City Cast Chicago

Homicides this year in Chicago are on track to be similar to last year, one of the deadliest years in decades, and carjackings are up 50 percent. Some residents want more police on the streets, on the CTA, and in neighborhoods. But there’s also pressure to invest in mental health facilities, community development, and alternatives to police. In an attempt to address concerns, the city is hosting a series of town halls across Chicago. So far, there has been a virtual meeting for North and Northwest Side residents, and in-person events at Garfield Park on the West Side and Chicago State University on the South Side. These town halls aren’t new, so are residents really getting the answers they are looking for? Producer Simone Alicea has been covering the town halls and answers that question. Public Safety Town Halls Some Good News: Jacoby hosts "The Moth" at Evanston SPACE Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

This week the City Cast Chicago team is together in person bringing you the best podcast and newsletter in Chicago. Lead producer Carrie Shepherd, producer Simone Alicea, and host Jacoby Cochran talk about how they treat themselves. And they're sharing the stories that captured their attention this week, including the first Asian American woman to join the city council and the new casino set to come to the city. We've got some great moments of joy for you like Carrie's perfect parking job and Jacoby’s visit to the East Side neighborhood to check in with Stephen Walsh the director of the documentary, “Southeast: A city within a city.” Check out our September 2021 episode with Walsh. Stories discussed: Lightfoot's pick for 11th Ward Alder: Nicole Lee Sports Betting Brings Tax Windfall — And a Surge in Problem Gambling Illinois' child welfare system remains troubled despite cash influx Council members ask for environmental reviews on city bids Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm (where you can see a photo of Carrie's master parking) Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

Frances Glessner Lee was from one of early Chicago’s most prominent families, living on one of the cities wealthiest blocks — Prairie Avenue, now a historic neighborhood in the South Loop. She also basically created forensic science. Lee created miniature death scenes that would help police better investigate crimes by considering all the different scenarios that could happen. And to say these recreations were detailed is an understatement. Lee would dress the corpses. The doorknobs and the keys for the doors actually worked. There was a tiny little mouse trap, and if a tiny little mouse had stepped on it, it would have actually gone off. In an unusual move for the time, Lee's parents educated her and her brother in the same way, preparing her to work in a male-dominated field. City Cast’s Simone Alicea learns more about Frances Glessner Lee from Glessner House executive director Bill Tyre ahead of a celebration of the mother of forensic science. Friday's celebration is sold out. But you can book tours at the Glessner House, where a recreation of one of Lee's models will now be available to see. Some Good News: Jurassic Park Concert at CSO Take our newsletter audience survey Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

By 2030, Illinois could be home to 55,000 people over the age of 65 living without citizenship, according to a 2020 Rush University survey. Despite living in the country for decades and paying taxes, many undocumented seniors (two thirds of which are Mexican immigrants) lack access to federal social safety nets, public housing, and secure employment. According to the Chicago Tribune’s Laura Rodriguez Presa and Injustice Watch’s Carlos Ballesteros, “this generation of immigrants faces the prospect of having lived and died in the shadows.” We sit down with both journalists to understand the uphill battle for thousands of vulnerable older adults. Take our newsletter survey! (You could win $100) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or text us: (773) 780-0246

Chicago attorney Jay Edelson filed a lawsuit against Facebook in 2015, claiming the social media giant violated his client’s privacy, specifically Illinois’ biometric privacy law, considered one of the strictest in the country. Facebook settled the class-action lawsuit in February 2021 for $650 million, and that settlement was upheld in a federal court of appeals late last week. That means eligible Illinois residents could get a $397 check from Facebook in the next 60 days. Edelson explains the lawsuit, and how privacy laws continue to change. Wonder if you're an eligible claimant? Check here. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Gov. JB Pritzker’s stay-home order went into effect two years ago today. It’s been two years of change, uncertainty, and loss. Since City Cast Chicago launched last year, we’ve talked to public health leaders, teachers and parents, and business owners about how they’ve managed during the pandemic. We look back on some of those conversations, and we hear your stories about the early days of the pandemic. Thanks to all of our listeners who shared their stories. You can also go back and revisit our conversations with Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago’s top public health official, a CPS teacher and a parent, and a restaurant manager. Here's where you can find the COVID-19 vaccine around the city. A little bit of news: The city is hosting a community meeting on public safety Wednesday at Chicago State University. There will be other meetings around the city over the next two weeks. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

We're doing a pod swap this week with our good friends at Block Club Chicago. In this episode, "It's All Good" host Jon Hansen and Block Club reporter Mack Liederman talk about the Grazianos, a family-run, generations-old wholesale business that sells sandwiches, beef kits, giardiniera and designer T-shirts. Now, the shop is enjoying its most profitable years ever. Take a listen then subscribe to "It's All Good."

