The Rundown | Chicago News

With a big influx of people coming to Chicago for this week’s Democratic National Convention, WBEZ decided it was high time to gather some beautiful reminders of what makes our city so special. In this episode of the Rundown podcast, you’ll hear from three Chicagoans about what they love about this city and its people, including Adeeb Borden, the founder of CEO’s of Color, a non-profit that helps Black and brown teens start their own businesses; chef Diana Dávila, who opened the Logan Square restaurant Mi Tocaya in 2017; and author Jonathan Eig, who won the Pulitzer Prize this year for his biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says he’s as excited about the Democratic National Convention, which kicks off today, as Trekkies are for Star Trek conventions. Many patients at hospitals near the United Center are planning to see their doctors virtually this week to avoid traffic. The first major DNC protest happened last night, shutting down part of Michigan Avenue for hours without incident.

The Chicago Police Department is unveiling a new helicopter ahead of next week’s Democratic National Convention. A coalition of faith leaders has partnered with Great Lakes Credit Union to open a brick and mortar location in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will make his Soldier Field debut on Saturday as the Bears take on the Bengals in their third preseason game of the year.

WBEZ’s sister station Vocalo takes music submissions from local artists – if the team likes the song, they play it on the radio. When musician Tala Silva sent in her song “Goddess,” Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez put it in the rotation right away and invited Silva in for an interview.In conversation at Vocalo, Silva described her sound as “very feathery, alternative-bedroom-indie-pop-R&B, I guess, to put it in short.”In this episode of the Rundown podcast, we hear how Silva got into music, how she produces songs in her bedroom studio, and she tells us about her upcoming show in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on Aug. 17.

More than 20 synagogues in Northern Illinois received emailed bomb threats Thursday, according to Evanston Police. As the Democratic National Convention approaches immigrant rights activists say they will be voicing their demands for legalization next week and beyond. Convention organizers are unveiling a new fossil fuel offset program to lower the event’s carbon footprint.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will both have a moment in the spotlight during next week's Democratic National Convention. Illinois Democrats at the Illinois State Fair are using new enthusiasm for Kamala Harris in hopes of getting people excited about the rest of the ticket. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to replace the head of the public school system – amid tense contract negotiations – is prompting swift pushback from some in the City Council.

We hear reaction to the news that CPS CEO Pedro Martinez may be on his way out the door. Attorney Ben Crump is working with Sonya Massey’s family on a police reform bill named after her. Illinois Democrats are using new enthusiasm for Kamala Harris to get people excited about the rest of the ticket.

Dozens of Springfield-area residents are calling for an overhaul of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s office a little over a month after Sonya Massey was shot and killed by a former sheriffs’ deputy. Just five days from the start of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, protesters are still still fighting for more space to demonstrate. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is laying the groundwork to push out Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.

The Salt Shed hosted thousands of amateur vocalists last week for an event they called “World’s Largest Karaoke.”“We’re taking some liberties with that title, but we had more than 8,000 people RSVP,” said Mary McKeen, who works on alternative programming at the Salt Shed.McKeen said a little more than 3,000 people showed up at the outdoor event, which was co-hosted by the Empty Bottle. “We were thinking about what we can do together,” said Empty Bottle managing partner Matt Ciarleglio. “Obviously we want to do something music-centric, but something weird and unique and fun that we can kind of break down the genre barriers that music sometimes has. And karaoke seemed like the best thing to do.”In this episode, Rundown podcast producer Justin Bull points a microphone around during the event, talking to performers, hopeful singers and the folks that made this happen.

Springfield community members are urging the Sangamon county board to reform the sheriff’s department. Pro-Palestinian protesters are appealing a decision that denies extending the parade route near the United Center to just one mile in length during next week’s Democratic National Convention. Democratic National Convention organizers have surpassed their goals for hiring minority or women owned businesses.

Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling says the police department is prepared to keep neighborhoods safe throughout the Democratic National Convention next week. Six Save-A-Lot grocery stores could reopen across Chicago’s South and West sides this fall after months of delays. Former Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland died this weekend at his home in Seattle.

The head of the Chicago Police Department talks DNC preparedness. Longest-serving Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland dies at 72. A city hotline meant to assist Chicago’s homeless population has been down for over a month… more on what’s causing the stoppage.

A promise from Republican governors to flood Chicago with buses of asylum seekers ahead of the Democratic National Convention has not yet materialized. A federal judge has ordered that most of the people incarcerated at Stateville prison near Joliet be moved to other prisons by the end of next month. Five University of Chicago students have received diplomas that were withheld due to their involvement in pro-Palestinian encampments.

There’s an exhibit on the Near South Side focusing on South Asian artists who have come through and thrived in Chicago. It’s called “What is Seen and Unseen: Mapping South Asian American Art in Chicago.” In this episode, Rundown podcast host Erin Allen talks to curator Shelly Bahl about some of her favorite things that she learned and brought forth into the exhibit.“I’ve always been fascinated by the things that are left out of art history,” Bahl said. “It’s these things to me that really matter.”The exhibit is open through October 26 at the South Asia Institute.  

The City of Chicago has not seen an influx of migrants as Republican governors promised. The city is still working out plans for residents impacted by DNC security restrictions near the United Center. Free vaccinations were administered at the Market Days festival this weekend.

Local and state transportation officials showcased a proposed overhaul of DuSable Lake Shore Drive at the final open house of the “Redefine the Drive” project. A new report shows alarming trends in maternal and infant health on Chicago’s South and West Sides. Chicago’s crosstown classic kicks off this evening.

Godly the Ruler is a Nigerian-born, Chicago-raised musician with an “emo-alternative sound,” one that’s “reminiscent of the early-to-mid-2000s,” according to Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez, who interviewed the artist ahead of their set at Lollapalooza last weekend.“Charting is in the future for them,” Hernandez said on The Rundown podcast. In this episode, Godly the Ruler, a.k.a. Godwin Oke, talks about playing the festival for the first time and growing up in Chicago. They also offer some advice for other local artists who might be thinking they need to leave the city. “I don't want people to think that you have to leave Chicago to like, become the artist you want to be or whatever,” they said. “You can do that here. People should realize that more. You can do that in Chicago.”

Jewish groups say they’re concerned about protests turning violent during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this month. The Sun-Times reported this week that the CTA hasn’t installed a single elevator in five years. The Illinois State Fair is offering gluten-free and vegan food options this year.

A wealthy suburban family backed out on its promise to help hundreds of Chicago students pay for college just weeks before the fall semester, and now some former scholarship program staff are stepping in to help. Illinois residents can now apply for mail ballots for the November presidential election. The Illinois State Fair is underway in Springfield – and some top officials are urging you to try it.

Tributes to Chicago police officer Ella French on the third anniversary of her death in the line of duty. Illinois has a new set of laws on the books protecting reproductive rights. Chicago residents who live near the United Center had an opportunity to ask Chicago leaders about the upcoming Democratic National Convention taking place in their neighborhood.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Gov. Juliana Stratton want the Sangamon County Sheriff to resign. Cook County officials are announcing plans to build a new health center on Chicago’s South Side. The premier of the Chicago Bears’ Hard Knocks documentary proved a treat for fans of football and gymnastics.

Rundown host Erin Allen guides us through a first person account of a fateful day in Chicago history: August 8, 2004, when a celebrity tour bus dumped human waste on an unsuspecting architecture tour boat. Hear from two people who were on the scene: Brett McNeil explains what it was like to be on the boat, including the crowd’s transition from “stunned silence” to “pandemonium.” Angela Rozas O'Toole explains the aftermath, and where this story sits in the Chicago pantheon of stories.

Delegates for the Democratic Party in Illinois say they are excited by Kamala Harris’ VP pick. Friends and family of Sonya Massey gather outside her home Tuesday night for a vigil. It will now be easier for people to get an Illinois state ID upon leaving jail or prison.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he’s excited his friend Tim Walz, a fellow midwestern Democratic governor, is the party’s vice presidential nominee. The Illinois State Board of Education is launching an ad campaign to recruit more teachers statewide. The U.S. Women's Soccer Team – which features two players from the Chicago Red Stars – has secured a spot in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics.

It’s getting down to the wire for a federal judge to decide exactly where demonstrators can march near the United Center for the Democratic National Convention. Details on how the DNC is promoting Chicago’s neighborhoods to get visitors to explore beyond downtown. Some prominent Illinois Republicans are working to get Kamala Harris elected president.

Three activist groups are still negotiating with the City of Chicago on exactly where they can march near the United Center, just two weeks before the start of the Democratic National Convention. Chicago’s Damen Green Line station is up and running at Damen Ave. and Lake St. more than seven years after the project was first announced. After their loss on Sunday the Chicago White Sox have extended their franchise record losing streak to 20 games.

What started as Trisha Prabhu’s science fair project at Naperville’s Scullen Middle School eventually turned into a finalist at the Google Science Fair, a small business, a deal winner on Shark Tank, and most recently, a winner of a $100,000 grant via The Lonely Hearts Club Funding Challenge. Her company is called ReThink, a “nonintrusive, patented technology that effectively detects and stops online hate before the damage is done.”“I want to try and think about how we can tackle cyberbullying before it happens,” Prabhu said on The Rundown podcast. Prabhu talked to host Erin Allen about her personal experience with cyberbullying and how she hopes young people can employ that age-old advice from our elders – “think before you speak” – but fit it into a very contemporary medium: the internet. 

Illinois tax revenues off to a good start so far, a new firearm safety storage program at dozens of healthcare facilities

The Chicago Office of Police Accountability is investigating a police officer who was caught on video punching and pointing a gun at a man during an arrest. Venezuelans in Chicago are organizing a vigil tonight as tensions escalate back home in the aftermath of President Nicolas Maduro’s self-proclaimed re-election. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says his administration has spent 83% of the city's COVID relief funds.

adan diaz is a 20-year-old Mexican-American singer from Northlake, just outside of Chicago, and he made his Lollapalooza debut the first night of the music festival, just a year after attending the event for the first time.Ahead of his performance, he talked with Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez about how surreal it was to be on the stage, especially during a prime time slot.“I told the band, just be ready to get there early,” diaz said. “And then I saw the slot, and we literally emailed back like, ‘Is this a mistake?’”Learn more about diaz on his Instagram. 

The EPA issues a fuel waiver for four states including Illinois, the union suing the Illinois House Speaker responds to his attempt to dismiss the lawsuit, the Racial Healing Collaborative culminates with art installations in Bronzeville and Chinatown

Newly released 911 calls show the mother of Sonya Massey called police for help with her daughter less than 24 hours before Sonya was shot and killed by a sheriff’s deputy. A Chicago man with a long criminal record is being held in jail on charges that he murdered an off-duty sheriff’s deputy during an attempted robbery. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker may still be a contender to be Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate: a source tells the Sun-Times that Pritzker met virtually with Harris's vetting team twice this week.

Former President Donald Trump’s confrontational interview at the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists got mixed reviews. Several Black Chicagoans made their way downtown in hopes of greeting the former president. Plus, local indie artist Adan Diaz is set to perform next to big names in Chicago’s Lollapalooza festival.

Former President Donald Trump had a confrontational conversation with Black journalists in Chicago. Advocates say six more years under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s unpopular regime could have a long-term impact on cities like Chicago. Lollapalooza kicks off Thursday – along with the threat of severe weather.

Jonathan “Jojo” Alsberry – known by some in the dance community as “the Kevin Bacon of dance” – is taking the reins this year as the lead choreographer of the finale of Dance For Life. The annual Chicago dance showcase features performances from several local companies, including Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, Trinity Irish Dance Company and Visceral Dance Chicago.“I want the work to be a celebration of the beautiful, loving and diverse community that we have in Chicago around dance,” Alsberry said on the Rundown podcast. “There are many, many dance communities we have here and I want to celebrate that.” Dance for Life was originally created in the early 1990s as a fundraiser for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Today, the organization that puts on the showcase – the Chicago Dance Health Fund – offers healthcare relief to anyone working in Chicago’s dance community.“A lot of people don’t realize that a lot of the dancers don’t have health insurance,” said Michael Anderson, vice president of the Chicago Dance Health Fund board of directors. “So being able to offer them mental health, or co-pays for their doctor visits, or a lead for dental, all those things are really important to keep them healthy or active.” Rundown podcast host Erin Allen sat down with Alsberry and Anderson to talk about this year’s Dance For Life and why the creative process is just as important – if not more so – than the final dance the audience sees.This year’s Dance For Life takes place Aug. 10 at the Auditorium Theater.

Former President Donald Trump will speak at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago on Wednesday. Many attendees aren’t happy about it. Civil rights leaders, who say the killing of Sonya Massey should prompt sweeping, national police reform. Illinois signs a law strengthening abortion protections the same day Iowa reduces abortion access.

Sonya Massey’s family will be on Chicago’s West Side tonight for a rally hosted by Black clergy leaders. The son of imprisoned Mexican drug kingpin El Chapo Guzman pleaded not guilty today in a Chicago courtroom. WBEZ data analysis shows the number of traffic stops made by the Chicago Police Department has gone down this year.

A listening session meant to heal relations between law enforcement and Black Springfield residents quickly devolved into a screaming match. Chicago police are pulling over fewer drivers than previous years, a new WBEZ data analysis shows. Illinoisans on Medicaid could soon get coverage for things like rental assistance and nutrition counseling.

The U.S. Department of Justice will be in Springfield tonight for a listening session on healing relations between law enforcement and Black communities following the shooting death of Sonya Massey by then-sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson. Insurance plans in Illinois will have to cover pregnancy, postpartum and newborn care from doulas and midwives as part of the state’s so-called “Birth Equity Initiative” signed into law today. The new CTA Damen Green Line station will open August 5th just in time for the Democratic National Convention.

