🌱 Blackhawks Won't Wear Pride Jerseys + $125M UofI Chicago Center

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Kaytlyn Mroz, your host of the Chicago Patch newsletter. Come along for the most important things happening around town.

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy. High: 43 Low: 35.

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Here are the top three stories today in Chicago:

1. The Chicago Blackhawks have announced that they will not wear their Pride-themed warmups due to safety concerns for Russian-born players. This decision makes them the third NHL team this season to opt-out of wearing the jerseys, following the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers. The move has disappointed players, including alternate captain Patrick Murphy, who expressed his disappointment, stating that "hockey is about inclusion" and that everyone should support equality. (Chicago Patch)
2. The University of Illinois Chicago is set to complete the $125 million Computer, Design, Research, and Learning Center in early 2024. The building will house the computer science department and classrooms and will feature sustainable energy sources and LEED Gold certification. The project is part of the historic Rebuild Illinois capital plan, which will invest $45 billion in state facilities and create an estimated 540,000 jobs over six years. (Illinois.gov)
3. The remains of a Chicago man, Webster Fisher, who went missing in 1980, have been identified. The remains were found in a crate that was discovered sealed with bullet wounds in a suburban Chicago power plant. The Texas-based forensic DNA sequencing company, Othram, and the Will County Coroner's Office identified Fisher through a DNA sample provided by one of his close relatives. Fisher's death is now being investigated by the Will County Sheriff's Office. (U.S. News & World Report)

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Today in Chicago:

• The Three Little Pigs At Irish American Heritage Center (10:30 AM)
• Hard Country Honky Tonk With The Hoyle Brothers At The Empty Bottle (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Are you a Sox fan? Check out the link to see what games will be covered this season by NBC Sport Chicago. (NBC Chicago)
• Proposed state laws on the table include banning declawing cats, banning pets sitting on your lap while driving, lowering the Illinois drinking age, and more. Learn more about what these proposed laws entail at the link. (NBC Chicago)
• According to Yelp, the state's top barbecue eatery is right here in Chicago at Smoque BBQ. (WGN TV Chicago)

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Featured events:

• Carnegie Hall Debut Preview Recital (March 25)
• Business After Hours at Centre Physical Therapy (March 30)
• K9 Egg Hunt & Easter Bunny photos (April 1)
• Wedding Band Event at Bella Cosa Jewelers (April 15)
• Nonprofit Entrepreneurship (April 17)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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.