2025 is going to be quite the year for local education. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen gets an update on important education issues in the new year from Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Reema Amin, discusses the positive impacts of a few Illinois Department of Corrections programs with Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director of the John Howard Association, and previews an upcoming show by the local band Poi Dog Pondering with band founder Frank Orrall. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Should Chicago school board members be paid for their work? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the possibility of paying Chicago school board members with Becky Vevea, bureau chief of Chalkbeat Chicago, learns about the important work of HelloBaby in the West Woodlawn neighborhood from founder and executive director Debbie Frisch, and chats with local musician Mark Lofgren about his new album. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.