Like all other shrubs box can have problems if site conditions are unfriendly, including infested or wet soil. Also now there is this new thing called boxwood blight - you might want to look that up.

What are the white granules on the soil? If somebody is broadcasting herbicide on your beds, not even covering it with mulch afterward maybe that is your problem.

not sure what that stuff is. they put it down when they replaced the old ones. the pictured shrub they didnt think needed replacing at first but eventually did. wet soil is bad for them?

Yes, boxwoods don't prefer overly wet or saturated soils. With all of the rain you have had over in Chicago in the month of June I wouldn't be surprised if the plants are simply too wet.

Also, as embothrium mentioned, boxwood blight has been found now in the Midwest. You need to get plants from a supplier who has their stock certified to be blight free.

here are some close up pictures I took yesterday of my concerned areas. Please let me know what you think.

Maybe try your local Extension office for guidance.

Were they B&B or container grown?

I wasnt there when they put them in and all it says on the contract is "green velvet boxwoods"

this picture I took looks a lot like one I found online titled "early synmptoms boxwood blight". if so I think I'm hosed?

Failures that occur shortly after planting are commonly due to water -- either too much or too little.

The area of greatest concern is the original rootball because th eroots haven't yet extended into the surrounding soil.

so stick your finger into the rootball itself. Likely it's dry. If so, drizzle a hose on it every day or two as needed.