The Rundown | Chicago News

Tyre Nichols protests continue in Chicago. A new report shows that Black and Latinx residents are more financially vulnerable than white ones, even accounting for income similarities. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office is expected to drop charges against R. Kelly in a court hearing today.

The average person with a period pays $200 to $300 a year on products. To curb that cost, some states like Illinois have made period products tax exempt. But the question remains: Should they be readily available to all people with periods? Illinois Latino News Reporter Annabel Rocha talks about her work to destigmatize periods and make the experience more equitable. Find out more about the event at wbez.org.

Demonstrations and vigils remain calm in Chicago after the release of a Memphis police shooting video. City officials share plans for a temporary migrant shelter in Woodlawn, despite significant community pushback. Chicago and Cook County are now in the “low” category for COVID-19 community transmission.

Nina Sánchez wants institutions in Chicago’s arts community to evolve into places where people of color can thrive. Sánchez is an anti-racism organizer and the owner of 51st Ward Books, a bilingual, social justice-centered bookshop for children. In this profile from our sister station Vocalo and its “Chi Sounds Like” series, Sánchez discusses her work, growing up in Pilsen, and why creativity is essential in community.

Tensions were high at the latest mayoral forum as we get closer to Election Day. Chicago Public Schools is making changes to its promotion or retention policy for students. Covid-era surcharges at Chicago restaurants are lingering, but it’s leaving a bad taste in the mouth for some patrons.

Chicago officials have opened a new training facility on the city’s West Side for police and firefighters, but there’s some controversy. Early voting begins today for the city’s municipal election. The additional SNAP benefits tied to the pandemic are expiring in Illinois as of March 1.

In the Southeast Asian community on Argyle Street in Uptown, Hac Tran says he’s seen nearly 10 businesses close due to rent increases, gentrification, pandemic complications and other issues. He sees the closures as a threat to the community’s identity, so he and a few business owners started HAIBAYÔ, a creative initiative that highlights local businesses. This week on The Rundown, we’re featuring profiles from our sister station Vocalo and its “Chi Sounds Like” series, which looks at Chicagoans who have made this city what it is.

More lawsuits are getting filed against Illinois’ new assault weapons ban. The cold, snowy weather is adding another challenge to Chicago’s unhoused population. There’s an effort underway to prevent people with delinquent property taxes from losing their homes through auction.

The Chicago Board of Ethics is expected to ask for an investigation after Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s campaign sent out emails to CPS teachers looking for student volunteers. A new proposal in Springfield would provide more protections for temporary workers. The Northern Illinois Food Bank is seeing a 40 percent increase in clients.

Christopher LeMark says he never had a safe space to work through the difficult, complex emotions after he experienced childhood trauma. That’s why he created Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health, an organization that aims to destigmatize mental health struggles, particularly in the Black community, by removing financial, emotional and systemic barriers to seeking therapy. This week on The Rundown, we’re featuring profiles from our sister station Vocalo and its “Chi Sounds Like” series, which looks at Chicagoans who have made this city what it is.

Chicago’s Lunar New Year celebrations were marked by the mass shooting in California that left 10 dead and 10 others wounded. A downstate judge has allowed a temporary restraining order for roughly 800 Illinoisans to be exempt from the new assault weapons ban. Protesters were out Sunday for the annual Women’s March on the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Joseph Perez is known to many as Sentrock – the muralist and street artist whose work can be experienced on walls, in illustrations, and as action figures across Chicago and the U.S. You’d probably recognize his signature character, a boy with a red bird mask named the Bird City Saint. Sentrock talks about the childhood yearnings and storytelling that inspire his work and how it manifested into a 3-room exhibit at the Elmhurst Art Museum.

At the first televised Chicago mayoral debate, candidates discussed how they would secure funds for asylum seekers and how they could make the CTA more secure. The newest National Historical Park is on the south side of Chicago, in the historic Pullman neighborhood. A comet that hasn’t been visible from Earth in thousands of years can be seen this month in Illinois.

A new transportation agreement and proposed surveillance ordinance aim to address safety for cyclists, pedestrians and people in wheelchairs. Chicago’s largest police union is making efforts to kick candidates off the police district council ballot ahead of the city elections. The Illinois State Board of Education approved spending more on schools, but advocates say it’s not nearly enough to fully fund them.

Election coverage doesn’t always feel very engaging; it’s more like a horse race, focusing on who’s in the lead instead of what candidates stand for. But WBEZ’s engagement team is covering the Chicago mayoral election — and much of their journalism — a little differently. They’re collecting your questions and posing them to the candidates. It’s called “engagement journalism,” and WBEZ’s Alex Keefe tells us what it is and how they do it.

Chicago Public Schools is hosting a job fair Wednesday to recruit support staff, including desperately needed bus drivers. A political movement for safer bike infrastructure is growing in Chicago. Students at the University of Illinois at Chicago are facing day two of canceled classes during a faculty strike.

Chicagoans celebrated Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. with art, music and podcasting. Reducing the length of prison sentences in Illinois would only slightly increase criminal arrests, according to a new study. CTA operators are concerned about schedule changes, despite more reliability for riders.

Step Afrika! is an international, percussive dance company, and they’re coming to Chicago for one night only on Saturday, Jan. 14. Dancer and artist Robert Warnsley is one of the few in the company who’s from Chicago, and they happen to have a special segment of the show, dedicated to the city – it’s appropriately named “Chicago.” He’ll tell us about the show and what it means to him to represent the Windy City.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is apologizing for emails her campaign sent to Chicago Public School teachers recruiting student volunteers. Illinois lawmakers approve new spending to help asylum seekers who have come to the state. A West Side group has won a $10 million Pritzker Traubert Foundation prize to create a walkable village in West Garfield Park.

If it feels like you are wasting most of your life sitting in highway traffic… you’re not imagining it. Chicago has the worst congestion of any major city. Illinois is one step away from requiring 40 hours of paid leave every year to ALL employees in the state. Chicago Public Schools has hired a new chief auditor and will start reviewing schools again after a long hiatus.

Where exactly does money belong between us and our loved ones? Brad Klontz is back for part two of our conversation about the psychology of money. Today, the financial psychologist is going beyond how you think about money, and into how to talk about it with your kids, your partner, and other folks around you.

Illinois lawmakers passed two important measures last night on gun control, abortion and gender-affirming care. Health officials in Illinois have launched a new online COVID-19 tracker. Some North Lawndale residents can apply for stipends to purchase climate-friendly transportation.

Democratic state senators passed an assault weapons ban last night, and Republicans in Springfield are pushing back. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wants to make college tuition free for some families. Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood is now a National Heritage area.

From inflation to gas prices, to call this past year challenging would be an understatement for many. Things are starting to ease up a bit now, but all these fluctuations can make you question how much control you have over your own finances. What if it’s less about control and more about how we think about money in the first place? Brad Klontz is a Financial Psychologist. He’ll talk about how to adjust your personal psychology around money, in a way that will serve you whether you’re in a time of abundance or a time of scarcity.

The list of candidates running to be Chicago’s next mayor is set after one last hopeful was kicked off the ballot. Illinois state senators passed a budget bill that would give themselves a nearly 20 percent pay raise. Lawmakers and LGBTQ advocates outline some priorities for Illinois’ spring legislative session.

There are those Christians who already celebrated Christmas last month... and then there are those who are just getting started. Orthodox Christmas falls on January 7 this year, and Chicago has one of the largest Orthodox Christian populations in the US. They’re all celebrating with delectable holiday food this weekend, and WBEZ producer (and former chef) Cianna Greaves is here to tell us where we can find and enjoy some of it.

It was a big night in Springfield. Illinois lawmakers are closer to passing a statewide assault weapons ban. State representatives voted late last night on new protections for patients who get abortions and their providers. And state senators passed a measure allowing residents to mark X for the sex on birth certificates.

A Chicago teacher says a new state law allowing student absences to attend civic events recognizes learning also takes place outside the classroom. Cook County set another record for opioid overdose deaths. Four bridges on Chicago’s Southeast side will be getting repairs thanks to a boost in federal funding.

When it comes to living your best life in the new year, switching to more healthy eating may be at the top of your list. While you may know why this is a good idea, just how to do it can be mystifying. The latter is Chef Bri Houston’s specialty; she talks about creating meals, cookbooks and new habits for folks who want to explore a palette outside of the standard American diet.

Chicago remains at a medium risk level for COVID-19, but Chicago’s public health commissioner predicts that won’t last long. Developers have pitched $1 billion in renovations as part of Chicago’s Revitalize LaSalle initiative. Illinois lawmakers are back in Springfield for the lame duck session this week.

An Illinois law protecting natural hairstyles from workplace discrimination is now in effect. Some prison education experts worry the return of Pell grants won’t be a catch-all solution for students behind bars. A survey finds more Chicago public schools are being asked by families to help meet their children’s basic needs.

Some folks will be taking a break from alcohol soon for Dry January. But abstaining from it doesn't mean you want to stop going to bars or consume delicious beverages. Cristina Torres is the founder of Bendición Dry Bar and Bottle Shop in Humboldt Park. She explains why focusing on community and reflection is vital when you’re sober, whether it’s for a month, a night or forever.

A new state law aims to promote career and technical education amongst high school students. Illinois ends the year with a slightly higher prison population than in 2021. Frederick Collins will be the last mayoral candidate knocked off the February ballot after falling short of the signatures he needed to qualify.

