Community Corner
🌱 CTA Holiday Train Returns Friday + Loop Parking Garage Thefts
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Chicago.
I'm back with your fresh edition of the Chicago Daily! If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please share it with friends, neighbors and advertisers. Now, on to your local coverage:
- 🚗 CPD warns of Loop parking garage vehicle thefts
- 🌿 Zoning board approves weed dispensary in old Rainforest Cafe
- 🚄 CTA holiday train returns Friday
The weather:
Breezy in the morning; sunny. High: 45 Low: 31.
Top 5 stories in Chicago:
1) CTA will give new hires $1,000 signing bonus in hopes of filling 'severe workforce shortage.' In the latest bid to fix service problems plaguing the Chicago Transit Authority, transit agency leaders hope higher salaries, hiring bonuses and raises for staying on the job will entice needed employees. CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. said reliability issues are due to a "severe workforce shortage" of 700 bus drivers and 200 train operators. The transit agency estimates the total cost of the initiative to be about $80 million over two years.
2) Chicago police warn of thieves stealing vehicles from Loop parking garages. Chicago police are asking drivers to be vigilant following at least 10 instances in which vehicles were stolen from parking garages in the Loop. The thieves targeted unattended vehicles and smashed the driver's or passenger's side windows before entering the vehicles and driving away. The incidents were reported between Oct. 17 and Nov. 18.
3) CTA holiday train, bus to return after Thanksgiving for 31st annual festive rides. The Chicago Transit Authority's Allstate Holiday Train returns Friday for its 31st year of operation, along with the CTA's Allstate Holiday Bus and Metra's own holiday train. The six-car train will serve all eight CTA rail lines, and will be decorated with holiday scenes, festive LED signs and sparkling lights outlining the shape of the train and windows.
4) Old Rainforest Cafe site in River North gets OK from Chicago zoning board for weed dispensary. Plans for a cannabis dispensary at the former Rainforest Cafe in River North received a green light Saturday from the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals. The ruling followed a four-hour hearing in which nearby resident Robert Brown asked the board to reject the dispensary's application, questioning Progressive Treatment Solutions' role in its partnership with BioPharm. Brown's dismissal was denied.
5) Burger King testing new Fiery Nuggets in Chicago. Rumor has it Burger King is testing its new Fiery Nuggets in the Chicago area. White chicken meat is coated in crispy homestyle breading and doused with triple pepper spicy glaze—similar to a Nashville Hot sauce but milder. It costs $2.49 for eight nuggets, the same as a standard order of the brand's chicken nuggets.
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Today in Chicago:
- Versiti Blood Drive at Eris Brewery and Cider House (11:00 AM)
- Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo (4:30 PM)
- Music and Sports Trivia Night at Reggies (6:00 PM)
- CSO Musicnow: Common Ground at Chicago Symphony Orchestra (7:00 PM)
- Secrets with Palisade & Archtypes Collide at Bottom Lounge (7:00 PM)
- The Chicago Moth Storyslam at Lincoln Hall (7:00 PM)
- Brandon Good with John Duty at Reggies (7:00 PM)
- Rose City Band, Rosali, David Nance Group at Empty Bottle (7:30 PM)
- Tone Smith with Jon Vinyl at City Winery (8:00 PM)
- Alexis Lombre Quartet at Jazz Showcase (8:00 PM)
- Kyle Kinane Presents: Kinanesgiving with Special Guests at Thalia Hall (8:30 PM)
- Suffering at Punch House (9:00 PM)
Social chatter:
- Mike Ditka-themed bachelor party: My brother is in Atlanta this weekend for a bachelor party and they're going to the Bears-Falcons game today like this. Incredible." (@JarydWilson via Twitter)
- Snow monkeys: "I'll be there for you 🎶Japanese macaques, known colloquially as snow monkeys, huddle together to share body heat with individuals with whom they have a social bond. Sometimes these huddles can get quite large, with 5 or more monkeys inv..." (Lincoln Park Zoo via Facebook)
- Surprise visit by dad: "A most special and heart-warming surprise for Madison, a kindergartener at St. Daniel the Prophet School, courtesy of her daddy. Welcome home, Sergeant Dudycha! :-)" (Southwest Chicago Post via Facebook)
- The Digs expands: "The ceramics studio is expanding to offer more space for artists, classes and community events." (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
- Family fort building: "The one-hour show turns the stage into a playspace for kids and adults to have fun." (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!
Events:
- Independents Day Author Showcase (November 26)
- Chicago Artisan Market in Ravenswood - Sat-Sun, Nov 26-27 (November 26)
- Add your event
Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday.
— 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 often find me reading to my two-year-old daughter, watching a tv series with my husband or cuddling with our special needs dog.
Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Daily? Contact me at chicago_il@patch.com
