In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

The Jewish holiday of Passover ended earlier this week. It celebrated freedom from slavery for the Jews in Egypt.  But another lesser-known practice continues out of Passover. It’s called Counting the Omer. And what was once an ancient harvest ritual has evolved into a very modern way for people of all faiths to increase their self-awareness -- and improve their relationships with the people and the world around them. 

The Jewish holiday of Passover ended earlier this week. It celebrated freedom from slavery for the Jews in Egypt.  But another lesser-known practice continues out of Passover. It’s called Counting the Omer. And what was once an ancient harvest ritual has evolved into a very modern way for people of all faiths to increase their self-awareness -- and improve their relationships with the people and the world around them. 

A recent investigation found the eviction rate in Chicago is higher in some places than others. In fact, one Chicago neighborhood is being called “the eviction capital of Chicago.” Morning Shift talks to Maya Dukmasova, a reporter with the Chicago Reader, about her findings while studying eviction cases throughout Chicago.

A recent investigation found the eviction rate in Chicago is higher in some places than others. In fact, one Chicago neighborhood is being called “the eviction capital of Chicago.” Morning Shift talks to Maya Dukmasova, a reporter with the Chicago Reader, about her findings while studying eviction cases throughout Chicago.

Sound Opinions host Jim DeRogatis visits Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia to explain why he thinks Chicago — both the “official” city and often even its people — have a tendency to either overlook its musical heritage and giants.

Sound Opinions host Jim DeRogatis visits Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia to explain why he thinks Chicago — both the “official” city and often even its people — have a tendency to either overlook its musical heritage and giants.

In the last few years the nostalgia for old television shows have led to their reboots. Leading the way has been streaming giant, Netflix, which brought back Arrested Development and Fuller House. The latest fan driven reboot, Mystery Science Theater 3000, a cult television show from the late 1980s can now be seen on Netflix. Morning Shift talks with Eric Deggans, TV critic for NPR about the new season and what is behind the idea of television reboots.

In the last few years the nostalgia for old television shows have led to their reboots. Leading the way has been streaming giant, Netflix, which brought back Arrested Development and Fuller House. The latest fan driven reboot, Mystery Science Theater 3000, a cult television show from the late 1980s can now be seen on Netflix. Morning Shift talks with Eric Deggans, TV critic for NPR about the new season and what is behind the idea of television reboots.

According to a recent article, since the 1980s, the percentage of American adults who say they’re lonely has doubled from 20 percent to 40 percent. As U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has often said, cancer and obesity aren’t the country’s biggest health issues -- it’s loneliness and isolation. Social isolation has even been linked to strokes and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Morning Shift talks to Drs. Richard Schwartz and Jacqueline Olds about what makes someone lonely and what the fine line is between blissful solitude and harmful isolation.

A new bill in Springfield aims to reform Illinois’ civil asset forfeiture laws -- a legal process that allows the government and police to seize a person’s personal property, if that person is so much as suspected of a crime. The goal is to take the profit out of crime, but critics argue it puts the profit in policing. Though reform has bipartisan support, it’s not without its opposition. President Trump, for example, is a supporter of civil asset forfeiture. Morning Shift talks to Ben Ruddell of the ACLU and Chief Marc Maton from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police to break down both sides of the debate.