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"path": "/politics/2026/06/19/the-obama-presidential-center-is-now-open-to-the-public-what-does-this-all-mean-for-chicago",
"publishedAt": "2026-06-19T14:11:21.487Z",
"site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
"textContent": "<p>Broadcasting live from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. along Stony Island Avenue in Jackson Park, just steps away from the Obama Presidential Center, hosts <b>Sasha-Ann Simons</b> and <b>Mary Dixon</b> talk with <b>Mayor Brandon Johnson,</b> former White House Chief of Staff <b>Bill Daley</b>, and various community leaders to discuss the historic grand opening.</p><p>They are joined by Chicago Sun-Times columnist <b>Natalie Moore</b> to share reflections and neighborhood history, as well as WBEZ's <b>Patrick Smith</b> who is outside the center talking with visitors.</p><div class=\"Enhancement\" data-align-center> <div class=\"Enhancement-item\" data-crop=\"\"> <figure class=\"Figure\"><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"image-4a0000\" name=\"image-4a0000\"></a> <picture data-crop=\"medium\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9be7601/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3023x1697+0+2/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F86%2Fdc%2F155e1db244938eb0d2f214af3429%2Fopc-live-01.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c2fb511/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3023x1697+0+2/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F86%2Fdc%2F155e1db244938eb0d2f214af3429%2Fopc-live-01.jpg 2x\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3ec3728/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3023x1697+0+2/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F86%2Fdc%2F155e1db244938eb0d2f214af3429%2Fopc-live-01.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"OPC-live-01.jpg\" srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3ec3728/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3023x1697+0+2/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F86%2Fdc%2F155e1db244938eb0d2f214af3429%2Fopc-live-01.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f2efcf5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3023x1697+0+2/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F86%2Fdc%2F155e1db244938eb0d2f214af3429%2Fopc-live-01.jpg 2x\" width=\"490\" height=\"275\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3ec3728/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3023x1697+0+2/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F86%2Fdc%2F155e1db244938eb0d2f214af3429%2Fopc-live-01.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> <div class=\"Figure-content\"><figcaption class=\"Figure-caption\"><p>Behind the scenes of the WBEZ talk shows team broadcasting live just steps away from the Obama Presidential Center. Left to right: Sasha-Ann Simons, host of “In The Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons,” Mary Dixon host of “Say More” and Natalie Moore Chicago Sun-Times columnist.</p></figcaption><span class=\"line\"></span><div class=\"Figure-credit\"><p>Meha Ahmad</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p></p><h3>Ways to listen</h3><ul class=\"rte2-style-ul\" id=\"rte-979f2a02-6bd6-11f1-a2b0-cf48d0b9131f\"><li>Stream on <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.wbez.org/schedule\" target=\"_blank\" >wbez.org</a></li><li>Listen on the WBEZ app (<a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wbez/id587477231\" target=\"_blank\" >iPhone</a>, <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wbez.app&hl=en_US&pli=1\" target=\"_blank\" >Android</a>)</li><li>Tune to 91.5 FM</li></ul><div class=\"RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement\" data-module data-align-center><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"module-280000\" name=\"module-280000\"></a> <div class=\"RichTextModule-items RichTextBody\"><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/2026/06/18/obama-presidential-center-opening-jackson-park\" target=\"_blank\" ><b>Feature:</b></a> Obama, city celebrate a presidential center that ‘could not be anywhere else’<br><br><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2026/06/18/celebrities-attended-obama-presidential-center-opening-ceremony\" target=\"_blank\" ><b>Who’s who:</b> </a>List of celebrities and dignitaries who attended the opening ceremony<br><br><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/photography/2026/06/02/photo-tour-inside-obama-presidential-center\" target=\"_blank\" ><b>Photos:</b></a> Tour inside the Obama Presidential Center<br><br><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://www.wbez.org/museums/2026/06/17/obama-presidential-center\" target=\"_blank\" ><b>What to know:</b></a> Weekend festivities, tickets, playground access and more<br><br><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/2026/06/05/barack-obama-airbnb-presidential-center-chicago-affordable-housing-displacement-gentrification\" target=\"_blank\" ><b>Neighborhood impact:</b></a> More Airbnbs around Jackson Park, worrying affordable housing advocates<br><br><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2026/06/17/the-obama-presidential-center-is-not-an-official-presidential-library-heres-why\" ><b>Library?:</b> </a>The Center is not an official presidential library. Here’s why<br><br><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/museums-zoos/2026/06/17/meet-the-mega-donors-who-funded-the-obama-foundation\" ><b>Funding:</b></a> Meet the megadonors who funded the Obama Foundation<br><br><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/live/star-studded-lineup-to-perform-at-obama-presidential-center-opening-live-updates\" target=\"_blank\" ><b>Recap:</b></a> Play-by-play coverage of the Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening<br></div> </div><p></p>",
"title": "The Obama Presidential Center is now open to the public. What does this mean for Chicago?",
"updatedAt": "2026-06-19T14:48:02.968Z"
}