Over the Juneteenth weekend, Chicago saw 8 people killed and almost 40 wounded from gun violence, including a drive-by mass shooting in Roseland. In response, community leaders gathered to push for a more prevention-focused strategy, and the creation of a Department of Gun Violence Reduction.

While Chicago has seen a decrease in violent crime rates over the past several years, summer is typically when shootings surge.

In the Loop discusses gun violence with local advocates to find out more about what effective prevention looks like.

GUESTS: Emmanuel Andre, Chicago Deputy Mayor for Community Safety

Sam Castro, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships, Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

Cedric Hawkins, outreach supervisor, Chicago CRED

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The U.S. has officially observed June 19 as a federal holiday for the last five years. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people, and the end of slavery in the U.S. in 1865.

Today on In the Loop, we hear about the Juneteenth celebrations and observance happening across the city this weekend, and discuss new traditions being created by communities in Chicago and beyond.

GUESTS: Jahmal Cole, CEO and founder of My Block My Hood My City

Tynnetta Qayim, COO, Black Ensemble Theater

Katanya Raby, vice president of planning for Far South Community Development Corporation

No you’re not seeing things – we’re bringing you our Weekly News Recap a day early! Illinois Governor JB Pritzker promises to be “very involved” in the 2028 presidential election. A man accused of burning a cross in Grant Park faces hate crime and arson charges. The U.S. Department of Justice challenges Evanston’s reparations program.

In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in our Weekly News Recap.

GUESTS: Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune transportation and labor reporter

Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times architecture critic

Justin Laurence, Crain’s Chicago Business government and politics reporter

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

What’s behind the surge to try to ban books and what does it mean for readers?

We tap in with a panel of experts, including an Illinois author whose children’s book is banned from several shelves outside of the state.

GUESTS:

Veronica Arreola, author of the children’s book “J Is for Justice”

Emily Knox, interim dean and professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Dan Montgomery, executive director, American Library Association

Jarrett Dapier, author of the new graphic novel “Wake Now in the Fire” about censorship at CPS schools

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Housing advocates have warned that the Obama Presidential Center could price out longtime residents. So far, the cost of single and multi-family homes in Woodlawn closest to the Obama Center have doubled since 2019, and less than a third of housing stock in the area was considered affordable. Also, the number of short-term rentals, like Airbnb, are increasing in the neighborhoods around the Presidential Center, which takes potential rental housing out of the market.

In the Loop digs into how the city has fallen short of delivering on promises aimed at protecting residents from displacement, and how the growth of Airbnbs in the area is impacting affordability.

GUESTS: Sidnee King Pineda, journalist, Illinois Answers Project

Infiniti Gant, housing organizer, Southside Together

Kristy Ramsey, Airbnb host, Woodlawn resident

Cam Rodriguez, WBEZ data reporter

Alexandra Salomon, WBEZ senior editor

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago is just days away from the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. And it’s not just a museum or library, but also a home to a whole lot of art. Inside, outside, on the walls, IN the walls, overhead – and even the benches visitors will sit on. So who is this art for, and what message does it convey?

In The Loop talks with three of the Chicago artists featured in the inaugural permanent collection at the Obama Presidential Center: visual artist Tyanna J. Buie, and muralists Dorian Sylvain and Sam Kirk.

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago police investigate a cross burning and potential hate crime in Grant Park. Governor Pritzker says he’s open to calling a special legislative session to reach a Bears stadium deal. Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel pedals presidential aspirations on a bike tour of New Hampshire.

In the Loop breaks down those stories and much more with Axios’ Carrie Shepherd,

Chicago Tribune’s Dan Petrella, and WBEZ’s Alden Loury.

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Biking advocate and Chicago Department of Transportation worker Riley O’Neil, 35, died on Friday, June 5, after he was hit with a car door and thrown into oncoming traffic.

Since O’Neil’s death, advocates are calling on the city to build more protected bike lanes to prevent fatal incidents like this one.

In the Loop sits down with local organizers and cyclists — Charna Albert with Chicago, Bike Grid Now!, Kyle Lucas with Better Streets Chicago, and Jim Merrell with the Active Transportation Alliance — to discuss building safer streets in Chicago.

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

On today’s In the Loop, Sasha sits down with Blackhawks CEO Danny Wirtz to talk about his work spearheading a multi-billion-dollar revamp of the area around the United Center.

Plus, we’ll hear more about the history of the West Side and how residents feel about the historic investment.

Today’s guests are: Danny Wirtz, Chairman and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks; Marie Henderson, owner Out of The Past Records; Brian Ellison, board president of Garfield Park Community Council; and Ayesha Jaco, executive director of West Side United.

For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.