WBEZ News

Many Illinoisans are leaving their house every day to fight COVID-19 head-on. Falguni Dave is a nurse who cares for jail detainees being treated at Stroger Hospital on Chicago’s West Side. Host: Mary Dixon Producer: Mariah Woelfel

Local leaders have been using predictive models to try and figure out when the worst of the pandemic will pass in Illinois. It's still been difficult to know in the moment whether the worst of the pandemic is over. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kate McGee

Chicago parents and students are looking to schools to provide a lot more than just academics, as they face heightened stress during the coronavirus school shutdowns. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An, Sarah Karp

A Chicago photographer was caught in the dust cloud that descended over Little Village Saturday morning when the demolition of an industrial smoke stack went wrong. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Linda Lutton

Harold Davis Jr., a Chicago activist who spent over the last two decades of his life mentoring at-risk teens, died of coronavirus on Sunday. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Becky Vevea

As part of WBEZ's ongoing series 'LIfe Interrupted,' we hear from two neighbors who created an I SPY game to help people in their community stay connected. Host: Melba Lara Producer: Linda Lutton Speaker: Lisa Love, Nikki Moustafa

Before becoming the governor of Illinois, J.B. Pritzker never bargained on a pandemic or foresaw the state’s well-being hinging on “Trump time.” Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Dave McKinney

A pandemic may have closed churches for Easter. But a West Side preacher still has words to comfort his flock. Host: Annie Russell Reporter: Linda Lutton

Parents with small children at home are juggling jobs and childcare around the clock. WBEZ reporters know that drill. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Natalie Moore

Cook County nurses are warning the virus won’t stop at the jail’s walls as staff travel home and detainees are transferred from the jail to the hospital. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

At hospitals in Illinois, more and more people died of COVID-19 over the weekend. But there are some signs the spread of the disease could be slowing in state. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

University of Illinois College of Medicine graduated students early so they’re available if and when their residency programs need extra doctors to respond to the new coronavirus pandemic. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kate McGee

Kathleen Valente’s husband Bob needs a lung transplant. As part of our series Life Interrupted she talks about why she’s more worried about him catching COVID-19. Host: Melba Lara Producer: Lynnea Dominik

Chicago Mental health advocates are optimistic the city's next police leader will work to reduce interactions between officers and people with mental illness. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Patrick Smith

The candidates running for president of Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police lodge both talk up Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s choice for police superintendent. Host: Lisa Labuz Reporter: Chip Mitchell

The settlements follow a years-long WBEZ investigation into the state’s mishandling of Legionnaires’ outbreaks that killed more than a dozen. Host: Lisa Labuz Reporter: Tony Arnold, Dave McKinney

Social gatherings are the focus of a new CDC case study that traces how the virus spread quickly from one person to several Chicago families this year. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Illinois prisons have reported over 400 cases of covid-19. The prison healthcare system has struggled, coming under federal control after it was found numerous preventable deaths occurred. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

It’s spring break for Chicago Public Schools. But for many students this time doesn’t come with much excitement. Parents share what their stay-at-home-spring-break looks like. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Lawsuits have been filed to force Illinois to release more than 10,000 prisoners to slow the spread of the coronavirus. An update on what the state has, and hasn’t, done. Host: Lisa Labuz Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

John Prine was a staple in the early 70's on Chicago’s folk scene. The singer-songwriter died yesterday at the age of 73 from coronavirus complications. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Carrie Shepherd

While Illinois schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic, districts are responsible for getting out resources. In one community, families were confused and didn’t get the information they needed. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An

Nearly a month after being forced to close down, Chicago Public Schools is finally going to open back up remotely on Monday. Officials say the transition to online learning is going to be uneven and rocky. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Sarah Karp

Resources used to help people overcome their addictions often include therapy or group meetings. But with stay at home orders in place, those services have changed a little. Host: Mary Dixon Interviewee: Maggie Dix Producer: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

Aldermen in the Chicago's 50 wards are leaning into their role even while their jobs at City Hall are on pause. They've been connecting their constituents with city services during the pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Becky Vevea