Local News

Four UIC researchers recognized as AAAS fellows

The American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, recognizes individuals as AAAS fellows for their advances of science applications that are regarded as scientifically or socially distinguished. Of the 443 fellows this year, four were awarded to researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Englewood High School Remains Open With No Students

This fall, Chicago Public Schools opened Englewood STEM High School to replace four nearby high schools including John Hope College Prep High School, which currently has no students enrolled.

Tyler Perry Headlines T.D. Jakes’ International Leadership Summit

Tyler Perry will be a headline speaker at T.D. Jakes’ International Leadership Summit next spring, a conference for visionaries, entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and leaders to discover how to sharpen their intellectual curiosity to become intentional, game-changing leaders.

25th Annual ZooLights Events and Activities At Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo’s 25th annual ZooLights, presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ, is a Chicago holiday tradition that helps keep Lincoln Park Zoo free and open 365 days a year. In addition to the ongoing light displays, guests can attend several special events throughout the season: including BrewLights (Dec. 12), Chris White Trio Tribute to “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (Dec. 15), Breakfast with Santa (Dec.15) and Zoo Year’s Eve (Dec. 31).

Community Activist Needs Help Burying White Sox Fan

Aft er taking a lifelong Chicago White Sox fan to his first ball game at Guarantee Rate Field in August to celebrate his 112th birthday, Andrew Holmes now finds himself raising money to bury perhaps the oldest U.S. citizen.

ONCE HOMELESS, HYDE PARK MAN IS NOW A UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO SCHOLAR

After growing up poor in the West Englewood neighborhood, Maurice Washington said he endured homelessness and ran with a local gang long before he became a graduate student at one of the top universities in the country.

PULLMAN PROJECT EXPECTED TO BOOST TOURISM ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE

If all goes well with a long-term redevelopment project in Pullman, organizers said tourism on the Far South Side could soar. Upon completion, the Positioning Pullman 2.0 project, which stretches along Cottage Grove Avenue from 111th to 103rd streets, will feature a visitor center, hotel, pedestrian walkways, bike trails, public space, community rooms, exhibit halls, and the historic clock tower would be renovated.

Rush, Gabbard, Moore Introduce Bill to Boost Urban Agriculture

U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) was recently joined by Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) in introducing H.R.5266, the Urban Agriculture Healthy Food and Entrepreneur Act.

Big Debates Going on with CPS Students

A little known after-school program at Chicago Public Schools not only aims to help students develop critical thinking skills, but to also support their academic, career and leadership abilities. It’s not often you hear about debate teams at urban public schools but Toinette Gunn, executive director of Chicago Debates (CD), said since taking the helm of the nonprofit in 2018, she has been working hard to change that perception.

Illinois Supreme Court strikes down social media ban for sex offenders

Illinois’ highest court ruled recently that it is unconstitutional to ban convicted sex offenders from social media sites.

Ross University School of Medicine and Oakwood University partner to increase physician diversity in the US

African Americans make up only six percent of U.S. physicians. With the goal of driving diversity among U.S. physicians, Oakwood University and Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) recently announced a new agreement to help more African Americans attend medical school.

CVS IS LATEST AUBURN GRESHAM RETAILER TO SHUT DOWN

A longtime retail tenant in Auburn Gresham will shut down come January 2020 making it the third major business to do so in the past year. BJ’s Market & Bakery at 1156 W. 79th St. closed nearly a year ago and Bank of America closed 16 Chicago branches in July including one at 7900 S. Halsted St. Now CVS Pharmacy, 7858 S. Halsted St., will close on Jan. 10 along with another CVS store at 4777 N. Milwaukee Ave. due to poor, financial performance. After both closures, CVS will have 50 stores remaining in Chicago, according to Mike DeAngelis, a spokesman for CVS Health.

HYDE PARK SHOE STORE SNAGS TOP RANKING

A black-owned shoe store in Hyde Park recently won top honors as the number one independent retail shoe store in Illinois and ranked 13 nationally.

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Will Adopt All Recommendations in Audit of Hotline

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will adopt all recommendations from an audit of the agency’s Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, and has already started efforts to address key recommendations, particularly increasing staffing and upgrading technology.

Shuttered South Side Park Could Reopen Soon

A Far South Side park that closed more than seven years ago could soon reopen for youth to use during the winter break from school.