In the Loop

When Lori Lightfoot campaigned for Mayor of Chicago, she talked about rooting out corruption, making government more transparent, including communities in discussions about how to make better policy, and having an all-around more equitable city that works for everyone. 3 key members of her transition teams talk about how they’ve done so far, and the work that still needs to be done to keep those promises.

Then, the trend was to tear down Englewood in order to save it. The problem is, nothing has gone into those empty spaces. So what’s the plan? What do the residents want? And how can neighbors and the city bring new housing and investment to the neighborhood?

CJ Run was born in Germany, grew up in England, spent their high school years in rural North Carolina, and finally found community and a sense of belonging at college in Champaign-Urbana. Now, they’ve moved to Chicago, and the music is flowing like never before. They hope that music provides inspiration to kids like them who are trying to figure out who they are and what life’s all about.

Mayor Llightfoot and the billion dollar budget hole. Why national Democrats need to stop in Chicago. A Tea Party firebrand looks to run against Trump. And rampant bullying and sexual harassment in the statehouse outlined in a new report. Those stories and more on this week’s Friday News Roundup.

Last year a staffer in Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s office came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against her superior Kevin Quinn. Now a new report fully outlines the circumstances and situations women have endured for years. And while Madigan himself has not been accused of wrongdoing, the powerful politician has apologized for not seeing it, or responding to these allegations in a timely manner.

Plus Eugene Jones Jr. was the CHA’s 5th CEO in 4 years. Residents liked his accessibility and his can-do spirit. But just a few months after he refuted rumors that he was moving on from the job, Jones turned in his resignation.

The Trump administration’s decision to withhold funds from health providers that talk about abortions has led Planned Parenthood to leave the federal program Title X and go without the millions in funds that comes with it. We talk about what that means for the organization, and women across the country and in Illinois

Plus we look at the nonprofit I Grow Chicago, and the services and a safe space they provide for the residents of Englewood and beyond.

It’s not quite the old smoke-filled back room of yore, but Cook County Democrats met late last week to choose who they’ll be supporting in the 2020 elections. WBEZ county reporter Kristen Schorch explains who got the nod, and how the county party’s backing helps a candidate.

Then Mother Jones’ AJ Vicens talks about the reporting he’s done around election tampering via social media, and how rules to combat it might inadvertently be hurting municipal elections across the country, including here in Chicago.

Over the last week, news reports and business channels have been throwing around the term Inverted Yield Curve. We’ll find out what it means, and what it has to do with a possible future recession or economic downturn.

Then we’ll talk to the folks who run a house on the city’s Southwest Side that serves as transitional housing for men who need to escape emergency situations, like if their life is in danger.

Bumps in the road for a future Chicago casino. A long-time politician says she won't stand for reelection. State's Attorney Kim Foxx gets a primary challenger. Those stories and more, broken down by 3 of the best journalists in the city. This week we're joined by WTTW's Paris Schutz, New York Times Chicago bureau chief Monica Davie, and freelance reporter Kim Bellware

From paying social media influencers to their ad campaigns to the flavors themselves, Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim believes that Juul, the biggest player in the growing e-cigarette market, is going directly after children. So he’s going directly after the company with a lawsuit.

Plus K.L.E.O. is a non-profit serving kids on the south side through a variety of programs from helping navigate through first jobs to the arts and more. We hear more about their mission and their successes, and get a preview of their Peace Festival that’s taking place this Saturday from executive director Lesle Honore.

A new survey says that Chicago and Illinois will do quite well once a successful casino opens in the city. But it also says that the profits for the casino’s actual owner will be so low, we may see a situation where no one wants to build one in the first place.

And 20,000 cases of elder abuse were reported in Illinois last year, and experts say the number of actual abuse cases is much higher. We talk to 2 members of a new state task force combating abuse of the elderly and those with disabilities.