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City Launches West Side Door-Knocking Campaign To Combat Overdose Deaths
AUSTIN —The city is launching a new outreach program on the West Side in response to a spike in overdose-induced deaths at the hands of the city’s opioid epidemic. The program, dubbed the Summer Overdose Safety campaign (or Operation S.O.S), will deploy “trained outreach workers with a goal of covering the nearly 1,300 blocks of the West Side that experienced at least one overdose-related EMS response [in 2023],” according to a press release from the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Biden Drops Out Of Presidential Race, Upending DNC In Chicago
CHICAGO — President Joe Biden has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race — leaving widespread questions in Chicago about how the stunning change could impact the upcoming Democratic National Convention. Biden said in a letter posted to X Sunday afternoon that “while it has been my intention...
Piping Plover Chick Being Raised At Montrose Beach Gets New Name
UPTOWN — One of Montrose Beach’s youngest residents has been named. The Great Lakes piping plover chick born this summer to parents Imani and Sea Rocket has been named Nagamo, the Chicago Piping Plovers volunteer group announced Saturday. Nagamo, chosen among names submitted in a contest, mean’s “he/she...
Ukrainian Village Hookah Lounge Closed By Police After 3 People Shot Outside
UKRAINIAN VILLAGE — A hookah bar that has long caused public safety issues was ordered closed by police a day after three people were shot outside the business, according to the Police Department. Police Supt. Larry Snelling on Saturday issued a summary closure for the Lyon’s Den Hookah Lounge,...
Small Cheval Opening In Lincoln Park
LINCOLN PARK — Small Cheval is opening a location in the heart of Lincoln Park. The casual burger chain, a spinoff of Au Cheval, is opening at 1959 N. Halsted St. next door to J9 Wine Bar, according to city records. A building permit posted in the window was...
Rhymefest To Headline Luxe Fest, Sunday’s Celebration Of Local Musicians In South Shore
SOUTH SHORE — A free South Side festival this weekend will celebrate local musicians with 12 hours of back-to-back performances, from rapper Rhymefest to standout artists from the host venue’s open mics and spoken word showcases. The first annual Luxe Fest is noon-midnight Sunday inside Urban Luxe Café,...
Chicago Restaurants Dish On Their Cameos In ‘The Bear’ Season 3 Montage
CHICAGO — For all of “The Bear’s” meticulous odes to Chicago’s vibrant food scene throughout its first two seasons, season three offered its most comprehensive tributes yet. The FX on Hulu series — which tells the story of chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White)...
Fulton Market Transit-Oriented Development Would Bring 1,000 New Apartments, Retail
FULTON MARKET — A pair of developers want to bring two apartment buildings that would bring more than 1,000 new units to Fulton Market. JDL Development and Fulton Street Companies presented plans for the 1200 W. Fulton St. project at an online meeting Wednesday night organized by the West Central Association. It is one of several development proposals for the area, which for decades was off-limits for residential use.
Lula Cafe’s Jason Hammel Unveils LOULOU In Logan Square
LOGAN SQUARE — Chef Jason Hammel and the Lula Cafe team are gearing up to open a new culinary spot in Logan Square — but it’s no typical restaurant. LOULOU, 3057 W. Logan Blvd., will be a creative studio for culinary events, chef programs, collaborative meals with emerging and visiting chefs, talks and performances broadcast live with industry leaders and more, Hammel said. It is set to open next month, and its sign and other final touches are being worked on, team members said.
Englewood Artist Tonika Johnson Raising $500,000 To Help More Black Families Fix Their Homes
ENGLEWOOD — South Side social justice artist Tonika Lewis Johnson is fundraising to boost her effort to fix family homes in Englewood and uplift the legacy of Black homeowners. Johnson is raising $500,000 for unBlocked Englewood, which she created last year. The arts-driven community initiative addresses decades of inequities...
