State initiative to hire more disabled people, integrate workforce passes General Assembly
May 22, 2013
Filed under City, Politics, State
A bill that would provide more working opportunities for disabled people sailed through the Illinois General Assembly last week with the leadership of Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston). The Senate unanimously voted May 14 to send The Employment First Act to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn. The legislation... Read more »
Evanston Public Library to hold annual falcon banding ceremony
May 21, 2013
Filed under City, Local
Do not be surprised if you see falcons swooping over downtown Evanston in the next few weeks. Workers from The Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium will come May 30 to the Evanston Public Library to band four recently hatched peregrine falcons. The feared birds known for stunning their prey in 200-mph... Read more »
Updated: House near Evanston Township High School catches fire; teen injured
May 21, 2013
Filed under Around Town, Blogs, Latest Stories
A teenager is in stable condition tonight after jumping from the second floor of a burning house near Evanston Township High School, officials said. Firefighters responded to the fire at about 4:15 p.m. in the 1400 block of Fowler Avenue, according to the Evanston fire department. The first responders... Read more »
Evanston police unfazed as governor mulls medical marijuana law
May 20, 2013
Filed under City, Crime, State
A bill legalizing medical marijuana is a governor's signature away from becoming Illinois law, which would allow Evanston residents to use the drug for medical purposes given they follow strict state guidelines. The Evanston Police Department would have few issues enforcing the legislation, which... Read more »
Davis Street viaduct repair starts Monday
May 19, 2013
Filed under Around Town, Blogs
The Chicago Transit Authority on Monday will start repairing the viaduct on Davis Street between Benson and Elmwood avenues. The project will carry on from mornings to evenings on weekdays and affect vehicle traffic and pedestrians in the area, according to the CTA. Maintenance work on the supporting... Read more »
Amid relocation buzz, Evanston Art Center holds biggest fundraiser of year
May 19, 2013
Filed under Arts and Technology (City), City, Local, Top Stories
Evanston residents waged friendly bidding wars Saturday in an outdoor tent during the annual Evanston Art Center spring benefit, the organization's biggest fundraiser of the year. The art center, 2603 Sheridan Road, netted more than $35,000 from admission fees and the auction of donated art pieces, executive... Read more »
Police: Evanston man killed in Chicago may have ties to local gun violence
May 15, 2013
Filed under City, Crime, Latest Stories, Local
Police say an Evanston man killed Sunday on the South Side of Chicago may have been the intended target of a shooting last week in west Evanston. Blake Ross, 20, was shot dead Sunday in the 2800 block of East 76th Street. Ross, of the 2300 block of Greenwood Street, attended Evanston Township High... Read more »
Gourmet chef looks to satisfy Chinese cultural taste in Evanston
May 15, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Local
Students who take weekend excursions to Chicago for authentic Chinese cuisine need look no further than Northwestern’s doorstep when Lao Sze Chuan opens this summer. Owner and chef Tony Hu said he had meant to open the restaurant’s downtown Evanston location 10 years ago, but the plan has only... Read more »
Evanston Public Art Committee recommends tavern mural for Farmhouse
May 15, 2013
Filed under Arts and Technology (City), City, Local
Evanston tavern Farmhouse trotted closer to its summer opening as a city board endorsed its artistic plan Tuesday. The tavern’s designer, Peter Hurley, appeared in front of Evanston’s Public Art Committee during a meeting at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., with a proposal to position... Read more »
Experts discuss mental health issues among Evanston's homeless
May 13, 2013
Filed under City, Local
Experts talked Monday night about addressing mental illness among Evanston's homeless as caretakers nationwide observe Mental Health Awareness Month. City residents and members of the homeless population chimed in on the stigmas attached to mental health illness and homelessness at a meeting organized... Read more »
Q&A: ASG's new community relations vice president to focus on student volunteerism
May 9, 2013
Filed under City, Local, Top Stories
The Associated Student Government Senate nominated its new community relations vice president, Kevin Harris, on Wednesday. Harris, a Weinberg freshman and a member of Delta Chi fraternity, has been as been a part of ASG since Fall Quarter. The Daily talked to Harris on Thursday about increasing volunteering... Read more »
Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center sent into lockdown after gunshots
May 8, 2013
Filed under City, Crime, Local
The Evanston Police Department has increased patrols and beefed up its manpower in west Evanston after recent reports of gunshots near the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center. Gunshots were fired in the early afternoon Tuesday, sending the nearby community center, 1655 Foster St., into lockdown as... Read more »
Strong rental market in midst of national homeownership rate lows
May 7, 2013
Filed under City, Local
