Horton fraud trial on for October after delay attempt

The trial of former Evanston-Skokie District 65 Superintendent Devon Horton and three alleged co-conspirators facing a litany of fraud and embezzlement charges will remain on schedule to begin Oct. 21, a federal judge has ruled. Horton was indicted in October 2025, with federal prosecutors alleging the former head of D65 engaged in wire fraud, tax fraud and embezzlement,

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As urban tree shade shrinks, mortality rises

Quick summary * Study tracked association between death rates and tree canopy changes across 11 years in Chicago * Overall tree canopy per year was less important than year-to-year changes for mortality risk * South and West side neighborhoods experience hot summers, greater absolute canopy losses and higher mortality * Planting 14,000 trees per year was estimated to save 105 lives annually A new research study indicates that as trees disappear from urban neighborhoods, lives may be lost with them. Northwestern University scientists tracked death rates and fluctuations in tree canopy cover across an 11-year period in Chicago.

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State gets more control over insurance rates

Quick summary * Two new laws give the Illinois Department of Insurance more regulatory authority over homeowners and automobile insurance rates. * The legislation comes on the heels of large rate increases for Illinois consumers in recent years. * Insurance industry groups say the bills do not address the root causes of rate increases and warn they could lead to higher costs and fewer choices in the insurance market. SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday that will give the Illinois Department of Insurance authority to review and approve rate changes for homeowners and automobile policies. “It’s not asking too much to say to insurance companies, if you’re telling your customers that rate hikes are necessary, you should be able to prove why,” Pritzker said at a bill signing ceremony in Chicago.

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City Clerk Mendoza to run for mayor 

Evanston City Clerk Stephanie Mendoza entered the special election for mayor of Evanston Wednesday morning, joining a growing field of candidates seeking to fill outgoing Mayor Daniel Biss’ seat as he looks to depart for Congress later this year.  Mendoza, 33, has served as Evanston’s city clerk since 2021 and was reelected without opposition in 2025, pitching herself as a young voice to lead the city.

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New chef brings fresh energy to Homestead Room

A new executive chef at The Homestead Room in the Graduate by Hilton Evanston hotel is looking to give a fresh taste with a new menu featuring seasonal ingredients and elevated comfort foods. Veteran Chicago chef Bob Zrenner has been at the restaurant located at the Graduate Evanston hotel for the last four months.

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Police host National Night Out block party

The police department organized the block party this year.

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Evanston’s above average for new housing

For the 12 months ending in May, Evanston topped the national average for new housing permits issued. A new report by Visual Capitalist indicates that across America permits were issued to build 412 housing units for every 100,000 residents during that time period.

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Area transit cracking down on ‘un-fare’ riders

There’s a new electronic sign on the front of the PACE buses that serve Evanston and other suburbs. In addition to the bus route and destination, the signs also add the message “Fare Required.”

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Justice Dept. argues to join reparations case

U.S. attorneys Monday argued the federal government has an “unconditional right to intervene” in cases related to the Fourteenth Amendment, as they sought to join the private suit challenging Evanston’s reparations program. Attorneys representing the city last month asked U.S. District Judge John Kness reject the Justice Department’s request to join a case, filed over two years ago by six white people who claim the reparations program illegally discriminated against them.

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New digs for dogs

Here’s how far away the Dogtopia doggie day care and boarding center went to sniff out a new home: a few trees and a couple of fire hydrants. The downtown facility for pooches who have working mommies and daddies moved from its original home on Clark Monday morning, down the block and across the street to Maple, and welcomed Day One’s worth dogs at the new spot.

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YMCA ‘very close’ to men’s residence fundraising goal

Look to begin work once 80% of $22.5 million goal is met.

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ETHS student-built house moved to its permanent home

A house constructed by Evanston Township High School students was moved to its permanent home on Darrow Avenue on Monday. Construction workers loaded the first story of the home onto a truck during the morning and traveled around a mile from the ETHS parking lot to 2120 Darrow Ave. There, a crane lifted the structure and placed it on the foundation, with the process repeating for the second story in the early afternoon.