As we celebrate one year of the City Cast Chicago podcast and newsletter, we are so excited to look back on another week in our favorite city. Block Club Chicago’s Atavia Reed and WBEZ’s Natalie Moore are showing Englewood some love today as we talk Natalie’s new play “The Billboard: A Play About Abortion” which is set at a “fictional Black women’s health clinic” in the neighborhood. And we recount Atavia’s visit to the Go Green Community Fresh Market, a new grocer finally serving the community after years of hard work. With spring around the corner, we are also dreaming about festival season. The trio hops around the city as we discuss some of our favorite music, literary and “green” festivals. Stories This Week: "The Billboard: A Play About Abortion" Newly Opened Go Green Community Fresh Market In Englewood Hailed As A ‘Milestone’ After Years Of Work Versa reversal: ‘Women-powered’ Chicago festival canceled Major traffic jams caused by Willie Wilson’s $200K gas giveaway Chicago Festival and Event Guide

Last week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown, and CTA President Dorval Carter to announce a $71 million plan to increase security on trains and buses. That's the city’s response to increased reports of violence, unsanitary conditions, and smoking on the CTA. Reporter John Greenfield from Streetsblog Chicago rode the Red and Blue lines last weekend for 12 hours straight to document whether the CTA really did feel dirtier and less safe. He tells us what he saw. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

If you need snow shoveled in your neighborhood, a pothole filled, or rats cleared in your alley, you call 311. Since 1999, Chicagoans have been able to call 311 for non-emergency complaints and requests, and they’ve been calling. Chicagoans dial 311 more often per capita than any other major city. While some of the reasons people call aren’t surprising, Axios Chicago’s Monica Eng says 311 operators can be like residents’ own Google — you can call about anything from how to track a flight to how to buy a home. Monica crunched the numbers and she shares what Chicagoans complain about most. More about Chicago's 311 Axios Chicago's story about 311 There’s still time to tell us about the last normal thing you did in 2020 before COVID shutdowns. Leave us a voicemail at (773) 780-0246. Remember to tell us your name and neighborhood! Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The Chicago Academy for the Arts is not like all schools. Students are immersed in their art, whether it’s theater, dance, or visual arts. It gives them a special connection with their teachers because they spend three hours each day with the teacher in their chosen discipline. And because the fields are so interactive, it made remote learning extra difficult. We talk to 15-year-old Lea Gassner and her teacher, Margy Stover, about the challenges of practicing art during the pandemic. We still want to hear your stories about what you were doing two years ago, as COVID shutdowns hit Chicago. Leave us a voicemail at (773) 780-0246. Remember to leave your name and neighborhood! Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Since the start of the pandemic, public health leaders have told us they’re following the data to make policy decisions, and that we should do the same. These decisions include everything from whether kids can do in-person learning, if we can eat indoors, and when or where we could travel. But for the average person, data can be confusing, or even misleading. Meet three Chicagoans who used their free time and skills to make public health data more accessible and understandable. Guests: Jakob Ondrey—CPS Covid Tracker Cait Guerra — Businesses with Vax and Mask Mandates Anthony Moser—Better Data Portal Some Good News: Chicago Pi Day Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Two first-time guests join us to look back on the week. Chicago Sun-Times reporter Cheyanne Daniels joins us from a march in Chatham honoring of the birthday and legacy of Harriet Tubman. And Block Club Chicago’s Quinn Myers joins us from Ukrainian Village, where he covers West Side neighborhoods. Together we discuss CTA increasing unarmed security and police officers patrolling locations, stories of Chicago’s Ukrainian community coming together, and some fun things to do this weekend! Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Jackowo used to be the heart of Chicago’s Polish community, in a city that once had the second highest population of Polish people in the world. Warsaw had the most. The neighborhood, which many Chicagoans know as Avondale on the Northwest Side, has changed from Polish to Latino in recent decades, and continues to change as residents get priced out of Logan Square and Wicker Park. That’s meant the stretch of Milwaukee Ave. once surrounded by Polish restaurants, clubs, bakeries is less retail and more condo buildings. We talk to Mary Wisniewski and Joanna Marszalek, who have both lived in Jackowo and wrote about it recently for Chicago magazine. Guests: Mary Wisniewski and Joanna Marszalek—Co-authors, "The Death (and Possible Rebirth) of Jackowo" Call or text us at 773-780-0246 and tell us what you were doing right before the pandemic shutdown in 2020. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Construction is underway on the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. But since the project launched, residents in nearby neighborhoods like Woodlawn and South Shore have worried the “transformation” the center is expected to bring to the South Side could push them out of their homes. They’ve fought for a community benefits agreement to ensure protections, but project leaders — and the former president, himself — have rejected calls to sign one. So what is a CBA? And without one, how else are housing activists fighting displacement? Guests: Dixon Romeo — Organizer, Not Me We Sarah Conway — Senior Reporter, City Bureau Here’s City Bureau’s guide on community benefits agreements and alternatives. Check out the Women's L Project, which celebrates women of Chicago's past and present. Call or text us at 773-780-0246 and tell us what you were doing right before the pandemic shutdown in 2020. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Netflix’s reality dating show “Love Is Blind” has captivated global audiences. The show follows 30 strangers on a series of blind dates, as they get to know one another through a wall with no idea of what the other looks like. If two people connect, one of them can propose marriage, and they finally see each other in person. Season two of the show features a cast from Chicago, and one of this season’s biggest stars was Deepti Vempati. The 31-year-old IT analyst captured the world’s attention when she ultimately chose herself in the reality dating show. Host Jacoby Cochran sits down with Vempati to discuss her experience on the show, and how she feels about finding true love. (In case it’s not clear, SPOILERS ahead). Guest: Deepti Vempati—Season 2 participant, Love is Blind Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

