WBEZ

Several festivalgoers said the weekend music event — one of the largest Latino music events in the country — offered them an opportunity to celebrate in hopes of better days. wbez.org/music/2026/05/…

Kaytranada embodied the fest’s tagline — “where R&B and house fall in love” — while Monica delivered an authentic, and emotional, set. wbez.org/music/2026/05/…

On day 1 of an event packed with attractions, Chicago’s avant-garde rockers Tortoise and synth rockers Pixel Grip, one of the city’s hottest exports, hit a high note. wbez.org/music/2026/05/…

Thirty years after being landmarked, the Raber House still sits weathered and empty, and could remain that way for a while. The city has outlined no clear plans for the building. wbez.org/architecture/2…

Fans poured into Grant Park on the first day of the festival, with J Balvin and Kali Uchis set to take the stage as the day's headliners. wbez.org/arts-culture/2…

Day 1 of the inaugural festival was a celebration of house music, 2000s R&B and the city’s Black and brown culture makers. chicago.suntimes.com/music/2026/05/…

A test sampling of Lake Michigan, the Chicago River and other waterways across Illinois found tiny plastics present, posing potential threats to human health and damage to the environment, according to an advocacy group. wbez.org/environment/20…

Four candidates have already filed for school board president, and a fifth from the Chicago Teachers Union plans to join them. It’s a high-stakes race because the president has the power to decide what issues get debated and brought up for a vote. wbez.org/education/2026…

Farmers market season is underway — and the suburbs have a bounty of options. Here’s up-to-date information for 54 markets across suburban Chicago. wbez.org/food-drink/202…

Check out the best food, tips for getting around and the acts not to miss with our guide to the multigenerational party weekend. wbez.org/music/2026/05/…

In the basement of Schubas Tavern, only a quarter barrel remained. Tonight might be the night, the bartenders said, looking down the bar at the patrons sitting in front of tapered pilsner glasses etched with the word “Schlitz.”

In the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibit at the Field Museum, oddly pristine “fossil” creations from the fantastical Pokémon universe sit next to the Field’s crustier equivalents (in this case, a cast of Sue’s famous fossil skull). wbez.org/museums/2026/0…

Don’t miss Senator Chris Murphy live next week on 5/28 at the Studebaker Theater with Zeenat Rahman! His new book, "Crisis of the Common Good," explores connection, community, and civic trust in modern American life. 🎟️ Tickets: mrf.lu/-wWf

American robin numbers are believed to be down across the Midwest and much of the country. An avian ecologist says what’s known about changes in the robin population should serve as a “massive warning bell.” wbez.org/environment/20…

Say More sits down with the head of the Chicago Federal Reserve for his take on the current affordability crisis. Listeners also join the conversation with their own questions. wbez.org/say-more-with-…

TV’s longest-running Black drama, 'The Chi,' premieres its last season today on Paramount+. wbez.org/movies-tv/2026…

In the Loop listeners talk to Mayor Johnson about everything from city assistance for small grocery stores to a Chicago Bears stadium to wages for restaurant workers to the city’s finances. wbez.org/in-the-loop-wi…

Four candidates have already filed for school board president, and a fifth from the Chicago Teachers Union plans to join them. The president has the power to decide what issues get debated and brought up for a vote, making it a high-stakes race. wbez.org/education/2026…

The well-designed Haven on Lincoln is Chicago's first shelter that gives each resident their own private, bathroom-equipped room. More are coming, according to the city's housing department. wbez.org/architecture/2…

The risk of Ebola arriving in Chicago is low, but local leaders are using lessons from a decade-old playbook they created during another Ebola outbreak just in case. wbez.org/health-medicin…