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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a law prohibiting law enforcement from ticketing students at schools, addressing racial disparities in disciplinary actions. The law requires schools to establish agreements with local police by 2026, detailing the role of school resource officers and data collection on student referrals to law enforcement.
Ford City Mall faces redevelopment into an industrial park, prompting community backlash. Local residents fear pollution and traffic issues, leading to a petition against the plan, which has gathered 645 signatures. The mall, once thriving, now struggles with a 54% vacancy rate.
Chicago's Avondale neighborhood launches its inaugural Art & Coffee crawl, promoting local cafes and artists from August 28 to September 1. Participants pay $10 for a passport booklet, which offers discounts and enters them into a raffle for local goods. Meanwhile, city leaders respond to recent violence at a West Side street party by issuing a cease-and-desist order to its organizer.
Bam Bam, a 14-year-old dachshund and service dog for Angel Santiago, was reunited with his owner after being stolen for over two months. Despite showing signs of neglect, including enlarged heart and liver, Bam Bam is receiving medical care funded by a $20,000 fundraiser. Santiago plans to use leftover funds to assist other blind individuals with navigation tools.
City leaders issued a cease-and-desist order to TikTok promoter JRoy after a West Side street party resulted in the fatal shootings of two young people. Officials emphasized the need for accountability while balancing the right to gather and public safety in the community.
Riot Fest founder Mike Petryshyn secured John Stamos’ participation in the festival by getting a tattoo of the actor's name and a melting stick of butter on his leg. Stamos will perform with the Beach Boys at the event, which runs from September 19-21, 2025. Other demands from Stamos include hosting a lookalike contest and creating a Greek-style pizza named after him.
Avondale kicks off its inaugural Art & Coffee crawl Monday, celebrating local cafes and artists. Participants can enjoy a 10% discount at ten cafes while viewing and purchasing artwork, with proceeds supporting the Avondale Neighborhood Association. A $10 ticket grants access to the event and entry into a raffle for local goods.
Illinois transportation officials proposed five redesign plans to enhance safety and connectivity at the 111th Street interchange on Interstate 94 in Pullman and South Deering. The proposals aim to address significant safety concerns, with nearly 1,500 crashes reported between 2018 and 2022. Input from the community is encouraged to refine these plans before the study concludes in late 2027.
Jon Silver's independent comedy "The Premiere" screens Monday and Tuesday at Mary Bartelme Park as part of Chicago Onscreen's local film series. The film follows a local filmmaker facing multiple challenges before the premiere of his first feature at the Music Box Theatre. Silver aims to highlight Chicago's vibrant film community and the hurdles of movie exhibition.
A gas station in Humboldt Park sold a Lucky Day Lotto ticket worth $400,000, but the winner has not yet claimed their prize. The ticket was purchased at Division Mobil, and the store manager expressed hope that the winner is a regular customer. The winner has one year to claim the prize by making an appointment with the Illinois Lottery.