WBEZ News

Pritzker’s tax-relief package includes suspending a 1% sales tax on food and stops a planned gas tax increase from taking effect in July. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Alex Degman

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike is hopeful as she looks ahead in the battle against COVID-19. Why? Because of what we know already. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman

The former Chicago police officer will have served just over three years for the murder. Roy L. Austin, a former official in the civil rights division of the U.S. department of justice, weigh in on calls for the feds to step in. Host: Jenn White; Producer: Patrick Smith

A state grant will help rebuild the commercial strip in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood. Craig Chico, head of the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, shares plans for a $50 million development on one block of Ashland Avenue. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Natalie Moore

In our weekly climate conversation Doctor Deanna Hence, from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Illinois, tells us what “wind chill” really means, and how it affects us. Host: Lisa Labuz, Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Health officials say we’ll be living with the coronavirus for perhaps years to come. But how we’ll live with it is the real question. Host: Clare Lane; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

WBEZ last month reported that kids most in need can’t get residential treatment. The state is responding, though advocates say it isn’t enough. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

Doctor Scott Collis, an atmospheric scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, shares what effects on our climate the Tonga volcanic eruption could have. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

The Chicago Bulls and the Blackhawks are dealing with injuries and the baseball players’ union is responding to their latest contract offer - plus more in the latest local sports news. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Reporter: Cheryl Raye-Stout

Without a compromise map nailed down, Chicago aldermen have been sitting through a sparsely attended series of public input hearings. But the once-a-decade process appears stalled. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Becky Vevea

Property owners can now request that their local county recorder remove illegal restrictive covenants from their property deeds. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Natalie Moore

Lisa Labuz and Tiktok historian Shermann Dilla Thomas reflect on Martin Luther King Junior’s struggle to bring change to Chicago. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Cianna Greaves

Chicago's new cultural affairs commissioner, Erin Harkey, talks about equitable funding for the arts and the city's plan to grow the film and TV industries in Chicago. Host: Araceli Gomez-Aldana; Producer: Katie O'Connell

Grieving parents have complained for years about a lack of communication from CPD detectives. A new unit aims to fix that. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Teachers return on Tuesday. This ends a bitter feud between the mayor and the union that left children idle since last Wednesday. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Sarah Karp

More children in Illinois are being hospitalized with COVID-19, but officials say they aren’t seeing the virus raging in schools. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

With more snow possible later this week for Chicago, atmospheric scientist Dr. Scott Collis joined WBEZ to share more about what makes snow flurries form and fall. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Storage Cafe analyzed ten major cities in the U.S and found Chicago had the most 311 complaints per capita in 2020. Monica Eng wrote about the high number of complaints for Axios Chicago. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois reflects on the capitol insurrection a year ago. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

The mayor told WBEZ that the union’s temporary push for remote learning is arbitrary and unreliable. Union leaders say it’s not safe to return. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Chicago Teachers Union members voted Tuesday night to work remotely only starting Wednesday. CPS called the action illegal and a strike. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Sarah Karp

On the evening of April 15, 1972, Doctor Daniel Claiborne, an African American, was arrested by white police officers on Chicago’s south side. Two weeks later he died in a south side hospital. Shermann “Dilla” Thomas discusses how Doctor Claiborne’s death led to the convening of the city’s first panel on police misconduct. Host: Susie An, Lisa Labuz; Producer: Cianna Greaves

Scientists say sensor networks, cloud-based data and other innovations could reveal more about how climate change is altering the Great Lakes. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mark LeBien; Producer: Lauren Frost

Since August, many Afghans have resettled in Chicago. This has motivated one Afghan 16-year-old to help the new arrivals and other refugees. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

You know Dasher and Dancer … but do you know the most famous reindeer of all was created right here in Chicago? Local historian Sherman “Dilla” Thomas and WBEZ’s Lisa Labuz discuss the origin of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Cianna Greaves