The Record News and Sports

The guys start by trying to explain the continued lack of information on the preps sports season, before summarizing host Michal Dwojak's look at the experiences of four local football stars during the unprecedented college football season. We wrap things up talking about Loyola Academy's slick new football field.

The first episode of 2021 features maybe the last community event of 2020: a candlelight vigil for COVID-19 victims. Martin also explains the complicated case of 740 Ardsley Road, and Joe profiles a reality TV star in our midst. *This podcast was recorded before the events at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6*

In our final 2020 episode, we give you the news first, and then we retell our story: from the fall of 22nd Century Media to the rise of The Record and why we work for you. We then tell you our favorite stories of the year and we hope for in 2021. Happy New Year!

Before we reminisce, we discuss the latest on the return of sports, which once again is not much as state officials again turned down a meeting with the IHSA. We wonder why the IHSA keeps asking. Then, we explore the chaotic year in high school sports and highlight some happy moments before offering our resolutions for 2021.

The IHSA is facing another lawsuit related to its handling of the COVID pandemic (first reported by the Sun-Times). Then, we explore the century of history at Gates Gym at New Trier as a teardown is considered. We finish by giving gifts to our athletics programs, like something to keep warm at the Munz campus!

Official election filings are in, and we talk about the biggest surprises and biggest local races coming up in April. Marty also reports on major facelifts planned for facilities at both New Trier and Joseph Sears schools. We wrap things up with a deep dive into the storied past of disc golf in Wilmette.

Our hosts discuss the latest news from the IHSA, which announced it still plans to play all sports this school year. Is it possible? How? What are the roadblocks? We then shift to Signing Day and some local football players ready for the next level and tell you what our major signing would be like — if we had one!

Local elections are months away, but there is plenty we already know. We feed you inside information on the upcoming leadership turnover and contentious races in your community. Plus, we talk about the latest COVID-related school decisions and remember community pillar Pat Doherty.

Michal, Mart and Joe talk about what they've been missing most during this sports shutdown, leading to interesting weather stories. We also hear from former pro Tommy Wingels, who is back helping local hockey youth.

Two of the area's top holiday light shows return for what may well be their final year, breaking down how locals voted in the election, the latest from Wilmette and Glencoe schools, and the Wilmette guy who has all the jokes.

For the past couple weeks, local schools have been making plans to manage the expected rise in COVID-19. We've covered them all. So, Joe and Marty tossed the normal format aside and went district to district to give you a summary.

The IHSA made another non-announcement announced, and our hosts urge the group to do more to to inspire hope with student-athletes. They also discuss potential future consequences of a year of no sports and Joe explains why hockey isn't his thing

We break down Joe's story on how noncontact sports dealt are dealing with the delay of winter sports and Joe breaks some football news about a star New Trier player. The guys also reminisce about the Loyola Academy championship two years ago and what may have been this week and weekend.

As New Trier officials decide on whether to how much to reopen the school, groups of community members are sharing their opinions, with the school's teachers sharing sharp criticism of the district. We also give budget-season reports and tell you what's up with your community's beloved holiday events this year.

In this week's recap, we break down the local numbers to COVID's recent surge, plus the impacts of that surge on local schools and libraries. We also talk about a new cafe, a restaurant expansion, Kenilworth's budget and a special meditation garden.

The latest COVID-19 mitigations closed the door on preps sports in 2020. Our hosts explore whether they come back at all this school year and if so, what that may look like. We end things on a fun note by talking about who we'd invite to our Thanksgiving dinner from the NS sports scene.

Local cross-country runners didn't let the IHSA stop them, competing in an unofficial state race over the weekend. In the meantime, Trevian weight lifters were racking up huge numbers in a national competition, as coach Jim Davis tells us. And we finish things off with more basketball talk, confusion and chaos with a winter season very much in doubt.

After four weeks of all-remote, New Trier resumed its hybrid model with 700 students coming back to campus with new screening process in place. Glencoe D35 also considers COVID testing, plus we talk about Winnetka's defiance, Veterans Day and the return of a baseball star.

Marty and Joe lead with election results from the races that impact the area, including the U.S. and Ill. houses, Fair Tax and Wilmette's referendum. In Up & Down The Shore, they detail news from the New Trier Caucus and its April 2021 slate, before previewing news to come on New Trier in-person learning and Winnetka restaurants.

The guys bring it in this episode. Marty and Michal break down the final major event of the fall season: the cross-country sectional and we hear from Loyola coach ChrisJon Simon. Then, the guys talk their favorite moments of the spring. But then, we move on to the winter season, and Joe and Marty had some choice words for the IHSA and its meaningless decision to defy the governor. Rant Warning!

As COVID-19 cases spike in Illinois, state-enforced safety measures ramp up, including a halt in indoor dining. We break that down, as well as our terrifyingly fun Halloween coverage this week.

Between the time we recorded this and when it published, there were even more changes to the IHSA vs. Gov. Prtizker battle on winter sports. Hear our thoughts on that as well as the finish of fall sports, including a superstar performance in the pool. We also play Way/No Way, preview the cross-country sectional and detail an upcoming feature on local and former MLB player Charlie Tilson, who is back in the North Shore.