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Evanston RoundTable
Evanston’s community newspaper since 1998
Good Thursday morning, Evanston.
At the most recent meeting of the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education, held March 14, members unanimously approved a new performance-based contract for Superintendent Devon Horton that extends his current terms of employment through June 30, 2026.
According to documents obtained by the RoundTable through a Freedom of Information Act request, Horton’s original contract with the district was scheduled to last three years, through June 30, 2023. The resolution adopted by the school board last week terminated that existing contract for Horton and allowed the new contract to go into effect immediately.
At a March 21 meeting of the Housing Subcommittee of the City Council’s Planning & Development Committee, some local housing activists and landlords were critical of a proposal to license rental properties, questioning whether it would be an improvement over what is now in place.
Evanston currently has a rental registration program, under which property owners pay a fee and submit a floor plan of the rental property, but participation is low.
“If you cannot even do the basics of getting people registered, how will you fairly get people licensed here in Evanston?’’ Tina Paden asked members of the subcommittee.
COVID-19 by the numbers: Ten cases were reported Tuesday, March 22, the last day the city updated case totals. The seven-day average is 12 cases per day.
From Holi spring fest to holiday lights, Evanston has a full list of special events scheduled for 2022. The City of Evanston will kick off a busy special events calendar this Saturday with Holi Fest, and ring out the year with traditional lighting ceremonies under the 2022 calendar approved by City Council.
Evanston native wins Food Network’s ‘Chopped.’ Born and raised in Evanston, chef Donna Lee founded and owns Chicago-based Brown Bag Seafood Co. She competed on the reality cooking show in an episode that aired March 15.
Residents at The Mather and Westminster Place ask for a louder voice in their communities. Seeking more housing security and ongoing quality of life, a group of Evanston residents from The Mather and Westminster Place, which residents refer to as “life-care homes,” have been organizing to support a state bill that would give them a voice on the boards of those facilities.
At This Time: Wednesday at 6:22 a.m. What Evanston looked like in the mist before sunrise at Greenwood Avenue near Hinman Street. (Photo by Richard Cahan)
To ‘the children of the world’: Glenna Goodacre’s sculpture celebrates Rotary’s battle against polio. At One Rotary Center in downtown Evanston stands a figurative sculpture by well-known artist Glenna Maxey Goodacre (1939-2020). Titled Polioplus, the sculpture was a private gift to Rotary International and dedicated by Rotary to “the children of the world.”
Les Jacobson: Gratitude large and small. The other day, RoundTable columnist and reporter Les Jacobson watched out of his second-story window as two young siblings played with bubble wands, which sparked this reflection on being thankful for those ordinary, everyday occurrences that bring joy.
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Moderna wants the FDA to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 6. On Wednesday Moderna announced plans to request an emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine designed for kids ages 6 months to 5 years old.
Chicago’s Cresco Labs to become nation’s largest weed firm with planned $2B takeover. Cresco’s bid to take over Columbia Care marks the latest high-profile acquisition affecting Illinois’ cannabis market, which has seen a wave of consolidation since the drug was fully legalized at the start of 2020, the Sun-Times reports.
Jackson heading for likely confirmation despite GOP darts. Though Senate approval for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson seems all but sure – Democrats are aiming for a vote before Easter – Republicans kept trying to chip away at her record on Wednesday.
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Duncan Agnew covers Evanston public schools, affordable housing, City Hall and more for the RoundTable. He also writes long-form investigations, features and the morning email newsletter three times a… More by Duncan Agnew
The Evanston RoundTable is the community’s leading source of news about local government, schools, civic and artistic activities, and other important issues facing our city. We seek to foster civic engagement and empower people to address complex issues facing our diverse community, promoting a better understanding and appreciation of people of all races, ethnicities, and income levels.
Evanston Roundtable
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Evanston, Illinois 60201
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