Hear from a protest march underway near the United Center outside the Democratic National Convention. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said officers this week will avoid confrontation during marches and will not wear riot gear unless people are rioting. Phil Donahue, who created the format of the modern-day talk show and filmed in Chicago from 1974 to 1985, has died. He was 88.
With a big influx of people coming to Chicago for this week’s Democratic National Convention, WBEZ decided it was high time to gather some beautiful reminders of what makes our city so special. In this episode of the Rundown podcast, you’ll hear from three Chicagoans about what they love about this city and its people, including Adeeb Borden , the founder of CEO’s of Color, a non-profit that helps Black and brown teens start their own businesses; chef Diana Dávila , who opened the Logan Square r...
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says he’s as excited about the Democratic National Convention, which kicks off today, as Trekkies are for Star Trek conventions. Many patients at hospitals near the United Center are planning to see their doctors virtually this week to avoid traffic. The first major DNC protest happened last night, shutting down part of Michigan Avenue for hours without incident.
The Chicago Police Department is unveiling a new helicopter ahead of next week’s Democratic National Convention. A coalition of faith leaders has partnered with Great Lakes Credit Union to open a brick and mortar location in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams will make his Soldier Field debut on Saturday as the Bears take on the Bengals in their third preseason game of the year.
WBEZ’s sister station Vocalo takes music submissions from local artists – if the team likes the song, they play it on the radio. When musician Tala Silva sent in her song “ Goddess ,” Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez put it in the rotation right away and invited Silva in for an interview. In conversation at Vocalo, Silva described her sound as “very feathery, alternative-bedroom-indie-pop-R&B, I guess, to put it in short.” In this episode of the Rundown podcast, we hear how Silva got into music, how...
More than 20 synagogues in Northern Illinois received emailed bomb threats Thursday, according to Evanston Police. As the Democratic National Convention approaches immigrant rights activists say they will be voicing their demands for legalization next week and beyond. Convention organizers are unveiling a new fossil fuel offset program to lower the event’s carbon footprint.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will both have a moment in the spotlight during next week's Democratic National Convention. Illinois Democrats at the Illinois State Fair are using new enthusiasm for Kamala Harris in hopes of getting people excited about the rest of the ticket. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to replace the head of the public school system – amid tense contract negotiations – is prompting swift pushback from some in the City Council.
We hear reaction to the news that CPS CEO Pedro Martinez may be on his way out the door. Attorney Ben Crump is working with Sonya Massey’s family on a police reform bill named after her. Illinois Democrats are using new enthusiasm for Kamala Harris to get people excited about the rest of the ticket.
Dozens of Springfield-area residents are calling for an overhaul of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s office a little over a month after Sonya Massey was shot and killed by a former sheriffs’ deputy. Just five days from the start of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, protesters are still still fighting for more space to demonstrate. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is laying the groundwork to push out Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez.
The Salt Shed hosted thousands of amateur vocalists last week for an event they called “World’s Largest Karaoke.” “We’re taking some liberties with that title, but we had more than 8,000 people RSVP,” said Mary McKeen, who works on alternative programming at the Salt Shed. McKeen said a little more than 3,000 people showed up at the outdoor event, which was co-hosted by the Empty Bottle. “We were thinking about what we can do together,” said Empty Bottle managing partner Matt Ciarleglio. “Obviou...
Springfield community members are urging the Sangamon county board to reform the sheriff’s department. Pro-Palestinian protesters are appealing a decision that denies extending the parade route near the United Center to just one mile in length during next week’s Democratic National Convention. Democratic National Convention organizers have surpassed their goals for hiring minority or women owned businesses.
Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling says the police department is prepared to keep neighborhoods safe throughout the Democratic National Convention next week. Six Save-A-Lot grocery stores could reopen across Chicago’s South and West sides this fall after months of delays. Former Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland died this weekend at his home in Seattle.
The head of the Chicago Police Department talks DNC preparedness. Longest-serving Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland dies at 72. A city hotline meant to assist Chicago’s homeless population has been down for over a month… more on what’s causing the stoppage.
A promise from Republican governors to flood Chicago with buses of asylum seekers ahead of the Democratic National Convention has not yet materialized. A federal judge has ordered that most of the people incarcerated at Stateville prison near Joliet be moved to other prisons by the end of next month. Five University of Chicago students have received diplomas that were withheld due to their involvement in pro-Palestinian encampments.
There’s an exhibit on the Near South Side focusing on South Asian artists who have come through and thrived in Chicago. It’s called “What is Seen and Unseen: Mapping South Asian American Art in Chicago.” In this episode, Rundown podcast host Erin Allen talks to curator Shelly Bahl about some of her favorite things that she learned and brought forth into the exhibit. “I’ve always been fascinated by the things that are left out of art history,” Bahl said. “It’s these things to me that really matte...
