'Cop Academy' Opens, Kenwood Fire Raises Questions, and We Love Books!
This week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot cut the ribbon on a controversial police and firefighter training facility on the West Side. Officials say the 34-acre, $170 million site is needed to modernize the city’s first response service, while opponents have called it a poor investment of city resources in an already under-resourced community. Freelancer Siri Chilukuri, producer Simone Alicea, and host Jacoby Cochran are breaking down this story and more including an ethics probe into the mayor’s reelection campaign, a recent fire in the Kenwood neighborhood, and a wrongful termination lawsuit against CTA. We’ve also got some great book-based good news for you!
Better Government Association and Chicago Tribune Investigation: The Failures Before the Fires
City Cast Chicago: Fight Back Against Book Bans
Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter.
Follow us @citycastchicago
You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
How the City Is Helping Chicagoans Buy Houses and Read More Books
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Housing are launching a new $21 million housing program to provide down payment and closing a...

City Buying Greyhound Station. Plus, Chicago’s Lesbian Business Directory
For almost two years, there have been questions about the future of Chicago’s downtown bus terminal. Flix, the parent company of Greyhoun...

What Happened in Springfield? Plus, Dreaming of Summer Break
What did lawmakers get done in Springfield? A $56 billion budget, a cellphone ban in schools, relief for those who lost SNAP benefits, an...

Your Guide to June 2026 in Chicago
June is officially summertime Chi in our world, so we’re going to help you make the most of it. Host Jacoby Cochran is joined by contribu...

School Board Hopefuls, Traffic Court Confusion, and Murakami Homers Again … And Again
This year, for the first time, Chicago will fully elect the 21-person school board. Candidates had to get their petitions in this week wi...

A Chicago Mayor and Pope Walk Into a Schlitz Bar…
Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Vatican City this week to meet Chicago’s very own Pope Leo XIV for the first time. The two are expected to di...

WIll Parents Face Charges For Teen Trends? Plus, Chicago Expands CARE Teams
After multiple large gatherings of young people over the weekend, including at 57th St. Beach and North Ave Beach, Ald Brian Hopkins is p...

Will CTA Safety Task Force Make a Difference? Plus, Chicago's Best Inventions
Earlier this month, CTA announced a new transit safety task force and made adjustments to 2025 ridership totals. With ongoing concerns ab...

Tipped Wage Compromise, Lead Pipe Removal Lags, and Del Sur Expands
City Council reached a near-unanimous decision to pause the subminimum wage hike for tipped workers this week. When they voted to free th...

Who Wins Summer in the USA? Chicago Makes Its Case
City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson hosts this showdown where 12 City Cast reps, including City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran, c...


