City Cast Chicago

The 2020 census numbers are in, and Chicago remains the country’s third-largest city. But the demographics are shifting. Latinx people are now the city’s second-largest racial or ethnic group, surpassing the city’s Black population. These shifts have big implications for city politics and for Black and brown communities. WBEZ's Alden Loury tells host Jacoby Cochran about how Chicago got here and what the shifts could mean as aldermen begin remapping the city's wards. Guest: Alden Loury, Senior Editor, WBEZ's Race, Class and Communities Desk (@AldenLoury) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago students and teachers are set to return to classrooms on Aug. 30, making it the third school year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. That means CPS and the teachers union are once again negotiating COVID safety protocols. But as cases rise and amid concern over the delta variant, one teacher tells host Jacoby Cochran she’s feeling just as anxious as she did when the pandemic began. Norma Noriega teaches sixth grade math at Stevenson Elementary on the Southwest Side, and she shares her hopes and fears for the start of the school year. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

James Allen has spent most of the past 52 years behind bars. He’s in prison on three separate murder charges, but he claims he’s innocent. Allen has a chance this month to take a step toward getting one of those convictions overturned. In her Chicago Reader story “Reasonable Doubt,” Maya Dukmasova details Allen’s case. She talks with host Jacoby Cochran about how the stories the state has told about Allen just don’t seem to add up. Guest: Maya Dukmasova, Senior reporter, Injustice Watch (@mdoukmas) Today's good news to get you through: A Wednesday night discussion about Latinas in the cannabis industry followed by a screening of "Selena" at the Davis Theatre in Lincoln Square. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

City Cast Chicago producers Carrie Shepherd and Simone Alicea sit down with host Jacoby Cochran to talk through the week’s top stories, under-hyped stories, and of course, their moments of joy. They talk about the Delta variant numbers, new questions about Chicago’s contract with ShotSpotter after City Cast Chicago reported the city had extended their contract with the company that operates gun detection technology, and the return of the Bud Billiken Parade. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Wednesday the city is facing a $730 million shortfall in its 2022 budget forecast. The city is expected to spend upwards of $12 billion next year. The news comes as city officials have been hosting public forums on the South, West and North sides to hear how Chicagoans wants the money spent. Thursday's event in Uptown is the last one. WBEZ politics reporter Mariah Woelfel covered this weekend’s event in Washington Park, and tells us what she heard from the public, and how—or if—the city actually puts these recommendations into action. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Abby McEnany has been on Chicago’s improv scene for more than 20 years but is new to the TV world. Her show, "Work in Progress" on Showtime, started as part of a storytelling performance at iO. It's loosely based on McEnany’s life, but the star is clear there are many ways she and the character are different (though she won’t tell you how). The second season of "Work in Progress" premieres Aug. 22, and just like the first season, it is filmed in Chicago and features many Chicago actors and friends of McEnany. Lead Producer Carrie Shepherd talks to McEnany about working through the improv scene and why she knew the show had to be based here. Guest: Abby McEnany — Writer, comedian, and actress **UPDATE** Work In Progress: A Comedic Showcase of Chicago from Chicago Humanities Festival has been postponed until Wednesday, Aug. 18, because of inclement weather. Details here. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

