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
Stories by Mariah Woelfel
Mayor Brandon Johnson exempts migrant families with children and those with measles from shelter evictions
With these new exceptions, the city is proceeding with a plan to require migrants leave shelters after 60 days and will require vaccinations.
‘Bring Chicago Home’ votes will be counted after Illinois Supreme Court denies appeal
The Illinois Supreme Court denied an appeal by real estate groups that tried to block the ballot question regarding tax rates on property sales.
Real estate groups ask the Illinois Supreme Court to block ‘Bring Chicago Home’ referendum
The groups want the state’s highest court to stop the effort to allow voters to approve increasing a sales tax on high-end properties before the March 19 primary
Illinois appellate court says ‘Bring Chicago Home’ referendum votes will count
Voters should get to decide the proposed tax increase on the sale of high-end properties in Chicago, the court ruled.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s borrowing plan raises questions about how the city will spend the money
Opponents of a proposal to increase the city’s real estate transfer tax for homelessness say Johnson’s plan is further proof the city doesn’t need the referendum.
Mayor Brandon Johnson pitches borrowing $1.25 billion for housing and development
Johnson says his signature development plan would rely on letting dozens of the city’s controversial TIF districts expire, and that money would be used to pay back the debt.
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis faces a hard reelection fight as he faces challenges from fellow Democrats
Davis’s Democratic challengers say it’s time for the incumbent congressman to step aside. But Davis says he has valuable seniority.
Cook County judge weighs challenge to referendum appearing on the March ballot
Attorneys bickered over procedural questions in court as real estate groups try to get the question kicked off the ballot.
An in-depth look inside the campaigns for and against a tax to pay for homelessness prevention
From Chicagoans’ doorsteps to Zoom calls, supporters and opponents of a tax on high-end property sales to pay for homelessness programming make their arguments before the March 19 referendum vote.
What voters need to know about the Bring Chicago Home referendum
Will it raise taxes? What would the money be for? Your questions answered about the Chicago referendum on your primary ballot.