Chicago Public School officials closed a $500 million budget deficit, in part, by counting on thousands of positions to be vacant for part or all of the school year. Illinois U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky boycotted today’s address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress because of the ongoing crisis in Gaza. People who live in some south suburbs say any changes to public transportation in the region *must* include better accessibility.
Jul 24, 2024•3 min
DJ and producer Irwin “Chip E.” Eberhart says his contributions to the creation of the House music genre – alongside his crew of Kurt Landrum, Eric Taylor and Joe Smooth – often go unrecognized. “A lot of people make the assumption that House music just accidentally happened, but it didn't,” he told Rundown podcast host Erin Allen. “There was an existing House culture, but there was no genre of House until Kurt Landrum, Joe Smooth, Eric ET Taylor, and myself put together the Jack Trax EP.” “We i...
Jul 24, 2024•18 min
An attorney for Sonya Massey’s family says the U-S Department of Justice is now investigating her death. A new $7 billion dollar investment project is coming to the Near West Side. City officials are preparing for a surge of migrants arriving in Chicago ahead of the DNC.
Jul 24, 2024•5 min
An attorney for the family of Sonya Massey, a Black woman killed in Springfield by Sean Grayson, a white sheriff's deputy, said the U.S. Department of Justice is now investigating the shooting. Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker did not reject the idea of becoming Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in his first public appearance since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race for president. More than 10,000 Cook County residents will receive property tax refunds.
Jul 23, 2024•4 min
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is singing Governor J.B. Pritzker’s praises but stops short of a vice presidential endorsement. Despite the change at the top of the Democratic ticket – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is vowing a smooth Democratic National Convention. Body camera footage of Springfield woman Sonya Massey’s death is sending shockwaves throughout the community.
Jul 23, 2024•4 min
Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is among several key Democrats to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Voters in Northwest Indiana had mixed reactions to the news that Harris is President Joe Biden’s pick. President Biden’s decision to end his campaign could significantly alter next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Jul 22, 2024•4 min
House music was born in Chicago 40 years ago. To celebrate the genre’s birthday, the city is celebrating with events all year long. Darlene Jackson – also known as DJ Lady D, who the Chicago Reader named “Best House Music DJ in Chicago” – is on the House Music 40 planning committee and is scheduled to spin some music at Wicker Park Fest July 28 . “The roots of House come from disco,” she said on the Rundown podcast. “Frankie Knuckles actually popularized that statement, that House music is disco...
Jul 22, 2024•20 min
The majority of Illinois’ Democratic congressional delegation are backing Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential nominee this fall. Springfield community members are calling for change at a funeral for an unarmed woman shot by police earlier this month. The private foundation The Commonwealth Fund released a healthcare scorecard showing where Illinois excels and has room for improvement.
Jul 22, 2024•5 min
Cook County prosecutors are dropping the charges against four Northwestern educators who were charged with obstructing police during the pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus in April. Democratic Congressmen Sean Casten and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia are the newest members of Illinois’ congressional delegation to call on President Biden to end his reelection bid. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has come out against federal plans to expand a lakefront disposal site on the Southeast Side.
Jul 19, 2024•4 min
Oak Park-born musician Kara Jackson is taking the stage at Pitchfork Music Festival for the first time. Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez spoke with her ahead of her performance, and asked her how she would describe her sound. “While the foundation feels like folk – and I really just write songs mostly with me and my guitar – I think there’s so many other influences that show themselves,” Jackson said. “I’ve loved jazz and R&B and all types of music, so I think those influences definitely bleed out i...
Jul 19, 2024•20 min
Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood says the head of the Secret Service needs to resign immediately. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is in hot water with progressive organizers urging him to drop charges against them for a civil disobedience protest for Gaza in April. The state of Illinois is hoping to reduce climate change through capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Jul 19, 2024•5 min
Illinois Republican Congressman Mike Bost is joining the growing chorus of calls for the head of the Secret Service to either resign or be fired after the assassination attempt against Donald Trump. Northwestern University police arrested and charged four educators earlier this month for allegedly obstructing law enforcement during the pro-Palestinian campus encampment. Chicago-born actor and comedian Bob Newhart has died at age 94.
Jul 18, 2024•4 min
The Illinois GOP’s incoming chairwoman says it’s time to put aside differences and get to work. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is denying residents experiencing homelessness are being moved because of the DNC. Southeast Side environmentalists have a new report out about cumulative health impacts.
Jul 18, 2024•5 min
Residents of a shelter on the Magnificent Mile have been evicted to make room for occupants of a tent encampment being cleared ahead of the Democratic National Convention. Illinois’ House Republican leader is confident they’ll win back some seats in Springfield this year. The Chicago-set Hulu TV series “The Bear” received a record-breaking number of Emmy nominations this morning.
Jul 17, 2024•3 min
Major Taylor was both a world champion American cyclist who once held seven world sprint records and an activist who demanded equal treatment in the face of racist competitors and race organizers. Brenda Dixon, the president of the board for the Major Taylor Trail Keepers, puts Major Taylor on par with Jesse Owens, Arthur Ashe and other trailblazing American sports heroes who “stand on his shoulders without even realizing it.” “He was an activist before his time,” Dixon said of Taylor, who compe...
