Top stories: Violent deaths, pandemic problems

News of a teenager whose life was ended by bullets was Evanston Now’s most read story last month, topping other sudden deaths and the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.

Here’s a rundown of the most-read stories:

1. ETHS student shot to death in Chicago — Sept. 21 — 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.
2. Woman’s body washes up on beach — Sept. 8 — Evanston police say a woman’s body washed up on the Lake Michigan beach near Dempster Street this morning.
3. NU investigating 11 cases of off-campus bad behavior — Sept. 18 — 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.
4. Two well-known Evanston restaurants close — Sept. 14 — Two of Evanston’s more popular and visible restaurants — Unicorn Cafe and La Macchina Ristorante — have closed, leaving more vacant space downtown, and fewer choices for dining or for just a cup of coffee.
5. Two dozen new COVID cases at Northwestern — Sept. 18 — 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.
6. Layoffs expected at Evanston Township High School — Sept. 22 — Superintendent Eric Witherspoon told the District 202 Board of Education Monday night that the district will have to do “some layoffs” due to financial challenges from the coronavirus pandemic.
7. Woman, injured at Central Street Metra station, dies — Sept. 17 — 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.
8. Evanston firms startup or expand as others close — Sept. 3 — Despite the peril of the pandemic, some Evanstonians have decided to launch or expand local businesses.
9. Man-with-gun reported near Washington Elementary — Sept. 25 — Police received a man-with-gun report on the school grounds of Washington Elementary School in the 1600 block of Main Street at 7:11 p.m. Wednesday.
10. NU president apologizes for late shift of fall plans — Sept. 1 — This is how the President of Northwestern University began his comments on a noontime webinar: “I am Morton Schapiro. I’m the president. If you’re angry, blame me.”