A downstate man is charged with <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/10/26/quincy-man-charged-mailed-letters-white-powder-congress-members-unglesbee">sending threatening letters</a> to members of Congress from Illinois. Sixteen candidates <a href="https://news.wttw.com/2026/10/26/mendoza-cardenas-pappas-among-last-file-signatures-ahead-chicago-s-february-mayoral">meet the deadline</a> to turn in required signatures to run for Chicago Mayor. Plus, Chicago breaks ground on downtown’s first monument honoring a historic woman.  In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.  GUESTS: Jacoby Cochran, City Cast Chicago hostAlex Nitkin, government finance and accountability reporter with the Illinois Answers Project of the Better Government AssociationMitch Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times government and politics reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

A downstate man is charged with sending threatening letters to members of Congress from Illinois. Sixteen candidates meet the deadline to turn in required signatures to run for Chicago Mayor. Plus, Chicago breaks ground on downtown’s first monument honoring a historic woman. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. GUESTS: Jacoby Cochran, City Cast Chicago host Alex Nitkin, government finance and accountability reporter with the Illinois Answers Project of the Better Government Association Mitch Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times government and politics reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

A downstate man is charged with <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/10/26/quincy-man-charged-mailed-letters-white-powder-congress-members-unglesbee" rel="noopener noreferrer">sending threatening letters</a> to members of Congress from Illinois. Sixteen candidates <a href="https://news.wttw.com/2026/10/26/mendoza-cardenas-pappas-among-last-file-signatures-ahead-chicago-s-february-mayoral" rel="noopener noreferrer">meet the deadline</a> to turn in required signatures to run for Chicago Mayor. Plus, Chicago breaks ground on downtown’s first monument honoring a historic woman.&nbsp; In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.&nbsp; GUESTS: Jacoby Cochran, City Cast Chicago hostAlex Nitkin, government finance and accountability reporter with the Illinois Answers Project of the Better Government AssociationMitch Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times government and politics reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop" rel="noopener noreferrer">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap, Oct. 30, 2026

The ‘Cornell 7’ rape allegation has sparked a national conversation about the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses and how colleges and universities respond to these claims.  Locally, a <a href="https://www.wbez.org/criminal-justice/2026/10/20/sexual-assault-university-of-chicago-uchicago-lawsuit">lawsuit was filed </a>against the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity at the University of Chicago. This comes a week after an <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/10/14/university-of-chicago-assault-puts-fraternity-safety-problems-in-the-spotlight">allegation of sexual assault</a> at a party at a different fraternity at the University.   In the Loop gets a picture of the current local cases and the challenges of reporting sexual assault. GUESTS: Christina Zuba, managing attorney specializing in campus sexual misconduct,  Chicago Alliance Against Sexual ExploitationSophie Sherry, Chicago Sun-Times public safety reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

The ‘Cornell 7’ rape allegation has sparked a national conversation about the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses and how colleges and universities respond to these claims. Locally, a lawsuit was filed against the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity at the University of Chicago. This comes a week after an allegation of sexual assault at a party at a different fraternity at the University. In the Loop gets a picture of the current local cases and the challenges of reporting sexual assault. GUESTS: Christina Zuba, managing attorney specializing in campus sexual misconduct, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation Sophie Sherry, Chicago Sun-Times public safety reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The ‘Cornell 7’ rape allegation has sparked a national conversation about the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses and how colleges and universities respond to these claims.&nbsp; Locally, a <a href="https://www.wbez.org/criminal-justice/2026/10/20/sexual-assault-university-of-chicago-uchicago-lawsuit" rel="noopener noreferrer">lawsuit was filed </a>against the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity at the University of Chicago. This comes a week after an <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/10/14/university-of-chicago-assault-puts-fraternity-safety-problems-in-the-spotlight" rel="noopener noreferrer">allegation of sexual assault</a> at a party at a different fraternity at the University. &nbsp; In the Loop gets a picture of the current local cases and the challenges of reporting sexual assault. GUESTS: Christina Zuba, managing attorney specializing in campus sexual misconduct,&nbsp; Chicago Alliance Against Sexual ExploitationSophie Sherry, Chicago Sun-Times public safety reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop" rel="noopener noreferrer">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.&nbsp;

How Are Local Universities Handling Sexual Assault Cases?

