WBEZ News

Singer-songwriter Alynda Segarra has carved out a space as a leading voice in modern folk music. And the singer-songwriter recently found a home right here in Chicago, playing with a group of local musicians. HOST: LANE

Hot dogs are not just a Chicago thing. They’re very much a Gary, Indiana thing too. And now the smash-hit TV show “The Bear” is putting a spotlight on one of Gary’s best-kept secrets… a hot dog joint nearly as old as the city itself. HOST: LABUZ

For decades, Aadam Jacobs obsessively documented Chicago’s indie rock scene. He was a fixture at local venues, recording shows religiously in the 80s, 90s and beyond. For a while, the future of Jacobs’ personal archive was uncertain… much of it lived in his home, on shelves or in boxes… and tape *quality* degrades over time. But over the past few years … a team of volunteer audio archivists began converting the recordings to digital formats and releasing them to the public.

Cook County is known as the wrongful-conviction capital of America. The National Registry of Exonerations lists 215 murder cases cleared here since 1989. Brown University sociologist Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve is out next week [5/19] with a book about them. She writes that wrongful convictions stem from something more pernicious than shoddy law enforcement. HOST: LANE

A calm has returned to Chicago this spring. Groups of U.S. Border Patrol agents are no longer making surprise visits to Michigan Avenue or marching through neighborhoods like Little Village or Back of the Yards. But volunteer responders who warn residents about immigration enforcement activity say they remain on high alert. And they’re using this time to adapt their strategies and prepare for whatever comes next. HOST: MELBA

The Chicago Bears’ search for a new stadium is now approaching five years. It seems like a resolution may be coming soon. But many question marks remain around what the team – AND the Illinois and Indiana state legislatures – want to see happen. Sun-Times reporter Mitchell Armentrout is here to help us break through the noise and bring us up to speed on how we got here. HOST: DEGMAN

The popular annual Kilbourn Park plant sale on Chicago’s north west side is celebrating its 30th anniversary this weekend with over 15,000 plants for sale. But this year, along with the regular stock of tomatoes, herbs, and annuals… there are also many native plant species on offer — reflecting a growing trend across the country in favor of more climate change resilient gardens. WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco has the story. HOST: LARA

Playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney is known for his poignant observations on race. He won an Oscar for co-writing the movie Moonlight, based on one of his plays. This spring, his new work Windfall premieres at Chicago’s Steppenwolf. HOST: LANE

The principal of an all-boys Catholic school high school on Chicago’s South Side won the prestigious Golden Apple Award yesterday (Mon). But as WBEZ’s Sarah Karp found out, it was more than an individual award. It was a moment to celebrate his school’s resurgence. HOST: MELBA

Earlier this year, the world’s most famous classical music concert featured Florence Price, a late Chicago composer. But was it really her music? HOST: LANE

During the Trump administration’s deportation campaign in Chicago last fall, immigration agents took away a mother on the Southwest Side. Her three children were all U.S. citizens. They were left to fend for themselves. And they did for nearly four weeks … … until a 27-year-old woman — a stranger — stepped in to help. WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell sat down with her. HOST: LARA

During the Trump administration’s deportation campaign in Chicago last fall, immigration agents took away a mother on the Southwest Side. Her three children were all U.S. citizens. They were left to fend for themselves. And they did for nearly four weeks … … until a 27-year-old woman — a stranger — stepped in to help.

For 40 years, the Green Mill has hosted The Uptown Poetry Slam. Its founder Marc Smith remains the emcee He is known for creating a monthly night of performance in the same bar that was a favorite haunt of Al Capone. Recently, a special guest arrived. South Side native Mayda Del Valle, the city’s new poet laureate, stepped up to the mic. HOST: LABUZ

A Chicago police officer was shot and killed over the weekend at Swedish Hospital. Alphanso Talley is accused of killing John Bartholomew and critically wounding another officer. A lot of questions remain about the circumstances of the shooting, so here to catch us up on what we do know is WBEZ’s public safety senior editor Tom Schuba. HOST : MELBA

The classic August Wilson play “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” tells the story of a real life blues legend …Ma Rainey. The play is currently onstage at the Goodman Theater. And it's bringing more attention to the real Rainey, who recorded all her music in Chicago at Paramount Records a century ago. HOST: LANE

The Trump administration deported hundreds of people from the Chicago area last fall. We’ve heard a lot about their arrests, but rarely how they try to rebuild their lives after the trauma of being sent back. One of them is a beloved Southwest Side neighbor who lived in Chicago for decades and was removed after being labeled a gang member. Like most people arrested, he did not have a criminal record, despite claims by the government. HOST: MELBA

More Black owned restaurants are opening in Chicago, and with that comes more dining options. Chicago Black Restaurant Week highlights that growth, featuring specials at nearly 40 Black-owned eateries. The culinary celebration is running now until February 22nd, making it a good way to celebrate Black-owned business and Valentines Day. Sun-Times Arts and Culture reporter Erica Thompson joins us now to tell us more. HOST: LANE

President Donald Trump has promised to increase federal immigration enforcement in Chicago. It’s raising questions and fears for some parents of school-age kids. Chicago Public Schools says it does not coordinate with federal agents, including ICE. But what about your commute to and from school? HOST: LABUZ

President Donald Trump has been threatening to send the National Guard to Chicago, in what he calls an effort to curb violence in the city, despite lowering crime numbers. The threats come shortly after Trump deployed the National Guard into Washington DC, citing similar concerns. Sun-Times national political reporter Tina Sfondeles is in Washington DC and joins us now to talk about what she’s seen. HOST: LABUZ

Each fall, more than 15-hundred freshmen start class at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. HALF of them are the first in their family to attend college. That’s a big milestone for a group that faces challenges not only in applying to college — but in adjusting to it and graduating.

