Evanston aldermen Saturday used slightly enhanced revenue projections from city staff as the basis for restoring a planned 10 percent cut in mental health funding, but they’re still debating whether to increase property taxes the 6.8 percent called for in City Manager Julia Carroll’s budget. Details from the Daily Northwestern.
Posted inBusiness
Retired Evanston firefighter dies
Harold Cowell, a former Evanston firefighter with a passion for local history, has died at age 80. More from the Chicago Sun-Times.
Posted inPublic Safety
Vigil held for murdered Evanston woman
Two months after she was killed, friends and neighbors of Linda Twyman held a candlelight vigil last night outside her apartment in hopes the event might help police turn up new leads in the case. Details from the Chicago Tribune.
Posted inGovernment, Real Estate
Security deposit interest rate rises
The interest rate Evanston landlords must pay tenants on security deposits rises to 1.71 percent this year, compared to 1.01 percent in 2005. Paula Haynes of the city’s Human Relations Commission says the city’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance requires landlords to hold security deposits in a federally-insured, interest-bearing account in a bank, savings and […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Fingerprint leads to charges in Dominick’s holdup
Evanston police say a fingerprint left on a holdup note has led to charges against a suspect in the armed robbery last Sept. 12 of the Dominick’s Food Store at 2748 Green Bay Road. Deputy Chief Joseph Bellino said the state crime lab matched the fingerprint to prints on file for David Leroy Lee, 41, […]
Posted inGovernment, Wellness
Yummy or yucky? Restaurant inspection scores revealed
The Daily Northwestern dug into Evanston Health Department restaurant inspection reports and found some mixed news about local eateries.
Posted inPublic Safety
Hot iPods on Howard
Three thieves used a pry bar to break into a locked case at the Target store at 2209 Howard St. about 2:20 p.m. yesterday and make off with 17 iPod music players. Today’s Evanston police Crime Bulletin has a description of the two men and a woman police are looking for.
Posted inEducation
ETHS sees fewer students in its future
Based on current enrollment in Evanston’s elementary schools, Evanston Township High School expects to see enrollment declines for most of the next decade. Details from the Evanston Roundtable [right column, fourth story].
Posted inReal Estate
Darrow Corners plan draws fire from neighboring developer
A plan for affordable rental housing on the northwest corner of Church Street and Darrow Avenue is drawing fire from the owner of the building on the northeast corner. Developer John Leineweber tells the Evanston Roundtable [center column, second story] that neighbors would rather see an owner-occupied project.
Posted inEducation, Government
City’s finance director heads to school
Evanston Finance Director William Stafford is leaving to take a job heading up financial operations for Evanston Township High School. Details from the Evanston Roundtable [right column] and the Evanston Review.
Posted inGovernment, Real Estate
Mayor opposes property tax hike
Mayor Lorraine Morton says she believes the City Council should trim the city budget, rather than approve a nearly 7 percent increase in property taxes. A report from the Evanston Review, and the paper’s editorial endorsing the mayor’s view.
Posted inEducation
Bilingual plan adopted for middle schools
The District 65 school board has voted not to extend its two-way immersion Spanish-English program to its middle schools. The Evanston Review says the schools instead will offer a team-teaching plan to most students with limited English proficiency.
Posted inPublic Safety
Two arrested in beating of Berwyn man on Howard Street
Evanston Police arrested two Chicago men last night at the Jewel Food Store at 2485 Howard St. after a 37-year-old Berwyn man told officers the two got out of a car and began to punch and kick him. Evanston Police arrested two Chicago men last night at the Jewel Food Store at 2485 Howard St. […]
Posted inGovernment
Residents find fault with proposed strategic plan
Evanston residents last night offered a sharp critique of the proposed strategic plan the City Council is scheduled to adopt next month. At a community meeting at Evanston Hospital, John Fuller of the Evanston NAACP said the plan needs to make stronger provisions to encourage development of affordable housing. “If we wait for five or […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Cops seek NU dorm intruder
Campus police at Northwestern University are investigating a series of incidents in which a man entered the Evanston campus dorm rooms of sleeping female students. Stories from the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Northwestern.
Posted inGovernment
Evanston lawmaker calls for leasing out the tollway
Illinois Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), is suggesting the state lease the Illinois Tollway to a private firm to raise money for school construction projects. That in the wake of the apparent failure of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s plan to use keno games to raise the bucks. Details from the Chicago Tribune. Related link: Schoenberg press release