chicago politics

According to stats from the National Retail Federation, crime along Chicago's Magnificent Mile is down since 2020, despite viral videos of break-ins, crash-and-grabs and more seemingly painting a different story. So how are business development organizations and shop owners building consumer confidence, attempting to reverse stigmas, and working to attract more locals and tourists to Chicago's downtown? This week, WBBM reporter Brandon Ison provides compelling audio recorded in the Loop and Mag Mile on all of the above. You can also hear more on this subject on our recent nationwide broadcast "Audacy Conversations: The State of Downtown" moderated by WBBM's Cisco Cotto.

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Follow Brandon Ison on Twitter | Follow WBBM Podcasts: Twitter | Instagram
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According to stats from the National Retail Federation, crime along Chicago's Magnificent Mile is down since 2020, despite viral videos of break-ins, crash-and-grabs and more seemingly painting a different story. So how are business development organizations and shop owners building consumer confidence, attempting to reverse stigmas, and working to attract more locals and tourists to Chicago's downtown? This week, WBBM reporter Brandon Ison provides compelling audio recorded in the Loop and Mag Mile on all of the above. You can also hear more on this subject on our recent nationwide broadcast "Audacy Conversations: The State of Downtown" moderated by WBBM's Cisco Cotto.

Follow Magnificent Mile Association on Instagram | Follow Chicago Loop Alliance on Instagram

Follow Brandon Ison on Twitter | Follow WBBM Podcasts: Twitter | Instagram
Follow WBBM Newsradio: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

This coming March, the ballot box will see a vote on Bring Chicago Home, an ordinance to determine if taxes should be increased on the sale of high-end properties -- ranging from residences to office buildings, valued at $1 million or more -- in order to fund programs to battle the city's homelessness crisis. Today, host Jim Hanke speaks with guests on both sides of the issue: Former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, currently an adviser with the Illinois Policy Institute, says that this tax would fall directly on commercial real estate owners who are already seeing declines in value, while Dixon Romeo (executive director of Not Me We, a grassroots community group in South Shore) advocates that the increase in taxes is minimal, and that this move could raise a projected $100 million annually to fund permanent supportive housing.

Visit Illinois Policy Institute | Visit Bring Chicago Home

Follow WBBM Podcasts: Twitter | Instagram
Follow WBBM Newsradio: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

This coming March, the ballot box will see a vote on Bring Chicago Home, an ordinance to determine if taxes should be increased on the sale of high-end properties -- ranging from residences to office buildings, valued at $1 million or more -- in order to fund programs to battle the city's homelessness crisis. Today, host Jim Hanke speaks with guests on both sides of the issue: Former mayoral candidate Paul Vallas, currently an adviser with the Illinois Policy Institute, says that this tax would fall directly on commercial real estate owners who are already seeing declines in value, while Dixon Romeo (executive director of Not Me We, a grassroots community group in South Shore) advocates that the increase in taxes is minimal, and that this move could raise a projected $100 million annually to fund permanent supportive housing.

Visit Illinois Policy Institute | Visit Bring Chicago Home

Follow WBBM Podcasts: Twitter | Instagram
Follow WBBM Newsradio: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

From clothing stores to pharmacies, retail accounts for about one-fifth of Illinois' workforce and is the second-largest revenue generator in the state. So as crash-and-grab robberies (those that use the force of a large vehicle to break the entrance of a store) continue to rise, how does this affect our safety and our economy? This week, host Jim Hanke speaks with Rob Karr, President/CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association -- or, IRMA -- to find out how the organization works with state representatives to deter these ram-and-raid crime sprees, as well as balances the needs of both national chains and local independent stores.

