Chicago’s summer this year saw <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/09/01/september-october-chicago-heat-wave-is-this-normal">record and dangerous heat</a>, extreme weather like <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/2026/09/02/hailstone-march-storms-broke-state-record">derechos and heavy rainfall</a>, and even <a href="https://news.wttw.com/2026/07/16/wildfire-smoke-blankets-chicago-air-quality-alert-issued-hazardous-levels-pollution">terrible air quality</a> from wildfire smoke. So it might not feel like Chicago is prepared for the increasing effects of climate change.  But according to a <a href="https://alphageo.ai/how-climate-resilient-are-the-worlds-largest-cities/">report released earlier this year</a>, Chicago is apparently the most climate-resilient big city in the entire world. In the Loop discusses this dichotomy with experts, learns what Chicago’s getting right and what blindspots it still needs to address. GUESTS: Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and ResponsibilityKevin Fitzpatrick, assistant director of engineering at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

Chicago’s summer this year saw record and dangerous heat, extreme weather like derechos and heavy rainfall, and even terrible air quality from wildfire smoke. So it might not feel like Chicago is prepared for the increasing effects of climate change. 


But according to a report released earlier this year, Chicago is apparently the most climate-resilient big city in the entire world.


In the Loop discusses this dichotomy with experts, learns what Chicago’s getting right and what blindspots it still needs to address.


GUESTS: Karen Weigert, director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility
Kevin Fitzpatrick, assistant director of engineering at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago


For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Fact Check: Is Chicago The Most Climate Resilient Big City In The World?

The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood crisis in the U.S. as <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/07/28/whats-driving-american-red-crosss-second-ever-national-blood-crisis/">supplies fall to its lowest levels</a> 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 help.  GUESTS: Kellie O’Connell, CEO of American Red Cross of IllinoisDr. Ashlesha Patel, associate chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Cook County Health James Cappleman, former alderman of the 46th Ward, blood donation advocate For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

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 help.  
GUESTS: Kellie O’Connell, CEO of American Red Cross of Illinois
Dr. Ashlesha Patel, associate chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Cook County Health 
James Cappleman, former alderman of the 46th Ward, blood donation advocate


For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

There’s A Blood Shortage In America

Chicago can <a href="https://www.fox32chicago.com/weather/the-reason-chicago-can-feel-9-degrees-hotter-compared-to-the-suburbs">feel up to 8 degrees hotter</a> 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 residents adapt to the extreme heat.GUESTS: Max Berkelhammer, professor, earth and environmental sciences UIC Lindy Wordlaw, Assistant Commissioner, Department of EnvironmentNedra Sims-Fears, executive director, Greater Chatham Initiative For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to <a href="http://wbez.org/intheloop">wbez.org/intheloop</a>.

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 residents adapt to the extreme heat.
GUESTS: Max Berkelhammer, professor, earth and environmental sciences UIC 
Lindy Wordlaw, Assistant Commissioner, Department of Environment
Nedra Sims-Fears, executive director, Greater Chatham Initiative


For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.