City Cast Chicago
😬 Could your gas bill double?
October 31, 2024 · —Sidney Madden
Hiya! If you want to vote by mail, request a mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. Still in the voting spirit? Nominate Hey Chicago as best email newsletter and City Cast Chicago as best podcast in the Reader’s Best of Chicago 2024 🗳️ #DemocracyInAction
What's CITY Talking About?
Johnson Proposes Property Tax Hike in City Budget
Mayor Brandon Johnson is calling to raise property taxes by $300 million in 2025 to close an almost $1 billion budget shortfall, breaking a major campaign promise. [CBS Chicago]
Will Your Gas Bill Double?
A consumer advocacy group found that if Peoples Gas continues its pipeline replacement program, Chicagoans’ heating bills will get more expensive. The company denounced the report. State regulators will have to decide the future of the program in January. [WTTW]
Illinois Report Card Has Mixed Results
Elementary school students are making strides in English language arts, but are less proficient in math, according to new data from the state. Meanwhile, for high schoolers, graduation rates are up, test scores are down, and chronic absenteeism remains a problem. [WBEZ]
Who is the New White Sox Manager?
Will Venable is returning to Chicago after helping lead the Texas Rangers to their first championship last fall. But this time he will be on the South Side — Venable previously coached the Cubs. [CHGO Sports 🔒]
- The Sox had a historically bad season. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
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Early Voting Is Now Open Across Chicago
Early Voting is open across Chicago – any voter can vote at any of the 52+ sites!
What To Do
Thursday, Oct. 31
- Fall Fest 🍂 North Lawndale | 2:30–3:30 p.m. | Free
- Volunteer at Art on the Park 👋 Grant Park | 10 a.m. to Noon | Free
- Community Halloween Party 🎉 Sauganash | 4–5 p.m. | Free
- Spooky Halloween 🎃 Englewood | 4–7 p.m. | Free
- Goblins, Ghosts, and Ghouls 👺 South Shore | 5–7 p.m. | Free
- Howl-A-Ween Dog Fashion Show 🐾 River North | 5–8 p.m. | Donation suggested
- A Chosen Few DJs Halloween 🎧 Wicker Park | 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. | $10+
- Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade 👻 Northalsted | 6:30–10 p.m. | Free
- “Nightmare Before Christmas” Paint & Sip 🍷 Hyde Park | 7–9:30 p.m. | $45
- Thursday Night Terror 🧟 Pilsen | 8–11 p.m. | Varies
Friday, Nov. 1
- Day of the Dead Celebration ❤️ Chicago Lawn | 4–6 p.m. | Free
- Día de los Muertos Craft & Hike 🌺 Eggers Grove | 4–8 p.m. | Free
- Sauced Night Market starts 🛍️ Lincoln Square | 5–10 p.m. | Free
- Chicago Latino Dance Festival 💃 Near North Side | 7–9 p.m. | Free
- Paranormal Prom 👻 Fulton Market | 8 p.m. | $25
- Day of the Dead Celebration 💀 Navy Pier | 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. | $25
Wishing you a safe and fun Halloween — and that you spot costumes as creative as 40th Ward Ald. Andre Vasquez’s “elephant in the room” outfit.
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