In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

President Obama returns to Springfield to address lawmakers. It's where nine years to the day he announced his bid for the presidency. We continue to take a look at his promises and accomplishments throughout his candidacy as well as presidency. NPR White House Correspondent Scott Horsley discusses whether or not Obama was able to deliver on said promises.

On this day in 2007, a U-S Senator named Barack Obama stood on the steps of the old Capitol Building in Springfield with his family beside him to announce his run for President of the United States. Today, we take a look back with RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard and Sun Times Columnist Mary Mitchell to discuss his rise to presidential candidacy.

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.

Ronald Reagan’s presidential bid took a fateful turn in 1980 after his fiery “Nashua Moment” during a New Hampshire primary debate. As that state’s voters head to the polls today, we look back at the 40th president’s legacy with Jacob Weisberg, author of the biography 'Ronald Reagan.'

As residents of Flint, Michigan continue to deal with lead-contaminated drinking water after being exposed for two years to toxic waste levels 10 times higher than the EPA limit, Chicagoans aren’t being told of tap water risks, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. Michael Hawthorne of the Tribune breaks down how Chicago fits into the national water crisis.

Yesterday we discussed the Chicago Reader and City Bureau’s detailed look at the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police’s control of the local media narratives given by spokesman Pat Camden and how they perpetuate throughout the city’s investigative process in the courtroom. Dean Angelo Sr., president of the FOP, responds to the piece titled “Fraternal Order of Propaganda.”

Chicago Public Schools are at a critical moment. CPS took out more than 700-million in high-interest bonds last week, and they’re talking about 100-million in cuts. Meanwhile, the teachers union is talking about a possible strike, and student numbers continue to decline. As this all unfolds, Noble, Chicago’s largest charter school network, keep moving forward with expansion plans. Catalyst associate editors Melissa Sanchez and Kalyn Belsha take us inside the Noble charter network, where one out of every 10 kids in the CPS system get their education.

For the last two weeks you’ve been hearing about Chicago Restaurant Week and all the eateries participating. That list has always mostly been devoid of African-American owned restaurants, prompting the creation of Chicago Black Restaurant Week. It just kicked off and we talk to Lauran Smith, a designer of the week, along with Chef Cliff Rome of Rome's Joy Catering. He's the owner of the Parkway Ballroom, and H-Dogs and Peach’s restaurants in Bronzeville.