The Block Club Chicago Podcast
Chicago's Sunniest Month Is Here — Don't Let It Ruin Your Skin
Today's episode is sponsored by Rush.
July is Chicago's sunniest month. But be careful -- it can age our skin and potentially cause skin cancer. Dr. Samantha Venkatesh from Rush with some useful tips to stay safe and enjoy the sunshine.
For more on Rush, click 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...
WTF Is Banana Ball And Why Is It The Hottest Ticket In Chicago?
The hottest ticket for a game in town isn’t for the Chicago Cubs or White Sox.
A new barnstorming league of dancing ballplayers making national headlines and packing football stadiums for reimagining the stodgy rules of America’s pastime have sold out Sox Park for two nights between Aug. 15-16.
More than 182,000 people applied to a lottery just for the chance to buy tickets to see the Savannah Bananas play one of their traveling foils, The Firefighters, at Sox Park for the debut of “Banana Ball” in Chicago this summer.
Host - Jon Hans...
Why Lake Michigan Has Fallen Nearly 4 Feet Since 2020
Lake Michigan set a record high in 2020. In Edgewater, the low lake levels have connected two popular beaches while also exposing a protected dunes area to beachgoers. In South Shore, neighbors are relieved the high waters aren’t threatening their buildings.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Madison Savedra
This episode sponsored by 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 nei...
Sidetrack Could Become The First Gay Bar In An American Airport
Sidetrack, the city’s largest and arguably most popular gay bar, has applied to open a location at O’Hare Airport — a move that, if approved, would make it the first gay bar inside an airport in the United States.
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 nei...
Ex-Loretto Hospital Executive Charged With Stealing $300 Million Through COVID Testing Scams
The former Loretto Hospital executive charged with stealing millions from the safety-net hospital also used fake COVID-19 testing companies to steal about $300 million from the government, prosecutors alleged in a newly unsealed indictment.
Former Loretto COO and CFO Anosh Ahmed is among a group of four who now face charges related to the scheme, prosecutors said.
Block Club has reported extensively on Ahmed’s troubling conduct at Loretto Hospital, from letting well-connected people access COVID-19 vaccines early — and even bragging he vaccinated Eric Trump — to contracting with companies owned by his business partner, best friend and ne...
Trump Says ICE Is Cracking Down In Chicago — But The City Vows To 'Resist'
The Chicago No Kings rally comes as protests have ramped up against ICE and the Trump administration this week locally and in Los Angeles, where the National Guard and Marines have been deployed against the wishes of local leaders.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Francia Garcia Hernadez
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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...
Chicago Is Sinking More Than Most Cities. Here's Why.
Chicago is the fifth-fastest-sinking major city in the United States, according to a new study. While the city is only sinking by a few millimeters every year, experts say the shift could damage buildings and other infrastructure.
Reporter - Molly DeVore
Host - Jon Hansen
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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 t...
Chicago’s Escalating Domestic Violence Crisis
Content warning: This story contains descriptions of domestic violence and abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at 877-863-6338.
Local officials say they’re making concerted efforts to reduce domestic violence and raise awareness. Yet a complicated mix of factors can lead to these tragic cases, and no one agency at any level of government has been equipped to take on the issue, Block Club found through dozens of interviews with advocates and survivors.
Host - Iridian Fierro
Reporter - Mina Bloom
Re...
Nurses Remain The Most Trusted Profession -- Here's One Chicago Hospital Where They Thrive
Today's episode is sponsored by Rush University Medical Center.
May is National Nurses Month, and on this episode, we chat with two nurses at Rush to find out why they love their job, and what sets Rush apart. Nursing remains the country's most trusted profession. Medical centers across the country are counting on a new generation of nurses to fill a critical shortage, and keep the job's legacy strong.
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization de...
Block Club Chicago Sues ICE Over Immigration Arrest Records
Federal immigration officials still haven’t released records showing how many people they rounded up during January sweeps in Chicago or what happened to them afterward.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Mick Dumke
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.
<...'Art For Zhegagoynak/Chicagoland' Honors Indigenous Voices
Read More About Woven Being Here
Through the perspectives of four collaborating artists with connections to Zhegagoynak—Andrea Carlson (Grand Portage Ojibwe/European descent), Kelly Church (Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Tribe of Pottawatomi/Ottawa), Nora Moore Lloyd (Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe), andJason Wesaw (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi) — Woven Being explores confluences that are continuing to shape Indigenous creative practices in the region and beyond.
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relev...
Uber Wrongfully Charged Riders Downtown Congestion Fee For Months
A review of Uber receipts showed the company has been routinely adding the $1.50 charge on Downtown rides outside of the surcharge’s time window.
In response to a Block Club inquiry, an Uber spokesperson said the company had “mistakenly charged” the congestion fee on rides after 10 p.m. since early January, when the city expanded the Downtown congestion surcharge to weekends and reduced its cost by 25 cents
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Mack Liederman
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The West Side Teen Operating A Hair Salon In Her High School Bathroom
A North Lawndale student whose pop-up bathroom hair salon became an online sensation is working to turn her passion for hairstyling and supporting her friends into a business.
