It’s the last week of the spring session for Illinois lawmakers. Hundreds of bills have already passed but there are some big things still on the agenda including the state budget, CPS funding, and a potential transit merger. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran break down the critical bills making their way through Springfield. Plus, we look at results from our Hey Chicago weekly news quiz and we want to see your cicada pictures. Good News: Dim Sum & Drag We’re doing our ann...
May 21, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the first time in nearly two centuries, Illinois is home to federally recognized tribal land. The Prairie Band Potawatomi signed paperwork in April allowing the Department of Interior to place 130 acres in west suburban DeKalb County into a trust, giving the tribe sovereignty over the land. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with Prairie Band Chairperson Joseph Rupnick about the generations-long fight to return to the land and what this means for the Potawatomi and for Illinois. Good news: Mole de Ma...
May 20, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Earlier this week representatives from the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools were together in Springfield to lobby the state for increased education funding. CPS schools are currently missing out on over $1 billion based on the state’s evidence-based funding formula. WTTW’s City Hall reporter Heather Cherone and author Arionne Nettles break down the significance of this joint move. Plus, we continue grading Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first year, discuss ongoing tensions between Chic...
May 17, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Janet Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Pink, Pearl Jam, and other icons will play Chicago’s biggest arenas and stadiums at hefty prices this summer. But luckily for Chicagoans, we’ve got artists playing every day at some of the coolest venues all around the city that won’t break the bank. City Cast’s Caroline Patton runs Chicago Show Calendar which she updates weekly with the latest music shows happening. Last spring, she shared her picks for best music venues in Chicago. Here are some shows the Cit...
May 16, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the first time in over 200 years, two broods of cicadas are emerging simultaneously. While we have answered what cicadas are, where they’ll emerge, and if they bite, author and Newcity dining and drinking editor David Hammond is more concerned with how they taste. The author shares with host Jacoby Cochran some of his favorite cicada recipes. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or lea...
May 15, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast A former Loretto Hospital executive has been charged with helping to embezzle money from the West Side hospital during the COVID crisis. And a new report from ProPublica and the New York Times sheds light on an IRS audit of Donald Trump and his eponymous Chicago tower that could cost the former president $100 million. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea discuss these latest schemes. They also discuss your grades for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first year, a charming cicada video...
May 14, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast It has been one year since Brandon Johnson was inaugurated as Chicago’s 57th Mayor. Host Jacoby Cochran sits down with the mayor to reflect on his first year in office and his plans for CTA, affordable housing, the Bears, and much more. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? ...
May 13, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hey there! We are excited to share the trailer for a new special limited series from our friends and colleagues at City Cast Denver. If you’re a fan of what we do at City Cast, you’ll want to check it out: You’ve probably heard a story about Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. Like, how she got kicked out of a production of “Beetlejuice” for vaping and groping her date. Or, that time she heckled President Biden during his State of the Union address. Throughout it all, she keeps winning elections and a...
May 11, 2024•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast After an eight-day pro-Palestinian protest at University of Chicago, police cleared the encampment on early Tuesday. Invisible Institute’s Trina Reynolds-Tyler and City Bureau’s Sarah Conway are here with the latest. Plus, we discuss the new director of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, celebrate Chicago’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize winners, and send some Mother’s Day love. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @cit...
May 10, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Summer dance season is almost here. And if Taylor Bennett’s new single “2 Much” is any indication, Footwork is going to be a big part of summertime Chi this year. Born on Chicago’s West and South Sides, the art form pairs fast-paced dancing with uniquely Chicago house and juke music. We talk to Dr. ShaDawn Battle, a lifelong dancer and Footwork historian, about the roots of the genre and where you can find it today. Dr. Battle is the creator of the docuseries “Footwork Saved My Life” and is the ...
May 09, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s farmers market season, and we’re here to talk about what you need to know to make the best of it. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran talk about what to do and what not to do when it comes to planning ahead, picking up what’s in season, and their favorite markets in the city. Good news: Wicker Park Plant Sale and Garfield Park Conservatory Annual Seedling Sale Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @cit...
