WBEZ News

Mayor Lori Lightfoot says she won’t apologize for last year’s $1 billion budget increase, and sees this year’s proposed property tax increases as a "last resort." Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Becky Vevea

In Chicago, life sheltering in place isn’t changing any time soon as restrictions on gatherings remain. With COVID-19 changing the way people live and get around, some planners see the pandemic as an opportunity to rethink urban living. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Natalie Moore

Despite the assurances of city officials, many Pilsen residents remain opposed to a historic landmark district for the neighborhood. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: María Inés Zamudio

President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will debate one last time Thursday night. A group of Chicago-area students took part in a mock presidential debate this week, but with a lot more civility than some candidates have shown so far. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled her 2021 spending plan yesterday morning, and many Chicago aldermen and civic groups aren't happy. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Claudia Morell

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride is under fire from new GOP scrutiny over his ties to House Speaker Michael Madigan. Kilbride’s unexpected acceptance of $550,000 from the state Democratic Party that Madigan chairs is drawing sharp GOP criticism. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dave McKinney

Democratic Supreme Court Justice Tom Kilbride, who’s seeking another 10-year term on the court, needs 60% of the vote in a largely Republican district to win the seat. If he loses, it could help Republicans pave a path toward conservative control of the court. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dave McKinney

New York Times reporter, Davey Alba, found a nationwide network of local news sites publishing propaganda, including in Illinois. Sites with names like the Cook County Record, The Kankakee Times, and The Lake County Gazette may look like regular news sites, but many of the articles are ordered up by PR Firms or conservative political groups.

This year’s race for the position of Cook County’s top prosecutor offers a competition between two very different visions for the county’s criminal justice system. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Patrick Smith

Chicago is seeing its highest number of cases since the spring, and they’re expected to keep climbing. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot implored people to wear masks, keep their distance from others, and especially avoid big gatherings as the holidays approach. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

The $1 billion increase in Chicago’s budget last year is only partially due to ballooning pension obligations. Here's a look at how increases across the city added up. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Becky Vevea

Recently StoryCorps Chicago has been collecting stories about the experiences of being Muslim in the United States. Actor Bassam Abdelfattah spoke with his friend, hip-hop musician Kayem, about how Muslim people are presented in the media. Producer: Bill Healy

Enrollment in Chicago Public Schools dropped by 4% this year amid the pandemic and remote learning. That’s the biggest decrease in two decades and in line with drops in other big city districts around the country. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Sarah Karp

Public university leaders in Illinois were relieved this year when the state kept funding flat despite the pandemic. But without more federal aid, the governor is now warning of cuts at a time when schools are seeing costs rise and revenues drop. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Kate McGee

Chicagoans travelling to the city from Indiana are being ordered to quarantine. For some people on the city’s Southeast Side living on the state line, it means they could literally cross the street and then need to stay home for 14 days. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Michael Puente

Experts say the pandemic, a shortened timeline, quality control failures and politics could lead to a headcount that is not fit for use. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

In-person early voting kicked off in Chicago neighborhoods this week, and many are wondering how they can vote safely during the pandemic. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Claudia Morell

The Illinois Gaming Board wants to put Jeffrey Rehberger Jr. out of business. But other state officials back his bid for cannabis shops. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

Voters in Chicago can request mail-in voting ballots in six languages, including English. But, some residents receive bilingual ballots even if they don’t request one and aren’t bilingual. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

School funding isn’t a specific ballot item this election season. But election results will play a role in how much money Illinois schools could get in the coming years. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Susie An

Debate over the tax amendment has shaped up as a clash between two of the wealthiest people on the planet. But what would it mean for you? Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Tony Arnold

The number of dual language schools has tripled, raising concerns about whether support for nonnative speakers is being stretched too thin. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Sarah Karp

In Chicago, the COVID-19 pandemic brought racial disparities in health care to the forefront. The coronavirus has killed mostly Black and Latino residents. One major source of the problem: money for "safety net" hospitals, that mainly treat people of color and vulnerable populations. Host: Melba Lara Reporter: Kristen Schorsch

Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, is an avowed pro-lifer. But is abortion the only issue that matters? Host: Marie Lane Reporter: Mike Puente

There are 67,000 students learning English in Chicago public schools. But according to evaluations of the bilingual programs meant to support them, 72% of those programs don’t measure up, a new WBEZ analysis finds. Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad