In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

If the Chicago area were less segregated, homicides would plunge, African-Americans would make more money and more people would graduate college. Those are some of the major conclusions in a new report by the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Washington, D.C.-based Urban Institute. Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia spoke with Alden Loury, director of research and evaluation at the Metropolitan Planning Council, about the report and what steps need to be taken to desegregate the area. Below are highlights from their conversation.

Chicago could lose tens of millions of dollars if Mayor Rahm Emanuel stands by his promise to protect undocumented immigrants by refusing to comply with federal immigration law. Morning Shift talks to DePaul University political science professor Kathleen Arnold about what Monday’s announcement from Attorney General Sessions could mean for Chicago.

Morning Shift talks to Eric Liu; author of You're More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen's Guide to Making Change Happen. 

A new report shows that Chicago police are stopping and frisking far fewer people overall since a 2015 agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union to reform the practice, but the report also reveals that African-Americans are still being stopped at a much higher rate than Latinos and whites. Morning Shift talks with Karen Sheley, director of the Police Practices Project with the ACLU of Illinois.

Hip-hop has become more than music it has influenced society as a whole. Early hip-hop artists spoke about oppression, the War on Drugs, and poverty in their neighborhoods. The hip-hop artists that incorporated these messages in their lyrics were influenced by the failed urban design they experienced. That is the argument made by a professor at the University of Wisconsin who teaches design justice.

You’ve heard of performance-enhancing drugs, but what about performance-enhancing sandwiches? A new ESPN exclusive sheds light on how an all-American staple — the hum-drum peanut butter and jelly sandwich — has become a secret pre-game addiction for legions of NBA stars from Kevin Garnett to Damian Lillard to Steph Curry. >Morning Shift talks to ESPN sportswriter Baxter Holmes about this unlikely trend and how it has migrated from team to team across the Eastern and Western conferences.

When the Chicago Housing Authority launched its ambitious Plan for Transformation in 2000, it started tearing down public housing complexes in earnest and offering residents a “right to return,” basically a right to end up back in public housing in a mixed-income community. According to a new WBEZ investigative report, 17 years and $3 billion later, less than eight percent of the households promised mixed-income housing actually got it. Morning Shift talks to WBEZ’s Natalie Moore about the report.

Morning Shift talks to State Senator Heather Steans about the proposed bill and answers listeners’ questions about marijuana in Illinois.

Introduced to Chess Records through his pal and fellow musician Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry’s collaboration with the record label would solidify his impact on music and his connection to Chicago. Morning Shift talks to Chicago Tribune music critic and Sound Opinions co-host Greg Kot about Chuck Berry’s ties to Chicago.

According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Cook County has lost more people than any other county in the U.S. for the second year in a row. More than 21,000 residents have left Cook County in 2016, marking the largest decline of any county in the last 10 years. Though the decline is significant, it’s not too alarming -- the loss represents just a fraction (0.4 percent) of the county’s more than 5 million residents. The rate of decline is also consistent with other cities in the Midwest region, including Cleveland and Milwaukee. WBEZ’s Chris Hagan joins the Morning Shift to break down the numbers of who is leaving and where they’re going.According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Cook County has lost more people than any other county in the U.S. for the second year in a row. More than 21,000 residents have left Cook County in 2016, marking the largest decline of any county in the last 10 years. Though the decline is significant, it’s not too alarming -- the loss represents just a fraction (0.4 percent) of the county’s more than 5 million residents. The rate of decline is also consistent with other cities in the Midwest region, including Cleveland and Milwaukee. WBEZ’s Chris Hagan joins the Morning Shift to break down the numbers of who is leaving and where they’re going.