The Pulitzer Prize-winning score weaves together musical traditions that feel both deeply personal and distinctly American. In the Loop talks with one of the composers about bringing this powerful story to life.
WBEZ
WBEZ
@wbez.org
We are Chicago's NPR station and your local news source. Find us on air at 91.5FM. Support public media and local journalism: donate.wbez.org
9.7K followers69 following4.6K posts
What makes these notable ghost stories tick? Even if you don’t believe them, you’ll never forget them. We’re taking our turn in re-spinning two of Chicago’s spookiest stories, but this time in service to two Curious Citizens.
The annual Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade stepped off on Balbo Street Saturday, drawing in an estimated 100,000 attendees with vibrant, colorful attractions such as a fire-breathing dragon, giant alebrijes and a 60-foot glow worm.
Some Chicagoans have pushed for large-scale festivals to leave city parks for good. Now, a non-binding ballot measure takes the temperature of residents citywide.
On hiatus for two years, the Soul Train Awards will return and be taped at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in November.
For years, transit agencies in other major American cities have had powers to develop underused transit-owned land. The Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act catches Chicago up to its peers. But it goes further by granting power to buy and develop land for reasons unrelated to transit.
“The 14th,” “Elsinore,” “Once Upon a Time in Harlem,” “All of a Sudden” and “Mouse” made Reginald Ponder’s five “most” list. Each is worthy of your viewing, so keep an eye out for opportunities to see them.
The Waco Brothers remain one of the most enduring bands out of Chicago. A GoFundMe for Schlabowske has exceeded initial goals.
In the era of flavormaxxing, the humble plain croissant and its first cousins — chocolate and ham and cheese — become a deceptively difficult maneuver to deliver. After a lot of crumbs, here are a food critic’s favorites.
Republican Mayor Scott Gartner of Antioch joins Say More to share his hopes for the future of the GOP in Illinois.
Our listeners share their favorite songs to kick off the fall season.
“This is a house of horrors we’re standing next to,” said Lisette Guillen, a crisis responder with Case Files Chicago. “The way families feel — the way most of Chicago and the surrounding areas feel — is it probably should be knocked down.”
Evanston’s reparations program has faced years of legal challenges. It may now face its largest challenge yet after a district judge approved the DOJ’s motion to join a lawsuit seeking its dismantlement last week.
The district’s graduation rate has been steadily growing since the early 2000s when fewer than half of students were earning a diploma in four years.
The expansion would include an outdoor plaza and potential pedestrian bridge spanning the North Branch of the Chicago River.
You can no longer register to vote online for the upcoming Midterm General Election. But there are still plenty of ways to register in person.
We’re just two weeks away from the midterm elections — are you prepared? The Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ have a voter guide just for you. Explore who is on your ballot, the races we’re watching and more.
Chicago is one of the most haunted cities in America where legendary ghost stories like Resurrection Mary run as deep as our pizza. But if you think you’ve heard them all, not so fast, says tour guide Adam Selzer.
Set in a historically Black neighborhood in Pennsylvania, the production tells the story of two generations of sisters navigating their opposing personalities and ideologies, while maintaining ownership of a home passed down from their foremothers.
Korea’s oldest alcoholic drink is now being brewed in Chicago. Yido on the Near West Side specializes in brewing makgeolli, an unfiltered rice wine that’s naturally fermented with a starter culture — similar to kombucha.
A WBEZ/Sun-Times investigation confirms one driver's lament that it was "the worst traffic I've ever had to deal with." Worse yet, epic delays persist — a year after a three-year construction project ended and Gov. JB Pritzker promised “faster commutes.”
Motes helped foster commercial partnerships that gave the Navy Pier-based theater co-production credits on shows such as “Paranormal Activity.”
About 90% of the canned pumpkin in the United States comes from Illinois for reasons meteorological, climatic, economic and historical.
All lunchroom staff represented by Unite Here Local 1 will earn at least $21 an hour under the deal, which seemed far away months ago as the union took steps towards a possible strike.
A collective of queer, Chicago-based, independent fashion designers staged Queer Couture Runway at the Public Works Gallery to explore gender identity and expression.
