PODCAST · news
WBEZ News
by WBEZ Chicago
The latest news and featured stories from WBEZ Chicago.
Episodes
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Mayor Johnson pitches $17.6 billion budget
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is laying out his $17-point-6 billion dollar budget proposal. The plan resurrects Johnson’s failed corporate head tax from last year in an attempt to close the city’s $882 million dollar budget gap. The spending plan also seeks to nearly double the tax on sports...
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Senate candidates Juliana Stratton and Don Tracy faced off in a forum last night
Election day is fast approaching. And Illinois voters are being asked to fill the open U.S. Senate seat now held by retiring Senator Dick Durbin. In the only face-to-face showdown of the campaign, Democrat Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy faced off last night [TUES] in a forum hosted by...
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Students react as UChicago confronts reports of sexual assault at fraternities
This story contains references to sexual violence and may disturb some listeners. A 21-year-old woman says she was sexually assaulted at a frat house near the University of Chicago earlier this month. U-Chicago doesn’t officially recognize the fraternity and neither student involved attends the...
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Cash is flowing into campaigns for Chicago’s first fully elected school board ahead of Election Day on November 3.
so far, the Chicago Teachers Union is being outraised and outspent. That’s despite the CTU being the biggest spender in these elections two years ago. HOST: MELBA
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Another woman says she was sexually assaulted at a University of Chicago fraternity house
A woman is suing a University of Chicago fraternity, alleging she was raped earlier this year by one of its members. The lawsuit filed yesterday (MON) holds that a member of Alpha Delta Phi sexually assaulted the 19-year-old woman during a fraternity party on February 7th. This comes just over a...
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9 Chicago theater performances to get your Halloween fix this fall
This October, some theaters in Chicago are getting into the Halloween spirit and staging spooky stories. HOST: LANE
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Rush Endeavor and Rush University System for Health announce plans to merge
The proposed merger announced Wednesday will now undergo a regulatory process that could take months before it’s approved. Once combined, the health system will include 12 hospitals in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. HOST: MELBA
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Key takeaways from CPS School Board president forum
There are fewer than three weeks until election day. And for the first time, Chicagoans will elect the entire Board of Education. Candidates for CPS Board President spoke at a forum hosted by WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, and Chalkbeat yesterday (WED) as part of their final push. HOST: LABUZ
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He’s writing. He’s acting and documentary filmmaking. But Bob Odenkirk yearns for the stage.
Bob Odenkirk has had many phases of his career…. From comedy writing on Saturday Night Live to dramatic acting in hit shows like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. This weekend, the Naperville native enters a new chapter, acting in a play in Champaign. HOST: LARA
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Thwarted Mass Shooting
A 19-year-old was detained on Sunday for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship in Aurora. Police in suburban Palatine say 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis faces charges of making a terrorist threat and illegal gun possession. According to prosecutors, the suspect…
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Gubernatorial Debate
There are less than three weeks until election day. And as the campaigns hit high gear, Governor JB Pritzker and Republican candidate Darren Bailey faced off last night [tuesday] in a bitterly-fought, hourlong forum. The WTTW event is the only time Pritzker and Bailey will go up against one…
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Westsiders rewrite history, designing maps of their own neighborhoods
Colorful, large-scale maps of Chicago’s Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park neighborhoods NOW live in the Chicago History Museum. HOST: LANE
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For Chicago’s flute queen V.V. Lightbody, life is a period piece
Chicago songwriter Vivian McConnell is known for fusing indie rock with unexpected flares. You can hear Latin rhythms and ….the flute she learned to play in high school. Around town, she performs with artists like Finom or Spencer Tweedy. But under the moniker VV Lightbody, she has released a new...
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Weekend Sports Recap
It was a tough weekend in Chicago sports. The White Sox fell to the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 Saturday, taking them out of American League Pennant and World Series contention. Legendary Bears player and coach Mike Ditka died Friday. The Bears suffered a tough 31-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers...
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Chicago youth explore STEM and leadership in honor of Jesse Jackson
Civil Rights Activist Reverend Jesse Jackson Senior would have turned 85 last week. His fraternity brothers hosted youth events at the Rainbow PUSH Headquarters to celebrate his birthday and honor his legacy. HOST: LABUZ
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WHITE SOX
RESULTS OF THE SOX GAME.
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NFL Hall of Famer Mike Ditka died yesterday (Friday) at 86.
