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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With credit card debt in the U.S. topping $1.2 trillion, legal advocates are pointing consumers to a free website that aims to help residents navigate consumer debt, understand their legal rights and avoid costly debt-relief scams. -
A Catholic-led traveling memorial honoring people who died in immigration detention or ICE operations is bringing its message to Melrose Park, just miles from where local father Silverio Villegas Gonzalez was killed. -
The Rural Energy for America Program was created in 2002 to help farmers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy, including solar. -
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.
