The Block Club Chicago Podcast

Patrick Dolan joins the Block Club Chicago Podcast for our biweekly 'Sidebar' episode. Patrick lays out the protections -- or lack thereof -- for thousands Chicago workers who are often mis-classifed and mistreated on the job. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Patrick Dolan

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful wa...

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There’s no doubt that Chicago has a literacy problem. About 43% of CPS students grades 3-8 met the state’s reading proficiency benchmarks in 2025.

But like so many things in Chicago, a lot depends on the zip code. Open Books Director of Education Paula Santos discusses how all of us can become a part of the solution. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Paula Santos

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Dave Matthews’ tour bus emptied its 800-pound septic tank on people taking a cruise 22 years ago this week. One boat passenger thinks the band has paid an unfair price for its driver’s error, but gets why Chicagoans won’t forget. And some people think that the incident actually helped the Chicago River.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Clint Worthington

Read More Here

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to deli...

Lincoln Square neighbors will be able enjoy a day of cat videos followed by a street tour showcasing the neighborhood’s feline friends this August. 

“Caturday” in Lincoln Square will kick off 12:30 p.m. Aug. 8 with a screening of CatVideoFest 2026 at the Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave., followed by the first-ever Lincoln Square Cat Tour through the neighborhood from 3-5 p.m.

Host - Iridian Fierro

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Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) no...

Australian true crime podcaster Jack Laurence joins Sidebar to discuss the American justice system from the outside looking in. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guests - Jack Laurence, Mike Leonard, Patrick Dolan

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Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer

Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods de...

The fight over the future of renters’ rights in Chicago is heating up, as supporters of a proposal put forth by Mayor Brandon Johnson are blasting a competing measure as the “Chicago landlord’s big, beautiful bill.” Meanwhile, four Logan Square residents have filed the first lawsuit linked to the city’s tenants right pilot program, accusing their a landlord, his realtor and a brokerage company of running afoul of a Northwest Side anti-gentrification law.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporters - Melody Mercado, Ariel Parrella

Read More Here:

https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/15/logan-squa...

The heaviest wildfire smoke in Chicago history has cleared away -- for now. But many Chicagoans are wondering just how damaging it is to our lungs, and if health experts are concerned about the smoke's growing presence during the summer months. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Dr. Samuel Fox, Rush

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods de...

As Chicago saw record-breaking poor air quality last week, local leaders advised people to stay inside and mask up to avoid the potential health effects. On today's podcast, a chat with WGN-TV meteorologist Bill Snyder on if this is just a part of Chicago summers from now on. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Bill Snyder, WGN-TV Meteorologist

Read More Here

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, re...

Roughly 100,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant, and the times to be matched with a donor can approach a decade. On today's Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Rush, Dr. Aneesha Shetty explains everything you need to know to become a donor -- and shares the personal reason she works in this field. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Aneesha Shetty, MD, MPH

READ MORE ABOUT BECOMING A DONOR HERE

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Block Club Chicago i...

Blocks of carved stone from the Walker Warehouse — early examples of famed Chicago architect Louis Sullivan’s lauded ornamentation — have served alongside other rubble for decades as a lakefront revetment near Rainbow Beach.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Maxwell Evans

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meani...

The mayor’s race is months away, but a crowded field of potential candidates is already forming to challenge incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson.

The 2027 mayoral election is Feb. 23. A runoff election will take place April 6 if no candidate garners at least 50 percent of the vote in the first round — a highly likely possibility with so many people expected to run.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Quinn Myers

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Mandated by the Federal Clean Water Act, the O’Hare Modernization Wetlands Mitigation Project resulted in the restoration of more than 500 acres of wetlands, now a thriving home for birds and other wildlife.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Molly DeVore

Read More Here

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a m...

Congress has passed roughly 50,000 laws since its founding. Some of them were objectively terrible, and have been repealed or allowed to expired. Some have been deemed "good" laws for some, but not all.  

Federal defense attorney Mike Leonard and employment lawyer Patrick Dolan do their best to pick "the best three laws in American history," on today's episode. 

Guests:

Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer

Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney

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Block Club Chicago is a ...

July 1 marks a second New Year’s Day in Illinois as a new budget takes effect along with more than a dozen new state laws.

