City Cast host Jacoby Cochran recently joined the podcast Album ReBrews to drink beers from Funkytown Brewery and talk about... more

Early voting in the June primary begins Thursday in Chicago, and is already underway elsewhere in the state. There are six... more

This week, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill requiring all firearms, gun kits, and 3D-printed guns to have a visible... more

Whether your summer plans include sitting on the beach, taking a road trip, flying, or just staying home — you... more

This week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot signed an executive order authorizing police to immediately enforce a 10 p.m. curfew for Chicago... more

After nearly 30 years at the helm, Joyce Kenner is retiring as principal of Whitney Young high school. The CPS... more

Mayoral candidate Willie Wilson most recently made headlines as the giver of free gas, but have you wondered where he... more

The 2022 Bears schedule is now official, which means plenty of fans will be booking their flights across the country.... more

City Cast producer Simone Alicea is in the host chair this week to dig into some top stories around Chicago.... more

Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District was redrawn last year to include more of Chicago’s Northwest Side, including gentrifying neighborhoods like Logan... more

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has tapped Bally’s to be the first and only casino operator in Chicago. The decision still needs... more

The reigning WNBA Champion Chicago Sky began the 2022 season last Friday at home against the LA Sparks. Like most... more

Chicago Public Schools’ enrollment has dropped by more than 100,000 students in the last twenty years. And in Chicago, fewer... more

Earlier this week, a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court’s conservative majority signaled the end of Roe v. Wade.... more

Gospel music has roots in southern spirituals during slavery and migrated north during the Great Migration in the early 1900s.... more

Reproductive rights activists in Chicago are kicking into high gear after a draft majority opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court... more

Lucy Westlake isn’t walking at graduation this spring with her class at Naperville North High School. That’s because the 18... more

Early voting in Illinois’ primaries begins in just a few weeks. After getting a new voter registration card in the... more

This week, the Chicago Reader and its former co-owner ended a month-long stalemate that threatened the future of the beloved... more

This week, five of Chicago’s selective enrollment high schools ranked among the county’s top 100 high schools, according to U.S.... more

When you live in a big city like Chicago, it can be really easy to forget just how much nature... more

**UPDATE** The Graduate Employees' Organization tweeted late Monday night that the strike was suspended. The podcast is updated to include that... more

A month ago, Nicole Lee was appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to finish the term of former 11th Ward Ald.... more

After a judge struck down the federal mask mandate on planes and public transit, Gov. Pritzker revoked the state’s mask policy... more

“Unplugging” opens in theaters this weekend in Chicago and suburbs. Eva Longoria and Matt Walsh star as a married couple... more

The Illinois Lottery as we know it today with Pick 3, Pick 4, and Mega Millions games has its roots... more

Oprah Winfrey—aka “The Queen of Talk”—covered everything from veganism to the L.A. Riots to Dr. Phil (yeah, she had some... more

Friday, April 15, would have been Harold Washington’s 100th birthday, and centennial celebrations continue this week. More than 30 years... more

Earlier this week a man opened fire on a New York City subway train shooting 10 people and injuring 13... more

City Council members have a lot of meetings. But how many of the full council, committee, and subcommittee meetings do... more

In Ukrainian culture, “pysanky” is a centuries-old form of decorating eggs. In fact, it predates Easter itself. Using eggs, beeswax,... more

The temperatures are rising, spring is here and baseball is back! The White Sox (2-1) have their home opener today... more

Chicago and Las Vegas have emerged as top candidates to potentially host the Democratic National Convention in 2024. Chicago most... more

The city announced that nearly 4000 E-Scooters are returning to streets next month. Divvy, Lime, Superpedestrian and Spin are the... more

For ten years, Evanston writer Peter Baker had been working on his first novel, and he was eager to get... more

The Obama Presidential Center isn’t the only major development hoping to call Jackson Park home. For years, Tiger Woods’ design... more

During a public safety press conference Monday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced efforts to invest in the development and expansion of... more

In 2018, three guards brutally beat Larry Earvin at Western Illinois Correctional Center, where Earvin was incarcerated. He died weeks... more

