City Cast Chicago

The prosecution rested Tuesday in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. The Antioch resident was 17 when he shot and killed two men and injured another last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin, amid demonstrations following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Chicago Tribune’s Stacy St. Clair is in Kenosha following the trial. She lays out what’s happened during this first week, what the defense is expected to present, and why Chicago is watching closely.Guest: Stacy St. Clair — Reporter, Chicago TribuneFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

More than $5 billion was wagered on sports in Illinois in the last year, after the state legalized sports betting. And Chicago’s big sports franchises — Bulls, Bears, Cubs, Sox, and Sky— want to get in on the action. They’re pushing a city ordinance that would allow sports betting at stadiums. While alders with arenas in their wards are on board, they’re facing pushback from gaming moguls looking to develop Chicago’s new casino. The Daily Line Chicago’s Alex Nitkin has been following the developments, including Monday’s hearing about the sports betting ordinance, and he has the latest.Guest:Alex Nitkin—Editor and city hall reporter, The Daily Line Chicago

While most of us had to adjust to getting an extra hour of sleep Sunday (and an earlier sunset), lawmakers across the country, including in Illinois, are imagining a future where we don’t adjust clocks at all. There are bills in Springfield that propose moving the state to daylight saving time year-round — a move that’s been embraced by 19 other states in the last four years — while others would prefer to stay in standard time all year. But where does daylight saving time come from? And what’s driving the debate? City Cast Chicago’s Simone Alicea breaks it down.Jacoby's Good News: Photography Week at Columbia CollegeFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

It’s the first Friday of November and we have two huge Bulls fans with us to look back on a few stories from across Chicago. The Triibe’s Tonia Hill and WBEZ reporter Susie An join us to discuss the media’s coverage of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, the growing number of women in Chicago radio speaking out against a toxic workplace culture, and we ask, “Why so much shade Scottie?” Also, we’re still talking about school lunches!Guests:Suzie An—Reporter, WBEZTonia Hill—Producer, The TriibeWhat is/was your favorite and least favorite cafeteria item? Let us know at chicago@citycast.fm or hit us on twitter!Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

In mid-October, longtime health and food reporter Monica Eng was peeking at Chicago Public Schools’ lunch menus. Yes, for fun. Monica was pleasantly surprised to learn that CPS had launched “Plant Forward Thursdays,” the district’s take on meatless options available to about 300,000 students, many of whom rely on schools for daily meals. Of course Monica wanted to know what the “lentil Joe sandwich” tasted like. But she hit a roadblock. We talk to Monica about CPS’ rollout of meatless meals and about her decades-long quest to make school lunches healthier. Guest: Monica Eng — Reporter, Axios ChicagoFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The Chicago Bulls are 6-1 for the first time since 2012 and sit at the top of the Eastern Conference. Obviously, the NBA season is barely two weeks old, but the Bulls look like a different team on the court than in previous years. Powered by DeMar DeRozan’s shooting and Zach LaVine’s scoring, the team has beat a dangerous Utah Jazz team, and had a 19-point comeback Monday in a win against the Celtics in Boston. On the defensive end, the team looks energized. Laurence Holmes is host of the podcast “House of L” and joins us to put this early start in perspective. We discuss the Bull’s offseason moves, this 6-1 start, and we ask what is the ceiling for this team?Guest: Laurence Holmes—Host, 670 TheScore and “House of L” podcastJacoby's Good News: Hot Chocolate 5k and 15k RaceFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

As Chicago Public Schools students enter their third month in the school year, nearly 4,000 of them are without reliable transportation to and from school. More than half of those students are diverse learners with special needs. The district’s transportation problem stems from a bus driver shortage happening in Chicago and across the country. Late last week, the Chicago Board of Education gave an update on who is still waiting for a reliable transportation plan from CPS and what alternatives the district has proposed. Chalkbeat reporter Mauricio Peña breaks down those plans and tells us what he’s hearing from parents. And we talk to Chicago tech entrepreneur Ismael El-Amin about his start-up called Piggyback, which connects parents whose kids need a ride with parents who can offer one. Guests:Mauricio Peña—Reporter, ChalkbeatIsmael El-Amin—Founder, Piggyback

Mercy Hospital in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood is a safety net hospital, which means it takes any patient, regardless of income or insurance. But it’s been so much more than that. It's an institution on the South Side, where Chinese and Spanish speaking residents could talk to staff in their native language, and expectant mothers could deliver their babies close to home. So when the hospital declared bankruptcy in February, staff, patients, and neighbors were sad, scared, and worried about what would happen to Mercy. Those worries didn’t go away when the hospital was sold to a Michigan nonprofit. For the last year, WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch has been following the hospital’s financial decline and its hopeful resurrection. She explains why places like Mercy are essential and what the future holds for it. Guests:Kristen Schorsch—Reporter, WBEZEtta Davis—Mercy Hospital patient and member of Chicago Health Equity CoalitionFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

It’s Friday, and just like that, Spooky Season is almost over. “Nerdette” host Greta Johnsen and WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky join Jacoby Cochran to look back on the week and say goodbye to October. A few stories on our minds: The Chicago Blackhawks released the results of an independent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against a former coach, state Dems dropped a new congressional map, and is Chicago turning a COVID corner? Our trio considers that question, and they share a couple of moments of joy from the week.Guests:Amanda Vinicky—Reporter, WTTWGreta Johnsen—Host, Nerdette, WBEZ   Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The city’s Asian American population has grown 31% over the last decade, the largest of any racial group in Chicago, according to Census numbers. Chinatown, home to the city’s largest Asian American population, however is spread across three different wards, none of which have an Asian American alder person. In fact, there isn’t an Asian American on City Council, which can make the community feel left out while alder people are drawing up a ward map behind closed doors that will help each of them get re-elected. Asian American–led organizations that serve the community say it’s time they have a voice on City Council. Grace Chan McKibben, executive director at the Coalition for Better Chinese American Community, explains the reasons why a majority Asian American ward is so important. Guest — Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director at the Coalition for Better Chinese American CommunityFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm