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
Next week, Chicago Public Schools will kick off election season for local school councils. The councils help drive big decisions across Chicago’s schools like approving how funds are allocated, evaluating and selecting principals, and voting on police in schools. They’re also also one of the main ways students, parents, and neighbors can get involved. Here to explain how they work is Chalkbeat Bureau Chief Becky Vevea.
Read more of Chalkbeat's reporting on LSC vacancies.
Some good news: The Impromptu Festival and Chicago’s Underground Film Festival begin this week!
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Earlier this summer, longtime Blackhawks owner and CEO Rocky Wirtz died at the age of 70. His son Danny Wirtz has been named successor. Coming off years of controversy, losing seasons, and concern about the direction of the hockey team, Wirtz will be tasked with rebuilding trust and hope in the franchise. We break down the transfer of power with Crain’s Corli Jay and the Tribune’s Shakeia Taylor. They also talk with host Jacoby Cochran about a growing West Pullman vendor market, the Sky’s final push for the playoffs, and the Bears’ home opener against our ultimate rivals, the Green Bay Packers.
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Whether you’re gearing up for cuffing season, celebrating a long-term relationship, or you’re just looking for something for you and your friends to do, Chicago is full of great date spots. A recent TikTok trend called “alphabet dating” is helping Chicagoans narrow down the options in a creative and fun way. The goal is to come up with a date idea for each letter of the alphabet. The City Cast team is offering our own take as host Jacoby Cochran and marketing coordinator Jermaine Thomas each design six date ideas to go with the first six letters of their names.
Join us next week when lead producer Simone Alicea faces off against newsletter editor Sidney Madden.
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Tomorrow the Poetry Foundation is starting its Fall season with a celebration at the Harold Washington Library featuring Chicago’s first-ever poet laureate avery r. young. young was raised in the Austin neighborhood, and has built a career as a writer, educator, activist, and visual artist. Host Jacoby Cochran sat down with the new poet laureate earlier this summer to learn about Chicago’s poetry scene. Plus, we hear young’s recent Juneteenth poem and get some tips for crafting our own poems!
See avery r. young perform with other poet laureates, including E’mon Lauren (Chicago Youth Poet Laureate), Angela Jackson (Illinois), Nandi Comer (Michigan), Airea D. Matthews (Philadelphia), and Amanda Johnston (Texas).
This episode originally aired Tuesday, June 20.
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Regulators with the Illinois Gaming Board are expected to inspect Bally’s temporary casino at Medinah temple today and run practice gaming sessions this week. If all goes according to plan, the doors of Chicago’s first-ever casino could open this month. Lead Producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran discuss the casino’s political timeline and ask just how excited are Chicagoans to gamble in River North? Plus, ahead of the Bears’ home opener against the Packers this Sunday, we want to know, what are the Best Chicago Rivalries?
See Jacoby with Monica Eng and David Hammond at The Taste of Chicago Friday and Saturday at 4pm.
Printers Row Lit Fest is in The Loop Saturday & Sunday.
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Last week, two White Sox fans were struck by gunfire during a home game at Guaranteed Rate Field. Both individuals are recovering, but White Sox officials and Chicago Police are still investigating what actually happened. Chicago Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba and WTTW’s Joanna Hernandez join host Jacoby Cochran to break down the latest. We also discuss the city’s lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai, a North Park restaurant’s attempt to rebuild after a devastating fire, and Chairman Fred Hampton Day in Chicago.
Respair Media previews ‘One Million Experiments’ at Bassline in South Loop Saturday.
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Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to plan a quick Midwestern Road Trip. Luckily for us, our friends over at City Cast Madison aren’t too far away. So we asked host Bianca Martin to design her ideal Chicago day, while our host Jacoby Cochran comes up with his own Madison trip. And of course we wouldn’t be us if we didn’t make the two hosts compete for “Best Midwestern Daycation!”
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All summer we’ve been hearing how Chicago is coming back with tourism up, crowds outside, and no shortage of daily events. And the backbone of this resurgence is Chicago’s world class dining scene. But many restaurants are still reeling from the pandemic and inflation, with closures touching neighborhoods across the city. Eater Chicago has been tracking Chicago’s restaurant closures, and editor Ashok Selvam is here to tell us what this means for Chicago’s dining scene.
Some Good News: Queer Pride Fam Jam
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Last week, we saw the conclusion of yet another corruption trial with ties to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Tim Mapes, Madigan’s former chief of staff, was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice. Lead producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran break down the latest details. We are also listening your tips for making new connections in Chicago and mapping where the latest pickleball courts are popping up.
Some news: Thursday night is final night of Uptown’s 2023 Argyle Night Market
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Last week, White Sox fans experienced every emotion imaginable. As the team struggles through a disappointing season marred by injuries, suspensions, and below .500 baseball, White Sox owners fired two longtime executives and are now weighing their options for when the team’s stadium lease ends, including leaving the South Side or even a potential sale to Nashville. So what the hell is going on with the White Sox? Joining host Jacoby Cochran with answers is Herb Lawrence with CHGO’s White Sox podcast.
Some news:
Enjoy the Chicago Jazz Festival all week long.
Want to learn more about the Bring Chicago Home proposal to fund services for unhoused Chicagoans? Check out a town hall Wednesday in South Shore.
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