Bill Smith, Author at Evanston Now

Bill Smith

Publisher

Evanston Now publisher Bill Smith was born and raised in Evanston and received bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from Northwestern University. He also holds a juris doctor degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.

He was a broadcast news reporter, producer and anchor in Detroit and other cities. He taught journalism at Michigan State and Penn State and at Northeastern University in Boston.

He started working in online media in 1994, beginning with Ziff-Davis Publishing's pioneering project called Interchange and continuing with the Boston-based search engine company Lycos.

He returned to Evanston in 2005 and launched Evanston Now in 2006. He and his wife Jan share their home with a cat named Max.

Activists repeat demand for 75% cut in police funding

Members of Evanston Fight for Black Lives called for a massive redirection of funds away from the Evanston Police Department at a 7th Ward meeting Tuesday evening. Pointing to a

By Bill Smith posted 46 mins ago

Four more COVID cases here, Wisconsin on quarantine list

Evanston health officials reported four new COVID-19 cases among city residents today. Statewide there were 1,531 new cases. Positive rate now more than four times higher in Wisconsin than Illinois.

By Bill Smith posted 20 hours ago

Aldermen ask staff to review mansion proposals

Evanston aldermen gave few indications of which of four proposals for reuse of the Harley Clarke mansion they favor during a nearly four hour meeting Monday night.

By Bill Smith on September 22, 2020 - 10:51

ETHS student shot to death in Chicago

A 17-year-old Evanston Township High School Student was shot to death early this morning in the West Ridge neighborhood on Chicago's north side. Police say Arturo Munoz, a senior at

By Bill Smith on September 21, 2020 - 17:42

Eight new COVID-19 cases in Evanston, 1,477 across state

Evanston health officials reported eight new COVID-19 cases among city residents today. Statewide there were 1,477 new cases. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported results of 38,234 tests, down

By Bill Smith on September 21, 2020 - 15:21

Three new COVID-19 cases in Evanston, 1,402 across Illinois

Evanston health officials reported three new COVID-19 cases among city residents today. Statewide there were 1,402 new cases.

By Bill Smith on September 20, 2020 - 15:33

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Harley Clarke concepts to get Council review

Aldermen are scheduled to finally receive public presentations Monday night from four groups seeking to lease the Harley Clarke mansion on the Evanston lakefront.

By Bill Smith on September 20, 2020 - 10:47

Eight new COVID-19 cases in Evanston, state hits testing record

Evanston health officials reported eight new COVID-19 cases among city residents today while the state reported a new one day record for coronavirus testing.

By Bill Smith on September 19, 2020 - 15:06

Three new COVID-19 cases in Evanston, 2,120 across state

Evanston health officials reported three new COVID-19 cases among city residents today while the state reported 2,120 cases across Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported what apparently is

By Bill Smith on September 18, 2020 - 15:39

Two dozen new COVID cases at Northwestern

Northwestern University this afternoon reported identifying two dozen more COVID-19 cases in the past week affecting 20 students, two faculty and two staff members. That's up from 19 cases reported

By Bill Smith on September 18, 2020 - 15:06

NU investigating 11 cases of off-campus bad behavior

Northwestern University officials told 5th Ward residents Thursday evening that they're investigating 11 reports of off-campus incidents of student behavior that violates pandemic-induced social distancing and related rules. Dave Davis,

By Bill Smith on September 18, 2020 - 10:09

11 new COVID-19 cases in Evanston, 2,056 statewide

Coronavirus cases in Evanston jumped today, to the highest number in just under a week.

By Bill Smith on September 17, 2020 - 15:17

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Woman, injured at Central Street Metra station, dies

Evanston Fire Chief Brian Scott says fire crews transported a woman to Evanston Hospital about 1:30 this afternoon from the Central Street Metra Station. Update 4:30 p.m.: Deputy Fire Chief

By Bill Smith on September 17, 2020 - 14:20

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City plans ‘environmental justice’ database

Evanston aldermen this week adopted a resolution that calls for city staff to develop a geographic information system database identifying what the resolution calls "environmental justice areas." Those are described

By Bill Smith on September 17, 2020 - 09:51

Four new COVID-19 cases in Evanston, nearly 2K statewide

Evanston health officials reported four new COVID-19 cases among city residents today while the state reported 1.941 more. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported test results for 52,311 Illinois

By Bill Smith on September 16, 2020 - 15:14

Five new COVID-19 case in Evanston, 1,466 across state

Evanston health officials reported five new COVID-19 cases today while 1,466 new cases were diagnosed across Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported test results for 39,031 people for

By Bill Smith on September 15, 2020 - 15:36