This past weekend was the first since the city and state lifted indoor mask mandates. Businesses, restaurants, and entertainment venues will set their own rules moving forward. The City Cast team checked in to see how places across Chicago are managing. They report from a gym in Uptown, a small concert in Ukrainian Village, a restaurant in Humboldt Park, and theaters in Lakeview and the Loop. How are you feeling about the end of the mask mandate? Call or text us at (773) 780-0246. And remember to leave your name and neighborhood! Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

It was another busy week across the city of Chicago. WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel and Axios Chicago’s Justin Kaufmann stopped by to break down the 22-count federal indictment of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, once Illinois’ most powerful politician. The group also tackles Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s latest communication snafu, an investigation into yet another Covid testing company, and the fate of CPS’ mask mandate. Guests: Mariah Woelfel—Politics Reporter, WBEZ Justin Kaufmann—Newsletter Writer, Axios Chicago PS: If you haven’t heard, City Cast Chicago was named the "Best Podcast" in Chicago Reader’s Best of 2021 list, so thank you! You can see the full list of winners here.

Whether it’s a public feud with ex-wife Kim Kardashian, impromptu speeches during a problematic, and confusing, presidential run, or a traveling album rollout, Kanye West is always in the news. For most of Ye’s polarizing music career, controversy, scrutiny, and art have gone hand in hand. But there was a time before Kanye West was a household name. Back in 2000, he was a Chicago music producer trying to break into the rap game. This is where the Netflix documentary “jeen-yuhs: A Kanye trilogy” begins. Directors Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah intimately chronicle Ye’s slow and uncertain climb to fame, his relationship with his late mother Dr. Donda West, and the of arc of his 20-year career. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with music and culture writer Britt Julious about the nostalgia and disappointment present in “jeen-yuhs” and also its subject (you can read here review of "jeen-yuhs" here). Guest: Britt Julious — Music and culture writer Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Ten years ago, Vivonell Brown was a teacher at Woodson Elementary in Bronzeville, on track to become a principal, when he lost his job. And he wasn’t the only one: More than a hundred Black educators were laid off or fired from schools CPS deemed to be underperforming. Brown and two other teachers filed a discrimination lawsuit in 2012, which finally reached a settlement in December. Lack of representation is still a problem in Chicago schools, especially for Black male educators. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with Brown and middle school teacher Kirby Birgans about their experiences as students and teachers, and the importance of representation at the front of the classroom. Kirby is a member of the Black Male Educators Alliance of Illinois, which aims to recruit and retain Black male teachers. You can find out more on the settlement here. Here's the full statement from CPS: “Chicago Public Schools aims to provide a welcoming, equitable and safe teaching and learning environment for staff and students. On Wednesday, the Chicago Board of Education will vote on a settlement between the Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1, and CPS relating to layoffs that disparately impacted African American teachers and paraprofessionals resulting from the turnaround policies around certain CPS schools in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The agreement concludes nearly 10 years of litigation and will result in the creation and distribution of a settlement fund to benefit those staff members affected by the turnarounds. Resolving this matter is in CPS students’ best interest and will allow the District to move forward with its continued focus on providing a high quality education that is grounded in equity for students in every city neighborhood. As a District, we will continue efforts to recruit and retain a diverse faculty that reflects our student population." Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