ShotSpotter is a technology that’s meant to detect the sound of gunfire and deploy police to that location. But reports from Northwestern University’s MacArthur Justice Center and Vice found errors in the technology’s reporting. Journalist and author Jamie Kalven also has reported that the location of the technology in the city reveals racial bias. Chicago’s contract with ShotSpotter was scheduled to expire this month, sparking activists to call on city officials to end the contract and stop using it in Chicago. But City Cast Chicago has learned something new about that contract. We talk to journalist Jamie Kalven about how ShotSpotter works, and activist Alyx Goodwin from Action Center on Race and the Economy. Guests: Jamie Kalven, Journalist, Author, Founder, The Invisible Institute Alyx Goodwin, Senior Organizer, Action Center on Race and the Economy City of Chicago's contract with ShotSpotter Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Last year, Dion Dawson’s friend asked him what he wanted to do to help his Englewood community. Dion responded that he wanted to feed 100 families. Fast forward a year and Dion’s Chicago Dream is running a community fridge that the organization keeps full of fresh produce, and delivering groceries to families from Maywood to Evanston. Dion tells host Jacoby Cochran it was his own food insecurity growing up that made him want to help feed his neighbors and give back to the neighborhood he loves. Get involved with Dion's Chicago Dream Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Governor JB Pritzker issued a mask mandate for students across the state, and employees at state facilities, which already has some Republicans complaining about this “unilateral” response to an uptick in COVID numbers. City officials promised that Lollapalooza was checking vax status at the gates. How do they know? Public Health Director Allison Arwady went to the fest in disguise to see if they’d ask for her card. And, the Cubs lost some big stars, but the Bulls picked some up. Journalists Justin Kaufmann and Monica Eng break down the week’s news with Lead Producer Carrie Shepherd. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The Chicago Transit Authority has a been working on the $2.1 billion Red-Purple Modernization Project to unclog congestion at the Belmont stop. The plan is to straighten the tracks, and build a flyover for Brown line trains. Part of that project would have included demolishing the Vautravers Building in the landmarked Newport Avenue historic district. When the CTA built the tracks in the early 1900s, the building’s owner refused to sell it. So the CTA built the tracks AROUND the Vautravers Building. When historic preservationists heard the building could be demolished, they fought it. The compromise was to move the building 30 feet, which happened this week. We talk about how that happens and more about the history Guests: Ward Miller, Executive Director, Preservation Chicago (@Pres_Chicago) Stephanie Cavazos, Spokeswoman, CTA Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Too many young people in Chicago see stories about their neighborhoods on the news that don’t reflect the neighborhood THEY know. The headlines aren't about their favorite parks or corner stores, the community gardens, and block parties. Chicago Stories on the Block is changing that. Young people 15-24 years old from Englewood, Back of the Yards, South Shore, and Lawndale gather to tell THEIR stories and also start to learn about the communities around them. Then, those stories become part of a mural and music. We talk to David Gonzalez from the program. Guest: David Gonzalez-Executive Director, Port Ministries which runs Chicago Stories on the Block Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Join our Referral Program!

There have been a lot of conversations recently about the importance of speaking up about mental health. Gymnast Simone Biles and tennis player Naomi Osaka have both taken steps back from their sports in the last month because they didn’t feel they were in the right head space to perform the sports they dominate. For clinical psychologist and Northwestern University professor Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler these conversations aren’t new. Her work as a therapist and researcher is focused on the mental health needs and pressures put on Black women to be strong. Burnett-Zeigler’s new book, Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen: The Emotional Lives of Black Women is based on her own experience, and other women in Chicago and offers guidance on how to best care for our mental health needs. Guest: Dr. Inger Burnett-Zeigler-Clinical Psychologist and Professor, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm [More possible notes]

Cubs fans had a rough weekend. Trade rumors started Thursday about who the team would be losing, and who they would be getting as the deadline loomed. By Friday, The Chicago Cubs front office had broken up the stars of their 2016 World Series, including Anthony Rizzo who went to the New York Yankees, Kris Bryant who headed to the San Francisco Giants, and Javier Baez to the New York Mets. They also sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox. We’ll see how that goes this weekend when the Cubs and Sox face off in the Crosstown Classic. In the end, the Cubs traded nine players and added 12 players to their roster. Cubs’ Head of Operations Jed Hoyer said it was all necessary in order to rebuild the team that’s currently hovering on the bottom of the National League Central. But, fans are pissed and sad to say goodbye to the crew that made the “lovable losers” champs in 2016 and gave fans new hope. Sports reporter Cheryl Raye-Stout talks to host Jacoby Cochran about how the Cubs made history in 2016, and what’s happened since. Guest: Cheryl Raye-Stout, WBEZ (@Crayestout) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The CDC had advised that masks be worn indoors again, especially in states that are seeing COVID cases surge again. Host Jacoby Cochran and South Side Weekly editor-in-chief Jackie Serrato talk about how it feels like we're moving back into the pandemic, especially when Black and brown communities still have low vaccination rates. They also talk about how residents on the Southwest Side are saying "no" to a new Target warehouse, and the joy that Chicago's only all-girls baseball team is bringing to the city after becoming national champions. Guest: Jackie Serrato-South Side Weekly "CPD’s Pattern and Practice of Home Invasions" **City Cast Chicago's Referral Program** Sign up for our newsletter, refer a friend, win cool swag!

