City Cast Chicago

Live theater is a huge cultural and economic pillar in Chicago. But it’s no surprise that theaters have struggled since the start of the pandemic. With Chicago Theatre Week starting next Thursday, we check in with a critic to see how the industry is doing in its third pandemic season. Chicago Reader’s Kerry Reid tells producer Simone Alicea about how theaters are getting back to live performances, especially as omicron subsides, and she recommends some shows to watch. Guest: Kerry Reid — Theater and Dance Editor, Chicago ReaderChicago Theatre Week runs Feb. 17-27.We want to hear your Chicago love stories for a Valentine’s Day podcast. Leave us a voicemail with your name, neighborhood, and story at (773) 780-0246. Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

In 1972, Camille Cook started the Film Center at the School of the Art Institute Chicago to screen auteur, independent, and international films. What started in a room at Tribune Tower, then a basement at the MCA, then an auditorium at the Art Institute is now Gene Siskel Film Center on State Street. In addition to screening films, it features director Q&As and lecture series. For its 50th anniversary, the Gene Siskel Film Center is weekly screening a film from each year it’s been open. We talk to the executive director and director of programming about the history, running a theater during a pandemic, and how to narrow it down to just 50 films.Guests: Jean de St. Aubin — Executive Director, Gene Siskel Film CenterRebecca Fons — Director of Programming, Gene Siskel Film CenterWe are collecting your Chicago love stories! Leave us a message with your name, neighborhood, and story at (773) 780-0246.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The city announced last week a $38 million redevelopment of a vacant 21-acre industrial lot in North Lawndale. As a part of the INVEST South/West initiative, the project would feature freight operations, a job training center, and even public park space. But about 30 years ago, this vacant land was home to an illegal dumping site. It was also the key location in “Operation Silver Shovel,” a federal anti-corruption investigation into dozens of city and state officials. Robin Amer investigated this shady past in the USA Today podcast “The City.” Robin reminds us this dump was located in the middle of a residential neighborhood across from a school, church, and in a neglected community. Guest: Robin Amer — Senior podcast producer, Washington PostSome Good News:"Women of Soul" at the Mercury TheaterShare your Chicago love stories! Leave a message with your name, neighborhood and story at: (773) 780-0246Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Over the last several decades, the south suburban Harvey has gone from a model town, home to thousands of manufacturing jobs and Dixie Square Mall, to a community with a dwindling population and increased poverty. To make things worse, the primarily Black city hasn’t had its own newspaper for decades, so most of the coverage of these issues comes from outside the city and it’s not really for Harvey residents. That’s where the Harvey World Herald comes in. The online publication went live Jan. 31st with a one-person newsroom dedicated to bringing local news back to the community. That one person is Amethyst Davis. Davis is part of the Tiny News Collective. With the help of big names like Google and Reuters, the collective helps bankroll news operations in places that have been underserved by media. Davis joins host Jacoby Cochran to talk about growing up in Harvey and the challenges of reviving news in the city.Guest: Amethyst Davis — Founder, Harvey World HeraldWe are collecting Chicago love stories. Tell us about how you fell in love IN or WITH Chicago, and we might feature your story on the podcast or in our newsletter. Call or text us at (773) 780-0246 or send us an email at chicago@citycast.fm.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

For six months, Chicago Reader and Injustice Watch have been investigating allegations of sexism, inappropriate behavior, and bias by Judge Raul Vega, the formerly highest ranking judge in the domestic violence division at Cook County Circuit Court. Now, under a growing trail of complaints, Vega is retiring. Not only will formal inquiries into his behavior end, but the judge will be allowed to keep his $14,000 a month pension. Chicago Reader reporter Kelly Garcia led the investigation and breaks down that story and more news of the week. We're also joined by Chicago Reader’s social justice reporter Adam Rhodes. They discuss the early release of Jason Van Dyke, the former Chicago police officer who murdered Laquan McDonald in 2014, and Kelly shares her birthday love for Saba’s new album, “Few Good Things.”Guests:Kelly Garcia—Reporter, Chicago ReaderAdam Rhodes—Reporter, Chicago Reader Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday outlined his 2022 state budget proposal. The Democrat painted a picture of a healthier and more fiscally sound Illinois. Host Jacoby Cochran breaks down what you need to know about this year’s budget, and we take a look back at a less rosy period in Illinois budget history — the two years we didn’t have one. The budget impasse from 2015-2017 led to cuts in social services. New research from Northwestern University links the deadlock to a spike in youth homicides around the same time. Producer Simone Alicea talks with one of the authors of the study.Guest: Maryann Mason — Professor, Feinberg School of MedicineFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

You’ve been feeling it, right? That existential dread about everything that’s wrong in the world. The feeling that the world is going to end — and soon. Every year, scientists in Chicago try to pinpoint just how close we are to “doomsday.” And they do it with the Doomsday Clock. The clock was created here in 1947 at the request of scientists who worked on the atomic bomb at the University of Chicago. Since then, the clock has moved closer to midnight when existential threats increased and further away when the world became safer. The clock currently stands at 100 seconds to midnight — the closest it’s ever been. The clock is maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Bulletin President Rachel Bronson explains how we use the clock and why we are where we are today.Guest: Rachel Bronson — President/CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic ScientistsAll this month, we're sharing your Chicago love stories in our newsletter. Email us at chicago@citycast.fm or call or text us at (773) 780-0246.And you have until noon today to vote for City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in Chicago Reader's Best of 2021 poll!Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Last week, we explored the history of disinvestment and displacement at Cabrini-Green, Chicago’s infamous public housing complex on the Near North Side. The city began demolishing the high-rises in the 1990s, and the last one went down in 2011. But former Cabrini-Green residents are still fighting for what the city promised them: a chance to return to their community. Host Jacoby Cochran led a panel with journalists who investigated these broken promises, local historians, and others connected with Cabrini-Green to talk about where the community is now.Guests: Carol Steele — Cabrini-Green resident and public housing advocateCharles Price — Housing activist and former resident liaison at Cabrini-GreenAlejandra Cancino — Reporter, “Cabrini-Green: A History of Broken Promises”This panel was put on in partnership with the Better Government Association. You can find the full conversation on their website. Wednesday is the last day to vote City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in Chicago Reader's Best of 2021 poll. Find us under the City Life category.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

In Chicago, the city is supposed to clear the streets after it snows. But the sidewalks? That falls on property owners. As one might expect, building and home owners aren’t always great about shoveling a clear walkway for pedestrians. Not shoveling also creates a problem for people with disabilities. The pedestrian advocacy group, Better Streets Chicago, says rather than relying on our neighbors to do it, the city should clear the sidewalks like it does (most) streets. We talk to one of the organizers behind that public push. Plus, you can’t talk snow in Chicago without the perennial debate about dibs. We share your thoughts on the practice of staking claim to a your freshly-shoveled parking space with, well, whatever you have around.Guest:Michael Podgers—Organizer, Better Streets ChicagoPlow the Sidewalks PetitionSome Good News:DCASE "Year of Chicago Dance"Our episode "Let's Go Chicago Stepping"Wednesday is the last day to vote City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in Chicago Reader's Best of 2021 poll. Find us under the City Life category.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Throughout the school year, Chicago Public Schools have claimed their COVID dashboards provide accurate data for COVID-19 cases district-wide and in individual schools. But the district quietly changed how those numbers were reported. One CPS parent and web engineer noticed that while cases across the district increased as omicron surged in Chicago, cases weren't being assigned to individual schools, making school counts seem lower. While CPS said it made the change in December, parent Jakob Ondrey said he didn't see the data diverge until the day the Chicago Teachers Union voted to move to remote learning. We’ve got Tonia Hill and Matt Harvey from The Triibe joining us to break down this story and more, including: Donda Academy’s unsanctioned basketball showcase, the perils of shoveling snow, and some good news to send you into the weekend!Stories Discussed:Donda Academy HomecomingDid CPS fudge COVID-19 numbers?Flowers for King LouieThe sun is setting laterWe're talking Chi winter customs next week, and that means talking about dibs. How do you feel about it? Do you do it? Do you move people's objects? Call or text us at (773) 780-0246 or email us at chicago@citycast.fm.And tune in Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for a virtual conversation, moderated by City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran, about the legacy of Cabrini-Green.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm