Mariah Woelfel is a general assignment reporter and producer. Prior to WBEZ, Mariah worked as a reporter, producer and All Things Considered host at WVIK, an NPR member station in western Illinois.
She grew up in Chicago and currently lives on the city’s West Side with her dog, Lola.
Mariah Woelfel

Stories by Mariah Woelfel
A Chicago Clinic Says It Will Stop Charging Patients A $200 Fee For A COVID-19 Vaccine
After WBEZ wrote about the administrative fee, Michigan Avenue Immediate Care said it would stop charging customers out-of-pocket, and apologized.
How One Small Chicago Pharmacy Is Doing Its Part To Vaccinate Its Community
A Logan Square pharmacist says distributing the COVID-19 shot hasn’t been cheap or profitable — but protecting her community is worth it.
New State Data Show Huge Lag In Vaccinations Of Black And Latino Illinois Residents
White residents have gotten 66% of the vaccinations in the state so far. Black and Latino residents received 7% each.
Half Of Chicago Residents To Get COVID-19 Vaccine So Far Are White
Black residents account for 15% of all vaccinated Chicagoans. Latinos account for 17%. City officials say they want to do better, focusing on 15 communities hit hard by COVID-19.
Fast-Spreading COVID-19 Variant Found In Chicago
The variant, which was first discovered in the U.K., was found in a person who had traveled overseas. The news comes as Gov. JB Pritzker rolls back restrictions in some areas of the state.
Rural Doctors Are Using Influence To Get Their Patients To Take The COVID-19 Vaccine
Even when controlling for politics, research shows rural residents are less likely to want a vaccine than urban and suburban dwellers.
Illinois Hits 1 Million Cases Of COVID-19
Nearly one year into the pandemic, Illinois joins a handful of states with more than 1 million cases of the coronavirus.
When Some Small Hospitals In Chicago Were Full, Bigger Ones Had Beds To Spare
New data show disparities that hospitals serving communities of color have felt for months: “We’re playing chess with patients … and we’re getting overwhelmed.”
How Hospitals Are Handling The COVID-19 Surge, And Warily Watching Beds Fill
From overhauling waiting rooms to delaying surgeries, hospitals in Illinois are making room for COVID-19 patients.
What We Know — And What We Don’t — About Illinois’ 2nd COVID-19 Wave
The coronavirus is back in full force — and the second surge could be even worse. Here’s a look at where Illinois stands.