The Block Club Chicago Podcast

Every bird you’ve ever seen— every pigeon at a bus stop, every penguin at the zoo— is a living, breathing dinosaur. Birds are the only group of dinosaurs that survived the mass extinction. A fossil called Archaeopteryx is the earliest known dinosaur that also qualifies as a bird -- and you can see it at the Field Museum.  Read More Here Episode Sponsored By The Field Museum Want to donate to our n...

Residents of an affordable housing building in Lakeview say they’ve felt trapped and unsafe for months as the building’s new management delays repairs to the main elevator. Wheelchair users and others with mobility issues at The Parkway, 712 W. Diversey Parkway, said they’ve had to cancel doctor appointments, miss prescription pickups and struggled with basic tasks like grocery shopping due to the...

Why, after almost a century of toiling in obscurity, did Malört experience a cultural and economic renaissance in the 2010s, making it not just a staple at Chicago dive bars but in high-end cocktail lounges and cities around the country? Those questions are all addressed in local writer Josh Noel’s latest book, “ Malört: The Redemption of a Revered and Reviled Spirit ,” published earlier this mont...

Not everyone has noticed it, but listeners from Beverly To Edgewater have complained recently of a sulfur-like sour smell emanating in Chicago. Kevin Fitzpatrick from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago chimes in on what might be creating the smell.  Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Kevin Fitzpatrick Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Ch...

Fifty years after Clemente Community Academy opened with the promise of serving the community, its students are missing critical instruction time because of absent teachers. 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) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpart...

Chicago Public Schools students returned to class last week — amid an excessive heat warning, ongoing student transportation challenges, and growing friction between district leadership, the teachers union, and the mayor’s office. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Becky Vevea  Read More Here BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO'S FIRST EVER BLOCK PARTY DETAILS! And shoutout to the Thirsty Ears Festival Want to donate to...

While CTA riders coped with dirty and delayed trains and buses, Carter spent a cumulative total of more than three months in other U.S. cities, Spain, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and Australia from spring 2023 to spring 2024. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Manny Ramos 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 or...

ACM’s Thirsty Ears Festival is Chicago’s only classical music street festival! For two days Wilson street between Hermitage and Ravenswood are closed to feature stellar ensembles and soloists performing music from Beethoven to Shostakovich to Reich and everything in between on the main stage. Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a&nb...

An eventful final day at the DNC convention. Block Club reporters covered it all.  Reporters - Mack Liederman, Alex V Hernandez, Melody Mercado, Colin Boyle, Jamie Nesbitt Golden, 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 dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan co...

An eventful Day Three of the DNC featured continued protests, a strange incident involving maggots, the pomp inside the United Center and a sit-in following the festivities. Block Club Chicago covers its all.  Reporters - Melody Mercado, Colin Boyle, Mack Liederman, Quinn Myers, Ariel Parella, Gwen Ihnat.  Read More Here   Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club...

The DNC is halfway through, and day two featured energy, drama, and some weird stuff too! Our reporters covered it all.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporters - Melody Mercado, Colin Boyle, Quinn Myers, 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 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reli...

The 2024 Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago Monday, after months of preparations and an eventful summer that saw Vice President Kamala Harris abruptly become the party’s nominee as President Joe Biden stepped aside. Here's what part of the day sounded like from Block Club reporters.  Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501...

Marques “Merk” Elliston and Cher’Don Reynolds hope to buy the former Strangers Home Missionary Baptist Church and convert it into the Cabrini Art House, an arts and community center. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Patrick Filbin Read More Here Ahead of the school year, Block Club is partnering with the organization Open Books to provide 1,600 free books to CPS students on the South and West sides. E...

An analysis of city permit data found many street festival producers are submitting permits for crowd sizes significantly lower than what’s being advertised online — but the estimates are used to make safety plans. 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 organiz...

Dave Matthews’ tour bus emptied its 800-pound septic tank on people taking a cruise 20 years ago this week. One boat passenger thinks the band has paid an unfair price for its driver’s error, but gets why Chicagoans won’t forget. And some people think that the incident actually helped the Chicago River.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Clint Worthington Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit...

Gator trapper Frank Robb said Chance is the “beefiest and bossiest” gator at the Florida gator farm, where he’s been living “a glorious life” since he was caught. Mina Bloom on how Chance changed everything.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Mina Bloom Read More Here Buy Block Club Animals Merch! Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) no...

The “mother of synchronized swimming” was once an instructor at Wilbur Wright College. The college’s longtime synchro club is trying to rebuild after losing members during the COVID-19 pandemic. Host - Iridian Fierro 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) nonprofit news organization dedicated to...

For 71 years, piping plovers were missing from Cook County shores. Monty and Rose changed that in 2019, and one organization is working hard to ensure future generations return to Montrose Beach.  Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Tamima Itani   The Chicago Piping Plovers Organization Block Club Chicago's Piping Plover Coverage Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Ch...

WGN-TV Weather Producer Bill Snyder talks about the historic July 15th tornado outbreak, and why more days like it are likely on the way.  Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Bill Snyder   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...

The former chief financial officer at Loretto Hospital who was at the center of a COVID vaccine scandal in the early days of the pandemic has been charged with defrauding the safety net hospital out of $15 million. Our Kelly Bauer says it was reader tips that started her investigation.  Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Kelly Bauer Block Club Chicago's Loretto Hospital Coverage Want to donate to our no...

Another year of Nascar in the books, but the question remains -- is it worth it? Melody Mercado with a recap of what went down Nascar weekend, and how some neighbors, businesses, and community leaders feel about another race next year.  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...

Maggie Shea grew up sailing with her family on Lake Michigan on her grandfather’s boat WINDANCER, and quickly fell in love with being on the water and competing. Now, she's getting to represent the USA in the Paris Olympics! Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Maggie Shea   Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization ded...

The Silver Room Block Party and Hyde Park Summer Fest grew from neighborhood parties into popular, community-focused festivals. But the fests got too expensive for organizers, and some wonder if these types of events will return to the South Side. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Maxwell Evans Read More Here Maia McDonald's coverage of the final Silver Room Block Party BCC Pod Episode 21 Featuring DJ...

So many bikes litter the lake that the Fire Department, the rideshare company and a group of volunteers dubbed the Divvy Fishers Society can barely keep up. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Mack Leiderman 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 nonpa...

Tamar Manasseh, founder of Mothers Against Senseless Killing, is considering disbanding the group, which keeps watch over Englewood blocks, after she and fellow organizers were shot at and her pleas for help have been ignored. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Jamie Nesbitt Golden 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...