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Kristen Schorsch

Kristen Schorsch

Reporter, Health and County Government

Kristen Schorsch is a reporter on WBEZ’s government and politics team, where she covers Cook County and public health.

Previously, she covered health care, government, crime, courts, higher education and news of the weird (think coffin parties) for Crain’s Chicago Business, the Chicago Tribune, the Daily Southtown and the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

Kristen has won more than a dozen local and national awards for her work. Her stories have sparked policy changes and spurred investigations.

Kristen is a former longtime board member of the Chicago Headline Club and helps organize the club’s annual FOIAFest about public information and transparency. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois and is a proud Daily Illini alumna.

Three of Chicago’s busiest hospitals are a short walk from the DNC, prompting preparations for protests or catastrophic disasters.
The Democratic commissioner was known for his advocacy of improving mental health care.
County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is also trying to figure out which pandemic-funded programs to keep as the county spends down federal dollars.


In a subpoena obtained by WBEZ, the feds wanted a list of county documents about a hack that potentially affected 1.2 million patients here.
The move comes as Northwestern has decreased beds for new and expectant mothers and added beds for others, like patients undergoing surgery.
The move follows through on a campaign promise Johnson made to reopen clinics that were shuttered under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The Chicago Department of Public Health is focused on training city workers and people who live in areas with the highest suicide rates.