Kristen Schorsch
Reporter, Government and Politics
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.
Stories by Kristen Schorsch
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Meet the New Yorker Tasked With Rescuing Cook County’s Public Health System
As the region battles COVID-19, new Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha Jr. will face immediate challenges. Chief among them: shoring up finances.
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Mayor Lightfoot Says Chicago Is In A ‘Second Surge’ As Governor Warns Of New Restrictions
DuPage, Will and Kane counties could see bar and restaurant closures as cases surge across the state. Chicago’s mayor is telling Chicagoans to resist “COVID fatigue.“
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Cook County’s Proposed 2021 Budget Eases Pandemic Pain: No New Taxes
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle unveiled a $6.9 billion proposed budget that relies on some small fee increases, tapping reserves, but no new taxes to offset losses from the pandemic.
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How Money Fuels Racism In Health Care
Hospitals in low-income communities are often starved for resources. And that makes it harder for people of color in parts of Chicago to get medical care.
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A New York Hospital Executive Has Been Chosen To Lead The Cook County Health System
Israel Rocha Jr., CEO of two hospitals in the giant NYC Health + Hospitals system has been chosen to lead Cook County’s Health System. He has to be approved by the county board.
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Chicago Eases Some COVID-19 Restrictions On Bars And Restaurants
Chicago officials will allow for more capacity at bars and restaurants and loosen other restrictions on Oct. 1, saying COVID-19 case rates and deaths have improved.
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As Winter Approaches, Are Chicago’s Health Care Systems Better Prepared For COVID-19?
From problems transferring patients to concerns about hospital staffing, WBEZ follows up to see what, if anything, has changed.
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As Allergies Rage And Flu Season Looms, Some Worry Every Cough Could Be COVID-19
The symptoms for seasonal allergies and the flu look a lot like the symptoms for the coronavirus, and the similarities are stressing people out.
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Cook County Health Board Picks ‘Candidate A’ As New CEO
The compensation package and name of the candidate were not publicly released. The candidate goes to the County Board for approval.
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As One Chicago Hospital Plans To Close, Another Aims To Expand
Despite pandemic struggles for some hospitals, Chicago-based Northwestern plans to affiliate with another suburban hospital, which would be the 11th in its system.
