City Cast Chicago

Jussie Smollett was found guilty Thursday evening of falsely reporting to police that he was a victim of a hate crime in January 2019. It’s been nearly three years of conflicting stories and political rancor leading up to the jury’s decision, after the former “Empire” actor said he was attacked outside his Streeterville apartment, and police later accused Smollett of staging the crime. The City Cast team looks back on what morphed into a convoluted and public debate over whether it was all a hoax. Jacoby Cochran, Carrie Shepherd, and Simone Alicea relive the twists and turns of the case while trying understand why (or if) we should care about it.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Journalist Michael J. O'Loughlin is gay and Catholic, and his latest book explores the intersection of those two worlds. “Hidden Mercy: AIDS, Catholics, and the Untold Stories of Compassion in the Face of Fear” profiles church members who were behind scenes caring for people with HIV and AIDS, even as the institutional church denounced these individuals. Some of these nuns and priests were the only ones caring for patients who were abandoned by family and friends. City Cast Chicago’s Simone Alicea talks to O’Loughlin about how his personal faith journey brought him to this story. Guest: Michael O’Loughlin — National Correspondent, America MagazineO’Loughlin is speaking about the book on Dec. 10 at the Catholic Theological Union. You can attend virtually or in person.Illinois’ weed tax windfall tops $560 million. Here’s where the money goes and more stories in our newsletter.Some good news: Wrigleyville Wonderland!Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

For their podcast “77 Flavors of Chicago,” Dario Durham and Sara Faddah seek to visit each of Chicago’s 77 community areas to taste some of the best food the city has to offer. Host Jacoby Cochran recently joined the couple at Mikkey’s Retro Grill in Avalon Park. The trio throw down on some burgers, jerk fries, and even vegan options, while talking about the changing South Side.Follow Sara and Dario on Instagram. Plus, go back and listen to Jacoby’s interview with the couple and his last outing with them in Hermosa.Some good news: Meet the City Cast team during Karaoke Storytellers at Schuba’s Tavern on Dec. 19, featuring Lisa Beasley and Joanne Molinaro, aka the Korean Vegan.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Generations of residents in West Side neighborhoods like Austin have complained that police don’t come when they call 911. The Central Austin Neighborhood Association even sued the city over the problem in 2011. A decade later, a settlement has been finalized. It includes a requirement that Chicago Police track response times in each of the department’s 22 districts and make the data public. Block Club Chicago’s Pascal Sabino explains neighborhood advocates believe the data will confirm years of anecdotes, and they hope to use it to spur change. Guest: Pascal Sabino — Reporter, Block Club ChicagoA little bit of news, y’all: City Council is set to vote on sports betting at Chicago’s stadium’s. Go back and listen to our episode about the city’s growing gambling scene.And some good news: Help light up 575 trees along Douglas Boulevard in North Lawndale. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Right now, thousands of Chicago Public School kids and their families are stressing about where they’re going to high school. That’s because Dec. 15 is the deadline to apply to the district’s selective enrollment schools. There are 11 selective enrollment public high schools in Chicago, some of which are included in lists for the best schools in the country — schools like Whitney Young, Walter Payton, and Gwendolyn Brooks. WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp walks us through the history of why these schools exist, inequities in enrollment, and the process to get in. Plus, City Cast Chicago newsletter writer Sidney Madden shares her experience of applying to Whitney Young High School ten years ago.Guests:Sarah Karp—Education reporter, WBEZ Sidney Madden—Newsletter writer, City Cast ChicagoFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett is charged with lying about being attacked nearly three years ago outside his Streeterville apartment. The alleged-hate-crime-turned-alleged-hoax was a big deal when it happened, but City Cast’s Simone Alicea and Carrie Shepherd are a little exhausted by the story. They share their fatigue with Chicago Tribune’s Stephanie Casanova, who tells us about a fight over tenant rights in Avalon Park and a heartwarming message from Bronzeville’s “Taco Lady.” They also discuss omicron, booster shots, the resignation of Red Stars coach Rory Dames, and the holiday experiences they’re looking forward to.Guests:Stephanie Casanova—Reporter, Chicago TribuneCarrie Shepherd—Lead Producer, City Cast ChicagoStories We Talked About:‘Nobody cares’: NWSL players say U.S. Soccer failed to act on abuse claims against Red Stars coachA SWAT situation, a fire, no water and heat. And then a building is condemned, and residents are forced from their home days before Thanksgiving.About 15% of Illinois residents have gotten COVID-19 booster shot, as Omicron enters U.S. and Illinois faces surgeGood News:She has sold tacos in Bronzeville for 40 years. Her customers keep coming back, say her food is ‘made with love.’First-Ever ‘Golden Girls’ Festival Slated For North Halsted in Lakeview in AprilFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

We’ve been covering Chicago’s ward remap at City Cast Chicago, but here’s a reminder: The remap process takes place every decade after the census, and it’s meant to reflect changing demographics of the city. Each time, transparency and public input are promised. Then alderpersons gather behind closed doors and negotiate with each other about which boundaries would serve each of them and allow them to be reelected. Dec. 1 — Wednesday — was the deadline for approving a new map. But in the days leading up to it, City Council meetings were canceled, the mayor left town, and the public still hadn’t seen an official map. Without a map approved by at least 41 alderpersons, there’s now a chance voters could have final say on Chicago’s ward boundaries. But politics reporter A.D. Quig explains it’s just a chance and there’s still a lot more negotiating and dealing to come.Guest: A.D. Quig — Politics reporter, Crain’s Chicago BusinessListen to our past coverage of the census and ward remap:The push for an Asian American–majority wardAn alternative, independent mapping processHow shifting demographics shift political powerFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker in August signed into law legislation requiring sex education in K-12 schools to teach about HIV, consent, and the role of technology in sexual health. Pritzker and backers of the bill said it modernizes sex education, but schools and parents can still opt out of the curriculum. On this World AIDS Day, Lead Producer Carrie Shepherd talks to a clinical psychologist from Northwestern University whose expertise includes HIV prevention and sexual and gender minority populations. They discuss what young people today understand about HIV and where there still needs to be more awareness. Guest: Kathryn Macapagal — Professor, Northwestern UniversityFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

David Plotz, CEO of City Cast and co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest," is a lifelong Washingtonian who knows the ins and outs of THAT city. But now, in his current role at City Cast, he has to learn about about a slew of new cities that are part of the company's network: Denver, Houston, and, of course, Chicago. So, naturally, he has questions. David asks host Jacoby Cochran and Lead Producer Carrie Shepherd about the “L,” Oprah and Kanye, and, yes, pizza. Guest: David PlotzA little bit of news, y'all:Giving Tuesday Organizations List: Block Club Chicago, Crain's Chicago BusinessChicago Elite Classic 12/3-12/4 Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago's Black population is the lowest it's been since the 1950s. What was once a destination for Black Southerners seeking more opportunity and racial equity is now a city they're fleeing to move to nearby states, like Indiana, but also farther away like Texas, Georgia and Arizona. Chicago Tribune's Will Lee talked to former Chicagoans. Lee explains why they say they’re leaving, and as life-long Chicagoans, he and host Jacoby Cochran talk about their own personal struggles on whether to stay or go. Guest: William Lee — Reporter, Chicago TribuneFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm