Evanston Year In Review: Top Local Stories Of 2017

EVANSTON, IL — The year is almost complete, so as we wind down the holiday season and prepare to head into 2018, let's take a look back at some of the most notable stories from Evanston over the past year.

During the last 12 months, we saw a new mayor and City Council take office and confront such hot-button issues as downtown development and minimum wage, local educators accused of ghastly crimes, and families grieve the loss of a freshman college student and a newlywed immigrant.

So let's take a few moments to have a stroll down memory lane and peruse Patch's most memorable Evanston stories of 2017, in no particular order:

Former ETHS Teacher Accused Of Sexual Abuse

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston Township High School administrators issued a no-trespass order against a former drama teacher following allegations he sexually abused students for years. In a note to the... Read more

• Two Former ETHS Students Sue, Alleging Sex Abuse By Drama Teacher
• Third Student Sues Claiming Sex Abuse By ETHS Drama Teacher

Albion Tower, Lakehouse Plan Approved By Evanston City Council

EVANSTON, IL — In a contentious City Council meeting Monday night that at times descended into shouting and heckling, Evanston aldermen voted in favor of building a 15-story mixed-use tower on Sherman... Read more

• 16-Story Mixed-Use Tower Proposed For Downtown Evanston
• Opposition Mounting To 16-Story Sherman Tower In Evanston

Evanston Will Raise Minimum Wage

EVANSTON, IL — The Evanston City Council unanimously declined to take any action to block the implementation of a minimum wage increase at a hastily scheduled meeting Friday morning. Evanston Mayor... Read more

• Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty Calls Emergency Meeting To Block Minimum Wage Increase
• Mayor Steve Hagerty Violated Open Meetings Act: Attorney General's Office

$4 Million Evanston Library Parking Lot Sale Moves Ahead

EVANSTON, IL — The City Council has approved a plan to sell the parking lot beside the Evanston Public Library for $4 million Monday by a vote of 7-2, but the final sale will require approval from... Read more

Northwestern Fraternity Sexual Assault Reports: Student Government Calls For SAE Suspension, Frat Council 'Suspends' Parties

EVANSTON, IL — Northwestern University's Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Associated Student Government (ASG) released statements Wednesday responding to Monday's announcement by the University of... Read more

• Northwestern Investigating Reports of Fraternity Sexual Assaults, Possible 'Date Rape Drugs'
• SAE Fraternity Suspended From Two Area Universities In Under Six Weeks
• SAE Fraternity Appeals Northwestern Suspension

Fugitives Arrested: Northwestern Professor, Oxford Staffer Caught In California

CHICAGO, IL — A Northwestern University professor and a University of Oxford employee wanted in the grisly murder of a 26-year-old Chicago man last month were taken into custody Friday in California,... Read more

• Manhunt For Northwestern Professor Wanted In Fatal Stabbing
• Northwestern Professor Wanted: 5 Things We Know About The Brutal Murder Case So Far

Leggings, Straps, Yoga Pants Okay, But Shaming Is Not: New ETHS Dress Code

EVANSTON, IL — The latest edition of Evanston Township High School dress code has been getting national attention but not for what it bans. Instead of placing detailed and specific restrictions on... Read more

'It Was Chaos' As NU Students Engage In Mass Looting At Nevin's

EVANSTON, IL — Days after its owner announced it was closing, a beloved bar in Evanston was ransacked by Northwestern University students, staff said. Police said they're reviewing surveillance tape... Read more

• Last Call At Nevin's Pub: Beloved Evanston Bar Closes For Good
• Nevin's Owners Plan New Self-Serve Taproom Inside Pete Miller's

Evanston Election Results: Referendum Wins Big, Hagerty Claims Victory

EVANSTON, IL — Preliminary results from Tuesday's consolidated municipal elections in Evanston are in, but some votes remain to be counted. In addition to a Evanston/Skokie District 65 funding referendum,... Read more

Wesley Woodson Guilty Of Dajae Coleman's Murder, Attempted Murder Of 7 Others

EVANSTON, IL — A jury found Wesley Woodson guilty on all counts Friday in the murder trial of Daejae Coleman. Woodson, 25, was charged with one count of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted... Read more

• 5 Years After Fatal Shooting Of 14-Year-Old Dajae Coleman, Murder Trial Begins
• Eyewitness Testifies In Dajae Coleman Murder Trial

After Cockroaches Cause Closure, Joy Yee Noodle Is Back In Business

EVANSTON, IL — After a nine-day shutdown resulting from the discovery of live cockroaches and other health violations, Joe Yee Noodle is back in business on Davis Street. The Evanston location of... Read more

Northwestern Crew Rower Dies After Falling Overboard

LINCOLNWOOD, IL — A student died after falling overboard while practicing with the Northwestern University club crew team Monday morning. The body of Mohammed Ramzan, 19, a first-year student... Read more

• Northwestern Student Rower's Drowning Ruled Accidental
• Drowned Northwestern Rower Couldn't Swim: Report
• Swim Tests Required For Northwestern Crew In Wake Of Drowned Student

Northwestern Makes NCAA Tournament for First Time Ever

EVANSTON, IL - At long last, the Northwestern University men's basketball team has made the NCAA Tournament. "Northwestern" appeared across the screen for the first time ever on Selection Sunday... Read more

• Northwestern Basketball Ranked in AP Poll for First Time Since 2009
• NU Basketball on Verge of Ending Long NCAA Tournament Drought
• Wildcats Win, Advance To Second Round In First Trip To NCAA Tournament
• 'Crying Northwestern Kid' Becomes Internet Sensation

No Murder Charges As Victim Was Shot By Own Gun, Detectives Believe

EVANSTON, IL — The 25-year-old man who was killed on Howard Street in the early morning hours of Aug. 14 was fatally shot by his own handgun, investigators believe. According to police, Hamza Hammouis,... Read more

• Evanston's 1st Murder Of 2017: Shooter Remains At Large

High School Newspaper Confiscated For Marijuana Content

EVANSTON, IL — Administrators at Evanston Township High School confiscated an issue of the student newspaper last month, saying it glorified drug use, drug dealing and promoted illegal conduct. At... Read more

• ETHS Board Adopts Controversial Confidentiality Policy

Lead Levels Shut Down 11 Water Fountains In Evanston

EVANSTON, IL — Lead levels in 11 water fountains at public parks in Evanston tested above the action levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency have been shut down. The city recently completed... Read more

• Evanston To Replace Drinking Fountains With Higher Lead Levels

More top stories from your neighbors:

• Wilmette Year in Review 2017: Top Local Stories
• Winnetka, Glencoe 2017 Year in Review
• Skokie's Top Local Stories of 2017