Larry Lujack, the legendary Chicago radio personality known as “Superjock” and “Uncle Lar,” and Chicago TV and radio personality Bob Sirott.

'Superjock' Larry Lujack jokes with Bob Sirott

Thomas H. Begay, who is at least age 100 and one of two living Navajo Code Talkers and a survivor of Iwo Jima, sings the the “Marines’ Hymn” in Diné Bizaad, the unwritten Navajo language, on June 9, 2025, at a war memorial in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Navajo Code Talker Thomas H. Begay sings the the 'Marines’ Hymn'

The transcript of a secretly recorded conversation between John Kosmowski, the Summit police chief, and  then-Public Works Director Bill Mundy in March 2022.

March 2022 recording of John Kosmowski speaking with Bill Mundy

In her own words, a sexual assault survivor describes hearing that her nurse wasn’t prepared to perform a rape kit. Another nurse tells how a similar situation haunts her.

Assault survivor, nurse describe experience with rape kit exam

Chicago Tribune reporters talk about locating victims of sexual abuse in schools, hearing them talk openly about traumatic events and making sure the victims were able to tell their own stories.

Tribune reporters talk about giving voice to abuse victims

(Warning: Audio contains graphic content.)

Jalen Ivy was at his South Side home with his mom, Judy Celio, when he was hit by a bullet meant for someone else. Now, the 12-year-old and his family struggle to find “a new normal.”

The audio for this piece was recorded by reporter Peter Nickeas and photojournalist E. Jason Wambsgans. It was produced and edited by visual journalist Raquel Zaldivar. It is a part of Jalen’s Journey, which chronicles the months after Jalen Ivy suffered a bullet wound to his spine. You can find the full story here: http://graphics.chicagotribune.com/chicago-violence-jalen-ivy/

Jalen's journey

The World's Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago 125 years ago. The event helped launch Chicago to international renown and bore countless innovations, many of which are still enjoyed throughout the world. For the first episode, Olivia Mahoney, senior curator at the Chicago History Museum, and Rebecca Graff, assistant professor of anthropology at Lake Forest College, discuss where the World's Fair lives on today. 

"From the Midway" is a production of the Chicago Tribune. It was created by digital news editor Colleen Connolly. Post-production editing was done by digital news editor Randi Shaffer. The music used in this podcast came from the album “Souvenir Music from the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893,” recorded by Lake Forest College.

From the Midway - Episode 1: Relics of the fair

Perhaps the most iconic invention of the 1893 World's Fair, the Ferris wheel was Chicago's answer to Paris' Eiffel Tower, which was built for that city's 1889 fair. Though now ubiquitous, there was just one Ferris wheel in the beginning, and it has a history that stretches back to Galesburg, Illinois. Paul Durica, co-author of “Chicago by Day and Night: The Pleasure-Seeker’s Guide to the Paris of America,” and Jim Ferris, the great-great-nephew of the Ferris wheel's inventor, tell the story of how it was invented and what happened to the original "Chicago Wheel."

"From the Midway" is a production of the Chicago Tribune. It was created by digital news editor Colleen Connolly. Post-production editing was done by digital news editor Randi Shaffer. The music used in this podcast came from the album “Souvenir Music from the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893,” recorded by Lake Forest College.

From the Midway - Episode 2: The Ferris wheel

The 1893 World's Fair is often discussed with pride and awe, but there were parts of it that were downright morally wrong by today's standards. The world villages on the Midway, the heart of the fair, are one example of this. Alaka Wali, curator of North American anthropology at the Field Museum, discusses who and what went into these displays and the evolution of the science of anthropology, which has its American roots in the Midway villages. 

"From the Midway" is a production of the Chicago Tribune. It was created by digital news editor Colleen Connolly. Post-production editing was done by digital news editor Randi Shaffer. The music used in this podcast came from the album “Souvenir Music from the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893,” recorded by Lake Forest College.

From the Midway - Episode 3: Culture on the Midway

From the can of Pabst Blue Ribbon at your neighborhood bar to the moving sidewalks at Midway and O’Hare, so many products that we consume today made their debut at the 1893 World's Fair. Chicago Tribune business reporter Cori Shropshire talked to Russell Lewis, the executive vice president and chief historian at the Chicago History Museum, and Norm Bolotin, author of “The World's Columbian Exposition: The Chicago World's Fair of 1893,” to find out what products were showcased at the fair and the stories behind their creation. 

"From the Midway" is a production of the Chicago Tribune. It was created by digital news editor Colleen Connolly. Post-production editing was done by digital news editor Randi Shaffer. The music used in this podcast came from the album “Souvenir Music from the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893,” recorded by Lake Forest College.

From the Midway - Episode 4: Products and innovation

As the Bears clinched their first NFC North title in eight years, the air-raid siren sounded over the crowd at Soldier Field. Again. And again. And again.

Air-raid sirens at Soldier Field

Redacted 911 call Crystal Lake police received in case of missing 5-year-old Andrew 'AJ' Freund

911 call audio of the Beach Park ammonia leak

The city of Chicago released two 911 calls made after "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett claimed he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack. (Warning: This audio contains graphic content)

Smollett incident 911 call #2

St. John and Dyer officers encountered intense heat and heavy smoke in their efforts to save two girls from a Sunday morning house fire. Here's the audio from an officer's body cam mic.

St. John officer’s body cam mic audio from house fire

A 911 call, released by the Northwest Central Dispatch System, placed when an SUV crashed through Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg.

Woodfield 911 call: 'There's a maniac driving through the mall!'

Woodfield 911 call: 'He's in the mall!?"

A 911 call, released by the Northwest Central Dispatch System, placed when an SUV crashed through Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. The caller reports an active shooter, saying she heard popping noises. Authorities say no shots were fired by the man driving the SUV through the suburban shopping center.

Woodfield 911 call: 'We heard popping ... We're hiding in a closet in a store'

On Dec. 28, 2017, a week after a raid on a purported drug stash house, Chicago police Sgt. Xavier Elizondo called an informant to tell him that he had to inventory the $15,000 they’d hoped to steal because they found cameras in the apartment and got spooked. “If there wasn’t no cameras, if we didn’t find it, those cameras, and I’m glad we did, but if we didn’t man, it would have been a good Christmas for everybody, you know what I mean?”

Chicago police Sgt. Xavier Elizondo calls an informant after a 2017 raid on drug stash house

Metropolitan Peace Academy - Vanessa Perry DeReef

This has been edited for content and length. Source: Northwest Central Dispatch System.

Chicago Tribune

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