Ditka played on the Bears’ 19-63 NFL championship team. And as coach of the 19-85 Bears, coached the team to its only Super Bowl championship. HOST: PUENTE
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Remembering ‘Da Coach’ Mike Ditka and the mark he left on Chicago
Former Bears Coach Mike Ditka has died at age 86. He became a symbol for the city of Chicago after leading the ‘85 Bears to the Super Bowl. WBEZ’s Noah Jennings has this remembrance. HOST: LARA
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The Chicago Stars are looking to shine again.
The Chicago Stars have had a rocky few years. The Windy City NWSL team has faced a slew of injuries and staffing changes that have them in last place this season. But the Stars are looking to shine again. HOST: LABUZ
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Judges Speak
Since President Donald Trump got reelected, more than 100 veteran immigration judges across the country have lost their jobs or resigned amid a sweeping overhaul of immigration courts. The Trump administration says it's making the courts more efficient. Several former judges who used to hear…
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A new Chicago exhibit is bringing presidential history to life
This fall, the Chicago History Museum will display some rare presidential artifacts. Among them is an item from Mary Todd Lincoln’s wardrobe that really brings the past to life. HOST: LABUZ
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Flock refused to remove this Illinois community college’s cameras
Some Illinois students are calling on colleges to cancel their contracts with Flock, a maker of automatic license plate readers powered by artificial intelligence. Federal agents and other law enforcement have accessed the data captured by Flock surveillance cameras for immigration enforcement....
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How a boy from Chicago rose to become Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff
Before Pope Leo the 14th became the first American to head the Catholic Church, he was known as Robert Francis Prevost. A boy from Dolton, a suburb just south of Chicago. His journey left an imprint across the world … particularly across the Chicago area. Here to break that down is NPR’s Senior...
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El Nino slowing down shipments of Magic The Gathering to Chicago game shops
The El Niño climate pattern is off to a record-breaking start, already spiking temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean. That excess heat is setting off extreme weather like floods and drought across the globe. An unexpected casualty? Trading cards. HOST: MELBA
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J. Dennis Hastert was once second in line to be president
U.S. House speakers ever to come from Illinois and the longest-serving Republican speaker in congressional history
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How the White Sox went from 121 losses to the playoffs
Unbelievably, the Chicago White Sox are in the playoffs. It’s a stark comeback from being the worst team in M-L-B history — just two years ago. WBEZ’s Somer Van Benton reports. HOST: LARA
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Are Illinois and the Chicago Bears finally making progress on a stadium deal?
Are Illinois and the Chicago Bears finally making progress on a deal for a new football stadium? It’s a timely question after Governor J-B Pritzker, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, legislative leaders and a new face representing the Bears sat down for the first time yesterday. The governor says…
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Where CPS Board president candidates stand on raising property taxes
As everyone paying their property tax bills in Chicago knows, as much as half of it goes to Chicago Public Schools. The soon-to-be-elected school board president will decide whether the budget calls for taxes to continue to increase. For voters who don’t have kids in CPS, it might be one of the...
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How one house kept its lights on when Northwest Indiana lost power
August storms knocked out power for nearly 375 thousand residents in Northwest Indiana… leaving people in the dark for days. But one house kept its lights on the whole time because it’s what's known as a passive home. Sun Times development reporter Abby Miller and WBEZ producer Marie Mendoza...
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The sounds of Chicago neighborhoods are being pumped through speakers Downtown
What do Chicago neighborhoods sound like - and could those sounds be art. An immersive noise installation recently took tourists by surprise on one of Chicago’s busiest blocks. HOST: LABUZ
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Chicago-based Mariachi Herencia de Mexico is having a moment
Chicago Bears third-string quarterback Case Keenum (KEY-num) isn’t the only one basking in the glow of victory on Monday night. So is a Chicago-based mariachi group. Their performance of the national anthem has gone viral. HOST: MELBA
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Chicago teens want more jobs and businesses in their neighborhoods, survey shows
Disinvestment in Chicago’s South and West sides has long impacted opportunities for residents. And new data show young people are also feeling the effects. My Block, My Hood, My City surveyed teens to find out what they would like to see in their communities. HOST: LANE
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Looming Medicaid cutoff threatens coverage for thousands of refugees in Chicago
Starting Thursday, refugees will no longer be eligible to receive Medicaid. It’s part of the H-R-1 budget reconciliation, often called the One Big Beautiful Bill, signed into law by President Trump last year. More than 9-thousand immigrants in Illinois are expected to be impacted. Sun-Times...
