The Rundown | Chicago News WBEZ Chicago

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. is calling on Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 presidential election results following a New York Times report that an upside-down American flag was seen at the conservative justice’s house in January 2021. A coalition of interfaith leaders will gather at the Chicago Temple downtown Sunday to honor a Palestinian-American boy who was fatally stabbed in suburban Plainfield last year. Credit monitoring agencies wouldn’t have access to some medical debt information under a bill Illinois lawmakers just approved.

What’s going on at the CTA? Sluggish ridership is a main reason that Chicago area transit agencies including the CTA are facing a $730 million budget shortfall, according to a recent WBEZ analysis of transit data.

So why aren’t riders riding? And what do they think of the CTA these days?

We hear from a few riders mid-commute at a pair of downtown CTA train stations, some of whom complained about reliability, safety, and cleanliness, as well as others who think things are fine. Then we hear from Sarah Freishtat, a business reporter covering transportation for the Chicago Tribune, who explains what CTA leadership has done so far and what else they have planned to counteract their troubles.
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The Palestinian solidarity encampment at DePaul University was cleared by police yesterday, but faculty and student organizers say it’s not the end of their activism. Seven journalists with the Chicago Tribune have filed a class-action lawsuit against the newspaper and its owner. Illinois’ rules against hazing could get a little stronger.

The Chicago Transit Authority said more people are taking train and bus rides after nearly 20 Chicago city council members have signed onto an ordinance calling for CTA President Dorval Carter to resign. A rare statue on view at the National Museum of Mexican Art is generating a lot of buzz among archeologists. The Chicago Bears 2024 schedule has dropped.

For many, getting around Chicago is pretty easy. It’s one of the few American cities that’s invested in public transit, cycling and walkability infrastructure. But, for people with a disability that inhibits their mobility, it’s just not as easy to get around.

Accessibility researcher Yochai Eisenberg co-authored a study in 2022 with the Great Lakes ADA Center and UIC’s Institute on Disability and Human Development that found that communities had higher accessibility scores if they also had an ADA-transition plan, also known as a “barrier removal plan.”

We talk with him about how accessible Chicago-area communities are, the various barriers to accessibility many encounter, and what citizens can do to improve conditions in their area.

This episode was originally published on Nov. 28, 2022.
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Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez is trying to convince lawmakers in Springfield that his school district desperately needs more money. Cook County wants to help some suburban residents who are struggling to pay their water bills. The Chicago Sky lost its season opener to the Dallas Wings.