City Cast Chicago

The Chicago Teachers Union has a tentative contract agreement. What’s in it and what comes next? Helping us break down the details, WBEZ assistant managing editor Kate Grossman and Injustice Watch investigative reporter Kelly Garcia. Plus we are discussing major challenges navigating the city’s immigration courts, yet another congressional investigation for Northwestern, and Little Village’s lates...

Now that it’s spring, some of us may take the time to tidy up our homes. Host Jacoby Cochran talked to Sandy Spatz, a professional organizer based in Chicago to give us advice on how to sort through our clutter and reorganize our lives.  Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voice...

Thin crust or tavern-style pizza recently won our Chicago food bracket debate that we aired to honor the “1,000 Things We Love About Chicago” list. Last year, host Jacoby Cochran, producer Michelle Navarro, and City Cast marketing director Caroline Patton gave their favorite spots and engaged in the eternal debate about which pizza style is the authentic Chicago style. Listeners can still vote for...

April in Chicago means winter is finally over … right? The weather may not always seem like it, but it’s warm and sunny in the hearts of host Jacoby Cochran, digital creator Jenny LeFlore, aka Mama Fresh, and Gretagram newsletter writer Greta Johnsen. They’re here with the best events happening this month, tips for avoiding street sweeping tickets, and the bites they’re most looking forward to eat...

Peacekeeping is a proven way to maintain a safe and secure Chicago. Host Jacoby Cochran talked with Damien Morris, chief program officer of violence prevention at Breakthrough who works to build and sustain community relationships as a peacekeeper. Damien tells us what it’s like to connect with families who've been impacted by violence while trying to prevent other families from going through the...

How many traffic stops did the Chicago Police Department report and not report last year? Plus, Mayor Brandon Johnson has days left to figure out who is covering a $175 million pension bill, the city clerk is waiving city sticker late fees in April, and Chicago’s newest museum is worth stopping by. Joining us to break it all down, professor Arionne Nettles and WTTW’s Heather Cherone, who are also...

All week long you have heard us talk about our favorites from our list of 1,000 things we love about Chicago. But it’s not just things we at City Cast love. Today we’re hearing from listeners, guests, and Chicagoans on some of the things they love most about Chicago. Good News: Syd’s Skate Class Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follo...

Chicago is home to many iconic foods — that’s why it’s the largest category in our list of 1,000 things we love about Chicago. But which of these foods is our favorite? And which is the most Chicago? Readers voted in the first round of our ultimate Chicago food bracket, and the City Cast team is here with the rest of their picks. Follow along and vote in the second round! Want some more City Cast...

The Regional Transit Authority, which oversees CTA, Metra, and Pace, put out an alarming forecast of service cuts if the state fails to close a $770 million budget gap for next year. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea go through this “doomsday” scenario. They’re also discussing the latest on negotiations between Chicago Public Schools and the teachers union, including a delay...

We have learned a lot about this city over the last 1,000 episodes, but what about you? We’ve invited two listeners — in fact, City Cast Chicago members — to test their knowledge as host Jacoby Cochran leads a game show-style quiz inspired by our list of 1,000 things we love about Chicago. Follow along and take the quiz yourself. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for...

Local and national advocacy organizations are suing ICE for illegal arrests, a coalition of Southeast Side neighbors is pushing back on Chicago’s future Quantum Campus, and we’ve got thoughts on Lolla’s lineup. Joining us to break it all down are Katrina Pham from Borderless Magazine and Maxwell Evans from Block Club Chicago. Plus, we’re dropping our 1000 things we love about Chicago on Monday, an...

The White Sox are at home for Opening Day next week. But after last year’s record-breakingly awful performance, are they even worth the ticket price? In fact, watching any of Chicago’s mediocre-to-terrible professional sports teams may feel like an exercise in disappointment. Host Jacoby Cochran and social media manager Rick Homuth argue it’s still worth seeing live sports in Chicago … at least fo...

