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Did you stay up late watching last night’s VP debate? Pour yourself a cup of coffee and read the latest headlines from WTTW News.
Let us know what you think about this newsletter by emailing us at DailyChicagoan@wttw.com.
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Stateville Correctional Center is pictured in a file photo. (Andrew Campbell / Capitol News Illinois)
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Two years ago, a first-time visitor to Illinois Beach State Park in north suburban Zion may have questioned the park’s name and asked, "Where’s the beach?" Erosion, fuelled by increasingly stronger storms, had eaten away the shoreline, consuming up to 100 feet a year in some areas. Roads, bikes and even buildings were swallowed up by the lake.
Equally alarming was the loss of habitat for the communities of rare and endangered plants and animals that had long thrived in this unique landscape — Illinois’ last remaining stretch of natural shoreline, which encompasses dunes, woodlands and wetlands.
Both the ecosystem and the region’s tourism economy were in danger of vanishing, prompting the state to step in with a $73 million shoreline stabilization project, funded through 2019’s Rebuild Illinois legislation.
Here's what the $73 million project accomplished:
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Twenty-two offshore breakwater structures, totaling more than 300,000 tons of stone, now protect 2.2 miles of shoreline by reducing wave energy.
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Another 35,000 truckloads of sand — 430,000 cubic yards — were hauled in to replenish, or “nourish,” the park’s beaches.
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The breakwaters are also designed to enhance the surrounding ecosystems by providing under- and over-water habitat elements for native species.
A quote from Gov. Pritzker:
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File photo of Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. (Alexandre Fagundes /iStock)
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A new group and database will take combating organized retail theft in the state to the next level.
What’s organized retail theft?
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The 2023 law Illinois Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act broadly characterizes the crime as when someone knowingly steals at least $300 in merchandise from one or more stores with the intent of reselling it.
The database:
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An online “crime intelligence” platform called Auror is a real-time repository that allows users to see “tactics — what they’re stealing, how they’re stealing it. Typically, they (retail thieves) move on a route, so you can track where they’ve been and where they might be going.”
The group:
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The Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association (ILORCA), a new group under the retail association’s umbrella, was formed to coordinate police, prosecutors, stores’ theft prevention teams and other stakeholders, and will work to get the word out about Auror.
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Multimedia artist Ebony G. Patterson (left) and fiction writer Ling Ma (right) are among 22 scientists, artists and scholars who have been awarded the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation fellowship. (Courtesy of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation)
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The 2024 MacArthur Fellows were just announced and two Chicagoans made the cut with multimedia artist Ebony G. Patterson and fiction writer Ling Ma receiving the call.
The MacArthur Foundation describes Patterson’s tapestry-like mixed medium pieces as “visually dazzling works that explore themes of visibility, beauty, race, class, violence, and regeneration.” Ma writes fiction and works as an assistant professor at the University of Chicago. Her debut novel, “Severance,” is one of the best novels this newsletter producer has ever read.
The fellows get $800,000 in unrestricted grants over a five-year period. No one may apply for a MacArthur Fellowship; the candidates are screened and selected without their knowledge
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Learn more about advertising & sponsorship with WTTW. |
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Also From WTTW News: |
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Chicago was named the “best big city” by Conde Nast Traveler for the eighth year in a row. Anna Wintour, your case of Old Style is in the mail.
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American Blues Theater sets the bar high for the Halloween season, delivering a tightly focused fever dream version of Stephen King’s novel “Misery,” writes Marc Vitali.
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Back in the Day: October 2, 2009 - Chicago Loses 2016 Olympic Bid
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It was a strange time for Illinois and Chicago in 2009. Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached, local artist Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift at the VMAs and it was the first full year under Mayor Richard M. Daley’s controversial parking meter deal. Still, there was palpable excitement that Chicago could win a bid to host the 2016 Olympics. Many, like newly-elected President Barack Obama, held out hope and campaigned for the city to land the marquee event (others vehemently opposed it). On this day 15 years ago, whatever citywide enthusiasm was extinguished as Chicago officially lost out on becoming a host city. As soon as voting started from the Olympic committee, the city was only able to snag 18 of 94 votes and received a first-round exit from contention. Rio De Janeiro in Brazil won the final tally.
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Via Chicago (Josh Terry’s concert recommendations)
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Verböten, left to right: Tracey Bradford, John Carroll, Chris Kean and Jason Narducy. (Nathan Keay)
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Each Wednesday, Via Chicago presents five must-see shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more that highlight the city’s vibrant live music scene. Click here for the full list.
Friday, Oct. 4 and Saturday, Oct. 5:
Grateful Shred at Outset. Tickets.
You read that right: this is not the original group but a Grateful Dead cover band full of excellent players.
Saturday, Oct. 5:
The Cactus Blossoms, Lou Hazel at Schubas. Tickets.
Shades of Everly Brothers harmonies, classic country and ‘70s Laurel Canyon folk at the small Lakeview club.
Verböten, Uniflora at Evanston SPACE. Tickets.
A local band composed of teenagers opens for another local band playing their first club show since they were teenagers 41 years ago.
Monday, Oct. 7:
Nilüfer Yanya, Angélica Garcia, Lutalo at Metro. Tickets.
The rising U.K. indie rock artist celebrates a new album. Get there early for Vermont’s Lutalo.
Tuesday, Oct. 8:
Kate Bollinger, Sharp Pins at Lincoln Hall. Tickets.
Fans of Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Jackson Browne will love Kate Bollinger’s full-length debut “Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind”
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How are you feeling about the first four weeks of the Chicago Bears' season? Tell us why you're optimistic or ready to give up
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM |
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
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