Take 1 with Bill Cameron

This week, Bill is joined by 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins. He talks about Chicago preparing for the Democratic National Convention and if the city is ready for a safe and secure convention. Hopkins does not agree with the mayor's decision to get rid of ShotSpotter. Can the city afford to shovel all the sidewalks when there is significant snowfall? They discuss the Bears and White Sox wanting public funding for new stadiums. And what needs to be done about public transportation?

The reporter roundtable was back full with Heather Cherone, Ray Long, Greg Hinz and Dave Stewart. How much is Brandon Johnson spending to keep up his looks and hair? It's been found out that lobbyists illegally donated money to the Brandon Johnson campaign. Could a new Bears stadium or White Sox stadium help revive the downtown area? And Ed Burke wants a new trial.

Finally, hear from former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in his role as the Ambassador to Japan talking about China's role in the world.

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This week, Bill talks with the President and CEO of the Civic Federation, Joe Ferguson. He was also the inspector general for the City of Chicago from 2009 to 2021. They discuss Donald Trump being convicted of all 34 counts in New York. Also, what does Joe like and dislike about the Illinois budget that was passed this week? He also gives his thoughts on Brandon Johnson's first year and change as Chicago's mayor.

The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Dave Stewart and Ray Long talk about the conviction of Donald Trump. Was the jury correct in convicting him and what are the political ramifications? They also talk the Illinois budget where lawmakers raised taxes and gave themselves a raise.

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This week Bill dug into the ShotSpotter debate in the Chicago City Council. Brandon Johnson has said it's going away after the Democratic National Convention in August but the City Council voted this week to keep it by a 34-14 vote. And Northwestern President Michael Schill got grilled by MAGA Republicans on Capitol Hill over anti-Semitism on college campuses.

The roundtable with Greg Hinz, Ray Long and Dave Stewart talked about the ShotSpotter debate as well as how Northwestern handled the encampment on their campus. Also, Democrats in Springfield are taking it down to the wire with the state budget.

And hear from Brandon Johnson on the potential Memorial Day weekend violence in Chicago.

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This week Bill is joined by Democratic Congresswoman Robin Kelly. She represents Illinois's 2nd District which includes part of the south side of Chicago, much of the southern suburbs and into Central Illinois along the Indiana border. They discuss gun control, Joe Biden's chances of winning reelection this year and what she is trying to get done for the farmers in her district.

The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Greg Hinz, Dave Stewart and Ray Long talked about Brandon Johnson's low approval rating. A judge ruled in favor of keeping so-called "no-knock warrants." Some reporters at the Chicago Tribune are suing saying the company doesn't pay them fairly compared to their white male counterparts. And the roundtable get into a debate about whether pro-Palestinian protestors should talk more to the press.

And finally, hear former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley talk about the importance of trees.

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This week, Bill talks with Chaz Ebert, the CEO of Ebert Digital which runs RogerEbert.com. Chaz is the wife of the great late movie critic Roger Ebert. She has a new book out now call "It's Time to Give a FECK: Elevating Humanity Through Forgiveness, Empathy, Compassion and Kindness." They discuss how the world can be better by following FECK principles and how she relates FECK to Donald Trump. Also, what is the state of the movie industry?

The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart and Ray Long talk about Brandon Johnson's first year as Chicago Mayor. He officially took office May 15th of last year. What grade would the roundtable give the former teacher turned mayor. He also just went down to Springfield asking for about $1 billion for Chicago Schools, public transportation and the Chicago Bears new stadium. How much will Chicago actually get from the state? And an Illinois judge ruled there was rampant racial discrimination in the water department and the city owes about a dozen former employees a multi-million dollar settlement.

Finally, Hillary Clinton gives some much-needed history lesson on the Middle East and as it relates to Pro-Palestinian protestors on college campuses.

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This week, Bill played testimony from a current US Supreme Court case involving the former mayor of Portage, Indiana, James Snyder. He was convicted of corruption. The Supreme Court could rule in favor of Snyder and that could affect the trial of Mike Madigan, and could affect the convictions of the ComEd 4 and Ed Burke.

This week on the reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart and Ray Long, they discuss Governor Pritzker calling the Chicago Bears' stadium proposal as a "non-starter." Is the new stadium dead? Speaking of the governor, he was not invited to the funeral of slain Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca. Mayor Brandon Johnson was also not invited. Does this show the strain between the CPD and the political leaders in Illinois?

And hear Joe Biden make a speech about all the protests going on, on college campuses including at Northwestern and University of Chicago.

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This week, Bill is joined by Stacy Davis Gates, the President of the Chicago Teachers Union. The CTU contract expires on June 30th, what are she and the teachers asking for in negotiations?

The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart and Ray Long discussed the Bears proposal for a new domed stadium on the lakefront. Does this have any chance of happening soon? Pro-Palestinian Northwestern students are protesting on campus and the administration is blocking journalists from covering it. And Greg Hinz wrote about potenially abolishing the CTA.

Finally, we'll hear arguments from the US Supreme Court about whether Donald Trump should have immunity from prosecution because he was President. 

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Former Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley turns 82 on Wednesday, April 24th. Bill plays audio highlights of Daley's funniest and most memorable moments in office.

The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Dave Stewart, Ray Long and Greg Hinz discussed the police officers that shot and killed Dexter Reed, did they follow correct protocol? There's a SCOTUS case that may be helping out Mike Madigan. Governor Pritzker called out the leadership at the CTA, is President Dorval Carter's job on the line? Protestors stopped traffic to O'Hare this week, are these protests making a difference or just annoying people?

And Walter "Slim" Coleman died this week. He was a longtime community organizer in Chicago who helped Harold Washington get elected to the mayor's office twice. Bill played a part of a speech from a few years ago when he helped asylum seekers to not get deported by then-President Donald Trump.

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This week Bill is joined by Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Royal Pratt, whose new book, "The City Is Up for Grabs: How Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis", is out now. They discuss Lightfoot's rocky relationship with the media during her one term as Chicago Mayor. Pratt also talks about some of the reasons Lori Lightfoot didn't even make the runoff in the mayoral election in 2023.

The reporter roundtable with Greg Hinz, Dave Stewart, Ray Long and Heather Cherone talked about the release of the police-involved shooting that killed Dexter Reed. Heather talked about her relationship covering former Mayor Lightfoot. Are the Bears going to get any public subsidies for their new stadium? O.J. Simpson died this week, has the media learned anything in the 30 years since the double-murder and trial? And Brandon Johnson wants more money from the city council for the migrant issue.

Finally, hear from the first Mayor Daley, Richard J. Daley, about when the Bears were considering moving out to the suburbs back in the 1970s.

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Illinois' senior Senator Dick Durbin is Bill's guest this week on Take 1. Durbin talks about Donald Trump, what Israel has to change in their war with Hamas and why updating O'Hare Airport is essential. He also discusses the Bears and White Sox potential new stadiums and whether they should be taxpayer-funded, and whether or not he will run for re-election in 2026.

The reporter roundtable with Heather Cherone, Ray Long, Dave Stewart and Greg Hinz. They talked about some surprising civility in Chicago politics this past week with Clayton Harris III conceding the race for Cook County State's Attorney to Eileen O'Neill Burke without a recount and Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez not getting censured. Did Mike Madigan catch a break in his corruption trial? Is Bally's Chicago casino in jeopardy of not happening. And former Cook County President Dick Phelan died this past week.

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