If you thought Ken Griffin was running for governor in Illinois, we wouldn’t blame you. Whenever there’s news about Republican candidates, you usually see his name too. That’s because the richest man in Illinois has pledged to go “all-in” to finance a Republican to defeat Democratic incumbent (and fellow billionaire) JB Pritzker. The two last went dollar-for-dollar in 2020, when Griffin dropped nearly $54 million to beat Gov. Pritzker’s income tax measure. Griffin’s political spending is only growing, so we asked A.D. Quig of Crain’s Chicago Business to tell us more about who he is, why he’s backing Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin for governor, and what he’s looking to get for his money. A little bit of news: Insight Hospital in Bronzeville, formerly Mercy Hospital, is accepting emergency ambulances again. Go back and listen to our conversation about the history of the hospital and the fight to save it. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The Chicago area is home to nearly 54,000 people of Ukrainian ancestry, the second-largest in the U.S. Many Ukrainians here are scared and confused, waiting to reach friends and family in Ukraine as Russia invades the country. That’s why Chicago Ukrainians are taking to the streets. Host Jacoby Cochran and lead producer Carrie Shepherd take us to a rally in Ukrainian Village. A little bit of news: Here’s where to sign up to find out more about the city’s basic income pilot program. Applications open in April. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

On Wednesday, alderpeople authorized the city to spend $700,000 to buy a now-vacant Aldi in West Garfield Park. But it’s not yet clear if the city will actually acquire the property, if it will ensure a new grocer takes over, or how long it could take. While WTTW’s Heather Cherone was watching City Hall, she and her colleagues also launched a series looking at the history and present-day effects of segregation in Chicago. She talks about both of these stories with City Cast’s Jacoby Cochran and Simone Alicea. They also talk about the mask mandate ending Monday and share some cute animal stories, including one about otters in the Chicago River. Stories discussed: FIRSTHAND: Segregation — A Year-Long Exploration of Segregation in Chicago City Council Approves Plan to Buy Closed West Side Aldi (and check out our Wednesday conversation) Why Rogers Park Hare Krishnas Are Worried About Proposed Development Chicago to Lift Indoor Mask, Vaccine Mandates Monday ‘Hank the Tank’ Offers a Vision of a Better Life River Otters Are Back in Chicago “Women of Soul” at Mercury Theater Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Since 2017, a developer has been pushing for rezoning in Rogers Park so he can turn a 100-year-old vacant building at 1710 W. Lunt Ave. into a modern 20-unit housing complex, including four affordable housing units. Like with most construction projects happening across the city, neighbors have voiced concerns about the preservation of the building and decreased parking. However, on this block, the loudest opponents are the members of the Hare Krishna temple next door. The congregation says they are concerned about how this development would impact their religious practices. As 49th ward Ald. Maria Hadden decides on the future of this development, we sit down with Block Club Chicago reporter Joe Ward and Subal Dasa, one of the managing directors of the temple. Some good news: Black History Month events this week across the city! Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

There are currently no grocery stores operating in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. An Aldi that operated there for three decades suddenly boarded up their doors in October, and now the Save-A-Lot is temporarily closed after failing a health inspection. Losing a grocery store has big consequences for people living in the neighborhood. It means longer commutes, higher prices, and losing access to healthy foods. It means a community where the average life expectancy is 16 years lower than that of neighboring white, affluent communities is left even more vulnerable to malnutrition and illness. The city could step in to buy the vacant property and facilitate a new grocer coming into the neighborhood. Community members are demanding that whoever moves in be held accountable to its neighbors. WBEZ's Linda Lutton and Director of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative TJ Crawford join host Jacoby Cochran to discuss what’s next for West Garfield Park. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The future of the Chicago Reader is in question. After years of money troubles and ownership changes, the 50-year-old paper is set to become a nonprofit to gain financial stability. But the transition has been delayed because of a dispute between the Reader’s current owners over its leadership. The Reader has been an essential part of Chicago’s media landscape — at one point, its classifieds were so coveted that people would steal copies from the printing press before they were distributed — and longtime journalist Mark Jacob argues the Reader’s owners should come to an agreement to save the storied paper. Jacob has written about the dispute and the Reader’s 50th anniversary, and he talks with host Jacoby Cochran about why the Reader is so important in Chicago. Guest: Mark Jacob — Freelance writer and editor Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or text us: (773) 780-0246

