In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood crisis in the U.S. as supplies fall to its lowest levels since the pandemic. The impacts of the blood shortage are being felt in emergency rooms and trauma care as hospitals are being forced to manage dwindling reserves.

In the Loop hears from the head of the Illinois Red Cross and blood donation advocates about the impact of the blood crisis on hospitals, and what you can do to...

Illinois has joined agrowing number of states that regulate the way social media companies can interact with minors. The Children's Online Social Media Safety Act aims to create guardrails for kids while still giving them an option to learn and connect with people through social media. 

In the Loop chats with experts about what families need to know about these new regulations and the potential privacy concerns of age verificat...

As schools gear up to welcome students back to class this month, they’ll also have to come up with an idea of how to use – or protect against – artificial intelligence tools. The Illinois State Board of Education last month released a comprehensive framework on how K-12 school districts should use AI more responsibly, and is leaving it in the districts’ hands to develop more specific policies.  

In the L...

The feds threaten to prosecute Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Chicago Public Schools hope state lawmakers will approve funding, and a former top CPS executive is charged with COVID loan fraud. Also, we say good-bye to 91-year-old Chicago jazz legend Geraldine de Haas.

We cover these stories and more in our Weekly News Recap.

GUESTS: Brandis Friedman, anchor of  WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” 

Dan Petrella, Chicago...

How high would you be willing to go to secure that new condo? On the North Side, some Chicagoans are going hundreds of thousands of dollars above the asking price, and even waiving inspections, all to beat the competition. 

In the Loop hears from a buyer and realtor who are currently navigating this turbulent housing market, alongside a reporter covering Chicago real estate.

GUESTS: Abby Miller, Chicago Sun-Times reporter

Ellie H...

Today marks 60 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a coalition of Chicago residents and community leaders on a march through the city’s Marquette Park to demand an end to segregation and racist housing policies. 

But what started out as a peaceful demonstration turned into a bloody riot as a white mob attacked the protest and injured dozens of people. 

Last weekend, hundreds of Chicagoans – including Mayo...

In The Loop is interviewing candidates for Chicago mayor, and inviting listeners to join the conversation and ask their own questions. 

First mayoral candidate at the mic: Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza.

Plus: a scientist from Argonne National Laboratory shares how and why we’ve been seeing extreme weather events in the region, like severe storms, dangerous heat, and lots and lots of tornadoes. 

GUESTS: Susa...

Illinois has become one of a growing number of states to consolidate all of its early childhood support resources under one roof. That new department officially opened its doors the first of last month.

In the Loop sits with two expert researchers in the field to learn about the state of early childhood in Illinois and what work is being done now.

GUESTS: Alison Baulos, executive director of the Center for the Economics of Human Deve...

Chicago’s South and West Side neighborhoods grapple with the closure of seven grocery stores. An estimated 400,000 music fans expected to descend on Grant Park this weekend for Lollapalooza. Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch is coming under increasing scrutiny over his handling of sexual assault allegations against state Representative Harry Benton. While Governor Pritzker signs into law a bill that would let judges settle d...

Mahjong is a 19th-century Chinese game that is beloved across the world. It first entered the U.S. market in the 1920’s and has since endured a complex history of cultural appropriation and exoticization. 

In the Loop hears about efforts to honor the heritage of mahjong and the ways that it is evolving across communities and cultures. 

GUESTS: Michael Wang, co-founder, 144 Tiles Mahjong Club

Luisa Jurado, co-founder, M...

Sure, there are weight-loss success stories, but behind the scenes people are navigating insurance challenges, side effects, and the possibility of taking GLP-1 medications for life. 

For some people, they've been life-changing. For others, they are rethinking whether the drug is worth it. 

In the Loop talks with a panel of residents across the Chicago region about how these medications changed their health, their relations...

Four beluga whales are adjusting to life at the Shedd Aquarium after being moved from a defunct marine tourist attraction in Ontario, Canada, that had threatened to euthanize the sea mammals. 

The images of the whales have captured the hearts of many, but the move isn’t without controversy. 

In the Loop hears the story of how the Canadian belugas came to be swimming in Chicago and why this is raising longstanding ques...

How difficult is it for people with mobility disabilities to navigate the city’s sidewalks? This question is the center of a lawsuit against the City of Chicago, alleging a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. 

The firm suing the city claims it has failed to maintain sidewalks leaving them inaccessible.

As Disability Pride Month comes to a close, In the Loop brings together an attorney behind both the ...

Chicago City Council has approved referendum questions for upcoming elections, three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane is returning to the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year contract, and Chicago police have issued official guidelines on how officers should collect evidence against immigration agents suspected of violating laws.

In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.

GUESTS: Kim Bellware, freelanc...

The National Public Housing Museum is hosting the artwork of Nathaniel Mary Quinn, including a recreated Robert Taylor Homes living room he grew up in. Quinn’s exhibit “A Love Letter to My Mother” explores the complexities of family, living in public housing, and love. 

In the Loop talks to artists from Chicago as they reflect how their time in public housing has shaped them and their work. 

GUESTS: Floyd ...

Chicago’s summer staple is celebrating 100 years of deliciousness. Known for its layers of flavors, Rainbow Cone’s ice cream stacks chocolate, strawberry, Palmer House (vanilla with walnuts and cherries), pistachio and orange sherbet. 

In the Loop host Sasha-Ann Simons tries her first-ever Rainbow Cone and we dig into the iconic local brand's rich history. 

GUESTS: Lisa Shames, freelance reporter

Johnny B...

Chicago can feel up to 8 degrees hotter than suburbs and rural areas because there are more buildings and asphalt and fewer plants to aid the natural process of keeping an area cool. Parts of the city with the least greenspace, tree canopy and more industry can be even hotter than the city average temperature. 

In the Loop explores  efforts by residents and officials to identify the city’s hotter areas and help resid...

Flooding has persistently plagued Chicago, the city famously built on a swamp. However, as storms become more severe and more frequent, residents will likely have to deal with flooded basements, streets and other damage more often.  

With climate change driving worsening weather, Chicagoans are rolling up their sleeves to prepare. In the Loop hears from local organizations working to make communities more flood-resilient.

GUESTS...

Chicago gets a one-two punch with another heat wave combined with dangerous air quality. A North Side Trader Joe’s becomes the first of the grocery chain’s Illinois locations to unionize. And the Shedd Aquarium agrees to take in abandoned beluga whales from a closed marine park in Canada. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.

GUESTS: Carrie Shepherd, Axios Chicago reporter 

Quinn My...