Dairy Dilemma, As Oberweis Files Chapter 11

Through four generations and nearly 100 years, Oberweis Dairy has been an Illinois giant of industry. From brick-and-mortar ice cream shops to direct-to-consumer milk delivery (which saw record profits during the pandemic), their brand gained enough traction for Jim Oberweis -- grandson of its foun…

Holding Your Cards Close to Your Chest? Experts Talk the Reality of Gambling Addiction

The results are in, and they're staggering: about 4% of Illinois's population is living with a gambling addiction. With a new Casino and the rise in online sports betting, local mental health facilities are seeing a rise in clients seeking help for problem gambling. So how does this fun, recreation…

How Does Vinyl Keep Chicago's Music History Spinning?

Record Store Day is this coming Saturday, April 20th – a national event intended to celebrate your local neighborhood music merchant. Along with several guests this week, host and producer Jim Hanke examines just some of Chicago's many ties to the record industry, past and present, as well as why p…

[ENCORE] With Overdoses on the Rise, Is Free Narcan the Answer?

This is an encore presentation of a previous episode from 9/13/23. In 2022, Illinois had the third largest rate of non-fatal overdoses in the country, and many are pointing to the distribution of Narcan – a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save lives – as a major …

Ketchup Smackdown -- Will Heinz Campaign Convince Chicago's Hot Dog Lovers To Embrace Change?

Putting ketchup on a hot dog: In Chicago, it can get you shunned by strangers or disowned by family. But why? And will a gutsy new viral campaign from Heinz -- with interactive displays giving out free ketchup in front of longtime sausage strongholds like the Wiener's Circle -- sway anyone who's st…

Roller Derby -- The Sport That (Literally) Slams Gender Roles

This year marks the 20th anniversary of roller derby returning to where it was born: Chicago. But this fast-paced, gender-inclusive sport has had a long, contentious history -- even in it's hometown. So what is roller derby? And why does it not get the same level of recognition as others? In this …

Bug Appétit -- The Cicadas are Coming... and They're Tasty?

This spring, countless cicadas will arrive en masse, in a way that we haven't seen in over 200 years, and that we won't see again until 2245. But beyond their buzzing mating call, did you know that they're perfectly edible? Joining host/producer Jim Hanke this week are University of Illinois Extens…

Choose to Eat or to Pay Rent? -- Perfect Storm Hits City's Food Charities

Relying weekly on one’s local food pantry for groceries, personal items and more can already be a stressful existence. But now, a myriad of factors are contributing to additional pressure being felt from all sides of the city, as unprecedented demand has led to stretched resources and frayed patien…

[ENCORE] What's Up With Illinois's Changing Climate?

After a record breaking hot summer, this winter Illinois and the rest of the Midwest saw warmer days and less snow. Is this our new normal? In today's episode, host Arielle Raveney takes a look at what climate change looks like in Illinois, and how the country's first ever floating eco-park has a …

The 1890 Chicago Murder That Killed St. Patrick's Day

Chicago is known for it's many St. Paddy's Day events as the city itself becomes green, so it may not come as a surprise to know that the city has the second highest Irish population in the nation. The tradition of an annual parade in the city began in 1843, with the event getting bigger and bigger…