In the Loop (Segments)

This week marks Joe Biden's first year in office but his presidential agenda seems to be in jeopardy. Plus, his approval rating just hit a new low. Reset checks in with a political consultant and a political science professor for their take on what’s next for President Biden and the Democratic party.

Stunning information has come out about an Illinois-based chain of COVID-19 pop-up testing sites. The Attorney General of Minnesota alleges that the company has given incorrect or falsified testing results or never gave test results at all, while billing the government for millions of dollars. Reset checks in with the reporter who has been covering this story and the Federal Trade Commission about...

‘Women of the Movement’ showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar joins Reset to talk about what it takes to retell the story and murder of Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till Mobley’s quest for justice.

Legendary photographer Steve Schapiro passed away at the age of 87 Saturday. Schapiro was known for his work covering the civil rights movement and icons like David Bowie, Muhammad Ali and even Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Reset checks in with friends of Schapiro about his contributions.

Many of our relationships seem to have gotten a little more challenging due to social distancing, video calls and the collective stress we’re all dealing with during the pandemic. Reset gets some tips on how to stay connected to the people in your lives.

WBEZ’s parent company Chicago Public Media is acquiring the Chicago Sun-Times in a deal that will close at the end of January. The move will create one of the largest nonprofit news organizations in the nation.

More than 36 million families got their sixth and final monthly child tax credit advance back in December. Now that the payments have expired, are families feeling the pinch? And what further aid could be forthcoming? We talk to a consultant with Get My Payment Illinois for more on what families need to know right now.

UIC epidemiologist Katrine Wallace is finding innovative ways to combat COVID-19 misinformation. Her latest endeavor: TikTok fame. With 243,000 followers and 4.2 million likes, Dr. Wallace is using the platform to debunk myths and encourage vaccinations.

The opioid crisis has gotten less attention during the pandemic, even though deaths have reached record-breaking numbers. What can we do to limit overdoses?

Have you noticed your Gmail account accumulating more junk mail? We have. Reset gets some spam banishing tips from a tech reporter.

Chicago restaurants are now banned from giving customers unsolicited plasticware, napkins and condiment packets under a new law that went into effect Tuesday. Reset checks in with the lead sponsor of the ordinance and a local organization that’s working to reduce our dependency on single-use plastic and promote alternatives that are better for the environment.

If comedians pull from their pain, these past few years have given them a lot of material. Reset checks in with Second City about how they’ve gotten through this pandemic.

Last week, National Nurses United went on strike to protest working conditions that they say omicron has exacerbated. This is part two in our look at how the surge in cases and hospitalizations has been affecting nurses. Reset checks in with a career nurse who works in hospitals in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

Reset discusses the New York Times declaring a suburban Chicago waterway as one of the “Best Places on Earth,” and its deep roots in African American history.

Chicago’s home for marine life is about to get a major boost. Through a new effort called the Centennial Commitment, the Shedd Aquarium is spending $500 million on a project that will, among other things, modernize and advance animal care. Reset shares what the project will entail and when visitors can expect to see changes.

As omicron cases continue to strain hospitals across the country, the U.S. Surgeon General is warning that the worst is yet to come. Here in Cook County, new data show that Black Chicagoans and suburban residents over 60 are dying at disproportionate rates and that unvaccinated Illinois residents are 22 times more likely to die than unvaccinated residents. Reset checks in with two WBEZ journalists...

The American Red Cross is warning of a national blood crisis. The organization says it’s facing its worst shortage in more than a decade. Reset learns more about what’s causing the shortage, how it’s impacting hospitals and what you can do to help.

Birth rates have dropped over the past few years in the U.S., and new data show the declines have become even sharper during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reset talks with experts on why numbers are dropping and how they might impact the economy and our way of life going forward.

As the omicron wave continues, Mayor Lori Lightfoot tests positive for COVID-19. Students return to classrooms this week after a standoff between the city and the Chicago Teachers Union. Plus, employees at the Art Institute of Chicago vote to form a union.

Newly released data shows that more young adults are taking jobs rather than enrolling in college, and that the pandemic gap year idea was a myth. Reset checks in with a reporter about the reasons for this and what some of the long-term effects of this might be on the economy.

For our latest “Food Friday” segment, Reset talks to Big Drop CEO Rob Fink about Dry January and the company’s non-alcoholic craft brews.

Some Chicago Public School students are planning a districtwide walkout today to protest the return to in-person classes. Reset checks in with WBEZ education reporter Susie An, on the ground at Lane Tech High School.

Pure Oil gas stations and their unique architecture are being repurposed all over the Chicago area.

A new coffee shop in Pilsen is giving students hands-on business experience — and it happens to be inside a church. Reset learns more about Holy Grounds at St. Paul Church and a nonprofit that focuses on youth workforce development in Chicago.

Here are the top things to know about Chicago’s new domestic workers ordinance.