This week, South Side Weekly’s Chima Ikoro and freelance journalist and professor Arionne Nettles break down the big stories of... more

This week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot asserted the Christopher Columbus statue would eventually return to Grant Park. The city removed the... more

Actor Chris Perfetti wasn’t a big basketball fan growing up. But he was a big Steppenwolf Theatre fan. So when... more

Recreational weed has been available in Illinois since 2020. Meanwhile, in Texas, a Democratic gubernatorial challenger is pushing to legalize... more

Homicides this year in Chicago are on track to be similar to last year, one of the deadliest years in... more

This week the City Cast Chicago team is together in person bringing you the best podcast and newsletter in Chicago.... more

Frances Glessner Lee was from one of early Chicago’s most prominent families, living on one of the cities wealthiest blocks... more

By 2030, Illinois could be home to 55,000 people over the age of 65 living without citizenship, according to a... more

Chicago attorney Jay Edelson filed a lawsuit against Facebook in 2015, claiming the social media giant violated his client’s privacy,... more

Gov. JB Pritzker’s stay-home order went into effect two years ago today. It’s been two years of change, uncertainty, and... more

We're doing a pod swap this week with our good friends at Block Club Chicago. In this episode, "It's All Good"... more

As we celebrate one year of the City Cast Chicago podcast and newsletter, we are so excited to look back... more

Last week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown, and CTA President Dorval Carter to announce a $71... more

If you need snow shoveled in your neighborhood, a pothole filled, or rats cleared in your alley, you call 311.... more

The Chicago Academy for the Arts is not like all schools. Students are immersed in their art, whether it’s theater,... more

Since the start of the pandemic, public health leaders have told us they’re following the data to make policy decisions,... more

Two first-time guests join us to look back on the week. Chicago Sun-Times reporter Cheyanne Daniels joins us from a... more

Jackowo used to be the heart of Chicago’s Polish community, in a city that once had the second highest population... more

Construction is underway on the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. But since the project launched, residents in nearby neighborhoods... more

Netflix’s reality dating show “Love Is Blind” has captivated global audiences. The show follows 30 strangers on a series of... more

This past weekend was the first since the city and state lifted indoor mask mandates. Businesses, restaurants, and entertainment venues... more

It was another busy week across the city of Chicago. WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel and Axios Chicago’s Justin Kaufmann stopped by... more

Whether it’s a public feud with ex-wife Kim Kardashian, impromptu speeches during a problematic, and confusing, presidential run, or a... more

Ten years ago, Vivonell Brown was a teacher at Woodson Elementary in Bronzeville, on track to become a principal, when... more

If you thought Ken Griffin was running for governor in Illinois, we wouldn’t blame you. Whenever there’s news about Republican... more

The Chicago area is home to nearly 54,000 people of Ukrainian ancestry, the second-largest in the U.S. Many Ukrainians here... more

On Wednesday, alderpeople authorized the city to spend $700,000 to buy a now-vacant Aldi in West Garfield Park. But it’s... more

Since 2017, a developer has been pushing for rezoning in Rogers Park so he can turn a 100-year-old vacant building... more

There are currently no grocery stores operating in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. An Aldi that operated there for three... more

The future of the Chicago Reader is in question. After years of money troubles and ownership changes, the 50-year-old paper... more

After years of being continuously delayed, the Southeast Side recycling permit decision is set to be officially announced in the... more

In the early 1900s, Chin Foin’s restaurants helped popularize Chinese food among white Americans. Chicago’s King Yen Lo, King Joy... more

Two years into the pandemic, domestic violence cases continue to rise as victims are stuck at home with the people... more

While other kids were bringing turkey or bologna sandwiches to school, Boyede Sobitan was packing jollof rice with goat meat.... more

On this Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating love in Chicago. When we hiked with the couple behind the popular TikTok “Black... more

Governor JB Pritzker has announced that Illinois is on track to remove the statewide mask mandate by February 28. The... more

