In the Loop

Have you heard of kratom? The natural drug is the latest substance to gain the attention of the federal drug enforcement agency. They wanted to place kratom on the schedule 1 list of banned drugs alongside heroin, LSD, and cannabis but an outpouring of support for the painkiller temporarily halted their plans. Now, a debate on whether kratom is helpful or addictive will help the DEA decide whether or not to regulate the natural drug. With the substance sold right here in Chicago, we wanted to take a closer look at the pros and cons of kratom.

University students and faculty around the country have been calling on administrators to designate their schools as “sanctuary campuses.” That includes several here in Illinois, including the University of Chicago, where the student government will vote next month on a resolution to protect the rights of international and undocumented students. Morning Shift talks to WBEZ Northside reporter Odette Yousef about the various interpretations of what a sanctuary campus is and examines efforts in Illinois on the issue. 

Throughout his campaign and post-election, Trump has softened or changed his stances on different issues--from the ban on Muslims entering to the US to his promise to repeal and replace Obamacare--but what about when it comes to guns in America? What can we expect? Morning Shift talks to Adam Winkler, professor of law at the University of California in Los Angeles and author of Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America.

The state of Illinois has not had a budget agreement during Bruce Rauner’s tenure as governor, but even if lawmakers and the governor pass a budget, there will still be major structural problems with the state’s finances for years to come. A pair of new reports from the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois proposes some potential fixes for those problems. Morning Shift talks to David Merriman, professor of public administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago and co-author of the reports, which are part of IGPA’s “Fiscal Futures Project.”

WBEZ’s Sarah Karp uncovered that the Chicago Public Schools screening process for teachers discriminated against black candidates and helped explain why the number of black teachers in the district has dwindled in recent years. Morning Shift talks with two guests about what it’s like to be a black teacher today, and what districts like CPS can do to encourage and inspire that talent. Acasia Wilson Feinberg is executive director of Educators 4 Excellence Chicago, a teacher-led education policy organization. Aaron Talley is a public school teacher on Chicago’s far south side, who has penned a yet-to-be-published op-ed entitled “How can CPS nurture the type of school leadership that will retain teachers of color?” 

After months of protesting, the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and its supporters celebrated as the Obama Administration blocked construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on land held to be sacred by many Native Americans. The victory could be short-lived, as President-elect Trump recently said he supported the pipeline’s planned route. Morning Shift talks to Les Begaye, chairman of Chicago’s American Indian Center, on what the stand-off and victory mean for Native Americans in our area and across the country.

Writers, musicians, politicians, and even radio hosts are the types of guests you’ll find on the Portland-based variety show Live Wire Radio. Together with host Luke Burbank, and a live audience, the show has discussions on stage with a wide variety of creatives all in an effort to spark conversation and preserve the art of theater.  Live Wire Radio comes to Chicago for the first time Friday to tape with a special guest: our very own Jennifer White! Morning Shift sits down with Burbank to talk about Live Wire Radio and tonight’s show at Lincoln Hall.

As President-Elect Trump continues to fill out his cabinet and other important positions for his upcoming administration, those choices are under the microscope for a number of key reasons. Tevi Troy is a presidential historian, was a key member of President George W. Bush’s domestic policy team, and worked on the Romney transition team 4 years ago. Troy talks about what it’s like inside a presidential transition and compares what he’s seeing now to transitions of the past. 

Let’s talk about this huge energy bill that passed Thursday on the final day of the session. Democrats and Republicans actually came together for once in Springfield on this one. What’s in the bill, and why did both side get on board? Do we know how much extra ratepayers will have to fork over? WBEZ's Tony Arnold breaks it down.

More than 68,000 Illinois residents have signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act since open enrollment started on November 1. That’s up from the same period last year despite the fact that Illinoisans have fewer plans to choose from this time around and that on average, premiums have increased. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Georgia Congressman Tom Price, a staunch critic of Obamacare, as his Health and Human Services Secretary, a strong signal that he wants to pursue his plan to dismantle the ACA.  Morning Shift talks to current Health and Human Services secretary Sylvia Burwell about ACA enrollment in Illinois and what the future may hold for one of President Obama’s biggest achievements.