In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

The legendary artistic director joins us to talk about the new season and tell stories about his 40 years in the Chicago theater scene.

Jim DeRogatis joins us to talk about some of the music that has knocked his socks so far at the festival. 

Depending on who you ask, bringing kids to work can be a welcome morale boost, or a distraction and productivity killer. So, what should an organization’s policy be on employees bringing their kids to work? White Sox designated hitter Adam LaRoche made some big news with his answer to the question. He walked away from a $13 million contract after a team executive asked him to limit the amount of time his son Drake spends in the team’s locker room. WBEZ sports contributor Cheryl Raye Stout gives us some insight into the flap and what it reveals about clubhouse culture. We also hear from Dan Kois, co-host of Slate’s parenting podcast Mom and Dad Are Fighting and Susy Schultz of the Chicago non-profit Public Narrative on how employers and employees deal with the issue of kids at work. We also open the phones to listeners.

The record is classic Ben Harper, drawing on rock, soul, blues, folk and global sounds. Ben Harper joins us for music and conversation.

The Chicago Police Board is expected to reveal the names of the three finalists for Chicago Police Superintendent Thursday. While he says he doesn’t expect to make the shortlist, former Baltimore Police sergeant Michael Wood Jr. is the only candidate who has made his entire application for the job available to the public.

What life was like back in what is now Illinois tens of millions of years before the first dinosaur?

The role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons first came out in 1974. Now, thanks to a popular YouTube web series, the world has even more dungeon masters. Morning Shift looks at the D&D cultural phenomenon and how it’s changed over the last four decades.

In yesterday’s Presidential primary races, Hillary Clinton pulled out ahead of Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side, winning Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Illinois and racking up a very strong lead in delegates. On the Republican side, Donald Trump took three states, putting him in his strongest position yet to win the nomination for his party. Morning Shift breaks down the election returns with WBEZ political reporters Tony Arnold and Lauren Choolijan as well as Politico Senior Reporter Natasha Korecki. We also hear from Cook CountyCommissioner and Bernie Sanders supporter Jesus “Chuy” Garcia about Sanders failure to replicate his win in Michigan.

Morning Shift checks in with Kim Foxx after her win in the Democratic primary for Cook County State’s Attorney over the incumbent Anita Alvarez. We also speak with Foxx’s mentor Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

In a further look at yesterday’s primaries in Illinois, Morning Shift breaks down a race dubbed one of the most expensive ones in the history of the Illinois House of Representatives. Morning Shift speaks with Illinois State Representative Ken Dunkin of Illinois 5th District and Juliana Stratton, the challenger who took his seat.