Morning Shift Podcast

The U.S. has officially observed June 19 as a federal holiday for the last five years. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people, and the end of slavery in the U.S. in 1865. Today on In the Loop, we hear about the Juneteenth celebrations and observance happening across the city this weekend, and discuss new traditions being created by communities in Chicago and beyond. GUESTS: Jahmal Cole, CEO and founder of My Block My Hood My City Tynnetta Qayim, COO, Black Ensemble Theater Katanya Raby, vice president of planning for Far South Community Development Corporation

No you're not seeing things – we're bringing you our Weekly News Recap a day early! Illinois Governor JB Pritzker promises to be “very involved” in the 2028 presidential election. A man accused of burning a cross in Grant Park faces hate crime and arson charges. The U.S. Department of Justice challenges Evanston's reparations program. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in our Weekly News Recap. GUESTS: Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune transportation and labor reporter Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times architecture critic Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business government and politics reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

What's behind the surge to try to ban books and what does it mean for readers? We tap in with a panel of experts, including an Illinois author whose children's book is banned from several shelves outside of the state. GUESTS: Veronica Arreola, author of the children's book “J Is for Justice” Emily Knox, interim dean and professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Dan Montgomery, executive director, American Library Association Jarrett Dapier, author of the new graphic novel “Wake Now in the Fire” about censorship at CPS schools For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Housing advocates have warned that the Obama Presidential Center could price out longtime residents. So far, the cost of single and multi-family homes in Woodlawn closest to the Obama Center have doubled since 2019, and less than a third of housing stock in the area was considered affordable. Also, the number of short-term rentals, like Airbnb, are increasing in the neighborhoods around the Presidential Center, which takes potential rental housing out of the market. In the Loop digs into how the city has fallen short of delivering on promises aimed at protecting residents from displacement, and how the growth of Airbnbs in the area is impacting affordability. GUESTS: Sidnee King Pineda, journalist, Illinois Answers Project Infiniti Gant, housing organizer, Southside Together Kristy Ramsey, Airbnb host, Woodlawn resident Cam Rodriguez, WBEZ data reporter Alexandra Salomon, WBEZ senior editor For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago is just days away from the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. And it's not just a museum or library, but also a home to a whole lot of art. Inside, outside, on the walls, IN the walls, overhead – and even the benches visitors will sit on. So who is this art for, and what message does it convey? In The Loop talks with three of the Chicago artists featured in the inaugural permanent collection at the Obama Presidential Center: visual artist Tyanna J. Buie, and muralists Dorian Sylvain and Sam Kirk. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago police investigate a cross burning and potential hate crime in Grant Park. Governor Pritzker says he's open to calling a special legislative session to reach a Bears stadium deal. Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel pedals presidential aspirations on a bike tour of New Hampshire. In the Loop breaks down those stories and much more with Axios' Carrie Shepherd, Chicago Tribune's Dan Petrella, and WBEZ's Alden Loury. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Biking advocate and Chicago Department of Transportation worker Riley O'Neil, 35, died on Friday, June 5, after he was hit with a car door and thrown into oncoming traffic. Since O'Neil's death, advocates are calling on the city to build more protected bike lanes to prevent fatal incidents like this one. In the Loop sits down with local organizers and cyclists — Charna Albert with Chicago, Bike Grid Now!, Kyle Lucas with Better Streets Chicago, and Jim Merrell with the Active Transportation Alliance — to discuss building safer streets in Chicago. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

On today's In the Loop, Sasha sits down with Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz to talk about his work spearheading a multi-billion-dollar revamp of the area around the United Center. Plus, we'll hear more about the history of the West Side and how residents feel about the historic investment. Today's guests are: Danny Wirtz, Chairman and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks; Marie Henderson, owner Out of The Past Records; Brian Ellison, board president of Garfield Park Community Council; and Ayesha Jaco, executive director of West Side United. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project and the Gerber/Hart LGBTQ Library and Archives are hosting a panel of elders who will share their slices of Chicago's queer history. In the face of federal attacks against the gay and trans community, hearing the stories from community leaders who helped pave the way for queer rights is more important than ever. To hear how queer elders are reflecting on Pride this year, In the Loop sits down with Karen Morris, co-founder of the LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project; Equality Illinois' Norma Seledon and queer elder history panelist Jay Myers. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Is Indiana the inevitable new home for the Bears, or is the leap toward Hammond just a stealthy negotiation tactic to put pressure on Illinois? The team announced Friday that its board of directors has voted to push forward with developing a stadium in Hammond, Ind., even though an exact site has not been selected yet. So are Chicago and Arlington Heights really out of the running? Will the fans follow the team to Hammond? How did we get here? In The Loop digs in. Our panel today: Indiana State Rep. Earl Harris, Jr.; Cheryl Raye-Stout, WBEZ sports contributor; Prof. Deborah Carroll, director, UIC's Government Finance Research Center. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