This Week In Photos: Tornadoes Pummel City, Common’s Homecoming And More
CHICAGO — It was a stormy start to the week in Chicago, with downed trees smashing cars and blocking streets. Block Club also published an investigation on long-vacant apartments at the Lathrop Homes complex. See what reporters captured while covering the city’s neighborhoods this week. Support Local News!
5 Years Ago, Chance The Snapper Was Rescued From Humboldt Park Lagoon. Now, The Gator Is Thriving
CHICAGO — An hour or so before Chance the Snapper was rescued in summer 2019, the Humboldt Park lagoon was completely silent and dark for the first time in several days — maybe ever. It was about 1 a.m., and Kelley Gandurski had been up “since God knows...
Global Tech Outage Causes Airport Mayhem; 119 Flights Canceled At O’Hare, Midway
CHICAGO — An international tech outage caused issues for airlines, banks and other industries early Friday. The tech issue was caused by a problem with Microsoft and cybersecurity company Crowdstrike, but a fix was released about 7 a.m. The problem grounded and canceled some flights around the United States,...
Ollie’s Market Bringing Corner Store To Former Ollie’s Lounge Space In Edgewater
EDGEWATER — The former home of a popular Edgewater bar is slated to become a corner store after the area’s alderwoman endorsed plans to allow the store to sell alcohol. Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th) approved a zoning change to allow a convenience store to be built on the ground floor of a four-story apartment building at 1064 W. Berwyn Ave., the alderwoman announced Thursday.
Sway, LGBTQ+-Owned Dispensary, Aims To Open In South Shore
SOUTH SHORE — A cannabis company owned by queer people of color plans to expand into South Shore, and officials will meet with neighbors next week to discuss the plans. Sway, which recently opened the state’s first LGBTQ+- and minority-owned dispensary, is looking to open its second shop and first on the South Side. A meeting on Sway’s plans is 6 p.m. Monday at 2226 E. 71st St., Ald. Desmon Yancy (5th) said in his newsletter earlier this week.
Suburban Man Charged In 2022 Road Rage Killing Of 3-Year-Old
WEST LAWN — A west suburban man is facing murder charges nearly two years after a toddler was killed in a road rage shooting on the Far Southwest Side. Govanni Hernandez, 32, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder Thursday. He is accused of fatally shooting 3-year-old Mateo Zastro on Sept. 30, 2022.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Says He Will Bus More Migrants To Chicago Ahead Of DNC
CHICAGO — In a primetime speech Wednesday at the Republican National Convention, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott doubled down on busing migrants from border cities to Chicago. Abbott began sending busloads of migrants from Texas to Chicago and other Democrat-led cities in August 2022 in protest of federal policies. He was soon joined by other leaders; in all, almost 45,000 migrants and 950 buses have been sent to Chicago, according to the latest city data.
City Unveils Grand Avenue Protected Bike Lanes, But Second Phase Delayed Until 2025
WEST TOWN — Protected bike lanes, pedestrian improvements and a slew of other changes to a section of Grand Avenue in West Town and Ukrainian Village have been completed. The Chicago Department of Transportation held a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning for the first phase of its Grand Avenue Complete Streets project, which runs on the thoroughfare between Chicago and Damen avenues.
15 Things To Do In Chicago This Weekend: Pitchfork, Ravenswood On Tap And Zine Camp
CITYWIDE — It is the peak of summer, and after a rocky weather week, the upcoming weekend looks just about perfect. It’s the ideal time for Chicagoans to leave their air-conditioned homes and head out for an adventure. Whether you’re looking for exemplary food, music or theater, you’re...
Vote To Install Ald. Sigcho-Lopez As Powerful Zoning Chair Stalls
CITY HALL — Alderpeople did not vote Wednesday on the nomination of a Pilsen alderperson and close ally of Mayor Brandon Johnson to lead the City Council’s influential zoning committee — although the appointment could soon come back for final approval. Johnson hopes to install Ald. Byron...
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