The important, emotional, inspiring stories affecting Chicagoans. New episodes Tuesdays, Thursdays, or whenever a BIG story breaks.
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Nov 14, 2026 · 46:05
On today's sidebar, Mike Leonard and Patrick Dolan discuss a wide range of AI issues. Patrick discusses how AI has taken over the job hiring process, and Illinois' response to…
Nov 12, 2026 · 23:25
Last week’s midterm election couldn’t have gone much worse for Illinois Republicans. The cards were already stacked against them despite the GOP being the incumbent party in…
Nov 10, 2026 · 20:26
It’s early November and you’re waiting for the Red Line train on the Sheridan platform. As the wind whips your face you remember: The Chicago Transit Authority’s heat lamps turn…
Nov 3, 2026 · 17:58
From major music events like Lollapalooza to the world’s largest food fest, Chicago anchors some of the nation’s biggest music and cultural spectacles — often closing off city…
Oct 27, 2026 · 18:06
No idea what to be for Halloween?! Costume thrifting expert Shelby Shaper take host Jon Hansen to a South Side Goodwill to get inspired. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Shelby Shaper -…
Oct 24, 2026 · 32:06
The Cubs have battled the rooftop owners for well over two decades. A judge's ruling has given the Cubs a win in the final round -- for now. Also, Illinois law is changing to…
Oct 22, 2026 · 23:31
One family's nut-feeding operation has continued despite city fines, as neighbors report rat infestations, damage to park property and disruptions to Green City Market. Host -…
Oct 20, 2026 · 23:44
Recorded live at the Block Club Chicago Block Party on October 3rd, hosts Jon Hansen and Iridian Fierro asked obscure Chicago trivia questions, and attendees gave it their best…
Oct 15, 2026 · 17:50
News of the pope’s lung cancer diagnosis has been a blow to many Chicagoans and Catholics around the world. The news, while tough, could motivate more Chicagoans to get screened…
Oct 13, 2026 · 22:21
Members of a group called the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance acknowledge they didn’t have permission from the city to install the benches, but the local alderperson said he…
Oct 10, 2026 · 23:22
When Great Lakes Credit Union moved into the Austin neighborhood, banks soon followed. And now, in what was once a financial desert, investment and infrastructure are starting to…
Oct 8, 2026 · 19:33
Explore one of the largest architecture and urban festivals in the world as Open House Chicago returns to celebrate 16 years of architecture, culture and community. Lauren Bakos…
Oct 6, 2026 · 20:38
Illinois has a cancer screening problem. One third of adults in the state are behind on colorectal cancer screenings. 30% of women aren’t up to date and screenings for cervical…
Oct 4, 2026 · 34:00
The 'Broadview Six' were back in federal court last week, as the prosecutors in their dropped case face potential discipline following alleged misconduct during the grand jury…
Oct 1, 2026 · 19:27
All 21 members of the Chicago Board of Education are up for election this fall. Chicago voters can cast a ballot for a school board president and a representative from their…
Sep 29, 2026 · 18:31
A new pop-up boutique in Beverly focused on vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry started as a Chicago Public School teacher’s crafting hobby over twenty years ago. Beverly…
Sep 24, 2026 · 18:31
Uncle Greg -- as he is known by family, friends and fans -- has sewing in his blood. Growing up in a family where thrifting was a necessity as much as art, Greg has found a…
Sep 22, 2026 · 22:44
Little Village, one of the city’s most historic Latino neighborhoods, is no longer home to the largest Latino population in Chicago, a new study found. Belmont Cragin is now home…
Sep 17, 2026 · 22:04
Plans for a rooftop park next to the United Center that previously called for a soccer pitch and green space have been scrapped in favor of more parking, but project developers…
Sep 15, 2026 · 23:27
An event by the Chicago Tabletop Game Association catering to women, nonbinary and femme people sold out in five days — proof of the growing appetite among women for the…
Sep 12, 2026 · 38:39
Illinois is set to become the first Midwestern state to allow terminally ill patients to seek life-ending medication from their physicians when the law goes into effect on…
Sep 10, 2026 · 13:50
Does Chicago's noise, extreme temperature changes, allergies and varying sunshine add up to a detriment to its residents' health? You asked these questions, and we got answers…
Sep 3, 2026 · 20:00
Four Star Mushrooms on the Near West Side supplies to grocery stores and some of Chicago’s most acclaimed restaurants. Its mushrooms have also appeared on the hit FX series. Host…
Aug 29, 2026 · 39:32
On today's Sidebar podcast, federal defense attorney Mike Leonard breaks down three court cases this summer that captivated the country. Host - Jon Hansen Guest - Mike Leonard,…
Aug 27, 2026 · 35:16
Today's podcast focuses on Mayor Brandon Johnson's chances of re-election. Block Club Editor Mick Dumke and host Jon Hansen suggest many people are too quick to dismiss the…
