WBEZ News

Art has a way of broadening understanding despite differences in language and culture.

A new play about a Venezuelan migrant and his journey to Chicago offers an intimate account of the risks that many asylum seekers face in their quest for better opportunities.

WBEZ’s Adriana Cardona Maguigad has more. HOST: DIXON

Beach season is…. over ….. Or ... is it? Lake Michigan had one of its hottest summers on record. And as Climate Change drives warmer temperatures throughout the region, Chicagoans took full advantage of it.

WBEZ’s Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco headed out to the lake on a recent Saturday and came back with this story. HOST: DIXON

The Pulse Theater company was cofounded in 2014 by Chicago native Aaron Reese Boseman.

Like many storefront theater companies in the city, Pulse has faced several challenges, like financial setbacks and the ongoing pandemic.

WBEZ theater reporter Mike Davis was recently in the audience for the theater's current production, Beneath the Willow Tree.

He spoke with Boseman about the founding of the Black non-Equity theater company and its unlikely benefactor.

Mike Davis joined me now to share what he had learned. HOST: DIXON

The head of Chicago Public Schools is acknowledging that Mayor Brandon Johnson has asked him to resign.

But in an unprecedented move, he is refusing.

Now the spotlight is turning to the Board of Education. That’s who the CPS CEO works for.

WBEZ’s Sarah Karp has been looking at the CEO’s contract and his relationship with the board.

She’s here to tell us what she found.

HOST: LARA

Chicago is the home of house, with the genre’s creation starting in the Southside 40 years ago. While the genre has spread across the world, its roots remain strong in Chicago. In the early hours of the morning on Chicago's northside, a sunrise set is being played. At the edge of Montrose Pier, afro-groove house music is played to over a crowd of 100 people, looking to start their day with house beats, instead of ending it. WBEZ’s Hailey Bosek has more.

HOST: DIXON

Chicago’s first school board elections are November 5th.

Voters will choose 10 board members from districts covering every Chicago neighborhood.

It’s an historic election and WBEZ, the Sun-Times and our partner Chalkbeat Chicago are out today with a comprehensive voter guide.

It includes detailed biographies of the candidates, their answers to lots of school-related questions and more.

WBEZ Engagement Editor Alex Keefe shared the details with Midday host Lisa Labuz

HOST: DIXON

The United States has seen a large increase in voter participation in the last three presidential elections.

Indicators point to a high number of voters turning out again in November.

While the U-S is riding a surge of voter participation, we still lag behind other nations with mandatory voting like Turkey, Uruguay and Australia.

What is the political landscape like in a country where everyone votes, and how could requiring citizens to vote change the dynamics of civic engagement here in the U-S?

Dan Tucker is the executive producer of WBEZ’s Reset. He recently traveled to Australia, one of around two dozen countries with mandatory voting.

He’s recently returned and joins me now…

HOST: DIXON

A new exhibit at the former Stony Island Trust and Savings Bank pays tribute to the Johnson Publishing Company – the now-defunct Chicago-based media group behind Ebony and Jet magazines.

It’s been put together by Chicago artist Theaster Gates, who has been preserving the archives that make up the exhibit.

He sat down with WBEZ Rundown podcast host Erin Allen to discuss how he came into possession of these archives, and his motivations for the exhibit.

HOST: DIXON

Voting is mandatory in Australia, and nationwide, 90 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in federal elections.

But in many remote Aboriginal communities in the country’s vast Northern Territory, turnout is much, much lower.

As part of our Democracy Solutions Project, WBEZ’s Dan Tucker visited the community of Yuendumu deep in the Australian bush to understand why voting falls so far below the national standard there.

And what it says about Australia’s attempt to compel all its citizens to vote.

HOST: LARA

The Chicago Sky’s season ended last night with an 87-54 loss to the Connecticut Sun.

After nabbing superstar rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso in the draft, the Sky closed out the season with a disappointing 13 and 27 record.

WBEZ sports Contributor Cheryl Raye Stout joins me now to discuss what next for the team. HOST: DIXON