Illinois news

• With Certain Women, writer-director Kelly Reichardt heads for Montana—and loses her way

  21-10-2016 08:00 via chicagoreader.com
  
  With Certain Women, writer-director Kelly Reichardt heads for Montana—and loses her way.Indie filmmaker Kelly Reichardt has made a career out of the saying "Wherever you go, there you are." A naturalist at heart, she observes her characters intently as they roll into new environments, size up their surroundings, and try to conquer them.…
  
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• MMA Fighter Who Witnessed George Floyd’s Murder Gets $150,000 Settlement

  30-04-2024 14:30 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Photo: Getty Images North America
  Donald Williams, the man who witnessed George Floyd‘s murder and tried stopping the deadly arrest, will get a $150,000 payout from the City of Minneapolis for mental health issues he suffered from the encounter. According to the Star Tribune, officials unanimously approved the settlement on Thursday (April 25) after Williams sued the city last spring.
  Williams, a mixed martial arts fighter, testified former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin used a &
  
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• WATCH: White Cops Tase Black Man, Break His Leg For Driving Off With Pen

  30-04-2024 14:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Photo: Ajax9 / iStock / Getty Images
  A Black man plans on seeking legal action after he claims two Georgia cops followed him home, tased him, and broke his leg over a ballpoint pen. According to WSB-TV, a Greenville police officer pulled over 30-year-old Corriyon Bray for speeding in December 2023.
  Body camera footage shows the officer handing a pen to Bray to sign a ticket. When the officer demanded the driver return his pen, Bray held it outside his window and drove away.
  “That motherf**
  
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• J. Pharoah Doss: Cornel West and “lies that hide”

  30-04-2024 14:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  CORNEL WEST AND MELINA ABDULLAH (CornelWest.com Photo)
  Independent presidential candidate Cornel West chose fellow academic Melina Abdullah as his running mate. Abdullah teaches pan-African studies at California State University, Los Angeles, and serves on the board of directors for Black Lives Matter Grassroots.
  West and Abdullah’s progressive politics distinguish them from the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, but what sets them apart from the Democratic incumbents? West went
  
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• The Raven Room shuts down despite strong community support

  30-04-2024 11:50 via chicagoreader.com
  
  When my favorite bartender at the Raven Room told me that the bar and event space is shutting down at the end of April, I nearly burst into tears.  For more than a year, I had been visiting the establishment every Wednesday night for its weekly Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) events. I’d made close friends […]
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• Candace Parker Retires, Having Forged a Legacy of Unrivaled Success

  29-04-2024 16:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  After 16 WNBA seasons, three WNBA championships, two MVP Awards, two Olympic gold medals and two NCAA national championships, Candace Parker, one of the greatest and most influential basketball players on the planet, is retiring.
  Parker announced her departure on Sunday after forging a career as a versatile, highly skilled, and ballyhooed athlete who fulfilled their immense potential. 
  She made her announcement via an Instagram post.
  “I’m retiring. I promised I’d never che
  
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• Joe Turner’s Come And Gone: A Cultural Gem Plays At The Goodman

  29-04-2024 15:30 via chicagodefender.com
  
  A scene from August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come And Gone” (Credit Liz Lauren).
  The stage is set for an unforgettable journey of self-discovery and resilience as Chuck Smith’s powerful revival of August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” opens at the Goodman Theatre and extends its run through May 19.This timeless masterpiece, brought to life by an all-Chicago cast, promises an evening of profound storytelling and soul-stirring performances
  
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• Philadelphia has a lot more deadly shootings than expected for a big city − and NYC is much safer, new study says

  29-04-2024 15:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Philadelphia is more unsafe than it “should” be, based on its population. Matt Slocum/AP Imagesby Rayan Succar, New York University and Maurizio Porfiri, New York University
  Recent high-profile mass shootings at SEPTA bus stations have left Philadelphia commuters on high alert. Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in the Ogontz neighborhood on March 4, 2024, striking five people and killing 17-year-old Dayemen Taylor. Two days later, a group of teenagers shot eight other teens w
  
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• Tongji Philip Qian rethinks the studio

  29-04-2024 14:00 via chicagoreader.com
  
  In his first year as a resident at the Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago-based artist Tongji Philip Qian is rethinking the order of the studio. The artist has just launched his State VIII Project (八棱角空间), a three-year-long durational experiment divided into short exhibitions. State VIII Project questions the function of the studio while providing a […]
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• The neighborhoods missing from Chicago’s community safety plans

  29-04-2024 14:00 via chicagoreader.com
  
  This story was published by the Trace, a nonprofit newsroom covering gun violence in America. Sign up for its newsletters here. Robbie Johnson is raising her family’s fourth generation of children in North Lawndale. As a little girl there, she felt safe and free—but the neighborhood, she said, has changed. “It was easier for me to walk […]
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• Excelleaf: Dekalb Black-Owned Dispensary Promotes Social Equity, Empowerment

  28-04-2024 15:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Crystal, Maria, Brian and Nakia of Excelleaf (Credit: Excelleaf).
  In a significant step towards promoting social equity and community well-being, DeKalb welcomes Excelleaf, a groundbreaking cannabis dispensary dedicated to empowering individuals and fostering inclusivity within the cannabis industry.
  Mission
  Excelleaf isn’t just another dispensary; it’s a beacon of hope and support. Founded on principles of compassion, education and accessibility, Excelleaf’s mission is to prio
  
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• Black Women’s History Reads: 10 Books About And By Historical Figures

  28-04-2024 14:30 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Photo: Getty Images
  While we celebrate Black women all year, March and April are particularly special as they are designated as Women’s History Month and Black Women’s History Month, respectively.
  For the past two months, we’ve shouted out our faves, our legends, and our rising stars who broke barriers and are blazing new paths, making history in the process. There are tons of Black women historical figures out there—some widely known and others not so much. Thankfully, t
  
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• 90-Year-Old Man Who Was Nearly 1st Black Astronaut Finally Headed To Space

  28-04-2024 14:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Photo: eddwight.com
  A 90-year-old man who was set to become the first Black astronaut in space decades ago is finally headed to space, CBS News reports.
  Ed Dwight was selected by former President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to enter the Path to NASA’s Astronaut Corps, an Air Force training program.
  Finishing the program in 1963, Dwight was set up to make history as the first Black astronaut.
  “I thought these dudes were crazy,” Dwight previously said of the opportunity.
  The Air Forc
  
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• Introducing the Chicago Defender 2024 Men of Excellence Honorees

  27-04-2024 20:03 via chicagodefender.com
  
  The post Introducing the Chicago Defender 2024 Men of Excellence Honorees appeared first on Chicago Defender.
  
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• Flint’s Toxic Water Poisoned Mental Health, Too

  27-04-2024 15:44 via chicagodefender.com
  
  By Joseph Williams
  This article was originally published on Word In Black.
  This story is part of “Flint’s Still Fighting,” Word In Black’s series about the decade-long water crisis, and the struggles and triumphs still transforming the majority-Black city.
  It’s been a decade since Joyce Ellis McNeal learned the water coming from the taps in her Flint, Michigan, home was, in her words, “poisoned.” The anger and trauma in her voice is still
  
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• Black Mayor Receives Noose, Threatening Note Amid Reelection Bid

  27-04-2024 15:21 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Photo: City of Arcola
  A Texas mayor received a threatening package as he seeks reelection.
  On Tuesday (April 23), Arcola, Texas Mayor Fred Burton was sent a package containing a noose and a note warning him to cancel his reelection bid, per PEOPLE.
  The Arcola Police Department shared images of the package on social media.
  “Get out of the race now!!” a typed letter reads. The letter arrived with a noose in an envelope addressed to Burton.
  The police department said they are treating t
  
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• Don’t Let Diabetes Shortchange Your Golden Years

  27-04-2024 14:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  (NewsUSA) – Dianne Mattiace shows that managing diabetes shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying your retirement, thanks in part to a game changing new technology
  After a busy career in healthcare, Dianne has finally retired with her husband in Alabama. However, she has no intention of slowing down. Dianne is looking to live life to its fullest, whether that’s serving on the Board of a local charity, spending time with her grandchildren or swimming in the lake by her house in sum
  
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• Shuck off with Logan Oyster Socials at the next Monday Night Foodball

  26-04-2024 17:57 via chicagoreader.com
  
  On picture day in third grade, Rickie Pérez wore his dad’s chef’s coat and toque and posed with his favorite book from the Brentano Math and Science Academy library: Lynne Marie Waldee’s Cooking the French Way. “I got heated for it, because we were in the middle of the second three-peat,” he says. “Everybody else […]
  The post Shuck off with Logan Oyster Socials at the next Monday Night Foodball appeared first on Chicago Reader.
  
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• CTA failures, Bears stadium, Mayor’s Youth Commission

  26-04-2024 17:00 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Disarray at the CTA The #FireDorval caucus grows larger. Governor J.B. Pritzker is the latest to call for the ouster of CTA president Dorval Carter. Although he declined to use terms like “fired”, Pritzker’s message was clear: “Changes are going to have to take place, there’s no doubt, at the CTA, and I think that’s […]
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• Bears QB Caleb Williams: Criticism of Nails, Fashion Reflect Fan Homophobia

  26-04-2024 16:46 via chicagodefender.com
  
  By Evan F. Moore
  In the aftermath of the Hennessy, Casamigos, and Remy Martin bottle memorials, along with dissipated balloon send-offs regarding former Bears QB Justin Fields, the team officially moved on by selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 
  That’s right, Bears fans. It’s time to embrace what’s in front of you: The future.
  When Williams hit the stage in Detroit with a primal yell, the energy was different and unlike anyth
  
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• The 5 Things You Should Know About New Bears QB Caleb Williams

  26-04-2024 16:30 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Caleb Williams at his post-draft press conference (Credit: Jeremy Allen, Michigan Chronicle).
  DETROIT—The worst-kept secret in the NFL became official when the Chicago Bears selected Caleb Williams as the top overall pick in the NFL Draft. 
  The only quarterback the Bears hosted for its pre-draft visit was Williams. When the University of Southern California quarterback had a pro day at his old college, Chicago’s newest signee, Keenan Allen, attended to provide support. Welc
  
