🌱 Paulina Street Tree Plans Put On Hold + Severe Snowstorm

Good morning! Let's get to today's Lakeview Daily.

First, today's weather: Windy and colder with snow. High: 29 Low: 23.

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Here are the top 5 stories in Lakeview today:

1. Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster declaration ahead of today’s severe winter snowstorm. Heavy snowfall is expected through this afternoon in much of Cook County, the National Weather Service reports. Accumulations began last night, and the area could see between five and 11 inches of snow today, with dangerous road conditions. (Patch)

2. Plans are on hold to replace the Paulina Street water main as the Department of Water Management explores alternatives to cutting down more than 20 parkway trees. Officials are determining whether the plans "can be moved toward the west side of the street to limit the number of trees affected." (Block Club)

3. A Niles man faces hate crime and criminal damage charges after vandalizing a Rogers Park synagogue. Shahid Hussain is accused of spray-painting swastikas on the F.R.E.E. Synagogue and Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov High School. (NBC)

4. Sources say Gov. J.B. Pritzker will announce a major tax relief plan today which will “save taxpayers nearly $1 billion in the next year,” according to Patch. His State of the State Address is set for noon at the State Capitol. (Patch)

5. A new taqueria is open on North Broadway. La Biznaga owner Maria “Chayo” Gonzalez grew up in Lincoln Park and said the food is inspired by her family’s Mexican roots. (Block Club)

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Today in Lakeview:

• Learn to curl at Gallagher Way. (6 p.m.)
• See Mercury Theater’s new production of “Women of Soul.” (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A man was charged with misdemeanor theft after stealing a catalytic converter from a car in Roscoe Village on Jan. 12. (CWB)
• The Illinois Legislature canceled this week’s remaining sessions due to the snowstorm. (NBC)
• Chicago blues drummer Sam Lay died this week at 86. (Legacy)
• The Winter Olympics kick off tomorrow in Beijing, with 14 Illinois athletes representing team USA. (Patch)
• The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild is providing free courses to Black brewers to “boost diversity in brewing." (WTTW)

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Events:

• First Saturday Evanston Art Events (February 5)
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• Winter Greek Food Fest (February 11)
• Chicago Artisan Market (Love & Local) in Ravenswood — Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 12-13 (February 12)
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That's all for today, Lakeview! Stay safe and warm and see you tomorrow for more neighborhood news.

— Georgi Presecky

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based newsletter writer and partner content curator. She spent five years on the entertainment beat for FF2 Media covering film festivals across the U.S. Her feature articles have been recognized with awards from the Illinois Women's Press Association and National Federation of Press Women. As editor-in-chief of the Lewis University newspaper, she and her staff earned honors from the Associated Collegiate Press and American Scholastic Press Associations. She began working for Patch in 2019.