It has been a week since the 2021 Summer Olympics kicked off in Tokyo, Japan. Already we’ve seen a couple of Chicago-area athletes' medals, a Tsunami scare, and the biggest gymnast in the world make an unprecedented decision to step back. Chicago Tribune reporter Stacy St. Clair has been everywhere in Tokyo from the pools to the basketball courts, to an emotional softball field covering her fourth Olympics. Well, she hasn’t been everywhere. The veteran journalist says due to COVID protocols she still can’t visit greater Tokyo or even the restaurant next door to her cozy hotel. We check back in with Stacy to hear how the Chicago-area athletes are doing, how the vibes are different without fans, and how the Olympic’s biggest star is speaking up for mental health on the world stage. Guest: Stacy St. Clair, Chicago Tribune Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago is bracing for nearly half a million people to flood Grant Park for Lollapalooza. The four-day festival makes residents cranky anyway, with street closures, crowded buses, and trains, teenagers stumbling around during rush hour, but Lolla during a pandemic is another level. Chicago’s Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady says festival organizers and the city have made the necessary preparations to keep people safe and said other festivals around the country went on as scheduled even without COVID safety protocols. We talk to a music journalist from Miami who went to one of those music festivals about what it was like, and a Chicago reporter who talked to experts about how to stay safe if you are going to Lollapalooza this weekend. Guests: Kim Bellware-Reporter, Washington Post Tony Centeno-Freelance Journalist Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

This weekend, the Chinatown Summer Fair is back after taking a year off because of the pandemic. The event is also two days instead of one this year and is expected to draw about 40,000 people. There will be hip-hop music, live DJs, and booths from members of all of Chicago’s AAPI communities. Some of this year's changes are part of a push by younger Chinatown residents to make the neighborhood more welcoming and accessible and to remind all of Chicago that there’s something for them in Chinatown. We talk to Shifa Zhong who is using his social media presence and marketing skills to promote the event, and Ben Lau, a longtime member of the community who wants to see younger residents stay in or move back to Chinatown. Guests: Shifa Zhong-Owner, Tian Represent; Chinatown Shifa Ben Lau-Executive Director, Chinese American Museum of Chicago Links: Chinatown Summer Fair Chinatown: the Next Generation from Chicago Reader Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Join our referral program and get swag!

After several extensions of the state’s eviction moratorium, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued an executive order last Friday that allows eviction filings to begin on August 1. Both the state and city have available rental assistance, and housing advocates are doing their part, too. Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago expects close to 100,000 applications for some help. And while that program has been traditionally been focused on homeowners, they’re helping renters and small unit landlords because they say evictions on this scale will harm the entire housing system in Chicago. We talk to NHS about what services are available for those who could be facing houselessness. Guest: Donna Clarke — Chief Operating Officer, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago Links: Illinois Rental Payment Program Rental Assistance Chicago Rental Assistance Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

City Council passed a civilian police oversight ordinance that assuages some activists’ calls for more accountability, but ultimately, Mayor Lori Lightfoot still retains a lot of power. Host Jacoby Cochran talks about that story, as well as “Overhyped” and “Under-hyped” stories with WCIU’s Brandon Pope. Jacoby and Brandon also talk about the joy an NBA Finals win brought for all of the Midwest. Guest: Brandon Pope, reporter & anchor at WCIU @BpopeTV Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

