The Rundown | Chicago News

A group of counter protesters confronted students at a pro-Palestinian encampment at DePaul University yesterday. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is defending the city’s preparations for the upcoming Democratic National Convention. Cook County is looking to provide more resources for an often overlooked group of people who are trafficked — boys and men.

A line of police officers, many in riot gear, are watching the pro-Palestinian encampment this afternoon on the University of Chicago campus after the university president said it "cannot continue." The man accused of killing Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca will be held in jail until trial. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling defended an internal investigation into officers whose names appeared on the membership list of an anti-government extremist group.

At many colleges across the country, administrators and police have cracked down on groups of pro-Palestinian protesters who have set up encampments on campus and occupied campus buildings. 
 
 At college campuses here in Chicago, the scenes so far have been heated, but still noticeably less chaotic than those at other universities.
 
 “As long as they're being respectful of the space, as far as I can tell the police are staying hands off,” said WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Kurian Philip, who's been visiting protests at both Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. “That's so different from what we've seen at Emory, [and UCLA], and what just happened in Columbia, with riot police being sent in the middle of the night to clear out students. It's a very, very different situation.”
 
 On this episode of the Rundown, Kurian Philip talks with host Erin Allen about what’s happening locally, what protesters are demanding and how administrations and others are responding.

Nine Chicago police officers whose names appeared on Oath Keepers membership lists won’t be disciplined. CAIR Chicago speaks out against an expansion of the definition of antisemitism. And fallen Illinois police officers are remembered in Springfield.

Student activists are speaking in defense of the pro-Palestinian encampment movement. Illinois voters could be asked about in vitro fertilization and a millionaire’s tax on the November ballot. The Doc 10 film festival is back in Chicago this weekend for its ninth year.

Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz said he was not interested in magic when he was a kid. He came to it later in life, when he was already practicing medicine.“I discovered that this was a great art form that also could play a role in healing,” Rosenkranz said. “Not from the perspective of a manipulation that actually changes cells or molecules physically in the body in that particular way, but in terms of outlook and perspective and mindset.”Eventually, he said he started using magic to teach at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “No surprise, as soon as I started doing magic at the medical school, I got teaching awards,” he said. “And I'm so delighted no one fired me for it.”Rosenkranz, who is originally from Mexico City, is the owner of The Rhapsody Theater in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, where he has shows in both English and Spanish over this Cinco de Mayo weekend. In this episode of the Rundown podcast, Rosenkranz tells host Erin Allen about occupying a unique space as “The Physician Magician,” the relationship he sees between magic, medicine, doctors and patients, and, of course, he also performs a little radio magic.

Jewish leaders, students and parents say yesterday's sit-ins at Chicago Public Schools protesting the war in Gaza incite anti-semitism and harm Jewish students. Police Superintendent Larry Snelling is hoping parents of young people will help in keeping downtown peaceful this summer. A cabinet secretary for Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker is facing questions over expanded drug coverage for state workers.

Worker rights organizations held a rally in Pilsen on today’s May Day, asking President Joe Biden to issue work permits for all immigrants. Theodore Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana, is on the list of America's eleven most endangered historic places, released by The National Trust for Historic Preservation. A descendant of Chicago brewing legend Conrad Seipp is resurrecting his recipes for modern taste buds.

Bril Barrett started tap dancing at a young age. His whole family pitched in to pay for lessons and drive him to classes. Now, he’s a 2024 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow.
 
 But Barrett isn’t just a dancer. He’s also an educator, historian and self-proclaimed “tap-tivist.” He uses his work to educate students and audiences on the origins of tap.
 
 “I tell people ‘When you don’t know a lot about history, start with your own,’” Barrett said. “That just creates a continuous stream of ownership and connection to the art form.”
 
