City Cast Chicago

Chicago students and teachers are set to return to classrooms on Aug. 30, making it the third school year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. That means CPS and the teachers union are once again negotiating COVID safety protocols. But as cases rise and amid concern over the delta variant, one teacher tells host Jacoby Cochran she’s feeling just as anxious as she did when the pandemic began. Norma Noriega teaches sixth grade math at Stevenson Elementary on the Southwest Side, and she shares her hopes and fears for the start of the school year.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

James Allen has spent most of the past 52 years behind bars. He’s in prison on three separate murder charges, but he claims he’s innocent. Allen has a chance this month to take a step toward getting one of those convictions overturned. In her Chicago Reader story “Reasonable Doubt,” Maya Dukmasova details Allen’s case. She talks with host Jacoby Cochran about how the stories the state has told about Allen just don’t seem to add up.Guest: Maya Dukmasova, Senior reporter, Injustice Watch (@mdoukmas)Today's good news to get you through: A Wednesday night discussion about Latinas in the cannabis industry followed by a screening of "Selena" at the Davis Theatre in Lincoln Square.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

City Cast Chicago producers Carrie Shepherd and Simone Alicea sit down with host Jacoby Cochran to talk through the week’s top stories, under-hyped stories, and of course, their moments of joy. They talk about the Delta variant numbers, new questions about Chicago’s contract with ShotSpotter after City Cast Chicago reported the city had extended their contract with the company that operates gun detection technology, and the return of the Bud Billiken Parade.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Wednesday the city is facing a $730 million shortfall in its 2022 budget forecast. The city is expected to spend upwards of $12 billion next year. The news comes as city officials have been hosting public forums on the South, West and North sides to hear how Chicagoans wants the money spent. Thursday's event in Uptown is the last one. WBEZ politics reporter Mariah Woelfel covered this weekend’s event in Washington Park, and tells us what she heard from the public, and how—or if—the city actually puts these recommendations into action.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Abby McEnany has been on Chicago’s improv scene for more than 20 years but is new to the TV world. Her show, "Work in Progress" on Showtime, started as part of a storytelling performance at iO. It's loosely based on McEnany’s life, but the star is clear there are many ways she and the character are different (though she won’t tell you how). The second season of "Work in Progress" premieres Aug. 22, and just like the first season, it is filmed in Chicago and features many Chicago actors and friends of McEnany. Lead Producer Carrie Shepherd talks to McEnany about working through the improv scene and why she knew the show had to be based here.Guest: Abby McEnany — Writer, comedian, and actress**UPDATE**Work In Progress: A Comedic Showcase of Chicago from Chicago Humanities Festival has been postponed until Wednesday, Aug. 18, because of inclement weather. Details here.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

ShotSpotter is a technology that’s meant to detect the sound of gunfire and deploy police to that location. But reports from Northwestern University’s MacArthur Justice Center and Vice found errors in the technology’s reporting. Journalist and author Jamie Kalven also has reported that the location of the technology in the city reveals racial bias. Chicago’s contract with ShotSpotter was scheduled to expire this month, sparking activists to call on city officials to end the contract and stop using it in Chicago. But City Cast Chicago has learned something new about that contract. We talk to journalist Jamie Kalven about how ShotSpotter works, and activist Alyx Goodwin from Action Center on Race and the Economy.Guests:Jamie Kalven, Journalist, Author, Founder, The Invisible InstituteAlyx Goodwin, Senior Organizer, Action Center on Race and the EconomyCity of Chicago's contract with ShotSpotterFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Last year, Dion Dawson’s friend asked him what he wanted to do to help his Englewood community. Dion responded that he wanted to feed 100 families. Fast forward a year and Dion’s Chicago Dream is running a community fridge that the organization keeps full of fresh produce, and delivering groceries to families from Maywood to Evanston. Dion tells host Jacoby Cochran it was his own food insecurity growing up that made him want to help feed his neighbors and give back to the neighborhood he loves. Get involved with Dion's Chicago DreamFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Governor JB Pritzker issued a mask mandate for students across the state, and employees at state facilities, which already has some Republicans complaining about this “unilateral” response to an uptick in COVID numbers. City officials promised that Lollapalooza was checking vax status at the gates. How do they know? Public Health Director Allison Arwady went to the fest in disguise to see if they’d ask for her card. And, the Cubs lost some big stars, but the Bulls picked some up. Journalists Justin Kaufmann and Monica Eng break down the week’s news with Lead Producer Carrie Shepherd.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The Chicago Transit Authority has a been working on the $2.1 billion Red-Purple Modernization Project to unclog congestion at the Belmont stop. The plan is to straighten the tracks, and build a flyover for Brown line trains. Part of that project would have included demolishing the Vautravers Building in the landmarked Newport Avenue historic district. When the CTA built the tracks in the early 1900s, the building’s owner refused to sell it. So the CTA built the tracks AROUND the Vautravers Building. When historic preservationists heard the building could be demolished, they fought it. The compromise was to move the building 30 feet, which happened this week. We talk about how that happens and more about the history Guests: Ward Miller, Executive Director, Preservation Chicago (@Pres_Chicago) Stephanie Cavazos, Spokeswoman, CTAFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Too many young people in Chicago see stories about their neighborhoods on the news that don’t reflect the neighborhood THEY know. The headlines aren't about their favorite parks or corner stores, the community gardens, and block parties. Chicago Stories on the Block is changing that. Young people 15-24 years old from Englewood, Back of the Yards, South Shore, and Lawndale gather to tell THEIR stories and also start to learn about the communities around them. Then, those stories become part of a mural and music. We talk to David Gonzalez from the program.Guest: David Gonzalez-Executive Director, Port Ministries which runs Chicago Stories on the BlockFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fmJoin our Referral Program!