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• Michelle Williams is Set to Dazzle in ‘Death Becomes Her’ at Cadillac Palace Theatre

  26-04-2024 16:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Michelle Williams is back where she belongs, on stage for a Broadway-bound production. 
  Sure, she’s renowned for being a core member of a famous female R&B group. Still, Williams has made her mark by appearing in some of the most memorable productions over the last twenty years: “Aida,” “Chicago,” “Fela!” and, of course, “The Color Purple.” 
  Before this Rockford, Illinois native heads back to Broadway for her latest ve
  
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• Selva Aparicio on ‘In Memory Of’

  26-04-2024 14:00 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Editor’s note: Coco Picard spoke with Selva Aparicio about the exhibition “In Memory Of,” on view at the DePaul Art Museum. Edited text from the comic is transcribed here to ease readability. Selva Aparicio’s solo show, “In Memory Of”  at the DePaul Art Museum from March 14-August 4, 2024, alters the museum’s architecture with labor-intensive signs of […]
  The post Selva Aparicio on ‘In Memory Of’ appeared first on Chica
  
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• Detroit Breaks Day-One NFL Draft Attendance Record with 275,000-Plus Spectators

  26-04-2024 04:25 via chicagodefender.com
  The passion of football fans knows no bounds, and it’s evident in the way that more than 275,000 people packed into downtown Detroit Thursday night, April 25, to break the NFL’s single-day draft attendance record.
  The previous record was when 200,000-plus people attended opening day of the 2019 NFL Draft, and the city saw more than 600,000 people over its three days.
  After just 10 picks announced Thursday night in Detroit, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told the crowd of the new reco
  
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• NFL Drafts Prospects Flaunt Their Style on the Red Carpet at the Fox Theatre in Detroit

  26-04-2024 02:23 via chicagodefender.com
  On a night where just 13 NFL prospects showed up to attend the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, the pre-show red carpet attend was a star-studded affair, as soon-to-be pro football players were dressed to the nines for thousands of fans and media members.
  Draft prospects were all decked out in diamonds and gold and tailored suits for the event. Check out the looks from 12 of the 13 prospective draftees as they strutted the red carpet with their parents, significant others, other family members, and fr
  
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• NFL Drafts Prospects Flaunt Their Style on the Red Carpet at the Fox Theatre

  26-04-2024 02:23 via chicagodefender.com
  On a night where just 13 NFL prospects showed up to attend the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, the pre-show red carpet attend was a star-studded affair, as soon-to-be pro football players were dressed to the nines for thousands of fans and media members.
  Draft prospects were all decked out in diamonds and gold and tailored suits for the event. Check out the looks from 12 of the 13 prospective draftees as they strutted the red carpet with their parents, significant others, other family members, and fr
  
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• Drummer Jim White and guitarist Marisa Anderson craft a weird, soothing hybrid

  25-04-2024 23:07 via chicagoreader.com
  
  To a large extent, classical music and popular music are separate traditions with distinct audiences. No one told folk guitarist Marisa Anderson and indie-rock drummer Jim White, though. Their second album together, the new Swallowtail (Thrill Jockey), is a mix of abstract exploration and gentle folk melody that thoughtfully wanders through a landscape that’s part […]
  The post Drummer Jim White and guitarist Marisa Anderson craft a weird, soothing hybrid appeared first on Chicago R
  
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• London’s Folly Group soothe anxieties with gorgeous postpunk and electronica

  25-04-2024 22:36 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Folly Group’s “Paying the Price” is one of the best electronica-infused postpunk songs about shame, and it’s only a B side. The band’s singles—of which they’ve dropped plenty since debuting with “Fashionista” in 2021—land with the digital punch of Sonic the Hedgehog and the spooky polish of Joy Division. The London quartet are on their […]
  The post London’s Folly Group soothe anxieties with gorgeous postpunk and electronic
  
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• Bears’ $5 Billion Stadium Proposal, No. 1 Draft Pick Shows Team Reinventing Itself

  25-04-2024 22:18 via chicagodefender.com
  
  The Chicago Bears’ $5 billion proposal for a brand new lakefront stadium, ahead of their anticipated No. 1 overall pick at tonight’s NFL Draft, marks an inflection point for a franchise reimagining itself for the future. 
  Under the plan, the new stadium would be built next to the current Soldier Field, one of the NFL’s smaller venues. It would sport a translucent roof and enormous windows to allow natural light to enter while providing spectacular views of the city’s
  
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• Chicago pianist Erwin Helfer is celebrated by musical friends and peers

  25-04-2024 22:03 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Pianist Erwin Helfer is a local hero who has made a global impact. The 88-year-old musician is resolute in his devotion to early blues, jazz, and ragtime piano, and he’s taught his emotional, succinct style to legions of students. This month, Helfer’s Highland Park–based label, the Sirens, hosts a celebration of his music and influence […]
  The post Chicago pianist Erwin Helfer is celebrated by musical friends and peers appeared first on Chicago Reader.
  
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