Home sales in Evanston picked up in April even as national homeownership rate hit a 17-year low, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. The report, released April 30, shows the national homeownership rate declined to 65.2 percent in the first quarter of 2013, pushing more people to... Read more »
Evanston launches expanded National Drinking Water Week celebration
May 6, 2013
Filed under City, Local
Evanston residents kicked off National Drinking Water Week on Sunday by paddling canoes into the sunset and admiring the city's flora and fauna at the canal near the Evanston Ecology Center. The city's second annual celebration of the nationally observed week features an expanded activity list with... Read more »
Local high school students discuss troubling times in essay, poster contest ceremony
May 5, 2013
Filed under City, Education, Local
In front of about 50 people at the Evanston Ecology Center, Evanston Township High School junior Ashley Smith talked about her struggle to make sense of the death of friends from violence and accidents. “It’s difficult to come to school and difficult to know you might not see that person again,”... Read more »
Amended pension reform bill passes House committee
May 1, 2013
Filed under City, Politics, State
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan pushed a revised pension reform bill through a House pension committee Wednesday in a near unanimous vote. Madigan made amendments to the bill, which squeezed through a senate floor vote near the end of March, that would require public employees to pay more... Read more »
Alderman: Evanston City Council to tackle 'brothel law' by June
May 1, 2013
Filed under City, Latest Stories, Local, Politics
Students hoping to spread out rental costs next year by living with more than three people in a unit might not have to worry about the city’s so-called “brothel law” if all goes according to plan. Changes to the law, which would relax limitations on the number of unrelated people living in the... Read more »
Controversial local election boards may be abolished
April 29, 2013
Filed under City, Local, Politics, State
A bill sponsored by state Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) that would abolish local election boards passed the upper chamber Wednesday. Senate Bill 1689 would transfer responsibility for deciding objections to candidacy petitions from the local to the county level. Biss has criticized the current system... Read more »
Longtime Friendship Baptist Church member dies
April 28, 2013
Filed under City, Local
The Evanston man who died after a house fire last week never hesitated to lend a hand at the church across the street from his home, congregation members said. Retired city worker Freddie Davis was an honorary member of Friendship Baptist Church, 2201 Foster Ave., where he helped out by taking out... Read more »
Retired city employee dies in west Evanston fire
April 24, 2013
Filed under City, Local, Top Stories
A former city employee died Wednesday after a house fire in west Evanston, city manager Wally Bobkiewicz said. The blaze broke out shortly after 5 p.m. in the 1900 block of Hartrey Avenue, and the Evanston fire department had the scene under control within an hour. But Fred Davis sustained second-... Read more »
Illinois Senate passes drone privacy rules
April 23, 2013
Filed under City, Latest Stories, Politics, State
The Illinois Senate last week approved a sweeping drone privacy bill championed by state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston. The bill sponsored by Biss, a Democrat, would prohibit police departments in the state from using drones for surveillance without first obtaining a warrant. The bill passed 52-1 and... Read more »
Reorganized golf association heads toward economic stability
April 22, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Latest Stories, Local
A year after the Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association was mired in fiscal and legal trouble, the organization is moving into the fairway. The nonprofit golf group announced its new board April 11. The board has 19 members, about two-thirds of whom are new. Through fundraising measures and... Read more »
Evanston, Skokie patients flock to Erie Family Health Center
April 17, 2013
Filed under City, Latest Stories, Local
Evanston and Skokie residents in need of affordable health care have been flocking to the Erie Family Health Center, according to a report released Thursday by the center. The federally qualified health center, temporarily located at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, provides care to low-income... Read more »
Updated: Woman drives van into downtown Evanston CVS
April 16, 2013
Filed under Around Town, Blogs, Latest Stories
A 74-year-old woman drove her van into CVS in downtown Evanston on Tuesday afternoon, damaging part of the store’s brick wall and breaking its window. The woman hit the accelerator while trying to park in front of the pharmacy at 1711 Sherman Ave., Evanston Police Cmdr. Jay Parrott said. No one... Read more »
Downtown Evanston U.S. Cellular store to close
April 15, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Latest Stories, Local
The U.S. Cellular store in downtown Evanston will close in the next few weeks after more than a decade in business. The Chicago-based company will cut six jobs with the store's closure at 1737 Sherman Ave. as it shifts marketing efforts from commercial hubs such as Chicago and St. Louis to rural areas,... Read more »
Lifestyle company Solay opens Evanston flagship location
April 14, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Local
