🌱 CTA Employee Charged In Fatal Beating + No Connection In Drownings

Hello, everybody. It's me, Kaytlyn Mroz, your host of the Chicago Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

A morning rain or snow shower. High: 40 Low: 26.

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Here are the top three stories in Chicago today:

1. An employee of the Chicago Transit Authority, Emmett Richardson, has been charged with aggravated battery in the beating of a 54-year-old man at a Blue Line station who later died. The attack was caught entirely on surveillance video and lasted nearly an hour. Prosecutors allege that Richardson kicked the wheelchair-bound man multiple times, threw him over a railing, dragged him across the floor, and shoved him down stairs. (Subscription: Chicago Tribune)
2. Recent tragic drownings of young men off the coast of Lake Michigan or in the Chicago River have fueled speculation on social media that the deaths are not isolated or accidental, but rather the work of a single suspect. Chicago and county officials say there is no evidence to support this theory. In addition, reports of unsolicited taxi offers for patrons leaving bars and restaurants in Chicago have been linked to the drownings in social media posts but officials say there is no evidence to support this connection either. (NBC Chicago)
3. Chicago Police Department is launching a program to lure back retired officers and hire more from other agencies to address the 1,500 vacancies within the department. Changes include allowing officers to bypass normal requirements like taking exams and graduating from the police academy. The program is expected to take up to six months to hire over 100 officers. (The Center Square)

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Today in Chicago:

• Brewing Up Laughs At ERIS Brewery And Cider House (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• New homes have been listed for sale in the Chicago area! Get all the property details at the link. (Chicago Patch)
• The spring weather is here to stay! This list provides free things to do in and around the city. (Choose Chicago via Facebook)
• Are you a cannabis user? Check out the list at the link of the best online weed stores in Chicago. (Urban Matter)

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Featured businesses:

• Improovy Painters Chicago — (Visit website)
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Featured events:

• Brewing Up Laughs (March 29)
• Business After Hours at Centre Physical Therapy (March 30)
• First Saturday Evanston Art Events (April 1)
• STEM Adventures at Kiddie Academy of Crown Point (April 1)
• K9 Egg Hunt & Easter Bunny photos (April 1)
• NEWCITY and the Chocolate Factory (April 1)
• Wedding Band Event at Bella Cosa Jewelers (April 15)
• Nonprofit Entrepreneurship (April 17)
• Finance and Accounting for Non-finance Professionals (April 25)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow for your next 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.