May 08, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Pro-Palestinian protests have continued at several college campuses across Chicago despite an increased presence of police and counter-protesters. Dozens of protesters were arrested over the weekend at the School of the Art Institute. The City Cast team breaks down the latest. Plus, the temporary Bally’s casino is pulling in less money than expected, and we show love to some amazing teachers in honor of National Teacher Day. Good News: Invisible Institute and City Bureau won a Pulitzer Prize for...
May 07, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast You might not hear them yet, but cicadas have already started emerging in Illinois. Over the next few weeks, overlapping broods are expected to emerge in a rare event where we could see trillions of cicadas. And while the insects might be loud and even a little gross, Insect Asylum founder Nina Salem says we should welcome our new neighbors. Salem tells executive producer Simone Alicea about why the cicadas are here, their role in our ecosystem, and why we should learn to appreciate the bugs. So...
May 06, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week as pro-Palestinian protests picked up on campuses across the country, Chicago area students also began setting up encampments demanding universities divest from direct support of Israel as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 34,000 people. Crain’s Chicago reporter Leigh Giangreco and Block Club Chicago’s Maxwell Evans are here with the latest, including what student organizers are saying and a response from the Midwest Anti Defamation League. Plus, former gubernatorial candidate Darren Ba...
May 03, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Applications are now open for the Mayor’s Youth Commission, a group of Chicagoans ages 14 to 19 who work to advise the mayor and city leaders. Last year, host Jacoby Cochran sat down with Benjamin Kagan, chair of the commission’s public health group, and Precious Adedokun of the community safety group to learn what it’s like to be a teenager advising public officials and city actors. The next information session for the Mayor’s Youth Commission is on May 20. Good news: The Chicago Critics Film F...
May 02, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Chicago community. May means summertime Chi is almost here — depending on who you ask, that is. In the meantime, we’ve got the tips you need to make the most of May in Chicago from Cinco de Mayo to Memorial Day. Need a mocktail recommendation? We’ve got you. Looking for some self-care tips for Mental Health Awareness Month? We’ve got that, too. For even more tips on ...
May 01, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast State lawmakers are considering a proposal that would merge CTA and other regional transit agencies. Executive producer Simone Alicea and producer Michelle Navarro talk about how it would work. They also discuss former Fotrox and Dom’s Kitchen and Market employees filing a lawsuit following the stores’ closure. Plus, we talk about your favorite and most-hated grocery store chains and how birria and deep-dish are coming together for Cinco de Mayo. Some Good News: Adler at Night Want some more Cit...
Apr 30, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast There’s been a lot of grocery news lately: Foxtrot and Dom’s closing. The Kroger-Albertsons merger. Not to mention all the communities in Chicago that don’t even have a grocery store. But big grocery chains aren’t the only option for Chicagoans to get fresh food. Matthew Ruffi is the board president of Chicago Market and senior program director for Link Up Illinois. He tells host Jacoby Cochran about some grocery alternatives and how to bring more options to your neighborhood. Want some more Cit...
Apr 29, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Calls to oust CTA President Dorval Carter continue after a bus driver died behind the wheel after sitting unconscious for nearly an hour. Block Club Chicago’s Manny Ramos and Chalkbeat Chicago’s Samantha Smylie sat with host Jacoby Cochran to talk about what happened. They also discuss how Illinois and Chicago count migrant students, if Illinois lawmakers will extend the school closure moratorium, and the Bears stadium mock-ups. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up fo...
Apr 26, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast We often hear about the Tribune Tower, the Chicago Cultural Center and of course the once-called Sears Tower, but do you ever wonder about the buildings that aren’t aesthetically pleasing to the eye? Tour guide Mike McMains from Tours with Mike designed the Ugly Buildings Tour to highlight the eyesores that hide behind and between Chicago’s famous skyscrapers and structures. Mike tells host Jacoby Cochran what makes a building ugly and his favorites. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then m...
