City Cast Chicago

This Wednesday, the Chicago Board of Education will hold their first official meeting since Mayor Brandon Johnson replaced all but one member of the board earlier this month. While Johnson’s move is typical of new administrations, it holds extra significance since this will be the last fully appointed school board before Chicagoans begin electing members next year. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with W...

Earlier this week the Illinois Supreme Court ruled 5-2 to uphold the state’s elimination of cash bail, making Illinois the first state to officially end the practice. The law will go into effect September 18. Host Jacoby Cochran, Politico Playbook Reporter Shia Kapos and Tribune Music Critic Britt Julious recap the long road to abolish cash bail and what this means for individuals facing pretrial...

Organizers of the Silver Room Sound System Block Party recently announced that this would be their final year. Although it started as a more traditional block party in 2002, the event has grown to be one of Chi’s most highly-anticipated summertime fests, especially for Black Chicago. The Triibe Contributor Danielle Sanders talks with Jacoby about the legacy of the Silver Room Block Party and the v...

While music and street fests get most of the Summertime Chi hype, neighborhood block parties are probably the real unsung heroes. Already, hundreds have taken place, bringing BBQs, bounce houses, and casper slides to neighborhoods across the city. So what goes into putting on a block party? Host Jacoby Cochran sits down with Newsletter Editor Sidney Madden to find out. Sidney recently interviewed...

For a century, Chicago has had an enduring, complicated, and nostalgic relationship with block clubs — small, volunteer-based community groups. They began to assist Black people moving to Chicago from the South, but they’ve also been used to foster white solidarity in support of segregation. And block clubs have led beautification efforts, organized community members, and thrown block parties acro...

Mayor Brandon Johnson is now on the clock to make one of the most important hires of his term: Police Superintendent. On Thursday, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability handed Johnson a list of three finalists, and the mayor has 30 days to choose CPD Deputy Chief Larry Snelling, Cmdr. Angel Novalez, or Madison, Wisconsin, Police Chief Shon Barnes. Chicago Tribune reporter S...

An investigation into Northwestern’s football program revealed a history of hazing, including alleged coerced sexual acts, and allegations of racism. Longtime football head coach Pat Fitzgerald has been fired, and a planned $800 million dollar stadium renovation faces even more scrutiny. WCIU TV host Brandon Pope catches us up on the fallout and efforts to secure protections for student athletes....

We all know you can get books at the library. But your library card can get you way more than you think, from passes to city attractions to seeds for starting a garden. Patrick Molloy is government and public affairs director director for the Chicago Public Library, and Alejandra Santana manages the Manning branch on the Near West Side. They’re here to help us make the most of this free resource....

Summertime Chi would be incomplete without spending some time on Lake Michigan. But its easy to underestimate the dangers of the lake, even if you’re a strong swimmer. Host Jacoby Cochran sits down with Dave Benjamin, co-founder of the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project which tracks drownings and promotes water safety. Dave shares his key tips for enjoying the Lake safely this summer. Heading out on...

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s transition committee released its 223-page report outlining goals for the new administration. While many align with Johnson’s campaign promises, questions remain about how the city will pay for these efforts. Host Jacoby Cochran and lead producer Simone Alicea talk about the report, plus we hear your Malört opinions and get ready for summer blockbuster season. Windy City Sm...

Chicago is home plenty of new developments from high-rises to a presidential museum to a casino. But there are only a handful of so-called “mega developments.” These are decades long, multi-billion dollar projects that will transform parts of the city. Host Jacoby Cochran is joined by Kyle Schulz, head of business development at World Business Chicago, which is the city’s economic development agen...

What impact will the US Supreme Court’s recent decisions on affirmative action and student debt relief have on the future of higher education? We discuss it with WBEZ Higher Ed Reporter Lisa Philip and Lead Producer Simone Alicea. We also look at Chicago’s near record rainfall, the tenure of Chicago State University’s president, and various weekend arts events. Want some more City Cast Chicago new...

Chicago has its share of inside jokes, but none maybe more painful than goading newcomers into taking a shot of Malört. Whether you actually like the bitter liquor or you just want to see your friends make a weird face, it’s become a Chicago rite of passage. Host Jacoby Cochran has never tried it…until today. Joining us in the taste test and a round of Malört trivia is lead producer Simone Alicea,...