 In this episode, host Erin Allen talks to Barrett about tap, improvising and the importance of understanding our roots.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is defending his administration’s call for $210 million to help state workers lose weight. A document that helped kick off the Civil War now lives in Springfield. The first-ever Conservation Day took place at the Illinois statehouse yesterday.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to re-launch a guaranteed income program that pays low-income residents $500 dollars a month. Paul Vallas is asking a federal judge to go easy on former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke when he faces sentencing later this year. Two dozen LGBTQ+ advocates are urging Chicago’s mayor to restore capacity for this year’s Pride parade to previous levels.

Black homeownership in America lags behind white homeownership by a rate of about 44% to 72%, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors.That gap creates issues not just for Black people, but for broader society, said former Chicago Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara. “When you have those kinds of assets in your life, it gives you way more options and way more ability to care intergenerationally for the well being of your family and to invest in your community,” Novara said on the Rundown podcast earlier this year.Novara is now with the Chicago Community Trust, and on Wednesday she will join UChicago's Dr. Robert J. Chaskin, current Housing Commissioner Lissette Castañeda and Rundown podcast host Erin Allen for a conversation about addressing the racial wealth gap through housing policies at City Club of Chicago. Ahead of that event, we’re revisiting this episode on the value of homeownership, the historical barriers to it (and the modern ones), and a few solutions that are in the works to help level the playing field. This episode was originally published on Jan. 30, 2024.

Chicago government officials will try to spend down hundreds of millions in federal grant money before it expires at the end of the year. Illinois lawmakers are heading back to Springfield today after their last break of the spring session. The Illinois Department of Corrections is proposing moving the Logan women’s prison onto the same site as the Stateville men’s prison.

Some Illinois state lawmakers are pushing a bill that would merge the CTA, Metra and Pace into one transit agency. A tent encampment was erected this morning at the University of Chicago, in solidarity with the people of Gaza. A new kind of music festival is coming to the Chicago area in September.

Poet Tarnynon Onumonu grew up in the Jeffery Manor neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. She discovered poetry at 10 years old, and as an adult, she uses her writing to find community and healing.“I’ve just always used poetry as a tool to activate my creativity, to return to myself, to feel comfort in difficult times,” Onumonu said.In this episode, Onumonu meditates on how creativity helps her connect with herself and the world around her.This episode was produced by Ari Mejia for WBEZ’s sister station Vocalo and their Chi Sounds Like series.  

Funeral services begin at 10 a.m. for a fallen Chicago police officer. Hundreds are expected to attend – many from out of town. The American Lung Association’s State of the Air report lists Chicago among the top 25 most air-polluted cities in the nation. A study surveying 765 Black and white women found that poor heart health leads to cognitive decline among Black women.

Former workers at the Foxtrot Commissary on Chicago’s South Side rallied today after abrupt mass layoffs. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said the owners of the Chicago Bears should pay for the vast majority of the costs of a new potential stadium – not Illinois taxpayers. Former USC quarterback Caleb Williams is now a Chicago Bear; he was the first overall pick in Thursday’s NFL draft.

We often hear the phrase “LGBTQ+ community.” But in a city as big as Chicago, it can be challenging for queer people to actually find their community. That’s where Jake Wittich comes in. “We have one of the more thriving LGBTQ districts in the country,” Wittich said. He is the newsletter editor at the Windy City Times, where he and his colleagues recently launched the queer events newsletter Chicago Social Butterflies.In this episode, Wittich gives host Erin Allen the lowdown on where to find LGBTQ+ bars, pop-up parties and community around the city.If you want to keep up with queer goings-on in Chicago, you can subscribe to Chicago Social Butterflies here.

Student activists have been camping out on Northwestern University’s campus for over 24 hours now. Governor J.B. Pritzker highlights his plans to fight homelessness in Illinois. Chicago Teachers Union is warning that support staff, including teachers aides and clerks, may be victims in this year's budget.

A newly-released autopsy report shows Chicago police shot Dexter Reed at least 13 times. Student activists have set up what they’re calling a “liberation zone” at Northwestern University as part of a national movement demanding school officials cut ties with Israel and protect students’ right to protest. The Chicago Bears are expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the opening pick of the NFL draft tonight.