Host - Iridian Fierro
Reporter - Michael Liptrot
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.
W...
The Illegal Junkyard Operating On City Property For A Decade
Corroded cars, broken-down trucks and dusty motorcycles have piled up on two lots in Englewood.
For years, families have been forced to live next to the collection of mangled vehicles and junk. Still, no one has taken responsibility for the junkyard on the 7100 block of South Normal Boulevard.
Public records identify a North Side man as the agent of a company that owns one of the junkyard lots, but he said he doesn’t own it anymore and won’t answer questions about it.
And the other lot is owned by the city itse...
Is The Mag Mile Staging A Comeback?
As questions about Water Tower Place’s future swirl, city leaders say a new plan will prevent the historic mall from becoming another casualty of the pandemic-era retail collapse — and could spark fresh momentum for the Mag Mile’s ongoing revival.
Host - Iridian Fierro
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...
The Chicagoans With The 3,000 Mile Commute
Mat Riendeau, his wife, and their three kids spend fall, winter, and spring like all Chicagoans. In the summer, they commute to Kodiak Island, Alaska, and really get to work.
More About Hook Point 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.
We amplify positive stories, cover development and local sc...
Chicago Teacher’s Book Explores Life As A Kid In An Immigrant Household
Teacher Jacqueline Alcántara’s book is inspired by her experience as a first-generation child growing up in a Spanish-speaking household. Families can attend a launch party Saturday in Pilsen.
Host - Iridian Fierro
Reporter - Francia Garcia Hernandez
Guest - Jacqueline Alcántara
Tíos and Primos, By Jacqueline Alcántara
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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...
The Neighborhood Looking For Answers As Survivors Look For Justice
Six survivors, some of whom were attacked as recently as last month and others back in 2022, have come together to speak out about their assaults in the Logan Square neighborhood. “We want our collective nightmare to end.”
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Ariel Parella
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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...
90 Years Of Cheezborger Cheezborger
There’s now a Billy Goat at both Chicago airports, Navy Pier, near the United Center, and most recently Wrigley Field, with two additional locations for good measure and even more cheezborgers for sale in supermarket freezers. Business is sizzling. And late last year the Billy Goat Tavern turned the corner on 90 years.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Mack Liederman
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Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and non...
The Alderman's Office That Kicked A Block Club Reporter Out Of A Public Meeting
When 25th Ward officials announced the reopening of a controversial Pilsen bar at a public meeting last week, Francia Garcia Hernandez wasn’t allowed to hear what neighbors had to say about it.
That’s because Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez’s 25th Ward chief of staff kicked her out, a move media experts say may violate First Amendment rights that protect the press’ right to investigate and report the news.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Francia Garcia Hernandez
Read More Here
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City Tears Down Encampment Tents During Bitter Cold
City crews removed tents at the Gompers Park encampment Wednesday morning in Mayfair. The tent removals came after neighbors and elected officials pushed for the park to be restored, and as advocates worried encampment residents would be forced out amid subzero wind chills.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Moly DeVore
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Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse ne...
Are Chicago's Winters Changing Forever?
Despite this week's cold snap, we have had very little snow in Chicago this winter. After a few years of below-average snowfall, WGN's Bill Snyder discusses weather the whether in winter has changed for good.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Bill Snyder, WGN-TV Producer
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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...
Michael Madigan Guilty In Landmark Corruption Case
The former Illinois House speaker — the longest-serving legislative leader in American history — was convicted by a federal jury of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud. The jury found him not guilty or deadlocked on other counts after more than a week of deliberations.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Mike Leonard
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Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering relia...
When A Trip To The Doctor Could Lead To Deportation
Yuritzi left her home in Michoacán, Mexico, three years ago. Planning to expand her family, she worried about sending her children to struggling schools in her Mexican hometown, where teachers were leaving in droves and kids couldn’t play outside because of gunfire, she said.
Over the past two weeks, Yuritzi is living in fear again, this time because of President Donald Trump’s vow to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Mina Bloom
Read More Here
Sponsored by The Newberry Library - Regist...
Lorraine Hansberry's South Side Roots Shaped Her Legendary Career
Court Theatre’s ‘A Raisin In The Sun’ is honoring Lorraine Hansberry’s South Side Tale 60 Years After Her Death.
The cast of South and West Side natives are bringing a fresh “heartbeat” to the Broadway play nearly 70 years after its debut.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Atavia Reed
Read More Here
Buy Tickets Here
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Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartis...
He Was The City's Highest Paid Employee -- Now He's Getting A Raise
Dorval Carter Jr. is in line for a substantial pay hike.
Carter’s tenure as the highest-compensated employee in city government ended when he stepped down as CTA president on Jan. 31, giving up his $391,108 salary.