After years of being continuously delayed, the Southeast Side recycling permit decision is set to be officially announced in the coming days. Block Club Chicago reporter Maxwell Evans and WBEZ's Adora Namigadde sit down with host Jacoby Cochran to unpack the possible health and environmental effects of this decision. They also discuss vaccination views in the church, a proposed vacancy fraud bill, places they find peace in the Chi, and their moments of joy! Stories we talked about: What happens when communal worship goes online? For some, it’s a chance to grow in faith. City Will Rule On Controversial Southeast Side Metal Scrapper’s Permit By End Of Week These COVID-19 treatments help patients avoid the hospital. Who’s getting them? Moments of Joy: Chicago Theatre Week 2022 Pullman House Project Lets Visitors Explore Living Spaces Behind Industrial Powerhouse, From Workers’ Apartments To Pullman’s Estate All-Star Game Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

In the early 1900s, Chin Foin’s restaurants helped popularize Chinese food among white Americans. Chicago’s King Yen Lo, King Joy Le, and The Mandarin Inn served an upscale version of what you would have found in the city’s chop suey joints along with American fare on white table linens while a performer sang opera in the background. Chin’s restaurants were popular among politicians, gangsters, and other Chicago elite. But in 1924, he fell down an elevator shaft and died. Chin’s death was ruled an accident, but granddaughter Nancy Wang questions that narrative. She tells Jacoby Cochran her grandfather’s story. Guest: Nancy Wang — Co-director, Eth-Noh-Tec Theater Wang’s play “Shadows and Secrets” explores her grandfather’s mysterious death. She’s working to put it up next year in San Francisco. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Two years into the pandemic, domestic violence cases continue to rise as victims are stuck at home with the people who harm them and are isolated from outside communities that may be able to offer help. Earlier this week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined advocates to remind domestic violence victims and survivors what resources are available to them. Amanda Pyron is executive director of The Network, which runs the state’s domestic violence hotline, provides training for advocates, and connects victims with resources. We talk to Pyron about the misconceptions around domestic violence and what resources are still needed. Guest: Amanda Pyron — Executive Director, The Network Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline: 877-863-6338 (877-TO END DV) There's also an option to Live Chat for help Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

While other kids were bringing turkey or bologna sandwiches to school, Boyede Sobitan was packing jollof rice with goat meat. Sobitan grew up in Uptown and suburban Dolton, and he remembers how difficult it was for his Nigerian mother to get the traditional ingredients she needed. Often it meant spending all day at specialty markets that were far from where they lived. That’s why Sobitan and his business partner Fola Dada created OjaExpress, a delivery app for ethnic foods. Lead producer Carrie Shepherd talks with Sobitan about how it works and why having access to your cultural food is so important. Guest: Boyede Sobitan—Co-founder, OjaExpress Some Good News: Funkytown Brewery and Grown Folks Stories at Haymarket Pub and Brewery Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

On this Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating love in Chicago. When we hiked with the couple behind the popular TikTok “Black People Outside,” we couldn’t get over how cute they are. Kam Stanton and Chevy Linear tell us how they got together. We also revisit our conversation with Dario Durham and Sara Faddah, who says doing the podcast “77 Flavors of Chicago” is like “tricking people into listening to us on date night.” But it’s not all about romantic love. Host Jacoby Cochran shares a love story about his family’s skating rink. Plus, we hear your Chicago love stories. Go back and listen to Kam and Chevy talk about raising the visibility of Black people in the outdoors and hear Sara and Dario talk more about their food traditions and visit Mikkey’s Grill in Avalon Park with Jacoby. Read Jacoby's story about his family's skating rink in "Storytellers' True Stories about Love." Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Governor JB Pritzker has announced that Illinois is on track to remove the statewide mask mandate by February 28. The Chicago Department of Public Health echoed the Gov’s message and said if COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to decrease the city could also drop the mandate at the end of the month. Lead Producer Carrie Shepherd, Producer Simone Alicea, and Host Jacoby Cochran break down the latest in the mask debate and, also discuss the absence of grocery stores in West Garfield Park, warming temperatures, and their moments of joy! Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Live theater is a huge cultural and economic pillar in Chicago. But it’s no surprise that theaters have struggled since the start of the pandemic. With Chicago Theatre Week starting next Thursday, we check in with a critic to see how the industry is doing in its third pandemic season. Chicago Reader’s Kerry Reid tells producer Simone Alicea about how theaters are getting back to live performances, especially as omicron subsides, and she recommends some shows to watch. Guest: Kerry Reid — Theater and Dance Editor, Chicago Reader Chicago Theatre Week runs Feb. 17-27. We want to hear your Chicago love stories for a Valentine’s Day podcast. Leave us a voicemail with your name, neighborhood, and story at (773) 780-0246. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

