Taxpayers have spent over $3 million on an empty lot on Chicago’s south side meant for migrants that was never used. First proposed as a winter shelter for migrants that were bused to Chicago from the southern border, tests eventually showed the lot was contaminated with heavy metals. Three years after Chicago’s migrant crisis began, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle sits down on The Takeaway with Alex to walk through the missteps that led to millions of dollars being spent on the land, tents and site cleanup – with no shelter to show for it. With the flow of migrants significantly slowing in 2025, Haeberle also looks ahead to what effect the influx had on city and state finances, and Chicago neighborhoods already struggling with housing. With Donald Trump promising to end federal funding for sanctuary cities like Chicago and also deport millions of people, Haeberle also looks ahead to what the future might hold for migrants.

Chicago’s Hollywood history runs deep. Blockbusters like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Dark Knight and The Blues Brothers helped the world get to know our city. But did you know Chicago also has connections to Back to the Future, the Wizard of Oz and even The Great Gatsby? Host of NBC Chicago’s “Only in Chicago” series Lexi Sutter tells Alex Maragos the stories behind the famous scenes and sites. She also found a real police station that plays a fake police station on television, and describes what Chicago has to offer that few other show biz cities can match.

From big events like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and Summer Smash to small street festivals across the city; Chicago’s summer soundtrack has lots of variety. With so many concerts to check out, two music critics give The Takeaway with Alex a guide to navigate the summer. Britt Julious of the Chicago Tribune and Selena Fragassi of the Chicago Sun-Times tell Alex Maragos about the shows they’re most excited to see this year, the festivals with great vibes, and their list of underhyped artists and venues in Chicago. Julious and Fragassi – who have seen over 1,000 concerts collectively – shared their excitement for the 2025 concert season by giving a list of who to look out for, how to master the many stages of Lolla (and the aftershows) and also predict who might be the next rising star to shoot out of Chicago’s music scene.

Governor J.B. Pritzker’s run for a third term will have ripple effects far beyond Illinois. With more Democrats looking for a leader, Pritzker's criticism of Donald Trump, MAGA politics, and the Republican Party will all have more power coming from a current governor, according to NBC 5 Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Ahern said the billionaire has shown several signals that higher office could be in his plans: more appearances with national media, regular speeches at Democratic Party events outside Illinois, and progressive posturing other Democrats have started to move away from. And there is his massive net worth – over $3 billion according to Forbes. Ahern said combine all of that, and it’s easy to see why Democrats have told her he could potentially be the next party leader. Ahern also dove into the potential perils a third term might bring; Pritzker will be forced to own more of Illinois’ problems, including a festering pension problem, a drop in federal funds, a transit fiscal cliff and a stagnating population and economy.

When you think of Chicago food, you may think of pizza or hot dogs, but there's so much more the city has to offer. Every dish in every restaurant has a story, and it takes people like Steve Dolinsky to share those stories with the world. With nicknames The Hungry Hound and The Food Guy, Dolinsky has traveled far and wide through Chicago, the suburbs and well beyond for 30 years to tell people where to eat and why to eat there. After chronicling the best meals and restaurants on TV, Dolinsky is headed to a new role — but not before he stopped by The Takeaway with Alex for a taste of some Superdawg, a deep dig on why he loves pizza and his picks to have your next meal in the best food city in the world.

Jerry Reinsdorf has been controlling owner of the White Sox since 1981, but has agreed to sell the team to Justin Ishbia as early as 2029. On this episode of the Takeaway with Alex, The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg dives into this reporting on the White Sox succession plan. In February, Greenberg’s reporting foreshadowed the deal, and today he tells the story of how Ishbia was approached to take a bigger stake in the team and how the final agreement ultimately came together. Greenberg talks to Alex Maragos about what the ownership change means for the White Sox staying in the city, whether they move to a new stadium, and how it can get the White Sox back on the road to a championship.

Who is Larry Hoover, and why did President Donald Trump commute sentence? He is one of America's most notorious criminals, with convictions ranging from murder to racketeering landing him behind bars for over 50 years. Now Hoover is one step closer to freedom, thanks to a commutation of his federal prison sentence by President Trump. From humble beginnings in Englewood, Hoover eventually ruled the streets of Chicago for decades as leader of the Gangster Disciples. His empire was built on guns and drugs, growing his group to be one of the biggest and most successful in the country. The commutation is a victory for family, friends and supporters including Chicago native Kanye West, who say Hoover is a changed man, genuinely sorry for his past and eager to do good in society. Others, including many in law enforcement, say Hoover's trail of addiction and destruction overrules his chance for mercy. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC 5's Chuck Goudie looks at Larry Hoover's past and future.

Despite their name, the Harlem Globetrotters actually got their start in Chicago. It was an unlikely partnership between a young, 5’3” Jewish entrepreneur named Abe Saperstein and a collection of younger Black basketball players from the South Side. From barns to ballrooms to arenas filled to the brim, the Globetrotters brought basketball to towns that barely had any organized sports. Along the way, they showed the promise of Black talent and achievement in a country that largely treated them as second-class citizens. Persevering through discrimination, they won over crowds with a mix of tricks and talent – along the way changing the landscape of race relations and American sports. Marc Jacobs, author and former editor for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, tells the unlikely tale of Abe Saperstein rising from fledgling team founder to pioneer of modern entertainment. Through ingenuity, a few tall tales and plenty of courage, Saperstein took basketball around the world, proving the unifying power of sports to bring people together.