Remembering Chris Cornell

Hard to believe it has been six years since we lost Chris Cornell. One of the most talented beings on this planet. Almost, otherworldly. Maybe he is. Please join me at 12:30p central today for a very special tribute to Chris, listen anywhere at Q101.com or ask your smart speaker to play Q101. <3 Lauren

First time meeting Chris back in 2005

I was lucky enough to spend some time with Chris whether on the phone, in person or in the audience watching him do what he was put here to do.

Amazing intimate session in 2015

I’d like to share a sit down I had with Chris that was never posted publicly at the time due to mic and sound issues, and hope you will see past that to feel the intimacy and warmth that was in the 101WKQX Studio 7 on October 7, 2015:

And a clip from the night before at the Chicago Theatre:

The first time I spoke with Chris was over the phone in September of 2012 when he called in to chat about Soundgarden coming back after 15 years gone guns blazing with a new album and tour, this is a clip about wanting fans to have the full album experience:

And about Soundgarden’s brand new fans:

this is a clip about how he grateful he is to do what he does:

Where ever you are, I hope you are at peace. We sure do miss you. No one sings like you anymore.

Kraft Heinz is rolling out a sauce dispenser with more than 200 condiment combos for restaurants

Your fast food sauce game is just about to take a level up.

This is a move that Heinz wants to do to encourage spiciness and exploration with their customers. The machine, called the Heinz Remix, is the latest example of Kraft Heinz trying something new. The company has expanded distribution in airports, launched a deluxe version of its mayonnaise for chefs and reformulated its Lunchables so they can be served in schools.

The company is still working through the specific business model for the Heinz Remix.

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The Wienermobile is no more

Nothing is sacred anymore.

he Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, the single funniest creation ever, is getting a new name for the first time since its debut in 1936. Going forward, the sausage-shaped vehicle will be known as the”Frankmobiles”. According to the company, “Debuting this week, the fleet of six vehicles feature bun-derful new elements, including saucy exterior decals, Frank Whistles (formerly Wiener Whistles) and a newly renamed class of Hotdoggers behind the wheel — now known as Frankfurters,” the company wrote in a press release.”

This is now the wiener-equivalent of the Sears Tower.

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Chocolate milk may soon be banned in Chicagoland schools

U.S. officials are considering banning chocolate milk in elementary and middle school cafeterias, according to The Wall Street Journal. This comes after the high sugar content in the milk has been questioned.

Another plan would stop short of a complete ban and instead allow options with no more than 10 grams of added sugars in each 8-ounce portions.

A decision should be made by the 2025-2026 school year.

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Have you met “Chonk?”

Chonk, short for Chonkosaurus is a resident of the Chicago River, who happens to be a huuuggggeee snapping turtle that the internet is falling in love with thanks to kayaker and prime video narrator Joey Santore

“You ever hear of liquid salad? Al’s been doing that.” I want Joey to narrate my life. So what do you think Chonk eats? Twitter has some ideas…

Chonk merch? Yes, it exists. Long live Chonk. <3 Lauren

12 St. Charles students and 1 staff member are in the hospital after failing the “spicy Chocolate challenge”

Last Friday in St. Charles, a dozen students and a staff member unknowingly ingested a marijuana-laced substance at Wredling Middle School. Allegedly, one student passed out the chocolate-coated drugs, and it was only when a teacher confiscated the items and “tested” them that they realized something was wrong.

In total, 12 students and one staff member were identified as having consumed the substance. Each student received medical attention from the school nurse and their parents were contacted to pick them up.

Most of the individuals who had consumed the substance experienced no more than mild levels of impairment.

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Billy Corgan cried when Kurt Cobain died, calls him “his greatest opponent”

In a recent interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman opened up about a variety of topics that spanned his entire career, notably Kurt Cobain’s death and the impact that it had on Cobain’s death.

““I want the Pumpkins standing on the top of the heap of our generation,” Corgan said in the interview. “If that means I got to write 800 songs to do it, I’ll do it. I ain’t shy about that. I will go down always as saying, Kurt was the most talented guy of our generation. Kurt had so much talent. It’s like frightening. It was like a John Lennon level of talent, where you’re like, ‘how can you have all this talent?’ Or Prince, right? But Kurt’s not here, sadly. So I looked around, I was like, ‘All right, well, I could beat the rest of them for sure.’

