🌱 Microsoft Purchases 30 Acres In Chicago + The Office Fan Convention

Welcome back, Chicago! I'm here in your inbox this morning to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Rain and snow showers. High: 43 Low: 34.

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Here are the top three stories today in Chicago:

1. Unruly crowds caused chaos in downtown Chicago and near Millennium Park over the weekend, with viral videos showing large groups of people disrupting traffic, dancing on cars, and getting involved in fights. Two people were shot late Saturday night, a 14-year-old boy was shot in the thigh at 31st Street Beach in a similar incident, and 15 people were ultimately arrested. Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson called the activity "unacceptable," but urged against demonizing youth who have been starved of opportunities in their own communities, while Mayor Lori Lightfoot emphasized the need for young people to enjoy the city respectfully. (ABC7)
2. Technology giant Microsoft has purchased 30 acres of land in the Hoffman Estates area of Chicago for $41.5 million. The company is planning to build two 207,000-square-foot data centers. It is unclear whether the company will convert the buildings or demolish them to rebuild new ones. (DatacenterDynamics)
3. Fans of "The Office" are counting down the days as the cast prepares for "The Reunion: An Interactive Office Fan Convention" on Apr. 22 and 23. The fan convention will take place at the Navy Pier's Festival Hall and feature the largest cast reunion, including stars like Rainn Wilson, Brian Baumgartner, and Paul Lieberstein. Tickets are available here. (WLS-TV)

Today in Chicago:

• Young at Heart: Blackout Poetry Take and Make Kits, At Chicago Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet At Symphony Center (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• A high-school student helped spur state legislation into ensuring child stars of content creators are fairly compensated. A full-time Chicago content creator supports the bill but see's a few flaws, including the issues surrounding exact timestamp documentation. (Subscription: Chicago Tribune)
• Want to learn how to knit or crochet this spring? The Bloomin' Spindle Knitting Store recently opened its doors in Portage Park, offering classes for beginners, novices, and experts to hone their craft. (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
• Interested in becoming a lifeguard this summer? The Chicago Park District offers free American Red Cross of Illinois Lifeguard Certification training. Classes start Apr. 24 and 25, as well as May 9 and 15 at five different park pools. (Chicago Park District via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new 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.