In the Loop

The Trump administration has named the former head of Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources as the new administrator in charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s office in Chicago, which oversees air and water pollution and more in six of the states that border the Great Lakes: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio.

For Morning Shift's "Our Representatives" series, Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana joins the show to discuss the historic vote on tax reform and fighting opioid addiction in Indiana. Plus, he breaks down why’s he introduced a bill to put resources into understanding artificial intelligence. 

For Morning Shift's "Our Representatives" series, Republican Sen. Todd Young of Indiana joins the show to discuss the historic vote on tax reform and fighting opioid addiction in Indiana. Plus, he breaks down why’s he introduced a bill to put resources into understanding artificial intelligence. 

Police Supt. Eddie Johnson discusses the city’s expanded use of body-cameras, gaining community trust, and President Trump. “Certainly we’re not claiming success,” said Johnson on WBEZ’s Morning Shift. “But the fact that we’re a little bit over 20 percent down in overall shootings and about 15 percent down in murders — is room for encouragement.”

Police Supt. Eddie Johnson discusses the city’s expanded use of body-cameras, gaining community trust, and President Trump. “Certainly we’re not claiming success,” said Johnson on WBEZ’s Morning Shift. “But the fact that we’re a little bit over 20 percent down in overall shootings and about 15 percent down in murders — is room for encouragement.”

The holiday season is here and that means holiday get-togethers. Are you trying to figure out whether or not you should go to that awkward dinner party? Maybe you’re trying to figure out if you should pay $14 for eggs Benedict at brunch.  Either way, you will probably end up on your phone the whole time anyway.  But Brandon Francis Newnam and Rico Gagliano authors of the book, Brunch Is Hell: How To Save the World by Throwing a Dinner Party, would advise making those plans for the dinner party anyway. And not just because of those pricey brunch choices either.  The authors join Morning Shift to break down their book on how dinner parties can build a healthy modern society.

The holiday season is here and that means holiday get-togethers. Are you trying to figure out whether or not you should go to that awkward dinner party? Maybe you’re trying to figure out if you should pay $14 for eggs Benedict at brunch.  Either way, you will probably end up on your phone the whole time anyway.  But Brandon Francis Newnam and Rico Gagliano authors of the book, Brunch Is Hell: How To Save the World by Throwing a Dinner Party, would advise making those plans for the dinner party anyway. And not just because of those pricey brunch choices either.  The authors join Morning Shift to break down their book on how dinner parties can build a healthy modern society.

Morning Shift continues checking in with the lawmakers who represent the WBEZ listening area in Washington. Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin stops by to discuss changes to net neutrality rules and the immigration status of so-called dreamers.

Morning Shift continues checking in with the lawmakers who represent the WBEZ listening area in Washington. Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin stops by to discuss changes to net neutrality rules and the immigration status of so-called dreamers.

The latest play to hit the stage at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater is BLKS, the first play from poet Aziza Barnes, author of the collection i be but i ain’t and co-host of the The Poetry Gods podcast.  BLKS tells the story of a group of young African-American women friends in the wake of a cancer scare. Morning Shift talks to Aziza Barnes about the play, her poetry, and more.