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An illustration of a swirl of money with the words "taxpayer dollars" flowing into a school building labeled "private schools"

WBEZ News

New This School Year: Taxpayer Dollars Funding Illinois Private Schools

Taxpayers are now paying for private school scholarships. WBEZ digs into early numbers.

August 16, 2018

Aretha Franklin, pictured in 1968, died Thursday. Known as the "Queen of Soul," she recorded 17 Top 10 singles.

Sound Opinions

Remembering Aretha Franklin

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, has died at age 76. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot celebrate her discography, activism and impact.

August 17, 2018

StoryCorps Chicago

StoryCorps Chicago: 'The Stock Yards Was Our Playground'

Even after the meatpacking industry moved away from the Stock Yards, John and Susan O’Dea stayed in their Canaryville neighborhood home.

August 17, 2018

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel appeared at Midway Airport on Tuesday for a ribbon-cutting event marking the opening of the new $75 million concessions at the Southwest Side airport.

WBEZ News

A Midway Restaurant Company Is Attracting Interest From The Feds

The U.S. attorney in Chicago sent a subpoena in June asking for records on NorthAmerican Concessions Inc.

August 14, 2018

Curious City

What Are The Costs Of Chicago’s Air And Water Show?

The city says the show generates millions of dollars in business. But some listeners wonder whether it’s worth the environmental costs.

August 11, 2018

The Advanced Photon Source, located at Argonne National Laboratory, in Illinois

Nerdette

Is The Real-Life Upside Down At The Argonne National Laboratory?

No, but Tricia and Greta did see a lot of cool science going down at the high-security facility.

August 10, 2018

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Chicago Public Schools launched a centralized high school application system for the first time last fall. The results are out, showing that 90 percent of students wanted to go to just half of all Chicago public high schools while 10 city schools had almost no takers.

WBEZ News

Students Covet Half Of Chicago’s High Schools While 10 Get Few Takers

New data show 90 percent of students want to go to just half of all Chicago public high schools while 10 city schools had almost no takers.

August 16, 2018

Bashir Salahuddin, standing, is an executive producer of Comedy Central's forthcoming comedy "South Side." This is a scene from the show with actors Kareme "K" Young, Sultan Salahuddin, and Quincy "Q" Young.

WBEZ News

‘South Side’ Workplace Sitcom Shows Breadth Of Blackness

A Chicagoan creates a new comedy show to reflect the fun and joy of the South Side as well as its socioeconomic and political challenges.

August 15, 2018

Some houses affected by Hurricane Maria remained covered in tarps or missing roofs as recently as June in San Juan, Puerto Rico's El Gandul neighborhood.

Morning Edition

FEMA Wants Puerto Rico To Start Paying For Part Of Its Recovery

Declaring the island's emergency over, FEMAhas begun scaling back its financial assistance. Puerto Rico's government is not happy.

August 17, 2018

Freshly painted block club signs stand up against a brick wall

WBEZ News

From Don't To Do: A New Take On Black Chicago's Block Club Sign Tradition

Some of Chicago's hand-painted block club signs are getting an upgrade — in art and in messaging.

August 14, 2018

Chicago Public Schools, pre-school, Susie An/WBEZ

WBEZ News

Just 24 Percent Of Illinois Kindergartners Ready For School

A new look at Illinois kindergarteners finds most students are behind in language, math and social and emotional development.

August 13, 2018

WBEZ News

For Illinois Birds, Moving To Urban Areas Key To Survival

U of I researchers retraced the steps of a 100-year-old bird survey to see how well species are adapting and surviving.

August 14, 2018

A butter cow on a blue background with hand-drawn white arrows pointing at it

WBEZ News

How To Build A Cow Out Of Butter

Sculpting a cow from butter is a beloved state fair tradition. This is how it's done.

August 7, 2018

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