A new bilingual children’s book inspired by the sights and sounds of ICE immigration enforcement in the Chicago area aims to help kids build skills for coping with hard times.Published by Trellis Press in Rockford, One Day Came a Rumble uses bright colors and a playful story to teach kids how to manage life's anxieties and uncertainty.  GUESTS: Elizabeth McChesney, author, One Day Came a Rumble (co-written with Daniel Hatcher)Steve Musgrave, illustrator, One Day Came a RumbleFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

A new bilingual children’s book inspired by the sights and sounds of ICE immigration enforcement in the Chicago area aims to help kids build skills for coping with hard times. Published by Trellis Press in Rockford, One Day Came a Rumble uses bright colors and a playful story to teach kids how to manage life's anxieties and uncertainty. GUESTS: Elizabeth McChesney, author, One Day Came a Rumble (co-written with Daniel Hatcher) Steve Musgrave, illustrator, One Day Came a Rumble For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

A new bilingual children’s book inspired by the sights and sounds of ICE immigration enforcement in the Chicago area aims to help kids build skills for coping with hard times.Published by Trellis Press in Rockford, One Day Came a Rumble uses bright colors and a playful story to teach kids how to manage life's anxieties and uncertainty. &nbsp;GUESTS: Elizabeth McChesney, author, One Day Came a Rumble (co-written with Daniel Hatcher)Steve Musgrave, illustrator, One Day Came a RumbleFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop" rel="noopener noreferrer">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.&nbsp;

‘One Day Came a Rumble’: How Midway Blitz inspired a children’s book to help kids cope during scary times

“Something Followed Us Home” explores 17 scary tales from 17 Latin American authors. From the supernatural, real-life massacres to A.I., Pelayo <a href="https://www.wbez.org/books/2026/10/01/horror-anthology-something-followed-us-home-cynthia-pelayo-chicago-latino-literature-books">curates an anthology</a> of thought-provoking stories highlighting Latiné horror. In The Loop sits down with Cynthia Pelayo to learn more about the inspiration behind her latest collection of tales. GUESTS: Cynthia Pelayo, Chicago horror novelist and poet, editor of the new collection Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latiné HorrorFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

“Something Followed Us Home” explores 17 scary tales from 17 Latin American authors. From the supernatural, real-life massacres to A.I., Pelayo curates an anthology of thought-provoking stories highlighting Latiné horror. In The Loop sits down with Cynthia Pelayo to learn more about the inspiration behind her latest collection of tales. GUESTS: Cynthia Pelayo, Chicago horror novelist and poet, editor of the new collection Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latiné Horror For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

“Something Followed Us Home” explores 17 scary tales from 17 Latin American authors. From the supernatural, real-life massacres to A.I., Pelayo <a href="https://www.wbez.org/books/2026/10/01/horror-anthology-something-followed-us-home-cynthia-pelayo-chicago-latino-literature-books" rel="noopener noreferrer">curates an anthology</a> of thought-provoking stories highlighting Latiné horror.&nbsp;In The Loop sits down with Cynthia Pelayo to learn more about the inspiration behind her latest collection of tales.&nbsp;GUESTS: Cynthia Pelayo, Chicago horror novelist and poet, editor of the new collection Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latiné HorrorFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop" rel="noopener noreferrer">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.&nbsp;

‘Something Followed Us Home’ Is Sure To Make You Sleep With The Lights On

The Chicago Jazz Festival is back, bringing big sounds and homegrown talent to Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center starting Thursday. In the Loop checks in with two notable figures in Chicago’s jazz community to hear about this year’s lineup, plus what’s next for a new generation of jazz in the city.  GUESTS: Isaiah Collier, award-winning saxophonist, composer and activistHeather Ireland Robinson, executive director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago  For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