Chicago roller skaters have long been called the smoothest roller skaters for their intricate footwork, elaborate routines, and signature swagger. We visit MLK Roller Skating and Bowling Center in Auburn Gresham with Chicago legend Theresa “Sweet T” Ferrell, aka host Jacoby Cochran’s mother. She shares her 50 years of skating history, answers why James Brown is the godfather of Chi rolling, and ev...

Tired of the same old burgers and dogs on Fourth of July? Looking for something unique — and truly Chicago — to feed your out-of-town guests? Food writers Monica Eng and David Hammond have a whole book to help you out. “Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites” goes beyond deep-dish and hot dogs to provide origin stories, recipes, and recommendations for other mouth-watering local d...

Earlier this week, Chicago had some of the worst air quality in the world due to wildfire smoke from Canada. Officials have recommended masking and limiting outdoor exposure. But should Chicagoans be prepared for smoke to happen more often as the impacts of climate change hit closer and closer to home? Host Jacoby Cochran sits down with environment reporter Brett Chase with the Chicago Sun-Times a...

After weeks of road closures and a healthy amount of skepticism from city residents, NASCAR weekend is upon us. We hear from a few City Cast listeners and Hey Chicago readers, some of whom want to avoid the area and others excited for the race. Plus, host Jacoby Cochran talks with Don Ingle, a DePaul University sports communication professor about why Chicago and NASCAR pushed for their first ever...

The City Council’s committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights is slated to meet this morning — the same committee that failed to meet for over a year even as the city scrambled to house thousands of arriving migrants and asylum-seekers. Now, it has a new chair: Ald. Andre Vasquez of the 40th Ward. Vasquez sits down with host Jacoby Cochran to talk about how the crisis has affected his North Side wa...

Five weeks into Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first term, and supporters as well as critics are watching closely to see if he’ll keep his campaign promises. Recent moves to continue to allow local school councils to keep police officers in schools and a payment for the controversial ShotSpotter technology garnered quick criticism, but is it still too early for the new mayor? Host Jacoby Cochran and lead...

Chicago doesn’t end at 95th Street — but its busiest train line does. For 54 years, Far South Siders have been pushing for the Red Line to be extended, and for decades promises have failed to materialize. Now, with some funding secured, key City Council approvals, and construction finalists announced, Chicago is closer than ever to bringing this key transit lifeline to the Far South Side. Host Jac...

Chicago’s 52nd annual Pride Parade is Sunday starting in Uptown and ending in Lincoln Park. The Chicago Reader’s editor in chief Salem Collo-Julin talks about need-to-know information and the Reader’s latest Pride Issue. We are also joined by Chicago Magazine contributing editor Ted McClelland as we discuss efforts to increase minimum wage for tipped workers, a push for transparency in Harvey, and...

All this month, we’ve been bringing you our Summer Entertainment guide to help you tackle Summertime Chi with a plan. And when it comes to navigating the plethora of outdoor dining options in the city, you’re going to need one. For our final installment in the guide, we talked with Dario Durham, who co-hosts the “77 Flavors of Chicago” podcast. He gives host Jacoby Cochran the ultimate guide to br...

For eight years, Chicago has been dubbed the “rattiest” city in the country by pest control company Orkin. The city sees some 40,000-50,000 311 calls for rats each year, and they peak in the summer, says Josie Cruz, head of rodent control at the city’s Streets and Sanitation Department. Cruz joins host Jacoby Cochran to talk about why there are so many rats in Chicago and what you can do to keep t...

One of Chicago’s most slept-on contributions is poetry. From groundbreaking publications and institutions to acclaimed poets, Chicago is arguably the poetry capital of America. And yet there’s never been a Chicago poet laureate…until now. The city selected avery r. young as Chicago’s first-ever poet laureate this spring. Young was raised in the Austin neighborhood and has built a career as a write...

NASCAR’s first-ever street race is two weeks away, and closures near the Grant Park course are picking up. DuSable Lake Shore Drive lane closures will increase in the coming weeks, and Chicagoans still have plenty of questions about the economic benefits of the event and access to the lakefront. Host Jacoby Cochran asks the host of WBEZ’s Nerdette Greta Johnsen and WBEZ reporter Araceli Gomez-Alda...