But in a few weeks, he’ll start receiving a $137,000-a-year pension, according to the CTA. As a longtime federal employee, Carter also likely qualifies for a federal pension. Federal officials did not answer questions about Carter’s federal benefits.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Manny Ramos
Read More Here
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Ten Days Of Fear, Confusion, Arrests
State officials and immigrant advocates are not backing down on efforts to protect undocumented immigrants from President Donald Trump’s deportation surge that has led to “over 100” arrests in the Chicagoland area as of Tuesday.
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 cove...
Can Google Save The Loop?
Google’s $105 million purchase of the Thompson Center in 2022 marked a turning point for Chicago’s struggling financial district. Plagued by high office vacancies and dwindling foot traffic, the area is now being primed for city-backed residential projects and the arrival of thousands of Google employees.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Melody Mercado
Read More Here
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Block Club Chicago is a...
How Two Families, And Seven Billion Dollars, Aim To Transform The West Side
A proposed $7 billion redevelopment plan for the United Center has crossed the latest approval threshold before heading to City Council for a vote.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Michael Liptrot
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.
We amplify positive stories, cover d...
Behind The Lens -- Block Club Chicago's Photojournalist Colin Boyle
Block Club Chicago Photojournalist Colin Boyle chats about how he captures Chicago -- the good, the bad, and the awesome.
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Colin's Work At Block Club Chicago
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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 an...
Trump Deportations Starting In Chicago
The incoming Trump administration is planning large-scale deportations in Chicago starting next week, according to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times — and the city’s immigrants are preparing.
Read More Here
More With Cindy Buys 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.
We amplify posit...
The Hemp Loophole And Murky Future Of Smoke Shops
Ald. Marty Quinn pushed and passed an ordinance that forcing smoke shops selling hemp-derived THC to close while Democratic lawmakers argue over how to regulate the “loophole” products — and who can make money from selling them.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Mack Liederman
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 cove...
What Is Quantum Computing And Why Is It Coming Here?
City Council has cleared the way for a multibillion-dollar quantum computing campus to be built on the former U.S. Steel South Works site in South Chicago. Maxwell Evans explains what this means to the neighborhood, and University of Chicago graduate student Chloe Washabaugh explains what it's all about.
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...
Are We Headed For A Chicago Teachers Strike?
After eight months of contentious talks that cost CEO Pedro Martinez his job, Chicago Public Schools teacher contract negotiations are entering a decisive phase. Chalkbeat Chicago's Becky Vevea explains.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Becky Vevea
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.
...
Why The Onion Bought Infowars - For A Moment
A Texas bankruptcy judge has rejected the sale of conspiracy theory platform InfoWars to Chicago-based satire site The Onion. The decision comes after a dispute, played out over a two-day hearing, between The Onion and another bidder for InfoWars founder Alex Jones’ company.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Clint Worthington
Read More Here
Listen to Knowledge Fight Here
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Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, rel...
The Stories We Loved In 2024 (Part 2)
How The Rosenwald Apartments Became ‘A City Within A City’ — And Its Neighbors Became Family
Wrigley Field Ballhawks Now An Endangered Species As Fewer Baseballs Reach The Streets
How A Plan To Help Migratory Birds At LaBagh Woods Is Making The Entire Forest Preserve Thrive
There’s Been A ‘Dry’ Precinct In Ravenswood For 117 Years — But Voters Are Trying To Change That
How Birdwatching Makes Chicago Winters Less Miserable — And More Magical
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Block...
The Stories We Loved In 2024 (Part 1)
Some of the stories we loved to cover in 2024.
West Side Photographer Offers Visual Love Letter To Community With #MyWestSideStory
Venezuelan Couple’s Empanadas A Hit In Humboldt Park, Selling Out Daily As They Wait For Work Permits
Podhalanka Owner Retiring, Leaving Iconic Wicker Park Polish Restaurant’s Future Uncertain
After Being Paralyzed In Shooting, Uptown Man Found Adaptive Sports. Now, He’s Tackling The Chicago Marathon
Floral Designs Dazzle At Garfield Park Conservatory’s FLEUROTICA Fashion Show
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How Joakim Noah Is Building Community — And Preventing Violence — Through Basketball
The One City Basketball League, made up of teams formed by violence intervention groups, crowned a new champ Saturday. Noah sat down with Block Club to talk about his work in Chicago.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporters - Iridian Fierro, Michael Liptrot
Read More Here
Today's Episode is Sponsored By Chase's Coaching For Impact Program
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Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering r...
How 'Chance The Snapper' Might Help Cure Cancer
Alligator expert Frank Robb, who famously caught Chance the Snapper in the Humboldt Park Lagoon in 2019, reports that Chance is now part of a study examining why alligators are less prone to cancer than humans.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Frank Robb, Environmental Education Awareness Research Support and Services
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Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and n...
The Never Ending Line
City officials are winding down Chicago’s emergency response to the new arrivals. But the seemingly endless line outside of the state resource center in Humboldt Park is a visible reminder of the daily struggles thousands still face in the city.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Mina Bloom
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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 dese...
