In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

Pediatrician Dr. Allison Arwady led the Chicago Department of Public Health through the COVID-19 pandemic. A Lightfoot appointee, Arwady’s leadership has been scrutinized by progressives and ultimately led to her dismissal by Mayor Brandon Johnson. We spoke with Becky Vevea, Bureau Chief for Chalkbeat who has followed Arwady’s career.

A recent study from the Medical University of Poland found that just 4,000 steps a day can reduce your risk of death of any cause. So, say goodbye to that 10,000 step goal. We know that there are health benefits – both physical and mental – of walking, but we wanted to hear from the average Chicagoan about why they love to walk. Reset walks the walk with guides who lead walking tours about the art...

Mayor Brandon Johnson has chosen 29 year CPD veteran Chief of Counterterrorism Larry Snelling as top cop after a month-long wait. Reset discusses what challenges Snelling will face if he’s confirmed with Chip Mitchell, WBEZ criminal justice reporter

Fixing stuff around your house can be intimidating. You need the right tools, parts and know-how to take on many home or car projects. Fortunately, there are places and people in Chicago who are here to help. Reset talks to Tessa Vierk, founder of the Chicago Tool Library, Nancy Bennett, education manager at Rebuilding Exchange and Molly Heyen, co-founder of Gearhead Workspace about their workshop...

Fewer performances, less staff – those are just a few ways arts organizations have had to cut back to keep their doors open. But that can’t go on forever; could there be a better way? Reset learns how arts organizations are funded and how it needs to evolve to keep up with the changing entertainment economy with Claire Rice, executive director, Arts Alliance Illinois Julie Jenkins, artistic direct...

As two business women, actress Jessica Alba and Lizzy Mathis know that it’s easy for a house to get out of control when trying to juggle family and work life. That’s why in their new show, “Honest Renovations”, they want to make the lives of families easier by giving the home a makeover. Reset talks to the co-hosts about their new project and what it was like to get their hands dirty with the cons...

We learn more about the role of fentanyl in causing opioid overdoses to reach record highs in Cook County, the nine-year-old shot while playing outside, and the woman tapped to chair the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Reset breaks down these top local stories and more with Paris Schutz, reporter and anchor, WTTW, John Fountain, journalism professor, Roosevelt University and David...

Artists from across the globe have gathered in Chicago this week for Titan Walls, the city’s 5th annual mural festival. Festival goers can enjoy food and drink while watching more than a dozen artists paint murals on the walls of District Brew Yards in the West Loop. Reset talks about the ins and outs of public art with Chicago-based muralists.

Crafting can be the low-commitment, low-stakes and low-cost relationship you need in your life. Reset discovers more on how to let your creative side shine, and maybe learn a new skill with Greta Johnsen, host of WBEZ’s Nerdette podcast, Donna Palicka, owner of Sister’s Art Studio, Shaun Devine, founder and instructor of Chicago School of Woodworking, Andy Kuby, turning-saw instructor at Chicago S...

Since the start of the pandemic, people have opened more than 70 million new credit card accounts. In addition to the quantity of cards, interest rates have also been rising, reaching 22.2% in May. Reset talks to Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist with the Washington post, to learn what this means for the average consumer and best practices for navigating and paying credit card debt.

Gov. JB Pritzker approved a commission to explore whether or not Illinois needs a new flag. The current one — which has been the same for about a century — has a lot going on. An American eagle clutching a stars-and-stripes-decorated shield while taking a bite out of a red banner in the foreground. There’s a yellow sun over blue water in the background, and a gray rock bearing the years 1818 and 1...

Over 47,000 Illinoisians lost Medicaid coverage at the start of August and hundreds of thousands more could lose coverage before the redetermination process is complete. Reset discusses how to get reinstated and what residents need to do to prove coverage eligibility with Samantha Olds Frey, CEO of Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans.

Trauma can be passed down from generation to generation. It can impact families and whole communities and our relationships with both. But how do you identify it and – more importantly – break the cycle and take the first step towards healing? Reset sits down with Dr. Niranjan Karnik from the University of Illinois Chicago, Amanda Seanior with RUSH’s Division of Community Behavioral Health, and Ve...

Illinois drivers’ car insurance rates are going up – and women, renters, and drivers with any credit score below an “excellent” rating may be among the folks getting hit the hardest. Reset digs into what’s going on and what drivers can do about it with Chicago Sun-Times consumer investigations reporter Stephanie Zimmermann.

Cooking after a long day at work can feel like a chore even if it saves you a buck. Today, Reset talks with a few folks about how to put the fun back in cooking and cook like a pro even if you’re a kitchen novice. Our guests are Lisa Counts, executive chef at The Chopping Block and Jordan Wimby, a food preservationist and cultural historian.

Kindergarten classes in 2027-2028 will have a focus on “play based learning.” Reset discusses the impact with an early childhood education expert Katherine Zinsser, psychologist and UIC associate professor.

Life can get a little sour between work and politics and our personal lives, but never fear! National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is here! Reset checks in with bakers Joana Fischer, owner of Twisted Cookie and Michelle Manske, kitchen manager at Defloured bakery, to hear about their favorite chocolate chip cookies.

More lawsuits filed against Northwestern University in sports hazing scandal. Meanwhile, 40 teens are arrested in South Loop after a disorderly Sunday night. Plus, businesses brace for hundreds of thousands of Lollapalooza fans. Reset goes behind the headlines with. Rummana Hussain, editorial board member and columnist at Chicago Sun-Times, Carrie Shepherd, Chicago reporter for Axios and Dan Mihal...

Chicago is one of 18 communities across the country to participate in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s project to train citizen scientists to measure and map the hottest parts of cities, known as urban heat islands. Reset learns how this data will help the city of Chicago reduce the health impacts of extreme heat with Kyra Woods, project manager for the Office of Climate and E...

Mies Van Der Rohe is practically a household name for some Chicagoans due to his many buildings around the city. Today in another installment of our Chicago Icons series, Reset gets to go inside one of his modern marvels on the lakefront.

Large crowds, summer heat and parking: what could be worse? Reset discusses how to navigate those issues and get the most with WBEZ Lollapalooza veterans Dave Miska, Studio Operations Manager, WBEZ, Mary Dixon, Morning Edition Anchor, WBEZ, and Stephen Bekoe, Vocalo morning host and producer to learn how to make the best out of the weekend.

Do you have the gift of gab? Well, whether you love small talk or you don’t, we could all benefit from learning how to have better and more engaging conversations. Reset has a conversation about having conversations and how to navigate tough discussions with Paula Marantz Cohen, author of Talking Cure: An Essay on the Civilizing Power of Conversation; dean of the Pennoni Honors College and profess...

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is supporting an additional levy on sales of homes over $1 million to fund services for unhoused people. Meanwhile, Chicago’s interim police superintendent is in hot water, the city budget process is about to kick into gear and street vendors are calling on Mayor Johnson for help. Reset discusses those stories with WBEZ reporters Tessa Weinberg, Mariah Woelfel and Est...

SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America are on strike simultaneously for the first time in 63 years. Reset learns about the demands of writers and actors and explores how this national strike is impacting our local scene with Eric Chaudron, executive director of SAG-AFTRA Chicago, Ilyssa Fradin, SAG-AFTRA member and National Board Representative for the Chicago Local, Martín Zimmerman, WGA West...

We’re riding another wave of COVID-19 as we enter August. Cases and hospitalizations are on the rise, according to the CDC. Reset gets the latest on what we need to know moving forward with Dr. Mia Taormina, infectious disease specialist with Duly Health and Care.