The Rundown | Chicago News

Across the country—and here in Chicago—the theater industry is floundering. Ticket sales haven’t returned to pre-pandemic norms, the traditional funding model is cracking and major theaters nationwide are downsizing or closing altogether. As predominantly white institutions scramble to stay afloat, Chicago’s Black theaters are building solidarity rather than falling into competition with one another.In this episode, we check in with the leaders of two such organizations, Congo Square Theatre and Black Ensemble Theater.

Illinois elected officials applaud a new law cracking down on crisis pregnancy centers. A new report suggests Chicago is slow to rebound from the pandemic in attracting new residents. The city of Chicago is moving forward with converting Broadway Armory Park into an emergency migrant shelter.

Chicago’s city council is considering a special session focused on the ongoing migrant crisis. There’s been another accusation of misconduct by a Chicago lifeguard. FEMA officials toured areas that dealt with major flooding earlier this month to determine if they are eligible for assistance.

<p>Voguing <a href="https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/brief-history-voguing" target="_blank">originated</a>  in New York City’s Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Then, Madonna’s song “Vogue” brought the dance form into the mainstream. But it’s much more than a series of poses and a sick beat.</p><p>“If you’re not feeling it, loving it, and appreciating yourself, you’re not voguing,” says Damon Green, the founder and owner of TEXTUREDance Studio.</p><p>At studios like TEXTURED, anyone can learn to vogue — but that doesn’t mean automatic entry to the vibrant voguing community. Green asserts voguing is by and for Black and Brown queer people, so anyone who doesn’t share those identities should be ready to “do the homework” if they want to be invited in.</p><p>“We do get to gatekeep this form, and we get to allow people into it,” Green says. “You want to maintain every aspect of its nature, its heritage, its culture.”</p><p>In this episode, we follow host Erin Allen on her voguing journey. You can hear more about her experience on <a href="https://www.wbez.org/stories/voguing-classes-in-chicago/e35ec4b6-aa19-4eb4-b7b6-7fb34820dfc2" target="_blank">Reset</a> .</p>

President Joe Biden designated a new national monument yesterday in honor of Emmett Till and his mother, including a church in Bronzeville. The police departments at two of Illinois’ public universities are working with mental health professionals to respond to some 911 calls. The owner of the Chicago Blackhawks died unexpectedly yesterday after a brief illness.

Alderpersons took a first step toward one of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign promises on mental health services. A heat wave is expected to reach the Chicago area this week. A church service this morning will celebrate the life of a former Chicago cop who stood up to police racism and won reforms.

Daisy Zamora is a proud Latinx Chicagoan out here bettering her community. She’s both a volunteer doula who supports new mothers during childbirth, and an activist who leads conversations to create healing between communities. Zamora facilitates “community solidarity circles,” and says that these kinds of discussions among young people can help create a radically inclusive Chicago. This episode was produced by Ari Mejia for WBEZ’s sister station Vocalo and their Chi Sounds Like series. 

Illinois’ prisons need billions of dollars in repairs, according to a report, leaving officials wondering if it’s time to close some facilities. Newly seated Chicago Board of Education members are asking questions about whether metal detectors in schools make kids safer. A new initiative meant to produce 4 million Latino homeowners kicks off in Chicago.

Evictions in Cook County are back to pre-pandemic levels. More than 800 people were evicted from their homes in the month of May, the highest total in four years. Why? WBEZ data reporter Amy Qin explains her recent findings: that wages aren’t keeping up with rising rents, that eviction enforcement disproportionately affects Black residents in one South Side zip code and that Cook County’s eviction process can be particularly devastating. “It is a costly process. It is emotionally traumatic for people,” Qin said on The Rundown. “And I'm just kind of thinking, you know, is there a better way to resolve this?” 

A record number of basements were flooded this month in Chicago, according to a WBEZ analysis. SAG-AFTRA members rallied in Grant Park for a new contract. A new south suburban craft cannabis grow facility aims to help areas affected by the War on Drugs.

The Chicago City Council is considering a citywide snow plowing program, but not everyone is happy about it. Northwestern University is facing lawsuits based on accounts of widespread hazing and sexual abuse. Unionized workers at Loretto Hospital on the city’s West Side have authorized a strike. An earlier version of this episode said Waukegan is about 3 hours north of Chicago. That has been corrected to say "about one hour north of Chicago."

Thousands of migrants have made their way to Chicago over the last year. Today you’ll hear the stories of one migrant who’s seeking asylum in the city, an attorney who’s trying to help her, a woman who offers clothes and showers to people sleeping outside police stations, and more. WBEZ reporters Mariah Woelfel and Kristen Schorsch discuss what life is like for these migrants, the folks helping them, and what being a “sanctuary city” really means.Reporting in this story was from Mariah Woelfel, Kristen Schorsch, Tessa Weinberg, Claudia Morell and Manuel Martinez. Araceli Gómez-Aldana also contributed. Read their full report here.

The Illinois Supreme Court upheld a law eliminating cash bail throughout the state. The head of a Chicago agency investigating alleged sexual misconduct by police officers involving migrants said they haven’t identified any victims yet. The next leader for Rainbow PUSH said he plans to keep the organization in Chicago.

A new report ranks Chicago among the worst big cities for cyclists. Chicago aldermen agree to settle a 2018 federal lawsuit alleging the city’s police department had a policy of unconstitutional stops. Eight former Northwestern University football players have retained lawyers for an anticipated lawsuit.

It’s World Emoji Day! In honor of these handy companions that have helped us emote in an ever evolving digital world, we’re returning to an episode we did about them on The Rundown podcast last year: As helpful as emojis can be, there’s some tension and disagreement between age groups on what they mean and how they should be used – especially in the workplace. Erin talks with some WBEZ colleagues and a communications expert on the emojis that make Millennials smile and Gen Z cringe.

Vice President Kamala Harris visits Chicago as civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson announces plans to step down from Rainbow PUSH. Chicago area actors joining the SAG-AFTRA strike say they’re in a fight for their livelihood and art. Workers at the Starbucks Chicago Roastery on Michigan Avenue announced they have filed for a union with the National Labor Relations Board.

A months-long investigation found strong evidence of hazing on Northwestern University’s football team. The particulars of the investigation were enough for university president Michael Schill to place the team’s head coach Pat Fitzgerald on a two-week suspension. Then, student reporters got involved.
 
 The Daily Northwestern published detailed accounts of sexual abuse from an anonymous former player, and subsequent allegations of racism on the team dating back to the mid-2000s. Just two days later, Schill fired Coach Fitzgerald. In this episode, we unpack the fallout and look at the “intense culture” of college athletics with WBEZ’s higher education reporter Lisa Philip.

A citizen panel sent Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson three finalists for police superintendent. Northwestern Medicine has new findings from a study looking at long COVID that show people are still suffering. Cleanup continues after severe weather blew through the region this week.

Severe weather made its way through the Chicago area Wednesday night, including confirmed tornadoes. A Northwestern researcher found evidence of underground climate change in Chicago’s Loop. Precious Brady-Davis is now the first Black transgender appointee to a public office in Cook County history.

People who used federal food assistance and healthcare programs received expanded benefits during the coronavirus pandemic. But now that the pandemic emergency declaration is over, people are starting to feel the effects of a return to the status quo. That means fewer people qualify for Medicaid – the federal healthcare program for low-income individuals. And families on SNAP – the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – are getting fewer dollars for groceries. “These are choices that we make,” said Carrie Chapman, Senior Director of Litigation and Advocacy at the Legal Council for Health Justice. “We decide in this country that we think it is ok for people to be hungry.” Chapman joined The Rundown to explain options if your SNAP benefits have dwindled, how you can make sure you don’t lose access to Medicaid and why a return to the status quo might not be good enough.

Gov. JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation related to the flooding over the July 4th weekend, and we have more rain expected this week. Northwestern University professors urge the school to pump the brakes on new football stadium plans. Street closures will continue to impact downtown.

Northwestern University fired head coach Pat Fitzgerald. The head of the union for rank-and-file Chicago officers is urging an end to rumors about an investigation of alleged sexual misconduct involving West Side officers and at least one migrant. Chicago’s North and Northwest Sides are seeing the biggest decline in affordable rental housing.

Cornbread dressing. Baked mac and cheese. Jamaican fried dumplings. Soul food is absolutely delicious, and National Soul Food Month – the soul food celebration that takes place every June – was founded by Chicagoan Charla Draper, the former food editor at Ebony Magazine. WBEZ producer Cianna Greaves recently broke bread with Draper. So, we had to talk with Greaves about the importance of soul food, the history of National Soul Food Month, our favorite soul foods and recipes, and why it’s so important to preserve them.“There’s something about a good plate of soul food that kind of takes you out of yourself,” Greaves said, “and if it’s made just right it does catapult you to the past.”

