🌱 University Unions Plan Strike + Gender-Neutral Restroom Debates

Hello again, friends! It's me, Kaytlyn Mroz, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this Saturday started off right with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening these days in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Windy; morning snow, up to 1". High: 38 Low: 31.
• Sunday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 44 Low: 35.

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Here are the top three stories in Chicago today:

1. Faculty and staff unions at two Chicago-area universities plan to strike if a new labor agreement is not reached. The unions representing Chicago State University and Eastern Illinois University filed an intent to strike this week. The Chicago State University union represents about 160 faculty and staff members, while 450 faculty and staff members at Eastern Illinois University are preparing to walk off starting Apr. 6. (FOX 32 Chicago)
2. The Illinois House passed a bill allowing buildings to have gender-neutral restrooms, igniting controversy. The bill narrowly passed on the House floor, allowing entities to have multiple-stall gender-neutral restrooms. Equality Illinois' CEO, Brian C. Johnson, said that the bill would bring the state closer to equality for all persons, but others, like Steve Boulton, chairman of the Chicago GOP party, believe it is a danger to women. (NBC Chicago)
3. Advocate Health Care in Illinois is relaxing its visiting and masking policies. Patient visitors will no longer be limited, and face masks will not be required under most circumstances. The changes will begin on Monday and have been made due to declining COVID-19 transmission rates. (Subscription: Chicago Sun-Times)

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Today and tomorrow in Chicago:

Saturday, March 25

• Girls Build! Day At Chicago Architecture Center (10:00 AM)
• Free Read & Play Saturdays Kids Event At Lakeshore Learning Center (11:00 AM)
• Percy Grainger Wind Band Festival At Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1:30 PM)

Sunday, March 26

• Bubbles And Beauties Drag Brunch At City Winery Chicago (12:00 PM)
• PAW Patrol Live! "Heroes Unite" At The Chicago Theatre (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a different kind of exercise? Try out butterfly yoga at the Nature Museum on Apr. 1 at 8:30 a.m. Get the details at the link. (Nature Museum)
• Beef-eaters beware: About 3,400 pounds of beef sold across the state may be contaminated with E. coli. (NBC Chicago)
• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the photos of adoption-ready pets in Chicago at the link! (PAWS Chicago via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Improovy Painters Chicago — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Carnegie Hall Debut Preview Recital (March 25)
• Self Defence Legal Seminar (March 27)
• Brewing Up Laughs (March 29)
• 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)
• Add your event

That's it for today. I'll be in your inbox soon with 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.