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Posts published in “Latest News”

Vocalo’s Bekoe Looks Back On 2020’s Best Music

This year, music fans swapped concerts and clubs for livestreams, but there was no shortage of new tunes to get us through the year. Bekoe from our sister station Vocalo reveals his favorite music from 2020. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Lauren Frost; Fi...

Pandemic Causes Surge In Dual Citizenship Applications

The consulates of some European Union countries in Chicago have seen a big increase in applications for citizenship and passports this year. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Dan Mihalopoulos

People Of Color Need More From U of C, Students Say

Activists and faculty for years have pushed for changes they say would make the university more welcoming to people of color. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang

Meet An Illinois Teen Leading COVID-19 Relief Efforts

While you may have worked on your hobbies during quarantine, one north suburban high schooler ran mask distribution program in Illinois. Host: Marie Lane; Reporter: Vivian McCall

Families Find Moments Of Joy During Remote Learning

Families have endured challenging moments with remote learning, but they’ve also enjoyed times of unexpected fun. This fall, parents have been getting a rare peek into how their kids behave (or don’t behave) in class. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Susie ...

A Time Of Great Loss — And Victory

At StoryCorps in Chicago, Steve Pemberton looked back over his childhood in the foster system, and the Christmas that changed his life. Host: Melba Lara; Producer: Bill Healy

Oak Park Resident Beats COVID-19 To See 100th Christmas

In his 100th year of life, Oak Park resident Ulric Basil Crosby has now survived the coronavirus. Crystal Brown, his niece, helps take care of him. She shared more about Uncle Nip’s long life as they celebrate another Christmas together this year. Host...

‘Love Fridges’ Help Feed The Hungry In Chicago

A creative, neighbor-to-neighbor effort to get food to people who need it continues to expand across Chicago. Love fridges are popping up on city streets: brightly painted with signs saying FREE FOOD, stocked by community donations. Host: Odette Yousef...

Student Photographs Capture The Pandemic’s Impact

In cell-phone images and words, high schoolers at Benito Juarez Community Academy reflect on their fears, losses and hope. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Linda Lutton

Healthcare Workers Describe Getting COVID-19 Vaccine

WBEZ asked doctors and nurses from hospitals throughout the city and suburbs to send in recordings documenting their experience receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Host: Marie Lane; Producer: Mariah Woelfel, Kristen Schorsch

Chicago Teens Take Jobs To Help Families Amid COVID-19

Chicago high school teachers are seeing an increase of students working to help their families during the pandemic, but are skipping class and not turning in school work. Host: Susie An; Reporter: Adriana Cardona Maguigad

Navigating High School During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Two suburban high school juniors made it through a fall of remote learning during a pandemic, but their experiences are very different. Host: Becky Vevea; Reporter: Susie An

I Didn’t Get A Chance To Say My Last ‘I Love You’

Shanna Sigers’ husband died from Coronavirus in April. For StoryCorps Chicago, Shanna spoke about how his death has transformed her. Host: Becky Vevea; Producer: Bill Healy

The Bourgeois Deal Summarized in An Infographic

In their new book, Leave Me Alone and I’ll Make You Rich, economists Deirdre McCloskey and Art Carden summarize what they call “The Bourgeois Deal.” In short: when we leave people alone to buy low, sell high, and innovate, they do so—and in the ...

How To Keep COVID-19 From Adding To The Holiday Stress

Clinical psychologist Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler discusses how to handle the holiday stress in the midst of the pandemic, and shares some strategies to reduce holiday stress and anxiety. Host: Mary Dixon; Producer: Araceli Gomez-Aldana

Transit Facing ‘Drastic’ Cuts As Ridership Plummets

Stay at home mandates, teleworking and e-learning in 2020 have greatly altered the daily commute in Chicagoland. City and suburban ridership has fallen by the millions during the pandemic. Host: Becky Vevea; Reporter: Claudia Morell, Michael Puente

IL Regulators Want Mercy Hospital Open, For Now

Mercy Hospital on Chicago’s Near South Side cannot close. Illinois regulators have unanimously voted against the proposed closure. Regulators say they're worried about access issues for patients, especially in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Host:...

First COVID-19 Vaccinations Take Place In Illinois

Health care workers lined up for some of the very first COVID-19 vaccinations in Illinois. On the same day, the state announced an additional 117 Illinoisans have died from the virus in the past 24 hours. Host: Becky Vevea
Reporter: Mariah Woelfel