City Cast Chicago

Both the White Sox and Cubs are having disappointing seasons so far. Which means no Chicago baseball fan is happy right now. And, there are very few Chicagoans will admit they root for both the White Sox and Cubs. The tension between the two ball clubs may be Chicago’s most well-known rivalry. One person who has lived on both sides of the fence is Len Kasper. Kasper just began his third season as...

Mayor Lori Lightfoot began her final week in office with a farewell address Monday. She touted her accomplishments on spurring development on the city’s South and West sides and her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. But there were some things she left out of her speech, too. Lead producer Carrie Shepherd and producer Simone Alicea join host Jacoby Cochran to break down the speech and discuss what...

More than 8,000 asylum-seekers, many from Venezuela, have arrived in Chicago since last fall. Unfortunately, the lack of coordination at every level of government has left many migrants without basic survival resources and services to make the transition once they get to Chicago. Plus, the city’s plan to open local shelters have run into pushback as residents across the city feel left out of the p...

The “ComEd Four” trial ended earlier this week when four former executives and lobbyists for the utility company were found guilty on all corruption and bribery charges. The case was billed as the biggest Illinois corruption trial in more than a decade. Now, that title and focus is likely to shift to next year’s corruption trial involving former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, whose voice,...

After negotiations with studios stalled, the Writers Guild of America officially went on strike this week. The writers strike may be seen as something only affecting Hollywood or New York, but members of the WGA write shows we all watc, and they’re not writing new ones until studios meet some of their demands for better pay and job security. Plus, WGA East has about 80 members based in Chicago. Za...

All four defendants in the “ComEd Four” trial have been found guilty on corruption charges, including a nearly decade-long scheme to bribe former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in exchange for legislation favorable to the utility giant. When the trial began in March, WBEZ politics reporter Dave McKinney explained why it was Illinois’ biggest corruption trial in over a decade and how the sc...

It’s National Small Business Week, and we are sharing love for some of our favorite neighborhood businesses. The city is also hosting webinars for current and prospective business owners all week, and pointing folks to the Shop Local website which has tons of resources. Plus, the Chicago Public Library has announced three new branches coming to Woodlawn, Back of the Yards, and Humboldt Park. Lead...

Last week, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced she will not be seeking a third term next year. Foxx was first elected in 2016 on a reformist agenda, supporting the end of cash bail, going after wrongful convictions, and expunging records for low level marijuana charges. However, she also faced constant criticism, with leaders blaming her office for spikes in crime. WBEZ criminal justic...

More than 7,000 mostly Venezuelan asylum seekers have arrived to Chicago from other states since last fall, many of them sent here by bus, train, or plane with no access to shelter, food, or medication. The scramble among state and city officials to provide resources and financial support continues as new arrivals take shelter at O’Hare and in police stations. Host Jacoby Cochran is joined by WBEZ...

Deep-dish pizza is polarizing for tourists, newbies, and longtime Chicagoans. It’s mockingly referred to as a casserole rather than pizza, but some love the thick, crusty base filled with gooey cheese and topped with sauce. Most Chicagoans will tell you it’s not their go-to and that “real” Chicagoans opt for thin crust, tavern-style pizza. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to some deep dish fans and foes...

Last year, Lucy Westlake became the youngest American woman to summit Mount Everest. She previously broke the world record for youngest female to climb to the highest points in all 50 states. She’s also climbed the highest points on four of the seven continents. Now Lucy is preparing to climb the second highest and “most savage” mountain in the world, K2 in Pakistan. We’re revisiting our conversat...

The list of Park District summer programs was released Monday, so the competitive process of registration begins May 1. If you’ve been through the process or know anyone who has tried to sign a kid up for one of the many available programs, you know it is no walk in the park. We’ve got details for interested parents and guardians. Plus, we are breaking down the city’s latest efforts to recruit tee...

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson was in Springfield last week to pitch his mayoral agenda to Illinois lawmakers, including increased state funding for schools, more tax revenues for Chicago, and improved access to youth employment. But how likely is Johnson to find allies at the state capitol for his plans? WTTW reporter Amanda Vinicky gives host Jacoby Cochran the latest on the legislative spring sess...