Sarah Jones wants places of worship to use their space for more than just worship.“Congregations might use their space on Friday, Saturday, Sunday for worship services, but their space can accommodate more than that, and they want it to do more than that, right?” Jones said on the Rundown podcast. “Helping congregations think about what else could be happening in their space that still aligns with their values is really, really important.”Jones is the Associate Director of Community Engagement at Partners for Sacred Places, which is utilizing government grants to give artists space in historic buildings of worship, particularly on Chicago’s South Side.  She has a willing partner in Pastor David Black of the First Presbyterian Church in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood.“I think church buildings are one of the most underutilized resources in American communities,” said Black, who brought in South Side photographer and multi-disciplinary artist Max Li as his church’s first “Art Czar.” “We're all hopeful that this can become a model for other churches.”On this episode of Rundown podcast, we hear from Jones, Black and Li about the initiative, and why they think combining the arts with spiritual places of worship makes so much sense.

Illinois elected officials remain “highly skeptical” of the Chicago Bears’ new plans for a domed, lakefront stadium. Caleb Williams could be a Chicago Bear by the end of the day: we’ll preview tonight’s N-F-L draft. A proposal in the Illinois House would make it a felony to block traffic on major roadways for more than 5 minutes, which could impact protesters.

Mayor Brandon Johnson is throwing strong support behind a plan for a new, publicly-owned Bears stadium south of Soldier Field. The family of a 26-year-old man who was fatally shot by Chicago Police during a traffic stop is suing the city and the officers involved. The suspect in the Highland Park massacre appeared in court today.

This year’s Chicago Palestine Film Festival opened nearly 200 days into the war in Gaza—to a sold-out weekend. Festival executive director Nina Shoman-Dajani said she believes it is more important than ever to share Palestinian stories.
 
 “We have really doubled down in our conviction to share Palestinian narratives and stories,” she said.
 
 In this episode, host Erin Allen talks to Shoman-Dajani and filmmaker Nick Leffel about this year’s lineup and what it means to program Palestinian films during the ongoing war

Chicago and the state of Illinois will work together to combine the city’s homeless shelter and migrant systems. Chicago Congresswoman Delia Ramirez wants to transition all of the nation’s public housing stock into zero-carbon, electrified homes. Some parents are pushing back against the potential closure of a bilingual school in suburban Skokie.

Dom’s Kitchen and Market and Foxtrot Market are closing stores in Chicago less than a year after merging. Illinois state officials are working to reduce disparities that make Black women more likely to die during pregnancy than white women. The Chicago Bears have scheduled a Wednesday news conference to announce plans for “a state-of-the-art, publicly-owned enclosed stadium” on the city’s Museum Campus near Lake Michigan.

April is National Poetry Month, so we wanted to revisit one of our favorite conversations. If you watch any shows set in Chicago, you’ve probably seen LaRoyce Hawkins. He plays Kevin Atwater in “Chicago P.D.” and its many crossover shows. You might also know him as Michael “Shaw” Owens in the Max Original “South Side.”But he’s also a lifelong poet and comedian. During the Hollywood strikes last fall, we took the opportunity to talk to Hawkins about his creative pursuits outside of TV.In this episode, host Erin Allen talks to Hawkins about poetry, improv and unicycles.This episode was originally published on Sep. 29, 2023.

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth supports more aid for Israel alongside billions for humanitarian aid. Research shows Chicago has more mass shootings than any other U.S. city. A compromise plan to expand O’Hare Airport has a new proponent – Illinois U-S Senator Dick Durbin.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is sending his condolences to the family of a Chicago police officer who was killed over the weekend while off-duty. Toni Preckwinkle was unanimously re-elected to another two-year term as head of the Cook County Democratic Party. The Palestinian Film Fest kicked off this weekend at the Gene Siskel Film Center in the Chicago loop.

