The Block Club Chicago Podcast

With new tenants opening up on the Mag Mile, Melody Mercado on whether the famed shopping district is back.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Melody Mercado Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe...

The West Garfield Park Sankofa Village Wellness Center offers primary medical care, fitness services and more. Access to these things could help residents who live, on average, 16 years fewer than people in other parts of Chicago, advocates say. On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Rush, their VP of community health equity Rukiya Curvey Johnson discusses the opening.  Host - Jon Han...

After more than three years on the legislative backburner, the Illinois House approved a major economic development bill that would clear the path for the Chicago Bears to build a new domed stadium in Arlington Heights. The bill includes broader economic development provisions, especially for Chicago and Springfield. Blighted or underused rail yards in Chicago would be eligible for their own type...

Arrests are ticking back up, with immigrants targeted at hearings and in courthouses, although federal agents are far less present in the streets than they were in the fall. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Francia Garcia Hernandez Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering r...

Creators behind a new interactive event coming to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry have one goal in mind: fashion, but make it sustainable. Thrift Lab, which will feature an expert panel of speakers on sustainability and clothing, a textile mending workshop, a communal fashion project and a vintage market, will take place after hours at the museum from 6-10 p.m. April 30. It looks like a...

City officials filed a motion Monday asking a Cook County judge to enforce the immediate evacuation of all tenants and occupants at Ford City Mall — months after a local developer proposed a plan to transform the nearly vacant space into an industrial campus, records show.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Atavia Reed Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Bloc...

As Southwest Side neighbors were targeted or hid in their homes, Ald. Raymond Lopez repeatedly defended Trump’s immigration roundups on conservative and right-wing media. The 15th Ward alderman has long been a vocal and complex figure in the City Council. With roots in the Democratic machine, Lopez emerged as a tough-on-crime ward politician more than a decade ago and has evolved into an outspoken...

A maternal and reproductive health care center on the South Side broke ground this week as organizers prepare for the culmination of years of planning and fundraising. The  Chicago South Side Birth Center,  8301 S. South Shore Drive, will renovate the former Morning Star Bible Baptist Church into three birthing suites and a reproductive health clinic with culturally relevant midwifery care. The no...

Francis W. Parker School, a private K-12 college prep school in Lincoln Park, is moving forward with plans to expand its footprint following years of neighborhood backlash, failed buyout attempts and at one point a lawsuit. The school’s plan to expand, neighbors say, could cost families their homes, reshape a tightly knit residential block and deepen a yearslong rift between the school and the com...

Pat Tomasulo is a man of many talents -- from sports anchor on WGN-TV's Morning Show, to his hilarious standup specials, Pat has been making people laugh for decades. His wife Amy is one of roughly 400,000 people in the US who suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, a nerve disorder doctors classify as one of the worst pains known to mankind. Others simply call it “the suicide disease.” Pat and Amy sta...

Colon cancer rates are rising among younger Americans. But on today's podcast, Rush's Dr. Salina Lee demystifies the disease and highlights the recent progress made in diagnosing and treating patients.  Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Dr. Salina Lee   Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to deliverin...

Alpha Schools, opening this fall in the former GEMS Academy in Lakeshore East , says its AI-driven model can help students learn core academics in just two hours a day, freeing up time for workshops, unique projects and learning various life skills. Using only software, no textbooks or homework, the classrooms are also purged of traditional teachers and replaced with “guides” who are instructed to...

Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García dropped his reelection campaign at the last minute in November, giving Patty García, his chief of staff, a head start on filing petitions and potentially a clear path to Congress. The move instead set off a campaign frenzy; now, four independent candidates are vying for the congressional seat. The race is shaping up to be one of the most unique in the country as the seat —...

Riders across Chicago say safety problems on CTA trains are real, but they’re divided on whether the agency’s latest plan to increase policing on trains will actually fix them. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Patrick Filbin Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable...

A coalition of almost 250 elected officials, faith leaders, community organizations and other residents are demanding a special prosecutor be appointed to investigate alleged crimes committed by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chi...

Buckle up, Chicago: It’s going to be a wild weather ride for the next week. “What we’re about to endure over the next couple days can only be classified as the real March madness." Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Bill Snyder, WGN-TV meteorologist  Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering re...

Two popular Chicago craft brewers are merging to form a new company, their owners announced Tuesday.  Half Acre Beer Co. in Bowmanville and Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in Logan Square are combining to form a “unified beverage company” that will keep their respective brands active amid turbulent economic times for local craft breweries. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Shamus Toomey Read More Here Want...

Former Warlord chef and co-owner Trevor Fleming’s abusive behavior has led to an estimated $1.4 million loss in revenue at the once-celebrated restaurant, according to a lawsuit filed last month by Fleming’s business partners. Emily Kraszyk and John Lupton filed the case in Cook County Circuit Court on Feb. 19, the same day Block Club Chicago published an investigation detailing allegations Flemin...

There are about 30 mid-century neon signs remaining in Chicago — but not clear incentives for owners to keep them up when their small businesses close, preservationists said. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Mack Liederman Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable,...

The TRECC Global Campus for Youth & Families will house the Hip Hop Heritage Museum, a community center, sports and tech hub, workforce center and hotel, replacing long-shuttered McCorkle Elementary. It's one of many developments moving forward on the South Side with a focus on new technologies.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Jamie Nesbitt Golden Read More Here   Want to donate to our non-profit ne...

A Block Club investigation found dozens of protesters arrested by state police are still facing criminal charges for minor infractions, such as sitting on a concrete barrier — even after Gov. JB Pritzker vowed to protect their First Amendment rights. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Mina Bloom Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a ...

Five deep breaths. It takes longer than you think, we’ll likely get through this entire introduction till you’re done. But those five deep breaths are a great start at combating one giant source of an unhealthy heart - stress. On today’s Block Club Chicago Podcast, sponsored by Rush , Dr. Rupa Sanghani, on how unplugging for a moment, time away from the stressful chicago news cycle, might just sav...

Rev. Jesse Jackson was an icon, a civil rights advocate, a two-time presidential candidate and a political powerhouse for decades. He was also “Rev,” a fixture in the Jackson Park Highlands community and a “sweet” and “caring” man who would speak openly on his meetings with historical figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. over hot links on the porch, his neighbors said. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter -...

On Chicago’s Southwest and East sides, the presence of federal agents lingers long after they left town. The mental health of many communities needs attention. Businesses are still struggling to bring back customers. Chicago’s journalists are processing their exhaustive coverage of people taken, and teargas deployed. On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, reporter Francia Garcia Hernandez, details...

Companies operating food delivery robots will not be allowed to expand across parts of Wicker Park and Logan Square following overwhelmingly negative feedback from neighbors, the local alderman said Monday. Almost 500 1st Ward residents replied to an online survey distributed by Ald. La Spata’s office, with more than 83 percent said they “strongly disagreed” that the robots should be allowed to op...