🌱 30 Best Public High Schools + Incoming Mayor To Address Lawmakers

Hi all. Kaytlyn Mroz here with your fresh copy of the Chicago Patch newsletter, filled with all the community information you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Warmer with a few showers. High: 68 Low: 59.

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Here are the top three stories in Chicago today:

1. Stacker has released a list of the 30 best public high schools in Illinois, as determined by 2023 rankings from Niche, where four Chicago schools made the cut. These rankings are based on eight weighted factors, including academics, culture and diversity, health and safety, resources, and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. Paton College Preparatory High School came in at No. 1, Northside College Preparatory High School was No. 2, and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School followed close behind. Jones College Prep High School was also present on the list. (WGN TV Chicago)
2. Chicago's incoming mayor, Brandon Johnson, is set to address lawmakers at the Illinois Capitol on Wednesday. Johnson will face a tall order in balancing the city's budget while simultaneously focusing on communities left behind, according to Governor J.B. Pritzker. Johnson's address comes amid national focus on the city after a weekend of crime, including shootings and vandalism, committed by dozens of youth in major tourist areas downtown. (The Center Square)
3. Faculty at Governors State University have ended their five-day strike, which was part of a larger string of faculty strikes at universities across Illinois. The strike ended with a tentative contract agreement that union members say will "strengthen" the university and support its students. Governors State University was the last university to end its faculty strike, with the other two universities, Chicago State University and Eastern Illinois University, ending their strikes after 10 and six days, respectively. (WREX.com)

Today in Chicago:

• Story Time At Chicago Public Library – Roden Branch (10:30 AM)
• Jagged Little Pill At James M. Nederlander Theatre (2:00 PM)
• Drunk Shakespeare At The Lion Theatre (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• It's National Work Zone Awareness Week! This is your reminder to slow down in work zones to keep workers safe. (CBS Chicago)
• Did you know the median household income in Chicago is $66,576? The Windy City is ranked 50th among large cities. (FOX 32 Chicago)
• Five new homes have been listed for sale in the Chicago area. Get all the property details at the link. (Chicago Patch)

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Featured events:

• Experience Central Street (April 20)
• "The Fossil Record of the Far Future" (April 20)
• Emmet Cahill (April 21)
• 7th Annual West Loop Spirits, Cocktails & Wine Festival with Artisan Delicacies, April 22nd & 23rd (April 22)
• Chicago's 23rd Annual Diversity Employment Day Career Fair (April 25)
• Paralegal Studies Information Session (April 25)
• Project Management Essentials (May 1)
• Minds Matter 2023 (May 5)
• Maker’s Market • May 7, 2023 (May 7)
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That's it for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Kaytlyn Mroz

About me: Kaytlyn Mroz is a copywriter at Lightning Media Partners – a content creation agency. She is a Rowan University graduate where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in writing. Outside of work, Kaytlyn is a dog mom to a boglen terrier named Finn and a golden retriever named Willow.