WBEZ theater reporter Mike Davis spoke with a dozen Chicago theater actors about how they’re getting by, and the bottom line, Davis said, is that the vast majority are struggling on the financial front. He said that holds true whether they are unionized, Equity actors getting work at Chicago’s big name theaters, or if they’re non-Equity actors working in smaller storefront theaters. “This is just not an easy industry to make a living in in general right now for Equity or non-Equity [actors],” Davis said. “They all talked about how hard it was and they acknowledged how hard it was, but they all love it. Like, they’re choosing this.” In this episode of the Rundown podcast, Davis explained the differences between Equity and non-Equity, and shares the voices of Chicago actors, some who say non-Equity is life and others who say non-Equity is exploitation. He also explained the hacks they are using to pay for rent, and how Chicago actors think the scene here compares to cities like New York City and L.A.

A Chicago Police officer was shot and killed over the weekend while heading home after his shift. Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing back at suggestions the CTA needs new leadership. Shoppers should expect demonstrations outside Walgreens stores in the south suburbs.

Illinois could soon be home to its first-ever federally recognized tribal reservation. Front-of-house staff at The Goodman Theater in Chicago voted in favor of joining a union. Chicago’s Kenwood Academy High School took home the Urban Debate National Championship trophy in Evanston.

Imagine dancing your heart out with your bestie like you used to, but still getting home by 10 p.m.That’s the idea behind Earlybirds Club, according to creators (and high school friends) Susie Lee and Laura Baginski. “It’s a dance party for women that starts early and ends early because we all value our sleep,” Baginski said.They’ve only hosted one event so far, in February. They say it sold out almost immediately. Baginski says their next event, scheduled for May 4, has a waiting list in the hundreds.“We were so overwhelmed and surprised at the reaction,” Lee said. “The first one was just like two idiots throwing a party. And then after that, we were like, there clearly is a need for this.”Lee and Baginski came on the Rundown podcast to explain the idea’s origin story, why it struck a chord with so many and what’s coming next.

The Chicago City Council could vote today on spending an extra $70 million for migrant care. Suburban mayors are pushing back against a potential grocery tax cut at the state level. There’s an effort underway to rename Northwestern’s John Evans Alumni Center.

The Cook County Board unanimously approved giving up to $70 million dollars to Chicago to cover food expenses for migrants. A state law that currently prohibits public school closings in Chicago could be extended until 2027. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois is concerned about how law enforcement will handle protesters during the Democratic National Convention.

Helene Achanzar’s job is to introduce students to poetry.She’s the director of programs at the Chicago Poetry Center. That means she manages education programs in Chicago Public Schools, organizing poetry residencies and performances for students of all ages. “Getting to meet an artist, as a student or as a young person, I think, can really change the trajectory of someone’s life,” Achanzar said.In today’s episode, Achanzar explains her path to poetry and her life in and out of Chicago. Because she grew up here, left and returned, Achanzar says the changes in the city are always on her mind, and in her writing. This episode was produced by Ari Mejia for WBEZ’s sister station Vocalo and their Chi Sounds Like series.  

Four Chicago lobbyists are escaping serious punishment for improper donations to Mayor Johnson’s campaign. Some Cook County commissioners are concerned about blowback from voters and their communities as they vote to give Chicago money to help migrants. Former Arizona Congresswoman and gun control advocate Gabby Giffords addresses Chicagoans at the City Club.

Four lobbyists avoided serious punishment this week for improperly donating to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign. Chicagoans will soon be allowed to ride electric scooters overnight. The Chicago Bulls could soon be in playoff contention.