In 1972, Camille Cook started the Film Center at the School of the Art Institute Chicago to screen auteur, independent, and international films. What started in a room at Tribune Tower, then a basement at the MCA, then an auditorium at the Art Institute is now Gene Siskel Film Center on State Street. In addition to screening films, it features director Q&As and lecture series. For its 50th anniversary, the Gene Siskel Film Center is weekly screening a film from each year it’s been open. We talk to the executive director and director of programming about the history, running a theater during a pandemic, and how to narrow it down to just 50 films. Guests: Jean de St. Aubin — Executive Director, Gene Siskel Film Center Rebecca Fons — Director of Programming, Gene Siskel Film Center We are collecting your Chicago love stories! Leave us a message with your name, neighborhood, and story at (773) 780-0246. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The city announced last week a $38 million redevelopment of a vacant 21-acre industrial lot in North Lawndale. As a part of the INVEST South/West initiative, the project would feature freight operations, a job training center, and even public park space. But about 30 years ago, this vacant land was home to an illegal dumping site. It was also the key location in “Operation Silver Shovel,” a federal anti-corruption investigation into dozens of city and state officials. Robin Amer investigated this shady past in the USA Today podcast “The City.” Robin reminds us this dump was located in the middle of a residential neighborhood across from a school, church, and in a neglected community. Guest: Robin Amer — Senior podcast producer, Washington Post Some Good News: "Women of Soul" at the Mercury Theater Share your Chicago love stories! Leave a message with your name, neighborhood and story at: (773) 780-0246 Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Over the last several decades, the south suburban Harvey has gone from a model town, home to thousands of manufacturing jobs and Dixie Square Mall, to a community with a dwindling population and increased poverty. To make things worse, the primarily Black city hasn’t had its own newspaper for decades, so most of the coverage of these issues comes from outside the city and it’s not really for Harvey residents. That’s where the Harvey World Herald comes in. The online publication went live Jan. 31st with a one-person newsroom dedicated to bringing local news back to the community. That one person is Amethyst Davis. Davis is part of the Tiny News Collective. With the help of big names like Google and Reuters, the collective helps bankroll news operations in places that have been underserved by media. Davis joins host Jacoby Cochran to talk about growing up in Harvey and the challenges of reviving news in the city. Guest: Amethyst Davis — Founder, Harvey World Herald We are collecting Chicago love stories. Tell us about how you fell in love IN or WITH Chicago, and we might feature your story on the podcast or in our newsletter. Call or text us at (773) 780-0246 or send us an email at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

For six months, Chicago Reader and Injustice Watch have been investigating allegations of sexism, inappropriate behavior, and bias by Judge Raul Vega, the formerly highest ranking judge in the domestic violence division at Cook County Circuit Court. Now, under a growing trail of complaints, Vega is retiring. Not only will formal inquiries into his behavior end, but the judge will be allowed to keep his $14,000 a month pension. Chicago Reader reporter Kelly Garcia led the investigation and breaks down that story and more news of the week. We're also joined by Chicago Reader’s social justice reporter Adam Rhodes. They discuss the early release of Jason Van Dyke, the former Chicago police officer who murdered Laquan McDonald in 2014, and Kelly shares her birthday love for Saba’s new album, “Few Good Things.” Guests: Kelly Garcia—Reporter, Chicago Reader Adam Rhodes—Reporter, Chicago Reader Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday outlined his 2022 state budget proposal. The Democrat painted a picture of a healthier and more fiscally sound Illinois. Host Jacoby Cochran breaks down what you need to know about this year’s budget, and we take a look back at a less rosy period in Illinois budget history — the two years we didn’t have one. The budget impasse from 2015-2017 led to cuts in social services. New research from Northwestern University links the deadlock to a spike in youth homicides around the same time. Producer Simone Alicea talks with one of the authors of the study. Guest: Maryann Mason — Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

