Category Archives: Chicago Newsroom past shows

Is Occupy Chicago morphing into an instantly-appearing crowd of protesters with the agility and flexibility to protest almost anywhere and grab media attention? There’s some evidence that, denied permanent access to Grant Park, the Chicago Occupy group has spent less … Continue reading →

Forrest Claypool, President of the CTA, is our solo guest on this week’s program. Claypool inherited a quarter-billion dollar budget deficit when he took the job, and the budget he just got passed is still technically over a hundred million … Continue reading →

Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, is our sole guest this week. We try to unpack the Cook County budget process in a half-hour conversation that goes a little beyond the daily headlines (will jurors have … Continue reading →

There’s revolution in the air, and it’s not just Occupy Chicago. Now 28 aldermen have actually sent a letter to the Mayor saying that they aren’t completely pleased with the budget proposals and they demand — well, a meeting, and … Continue reading →

It really doesn’t matter if there are slot machines at racetracks, says veteran political consultant Don Rose. After all, the patrons are already gambling.  And those speeding cameras? Rose says he doesn’t think there should be as many as Rahm … Continue reading →

Some pundits like to knock the Occupy moment for its lack of focus or message, but a study shows its mere existence has shifted the news focus from “deficit” to “unemployed” and “1%”. Carol Felsenthal (Chicago Magazine) and David Schaper … Continue reading →

Angela Caputo (Chicago Reporter) and the Community Media Workshop’s Steve Franklin (who recently became President of the Chicago Headline Club) are in the Newsroom this week. Did you know that, if you’re a fully lease-compliant resident of the CHA, and … Continue reading →

This week – a big picture perspective on education. We vilify teachers and argue about minor issues, but we’re not paying attention to the global environment, where the real challenges are. Terry Mazany, CEO of the Chicago Community Trust – and … Continue reading →

A discussion about the racial disparities in marijuana sentencing and the class plots that have developed within Chicago’s African-American communities. Our guests are Mick Dumke (Chicago Reader) and Salim Muwakkil (In These Times and WVON). We talk at length about … Continue reading →

Ernest Sanders, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, Ammad Omar, WBEZ and Chicago News Cooperative reporter, Rebecca Vevea, discuss possible cuts to police and fire, the ongoing public education debate, and the reduction of Black-majority wards in Chicago.