The Sugar Hole is a walk-up, soft-serve ice cream window in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood, not exceptionally unique but for one significant factor: the staff are puppets.“That’s gonna be $10,” said Puddles, a blue alien, to his first two customers on a hot Saturday afternoon in July. “And I don’t have arms so can you put it between my eyeballs?”Josh Dihle and Abby Monroe are the husband and wife co-owners of both The Sugar Hole and Color Club, an adjacent arts and events space they opened in 2021. Dihle said they wanted to add some kind of walk-up food window for years, and the idea of staffing one with puppets was mostly inspired by their 2-year-old daughter's puppet-heavy toy bin."One day at dinner we were talking about like, 'Oh, well, The Sugar Hole, what if it was a little puppet hand that came out and took your change or took your money when you paid?' And then my wife Abby was like, 'Oh, well, maybe just: puppets should work there.' And I was like, 'Oh my God, you're right.'"On this episode of the Rundown podcast, host Erin Allen talked with several folks in and around The Sugar Hole – including Dihle, a few ice cream patrons, as well as puppets Puddles and Aurora Bearialis and their human operators Camille Mitchell and Emilie Wingate – to get a grasp of what a puppet ice cream shop is all about."For me personally, I get a big kick out of standing across the street and looking over and seeing this absurd thing occurring that grew out of literally a joke," Dihle added. "I like that moment where you can see something that had lived inside of your head literally abutting with reality, and that people are catching the ball and going with it."The Sugar Hole is open weekends from 3-8pm and is located at 4146 N. Elston Ave.

The U.S. DOJ is looking into the employment history of the police officer who shot and killed Sonya Massey, the Illinois hemp industry tries to work with Republicans and what to do if you see a black bear in Illinois

County officials in Springfield released the autopsy report of Sonya Massey, who was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy earlier this month. The autopsy report shows that 36-year-old Massey died from a gunshot wound under her left eye. Student groups in Chicago are reacting to Vice President Kamala Harris' sudden run for the presidential election. Chicago’s largest improv festival, iO Fest, continues this weekend.

Lori Branch, Lady D and VITIGRRL are the Good Girls, a Chicago DJ trio that’s “not good for girls, just good.”They talked to Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez about their path to becoming DJs, creating the collective and their advice for the next generation.“You do have to find your community,” said Lady D. “You’ve got to find the people who are going to push you, who are going to support you, people who are going to say while you’re practicing, like ‘That didn’t sound good,’ and make you work harder for it.” 

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says the city is preparing for tens of thousands of migrants to arrive on short notice. Illinois celebrates a new quantum technology research campus on the southeast side of Chicago. Federal and local officials outline their security plan for next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Chicago officials vow street closures ahead of the Democratic National Convention will not upend daily life for residents. Chicago Public Schools is offering a glimmer of hope to magnet and selective enrollment students who need transportation to school. A new ad on social media and on TV is trying to inform people about Firearm Restraining Orders to help prevent gun suicides and other shootings.

Illinois’ Lieutenant Governor says JB Pritzker should be in the running for Vice President. A new report says crime rates in U.S. cities have returned to pre-pandemic levels. Southside Blooms, a non-profit Englewood flower shop that seeks to employ at-risk youth, has been tasked with making the DNCs floral arrangements.

Chicago Public School officials closed a $500 million budget deficit, in part, by counting on thousands of positions to be vacant for part or all of the school year. Illinois U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky boycotted today’s address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress because of the ongoing crisis in Gaza. People who live in some south suburbs say any changes to public transportation in the region *must* include better accessibility.

DJ and producer Irwin “Chip E.” Eberhart says his contributions to the creation of the House music genre – alongside his crew of Kurt Landrum, Eric Taylor and Joe Smooth – often go unrecognized.“A lot of people make the assumption that House music just accidentally happened, but it didn't,” he told Rundown podcast host Erin Allen. “There was an existing House culture, but there was no genre of House until Kurt Landrum, Joe Smooth, Eric ET Taylor, and myself put together the Jack Trax EP.”“We intentionally created what we felt was a new type of music,” he added. “It’s not just dance music, it’s not just the evolution of disco, but it was an engineered sound. That’s why today, every single track on Jack Trax stands the test of time, because it is the blueprint.” On this episode, Chip E. talked about his early life in Chicago and his path into music production, the creation of the Jack Trax EP and the origins of House, and why he thinks his crew hasn’t gotten its proper due. He also talked about why he loves this genre of music ahead of his headlining performance at Wicker Park Fest on July 28.  

An attorney for Sonya Massey’s family says the U-S Department of Justice is now investigating her death. A new $7 billion dollar investment project is coming to the Near West Side. City officials are preparing for a surge of migrants arriving in Chicago ahead of the DNC.

An attorney for the family of Sonya Massey, a Black woman killed in Springfield by Sean Grayson, a white sheriff's deputy, said the U.S. Department of Justice is now investigating the shooting. Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker did not reject the idea of becoming Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in his first public appearance since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race for president. More than 10,000 Cook County residents will receive property tax refunds.