James Edwards
Protesters take to the streets of Chicago after officials release the a video of Officer Jason Van Dyke fatally shooting Laquan McDonald. Critics attack the mayor and police department. A federal investigation finds a pattern of abuse by Chicago officers.
The police shooting of Laquan McDonald forces Chicago to prepare for potential riots. We piece together details from McDonald’s too-short life and hear from Officer Jason Van Dyke in his first interview since the shooting.
The fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald aggravated longstanding tensions between Chicago police and the city’s black residents. We look at how a troubled police department spun a narrative of the shooting, how that narrative fell apart, and how the city reacted when it did.
For our finale, it’s all about the inventor and entrepreneurial spirit We visit the Chicago Inventors Organization and have a few budding inventors pitch their creations for Bashir and Diallo. Meanwhile, comedian Kellye Howard visits fashion designer and inventor Jermikko, who was the first black woman to open a retail store on Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile.
Harold’s Chicken is a Chicago food institution, but no two Harold’s are the same. So comedian T. Murph met up with podcaster, YouTube personality, and fried chicken enthusiast Larry Legend to visit a couple of his choices for best Harold’s in the city.
We’re taking a second trip back to Englewood to explore special places to get away on the South Side. Comedian T. Murph meets up with photographer and Englewood resident Tonika Johnson to check out an abandoned railway that’s become a nature oasis for many residents.
Bashir and Diallo go under the hot comb to talk about all things hair. And they’re joined by their South Side co-star Chandra Russell. Meanwhile, comedian Just Nesh visits Issues Barber & Beauty Salon, where the quality of service is matched by the good times and colorful characters.
There’s never a bad night in Chicago to put on some dancing shoes and go steppin’. So Bashir and Diallo enlist a very special correspondent, Bashir’s mom Renee, to explain what makes steppin’ a special Chicago original. Renee also visits one of the South Side’s most well-known spots for steppers, the 50 Yard Line, and gets to know legendary steppin’ DJ Sam Chatman.
Parking ticket debt is an unfortunate reality for many in Chicago, but it’s a burden not shared equally. Comedian Kellye Howard and WBEZ journalist Elliott Ramos take a tour through one of Chicago’s most ticketed neighborhoods. Later, Kellye talks to firefighter Rodney Shelton about how his ticket debt almost cost him his job.
Arthur Dubois is proof that you’re never too old try something new. A 72-year-old retiree and grandfather, Arthur has taken his lifelong love of music and turned it into a new, aspiring career as a self-taught hip-hop producer. Comedian Dave Helem meets up with Arthur to listen to his beats and make some music with Chicago artist Matt Muse.
What does it take to be a street vendor? That’s what comedian Dave Helem looks to find out. He spends a day with James “The Oil Man”Redmond, a longtime vendor who crisscrosses the city selling body oils. Dave travels with The Oil Man by train, bus, and foot as he attempts to make some sales for the day.
The Englewood neighborhood gets a certain type of reputation in Chicago and around the country whenever it’s in the news. So comedian Kellye Howard decided to find out for herself what it’s really like. She teams up with Chicago police officer Stephen Boyd for an unofficial ride along and later talks to residents at a special party in the park.
RTO might be a fictional business on the TV show South Side, but the rent-to-own business is a reality for many. Comedian Just Nesh uses her own family experience to investigate the furniture world of the South Side and finds one longtime store trying to do things differently.
New from WBEZ Chicago and Comedy Central, ‘South Side Stories’ is a celebration of the real-life people and places that inspired Comedy Central’s hit new series, ‘South Side.’ With lots of laughs, love and plenty of real talk, ‘South Side Stories’ proves that what you see on the news is only a small slice of a big city. Hosted by ‘South Side’ creators and executive producers Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin.
Composer Alan Menken joins the Morning Shift to talk about his career, play some songs on the WBEZ piano, and give us a peek into his one-man show. Plus, city treasurer candidate Melissa Conyears-Ervin talks about what she’d do as treasurer.
Candidates Lori Lightfoot and Toni Preckwinkle are making their last rounds on the campaign trail before voters head back to the polls for the April 2 runoff election. Cook County prosecutors dropped all criminal charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of staging a fake hate crime. Plus, Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson has unveiled a 5-year plan for the district. Morning Shift breaks down the biggest stories of the week in our Friday News Roundup with Jenn White.
Only five more days remain until Chicago chooses its new mayor. So this week we’ve opened the phones to give Chicagoans one more chance to ask your question directly to the candidates. Earlier this week, the Morning Shift with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle joined the Morning Shift and took calls from listeners. Today, we talked with her opponent, Lori Lightfoot.
In a stunning move, Cook County prosecutors on Tuesday dropped all charges against Empire actor Jussie Smollett for allegedly staging a fake hate crime. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson spoke out against the actor, but stopped short of criticizing prosecutors. WBEZ’s Miles Bryan joins the Morning Shift for the latest in the case. Plus, earlier this month, Woodlawn got its first full-service grocery store in 40 years. The new Jewel Osco on 61st and Cottage Grove includes a large produce section, a pharmacy, a deli, and a sushi bar. Two longtime residents of the community share their thoughts on the new store and what it was like to grow up in a neighborhood with no grocery store.