Chicago Newsroom

Guest host Kitty Kurth talks environment and science today with Howard Learner of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, and Monica Metzler of the Illinois Science Council. They offer advice to Chicago’s next mayor and other elected officials about how to make the city, and the region more environmentally friendly and how the intersection of science, technology and public policy can be used to attract and to retain business and technology concerns to the city. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by Robin Amer, creator and host of USA Today’s new podcast series “The City”. She discusses the histories of two massive construction debris dumps that were created in Chicago during the 1990s, one in West Lawndale and another near Addison and Western. Both spurred strenuous community outrage, but both were resolved differently. Amer also tells the nuanced story of Bill Henry, the Alderman of the west-side 24th Ward, who was accused of taking as much as $5,000 a month in bribes to allow the dumping, and the protracted legal battle to evict the dumper, John Christopher, through years of court battles. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by Sylvia Ewing and Marilyn Katz, two prominent, deeply experienced Chicago political consultants and activists. They discuss the impending elevation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and the conclusion of arguments in the Jason Van Dyke trial. They also share some behind-the-scenes stories about the Chicago Mayor’s race. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by Delmarie Cobb (The Publicity Works), Marj Halperin (Democratic Analyst for WGN TV’s Morning News) and Indivisible Chicago’s director Darcey Regan. They react to the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings as Christine Blasey Ford is testifying. They also share their opinions on next spring’s Mayoral race, the aldermanic races and the ongoing Jason Van Dyke trial. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by The Tribune’s City Hall reporter Bill Ruthhart, and in the second segment, newly appointed Chicago Teachers’ Union Vice President Stacy Davis Gates.

Ruthhart shares his observations about the February Mayor’s race in the aftermath of Mayor Emanuel’s announcement that he’s not running again. He tells us that, as of this morning, there are fifteen candidates that have formally announced their candidacy, three who are formally considering it, and another group of people who’ve been “mentioned.”

Davis Gates talks with us about organizing teachers and staff in the city’s charter schools, the challenges of running a public-sector union in the post Janus era, and the pressure for the union to announce an endorsement in the Mayor’s race. It’s too early for an endorsement, she says, because the union is focused on the upcoming governor’s race, where defeating Bruce Rauner is a major priority for the union.

This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by Sun-Times’ Kathy Chaney, former State Senator and City Clerk (and 2011 Mayoral candidate Miguel Del Valle, and the Daily Line’s A. D. Quig. They discuss the impact that Jason Van Dyke’s decision to accept a jury trial will have on the trial itself, as it begins Monday. They also discuss the current status of the Chicago Mayor’s race, the impending announcement of an agreement for a consent decree for police reform, and President Trumps’ tweet that three thousand people did not die in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by Mayoral candidate Troy LaRaviere, who was the first announced candidate in the now hyper-crowded race. They discuss policing, crime, economic development, privatization of school services, the Obama presidential center and public transportation – and LaRaviere gives his evaluation of Rahm Emanuel’s tenure in office. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by business journalist Robert Reed to discuss a variety of topics related to the economic, physical and social changes occurring in Chicago. They talk about the upcoming mayoral election, and some speculation in the press that Mayor Emanuel may be seriously considering not running for a third term. They discuss the rapid modernization of O’Hare, the suburb-city divide, and the potential for the “Manattan-ization” of Chicago. They also discuss the possible issuance of “pension obligation bonds” to hopefully stabilize the pension funds, and the possibility that Tronc, and with it the Chicago Tribune, might be bought by the same investors who bought the Los Angeles Tribune from Tronc in the first place.

In the show’s second segment, Ken speaks with WBEZ’s Kristen Schorsch about the rapidly escalating costs for “uncompensated care” at the Cook County hospitals (Stroger and Provident.) In the past two years, care for which the hospital is not paid back has doubled, to a level that’s projected to hit a half-billion dollars in 2018.

This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by the Chicago Tribune’s Hal Dardick and the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability’s Ralph Martire. They discuss Mayor Emanuel’s proposal to sell up to ten billion dollars’ worth of low-interest bonds and dedicate the proceeds to the four city pension funds. There’s a range of opinions on the effectiveness and potential danger of such a financial scheme, but Martire is cautiously in favor. Dardick reports that a major issue is finding a way to assure that the funds can never be tapped in the future for other purposes, thereby robbing the pension funds and increasing the debt for future generations to pay. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Ken Davis is joined by Mayoral candidate Ja’Mal Green. They discuss a wide range of topics, including the pending consent decree for police reform and the appropriate role of police in combating violent crime. They also discuss Pat Quinn’s campaign for mayoral term limits, Mayor Emanuel’s proposal for retiring pension deficits with bond funding, rent control, gentrification and funding for Chicago’s public schools. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).