Live theater is a huge cultural and economic pillar in Chicago. But it’s no surprise that theaters have struggled since... more

In 1972, Camille Cook started the Film Center at the School of the Art Institute Chicago to screen auteur, independent,... more

The city announced last week a $38 million redevelopment of a vacant 21-acre industrial lot in North Lawndale. As a... more

Over the last several decades, the south suburban Harvey has gone from a model town, home to thousands of manufacturing... more

For six months, Chicago Reader and Injustice Watch have been investigating allegations of sexism, inappropriate behavior, and bias by Judge... more

Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday outlined his 2022 state budget proposal. The Democrat painted a picture of a healthier and... more

You’ve been feeling it, right? That existential dread about everything that’s wrong in the world. The feeling that the world... more

Last week, we explored the history of disinvestment and displacement at Cabrini-Green, Chicago’s infamous public housing complex on the Near... more

In Chicago, the city is supposed to clear the streets after it snows. But the sidewalks? That falls on property... more

Throughout the school year, Chicago Public Schools have claimed their COVID dashboards provide accurate data for COVID-19 cases district-wide and... more

For nearly 50 years, thousands of Black Chicagoans called the 23 high-rise towers and adjacent row houses of Cabrini-Green home.... more

Bulls small forward DeMar DeRozan was a four-time all-star when he was with the Toronto Raptors. But when he came... more

When Ariana Alejandra Gibson was growing up, she didn’t have an outlet for talking about her father who had schizophrenia.... more

Chicago is the birthplace of many dance styles, like the polka hop, the cha-cha slide, and, of course, stepping. For... more

We got a lot of COVID news this week. Some good, like maybe Chicago has passed its Omicron peak. Some... more

The A.V. Club was founded as a sister publication of The Onion in 1993 for “people immersed in pop culture... more

Irving Naxon invented the Crock-Pot, originally called the Naxon Beanery, in the 1930s. He got the idea from his Orthodox... more

Chicago’s proof of vaccine requirement at bars, restaurants, and live music venues has been in effect for two weeks. It’s... more

It was a long news week in Chicago, as the teachers union and Mayor Lori Lightfoot fought over whether kids... more

Chicago rapper Juice WRLD had a meteoric rise, going from dropping tracks on SoundCloud to becoming Billboard’s Top New Artist... more

You may have heard host/producer Ayana Contreras on Vocalo or WBEZ, bringing soul music to the airwaves and diving into... more

Chicago Public Schools students will return to classes Wednesday, now that the district and the Chicago Teachers Union have reached... more

Rep. Bobby Rush has represented Illinois’ 1st District since 1993. His path to Congress was more unconventional than many of... more

WCIU reporter Brandon Pope and Block Club Chicago’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden break down the week’s news with host Jacoby Cochran,... more

Dr. Allison Arwady was confirmed as Commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Public Health just a couple months before the COVID-19... more

The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago has been around for nearly 170 years, and some of that age is showing. The... more

At this point, virtually all of us know someone who has had COVID-19, or we’ve gotten it ourselves. There are... more

More than 300,000 public school kids in Chicago are expected back in the classroom today after winter break. Their return... more

We wrap up our look back on some the team's favorite stories from this year with a conversation about one... more

We're decidedly city people at City Cast Chicago. But sometimes it's great to hang out in nature with people who... more

Let's go back to summertime Chi, when the sun was out and it was warm. And there were even horses.... more

All this week, we're replaying some of the team's favorite stories from 2021. Host Jacoby Cochran picked this story about... more

On City Cast Chicago, we often focus our stories around neighborhoods. That’s partly because of the old Chicago adage that... more

While many of us are just trying to get through the rest of 2021, Mayor Lori Lightfoot spent the week... more

The City Cast Chicago team are all very vocal cold weather haters. And while we have been spared so far... more

For more than 40 years, “Bozo’s Circus” was a daily, and later, weekly presence on the televisions of kids and... more

Injustice Watch senior reporter Maya Dukmasova and Chicago Reader culture editor Salem Collo-Julin join host Jacoby Cochran to look back... more