The Chicago Jazz Festival is back, bringing big sounds and homegrown talent to Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center starting Thursday. In the Loop checks in with two notable figures in Chicago’s jazz community to hear about this year’s lineup, plus what’s next for a new generation of jazz in the city. GUESTS: Isaiah Collier, award-winning saxophonist, composer and activist Heather Ireland Robinson, executive director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The Chicago Jazz Festival is back, bringing big sounds and homegrown talent to Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center starting Thursday. In the Loop checks in with two notable figures in Chicago’s jazz community to hear about this year’s lineup, plus what’s next for a new generation of jazz in the city.&nbsp; GUESTS: Isaiah Collier, award-winning saxophonist, composer and activistHeather Ireland Robinson, executive director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago&nbsp; For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop" rel="noopener noreferrer">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

How Is Jazz Doing In Chicago?

Producer: Micah Yason, Lynnea DomienikEditor: Dan TuckerMixer: Ari Mejia

Producer: Micah Yason, Lynnea Domienik Editor: Dan Tucker Mixer: Ari Mejia

Producer: Micah Yason, Lynnea DomienikEditor: Dan TuckerMixer: Ari Mejia

Is Banning Cars The Key To Bringing People Downtown?

Producer: Ellie Gilbert-BairEditor: Dan TuckerMixer: Ari Mejia

Producer: Ellie Gilbert-Bair Editor: Dan Tucker Mixer: Ari Mejia

Chicago Debates Teen Curfews And Compromises

Producer: Meha AhmadEditor: Dan TuckerMixer: Ari Mejia

Producer: Meha Ahmad Editor: Dan Tucker Mixer: Ari Mejia

The Table Is Packed With Chicagoans Working To Close City’s $1.12 Billion Budget Gap

Producer: Alyssa ManthiEditor: Dan TuckerMixer: Ari Mejia

Producer: Alyssa Manthi Editor: Dan Tucker Mixer: Ari Mejia

We Say Goodbye To The Father Of Chicago’s Famous Riverboat Architecture Tour

Producer: Sasha-Ann SimonsEditor: Dan TuckerMixer: Ethan Schwabe

Producer: Sasha-Ann Simons Editor: Dan Tucker Mixer: Ethan Schwabe

What’s That Building: Shabbona Lake State Park

Producer: Lynnea DomienikEditor: Dan TuckerMixer: Ari Mejia

Producer: Lynnea Domienik Editor: Dan Tucker Mixer: Ari Mejia

The Key To Finding Edible And Medicinal Plants In Your Neighborhood

Producer: Andrea GuthmannEditor: Meha AhmadMixer: Ari Mejia

Producer: Andrea Guthmann Editor: Meha Ahmad Mixer: Ari Mejia

WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap: April 25, 2025

Producer: Jules YaegerEditor: Dan TuckerMixer: Ari Mejia

Producer: Jules Yaeger Editor: Dan Tucker Mixer: Ari Mejia

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day With A Chicago Crawl

You know her as the streetwise Melissa Schemmenti from South Philly on the ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary.” But actress Lisa Ann Walter has more alternate personas in her back pocket – like stand-up comic, memoir writer, and even Jeopardy! Champion. Ahead of her stand-up shows this weekend at Zanie’s in Rosement, Reset sat down with Lisa Ann Walter to ask her: If Melissa Schemmenti had a five-minute comedy set, what would she say?

For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

You know her as the streetwise Melissa Schemmenti from South Philly on the ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary.” But actress Lisa Ann Walter has more alternate personas in her back pocket – like stand-up comic, memoir writer, and even Jeopardy! Champion. Ahead of her stand-up shows this weekend at Zanie’s in Rosement, Reset sat down with Lisa Ann Walter to ask her: If Melissa Schemmenti had a five-minute comedy set, what would she say? For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

‘Abbott Elementary’ Star Lisa Ann Walter Is Competitive AF

Conservationists Push For Stronger Protections For Chicago’s Lakefront

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