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A look at the pro-Palestinian protests at Northwestern and UChicago May 03, 2024

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At many colleges across the country, administrators and police have cracked down on groups of pro-Palestinian protesters who have set up encampments on campus and occupied campus buildings. At college campuses here in Chicago, the scenes so far have been heated, but still noticeably less chaotic than those at other universities. “As long as they're being respectful of the space, as far as I can tell the police are staying hands off,” said WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Kurian Philip, who's been visiting protests at both Northwestern University and the University of Chicago. “That's so different from what we've seen at Emory, [and UCLA], and what just happened in Columbia, with riot police being sent in the middle of the night to clear out students. It's a very, very different situation.” On this episode of the Rundown, Kurian Philip talks with host Erin Allen about what’s happening locally, what protesters are demanding and how administrations and others are responding.

Morning News: Friday May 3, 2024 May 03, 2024

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Nine Chicago police officers whose names appeared on Oath Keepers membership lists won’t be disciplined. CAIR Chicago speaks out against an expansion of the definition of antisemitism. And fallen Illinois police officers are remembered in Springfield.

Afternoon News: Thursday May 2, 2024 May 02, 2024

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Student activists are speaking in defense of the pro-Palestinian encampment movement. Illinois voters could be asked about in vitro fertilization and a millionaire’s tax on the November ballot. The Doc 10 film festival is back in Chicago this weekend for its ninth year.

Presto! The ‘Physician Magician’ practices both medicine and magic May 02, 2024

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Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz said he was not interested in magic when he was a kid. He came to it later in life, when he was already practicing medicine.

“I discovered that this was a great art form that also could play a role in healing,” Rosenkranz said. “Not from the perspective of a manipulation that actually changes cells or molecules physically in the body in that particular way, but in terms of outlook and perspective and mindset.”

Eventually, he said he started using magic to teach at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

“No surprise, as soon as I started doing magic at the medical school, I got teaching awards,” he said. “And I'm so delighted no one fired me for it.”

Rosenkranz, who is originally from Mexico City, is the owner of The Rhapsody Theater in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, where he has shows in both English and Spanish over this Cinco de Mayo weekend.

In this episode of the Rundown podcast, Rosenkranz tells host Erin Allen about occupying a unique space as “The Physician Magician,” the relationship he sees between magic, medicine, doctors and patients, and, of course, he also performs a little radio magic.

Morning News: Thursday May 2, 2024 May 02, 2024

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Jewish leaders, students and parents say yesterday's sit-ins at Chicago Public Schools protesting the war in Gaza incite anti-semitism and harm Jewish students. Police Superintendent Larry Snelling is hoping parents of young people will help in keeping downtown peaceful this summer. A cabinet secretary for Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker is facing questions over expanded drug coverage for state workers.

Afternoon News: Wednesday May 1, 2024 May 01, 2024

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Worker rights organizations held a rally in Pilsen on today’s May Day, asking President Joe Biden to issue work permits for all immigrants. Theodore Roosevelt High School in Gary, Indiana, is on the list of America's eleven most endangered historic places, released by The National Trust for Historic Preservation. A descendant of Chicago brewing legend Conrad Seipp is resurrecting his recipes for modern taste buds.

Tap dancer Bril Barrett wants his students to understand the history of tap May 01, 2024

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Bril Barrett started tap dancing at a young age. His whole family pitched in to pay for lessons and drive him to classes. Now, he’s a 2024 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow. But Barrett isn’t just a dancer. He’s also an educator, historian and self-proclaimed “tap-tivist.” He uses his work to educate students and audiences on the origins of tap. “I tell people ‘When you don’t know a lot about history, start with your own,’” Barrett said. “That just creates a continuous stream of ownership and connection to the art form.” In this episode, host Erin Allen talks to Barrett about tap, improvising and the importance of understanding our roots.

Morning News: Wednesday May 1, 2024 May 01, 2024

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is defending his administration’s call for $210 million to help state workers lose weight. A document that helped kick off the Civil War now lives in Springfield. The first-ever Conservation Day took place at the Illinois statehouse yesterday.

Afternoon News: Tuesday April 30, 2024 Apr 30, 2024

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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to re-launch a guaranteed income program that pays low-income residents $500 dollars a month. Paul Vallas is asking a federal judge to go easy on former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke when he faces sentencing later this year. Two dozen LGBTQ+ advocates are urging Chicago’s mayor to restore capacity for this year’s Pride parade to previous levels.

The dream of homeownership often conflicts with history and reality Apr 30, 2024

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Black homeownership in America lags behind white homeownership by a rate of about 44% to 72%, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors.

That gap creates issues not just for Black people, but for broader society, said former Chicago Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara.

“When you have those kinds of assets in your life, it gives you way more options and way more ability to care intergenerationally for the well being of your family and to invest in your community,” Novara said on the Rundown podcast earlier this year.

Novara is now with the Chicago Community Trust, and on Wednesday she will join UChicago's Dr. Robert J. Chaskin, current Housing Commissioner Lissette Castañeda and Rundown podcast host Erin Allen for a conversation about addressing the racial wealth gap through housing policies at City Club of Chicago.

Ahead of that event, we’re revisiting this episode on the value of homeownership, the historical barriers to it (and the modern ones), and a few solutions that are in the works to help level the playing field.

This episode was originally published on Jan. 30, 2024.