Migrants have been moved from the 10th District police station following allegations of sexual misconduct against officers. The state of Illinois is using $40 billion to tackle improvements around many modes of transportation. Northwestern University is considering even more penalties after suspending its football coach due to evidence of hazing by players.

It’s a challenging moment to be an immigrant in the United States. Some elected officials run on anti-immigration platforms, and new policies are targeting undocumented workers. With their very existence up for debate, immigrants have a lot at stake.
 
 In this episode, we discuss how immigrants participate in democracy. Naturalized citizens are able to take part in formal ways, like voting. But permanent residents and the undocumented population have many informal pathways open to them. Northwestern University political science professor Jaime Dominguez breaks it all down.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has a 223-page report filled with policy proposals to wade through after his transition committee released it Thursday. Illinois has a chance to improve its troubled prison healthcare. Chicago police are investigating allegations that multiple officers had sexual relations with migrants sleeping at police stations - including a claim an officer impregnated a teen girl.

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s picks for the Chicago Board of Education are steeped in grassroot organizing and advocacy. Business owners downtown are saying they saw mixed results during the recent NASCAR race weekend. A new Illinois law requires landlords to accept any type of rent payment – including cash.

Last week, the Supreme Court issued two rulings with big implications in the world of higher education. First, they ruled that race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina were unconstitutional, effectively ending affirmative action at colleges nationwide. The next day, they ruled that an executive action by President Joe Biden – one that would have canceled up to $20,000 in student loan debt for some borrowers – was beyond his authority, effectively killing the program. To explain what these rulings mean for future students and the millions of people who already have educational loans, we’re joined by Lisa Philip, WBEZ’s higher education reporter. She’s been gauging the reactions from borrowers, students, administrators and others.

Fourth of July looked different in suburban Highland Park, which spent the day marking one year since a deadly mass shooting. Chicago officials are taking inventory of recent damage caused by torrential rainfall and flooding. Millions in state funding will be made available to help people navigate the court system in Cook County.

Highland Park’s 2022 4th of July parade kicked off on a beautiful morning. But it wasn’t long before a shooter opened fire on the festivities. The mass shooting resulted in seven deaths and left 48 other parade goers injured. A year later, the community is coming together to process. Mayor Nancy Rotering has become an outspoken advocate for gun control, including the assault weapons ban that has since passed in Illinois.
 
 Rotering said young people in Highland Park expected a mass shooting in their community. “The adults were like, ‘How could this ever happen in Highland Park?’ but the kids said ‘We expected this to happen, and we expected it to happen in school,’” she said. Now, she wants to return to a time when gun violence was not so normalized.
 
 In this episode, we reflect on the Highland Park shooting a year later with WBEZ statehouse reporter Alex Degman.

The Chicago area saw record rainfall over the weekend, followed by flash flooding. The rain caused problems for NASCAR. More than a million student loan borrowers in Illinois asked for loan forgiveness through a Biden administration plan and the Supreme Court struck it down.

Where are the queer spaces outside of Northalsted for those who either cannot or don’t want to trek to Lake View? Adam Rhodes is a training director at Investigative Reporters and Editors and a former social justice reporter at The Chicago Reader, where they covered the Northalsted community during its period of recent tumult. On today’s episode, they talk about the history of Chicago’s main gay enclave and name some of the city’s welcoming spaces outside of it.To see a list of Rhodes' suggestions, check out our story here on WBEZ.org.

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down affirmative action, local professors and state officials react. Wildfires, NASCAR and Independence Day celebrations have experts wondering how Chicago’s air quality will be over the next several days. There are now six remaining candidates under consideration to be Chicago’s next police superintendent.

We could get a break from unhealthy levels of air quality soon. The Cook County Juvenile Detention Center is facing questions over its use of physical restraint in the facility’s school. Chicago emergency officials are setting up a new security system ahead of NASCAR this weekend.

Chicago now has nine city council members who identify as LGBTQ+, and they’re working together as the “LGBT Caucus.” It’s the largest of its kind in the country, according to Block Club Chicago reporter Jake Wittich. He spoke with all of them, and in this episode of The Rundown he explains the humble beginnings of Chicago city council’s LGBT Caucus and what it hopes to accomplish with its newfound strength in numbers.

Chicago’s air quality Tuesday was among the worst in the world, and it’s not getting much better. The CTA received $25 million in federal money to advance its electric bus fleet. Local health officials want to bring attention to a rising rate of maternal mortality in Cook County.

