Alex Keefe
Editor, Government and Politics
He first started at WBEZ in 2010 as a producer on Morning Edition, and later worked his way up to the politics beat. As a reporter, he had a particular interest in covering municipal finance, the state and city pension crises, and the debates over LGBT rights and gun rights. His 2014 series on the “Dark Arts of Politics” was recognized with awards from the Press Club of Atlantic City, the Society of Professional Journalists, PRNDI, the RTNDA and the Illinois Associated Press. He’s also twice been named Best Newswriter by the Illinois AP, in 2011 and 2013.
Starting in late 2014, Alex was the local All Things Considered host at Vermont Public Radio, where he also launched a people-powered journalism podcast called Brave Little State,
Stories by Alex Keefe
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The ComEd Scandal Shows Every Illinoisan The True Cost Of Taxpayer Funded Corruption
More than 4 million homes and businesses – 70% of Illinois’ population – have already paid the price for ComEd’s bribery scandal. WBEZ Political Editor Alex Keefe analyzes how this public corruption scheme has affected your wallet.
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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Issues A Stay-At-Home ‘Advisory’ As Governor Threatens A Shut Down
The new advisory takes effect in Chicago Monday morning, and only requests residents limit their time outside of the house. But the governor is threatening a shut down soon.
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Chicago Bars Ordered To End Indoor Service As COVID-19 Cases Rise
Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered bars to suspend indoor service and nonessential businesses to close by 10 p.m. as COVID-19 case counts rise above 640 a day.
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Illinois Has A New COVID-19 Plan. Here’s What It Means.
If you were confused by Gov. JB Pritzker’s new reopening plan for Illinois, you aren’t alone. We’ll walk you through it.
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Gov. JB Pritzker Reworks Illinois’ COVID-19 Plan, And Chicago’s On Its Own
As the state saw a day of over 1,000 COVID-19 cases, Pritzker split the state into 11 regions, with new “mitigation” measures if cases surge.
Lightfoot says city will move to next reopening phase Wednesday
Despite days of looting and civil unrest, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced this morning that the city will ease COVID-19 restrictions as planned starting Wednesday.
Illinois’ Pritzker says Trump’s military deployment threat ‘illegal’
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker tonight derided President Donald Trump’s threat to deploy the U.S. military to American cities to quell violent protests, calling the idea “illegal” and “ridiculous.”
City officials respond to weekend unrest
Chicago public safety officials fielded more than 10,000 calls about looting during a weekend of protests and civil unrest.
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Illinois Lawmakers Finish Pandemic Session With Budget Approval, Tweak To Chicago Casino Plan
The four-day session dominated by the COVID-19 fallout ended early Sunday morning in Springfield.
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Emails Show ComEd Lobbyist’s Deep Impact In Madigan’s Inner Circle
Speaker’s top aide and utility’s chief advocate in Springfield discussed finding jobs at the power company for former aides.
