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Community Corner

🌱 Chicago's 'Walking Man' + Red Line Extension + HBO's 'South Side'

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Chicago.

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(Patch Media)

Good morning, Chicago! Thanks for reading Patch's five-minute guide to the headlines. In today's Daily:

  • 🚇 Committee advances plan to fund an extension of the Red Line
  • 💔 Chicago's 'Walking Man' dies months after being set on fire
  • 📺 HBO's 'South Side' is created by and featuring Chicagoans

But first, do you know this iconic Chicago symbol? It's garnered a lot of attention since the Bulls unveiled their city edition jerseys last month. See it here.

🌬️ The weather:

Increasingly windy. High: 42 Low: 37.

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) 'Walking Man' dies months after being set on fire: 'An absolute Chicago character.' Local legend Joseph Kromelis, 75, died Sunday afternoon from complications of thermal injuries. His death comes almost seven months after a man set Kromelis on fire as he slept on Lower Wabash Avenue, burning more than 50 percent of his body. The "Walking Man" was known for his wavy white hair, mustache, sharp sense of style and daylong treks around the city.

Chicago Tribune

2) Highland Park, East Garfield Park mass shooting survivors voice support for proposed assault weapon ban. The first hearing on the "Protect Illinois Communities Act" was held yesterday in Chicago by the Illinois House Judiciary Committee. Mass shooting survivors Tina Patterson of East Garfield Park, Lauren Bennett of Highland Park, and several mothers of children killed by gun violence provided testimony in support of the proposed legislation that would ban assault weapons in Illinois, better implement the state's Firearm Restraining Order law, raise the minimum age to obtain a FOID card to 21 and address illegal gun trafficking.

ABC 7

3) Artist creates work to uplift people, heal own memories of combat in Vietnam. "Dr. Charles Smith – Holding the Dream in My Hand," a new exhibition at the National Veterans Art Museum, aims to "guide the focus and attention to the African American experience." The artist, Dr. Charles Smith, a U.S. Marine wounded and evacuated from Vietnam in 1968, returned to Chicago and found his calling making artwork. He's made thousands of figures from a blend of concrete, wood pulp and rebar. The exhibition runs through June 1.

WTTW

4) City Council committee advances plan to fund extension of Red Line to 130th Street. The CTA Red Line currently stops at 95th Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway, more than five miles north of the city's southern limits. Yesterday, a City Council Finance Committee voted in favor of extending the Red Line south to 130th Street—four stops and 5.6 miles of track would be added. However, the estimated $950 million price tag has some alderman questioning how to fund the project.

CBS Chicago

5) In 'South Side,' Chicago's neighborhoods are the main characters: 'It's about letting Chicago speak for itself.' Factual depictions of neighborhoods like Englewood and Chatham add an extra level of comedic depth to a show created by and starring real-life Chicagoans. Season three of HBO's "South Side" begins with the antics and humor that drew viewers into the lives of Chicagoans on the come-up. "When everyone behind a show about Chicago is from Chicago, you have no choice but to get it right, and that bleeds into every part of the show," said co-creator Sultan Salahuddin, who grew up in South Shore and Chatham and attended Whitney Young High School.

Block Club Chicago

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📌 Today in Chicago:

  • St. Lucia: Celebrating Stories of Light at Edgebrook Branch Library (10:30 AM)
  • Catalog Holiday Marketplace at Willis Tower (11:00 AM)
  • 33rd Annual International Small Print Show & Holiday Open House at 4912 N. Western Ave. (12:00 PM)
  • Bold Byzantine Women: Empress Theodora, Anna Komnene, and St. Kassia virtual event (1:00 PM)
  • Toy Car Woodworking Workshop at Guild Row (5:00 PM)
  • Holiday Family Night with Little Miss Ann at FitzGerald's (6:00 PM)
  • Kenny Mason at Subterranean (7:00 PM)
  • The Secret History Of Chicago Music: Live Podcast with Renaldo Domino and Aaron Cohen at GMan Tavern (7:00 PM)
  • Spray Paint N' Sing at The Graff (7:00 PM)
  • Ha Ha Holidays at The Lincoln Lodge (7:00 PM)
  • Ho Ho Happy Hour at Hubbard Inn (7:00 PM)
  • Caamp with DEHD at The Vic Theatre (7:30 PM)
  • Andrew Bird's Gezelligheid at Fourth Presbyterian Church (8:00 PM)
  • Sunn O))) Shoshin Duo at Thalia Hall (8:00 PM)
  • Trivia Tuesday: Animated Edition at Sidetrack (8:00 PM)
  • A John Waters Christmas at Avondale Music Hall (8:00 PM)
  • Chicago Cellar Boys at The Green Mill (8:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • CPD wants your feedback: "The Chicago Police Department's draft general order for the Complaint and Disciplinary System is now open for public comment until December 27, 2022. You can view the full draft order and provide your feedback here" (Chicago Police Department via Facebook)
  • CTA-themed gifts: "Check out CTAGifts.com for festival inspiration and unique, CTA and Chicago-themed items you won't find anywhere else! Today's the last day to shop to ensure your gifts will arrive in time for the holidays." (Chicago Transit Authority via Facebook)
  • Flu/COVID-19 vaccination clinic: "CDPH is hosting one flu/COVID-19 vaccination clinic this weekend at Richard J. Daley College where you can also find the NEW bivalent booster. Make an appointment, or walk-ins welcome." (Chicago Department of Public Health via Facebook)
  • Chicago Park District holiday festivities: "Holiday Season in the Parks is in full swing with Santa 🎅 making stops at parks citywide! Check out the full list of holiday activities" (Chicago Park District via Facebook)
  • Chicago Public Library art contest: "Do you know a Chicago teen who's created art in the past two years and would like to share their work? Tell them about our Teen Winter Challenge! Submit art to win prizes." (Chicago Public Library via Facebook)

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I'll be back tomorrow with another update!

— 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

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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