In the Loop

Comedian John Hodgman might be mostly known as a regular correspondent on The Daily Show during the Jon Stewart era. He channeled part of his Daily Show personae into a series of books that spouted thousands of facts — all of them fake. Now, Hodgman has reached the point where he’s comfortable telling real stories in his new memoir, Vacationland. The comedian talked to Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia about why he decided to write about himself.

Rita Crundwell put her struggling small town of Dixon, Illinois, in the spotlight when the FBI arrested the former comptroller and treasurer for embezzling $53 million. Crundwell, who was known for building a horse-breeding empire and throwing lavish parties, made headlines in 2012 as the mastermind behind the largest municipal fraud in American history.

Rita Crundwell put her struggling small town of Dixon, Illinois, in the spotlight when the FBI arrested the former comptroller and treasurer for embezzling $53 million. Crundwell, who was known for building a horse-breeding empire and throwing lavish parties, made headlines in 2012 as the mastermind behind the largest municipal fraud in American history.

Morning Shift continues its “Our Representatives” series with Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger from the 16th District. The district stretches from Rockford in Northern Illinois to Ottawa in Central Illinois.  The Air Force Veteran serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and has been critical of the Iran Nuclear Deal negotiated by the Obama Administration. He also uses his experience in the military to highlight needs for veterans. He has never been a vocal supporter of President Trump but hasn’t gone as far as some in his party to denounce the President. Morning Shift asks the congressman where his support stands now and about some of the most pressing issues facing the party, like the Senate race of Roy Moore.

Morning Shift continues its “Our Representatives” series with Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger from the 16th District. The district stretches from Rockford in Northern Illinois to Ottawa in Central Illinois.  The Air Force Veteran serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs and has been critical of the Iran Nuclear Deal negotiated by the Obama Administration. He also uses his experience in the military to highlight needs for veterans. He has never been a vocal supporter of President Trump but hasn’t gone as far as some in his party to denounce the President. Morning Shift asks the congressman where his support stands now and about some of the most pressing issues facing the party, like the Senate race of Roy Moore.

Morning Shift does politics and poetry, transportation and television, science and sports. But we get the most calls when we do...gardening! So since we’ve had our first taste of winter, we’re bringing back Eliza Fournier from The Chicago Botanic Garden to talk about planting, pruning, and much more as we head the frozen months. 

Morning Shift does politics and poetry, transportation and television, science and sports. But we get the most calls when we do...gardening! So since we’ve had our first taste of winter, we’re bringing back Eliza Fournier from The Chicago Botanic Garden to talk about planting, pruning, and much more as we head the frozen months. 

In our series called Our Representatives, Morning Shift is reaching out to all 26 congressmen and congresswomen that represent the people in the WBEZ listening area in Washington D.C.  Today, we speak with Democratic Congressman Daniel Lipinski of Illinois’s 3rd congressional district, which includes Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood and municipalities Palos Heights, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Stickney, and others. 

In our series called Our Representatives, Morning Shift is reaching out to all 26 congressmen and congresswomen that represent the people in the WBEZ listening area in Washington D.C.  Today, we speak with Democratic Congressman Daniel Lipinski of Illinois’s 3rd congressional district, which includes Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood and municipalities Palos Heights, Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Stickney, and others. 

Forget Shakespeare — why not study the literary genius of a one Joanne Kathleen Rowling instead, go on a book worm’s dream pilgrimage to Platform 9 and 3 quarters, and get college credit for it at the same time?  DePaul University’s English Department announced a new program for that will have at least one pop culture fandom signing up faster than you can say “butterbeer”: a Harry Potter study abroad program set for the spring, where students will not only study the series and its cultural significance, but also spend two weeks in the U.K. on a fandom pilgrimage. Morning Shift talks to the professors (and Potterheads) behind the program, Paul Booth and Rebecca Johns-Trissler, about the curriculum and what prospective students can expect as they climb aboard the Hogwarts Express.