A WBEZ analysis shows Chicago Public Schools still has ongoing lead paint remediation projects, despite saying the work is done. Chicago leaders are hosting budget town halls to get feedback from residents. Cook County prosecutors have dropped murder charges for Carlishia Hood and her son.

The Chicago Sun-Times announced a new policy earlier this month that allows people who have appeared in its news coverage to ask for a review – and possibly have those stories removed from internet searches. Sun-Times executive editor Jennifer Kho says the policy is a response to the permanence of the internet and Chicago’s history of unjust arrests. “At the Sun-Times,” Kho wrote when the policy went public, “we don’t think it’s fair for stories about arrests to follow people around forever if they were never convicted or if charges were dropped or expunged.” Kho and Mary Mitchell, a Sun-Times columnist and the paper’s director of culture and community engagement, join The Rundown to explain the decisions behind “the right to be forgotten.”

An Illinois health care coverage program for kids loses millions in federal matching dollars due to clerical errors. An Illinois lawmaker wants a new ticket tax to help communities hosting major music festivals. Migrants in Chicago say they’re getting better treatment at police stations than they would at city shelters.

The WBEZ Summer 250 is live! It’s our interactive guide to 250 (and counting) activities in the Chicago area this season. Stopping by to explain what’s inside the guide are WBEZ editor Cassie Walker Burke, who curated the content for the guide, and WBEZ visual producer Andjela Padejski, who designed the product experience. 

Illinois Medicaid providers are encouraging customers to renew their coverage plans. Three Metra stations on Chicago’s South Side are getting major upgrades that’ll make them more accessible to people with disabilities. Cook County is seeking resident input on ways to improve biking around Lake Calumet.

As construction for NASCAR ramps up, O’Hare Airport concession workers warn severe understaffing could create havoc as the city braces for an influx of travelers for the race. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson won’t call for an end to police in schools — despite opposing the practice as a candidate. The so-called “birthplace of House Music” will be officially designated as a historical landmark.

It’s been a year since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated the constitutional right to abortion. What’s happened since? “A lot of chaos,” according to Lee Hasselbacher, the director of the University of Chicago’s Center for Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Innovation in Sexual and Reproductive Health. Lee explains the implications of the Dobbs decision one year in – for healthcare providers, pregnant people, tourists and everyone else.

Urban Prep Academy is still fighting to stay open, even as CPS plans to open a replacement school this fall. The city of Chicago is officially launching another cash assistance program– this time for survivors of domestic violence. Three years after a WBEZ investigation into disparate home lending by banks, Chicago leaders say work still needs to be done.

After three shootings in the Chicago area, including one where at least 23 people were injured, one fatally, an Illinois congressman reiterates that guns are the problem. A recent survey shows that more people would use the CTA if there was expanded service during the weekday. A private foundation is funding a memorial to victims of former Chicago Police Commander John Burge and his “Midnight Crew.”

Tony Smith came of age during Chicago’s house music scene in the late 1970s. Chosen Few and Frankie Knuckles were his neighbors, and they helped him find his footing in Chicago’s arts scene, a space he’s occupied ever since. Smith’s a multimedia artist – a photographer, a musician, a documentarian and an archivist – and today he teaches his students at the Hyde Park Art Center how to have their own voice through art – and how it can make a difference. This episode was produced by Ari Mejia for WBEZ’s sister station Vocalo and their Chi Sounds Like series. 

Bally’s hopes to open a temporary casino in Chicago by the end of the summer after an initial greenlight from a state regulatory board yesterday. Some community groups are asking Mayor Brandon Johnson to solicit their input as he chooses new Board of Education members. Cook County’s annual Juneteenth festivities start today.

The City of Chicago may enter a multimillion dollar settlement over a coerced confession. The Chicago Park District gave the green light to three major music festivals in Douglass Park, despite complaints from residents. A former city official is sounding the alarm about Chicago’s slow pace of police reform.

Imagine how you’d feel if your elementary school permanently closed its doors in the summer between your 2nd and 3rd grades, severing your relationship with friends, teachers and an entire community. For tens of thousands of Chicago students, that kind of situation was a reality in 2013, when then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Board of Education closed 50 schools in one fell swoop. Ten years later, WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times analyzed why that decision was made and how it affected students, families and communities. Sun-Times investigative reporter Lauren FitzPatrick and WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp explain their findings.

A new report from The Civic Federation is pointing to concerns around Chicago’s finances. Gov. JB Pritzker signed a pair of labor laws designed to protect striking workers. The state of Illinois’ new budget will have less money for electric vehicle rebates.