Eight Forty-Eight 2/5/2009

Paul Vallas Switches Parties as He Runs for Board President

Former CEO of Chicago Public Schools Paul Vallas has changed his political colors and is running for Cook County Board President as a Republican. Cook County GOP chairman Lee Roupas explains more.

Music Button: Futique, "Trump Card", from the CD Go Low, (Shadow records)

Posted on 2.5.2009

Michelle Obama's Chicago Roots

Journalist Carol Felsenthal profiles our new first lady in the most recent issue of Chicago Magazine. We sat down with her to get a sense of the woman who stands not behind, but right beside, her presidential husband.

Music Button: Ben Harper, "Michelle", from the CD This Bird Has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul, (Razor and Tie records)

Posted on 2.5.2009

Lincoln's Freedom Fight in Chicago

As part of Lincoln's birthday bicentennial, people are celebrating his efforts against slavery, many of which were developed on Chicago ground. Author Tom Campbell discusses the Chicagoans who guided Lincoln's efforts.

Check out the schedule for this Friday's symposium on Lincoln's legal career.

Music Button: Eric Lugosch, "There's a Destruction", from the CD Black Key Blues, (Acoustic Music records)

Posted on 2.5.2009

Finding Racial Harmony in Romeo and Juliet

Chicago writer Ranjit Souri recalls a moment when Sergei Prokofiev's “Romeo and Juliet” struck a note of racial harmony for him in the Deep South.

Posted on 2.5.2009

Joe Tex's Story Hits the Stage

The play I Gotcha: The Story of Joe Tex and The Soul Clan at the Black Ensemble Theater takes on the life and music of Soul legend Joe Tex.

Posted on 2.5.2009