City Cast Chicago

For nearly 50 years, thousands of Black Chicagoans called the 23 high-rise towers and adjacent row houses of Cabrini-Green home. Soon after cutting ceremonial ribbons, the public housing development on the Near North Side would become a symbol of the Chicago Housing Authority’s mismanagement, disinvestment, and abandonment. As resources and opportunities disappeared, Cabrini-Green gained an infamous reputation as violent, run-down, and overcrowded. But the community was also on some of the most lucrative land in Chicago — and politicians and developers knew it. Beginning in the early 1990s, city leaders announced plans to tear down the high-rises and row houses for new mixed-income housing, promising thousands of residents they could live in those new homes. That didn’t happen.City Cast Chicago is partnering with the Better Government Association for their investigation “A History of Broken Promises.” WBEZ reporter Natalie Moore and former Cabrini resident and housing activist Willie “J.R.” Fleming lay down the history of the community. At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jacoby Cochran will be hosting a virtual conversation about the history of Cabrini Green. Register now.Some good news: Friday is Girls Day of P.L.A.Y at Chicago Parks.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Bulls small forward DeMar DeRozan was a four-time all-star when he was with the Toronto Raptors. But when he came to Chicago this season after a lackluster few years in San Antonio, many fans and analysts were skeptical the 13-year veteran could still bring it. So far, the haters have been proven wrong. DeRozan has played a key role in bringing the Bulls back to life, especially as a leader for an otherwise young team. K.C. Johnson has been following the Bulls for more than three decades, and he explains how DeRozan’s career has made him hungry for success in Chicago.Guest: K.C. Johnson — Bulls Insider, NBC Sports ChicagoA little bit of news, y'all:UIC has a new map showing what's causing pollution by schools.The 25th annual Fillet of Solo Festival is being held virtually.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

When Ariana Alejandra Gibson was growing up, she didn’t have an outlet for talking about her father who had schizophrenia. A boyfriend’s father even once said that his son couldn’t have children with Gibson because then their children would also have schizophrenia. She felt shamed and stigmatized for her father’s illness and figured others probably did too. So she created the STIGMA app, which allows users to share their personal struggles and stories and even ask for a message of hope. Gibson found sometimes just hearing, “You are not alone,” can help a lot. Gibson is also partnering with BRAVE, which can connect users with mental health professionals. Gibson talks to host Jacoby Cochran about the origin of the app and how a social experiment in her neighborhood helped her decide she needed to create it.Guest: Ariana Alejandra Gibson — Founder, STIGMA AppSome Good News:"Gem of the Ocean" at Goodman TheatreFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago is the birthplace of many dance styles, like the polka hop, the cha-cha slide, and, of course, stepping. For Black Chicagoans, stepping is a rite of passage: You learn it when you’re young and you have to be ready to hit the moves at family picnics or at the club. Chicago transplant — and City Cast Producer — Simone Alicea wondered how stepping entered the dance vernacular. We talk to Kiana Moore, who comes from a family of stepping legends, and she and her husband, Mack McKinney gives Simone a lesson. Guests:Kiana Moore and Mack McKinney—City Cast Stepping InstructorsNews:How to get free N95 masks from the governmentSome Good News:Tentflix and Chill at Lottie's PubJoin Us!Join City Cast, the Better Government Association, and CatchLight Local on Saturday for a conversation about the examination of Cabrini-Green, the taxpayer-financed redevelopment of one of the only Black neighborhoods on the city’s North Side. Jacoby is the host! Get tickets now.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

We got a lot of COVID news this week. Some good, like maybe Chicago has passed its Omicron peak. Some decent, like free tests available online. And some very bad, like a massive COVID testing scandal. WTTW correspondent Angel Idowu and Chicago Sun-Times education reporter Nader Issa join host Jacoby Cochran to break down these stories and more. Here's the article Nader mentioned: "Murders of students amid the pandemic strain schools’ ability to cope, heal"Guests:Nader Issa— Education reporter, Chicago Sun-TimesAngel Idowu— Arts correspondent, WTTWBGA and City Cast Chicago Present:Navigating the Story of Cabrini-Green: Jan. 29 at 1:30 p.m. hosted by Jacoby CochranFollow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

The A.V. Club was founded as a sister publication of The Onion in 1993 for “people immersed in pop culture and entertainment media to an obsessive degree.” But the Chicago-based online publication is feeling a lot less Chicago after staffers here were told by their parent company, G/O Media, they had to move to LA or lose their jobs. All seven Chicago-based employees have decided to leave the company, saying the company left them little choice in asking them to relocate to a more expensive city without changing their salaries. A.V. Club film editor Alex Dowd, who writes under the byline A.A. Dowd, shares why he’s leaving the company and what he thinks the pop culture site will lose by pulling out of Chicago.Some good news: The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival begins Thursday.Remember to vote for City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in the Chicago Reader’s “Best of Chicago 2021” poll under the “City Life” category.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Irving Naxon invented the Crock-Pot, originally called the Naxon Beanery, in the 1930s. He got the idea from his Orthodox Jewish mother who tossed ingredients in a pot to cook cholent overnight for Shabbat. Cooking on Shabbat was forbidden, but this method allowed her to still serve a hot meal. The Crock-Pot was sold at big Chicago department stores like Sears and Montgomery Ward, and it was marketed as an efficient and inexpensive way to make dinner, especially for working mothers. We talk to Irving Naxon’s daughter, Lenore, who has become the unofficial historian of the Crock-Pot.If you haven't yet, remember to vote for us as Best Podcast and Best Newsletter in the Chicago Reader's "Best of Chicago 2021" poll under the "City Life" category.Some Good News:Tomorrow Never Knows 2022 starts tonight! Find out more info and get tickets on their website.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago’s proof of vaccine requirement at bars, restaurants, and live music venues has been in effect for two weeks. It’s been a welcome addition for some business, workers and customers, but some say enforcing it has been a headache. Chicago Tribune’s Joel Noel tells us the reaction depends on where you are in Chicago. We also hear from a concert coordinator at City Winery about the various responses to mask and vaccine proof mandates she’s heard from customers during the pandemic.Guests:Josh Noel, reporter for the Chicago Tribune and author of "Barrel-Aged Stout and Selling Out"Jessi Roti, concert coordinator at City Winery ChicagoThe City Cast Chicago hotline: (773) 780-0246Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

It was a long news week in Chicago, as the teachers union and Mayor Lori Lightfoot fought over whether kids and teachers should be in the classroom. That disagreement meant no class at all for a week before returning Wednesday. This week was also the end of the Bears’ disappointing season, which led the team to fire head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace. WTTW’s Paris Schutz and City Cast Chicago’s Simone Alicea break down those stories, and more. Plus, the good news is City Cast Chicago is nominated for “Best Podcast” and “Best Newsletter” in the Chicago Reader, and host Jacoby Cochran has a story in the new anthology, “Storytellers' True Stories about Love.”Guests:Paris Schutz—Host and reporter, Chicago TonightSimone Alicea—Producer, City Cast ChicagoSome Good News:Vote for City Cast Chicago for “Best Podcast” and “Best Newsletter” in the Chicago Reader’s “Best of 2021” pollRead Jacoby’s story in the anthology, “Storytellers' True Stories about Love.” And tell us your Chicago skating stories by emailing chicago@citycast.fm or texting or calling (773) 780-0246.Other stories discussed:CPS students to walk out Friday Bears Chairman George McCaskey talks about the end of the seasonNew judicial subcircuits in Cook CountyAurora Mayor considering run for governor Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Chicago rapper Juice WRLD had a meteoric rise, going from dropping tracks on SoundCloud to becoming Billboard’s Top New Artist in less than four years. When the 21-year-old died in 2019 from a drug overdose, it sent shock waves across the city and world of music. A new album and documentary released in December continues to tell the story of the young artist and his music’s frank exploration of addiction and mental illness. We talk to Chicago music writer Mark Braboy about Juice WRLD’s impact and dig into what Braboy calls the artist’s darkest album. Guest: Mark Braboy — Freelance Music JournalistWatch “Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss” on HBOMax. Stream the album “Fighting Demons.” Check out Live Free 999, the foundation supporting mental health and addiction intervention programs started by Juice WRLD’s mom, Carmela Wallace.Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicagoSign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm