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City Cast Chicago

City Cast Chicago

City Cast

Chicago’s daily news podcast, fresh every weekday at 6 a.m. Host Jacoby Cochran brings you timely conversations with news and culture makers; activists and artists; bus drivers and students; those who love and hate this place—all in 15 minutes a day. It’s a smart and delightful new way to connect with the city we share. Learn more and subscribe to our morning newsletter at citycast.fm/chicago.
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Top 10 City Cast Chicago Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best City Cast Chicago episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to City Cast Chicago for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite City Cast Chicago episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Happy Pride month! Host Jacoby Cochran is looking back at some key stories from the week with Chicago Reader co-publisher Tracy Baim and Block Club Chicago reporter Jake Wittich, who covers Lakeview, Lincoln park, and Old Town. They discuss Chicago’s new AIDS Garden, a Pride march at a North Center elementary school, and the Reader’s Pride Issue. Tracy and Jake also make it clear while Pride is a month of celebration, we must continue to protect, uplift, and advocate for LGBTQ+ stories and lives all year round.

Catch Jacoby Wednesday evening at the Golden Dagger for Write Club Chicago. He’ll be facing off against Shermann “Dilla” Thomas debating Parks vs. Beaches. Jacoby is Team Parks. Which are you? Let us know at (773) 780-0246.

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

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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 Reader

Adam Rhodes—Reporter, Chicago Reader

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

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Chicago City Council gave the Bally’s Casino its official stamp of approval, but will they do the same with a plan to bring NASCAR to Chicago? Plus, bigger fines for blocking bike lanes, and check if your Starbucks is open this morning. Several stores in the area are planning to strike starting Friday. And of course we’ve good news like a WWE show, a South Side art exhibit, and some holiday traditions to celebrate.

What’s your New Year’s resolution? Leave us a voicemail at (773) 780-0246.

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

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Ten years ago, Vivonell Brown was a teacher at Woodson Elementary in Bronzeville, on track to become a principal, when he lost his job. And he wasn’t the only one: More than a hundred Black educators were laid off or fired from schools CPS deemed to be underperforming. Brown and two other teachers filed a discrimination lawsuit in 2012, which finally reached a settlement in December.

Lack of representation is still a problem in Chicago schools, especially for Black male educators. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with Brown and middle school teacher Kirby Birgans about their experiences as students and teachers, and the importance of representation at the front of the classroom. Kirby is a member of the Black Male Educators Alliance of Illinois, which aims to recruit and retain Black male teachers.

You can find out more on the settlement here.

Here's the full statement from CPS:

“Chicago Public Schools aims to provide a welcoming, equitable and safe teaching and learning environment for staff and students. On Wednesday, the Chicago Board of Education will vote on a settlement between the Chicago Teachers Union, Local 1, and CPS relating to layoffs that disparately impacted African American teachers and paraprofessionals resulting from the turnaround policies around certain CPS schools in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The agreement concludes nearly 10 years of litigation and will result in the creation and distribution of a settlement fund to benefit those staff members affected by the turnarounds. Resolving this matter is in CPS students’ best interest and will allow the District to move forward with its continued focus on providing a high quality education that is grounded in equity for students in every city neighborhood. As a District, we will continue efforts to recruit and retain a diverse faculty that reflects our student population."

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

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For the first time since 2008, StreetWise recently raised its prices. The weekly magazine will now cost $3, but you can still buy it from any of Streetwise’s ubiquitous vendors across Chicago. These vendors are fixtures in our communities, and some of them have been doing this going on three decades. Though the early part of the pandemic forced vendors off the street, more people are returning to their commutes, which means seeing their favorite vendors. We hear from a few of them, and lead producer Carrie Shepherd talks with Executive Director Julie Youngquist about the origins of StreetWise and how it works to help people in need.

Check out StreetWise’s podcast “Where I Stay.”

Some Good News: Catch us at The Silver Room on Thursday for a live podcast taping. Starting at 11 a.m., we’ll be previewing the Silver Room Block Party and talking the week’s news with Block Club’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden and author Mikki Kendall.

