The Rundown | Chicago News

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Flood relief, cash bail confusion, Illinois clean jobs status Sep 20, 2023

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Cook County is offering some property tax relief for residents and businesses whose properties suffered severe flood damage this summer. Sangamon County court officials continue to process prior cases under the new no cash bail system. And a new report says Illinois added thousands of clean energy jobs last year.

Cash bail confusion, call for reforms at NAR, new Chicago environmental study Sep 19, 2023

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Judges in some Illinois counties were still setting money bonds, despite a new law eliminating cash bail. In the wake of disturbing allegations of sexual harassment by leaders at the National Association of Realtors, advocates are demanding sweeping reforms. A new environmental assessment published by the city of Chicago addresses the uneven effects of climate change and pollution across the city.

Producing community-based festivals in Chicago can be hard. But why? Sep 18, 2023

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In Chicago, autumn rings in the end of summer festival season. The city plays host to countless music, food and cultural festivals each year. For some of us, that’s part of the magic of summertime Chi. But others argue that events like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and the Taste of Chicago can do more harm than good. Tickets can be costly, and events render public spaces inaccessible for a few days and can cause lasting damage to parks, plus residents can feel a lack of engagement with planners. This has us wondering: Is it possible to organize a large-scale event in Chicago that also engages the community? In this episode, we pose that question to activist and artist Ricardo Gamboa and Silver Room Block Party founder Eric Williams.

Cash bail ends, Riot Fest grumbles, preschool openings Sep 18, 2023

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Today is the official end of cash bail in the state of Illinois. Riot Fest attracted thousands, but some long-time residents and business owners feel frustrated that they aren’t more involved with planning the event. Thousands of preschool seats for Chicago Public Schools remain unfilled.

WBEZ’s Prisoncast: Understanding incarceration from those experiencing it Sep 15, 2023

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How do you parent someone who is incarcerated? How do you let yourself be parented while locked up? WBEZ and our sister station Vocalo are producing a project called Prisoncast! for the second year in a row in partnership with Illinois Public Radio stations across the state. In this episode, we preview two of the pieces from the program. Lauren Frost produced both pieces in this episode and is the executive producer of Prisoncast!. Alex Keefe is the lead editor, and Ayana Contreras is the show’s host.

COVID shots in Chicago, preventing gentrification, bilingual poll workers needed Sep 15, 2023

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Chicago residents will have access to the latest COVID-19 vaccine as early as today. Legislation in Chicago’s City Council aims to prevent South Shore residents from being displaced. Chicago is looking for bilingual poll workers for next year’s election season.

Chicago’s budget shortfall, bomb threats at libraries, public transit updates Sep 14, 2023

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Financial experts say Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will need to find revenue sources to close an anticipated $538 million budget deficit. Patrons react to several libraries in Chicago and the suburbs receiving bomb threats earlier this week. A bold plan to redesign public transit in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs faced its first public hearing yesterday.

Turning the place you stay into your ‘home’ Sep 13, 2023

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Sometimes a home isn’t a home until you’ve put your stamp on it – or embedded yourself in your community in a certain way. Austin Cantú has called Waukegan home for a long time, but it wasn’t until he started revitalizing an abandoned arts park that he finally connected with his father and his roots. As for Marco Lopez, home always meant being on the move. But now that he has a partner and a daughter, he’s ready to create something permanent in Chicago. These stories were produced by Andrea Flores and Cynthia Salgado as part of the NextGen Radio Project from WBEZ and NPR.

Trans athletes in Illinois, Chicago’s budget outlook, helping Morocco Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

Illinois is updating its policy for transgender athletes who want to play in post-season athletic tournaments. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to release his budget forecast today, which will give the public a first look at how big of a budget gap the city is facing for the year ahead. Chicagoans with ties to Morocco are leading efforts to assist those devastated by an earthquake there last week.

COVID booster shots, restorative practices in schools, remembering Sept. 11 Sep 12, 2023

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Lawmakers put politics aside to mourn the thousands lost during the 9/11 terror attacks 22 years ago. The Food and Drug Administration has approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine. A new study finds that the use of restorative practices in Chicago Public Schools have led to a significant decrease in suspensions and arrests.

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