ICE agents sparked chaos in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood, crashing into a woman's car and threatening residents as they chased and detained a man. Media outlets got a preview of the Obama Presidential Center campus. Developers break ground on a $7-billion project around the United Center. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with WBEZ senior statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal, Chicago Tribune government reporter A.D. Quig and Block Club Chicago reporter Quinn Myers. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

On June 1, Illinois' Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act went into effect. The law entitles eligible parents with babies in the NICU with up to 20 days of unpaid leave. For more on what this new law could mean for families, In the Loop sits down with three Illinois mothers: Francennett Llamas of The Little Warriors Project, Amanda Santoro with The Little Giraffe Foundation, and Chicago resident Areli Flores. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

As big box pharmacies continue to disappear from Chicago's South and West sides, thousands of Chicagoans are having to travel miles outside of their neighborhood for medication. Some residents are even forgoing their prescriptions. Today on In the Loop, Alderman William Hall of the 6th Ward shares his plan to fill the gaps left behind. Plus, Edwin Muldrow, a second-generation pharmacist, explains the importance of having an independent, local pharmacy. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Just before the legislation session wrapped in Springfield this week, Illinois lawmakers passed landmark legislation regulating artificial intelligence. Senate Bill 315 requires developers to publish reports explaining the capabilities and risks associated with its technology. It also mandates third-party audits. Illinois is one of just a handful of states pushing through laws that regulate AI. But in the absence of federal governance, the growing patchwork of state laws may not be enough to protect consumers as AI technologies rapidly evolve and expand. For more on the growth of A.I. and what enforcement of regulation could look like in Illinois, we hear from Illinois State Rep. Daniel Didech (D-Buffalo Grove) and AI expert Michael Bennett, associate vice chancellor for data science and AI strategy at University of Illinois Chicago.

Home prices in Chicago are rising at more than five times the national average, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's BUILD plan — aimed to streamline housing development — didn't pass during Springfield's spring legislative session. So what will it take to make housing more affordable and homeownership more attainable in Chicago? In the Loop checks in with Lissette Castañeda, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Housing. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The Obama Presidential Center announces the schedule for its grand opening. Chicago's U.S. Attorney's Office says it's instituting reforms after the high-profile case against a group of ICE protesters falls apart because of prosecutorial misconduct. Plus, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson visits Pope Leo XIV in Rome. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with freelance journalist and City Cast Chicago contributor Brandon Pope, Illinois Answers Project reporter Alex Nitkin and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Violet Miller. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Intersectional solidarity is an approach to activism where different identity groups join together to fight oppressive forces. In honor of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, In the Loop explores how other marginalized communities can show up for Asian Americans and how Asian Americans can stand arm-in-arm with them. To find out more about ways Chicagoans can work toward unity, In the Loop sits down with HANA Center executive director Danae Kovac, Latinos Progresando chief programs officer Nubia Willman, and the Rev. Jaime Fluker, the executive director of Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

A centuries-old folktale about community, empathy and shared meals gets the Chicago treatment in a kids book from the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Stone Soup Chicago is part of a campaign by the food bank to combat hunger at a time of widespread food insecurity. In the Loop sits down with author and comics creator John Jennings, illustrator and multidisciplinary artist Sam Kirk and Greater Chicago Food Depository Chief Operating Officer Jill Rahman. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

More than 7 million people in the U.S. currently live with Alzheimer's disease, and that number is expected to increase as the nation's population ages. People in this group and their caregivers are at risk of social isolation, but “memory cafes” are helping them connect in the Chicago area. In the Loop checks in with participant and caregiver Robert Contino, memory cafe coordinator Molly Conley of Village Chicago and Dementia Friendly Illinois and social worker Susan Frick of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Dementia Friendly Illinois. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Six years after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police and the global protests that followed, rhetoric around race in America is sliding backward. The Trump Administration has aggressively gone after DEI initiatives, and the Supreme Court has weakened a landmark piece of civil rights legislation – a decision that undermines Black voting power. On today's In the Loop, how are we measuring racial progress at a time when racism is so mainstream in our politics and media? Sasha is joined by Dr. Onnie Rogers, associate professor and director of the Development of Identities in Cultural Environments research group at University of Chicago, and also Danielle Robinson Bell, associate professor at Northwestern's Medill School. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Happy Friday! It's been another busy week in politics, the economy, and more. So before you head out for the long Memorial Day weekend, get caught up on the top local stories you need to know about: Illinois lawmakers debate insurance rate reform and prescription drug costs, charges are dropped against the Broadview Six, and Chicago broadcast journalists sue big tech. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Nick Blumberg, WTTW News correspondent; David Greising, president of the Better Government Association; and Bob Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times investigative reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In the Loop and In the Loop listeners talk to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson about everything from city assistance for small grocery stores to a Chicago Bears stadium to wages for restaurant workers to the city's finances. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The Drive the Vote for Equality campaign stopped in Chicago this week to press for national recognition of the Equal Rights Amendment. On today's In the Loop, we look back at Illinois' complicated history with ERA, and find out how the current state of the fight for the ERA ties into today's battles over voting rights. At the table: Maureen Hellwig, president emeritus of the Chicago Women's History Center; the Rev. Janette Wilson, national director of PUSH for Excellence; and Laura Welch, National board member for the National Organization for Women. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

