In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

A little more than a handful of Chicago alderman are doing what’s called “participatory budgeting” this year. In those wards, Chicagoans get to cast a vote on how the lawmakers should spend about a million dollars. Tony Sarabia and WBEZ city politics reporter Lauren Chooljian take listener calls about how they would spend the money, even if their aldermen aren’t participating. We also check in with 36th Ward Alderman Gilbert Villegas about how the process is going in his district.

A listener named John recently asked WBEZ’s Curious City an intriguing question: Since Illinois doesn’t have a state budget, where are our tax dollars going, and what, if anything, are they funding? The question came with a sneaky addendum: Why shouldn’t we all just stop paying taxes? WBEZ’s Dan Weissman uncovered the answers in a report earlier this week for Curious City. He joins Morning Shift to explain his findings.

When a man goes to a dinner party at his ex-wife and new husband’s house you expect laughable gaffes, not deadly consequences. But Karyn Kusama and Phil Hay’s new film The Invitation takes the thriller route, building up the suspense and paranoia around an awkward evening. The film kicks off a week-long run Friday at Music Box Theatre. The filmmakers join us to talk about how the idea came to be and the long process of getting their thriller to the big screen.

It’s been about a month since President Obama nominated appellate judge Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court. Since then, 19 Republican senators have agreed to sit down with Garland for a so-called “courtesy meeting.” That’s despite GOP leadership saying the Senate won’t hold a confirmation hearing. Our junior Senator from Illinois — Mark Kirk — was the first Republican to meet with Garland. According to Kirk’s office, over the course of 25 minutes, the two men discussed everything from Guantanamo Bay to gang violence in Chicago to the Tenth Amendment. Tony Sarabia talks with Senator Mark Kirk about what came out of that meeting and other ways he’s stepping across the aisle as he gears up for a challenge from Democratic U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth in November.

Richard Wooten is a former Chicago police officer who worked in Englewood and Auburn-Gresham for 23 years until his retirement last year. Since then, he’s been active with the Gathering Point Community Council and the Greater Chatham Alliance and Block Club. Marie Cole is president of the East Garfield Park Consolidated Block Club. Wooten and Cole explore the issues with us.

In a report released this week, the panel highlighted a history of institutional racism within the ranks of the CPD and made dozens of suggestions, including disbanding the Independent Police Review Authority. Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot, who is a member of the task force, joins us to discuss the recommendations and take calls from listeners.

At four-year public universities where graduation rates rose between 2003 and 2013, some black students are falling behind their white counterparts.

The Kontras Quartet were doing just fine on their own, thank you very much. Acclaimed for their artistry and sensitivity, the young members were carving out a nice name for themselves in the world of chamber music. But then along came the Swiss-born bluegrass-obsessed Kruger Brothers, and the sounds of the concert hall and the sounds of the Appalachian hollers melded into something totally unique and sonically beautiful.

Chicago’s Interim Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was at City Council Tuesday to answer questions from aldermen. WBEZ’s Lauren Chooljian was there and brings us an update on what we learned about Johnson’s plans for addressing police accountability and crime.  Dig Deeper: From WBEZ News: Panel Moves To Fast-Track Chicago Mayor's Police Chief Pick

As she made her way through college and community theater, actress and playwright Tekki Lomnicki noticed there weren’t many people who looked like her on the stage. Lomnicki is a little person, so she joined forces with friends and others in the local theater scene to create Tellin’ Tales Theatre, featuring personal stories from people living with disabilities. This weekend, they present Divercity at Prop Thtr. We talk to Lomnicki about what audiences can expect.