This summer’s Olympics are the fourth for Chicago Tribune reporter Stacy St. Clair. And, it’s already like no other games she’s covered. After weeks of tests and preparations, Stacy and her colleague, photojournalist Brian Cassella, have each been quarantining in their hotel rooms for three days, and are allowed 15 minutes a day to go outside, get some fresh air, and maybe run to the minimart for coffee. But, only if they can make it back before the security guard’s timer goes off. On Wednesday, Tokyo officials reported another spike in COVID numbers, which means reporters and others won’t even be allowed that 15 minutes. Athletes are tested daily and some have already had their Olympic dreams slashed because of positive tests. We check in with Stacy to hear more about what to expect from the Chicago-area athletes, how Tokyo citizens are responding to the Games, and how the IOC is handling some of the criticism. Guest Stacy St. Clair--Chicago Tribune reporter Chicago Tribune Olympics coverage Some Chicago athletes going to the Games Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Back in April, WBEZ reporter Dan Mihalopoulos reported that that the Chicago Park District was looking into allegations by former lifeguards who say they experienced “criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse” while working at city beaches and pools. The internal investigation had been happening for more than a year, and according to documents, revealed that the parks superintendent knew about the allegations for at least a month before reporting them to the Inspector General’s office. After Mihalopoulos’ reporting in April, dozens of women reached out and described a culture of abuse, harassment, and assault. The Park District says it won’t answer questions until the Inspector General’s report is done. And, now, Mihalopoulos has learned that toxic culture goes beyond Chicago’s border and extends north to Evanston, where former lifeguards signed a petition last year asking for a probe into alleged abuse. We talk to Dan Mihalopoulos about what’s happening with each of these investigations. Warning: There are graphic descriptions of sexual assault in this episode. City Cast Chicago has a new, cool referral program. It goes like this: Step 1: Invite friends to subscribe to our newsletter Step 2: Get rewards Step 3: Everyone wins https://chicago.citycast.fm/referral/

For most Chicagoans, the Loop is just where the office is (or used to be) or a place to take your family when they’re in town. But as downtown recovers from the pandemic, the Chicago Loop Alliance is working to make the Loop more welcoming to everyone. One way they’re trying to do that is by closing three blocks along State Street this summer for “Sundays on State.” Host Jacoby Cochran was there this past Sunday to talk about the Loop’s recovery with alliance president Michael Edwards. Michael Edwards, President and CEO, Chicago Loop Alliance (@ChiLoopAlliance) Hospitality Hiring Event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hospitality-hiring-event-tickets-161536503029 Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

For the last year, the housing market in most big cities has been in overdrive. The pandemic forced us inside our homes; they became our offices, our schools and the center of our social lives. That led families to seek more space, and low interest rates had longtime renters making the switch to homeowner.s One area of the city and surrounding area that is seeing homeowner growth? Black middle class families on Chicago’s South Side and south suburbs. Crain’s Chicago Business real estate reporter Dennis Rodkin explains what combination of factors is allowing these families to buy, and why that’s important for primarily Black areas. Guest: Dennis Rodkin, Real Estate Reporter, Crain's Chicago Business, Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

A former Chicago Public Schools principal has been accused of stealing of $200,000 from the school to pay her mortgage, which garnered a little bit of, “Yeah, what else is new in Chicago?” from this week’s guest, Jill Hopkins. Jill hosts “Jill Afternoons” on Vocalo Radio. She and host Jacoby Cochran break down that news, Scottie Pippen’s new gig as an Airbnb host, worries about COVID at camps, and they share some mutual admiration for Candace Parker. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Dario Durham and Sara Faddah come from very different food traditions. Faddah is originally from Jordan, and she cooks the Arab foods her grandmother made when she was a child. Durham is a born-and-bred Chicagoan, and grew up on soul food like mac ‘n cheese, cornbread and candied yams. So when they started dating in 2019, they began exploring each other’s food cultures, and building their own list of favorite dishes and restaurants as a couple. They both realized that meant expanding their tastes to restaurants all across the city. In fact, one in every neighborhood. They document their eating adventures in the new podcast, "77 Flavors of Chicago." Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