He continued, “When Kurt died, I cried because I lost my greatest opponent. I want to beat the best. I don’t want to win the championship because it’s just me and a bunch of jabronis, to use a wrestling term. It’s like, Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest sports competitor I’ll ever see in my lifetime — I mean, you want to talk about an alpha. That guy wanted to win the valet tip. You know what I mean?”

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Fox News goes to Naperville to figure out what’s going on in Chicago

Gianno Caldwell of Fox News was on the ground yesterday to talk to citizens about Chicago’s new mayor, Brandon Johnson. It just so happens that instead of going to Chicago, the third largest city in America, he wound up in DuPage County and Naperville, to be exact.

Caldwell spoke with “Big Dale”, who unfortunately lost his son to gun violence in 2021. The interview is uncomfortable, given the topic at hand, and awkward, given that they’re talking to a man sitting in Naperville about what’s happening in Chicago.

Are you allowed to call yourself a Chicagoan if you’re from Naperville? The conversation lives on Facebook!

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You don’t know these Riot Fest bands, but you need to

Hi, Case the Producer here. You know me for answering the phones on the Q101 Morning Crew and for being the sole street team member for Turnstile (they’ve done quite well for themselves, haven’t they?) What you may not know about me is that I’m an expert with Bands At the Bottom of the Poster, and this year, more than any other year, Riot Fest has stacked the bottom of the bill with some incredible bands that you need to know about.

High Vis

I saw High Vis at the Cobra Lounge in April and it’s the best show I’ve been to this year, and quite frankly, the best show I’ve been to in a long time. These UK imports have created a ton of buzz for themselves over the last year since the release of their second record, “Blending”. They sound like Oasis, but heavier. Their blend of Brit-Pop with hardcore sensibilities is incredibly unique, and I fully expect for them to have one of the best sets of the entire weekend. These guys get it. They may not be the next Coldplay, I doubt stadium tours are in their future, but this is a band that is going to truly matter to a lot of people. Go see them.

Rival Schools

Rival Schools should’ve been huge, but the powers that be had other plans for them. Led by Walter Schreifels (your favorite band’s, favorite producer), this band reunited last year after a decade away from the spotlight with the reissue of 2001’s gem, “United By Fate”. Every time I listen to “Used for Glue”, I wonder how it wasn’t the biggest song on Q101 20 years ago. Alas, they’re back, and they’re playing Riot Fest this year.

Schreifels will be pulling double-duty with iconic punk band Gorilla Biscuits that weekend.

Oso Oso

Oso Oso has been an underground sensation for nearly a decade now. The New York-based group pumps out catchy hooks like no one’s business, notably on 2019’s “basking in the glow”, a lovely, melodic record that I listened to on repeat throughout that entire year. If you need a break from the grit and thrash that Riot Fest offers plenty of, look in the direction of Oso Oso.

Free Throw

Free Throw rips. I could stop writing right there and I think that description of the band would suffice. The Nashville-based four-piece is now carrying the torch that bands like Modern Baseball and Foxing lit a decade ago. They’re down on their luck, yet their vibes are immaculate. If you are wondering “where all the emo bands went”, Free Throw is ready to slam dunk their way into their playlist…or something. I didn’t totally stick the landing there.

Fleshwater

Fleshwater somehow sounds both deeply nostalgic and terrifyingly futuristic. The group made a name for themselves in 2018 with the release of their first record, but last year’s “We’re Not Here to Be Loved” is the album that truly made people’s head’s turn. Had this band been around 20 years ago, they would’ve dominated Ozzfest lineups and the heavy parts of MTV 2’s playlist. Luckily, they’re here right now, and we’ll get to witness them throwing down at Riot Fest. Do not skip this band!

Q101 listeners, get your tickets to Riot Fest here!

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1,500 grams of cocaine fall out of a woman’s baby bump, which turned out to be fake

Two people were arrested in South Carolina and accused of trying to traffic cocaine under a false pregnancy belly, authorities said.

After nearly colliding with an 18-wheeler, the officers pulled over the couple in question. As they realized deputies were becoming more suspicious of her conflicting story, one of them took off running and very quickly drugs fell from the fake rubber stomach.