Since President Trump took office, we’ve been hearing a lot about federal agents arresting immigrants outside schools, on their way to work, or after appointments in immigration court. But, we don’t have many first-hand accounts about what happens next. HOST: LARA

The Trump administration is looking to defund the Legal Services Corporation. That organization allocates federal money to non-profit legal providers. Cuts to its budget could mean less legal representation for victims of domestic violence and veterans. HOST: DIXON

Juan Hernandez was just a teenager when he went away to prison. He was in his 30s before he earned his high school diploma. To get there, he had to fight through wait lists, denials and administrative barriers. And he’s not the only one. In Illinois, thousands of men and women have been unable to access education in prison because of the length of their sentence. Reporter Charlotte West from Open Campus brings you Juan’s story. HOST: LARA

A new investigation by the Invisible Institute and ProPublica reveals that The Chicago Police Department has failed to vigorously investigate allegations of sexual assault by officers. A review of over 300 sexual assault and misconduct complaints found claims were often downplayed or ignored, sometimes allowing officers to abuse again and again. Reporters Dana Brozost-Kelleher and María Inés Zamudio are here to share their findings. HOST: LARA

A judge has temporarily blocked the Trump Administration’s efforts to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. To discuss how closing that agency could affect Illinoisans – and what can be done locally – WBEZ’s Esther Yoon-Ji Kang sits down with Horacio Mendez. He leads the Woodstock Institute, which is an organization focused on consumer financial protection. HOST: LANE

Chicago’s holiday season is a-go…and while there are plenty of wholesome events to entertain little ones, the season isn’t just for the kids. From Risque reindeer to a whimsical parody of Die Hard, there’s plenty of fun to be had for adults this December. WBEZ Arts and Culture reporter Mike Davis has compiled a list of the naughty nights out for adults this holiday season. HOST: LABUZ

He’s now proposing to raise property taxes to help close a nearly $1billion dollar budget gap and avoid layoffs and deep cuts. He unveiled his $17-point-3 billion dollar budget plan today [WED] for next year. Here to provide a breakdown of what in the proposal is WBEZ’s Tessa Weinberg from City Hall.

Chicago was at the center of the Black hair care industry for decades, with several key brands built here. Now, Black women are flocking to Chicago to sue those companies, saying the chemicals in the products used to straighten their hair left them sick. Recent studies have found frequent users of relaxers have a higher risk of getting certain kinds of cancers. Sun-Times reporter Andy Grimm and WBEZ reporter Natalie Moore have been reporting about the lawsuits and the women impacted. Joining us to share what they’ve learned is Andy Grimm. Host: Mary Dixon

In recent weeks TikTok and Instagram feeds have been filled with videos of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups shouting each other down on college campuses across America. But off screen, steps away from the clashes and anger are college students on both sides of a seemingly uncrossable divide struggling with grief and fear.

Inside schools, special education aides work closely with students who have a range of challenges, from staying focused - to navigating buildings with a physical disability. Chicago Public Schools has been rapidly adding these positions as it tries to improve its long-troubled special education program. But it still struggles to fill aide positions - There are currently more than 500 aide vacancies. As part of a series about the people who make schools run smoothly, WBEZ’s Sarah Karp talked to one aide. Host: Lisa Labuz

Twenty-seven current and former Chicago cops appeared on the leaked membership list of the Oath Keepers — the anti-government extremist group that gained notoriety for the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Now, a monthslong investigation from WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project has looked into those officers in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois, revealing the troubling records of some of those cops. Reporters Dan Mihalopoulos of WBEZ and the Sun-Times’s Tom Schuba spoke with people who say they had disturbing and racist experiences with officers who joined the Oath Keepers. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

This year Chicagoans elected 65 people to serve on the city’s first police district councils. The job includes providing a forum for city residents to raise concerns about policing in their district and help address them. The councils are all up and running. But there’s no instruction manual for making sure they’re effective. Five months since the district council members took their oath, WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell checked in with one on the West Side to see how her work is going. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to ban race-conscious college admissions policies is causing ripple effects right here in Illinois. Earlier this month, Western Illinois University said it was ending a scholarship for incoming students of color in order to comply with the ruling. Then, just as quickly, Western this week reversed itself and reinstated the scholarship. Host: Lara Melba; Reporter; Lisa Philip

Craft cannabis growers in Illinois need to be ready to go by March 1, but most of them still can’t even get financing to start building facilities. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman

Chicago Public Schools enrollment is down by at least 10,000 students this fall. It has dropped by more than 24,000 since the pandemic began. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Sarah Karp, Adriana Cardona-Maguigad

Some community groups are throwing out a bold proposal to address disinvestment on the West and South Sides: How about a thousand new single-family homes on each side of town? Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Linda Lutton

Some community groups are throwing out a bold proposal to address disinvestment on the West and South Sides: How about a thousand new single-family homes on each side of town? Host: Mary Dixon Reporter: Linda Lutton