In the Loop

Only around 1 percent of human beings have red hair, most of them from countries in Northern and Western Europe. As a result, redheads have often been misunderstood or even maligned for standing out. No one wants to be the “red-headed stepchild” for example. This weekend in suburban Highwood, carrot tops and strawberry blonds are coming together for Redhead Days, a celebration of redheads. Morning Shift talks to festival organizer Jim Stoecker about the quirks and perks of being a redhead, what the festival is all about and how redheads have been portrayed in popular culture throughout history. We also take comments from redheaded listeners.

Eric Ripert is a celebrity chef who actually has the bona fides in the kitchen. His New York City restaurant Le Bernardin has three Michelin stars. In his new memoir, 32 Yolks: From My Mother's Table to Working the Line, he traces his love of food and cooking to the experiences around the table with his family. Jenn White talks to Ripert.

Payday loans are short term loans for small amounts of money offered by companies outside the mainstream banking system. Millions of Americans use them to cover unexpected expenses when they’re in a pinch. They’re an easy way to get some quick cash, but they have serious drawbacks, including interest rates as high as 390 percent. Now the U.S. agency that helps consumers with money matters — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — wants to better regulate the payday loan industry. Morning Shift talks with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan about some of the proposals.

According to Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool, schools in Chicago and across the state might not be able to open their doors in the fall unless Springfield passes an education budget. That statement raised some eyebrows. WBEZ’s Becky Vevea joins us to discuss how the continuation of the budget stalemate through the summer would affect different school districts in different ways.

In 1971, a young guy working as a shipping clerk for Bob Koester’s Delmark Records wanted to record his favorite blues band, Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers. The magical sounds that Bruce Iglauer captured on tape in late May and early June of that year became the basis for Alligator Records. Alligator has managed to defy the odds by not only staying in business, but staying vital for 45 years. Iglauer’s secret is he never wanted to preserve the blues in amber, but treat is as a living, ever-evolving art form. Next weekend, at the annual Chicago Blues Festival, the organizers are honoring the company by making the first day of the fest a celebration of Alligator and its contributions to the city and the blues. Iglauer joins us to talk about nearly a half-century in the blues biz.

Have you ever put a greasy pizza box in your recycling bin in Chicago? Now, why you’d you go and do that? Greasy pizza boxes are a definite no-no for your blue bin. In fact, throwing one in there could mean that the entire batch of recycling will be thrown in the garbage. Patty Wetli of DNAinfo has laid out a comprehensive list of recycling do’s and don’ts for Chicago residents. She breaks it down.

Lovie Smith has returned to Illinois, but it won’t be at Soldier Field. Hiring Smith was one of the earliest moves that U of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman made in his new role. Smith tells Cheryl Raye Stout how coaching college feels like his career has come full circle.

In the 1990s the three biggest cities in America-New York, Los Angeles and Chicago-were seeing record spikes in the number of homicides. At the turn of the century, most of these metropolises started seeing results in their efforts to battle the sobering statistics, but not Chicago.  Since 2004, the city has not seen any major drop in the number of homicides while the other two cities continue to see improvement.  The New York Times recently took a closer look at these statistics and saw some stark differences between Chicago and New York. We talk to reporters Ford Fessenden and Haeyoun Park about what Chicago can learn from New York.

University of Illinois’ new athletic director Josh Whitman has been open about wanting to turn the school’s football program around. He started by firing coach Bill Cubit and hiring former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith.  Cheryl Raye Stout talks to Whitman about that move, and what other expectations he has for sports at the university.

In Mexican culture the taco is the most basic of foods; take a tortilla, fill it with just about anything and you’ve got a meal. But what makes the perfect taco? Well, that answer is as varied as the fillings themselves.  Chicago Tribune reporter Nick Kindelsperger spent the month of May on a taco challenge. He was on the hunt for not only the best taco in Chicago but also the suburbs. His challenge also included trying to determine where to find the best al pastor taco, a pork filling that has Lebanese roots. Kindelsperger joins Morning Shift to share his findings.