City Cast Chicago
Will Trump send troops to Chicago?
September 30, 2025 · — Selena
Hi! It’s City Cast producer Selena Seay-Reynolds filling in for Emmi. I love this team and the thoughtful stories they share to help you understand Chicago in all its complexity.
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It’s the final week of our fall campaign and we need more Hey Chicago readers to step up and support this newsletter. Will you join us for $10/month or $100/year?
What's CITY Talking About?
Pritzker Says Homeland Security Asking for Troops
Gov. JB Pritzker said the Illinois National Guard obtained a memo to the Defense Department requesting 100 military personnel "for the protection of ICE personnel and facilities" in Illinois. It's unclear who might be deployed when, but officials are preparing. [Sun-Times]
- Pritzker said he expects deployment could looks similar to what's happening in Portland. [City Cast Portland 💻]
ICE Continues “Operation Midway Blitz”
On today’s podcast, we’re talking everything ICE that happened over the weekend, including dozens of federal immigration agents marching through downtown Sunday. Also, we’ve got South Side Weekly’s Best of the South Side and the scoop on Chicago’s historic bridges currently under construction. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Apply for Property Tax Relief
Cook County has rolled out a $15 million property tax relief program that will provide $1,000 payments to qualifying homeowners whose tax bills jumped at least 50% from 2021 to 2023. Applications are open now through Oct. 10. [CBS Chicago]
- Related: Where will property tax hikes hit hardest this year? [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Local Restaurants Rank in North America’s Best
The World’s 50 Best released their list of best restaurants in North America, and two of Chicago’s own have made the cut: Smyth (No. 4) and Kasama (No. 31). [World’s 50 Best]
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What To Do
Tuesday, Sep. 30
- 🦍 “Return to Me” | Jefferson Park Branch
- 🍽️ Final Maria’s Patio Jam | Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar | Bridgeport
- 🏒 Blackhawks vs. Red Wings | United Center | Near West Side
- 🎤 Noah Cyrus | The Vic Theatre | Lakeview
- 🇯🇵 Sonic Speculations in the Documents of Postwar Japanese Art | Experimental Sound Studio | Ravenswood
- 🎻 Old Town School of Folk Music Happy Hour | Gallagher Way | Wrigleyville
- 🇺🇸 America 250: Humanities and History | Chicago History Museum | Lincoln Park
- 🍷 Between the Wines Book Club | WineStyles Chicago | Norwood Park
Wednesday, Oct. 1
- 🎭 "rustbelt." | Redtwist Theatre | Edgewater
- 🦢 "Swan Lake" | Harris Theater | Loop
- 🌸 The Promise of Spring | DePaul Richardson Art Gallery | Lincoln Park
- 🎆 Bottomless Margaritas & Fireworks on the Riverwalk | Island Party Hut | River Walk
- 🕺🏻 Pisco Disco | Tanta Cocina Peruana | Streeterville
- 📖 Re-Centering Native Women in Zhegagoynak (Chicago) History | Newberry Library | Near North Side
- 💪 HIIT | Gallagher Way | Wrigleyville
- 🎥 “In Time” | Austin Branch
💌 Welcome to our new neighbors: Allison Y., Megha D., Mason P., Janson H., Sara R., Nick R., Savanna F., Mira T-E., Amanda M., Victoria K., and Elise K.!
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