The Block Club Chicago Podcast

In “A House of Dynamite,” the U.S. nuclear defense apparatus is caught off-guard by a single intercontinental ballistic missile, which is fired from an unknown point of origin and is headed toward Chicago. What do experts say would happen if this played out in real life? Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Clint Worthington  Read Clint's Story Here Check out NUKEMAP Here More on Thursday's event Here Wan...

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis took the unusual step of ordering Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino to appear in court every day to report on “use of force incidents” after a series of tear gassings in Chicago neighborhoods flouted her past orders. On Wednesday, less than two hours before Bovino — the head of Trump’s Chicago immigration crackdown — was set to appear before Ellis for hi...

65% of men say they avoid seeking medical attention as long as possible Only 3 in 5 men go for their annual physical. And in Chicago, men are 10% less likely to have a primary care provider compared to women. And die 6 years earlier than women on average. On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Rush , doctor Zachary Glaser from Rush University's Department of Urology, on how 'Movember'...

With the Obama Presidential Center set to open next year, Maxwell Evans joins the podcast to discuss the long journey for the center, how neighbors feel as it nears completion, and if people really think it looks kind of ugly.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Maxwell Evans 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...

When 16-year-old Ofelia Torres’ father called from the Broadview ICE facility to say he had been taken by four masked federal immigration agents, the teen’s mother was at home helping drain the small IV port that keeps Ofelia nourished and alive during Stage 4, while the teenager showed her cousins how the small medical contraption worked. For almost a year, Ofelia Torres, a student at Lake View H...

Hundreds of people showed up Tuesday night at events across the Northwest and West sides to assemble whistle kits that Chicagoans can use to alert neighbors when immigration enforcement agents are nearby. The events came as Chicagoans are increasingly looking for ways to peacefully resist federal operations Midway Blitz and At Large, immigration enforcement programs that kicked off in September. H...

A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order Thursday against National Guard Troops mobilized this week in Illinois against the will of state and local officials. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney Judge Partially Blocks Trump’s National Guard Mobilization To Chicago   Judge Rules Feds Can’t Pepper-Spray, Tear-Gas Journalists After Block Club Chicago And Othe...

Live from Saturday's Block Club Chicago Block Party at Half Acre, we wanted to know the most Chicago thing that's ever happened to you! Thank you all for coming to the event! Hosts - Jon Hansen, Iridian Fierro 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...

After a crowdfunding campaign, a full interior overhaul and rummaging through a ton of sports memorabilia, a highly-anticipated women’s sports bar is now open in Logan Square. Babe’s Sports Bar at 3017 W. Armitage Ave. had a soft opening Saturday after nearly a year of renovations , creating a space for fans of women’s professional sports, said bar owner Nora McConnell-Johnson. Host - Iridian Fier...

Michele Dreczynski has fond memories of her son riding bikes through the park by her riverside townhouse “completely free and untethered.” That was before the park — with city-mandated public hours — was fenced in by her homeowner association. Metal gates at River Village North Townhomes, 1005 N. Kingsbury St., have gone up near West Hobbie and Oak streets, completing the fencing around the small,...

Today's episode, sponsored by Chase For Business , highlights the story of Chris Clark and his growing racketball empire - Toss and Spin . Joining Chris on the podcast is Mikal Quarles, the visionary behind the " Coaching For Impact " program that teams up small business owners with Chase coaches to help their businesses grow. Today's episode was recorded Thursday at Chase For Business' 'Make Your...

It’s been 27 years since a Milwaukee man strolled into a Chicago studio to record the thousands of directions, delays and warnings that still move the nation’s third-largest city. Lee Crooks, “The Voice of the CTA” who tells “L” and bus riders what stop is coming and on which side the doors open, doesn’t have much to say about the fact that most people still don’t know the name behind the recordin...

CPS said in a letter to the U.S. Department of Education it would not walk back the rollout of its Black Student Success Plan or change its policies related to transgender students until a federal investigation is completed. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Becky Vevea, Chalkbeat Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonp...

Development fights are often won or lost in the community meeting. And so-called (though some would argue unfairly labeled) NIMBYs are often at the meetings in force, and can kill a project or fight for a compromise. Quinn Myers details some battles he's covered, and Madison Savedra is in the midst of a fight brewing on the North Side over a gigantic zoning change with huge consequences.  Host - J...

Yohei Yamada reunites boaters with valuables they’ve dropped into the lake — from cellphones to wedding rings and Rolex watches. In the water is also where he is finding himself again. Host - Iridian Fierro 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 deliver...

Anthony Rizzo, one of the most beloved Chicago Cubs in recent memory, announced his retirement from baseball Wednesday morning — and he’s doing so as a Cub. The 14-year MLB veteran, who spent a decade anchoring first base at Wrigley Field, will work with the Cubs as an official ambassador, the team announced Wednesday. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Shamus Toomey Read More Here Want to donate to our no...

The surge in federal immigration raids has started in Chicago. The surge, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, will target undocumented people in Chicago and throughout Illinois, according to a press release issued Monday by the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Host - Jon Hansen Reporters - Quinn Myers, Francia Garcia Hernandez Read More Here - Quinn's...

Data centers powering artificial intelligence are putting a strain on Lake Michigan and other local water systems, which could lead to water shortages if not addressed, according to a recent report from the Alliance for the Great Lakes . Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Helena Volzer, the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Senior Source Water Policy Manager Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HER...

The Austin shop carries on the legacy of its founder, James Cole, who died in 2022. But these days, employees are as likely to fix up Jordans and Uggs as they are leather dress shoes, said his son and current owner Vernon Cole. Host - Iridian Fierro Reporter - Michael Liptrot Read More Here More on episode sponsor, Rush Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Ch...

Patients and staff have reported filthy rooms, broken supplies and a flooded ER at Community First in Portage Park despite the tens of millions in taxpayer grants sent to the for-profit safety-net hospital since the pandemic. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Manny Ramos Read More Here More on today's sponsor, Columbia College Chicago  Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Bl...

When South Siders have a taste for the sweetest summer fruit, they know exactly where to find it: on Kenny The Watermelon Man’s truck at 83rd Street and Stony Island Avenue. Host - Iridian Fierro Reporter - Atavia Reed Read More Here For more about Columbia College Chicago - Click Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit...

As kids go back to school, pediatricians play an important role in helping students get ready for potential illnesses -- including some that have percolated throughout the summer. Pediatricians also are on the front line of helping kids deal with the emotional and mental issues that come from heading back into the classroom. Today's episode, sponsored by Rush, features pediatrician Dr. Elizabeth R...

The Uptown Theatre has sat vacant for 44 of its 100 years. Efforts to reopen it have come and gone. A new effort carries a $190 million price tag, with funding yet to be secured. “Uptown is missing its crown jewel,” its owner said. Host - Jon Hansen Reporters - Mack Liederman, Madison Savedra Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a&nb...

Logan Square farmers market attendees are flocking to a table in the boulevard to have their portrait drawn by Jacob Ryan Reno for $5 — and he’s “bewildered” as to why. Host - Iridian Fierro 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, relevant and nonpartisan cov...

For the first time in 98 years, the Chicago River will host an open water swim event early this fall The event — which was approved by the city after officials denied it a permit last year — takes place Sept. 21. But is it safe to swim in the river? Chris Anchor from the Cook County Forest Preserve weighs in.    Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Chris Anchor Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit...