City Cast Chicago

City Cast Chicago


Latest Episodes

Why Chicago is the Poetry Capital of America
June 20, 2023

One of Chicago’s most slept-on contributions is poetry. From groundbreaking publications and institutions to acclaimed poets, Chicago is arguably the poetry capital of America. And yet there’s never been a Chicago poet laureate…until now. The city selecte

NASCAR Road Closures, Banning Book Bans, and Juneteenth Celebrations
June 16, 2023

NASCAR’s first-ever street race is two weeks away, and closures near the Grant Park course are picking up. DuSable Lake Shore Drive lane closures will increase in the coming weeks, and Chicagoans still have plenty of questions about the economic benefits

How to Do Chi Music Fests Right
June 15, 2023

We are continuing our Summer Entertainment Guide, where every week this month we give you recommendations for how to live your best summertime Chi life. This week, it’s time to pack your water bottle, sunscreen, and glitter because we’re talking all thing

Riot Fest Debate, Parking Meter Profits, and Chi Naked Bike Ride
June 14, 2023

This week, neighbors gathered in Douglass Park to protest Riot Fest ahead of today’s Park District meeting considering permit approvals for the September music festival. We asked you what you thought about Riot Fest in our newsletter Hey Chicago. Lead Pro

How to Keep Chicago Cyclists Safe
June 13, 2023

Better weather means more Chicagoans outside and more bikes on city streets. Unfortunately, infrastructure to keep cyclists safe is inconsistent across neighborhoods. We’re revisiting our conversation from December with Kyle Lucas and Michael Podgers from

Why Is Chicago Always Talking About Pensions?
June 12, 2023

One of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first announcements when he took office was to create a task force to solve Chicago’s so-called “pension crisis.” You’ve probably seen pensions come up in headlines a lot. It’s why the city says it’s building a new casino, a

Shuttered Schools Still Vacant, White Fluff Coats Chi, and Cats Get Busy
June 09, 2023

Ten years ago, Chicago closed 50 schools in largely Black and brown neighborhoods. But what happened to those buildings after the doors were boarded up? A new WBEZ and Sun-Times report tracked the fate of each school and found more than half remain vacant

Your Chicago Pride Guide
June 08, 2023

Every week this month, we’re bringing you our summer entertainment guide where we give you recommendations to make the most of summertime Chi. We’re kicking it off with a guide to Pride events with Block Club Chicago’s Jake Wittich. He tells host Jacoby C

Why These Chicago Neighborhoods Are Literally Heating Up
June 07, 2023

The city is currently looking for volunteers to help map heat disparities in Chicago —neighborhoods where the temps are higher and potentially more dangerous. But that map won’t come out for months, so the Chicago Tribune decided to make its own. Reporter

Your Tips for Chi Transplants, Parks vs. Beaches, and Metal Shredder Update
June 06, 2023

An administrative judge ruled late last week that the city should have granted a permit to a metal scrapping facility looking to operate on the Southeast Side. Host Jacoby Cochran and lead producer Simone Alicea talk about how we got to this point. Plus,