City Cast Chicago

When you live in a big city like Chicago, it can be really easy to forget just how much nature is available to us. Cook County has more than 70,000 acres of forest preserves. Our wetlands, prairies, woodlands, and savannas are home to hundreds of native plants and animals. Conservationists and organizers are working year-round to preserve these spaces and educate residents. As Chicago gets its spring colors — and the birds, butterflies, and river otters reemerge — we talk to someone whose passion is getting people outside and protecting those lands for the future. Brenda Elmore of Friends of the Forest Preserves tells Jacoby about how she got into the outdoors and why she wants to educate others. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

**UPDATE** The Graduate Employees' Organization tweeted late Monday night that the strike was suspended. The podcast is updated to include that news. Statement from UIC about a tentative agreement After a year without a new labor contract, the graduate student union at the University of Illinois Chicago went on strike last week. Bargaining continues around wage increases, student fees, healthcare costs, and more. On Monday, the union sent a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker warning the standoff with the UIC administration will do “serious long-term damage to our students’ learning and to the university’s reputation.” The momentum around labor organizing is not just picking up on campus. Workers are fighting for better conditions across industries, from corporations like Amazon and Starbucks to smaller, local companies like tortillerías. We talk to Jeff Schuhrke, a labor historian and professor at UIC, about the importance of this moment. Schuhrke also did his graduate work at the university and was once part of the Graduate Employees' Organization that’s on strike. Some good news: Zine Club Chicago Online: Poetry Zines Edition Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

A month ago, Nicole Lee was appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to finish the term of former 11th Ward Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson, following his conviction for tax fraud. An alderperson’s responsibilities include voting on legislation, constituent services, allocating resources to the ward, and more. Lee is a third-generation Chinatown resident, Whitney Young alumna, and she most recently led community engagement at United Airlines. Lee is Chicago’s first Chinese American alderperson, in a city where Asian Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group. Her appointment comes at a critical time as the ward remapping process continues. The two proposed maps each redraw the 11th ward as the city’s first Asian American–majority ward. We visited Ald. Lee at her Bridgeport office ahead of her first full City Council meeting Wednesday. Some Good News: ChiTeen Lit Fest 2022 Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

After a judge struck down the federal mask mandate on planes and public transit, Gov. Pritzker revoked the state’s mask policy on buses and trains. Soon after, CTA, Metra, and Amtrak, along with rideshare companies and airlines began moving to mask-optional policies. Harvey World Herald founder Amethyst Davis and Block Club Chicago’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden join us and tell us why they are keeping their masks on for the time being. We also discuss weekend plans across the city, our favorite cookout dishes, and the proliferation of security cameras in both Harvey and Chicago. Share this episode with just one friend and help us grow the City Cast Chicago network! Stories discussed this week: Patti LaBell's Mac and Cheese CPD's use of license plate cameras Bronzeville trail campaign kickoff Check out The Other Art Fair Chicago April 21-24 in Fulton Market. AND! Get 30% off The Other Art Fair with the Code: CITYCAST (One word) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

“Unplugging” opens in theaters this weekend in Chicago and suburbs. Eva Longoria and Matt Walsh star as a married couple who leave Chicago for a rural, getaway meant to be a digital detox. But things take a turn. City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran sat down with Walsh and co-producer Brad Morris to talk about the creation of the movie and what it really means to be unplugged from a world run by technology. They also discuss Walsh and Morris’ Chicago upbringing and how their time on the improv scene here shaped their careers. Check out The Other Art Fair Chicago April 21-24 in Fulton Market. AND! Get 30% off The Other Art Fair with the Code: CITYCAST (One word) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

The Illinois Lottery as we know it today with Pick 3, Pick 4, and Mega Millions games has its roots in a 19th century parlor game known as “Policy.” Brought to Chicago in the 1880s, Policy was popularized in South and West side communities and sold as an opportunity to change families' lives. Sound familiar? In fact, during the height of play in the 1930s and '40s, more than $20 million annually flowed through nearly 4,500 Policy locations. The “Policy Kings,” as they were called, became the Robin Hoods of the neighborhood, helping build businesses and wealth in otherwise disinvested areas. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to the Chicago History Museum’s Charles Bethea and local tour guide Beatrice Hardy about how Policy was integral to the development of Bronzeville, Chicago’s Black Metropolis. Check out The Other Art Fair Chicago April 21-24 in Fulton Market. AND! Get 30% off The Other Art Fair with the Code: CITYCAST (One word) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

Oprah Winfrey—aka “The Queen of Talk”—covered everything from veganism to the L.A. Riots to Dr. Phil (yeah, she had some misses, too) over 25 years of her classic talk show, which started here in Chicago in 1986. “Oprahdemics,” a Radiotopia from PRX podcast that digs into the enormous cultural impact of Oprah’s talk show, digs into the icon as a cultural syllabus. Host Jacoby Cochran sits down with historians and co-hosts Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson and Dr. Leah Wright-Rigueur to talk about some of the Oprah show’s most iconic moments, and which ones didn’t age so well. Check out The Other Art Fair Chicago April 21-24 in Fulton Market. AND! Get 30% off The Other Art Fair with the Code: CITYCAST (One word) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

Friday, April 15, would have been Harold Washington’s 100th birthday, and centennial celebrations continue this week. More than 30 years after his death, Chicago’s first Black mayor is still lauded as the leader who rocked the Democratic machine that had reigned supreme at City Hall. In addition to galvanizing Black voters in 1983, he built a coalition of Latinx, LGBTQ, and progressive white Chicagoans. Journalist Laura Washington (no relation) worked in Mayor Washington’s office. She tells Jacoby what made the former mayor so magnetic, unifying, and special. We also look ahead as candidates, including incumbent Lori Lightfoot, gear up for another mayoral campaign to see what Washington’s legacy can tell us about today. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

Earlier this week a man opened fire on a New York City subway train shooting 10 people and injuring 13 more. This tragedy, alongside four recent incidents of violence on or near CTA trains and buses, has renewed conversations about safety on public transit. Today, City Cast Chicago Host Jacoby Cochran is joined by the Chicago Tribune’s Stephanie Casanova and The Marshall Project’s Ghazala Irshad to look back on this story and others. We also discuss rising price of groceries, the Bulls’ playoff matchup against the reigning NBA champs, and these cute, colorful birdhouses in Roscoe Village. Come hang out with us at Karaoke Storytellers this Sunday! Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

City Council members have a lot of meetings. But how many of the full council, committee, and subcommittee meetings do they actually attend? WBEZ, The Daily Line, and Crain’s Chicago Business analyzed records from 526 meetings between May 2019 and December 2021, charting our alders’ attendance. The highest attendance rate was 93%, and the lowest was 54%. Guess which of those rates belonged to freshman alders and which were from Council veterans. WBEZ’s Claudia Morell and The Daily Line’s Erin Hegarty break down the numbers with City Cast Chicago Host Jacoby Cochran and discuss if they will have any impact on next year’s election cycle. Here's where you can check your alder's score. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

In Ukrainian culture, “pysanky” is a centuries-old form of decorating eggs. In fact, it predates Easter itself. Using eggs, beeswax, and dyes, artists "write" colorful and elaborate art works embedded with deep meaning. When celebrating a wedding, moving to a new home, or simply praying for good fortune, Ukrainians are likely to receive a few pysanky eggs from family and friends. City Cast Chicago Host Jacoby Cochran talks with Anna Chychula, a Ukrainian-American artist, about the history of pysanky and how the celebration of this cultural tradition during the Easter season brings the community together as war between Ukraine and Russia continues. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

The temperatures are rising, spring is here and baseball is back! The White Sox (2-1) have their home opener today against the Seattle Mariners. They beat the Tigers in Detroit in the first series this season. The Cubs (2-1) also won at Wrigley Field against the Milwaukee Brewers in their opening series. But despite the similar starts, the two teams couldn’t be more different this season. The North Side Cubbies are in rebuild mode, while the South Side sluggers are chasing championship dreams. Here to talk about the crosstown rivals with City Cast Chicago Host Jacoby Cochran are WBEZ’s Cheryl Raye Stout and Herb Lawrence of the new CHGO White Sox Podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

Chicago and Las Vegas have emerged as top candidates to potentially host the Democratic National Convention in 2024. Chicago most recently hosted the convention in 1996, when Bill Clinton became the presidential nominee. And the city hosted several party conventions before that, including the 1968 DNC marked by police riots in Grant Park and the Republican National Convention of 1860, where Abraham Lincoln was named the presidential nominee. On the other hand, the 2024 DNC would be Vegas’ first. Jacoby talks with City Cast Las Vegas Host Dayvid Figler about whether either city is a fit. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Leave us a voicemail: (773) 780-0246

The city announced that nearly 4000 E-Scooters are returning to streets next month. Divvy, Lime, Superpedestrian and Spin are the providers responsible for a safe, smooth, and equitable rollout. Speaking of rollout, a new casino is coming to Chicago, and community meetings were held this week in the South Loop and River West. There's also a new bill in the Illinois House that, if passed, would require life rings along the lakefront, plus a new reimbursement program for Chicagoans buying security cameras. City Cast Chicago Host Jacoby Cochran catches up on these stories and more with CBS Morning Reporter Marissa Parra and CW Chicago TV Host Brandon Pope. And we’ve got some great moments of joy, including Karaoke Storytellers, Art on the Mart (which starts tomorrow), and Pope’s new WCIU and Block Club Chicago TV show, “On The Block.” And don't miss Marissa's story about the friendship between a trash collector and a 3-year-old in South Loop! You can catch Jacoby's 2020 Snap Judgment episode here. For more of the latest happenings in Chicago, sign up for our daily newsletter right here on our website: chicago.citycast.fm Follow us on Twitter! @CityCastChicago Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

For ten years, Evanston writer Peter Baker had been working on his first novel, and he was eager to get it out into the world. So he wasn’t skeptical when he received an email from his agent in the fall of 2020 requesting a copy of his manuscript as a Microsoft Word file. He sent it along. Then he got a call from his agent asking why he'd sent his novel to him. That's right, Baker had been scammed by “The Spine Collector,” as the FBI has called him. "The Spine Collector" is allegedly a 29-year-old in London who attempted to con writers, including well-known authors like Margaret Atwood and Anthony Doerr, into sending him their unpublished manuscripts. Baker talks with City Cast Chicago Host Jacoby Cochran about what happened when he inadvertently sent his debut novel to the “Spine Collector," and how that event affected him as a writer. Baker's novel, PLANES, will be released May 31. Some Good News: Art EXPO is back at Navy Pier's Festival Hall starting tonight. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

The Obama Presidential Center isn’t the only major development hoping to call Jackson Park home. For years, Tiger Woods’ design firm TGR Design has proposed a PGA-caliber golf course on the South Side. The proposed 18-hole course would combine the Jackson Park and South Shore golf courses, complete with new facilities, practice holes, and a $30 million underpass at 67th and South Shore Drive. But it could also mean the loss of affordable greens, removal of trees, and potential destruction of the South Shore Nature Sanctuary as it currently exists. We talk with Tracy Raoul, Chairperson of Jackson Park Golf Association, Emily Dupree, the Hyde Park resident behind the Twitter profile Save Our Sanctuary. Rendering of course from TGR Designs Full statement from Chicago Park District: "As the City’s leading greening stewards, the Chicago Park District is committed to preserving and expanding the city’s parkland and tree population within our 8800-acre footprint. Our commitment is underscored by the fact that we plant 3000 trees annually and converted nearly 1100 acres of underutilized space to valuable parkland over the past decade. These investments improve our communities and greatly contribute to the lives of children and families throughout our city. As with any capital endeavor that requires the removal of trees, the District is committed to replacing each tree as part of the project scope. The Jackson Park/ South Shore document released is a draft proposal and any references related to reducing the tree count has not been considered or approved by the Park District, and therefore should not be considered a finalized plan.” It's the last day to let us know what you think of our daily newsletter, and enter to win a $100 Visa gift card! You can find the survey here. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

During a public safety press conference Monday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced efforts to invest in the development and expansion of block clubs citywide. Lightfoot’s idea is that stronger block clubs will contribute to neighborhood security and morale. For a century, Chicago has had an enduring, complicated, and nostalgic relationship with these small volunteer-based community groups. They began to assist African-Americans moving to Chicago from the South, but they’ve also been used to foster white solidarity in support of segregation. Block clubs have also led beautification efforts, and block parties across Chicago neighborhoods. City Cast Chicago Host Jacoby Cochran talks with Dr. Amanda Seligman, author of Chicago’s Block Clubs: How Neighbors Shape The City, about the history of these clubs. Some Good News: Steppers' Night at eta Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

In 2018, three guards brutally beat Larry Earvin at Western Illinois Correctional Center, where Earvin was incarcerated. He died weeks later. One of the guards pleaded guilty, and the other two are on trial right now in Springfield. Earvin’s death was the beginning of WBEZ’s investigation into Illinois prisons, which is explored in this season of the podcast, “Motive.” City Cast Chicago's Jacoby Cochran talks to reporter and host Shannon Heffernan about what she uncovered, and what she hopes listeners will take away when talking about incarceration and punishment. Public meetings for Chicago casino finalists Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter (and if you've been reading it for a while, it's not too late to take the survey, and enter to win a $100 Visa gift card in the process!): chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

This week, South Side Weekly’s Chima Ikoro and freelance journalist and professor Arionne Nettles break down the big stories of the week and the ones that need more hype, plus offer their moments of joy. We highlight the new season of WBEZ's podcast “Motive” investigating abuse in rural Illinois prisons, discuss the death of two Black transgender women, and reflect on separate incidents of police violence during the summer of 2020 and how recently obtained photos and videos challenge CPD’s official narratives. Chima and Arionne leave us with some poetic and sweet moments of joy! Check back on Monday when WBEZ reporter and Motive host Shannon Heffernan joins us. Take our newsletter survey and you could win $100 Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-024

This week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot asserted the Christopher Columbus statue would eventually return to Grant Park. The city removed the statue in July 2020, a week after police clashed with protesters demanding its removal. While the Mayor has placed the blame on “vigilantes who attacked officers,” the Chicago Reader and South Side Weekly report that newly-obtained images reveal that police officers indiscriminately arrested and attacked protesters. Now, one of the police officers who was struck a protester is facing termination, despite the objections of CPD Superintendent David Brown. The Reader’s Jim Daley walks us through what happened back in 2020, and what's next. News: The city could have its new Inspector General. Listen to Jacoby's interview with former IG Joe Ferguson who retired last October. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

Actor Chris Perfetti wasn’t a big basketball fan growing up. But he was a big Steppenwolf Theatre fan. So when he got the chance to star in the world premiere of “King James” at the famous Lincoln Park theater, he took it. The play is only partly about LeBron James and basketball; it’s more about friendship and the way sports help forge bonds. Perfetti also stars as Jacob in the hit ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” and talks with City Cast Chicago Host Jacoby Cochran about working on the play and the show. "King James" is running through April 10. Find out more and get tickets at Steppenwolf.org. Some Good News: The National Museum of Mexican Art's exhibit “Frida Kahlo, Her Photos” opens on Friday. If you read our newsletter, make sure you head on over to chicago.citycast.fm/survey to give us your feedback and help make the newsletter even better (and be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card)! Not familiar with the newsletter? Check it out and sign up for those awesome daily emails at chicago.citycast.fm/newsletter You can also follow us on Twitter @CityCastChicago

Recreational weed has been available in Illinois since 2020. Meanwhile, in Texas, a Democratic gubernatorial challenger is pushing to legalize cannabis while the Republican incumbent resists the idea. That may sound familiar to Illinois voters. Gov. JB Pritzker ran on legalizing marijuana four years ago, and while the rollout has been rocky, he’s counting it as a big win heading into this year’s election. City Cast Houston’s Lisa Gray and City Cast Chicago’s Jacoby Cochran talk about the status of legal weed in both states, and Jacoby offers his tips on what Texas should watch out for as they inch toward legalization. It’s a crossover episode! Some good news: Chicago Trans Visibility Pageant Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

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