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Posts published in “Latest News”

Diving Into “The Other Dark Matter,” a guest post from Lina Zeldovich

In The Other Dark Matter: The Science and Business of Turning Waste into Wealth and Health, journalist Lina Zeldovich reveals how human excrement can be a life-saving, money-making resource—if we make better use of it. In the original piece below, adapted from her research, she explores how cities are learning

The post Diving Into “The Other Dark Matter,” a guest post from Lina Zeldovich appeared first on The Chicago Blog.

A history of the relationship between Chicago and Ukraine

Marta Farion of the Illinois division of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, discusses Chicago’s historical - and present - relationship with Ukraine. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

An amateur meteorologist’s landmark climate change discovery

Guy Callendar was an amateur meteorologist who made a landmark discovery about human-caused climate change. Professor Sylvia Dee, climate scientist at Rice University, joined WBEZ to talk about his contributions. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Lauren Frost

Ken Griffin’s Citadel invests in gun companies

The founder of Citadel, the hedge fund and financial services behemoth, has hit Democratic Governor JB Pritzker on rising crime. Griffin’s critics call these investments and holdings “hypocritical.” Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dave McKinney

Chicago’s housing commissioner shares blueprint for fair housing

The city’s housing department is committed to undoing decades worth of segregation and inequity. A new blueprint for fair housing is underway. WBEZ’s Natalie Moore speaks with housing commissioner Marisa Novara about the goals. Host: Araceli Gómez-Alda...

Ukrainians gather in Chicago to denounce Russian invasion

Hundreds of people gathered for a rally in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village Thursday afternoon to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Host: Lisa Labuz; Reporter: Claudia Morell, Lauren Frost

Listen to a Playlist of Ethiopia’s Sentinel Musicians

The music of the Ethiopian diaspora rings around the world, testifying to the experiences of those exiled from their homeland and serving as a keystone for communities of Ethiopian refugees. Kay Kaufman Shelemay’s newest book, Sing and Sing On, draws on the recollections of dozens of musicians, whose historical position

The post Listen to a Playlist of Ethiopia’s Sentinel Musicians appeared first on The Chicago Blog.

How are Chicago schools teaching Black History?

Marcus Belin, principal of Huntley High School and part of the Black History Curriculum Task Force for the Illinois State Board of Education, speaks on schools teaching Black History beyond the key figures in textbooks. Host: Araceli Gómez-Aldana; Repo...

Chicago ends use of Hotel Julian to house homeless

The city hopes to pilot the housing model as an alternative to shelters now that its contract with an upscale downtown hotel is ending. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

Illinois bans jails from housing immigrants facing deportation

The Illinois Way Forward Act, which took effect in January, bans local county jails from renting out beds to the federal government to detain immigrants facing deportation. Xanat Sobrevilla with Organized Communities Against Deportations, speaks on the...

TikTok’s ‘Dilla’ looks back at Chicago’s Jazz era

Historian and WBEZ contributor Shermann Dilla Thomas, and midday host Lisa Labuz look back at the music and culture of Chicago’s Jazz era. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Cianna Greaves

Read an Excerpt from “Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus” by Danielle Allen

From Harvard professor and leading political thinker Danielle Allen, Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus is both an invaluable playbook for meeting our current moment and a stirring reflection on the future of democracy itself. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated some of the strengths of our society, including the rapid development

The post Read an Excerpt from “Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus” by Danielle Allen appeared first on The Chicago Blog.

Kim Foxx backs some cases tied to Ronald Watts

Cook County judges have tossed 150 cases tied to ex-Sgt. Ronald Watts. But Kim Foxx’s office is fighting efforts to vacate some others. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Chip Mitchell

Read an Excerpt from “Making Mexican Chicago” by Mike Amezcua

In Making Mexican Chicago, Mike Amezcua explores how the Windy City became a Latinx metropolis in the second half of the twentieth century, offering a powerful multiracial history of Chicago that sheds new light on the origins and endurance of urban inequality. The following excerpt details some of the ways the

The post Read an Excerpt from “Making Mexican Chicago” by Mike Amezcua appeared first on The Chicago Blog.