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City Council signs off on $2.5B parking meter sale
The Chicago City Council just signed off on the sale of the city’s much-detested parking meter contract from one private entity to another. And aldermen were able to negotiate some unexpected wins for taxpayers as part of the new agreement. HOST: MELBA
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Young collectors are finding a lot to like in Chicago galleries
A number of new art galleries and collections have hit the scene in Chicago for the fall. And with their arrival, comes a renewed push to bring more young people into the art gallery scene, and get them to start collections of their own. HOST: LANE
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President Trump was in Illinois for the Presidents Cup this weekend
Protests took place this weekend outside of the Presidents Cup golf tournament in Bloomingdale. Several groups gathered at Medinah Country Club in objection to President Trump's visit. HOST: LANE
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What a meeting of “Scream Club Chicago” sounds like
At Scream Club, about 50 strangers meet on Sunday evenings at the North Avenue Beach Pier and collectively scream into Lake Michigan. We hear what that sounds like, how it affects participants, and whether experts think its a useful means of managing anger. WBEZ’s Justin Bull checked it out.…
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What did William Shatner’s metal band bring to Riot Fest? Fire breathers and a little poetry
Riot Fest closed out a weekend of rock with rain delays and mounds of mud across the Douglass Park grounds. But there was a silver lining for some fans: William Shatner — yes, Captain Kirk, himself — was also there. HOST: LANE
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Immigration Judges
Since Trump was re-elected, about a dozen veteran immigration judges in Chicago have stepped down or been fired. Some of those judges have told WBEZ they faced intense pressure to find fewer reasons to grant asylum. Their replacements have limited background in immigration law. Experts say as...
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Griffin MSI's new design must go back to the drawing board
The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry houses many marvels. But the building itself could be getting a new feature. The museum recently released plans for a “Welcome Hall” that would make changes to the 57th street entrance. And not everyone is digging the design. HOST: LABUZ
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Comedian Lil Rel will be in Chicago this week
Comedian Lil Rel is back in Chicago. The West Side native is hosting the What’s Funny Comedy Festival through Saturday. HOST: LANE
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How Chicago helped kick off a basketball craze in Lithuania
Chicago LOVES its basketball. It’s not just the 90s Bulls. Any park you go to will have folks playing a game of pick-up. Chicago Public League high school stars become celebrities in this town. HOST: MELBA
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Many people know Doctor Donda West as the mother of hip-hop artist Kanye West. BUT yesterday (TUES), she was honored for the mark SHE made on Chicago
78th Street from South Shore Drive to Coles Avenue has officially been designated as “Doctor Donda West Way.” HOST: MELBA
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CPS School Board fall elections: What's at stake and how to vote
For the first time, Chicago’s school board will be fully elected. All 20 members, plus a president, will be chosen in the November election. HOST: MELBA
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‘Can I Get a Witness’ authors chronicle the Gay sisters’ gospel rise
A new book details the life and legacy of the Gay Sisters, a family group who shaped the Gospel music genre. The singers are best known for their 1951 hit record "God Will Take Care of You," which was later recorded by Aretha Franklin. Behind the book are record label founder Steven Dolins and...
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‘Can I Get a Witness’ authors chronicle the Gay sisters’ gospel rise
A new book details the life and legacy of the Gay Sisters, a family group who shaped the Gospel music genre. The singers are best known for their 1951 hit record "God Will Take Care of You," which was later recorded by Aretha Franklin. Behind the book are record label founder Steven Dolins and...
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Governor J-B Pritzker is, for the first time, opening up about his weight-loss journey using a GLP-1 medication to manage his glucose levels.
The billionaire Democrat who’s eying a 2028 presidential bid says the drug – which is being covered by the state’s health insurance plan – has helped him eat healthier and exercise more. HOST: ALEX
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DJs remix sounds of the Chicago River
The Chicago River Swim didn’t happen this weekend. BUT it wasn't the only opportunity for Chicagoans to experience the river. WBEZ’s Somer Van Benton reports.
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Mold, broken refrigerators and needed FEMA funds: Help is still needed in Gary
You followed up with a family you spent time with in August. They were on day twelve with no power. How are they holding up now?
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Five years later, Illinois still isn’t fully delivering on the TEAACH Act
In 2021, Illinois became the first state to require every public elementary and high school to teach a unit of Asian American history. That’s because of the passage of the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History, or TEAACH Act. But five years later, it’s not clear how many schools are...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does WBEZ News have?
WBEZ News currently has 1000 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is WBEZ News about?
The latest news and featured stories from WBEZ Chicago.
How often does WBEZ News release new episodes?
WBEZ News releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 1000 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
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Who hosts WBEZ News?
WBEZ News is created and hosted by WBEZ Chicago.
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