City Cast Chicago

We’re midway through August. School’s starting next week. Maybe you feel like summertime Chi is winding down. But not so fast, our host Jacoby Cochran and Hey Chicago newsletter editor Emmi Mack are describing their most Chicago day. Wanna see these spots on a map? Check out our list on Overlook. 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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 14 episode: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Babbel — Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Window Nation Chicago Association of Realtors Window Nation Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Local Style Chips is a homegrown snack that pays homage to classic Chicago foods, such as Italian beef, deep-dish pizza, and the Chicago hot dog. Earlier this year, host Jacoby Cochran and producer Michelle Navarro tested the potato chips when they started to hit Chicago shelves to find out if they’re any good. They talked to Local Style founder Laura Gardner to learn why she thinks Chicago should take over the snack aisle. Good News: Chicago Humanities Festival Fall Tickets and Chicago Mural Fest 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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug.13 episode: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Babbel – Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Window Nation Chicago Association of Realtors Window Nation Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Dozens of democratic legislators from Texas have been in Illinois protesting a GOP-led attempt to redistrict Texas’ Congressional map. Executive producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran discuss the latest. Plus, we’re reviewing the updated Chicago public pools calendar and the “Man in the Bean” viral campaign. Good News: XL Fest 25 We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey — it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and City Cast Chicago swag. 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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 12 episode: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Babbel — Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Window Nation Chicago Association of Realtors Window Nation Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Whether you realize it or not, the office of the City Clerk is the most visited in the Chicago government. But what does the City Clerk and the office of the clerk do? The answer is a whole lot, including keeping city records, issuing vehicle stickers, and managing dog registrations. City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran sits down with City Clerk of Chicago Anna Valencia to learn more about the office, discuss the City Key and Mobile City Hall initiatives, and ask about what 8 years as clerk have taught her about Chicago. We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey — it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and City Cast Chicago swag. 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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 11 episode: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Babbel – Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Window Nation Chicago Association of Realtors Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

The clock is running out for Chicago Public Schools to solve its $734 million problem, as the district has until Aug. 13 to release a public budget proposal. Axios Chicago’s Carrie Shepherd and The Triibe’s Corli Jay are here discussing the available, yet not so popular, finance options CPS is mulling over. Plus, investment in the Pullman community is seeing real returns, Uptown’s Weiss Memorial Hospital could shut down this weekend, and the Bears preseason kicks off Sunday. Good News:  Chicago Palestine Film Festival’s “Art Under Occupation”, Dorian Sylvain’s “Raised In It”, Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “Billie Jean”  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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 8 episode: Paramount Theatre Overlook Maps Window Nation Chicago Association of Realtors Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

There are certain things you must know if you live in a city like Chicago. Hey Chicago newsletter editor Emmi Mack and social media manager Rick Homuth tell host Jacoby Cochran what their essential rules to living in Chicago are and why.  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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 7 episode: Paramount Theatre Overlook Maps Window Nation Chicago Association of Realtors Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

During the summer, farmers markets are all over the city, home gardens are in full swing, and local chefs lean into promoting seasonal ingredients. All this got us thinking about Chicago’s farm-to-table restaurants. Decades after the term took off, we sat down with The Infatuation’s Adrian Kane and John Ringor to discuss how the movement has evolved and some of Chicago’s best farm-to-table restaurants.  Check out our map of the restaurants we talked about on Overlook.  Good News: Movie at the Farm 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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 6 episode: Paramount Theatre Overlook Maps Window Nation Chicago Association of Realtors Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Rep. Danny Davis of the 7th Congressional District is retiring after 29 years in office. Host Jacoby Cochran and producer Michelle Navarro discuss Davis joining a growing list of retiring Illinois lawmakers and his choice to replace him. Plus, the MLB All-Star game is coming back to Wrigley in 2027, and the Chicago Park District recently unveiled renderings that could extend Grant Park to the Lakefront.  Good News: Botanic Gardens Patterned By Nature, Garfield Park Conservatory Artist’s Garden Flower Show, Lincoln Park Conservatory Florasonic Series  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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 5 episode: Paramount Theatre Overlook Maps Window Nation Chicago Association of Realtors Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Budget season is upon us, and Chicago is facing a $1.2 billion budget gap. Last year's contentious budget battle led to an agency downgrading Chicago’s credit rating. Earlier this year, host Jacoby Cochran talked with DePaul University professor Amanda Kass about how municipal credit ratings work, why Chicago is close to “junk” status, and what it says about the city’s financial health. Good news: The Bridge: A Benefit Concert for Semicolon Books 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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 4 episode: Paramount Theatre Overlook Maps Window Nation Chicago Association of Realtors Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Following increased rain, families across the southwest side are dealing with neighborhood and basement flooding. However, this comes at an increasingly precarious time for FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency tasked with helping states, impacted individuals, and first responders prepare for, respond to, and recover from weather-related disasters. Block Club Chicago’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden and Borderless Magazine’s Aydali Campa are here to discuss the latest, including a new investigation that explores the growing costs to build affordable housing, and how the Trump administration is coming for our voter information and housing protections. Plus, more things to get excited about in August. Good News: South West Side Students Plant Trees and the Chicago Muslim Green Team 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 Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 1 episode: Top Marks Prep – Receive 15% off when you use the link Broadway in Chicago Overlook Maps Framebridge Big Onion Hospitality – Wings for $15.25 all week at any of the Big Onion spots Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE