Week in Review: Illinois pension law, Adolfo Davis resentencing, reparations package for torture victims
We wrap up this week’s biggest news headlines with NPR reporter David Schaper and Jon Hansen of DNAinfo Chicago. We discuss the Illinois pension reform law which has been ruled unconstitutional by the Illinois Supreme Court; the historic reparations package for torture victims of former Chicago Police commander Jon Burge; the resentencing of Cook County inmate Adolfo Davis; and, the Chicago Blackhawks sweep the Minnesota Wild in the race for the Stanley Cup.
Guests:
- David Schaper is a NPR National Desk reporter based in Chicago.
- Jon Hansen is the Radio News Director for DNAinfo Chicago.
Friday Mini Mix featuring DJ Duane Powell
Every Friday we bring you a brand new mix from the Vocalo DJ Collective, curated by DJ Jesse De La Pena. Today’s set comes from DJ Duane Powell and features Bossa Nova, R&B and Neo Soul.
Guest: Duane Powell is a Chicago-based DJ.
Oak Park record store a symbol of community
We’re wrapping up Small Business Week with a look at one final local business from around the Chicagoland area. The music industry has suffered greatly in the last few decades and the rise of the mp3 has hit the retail end of the business hard. But at least one refuge for crate diggers and music lovers is still standing strong. Val’s halla Records in Oak Park is celebrating its 43rd anniversary at the end of July. Val’s halla owner, Val Camilletti joins us with her story.
Guest: Val Camilletti is owner of Val’s halla Records.
New festival highlights literary scene in Evanston
The first annual Evanston Literary Festival begins Monday, May 11. It’s a week-long celebration of the literary scene in Evanston with events taking place throughout the city. Award-winning Chicago author and Distinguished Writer in Residence at Northwestern University, Stuart Dybek, will be there to help get things started. We use the opportunity to check in with the celebrated Chicago writer.
Guest: Stuart Dybek is an award-winning Chicago author and Distinguished Writer in Residence at Northwestern University.
Tech Shift: Uber makes moves, Mayor Emanuel pushes for Chicago taxi app, and unicorns!
Uber is in the market for a new mapping system and sets sights on Nokia’s digital mapping service. Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants a universal taxi app for Chicago cabbies to compete with ridesharing services like Uber. We discuss some of the week’s biggest tech stories with Justin Massa of Food Genius and Wailin Wong, editor and writer for The Distance.
Guests:
- Justin Massa is the founder & President of Food Genius.
- Wailin Wong is Senior Editor for The Distance.
Police set up DUI checkpoints in mostly minority neighborhoods
According to a recent Chicago Tribune investigation that looks at checkpoints all over the city, Chicago police set up more DUI checkpoints in predominantly black and Latino neighborhoods than white neighborhoods. Angela Caputo is the investigative reporter that worked on the story and she joins us with details.
Guest: Angela Caputo is a Chicago Tribune reporter.
Illinois Supreme Court rules pension reform unconstitutional
Illinois must continue to pay for the pensions of state workers despite the fact that the program is $105 billion in debt. That was the outcome of the May 8 Illinois Supreme Court ruling that found the state’s 2013 pension law unconstitutional. The law sought to delay the retirement age for some workers, limit the salary used to determine pension benefits, and scale back cost-of-living increases. For now, none of that will happen. The unanimous decision means lawmakers and the governor head back to the drawing board to find a way to solve the state’s pension crisis, which is the worst in the nation. WBEZ’s Tony Arnold covers Statehouse politics in Illinois. We also get reactions from joined Dan Montgomery of the Illinois Federation of Teachers and Laurence Msall of the Civic Federation.
Guests:
- Tony Arnold is a WBEZ reporter.
- Dan Montgomery is president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
- Laurence Msall is President of the Civic Federation.