City Cast Chicago

Lollapalooza is back in Chicago this weekend. Since it landed in the city in 2005, Lollapalooza has gone from a smaller, two-day fest in Grant Park to a full-on, multi-day takeover of the Loop, the CTA, and other neighborhoods. New reporting from the Chicago Tribune shows the festival is not leaving anytime soon because of a contract extension negotiated in secret. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Tri...

Since the monkeypox outbreak started this spring, there have been more than 200 cases in Illinois, according to the CDC, and 197 in Chicago, according to the Chicago Dept. of Public Health. Vaccines are being rolled out, but it’s a slow and confusing process for patients — and health professionals worry the city isn’t doing enough. Host Jacoby Cochran speaks to Dr. Daniel Berger, who runs Northsta...

Yes, everyone has their Chicago critiques about “The Bear,” the FX on Hulu show about a celebrated chef who returns to his hometown to run his family’s Italian beef joint in River North. One thing that stood out was in episode two when the Chicago Health Department awards The Original Beef of Chicagoland a “C” grade for various health violations in the kitchen. Well, that’s not really how it works...

You can now apply to get a free bicycle next month through the Bike Chicago program, and the city is adding concrete barriers around miles of bike lanes. While bike and pedestrian advocates applaud these moves, the deaths of four children on bikes and scooters this year show more needs to be done. In addition to pushing for more protections, one way to stay safer on a bike could be a lesson to lea...

The Art Institute of Chicago lions went away recently to get a cleaning, but they’re back this week at their usual perch in front of the museum. The lions, plus the summer heat, had City Cast Chicago thinking about some ways to stay cool and enjoy some art. Host Jacoby Cochran and lead producer Carrie Shepherd have some recommendations in the city and the suburbs. Jacoby’s Picks: Remaking the Exce...

The Chicago Red Stars are ranked third in the NWSL, and the team’s been rebuilding after some players and the coach left last season following allegations of abuse across the league. It’s a young team and Claire Watkins says this season’s success is a “pleasant surprise” and that they're looking to the future. Watkins hosts a podcast about the Red Stars and writes for Just Women Sports. She breaks...

If you’re not following our professional women’s sports teams here in Chicago, we feel a little sorry for you. The Sky are ranked No. 1 in the WNBA and have won nine of their last ten games. And the Red Stars just came off a nine-match unbeaten streak and are third in the NWSL. Remember, both teams played for their respective championships last season with the Sky bringing home the team’s first ev...

Ecologists have been warning about Asian Carp for decades. The invasive species has infiltrated our waterways and threatens the Great Lakes ecosystem. One way to get them out? Eat them. That’s why Illinois officials have renamed the fish “Copi,” which comes from its copious numbers. The goal is to make it more palatable, but does the fish actually taste good? The City Cast team cooks up some Copi...

Chicago’s $31 million dollar basic income pilot will 5,000 families $500 a month for the next year. The first checks started arriving this week. We talk with freelance journalist Natalie Frazier and Xavier Ramey, CEO of social impact consulting firm Justice Informed, about the impact this program will have for participants. We also discuss a report outlining how the public wants the city to make C...

City Cast loves talking about things to do in and around Chicago. I mean have you seen our great Summertime Chi bucket list? But sometimes it’s nice to get out of the city and get a quick change in scenery to rest and reset. Luckily, we have plenty of options for day and weekend trips around the Midwest. So where should you go?  Thrillist’s Meredith Heil gives host Jacoby Cochran a few recommendat...

In the new film “Tagged,” a local street artist is accused of murder and searches for clues in Chicago’s murals with the help of an unlikely source. But the film is not just a murder mystery. It’s a love letter to the city’s street art and the artists on the fringes of mainstream recognition. It’s streaming now on Amazon. Host Jacoby Cochran spoke with filmmaker Grant Troyer about “Tagged,” Chicag...

We’re all feeling inflation at the grocery store. Food prices are up 10% compared to this time last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And those increases are a double whammy for food pantries, resulting in more people who need food and fewer donations from grocery stores and big distribution centers. Lead Producer Carrie Shepherd takes us to Care for Real, a food pantry in Edgewat...