With the return of festivals, the reopening of restaurants, and a pause on travel restrictions, the last couple months have felt more like normal in Chicago. But on Tuesday, city officials announced travelers from Arkansas or Missouri must test negative for COVID-19 or quarantine for 10 days before coming to Chicago. The new travel advisory plus concerns over the delta variant and vaccine disparities are prompting warnings from the city’s public health officials that the pandemic isn’t over. WTTW Reporter Heather Cherone has been covering the city’s COVID-19 response since the beginning, and she helps us make sense of these new shifts. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The New York Times recently reminded us — or told us for the first time — that Chicago is not immune from the climate crisis. The article “A Battle Between a Great City and a Great Lake” explains how Lake Michigan, that expansive, beautiful source of freshwater, has been fluctuating between not enough water and too much. When levels are too high, it wreaks havoc along the lakeshore, including on houses, offices, and residential buildings. It can also force nasty, untreated water from the Chicago River into the Lake. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Justin Keller from the Metropolitan Planning Council about what this all means. Guest: Justin Keller-Manager, Metropolitan Planning Council Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm City Cast is growing! We'll be in 8 new cities! Check out where, and how you can join us. Read more about it here.

There were about 1,430 carjackings in Chicago in 2020, more than double the previous year’s total. And more than half of the people arrested in those incidents were under 18. A new investigation by the Better Government Association finds that many of these teens, some as young as 13, are being put on electronic monitoring and sent home instead of receiving services that could help curtail future criminal activity. BGA reporters Sidnee King and David Jackson explain what’s driving the carjacking trend, why these kids end up stuck in limbo, and how these alternative programs could help. Guests: Sidnee King, investigative reporter, Better Government Association David Jackson, senior investigative reporter, Better Government Association (@poolcar4) Love the show? Want something to change? Tell us about it. Take our listener survey and have a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card: https://chicago.citycast.fm/survey Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago started the week on a sad note. The city had its most violent weekend so far this year over the 4th of July holiday. And, unfortunately, that led to more finger pointing by officials rather than a unified front. WBEZ Senior Producer Meha Ahmad and host Jacoby Cochran talk through that story, and also how President Biden’s visit to the northwest suburb of Crystal Lake didn’t feel quite as exciting as past presidential visits. Plus! Moments of joy that include BBQ, neighbors and Nikole Hannah-Jones! Guest: Meha Ahmad, Sr. Producer, WBEZ Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm *Take our audience survey!

Achieving a “work-life balance” has always been hard, but the pandemic blurred those worlds even more. The resulting burnout is prompting many companies to rethink how they work. One local example is City Bureau. The journalism nonprofit is trying out a four-day work week this summer to combat burnout and boost productivity. We ask City Bureau co-founder Bettina Chang and the organization’s people and culture director Cristina Salgado about what they hope to learn from the experiment and how they plan to spend their extra day off. Guests: Bettina Chang, Co-Founder/Executive Editorial Director, City Bureau (@bechang8) Cristina Salgado, Director of People and Culture, City Bureau We are always looking for ways to make the show better, and we need your help! Fill out our survey and you’ll be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card: https://chicago.citycast.fm/survey Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

On Chicago’s far Northwest Side, changing demographics and politics represent a divide of old vs. new. Many residents in these neighborhoods are cops, fire fighters, teachers and other city workers who are required to live inside the city’s borders. They like the suburban-like living that offers brick bungalows, backyards and a slower pace. Now, more Latino and younger, white, liberal families have been moving from more densely populated parts of Chicago to the Northwest Side for affordable single-family homes and good schools. Those shifting demographics and more progressive political leanings have created some drama, especially with current Alderman Jim Gardiner. Gardiner is divisive in the area--pitting neighbor against neighbor, and is even the subject of two lawsuits. Host Jacoby Cochran breaks down the current drama, and what issues drove the divides in the 45th Ward. Guests: Alex Nitkin--Editor and City Hall Reporter, The Daily Line Ariel Parrella-Aureli--Reporter, Block Club Chicago Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm Hey! Take our Audience Survey