You’ve been feeling it, right? That existential dread about everything that’s wrong in the world. The feeling that the world is going to end — and soon. Every year, scientists in Chicago try to pinpoint just how close we are to “doomsday.” And they do it with the Doomsday Clock. The clock was created here in 1947 at the request of scientists who worked on the atomic bomb at the University of Chicago. Since then, the clock has moved closer to midnight when existential threats increased and further away when the world became safer. The clock currently stands at 100 seconds to midnight — the closest it’s ever been. The clock is maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Bulletin President Rachel Bronson explains how we use the clock and why we are where we are today. Guest: Rachel Bronson — President/CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists All this month, we're sharing your Chicago love stories in our newsletter. Email us at [email protected] or call or text us at (773) 780-0246. And you have until noon today to vote for City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in Chicago Reader's Best of 2021 poll! Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Last week, we explored the history of disinvestment and displacement at Cabrini-Green, Chicago’s infamous public housing complex on the Near North Side. The city began demolishing the high-rises in the 1990s, and the last one went down in 2011. But former Cabrini-Green residents are still fighting for what the city promised them: a chance to return to their community. Host Jacoby Cochran led a panel with journalists who investigated these broken promises, local historians, and others connected with Cabrini-Green to talk about where the community is now. Guests: Carol Steele — Cabrini-Green resident and public housing advocate Charles Price — Housing activist and former resident liaison at Cabrini-Green Alejandra Cancino — Reporter, “Cabrini-Green: A History of Broken Promises” This panel was put on in partnership with the Better Government Association. You can find the full conversation on their website. Wednesday is the last day to vote City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in Chicago Reader's Best of 2021 poll. Find us under the City Life category. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

In Chicago, the city is supposed to clear the streets after it snows. But the sidewalks? That falls on property owners. As one might expect, building and home owners aren’t always great about shoveling a clear walkway for pedestrians. Not shoveling also creates a problem for people with disabilities. The pedestrian advocacy group, Better Streets Chicago, says rather than relying on our neighbors to do it, the city should clear the sidewalks like it does (most) streets. We talk to one of the organizers behind that public push. Plus, you can’t talk snow in Chicago without the perennial debate about dibs. We share your thoughts on the practice of staking claim to a your freshly-shoveled parking space with, well, whatever you have around. Guest: Michael Podgers—Organizer, Better Streets Chicago Plow the Sidewalks Petition Some Good News: DCASE "Year of Chicago Dance" Our episode "Let's Go Chicago Stepping" Wednesday is the last day to vote City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in Chicago Reader's Best of 2021 poll. Find us under the City Life category. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Throughout the school year, Chicago Public Schools have claimed their COVID dashboards provide accurate data for COVID-19 cases district-wide and in individual schools. But the district quietly changed how those numbers were reported. One CPS parent and web engineer noticed that while cases across the district increased as omicron surged in Chicago, cases weren't being assigned to individual schools, making school counts seem lower. While CPS said it made the change in December, parent Jakob Ondrey said he didn't see the data diverge until the day the Chicago Teachers Union voted to move to remote learning. We’ve got Tonia Hill and Matt Harvey from The Triibe joining us to break down this story and more, including: Donda Academy’s unsanctioned basketball showcase, the perils of shoveling snow, and some good news to send you into the weekend! Stories Discussed: Donda Academy Homecoming Did CPS fudge COVID-19 numbers? Flowers for King Louie The sun is setting later We're talking Chi winter customs next week, and that means talking about dibs. How do you feel about it? Do you do it? Do you move people's objects? Call or text us at (773) 780-0246 or email us at [email protected]. And tune in Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for a virtual conversation, moderated by City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran, about the legacy of Cabrini-Green. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

For nearly 50 years, thousands of Black Chicagoans called the 23 high-rise towers and adjacent row houses of Cabrini-Green home. Soon after cutting ceremonial ribbons, the public housing development on the Near North Side would become a symbol of the Chicago Housing Authority’s mismanagement, disinvestment, and abandonment. As resources and opportunities disappeared, Cabrini-Green gained an infamous reputation as violent, run-down, and overcrowded. But the community was also on some of the most lucrative land in Chicago — and politicians and developers knew it. Beginning in the early 1990s, city leaders announced plans to tear down the high-rises and row houses for new mixed-income housing, promising thousands of residents they could live in those new homes. That didn’t happen. City Cast Chicago is partnering with the Better Government Association for their investigation “A History of Broken Promises.” WBEZ reporter Natalie Moore and former Cabrini resident and housing activist Willie “J.R.” Fleming lay down the history of the community. At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jacoby Cochran will be hosting a virtual conversation about the history of Cabrini Green. Register now. Some good news: Friday is Girls Day of P.L.A.Y at Chicago Parks. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Bulls small forward DeMar DeRozan was a four-time all-star when he was with the Toronto Raptors. But when he came to Chicago this season after a lackluster few years in San Antonio, many fans and analysts were skeptical the 13-year veteran could still bring it. So far, the haters have been proven wrong. DeRozan has played a key role in bringing the Bulls back to life, especially as a leader for an otherwise young team. K.C. Johnson has been following the Bulls for more than three decades, and he explains how DeRozan’s career has made him hungry for success in Chicago. Guest: K.C. Johnson — Bulls Insider, NBC Sports Chicago A little bit of news, y'all: UIC has a new map showing what's causing pollution by schools. The 25th annual Fillet of Solo Festival is being held virtually. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

