Anna Savchenko
Criminal Justice Reporter
Previously, she covered Chicago’s colleges and universities when she joined the station in 2021 as a Poynter-Koch Media and Journalism fellow. Anna earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in English from Azusa Pacific University in southern California. At Azusa Pacific, she served as editor-in-chief of the student magazine.
She speaks Russian, Greek and is learning Ukrainian.
Stories by Anna Savchenko
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Health officials are encouraging Chicago-area residents to get the new COVID-19 booster
Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck says residents need to battle pandemic fatigue and “boost up,” even if they are feeling “boosted out.”
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Robberies in Chicago are at a six-year high
Neighborhoods on Chicago’s West and Northwest sides have experienced the biggest increases. Citywide numbers are still lower than 10 years ago.
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Chicago public safety leader warns against making police discipline cases secret
Anthony Driver said deciding serious police misconduct cases via arbitration would “drive the process of accountability behind closed doors.”
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A dangerous heat wave will move into Chicago this week. But how hot has this summer been so far?
Experts say this summer has been milder than most, but warn residents to be cautious ahead of an upcoming heat wave.
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Meet the couple taking on the opioid epidemic, one music festival at a time
Between sets, fans of Billie Eilish, Diplo and Kendrick Lamar could get a demo on how to reverse an opioid overdose at Lollapalooza.
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In the heat of summer, the ‘Orange Tent Guy’ is raising money to help the unhoused this winter
Andy Robledo supplied roughly 250 unhoused Chicagoans with ice-fishing tents last year, and expects to “build a lot of tents” again this year.
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Abortion-rights activists target ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ accused of deception
Advocates are hoping Gov. JB Pritzker signs a bill that would allow legal action against centers that deceive patients seeking abortion care.
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Severe weather and air pollution create more problems for Chicago’s unhoused
Extreme weather impacts all Chicagoans, but outreach workers say the unhoused are increasingly vulnerable.
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NASCAR is driving to diversify its fanbase. Is it working?
NASCAR says its audience has grown more diverse over the last decade. But fans say the industry has a long way to go.
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There’s a surge in calls for shelter. Chicago’s 311 help line can’t keep up.
The influx of asylum-seekers is putting additional strain on a system that is under-resourced and unreliable, WBEZ analysis shows.
