In the Loop

The Centers for Disease Control reports that teens made up one in five new HIV cases in 2014. These rates continue to rise which is sparking some advocates to look to how we’re educating young people about risks. Northwestern University’s Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing is going to where young people are to inform them-technology. Dr. Brian Mustanski is Director at the Institute and he details how they plan to better inform the group that is so at risk.

A new report breaks down which public universities across the country are the best bang for the buck and which are overrated. The report from the non-partisan research group Third Way takes a look at factors like net price, completion rate and how many graduates end up repaying their loans to determine which schools offer the best education and chance to get ahead. Schools in Illinois performed all over the map, including one, Northeastern Illinois University, which ended up on the Top Offenders List. Morning Shift talks to report co-author Tammi Hiler, senior policy adviser for education at Third Way about the her findings.

Reclaimed Soul host Ayana Contreras brings us rare cuts from the mid-tempo soul genre. 

Illinois led the nation when it passed a law in 2010 mandating the submission and testing of all sexual assault evidence. Last week, the governor signed into law new rules that expand on that landmark legislation, making it easier for victims to come forward and ensure law enforcement is better trained and more efficient when dealing with victims and evidence. We talk about these important changes with Polly Poskin, the Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault.

This election cycle has been a challenging one to cover for journalists. Republican Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, has reporters questioning whether regular rules of journalism apply this election cycle. In an article for The New York Times, Jim Rutenberg examines what counts as journalistic fairness in an unconventional election cycle.

Illinois’ ongoing budget crisis just created another headache; the state’s rainy day fund is nearing a zero balance.  As of Friday, the fund was down to $180 million dollars from its original $275 million dollars, which financial experts say is well below what a state should keep in a rainy day account. Morning Shift talks with the Civic Federation’s Laurence Msall about the state’s history with a rainy day fund and how the current condition of the fund impacts Illinois. 

OK, so you’re not a farmer. But do you like gardening? Astronomy? Cooking? How about “smart living”? If you said yes to any of those questions, then the Farmers’ Almanac may be for you after all.  The venerable compendium of weather, wit and wisdom — which is out August 15 — celebrates its 200th edition this year. Morning Shift talks to editor Peter Geiger about the long-range forecast for the Chicago region, the almanac’s family history and how it’s staying current on social media.

In our occasional series 'The Movie That Made Me,' we ask folks from all walks of life about the movie that had the biggest impact on their lives or their work. Robert Milazzo, founder of the Modern School of Film in New York does something similar where he talks to famous creatives in a live setting about films they love. Milazzo is coming to Chicago to do one of those talks at Thalia Hall, and his guest is the very funny David Cross. We thought we’d grab the two of them for a preview of the event and put them under our movie microscope.

A new study of census data reveals that the percentage of multigenerational households is almost as high as it was in the 1950s. We’ll talk about the numbers and some of the factors behind them with D'Vera Cohn from the Pew Research Center, and take your calls about your experiences with multigenerational households.

Sit, back and relax. After all, Monday August 15 is National Day of Relaxation. In the latest in our Working Shift series, we talk to Molly Coeling, a massage therapist and reiki practitioner about why she decided to go into the field and what she hopes to bring to her clients.