In addition to the state’s nearly $56 billion fiscal year 2027 budget being implemented and the 1-cent motor fuel tax increase being suspended for the remainder of the year, 14 news laws went into effect on Wednesday.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois

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Alderpeople learned last Thursday that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration secretly offered about $3.3 billion last fall to reclaim control of the city’s parking meters — a whopping $800 million more than the next-highest bidder. In a statement afterward, a spokesperson for the mayor said when Johnson decided to drop the city’s bid in January, he highlighted the high cost of regaining control of the meters.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Mick Dumke

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A lot of men are wired to solve problems privately—and health is one area where that instinct can backfire. Today's episode, sponsored by Rush, a conversation with Dr. Edward Qian about men's health. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Dr. Edward Qian

More on RUSH

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be cove...

In a new petition, neighbors say officials and police have done little to address safety concerns stemming from encounters with Leon Jackson and Willie Wright, who have cycled through arrests and court hearings.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Patrick Filbin

Read More Here

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a...

On this week's Sidebar episode, employment lawyer Patrick Dolan on the story of a woman who claimed a religious exemption from using AI -- and her company agreed! Federal defense attorney Mike Leonard discusses a part of his practice that defends college students during disciplinary hearings -- a system Leonard refers to as a 'kangaroo court'. 

Guests:

Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer

Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) non...

“Hope,” like the Obama campaign slogan, is a common feeling for nearby residents awaiting this week’s opening. Others question what community benefits will come with the global destination.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Maxwell Evans

Read More Here

Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE

Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.

We am...

Illinois has seen nearly 150 tornadoes so far in 2026, leading the nation. It’s the fourth year in a row where the state has surpassed 100 twisters, many in the Chicagoland area. WGN-TV's Bill Snyder answers the question -- is Chicago part of 'Tornado Alley' now?

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Bill Snyder, WGN-TV Meteorologist 

Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE

Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We beli...

As the sun rose over Vatican City, hundreds — including many Chicagoans — lined up to enter St. Peter’s Square ahead of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV.

Reporter Ariel Parrella and Photographer Colin Boyle were there with the mayor and met many Chicagoans who also made the journey. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporters - Ariel Parrella, Colin Boyle

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organizati...

Illinois is set to join a growing number of states that have barred cellphone use in the classroom.

Just as the Illinois General Assembly reached its deadline to wrap up its legislative session Sunday, the state Senate passed legislation that would largely restrict cellphones in Illinois schools. The legislation would go into effect for the 2027-28 school year, meaning school districts will have a year to plan before the restrictions are implemented.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Makiya Seminera

Read More Here

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The local U.S. Attorney’s Office is instituting “sweeping internal reforms” to its handling of grand jury proceedings after a high-profile case against a group of protesters crumbled due to prosecutorial misconduct. But will it save Andrew Boutros' job?

And an employment scam promising "pay for likes" costs hundreds of Chicagoans thousands of dollars. 

Federal Defense Attorney Mike Leonard and Employment Law Lawyer Patrick Dolan break it all down. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guests:

Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney

Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer

ABC-7's Repor...

The so-called “Chicago accent” is one of the city’s greatest exports, alongside Italian beef, deep-dish pizza and up-and-coming sketch comedians.

Most associate a particular kind of sound to the average Chicagoan. But there are actually many Chicago accents with different origins. And many of them are dying out. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Tanera Marshall

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chica...

Despite a Hail Mary heave from the Illinois Senate in the final hours of the spring legislative session, state lawmakers ultimately failed to reach the end zone on a bill incentivizing the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium in Illinois.

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Ben Szalisnki, Capitol News Illinois

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all n...

Alma Thomas (1891–1978) is a singular figure of twentieth-century American art. She developed her form of abstraction – characterized by the dazzling interplay of pattern and hue – late in life, after retiring from a long career as a schoolteacher.

Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas draws on the extensive holdings of the artist’s paintings at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and offers an intimate view of Thomas’s evolving practice during her most prolific period. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - His Mom, Marcia

Guest - Galina Mardilovich, Curator

Learn More H...

A stroke that might have killed you 50 years ago — or left you permanently disabled 20 years ago — can now sometimes be treated so effectively that patients go on to live long, healthy lives. But timing is everything… and increasingly, so is understanding your personal risk factors.

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Dr. Sarah Song

More, at Rush.edu

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverag...

Charges against four Broadview protesters accused of impeding immigration officers were dropped Thursday after the U.S. Attorney’s Office made the extraordinary admission that federal prosecutors had committed misconduct during the grand jury proceedings that led to charges being filed in the first place.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Madison Savedra

Read More Here

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chi...

The City Council decisively moved to delay a planned phaseout of the subminimum base wage for tipped workers by two years, stymying one of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s most significant legislative wins during his first term in office.

The Department of Justice settled a tax lawsuit from President Trump, establishing a fund to pay Americans who feel they were prosecuted unfairly by the government. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guests:

Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney

Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer

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Teens at nonprofit Bikes & Roses, many children of immigrants or immigrants themselves, are creating unique bikes to help heal after the violence their communities experienced during operations Midway Blitz and At Large.

Host - Iridian Fierro

Reporter - Alex V. Hernandez

Read More Here

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a...

Last week, Ben Gorashchenko looked down into the Chicago River at the long, twisting, wriggling creature he just reeled in.

Gorashchenko was pulling in an American eel — an extremely rare find in the Chicago River. Researchers told Block Club that, to their knowledge, there is just one other known instance of someone catching an American eel in the Chicago River in recent years, when a child caught one in 2017.

This catch also presents bigger mysteries — like what finding an eel in Chicago can tell us about the local ecosystem and how exactly this animal found its...

Dunbar Vocational High School teacher Tyesa Walton launched the giveaway in memory of her daughter Chloe, who died at birth. She’s giving away 400 dresses to students this prom season.

Host - Iridian Fierro

Reporter - Jamie Nesbitt Golden

Read More Here

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way...

After he was tortured in El Salvador and one of his family members was killed, M.G. sought refuge in the United States. A protection under the Convention Against Torture was supposed to make sure M.G. didn’t go back. Instead, immigration officials detained him for over a year, then deported him. Now, we can't get a hold of him. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Rachel Hinton

Read More Here

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Block Club Chi...

Introducing 'Sidebar', a podcast featuring Chicago lawyers discussing important legal discussions and issues. Employment lawyer Patrick Dolan and federal defense attorney Mike Leonard will join host Jon Hansen every other Saturday.  

This week, Mike Leonard discusses the potential of ICE agents facing local charges after Operation 'Midway Blitz' and Patrick Dolan weighs in on local laws protecting workers from AI bias during the hiring process. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guests:

Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney

Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer

Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CL...

The pharmacy desert on the South Side is growing. 

As another South Side Walgreens prepares to close, so local leaders and residents rallied outside the business Monday to demand corporate officials either keep the store open or invest in other healthcare organizations in the community.  

The Walgreens store at 8628 S. Cottage Grove Ave. will close permanently June 4, according to Ald. William Hall (6th) and the national drugstore chain. 

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonpro...

With new tenants opening up on the Mag Mile, Melody Mercado on whether the famed shopping district is back. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Melody Mercado

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.

We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as wa...

The West Garfield Park Sankofa Village Wellness Center offers primary medical care, fitness services and more. Access to these things could help residents who live, on average, 16 years fewer than people in other parts of Chicago, advocates say.

On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Rush, their VP of community health equity Rukiya Curvey Johnson discusses the opening. 

Host - Jon Hansen

Guest - Rukiya Curvey Johnson

READ MORE HERE

Michael Liptrot's Coverage of the opening HERE

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After more than three years on the legislative backburner, the Illinois House approved a major economic development bill that would clear the path for the Chicago Bears to build a new domed stadium in Arlington Heights.

The bill includes broader economic development provisions, especially for Chicago and Springfield.

Blighted or underused rail yards in Chicago would be eligible for their own type of megaproject aimed at redeveloping and revitalizing the yards. To be eligible, the projects must bring in $40 billion in new tax revenue over at least 40 years and increase transit ridership by 10,000 riders on...

Arrests are ticking back up, with immigrants targeted at hearings and in courthouses, although federal agents are far less present in the streets than they were in the fall.

Host - Jon Hansen

Reporter - Francia Garcia Hernandez

Read More Here

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Who we are

Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.

Creators behind a new interactive event coming to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry have one goal in mind: fashion, but make it sustainable. Thrift Lab, which will feature an expert panel of speakers on sustainability and clothing, a textile mending workshop, a communal fashion project and a vintage market, will take place after hours at the museum from 6-10 p.m. April 30.

It looks like a great event, and reminded the Block Club Chicago podcast team about conversations with the museums head curator, about MSI's history and what's in their archives that most people never...