City Cast Chicago

Mayor Brandon Johnson has outlined a plan to relocate nearly 1,600 migrants and asylum-seekers from Chicago police stations to what he calls “winterized base camps” with tents similar to temporary shelters in New York City. Block Club Chicago’s Madison Savedra and Jamie Nesbitt Golden are here with the latest from City Hall. We are also talking about potential city-owned grocery stores, Riot Fest weekend in Douglass Park, and Mexican Independence Day celebrations. Plus check out the Hip Hop Heritage Museum and Connect South Shore Arts Festival.Who do you think had the best date ideas in our Chicago takes on "alphabet dating?" Vote in our poll.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

In a twist on the “alphabet dating” TikTok trend, host Jacoby Cochran and City Cast marketing coordinator Jermaine Thomas faced off last week to see who could come up with the best Chicago date ideas based on the letters in their first names. Now lead producer Simone Alicea and newsletter editor Sidney Madden are offering their picks whether you’re gearing up for cuffing season, celebrating a long-term relationship, or just looking for something fun to do with friends.Check out Meeting of Styles in South Chicago and West Englewood through Sunday.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Been seeing more monarch butterflies lately? Now is the time when Illinois’ state insect migrates south toward Mexico. Along the way, many will stop in a yard in Pilsen, where Claudia Galeno-Sanchez has created a garden of native plants to help the pollinators. We took a tour of her butterfly sanctuary last year, and she explains how the butterflies’ journey reminds her of her own immigration story.Celebrate native plants and monarch butterflies this weekend at Celebración de los Árboles at Morton Arboretum and at the Festival de la Monarca in East Chicago, Indiana.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg reports police failed to accurately track 911 response times nearly half time. The lack of data makes it difficult to quantify disparities that South and West Siders say affect their neighborhoods. Lead producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran take a closer look at the report. We also have updates on WBBM’s Chicagoland Creature Championship and want to hear your questions about student loans.  Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Next week, Chicago Public Schools will kick off election season for local school councils. The councils help drive big decisions across Chicago’s schools like approving how funds are allocated, evaluating and selecting principals, and voting on police in schools. They’re also also one of the main ways students, parents, and neighbors can get involved. Here to explain how they work is Chalkbeat Bureau Chief Becky Vevea. Read more of Chalkbeat's reporting on LSC vacancies.Some good news: The Impromptu Festival and Chicago’s Underground Film Festival begin this week!Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Earlier this summer, longtime Blackhawks owner and CEO Rocky Wirtz died at the age of 70. His son Danny Wirtz has been named successor. Coming off years of controversy, losing seasons, and concern about the direction of the hockey team, Wirtz will be tasked with rebuilding trust and hope in the franchise. We break down the transfer of power with Crain’s Corli Jay and the Tribune’s Shakeia Taylor. They also talk with host Jacoby Cochran about a growing West Pullman vendor market, the Sky’s final push for the playoffs, and the Bears’ home opener against our ultimate rivals, the Green Bay Packers.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Discover creative date ideas in Chicago with the trending alphabet dating trend, where each letter corresponds to a unique date activity. The City Cast team competes to come up with fun date concepts based on the letters in their names, including attending a Janelle Monet concert and the Hyde Park Jazz Fest. Explore fine dining at Oreo and enjoy comedy shows featuring black comedians. Learn about cost-effective DIY date nights such as candle making, and discover unique activities like ax throwing and yoga in the sky at the John Hancock Center.

Tomorrow the Poetry Foundation is starting its Fall season with a celebration at the Harold Washington Library featuring Chicago’s first-ever poet laureate avery r. young. young was raised in the Austin neighborhood, and has built a career as a writer, educator, activist, and visual artist. Host Jacoby Cochran sat down with the new poet laureate earlier this summer to learn about Chicago’s poetry scene. Plus, we hear young’s recent Juneteenth poem and get some tips for crafting our own poems! See avery r. young perform with other poet laureates, including E’mon Lauren (Chicago Youth Poet Laureate), Angela Jackson (Illinois), Nandi Comer (Michigan), Airea D. Matthews (Philadelphia), and Amanda Johnston (Texas).This episode originally aired Tuesday, June 20.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Regulators with the Illinois Gaming Board are expected to inspect Bally’s temporary casino at Medinah temple today and run practice gaming sessions this week. If all goes according to plan, the doors of Chicago’s first-ever casino could open this month. Lead Producer Simone Alicea and host Jacoby Cochran discuss the casino’s political timeline and ask just how excited are Chicagoans to gamble in River North? Plus, ahead of the Bears’ home opener against the Packers this Sunday, we want to know, what are the Best Chicago Rivalries? See Jacoby with Monica Eng and David Hammond at The Taste of Chicago Friday and Saturday at 4pm.Printers Row Lit Fest is in The Loop Saturday & Sunday.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Last week, two White Sox fans were struck by gunfire during a home game at Guaranteed Rate Field. Both individuals are recovering, but White Sox officials and Chicago Police are still investigating what actually happened. Chicago Sun-Times’ Tom Schuba and WTTW’s Joanna Hernandez join host Jacoby Cochran to break down the latest. We also discuss the city’s lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai, a North Park restaurant’s attempt to rebuild after a devastating fire, and Chairman Fred Hampton Day in Chicago.Respair Media previews ‘One Million Experiments’ at Bassline in South Loop Saturday.Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicagoYou can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE