SHAREBlack Lives Matter Chicago warned Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday that the renewed civil unrest that’s gripped the city throughout the summer won’t end until “the safety and well-being of our communities is finally prioritized.”“The mayor clearly has not learned anything since May, and she would be wise to understand that the people will keep rising up until the [Chicago Police Department] is abolished and our Black communities are fully invested in,” the group said in a statement. Later Monday, about 200 protesters gathered outside a police station in the South Loop to voice their...…SHAREBlack Lives Matter Chicago warned Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday that the renewed civil unrest that’s gripped the city throughout the summer won’t end until “the safety and well-being of our communities is finally prioritized.”“The mayor clearly has not learned anything since May, and she would be wise to understand that the people will keep rising up until the [Chicago Police Department] is abolished and our Black communities are fully invested in,” the group said in a statement. Later Monday, about 200 protesters gathered outside a police station in the South Loop to voice their...WW…

SHARERidership during the city’s second e-scooter pilot program was down 22% compared with last year’s four-month trial, the city said Friday.This year’s pilot program ends Saturday. The three participating e-scooter vendors — Bird, Lime and Spin — provided about 640,000 trips since the program launched Aug. 12, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.During the initial four-month pilot that ran from June 15 to Oct. 15 last year, riders logged 821,000 trips in an area one-quarter of the size and had one-quarter of the devices of the 2020 pilot.The average trip length in 2020...…SHARERidership during the city’s second e-scooter pilot program was down 22% compared with last year’s four-month trial, the city said Friday.This year’s pilot program ends Saturday. The three participating e-scooter vendors — Bird, Lime and Spin — provided about 640,000 trips since the program launched Aug. 12, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation.During the initial four-month pilot that ran from June 15 to Oct. 15 last year, riders logged 821,000 trips in an area one-quarter of the size and had one-quarter of the devices of the 2020 pilot.The average trip length in 2020...WW…

SHAREFour expressway ramps overhauled as part of the Jane Byrne Interchange project are set to reopen Tuesday, weather permitting.The ramps being reopened:The announcementwas made by Illinois Department of Transportation officials during a virtual news conference Friday.“This is the first time in a few years we’ve had all of those movements open,” said Steve Travia, project implementation engineer.Chief among the project’s remaining tasks: completing work on the roadways of the Kennedy and Dan Ryan that carry traffic through the downtown interchange.Two bridges at Adams Street and Jackson...…SHAREFour expressway ramps overhauled as part of the Jane Byrne Interchange project are set to reopen Tuesday, weather permitting.The ramps being reopened:The announcementwas made by Illinois Department of Transportation officials during a virtual news conference Friday.“This is the first time in a few years we’ve had all of those movements open,” said Steve Travia, project implementation engineer.Chief among the project’s remaining tasks: completing work on the roadways of the Kennedy and Dan Ryan that carry traffic through the downtown interchange.Two bridges at Adams Street and Jackson...WW…

SHAREA banner expressing support for Black Lives Matter was vandalized outside an Evanston church over the weekend.A vandal apparently used a razor blade to cut the word BLACK from a banner outside theNorthminster Presbyterian Church that read “BLACK LIVES MATTER To God and To Us.”It happened sometime overnight from Saturday into Sunday, according to Senior Pastor Michael D. Kirby.As word spread in the neighborhood Sunday morning, support began to pour in.Supportive messages written in chalk appeared on sidewalks outside the church. People took their Black Lives Matter yard signs and put...…SHAREA banner expressing support for Black Lives Matter was vandalized outside an Evanston church over the weekend.A vandal apparently used a razor blade to cut the word BLACK from a banner outside theNorthminster Presbyterian Church that read “BLACK LIVES MATTER To God and To Us.”It happened sometime overnight from Saturday into Sunday, according to Senior Pastor Michael D. Kirby.As word spread in the neighborhood Sunday morning, support began to pour in.Supportive messages written in chalk appeared on sidewalks outside the church. People took their Black Lives Matter yard signs and put...WW…

SHAREAfter eliminating overdue fees late last year, Chicago Public Library employees saw something that made everyone smile: a jump in the return of books overdue for six months or more.About 1,650 long-overdue books were returned in each of the five months after fines were eliminated Oct. 1, 2019. Before then, about 900 overdue books were returned each month, according to the library.The library system typically collected between $800,000 and $900,000 a year in late fees. That money is gone, but library official said what’s been gained is more important: valuable books and patrons who...…SHAREAfter eliminating overdue fees late last year, Chicago Public Library employees saw something that made everyone smile: a jump in the return of books overdue for six months or more.About 1,650 long-overdue books were returned in each of the five months after fines were eliminated Oct. 1, 2019. Before then, about 900 overdue books were returned each month, according to the library.The library system typically collected between $800,000 and $900,000 a year in late fees. That money is gone, but library official said what’s been gained is more important: valuable books and patrons who...WW…

