This week we explore compliance with a law regulating punishment in local schools. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks to Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Samantha Smylie about Chicago Public Schools’ compliance with a state law dealing with punishment in schools, learns about the next chapter of the historic Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge from Mike Jeffers, founder of Chicago Jazz Magazine and venue & programming consultant, and gets the lowdown on a local organization that empowers youth with media and storytelling skills called True Star Media from production team member Christopher Lockridge. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

This week we discuss the new paid time off proposal in Chicago. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the impact of the proposed paid time off ordinance in Chicago with Christina Warden, director of policy and programs at Women Employed, and Shep Searl, organizer with Starbucks Workers United, explores a new report that ranks Chicago low in bikeability with Rebecca Davies, city ratings program director at PeopleForBikes, and discovers the Secret History of local disco musician Peter Brown. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

This week we discuss the impact of discrimination on local housing. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks to Donna Sack, vice president and chief program officer of the Naper Settlement, about a new project called Unvarnished that documents the impacts of housing discrimination and then chats with local jazz saxman Chris Greene about his upcoming gig and his band’s music. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

This week we examine the state of rental housing in Chicago. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the state of rental housing in Chicago with Geoff Smith, executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, and then discovers the Secret History of local guitarist Gerald Sims. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.