In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

The North American Free Trade Agreement is on the table as President Donald Trump plans to renegotiate the long-standing deal. Calling NAFTA the “worst trade deal in history,” Trump has criticized former President Bill Clinton for signing it in 1993. The agreement allowed for the U.S., Mexico, and Canada to trade goods without having to pay high tariffs. What will renegotiating it mean for Illinois manufacturers? A majority of the state’s exports go to NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico. Morning Shift talks to Greg Baise, the president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.

President Trump broached the topic of immigration Wednesday with plans to crack down on sanctuary cities. WBEZ's Lauren Chooljiana and NPR's David Schaper break down what that means for Chicago.

Coval's upcoming book of poetry, A People’s History of Chicago, pays tribute to the city’s 77 neighborhoods

On Jan. 24, 1967, a Tuesday, Chicago was an atypical 65 degrees. That Thursday, Chicago was hit by the worst blizzard in its history, a record held to this day. Morning Shift talks to Chicago historian John R. Schmidt, a college student in 1967, about what he remembers of the blizzard.

What you should watch out for, and the best way to finance your grandchild’s education without cracking your own nest egg.

Chicago is making efforts to diversify the police force. The “Be the Change” campaign aims to target minority groups to take the police entrance exam and “have a department that reflects the unique dynamics of our communities,” according to Supt. Eddie Johnson. 

In the age of smart gadgets, are people compromising privacy for convenience?

For a long time, the only time the public has been able to comment was during committee meetings when a much smaller group of aldermen are in attendance. The longstanding tradition was an affront to activists calling for government transparency and so-called open meetings. Morning Shift talks to two aldermen on either side of the debate about what public comment should look like in the future. Alderman Joe Moore has represented Rogers Park since 1991. He thinks the committee model has worked and that opening full council meetings to public comment has its drawbacks. Alderwoman Sue Sadlowski Garza, who represents Chicago's 10th ward, believes allowing the public to speak during full council meetings is vital and important.

What’s driving the increase in Chicago homicides? A recent report from the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab eliminated some of the more popular theories and concluded there was no definitive reason. Experts at the violence-reduction program Ceasefire took issue with the report and said they knew exactly why homicides are on the rise in Chicago: insufficient state funding for their program. According to Dr. Gary Slutkin, founder of Ceasefire, the state’s budget crisis has crippled Ceasefire’s operations in Chicago, making them unable to intervene and prevent violence in communities before it starts.  Morning Shift spoke Dr. Slutkin about his take on the root of violence in Chicago and the path forward. 

Why do men have nipples? Why do we sleep? And can contact lenses get lost in our brains? Those are just some of the burning questions Dr. James Hamblin takes on in his book, If Our Bodies Could Talk: A Guide to Operating and Maintaining a Human Body. Hamblin spoke with Morning Shift host Tony Sarabia to answer a few body and health questions and explain why he thinks his book is timely.