The Rundown | Chicago News - podcast cover

The Rundown | Chicago News

WBEZ Chicagowww.wbez.org
In one bite-sized episode every weekday, we'll keep you informed, tickled, geeked, and pondering on Chicago's news, culture and people. Each episode starts with a quick news roundup from the WBEZ newsroom, followed by a deep-dive into one of the biggest or most curious stories from our city. The Rundown podcast is a one-stop-shop for all things Chicago.
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Episodes

Rundown for Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Students and faculty are calling on the University of Chicago to protect students from the Trump administration. Chicago’s summer jobs program is seeing yet another year of growth after a big pandemic-induced dip. Plus, Billy Corgan, of the Smashing Pumpkins, will stage a world premiere show at Lyric in November.

Mar 11, 20254 min

Morning News: Tuesday March 11, 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is now allowing the public to see the infamous “gift room.” U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan says he does not support a government shutdown, but is also against deep cuts to Medicaid. A measure to regulate Illinois homeschooling is getting some pushback.

Mar 11, 20254 min

Afternoon News: Monday March 10, 2025

A Chicago City Council committee gave initial approval to a $280,000 settlement stemming from a 2020 protest at the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park. People who live in Illinois owe more than $63 billion in student loans and face multiple levels of uncertainty as the Trump administration strips away debt relief programs. The city of Gary, Indiana is demolishing several old housing structures to make way for new homes.

Mar 10, 20254 min

Morning News: Monday March 10, 2025

The women’s rally downtown this weekend offered a platform to hundreds of locals to vent their frustrations towards President Trump. Public health officials are urging residents to stay current on measles vaccinations amid national outbreaks . Researchers have created a machine that can detect bird flu.

Mar 10, 20254 min

Rundown for Friday, March 7, 2025

Illinois is joining 19 states to sue multiple federal agencies. Property values have fallen in downtown Chicago. Plus, the newest Beluga calf at the Shedd Aquarium now has a name.

Mar 07, 20253 min

Morning News: Friday, March 7, 2025

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Illinois Department of Public Health officials say there was a more than 8% drop in overdose deaths in 2023, exceeding a nationwide decline of 4%. The results of an online contest to pick the new Illinois state flag are in.

Mar 07, 20254 min

Rundown for Thursday, March 6, 2025

After months of planning – city officials have begun connecting people living in Gompers Park with permanent housing. Illinois Department of Public Health officials are reporting an 8 percent drop in overdose deaths in 2023. Plus, Chicago released its first look at the summer festival calendar today.

Mar 06, 20254 min

Morning News: Thursday March 6, 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s stuck to his talking points during a Congressional hearing. Chicago advocates criticize GOP leaders for spreading misinformation about immigrants during a congressional hearing yesterday. Chicago school board members are facing big budget decisions in the next two weeks.

Mar 06, 20254 min

Afternoon News: Wednesday March 5, 2025

A day after announcing it was selling 443 federal buildings, Trump administration officials apparently have reversed course for now. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city’s sanctuary status helps reduce crime – not exacerbate it – while testifying before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee along with the mayors of Boston, New York, and Denver. As the Trump administration continues to slash the federal workforce, fired employees from the Chicago area are speaking out.

Mar 05, 20254 min

Morning News: Wednesday, March 3, 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to keep it cool, calm and collected at what’s expected to be an aggressive Congressional hearing on the city’s sanctuary status. A veteran Democratic congressman is strongly criticizing the Trump administration’s plans to sell federal buildings in Chicago. Preservation Chicago has released its annual list of the seven most endangered buildings in the city.

Mar 05, 20255 min

Rundown for Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Democrats Jan Schakowsky, Sean Casten, and Mike Quigley say they will not attend President Trump's joint address to Congress tonight. Hundreds of parents and some of their children rallied at the Illinois State Capitol today. Plus, a national theater group sees a silver lining in its latest report on the financial health of the industry.

Mar 04, 20254 min

Morning News: Tuesday, March 4, 2025

The mayor of Highland Park says it's a relief Robert Crimo III pleaded guilty yesterday. Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the Democratic Party needs to reset its agenda to win back the White House. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says it’s going to take $19 million dollars to fix up the site of Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home.

Mar 04, 20255 min

Afternoon News: Monday March 3, 2025

Robert Crimo III is pleading guilty to the mass shooting at the 2022 4th of July parade in Highland Park. A federal judge in Chicago is throwing out four of nine bribery convictions in a case involving a group of former Commonwealth Edison executives and lobbyists. Polish President Andrzej Duda is in Chicago to celebrate Pulaski Day.

Mar 03, 20253 min

Morning News: Monday, March 03, 2025

Chicago News: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s supporters sent him off to D.C. with words of advice. Opening statements begin today (MON) in the trial of the young man suspected of pulling the trigger in the Highland Park mass shooting in 20-22. Plus, Local medical experts worry that some patients may lose their lives, or livelihoods, if Congress slashes Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars.

