Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service Reporter/ProducerJudith Ruiz-Branch is an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience as a reporter/producer for TV, radio, print, and podcast news.
She's also served as a Spanish spokesperson and led communications, media, and public relations teams at various organizations in Chicago. She began her career at WGN-TV in Chicago and went on to work for various news outlets including WBEZ Radio, Crain's Chicago Business, the Chicago Tribune, and WNIN Tri-State Media among others.
Her bilingual reporting with WNIN earned her two Murrow Awards, most recently for innovation in the digital space. Her favorite stories to report on are health, human interest, equity, justice, and immigration.
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A nationwide campaign is urging Illinois consumers and institutions to invest in Latino-owned businesses during Hispanic Heritage Month. Organizers say they hope to promote economic resilience as aggressive immigration enforcement affects local communities and businesses. -
Illinois farmers and soil experts say regenerative agriculture could help address concerns about declining nutrient density by rebuilding soil health and, in turn, strengthening local food systems. -
Illinois’ renewable-energy boom is coming with a tug of war in some communities. But allies for these projects say small communities can do more than fight new projects — they can shape local rules and negotiate for benefits like better roads, emergency services and economic investment. -
The Illinois Federation of Teachers is urging lawmakers to use the state’s $768-million Meta settlement to help close Illinois’ nearly $7-billion K-12 funding gap. They contend underfunded schools struggle with larger classes, special education shortages and fewer student opportunities. -
Illinois organizations are using AI to expand Spanish-language access to legal and immigration information, but advocates warn the technology can also spread inaccurate information and divert people from trusted legal resources. -
Illinois farmers interested in growing food with trees and perennial crops are being encouraged to join a new statewide network that offers peer-to-peer support and resource connections to show producers how agroforestry can help them diversify income, improve soil health and make farms more resilient. -
Illinois rural school districts urge lawmakers to address shortages in healthcare and mental health resources as they prepare for new universal student mental health screening requirements. The balancing act coincides with work to support students amid limited access to providers. -
As stakeholders on all sides of the animal welfare debate continue to pressure members of Congress to include their requests in the final draft of the Farm Bill, Illinois farm groups say existing welfare standards are at stake. They say the views of farm veterinarians, who study livestock confinement deeply, are being left out of the conversation. -
Organizers behind the New Illinois movement say they are building long-term support for creating a separate state despite criticism. They argue rural and suburban communities lack fair representation in Illinois and often get overshadowed by Chicago politics. -
Rural health advocates encourage men to prioritize regular checkups and screenings to improve long-term health. They say men in rural areas often experience worse health outcomes due to chronic disease, limited healthcare access, and cultural attitudes that discourage preventive care.