Artist Faith Ringgold, who passed away on Saturday at 93, was known for her work in a variety of artforms and for her sometimes jarring political pieces. One of her boldest works depicts the stars of the American flag reading the word “DIE” and the stripes reading the n-word. Titled “Flag For The Moon,” the piece briefly got the artist arrested for flag desecration when she displayed it in 1970.“She felt the American government – what they were communicating to Black people – [was] that they could put a flag on the moon but disregard Black lives back in the United States,” said Jamillah James, who curated a recently-closed exhibit of Ringgold’s artwork at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.In honor of Ringgold’s life and work, listen as host Erin Allen talks with James about the political nature of Ringgold’s art and how it serves as a bridge to the work of young Black artists today. This episode was originally published on Nov. 29, 2023.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal paid Chicago a visit yesterday to fundraise. The Chicago Teachers Union is calling for every school to have a person on hand to help students work through conflicts. University of Illinois students, alumni, and staff traveled to Springfield yesterday to make the case to lawmakers for more money for the school system.

The Illinois House is advancing a measure to prohibit closing selective enrollment Chicago public schools until 2027. For the first time in its 90-year history, the Brookfield Zoo will house koalas. Severe weather could hit parts of the Chicago area tonight.

Arts journalist Makeda Easter had issues with a lot of art-related journalism, so she created her own publication: The Art Rebellion, where she focuses coverage on artists without public relations teams, those working outside of New York and Los Angeles, and those creating activist art.Easter is also vocal about one of her goals: making people understand how essential artists are in our society. “Artists need to be paid more. We need to respect them as workers, not just as people who make pretty things,” Easter said. “They work. Their work is valuable. They should be paid as such.” In this episode, Easter explains how her arts coverage exists in the world of “activist journalism.” She also talks about her ambitious project to document how much money artists are making across the country (spoiler: the struggle is real).

Chicago alderpersons gave initial approval to spending $70 million from city reserves to support migrants. A renowned nun from Texas visited Chicago this week to speak about her work with migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul wants to make a state compensation program for victims of violent crime more accessible.

The Supreme Court seems ready to narrow a federal bribery law used in some big Chicago corruption cases. Activists want the Environmental Protection Agency to require Illinois to address unsafe drinking water conditions in state prisons. Governor J.B. Pritzker is promoting his plan to eliminate medical debt for hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans.

Later this year, Chicago will choose its first-ever elected Chicago Public School board members.
 
 “Finally the people of Chicago will be able to get somebody on the board who will represent their interests,” said WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp. 
 
 In November, the city will elect 10 board members, with 11 more appointed by the mayor. The board currently has seven seats, so it will also triple in size after the coming election.
 
 In this episode, host Erin Allen talks to Karp about the fight for an elected school board, what it takes to get on the ballot and everything else you need to know at this point in the race.

A mass shooting Saturday night in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood killed a 9-year-old girl and left three boys injured – two critically. United States Supreme Court arguments today over a Northwest Indiana mayor’s bribery conviction could have a big legal impact on Chicago. Some Chicago advocates say they are skeptical about the way city officials are spending funds for migrant relief efforts.

Illinois lawmakers are moving to update the state’s biometric privacy law. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin spoke in southwest Chicago today about Black Maternal Health Week. The Chicago Bulls are a step closer to the postseason.

Fatphobia is everywhere, including the office. Anti-fat bias shows up in hiring, salary negotiations, conversations between coworkers and even the chairs we sit in.“I cannot think of any example in the workplace where it would be appropriate to comment on the size of someone’s body,” said Rundown producer Sarah Stark. In this episode, host Erin Allen talks to Stark about workplace bias and the importance of fat community. To hear more conversations like this, check out the "Bias Against Bodies” series Stark produced for WBEZ’s daily talk show Reset.  This episode was originally published on Feb. 8, 2023.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is asking City Council to approve $70 million more for migrant spending. A Chicago City Council committee approved penalties for violating a security perimeter for the upcoming DNC. The Chicago Sky are scouting long term talent ahead of next week’s WNBA draft.

A state lawmaker from Chicago wants police to rethink how they conduct traffic stops in predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods. An Illinois Senate proposal to ban single-use toiletry containers from state hotels is now moving to the Illinois House.