The Block Club Chicago Podcast

As questions about Water Tower Place’s future swirl, city leaders say a new plan will prevent the historic mall from becoming another casualty of the pandemic-era retail collapse — and could spark fresh momentum for the Mag Mile’s ongoing revival. Host - Iridian Fierro Reporter - Melody Mercado Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a&...

Mat Riendeau, his wife, and their three kids spend fall, winter, and spring like all Chicagoans. In the summer, they commute to Kodiak Island, Alaska, and really get to work.  More About Hook Point 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 covera...

Teacher Jacqueline Alcántara’s book is inspired by her experience as a first-generation child growing up in a Spanish-speaking household. Families can attend a launch party Saturday in Pilsen. Host - Iridian Fierro Reporter - Francia Garcia Hernandez Guest - Jacqueline Alcántara Tíos and Primos, By Jacqueline Alcántara     Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club...

Six survivors, some of whom were attacked as recently as last month and others back in 2022, have come together to speak out about their assaults in the Logan Square neighborhood. “We want our collective nightmare to end.” Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Ariel Parella  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...

Dobra Bielinski, owner and pastry chef at Delightful Pastries in Jefferson Park, with the proper pronunciation. 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 all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a m...

There’s now a Billy Goat at both Chicago airports, Navy Pier, near the United Center, and most recently Wrigley Field, with two additional locations for good measure and even more cheezborgers for sale in supermarket freezers. Business is sizzling. And late last year the Billy Goat Tavern turned the corner on 90 years. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Mack Liederman Want to donate to our non-profit ne...

When 25th Ward officials announced the reopening of a controversial Pilsen bar at a public meeting last week, Francia Garcia Hernandez wasn’t allowed to hear what neighbors had to say about it. That’s because Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez’s 25th Ward chief of staff kicked her out, a move media experts say may violate First Amendment rights that protect the press’ right to investigate and report the news...

City crews removed tents at the Gompers Park encampment Wednesday morning in Mayfair. The tent removals came after neighbors and elected officials pushed for the park to be restored,  and as advocates worried encampment residents would be forced out amid subzero wind chills. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Moly DeVore Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Blo...

Despite this week's cold snap, we have had very little snow in Chicago this winter. After a few years of below-average snowfall, WGN's Bill Snyder discusses weather the whether in winter has changed for good.  Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Bill Snyder, WGN-TV Producer Sponsor - Adult Education Classes At The Newberry Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago i...

The former Illinois House speaker — the longest-serving legislative leader in American history — was convicted by a federal jury of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud. The jury found him not guilty or deadlocked on other counts after more than a week of deliberations. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Mike Leonard Sponsored by The Newberry Library - Register for Adult Education Classes HERE Want to donate...

Yuritzi left her home in Michoacán, Mexico, three years ago. Planning to expand her family, she worried about sending her children to struggling schools in her Mexican hometown, where teachers were leaving in droves and kids couldn’t play outside because of gunfire, she said.  Over the past two weeks, Yuritzi is living in fear again, this time because of President Donald Trump’s vow to arrest and...

Court Theatre’s ‘A Raisin In The Sun’ is honoring Lorraine Hansberry’s South Side Tale 60 Years After Her Death. The cast of South and West Side natives are bringing a fresh “heartbeat” to the Broadway play nearly 70 years after its debut. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Atavia Reed Read More Here Buy Tickets Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is...

Dorval Carter Jr. is in line for a substantial pay hike. Carter’s tenure as the highest-compensated employee in city government ended when he stepped down as CTA president on Jan. 31, giving up his $391,108 salary. But in a few weeks, he’ll start receiving a $137,000-a-year pension, according to the CTA. As a longtime federal employee, Carter also likely qualifies for a federal pension. Federal of...

State officials and immigrant advocates are not backing down on efforts to protect undocumented immigrants from President Donald Trump’s deportation surge that has led to “over 100” arrests in the Chicagoland area as of Tuesday. 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...

Google’s $105 million purchase of the Thompson Center in 2022 marked a turning point for Chicago’s struggling financial district. Plagued by high office vacancies and dwindling foot traffic, the area is now being primed for city-backed residential projects and the arrival of thousands of Google employees. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Melody Mercado Read More Here Sponsored by The Newberry Library...

A proposed $7 billion redevelopment plan for the United Center has crossed the latest approval threshold before heading to City Council for a vote. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Michael Liptrot 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 c...

Block Club Chicago Photojournalist Colin Boyle chats about how he captures Chicago -- the good, the bad, and the awesome.  Follow Colin on Instagram Colin's Work At Block Club Chicago 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 div...

The incoming Trump administration is planning large-scale deportations in Chicago starting next week, according to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times — and the city’s immigrants are preparing. Read More Here More With Cindy Buys 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 deliverin...

Ald. Marty Quinn pushed and passed an ordinance that forcing smoke shops selling hemp-derived THC to close while Democratic lawmakers argue over how to regulate the “loophole” products — and who can make money from selling them. 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) nonprofi...

City Council has cleared the way for a multibillion-dollar quantum computing campus to be built on the former U.S. Steel South Works site in South Chicago. Maxwell Evans explains what this means to the neighborhood, and University of Chicago graduate student Chloe Washabaugh explains what it's all about.  Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Ch...

After eight months of contentious talks that cost CEO Pedro Martinez his job, Chicago Public Schools teacher contract negotiations are entering a decisive phase. Chalkbeat Chicago's Becky Vevea explains.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Becky Vevea 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 dedicat...

A Texas bankruptcy judge has rejected the sale of conspiracy theory platform InfoWars to Chicago-based satire site The Onion. The decision comes after a dispute, played out over a two-day hearing, between The Onion and another bidder for InfoWars founder Alex Jones’ company. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Clint Worthington Read More Here Listen to Knowledge Fight Here Want to donate to our non-profi...

How The Rosenwald Apartments Became ‘A City Within A City’ — And Its Neighbors Became Family Wrigley Field Ballhawks Now An Endangered Species As Fewer Baseballs Reach The Streets How A Plan To Help Migratory Birds At LaBagh Woods Is Making The Entire Forest Preserve Thrive There’s Been A ‘Dry’ Precinct In Ravenswood For 117 Years — But Voters Are Trying To Change That How Birdwatching Makes Chica...

Some of the stories we loved to cover in 2024.  West Side Photographer Offers Visual Love Letter To Community With #MyWestSideStory Venezuelan Couple’s Empanadas A Hit In Humboldt Park, Selling Out Daily As They Wait For Work Permits Podhalanka Owner Retiring, Leaving Iconic Wicker Park Polish Restaurant’s Future Uncertain After Being Paralyzed In Shooting, Uptown Man Found Adaptive Sports. Now, H...

The One City Basketball League, made up of teams formed by violence intervention groups, crowned a new champ Saturday. Noah sat down with Block Club to talk about his work in Chicago. Host - Jon Hansen Reporters - Iridian Fierro, Michael Liptrot Read More Here Today's Episode is Sponsored By Chase's Coaching For Impact Program More On SydPlayEat Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HER...