David Sedaris, possibly This American Life’s most celebrated veteran, is joining all the live action for the upcoming visual extravaganza starring Ira Glass and company, to be beamed into theaters nationwide on May 10. Glass announced April 23 via teleconference that Sedaris’ trademark wit will play its part in the cinematic takeoff on the radio show’s signature exploration of the road less floundered. more ›

Having spent the first 23 years of my life being served by legitimately second-rate public radio enterprises, I'm sometimes surprised at how WBEZ is taken for granted by the locals. more ›

In college I would listen to WBEZ and think, "someday I'll make enough to be a member." Now that I can afford to do so, that feeling is gone. more ›

. The Peabody board describes the show thusly: "A zippy update of one of broadcasting's long-ago staples, this live quiz show reminds listeners of the week's news even as host Peter Sagal and various panelists make witty sport of it." more ›

Here are some things going around town to make you consider giving the weather a big ol' raspberry. more ›

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. more ›

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. more ›

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. more ›

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. more ›

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. Love is a Mix Tape, Rob Sheffield's book about women, music, and love. American Express' Urban Adventures-- for information about shopping, dining, and entertainment. Homes for Working Families-- working to make housing affordable in... more ›

Lonely phone calls, dying and dead relatives, a literary classic, and a reexamination of the Middle Eastern conflict took the prizes at the 2007 Third Coast International Audio Festival competition. The jury turned much of their lives over to their headphones, listening to 225 entries in search of the best English-language radio docs. Winners received a trophy/sonic instrument, a national platform for their work, and some cash to help support their future work. more ›

If you'd like to witness the next time Mayor Daley is at a loss for adjectives, but can't find time in your schedule to go see him speak on the issues live, Chicago Public Radio's got your back. The audio isn't the best on the reporters, but pump up the volume on WBEZ's website to hear the Q&A portion of Daley's press conferences, which the station will be posting as a supplement to regular City... more ›

Jesse Thorn, Host of The Sound of Young America more ›

Members of SEIU Local 20 held a one-day strike Monday at Roseland Community Hospital. Most hospital workers strike over staffing levels and quality of care issues, but this strike was purely economic. "People aren't lined up to work at Roseland. And we think by the hospital adjusting the pay rate so that it's comparable to other South Side hospitals, that speaks to better recruitment, better retention and ultimately better patient care," Local 20 President Byron... more ›

Former WKQX-FM 101.1 radio host Erich "Mancow" Muller filed a lawsuit Tuesday against his former employer, saying radio officials disparaged his show and blocked him from getting other work. We are getting pretty sick of the cell phone drivers, but we are always amazed at the cell phone bikers (not in a good way). Yesterday, an 19-year-old woman who was struck and killed by a garbage truck on the Northwest Side, was apparently talking... more ›

Here’s what you missed while you were sneezing and burning: Guest #18, your comments are hilarious, but how do you fare with a live audience? If you think you’ve got the chops, submit a 1-2 minute video to Time Out Chicago by September 20. Best entries will be screened online for their discerning website visitors. The top four will compete live for the chance to be crowned “Chicago’s Funniest Person.” (... at least according to... more ›

On Wednesday, the Illinois House Committee on Mass Transit approved legislation that would enable the RTA to fund the CTA, Metra and Pace and prevent service cuts and fare hikes across the board. The Illinois House Committee on Mass Transit approved a transit funding and reform proposal by a 15-4 vote. The House is expected to convene to vote on the proposal next week. This bill comes after the RTA announced that a "doomsday" scenario... more ›

Did anybody hear Catrin Einhorn's story on Chicago Public Radio about the push for people to neuter feral cats in the city? A Maryland-based nonprofit group called Alley Cat Allies dedicated to lowering outdoor and stray cat populations without killing them is targeting some Chicago neighborhoods. The group partnered with the Tree House Animal Foundation in Pilsen to raise awareness about their methods, which include Trap-Neuter-Return. Basically, people can bring cats to certain organizations and... more ›

You may have read or heard that the Midwest kicks the rest of the country's ace in the volunteerism sector. That doesn't necessarily mean Chicago does, though. more ›

With questions about its choice of AT&T as a carrier, along with usual 1st generation jitters, who the heck wants to stand in line for the new iPhone? Not us! (Well, maybe some of us.) However we are totally down with getting one as long as it's free, and not free in that "annoying banner ad that's been on MySpace to get a "free" "iPhone" since its existence was announced earlier this year" kind of way. more ›

We want to like Vocalo, we really do. But we’re finding it hard to put their broadcast stream ahead of WBEZ podcasts, our iTunes playlist, and Radio David Byrne. more ›

Crossing California Stage Adapter Alan Donahue more ›

Were you aware that our state is the 2nd largest corn producer in the United States? According to Chicago Public Radio, the price of corn has doubled since this time last year and Illinois farmers are taking full advantage of it. Chris Gould, an Illinois farmer profiled in the story, said that normally during harvest season the price starts to drop and farmers are paid to hang on to the corn until the buyers need... more ›

Tom Sherman from fledgling Chicago tech site WindyBits filled up Mr. Fusion yesterday and traveled back in time to review nascent versions of your favorite Chicago websites. We're particularly taken with the proto-version of the Tribune (someone got a Flash book for their birthday), and the absolutely hideous, 1998 incarnation of the Sun-Times (image maps rule). more ›

We were in the car last night and Chicago Public Radio ran a piece on the CNA building downtown and its process for creating their "Go Bears". We always assumed these were simply mapped out on an excel sheet and that was that. But, it sounds pretty intense. more ›

Chicago sure seems conducive to fostering public relationships between critically abrasive duos. We produced one of the most famous teams in movie criticism with Siskel and Ebert, and who can ever forget the headline-shattering team of Marin and Mancow? We think it’s time to add DeRogatis and Kot to that list as well. Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis head up Sound Opinions, what they claim to be the world’s only rock 'n' roll talk show.... more ›

Food pantries are seeing a rise in use in the Chicago area this year. Sister Donna Preston of the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation says a big reason for the spike is the the use of the facilities by illegal immigrants, who are eligible for food stamps but neglect to apply due to fear of deportation. more ›

This morning, Chicagoist hopped on the bus to Navy Pier to listen to a presentation by Chicago Public Radio (CPR) explaining the rationale for their new 2007 schedule. Torey Malatia, the president and general manager of the station, explained the purpose of restructuring the schedule and doing away with the music formats. Malatia described how CPR was simultaneously a local, regional, national, and global broadcaster. In order to remain relevant with local and regional... more ›

If you’re a fan of This American Life, and you’ve been thinking about donating during Chicago Public Radio’s fall pledge drive, you might want to get on that. more ›

This American Life. A radio show, unlike any other radio show on the airwaves. They have humor, they have grace, yet, at the same time they give an insight to everyday life. They seem to have it all, except one thing, one tiny little thing. Free Podcasts. (We apologize for our bad Ira Glass impression, kind of hard to do an impression in this medium.) more ›