WBEZ News

When Donald Trump returns to the presidency, he’s promised the biggest domestic deportation effort in U.S. history. His first administration separated thousands of children from their parents at the Mexican border and transferred them to shelters across the U.S. Now many immigrants fear Trump will take kids from families in the nation’s interior. More than 4 million U.S.-born children live with an...

A West Side non-profit is helping Chicago teens learn the art of filmmaking by putting them in charge of producing their own movies. WBEZ’s Anna Savchenko dropped by a West Loop pizza parlor to check out one of their recent film shoots. HOST: DIXON

Faculty advisors can make or break a students’ chance of getting a PhD. But often these professors have little to no training in teaching or mentorship. That can lead to disastrous consequences for students. And it hamstrings efforts to get more Black and Brown students into science. W-B-E-Z’s Lisa Kurian Philip tells the story of a University of Chicago student who found this out the hard way. HO...

In recent years, artists in Chicago have received about $1 million dollars a year for projects from the city. Those come from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, also known as DCASE. But COVID relief dollars are dwindling and a second Donald Trump presidency is about to start. There are questions nationally, and locally, about how much funding will be available for the arts. WBE...

President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to execute mass deportations could start in Chicago. With only a few days before his inauguration, local advocates are making plans on how to protect immigrants who could be targeted. WBEZ’s immigration reporter Adriana Cardona Maguigad spoke with advocates who are working on deportation response plans. HOST: DIXON

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s high-stakes legal gambit to testify in his federal corruption trial is now over. Generally, criminal defendants are dissuaded from testifying in their own trial, but Madigan defied that conventional legal wisdom. WBEZ’s Dave McKinney has been at this trial since October, and he joins me to break down Madigan’s four days on the witness stand. HOST: LA...

Many families that have children with disabilities worry about - what they call quote - “the day the bus stops coming.” That’s the day their kids age out of school. These families face many barriers … as they figure out how to help their young adults find work and be productive in the next phase of their lives. WBEZ ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang has their story. HOST: DIXON

If you were wondering who was that vocalist who stunned Bulls fans by singing the national anthem on Derrick Rose night? that was Chicago Rnb singer Khaliyah X. The artist released her debut album in 2024, earning local praise. She joined WBEZ sister station Vocalo and producer Morgan Ciocca in studio for the latest installment of our Getting Dressed series. HOST: DIXON

Members of the public have submitted nearly 5,000 designs to the state flag commission… ranging from stars and stripes, to Abraham Lincoln shooting lasers out of his eyes. The commission – made up of 21 artists, educators, historians and Illinois fans – has whittled the pool down to their top *10* picks. WBEZ’s Mawa Iqbal sat down with commissioner Will Stephens to learn more. HOST: DIXON

There's been a lot of talk about steel production over the past week with President Biden blocking the purchase of US steel by a Japanese company. Steel making has always been the bread and butter industry in Northwest Indiana. It's what attracted thousands of immigrants to the city of East Chicago. A new book details the city's rough and tumble history and what made it a beacon for those coming n...

The founder of the Young Lords Organization died last week (FRI). José “Cha Cha” Jiménez led the street gang turned political organization in the 1960s and 70s when it fought displacement of Chicago's Puerto Rican community in Lincoln Park. Jiménez and the Young Lords also joined with the Black Panther Party and Young Patriots to form the first Rainbow Coalition. Jiménez talked to WBEZ's Jerome Mc...

The Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools have been bargaining over a new contract since last April. In the meantime, the entire Chicago School Board resigned and was replaced, and the school's CEO was fired. A new, partly elected school board will be sworn in next week. WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp joined host Clare Lane for an update on where things stand with the contract talk...

It’s a new year and a new arts season, and Chicagoans this year have a lot to choose from. WBEZ theater reporter Mike Davis and arts reporter Courtney Kueppers joined host Lisa Labuz with their picks for 2025’s hottest tickets. HOST: LABUZ

It’s time to swear in a new group of Illinois lawmakers. Six newly elected state representatives and three state senators will take their oaths of office for the first time today (WEDS). Before they do, they had a lot to learn about logistics and working with each other. WBEZ’s Alex Degman introduces us to a couple of new lawmakers – and tells us about the training they went through. HOST: LABUZ

Ex-lllinois House Speaker Michael Madigan wielded power for decades, but very little was known about his private life. His federal corruption trial is changing that. WBEZ’s Dave McKinney reports. HOST: LABUZ

After its final show this past weekend, the iconic Blue Man Group is saying goodbye to Chicago and moving to Florida. But not before a funeral procession. WBEZ’s Mike Davis has more. HOST: LABUZ

For people who want to dance, Chicago has many great places to offer, but most of them don’t ramp up until the later evening hours. That’s why high school best friends Laura Baginski and Susie Lee formed the Early Birds Club – a dance party for women that starts early and ends early. Less than a year after their first event, they’ve expanded to hold more parties in Chicago, as well as California a...

The Chicago Bears ended a losing season on a winning note, beating the Green Bay Packers 24 to 22. The 5 and 12 Bears beat the Packers for the first time since 20-18, ending an 11-game losing streak in the rivalry. Quarterback Caleb Williams says he was glad to end the season with a win.. HOST: LANE

Since it’s early January … the Indiana Dunes National Park probably isn’t top of mind for a lot of people right now. But many leaders in Northwest Indiana are trying to enhance the experience for visitors in the coming months and years. A 20-million-dollar grant will help them do just that. I recently sat down with Kelly Anoe, president of the Legacy Foundation of Northwest Indiana, in her office,...

Chicago rapper Lil Durk is being held in federal custody in Los Angeles on charges he orchestrated a 2022 plot to kill a rival. Federal prosecutors are using lyrics by the Grammy award-winning rapper–whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks–to prove their case. However, some industry leaders and civil libertarians say using song lyrics as evidence in court is dangerous and unconstitutional. Chicago...

2024 was a busy year, but when it comes to Chicago sports, it was certainly one to forget. WBEZ’s Noah Jennings sat down with our sports contributor Cheryl Raye Stout to recap the highs and lows of the year – with a big emphasis on the latter. HOST: GOMEZ-ALDANA

For many, Chicago winters can be difficult … especially after the holiday season. We have long winter months with the dark evenings, blustery cold days, and a lack of outdoor activities…. it can all lead to the winter blues. For some tips on how to make it through WBEZ’s Araceli Gomez-Aldana spoke to Kristen Larson about the Danish expression of Hygge. Larson works at Chicago’s Swedish American Mu...

A few months ago Chicago Sun Times investigative reporter Lauren FitzPatrick found the holiday record at a thrift store, bought it for a buck and took it home. She wondered about the story behind the album and teamed up with WBEZ’s Araceli Gomez-Aldana to discover the decades-old story of one South-Side high school acapella choir. HOST: LANE

Christmas time is when people celebrate their cultures and traditions – especially with food. Here in Chicago, recently arrived Venezuelan immigrants are trying to duplicate the flavors from back home during the holidays. WBEZ’s Adriana Cardona Maguigad visited a Venezuelan cook who is on a mission to share the recipes she learned from her mother and aunts growing up. HOST: LANE

The City of Chicago will soon meet a long-time climate goal. Starting January First, Chicago municipal buildings…. will source their electricity from 100 percent renewable energy.. It’s part of a years-long effort to wean the city off fossil fuels. WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco has the story HOST: DIXON