In the early 1960s, Gloria Allen, aka Mama Gloria, was ridiculed by teachers and fellow students at Englewood High School... more

Music is known as a therapeutic tool, but usually that conjures up thoughts of soothing sounds, learning to play an... more

Each year, tens of thousands of super fans, aka cosplayers, head to McCormick Place Convention Center to celebrate their shared... more

The Second City. Windy City. The City of Big Shoulders. Chicago is known by many names. “We matter so much... more

Jussie Smollett was found guilty Thursday evening of falsely reporting to police that he was a victim of a hate... more

Journalist Michael J. O'Loughlin is gay and Catholic, and his latest book explores the intersection of those two worlds. “Hidden... more

For their podcast “77 Flavors of Chicago,” Dario Durham and Sara Faddah seek to visit each of Chicago’s 77 community... more

Generations of residents in West Side neighborhoods like Austin have complained that police don’t come when they call 911. The... more

Right now, thousands of Chicago Public School kids and their families are stressing about where they’re going to high school.... more

Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett is charged with lying about being attacked nearly three years ago outside his Streeterville apartment.... more

We’ve been covering Chicago’s ward remap at City Cast Chicago, but here’s a reminder: The remap process takes place every... more

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker in August signed into law legislation requiring sex education in K-12 schools to teach about HIV,... more

David Plotz, CEO of City Cast and co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest," is a lifelong Washingtonian who knows the ins... more

Chicago's Black population is the lowest it's been since the 1950s. What was once a destination for Black Southerners seeking... more

As many of us enjoy delicious food over the Thanksgiving holiday, we wanted to take a moment to look back... more

Chicago’s Thanksgiving Parade has gone through several iterations in its 87 years, including not being held on Thanksgiving; it was... more

Last year, the Wabash Arts Corridor commissioned two murals in the South Loop to celebrate the centennial of women’s suffrage.... more

A group of South Shore neighbors pooled their money to buy and restore a historic vacant apartment building in their... more

The film “Passing,” now streaming on Netflix, is based on Nella Larsen’s 1929 novel of the same name. Irene Redfield... more

The Illinois Restaurant Association says even as establishments continue to reopen since the start of the pandemic, 100,000 restaurants have... more

When the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for kids between the ages of 5 and 11 a little more than... more

The Chicago Blackhawks are trying to regain the trust of fans after it was revealed last month that the team... more

When Kristen Kaza and Elijah McKinnon opened the events space Reunion in 2016 in Humboldt Park their mission was to... more

Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez announced last week that students would not have classes Friday for “Vaccination Awareness Day,”... more

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs told state lawmakers this week they need more staff and better access to housing... more

The prosecution rested Tuesday in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. The Antioch resident was 17 when he shot and killed... more

More than $5 billion was wagered on sports in Illinois in the last year, after the state legalized sports betting.... more

While most of us had to adjust to getting an extra hour of sleep Sunday (and an earlier sunset), lawmakers... more

It’s the first Friday of November and we have two huge Bulls fans with us to look back on a... more

In mid-October, longtime health and food reporter Monica Eng was peeking at Chicago Public Schools’ lunch menus. Yes, for fun.... more

The Chicago Bulls are 6-1 for the first time since 2012 and sit at the top of the Eastern Conference.... more

As Chicago Public Schools students enter their third month in the school year, nearly 4,000 of them are without reliable... more

Mercy Hospital in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood is a safety net hospital, which means it takes any patient, regardless of income... more

It’s Friday, and just like that, Spooky Season is almost over. “Nerdette” host Greta Johnsen and WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky join... more

The city’s Asian American population has grown 31% over the last decade, the largest of any racial group in Chicago,... more

The Chicago Police Department says it needs to fill 1,000 vacancies on the force. Part of their strategy is a... more

The Inspector General’s office has a broad mandate. Their job is to “promote economy, effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity by identifying... more

Many people rely on public restrooms during the day, including delivery and ride-share drivers, cabbies, and people who are unhoused.... more

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police have competing lawsuits over the vaccine mandate for city employees. Despite... more