City Cast Chicago
🚦 Why an alder’s directing traffic
September 14, 2026 · — Simone Alicea
Beep Beep! Drivers in Lincoln Square, be on the lookout for Ald. Andre Vasquez this morning. The 40th Ward alder has been donning a reflective vest to direct traffic at Argyle and Western after a car smashed into a garage. Vasquez says he wants the city to send someone else to do it until they can find a long-term fix for congestion in the area.
How would you react if you saw one of your elected officials in the street directing traffic? Reply to this email, and let us know.
In the meantime, here’s the news you need to know heading into the week 👇
What's CITY Talking About
Illinois’ Flu, COVID, RSV Guidance
As we head into fall virus season, state public health officials are recommending flu vaccines for everyone over 6 months old, COVID-19 vaccines for adults 19 and older, and RSV vaccines for adults over 75. The announcement comes as confusion continues over federal vaccine recommendations. [Tribune 🔒]
- For kids and pregnant people, the recommendations vary. [IDPH]
“Medical Aid in Dying” Moves Forward
A judge declined to block a new state law that allows terminally ill adults to seek life-ending medication from physicians. On today’s podcast, we talk about the pushback from disability rights and religious groups. Plus, we discuss the city’s efforts to make overdose reversal drugs more widely available and what’s on deck at Open House Chicago. [City Cast Chicago]
Mayor Taps Activist Influencer as Chief Spokesperson
Rachel Cohen first made headlines in 2025 when she quit her job as a lawyer at a high-profile Chicago firm over its ties to the Trump administration. Her videos urging people to protest during Operation Midway Blitz garnered millions of views. She says she aims to build on the mayor’s relationship with the press and reach Chicagoans directly on social media. [Block Club]
- Is it because we asked about another certain big-city mayor’s vids? [City Cast Chicago 📲]
- Plus, Johnson is officially running for reelection. [Block Club]
What Did 9/11 Have to Do With Meigs Field?
According to then-Mayor Richard M. Daley, it was the justification for bulldozing the lakeside airfield overnight in 2003. He claimed the air traffic near downtown was a security risk, but he’d long wanted to convert the area to green space. Now, we have Northerly Island, but critics question how we got there. [WBEZ]
Name a Prehistoric Rock
Construction crews at O’Hare have unearthed a 50-ton boulder made of dolostone — hard bedrock that formed some 400 million years ago. Look, this is a big, old, important rock. So of course there’s a naming contest for it. (My fav so far is BaRock Obama.) [WTTW]
What To Do
Monday, Sep. 14
- 🎤 The Moth: Nine to Five | The Den Theatre | Wicker Park
- 🎷 First Monday Jazz | The Arts Lawn | Washington Park | Free
- 🎶 Model Living | Empty Bottle | Ukrainian Village | Free
- 🤘 Punk Rock Monday | Delilah’s | Lincoln Park | Free
- 👙 Bikini Kill | Salt Shed | Goose Island
- ⚾️ Braves vs. Cubs | Wrigley Field
Tuesday, Sep. 15
- 🎶 Open Jam | Gallery Cabaret | Logan Square | Free
- 🏺 Beginner Wheel Throwing | Color Cocktail Factory | Pilsen
- 🍗 Wingo Bingo | Fatpour | Wicker Park
- 🔊 Sound Meditation | Harold Washington Library | Loop | Free
- 🇲🇽 Mexican Heritage Night | Back of the Yards Branch | Free
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WALK YOUR CITY
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Thanks so much to everyone who came out and said hi during Printers Row Lit Fest on Saturday! I hope you were able to fill your tote bag with many books.
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