WBEZ News

Every time Amy Mendez walks the aisles of her local grocery store, she mulls the same dilemma – how will she afford to feed herself and her 13-year-old son? Mendez works full-time for Chicago Public Schools and earns $18.42 (18 dollars and 42 cents) an hour, making her among the school district’s lowest-paid staffers. But the job is critical for Mendez. About 24-percent of people in Illinois who g...

One of the most anticipated albums of the year is the new one from Chicago’s own Ratboys. The band formed at Notre Dame about 15 years ago and their sixth album just came out. HOST: LANE

Of the thousands of immigrants swept up in the Trump administration’s deportation campaign, there’s one group you may not have heard much about: Asians. That’s in part because many Asians have not come forward with stories of being targeted by federal agents.

Chicago proudly claims Florence Price as one of its own. After all, it was here that she became the first Black female composer to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra. HOST: LANE

Illinois Voters will start receiving their vote-by-mail ballots today (Thurs). In order to vote, you must be a U-S citizen – and you need to register. In Illinois, there are plenty of ways to do that…. You can register to vote by mailing in a form by February 17th. Or register online through March First. And you can always register in-person when you go to vote. HOST: LANE

The Winter Olympics are officially underway. And a number of the members of Team U-S-A come from right here in Illinois. HOST: DEGMAN

The Chicago suburbs used to be mostly white, middle-class enclaves. But over the last few decades, some have become incredibly diverse places. HOST: DEGMAN

Two teen brothers from West Chicago have been in Minneapolis since early January, documenting immigration raids. The boys are homeschooled, so they’ve taken their books with them on the road. But they’re struggling to keep up with their studies amid everything they’re witnessing. That includes the aftermath of Alex Pretti’s killing at the hands of federal agents. Yet they’re still continuing their...

Chicago public schools plan to celebrate Black History Month with everything from a business fair to an assembly highlighting the Harlem Renaissance. But Chalmers Elementary on the west side kicked off the month in a pretty unusual way. Students got a meet and greet with the chickens that will live in their school's courtyard. HOST: LANE

It’s been four months since Marimar [MARE-i-mar] Martinez, was shot by a Border Patrol agent on Chicago’s Southwest Side. She survived. But two other U.S. citizens in Minnesota who were recently involved in similar shooting incidents did not. HOST: DEGMAN

90 miles west of Chicago sits the beautiful Starved Rock State Park. But lesser known is the nearby Matthiessen State Park. The smaller nature reserve also touts Sandstone canyons and waterfalls...plus a less crowded feel. HOST: LANE

On Northwestern University’s Evanston campus, there’s a big boulder known as “The Rock.” For decades students have painted and repainted it with slogans, symbols and announcements. Campus officials say they don’t police The Rock except in the case of threats and profanity. But a recent incident has students and faculty questioning what administrators view as threatening and whom they see as worthy...

Every January, the International Puppet Theater Festival descends upon our city. This year the Chicago group Manual Cinema is one of the hot tickets. Their production “The Fourth Witch” puts a twist on Macbeth. HOST: LANE

A new essay collection visits the places that shape Midwestern literature. Lingering Inland: A Literary Tour of the Midwest features prose about the neighborhoods and spots that inspired regional writers. HOST: LANE

Three Illinois Democrats vying to become the state’s next U.S. senator shared a stage in Chicago last night [MON]. It was the first face-to-face debate between U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. The event co-hosted by WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics and International House started politely enough. Bu...

Spanish mix down

Deportation efforts since President Trump took office have torn apart thousands of families. For some of them, an immigration arrest follows other traumas. In a west suburban school district, an administrator heard that two of her former students were in crisis. So, she tried to help.

The Chicago Bears made it known this season they’ll be a contender for years to come. But it’s unlikely they’ll ever reach the heights of the most famous Bears squad. It was 40 years ago today (MON) that the Chicago Bears won their first and only Super Bowl, permanently cementing the legacy of the ’85 Bears. host: ALEX

Northwest Indiana is home to three of the country’s largest steel plants. The area produces more steel than any other region in the United States. But one environmental group says unless the companies invest in newer, cleaner technologies, the plants could end up closing in a decade. Jack Weinberg is a long time environmentalist and works with a group known as GARD – short for Gary Advocates for R...

Federal authorities slapped all kinds of labels on Chicago’s Juan Espinoza Martinez when they arrested him last fall. They called him a “high-ranking member of the Latin Kings.” They called him “depraved” and a “thug” as they accused him of offering 10-thousand dollars for the murder of U-S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino. But yesterday (THURS), a federal jury called Espinoza Martinez “not gui...

When it opens in June, the Obama Presidential Center will feature a museum and library. But good food is also on the menu. HOST: LANE

More than 170-thousand Illinois residents are behind on their student loan payments. Those people are at risk of having their wages garnished now that the Trump administration plans to restart collections on federal loans in default. HOST: LANE

Chicago couple who got arrested and detained last October — just 8 days after getting married. The bride got deported back to Mexico. The groom is in detention in Michigan.

In January of 1966, Martin Luther King Jr. moved into a North Lawndale apartment with his family. Sixty years later, a local playwright… Willie Round … has written about this pivotal time in King’s fight for fair housing, education and employment. Round grew up in North Lawndale. HOST: LANE

The Chicago Bears are entering the second round of the playoffs, and fans aren’t leaving anything to chance. WBEZ’s Somer Van Benton went to last weekend’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers to ask people about the superstitions and game-day rituals they rely on. HOST: LARA