WBEZ News

Our show Prisoncast has been serving people in Illinois prisons and jails for more than three years. We’ve received hundreds of messages from incarcerated people – many saying they’re working to better themselves while they do time. But, there are barriers to that… some of which are only skin deep. Prisoncast producer Lauren Frost has this report on how tattoo removal programs could help people in...

In the 1980s, nearly fifteen hundred bike messengers zoomed through downtown Chicago, rushing legal documents, packages, and contracts across the Loop. Today, just three registered courier companies and about fifty messengers remain. So how is this old-school job surviving in a city dominated by Uber Eats and Amazon deliveries? Sun-Times reporter David Struett breaks it down. HOST: DIXON

There's nothing better than spending a sunny summer afternoon in the park with a good book. Arts and Culture intern Camila Trimberger-Ruiz sat down with local author Rafael Frumkin to hear what's on her summer reading list. HOST: DIXON

Illinois is one of the bluest states in the country … so much so that more than two-dozen Texas House Democrats fled here to protest a proposed congressional map in their home state that could broaden Republican power in Washington. Governor J-B Pritzker is among the Democrats promising to fight – but does that include a new map in Illinois? HOST: DIXON

Summer is a great time to crack open a new book. Arts and Culture intern Camila Trimberger-Ruiz sat down with local author Sonali Dev to hear what's on her summer reading list. HOST: DIXON

MJ the Musical, an award winning musical about the days leading up to Michale Jackson’s 1992 “Dangerous World Tour” is coming back to Chicago. The production opens August 12 at the Nederlander Theatre. The show explores the father-son dynamic between Michael and his father Joe Jackson, as well as highlighting 25 of the King of Pop’s biggest hits. HOST: DIXON

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development dismissed two long fought Chicago cases the feds had previously said showed discriminatory practices.

Captain James Lovell, retired astronaut, part of Apollo 8 moon mission in 1968, died Aug. 7. In 2018, he joined Sun-Times reporter Robert Herguth for a conversation on the Face to Faith podcast. Lovell shared his journey from an upbringing in Milwaukee to his illustrious career with NASA. He discussed his childhood fascination with aviation, inspired by his uncle, and his path to the Naval Academy...

Alongside the Chicago Sun-Times, we’re gathering your questions about all things money and finances. Then each week, we get your questions answered by the people who know best. This week we’ll discuss what to know before you take out a travel insurance policy. HOST: DIXON

It’s been nearly two years since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. There’s intense international pressure for the two sides to enter into a ceasefire to get food to starving women and children. Souher Gonzales of northwest suburban Morton Grove is leading an effort to get much needed food and other necessities to Palestinians in Gaza. She founded a non-profit group last year call...

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in the Chicago area today. She pushed a Trump administration narrative about immigrants and about federal efforts to get the dangerous ones out of the country. WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell was there today in west suburban Lombard. HOST: LARA

The days are long, hot, and humid - so what better way to pass the time than with a good book? Arts and Culture intern Camila Trimberger- Ruiz sat down with Chicago author Keir Graff to hear what's on his summer reading list. HOST: DIXON

This week, at an art gallery in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood a group of advocates and community members came together to make a quilt. But this quilt isn’t your average bedspread. Every square is a PORTRAIT of someone who is – or used to be – locked up inside an Illinois prison. WBEZ’s Lauren Frost was there, and has this story. HOST: DIXON

Finding a job can be a difficult task, but it can be especially hard for teenagers with little to no work experience. Sun-Times education reporter Emmanuel Camarillo sat down with WBEZ’s Melba Lara to share what he found after speaking with job placement experts, as well as Chicago teens working summer jobs. HOST: DIXON

Former ComEd lobbyist Jay Doherty received a one-year prison term – slightly less than the 15 months prosecutors wanted. HOST: MELBA

Chicago chef Curtis Duffy is opening up about life and restaurants in a new memoir out today [Tue]. “Fireproof” is a deeply personal book that traces Duffy’s story ... starting with his parents’ death in a murder-suicide. Duffy also writes about his time in some of the city’s top kitchens. And he talks about running his restaurant Ever… which is prominently featured in the FX series “The Bear.” WB...

Almost half of all home health care aides are immigrants. As the Trump administration continues its mass deportation campaign, Chicago area care agencies say they have immigrant employees who are afraid to go to work. For people who rely on that care, it’s getting harder to find workers to come to their home. WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang has the story of one Chicagoan with a disability who is strugg...

Alongside the Chicago Sun-Times, we’re gathering your questions about all things money and finances. Then each week, we bring you answers from the people who know best. This week, we got this question from Dan. He asks: "I have $500-thousand dollars in my 401(k), is there anything I can do to minimize taxes? I am thinking about retirement in a couple of years." To find out, we called up an expert....

Lollapalooza will bring thousands to Grant Park through the weekend. On Sunday, local artist Kaicrewsade will make his debut at the festival. He sat down with host Nudia Hernandez from WBEZ sister station Vocalo to discuss his setlist and share advice for other young artists. HOST: LARA

They are ringing you up at the register, keeping swimmers safe and running social media accounts for a lot of grown-ups. Chicago area teenagers are on the job this summer. Working teens faced a tougher time landing a job this year. The June unemployment rate for teenagers was up significantly over last year. Chicago Sun Times reporter Emmanuel Camarillo and WBEZ’s Araceli Gomez-Aldana spoke to a g...

Later today [Fri], teenagers from across the city will pitch social media campaigns they’ve created to ad executives and city officials. They aren’t trying to get their peers to buy hair care products or funny looking stuffed animals. They want them to turn away from guns. WBEZ’s Sarah Karp tells us what one group of teens working with a West Side community organization came up with. HOST: LANE

Earlier this month we published a list of our 12 favorite artisanal ice cream shops in Chicago. And we challenged our readers and listeners: The first person to try all 12 would get a prize. If you’re still trying for the chance to win, I’m sorry to say that you have been beaten for quite some time. The winner, Jeffrey Jacobs, joined WBEZ’s Lisa Labuz to tell us how he completed our ice cream buck...

President Donald Trump’s new tax bill cuts the number of income-based repayment options from four to just two. Critics say both options are more expensive for borrowers. WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Kurian Philip sat down with All Things Considered host Melba Lara to break it down. HOST: DIXON

Every year, the musician-run Chicago Philharmonic performs a concert series in Chicago’s parks. But this isn’t your average orchestra concert. WBEZ contributor Hannah Edgar reports. HOST: DIXON

Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg has died at 65 after an extended battle with cancer. In 15 seasons with the Cubs, Sandberg was a 10-time All-Star, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, and the National League M-V-P in 19-84. HOST: MELBA