Mighty Madigan Falls, Lightfoot Makes, uh, Big Claim, and Happy Birthday Chi!
It was another busy week across the city of Chicago. WBEZ’s Mariah Woelfel and Axios Chicago’s Justin Kaufmann stopped by to break down the 22-count federal indictment of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, once Illinois’ most powerful politician. The group also tackles Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s latest communication snafu, an investigation into yet another Covid testing company, and the fate of CPS’ mask mandate.
Guests:
Mariah Woelfel—Politics Reporter, WBEZ
Justin Kaufmann—Newsletter Writer, Axios Chicago
PS: If you haven’t heard, City Cast Chicago was named the "Best Podcast" in Chicago Reader’s Best of 2021 list, so thank you! You can see the full list of winners here.

Want to know what's happening in Chicago? Sign up for our free newsletter, Hey Chicago. Packed with local news, curated event recs, local life hacks, and more, it's your daily toolkit for getting the most out of the city you love.
Latest Episodes
Migrant 'Base Camps,' Future of Tipping, and Soccer at Soldier Field
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is defending the decision to sign a one-year, nearly $30 million contract with controversial private ...

'Do You Remember' Why It's Earth, Wind & Fire Day?
Today is Earth, Wind & Fire Day. Founded in Chicago by the late band leader Maurice White in 1969, the legendary group has sold over 100...

‘Young Love’ Is TV’s Newest Chicago Love Letter
Matthew Cherry’s short film “Hair Love” won an Oscar and became a New York Times bestselling children’s book. Now the writer, director, and ...

Obama Center Housing Protections, Your Fav Chi Dates, Say Goodbye to Summer
Last week, Fifth Ward Ald. Desmon Yancy introduced the South Shore Housing Preservation Ordinance to City Council. The measure would provide...

How Will Mayor Johnson Close Chicago’s Budget Gap?
Budget season has officially begun! Mayor Brandon Johnson released his first budget forecast last week, kicking off his first budget process...

New Migrant Shelter Plan, Riot Fest Weekend, and Celebrating Mexican Independence Day
Mayor Brandon Johnson has outlined a plan to relocate nearly 1,600 migrants and asylum-seekers from Chicago police stations to what he calls...

Who Can Plan The Best Chicago Alphabet Dates?
In a twist on the “alphabet dating” TikTok trend, host Jacoby Cochran and City Cast marketing coordinator Jermaine Thomas faced off last wee...

How One Pilsen Home Became a Butterfly Sanctuary
Been seeing more monarch butterflies lately? Now is the time when Illinois’ state insect migrates south toward Mexico. Along the way, many w...

911 Response Times, Student Loan Questions, and Foxes vs. Plovers
Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg reports police failed to accurately track 911 response times nearly half time. The lack of data m...

What Do Local School Councils Do?
Next week, Chicago Public Schools will kick off election season for local school councils. The councils help drive big decisions across Chic...
