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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Chicago

Tips and tricks by Chicago locals, for locals.

Don’t have a car? Don’t want to drive? Can’t drive? Explore nearby getaways by bus and train!

⏰ 1 hour 45 minutes from Millennium Station

Explore sand dunes, woodlands, prairies, beaches, and more at the national and state parks — with fewer crowds. Be prepared to hike and spot various bird species.

⏰ 3 hours 30 minutes from 630 W. Harrison St. bus stop

Wisconsin's capital has a lot to do like shopping at the Dane County Farmers Market and biking the Lake Monona Loop. And there’s a lot to eat like cheese curds, onion rings, and fish fry from the Old Fashioned.

⏰ 3 hours 30 minutes from Union Station

In addition to the usual waterpark fun at the Dells, go horseback riding, ziplining, and ride festive trains. Don’t miss craft brewery events!

Head to the western Michigan town for apple-picking, fresh apple cider, and haunted houses. Foodies can enjoy poutine week and a chili cookoff.

Bring the fam for scary fun with Fright at the City Museum and Fright Fest at Six Flags St. Louis. Check out apple butter and storytelling fests.

Explore nearby getaways by bus and train!

How to Travel the Midwest — Without a Car

Chicago Life Hacks

With kids back in school and the seasons changing, here’s how to protect yourself from respiratory viruses.

 could be released as early as this week. The formulas by Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax targeting omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is expected to also be effective against EG.5, the now-dominant subvariant.

Consider taking the antiviral Paxlovid pill

at-home tests could be good past their printed expiration date

September and October are the ideal time to get your flu shot

, but you can get the inoculation through January, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. Doctor’s offices, drugstores, grocery stores, and other spots offer the flu shot. Experts say it’s safe to get your flu and COVID-19 booster shots at the same time.

Severe cases of respiratory syncytial virus, which usually mimics the common cold, overwhelmed Chicago hospitals last year. This year, the FDA approved a 

one-time antibody shot for children under 8 months

How Chicagoans Can Stay Safe From Fall Viruses

Who hasn’t lost hours waiting in line at the DMV? Starting Friday, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is requiring appointments for some services at more facilities to keep lines moving.

What Do You Have to Make an Appointment For?

Illinoisans will have to make appointments for:

But you can still just walk in for other vehicle-related services like title and registration or license plate sticker renewal.

Appointments are required at 44 of the busiest DMVs

 — including at Chicago and suburban locations.

The Loop facility is the only Chicago DMV to continue to accept walk-ins.

While you can’t make appointments at every Illinois DMV, facilities across the state will have longer hours, and 16 will be open six days a week.

 to select a facility, date, and time. Need more help? 

Starting Friday, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is requiring appointments for some services to keep lines moving.

Will Chicago DMV Wait Times Actually Get Better?

While the East Coast emerges from sepia-colored smoke from nearby Canadian wildfires, we’re looking at air quality in Chicago.

First, how has Chicagoland been affected by the wildfires?

The Illinois EPA set off a statewide alert last week, with southern Cook County and Northwest Indiana areas among the most affected areas from both the wildfires and high ozone levels. But we’re back at moderate levels.

Search your zip code in this tool to see the EPA’s Air Quality Index

, a six-tier scale that represents different levels of pollution. Measured from 0 to 500, the higher the value means the greater the air pollution. Anything above 100 is considered unhealthy.

Chicago’s air pollution was already 💩

Chicago’s South and West sides as well as Northwest Indiana ranked among some of the 

worst hotspots in the country due to decades of pollutant industries

, according to a Guardian analysis. The American Lung Association also ranked the metro area low for its 

😷 How to protect yourself from air pollution

How to Check Chicago’s Air Quality

We are a week from election day, and the city is still looking for poll workers.



: Understaffing could lead to longer lines. Some Chicago polling places had to delay opening 

 Set up equipment, check voters in, answer voters’ questions, and complete reports after the polls close.



 Registered Chook County voters who speak English. Chicago officials are especially looking for bilingual applicants who also speak Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, or Tagalog.



 … High school and college students can also work as judges if they meet 

 Election judges in Chicago can make up to $255, and coordinators can make up to $450.



How to Be a Poll Worker

Foster parents are needed to help give adolescents safe and stable homes. During National Foster Care Month, we’re diving into what that looks like locally.

COVID-19 exacerbated problems in the foster care system.

In 2021, more Illinois foster children remained locked up for weeks and months after their ordered release compared to the year before. In a lawsuit, 

foster kids detailed feeling hopeless, neglected, sad, and angry

 from being locked up in addition to their own behavioral and mental health challenges.

Over 8,000 Illinois youths are currently in foster care

, according to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Advocates say there’s a dire need for more families to sign up to help take kids in temporarily.

Prospective foster parents have to be at least 21 years old. While marital status doesn’t matter, applicants do have to be financially stable and undergo a home inspection, social assessment, training, background check, and health screening.

For relatives taking in a child, DCFS recommends becoming 

licensed since monthly reimbursements are higher

You can volunteer with nonprofits, such as 

county’s court–appointed special advocate program

How to Help Foster Kids in Illinois

 are live: Property owners can get their sidewalks repaired at a lower price tag by teaming up with the city.

Here’s what to know and why you should apply *checks watch* 

 Sidewalks within the public right-of-way: main walk, sidewalk through a driveway, and existing courtesy walk and land steps. (See some 

 About $600 to $1,500 for the average mid-block property owner, “significantly below” what a private contractor charges, according to the city.


. But you should apply ASAP: The program is uber popular and applications have even closed within 

 Owners who are seniors or who have disabilities could get 50% off.

How to Share Sidewalk Costs

Chicagoland could see several inches of snow when 

is expected to hit the area today. Skokie resident John Cahill has braved many winter storms in Chicago and Boston and is sharing his snow removal tips.



If you shovel poorly, you had better not shovel at all.

Some folks skim the top and leave a layer of snow. The sun hits the snow, melts it a little, and it freezes overnight. Yep, you've created a skating rink.



Don't be someone who "waits for the storm to end.”



The longer the snow sits on the sidewalk, the more folks walk on it, compact it, and make it tough to shovel later.

When you shovel, it's best to gingerly remove the top layer, lifting with your legs and protecting your back.  

Once that is gone, ram the shovel at any ice that has formed at the pavement level. 

If that doesn't work, use the edge of your shovel, hopefully with a metal edge, and hopelessly whack that ice from the top. 

If you have a snowblower, that's cool … but still shovel.


Unless that thing magically scrapes down to bare pavement, you're probably leaving a thin layer of snow that will melt in the sun and freeze.



Decide if you’re going to help neighbors.


There is no correct answer. If you do, grumble about the landlord under your breath — it's 

 that building owners have to shovel. On the other hand, maybe your neighbor is jazzed to use their new snowblower, but you come along with your $4.99 rinky-dink shovel and clear the sidewalk for them. Are you a good neighbor? Is a hotdog a sandwich?

Need resources? Seek out 

.
Seeking blizzard tips? Here’s how to 

.
Staying home until the storm passes? We have 