In the Loop

Daily Line managing editor Heather Cherone, WBEZ reporter Linda Lutton, and Danny Ecker from Crain’s Chicago Business are the 3 journalists joining us to talk about the biggest news stories of the week in Chicago. We’ll cover the Lincoln Yards development, the mayor’s race, Gov. Pritzker’s newly-unveiled tax plan, and more.

Since the 1980’s, the partners and loved ones of drug addicts and alcoholics have been called codependents and enablers. They’re told their behavior is causing or exacerbating the addict’s behavior and to search out what’s wrong inside themselves. Rob Weiss, a longtime addiction professional and psychotherapist has turned this notion of co-dependence on its head, claiming that these people should be commended for their ongoing love and support, and should be provided with a number of coping skills.Later we hear from Robert Battle. He’s the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. The company is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and Battle talks about the past and future of this groundbreaking dance troupe.

Jane Byrne and Harold Washington made history as the first woman and first African American elected mayor of Chicago.  Either Lori Lightfoot or Toni Preckwinkle will have the distinction of being the first Black woman mayor after the April 2nd runoff. We’ll talk about the historic nature of this election. And Geoffrey Baer has explored Chicago and the suburbs for years on his documentaries for WTTW 11. Baer’s latest explores many of the classic, and hidden spots that Chicagoans go for family road trips and nearby getaways. Want more Morning Shift? Subscribe to our podcast and rate us. It really helps. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter at @WBEZMorning. You can also leave us a voicemail with feedback or with a comment we may play on the air at 888-915-9945.

Last week, certain Chicago voters had additional ballot initiatives to vote for. One involved rent control, one was about the use of tax dollars generated by legal marijuana, and 2 were about public input in projects that will change their neighborhoods.   We talk about all of them, then dive deep with 2 activists who are working to make sure the Obama Center brings positive change for the residents living in the surrounding areas. Later we hear about what can be done about the rise in pedestrian deaths at the hands of vehicles. 

Bob Marovich knows gospel music. He's written a major work about its history and Chicago roots. He hosts a weekly gospel radio program. And he's the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Gospel Music. His latest work is a coffee table book called The Gospel According To Malco: Celebrating 75 Years of Gospel Music. It's a companion piece to an 8-disc set that includes 100 tracks.  In it, he outlines the recorded output of the Malaco label, and all the other record labels now under the Malco umbrella, including the legendary Savoy. Bob sits down with Jenn White and traces the changes to gospel music over the decades, and the special place it holds in American culture. 

This week on our Friday News Roundtable, Kim Bellware, Mary Mitchell, Monica Davey are the journalists tasked with making sense of this week’s historic elections in Chicago, and what it means for the city going forward.

A big, beautiful building on Fullerton Ave. and Janssen in Lincoln Park hasn’t been used in years.  But a big “F” at the top of the structure, and the word “Perfection” carved above the door gives us clues as to what the building was used for after it was put up in the 1920’s. Plus Mayor Emanuel has locked the heads of the Park District, CPS, and other city key departments into contracts that will need to be paid in full if the new mayor decides to put in people of her own.  Sun Times reporter Lauren Fitzpatrick explains. Want more Morning Shift? Subscribe to our podcast and rate us. It really helps. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter at @WBEZMorning. You can also leave us a voicemail with feedback or with a comment we may play on the air at 888-915-9945.

One thing is certain. Chicago’s next mayor will be a Black woman, as former federal prosecutor and Police Board President Lori Lightfoot faces former alderman and current Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in an April 2nd runoff We get analysis from WBEZ political reporter Dan Mihalopoulos and hear from both candidates in 1-on-1 interviews. Want more Morning Shift? Subscribe to our podcast and rate us. It really helps. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter at @WBEZMorning. You can also leave us a voicemail with feedback or with a comment we may play on the air at 888-915-9945.

Chicago aldermen have a duty to their ward, and to the city as a whole. But how is that work divided up?  Can an alderman do something that’s good for their neighborhood but not so great for everyone else?  ProPublica Illinois’ Mick Dumke breaks down the job, and sometimes divided loyalties, of a Chicago alderman. Plus photographer and activist Tonika Johnson’s “Folded Map” project brought north and south siders  who lived on opposite ends of long streets together to meet and learn about each other and their neighborhoods.  Johnson is expanding her project to include east/west streets to bring even more understanding to our divided city. Want more Morning Shift? Subscribe to our podcast and rate us. It really helps. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter at @WBEZMorning. You can also leave us a voicemail with feedback or with a comment we may play on the air at 888-915-9945.

WBEZ reporter Patrick Smith talks about what the next Chicago mayor should be thinking about when it comes to crime and policing. Plus we get the inside scoop on election judges and what they do to keep the voting fair and flowing throughout the day from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners' Jim Allen