Jul 17, 2024•15 min
A former congressman from New York shares some tips on how to reach voters in larger cities. Mayor Brandon Johnson is expected to fill a long vacant leadership post in the City Council. Severe storms Monday night left behind severe damage as several tornadoes touch ground throughout the Chicagoland area.
Jul 17, 2024•5 min
An update on the latest WBEZ reporting from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Chicago’s Police Superintendent is talking up the city’s preparedness for next month’s Democratic National Convention in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump from a rooftop. Thousands of ComEd customers are still without power and a Northwest Indiana woman was killed during last night's severe weather.
Jul 16, 2024•4 min
As many as 10 tornadoes were reported in the Chicago area Monday night. Illinois Republicans are reacting to Former President Donald Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance as his running mate. Chicago alderpersons approved more than $11 million to settle allegations of gender and disability discrimination within the Chicago Fire Department.
Jul 16, 2024•5 min
Following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, Illinois Republicans showed a united front as they arrived in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention this week. Demonstrators who plan to march at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month are prepared for tighter security following the attack on the former president. Some Chicago area schools are considering taking stricter measures to limit cell phone use in schools.
Jul 15, 2024•4 min
Artist David Lee Csicsko uses bright colors, a dash of cubism and a touch of folk art in his portraits of LGBTQ+ icons like Alvin Ailey, Freddie Mercury, Keith Haring, Josephine Baker, and more. "[I'm] trying to sort of make that person as lively as I can make them so that you want to read about them," Csicsko said. "Because the further we get from those people, they can fade away, and I'm trying to keep them alive." An exhibit of Csicsko's work is open through July 27 at the Epiphany Center for...
Jul 15, 2024•19 min
Illinois Republicans are rallying around Donald Trump even more after Saturday’s assassination attempt as the RNC gets underway. Chicago hospitals are asking patients to be flexible during the Democratic National Convention next month. Illinois transit leaders are asking state lawmakers for more money.
Jul 15, 2024•6 min
Bally’s has announced it has secured the financing needed to complete the construction of its permanent Chicago casino and entertainment complex. The State of Illinois’ African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission will hold its first public hearing Saturday. Rural homelessness is a growing issue nationwide.
Jul 12, 2024•3 min
Jeremiah Paprocki got his current gig as the voice of Wrigley Field when he was 21 years-old—but you probably wouldn’t guess it from his voice. Now, at 24, Paprocki is breaking into TV with his own late-night show, “Late Nights in Chicago.” “We really want this show to be as Chicago as possible,” Paprocki said. “We’re looking forward to highlighting the city.” He talked with Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez about sports announcing and what inspired him to venture into late night.
Jul 12, 2024•19 min
The head of the DNC insists Biden is the nominee despite growing calls for him to step aside, Illinois Republicans are on the verge of choosing a new state party chair, and an iconic Chicago-based grocery chain celebrates 50 years
Jul 12, 2024•5 min
A north suburban congressman is the second congressional Democrat from Illinois to call for President Joe Biden to end his re-election bid. Chicago Public Schools says it has figured out how to close a $500 million budget deficit. Chicago and Illinois leaders are speaking out against the violence over the Fourth of July weekend.
Jul 11, 2024•4 min
Hollywood icon George Clooney has Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on a shortlist of potential Democratic replacements for President Joe Biden. Chicago leaders are speaking out against the wave of violence this past Fourth of July weekend. The Ashland bus route could be extended a mile north later this summer.
Jul 11, 2024•5 min
Kroger and Albertsons have a list of nearly three dozen grocery stores in Illinois they plan to sell ahead of their planned merger. Chicago’s most marginalized students have almost no shot of getting into CPS’ top test-in high schools according to a WBEZ analysis of district data. Health insurance companies in Illinois have to start phasing out the practice of “step therapy,” where an insurer does not cover a treatment prescribed by a doctor until the patient first tries a less expensive option.
Jul 10, 2024•4 min
Anthony Spaulding was incarcerated at 16 years-old and spent 27 years in prison. When he got out in 2022, the world around him barely resembled the one he remembered. He, too, was a wholly different person than he’d been nearly three decades earlier. “I don’t wanna say it was a blessing that I got locked up,” said Spaulding. “But it definitely gave me the time to sit down and reevaluate my life.” He spent that time taking classes and developing as an artist under the mentorship of legendary arti...
Jul 10, 2024•17 min
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is renewing support for President Joe Biden’s re-election bid while also not ruling out his own potential White House run. The City of Chicago’s inspector general says the police department has every right to fire officers who have associated once with a far-right extremist group. Leaders of Pace, the CTA and Metra throw cold water on the idea of a merger.
Jul 10, 2024•5 min
The remnants of Hurricane Beryl are barreling into the Chicago area. Students at Larry’s Barber College on Chicago’s South Side spent time today learning how to identify and respond to opioid overdoses. White Sox ace pitcher Garrett Crochet will represent the South Siders at next week’s All-Star Game.
Jul 09, 2024•3 min