One week after the mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in north suburban Highland Park that left seven people dead and dozens injured, details continue to emerge about the alleged shooter. Robert Crimo III, 21, has been charged with seven counts of first degree murder, and prosecutors say more charges are coming. Questions immediately surfaced about how the suspect was able to legally get the...

After two years of pandemic hiatus, the Silver Room Sound System Block Party is back next weekend. To celebrate, we set up at the Silverroom store in Hyde Park and talked with founder Eric Williams and block party host Ramonski Luv about the growth of the event and what we can expect this year. Plus, Jacoby breaks down the week’s news with Block Club’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden and “Hood Feminism” auth...

City Cast Chicago has been collecting listener and reader suggestions for our summer bucket list. Host Jacoby Cochran, lead producer Carrie Shepherd, producer Simone Alicea, and newsletter writer Sidney Madden share some of those ideas, and include some items from their own bucket lists. Plus! You can win City Cast Swag by participating in our Summertime Chi Bucket List Challenge. Here’s how to pa...

For the first time since 2008, StreetWise recently raised its prices. The weekly magazine will now cost $3, but you can still buy it from any of Streetwise’s ubiquitous vendors across Chicago. These vendors are fixtures in our communities, and some of them have been doing this going on three decades. Though the early part of the pandemic forced vendors off the street, more people are returning to...

While Chicago’s beaches opened Memorial Day weekend, many of the city’s 49 outdoor pools and 28 indoor pools remain closed. Today, 37 of the Chicago Park District pools are scheduled to open. One of the reasons behind the delay is a lifeguard shortage. The parks says there are 384 vacant lifeguard positions out of 821 budgeted for 2022. Host Jacoby Cochran spoke with City Cast friend and Chicago h...

We're off for the holiday, but we wanted to share this bonus episode from the Chicago History Podcast. We had host Tommy Henry on awhile aback to talk about the history of Bally's in the city, and today he's going to tell you about another iconic Chicago company. The Sears tower (now Willis Tower) was once the tallest building in the world and is easily the most recognizable building in Chicago, b...

The Supreme Court is back in the headlines thanks to another recent decision, this time limiting the ability to enforce Miranda rights. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Trina Reynolds Tyler, Director of Data at the Invisible Institute, and Maira Khwaja, Director of Public Strategy at the Invisible Institute, about the Supreme Court’s recent decisions, Candace Parker achieving yet another WNBA mileston...

Some will say House music is having a “moment,” thanks to the release of Beyoncé’s new single, “Break My Soul,” as well as the new album from Drake “Honestly, Nevermind.” But for the DJs, pioneers, and lovers of all things House, they would say the sound has only sustained and expanded its influence. All this makes it a good time to remember: House music was born in Chicago's Black and brown LGBTQ...

Voters in Illinois headed to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots for Democratic and Republican nominees for local, state, and federal offices. The City Cast Chicago team recaps some of the key races including for Governor, Congress, and judges. Helpful Links from the 2022 Primary Election: Complete List of Winners from Illinois Board of Elections City Cast Chicago's Primary Prep Playlist Some...

In case you couldn’t tell from the heat, summertime Chi is here. That means along with the tourists descending on the Loop, you’re also hearing the sounds of street performers downtown. The artists on these corners have an on-the-ground view of the city center during its busiest season. Host Jacoby Cochran asked one of those performers, Andrew David, to take him into this world. You can also catch...

We knew it was coming. But on Friday, the country officially entered a post-Roe v. Wade world, where abortion is no longer a constitutional right. Illinois officials are reminding people that abortion remains legal here. But at a Friday rally just hours after the Supreme Court decision came down, demonstrators yelled, cried, and warned about troubles to come. We hear some of those voices, and we t...

This episode was originally published on June 7, 2022. The reversal of Roe v. Wade won’t end abortion — it will make access to safe abortion much more difficult. Before the Supreme Court’s landmark abortion rights decision women had to take dangerous measures to end a pregnancy. Seeing the need, a group of women based in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood created a service that provided everything f...

Summer officially started this week, and the City Cast Chicago team has put together a little summer bucket list to get you through the next few months. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Chicago Tribune politics reporters Gregory Pratt and A.D. Quig about what they are planning to do this summer. Plus, billionaire Ken Griffin moving hedge fund Citadel to Miami, the Cook County assessor’s race, how CTA...