Illinois sells Damen Silos land despite growing concerns from community and environmental groups. A new report shines light on the mismanagement of prison investigations. A Kankakee County judge has ruled part of the SAFE-T Act unconstitutional.

National Teachers Academy (NTA) is a high performing, majority Black elementary school in Chicago’s South Loop. A few years ago, a group of wealthier residents in the area rallied around closing the school to make space for a new high school their children could attend. Erin talks with the director of “Let the Little Light Shine,” a documentary about how NTA administrators, parents and students organized to instead keep the school open and welcoming to all students.

Flight delays with Southwest Airlines are not just because of weather. Uber and Lyft drivers protested at O’Hare Airport last night and refused rides from the airport in demand of better working conditions. While the city of Chicago has embraced some harm-reduction steps to prevent drug overdoses, there's one step it’s not willing to take.

The Chicago Department of Transportation is getting ready for another round of free bike giveaways. The Bronzeville Children’s Museum kicked off Kwanzaa celebrations this week. The Morton Arboretum has sustainable suggestions for disposing of your live Christmas tree.

The CTA has spent most of this year trying to recover from staff shortages and a massive culture shift toward remote work – two of the many by-products of a global pandemic. Last month, WBEZ asked listeners to fill out a survey, so we could hear directly from you about just how the issues with the CTA are affecting your lives and views of Chicago transit. Freelance journalist Rebecca Holland talks about the results.

Doctors are advising people to stay indoors as bitter cold temperatures linger this weekend, but they have tips if you absolutely must go out. You should mask up if you’re going to be with family and friends celebrating the holidays. Teachers and parents at Benito Juarez High School are saying they aren’t interested in bringing police officers back into schools, despite the shooting outside the building last week.

Officials in numerous Chicago departments – including CPS, CTA, and the Department of Family and Support Services – are bracing for low temperatures and heavy snow in the coming days. More people will soon be able to apply for a cannabis dispensary license in Illinois. Two candidates in Chicago’s mayoral race have dropped their efforts to get each other kicked off of February’s ballot.

A promise of affordable housing sits at 18th and Peoria in Pilsen. It’s the single largest vacant and developable lot in the neighborhood, and the property has changed hands for roughly 20 years. Now the city owns the land and promises to build affordable housing – something community members have been organizing for, for years. WBEZ metro reporter Indira Khera talks about what residents are hoping for, as the city invites them into the planning process.

Midway and O’Hare airports could get nearly three million travelers over the next two weeks. Illinois is getting funding to improve broadband infrastructure and access to high speed internet. A lawsuit by state’s attorneys from across Illinois challenging the constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act had a hearing in court.

A winter storm could hit the region hard later this week. The Federal Transit Administration is providing millions in funding to make Chicago-area public transit systems more accessible. The Illinois State Board of Education released a “spending dashboard,” showing how Illinois school districts spend COVID recovery aid.

Grief – does it have to be sad? How do children grieve? What if you feel awkward talking about loss with a loved one who’s grieving? Julie Weatherhead is a grief counselor and co-founder of Got Grief House. On today’s episode, she speaks to these questions and more.

A Chicago alderman talks about preventing school violence after Friday’s shooting at Benito Juarez High School left two teens dead and two others injured. A newly announced research center in Chicago will focus on the societal and medical impacts of cannabis. Folks gathered outside Wrigley Field Sunday night for the First Night First Light Hanukkah event, despite freezing temperatures.

Ye – the artist formerly known as Kanye West has been stirring up quite a bit of controversy lately, and it’s a lot to take in. But if you really think about it, he’s always been a lot to take in – for better or for worse. Professor Jeffrey McCune Jr. has written about, researched and taught classes on the artist, and he’s here to add even more nuance to how we think about Ye’s existence in the culture.

The City of Chicago encourages residents to be prepared and utilize City services and resources during the Winter season. A new lawsuit says the way Cook County conducts property tax sales illegally discriminates Black and brown residents by leaving them with no equity. Some Chicago anti-violence workers believe an assault weapons ban won’t do enough to curb city-wide gun violence.

Experts advise going outside, instead of staying in, to mitigate seasonal affective disorder symptoms. After 9 years, the Jane Byrne interchange is set to fully reopen. An update on Wednesday’s City Council votes, including an approved funding plan to extend the CTA Red Line southbound to 130th Street.

The season of ‘Dibs’ is coming. Motorists, are you ready? Author, historian, and Chicago tour guide, Adam Selzer, talks about Chicago’s unofficial dibs tradition of saving a shoveled parking space, using lawn chairs – or, in his case, a frozen pair of pants. He’ll share some dibs suggestions, funny stories, and the legal piece of things, too.

Illinois homeowners need to check their smoke alarms before a new law takes effect on January 1st. The proposed Bally’s casino in River West is one step closer to reality. The NBA’s MVP award is renamed to honor Michael Jordan.