In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

Fouls on the basketball court are usually a dime a dozen, but Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter’s body check against WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark sparked nationwide conversations about what’s considered to be “too aggressive” during games. Conduct like that in a professional league is far from disorderly, so why did it cause such a stir? Reset hosts a roundtable discussion to break down the rhetoric...

Chicago loves its architecture tours – but this one is free! You can hit up the path along Lake Michigan — and keep your eyes peeled for architectural gems and important historical markers from the South Side to downtown. We check in with Dennis Rodkin for our “What’s That Building” series. And you can take the tour yourself by following the sites he highlights here. For a full archive of Reset in...

Fibroids are the most common non-cancerous tumor that grows inside the uterus. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, around 1 in 4 women of reproductive age have fibroids. While not everyone who has them experiences symptoms, it can cause pain that can impact a person’s daily life. Fibroids can cause heavy and painful menstrual cycles, cramping, bloating, lower back pain and frequen...

There’s a type of blues music that is native to Chicago. It can be characterized by its use of guitar, harmonica and rhythm sections. Between June 6-9, the largest free blues festival in the world is returning to Chicago. Legendary bluesman Buddy Guy will headline in one of his final performances. Reset checks in with three blues musicians to learn about the scene in Chicago and what to expect for...

So much news, so little time. From a proposed teen curfew downtown to DNC security updates to sex-crazed “zombie” cicadas, Reset dives into the top local stories in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel this week is: The Chicago Sun-Times Mitchell Armentrout, WTTW’s Brandis Friedman, and Block Club Chicago’s Melody Mercado. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services has faced challenges and reports of dysfunction for years – from failing to report cases of abuse in schools to reports of improper use of funds. But the department has just come under new leadership, and could see its focus—and efficacy—change. Reset checks in with the new leader of the embattled DCFS for how she plans to right the ship. For a...

Dining out can be a treat. But as a guest, interactions with hosts, servers and bartenders can sometimes make or break a meal. And behind the scenes, there are dozens of decisions and approaches for staff to consider. Reset hears from two hospitality leaders – Patricia Prosen, owner Que Rico Mexican restaurant, and Loren Agron, manager Ed Debevic’s – about how they approach service in Chicago. For...

Chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are on the rise in Lake Michigan, according to a new study published by the American Chemical Society. To learn more about this issue, Reset sat down with Chicago Tribune environment reporter Michael Hawthorne and Erik Olson, senior strategic director for health at the Natural Resources Defense Council. For a full archive of Reset interview...

A new executive order from President Biden temporarily suspends the entry of most asylum seekers attempting to cross the border without authorization. The restrictions will continue until two weeks after unauthorized border crossings dip to or below a seven-day average of 1,500 per day, according to the Biden administration. Reset discusses what this means for current and future asylum seekers in...

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is aiming to make good on a campaign promise to expand mental health services. Six city-run mental health clinics were closed in 2016 under Chicago’s then-mayor Rahm Emanuel. A majority of the closed clinics were on the city’s south and west sides. Two administrations later, Johnson is sharing plans to reopen the first clinic in Roseland. We dig into the plan and othe...

As school winds down and we head into summer, it’s a great chance to dip a toe into the world of science. All you need is an internet connection and a curious mind. The Zooniverse program at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium brings together more than 2 million volunteer scientists worldwide to join research teams in diverse fields from astronomy to ecology, to even the history of science itself. Reset l...

As the Democratic National Convention and inevitable protests approach, Chicago’s Inspector General is raising the alarm. The IG’s latest report suggests that Chicago police are unprepared for protests and mass gatherings, and warns that police tactics like pepper spray and "kettling" protestors can escalate tensions. Meanwhile, some experts expect a push of Russian propaganda around the DNC. We d...

From street fests to must-see performances, WBEZ’s arts and culture team is highlighting a guide of summer events and excitement. Reset checks in with senior editor Cassie Walker Burke, theater reporter Mike Davis, and arts reporter Courtney Kueppers. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Thirty million people live with a rare disease in the United States. And for many of them, it often takes years to get a diagnosis. For one Chicago woman, those years were marked by uncertainty and doctors’ dismissal of her growing pain as she experienced lung collapse after lung collapse. She was eventually diagnosed with a rare form of endometriosis. Reset sits down with her to hear her story an...

Summer is on its way, and temperatures are rising. But if you’re planning to dive into the water, you need to make sure you’re careful, too. Reset breaks down some warning signs for drowning and tips to stay safe in the water. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois politicians have partisan reactions to Trump’s guilty verdict. Milwaukee braces for the Republican National Convention in July. Democrats decide to nominate Joe Biden virtually ahead of August’s Chicago convention to meet an Ohio ballot deadline. Lawmakers in Illinois approve a $53 billion state budget. Reset dives into these and other top local stories in the Weekly News Recap with Simon...

Major League Baseball is now incorporating statistics of Negro League players in their record books. Since this change, ball players like Josh Gibson have dethroned legends like Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth. Reset learns more about the history of the Negro Leagues and Black baseball stars with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum co-founder and author Larry Lester. For a full archive of Reset interviews, he...

There’s a shortage of mental health workers in Chicago, but the rate of suicide is increasing in certain communities. To address this, CDPH is implementing a new approach that trains city workers and people who live in areas with high suicide rates to help prevent suicide by connecting people in need to available resources. Reset learns about the gaps this city run program is aiming to fill. For a...

For Chicago teachers, a note from the principal detailing their assignment for the upcoming school year is a mere formality. Some return to the same grade level or subject as the year before. But for others, including veteran teacher Gregory Michie, the switch was a “sucker punch.” Michie was reassigned to teach media literacy to all grade levels, from kindergarten through eighth grade, a challeng...

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Live Nation, an events promoter and venue operator, alleging that the company has monopolized the ticket-selling marketplace after it merged with Ticketmaster back in 2010. Live Nation, as you might expect, disagrees. Reset checks in with an independent venue owner and Chicago musician to hear how this lawsuit could impact the local music scene...

The National Museum of Mexican Art plans to turn this long-vacant structure into the Yollocalli youth arts center. Located at 2358 S. Whipple St., the former Little Village firehouse will have performance and studio spaces, an indoor garden made from an old spiral staircase and disco balls. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Lawmakers technically have until June 30th to pass the budget – but their legislative session was supposed to end last week. Reset hears an update from a statehouse reporter in Springfield. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Asian carp is so bountiful in the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, and causes such a problem for the fishing industry here that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources rebranded it as the “copi” fish – short for copious to entice diners to eat it and help control the population. Reset learns more about how the rebrand has worked out for restaurants so far, why some diners are still resisting...

Chanel Beads is an experimental band that hails from the DIY scene of New York. They just released their debut album Your Day Will Come. It features an array of tracks full of electronic drums, droning violins and heavily-processed vocals. Reset chats with Chanel Beads front person Shane Lavers to learn more about the band and this newest release. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over...

Chicago City Council approves another $1.3 million to resolve two lawsuits involving police misconduct during 2020 protests. Northwestern University’s president testifies about pro-Palestinian protests before Congress. Reset goes behind the headlines of those stories and much more in our Weekly News Recap. The panelists today are ABC 7 anchor Ravi Baichwal, WBEZ city politics reporter Mariah Woelf...