People outside of Chicago often view the city as dangerous. Sometimes they even call it “The Murder Capital,” even though other cities have higher rates of violence. Natalie Moore says media are part of the problem. The WBEZ reporter and author of “The South Side” has spent her career pushing back on the idea that covering the South and West sides is all bad news all the time. She and host Jacoby Cochran talk about how media can better cover Chicago’s neighborhoods and violence in the city. Guest: Natalie Moore, Author/Reporter, WBEZ (@natalieymoore) Help us make the show better by taking our listener survey! When you tell us your thoughts, you can sign up to be entered for a $100 Visa gift card: https://chicago.citycast.fm/survey/ Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Today we're sharing an episode from the podcast "It's All Good" from our friends at Block Club Chicago. Each week, host Jon Hansen talks to the people who make their neighborhoods great. This week: The Folded Map Project. Creator Tonika Lewis Johnson and sociologist Maria Krysan interviewed 30 people about how they first confronted — and eventually combatted — harmful narratives about Chicago’s South and West sides. The join Jon Hansen to talk about what they've learned.

We’re breaking down the week’s news with Jon Hansen, host of Block Club Chicago’s “It’s All Good” podcast. He and host Jacoby Cochran talk about why City Council infighting could actually be a good sign, Jon’s discovery of a Black-owned LGBTQ+ bar in South Shore, how Jacoby is over the fireworks already, and the long-awaited unveiling of the Ida B. Wells monument in Bronzeville. Guest: Jon Hansen, Host, "It's All Good" (@JonHansenTV) You can help us make the podcast better by taking our audience survey. Share your thoughts about the show and be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card! https://chicago.citycast.fm/survey/ Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Every year, The Broken Arrow Riding Club hosts a rodeo at the South Shore Cultural Center Park. Yes, right there next to a golf course, beach and landmark event space where the Obamas hosted their wedding reception. The club has been around for more than 30 years with a mission to bring horseback riding and rodeos to all ethnic backgrounds and physical abilities in Chicago. As a native Chicagoan, host Jacoby Cochran had never even heard of the rodeo so he went to check out Black cowboys and talk to the man who started it all. Help us make the show better by taking our guest survey. By participating, you'll be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card! https://chicago.citycast.fm/survey/ Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Before he became the host of The Late Show, or The Colbert Report, and before The Daily Show, Stephen Colbert honed his craft in Chicago. Colbert went from Northwestern University’s theater department to The Second City, where he is now joining the board of directors. Colbert tells host Jacoby Cochran about his early days with the historic theater, his lasting impressions of the city, and how he went from being afraid of going shirtless on stage to performing a duet with his pants. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

After seeing how impactful the pandemic was for their young kids, two Chicago moms decided that a great way for kids to look back at this historical moment was to start a time capsule. They created “Once Upon Our Time Capsule,” a project that collects individual time capsules from kids across the city. We talk to Stacey Gillett and Stephanie Hodges about why they thought it was important that children memorialize this year, and what this could mean for the kids opening the capsules five years from now. Guests: Stacey Gillett, Co-creator, Once Upon Our Time Capsule (@staceywgillett) Stephanie Hodges, Co-creator, Once Upon Our Time Capsule Find out how to make your own time capsule: https://www.ourtimecapsule.org/ Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Along the lakefront at Oakwood Beach lies a mermaid carved from limestone. She’s been watching over Lake Michigan since 1986, but for some Chicagoans her origin story, or even her existence, was a mystery. Host Jacoby Cochran got to visit the mermaid for the very first time with one of its creators, Roman Villarreal. They talk about how the sculpture actually came to be and who the inspiration was. Oh, also about how this mermaid will likely live in Chicago for another 300 years. Guests: Paul Dailing: Writer Román Villarreal: Artist Atlas Obscura: The Secret Mermaid Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Host Jacoby Cochran breaks down what happened in Chicago this week with The Triibe co-founder and editor-in-chief Tiffany Walden. They talk about the debate over renaming Lake Shore Drive after Jean Baptiste DuSable, rent relief for Chicagoans, and a potential plan to improve the intersection at 79th Street, Stony Island Avenue, and South Chicago Avenue. They also make a discovery about a popular steppin’ track and share their strong opinions about lions in the Lincoln Park Zoo. Guest: Tiffany Walden, Co-founder/Editor-in-Chief, The Triibe (@Waldens_Block) Find the 2021 Triibe Guide: https://reshapethenarrative.com/ Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

