The Rundown | Chicago News

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Bus service lacking, electronic monitoring changes, big bonus for CSU president Aug 31, 2023

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Hundreds of Chicago students with disabilities are still waiting on bus service to school. Bail reform advocates are slamming a new electronic monitoring program from the Illinois Supreme Court. Chicago State University’s president was given a hefty bonus despite the university’s claims of financial strain during this year’s faculty strike.

It’s likely you know someone dealing with long COVID Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

Severe fatigue, cognitive impairment and post-exertional malaise are just a few of the many symptoms associated with long COVID. It can last weeks, months and even years. Having this condition is also somewhat common. “It’s generally a minimum of 10% of COVID infections lead to long COVID,” said Hannah Davis, the co-founder of the Patient-Led Research Collaborative. With COVID hospitalizations on the rise for the first time this year, we speak with Davis and Pulitzer-winning science journalist Ed Yong. They both say that what frustrates a lot of COVID long-haulers is the lack of public knowledge about the condition… and the misconceptions surrounding it. “If you are listening to this and you find yourself thinking, ‘I don’t know anyone with long COVID,’ I guarantee that you do,” Yong said.

Water debt woes, campaign cash limitations, inmate gender-affirming care Aug 30, 2023

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Chicago residents are airing frustrations about ballooning water debt with no paths to dispute charges. Republicans in the Illinois legislature want to bar the use of campaign cash for a legal defense. The ACLU of Indiana is challenging a state law preventing inmates from receiving gender-affirming care.

Shooting investigation, migrant shelter plan, Covid-19 present in wastewater Aug 29, 2023

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Chicago police are still investigating how two women were shot during a White Sox game last Friday. City leaders are moving forward with a plan to purchase property meant to house newly-arriving migrants. The state health department is seeing evidence of Covid-19 in wastewater samples, but transmission rates are still low.

Chicago has millions for homelessness programs, but it’s only spent 15% Aug 28, 2023

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The city of Chicago has millions of federal dollars to use to help people experiencing homelessness, but it’s not spending it, according to reporting in the Illinois Answers Project. Investigative reporters Rachel Hinton and Manny Ramos say that of the $52 million budgeted from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, Chicago has only spent 15%.

Why? Why so slow? And what impact does this delay have on the thousands of unhoused people in Chicago? We talk with Hinton and Ramos, now reporters at Block Club Chicago, about their investigation.

Overdose awareness rally, grants for literacy, new law requires pay transparency Aug 28, 2023

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Later today, there’s gonna be a rally downtown to raise awareness about the overdose crisis. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announces 146 grants for libraries and other organizations that support literacy. Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed a law that will require pay transparency in job listings.

The hip-hop chef: Chicago’s own SoloSam Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

SoloSam is a Chicago rapper and producer born and raised on the South Side – “79th and Ada,” he points out – but he’s also a chef with a cooking show series, a cookbook and also B-EATS, a bi-monthly party series that combines good food, good music and community.

“If it wasn’t for food I wouldn’t have grown as a music artist, for sure,” he told Erin Allen.

In this episode, we play some of his songs, learn about his Ghanaian-Korean heritage and talk about the connection he finds between food and music.

“At the end of the day, it’s just art.”

CPS busing woes, Mapes found guilty, cooler temps arrive in Chicago Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

Chicago Public Schools says it's prioritizing bus service for students in special education, but some parents are frustrated by shortages. One of Springfield's most powerful men was humbled by a federal jury. This week's heat could have affected your mental health too.

Chicagoans face historic heat, new laws regulate for-profit colleges Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Chicago Public School leaders say they were ready for this week’s heat wave, but temperatures inside some buildings are uneven. Chicago city officials are keeping tabs on seniors, people in prison, and unhoused people as the heat wave continues. In Illinois, for-profit colleges will now have to pay back state aid if they deceive students.

‘A penny for a deal’: How the Hollywood strikes affect Chicago’s artists Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

The strikes among actors and writers aren’t just taking place in Hollywood. Hundreds of Chicagoans are also on the picket lines. We wanted to know what Chicago artists are fighting for and how they’re coping with being out of work for months. To find out, we talked to WBEZ reporter Esther Yoon-Ji Kang, who shares two stories from local artists.

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