In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

Chicago is home to many federally recognized Native American tribes, including the Potawatomi. However, the guidance for teaching Native American history is based on pre-1900 standards. Reset hears from Susie An, WBEZ education reporter, who has been following the issue and Andrew Johnson, board member of the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative, about how to improve education and how t...

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has decided not to run for a third term, leaving the seat up for grabs next fall. Kim Foxx made history in 2016 when she became the first Black woman to be elected Cook County State’s Attorney. The progressive prosecutor announced Tuesday she won’t seek another term. Reset discusses what’s next for Foxx and the country’s second-largest prosecutor's office with...

Chicago leaders are working on a new vision for downtown development over the next two decades and will kick off their planning process with a public webinar Thursday. What does the updated plan mean for the Loop’s future? We’ll get background from a reporter and hear from community members on what the city should prioritize.

Chicago’s first-ever poet laureate is avery r. young — an award-winning composer, teacher, visual artist and producer. young believes poetry is all around us, and that our earliest exposure comes from learning something as simple as the cadence of the alphabet. In his new role, he’ll act as an ambassador for poetry in Chicago, and create new public programming for young people and students. Reset...

In 2021, the U.S. life expectancy was about 73 years for men and about 79 years for women – the biggest gap in a quarter-century. Boys and men at every age are at higher risk of death than girls and women, according to the CDC. Some people point to biological factors — like high levels of testosterone weakening the immune system — while others point to social factors such as masculinity and a lack...

Financial aid letters aren’t federally regulated and can vary wildly from college to college. Most high school seniors across the country must decide where to go to college in the fall by May 1. Money can play a big role in which school they pick, and that can be challenging if you don’t have a good grasp of what your financial aid package offers. Reset learns more about how to understand those aw...

The Chicago-based nonprofit Surviving the Mic is led by, and serves, Black and brown femme survivors of sexual harm. After years of being volunteer-run, it’s now a nonprofit — allowing the group to reimagine how a healing art space can also function as a spiritual, church-like community. The group will begin hosting so-called Survivor’s Revivals on Sundays featuring poetry, storytelling and medita...

Public health and drug enforcement officials are raising alarms about a veterinary tranquilizer known as Xylazine. Reset hears from Matt Kiefer, digital editor for WBEZ, and Dr. David A. Ansell, Professor of Medicine at Rush University Medical Center, about how substance is impacting the opioid epidemic and what health and community organizers are doing to address it. Then they talk to Lindsay All...

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled to allow continued access to the drug Mifepristone by sending it back to the courts. Reset gets the latest on the case what it means for reproductive care access with Kristen Schorsch, health and county government reporter with WBEZ and Megan Jeyifo executive director Chicago Abortion Fund

From the Green Bay Trail to the Illinois Prairie Path to the 606 to the I&M Canal Trail, the Chicago area has a lot of beautiful trails to cycle on that were once train lines or canal paths. And more are in the works. Reset learns more about existing trails with Christine Hubert, Joliet resident, volunteer for Ride Illinois, and Alan Cubbage, president of the Evanston Bike Club, member of the Nati...

The Chicago City Council unanimously voted Wednesday to designate Promontory Park, a longstanding staple in the Hyde Park area, an official city landmark. Reset talks with Alderman-elect Desmon Yancy, 5th Ward and Ward Miller, executive director of Preservation Chicago, to learn more about the lengthy process to make this happen and what the designation means for the city and its residents.

Chicago band Half Gringa’s new EP contains a unique blend of alt-country rhythm, folk-inspired vocals and a dash of crunchy distorted guitars. Reset discusses ancestors, musical inspirations and coping with loss through music.

Alderman Ed Burke gives his final speech on the floor of the City Council. Meanwhile, a judge upholds Illinois’ assault weapons ban. Reset goes behind the week’s headlines with Monica Eng, Chicago reporter for AXIOS, Carrie Shepherd, lead producer of daily podcast and newsletter City Cast Chicago, and Patrick Smith, criminal justice reporter, WBEZ.

Research has shown cutting down or cutting meat out of your diet is one way to be kind to our planet. To celebrate Earth Day this weekend, Reset learns more about what inspired one James Beard Award-nominated chef, Rodolfo Cuadros, to open his third restaurant that serves Mexican vegan food.

Twice over the weekend, large gatherings of young people turned violent — leaving three teens shot. This reignited a conversation about where teens should gather, what kinds of structure and support they need, and how to create safe spaces for teens to hang out especially in the warmer months. Reset checks in with Eric Davis, executive director of The BASE Chicago and Melissa Mister, Chief of Stra...

The high court is expected to drop its opinion deciding two conflicting federal rulings questioning FDA approval of mifepristone, a drug commonly used for abortions. Reset digs into when justices will drop that decision and how it could impact abortion access across the country with Steven Schwinn, Professor at University of Illinois Chicago Law School.

Reset gets an update on how the cannabis industry from Edie Moore, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws Chicago chapter, Akilah Easter, dean of the urban agriculture department at Olive-Harvey College, and Melissa Picciola, director of pro bono and community partnerships at Chicago Legal Aid, to find out how its changed and evolved in the last three years, and where promises fell...

Providing childcare can be expensive. In fact, parents in Cook County with young children are spending about 20 percent of their income on, according to a recent report. Reset hears from Kaya Jackson, a local childcare provider in Chicago, who plans to bring her concerns to legislators in D.C.

The Illinois and Chicago Departments of Transportation launched their “Redefine The Drive” study in 2013. This spring and fall there will be more public hearings where people can weigh in on the latest plans. Reset talks with transportation experts Joseph Schwieterman, professor of public policy at DePaul University, Sam Kling, director of Global Cities research at the Chicago Council on Global Af...

Nearly half of medical positions inside Illinois Prisons are unfilled, according to a recent WBEZ story looking at these realities of an aging incarcerated population. Reset speaks to criminal justice reporter, Shannon Heffernan, to learn more.

Americans spend roughly $1,300 every year on prescription drugs. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that cost leads people to not fill prescriptions, skip doses or cut their pills in half to ration the medicine. Reset learns why drug prices are so high, and offers recommendations on how to navigate options for lowering the amount you pay monthly.

Lawmakers across the country have proposed over 100 pieces of legislation related to banning health care options for LGBTQ people. Indiana and Idaho are the latest states to pass bills that limit access to gender-affirming care for minors. Reset digs into why this care has become a target for GOP lawmakers with Lauren Chapman, digital editor for Indiana Public Broadcasting and Nora Huppert, staff...

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its most stringent rules to date on tailpipe emissions. The agency believes these rules could reduce CO2 emissions by 7.3 billion tons through 2055 and could result in 67% of vehicles being electric by 2032. Reset talks to Dany Robles from the Illinois Environmental Council, Brian Urbaszewski from the Respiratory Health Association, and...

A large gathering in the Loop over the weekend turned violent, leaving two teenagers shot and more than a dozen people arrested. Reset checks in with Kara Crutcher from Good Kids Mad City to hear how city officials are responding, and what solutions are on the table to prevent further violence among young people.

Some are hailing the diabetes medication Ozempic as a miracle drug, while others claim its weight loss side effects perpetuate disordered eating. And as the drug continues to make headlines, it’s becoming harder to access for people who need it to manage their diabetes. Reset talked to Dr. Disha Narang, an endocrinologist at Northwestern Medicine, and Dr. Kim Dennis, a psychiatrist at SunCloud Hea...