In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

The Black Harvest Film Festival has explored the stories, images, heritage, and history of the black experience in the U.S and around the world for 22 years. We discuss one of this year's features, This Is Not Chiraq, a TV series pilot. We speak with filmmaker Noel Occomy and executive producer Rodger Jackson.  The Black Harvest Film festival takes place at the Gene Siskel Film Center through September 1. 

Many considered Jamie Leibert a lost cause. He came from a broken home, became addicted to drugs, lived on the street, robbed post offices, and eventually wound up in prison. Yet he was able to turn his life around. Not through AA. Not through religion. He did it through extreme sports. Now Leibert is putting everything he’s learned toward helping kids that are lost and desperate. Jamie Leibert tells us his personal story and explains the ideas fueling his non-profit Just Care More.

Human Rights Watch estimates there are 400,000 untested rape kits in the country. Untested kits are a long-time issue in many states, but one local organization has said “enough is enough” and issued a call to action.  Test 400K sent a rape kit to every governor in the country, and its website allows users to see when their elected official receives the kit. (Governor Bruce Rauner's was delivered yesterday.) Governors have two weeks to endorse the Test 400K National Call to Action, which states that stopping sexual assault is a top priority.  Test 400K co-founder Julie Smolyansky tells us more about the call to action, and explains why this campaign is so important to her. We also talk with local rape survivor Michelle Kuiper.

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was known for his luscious brown locks, but now that he’s in prison and unable to dye his hair, he’s sporting a white mane. The dramatic change got the Morning Shift thinking about men who dye their hair. Why do they do it? What are the benefits and drawbacks? And why, when women talk openly about dyeing their hair, are men so tight-lipped about their dye jobs?  Morning Shift talks to writer and novelist Phillippe Diederich, who’s had gray hair since high school, about where he comes down on the question of whether or not to dye. We also take calls from listeners with their stories.

Soccer is the most popular sport everywhere on the planet...except the United States. Major League Soccer is several pegs below the top European leagues, and the U.S. Men’s team often fails to impress. Yet somehow, the U.S. women’s team has been a dominant force in global soccer, winning 3 World Cups and 4 Olympic Golds since its inception in 1985. Jen Cooper, host of the women’s soccer podcast 'Mixxed Zone' and color commentator for the Houston Dash soccer team, joins us to talk about how the U.S. women got on top and stay on top of the soccer world.

Every ten years Illinois’ legislative districts are redrawn to reflect changing population patterns. The map is drawn up by lawmakers and that say opponents of this process, means politicians essentially pick candidates instead of voters.  There’s been a longtime effort to get a measure on the ballot to make the process more independent. The so-called Fair Map Amendment movement cleared a major hurdle by getting more than enough of the required petition signatures.  But so far courts have ruled against the group, saying the amendment is unconstitutional. Now the fight goes to the Illinois Supreme Court.  Morning Shift learns more about the fight and what’s at stake for voters and politicians from Sheila Simon, former Lt. Gov.

Despite tearful pleas from his two daughters, Judge James Zagel did not grant former Governor Blagojevich a reduced sentence. He has eight years remaining on his time in prison for corruption. The Governor appeared from a TV screen in the Colorado prison where he’s serving his time. WBEZ’s Michael Puente was there, and he has the play by play.

The Brunswick label was one of the biggest players in the Chicago Soul scene, and one of the key men behind the sounds at Brunswick was Willie Henderson. The musician, producer and arranger worked with artists like Otis Rush, Syl Johnson, Jackie Wilson, the Chi-Lites, and so many others.  Yet for all his work making others sound great, he might be best known for a song about dancing poultry. Ayana Contreras joins us with examples of Willie Henderson’s work as he turns 75.

Michael Brown was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson on this day two years ago in Ferguson, near St. Louis.  That shooting sparked weeks of protests and unrest in the community and brought international attention to relations between police and African Americans. The shooting led the Justice Department to demand that Ferguson overhaul its criminal justice system. It also ushered in a new administration.  De’Carlon Seewood moved from the Chicago southwest suburb of Richton Park last fall to become Ferguson’s new city manager after the former city manager resigned. We talk to Seewood about the Ferguson of today.

The latest videos of the events leading up to the death of 18-year-old Paul O’Neal show several minutes of chaos as police try to piece together what just happened.  There was a car chase, then foot chase and the rapid fire of gunshots had some officers confused on the source of the bullets. All of these videos made public prompted Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson to tell reporters Saturday that officers face “split second decisions”. He went on to say policing is a difficult job that most people don’t understand.  Someone who does understand the job is Dean Angelo, Sr., president of the Fraternal Order of Police. He offers insight into those decisions and the challenges of the job.