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Community Corner

🌱 Missing Body From Stolen Van Found + $5.5M Grant For Choose Chicago

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

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(Patch Media)

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

  • A body missing from a Rockford funeral home's stolen van was found in Chicago
  • Chicago imposes the largest 911 fee in the nation
  • A $5.5 million grant aims to expand tourism in 12 underrepresented neighborhoods

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) Body missing from Rockford funeral home's stolen van found in Chicago. A van from Collins & Stone Funeral Home in Rockford was stolen Saturday with a deceased 47-year-old male inside. The van was found Sunday night in the 1400 block of East 87th Street in Chicago, but the body was missing until police located it yesterday near South Manistee Avenue—more than two miles away from the van. Rockford police released surveillance images of a possible suspect. (CBS Chicago)

2) Chicago imposes largest 911 fee in the nation. According to data by the National Emergency Number Association, Chicago charges the most in the United States for 911 service. "This is not an every-time-you-call fee. It is a monthly surcharge," Justin Carlson of the Illinois Policy Institute said. "For people who have numbers within the city of Chicago, they will get charged five dollars a month, every month, for 911 services." (The Center Square)

3) $5.5 million grant aims to expand tourism in 12 more underrepresented neighborhoods. The grant will allow Choose Chicago, the city's tourism branch, to strengthen and expand its program by adding 12 new communities: Auburn Gresham, Austin, Back of the Yards, Englewood, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, New City, North Center, North Lawndale, Roseland, South Chicago and Hyde Park. In total, 30 of the city's neighborhoods will now benefit from tourism promotion efforts. (Chicago Tribune)

4) Tickets to Fall Out Boy's 'incredibly rare' surprise show in Chicago sell out in minutes. For the first time in almost 10 years, the Chicago area natives will perform a surprise show at Metro. The "incredibly rare performance" is part of the venue's 40th anniversary celebration. Tickets sold out just minutes after going on sale yesterday. (NBC 5)

5) 222 new apartments, 184 renovated units coming to Roosevelt Square as years-long project kicks off newest phase. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other local leaders joined Chicago Housing Authority officials yesterday for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Phase 3B of the project. Three new mid-rise buildings will be constructed and two existing buildings will be renovated. The $172 million redevelopment project is funded by a mix of private and public money, and is expected to wrap up by 2024. (Block Club Chicago)

📌 Today in Chicago:

  • Digital Content Best Practices virtual event (12:00 PM)
  • Trust issues: How Chicago News Outlets Build Credibility In Their Communities at McCormick Foundation Center Forum (and virtual) (5:00 PM)
  • To Be Bi+ at Center on Halsted (6:00 PM)
  • Ron Offen Poetry Prize Reading By Erika L. Sánchez at Logan Center for the Arts (6:00 PM)
  • Harry Tonchev Trio at Colvin House (6:30 PM)
  • Mikey Ahearn at SPACE (7:30 PM)
  • Bingo with Aunt Nance Chicago's Musical Comedy Cougar at Carol's Pub (7:30 PM)
  • CDPROM, Cab Ellis, All Weather Sports at Golden Dagger (8:00 PM)
  • Jamie Wagner Band with Grassfed Collective at Montrose Saloon (8:00 PM)
  • Super 6 Showcase at Zanies Comedy Club (8:00 PM)
  • Tuesday Musical Improv at The Annoyance Theatre (8:00 PM)
  • Jon B at City Winery (8:00 PM)
  • CSO On Tour: Segerstrom Center at Chicago Symphony Orchestra (8:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • Beverly real estate: "Once owned by members of the Swift meatpacking family, this Tudor-style home, our listing of the month, wears its history well.⁠ ⁠ Link in bio.⁠ ⁠ 📸 Interior Insights⁠ ⁠ #chicago #realestate #homebuying" (Chicago magazine via Instagram)
  • Old Navy: "Tomorrow is your last chance to hit up the State Street Old Navy." (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
  • Lunar New Year eats: "The Tastiest Ways to Celebrate Lunar New Year 2023 in Chicago" (Eater Chicago)
  • Offensive license plates: "'SUKIT': Illinois Secretary of State reveals rejected vanity license plate requests." (NBC 5)
  • Best international food: "After a Reddit user asked Chicagoans to share which restaurant best serves up food from their home countries, the responses have been pouring in." (NBC 5)
  • 2023 Chicago Police District Councils Voter Guide: "On Feb. 28, Chicago voters will elect 66 people to oversee the police department and have a say in reforms." (The TRiiBE)
  • Chicago's grid system: "OK class, are you ready to learn Chicago's grid system?" (WTTE)

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Events:

  • DePaul's Master of Arts in Applied Professional Studies Information Session (January 25)
  • Business After Hours at PARennial Golf (January 26)
  • Block Cinema: ROSA BLANCA (1961) (January 26)
  • Block Cinema: ARAYA (1959) on 35mm (January 27)
  • "Proclaim Liberty!" | A Choral Festival Honoring the Ideals of MLK & Heralding Black History Month (January 29)
  • Creating Engaging Presentations (February 3)
  • Science, Art, and the Search for Meaning: Opening Conversation with Dario Robleto (February 4)
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Now you're in the loop. Happy Tuesday!

— 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 Daily? Contact me at chicago_il@patch.com

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