Follow IRMA on Facebook | Follow WBBM Podcasts: Twitter | Instagram
Follow WBBM Newsradio: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

From clothing stores to pharmacies, retail accounts for about one-fifth of Illinois' workforce and is the second-largest revenue generator in the state. So as crash-and-grab robberies (those that use the force of a large vehicle to break the entrance of a store) continue to rise, how does this affect our safety and our economy? This week, host Jim Hanke speaks with Rob Karr, President/CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association -- or, IRMA -- to find out how the organization works with state representatives to deter these ram-and-raid crime sprees, as well as balances the needs of both national chains and local independent stores.

Follow IRMA on Facebook | Follow WBBM Podcasts: Twitter | Instagram
Follow WBBM Newsradio: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Also in the news: Chicago police have now ordered a River North nightclub to close one day after a fight outside its front door ended with a shooting that sent eight people to the hospital; Brandon Johnson prepares for his first budget address as Chicago's mayor; and a Chicago man was among nine people who were shot in a mass shooting near Pittsburgh.

Organizers of the Chicago Marathon expected their 1,000,000th finisher to cross the finish line on Sunday. Also in the News: Hundreds gathered across the street from Chicago's Israeli Consulate Sunday afternoon to protest the Israeli government's formally declared war; Eight people were injured, four critically, in a shooting in River North early Sunday morning; and the CTA said they've finished the major track work as part of Phase One of the Forest Park Branch Rebuild.

Two persons of interest in the murders of four family members in their Romeoville home over the weekend were located Wednesday in Oklahoma.

Also in the news: The Cook County Medical Examiner says a man found inside a Glenview home was stabbed to death; residents of Calumet City, Dolton and Burnham are continuing to mop up from severe rainfall on Sunday; and McHenry County’s top prosecutor says the first day the State of Illinois went to a no-cash-bail system resulted in “absurd and incoherent” results.

Also in the news: No one is in custody after a shooting outside a south side funeral home left at least two men in critical condition; a Sunday night brawl erupted in the Emergency Room of the University of Chicago Medical Center; and students at  Deerfield and Highland Park high schools will now be required to pass through metal detectors.

Also in the news: Three former Northwestern baseball staffers are suing the university; movement grows to give Trailside Museum of Natural History a new name; and a man is dead after a domestic incident in Glenview. 

Western suburb emerges as another option for Bears; Robbins teen charged with last year's murder of fellow teen in forest preserve; Some Highland Park residents will mark July 4 privately this year, others will attend public events. 

Bears president confirms lack of progress in stadium negotiations with Arlington Heights; Two CPD officers in South Side traffic stop; City assisting urban gardeners in order to eliminate food deserts.   

In other news: Mayor of Naperville pays tribute to U of I graduate killed at German castle; Navy Pier to host NASCAR simulator event; Chicago victims of gender-based violence eligible for $1,000 grants 

Also in the news: The field house in Gage Park will become temporary housing for more than 300 migrants by July 1; free lunches are now available weekdays at at hundreds of Chicago Public Schools; and a vigil was held last night for the victims of the shooting in Willowbrook over the weekend, in which one person was killed and 22 people were shot.

Dead body discovered in Lake Michigan near Loyola Beach; Chicago to receive $7 million for series of monuments, including installation for victims of police torture; Chicago's Movies in the Park series debuts tonight

Also in the news: Chicago is closer than ever to putting up a long-discussed memorial honoring victims of police torture in the city; a daylong Juneteenth Celebration continues this hour at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center; and a man in the western suburbs is fighting plans for an industrial park, which he says would include destroying hundreds of oak trees.

NASCAR event an extension of Chicago's culture of 'traffic violence,' critic says; Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs showcases artists with disabilities; Pullman community planning large Juneteenth celebration

In other news: Civic Federation recommends Chicago City Council be cut in half; LGBTQ+ ministry of  Archdiocese of Chicago celebrates 35th anniversary; Activists question city's policies on migrants; and much more.

In other news: NASCAR representatives to address concerns of City Council; Man charged after shooting himself during nightmare; McDonald's goes all in on Grimace with nostalgia-infused birthday meal