The Block Club Chicago Podcast
The important, emotional, inspiring stories affecting Chicagoans.
- Update frequency
- every 3 days
- Average duration
- 19 minutes
- Episodes
- 321
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
The Alderman's Office That Kicked A Block Club Reporter Out Of A Public Meeting
When 25th Ward officials announced the reopening of a controversial Pilsen bar at a public meeting last week, Francia Garcia Hernandez wasn’t allowed to hear what neighbors had to say about it.
That’s…
City Tears Down Encampment Tents During Bitter Cold
City crews removed tents at the Gompers Park encampment Wednesday morning in Mayfair. The tent removals came after neighbors and elected officials pushed for the park to be restored, and as advocates…
Are Chicago's Winters Changing Forever?
Despite this week's cold snap, we have had very little snow in Chicago this winter. After a few years of below-average snowfall, WGN's Bill Snyder discusses weather the whether in winter has changed …
Michael Madigan Guilty In Landmark Corruption Case
The former Illinois House speaker — the longest-serving legislative leader in American history — was convicted by a federal jury of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud. The jury found him not guilty o…
When A Trip To The Doctor Could Lead To Deportation
Yuritzi left her home in Michoacán, Mexico, three years ago. Planning to expand her family, she worried about sending her children to struggling schools in her Mexican hometown, where teachers were l…
Lorraine Hansberry's South Side Roots Shaped Her Legendary Career
Court Theatre’s ‘A Raisin In The Sun’ is honoring Lorraine Hansberry’s South Side Tale 60 Years After Her Death.
The cast of South and West Side natives are bringing a fresh “heartbeat” to the Broadwa…
He Was The City's Highest Paid Employee -- Now He's Getting A Raise
Dorval Carter Jr. is in line for a substantial pay hike.
Carter’s tenure as the highest-compensated employee in city government ended when he stepped down as CTA president on Jan. 31, giving up his $3…
Ten Days Of Fear, Confusion, Arrests
State officials and immigrant advocates are not backing down on efforts to protect undocumented immigrants from President Donald Trump’s deportation surge that has led to “over 100” arrests in the Ch…
Can Google Save The Loop?
Google’s $105 million purchase of the Thompson Center in 2022 marked a turning point for Chicago’s struggling financial district. Plagued by high office vacancies and dwindling foot traffic, the area…
How Two Families, And Seven Billion Dollars, Aim To Transform The West Side
A proposed $7 billion redevelopment plan for the United Center has crossed the latest approval threshold before heading to City Council for a vote.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Michael Liptrot
Behind The Lens -- Block Club Chicago's Photojournalist Colin Boyle
Block Club Chicago Photojournalist Colin Boyle chats about how he captures Chicago -- the good, the bad, and the awesome.
Colin's Work At Block Club Chicago
Want to donate to…
Trump Deportations Starting In Chicago
The incoming Trump administration is planning large-scale deportations in Chicago starting next week, according to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times — and the city’s immigrants are prepa…
The Hemp Loophole And Murky Future Of Smoke Shops
Ald. Marty Quinn pushed and passed an ordinance that forcing smoke shops selling hemp-derived THC to close while Democratic lawmakers argue over how to regulate the “loophole” products — and who can …
What Is Quantum Computing And Why Is It Coming Here?
City Council has cleared the way for a multibillion-dollar quantum computing campus to be built on the former U.S. Steel South Works site in South Chicago. Maxwell Evans explains what this means to t…
Are We Headed For A Chicago Teachers Strike?
After eight months of contentious talks that cost CEO Pedro Martinez his job, Chicago Public Schools teacher contract negotiations are entering a decisive phase. Chalkbeat Chicago's Becky Vevea expla…
Why The Onion Bought Infowars - For A Moment
A Texas bankruptcy judge has rejected the sale of conspiracy theory platform InfoWars to Chicago-based satire site The Onion. The decision comes after a dispute, played out over a two-day hearing, be…
The Stories We Loved In 2024 (Part 1)
Some of the stories we loved to cover in 2024.
West Side Photographer Offers Visual Love Letter To Community With #MyWestSideStory
Venezuelan Couple’s Empanadas A Hit In Humboldt Park, Selling Out Dai…
How Joakim Noah Is Building Community — And Preventing Violence — Through Basketball
The One City Basketball League, made up of teams formed by violence intervention groups, crowned a new champ Saturday. Noah sat down with Block Club to talk about his work in Chicago.
Host - Jon Hanse…
How 'Chance The Snapper' Might Help Cure Cancer
Alligator expert Frank Robb, who famously caught Chance the Snapper in the Humboldt Park Lagoon in 2019, reports that Chance is now part of a study examining why alligators are less prone to cancer t…