When someone picks up the phone to call 911 during a mental health crisis, WHO shows up can make all the difference. Since 2021, a Chicago program has been deploying social workers instead of law enforcement to non-violent mental health incidents. It's called the Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement program (CARE), and now it's expanding to serve ALL of Chicago. So, what does that expansion actually mean for residents, emergency response times and mental health care in this city? In the Loop sits down with Arturo Carrillo, Chicago's deputy mayor of health and human services, and Tiffany Patton-Burnside, senior director of crisis services at CARE. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

What's That Building? Oh, just another Chicago spot with a pretty wild story. The old McCormick mansion on Ontario Street has been reinventing itself over the decades. It's been closed since 2020, but now the historic building is going from a prime rib spot… to a new immersive magic venue. Chicago architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin brings us the inside scoop. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Former Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas is fined for violating campaign finance rules. Mayor Johnson announces plans to meet with Pope Leo XIV in Rome. Lawyers for residents of the South Shore apartment building raided during Operation Midway Blitz seek millions in damages from the federal government. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp, Axios Chicago reporter Monica Eng and NBC 5 political and investigative reporter Paris Schutz. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Illinois needs over 100,000 units to fill a severe housing shortage. Gov. Pritzker has a new plan to address this problem, the Building Up Illinois Developments, or BUILD. Housing advocates say the BUILD plan will help with housing affordability, particularly in neighborhoods with high demand. But some are concerned that this plan will take power from local municipalities and open the door for big developments in areas with mostly single family homes. In the Loop learns more about the basics of the bill currently working its way through the Illinois House and Senate from Mawa Iqbal, WBEZ statehouse reporter. We hear potential pros of the plan from Jeff Baker, CEO, Illinois Realtors and potential cons from Doug Pollock, president, Village of Riverside. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The arrival of piping plovers Monty and Rose to Chicago's Montrose Beach in 2019 captivated the city's residents. Chicago's love affair with the endangered birds grew into an entire fandom which included merch, a film and an army of volunteers dedicated to protecting the piping plovers. Seven years on, while the original love birds are no longer with us, Chicago's population of plovers has rebounded. In the Loop revisits the story of Monty and Rose and how public interest has helped bring the species back from the brink with Audubon Great Lakes Conservation Director Daniel Suarez, Monty and Rose director Bob Dolgan and Lincoln Park Zoo Urban Wildlife Institute Assistant Director Liza Lehrer. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program made by the federal government last year are now going into effect. In the Loop gets updates and hears how changes to SNAP benefits are impacting local grocery stores and Chicago-area families. Guest host Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government reporter, checks in with Nolan Downey of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Melody Winston of Living Fresh Market in Forest Park and Sally Schulze of RefugeeOne. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Months after the end of Operation Midway Blitz, immigration enforcement and detention is still underway in the Chicago area. But as federal agents have pivoted to a quieter approach, so too have rapid responders — advocates who work to provide fast on-the-ground help to people vulnerable to immigration raids and arrests. In the Loop checks in with Cristóbal Cavazos of the Casa DuPage Workers Center, Mimi Guiracocha of Pilsen Unidos por Ñuestro Orgullo (PUÑO) and WBEZ immigration reporter Adriana Cardona-Maguigad. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Ready for a week's worth of news in under an hour? Illinois State Police open an investigation into the ICE shooting of Silverio Villegas González. Mayor Johnson goes on the offense against the Bears in Springfield. Tickets for the opening of the Obama Center go on sale. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Carrie Shepherd, Axios Chicago reporter; Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune city hall reporter; and Mitch Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times reporter covering government and politics. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In November 2025, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis ordered footage from Border Patrol agents' body cameras be released. Filmmaker Bill Morrison took that footage and interwove it with cellphone video from residents to show how quickly the scene in Chicago became chaotic and violent. In the Loop sits down with director Bill Morrison and producer Maria Inés Zamudio to learn more about the story this bodycam footage tells us. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