With its flagship store formally opening Thursday in downtown Evanston, lifestyle company Solay Wellness Inc. is preparing to turn its business into a franchise. The family-owned store, which sells organic products such as natural dog shampoo, is moving beyond its online-based market by franchising... Read more »
Evanston Plaza developer discuss revitalization efforts with 2nd Ward residents
April 12, 2013
Filed under City, Local
A representative from the developer of Evanston Plaza discussed plans to revitalize the property during his first meeting with west Evanston residents Thursday night. Scott Inbinder of Bonnie Management Corporation accepted the invitation to a 2nd Ward meeting at the Joseph E. Hill Education Center,... Read more »
Bowling alley unlikely to come to Dempster and Dodge, owner says
April 8, 2013
Filed under City, Local
A community push to bring a bowling alley to Evanston Plaza looks unlikely to come to fruition. Bonnie Investment Group, a real estate investment firm that purchased the property at 1968 Dempster St. out of foreclosure last year, has reached out to Pinstripes, Brunswick National Lanes and the Wilmette... Read more »
Daniel Biss, Robyn Gabel discuss pension crisis at heated town hall meeting
April 5, 2013
Filed under City, Latest Stories, Local, Politics
Evanston residents voiced their concerns Thursday on Illinois' fiscal issues before state Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) and state Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) at a packed town hall meeting. At the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center, public employees voiced their distrust in their relationship with... Read more »
Evanston water lab receives perfect scores in state inspection
April 3, 2013
Filed under City, Latest Stories, Local
Evanston's water quality laboratory has received perfect scores from the Illinois Department of Public Health for its fourth check-up in a row. The lab achieved a score of zero deviations after state inspectors evaluated the procedures, records and tools the facility used to ensure safe drinking water,... Read more »
Business vacancy rates remain low as Evanston seeks retailers
April 2, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Latest Stories, Local
Evanston has attracted a steady flow of new businesses and kept vacancy rates low since last fall, according to a new economic report from the city. From October to March, 19 new business opened in the city’s 10 business districts, mostly downtown restaurants, according to the report. The new businesses... Read more »
Tisdahl: 'Brothel law' talks could start this spring
April 1, 2013
Filed under Around Town, Blogs
The Evanston City Council expects to address the so-called "brothel law" this spring, Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said Wednesday. During a Facebook town hall, Tisdahl was asked what the city has done to work with Northwestern on the controversial over-occupancy rule, which says more than three unrelated... Read more »
Illinois Senate rejects Biss bill for pension reform, approves less ambitious plan
March 20, 2013
Filed under Around Town, Blogs, Latest Stories
A watered down pension reform bill squeezed through the Illinois Senate on Wednesday after lawmakers rejected a more comprehensive proposal from state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston. Lawmakers approved the bill sponsored by Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) with a 30-22 vote, sending the... Read more »
Evanston City Council backs arts 'roadmap,' green-lights Howard Street brewery
March 18, 2013
Filed under Arts and Technology (City), Business, City, Local, Top Stories
Evanston aldermen on Monday night adopted a long-term plan for local arts development and approved city funding for a new brewery on Howard Street. EvanstARTs, an arts collaborative group consisting of the city and community organizations, presented its final report to the City Council during its... Read more »
State Sen. Daniel Biss' pension reform bill could get vote Tuesday
March 18, 2013
Filed under Around Town, Blogs, Latest Stories
The Illinois General Assembly may vote Tuesday on three bills to repair the state's broken pension system, including one proposed by Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston. Illinois faces a $95 billion deficit in unfunded liabilities, and state lawmakers have been at loggerheads over how to deal with the worst-in-the-nation... Read more »
Sheridan Road speed machines to operate after engineers fix malfunctions
March 4, 2013
Filed under City, Local, Top Stories
Drivers on Sheridan Road had better slow down when the city’s newly installed portable speed machines start flashing rapidly — but the city will have to get those machines working first. City traffic engineers installed two portable speed limit machines Thursday on Sheridan Road to educate drivers... Read more »
Bipartisan pension reform bill creates new benefit plan category
March 4, 2013
Filed under City, Politics, State, Top Stories
Illinois legislators rallied Wednesday to support a bipartisan pension reform bill that would gradually shift payment responsibility from the state to public employers. House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) proposed House Bill 3411, which has gained bipartisan... Read more »
Evanston hosts workshop to discuss short-term rental ban
March 4, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Local, Top Stories
Maureen O’Donnell shuttered the shades on her house on Ashland Avenue to hide her family from the constant stream of strangers coming in and out of her neighbor’s house. She was among residents and realtors who expressed their concerns to council members at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center... Read more »