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State to force businesses to take cash

Among dozens of new statutes signed into law.

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Guitar Works on Main Street is closing

Guitar Works, a nearly half-century old Main Street store, will close permanently on Sept. 1. Owner and founder Terry Straker said the store at 709 Main St. has “not been profitable for some time and has never really recovered from the COVID-era downturn” that changed consumers’ habits.

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Evanston gets celebrity Walk of Fame

In conjunction with opening of new Northlight Theater downtown.

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Local artists targeted by online scammers

Patricia Stankovic is fed up. Stankovic, an Evanston-based author, tells Evanston Now that “As an artist, I probably spend 15 minutes of every day of my life reporting, blocking, or sending spam to junk.”

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New state program helps those who lost SNAP benefits

Quick summary * Households that lost SNAP eligibility in recent months will become eligible for a one-time $400 payment from the state beginning Aug. 1. * State lawmakers appropriated $70 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget to create the FRESH program. * About 150,000 Illinoisians were expected to lose SNAP benefits beginning May 1 because of new work requirements for the program established by Congress. A new state program took effect Saturday to provide food benefits to people who have recently become ineligible because of federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger, or FRESH, program kicked off Aug. 1 after state lawmakers appropriated $70 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget to establish a state food assistance program. The initiative allows households that lost their SNAP benefits earlier this year to receive a $400 one-time payment.

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Summer fun rain delay

Those fun outdoor summertime activities? Well, not so fast. The National Weather Service says Saturday will have rain, possible flooding and dangerous waves at Lake Michigan beaches. Today’s rain should dissipate by Sunday but there will still be high waves along the shoreline, closing beaches.

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Cutting down trees and drying out basements

Northwestern continues cleanup from Monday’s big storm.

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Law signed limiting kids’ social media access

Pritzker claims it will limit access to addictive algorithms.

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Take a look inside the new Ryan Field

On Oct. 2, Ryan Field will host its first game as Northwestern hosts Penn State after two years of construction on the new $875 million stadium on Evanston’s north side. Walking by the construction site in late July, over one thousand workers are still working on the site, with much still to do before the stadium is ready for show time.

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Police looking into package that led to bomb threat at Evanston Hospital

Owner of the package identified, police say. No arrests have been made.

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High waves to close beaches through weekend

The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazard statement warning of high waves and dangerous currents from early Saturday morning through Monday morning. Waves as high as 6 to 9 feet are expected and swimming conditions will be life threatening.

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Five-Fifths panel backs home rehab program

The Five-Fifths TIF Advisory Committee voted Thursday to recommend a proposed home rehab grant program for income-eligible residential properties within the boundaries of the TIF district. The funding would be available to homeowners whose household income is less than 80% of area median income, and multi-unit rental properties in which a majority of the tenants meet the same income limit.

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Listening session for Emerson-Jackson site Aug. 11

The first of two expected workshops to gather input on the vacant lots Emerson Street and Jackson Avenue will take place on Aug. 11, Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) said during a virtual ward meeting Thursday. It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center, 1823 Church St.

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‘Cats coach: “Why not us” as national contenders?

David Braun says Northwestern football is entering “a new era.”

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Storm cleanup continues

ComEd says fewer than 50 customers in Evanston were without power as of 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon. That’s down from around 6,000 in the hours immediately following Monday afternoon’s severe thunderstorms. The City of Evanston says several city buildings — including the Levy Center and lakefront facilities that were closed because of storm-related power failures — are back in operation.

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Some vacant NU homes appear under repair

Hearing scheduled for Thursday continued to mid-September.

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National Night Out block party

Evanston community members are invited to celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. with a block party outside of Evanston Police Department Headquarters, 1454 Elmwood Ave.  National Night Out is an annual nationwide community-building campaign that promotes public safety, community partnerships, and neighborhood camaraderie to help make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places.

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Public trees/private property

“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Truly, one of the great philosophical questions of all time.

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