News across Cook County
Council to decide on early retirement programs for city staff
Evanston’s City Council will meet at 5:45 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers at Morton City Hall, 909 Davis St., with a packaged agenda that includes voting on whether to pursue two staff reduction programs as part of handling next year’s daunting budget deficit. City Manager…
Day one of the Evanston Folk Festival was hot (in more ways than one)
Saturday’s opening day of the 2026 Evanston Folk Fest was blessed with mostly sunny weather, but it was a bit warm — the temperature stayed in the mid-to-upper 80s throughout the day. This didn’t seem to sap energy from the performers or the audience (although your intrepid music…
Here in Evanston: More thoughts on waste transfer station
A group of concerned residents under the aegis of Environmental Justice Evanston is taking a hard look at what can be done about the solid waste transfer station at 1711 Church St. Visually, the place is easy to drive past with a glance at the trees along railroad berm on the…
Orleans Hub
Published September 13In 1893, several from Orleans County visited World’s Fair in Chicago
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian “Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 25 A small, modest notebook with a brown cover. It is easy to overlook. Its condition belies its age though, it is a surprise to open it, read the date and the first page: Sept. 4, 1893 “Left…
South Shore Line: Chicago Construction, Service Updates
The following is a service update from the South Shore Line: Chicago Metra Construction to Impact South Shore Line Service Beginning Sept. 14, 2026 South Shore Line passengers are advised that ongoing construction in downtown Chicago will begin a new phase of the expansion…
Celebrating 20 years of service at Evanston Animal Shelter
Vicky Pasenko’s work at the Evanston Animal Shelter reached a big milestone this summer: 20 years of service. The volunteer who became executive director has been instrumental in changing the culture and impact of the organization in dramatic ways, including increasing the number…
How Union Squared’s bocce league serves as hub for growing game
Every year on April 1, Heather Behm, co-owner of Detroit-style pizzeria Union Squared, posts on social media that sign-up for the bar’s spring bocce league has officially begun. Intrepid local bocce players, undeterred by the potential for April Fools’ Day shenanigans, snap into…
Evanston Folk Festival photos: Quick impressions from day one
Day one of the 2026 Evanston Folk Festival, on a sweltering Saturday afternoon and evening, proved to be another success for the festival’s formula. Dawes Park teamed with folk music fans from near and far. The third annual fest brought a strong sense of community and sonic…
City honors Afghan refugee, former interpreter for U.S. military
The city on Saturday honored Abdulhaq Sodais, an Afghan immigrant, a former interpreter for the United States military and, most recently, an Eighth Ward resident. Sodais and his wife moved to the United States in December 2025, 13 years after beginning his long asylum trek from…
Official map shows ban on parking minimums affects most of Evanston
The newly formed Northern Illinois Transit Authority Board of Directors officially released a map showing which parts of the Chicago area fall under the limits on parking minimums that took effect in June — and it includes most of Evanston. The People Over Parking Act, which was…
Sounds of the High Holidays
Michael Bloom blasts the shofar to mark the start of the Jewish New Year during the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation’s annual shofar walk through Dawes Park. Hundreds came to parade through the park, which was in preparations for this weekend’s Evanston Folk Festival. They…
GPB News
Published September 12'Wait Wait' for September 12, 2026: With Not My Job guest Leslie Jones
This week, Wait Wait is live in Chicago with host Peter Sagal, special guest Leslie Jones and panelists Negin Farsad, Peter Grosz, and Sureni Weerasekera