Messy CPD Record Keeping + Fraudulent Stimulus Checks + Unions

Hey, Chicago! Thanks for sticking with our newsletter throughout the first week. We're committed to sifting through what's going on in this busy city so you can have the 4-1-1 on everything happening in the 7-7-3 (or 3-1-2, if you're fancy). So let's get into what you need to know going into the weekend.

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First, today's weather:

If you thought you'd be safe packing up your shorts for the winter then Chicago would like to kindly say "Psych!" Friday is clear throughout the day with a High of 85 and Low of 68.

Here are the top stories today in Chicago:

1. Census data shows the largest population increases in the Loop and along the lakefront, areas that are historically more business than residential. Sociologists and neighborhood experts weigh in on what that could mean for Chicago's highly cultural and vibrant neighborhoods. With Mayor Lori Lightfoot's 2022 budget address coming next week, organizers are hoping there's a slice of the pie for more community resources. (Chicago Reader)
2. Chicago is now home to the largest aviation maintenance school in the United States. Gov. J.B. Pritzker cut the ribbon to the McKinley Park Aviation Institute of Maintenance Thursday and with it welcomed a host of new jobs to the western neighborhood which representatives say was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The AIM will offer trade classes to Chicago high school students for no cost through partnerships with Southern Illinois University. (McKinley Park News)
3. Employees at the Art Institute of Chicago rallied in front of the historic museum last weekend to protest School of the Art Institute layoffs and fight for pay transparency. The group hopes to follow museums in Boston, Philadelphia and Minneapolis in unionizing after shutdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic left many without work or support. So far, management said they will support employees if they choose to unionize, but organizers say it sounds like "lip service." (In These Times)
4. Chicago Police Department still has not changed its risky, chaotic record-keeping method, a new report from the Office of the Inspector General found. According to experts, CPD's management system, specifically in court cases, puts the agency at risk of having criminal convictions thrown out. (CBS)
5. A South Side woman has been charged by feds after officials said she somehow got the death certificates of dozens of young Chicago murder victims and claimed she was a relative to later collect COVID-19 stimulus payments and tax refunds. (Chicago Tribune)

Today's Chicago Patch is brought to you by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Chicago!

Today in Chicago:

• Tokyo Disco at Sleeping Village (9 p.m.)
• PeeWee's Big Adventure on screen at Logan Theater (11 p.m.)
• Sleep Hollow themed bar at Secret Chicago (7:30 p.m.)
• Revolution Brewing Oktoberfest Riverwalk Crawl - FREE STEIN (4 p.m.)
• Musical legacies of the South Side (6:30 p.m.)

Chicago Patch Notebook

• How much does your alderman make? Sift through a list of the City Council's cash takeaway here: (Chicago Tribune)
• Six things to know about Pedro Martinez, Chicago's next chief of public schools. (Block Club Chicago)
• Chicago Party Aunt, a Netflix show based on the debaucheries and local musings of a popular Chicago Twitter account, debuts today. (Twitter)
• Police keep looking for a group of people who they say keep stealing red light cameras from intersections on the North Side. (ABC7 Chicago)
• Wondering why the cicadas seem a bit more cacophonous this year? You're not alone in your sleepless summer nights. WBEZ's Curious City talked to scientists about why the cicadas are singing louder than a Cubs fan at Slugger's dueling piano night. (WBEZ)

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Weekend events:

• Lakeview Taco Fest (Saturday)
• White Sox 5K (Saturday)
• Brews at Lincoln Park Zoo (Saturday)
• Sunday night standup comedy at Laugh Factory (Sunday)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll be back in your inbox Tuesday morning with a new update! If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Eileen O'Gorman

About me: As a Breaking News Reporter for Illinois, I'll bring you the most essential stories from across the state. Graduate of Loyola University Chicago. Got a question, comment or tip? I'm all ears: eileen.ogorman@patch.com Follow me on Twitter: @Eileen_OGorman

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Patch? I'm all ears. You can email me at eileen.ogorman@patch.com.