WBEZ News

Lots of people had to wait in some pretty long lines to cast their ballots in this week’s election. But one south suburban man has been waiting to vote … for nearly four decades. That’s how long Stanley Howard spent in Illinois prisons after being convicted of a murder he didn’t commit. He’s now free, and WBEZ’s Alex Keefe tagged along as he voted for the first time. HOST: DIXON

Soprano Karen Slack is kicking off her residency at Chicago’s Lyric opera with a full recital. She will perform Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice on Tuesday. Which she says has renewed relevance given the results of this week’s presidential election. WBEZ arts reporter Courtney Kueppers sat down with Slack backstage at the Lyric Opera House in October and has this audio postcard. HOST: DIX...

So much of what we hear about life in Gaza comes second hand. A deal with student protestors could change that for members of the Northwestern University community. The agreement that ended the pro-Palestinian encampment last spring is bringing two professors and five students from Gaza to the Evanston campus. WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip has the story of one of the professors. He arrived a month ago...

For the first time, Chicagoans voted for the first-ever Chicago Public School Elected School Board. I spoke with WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp this morning about the outcome of yesterday’s inaugural election.

A new opera draws inspiration from the infamous Chicago murder trial a century ago of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. The grisly killing of 14-year-old Bobby Franks by two University of Chicago students shocked the nation. HindSight is a joint production of Chicago Fringe Opera and Kor Productions. It runs through Saturday at Chicago Dramatists. WBEZ contributor Hannah Edgar reports from the rehe...

Today is Chicago Housing Authority CEO Tracey Scott’s last day at the agency. Her departure was announced earlier this week. WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang went out to see what current residents and advocates want to see in the next leader. HOST: LANE

The Democrats dominate Illinois. But there are some strong Donald Trump supporters in the Chicago area, too. And one especially big Trump fan here goes to work each day - right in the middle of a diverse strip mall in the suburbs. WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos takes us there. HOST: PUENTE

Next week, voters will choose her successor. Foxx announced months ago she would not be seeking re-election. She came into office in 2016 with a surge of so-called progressive prosecutors. Her tenure has been marked by almost constant criticism…but it also marked a historic shift in Cook County’s approach to crime and justice. WBEZ criminal justice editor Patrick Smith covered Foxx throughout her...

Thousands of migrants have come to Chicago in the last two years seeking asylum in the United States. For many of those newcomers, the deadline to apply is just around the corner. But free or low cost immigration clinics are overwhelmed. WBEZ’s Adriana Cardona Maguigad recently visited volunteers trying to fill the service gap. HOST: DIXON

He’s now proposing to raise property taxes to help close a nearly $1billion dollar budget gap and avoid layoffs and deep cuts. He unveiled his $17-point-3 billion dollar budget plan today [WED] for next year. Here to provide a breakdown of what in the proposal is WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg from City Hall.

A new documentary called The Last Republican follows conservative Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger as he tries to hold Donald Trump accountable for the January 6 Capitol riots. Filmmaker Steve Pink premiered the movie at the Toronto and Chicago International Film Festivals, but it has not been picked up yet for wider distribution. HOST: DIXON

He’s now proposing to raise property taxes to help close a nearly $1-billion dollar budget gap and avoid layoffs and deep cuts. He unveiled his $17-point-3 billion dollar budget plan today for next year. Here to provide a breakdown of what in the proposal is WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg from City Hall. HOST: LABUZ

Thousands of community members recently gathered outside Foreman College and Career Academy on Chicago’s Northwest Side. They were celebrating Halloween at an annual Trunk or Treat put on by local volunteers. WBEZ’s Araceli Gomez-Aldana was there. HOST: DIXON

For undocumented students with college dreams, Illinois is one of the better states to be. It’s one of 19 where they can get state funding and pay in-state tuition rates for higher education. Just as important are the adults here working overtime to help students navigate a maze of paperwork and find a campus where they can succeed. WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip takes us to Mansueto High School in Chi...

Illinois has a highly competitive congressional race this year that covers a large part of northwestern, western, and central Illinois. WBEZ’s Alex Degman reports on the race for Illinois’ 17th Congressional District. HOST: LABUZ

Psychedelic soul and R-and-B singer Manasseh is known for his breathtaking vocals and myriad collaborations. But the Chicagoan has also earned a reputation for his memorable outfits. In a new fashion series from WBEZ’s sister station Vocalo, the songwriter and performer dishes on the origins of his distinct style. Morgan Ciocca filed this audio postcard. HOST: DIXON

Chicago’s Lyric Opera has a new general director. John Mangum took the reins earlier this month. He’s only the fifth person to run the internationally renowned company … and hails not from the opera, but the symphony. WBEZ arts and culture reporter Courtney Kueppers visited Mangum at Lyric Opera House to talk about his plans. HOST: DIXON

The federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan finally got underway this week. Jurors heard witnesses describe how Madigan would use his enormous power in the House. WBEZ’s Dave McKinney covered Madigan for decades at the statehouse and has been in the federal court building in Chicago all week. Dave joins me now to catch us up to speed on this momentous trial. HOST:...

Democrats hold every statewide constitutional office - from the Governor to the Comptroller. And the House and Senate at the state capitol are overwhelmingly blue. Every seat in the Illinois State House is up for election this year. And as November fifth draws near, Democratic leaders are hoping to not only hold on to their supermajority, but also grow it. WBEZ’s Mawa Iqbal has more. HOST: DIXON

Big pharma is throwing a lot of campaign money at IL congressional members as we approach the election. All 17 Illinois incumbents are up for re-election, and some have received thousands in contributions from pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer. Chicago Sun-Times reporter Robert Herguth has been following the money, he’s here with me now. Good Morning, Robert. HOST: DIXON

Illinois lawmakers introduce thousands of bills every year – and sometimes one of them seems really popular. People flood the capitol in support chanting and carrying signs, lawmakers are hashing it out with each other and meeting with constituents. It’s getting a lot of media coverage. But even if the momentum seems there, sometimes the bill just dies – for any number of reasons. WBEZ statehouse...

Refracted Theater moved from New York City to Chicago during the COVID-19 pandemic…. and has since made its name as a theater that challenges conventional ideas. The group’s latest play, Coronation, imagines a United States where women create a monarchy. As WBEZ theater reporter Mike Davis found on opening night, the play is equal parts edgy and funny. HOST: DIXON

Death is the great equalizer …. AND it can be a taboo topic. One Chicago artist wants to bring conversations about death and dying out of the shadows. WBEZ’s Courtney Kueppers has more on how artist Anders Zanichkowsky is putting a twist on an ancient practice of weaving burial blankets. HOST: DIXON

Landlords in the Chicago area are using real estate software made by RealPage, a tech company that may be engaging in an illegal price-fixing scheme to drive up rents, according to an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and a class-action lawsuit filed by 12 former tenants. The company’s own report in May confirms that their rent-pricing algorithm is used in metro Chicago. Go...

Non-standard auto insurers – they’re known for covering drivers with bad records or those struggling financially. But a Sun-Times analysis finds these insurance companies have far higher rates of complaints than the more well-known, bigger name insurers. I’m joined now by Sun-Times Consumer Investigations reporter Stephanie Zimmermann to discuss this trend… Stephanie, welcome. HOST: LARA