When Collaboraction opened its doors 25 years ago, they had no idea just how much their theater would change throughout the years. Having worked with around 3,000 artists on more than 60 productions, the Chicago-based theater was determined to continue its work of creating inclusive productions that inspire social change during the pandemic. Putting together virtual productions and discussions, the theater sparked much-needed discussions about race during the height of the BLM protests last summer. We look back at the theater’s history and on how much it has evolved with Collaboraction’s Anthony Moseley and Dr. Marcus Robinson. Guests: Anthony Moseley, Artistic Director, Collaboraction (@AnthonyMoseley) Dr. Marcus Robinson, Executive Director, Collaboraction (@4MarcusRobinson) Find out how to attend Collaboraction's 25th-anniversary party tonight: https://www.collaboraction.org/moonset-sunrise-event Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

When Chicago attorney Joanne Molinaro went vegan in 2016, she worried that she wouldn’t be able to eat her favorite Korean dishes that she grew up with. It’s why she started the “Korean Vegan” blog. She initially focused on her recipes, but over time felt like she needed to connect cooking with personal stories about her family, heartbreak, and other ups-and-downs from her life. These stories have resonated on TikTok, where Molinaro has more than 2 million followers. Molinaro explains what shifted for her and tells host Jacoby Cochran about her favorite Korean dishes and vegan spots in Chicago. Guest: Joanne Molinaro— Attorney, food blogger, and author (TikTok: @thekoreanvegan) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

In 2017, a Department of Justice investigation into Chicago Police called out foot chases as a precursor to excessive force saying they “too often end with officers unreasonably shooting someone.” But until now, the department hasn’t had a policy to guide officers on when they can chase people and when they can’t. CPD enacted an interim policy earlier this month that’s undergoing public comment. But critics say it doesn’t go far enough. Nusrat Choudhury with the ACLU of Illinois explains how we got here and where the policy goes next. Guest: Nusrat Choudhury, Legal Director, ACLU of Illinois (@ACLUofIL) Read about the interim foot-pursuit policy and submit a public comment through July 15: https://home.chicagopolice.org/reform/policy-review/ Read the 2017 DOJ report: https://www.justice.gov/opa/file/925846/download Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Only a handful of cities know what it’s like to have two professional sports teams in the same league. In Chicago, the crosstown rivalry between the White Sox and the Cubs is about more than baseball. It can be a cultural divide that makes Chicagoans feel like they have to choose a side publicly. That’s why Len Kasper turned heads this season when he became the radio voice of the White Sox after 16 seasons broadcasting for the Cubs. Kasper offers his perspective on the rivalry and his predictions for this year’s Crosstown Classic in August…and maybe even the World Series. Guest: Len Kasper, Co-host, Sox Degrees; White Sox radio play-by-play announcer Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Host Jacoby Cochran and Lead Producer Carrie Shepherd break down some “news you can use,” something they each learned from City Cast Chicago this week, and a “moment of joy” that made them happy. And, they sing. Of course. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago is known for its public art. Almost every neighborhood is painted with murals showing the people who live there, the politics that shaped the place, and activists who have fought to retain its character. Even though murals and street art are born from graffiti, some say tagging the art breaks an unwritten rule and disrespects the artist. One of those people is Chicago Sun-Times editorial board member Ismael Perez, who wrote the recent editorial, “Chicago should take such pride in its wealth of murals, and yet, they are being defaced." Host Jacoby Cochran tours two of those defaced murals in Pilsen with Perez and talks to him about how the neighborhood felt like a "hug" when Perez arrived from Texas. Guest: Ismael Perez, Editorial Board Member, Chicago Sun-Times (@_ismaperez) Chicago should take such pride in its wealth of murals, and yet, they are being defaced Murals and Mosaics: Chicago Sun-Times mural series

