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.
-
Selecting a health insurance plan during open enrollment can sometimes feel like a dizzying experience amid a slew of plan and price changes. Experts are offering tips for Illinois residents to help them work through the noise. -
As voters prepare to head to the polls, new research highlights the growing risks of public service, with elected officials and their families facing threats, harassment and mounting strain that could make it harder to attract people willing to serve. -
Even as Illinois is stepping up efforts to curb youth nicotine use, experts still warn that students are increasingly navigating a range of hard-to-detect products, from flavored vapes to high-nicotine pouches. -
As Suicide Prevention Month wraps up, Illinois leaders working in the mental health space urge people to recognize warning signs not just this month, but all year long --- and reach out to people in crisis. They’re also calling on the state to strengthen access to behavioral health services, particularly in rural communities, spreading the message that saving a life starts with connection and conversation. -
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.
