WBEZ News

Fifteen-term Congressman Danny Davis is retiring. 13 Democrats are competing to replace him. Like Davis, several have roots on the West Side. HOST: MELBA

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi is running for reelection. He faces Lyons Township Assessor Pat Hynes in next week’s Democratic primary. HOST: LANE

After a private service at Rainbow PUSH headquarters, Jackson will be buried at Chicago’s Oak Woods Cemetery. HOST: PUENTE

Being a Cook County Board of Review commissioner usually is a low-profile job. But commissioners have enormous power – they can lower your property taxes. And in recent years, there’s been plenty of attention on the tax-appeals board … thanks to rising tax bills … the Bears stadium drama … and a drunk-driving arrest. WBEZ’s Dan Mihalopoulos reports on the re-election battles involving two Board of...

Catholicism remains the religion most Latinos in the U.S. identify with. But there’s been a steady decline over the last decade. Some who have left have turned to Islam. Now – there’s a new place for them to practice their faith even as events here at home and in the Middle East present challenges. WBEZ’s Michael Puente reports. HOST: LARA

Protesters arrested during the Trump Administration’s deportation campaign last fall are beating the charges in court. Cases against 17 of 32 known defendants have already collapsed. But even when charges are dropped, failed prosecutions take a toll on those arrested. HOST: LANE

Today [FRI], dignitaries and celebrities will gather on the city’s South Side to celebrate the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson. A legacy that includes Operation Breadbasket, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and two presidential campaigns. But before any of that, Jackson was just a kid from Greenville, South Carolina. HOST: LANE

For most of the last 80 years, two people have represented a large chunk of Illinois’ 9th congressional district. First, it was Sidney Yates – who served nearly a half century. Then, Jan Schakowsky took office in 1999 and she’s been there since – but this is her last term. It’s the first time in generations that so many people have fought for this seat. WBEZ’s Alex Degman brings us an overview of...

Thirty year-old conductor Klaus Mäkelä will soon become the Chicago Symphony’s next music director. While working with the orchestra, he’s become a familiar face inside another cultural gem: the Art Institute. HOST: LANE

A new report by a court-appointed monitor found the more than 30-thousand people locked up in Illinois prisons are still receiving substandard medical care. The Illinois Department of Corrections has been under a consent decree to improve health care since 2019. HOST: MELBA

For nearly 200 years, the Black church has been a rock for its members in Chicago. Through faith, they’ve shielded their fellow man from the harsh realities of racism. HOST: MELBA

Last year WBEZ and the Sun Times surveyed 20 top arts, culture, and humanities nonprofits. We wanted to see what progress they’ve made to diversify their staff and boards. This comes after the 20-20 murder of George Floyd sparked a year of activism and reflection. And since our previous reporting, three additional arts organizations have agreed to share their data. HOST: LANE

Keshia Golden is facing murder charges for fatally stabbing her boyfriend three years ago. She says she did it to save herself and the couple’s unborn child. But as her court date looms, so does her fear: will a jury believe that she acted in self-defense? HOST: LANE

If you live in Illinois chances are you are being inundated with campaign mailers, phone calls and political ads. So how can you get unbiased information about candidates? Well… voter guides can help. HOST: LANE

President Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign has had a lasting impact on several neighborhoods in Chicago. That fallout continues in South Chicago – a neighborhood with a large Latino population. WBEZ’s Michael Puente has the story of how one family business was affected by Operation Midway Blitz. Host: LARA

Don Tracy, Casey Chlebek and Pamela "Denise" Long answer questions about their race for U.S. Senator from Illinois. The candidate forums were recorded at the WTVP PBS Studios in Peoria on Feb. 20, 2026, and produced in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria and the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

Rep. Donna Miller, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton answer questions about their race for U.S. Senator from Illinois. The candidate forums were recorded at the WTVP PBS Studios in Peoria on Feb. 20, 2026, and produced in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria and the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

Monday Night Foodball, a popular weekly chef pop-up, is hosting its 200th event next week (MON MARCH 2). Curated by the Chicago Reader’s Mike Sula, it showcases underground and up-and-coming chefs in Chicago. The pop-up series recently found a home at the restaurant Thattu in Avondale. HOST: LABUZ

A financially-distressed charter network tells WBEZ that Chicago Public Schools is shutting down their schools, at least for the rest of this year. The district told Aspira leaders late last night (Wednesday) that students will be transitioned out of their schools. District officials say Aspira’s failure to demonstrate financial sustainability puts the education of students at risk. Seniors from A...

Black boys and men have to scale high walls to get a college degree. They’re the least likely demographic to get their diploma within six years. But mentors can give them a leg up by sharing their experiences and connections to resources. And experts say there are more young people than mentors in Chicago who could benefit from this support. Local organizers have this plea for Chicagoans to put th...

The Trump administration’s target on Chicago’s immigrant community hurt many small businesses. Areas known for their mom-and-pop shops like Pilsen and Little Village saw a big drop in sales during last fall’s ‘Immigration Midway Blitz.’ And some are still struggling. HOST: LABUZ

Running an art museum in any era is not an easy task. But running an art museum under the Trump Administration poses unique challenges; Federal cuts, philanthropic pullbacks, and sociopolitical jabs among them. James Rondeau has seen it all, as the president of the Art Institute of Chicago for the past 10 years. HOST: LABUZ

When President Trump threatened to deploy the National Guard to Chicago last fall, it struck fear into one young soldier. The Illinois National Guard member comes from a family of Mexican immigrants. And she worries about having to patrol the very streets she calls home. HOST: LABUZ

Viento Little Village Runners Club has faced many challenges. It had a dip in membership post-COVID. And recently it’s had to cope with community tensions due to federal immigration agents. Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood has been a target of the Trump Administration's deportation campaign. But Viento…keeps running. HOST: LABUZ

Humboldt Park resident, Brendan Byrne, owed federal taxes after filing his 2023 return. And like many people, he paid the balance through an online tax platform. But his payment fell into limbo when the IRS-authorized payment vendor he used disappeared. HOST: LABUZ