Mar 03, 20254 min

Rundown for Friday, February 28, 2025

The Plainfield landlord accused of attacking his Palestinian tenant and killing her six-year-old son has been found guilty on all counts. More than a dozen Democratic elected officials in Illinois are blasting Republicans in Congress for voting to cut Medicaid health insurance by billions of dollars. Plus, Caitlin Clark is coming to the United Center.

Feb 28, 20253 min

Morning News: Friday, February 28, 2025

Chicago News: Five of seven charter schools slated for closure get another reprieve at an emotional Chicago school board meeting. After a judge rules in favor of federal workers, a Chicago area union leader calls the ruling a big win. Plus, The organizer of the new Social Change Theater Festival talks about the plays of tomorrow.

Feb 28, 20255 min

Rundown for Thursday, February 27, 2025

Dozens of parents, students, and teachers are asking the Chicago Board of Education to save their charter schools. The 2026 campaign for Illinois governor is starting to take off. Plus, an update on where you can get a REAL ID this weekend.

Feb 27, 20254 min

The Rundown: Thursday February 27, 2025

A charter school says an individual dropping off students yesterday got detained by ICE agents. A new lawsuit claims a vast conspiracy pinned a Chicago police murder on the wrong man. Plus, a Chicago-based nonprofit has filed a new lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders.

Feb 27, 20255 min

Rundown for Wednesday, February 26, 2025

The Chicago City Council plans to borrow $830 million dollars for infrastructure projects like street and bridge repairs. Governor JB Pritzker is demanding that the federal government release nearly 2 billion dollars that he says is being withheld. Plus, the Walgreens in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood will shut its doors.

Feb 26, 20254 min

Morning News: Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Emotional testimony in the first day of testimony for a south suburban man accused in the stabbing death of a 6-year-old child. Prosecutors allege the man attacked the boy because of his Muslim faith and the Israel-Hamas war. Chicago alderpeople are expected to debate a controversial borrowing plan spearheaded by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Plus, Chicago arts leaders want to see the city respond to changes in arts funding rules at the federal level.

Feb 26, 20255 min

Afternoon News: Tuesday February 25, 2025

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wants to restrict cell phone use in K-12 classrooms across the state. The mother of a 6-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in suburban Plainfield took the stand today to testify against the 73-year-old man accused of murdering her son. The Goodman Theatre will ring in its 100th anniversary this year by backing 100 free acts of theater — a series that will touch all 50 city wards.

Feb 25, 20254 min

Morning News: Tuesday, February 25, 2025

The latest in the trial of the alleged Highland Park mass shooter. The trial of a south suburban Plainfield man is expected to get underway today for the murder of a 6-year-old child and the attempted murder of his mother allegedly because of their Muslim faith. Plus, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker thinks Democrats should have done some things differently during the last presidential cycle.

Feb 25, 20254 min

Afternoon News: Monday February 24, 2025

Jury selection is underway in the trial of Robert Crimo III, the suspect in the Highland Park mass shooting. Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar has pancreatic cancer, according to reporting from Politico. Around 200 people came out Sunday to march in support of the immigrant and LGBTQ communities in Rockford.

Feb 24, 20253 min

Morning News: Monday, February 24, 2025

Ukrainian-Americans in Chicago observed the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of their home country. Transgender teens and their parents are angry and frustrated after Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago paused gender care surgeries. The Chicago Park District is looking to fill thousands of summer jobs.

Feb 24, 20255 min

Afternoon News: Friday February 21, 2025

Friday marks the 6th anniversary of the infamous, wrongful police raid on Anjanette Young’s home and Chicago City Council still has not passed her namesake reform ordinance. R&B legend and longtime Cook County Commissioner Jerry Butler has died. Chicago Black Restaurant Week wraps up its 10th year this weekend.

Feb 21, 20253 min

Afternoon News: Friday February 21, 2025

Friday marks the 6th anniversary of the infamous, wrongful police raid on Anjanette Young’s home and Chicago City Council still has not passed her namesake reform ordinance. R&B legend and longtime Cook County Commissioner Jerry Butler has died. Chicago Black Restaurant Week wraps up its 10th year this weekend.

Feb 21, 20253 min

Morning News: Friday, February 21, 2025

A renewed focus on extremism within the ranks in Chicago, don’t freak out if you don’t have an Illinois REAL ID yet, and data suggest more office workers could soon come back to downtown Chicago.

Feb 21, 20254 min

Rundown for Thursday, February 20, 2025

Immigrant rights groups in Illinois say they will fight to prevent Governor J.B Pritzker’s proposed funding cuts to a health care program for noncitizen adults. Victims of the Highland Park mass shooting will be allowed to attend the suspect’s upcoming trial. Plus, more than 400 artists are calling on the Trump administration to reverse changes it made to arts funding.

Feb 20, 20253 min

Morning News: Thursday. February 20, 2025

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker aims to lower prescription drug prices under a new act that would limit the role of pharmaceutical middlemen. The Chicago City Council put the brakes on lowering the city’s speed limit. The Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal are challenging three Trump administration executive orders concerning diversity, equity, inclusion and transgender people.

Feb 20, 20255 min
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