Deputies discovered more than 1,500 grams of cocaine during the stop, the sheriff’s office said.

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Martha Stewart lands cover of S.I. Swimsuit

81-year-old felon Martha Stewart has made history as the oldest lady to ever land the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine. The businesswoman called this moment “historic” while commenting on her photos that were taken in the Dominican Republic.

Extended coverage of Stewart’s photoshoot can be found here.

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Billy Joe Armstrong walks into a London bar..

An English cover band, Borderline Toxic, were playing at a London dive bar (Slim Jim’s Liquor Store on May 13) and as they were playing Green Day’s “Basket Case”, Billy Joe walked in and watch what happened here…

‘Fast X’ set to be a trilogy, Brian possibly the only person excited

According to Vin Diesel, the movie series that will seemingly never end, will in fact, never end. “Going into making this movie, the studio asked if this could be a two-parter. After the studio saw Part 1, they said could you make Fast X: The Finale a trilogy? said the action hero said while hyping up the film.

I didn’t know it was possible that there was so much lore behind the ‘Fast’ franchise that the series needed to close with a trilogy.

Of course, Brian is the only person that could possibly care.

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Brandon Johnson takes office today

Outsider-turned-Mayor is scheduled to take office today as the 57th mayor of Chicago. Johnson will face several challenges on day one, including choosing a new police superintendent. He resigned as Cook County Commissioner on Saturday, saying,

“Today, I announced my resignation from the Cook County Board of Commissioners. As excited as I am about my future as mayor of Chicago, I am also sobered and humbled to be leaving my constituents and colleagues on the Board, because together, we have done so much important work to transform Cook County government.

“As I look back on these last four years, I am particularly proud that, under President Toni Preckwinkle’s steady leadership, we centered equity and justice in all of our work. Whether it was the Justice for Black Lives resolution, which helped frame our budget deliberations, or the Just Housing Ordinance, which protects individuals with arrest records from housing discrimination, we focused our energy on centering and uplifting our most vulnerable, most marginalized communities. Compassion, competency and collaboration propelled everything we accomplished.   

“It has been a true honor to serve the residents of the 1st District – a diverse district including middle- and upper-class communities which offer residents a host of wonderful public accommodations. The 1st District is also made up of communities like my beloved Austin neighborhood, which, while rich in people, has suffered decades of disinvestment. I am proud that, during my time on the Board, we made unparalleled investments in communities like mine, funding violence prevention programs, affordable housing, health care and other critical needs.

“I leave this position enormous appreciation, respect and love for the work that each and every one of us has done to improve the quality of life for the people of Cook County. That begins with my staff, Ashlee Horton, Audrey Harding and Lisa Schrantz, who are truly the force behind many of our accomplishments. I give special thanks to President Preckwinkle, Secretary to the Board Lynne Turner and their staff, who keep this engine churning, to all the staff across every bureau and division of county government who work diligently and unseen to deliver services to county residents, and to my fellow commissioners who humbly and honorably represent and serve their constituents. 

“As the largest municipality in Cook County, the fate of the City of Chicago and that of Cook County are intricately intertwined. A better, stronger, safer Chicago means a better, stronger, safer Cook County. Our best days are ahead of us, where together we will continue expanding equity, justice, and economic prosperity for all.”

We wish Brandon Johnson the best during his tenure as mayor.

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Tim Anderson mutters “I hate this place” after making a base running blunder

It’s embarrassing being a White Sox fan in 2023. The late-2010’s rebuild is already collapsing, and the team has nothing to show for it. Shortstop Tim Anderson, a one-time catalyst for change, is now an anchor for a team going nowhere.

After failing to get to second base on a passed ball, Anderson sulked back to first base and was caught on-camera muttering to former White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, allegedly saying, “I hate this place”.

If Tim hates it here, he should LEAVE.

The Sox now sit at 14-28. It’s May. There’s no hope.

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White Castle offering free hamburgers for ‘National Slider Day’ today

On Monday, May 15, in celebration of the company’s self-proclaimed “National Slider Day., the Ohio-based chain is offering free cheese sliders. No other purchases are necessary to claim the free cheese slider, but customers will have to show a digital coupon upon ordering.

Each customer is also limited to one free slider per visit.

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