PM Chicago (3/28) – Governor Pat Quinn on Stadium Subsidies

On this episode of PM Chicago: Bret Gogoel speaks with former Governor Pat Quinn about his thoughts on voters and stadium subsidies. Brian Barnhart, Voice of the Fighting Illini, previews tonight’s Sweet 16 game against Iowa State. Plus, Bret has the latest on the Rockford stabbing attack and the State’s Attorney race.

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The Closing Bell with Bret Gogoel (3/28) – Composting at Chicago’s Restaurants

On this edition of The Closing Bell with Bret Gogoel: Dru Wischover with Inspired Title Group in Palos Heights joins Bret to chat about the rise in build-to-rent communities and the affordability in Chicago. Crain’s Chicago’s Ally Marotti shares how several Chicago restaurants have begun implementing composting. Plus, a buoyant Chicago icon is making a comeback.

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A vigil planned in Rockford for the four killed in a stabbing attack

A postal carrier was among four people killed when a man went on a stabbing rampage in a northern Illinois city, authorities said Thursday.
The attacks in Rockford on Wednesday also left seven people injured, including one in critical condition, and a 22-year-old suspect is in custody.
A 15-year-old girl, a 63-year-old woman, a 49-year-old man and a 22-year-old man were killed. Police said three of them died where they were attacked and a fourth died at a hospital. Authorities have not released the victims’ names, but the United States Postal Inspection Service, a division of the United States Postal Service, confirmed Thursday that a letter carrier was among the dead.
“Postal inspectors are working with the Rockford Police Department in this investigation,” agency spokesperson Michael Martel said in an email.
Authorities have released little information about the suspect, who was arrested Wednesday by a Winnebago County sheriff’s deputy responding to a reported home invasion. A woman who identified herself as the suspect’s sister declined to comment to The Associated Press.
Resident Vanessa Hy, told WREX-TV in Rockford that she witnessed the arrest.
“All of the sudden, we heard police run up on both sides of the house screaming, ‘Stop! Get down!’” Hy told the TV station. “Then they ran into the backyard and after a few minutes we saw them bringing the suspect down the driveway in handcuffs and he was very bloody.”
Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd said the suspect likely acted alone.
“We don’t believe there’s any other suspects that are on the run or at large at this particular time,” Redd said Wednesday. “Right now, we don’t have a clear motive as to what caused this individual to commit such a heinous crime.”
She said residents were being asked to review home surveillance footage for anything related to the attacks.
Redd said Rockford police received a medical call at 1:14 p.m. Wednesday followed by additional calls for police and paramedics. She said not all of the victims found at multiple addresses in the city had stab wounds and none was shot.
Rockford resident Cassandra Hernandez said her friend was among the victims, and that she mourns the loss of the mail carrier who neighbors believe was hit by a vehicle and stabbed.
“You never expect this here,” Hernandez told the Rockford Register Star. “Just to think that it happened here, and we have such great neighbors and the mailman.”
Three people injured in the attacks were being treated at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, where one was in critical condition and the two others were in fair condition, hospital spokesperson Paul Arco said Thursday.
The Rockford Police Department and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office have not responded to messages left Thursday seeking updates on the surviving victims’ conditions.
Sheriff Gary Caruana said Wednesday that the suspect was with a woman when he was arrested, and that the suspect had attacked her and a bystander.
“The young lady ran from him,” Caruana said. “She got some stab wounds in her hands and her face. She is in serious condition. One of the good Samaritans stopped to help her out. He did get some stab wounds. He is being checked out.”
Rockford, home to about 150,000 people, is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Chicago. Its economy was decimated by industrial change in the 1980s and now largely depends on manufacturing and healthcare.
Some residents bristle at the mention of a 2013 Forbes article classifying it as one of the country’s “most miserable cities,” that pointedly noted Rockford’s double-digit unemployment rate. Forbes and other media outlets have been more complimentary in recent years, noting the city’s affordable cost of living and efforts to support local restaurants and entertainment venues.
But Rockford’s police force, like many across the U.S., has reported increases in violent crime since the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year’s violent crimes totals did drop by about 19%, according to the department’s annual report, but there were 20 murders compared to 15 in 2022.
The stabbings Wednesday came just days after a teenage employee was stabbed and killed inside a Walmart in the city.
The city of Rockford planned to hold a vigil for the victims Thursday afternoon hosted by local faith leaders.

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Political Advertising in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: What Lies Ahead?

Professor Michelle R. Nelson, head of the Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising at the University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, joins the Steve Cochran Show to delve into the benefits and dangers of using AI for political ads, shed light on the principles of media literacy, and explore how AI-generated political commercials can influence local races.

PM Chicago (3/27) – Dick Simpson on Chicago’s Modern Mayors

On this episode of PM Chicago: Bret Gogoel speaks with the Chicago Tribune’s LaMond Pope, who gives us a White Sox season preview ahead of tomorrow’s home opener. Dick Simpson, renowned political scholar, joins the program to speak about editing the book, “Chicago’s Modern Mayors: From Harold Washington to Lori Lightfoot.” Plus, the CTU is taking their massive contract demands straight to Springfield.

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The Closing Bell with Bret Gogoel (3/27) – A Spotlight on Forbidden Root

On this edition of The Closing Bell with Bret Gogoel: Mike Dobuski, ABC News Technology Reporter, discusses the New York international auto show and who took home top honors. Then, Robert Finkel, Founder and Rootmaster of Forbidden Root Brewing, joins Bret in studio for a local business spotlight on their creative brewing and their outreach. Plus, Hamburger Helper is getting a bit of a makeover.

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Naperville tapped as the best city to live in in America

Naperville was voted the best city to live in in America, that’s according to Niche an on line date base. The company based their list on data from the U.S. Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CDC and resident reviews. The suburb also ranked as the best city to raise a family in, and the city with the best public schools in America out of 229 cities nationwide. Chicago ranked 76th. The Woodlands in Texas came in at number two followed by Cambridge Massachusetts.

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National Hellenic Museum’s Trial Series: Was Pericles a Hero Or a Tyrant?

If you’ve ever wondered what the Greek court was like you should check out the latest installment of National Hellenic Museum’s Trial Series Trial of Pericles on Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 PM, at the Harris Theater. The Steve Cochran Show was joined by esteemed guests who will play pivotal roles in replicating this historical event: Cook County Judge Anna Demacopolous is presiding over the trial, Katerina Alexopoulos is representing the prosecution, Pericles is defended by Patrick Salvi, Jr., and Jim Pullos joins the show to explore the intricacies of recreating the ancient Greek courtroom drama.

PM Chicago (3/26) – The DNC as Chicago’s Make or Break

On this episode of PM Chicago with Bret Gogoel: Chicago journalist Steve Hendershot joins the show to share his thoughts on how the DNC gives the city a chance to shine (or fail) in the national spotlight. Kim Gordon sits down with Ian Leong, a sixth grader from Vernon Hills who recently won the Regional Spelling Bee and is headed to the National Spelling Bee next month. Plus, is the State’s Attorney race finally over?

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The Closing Bell with Bret Gogoel (3/26) – The Latest from Baltimore

On this edition of The Closing Bell with Bret Gogoel: Steve Bernas from the BBB is back for his weekly visit, this time discussing baseball and concert ticket scams and the solar eclipse. ABC’s Derricke Dennis joins the show live from Baltimore with the latest on the Key Bridge collapse. Plus, Megan McArdle, Washington Post columnist and author, shares her thoughts on the future of electric cars in the United States.

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Chicago based McDonald’s teaming up with another company to add a sweet treat to the menu

McDonald’s is adding Krispy Kreme donuts to its McCafe. The company will sell original glazed, chocolate iced with sprinkles and chocolate iced “kreme” filled- donuts . Donuts will go on sale at McDonald’s later this year.
Some research suggests brand partnerships open possibilities for new customers, but can also be a risky move, creating communication hurdles and weaken their respective brand names. McDonald’s has also faced pushback from customers with prices rising on its other menus.

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Don’t Miss Rising Star Laura Dellis in ‘Halfway to Fifty 2’ at The Annoyance Theatre on March 30th!

Laura Dellis makes a triumphant comeback on the Steve Cochran Show, bringing with her the buzz about the latest installment of her hit production, ‘Halfway to Fifty 2’. At just 26 years old, she brings a wealth of experience to the stage, ready to entertain audiences with stories of young adulthood, infused with her signature blend of humor, sincerity, and wit.

Catch ‘Halfway to Fifty 2’ on Saturday, March 30th at The Annoyance Theatre. Tickets available at www.lauradellis.com

PM Chicago (3/25) – The State’s Attorney Race Remains Historically Close

On this episode of PM Chicago: Bret Gogoel speaks with political consultant Frank Calabrese about the historically close State’s Attorney race update. Chief Tom Weitzel, Ret., from Riverside joins the show to discuss police-involved shootings and the investigative process. Plus, Nic Strohmayer & Lisa Gavin join us to preview the Des Plaines Children’s Museum as it grows from the ground up in Des Plaines.

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The Closing Bell with Bret Gogoel (3/25) – International Waffle Day is Here

On this edition of The Closing Bell with Bret Gogoel: Mark Denzler, President & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, joins the show to talk about the Carbon Capture and Storage effort and more. In a local business spotlight, Lawrence Kreymer from Chicago Waffles joins us in the studio to celebrate International Waffle Day. Plus, a new lawsuit targets Walgreens’ generic drugs, and another hyper-themed amusement park is opening.

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The Democratic race for Cook County State’s Attorney still too close to call

The Democratic primary race for Cook County State’s Attorney remains too early to call as of Sunday evening, after Clayton Harris III cut Eileen O’Neill Burke’s lead to slightly more than 2,000 votes out of 516,875 ballots counted – a margin of 0.39 percentage points.
Harris has closed the gap significantly over the past several days of updates. More ballots are expected to be tabulated in the Cook County suburbs early this week. Additional ballots postmarked by Election Day may still arrive and be counted through April 2.
Harris is an attorney with party backing. O’Neill Burke is a former appellate judge. O’Neill Burke led in fundraising, in part with money from top Republican donors, but Harris had numerous endorsements including from labor unions and progressive and establishment Democrats.
The race is open because State’s Attorney Kim Foxx decided not to seek a third term. It was among the most spirited and competitive contests in Tuesday’s Illinois primary.
The winner of the primary in the Democratic stronghold is expected to win outright in November. Republican Alderman Bob Fioretti and Libertarian Andrew Charles Kopinski are also running.
It is the latest example of how the legacy of progressive Democrats who swept into big city prosecutor offices over the past decade has fractured. In other cities, progressive Democrats have faced tough reelection bids with blame on progressive policies for perceptions that cities are less safe. Candidates in the Chicago area both praised and criticized Foxx’s leadership.

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