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🌱 Chicago School Defends LGBTQ Sex Ed + Sister Jean's New Memoir

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(Patch Media)

Good morning! I'm back with your fresh edition of the Chicago Daily. If you'd like to support community news, please share this with friends, neighbors and advertisers.

In today's local coverage:

  • 🏳️‍🌈 A private school defends the dean of students, LGBTQ events after video goes viral
  • 🌳 One of the city's oldest oak trees will be removed from the Lincoln Park Zoo
  • 📚 Sister Jean is set to publish a memoir in February 2023

But first, are you in the mood for some festive holiday pop-ups? Check out these lists for bars and restaurants in Chicago: here and here.

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Rain in the morning. High: 41 Low: 36.

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) Chicago private school defends LGBTQ sex ed after right-wing viral video. Joseph Bruno, dean of students at Francis W. Parker School, was secretly recorded by an operative with Project Veritas posing as an attendee at the National Association of Independent Schools conference last week. The video captures Bruno discussing a visit by an LGBTQ health organization to the Lincoln Park school to discuss queer sexual health with high schoolers. Bruno also mentions a story time and photo-op with a drag queen. The video was edited by the right-wing organization before it was posted, and doesn't mention both events were optional.

WBEZ

2) City attracting healthy amount of investment, but not all neighborhoods are equal. Chicago has attracted a lot of investment throughout the last decade, but whether residents benefit from it largely depends on where they live. According to a study by the Urban Institute, between 2010 and 2020, mostly Black neighborhoods received a fraction of the overall investment recorded in mostly white neighborhoods. Areas such as Englewood and others on the South and West sides fared poorly.

Chicago Tribune

3) Loyola's Sister Jean, at 103, adds author to life's work, achievements. Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt will publish a memoir Feb. 28, and says looking back has provided her with reminders of valued life lessons. "Wake Up With Purpose!: What I've Learned in My First Hundred Years" chronicles the Catholic nun's service to Loyola and the church, and provides encouragement to those who may be struggling. Sister Jean became an international celebrity when Loyola made a memorable run to the NCAA Final Four in 2018.

Chicago Patch

4) Dying oak tree older than City of Chicago to be removed from Lincoln Park Zoo. One of the city's oldest trees—which predates Chicago's 1837 founding—has reached the end of its natural life cycle at an estimated 250-300 years old. The bur oak stands 45 feet tall on the zoo's south lawn. It's estimated to be about 80 percent dead, and needs to be removed given its proximity to a large sidewalk. The tree's removal is slated for the spring, likely by April 1.

Block Club Chicago

5) School of the Art Institute rescinds Ye's honorary degree. The artist and Chicago native, formerly known as Kanye West, was initially awarded an honorary doctorate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015. But after a series of antisemitic and racist remarks in recent weeks, the school decided to rescinded the degree. "Ye's actions do not align with SAIC's mission and values," school officials said. SAIC's move comes a week after a community group formed an online petition on change.org.

NBC Chicago

📌 Today in Chicago:

  • The Color Is: Renaissance Weekend at DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (9:00 AM)
  • Winter Flower Show: Snow Day! at Garfield Park Conservatory (10:00 AM)
  • "Jack Frost" Screening at Brainerd Branch Library (10:00 AM)
  • "Frozen II" Screening at McKinley Park Branch Library (10:00 AM)
  • Black Girl Magic Chicago Launch Party at Gramaphone Records (4:00 PM)
  • Dovetail Holiday Market in Lincoln Square (4:00 PM)
  • Winterglow at The Salt Shed (5:00 PM)
  • Milwaukee Avenue Art Stroll on N Milwaukee Avenue (5:00 PM)
  • Hard Country Honky Tonk with The Hoyle Brothers at Empty Bottle (5:30 PM)
  • Bill Frisell & Petra Haden In Concert at Venue SIX10 (7:30 PM)
  • Tammy McCann - Merry Christmas, Baby! at Winter's Jazz Club (7:30 PM)
  • Danila Poperechniy Comedy at Copernicus Center (8:00 PM)
  • A Mexican Christmas at St. Luke's Episcopal Church (8:00 PM)
  • Deb Talan (of The Weepies) at Old Town School of Folk Music (8:00 PM)
  • Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree O at The Green Mill (8:00 PM)
  • The Wild Feathers at City Winery (8:00 PM)
  • Son Little at Chop Shop (8:30 PM)
  • Tritonal, Coalesce Tour at Sound-Bar (10:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • Cookie recipe: ".@MindySegal has the antidote to fussy holiday cookies: a make-ahead chocolate-dipped shortbread with a you-do-you vibe. "It's not totally technical," says Segal, who owns Mindy's Bakery in Wicker Park. "You can modify" (Chicago magazine via Instagram)
  • Chef Jose Duran's recovery: "A fundraiser was launched for Jose Duran as he recovers from multiple surgeries to his face and head." (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
  • Chicago Department of Public Health job alert: "JOB OPPORTUNITY: CDPH has three Clinical Therapist III vacancies. Day-to-day responsibilities include providing therapy, overseeing clinical staff, and more. Learn more and apply online to job number 359818 by December 31" (CDPH via Instagram)
  • Bears GM Ryan Poles: "The journey to becoming the GM of the Chicago Bears began in Chestnut Hill, MA 📰: https://chgobrs.com/3Bj8sTD" (Chicago Bears via Facebook)
  • Chicago Marathon: "No lottery luck? Here's how you can still run the 2023 Chicago Marathon." (WGN-TV)

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— Nicole Cvetnic

About me: I'm a Midwesterner and very happy to call Chicagoland home. I love the outdoors—especially hiking—performing arts, photography, good food, travel and gardening. You can find me reading to my toddler, watching tv with my husband or cuddling with my special needs dog.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Daily? Contact me at chicago_il@patch.com

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