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College freshmen already had a rough end to high school. Many are nervous and uncertain how their first semester of college will unfold.

Host: Greta Johnsen
Reporter: Kate McGee

WBEZ spoke with the relatives of 50 Chicago COVID-19 victims to understand the systemic conditions behind the pandemic’s disproportionate impact. All week we’ll bring stories from communities with the highest death rates.

Host: Greta Johnsen
Reporter:...

Even though they’re meeting remotely, Illinois Democrats are facing a lot of questions about the future of their leader due to a sprawling corruption investigation.

Host: Greta Johnsen, Mary Dixon
Reporter: Tony Arnold

Author and longtime Knox College Professor Robert Hellenga spoke from hospice to his former student, Joseph Lennon, about literature, death and grades.

Producer: Bill Healy

All across Illinois, local election authorities have been mailing out applications for voters to request a mailed ballot. It’s part of a temporary vote by mail expansion in the state ahead of the November election.

Host: Mary Dixon
Reporter: Claudia ...

Instead of Milwaukee sight-seeing, parties, and balloon drops, Illinois delegates to the DNC will be delegating from their couches. But these first-time delegates say they’ll still push for their platforms.

Host: Mary Dixon
Reporter: Tony Arnold

Englewood residents are still grappling with the aftermath of another police shooting of a Black man on Sunday. Some contradict the police version of events. They want authorities to release any video of the shooting.

Host: Mary Dixon
Reporter: Maria ...

Cabrini-Green came together following the shooting death of a child this summer, just as they did after a similar tragedy in the ‘90s. As the community grieves, residents share how they are coping and responding to turmoil.

Host: Mary Dixon
Reporter: ...

Between COVID-19, social unrest, violence and burgeoning budget deficits, the first-term Chicago mayor has been tested like no other.

Host: Melba Lara
Reporter: Becky Vevea

As Harris is chosen as the first Black woman to be nominated vice president of a major party, Illinois Black women leaders say there’s more than one reason to celebrate.

Host: Melba Lara
Reporter: Mariah Woelfel

A citizen scientist extraordinaire is on a quest to document 2,500 living things this year in the wilds of the Chicago and its suburbs. Jeff Skrenty recently visited suburban South Holland to see what he could find.

Host: Becky Vevea
Reporter: Jerome ...