Evanston residents petition for bowling alley in vacant shopping center
February 27, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Local
Evanston residents have petitioned for the creation of a bowling alley in a mostly vacant west Evanston shopping center. About 300 people have signed an online petition on Change.org started by Evanston Patch columnist Christine Wolf on Feb. 11. “I don’t feel like there are a whole lot of... Read more »
Q&A: 'Parenthood' star Tina Lifford returns to Evanston to show play
February 26, 2013
Filed under Arts and Technology (City), City, Local
Former Evanston resident Tina Lifford, who plays Renee Trussell on NBC’s “Parenthood,” recently returned to the city to showcase “The Circle,” a play she wrote. When Lifford was 12, she moved from Evanston to California in order to begin her acting career. She would go on to star in films... Read more »
From laser photographs to drywall instruments, sculptors begin exhibit at Evanston Art Center
February 24, 2013
Filed under Arts and Technology (City), City, Local
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign sculpture Prof. Stephen Cartwright originally used his global positioning device to create an “old lady’s map” to track the traveling habits of seniors. More than a decade later, Cartwright has recorded about 125,000 hourly entries into his handheld... Read more »
Restaurant owner introduces pop-up restaurant to Evanston
February 21, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Local, Top Stories
Eric Singer rearranged tables, organized about 200 pieces of glassware and sent in a frying equipment for repair, all in preparation for a dinner Wednesday at his new restaurant at 1307 Chicago Ave. And he’s going to be one of the guests at the dinner. “I’m not the chef, but I can help the... Read more »
Labor coalition backs bipartisan bill to solve state's public pension problem
February 19, 2013
Filed under City, Politics, State, Top Stories
A labor coalition backed a state senate bill introduced Friday that proposes new revenue to fix the state’s underfunded public pension system. The We Are One labor coalition, which includes the Illinois AFL-CIO and the Illinois Education Association, backed Senate Bill 2404 following a coalition-hosted... Read more »
Evanston Fire and Life Safety Services responds to record number of EMS calls
February 12, 2013
Filed under City, Local
Evanston firefighters responded to a record number of service calls last year, more than three-fifths of which were emergency medical service calls, according to a report released Thursday. In 2011, Evanston responded to 5,467 emergency medical service calls, a department record. Firefighters... Read more »
ETHS "detracking" curriculum changes hot topic at school board candidate forum
February 11, 2013
Filed under City, Education, Local, Politics
Three Evanston school board candidates met with residents at an Evanston cafe Sunday to discuss their campaign platforms in an election that will include four hotly contested District 202 seats. Ald. Mark Tendam (6th) said he organized the gathering at Curt's Cafe, 2922 Central St., partly because... Read more »
ETHS Pride feeder program looking up months after former player Dajae Coleman's death
February 6, 2013
Filed under City, Dajae Coleman, Local
Ask any parent about Evanston Township High School's feeder basketball program and they'll say there's more than the usual hustle and bustle at practice. There's pride. “Evanston is going to shine, Evanston is going on to states and will win," parent Richard Kalaygian said. The Pride feeder... Read more »
Resident complies with condominium association, throws out bedbug infested furniture
February 4, 2013
Filed under City, Local
A resident of a Sherman Avenue condominium complex threw out his bedbug-infested furniture after the condominium association filed a complaint Jan. 22 with the Cook County Circuit Court. Maisonette Condominium Association filed an injunction against James Collins on Jan. 22 after he failed to respond... Read more »
Former Northwestern football player drops out of Congressional race
February 1, 2013
Filed under City, Local, Politics, Top Stories
After talking to his wife Tuesday, Congressional candidate Napoleon Harris said he went to sleep confident he had the race in the bag. The Northwestern alumnus (Communication ‘02) was running for the seat vacated by then-U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), who resigned in November. But on Wednesday,... Read more »
Chicken and waffles restaurant opens in west Evanston
January 29, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Top Stories
Melting butter topping waffles and fried, crackling chicken grace the dishes of Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles, which opened its Evanston branch with the city’s help Friday. The soul food restaurant at 2424 Dempster St. also boasts oozing mashed potatoes, fried catfish and macaroni and... Read more »
Dropping home prices, available inventory lead to increased demand among Evanston homebuyers
January 27, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Local
Longtime Evanston resident Dorothy King had lived in her spacious four-bedroom home for about 20 years and was ready to move to smaller living quarters. King's home was snapped up in six days last spring, and buyers wanted to move in quickly, giving King only a few months to find a condominium. “The... Read more »