Frustrated by high electricity bills and rising food costs, some residents are demanding answers from NIPSCO — “They need to be held accountable.” This story was originally published in Capital B Gary.
Hazing is often associated with admission to fraternities and sororities, but it can occur with any club or organization. In the Loop checks in with the founder of a national database that tracks hazing policies at universities across the country.
In the Loop gets a picture of some of the current local cases, the challenges of reporting sexual assault and what can be improved.
Sexual assaults at UChicago and Cornell University have people rethinking Greek life. Say More speaks to WBEZ’s higher education reporter about the history of fraternities and sororities, and asks listeners if Chicago-area colleges should ban fraternities.
The projected costs were revealed in expert testimony filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission, and it also showed the utility has only collected about $721 million in deposits from data center developers.
Recent reports of sexual violence at two different fraternities near the University of Chicago, coupled with national outrage over the handling of an alleged sexual assault at Cornell University in New York, are forcing the long-standing issue out of the shadows.
After launching his pop-up floral business, former Chicago Bulls player Derrick Rose is building a career in the movie industry. The Chicago Bulls veteran is an executive producer of the award-winning anthology “Three Colors: Pan-African."
To help prevent more pregnant women from dying, the Pritzker administration promised that private insurers would cover the cost of doulas to support families. But in many cases, they’re turned away or forced to pay thousands out of pocket.
Organizer Mark Kelly said the night of spooky festivities shows parading is an art form: “It's about as close as you're going to come to Mardi Gras in Chicago. It's not Mardi Gras, but it sort of captures that.”
Recent reports of sexual violence at two different fraternities near the University of Chicago, coupled with national outrage over the handling of an alleged sexual assault at Cornell University in New York, are forcing the longstanding issue out of the shadows.
Stratton, the Democratic candidate for the Senate seat left vacant by Sen. Dick Durbin’s retirement, repeatedly vowed to stand up to President Donald Trump’s policies, as Tracy, the Republican, used the platform to call her a socialist — three times.
Johnson plans to lean on funds generated from the social media tax to create permanent city funding for the Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement program.
In years past, we’ve sent out our photographers to capture homeowners’ displays in all their gory glory. This year we’re going straight to the source — you. The deadline to submit is Sunday, Oct. 25. We might even crown a winner.
Frustrated by high electricity bills and rising food costs, some residents are demanding answers from NIPSCO — “They need to be held accountable.” This story was originally published in Capital B Gary.
While managing both worlds sounds like a challenge, for the multihyphenate talent, she finds a lot of crossover. “I really want to practice composing every day of my life,” she said, seeing parallels between writing a song and creating a dish.
As arrests continue in Chicago, ICE fears push work and everyday errands into the night, changing how immigrants earn a living and care for their families.
Major blackouts are unlikely despite high energy demands from data centers. To understand why, Curious City explains how the power grid works.
To get you acquainted with the candidates, In the Loop sits down with Carolyn Schofield to learn her priorities and how she’d approach the role.
On a recent morning, Shedd Aquarium President and CEO Bridget Coughlin stood in front of a pool filled with six frolicking beluga whales, insisting that the institution, where five other whales have died in recent weeks, is not in crisis.
Say More opens the lines to hear from Chicagoans about their stories navigating ADHD or struggling to get a diagnosis.
On 12/5, join us for The Moth, where you'll hear stories of balancing without a net and trusting your gut. TIGHTROPE is an evening of stories about when you don't have a clear path, only the courage to move forward. Get tickets at: https://mrf.lu/2byCD
The long-simmering feud between Mayor Brandon Johnson and half of the coalition of progressive unions that helped put him in office boiled over Tuesday, triggering a pivotal endorsement for Illlinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias in the race for mayor.
WBEZ listeners ask Mayor Johnson about his efforts to build more affordable housing in the city, expand community health centers and his plans for data centers.
This Thursday we’re partnering with Jam Productions for a special night of music at the Metro with the Chicago band, Whitney. Grab your tickes before they're gone: https://mrf.lu/2bPjk
From soup to tea, Say More talks to listeners about the ways they nourish themselves when they’re sick.