Aug 25, 2026 · 32:13
Over 300,000 Chicago public school students started classes again this week. In Illinois, there are over 1.8 million students. Each one of those kids is going back to school in…
Aug 20, 2026 · 16:40
EcoShip, which began in 2021 and operates out of an Avondale storage space, collects packaging materials and provides them to local business owners for free reuse. The…
Aug 18, 2026 · 16:45
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill on Friday that allows more Chicago homeowners to access financial relief for flood damage locally while many communities in the state cleaned up…
Aug 15, 2026 · 24:45
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…
Aug 11, 2026 · 26:41
DONATE TO BACK TO SCHOOL WITH BLOCK CLUB 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…
Aug 8, 2026 · 17:34
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…
Aug 4, 2026 · 18:21
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…
Aug 1, 2026 · 31:28
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…
Jul 30, 2026 · 30:26
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…
Jul 28, 2026 · 19:11
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…
Jul 21, 2026 · 21:48
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…
Jul 16, 2026 · 40:00
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…
Jul 14, 2026 · 20:37
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…
Jul 9, 2026 · 32:00
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.…
Jul 7, 2026 · 16:57
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…
Jul 4, 2026 · 40:35
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"…
Jul 2, 2026 · 17:11
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…
Jun 30, 2026 · 29:18
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…
Jun 25, 2026 · 22:07
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…
Jun 23, 2026 · 19:16
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…
Jun 20, 2026 · 34:06
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…
Jun 18, 2026 · 21:16
“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…
Jun 16, 2026 · 17:01
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.…
Jun 11, 2026 · 27:57
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.…
Jun 9, 2026 · 21:21
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…
Jun 6, 2026 · 26:32
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…
Jun 4, 2026 · 22:10
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…
Jun 2, 2026 · 21:27
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…
May 30, 2026 · 19:35
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…
May 28, 2026 · 21:20
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,…
May 26, 2026 · 24:44
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…
May 23, 2026 · 41:25
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…
May 21, 2026 · 21:02
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…
May 19, 2026 · 15:45
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…
May 14, 2026 · 15:00
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…
May 12, 2026 · 25:54
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…
May 9, 2026 · 38:08
Introducing 'Sidebar', a podcast featuring Chicago lawyers discussing important legal discussions and issues. Employment lawyer Patrick Dolan and federal defense attorney Mike…
May 7, 2026 · 19:18
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…
May 5, 2026 · 18:50
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 Want to donate to our…
Apr 30, 2026 · 22:26
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,…
Apr 28, 2026 · 19:31
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…
Apr 23, 2026 · 20:05
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…
Apr 21, 2026 · 20:01
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…
Apr 16, 2026 · 20:16
City officials filed a motion Monday asking a Cook County judge to enforce the immediate evacuation of all tenants and occupants at Ford City Mall — months after a local…
Apr 14, 2026 · 29:27
As Southwest Side neighbors were targeted or hid in their homes, Ald. Raymond Lopez repeatedly defended Trump’s immigration roundups on conservative and right-wing media. The…
Apr 9, 2026 · 20:49
A maternal and reproductive health care center on the South Side broke ground this week as organizers prepare for the culmination of years of planning and fundraising. The…
Apr 7, 2026 · 20:10
Francis W. Parker School, a private K-12 college prep school in Lincoln Park, is moving forward with plans to expand its footprint following years of neighborhood backlash,…
Apr 2, 2026 · 23:09
Pat Tomasulo is a man of many talents -- from sports anchor on WGN-TV's Morning Show, to his hilarious standup specials, Pat has been making people laugh for decades. His wife…
Mar 31, 2026 · 21:43
Colon cancer rates are rising among younger Americans. But on today's podcast, Rush's Dr. Salina Lee demystifies the disease and highlights the recent progress made in diagnosing…
Mar 25, 2026 · 20:57
Alpha Schools, opening this fall in the former GEMS Academy in Lakeshore East , says its AI-driven model can help students learn core academics in just two hours a day, freeing…
Mar 24, 2026 · 20:56
Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García dropped his reelection campaign at the last minute in November, giving Patty García, his chief of staff, a head start on filing petitions and potentially…
Mar 19, 2026 · 23:04
Riders across Chicago say safety problems on CTA trains are real, but they’re divided on whether the agency’s latest plan to increase policing on trains will actually fix them.…
Mar 17, 2026 · 17:25
A coalition of almost 250 elected officials, faith leaders, community organizations and other residents are demanding a special prosecutor be appointed to investigate alleged…
Mar 13, 2026 · 14:25
Buckle up, Chicago: It’s going to be a wild weather ride for the next week. “What we’re about to endure over the next couple days can only be classified as the real March…
Mar 12, 2026 · 21:38
Two popular Chicago craft brewers are merging to form a new company, their owners announced Tuesday. Half Acre Beer Co. in Bowmanville and Maplewood Brewery & Distillery in Logan…
Mar 10, 2026 · 21:22
Former Warlord chef and co-owner Trevor Fleming’s abusive behavior has led to an estimated $1.4 million loss in revenue at the once-celebrated restaurant, according to a lawsuit…
Mar 5, 2026 · 20:46
There are about 30 mid-century neon signs remaining in Chicago — but not clear incentives for owners to keep them up when their small businesses close, preservationists said.…
Mar 3, 2026 · 23:14
The TRECC Global Campus for Youth & Families will house the Hip Hop Heritage Museum, a community center, sports and tech hub, workforce center and hotel, replacing long-shuttered…
Feb 27, 2026 · 18:15
A Block Club investigation found dozens of protesters arrested by state police are still facing criminal charges for minor infractions, such as sitting on a concrete barrier —…
Feb 24, 2026 · 20:46
Five deep breaths. It takes longer than you think, we’ll likely get through this entire introduction till you’re done. But those five deep breaths are a great start at combating…
Feb 19, 2026 · 15:17
Rev. Jesse Jackson was an icon, a civil rights advocate, a two-time presidential candidate and a political powerhouse for decades. He was also “Rev,” a fixture in the Jackson…
Feb 17, 2026 · 21:16
On Chicago’s Southwest and East sides, the presence of federal agents lingers long after they left town. The mental health of many communities needs attention. Businesses are…
Feb 11, 2026 · 18:41
Companies operating food delivery robots will not be allowed to expand across parts of Wicker Park and Logan Square following overwhelmingly negative feedback from neighbors, the…
Feb 5, 2026 · 21:19
On today’s Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Rush, a chat with Dr. Elizabeth Simkus, diving into why it’s 'New Year, Same You.' Dr. Simkus discusses Rush's Prevention…
Feb 3, 2026 · 20:20
On January 16th, as snow crept into the Chicago area, temperatures dropped from a high of 37 degrees, and slipped below freezing. They haven’t crept above, since. On today’s…
Jan 29, 2026 · 13:16
The former Loretto Hospital executive who is accused of embezzling millions from the hospital — and defrauding the federal government of nearly $300 million — has been arrested…
Jan 22, 2026 · 20:01
In 2008, as a recession swept across the country, cities and states were desperate for cash. Chicago looked to privatize anything it could to close its deficits. Enter, the…
Jan 20, 2026 · 15:57
When Tarik Shahzad spotted two patches of white among the sea of gray sandhill cranes, he knew he’d done it again. Over Thanksgiving weekend, the 28-year-old avid birder saw two…
Jan 15, 2026 · 23:08
What a ride. On today's episode CHGO's Mark Carman on the miraculous win over the Packers. And the 'Cheese Grater Guy' joins the show! Host - Jon Hansen Guests - Mark Carman,…
Jan 13, 2026 · 19:44
While homicide totals and most other violent crime figures dropped in Chicago last year, homicides that resulted from domestic violence increased by 15 percent, according to the…
Jan 8, 2026 · 21:34
How ya feeling Bears fans? Is Ben Johnson and crew ready to take a giant leap and slay the dragon that is Green Bay? Mark Carman from the CHGO Bears Podcast breaks it all down.…
Jan 6, 2026 · 19:52
Throughout 2025, Chicago faced a barrage of attacks from President Donald Trump and other politicians painting the city as a murder-ridden hellscape needing federal — and even…
Jan 1, 2026 · 25:13
Some of reporters, editors, and staff weigh in on the stories they loved in 2025. Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE Who we are Block Club Chicago is a…
Dec 30, 2025 · 28:41
Midway Blitz’s aim was to “target” undocumented immigrants with serious criminal histories — “the worst of the worst,” Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of…
Dec 25, 2025 · 21:14
In the 1940s, a retired principal named Ethel Percy Andrus, learned that a former colleague of hers had been forced to live in a chicken coop because she couldn’t afford housing…
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