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Low voter turnout, Pritzker warns of extremism, police officer mental health Feb 07, 2023

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A WBEZ analysis suggests most Chicago voters will skip the upcoming municipal election. Meanwhile, Governor JB Pritzker wants people to pay attention to local elections to help root out what he calls “extreme ideology.” A report from the Chicago inspector general criticizes the city police department for failing to provide enough mental health support for officers.

Part I: The weight that anti-fat bias carries Feb 06, 2023

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Whether it's through weight loss campaigns or outright discrimination, fat phobia seems to be one of the last acceptable kinds of bias. Sarah Stark is a freelance producer, and she launched the “Bias Against Bodies” series on WBEZ’s daily talk show, “Reset.” In five episodes, guests cover how pervasive anti-fat bias is in America and the negative mental, physical and financial effects fat phobia causes for children and adults alike. In part one of the conversation, Stark recaps the part of the series about fat phobia’s anti-Black origins and how bias against bodies shows up at the gym and the doctor’s office. Editor's note: A previous version of this episode misattributed a quote in the introduction to Brandie Solovay. The correct speaker was Esther Rothblum.

Early voting spots, tenants lack heat and water, Medicaid protections ending Feb 06, 2023

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Early voting is underway in Chicago; find out where to drop off your ballot. Tenants of a South Side apartment complex have been without heat and water for weeks. With Medicaid pandemic protections coming to an end March 31st, more than 300 thousand Illinois residents could lose health insurance.

‘Motive’ podcast follows former Chicago gang members working to stop violence Feb 03, 2023

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When you hear the word “gang,” different thoughts may come to mind. But overall, why people join gangs and everything that happens after is complicated. And then there are those former gang members who’ve made it their job to stop the violence that comes with gang life. The host of WBEZ’s Motive podcast, Pat Smith, spent a year with these anti-violence workers, and he talks about making season 5 of the podcast with them at the center.

Federal grant to help unhoused folks, new community complex, 'zombie' fungus Feb 03, 2023

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The U.S. Housing Secretary gives Chicago $60 million dollars to address homelessness. The fungus in “The Last of Us” is among us – housed for research purposes at the Chicago Field Museum, and it’s not really that deadly. The new North Austin Community Center opened yesterday to much fanfare.

Black History Month in Chicago, railway expansion, college enrollment drops Feb 02, 2023

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It’s Black History Month and cultural institutions all over Chicago are celebrating with innovation, including a Shark Tank contest for Black entrepreneurs in the city. The Chicago City Council approved the Norfolk Southern Railway expansion to the 47th Street rail yard. Declining enrollment at Illinois colleges may be a sign of an upcoming demographic cliff.

Book bans and sanctuaries: A look at war and peace in local libraries Feb 01, 2023

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Libraries are often considered peaceful spaces, but in reality, they’ve long been battlegrounds for freedom of speech. To ban books or not to ban books? It’s an issue fueled by identity politics and critical questions about who has the authority to limit access to information. WBEZ’s Adora Namigadde talks about what censorship looks like for librarians and library visitors in a push and pull about what should stock the shelves.

Upgrades at O’Hare, school staffing shortages, COVID disaster emergency to end Feb 01, 2023

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Billions of dollars later, construction on the International Terminal at O’Hare is finally complete. Amid staffing shortages in Illinois public schools, the state has a new superintendent of education starting this month. Gov. JB Pritzker announced the end of Illinois’s COVID disaster emergencies, effective this spring.

Tyre Nichols protests continue, financial health, goodbye to Candace Parker Jan 31, 2023

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Tyre Nichols protests continue in Chicago. A new report shows that Black and Latinx residents are more financially vulnerable than white ones, even accounting for income similarities. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office is expected to drop charges against R. Kelly in a court hearing today.

Understanding menstrual equity and detaching the stigma from periods Jan 30, 2023

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The average person with a period pays $200 to $300 a year on products. To curb that cost, some states like Illinois have made period products tax exempt. But the question remains: Should they be readily available to all people with periods? Illinois Latino News Reporter Annabel Rocha talks about her work to destigmatize periods and make the experience more equitable. Find out more about the event at wbez.org.

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