In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

The Chicago Bears are one step closer to moving away from Soldier Field to northwest suburban Arlington Heights. The team filed paperwork Wednesday to begin the demolition of the Arlington International Racecourse, which sits on the site of their proposed new stadium. Reset gets the latest details on the team’s next steps from WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout. The Chicago Bears are one st...

While Nashville often gets the credit for being the home of country music, Chicago has played an important role in the genre’s history since the very beginning. In his new book, Country & Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival, author Mark Guarino celebrates the artists, venues, and organizers who made up the vibrant folk and country scene throughout the city. Res...

The state’s historical relationship of being hands-off with regulating car insurers is leading to potential negative outcomes for consumers. Reset learns the details from Chicago Sun-Times reporter Stephanie Zimmerman and hears from State Rep. Will Guzzardi who wants to pass legislation to combat the potential rate hikes.

Stalled trains and blocked railroad crossings are normal in communities like Hammond, Ind. This has been an issue in the city for decades, but it’s getting worse and putting children in danger. Reset talks to Sterman, national investigative reporter for InvestigateTV and Mike Hull, president of Hammond Local 556, to find out why this is a persistent problem from. They also hear from Hammon Communi...

With a South by Southwest debut, and Bonnaroo in their future, it’s safe to say local indie-trio Friko are blowing up. The band joins Reset in the WBEZ’s performance studio to play a LIVE set and chat about putting a song together, their friends in the scene, and plans for the future.

Is your neighborhood or town walkable? When Reset asked that question on Twitter, most people said yes — with room for improvement. Plus, a recent report shows that the demand for walkable neighborhoods far outstrips the supply. That, combined with today’s housing crisis, emphasizes the need for more mixed-income and well-connected real estate. Reset digs into what makes communities walkable, with...

Police stations, park district buildings, closed schools being used to house migrants, as more arrive on buses from Texas. Mayor-Elect Johnson chooses an interim police superintendent. Reset goes behind the headlines on the Weekly News Recap with Mike Lowe, reporter for WGN TV News, David Greising, president of the Better Government Association and Ray Long, Chicago Tribune investigative reporter...

From finishing up a degree, going for the first time, or pursuing a different career, going back to school as an adult can look so different from person to person. Whatever the reason, going back to school later in life presents opportunities and challenges. It can also be intimidating. Reset hears from non-traditional students about what going back to school was like and the impact it’s had on th...

At a breezy 17 minutes: fawn, the new EP from Chicago band OK Cool, explores big topics in a precise yet carefree way. When asked about the band's name, bassist Haley Blomquist says “...it fits the lack of seriousness I feel like we have.” Haley and Bridget Stiebris, creative partners behind OK Cool, join Reset to talk stop-motion music videos, musical inspirations, and their EP release show this...

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will continue to bus more migrants to sanctuary cities like Chicago over the next few weeks. But the city is already struggling to find shelter and resources for more than 8,000 migrants who’ve arrived in Chicago since August. Reset talks to Sun-Times reporter, Elvia Malagón, and WBEZ reporter, Mike Puente, about the conditions asylum seekers are facing.

New research from Nielsen shows that Asian American, Native Hawaiin and Pacific Islander audiences watch more streaming content than the general population. But how well are these communities represented on screen? Reset digs into the report with Patricia Ratulangi, vice president of global communications for diversity, equity and inclusion at Nielsen.

On Tuesday, 12 jurors handed down a guilty verdict to the four defendants in the ComEd bribery trial. Though a big win for the prosecutors, the fight is long from over as the case will likely head to Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Reset hears the latest from a WBEZ political reporter, Dave McKinney, and what’s next for the defendants and former House Speaker Michael Maddigan, who is set to begi...

The Chicago skyline’s tallest member is celebrating a major birthday. Reset hears from Randy Stancik, General Manager of SkyDeck Chicago at Willis Tower and Dennis Rodkin, reporter for Crain’s Chicago Business about the significance of the 50th anniversary.

Real estate investor Twenty Lake Holdings bought the land Chicago’s Greyhound station is situated on last year and plans to turn the plot into residential developments. If the station were to close, Chicago would become the largest metropolitan area without an inter-city bus terminal. Reset discussed the implications of a closure or relocation on riders with Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times editorial bo...

The two mile stretch of shopping along 26th street in Little Village is the second-highest-tax-revenue generating shopping district in the city of Chicago. Jennifer Aguilar, a former member of the group’s board, will lead the organization that supports Mexican and bilingual businesses across Chicago. Reset sat down with her to find out her top priorities in her new role.

After the Northern District refused several lawsuits attempting to block the ban, a Southern District judge has ruled in favor of allowing assault weapons across the state. The ruling comes in the midst of a flurry of lawsuits and legislation following the Highland Park shooting. Reset checks in with WBEZ statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal.

Brandon Johnson will be inaugurated as Chicago’s 57th mayor on May 15. Reset talks with Emma Tai, one of the co-chairs of the overall team, about how the work of planning the next administration is coming together.

In what ways is democracy under threat in the United States? And how do we strengthen our union? Those are two of the key questions posed in a new series of reports, editorials, podcasts and radio segments from WBEZ and the Sun-Times called “The Democracy Solutions Project,” which will run through the 2024 presidential election. The project is a partnership between Chicago Public Media and the Uni...

Mayor Lightfoot is sounding the alarm as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to bus more migrants to Chicago starting Monday. Recently arrived asylum seekers, including children, are sleeping on the floor of police stations as the city and aid organizations struggle to provide housing and services to an increasing number of migrants arriving from Central and South America. Reset checks in with Laura M...

The frequency with which we buy new clothes, wash and care for them and design clothes all contribute to this problem. But many environmental advocates say that the greatest responsibility of addressing this pollution is on manufacturers, not individuals, and that finding ways to design and manufacture clothes without petrochemicals is what’s needed. Reset learns about the scope of this problem, t...

Chance the Rapper’s mixtape Acid Rap turns 10 this week, and the independent Chicago rapper is celebrating this major milestone with a concert at the United Center on Aug. 19. Reset hears from one of his early-career mentors, Ayana Contreras, content director of Vocalo, about his music and career.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announces she’s not running for a third term. Plus, Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson picks more members of his transition team. Reset goes behind the headlines of these stories and more with Alex Nitkin, reporter with the Illinois Answers Project for the Better Government Association, Heather Cherone, Chicago politics reporter for WTTW, and Kimberley Egonmwan, comm...

New data from the American Library Association show attempted book bans are at its highest since the organization began collecting data more than 20 years ago. In 2022, there were more than 1,200 reported attempts to ban library books and resources. During National Library Week, Reset catches up with Tracie D. Hall, executive director of the American Library Association, to learn more about why bo...

Only one in four third graders in Illinois can read at grade level, a gap that has only widened since the COVID-19 pandemic. To address this disparity in literacy, the Illinois State Board of Education is seeking to overhaul the way reading is taught by the state, and lawmakers want to give them a deadline to do it. Reset hears the latest on the proposed changes from Cassie Walker Burke, WBEZ edit...

In her new book Without Children: The Long History of Not Being a Mother, University of Chicago gender historian Peggy O’Donnell Heffington investigates the biggest reasons women have given for not having children and the impact it has on society today. Reset talks with the author.