Apr 25, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast With one week left in Earth Month, you might be thinking about ways to make more environmentally conscious choices. One option is to eat less meat. Luckily, Chicago has long been a hub for vegan and vegetarian restaurants. Soul Veg City in Chatham has been serving up vegan soul food for more than 40 years. Earlier this year, executive producer Simone Alicea talked with owners Lori Seay and Arel Brown about their favorite spots in the city and how to start small. Good News: Harold Washington Libr...
Apr 24, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast City Council approved $70 million Friday to care for new arrivals. That’s in addition to the $150 million allocated in this year’s budget. Executive producer Simone Alicea and producer Michelle Navarro discuss the latest. Plus, we’ve got picks for Independent Bookstore Day and we’re talking about the pest control business and why Chicago could be a great place to start one. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago...
Apr 23, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chicago’s most threatening natural disaster is severe flooding, the Illinois Answers Project reports. Many residents are still recovering from last summer’s torrential rain storms that experts say are only getting more frequent. Reporters Meredith Newman and Alex Nitkin have been working on a series about how the city, county, and state have prepared (or not prepared) for these disasters. They talk with host Jacoby Cochran about why Chicago is so prone to floods, what can be done to mitigate dam...
Apr 22, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Back of the Yards neighborhood is still recovering from a mass shooting that took place over the weekend. WTTW’s Joanna Hernandez and freelance writer for the Windy City Times Jake Wittich discuss what happens next. They also tell host Jacoby Cochran about the latest news stories like Chicago Pride Parade downsizing and a Belmont Cragin pastor who opened his doors to a group of migrants, among them an artist. Good news: Chicago Social Butterflies, Sky’s New Natty Champ Duo, CineYouth Film Fe...
Apr 19, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is the Jane Addams museum haunted? How did Chance the Snapper end up in the Humboldt Park Lagoon? And why do so many Chicagoans hate ketchup? WTTW’s Geoffrey Baer investigates some of the city’s strangest stories and attempts to solve its most baffling mysteries in Chicago Mysteries, a new special that premiered Tuesday. Baer tells host Jacoby Cochran which tales were the most fun to explore and which ones remain unsolved. Good News: D-Composition x Love Is Want some more City Cast Chicago news?...
Apr 18, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’ve gifted it to someone, maybe gone to a tasting, or seen a vineyard before, but how much do we know about wine? Wine enthusiast and “Wine Convo Generator” author Chasity Cooper tells host Jacoby Cochran the best places for a tasting in the city and nearby wine trips to take. Plus, she teaches us some wine vocabulary to sound a little more like an expert the next time you go to a restaurant or your local bottle shop. Spots mentioned: Easy Does It Deep Red Wine Merchants Beautiful Rind Webster...
Apr 17, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked traffic on I-190 to O’Hare airport Monday morning. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea talk about what happened and discuss coming protests at the Democratic National Convention. We also respond to more of your CTA complaints and dreams, including this mock-up CTA plan and ideal CTA screen layout. Plus, what to do in Chicago when you have a bad day. Good news: One Earth Film Festival Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to ...
Apr 16, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill to create a statewide guaranteed income program that would provide $1,000 monthly payments to qualified residents. If it passes, the state would follow Chicago, Evanston, and Cook County, which have recently run pilots providing these no-strings-attached cash benefits. “Guaranteed” is a podcast that follows participants in these pilots across Chicagoland. Earlier this year, “Guaranteed” host Eve L. Ewing told host Jacoby Cochran what guaranteed income is...
Apr 15, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Earlier this week, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability released body cam footage, numerous bystander videos, and 911 calls related to police shooting and killing Dexter Reed during a traffic stop in March. Invisible Institute’s Maira Khwaja and Crain Chicago’s Corli Jay are here to discuss the fallout including COPA questioning officers’ accounts of what led to the traffic stop. Plus, we discuss the latest court ruling regarding ongoing Obama Center construction, a new small business in...
Apr 12, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast New CTA schedules dropped over the weekend, but riders probably won’t see much difference. That’s despite promises in February from CTA head Dorval Carter that the agency would restore service to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. While we wait to see if service will improve, producer Michelle Navarro talked with CTA riders about their transit pet peeves. Good news: Market Box Chicago Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow...
Apr 11, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
