WBEZ News

Anja Herman first visited the StoryCorps booth in 2015, when she was nine. Now 15, she and her aunt reflected on their conversation about living with a physical disability. Producer: Bill Healy

Sonia Wang's parents wanted her to become a lawyer or doctor, but instead she became a teacher. In 2015, Sonia Wang visited the StoryCorps booth with Ji Yoon Noh, a young woman she mentors, who was curious about how Sonia’s parents handled her career choice. Producer: Bill Healy

High school students in Chicago are adjusting to new classroom routines. But some are having a hard time following their school’s dress code. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Critics say Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan is an impractical political stunt and will do more harm than good. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Patrick Smith

Ellen Hughes feared the worst when her son, Walker, bit her while on the way into the ER. Then a public safety officer “worked a miracle." Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Bill Healy

We revisit a story from 2014, featuring Bobby Hart talking with his wife, Meg, who was 37 weeks pregnant at the time. Were they prepared for what came next? Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Bill Healy

Doctor Scott Collis, atmospheric scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, shares when can we attribute persistent unusual weather to climate change. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Lisa Daniels’ son was killed four years ago. But she’s made her peace with the person accused of shooting him. Producer: Bill Healy

When he was in middle school, Garry Mitchell, Jr.'s dad showed up at the principal’s office to make sure he got into advanced classes. As part of our StoryCorps Chicago finale this week, we’re listening back to some of the powerful conversations recorded over the years. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Bill Healy

We visit two vacant lots on the West Side that are part of opening weekend for the Chicago Architecture Biennial. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Linda Lutton

Most Illinois schools haven’t started weekly COVID-19 saliva testing despite being several weeks into the school year. Lisa Schencker of the Chicago Tribune explains why. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Lorraine Hansberry's famed play brought the story of a Black family on the South Side of Chicago to Broadway. A new exhibit reimagines its themes. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Natalie Moore

The city of Chicago recently began a pilot program that trims back the role of police in responding to 911 calls about mental-health crises. Matt Richards of the Chicago Department of Public Health shares details on how that effort is going. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Some of the youngest Chicago Public School students are having a hard time adjusting to in-person learning after a year of learning at home. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Under new leadership, a 1980s program designed to prevent white flight is now assisting local residents with repairs and remodeling. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Natalie Moore

Pedro Martinez is currently superintendent of a San Antonio school district. He will become CPS' first permanent Latino leader. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Chicago Public Schools says it will ramp up contact tracing amid complaints that it’s taking too long to inform parents their children have been exposed. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

Elaine Little resigned after WBEZ reported Little had herself been under investigation in a previous job for alleged conflicts of interest. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

It's fall membership drive time at WBEZ, and we wanted to give you a peek behind the scenes on how we do what we do. Linda Lutton took time to share the whys and hows of her reporting, as well as some tape that had to be cut for air! Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Erin Kahoa

WBEZ's Lisa Labuz talks to TikTok historian Sherman “Dilla” Thomas about the Pullman neighborhood, its founder, and the laborers who lived there. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Cianna Greaves

Jack Darin, an advocate for the new energy bill passed by Illinois legislators explains how he thinks it’ll help the fight against climate change. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Emboldened by new data, Latino aldermen are seizing the moment and turning City Council committee meetings into the latest battleground for equity. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

A temporary 9/11 memorial is giving Chicagoans an opportunity to remember the terrorist attacks of 20 years ago. Host: Araceli Gómez-Aldana; Reporter: Linda Lutton

Twenty years after the terrorist attacks, recollections are still vivid for some, while others only know a post-9/11 world. Host: Araceli Gómez-Aldana; Reporter: Adora Namigadde

Hal Bergen was sent by the U.S. military to Germany at the end of WWII, where he helped run the sound system for the Nazis’ trial for war crimes. Bergen’s daughter Kathy brought him to StoryCorps, where he told her about his front row seat to history. Producer: Bill Healy