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🌱 City Launches Safety App + Half Of Chicago Workers Back In Office

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

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(Patch Media)

Good morning! This is my last day hosting the Chicago Daily. Someone new will take over next week. The last six months have been an absolute pleasure and I will miss curating this newsletter for you.

Now, on to the local news:

  • 🃏 The Illinois Gaming Board approved the Medinah Temple as a temporary casino site.
  • 💻 According to new data, half of Chicago workers are now back in the office.
  • 🍺 Business is booming at Black-owned Moor's Brewing

⛅ The weather:

Partly sunny. High: 35 Low: 23.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Chicago who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) A new app launched by Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications aims to keep residents safe and informed by providing urgent information in one place. The app includes severe weather updates, special events, Chicago police beat maps, district information and the "CHI Safe Walk" feature, which gives users the option to share their location while traveling throughout the city. (NBC 5)

2) The Illinois Gaming Board approved the Medinah Temple in River North as a temporary site for the new Bally's casino. State regulators are still evaluating the overall casino proposal, but regulators gave the go-ahead to entities controlled by the owner of the Medinah Temple. The temporary casino could be open for a maximum of three years. (WGN 9)

3) Black-owned Moor's Brewing, co-founded by Jamhal Johnson and Damon Patton, is booming. Opening the business was their way of bringing representation to a "monolithic" craft beer industry. "Only 1% of African Americans own a business that looks like ours in the nation," Patton said. The beer is currently available at Mariano's, Jewel, Whole Foods, Binny's and Kimbark Beverage Shoppe in Hyde Park. (ABC 7)

4) Dakotah Earley, who was critically wounded in a violent Lincoln Park robbery last May, sued the Chicago Police Department over its non-pursuit policy. The lawsuit claims changes to the policy hampered the ability of officers to do their jobs, and that Earley would not have been shot and robbed had police not called off pursuit of the gunman an hour before. (Block Club Chicago)

5) Data from Kastle security systems show that for the first time since the pandemic began, half of Chicago workers are back in the office, but the return is slow and few come in on Fridays. "Mondays and Fridays are regarded by everyone from C-suite leaders to Uber drivers as the slowest days." (Chicago Sun-Times)

📌 Today in Chicago:

  • Yoga for Adults at West Lawn Branch Library (9:30 AM)
  • AARP Foundation Free Tax Preparation at McKinley Park Branch Library (10:00 AM)
  • Galentine's Day Social Hour at The Bar at Hotel Zachary (6:00 PM)
  • The Bitter Ball for Broken Hearts at Foundation Room Chicago (6:00 PM)
  • Valentine's Taste-Around at Eataly (6:00 PM)
  • Galentines + Palentines Pop-Up Dinner at Big Delicious Planet (6:30 PM)
  • Pat McGee with Alice Peacock & Chris Trapper - Songwriters in the Round at City Winery (8:00 PM)
  • Fly Anakin ft. Fly Siifu with DJ Stacy at Subterranean (8:00 PM)
  • Kaash Paige, Amari Noelle at Lincoln Hall (8:00 PM)
  • Bangali Meye at Steppenwolf Theatre (8:00 PM)
  • Shani Conducts Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances at Chicago Symphony Orchestra (8:00 PM)
  • Club 90s Presents: The Weeknd Night at House of Blues (9:00 PM)
  • An Evening with Lotus at Park West (9:00 PM)
  • Rene Avila's Afro~Cuban~Quintet at Dorian's (9:00 PM)
  • Electric Feel: An Indie Dance Party! at Beauty Bar (9:00 PM)
  • Ivy Lab at Concord Music Hall (10:00 PM)
  • Funtcase at Sound-Bar (10:00 PM)
  • Rhythm & Booze: Luv Me? at The Promontory (10:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • Want to partner up?: "The best places to meet singles in Chicago. Find love by volunteering at an animal shelter, taking a standup comedy class or going bouldering." (TimeOut Chicago)
  • Animal Magnetism: "The party where paws outshine pumps is back— it's Animal Magnetism! Secure your ticket now for a night of drinks, entertainment, and dancing with your pup by your side! Just imagine how psyched your four-legged bff will be when they think you're all dressed up to leave for the night and then they realize they're coming with!" (PAWS Chicago via Facebook)
  • Vigil honoring Tyre Nichols: "Attendees are encouraged to wear sunset colors to honor Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old who loved skateboarding and sunsets." (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
  • Deep dish: "Historian has definitive answer on who was the first to serve deep dish pizza in Chicago." (CBS Chicago)
  • Calling all Chicago artists: "The Chicago Park District is seeking a community-oriented, socially-engaged creative who would like to pursue a deep, embedded engagement at Hamilton Park Cultural Center this year. Englewood-based artists highly encouraged to apply! The residency will start in Spring and run through the end of this year and include $20,000 in artist fees and material expenses. Applications are due through Submittable by March 3rd." (Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events via Facebook)
  • Netflix's "Wednesday" dance remade: "Chicago Red Stars recreate 'Wednesday' dance to announce 2023 schedule." (CBS Chicago)
  • History of Black martial arts: "Learn about the history of Black martial arts at the DuSable! See demonstrations from masters and learn how Black martial arts have intertwined with hip-hop, film and Black culture." (The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center via Facebook)
  • Super Bowl attendees: "Six lucky Chicago West Side students are headed to Super Bowl LVII." (CBS Chicago)

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Thank you so much for reading!

— 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 our rescue dog.

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

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