Evanston residents discuss institutional racism at third city dialogue
January 25, 2013
Filed under City, Local, Top Stories
Evanston residents discussed racism in education, law enforcement and other institutions Thursday at the last of three dialogues on race hosted by the city. The city hosted the series of discussions, called “My Evanston, My Neighbors: Constructive Dialogues on Race, Understanding and our Hopes for... Read more »
City board approves parking changes for planned brewpub
January 22, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Local, Politics
Evanston’s first brewpub moved a step closer to opening Tuesday, once the city’s zoning board of appeals approved the removal of off-road parking spaces in front of the business. Winnetka resident Michael Smylie said he plans to open Smylie Bros. Restaurant and Brewery by the end of this summer... Read more »
Former Northwestern football player running for vacated House seat
January 16, 2013
Filed under City, Local, Politics
Former Northwestern and professional football player Napoleon Harris is entering a crowded field to replace an embattled Chicago congressman. A native of Dixmoor, a small city south of Chicago, Harris returned to his hometown after playing seven seasons in the NFL and was elected as 15th district... Read more »
Arts advocates release results of citywide survey
January 16, 2013
Filed under Arts and Technology (City), City, Local
A majority of Evanston residents support the arts, although many do not subscribe to the city’s arts organizations, according to preliminary results from citywide surveys on arts presented during a town-hall-style meeting Tuesday night. EvanstARTs, a collaboration between the city, the Evanston... Read more »
U.S. women's soccer team great Brandi Chastain to hold summer soccer camp in Evanston
January 14, 2013
Filed under Around Town, Blogs
Brandi Chastain, the United States women's soccer team player who made the game-winning penalty kick in the 1999 FIFA World Cup tournament, will be coming to Evanston to hold a soccer camp this summer. The Team Evanston Soccer Club’s coaching director Issac Moushi invited Chastain to host the all-girls... Read more »
Starbucks to move to expanded Sherman Avenue location
January 9, 2013
Filed under Business, City, Local
Starbucks officials expect to move their cramped Sherman Avenue location to a more expansive storefront two spaces up the block after the city’s zoning board of appeals approved an architect’s application Tuesday night for a special use permit. Upon approval from the Evanston City Council, the... Read more »
State Senator Schoenberg leaves office to pursue work in philanthropy
January 7, 2013
Filed under City, Politics, State
State Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg (D-9th) will now devote his time to philanthropy after a 22-year career in public office. State Rep. Daniel Biss (D-17th) won Schoenberg's seat with his endorsement in the November election. “Incoming state senator Daniel Biss will have large shoes to fill, given... Read more »
Evanston snow removal costs down due to salt dome
January 7, 2013
Filed under Around Town, Blogs
Evanston cut the proposed budget for snow and ice control by $100,000 from last year because of a decrease in operating expenses. The budget for the public works department expenditures fell from $700,517 to $600,513 in the proposed fiscal year 2013 budget. Decreases in operating expenses result... Read more »
While you were on break: the local, state and national news you missed
January 6, 2013
Filed under City, Crime, Local, National, Politics, State
Dec. 15: Evanston hosts gun buyback program Evanston residents turned in 45 firearms during a gun buyback program Dec. 15, the day after the Newtown, Conn., school shooting. The program came weeks after its chief organizer, Carolyn Murray, lost her 19-year-old son Justin in a Nov. 29 shooting on Evanston’s... Read more »
Magazine Museum struggles in multimedia age
November 14, 2012
Filed under Business, City, Education, Local
Telephone wires zigzag through the air above, train tracks run perpendicular to the street and cars rumble on nearby Skokie Highway, yet Magazine Museum remains silent in the midst. It is as if someone has pulled Harry Potter's invisibility cloak over the store hiding it from public view, Magazine... Read more »
Student group creates clay bones to raise awareness of genocide
November 11, 2012
Filed under Campus, Student Groups
Students from Arts in the Community model clay skulls, rib bones and collar bones as part of the One Million Bones project, a nationwide program designed to raise awareness about modern-day genocide. Each bone created represents a life lost to genocide and raises a dollar for CARE, an international... Read more »
Experts discuss strategies to curb high-risk drinking
October 25, 2012
Filed under Campus
Health experts spoke about efforts among colleges to reduce high-risk drinking at an on-campus alcohol intervention conference Tuesday and Wednesday. The two-day conference, called the "Evidence-Based Interventions to Reduce Binge Drinking on College Campuses," was organized by Feinberg School of... Read more »
CROP hunger walk moves to Evanston
October 14, 2012
Filed under City, Local
Evanston hosted for the first time Sunday a walk to raise awareness of world hunger. Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl kicked off the North Shore Christian Rural Overseas Program Hunger Walk by welcoming the congregation at the Second Baptist Church, which included members from 24 church organizations... Read more »