SHAREThe Illinois COVID-19 death toll for the year crept past 10,000 on Thursday — a “terrible milestone” that Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned could lead to further statewide restrictions to stem the spread of the surging virus.“Each day we are losing more and more of our neighbors to this virus. That’s not a trend that’s going to turn around,” Pritzker said. “It’s up to us — all of us — to do something to save the next family from tragedy. Because unfortunately, it could easily be yours.”Pritzker then led a moment of silence for those who have died of the disease. That includes the 97 people...…SHAREThe Illinois COVID-19 death toll for the year crept past 10,000 on Thursday — a “terrible milestone” that Gov. J.B. Pritzker warned could lead to further statewide restrictions to stem the spread of the surging virus.“Each day we are losing more and more of our neighbors to this virus. That’s not a trend that’s going to turn around,” Pritzker said. “It’s up to us — all of us — to do something to save the next family from tragedy. Because unfortunately, it could easily be yours.”Pritzker then led a moment of silence for those who have died of the disease. That includes the 97 people...WW…

SHAREFiancee Jewelry has already been hit by vandalism and looting twice, both during the summer.And now, the store is preparing for a potential round three.“We weren’t ready for the last two times we got hit,” said Maggie Massih of Fiancee, located on 31 N. Wabash Ave. “This time we’re going to make sure that we board up and protect the property.”With Election Day on Tuesday, large and small businesses downtown who fear potential vandalism and looting after the results are in plan to board up their storefronts to protect them. The governor said National Guard troops in Chicago “would be on...…SHAREFiancee Jewelry has already been hit by vandalism and looting twice, both during the summer.And now, the store is preparing for a potential round three.“We weren’t ready for the last two times we got hit,” said Maggie Massih of Fiancee, located on 31 N. Wabash Ave. “This time we’re going to make sure that we board up and protect the property.”With Election Day on Tuesday, large and small businesses downtown who fear potential vandalism and looting after the results are in plan to board up their storefronts to protect them. The governor said National Guard troops in Chicago “would be on...WW…

Filed under:The early voting site at Clark and Lake streets will be the city’s only in-person early voting location until Oct. 14.The line outside a polling place in the Loop on Thursday — the city’s first day of early voting — stretched for three blocks and was filled with eager people.“It’s show time,” said Harlene Ellin, 57, of South Loop, who fist bumped her husband, Mike Cramer, after they cast ballots.“Oh my God, it was exhilarating,” she said, describing the experience as “therapeutic.”The couple said they both voted for Democratic candidate Joe Biden.“I’ve been having terrible...…Filed under:The early voting site at Clark and Lake streets will be the city’s only in-person early voting location until Oct. 14.The line outside a polling place in the Loop on Thursday — the city’s first day of early voting — stretched for three blocks and was filled with eager people.“It’s show time,” said Harlene Ellin, 57, of South Loop, who fist bumped her husband, Mike Cramer, after they cast ballots.“Oh my God, it was exhilarating,” she said, describing the experience as “therapeutic.”The couple said they both voted for Democratic candidate Joe Biden.“I’ve been having terrible...WW…

SHAREFather Michael Pfleger and activist Ja’Mal Green called for authorities to release Adam Hollingsworth — better known as the Dread Head Cowboy — as a form of protest against kids getting shot in Chicago.“I’m with the Cowboy 100% and I think these charges need to be dropped” Pfleger, who led 5,000 people onto the Dan Ryan , told the Chicago Sun-Times in a phone call Tuesday.“I think we need to do a whole lot more disruption of shopping and traffic and business as usual until we deal with this violence.”But Tuesday night, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office approved a felony count...…SHAREFather Michael Pfleger and activist Ja’Mal Green called for authorities to release Adam Hollingsworth — better known as the Dread Head Cowboy — as a form of protest against kids getting shot in Chicago.“I’m with the Cowboy 100% and I think these charges need to be dropped” Pfleger, who led 5,000 people onto the Dan Ryan , told the Chicago Sun-Times in a phone call Tuesday.“I think we need to do a whole lot more disruption of shopping and traffic and business as usual until we deal with this violence.”But Tuesday night, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office approved a felony count...WW…

SHAREHold it.Public urination tickets fell 66% during the coronavirus pandemic, city data shows.Through mid-August of this year, 973 public urination tickets had been doled out by Chicago police, a significant decrease compared to the 2,899 handed out in the same period of time last year.The neighborhood that saw the greatest drop was Wrigleyville, where tickets fell from 105 to nine in the 60613 ZIP code — a 91% drop that’s no doubt associated with a massive reduction of beer-swilling revelers as Wrigley Field remains off limits to fans and neighboring bars, which were closed for a time,...…SHAREHold it.Public urination tickets fell 66% during the coronavirus pandemic, city data shows.Through mid-August of this year, 973 public urination tickets had been doled out by Chicago police, a significant decrease compared to the 2,899 handed out in the same period of time last year.The neighborhood that saw the greatest drop was Wrigleyville, where tickets fell from 105 to nine in the 60613 ZIP code — a 91% drop that’s no doubt associated with a massive reduction of beer-swilling revelers as Wrigley Field remains off limits to fans and neighboring bars, which were closed for a time,...WW…