More than half of Black-owned businesses on the South Side are food businesses, according to the Greater Chatham Initiative. The organization runs FoodLab Chicago, which has helped the likes of Brown Sugar Bakery, Lems BBQ, Majani and other South Side favorites grow. GCI executive director Nedra Fears tells host Jacoby Cochran how they’re creating a soul food district to build up the neighborhoods...

Bears fans have enjoyed a great start to free agency and are anticipating next month's NFL draft. Optimism is peaking for the 2025 season. However, one story that continues to haunt Bears fans is the future of Soldier Field. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran discuss the various options including a renewed sense of urgency from Arlington Heights leaders and a Bronzeville “hai...

Walgreens recently announced its sale to a private equity firm, ending nearly a century of being a publicly traded company. Between that news and recent store closures: Is Walgreens in trouble? Crain’s health care reporter Katherine Davis is here with host Jacoby Cochran to break down the pharmacy chain’s latest moves and future prospects. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to s...

Chicago and Illinois universities are responding to President Donald Trump’s threats of protest- and diversity-related funding cuts. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to WCIU TV host Brandon Pope and The Triibe reporter Tonia Hill to break down the week's top stories. The city council approved over $3 million in Chicago Police Department settlements, including $280,000 to an organizer who was assaulted by...

Chicago was ranked at the top for cities with the worst driving experience. The 2024 report found that Chicagoans spend the most time in traffic and the most money on gas. Host Jacoby Cochran, executive producer Simone Alicea, and Axios Chicago Carrie Shepherd talk about their biggest driving pet peeves and quiz themselves on the rules of the road.  Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make...

We’re about halfway through Ramadan — the Muslim holy month marked by charity, spiritual reflection, and daily fasting. With some 350,000 Muslims estimated to call Chicago and Illinois home, we visited the Muslim Community Center in Old Irving Park for a community iftar. Iftar refers to the evening meal when fasts are broken each day. Last year, host Jacoby Cochran talked with lifelong member Amja...

Hackers stole information for more than 700,000 Chicago Public Schools students late last year, the district said Friday. While officials say sensitive information like social security numbers were not affected, host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea discuss why the hack is so troubling. They also go over the results of Illinois’ new flag poll, and we’re hearing from listeners! W...

After a near-collision at Midway just a couple weeks ago, and plane crashes in D.C. and Philly earlier this year, we know that anxieties around flying may be on the rise. That’s why we’re talking with DePaul professor Dr. Joe Schwieterman, an aviation expert and the author of “Terminal Town,” to find out if there’s really something going on here or if it’s just a lot of scary headlines. Good News:...

Mayor Brandon Johnson was on the hot seat Wednesday testifying before a Congressional hearing on sanctuary cities. How did he do? WBEZ’s Susie An and Block Club Chicago’s Madison Savedra are here with host Jacoby Cochran to grade his performance. Plus, the Highland Park shooting trial was cut short by a guilty plea, federal funding cuts are hitting researchers in Chicago, and one of the South Side...

Spring break is around the corner, which means students and families in Chicago might be looking for things to do, and we might get some people in from out of town. City Cast senior roving producer Lizzie Goldsmith and newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski don’t live here, but they’ve got some ideas for what they want to do when they visit. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea are he...

Chicago goes hard on St. Patrick’s Day, and tickets are going fast for parties and bar crawls throughout the city. Social media creator Paige Serena is here to break down the best events and offer some tips for these marathon celebrations. Find out more about Paige’s R&B and Roulette event on March 9th, a River North crawl on March 15th, and other bar and restaurant specials around the city. Kevin...

Mayor Brandon Johnson is in D.C. and he’ll be testifying Wednesday in front of a House oversight committee about Chicago’s welcoming city policies, aka sanctuary city laws. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran discuss their expectations heading into the Congressional hearing. Plus, who is replacing retiring Park District CEO Rosa Escareño and where is CTA adding additional bus...

The New York Stock Exchange Chicago, formerly the Chicago Stock Exchange, announced it’s relocating to Texas. This is just the latest blow in the long downfall of Chicago’s place as a financial epicenter. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with Chicago History Podcast host Tommy Henry about the stock exchange’s founding nearly 150 years ago, the rise of trading pits in Chicago, and what will be left of the...