Stay ConnectedChicago’s daily news podcast, fresh every weekday morning. Host Jacoby Cochran brings you timely conversations with news and culture makers; activists and artists; bus drivers and students; those who love and hate this place. City Cast Chicago is a smart and delightful new way to connect with the city we share. Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at chicago.citycast.fm.
Named Best Podcast by Chicago Reader 2022
Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked traffic on I-190 to O’Hare airport Monday morning. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea talk about what happened and discuss coming protests at the Democratic National Convention. We also respond to more of your CTA complaints and dreams, including this mock-up CTA plan and ideal CTA screen layout. Plus, what to do in Chicago when you have a bad day.
Good news: One Earth Film Festival
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Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill to create a statewide guaranteed income program that would provide $1,000 monthly payments to qualified residents. If it passes, the state would follow Chicago, Evanston, and Cook County, which have recently run pilots providing these no-strings-attached cash benefits. “Guaranteed” is a podcast that follows participants in these pilots across Chicagoland. Earlier this year, “Guaranteed” host Eve L. Ewing told host Jacoby Cochran what guaranteed income is, how it works, and shared the stories of some of the people who have received payments from these programs.
Good News: WNBA Draft Tonight
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Earlier this week, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability released body cam footage, numerous bystander videos, and 911 calls related to police shooting and killing Dexter Reed during a traffic stop in March. Invisible Institute’s Maira Khwaja and Crain Chicago’s Corli Jay are here to discuss the fallout including COPA questioning officers’ accounts of what led to the traffic stop. Plus, we discuss the latest court ruling regarding ongoing Obama Center construction, a new small business incubator in Englewood, and Market Box Chicago celebrates four years of mutual aid.
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New CTA schedules dropped over the weekend, but riders probably won’t see much difference. That’s despite promises in February from CTA head Dorval Carter that the agency would restore service to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. While we wait to see if service will improve, producer Michelle Navarro talked with CTA riders about their transit pet peeves.
Good news: Market Box Chicago
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Food halls with multiple vendors have proliferated around Chicago the past several years. But to be honest, no one on the City Cast Chicago team had given them much thought. Then, a listener texted about a new food hall on the North Side, so we decided to make a food hall guide. Host Jacoby Cochran, executive producer Simone Alicea, and newsletter editor Sidney Madden visited six spots and they talk about what to eat, what to know before you go, and if they’ll come back.
Spots mentioned
Some good news: Chicago Tea Festival
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is hoping to keep the expansion of O’Hare Airport on track. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea talk about what’s happening at the country’s fourth-busiest airport, how we got here, and what’s next. We’re also watching for a massive emergence of cicadas this month and we discuss your parking complaints.
Good news: Chicago Latino Film Festival
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Last month, the city of Chicago filed a lawsuit against gun manufacturer Glock, arguing that the company has done nothing to prevent individuals from modifying their popular semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons. ProPublica’s Midwest reporter Vernal Coleman tells host Jacoby Cochran about a similar lawsuit in Gary, Indiana, where the city has been trying to hold gunmakers accountable for the illegal sale of guns for 25 years. We look at how this ongoing case could set a precedent in Chicago and what to expect.
Good news: The Other Art Fair
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Chicago’s first school board elections take place this November. But now that we have a district map, election plan, and potential candidates are gathering signatures, one big question remains: Will school board members eventually be paid for their service? Currently, state law prohibits paying board members, but host Jacoby Cochran asks professor Arionne Nettles and Tribune’s Gregory Royal Pratt if Illinois should reconsider this in order to create a more diverse and inclusive candidate pool. Plus, we are looking ahead at NASCAR’s July street race, Mayor Johnson’s plan to convert downtown offices into apartments, initiatives to make Ramadan more eco-friendly, and two new Chicago books to read this spring!
Books you should check out:
Our episode where we attended iftar at the Muslim Community Center.
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We see them everywhere, and Chicagoans may think of them as “rats with wings,” but do pigeons get a bad rap? Host Jacoby Cochran and producer Michelle Navarro visit a Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue foster home to learn more about our feathery friends and why they deserve love and care.
Good news: The Big Kid Show at Dorian’s tonight at 8 p.m.
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Fine dining can be intimidating and expensive, but Chicago is home to many award-winning restaurants that stand out. Last year, we talked to lifestyle journalist Ari Bendersky, writer of Something Glorious newsletter, to learn more about Chicago’s creative and expansive fine dining scene. He tells host Jacoby Cochran about his favorite spots and shares tips for those who are looking to have their first fine dining experience.
Good News: The Sound of Silent Film Festival
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