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

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This week the City Cast Chicago team is together in person bringing you the best podcast and newsletter in Chicago. Lead producer Carrie Shepherd, producer Simone Alicea, and host Jacoby Cochran talk about how they treat themselves. And they're sharing the stories that captured their attention this week, including the first Asian American woman to join the city council and the new casino set to come to the city. We've got some great moments of joy for you like Carrie's perfect parking job and Jacoby’s visit to the East Side neighborhood to check in with Stephen Walsh the director of the documentary, “Southeast: A city within a city.” Check out our September 2021 episode with Walsh.

Stories discussed:

Lightfoot's pick for 11th Ward Alder: Nicole Lee

Sports Betting Brings Tax Windfall — And a Surge in Problem Gambling

Illinois' child welfare system remains troubled despite cash influx

Council members ask for environmental reviews on city bids

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm (where you can see a photo of Carrie's master parking)

Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

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After months of speculation, U.S. Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia is officially running for mayor of Chicago. Garcia notably announced his campaign on the 40th anniversary of Harold Washington, the city’s first Black mayor, launching his historic campaign for Chicago’s highest office. Joining host Jacoby Cochran are Block Club Chicago's Jamie Nesbitt Golden and WCIU TV host Brandon Pope. The trio also break down CPS’ ongoing food shortage, the agenda for CTA president Dorval Carter’s testimony before alders, and a play helping revitalize Pilsen’s APO Cultural Center. Plus, everyone’s going to see the newest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!" Are you going? And if so, are you dressing up like Jamie and Brandon? If you’ve got photos tag @CityCastChicago !

Nominations are open for the Reader's 2022 Best of Chicago. Nominate City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Hey Chicago as Best Newsletter under the "City Life" category!

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

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You can now apply to get a free bicycle next month through the Bike Chicago program, and the city is adding concrete barriers around miles of bike lanes. While bike and pedestrian advocates applaud these moves, the deaths of four children on bikes and scooters this year show more needs to be done. In addition to pushing for more protections, one way to stay safer on a bike could be a lesson to learn the rules of the road. We’re revisiting our bike lesson from last summer with Shameka Turner, who manages Chicago’s SAFE (Streets Are For Everybody) Ambassadors program. Turner tells host Jacoby Cochran about the importance of bike safety, what it means to break down cycling stereotypes, and why she wants everyone to grab a helmet and take a ride.

This episode was originally published Aug. 30, 2021.

Bike lessons are available again this summer through mid-September.

Need something to try this weekend? Check out our Summertime Chi Bucket List.

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

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City Cast Chicago - 'Candyman' Has Been Scaring Chicago for 30 Years
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10/31/22 • 20 min

Re-watching a classic film as an adult, after living for decades in the city where it's set, can bring out very different reactions than the first time you watched it. The original "Candyman" came out in 1992, and is about the urban legend of the man with a hook arm, covered in bees who haunted the Cabrini Green public housing buildings. Host Jacoby Cochran and lead producer Carrie Shepherd rewatched the film for Halloween to see if it’s still as terrifying, how Chicago looks different now, and what the film gets right and wrong about the city.

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

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Earlier this week, after 19 children and 2 adults were gunned down at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded, “I hate to say this — there are more people that are shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas.” This repugnant, racist, and unempathetic response was met with quick scrutiny. Co-hosts of the movement building podcast AirGo, Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger join host Jacoby Cochran to offer their own criticisms of using Chicago as a political scapegoat for politicians unwilling to offer common sense solutions to gun violence. The trio also break down Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s 10 p.m. curfew for minors, the environmental justice fight to end “sacrifice zones,” and we’ve got some more book-themed good news you definitely want to stick around for!

Want to know more about AirGo? The hosts recommend these episodes:

Damon: Angela Davis

Daniel: The Abolition Suite Vol. 2: Mariame Kaba

Some Good News:

South Side Book Fair

Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago

Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm

Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246

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FAQ

How many episodes does City Cast Chicago have?

City Cast Chicago currently has 1063 episodes available.

What topics does City Cast Chicago cover?

The podcast is about News, Daily News, News Commentary and Podcasts.

What is the most popular episode on City Cast Chicago?

The episode title 'Sexism in Family Court, Van Dyke's Early Release, & Kenwood's Hoop Dreams' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on City Cast Chicago?

The average episode length on City Cast Chicago is 21 minutes.

How often are episodes of City Cast Chicago released?

Episodes of City Cast Chicago are typically released every day.

When was the first episode of City Cast Chicago?

The first episode of City Cast Chicago was released on Mar 11, 2021.

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