Verdict in Jason Van Dyke Trial; Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day; Best Drives for Fall Foliage

On the 21st: Jason Van Dyke has been found guilty of the second degree murder of Laquan McDonald. We'll give you the latest on the case and discuss the impact it has had on the city of Chicago. Plus, today is Columbus Day. But did you also know that Illinois has a new holiday? Indigenous People’s Day? And, we'll discuss some of the best places to see fall foliage here in Illinois. 

In recent decades, states, communities and tribal governments have pushed back because of Christopher Columbus’ role in enslaving and killing the native people of what are now called the West Indies.

Today, many states still officially observe Columbus Day, but not everywhere. Four states, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, and South Dakota, don’t observe Columbus Day at all. Some cities have replaced it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

But here in Illinois, we actually have both. Last year the state legislature passed a law that designated Indigenous Peoples’ Day as the last Monday of September while also keeping Columbus Day on the second Monday of October.

To talk more about this we were joined by Heather Miller, the center’s executive director. Levi Rickert also joined us. He’s editor of Native News Online. 

Plus –

On October 20th, 2014, Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke shot and killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Evidence later showed that McDonald was shot 16 times in nearly 15 seconds.

It was more than a year before the public got to see the dashcam video of that shooting. And that video had enormous consequences: protesters galvanized over a possible cover-up, and the case resulted in an upheaval within the Chicago Police Department, including the firing of the police superintendent.

This past Friday, nearly four years after the shooting, Jason Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder. Van Dyke was also convicted on 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, one for each bullet that struck Laquan McDonald. Between the murder and battery convictions, Van Dyke will likely go to prison for years.

Megan Crepeau joined us for more on the trial and aftermath. She covers Cook County criminal courts for the Chicago Tribune.

Jamie Kalven also spoke with us. Jamie is the Executive Director of Invisible Institute, a journalism organization based on the South Side of Chicago.

Guest host Brian Moline sat in for Niala Boodhoo. 

And –

While temperatures are dropping and daylight is shrinking, there’s one great thing about fall: colorful leaves. 

We want to help you get out there and enjoy the foliage Illinois has to offer. Whether you are coming from Chicago, Champaign or somewhere in between, you can hit the road and take in the oranges, reds and yellows, and maybe make a fun pit stop while you’re at it. 

Our guide on this Fall leaves trek was Nuno Ribeiro, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois’ Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism. He joined us from our Urbana studio.