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 new amendment to Illinois’ Victims Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA) protects employees from employer retaliation if they use work-issued devices to document instances of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence. The change, effective Jan. 1, was prompted by a fatal out-of-state case and aims to strengthen workplace protections -
New U.S. Postal Service postmark rules could delay mail-in ballots for Illinois and other Midwest residents by dating them days after submission, a change that advocates warn will disproportionately impact rural voters and lead to more ballots being rejected. Critics argue the policy could further disenfranchise voters. -
Advocates warn that intensified federal immigration enforcement in Illinois is fueling racial profiling and fear among Latino communities, prompting even U.S. citizens to avoid public spaces or reporting crimes. Researchers say these policies are worsening mental health and distrust of law enforcement, but hope they may also spur greater Latino political mobilization. -
The government shutdown has furloughed about 75% of the Department of Labor employees, and an Illinois-based union president is warning of widespread ripple effects. He urges Congress to act quickly and calls for empathy for federal workers. -
As Illinois responds to a spike in domestic violence cases, new research finds nationwide, nearly 20 women lose their lives each month to intimate partner gun violence that also involves suicide. It says 99% of perpetrators are men, and states with weaker gun laws see rates three times higher than other states. The report stresses an urgent need to enforce laws that disarm abusers and protect survivors. -
Policy experts are urging Congress to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits and address the larger problem of escalating health care costs, warning that premiums could more than double if no action is taken. A Century Foundation analysis shows rural and high cancer-rate counties would be hit hardest, as ACA premiums are already projected to rise an average of 18% next year, potentially affecting a record 466,000 Illinoisans. -
With experts warning of a possible tick invasion in Illinois, a new antibody treatment aims to provide seasonal protection against Lyme disease by offering passive immunity. The company licensing it says clinical trials are expected to begin within two years. -
A new report from the Juvenile Justice Initiative of Illinois concludes that prosecuting children or teens in adult court doesn't improve public safety, even as it increases repeat offenses and disproportionately harms youth of color. The group is urging Illinois to end "automatic transfer" laws that move kids into adult court. It also wants to ensure legal counsel for children during interrogations and strengthen data collection to support more effective juvenile court practices. -
Illinois environmental advocates are fighting against the Trump Administration's repeal of the Roadless Rule which protects millions of acres of National Forests. They argue the law already allows flexibility for fire management - a key reason the administration cites for the repeal - and that roads, not their absence, are the leading cause of forest fires. -
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and advocates are speaking out about the need for Illinoisans to have hard discussions before severe illness sets in. More than 250,000 Illinoisans are living with the disease, with nearly 320,000 serving as family caregivers.
