All the news that’s fit to podcast for your morning bike/train/bus ride, including the day’s top news, an in-depth feature and a look at the day ahead.

In today’s episode: a critical new report on mental health in Illinois’ youth prisons; why we’re having two elections for one Illinois U.S. Senate seat; Tour de Elk Grove.

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Will it be that type of season? (photo by Senor Codo)

The jurors continued their deliberation today in their “cocoon of privacy.” The Associated Press published an article on Judge Zagel’s decision to prohibit the release of the names of the jurors. Zagel argued that with Facebook, Twitter, and Google, people could more easily get contact information of jurors. As Zagel said, if jurors “picked up a phone and heard a spewing of profanity — that could have a mood-altering impact.” Thank goodness they were protected from profanity laden phone calls.

The New York Times N.F.L. blog has been providing preseason previews for each of the teams. Today, the Bears got their turn. The analysis seems to be consistent with what Chicago outlets are saying. How will Martz fit?, Urlacher’s back, Peppers is new, etc, etc. Their final take, Chicago has too many stars to fail, too many flaws to succeed. Now, pass me the Bourbonnais.
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Psalm One

Over at WBEZ Music we’ve been posting a new video of a musical performance every Thursday. Last week we featured St. Vincent, today its Psalm One. Check out that lyrical flow! Read the rest of this entry →

After the show, it's the afterparty, after the party it's the... (photo by don't fence me in)

Top Top story: So does Andruw Jones hate Mayor Daley? Tonight at ten.  Everyone thinks the bat toss was an accident, but maybe Andruw got an advanced copy of Fran Spielman’s piece yesterday? Yeah, we have pennies left.

Top story:  If you want to know what the jury took with them into deliberations, Sam Hudzik has the goods. I thought for sure they would be outfitted with portable DVD players, just in case they wanted to check out during the arguing. Maybe they could get some legal dramas pre-loaded.

B story:  Did you hear the Howard Stern clip from his show bashing on Carl Kasell? Carl is in the house today for Wait! Wait! so we will try to get a rebuttal. This is a good old fashion BEEF.
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“I put myself in the Lord’s hands,” says Shirley Jackson as she leans against the shelter in the bus turnaround on Western Avenue just north of 79th Street, the same place nine people were shot on Monday night. “It’s up to him to get me to my destination.”

Fact is, Jackson can’t do anything else. The bus she’s grabbing here is the only one that’ll take her where she needs to go.

“I can’t walk it,” she says with a smirk. “Can’t cab it, don’t have no car. What am I gonna do, fly? Teletransport like in the movies?”

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WBEZ/Sam Hudzik

The Blagojevich jury disappeared behind closed doors Wednesday after hearing this final instruction from Judge James Zagel: “You are impartial judges of the facts. Your sole interest is to determine whether the government has proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Not all the instructions Zagel read aloud were as clear and sound-bitey as that. After a particularly complicated one – filled with letter-and-number combinations referencing racketeering charges – Zagel told the jurors not to worry; they’d be given written copies of the 100-plus page instruction packet. (And it’s a good thing. From my view in the courtroom, none of the jurors were actively taking notes while Zagel was reading.) Read the rest of this entry →

All the news that’s fit to podcast for your morning bike/train/bus ride, including the day’s top news, an in-depth feature and a look at the day ahead.

In today’s episode: the first full day of the Blagojevich jury deliberations, art therapy to prevent violence, anticipating Chicago’s budget.

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Lupe Fiasco with Wikipedia Files (click on the pic to check it out)

Jury deliberation began for the Blagojevich trial today. As national outlets await news of a verdict, the Washington Post provides analysis on how the abbreviated trial may have benefited Illinois democrats. But, they assure you, they have no reason to be relieved. A representative of senate candidate Giannoulias says he wouldn’t call it “relief” because “that would imply it was a huge worry in the first place.” Quinn also said, “relieved is the wrong word.” So, no one feels relief, that’s reassuring.

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