Mariah Woelfel covers city government at WBEZ. Before joining the City Hall beat in 2021, Mariah worked as a general assignment reporter and producer at the station, where she covered the creation of and start to Illinois’ multimillion dollar recreational cannabis industry, as well as the city and state’s healthcare systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. 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
Reporter
Stories by Mariah Woelfel
![]()
With schools shuttered, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot blames union leaders for ‘chaotic conduct’
The mayor told WBEZ that the union’s temporary push for remote learning is arbitrary and unreliable. Union leaders say it’s not safe to return.
![]()
Customers will have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at Chicago restaurants, gyms and more
The mitigations aimed at indoor businesses and their patrons come in a response to an “alarming rise” in COVID-19 cases nationally and locally, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday.
![]()
Customers will have to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at Chicago restaurants, gyms and more
The requirement goes into effect Jan. 3.
![]()
Lightfoot cleared of ‘purposeful concealment’ in law firm’s investigation of city’s response to botched police raid
The botched raid of Anjanette Young’s home had set off a political firestorm for Lightfoot’s administration.
![]()
Sports betting is approved for Chicago’s major stadiums and ballparks
The city council approved allowing betting in five major parks across the city, despite some opposition saying the city is selling short the revenue it could collect.
![]()
Chicago aldermen approve a $2.9 million settlement with Anjanette Young for botched raid
Young was left naked for 10 minutes while police raided the wrong home. One alderman said she hoped the settlement would prompt change among Chicago police.
![]()
From Englewood to Chinatown, residents fight to keep their communities together in Chicago’s remapping
While the Asian American community may see its first slim-majority-ward in the proposed maps, efforts to consolidate Englewood appear to once again fail.
![]()
Chicago City Council’s Latino Caucus files for a public vote on ward maps
The move gives the Latino Caucus months of negotiating room as it pushes for more majority-Latino wards.
![]()
A new Chicago ward map proposal would create the first majority-Asian ward and shrink majority-Black wards by two
The proposed map will continue to get debated through the new year, and there remains the possibility voters may ultimately get to decide how Chicago wards are drawn.
![]()
The deadline for a new Chicago ward map is here, but aldermen may not have the votes
Negotiations between the Black and Latino caucuses continue, but will Chicago aldermen get behind a map the public hasn’t yet seen?