Both Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Alderman Ed Burke had their last meeting in City Council this week. Lightfoot was defeated in February, and Burke, the longest serving alderperson in Chicago history, is retiring after being indicted on corruption charges. In May, City Hall will look a lot different as more than a dozen new alders and mayor-elect Brandon Johnson are sworn in. So what does the change o...

Nearly 100 years ago this week, the “National Barn Dance” premiered on WLS Radio in Chicago. The show introduced country and western music to a national audience — yes, even before Nashville. Journalist Mark Guarino’s new book “Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival” goes deep into the city’s country music roots. Guarino talks with producer Simone Alic...

From shows to festivals to bars to shops, there are plenty of easy ways to empty out your wallet on a busy spring day. So how do you have fun in Chicago without breaking the bank? The City Cast team, including host Jacoby Cochran (South Side), lead producer Carrie Shepherd (Near West Side), producer Simone Alicea (North Side) and marketing coordinator Jermaine Thomas (South Loop), planned their pe...

With taxes on the brain today, we have designated the entire week as “Personal Budget Week” in our daily newsletter Hey Chicago. The City Cast team will be the first to tell you they are not experts when it comes to budgeting, so lead producer Carrie Shepherd talked to NerdWallet writer Kimberly Palmer about some budget basics. And the team examines their own financial habits because whether you’r...

 In 1997, a 13-year-old Black kid from the South Side named Lenard Clark was beaten into a coma by a gang of white boys as he rode his bike through the Bridgeport neighborhood. The hate crime made national news with figures like President Bill Clinton providing commentary. But his talking points, like many in the media in the weeks following Clark’s beating, were hastily focused on reconciliation...

We’re coming to you on a Saturday with a special episode from The Moth, the arts organization that’s dedicated to true, first-person storytelling. At their live Mainstage events, storytellers work with a director and craft their experiences into a 10-minute story for the stage. Today, one of those stories by City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran. Jacoby recorded this in Harlem in ______ . Some of...

Chicago and Illinois leaders secured the bid for Chicago to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Walmart announced it’s closing four locations across the city, and the Bulls have a little more life left in them! Host Jacoby Cochran breaks down those stories with The Triibe co-founders Morgan Elise Johnson and Tiffany Walden. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up...

The new movie “Air” tells the story behind Michael Jordan’s debut shoe, the Air Jordan 1, nearly 40 years ago. Its groundbreaking launch sparked a wave of innovations across shoe companies and squarely placed Chicago as a leader in sneakerhead culture. If you’re not familiar, a sneakerhead is someone who collects, trades, or admires sneakers. For many, it is about so much more than a shoe. It’s ab...

The Blackhawks’ final game of the season is tomorrow after the team failed to make the playoffs for the third season in a row. But across the NHL, one issue that’s come up, again and again, is how teams are and are not celebrating LGBTQ Pride Nights at games. And Chicago wasn’t immune from the controversy when the team announced they would not wear the Pride-themed warmup jerseys due to “security...

Even before mayor-elect Brandon Johnson is sworn in May 15, he’ll face questions about his plans for city departments and who will lead them. Media and voters focused a lot on policing and public schools during the campaign, but host Jacoby Cochran and lead producer Carrie Shepherd dissect next steps for the Chicago Transit Authority and bike infrastructure, the Dept. of Public Health, and whether...

It’s Golden Gloves week! The renowned amateur boxing tournament is celebrating 100 years, with championship matches starting Thursday. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with two former Golden Gloves champs, David Diaz and Jorge “George” Pacheco, about what it was like competing and why the tournament is so important to Chicago. Some news: Virtual meeting on the development of DuSable Park in the Loop In-p...

The next mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, will be the first mayor from the West Side in 90 years when he is sworn in May 15th. But what will the next few transition weeks look like for the mayor-elect? To discuss, host Jacoby Cochran sits down with Pat Whalen of Good Evening with Pat Whalen, and producer extraordinare Simone Alicea. The trio is also looks at an Englewood protest over a new neigh...