The Block Club Chicago Podcast

Alligator expert Frank Robb, who famously caught Chance the Snapper in the Humboldt Park Lagoon in 2019, reports that Chance is now part of a study examining why alligators are less prone to cancer than humans. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Frank Robb, Environmental Education Awareness Research Support and Services Subscribe To Block Club And Get A Print Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom?...

City officials are winding down Chicago’s emergency response to the new arrivals. But the seemingly endless line outside of the state resource center in Humboldt Park is a visible reminder of the daily struggles thousands still face in the city. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Mina Bloom   Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofi...

Alderpeople narrowly approved Mayor Brandon Johnson’s spending plan on Monday. The $17.1 billion budget will avoid a property tax hike after the mayor initially proposed a $300 million increase. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Quinn Myers Read More Here Subscribe and get a print! Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news org...

After nearly 30 years of answering listener’s home improvement questions on WGN Radio, Lou Manfredini said he doesn’t plan on signing off any time soon. “My wife says I’ll be on the radio until they turn it off,” the station’s longtime “Mr. Fix-It” said.    Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Lou Mandredini Episodes of House Smarts on WGN Radio Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we ar...

The crime wave this year in commercially dense neighborhoods like Lakeview and Lincoln Park has taken a financial and emotional toll on restaurant owners. “At this point, it’s part of doing business in Chicago,” said one owner. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Patrick Filbin Read More Here Subscribe To Block Club For Neighborhood Print Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are B...

Block Club’s 2024 Neighborhood Print Subscription Special is here! We teamed up with local artist Steve Shanabruch to bring you 62 incredible prints featuring infamous Chicago neighborhoods and landmarks all across the city. Check out all of the prints here. Through the end of the year, ALL subscription purchases (including gift subscriptions and upgrades) include a print of your choice. Our goal...

Last winter, researchers at the University of Chicago distributed a survey that asked residents to define their neighborhood boundaries. The survey got more than 5,500 responses and identified more than 100 unique neighborhoods. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter Molly DeVore Make Your Neighborhood Map Here Read More Here Become A Block Club Subscriber Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK...

Today's episode is sponsored by Chase, and their 'Coaching For Impact' program that helps many small businesses in Chicago. One business is SydPlayEat, providing Chicagoans the easiest way to enjoy real truffles at home.  More about Chase's Coaching For Impact  More about SydPlayEat Check out the Block Club Chicago Gift Guide Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block C...

Block Club Chicago's Linze Rice went deep — like, really deep — into the history of some of the city’s most beloved and historic dive bars. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Linze Rice Read More Here Get Your Neighborhood Prints 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, relev...

The police department has spent $22.6 million in overtime this year for officers working special events — only about $2 million of which has been reimbursed to the city. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Melody Mercado 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, relev...

More than 30 police employees have died by suicide in recent years. Police reform advocates fear moves like this could leave the city — already behind on its consent decree targets — in contempt of court. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Mack Liederman Read More Here Meet the Chicago Archaeopteryx At The Field Museum Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago i...

A Far South Side grocery store closed abruptly Sunday, leaving West Pullman with minimal access to fresh food. It's part of a larger trend of stores leaving communities without fresh produce, and expanding already vast food deserts.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Atavia Reed Read More Here All Block Club Grocery Coverage Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Cl...

Caleb Westbrooks, 15, was shot and killed in January 2022 in West Town. Corneal Westbrooks has written a children’s book to show people who his son was beyond the heartbreaking headlines. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Corneal Westbrooks Buy 'Caleb The Great: Touchdown In New Orleans' Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3)...

Uber driver Provy Taylor’s new book details interesting stories from his rides — from polyamorous women with two husbands to struggling young athletes to a group of masked men who held him at gunpoint. Buy Provy's Book 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 a...

A wet and windy Election Day in Chicago saw robust turnout by voters, with hundreds of thousands casting ballots. Here's how it played out from the neighborhoods.    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...

As a candidate for mayor, Brandon Johnson repeatedly pledged he would not raise property taxes during his first term in office. “I’m not going to raise property taxes. I’m the only person running in this race who made a commitment to that,” he said during a Block Club interview in March 2023. “For my first term, we’re not raising property taxes.” But facing a series of tough decisions over how to...

Lou Chukman is seeing one of his most lucrative years on record thanks to a slew of high-profile Chicago trials from former Ald. Ed Burke to El Chapo’s son — and now former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. 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 organizat...

The internet and big-box competitors have put many locally owned costume shops out of business. Fantasy Costumes and Chicago Costume Company say they’ve managed to stay afloat by adapting and offering unique selections. Hosts  - Iridian Fierro, Jon Hansen Reporter - Molly DeVore Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) n...

One of the biggest races on the ballot in Chicago this election cycle is the Cook County State’s Attorney race. In the spring, Eileen O’Neill Burke beat her democratic opponent by 1,571 votes - two tenth of a percent. Now, she faces Bob Fioretti, a familiar name in Chicago democratic politics, now a republican. On today’s podcast, Quinn Myers previews the race after sitting down with both candidat...

Federal Defense Attorney Mike Leonard explains what former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is charged with, and how a recent U.S. Supreme Court Case could make the case more difficult for federal prosecutors.  Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Mike Leonard, Leonard Trial Lawyers Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organ...

After Mayor Johnson's combative press conference Monday, Mick Dumke looks back at previous Chicago mayors and their relationship with the press and constituents. Turns out, there's a common thread -- defiance from a Chicago mayor may be a feature and not a bug.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Mick Dumke Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicag...

A majority of the city’s aldermen are calling for a hearing into Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handling of the Chicago School Board and Chicago Public Schools after the school board’s members resigned en masse Friday. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Quinn Myers 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...

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the six new members at a South Chicago church just three days after the current board announced they would resign. Forty-one alderpeople have signed a letter criticizing how the mayor handled the situation. 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 d...

A new Trace analysis shows a decreasing percentage of Chicagoans survive gunfire. Researchers, experts, and community members say access to more lethal weapons and devices that make guns more dangerous are to blame. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Rita Oceguera 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 organiz...

Despite weeks of pressure from Mayor Brandon Johnson and the teachers union, the Chicago Board of Education did not remove Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez from his post last week. Reema Amin explains why there's tension between the mayor and CPS chief.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Reema Amin Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chica...