WBEZ News

The Chicago Board of Education has approved a measure calling for police officers to be pulled out of schools next year. It’s a reversal of a decision the board made four years ago. WBEZ’s Sarah Karp reports. Host: Mary Dixon

The governor wants to put more money toward education and child welfare while continuing to care for the influx of migrants.

During her two terms as Cook County state’s attorney, Kim Foxx attracted controversy and criticism. She also won elections in landslides. Foxx is not seeking re-election. Now the man the Democratic party has tapped to succeed her has to decide how closely he wants to align himself with Foxx’s legacy. WBEZ’s Michael Puente reports. Host: Mary Dixon

Persistent gun violence. A fear of carjackings and armed robberies. They are several of the MANY problems Cook County’s next top prosecutor will face. Among those running to succeed outgoing State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is Eileen O’Neill Burke: A former prosecutor, defense attorney and judge who has spent decades in and around the county court system. WBEZ’s Anna Savchenko has more. Host: Mary Dixon

Deep below the surface of the earth could be an answer to power homes more efficiently – and fight climate change. Reporter: Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco; Host: Mary Dixon

A new law allowed gun owners to keep assault weapons if they disclosed them. Illinois county registration rates ranged from 0.5% to 1.8%. Reporters: Amy Qin and Mawa Iqbal; Host: Justin Bull

Gov. JB Pritzker commuted Johnny Pippins’s sentence. Now he’s adjusting to campus life in Iowa — and educating his classmates in the process. Reporter: Charlotte West; Host: Justin Bull

Davis’s Democratic challengers say it’s time for the incumbent congressman to step aside. But Davis says he has valuable seniority. Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Alvin Green’s wife urged him to combine his love of cookies with his love of his son and his friends in employing young adults with special needs. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

The launch of the revamped federal student aid form, known as FAFSA, was supposed to make getting help paying for college easier. But for many students from immigrant families, it’s shut them out. They’re all U.S. citizens but their parents are not. And an error bars parents without social security numbers from completing their part of the form. The Department of Education says they are working to...

Ever since Chicago enacted fines for unannounced buses dropping off migrants in the city, some area suburbs have been receiving busloads of migrants. Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang; Host: Claire Lane

A bill filed last week would allow qualified individuals, not medical professionals, to self-administer a medication to end their lives. Reporter: Alex Degman; Host: Claire Lane

From Coffee Meets Bagel to eHarmony to Tinder… there is a wide selection of dating apps people can use to find love. But some religious people find the most popular secular apps don’t help them connect with others who share their deepest values. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, WBEZ’s Adora Namigadde interviewed several folks about the pros and cons of turning to religious dating apps instead. Host: Mary...

Midwest tribal leaders are challenging a pipeline that pumps a million gallons of oil daily beneath a gap between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Reporter: Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco; Host: Claire Lane

Today is Fat Tuesday – a day of excess marked by feasting on decadent cakes and pastries. Some celebrate with King Cakes and Paczki … but in Sweden, the Semlar bun is the pastry of choice. WBEZ producer Cianna Greaves visited the Swedish American Museum in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood to see how the sweet treats are made…. Host: Mary Dixon

Chicagoans have a big choice to make in the upcoming March primary election — Whether to support an increase to a one-time tax when properties over $1 million dollars are sold, in order to fund homelessness prevention. Progressive organizers with the support of Mayor Brandon Johnson are facing stiff opposition from real estate groups and commercial property owners. WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel reports. H...

Mayor Brandon Johnson campaigned on a promise to remake the Chicago Public Schools. And nine months into his term as mayor, his appointed school board is moving forward with making those changes a reality. But he’s facing pushback and financial constraints. WBEZ’s Sarah Karp and Nader Issa from the Sun-Time are here with more details.

The family of two Palestinian American brothers in Gaza says the pair were taken by Israeli soldiers in a raid on their shelter. Reporter: Nader Issa; Host: Lisa Labuz

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is starting to roll out an ambitious education plan. As a former organizer for the ultra progressive teachers union, this is where Johnson wants to leave his mark. He envisions a system where there are no losers. It’s a radical idea in an under-resourced district where some kids are relegated to schools of last resort. And he’s putting Springfield on notice — he wants...

Federal data shows more than 40-million Americans have started college and then dropped out. And economists say the number of good-paying jobs that require a degree is only going up. That makes finishing school an important step towards earning a living wage. But there’s one big hurdle many people face when trying to re-enroll. WBEZ’s Lisa Kurian Philip has more. Host: Mary Dixon

Sheriff Tom Dart cites pay hikes for corrections employees and the expense of managing detainees with addiction or health issues. We analyzed the numbers. Reporter: Chip Mitchell; Host: Melba Lara

With the CTA planning to extend the Red Line out to 130th street, residents of Chicago’s Far South Side have been invited to their share of official planning meetings. Recently a group of middle schoolers turned the tables, laying out for city planning officials what they want in their community. WBEZ’s Sarah Karp was there. Host: Melba Lara

In far southern Illinois – a conservative congressman like incumbent Mike Bost would ordinarily be a shoo-in for reelection. But he faces a serious challenge in the March 19th primary from a fellow Republican who says Bost’s voting record isn’t good enough – even though Bost was in line with former President Donald Trump 94 percent of the time. WBEZ’s Alex Degman reports. Host: Mary Dixon

A state of Illinois scholarship that sent thousands of students to private schools over the last five years is coming to an end this June. It’s left the families that relied on it worried about paying higher tuition costs come fall… … and people divided over taxpayer support for private schools. WBEZ’s Anna Savchenko visited Saint Frances of Rome, a Catholic school in the west suburbs that has bee...

Migrants living in Chicago shelters are under pressure to find a permanent place to live. The city has set another deadline to start evicting people. Now it’s mid-March. But not having a job or steady income makes it nearly impossible for these newcomers to find an apartment. WBEZ’s immigration reporter Adriana Cardona Maguigad explains why. Host: Mary Dixon