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CocoBar Brings Authentic Mexican Flavors Near Riverwalk Downtown
DOWNTOWN — Nestled along the Chicago River is a bright pink oasis hoping to transport customers to a tropical vacation with its margaritas, agua frescas and Mexican fare. CocoBar recently opened at 316 N. Wabash Ave., striking a balance between fast casual and a sit-down restaurant in an area where many diners will stop by on their way to a museum or a boat tour reservation.
Auburn Gresham Woman Charged With Animal Cruelty Had 51 Cats, 3 Dogs In Her Home, Prosecutors Say
AUBURN GRESHAM — An Auburn Gresham woman facing multiple animal cruelty charges has been ordered not to own “animals or pets of any kind” after authorities discovered dozens of animals in her home last month. Ashley Burrell, 37, was charged with five counts of aggravated cruelty to...
Will Bears Stadium Be ‘For Our Children’? Some Community Leaders Are Skeptical
DOWNTOWN — As Mayor Brandon Johnson rallies public support for a new Bears stadium, some community leaders are skeptical about a key part of his pitch: opening the stadium and green space to Chicago’s young people. Johnson has made clear his intention on keeping the football team in...
Tacombi Taqueria Opens Wicker Park Location Wednesday
WICKER PARK — A popular taco chain that began expanding to the Chicago area last year is opening in Wicker Park Wednesday. Tacombi, 1442 N. Milwaukee Ave., has taken over a storefront formerly home to the clothing store Personal Privilege. The hours of operation were not immediately available, but it will be open for lunch and dinner service, according to a press release.
Chatham Flooding Mitigation Program Flounders, But Oak Park Sees Success
CHATHAM — In October, the city’s top environmental official told City Council members that Chicago is “laser-focused on collaboration and bold solutions” to help homeowners battle flooding problems. Angela Tovar then pointed council members to the program. , created in Chatham to provide grants to homeowners...
Even When A Cop Is Killed With An Illegally Purchased Weapon, The Gun Store’s Name Is Kept Secret
This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. Nearly three years have passed since the 2021 murder of Chicago police officer Ella French, and police and prosecutors have...
Antisemitic Signs Left On West Ridge Neighbors’ Cars In Latest Hate Incident
WEST RIDGE — Residents of a West Ridge side street woke up Monday to find antisemitic signs on their windshields and lawns, the latest in a string of hate incidents targeting Jewish neighbors in Chicago. The antisemitic cardboard signs were discovered on cars and lawns early Monday in the...
Museum Of Science And Industry Renamed For Florida Billionaire Ken Griffin
HYDE PARK — The South Side’s famed science museum has new name: the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. The rebranding is in honor of billionaire Ken Griffin, who gave the museum $125 million in 2019. Griffin’s company, Citadel, was headquartered in Chicago for 30 years before moving to Miami, Florida, in 2022.
Pete’s Fresh Market Will Open In Ashburn Wednesday
ASHBURN — A long-awaited grocery store will open in a Southwest Side shopping district Wednesday. Pete’s Fresh Market, 3250 W. 87th St., will have its grand opening 9 a.m. Wednesday. The store announced the news on its Instagram page. Shoppers can win televisions, gift cards and a year...
$32 Million Affordable Senior Apartments Coming To Vacant South Side Land
PARK MANOR — A team of South Side developers and church leaders are working to create senior housing on long-vacant land in Park Manor. Park Manor Senior Residences, 8340 S. King Drive, was one of 13 projects selected in March by city officials and the Department of Housing to receive federal low-income housing tax credits. Developers can sell the tax credits to corporate entities to fund affordable housing projects.
Wild Onion Market, Rogers Park’s Long-Awaited Grocery Co-Op, Opening In June
ROGERS PARK — The highly anticipated grocery co-op coming to Rogers Park has an opening date. Wild Onion Market, 7007 N. Clark St., will host a grand opening June 12, the co-op’s leaders announced Monday. The store’s debut comes after a decade-plus of organizing, planning and fundraising for the co-op group, as well as the closing of a final funding gap that threatened to push back its opening.
In ‘Turret,’ Michael Shannon’s Return To Chicago Theater Offers A ‘Puzzle Box’ Of A Play
WICKER PARK — Theatergoers searching for easily tracked plotlines and a tied-up ending may be stymied by “Turret,” an enigmatic but dynamic local production that opened last week and is already selling out performances. The world premiere from A Red Orchid Theatre company is being performed through...
South Shore Peace Circles Offer A Monthly Place For Neighbors To Make Lasting Connections
SOUTH SHORE — A “peace circle” concept, which facilitates deep conversation between neighbors who will continue “bumping into each other” elsewhere in the community, is ramping up along the south lakefront. The next South Shore community peace circle is 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mama Africa’s...
GoFundMe Launched For Family Of 24-Year-Old Father Fatally Shot Friday On Far NW Side
DUNNING — The shooting of a 24-year-old father in the Irving Woods neighborhood has the quiet community on edge. Zet Rodriguez was fatally shot around 7 a.m. Friday in the 3900 block of North Pittsburgh Avenue, police said. Rodriguez was shot in the chest and was taken to Loyola University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, police said.
PHOTOS: The Pivotal Moments Of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s First Year
CHICAGO — Brandon Johnson presided over many historic and challenging moments for the city during his first year as mayor. A look back at the photos — and headlines — that shaped Johnson’s first year in office. Watch 📺. Block Club’s Madison Savedra and Quinn Myers...
A Better, Stronger, Safer Chicago? Mayor Brandon Johnson’s First Year
CHICAGO — Brandon Johnson’s go-to campaign slogan has remained his refrain throughout his first year in office as Chicago’s mayor. “Moving forward, a better, stronger, safer Chicago requires us to collaborate and work together. And that’s what we’re doing,” Johnson said during a July press conference about education resources for migrant children.
Brandon Johnson Moved Migrants Out Of Police Stations, But Long-Term Plan Is Light On Details
CHICAGO — The arrival and resettlement of migrants in Chicago has dominated headlines, City Council hearings and community meetings in the year since Brandon Johnson was sworn in as mayor. Johnson pledged “real leadership” in the Mayor’s Office by creating the role of deputy mayor immigrant, migrant and refugee...
Chicago Faces An Affordable Housing Crisis. Has Brandon Johnson Delivered On Development Promises?
CHICAGO — From the campaign trail to City Hall, Brandon Johnson championed Bring Chicago Home, a proposed tax hike on high-end property sales to fund homelessness initiatives, as the plan Chicago needed. The defeat of the referendum in March’s election was a major setback for the mayor. But as...
Mayor Brandon Johnson Rode The Trains While Campaigning. But Can He Fix The CTA?
CHICAGO — This month, West Side pastor Ira J. Acree struggled to answer basic questions about the city’s public transit system at a committee hearing following his nomination — by Mayor Brandon Johnson — to the board of the Regional Transportation Authority. Acree, an infrequent CTA...
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