New pay-to-park barriers are popping up at some of Chicago beaches, including at the historic Rainbow Beach. The Park District says the new barriers will generate millions in revenue. Community members say the new barriers are aggressive and unwelcoming. Today on In the Loop, we hear from Brian Gladstein of Friends of the Parks, Sherry Williams of the Burnham Park Advisory Council and Ald. Lamont Robinson, 4th Ward, about the impact new pay-to-park barriers could have on lakefront culture, privacy and the cost of the “free” parks in Chicago. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Social isolation can increase seniors' risk of developing dementia, stroke and heart disease. But Chicago advocates say the services, classes and resources that senior centers offer can act as preventative care. In the Loop check in with Yolanda Curry and Alicia Henry of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services and senior Jeannine Sharpe. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In his majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito argued that Louisiana illegally used race to create a second Black-majority district. In her dissent, Justice Elena Kagan wrote “the court's decision will set back the foundational right Congress granted of racial equality in electoral opportunity.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called the decision “voter suppression that will silence Black and brown voters.” The NAACP called it a “devastating blow” to the Voting Rights Act. In the Loop discusses the potential local and national impact of the decision with today's panel: Stevie Valles, executive director, Chicago Votes; Karen Freeman-Wilson, president and CEO, Chicago Urban League; Chika Okafor, assistant professor of law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago's Cinco de Mayo parade is cancelled for a second year due to immigration enforcement fears. IBM announces a new innovation center at the Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago's South Side, pledging hundreds of jobs for City College graduates. Meanwhile, in Springfield, the Illinois legislature is finalizing its game plan to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with Block Club Chicago reporter Mack Liederman, Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mary Norkol and Alex Nitkin, Illinois Answers Project government finance and accountability reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

It's been nearly five years since Illinois lawmakers passed the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act, or TEAACH Act. It ensures that students in every public elementary and high school in Illinois learn about the contributions of Asian Americans. In the Loop learns more with Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago executive director Grace Pai, education consultant and former volunteer of the TEAACH Curriculum Development Team Smita Garg and dean of college and career counseling at Noble Schools Laura Ouk. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Often, cases of sexual violence are treated as a criminal justice issue. But this approach can lead to repeated harm, doubt, and underreporting. Survivors, experts and service providers alike are calling on all of us to start viewing this as a public health crisis. In the Loop discusses how our approach to treating and preventing sexual violence could improve, and what resources exist to support and empower survivors in our area. Resilience clinical services supervisor Jillian Furey, DePaul University professor Megan Greeson and Department of Family and Support Services' Laura Ng all join us to dig into this issue. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Seven years after the botched police raid that left Anjanette Young handcuffed and traumatized in her home, she is now being selected to join the oversight board for Chicago's police department. But the road from victim to police reform advocate has been long – and is one traced in her new memoir Past the Pain. In it, Young recounts the night her life was changed, the faith that she both questioned and drew strength from, and the support she's found along the way. In the Loop checks in with the social worker-turned-police reform advocate about her new memoir, and what she hopes changes in CPD. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In the wake of several high-profile domestic violence cases, many ending fatally, the news headlines can feel all too familiar. How these stories are told, who's centered, the language used, and what's left out shapes public understanding. So, how can journalists do better? What should responsible reporting look like? Plus, we explore the options that exist for people experiencing various forms of abuse in Illinois. In today's episode, we hear from: Karen Attiah, a journalist and founder of the Resistance Studies Series; Smriti Shukla, advocacy programs manager at Apna Ghar, a Chicago-based human rights organization; Roslyn Romero, supervisor of outreach and prevention at Pillars Community Health; and Mable Tappler, coordinator for the adult women's program at the Rosenthal Family Lodge shelter at Family Rescue. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Residents are still cleaning up basements and backyards after record-breaking rainfall. Gov. JB Pritzker says all bets are off for state employees on prediction markets. Body cam video of the shooting of Officer Krystal Rivera is released to the public. And Chicago Public School lunchroom staff block traffic over stalled contract talks. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Christian Farr, NBC-5 Chicago reporter; Geoff Buchholz, WBBM Newsradio political editor; and Sarah Karp, WBEZ Education reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Brionna Johnson's journey with uterine fibroids was one filled with uncertainty and questions. Her search for answers led her to Dr. Pierre Johnson of Loretto Hospital on the West Side aka the “Fibroid Slayer.” He was able to perform surgery and help Brionna after another physician suggested she would need to have a hysterectomy. In the Loop hears from doctor and patient. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.