From ancient artifacts to historic landmarks, pieces of history across the Gulf region are at risk due to armed conflict. On today’s In the Loop, we’ll hear from experts working to protect treasures in active conflict zones and talk about why it’s important to preserve cultural heritage.

At the table: archeologists Prof. Gil J. Stein, University of Chicago; Prof. Morag Kersel, DePaul University; and Patty Gerstenblith, emerita professor of law at DePaul University.

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

Bees and butterflies get all the buzz when it comes to pollination, but what about the underdogs? Think flies and moths, which are essential to pollination in the Midwest.

In the Loop kicks off the blooming season by checking in with entomologist Allen Lawrance of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, to find out how we can use our backyards to protect and support pollinators.

Plus, WBEZ kids weigh in with their questions about bees, hummingbirds, and other insects.

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

A debate is raging in Chicago’s City Council over how much businesses should pay tipped workers, with a majority of alders moving to freeze the increase in tipped minimum wage. It’s an action Mayor Brandon Johnson says he will veto. In the Loop hears from Illinois Restaurant Association Sam Toia and One Fair Wage organizer Molly Pachay about their thoughts on ending subminimum wage.

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

Micah Yason

After months of campaigning – and millions and millions of dollars spent from outside interests like AIPAC and cryptocurrency – several hotly-contested races for the U.S. Senate, governor and the U.S. House came to a close on Illinois’ Primary Day.

We’ll dig into everything you need to know with a panel of political experts: who won, who came up short, and how the results could shape up the general midterm election in the fall.

Our panel to help us break it all down: WBEZ’s Clare Lane, Mariah Woelfel and Mawa Iqbal; Jaime Dominguez, professor at Northwestern University; Connie Mixon, professor of political science at Elmhurst University; and Jim Durkin, former Minority Leader, Illinois House of Representatives.

We’ll also hear from candidates themselves, including:

Daniel Biss, mayor of Evanston, Democratic nominee for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District

Don Tracy, Illinois Senate Republican nominee

Darren Bailey, Illinois Governor Republican nominee

Juliana Stratton, Lt. Governor of Illinois, and Senate Democratic nominee

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

Beyond party affiliation, there is a broad diversity in who, how and why we vote. For some, it’s the issues that matter most; for others, it’s party loyalty. And then there are those who choose abstention.

Today on In the Loop, Stevie Valles, executive director, Chicago Votes, and Violet Miller, Chicago Sun-Times reporter, give us a primary day primer on what motivates us to vote.

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

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson sits down with In the Loop host Sasha-Ann Simons to answer listener questions on everything from the Illinois primary election to efforts afoot to once again allow a subminimum wage in Chicago to questions about small business, public safety and education.

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

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker surveys the destruction left behind after a series of wild storms rip through Kankakee County, destroying homes and buildings. Plus, the Illinois primary election is next week, and all eyes are on the tight race to replace longtime retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. We also talk about campaign finances and the use of AI in technology in political ads. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with Axios Chicago reporter Carrie Shepherd, WBEZ politics editor Dave McKinney and local journalist Leigh Giangreco.

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