City Cast Chicago

In October, the Acero Charter School network sent shockwaves through their school communities when they announced they would be shutting down seven Latino-majority schools in Chicago. For families and students, it’s been a waiting game as they wonder if or when their schools will close and what their options are. Chalkbeat Chicago’s Samantha Smylie and Block Club Chicago’s Atavia Reed explain the...

Chicago’s birthday is coming up, spring is around the corner, and the city’s preparing to dye the river green — welcome to March in Chicago. Host Jacoby Cochran, contributor Leigh Giangreco, and digital marketing manager Jermaine Thomas are here with their tips for making the most of the month, including handling the weather, finding art shows for Women’s History Month, and going beyond green beer...

Are Chicago’s bakeries up to scratch when it comes to making Paczki? That’s what we wanted to find out, so last year we met up with journalist Joanna Marszałek to taste-test these traditional Polish pastries, which are a cross between a classic donut and brioche bun with a cream or fruit filling. With Paczki Day coming up next Tuesday, we’re bringing this episode back to help you find the city’s b...

Governor J.B. Pritzker has proposed a $55.2 billion state budget that includes no major tax increases. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran dive into the details. Plus, Chicago has less than two years to spend its remaining COVID relief money, and when one restaurant week ends another begins.  Good News: Chicago Justice Gallery Film Screenings Want some more City Cast Chicago n...

Chicago’s new partially elected school board has its second full meeting on Thursday. While the new members are still settling in, the board has big issues coming their way like approving a new contract with the teachers union and finding a new CPS CEO. Chalkbeat Chicago editor Becky Vevea talks with host Jacoby Cochran about the political lines forming and how this board is approaching their new...

Earlier this week at Federal Plaza, over a hundred people protested the Trump administration’s sudden mass firing of thousands of federal workers. The Triibe’s Corli Jay and the Sun-Times’ Mariah Rush are here to discuss the latest confusion as tens of thousands of Chicago area federal workers face uncertainty. Plus, we’re discussing how Black-owned bookstores are managing, Walgreens shuttering fi...

Attacks on civil rights, economic anxiety, war abroad — the same things that worry Chicagoans today were also on people’s minds in the 1960s. That’s what emerges from Studs Terkel’s seminal oral history “Division Street: America.” The podcast “Division Street: Revisited” takes us back through those interviews and checks in with the subjects and their families 60 years later. Two of the show’s team...

Chicago Magazine recently put out a list of best new bars, and it included a Parisian-inspired bar in West Town, a spooky, horror-themed bar in Bridgeport, and a marble-clad bar in St. Regis Tower. The team pulled up on most of the list to see if the spots were worth the hype. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchica...

If you love Chicago as much as we do, then you know there are some things Chicagoans are just supposed to know. We’re revisiting our conversation from the fall about essential rules for living in the city. Maybe they’ll inspire you to add to our list of 1,000 things we love about Chicago as we approach our 1,000th episode. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our He...

Earlier this week, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, once the most influential politician in the state, was found guilty of bribery, conspiracy, and other corruption charges following a four-month trial and two weeks of deliberation. We’ve got WCIU TV host Brandon Pope and Block Club Chicago’s Jamie Nesbit Golden reacting to this historic conviction, including the juror's split verdic...

Chicago Animal Care and Control is having its annual “Love is in the Air” adoption event which offers fee-waived adoptions. The municipal shelter cares for 400 to 500 animals daily and in 2024, they saw an increase in animal intake and euthanasia. Last year, host Jacoby Cochran talked to CACC public information officer Armando Tejeda, who told us how the largest municipal animal shelter in the Mid...

More and more restaurants and bars are going cashless, meaning you must have a card or a phone to pay your bill. But many of Chicago’s most beloved spots are not only bucking the trend, they are committed to staying cash-ONLY. City Cast Contributor Leigh Giangreco spoke with restaurant owners to learn more. Good News: Crying at the Shed Film Festival Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then mak...

Episode Description: Months after the city ended its contract with gun detection technology ShotSpotter, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is searching for its replacement. Host Jacoby Cochran and producer Michelle Navarro explain replacement requirements and technology the city is already testing out. Plus, we talk about the new neighborhood map reimagined by residents and what places we are...

When an individual has bad credit, it might be harder to rent an apartment, buy a car, or get a loan. But what happens when a city or state has a low credit rating? After one agency downgraded Chicago’s rating and as the governor prepares to make his budget address next week, host Jacoby Cochran talks with DePaul University professor Amanda Kass about how municipal credit ratings work, why Chicago...

On Thursday, the Justice Department announced it is suing the city and state alleging “sanctuary laws” are impeding ICE investigations. Host Jacoby Cochran sits down with WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky and Heather Cherone to discuss the details of the lawsuit. Plus, Mayor Johnson is heading to Congress, women’s soccer reaches an investigation settlement, and Black restaurant week begins this weekend. Good...

While gyms, yoga studios, and cycling classes might be packed at the beginning of the new year, by now it’s probably dropped off a little. Most of us can agree, It’s tough to work out and stay active, especially during the winter in Chicago. That’s why host Jacoby Cochran is talking with fitness director Seobia Rivers about her realistic guide to working out in the city.  Looking for even more fit...

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and whether you’re spending it on a date, with friends, or riding solo, we wanted to help out with some of the best places for a romantic dinner, themed cocktails, and mouthwatering desserts. Host Jacoby Cochran sits down with The Infatuation’s Adrian Kane and John Ringor who bring their favorite picks.  Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make su...

Big concentrations of mergansers, a type of duck, were found dead along Chicago beaches this weekend. Advocates suspect it’s bird flu. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea discuss what this means for the city’s birds and the price of eggs. Plus, Mayor Brandon Johnson is outlining his priorities for 2025.  The first nine people who become members today will receive a tote bag! G...

Property tax bills are headed to mailboxes in Cook County. The 2024 first installment taxes are due March 4. That makes it a good time to revisit our conversation from the fall with the Tribune’s A.D. Quig and the Illinois Answers Project Alex Nitkin about property tax basics and why Chicago is always complaining about them. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our...

Chicago communities are grappling with the increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement presence. Chalkbeat Chicago’s Reema Amin and Chicago Tribune’s Laura Rodriguez Presa explain how ICE makes arrests and how schools are responding. Plus, they talk about how Chicago students’ test scores compare nationally and the reopening of Sikia, Englewoods’s culinary student–led restaurant, after five year...

Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Theatre Week — There’s still plenty to do in Chicago during the shortest month of the year. Host Jacoby Cochran, executive producer Simone Alicea, and producer Michelle Navarro are here with your best tips for February including best date spots and where to donate or volunteer around the city. If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for...

Sure, Chicago has a lot of great bars. But every Chicagoan knows that the best parties happen in a basement, especially if you have a home bar like Theresa “Mama T” Ferrell. Mama T’s impressive home cocktail skills have been making the rounds on TikTok thanks to her son, City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran. That’s why we’re getting Mama T’s best basement cocktail tips. We’re doing a survey to le...

 Top federal officials were out in Chicago this weekend as agents began arresting immigrants, making good on the Trump administration’s promise of a crackdown. The operations came after a chaotic week of fear following the inauguration and days after federal agents showed up at an elementary school in Back of the Yards, sparking a lot of confusion. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby...

Dolton residents will be voting for mayor in just four weeks, and this small south suburban election might just be the wildest political story in Illinois right now. Current Mayor Tiffany Henyard — who’s also the Thornton Township supervisor — has been accused of mismanaging public funds (from a taxpayer funded trip to Las Vegas to a line item for the mayor’s stylist) and retaliating against polit...

As threats of mass deportations in Chicago continue, we check in with WBEZ’s Adriana Cardona-Maguigad on how city officials, advocacy groups, and community members are preparing for the worst. Block Club Chicago’s Patrick Filbin also joins us to discuss a proposed housing development in Lincoln Park, a punk rock record label pushing for landmark status, and a 10-foot igloo! Good News: Jaja’s Afric...