The City of Chicago has not seen an influx of migrants as Republican governors promised. The city is still working out plans for residents impacted by DNC security restrictions near the United Center. Free vaccinations were administered at the Market Days festival this weekend.
Local and state transportation officials showcased a proposed overhaul of DuSable Lake Shore Drive at the final open house of the “Redefine the Drive” project. A new report shows alarming trends in maternal and infant health on Chicago’s South and West Sides. Chicago’s crosstown classic kicks off this evening.
Godly the Ruler is a Nigerian-born, Chicago-raised musician with an “emo-alternative sound,” one that’s “reminiscent of the early-to-mid-2000s,” according to Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez, who interviewed the artist ahead of their set at Lollapalooza last weekend. “Charting is in the future for them,” Hernandez said on The Rundown podcast. In this episode, Godly the Ruler, a.k.a. Godwin Oke, talks about playing the festival for the first time and growing up in Chicago. They also offer some advice for...
Jewish groups say they’re concerned about protests turning violent during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this month. The Sun-Times reported this week that the CTA hasn’t installed a single elevator in five years. The Illinois State Fair is offering gluten-free and vegan food options this year.
A wealthy suburban family backed out on its promise to help hundreds of Chicago students pay for college just weeks before the fall semester, and now some former scholarship program staff are stepping in to help. Illinois residents can now apply for mail ballots for the November presidential election. The Illinois State Fair is underway in Springfield – and some top officials are urging you to try it.
Tributes to Chicago police officer Ella French on the third anniversary of her death in the line of duty. Illinois has a new set of laws on the books protecting reproductive rights. Chicago residents who live near the United Center had an opportunity to ask Chicago leaders about the upcoming Democratic National Convention taking place in their neighborhood.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Lieutenant Gov. Juliana Stratton want the Sangamon County Sheriff to resign. Cook County officials are announcing plans to build a new health center on Chicago’s South Side. The premier of the Chicago Bears’ Hard Knocks documentary proved a treat for fans of football and gymnastics.
Rundown host Erin Allen guides us through a first person account of a fateful day in Chicago history: August 8, 2004, when a celebrity tour bus dumped human waste on an unsuspecting architecture tour boat. Hear from two people who were on the scene: Brett McNeil explains what it was like to be on the boat, including the crowd’s transition from “stunned silence” to “pandemonium.” Angela Rozas O'Toole explains the aftermath, and where this story sits in the Chicago pantheon of stories.
Delegates for the Democratic Party in Illinois say they are excited by Kamala Harris’ VP pick. Friends and family of Sonya Massey gather outside her home Tuesday night for a vigil. It will now be easier for people to get an Illinois state ID upon leaving jail or prison.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he’s excited his friend Tim Walz, a fellow midwestern Democratic governor, is the party’s vice presidential nominee. The Illinois State Board of Education is launching an ad campaign to recruit more teachers statewide. The U.S. Women's Soccer Team – which features two players from the Chicago Red Stars – has secured a spot in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics.
It’s getting down to the wire for a federal judge to decide exactly where demonstrators can march near the United Center for the Democratic National Convention. Details on how the DNC is promoting Chicago’s neighborhoods to get visitors to explore beyond downtown. Some prominent Illinois Republicans are working to get Kamala Harris elected president.
Three activist groups are still negotiating with the City of Chicago on exactly where they can march near the United Center, just two weeks before the start of the Democratic National Convention. Chicago’s Damen Green Line station is up and running at Damen Ave. and Lake St. more than seven years after the project was first announced. After their loss on Sunday the Chicago White Sox have extended their franchise record losing streak to 20 games.
What started as Trisha Prabhu’s science fair project at Naperville’s Scullen Middle School eventually turned into a finalist at the Google Science Fair, a small business, a deal winner on Shark Tank, and most recently, a winner of a $100,000 grant via The Lonely Hearts Club Funding Challenge. Her company is called ReThink , a “nonintrusive, patented technology that effectively detects and stops online hate before the damage is done.” “I want to try and think about how we can tackle cyberbullying...
Illinois tax revenues off to a good start so far, a new firearm safety storage program at dozens of healthcare facilities
The Chicago Office of Police Accountability is investigating a police officer who was caught on video punching and pointing a gun at a man during an arrest. Venezuelans in Chicago are organizing a vigil tonight as tensions escalate back home in the aftermath of President Nicolas Maduro’s self-proclaimed re-election. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says his administration has spent 83% of the city's COVID relief funds.