As the pandemic shut down travel, United Airlines-and its employees-took a big hit. The Chicago-based company had to furlough more than 10,000 workers. They brought them back in December, but the airline warned that could be temporary. There’s good news for employees and travelers. United has added 400 flights starting next month so those furloughs aren’t so imminent after all. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with Jay Singh, who covers airlines for the website Simple Flying. Singh also answers the big question for travelers: “How much hand sanitizer can I bring on board?” City Cast Chicago Shoutout Map: https://bit.ly/2TqoFDk Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Tracy Baim has been covering Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community for more than 40 years, but it hasn’t always been easy. Back then, she says you couldn’t be openly gay in Chicago media, which is why so many LGBTQ+ journalists like herself had to create their own queer press. In 1984, fresh out of college, Baim started part-time at Gay Life Newspaper, before co-founding the LGBTQ+ newspaper, Windy City Times. Fast forward to 2018, and she’s the publisher of the Chicago Reader, the iconic alt-weekly. Chicago Reader’s “Pride” issue this week documents the evolution of gay activism in Chicago. The issue includes an interview with Dr. Fauci about the AIDS epidemic, and a profile of a '80’s zine that explored Chicago’s House music scene, among other stories. Baim spoke with host Jacoby Cochran about her decades-long career in the gay press and about what it’s like seeing Chicago media’s journey from sidelining the queer community to finally embracing it. Guest: Tracy Baim, Publisher, Chicago Reader (@TracyBaimWCMG) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago has a long history of Black and brown communities coming together to advance equal education, immigrant rights, and affordable housing. But last year, as looting and unrest rocked the city, tensions rose between the communities on the South and West sides, with reports that gang members were trying to protect businesses. Activists Tanya Lozano and Bella BAHHS organized a rally to remind people that Black and brown Chicagoans have similar goals. The event didn’t go as planned, which is why they’re trying again this year with an all-day concert instead. The event hopes to bring Black and brown communities together by offering free resources like COVID and HIV testing, vaccinations, exercise classes, and of course, live music. Guests: Tanya Lozano, Co-founder, Healthy Hood Chicago (@_tanyalozano) Heavy Crownz, artist and rapper, @heavycrownz Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Restaurants, especially after a year of being partially or completely closed, need all the tools in their arsenal to get customers back. Social media is one of those critical tools, but a Facebook page is not going to cut it. Restaurants, cafes and stores across Chicago have tapped into the influence of TikTok to stand out. At Wake ‘n Bacon in Lakeview there’s a “selfie mirror” when you walk in, just one of the opportunities to document your experience under a ceiling of colorful hanging flowers while drinking a Purple Haze iced latte. Host Jacoby Cochran heads to Wake n’ Bacon to see it for himself. But first, the sisters behind the popular Explore Chicago account offer some ideas on how to reach many followers. Guests: Leen and Yasmeen Alqaissi, TikTokers, @explorechicago Gabriel Ayala, Co-Owner, Wake ‘n Bacon (@eatwakenbacon) Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Research is woefully lacking on the lives of transgender people, especially when it comes to Chicago’s local trans community. But having that data is extremely important in getting resources and services to trans people. The Chicago Area Trans Survey seeks to reach 30,000 trans people in Cook County to learn about their lives. The project is being led by the Brave Space Alliance, a Black- and trans-led LGBTQ center in Hyde Park, and Northwestern University. Jacoby talks with the survey organizers about how this research can help Chicago’s trans community. Guests: Stephanie Sorka, Associate Executive Director, Brave Space Alliance Dylan Felt, Research Coordinator, NU’s Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing