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The first time singer-songwriter Michael McDermott walked through the gates of Cook County Jail was Nov. 23, 2002, after being arrested at the House of Blues for cocaine possession.
He returned this week in a different capacity: musician.
He returned this week in a different capacity: musician.
Musician Michael McDermott returns to perform at the jail where he was held after drug bust
www.wbez.org
December 10, 2025 at 2:45 AM
The first time singer-songwriter Michael McDermott walked through the gates of Cook County Jail was Nov. 23, 2002, after being arrested at the House of Blues for cocaine possession.
He returned this week in a different capacity: musician.
He returned this week in a different capacity: musician.
Sir Michael Rocks and Chuck Inglish stopped at the Vocalo studios to discuss how their new album “Hi Top Fade” calls back to the origins of hip-hop. The duo heads to the Empty Bottle on Dec. 19.
Classic Chicago rap duo The Cool Kids are back with a brand new album and a hometown show
www.wbez.org
December 9, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Sir Michael Rocks and Chuck Inglish stopped at the Vocalo studios to discuss how their new album “Hi Top Fade” calls back to the origins of hip-hop. The duo heads to the Empty Bottle on Dec. 19.
Donate today for your chance to win a 12-day educational adventure for two to Northern Greece, courtesy of Road Scholar.
Support public media and enter to explore the world. [https://mrf.lu/R_RP)
Support public media and enter to explore the world. [https://mrf.lu/R_RP)
December 9, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Donate today for your chance to win a 12-day educational adventure for two to Northern Greece, courtesy of Road Scholar.
Support public media and enter to explore the world. [https://mrf.lu/R_RP)
Support public media and enter to explore the world. [https://mrf.lu/R_RP)
What happens with when a 14-year-old learns how to bake from a ‘101’ cookbook? Lots of whipped cream…
Can a ‘101’ cookbook teach anyone how to bake? We asked a 14-year-old to test one.
www.wbez.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:31 PM
What happens with when a 14-year-old learns how to bake from a ‘101’ cookbook? Lots of whipped cream…
A hardcover cookbook feels like an investment these days, so we kitchen-tested nine titles from this year’s enticing new releases.
Here are the 2025 cookbooks we recommend — and a couple that we don't
www.wbez.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
A hardcover cookbook feels like an investment these days, so we kitchen-tested nine titles from this year’s enticing new releases.
Residents of a Chicago apartment building raided by federal immigration agents are scrambling to find places to live after a Cook County judge on Monday denied their request for more time and resources.
Judge keeps move-out date for South Shore building raided by feds, sending residents scrambling
www.wbez.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Residents of a Chicago apartment building raided by federal immigration agents are scrambling to find places to live after a Cook County judge on Monday denied their request for more time and resources.
Critics say participants of the trend are making themselves more acceptable for white, mainstream society. But quarter-zip enthusiasts say their intention is to be fashionable, build self-confidence and show Black men doing positive things while having fun.
Black Chicagoans embrace the quarter-zip trend while discussing its meaning
www.wbez.org
December 8, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Critics say participants of the trend are making themselves more acceptable for white, mainstream society. But quarter-zip enthusiasts say their intention is to be fashionable, build self-confidence and show Black men doing positive things while having fun.
Young adults and Latinos were the least likely to know about the changes to the school board, suggesting a need for more bilingual outreach well before the Nov. 3 election.
Most residents don’t know Chicago is moving to an elected school board, poll finds
www.wbez.org
December 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Young adults and Latinos were the least likely to know about the changes to the school board, suggesting a need for more bilingual outreach well before the Nov. 3 election.
Nayra Guzmán was arrested 15 days after her daughter’s difficult birth. Before Trump took office, postpartum immigrants were rarely detained by ICE.
A Cicero woman’s baby was in the NICU. She was in ICE detention.
www.wbez.org
December 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Nayra Guzmán was arrested 15 days after her daughter’s difficult birth. Before Trump took office, postpartum immigrants were rarely detained by ICE.
Donate today to enter to win a year of family fun — memberships and season passes to Brookfield Zoo, Morton Arboretum, and Six Flags Great America.
Support WBEZ and enter automatically. [https://mrf.lu/Rvcg)
Support WBEZ and enter automatically. [https://mrf.lu/Rvcg)
December 8, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Donate today to enter to win a year of family fun — memberships and season passes to Brookfield Zoo, Morton Arboretum, and Six Flags Great America.
Support WBEZ and enter automatically. [https://mrf.lu/Rvcg)
Support WBEZ and enter automatically. [https://mrf.lu/Rvcg)
Officials and architects said the park would act as a place of activity and rest. It will also be the site of the memorial dedicated to COVID-19 victims and workers.
Illinois Medical District getting its first park in 80 years
www.wbez.org
December 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Officials and architects said the park would act as a place of activity and rest. It will also be the site of the memorial dedicated to COVID-19 victims and workers.
While Santa Claus’ dark counterpart was born centuries ago in Europe, Krampus’ recent explosion in the U.S. is all thanks to one Chicagoan who featured the beast in his comic zine 20 years ago.
Here comes Krampus: How the half-goat, half-demon became a cultural phenomenon
www.wbez.org
December 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
While Santa Claus’ dark counterpart was born centuries ago in Europe, Krampus’ recent explosion in the U.S. is all thanks to one Chicagoan who featured the beast in his comic zine 20 years ago.
Donate today for your chance to win two tickets to any 2026 Salt Shed show.
Your support powers the reporting Chicago relies on. [https://mrf.lu/RSpl)
Your support powers the reporting Chicago relies on. [https://mrf.lu/RSpl)
December 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Donate today for your chance to win two tickets to any 2026 Salt Shed show.
Your support powers the reporting Chicago relies on. [https://mrf.lu/RSpl)
Your support powers the reporting Chicago relies on. [https://mrf.lu/RSpl)
Donate between 1–7 p.m. for your chance to win an 8-course chef’s table for four at Carnivale.
Support WBEZ and enter for an unforgettable meal. [https://mrf.lu/RjQK)
Support WBEZ and enter for an unforgettable meal. [https://mrf.lu/RjQK)
December 5, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Donate between 1–7 p.m. for your chance to win an 8-course chef’s table for four at Carnivale.
Support WBEZ and enter for an unforgettable meal. [https://mrf.lu/RjQK)
Support WBEZ and enter for an unforgettable meal. [https://mrf.lu/RjQK)
Review: What we love about the 2003 film is Will Ferrell’s dynamite performance, and the live production now playing at The Auditorium lacks the same wit and charm.
Review: ‘Elf the Musical’ falls short of capturing the magic of the movie
www.wbez.org
December 5, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Review: What we love about the 2003 film is Will Ferrell’s dynamite performance, and the live production now playing at The Auditorium lacks the same wit and charm.
“Some restaurants are starting to recover, but aren’t at pre-raid business yet,” said Alonso Zaragoza, a community organizer and founder of Belmont Cragin United, an online resource center for residents.
Belmont Cragin restaurant owners say business ticking up — but not back to pre-immigration enforcement levels
www.wbez.org
December 5, 2025 at 4:41 PM
“Some restaurants are starting to recover, but aren’t at pre-raid business yet,” said Alonso Zaragoza, a community organizer and founder of Belmont Cragin United, an online resource center for residents.
Fourteen graduates got their records expunged for completing the (W)RAP program, which offers non-violent offenders treatment and support as an alternative to incarceration.
A Cook County drug court program is helping non-violent offenders overcome substance use
www.wbez.org
December 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Fourteen graduates got their records expunged for completing the (W)RAP program, which offers non-violent offenders treatment and support as an alternative to incarceration.
Justin Baren, a Chicago-area musician who as a teenager shot to the upper echelon of the music industry in the pop band the Redwalls, has died.
Justin Baren, vocalist and bassist of Chicago pop band the Redwalls, dies at 40
www.wbez.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Justin Baren, a Chicago-area musician who as a teenager shot to the upper echelon of the music industry in the pop band the Redwalls, has died.
A private tasting for six could be yours. Donate before noon to enter to win an in-home wine, whiskey, or tequila experience.
Support WBEZ and enter automatically. [https://mrf.lu/RqJx)
Support WBEZ and enter automatically. [https://mrf.lu/RqJx)
December 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
A private tasting for six could be yours. Donate before noon to enter to win an in-home wine, whiskey, or tequila experience.
Support WBEZ and enter automatically. [https://mrf.lu/RqJx)
Support WBEZ and enter automatically. [https://mrf.lu/RqJx)
A winter retreat awaits. Donate between 2–7 p.m. to enter to win a 2-night stay and meal for two at the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook.
Support WBEZ and enter to win. [https://mrf.lu/Rs8d)
Support WBEZ and enter to win. [https://mrf.lu/Rs8d)
December 4, 2025 at 9:16 PM
A winter retreat awaits. Donate between 2–7 p.m. to enter to win a 2-night stay and meal for two at the Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook.
Support WBEZ and enter to win. [https://mrf.lu/Rs8d)
Support WBEZ and enter to win. [https://mrf.lu/Rs8d)
The settlement comes as the district watchdog that investigates sexual misconduct by adults against students is prioritizing more severe allegations to clear a backlog.
CPS Board approves $17.5 million settlement for former student sexually abused at Little Village high school
www.wbez.org
December 4, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The settlement comes as the district watchdog that investigates sexual misconduct by adults against students is prioritizing more severe allegations to clear a backlog.
In Chicago this season, you can find a jazzy Duke Ellington version, a global “Nutcracker” with hip-hop mice and the 50th anniversary of the holiday story on ice, as well as the Joffrey Ballet’s classic Downtown.
It’s officially “Nutcracker” season. Here are three affordable and creative remixes on the classic
www.wbez.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:01 PM
In Chicago this season, you can find a jazzy Duke Ellington version, a global “Nutcracker” with hip-hop mice and the 50th anniversary of the holiday story on ice, as well as the Joffrey Ballet’s classic Downtown.
Amid the federal deportation campaign, Spanish-speaking mental health providers are creating therapy groups and community workshops while others offer yoga, meditation and other support.
Panic attacks, anxiety high among immigrants as capacity to help is limited
www.wbez.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Amid the federal deportation campaign, Spanish-speaking mental health providers are creating therapy groups and community workshops while others offer yoga, meditation and other support.
An independent state committee will be responsible for setting vaccination guidelines that Illinois officials previously had relied on the federal government to provide.
Pritzker signs law for Illinois to set its own vaccination guidelines in response to Trump skeptics
www.wbez.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:27 PM
An independent state committee will be responsible for setting vaccination guidelines that Illinois officials previously had relied on the federal government to provide.
A Cook County judge has ordered the building vacated by Dec. 12. Tenants want the City of Chicago to intervene.
Residents of South Shore building raided by feds protest surprise move-out date during 'freezing' cold
www.wbez.org
December 4, 2025 at 2:22 PM
A Cook County judge has ordered the building vacated by Dec. 12. Tenants want the City of Chicago to intervene.