WBEZ News

Dr. Jessie Leyse is an infectious disease specialist who spent time in Africa fighting Ebola. She spoke with her aunt, Heidi Rockwell, about battling COVID-19 at home. Producer: Bill Healy

Northwestern professor Michelle Buck grappled with physical distance from her mother, who has advanced dementia, and her infant granddaughter. Producer: Mariah Woelfel

Among 25 suburban districts surveyed by WBEZ, wealthier districts were less likely to see drops in attendance last fall than poorer ones. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie An

The hospital is supposed to help the low-income Austin neighborhood, but information surfaced this week about Loretto making vaccines available to many ineligible groups. Breaking news editor for Block Club Chicago, Kelly Bauer, provides the latest. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Writer Suzanne McDonough, whose immune diseases make her especially vulnerable to COVID-19, felt comfort in a world of masks and caution. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Mariah Woelfel

Evanston City Council’s groundbreaking vote to approve a reparations program is just the first step in the city’s movement toward reparative justice. Alderman Robin Simmons discusses Evanston’s historic move. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Cianna Greaves

The inquiry comes from the same office reportedly investigating financial transactions related to Trump Tower Chicago. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tony Arnold

Chicago-area landlord Derrick Rowe had to sell three properties and borrow against his retirement to make ends meet this year. Producer: Mariah Woelfel

As Illinois expands the vaccine rollout, there's still a disparity among Black and Latino residents — and a long way to go to herd immunity. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Becky Vevea

There’s a fight over a controversial plan to move a metal shredder to Chicago's South Side. Steve Joseph is CEO of Reserve Management Group, the company that wants to operate that recycling facility. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Linda Lutton

Writer Stan Engelsen's emergency room experience brought back memories of losing a loved one to AIDS in the 1980s. Producer: Mariah Woelfel

The first jury trial in Cook County began on Monday, more than a year after the court mostly shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter; Patrick Smith

Author Jian Ping added winter swims to her routine, and it has been magical. Producer: Becky Vevea

The Illinois Department of Corrections halted in-person visits last March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But a year later, there’s still no plan to allow families to reconnect. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Patrick Smith

More vaccinators - not just more vaccines - are helping get people get inoculated more quickly. Host: Araceli Gómez-Aldana; Reporter: Becky Vevea

Evanston resident Susannah Pratt reading her essay about the monotony of her new life working from home each day during the COVID-19 pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Mariah Woelfel

One year since coronavirus changed life as we know it in Chicago, WBEZ’s Claudia Morell spoke with Mayor Lori Lightfoot about her efforts to take charge during this once in a generation pandemic. Host: Melba Lara

Undergraduate student enrollment at many Illinois colleges and universities is down this year. Some students say they needed a break to reflect and realign their goals. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

There’s some relief in the local baseball economy now that a limited number of Cubs and Sox fans can attend home games starting next month. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Michael Puente

Chicago Public Schools is diving into hybrid learning where students get a blend of remote and in-person instruction. Even with remote learning going well, Olga Contreras wants her students back in class. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp

The board of the Fraternal Order of Police lodge has 28 members. Not a single one is Black. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

The latest in WBEZ’s series of essays marking one year of COVID-19 comes from 9-year-old Ellis Curry. Producer: Mariah Woelfel

WBEZ has been asking you to share essays on how this pandemic impacted your life. Jorge Valdivia, a graduate student from the Southside of Chicago, discusses the loss, and the growth, he’s experienced this past year. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Mariah Woelfel

Pritzker spoke with WBEZ about his optimism about vaccinations, struggles with the mask mandate and thoughts about Republican criticism of his pandemic response. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Tony Arnold

Bare grocery shelves and lockdowns during the pandemic triggered painful traumas for some refugees of war-torn countries now in Chicago. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Odette Yousef