gotten a bad rap. But these decades don’t need to be a downer, they can instead be a time of blossoming. That’s an idea championed by Chip Conley, author of Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better With Age. Reset learns about this idea and ways of creating a vibrant, connected life. We sat down with C...

Two turtles and a flock of ducks swim along in a pond on the front porch of Stephen and Kim Benson's Old Town home. The couple wanted to make their home more animal-friendly, and to bring a bit of wonder to the block. So, bit by bit, the Benson family turned their Old Town front porch into a ‘mini-zoo’ in 2022. It’s been a neighborhood staple ever since. Reset sits down with the couple to hear the...

Downtown traffic is snarled due to NASCAR street closures. New laws went into effect on July 1, including a gas tax hike and wages increases. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court declines hearing challenges to Illinois’ assault weapons ban. Reset sits down with a panel of journalists to go behind these headlines and more. Our panel today: Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city politics reporter; Christian Farr, NBC-5...

There were 148 traffic deaths in Chicago in 2023. In the same year, there were over 2 million speeding violations caught on camera alone. In May, the City Council heard arguments in favor of reducing the citywide speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25. But would that be enough to make Chicago drivers change their ways? Reset digs into the data with Alden Loury, WBEZ data projects senior editor....

The 5 year phase in for the minimum wage increase for tipped workers goes into effect. A new program offers driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. Plus, alderpeople react to President Biden’s debate performance. Reset gets the latest from City Hall. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Feeling anxious or nervous is normal. It’s a feeling that is a part of being human. But for millions of Americans, that feeling is constant and can impact their daily lives. In fact, more people are feeling more anxious compared to 2023. People are particularly worried about the economy, gun violence, the presidential election and current events. Reset discusses how to recognize anxiety, navigate...

Career oriented programs often target first-generation, low-income, and minority students for recruitment and leave them with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. But new federal regulations go into effect today that could take funding away from 60% of Illinois’ for-profit schools unless they’re able to improve performance. Reset sits down with Amy Qin, WBEZ data reporter, Esther Yoon-Ji Kang, WB...

In the age of social media, “family vloggers” have monetized the lives of their children, documenting milestones ranging from potty training to pimples. But when those kids grow up, there’s not much guarantee that they will get their share of the profits – much less their privacy back. Now, Illinois is the first state in the nation to ensure that child social media influencers receive compensation...

About a decade ago, 38,000 Chicago residents lived more than a mile from a supermarket or superstore. That number jumped to 102,000 residents by 2023, according to a WBEZ and Sun-Times analysis. A wave of grocery store closures on the South and West Sides last year prompted Mayor Brandon Johnson to propose a city-owned grocery store as one solution. And community members are building creative mode...

Chicago’s dance and electronic music scene will be on full display this weekend at Grant Park. But much of this scene started underground in basements and boiler rooms. This event is part of the London-based Boiler Room platform which puts a spotlight on underground music, culture and DJs all around the world. Reset checks in with Janesita, a local DJ performing at Boiler Room Chicago on Saturday,...

Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off in a presidential debate, Chicago makes a deal with some protesters ahead of the Democratic National Convention, and NASCAR gets ready to shut down some Chicago streets. Reset goes behind these headlines and more in the Weekly News Recap. This week’s panel: Jon Seidel, federal courts reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times; David Greising, president of the Better Gov...

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month and to commemorate we’re getting into the food traditions of the 33 Caribbean islands and continental countries in Central and South America. Reset talks Caribbean root veggies, herbs, and lesser known dishes, as well as fan faves with Urban Pilon’s Roberto Perez and D’s Roti and Trini Cuisine’s Dawn Lewis. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over...