The story of the real Sausage King of Chicago is about what happened when a pair of wealthy real estate investors with a penchant for 80s pop culture bought a property in Chicago, how they collected $millions in rent from the fed govt without giving low-income residents a safe & clean place to live.

#Chicago religious leaders have been hit w teargas, spray and pepper balls outside an #ICE holding facility. They say ICE is denying pastoral care to #immigrants inside. And they're slamming "Christian" support for #Trump's deportation blitz. @estheryjkang.bsky.social www.wbez.org/immigration/...

Religious leaders say the practices inside and outside the Broadview ICE facility violate liberties and contradict the administration’s claim to the U.S. as a Christian nation. “The things I see happening at Broadview are so against what I believe Christianity is,” said Sister JoAnn Persch, 91.

Dozens of protesters have gathered at the Broadview detention facility Saturday morning ahead of a delegation of religious leaders attempting to deliver Holy Communion to detainees.

Residents at the South Shore building targeted by federal agents blame the owner and property manager for “inhumane” conditions that city efforts did little to improve and which predate the arrival of immigrants. trib.al/Lsp1vyu

ICYMI: Do you know who your landlord is? For many renters in Chicago & the U.S., their landlord is an LLC. That makes it hard for people to get issues addressed in their homes—and for the city to crack down on problem landlords. www.wbez.org/housing/2025...

It's been a pleasure to be involved in this important project!! Huge congrats to @amyqin.bsky.social @estheryjkang.bsky.social and the rest of the @wbez.org team and our collaborators at @miurbanchicago.bsky.social The work @writeralejandra.bsky.social and I began with #TheTenantTrap continues!

Who owns your building? Chances are, it's an LLC. We looked at ~26m property records in Chicago and found LLC ownership of large rental properties went up nearly 4x in the past two decades. New story + data out from me and @estheryjkang.bsky.social www.wbez.org/housing/2025...

Lawndale Christian Legal Center offers an alternative to prison and helped Shaq Wilson rebuild his life. Now, a new West Side building will support 20 men. www.wbez.org/criminal-jus...

From barbershops to bakeries, business owners are worried about how they’ll sustain themselves in the coming months. Many small business owners are bracing themselves for the financial impact — even as news about the tariffs changes by the day. www.wbez.org/economy/2025...

The National Public Housing Museum opens Friday. While many Chicagoans are familiar with the disinvestment, decaying buildings and gang violence associated with the projects, the museum aims to paint a fuller picture of the history of public housing. www.wbez.org/arts-culture...

As part of a mentorship program, young girls of color are taught the dos and don’ts of dining to help ease their way in any space. www.wbez.org/communities/...

“[The ordinance] is about understanding that if you continue to do your job well, your employment is not going to vanish one day for some sort of bureaucratic reason — whether you’re the president of the university or somebody who serves food to undergraduates,” said Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss.

Two words I heard often while reporting this story: "maze" and "cliff." Families of young adults w/autism, Down syndrome, epilepsy & other developmental disabilities struggle to find services for their children when they age out of school. bit.ly/4afjx8p

Locating services for young adults with developmental challenges is tricky. One expert offers advice to help families navigate the maze. www.wbez.org/race-class-c...

Tens of thousands of Chicagoans with intellectual disabilities have aged out of school and are now left hanging. As they confront funding delays and a service system many describe as a “maze,” disabled young people risk losing the skills they developed. www.wbez.org/education/20...

Axing a guaranteed income program to fill the city's budget hole will cost Chicago long-term, advocates say - https://www.wbez.org/city-hall/2024/12/06/axing-a-guaranteed-income-program-to-fill-the-citys-budget-hole-will-cost-chicago-long-term-advocates-say

Seeking ‘dignity and respect’ through language access services for limited English speakers - https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2024/12/05/seeking-dignity-and-respect-through-language-access-services-for-limited-english-speakers

#Chicago is closing its biggest #tent city after coming up short on promised apartments. The people left out include Porfirio and Melissa, a couple recovering from #addiction. To survive winter, they say they’ll rely on each other. #homeless #opioids www.wbez.org/housing/2024...