WBEZ News

WBEZ asked doctors and nurses from hospitals throughout the city and suburbs to send in recordings documenting their experience receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Host: Marie Lane; Producer: Mariah Woelfel, Kristen Schorsch

Chicago high school teachers are seeing an increase of students working to help their families during the pandemic, but are skipping class and not turning in school work. Host: Susie An; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Two suburban high school juniors made it through a fall of remote learning during a pandemic, but their experiences are very different. Host: Becky Vevea; Reporter: Susie An

Shanna Sigers’ husband died from Coronavirus in April. For StoryCorps Chicago, Shanna spoke about how his death has transformed her. Host: Becky Vevea; Producer: Bill Healy

Clinical psychologist Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler discusses how to handle the holiday stress in the midst of the pandemic, and shares some strategies to reduce holiday stress and anxiety. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

Stay at home mandates, teleworking and e-learning in 2020 have greatly altered the daily commute in Chicagoland. City and suburban ridership has fallen by the millions during the pandemic. Host: Becky Vevea; Reporter: Claudia Morell, Michael Puente

Mercy Hospital on Chicago’s Near South Side cannot close. Illinois regulators have unanimously voted against the proposed closure. Regulators say they're worried about access issues for patients, especially in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Health care workers lined up for some of the very first COVID-19 vaccinations in Illinois. On the same day, the state announced an additional 117 Illinoisans have died from the virus in the past 24 hours. Host: Becky Vevea Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Leaders at local fraternities and sororities talk about trying to build community and connect with new students during a pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Minju Park

The vaccine is finally here. How some doctors are lining up to get immunized this week. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

The thought of going back to in-person class ramps up Jessica Vega's anxiety. She's a Chicago Public Schools teacher who has tried her best teaching remotely during the pandemic. She says Chicago Public Schools’ plan to bring elementary students back in February is expecting too much from teachers. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

At Saucedo Elementary in Little Village, Olga Contreras is fighting back against palpable learning loss — one day and one student at a time. Host: Marie Lane Reporter: Sarah Karp

A shrine in suburban Des Plaines is trying to keep pilgrims away due to the pandemic. Celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe usually attract up to a quarter million visitors. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Linda Lutton

Prisoners rely on the so-called grievance system to report dangerous conditions, including abuse. In Illinois, the system is broken. Host: Marie Lane Reporter: Shannon Heffernan

Some city employees have a new job this year, breaking up large gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19. Currently, Illinois is not allowing private parties in commercial spaces, and gatherings at private residences cannot exceed six non-household members. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Odette Yousef

A COVID-19 vaccine could be in Illinois soon, and medical professionals in Chicago are weighing the risk and duty of getting it. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Becky Vevea

As Chicago Public Schools prepares to resume in-person classes early next year, North Lawndale College Prep says it’s working for their students. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Newly released data shows disparities that hospitals serving communities of color have felt for months - small Chicago hospitals were full with patients, while big hospitals had beds to spare. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

With only 42 % of Black adults in a national study saying they’re willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, Chicago clinics serving communities of color see work ahead. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Mike Grover has lived with an aggressive brain cancer for more than a decade. At StoryCorps Chicago, Mike spoke to his wife Lea about confronting death. Producer: Bill Healy

A JPMorgan Chase grant will look to help Black and Latino families become homeowners after decades of disinvestment in Chicago neighborhoods. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Linda Lutton

Long before he landed a side gig at the power company, Ed Moody was a star election worker for Illinois Democratic boss Michael Madigan. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

Ridership on public transit has plummeted during the pandemic. With so many businesses rethinking the need for offices, transit agencies like suburban rail service, Metra, are thinking about how to look different and attract new riders post COVID. Host: Susie An Reporter: Jerome McDonnell

Jennifer Brier is a History and Gender & Women's Studies Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In a recent Washington Post column, she writes in the midst of a the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to remember and reflect on the very real persistence of HIV and AIDS. Host: Melba Lara, Lisa Labuz Producer: Mariah Woelfel

A national initiative called the Confess Project is training Chicago barbers to become front-line supports for the mental health of their customers. Host: Susie An Reporter: Jarrell Hightower