🌱 Chicago Vote-By-Mail Applications Due Soon + Arrest At Auto Show

Good morning, everybody! It's Wednesday in Chicago and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in the community today.

But first, today's weather:

Winds becoming strong; rain. High: 36 Low: 33.

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Here are the top three stories today in Chicago:

1. Vote-by-mail applications for the Chicago municipal election are due by 5 p.m. on Feb. 23. You can ensure a convenient and secure way to vote in the Feb. 28 election while avoiding the risk of identity theft. The permanent vote-by-mail status will allow you to receive mail-in ballots for all future elections without yearly registration. If you are interested in voting by mail, fill out this form and follow the instructions by the deadline. (Illinois Policy)
2. Authorities have charged 22-year-old Oscar Luiz with weapons offenses and possession of a laser sight. The charges stem from an incident at the Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place, where the Indiana man was taken into custody after a "disturbance" in the Ford area. Police reported that a loaded pistol and over $6,000 in cash fell out of Luiz's waistband. (Chicago Patch)
3. An Indiana mother from Chicago is still missing after picking up her tax refund check 12 years ago. Lorenzia Tucker, 31, went to pick up her tax refund check from a tax preparer on Feb. 4, 2011, and never returned home. Tucker has three children, who she left at home at the time. The tax preparer had confirmed Tucker came to the office but called someone to pick her up and left, but the check has never been cashed. Anyone with information about Tucker – pictured at the link – is asked to call the East Chicago Police Department at (219) 801-2645. (NewsBreak Original)

Today in Chicago:

• Spring Flower Show: Bee's Knees At Garfield Park Conservatory (10:00 AM)
• Enter The Haggis At City Winery Chicago (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Illinois' 12th casino has opened less than an hour north of Chicago. The Temporary by American Place will operate until the permanent casino opens for business in 2025. (PlayUSA)
• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Chicago area at the link! (Chicago Patch)
• 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:

• Block Cinema: LOVE, WOMEN & FLOWERS (1989) (February 23)
• Block Cinema: DRY GROUND BURNING (2022) with filmmaker Joana Pimenta (February 24)
• Love Triangles - Music of Clara & Robert Schumann, and Johannes Brahms (February 25)
• Paralegal Studies Information Session (February 28)
• Emotional Intelligence for Leaders (March 2)
• Financial Planning Certificate Information Session (March 8)
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That's it for today. I'll see you around!

— 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.