Evanston Now readers faced a raft of bad news last month — two homicides, a lakefront drowning, the closing of a long-time restaurant and a potential threat to the future of commuter rail service.
Here’s a rundown of the stories readers read most:
- Judge says railroad can drop Evanston commuter service — Sept. 24 — It’s the latest twist in a dispute between Union Pacific and Metra about who should operate the trains — and at what cost.
- Man shot to death in home on Dodge — Sept. 5 — Victim was a man in his early 20s. Police say several suspects fled the scene. (Police later charged a suspect in the case.)
- Long-time Evanston restaurant to close next month — Sept. 15 — Prairie Joe’s owner says he needs more family time.
- One dead, one hospitalized after violence on Wesley — Sept. 26 — Shooting victim — from Naperville — has died. Stabbing victim — from Chicago — is hospitalized.
- Body of missing swimmer recovered — Sept. 18 — 20-year-old man’s body was located by firefighters some eight hours after he’d gone missing in heavy waves near the Church Street boat ramp.
- D65 union blasts ‘toxic work environment’ in schools — Sept. 27 — Union says teachers face an increasing workload and haven’t been included in meetings of the medical advisory board helping set pandemic-related policies.
- Developer bullish on future of downtown Evanston — Sept. 1 — Optimistic about finding tenants for the vacant spaces in Church Street Plaza.
- Neighbors review plans for high-tech office building — Sept. 15 — Developer says there is high demand for the lab space the building would provide for emerging companies.
- Burglars force way into 2 restaurants on Main — Sept. 7 — They hit Reprise Coffee Roasters Friday night, and Trattoria DOC Restaurant Sunday night.
- Three rescued from Lake Michigan — Sept. 18 — Evanston fire crews report rescuing three people from Lake Michigan off Clark Street beach early Saturday afternoon.