The Rundown | Chicago News WBEZ Chicago

The longest serving alderman in Chicago history gets sentenced to federal prison. Millions of federal dollars will be going toward new storm water projects across Cook County. Walmart donates a training facility on the South Side to the Chicago Urban League.

A federal judge has sentenced former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke to two years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $2 million fine. Illinois' state climatologist says soil conservation work is our best weapon to reduce the risk of dust storms. Sky rookie Angel Reese had a career-high 25-point game yesterday as Chicago beat the Indiana Fever 88 to 87.

Colombia’s influx of Venezuelan migrants has led to accusations the migrants are fueling crime and drawing resources needed by low-income Colombians. This resembles some responses to Venezuelan arrivals in Chicago.

WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell spent two weeks in Colombia – a country that’s received a much larger influx of Venezuelan migrants than Chicago – to discover how the conditions compare, how Venezuelan migrants in both countries are experiencing xenophobia and what lessons the city of Chicago can learn.

This episode is a part of the Democracy Solutions Project, a partnership among WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times and the University of Chicago’s Center for Effective Government.
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Ex-Chicago Alderman Ed Burke faces 10 years in prison for corruption. His sentencing hearing begins today. In the South Shore neighborhood evictions are high – and residents want protections against displacement. Abortion funds that help patients pay for procedures and travel are losing money across the country, including in Chicago.

Chicagoans and their pets have limited exercise options amid this week’s heat wave. A National Weather Service meteorologist says this spring was unusually stormy in central Illinois. Hundreds of cycling enthusiasts are in Chicago this weekend for an international convention named after a local sports legend.

When Yoly Rojas came back single from a stint on Netflix’s “The Ultimatum: Queer Love,” she wanted to meet some new queer people her age. She and friend Keli Knight looked around and realized they didn’t have a space to meet other LGBTQ+ people over 30. So they made one.

Rojas and Knight’s Lovers and Friends party, which has a focus on the BIPOC lesbian community, has amassed a large following in its first year on the scene—so much so that they’ve already started branching out into other cities.

“You would think those parameters are so niche,” said Nudia Hernandez from our sister station Vocalo. “How many people could show up? A lot, apparently.”

In this episode, Hernandez talks to Rojas and Knight about creating the queer spaces they want to inhabit.
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