In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

The lyrics of Beyonce’s new song “Formation” tell a story of black women’s empowerment and the artist’s own personal origin story. The imagery in the music video reflects that theme, but also references Hurricane Katrina, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the tense state of relations between the police and African Americans in this country. Here with their takes on the song and the video’s provocative imagery are two people who wrote about Formation after it was released the of day Beyonce’s performance at the Superbowl. Kyra Kyles is Vice President, Head of Digital for Johnson Publishing Company here in Chicago. And Kate Forristall is a freelance journalist.

In recent years, The Great Lakes have been terrorized by a little, tiny foe called the Sea Lamprey. Usually found in the Atlantic, the parasite has been killing fish by the millions each year feeding on it’s blood and moving on to larger prey once it’s done. Scientists have been working to develop the most effective way to rid our waters of these tiny terrors. Michael Wagner, Fish ecologist and MSU professor, guides us through research on a plan to remove lampreys by smell.

Chicago Defender society editor and columnist Theresa “Teesee” Fambro Hooks was laid to rest yesterday morning. She died January 31 in her home at age 80. Teesee and the Defender share the same birthday, May 5. Teesee - as she was affectionately called - spent more than four decades at the Black newspaper. She’s covered many issues, including the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the riots in Chicago after his murder. She later took helm of the Women’s and Society sections of the storied newspaper. Her longtime society column “Teesee’s Town” was known as the premier spot for featuring African Americans. Morning Shift producer Kathy Chaney, who worked with TeeSee at the Defender, along with other friends and colleagues reflect back on a Chicago icon in the Black Press.

We caught up with the legendary Mavis Staples. She stops by to discuss her upcoming album, her father Pops and her time spent working with MLK.

Next week, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner will give his budget address eight months into the state’s budget stalemate. It’s a situation Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf found himself in early this week. We examine why these two states haven’t been able to agree on budget deals and tell us about how we might be able to solve that problem. Here to explain some of the similarities and differences between the two states are Chris Mooney, Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois and Joe McLaughlin, Director of the Institute of Public Affairs at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Next week, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner will give his budget address eight months into the state’s budget stalemate. It’s a situation Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf found himself in early this week. We examine why these two states haven’t been able to agree on budget deals and tell us about how we might be able to solve that problem. Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel discusses the opening of the first domestic violence shelter in Chicago in 10 years. He joins us by phone. And forget Broadway, forget London. Theater buffs around the world know that Chicago takes center stage when it comes to both quality and variety. We kick off Chicago Theater Week highlighting some of the large talent doing great things with modest means. We also catch up with the legendary Mavis Staples. She discusses her upcoming album, her father Pops and her time spent working with MLK.

Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel discusses the opening of the first domestic violence shelter in Chicago in 10 years. He joins us by phone.

Forget Broadway, forget London. Theater buffs around the world know that Chicago takes center stage when it comes to both quality and variety. We kick off Chicago Theater Week, where over 100 theaters-including more than a dozen in the suburbs-are offering tickets to shows at deep discounts. No ticket will be over $30, including the big boys like The Goodman, Steppenwolf, and Chicago Shakespeare. But there’s a whole world of smaller theaters out there in the neighborhoods doing exceptional work. Theater critic Kerry Reid highlights some of the large talent doing great things with modest means.

Students at Wheaton College will embark on a hunger fast after a scheduled reconciliation for professor Larycia Hawkins. Hawkins was put on leave in December for saying Muslims and Christians worship the same God. We hear an update.

As the President returns to Springfield this afternoon to address the Illinois General Assembly, we’ll look back at his 2007 speech there that announced his candidacy and the plan it laid out for the war in Iraq, health care, the economy, and much more. Wheaton College students will embark on a hunger fast after a scheduled reconciliation for professor Larycia Hawkins. The school halted its termination process of the tenured professor and both agreed to part ways. We hear an update. Vocalo's Ayana Contreras, host of Reclaimed Soul, brings us a preview to this week's soundtrack to unity - music that creates a mood of brother and sisterhood.