When Ariana Alejandra Gibson was growing up, she didn’t have an outlet for talking about her father who had schizophrenia. A boyfriend’s father even once said that his son couldn’t have children with Gibson because then their children would also have schizophrenia. She felt shamed and stigmatized for her father’s illness and figured others probably did too. So she created the STIGMA app, which allows users to share their personal struggles and stories and even ask for a message of hope. Gibson found sometimes just hearing, “You are not alone,” can help a lot. Gibson is also partnering with BRAVE, which can connect users with mental health professionals. Gibson talks to host Jacoby Cochran about the origin of the app and how a social experiment in her neighborhood helped her decide she needed to create it. Guest: Ariana Alejandra Gibson — Founder, STIGMA App Some Good News: "Gem of the Ocean" at Goodman Theatre Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago is the birthplace of many dance styles, like the polka hop, the cha-cha slide, and, of course, stepping. For Black Chicagoans, stepping is a rite of passage: You learn it when you’re young and you have to be ready to hit the moves at family picnics or at the club. Chicago transplant — and City Cast Producer — Simone Alicea wondered how stepping entered the dance vernacular. We talk to Kiana Moore, who comes from a family of stepping legends, and she and her husband, Mack McKinney gives Simone a lesson. Guests: Kiana Moore and Mack McKinney—City Cast Stepping Instructors News: How to get free N95 masks from the government Some Good News: Tentflix and Chill at Lottie's Pub Join Us! Join City Cast, the Better Government Association, and CatchLight Local on Saturday for a conversation about the examination of Cabrini-Green, the taxpayer-financed redevelopment of one of the only Black neighborhoods on the city’s North Side. Jacoby is the host! Get tickets now. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

We got a lot of COVID news this week. Some good, like maybe Chicago has passed its Omicron peak. Some decent, like free tests available online. And some very bad, like a massive COVID testing scandal. WTTW correspondent Angel Idowu and Chicago Sun-Times education reporter Nader Issa join host Jacoby Cochran to break down these stories and more. Here's the article Nader mentioned: "Murders of students amid the pandemic strain schools’ ability to cope, heal" Guests: Nader Issa— Education reporter, Chicago Sun-Times Angel Idowu— Arts correspondent, WTTW BGA and City Cast Chicago Present: Navigating the Story of Cabrini-Green: Jan. 29 at 1:30 p.m. hosted by Jacoby Cochran Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The A.V. Club was founded as a sister publication of The Onion in 1993 for “people immersed in pop culture and entertainment media to an obsessive degree.” But the Chicago-based online publication is feeling a lot less Chicago after staffers here were told by their parent company, G/O Media, they had to move to LA or lose their jobs. All seven Chicago-based employees have decided to leave the company, saying the company left them little choice in asking them to relocate to a more expensive city without changing their salaries. A.V. Club film editor Alex Dowd, who writes under the byline A.A. Dowd, shares why he’s leaving the company and what he thinks the pop culture site will lose by pulling out of Chicago. Some good news: The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival begins Thursday. Remember to vote for City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in the Chicago Reader’s “Best of Chicago 2021” poll under the “City Life” category. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Irving Naxon invented the Crock-Pot, originally called the Naxon Beanery, in the 1930s. He got the idea from his Orthodox Jewish mother who tossed ingredients in a pot to cook cholent overnight for Shabbat. Cooking on Shabbat was forbidden, but this method allowed her to still serve a hot meal. The Crock-Pot was sold at big Chicago department stores like Sears and Montgomery Ward, and it was marketed as an efficient and inexpensive way to make dinner, especially for working mothers. We talk to Irving Naxon’s daughter, Lenore, who has become the unofficial historian of the Crock-Pot. If you haven't yet, remember to vote for us as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in the Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2021" poll under the "City Life" category. Some Good News: Tomorrow Never Knows 2022 starts tonight! Find out more info and get tickets on their website. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago’s proof of vaccine requirement at bars, restaurants, and live music venues has been in effect for two weeks. It’s been a welcome addition for some business, workers and customers, but some say enforcing it has been a headache. Chicago Tribune’s Joel Noel tells us the reaction depends on where you are in Chicago. We also hear from a concert coordinator at City Winery about the various responses to mask and vaccine proof mandates she’s heard from customers during the pandemic. Guests: Josh Noel, reporter for the Chicago Tribune and author of "Barrel-Aged Stout and Selling Out" Jessi Roti, concert coordinator at City Winery Chicago The City Cast Chicago hotline: (773) 780-0246 Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm