Good afternoon! Mom’s Day weekend is quickly approaching, and this listing may assist you to make last-minute plans. Right here’s what else it is advisable know in the present day.
1. Nationwide Endowment for the Arts grant cancellations have hit key Chicago cultural occasions
Organizers of some outstanding Chicago cultural occasions have obtained official notices that their federal grants are canceled as President Donald Trump’s administration strikes to hole out the nation’s main federal arts funder, my WBEZ colleagues Mike Davis and Courtney Kueppers report.
Trump stated Friday he’s clawing again grant {dollars} which have already been promised for this yr. He’s additionally proposing eliminating the group’s finances for the longer term, a transfer he tried throughout his first time period that was finally rebuked by Congress.
Open Home Chicago and Black Harvest Movie Competition are amongst these whose federal monies had been withdrawn, although each say this yr’s occasions will nonetheless happen.
Different Chicago arts organizations have but to obtain official phrase from the NEA. That features the Grant Park Music Fest, which applications a slate of in style summer time concert events downtown. The group is ready to obtain a $75,000 NEA grant to assist this summer time’s lineup. [WBEZ]
2. Contesting Prepare dinner County property taxes can really feel like a part-time job
A Chicago home-owner’s battle for property tax aid reveals shortcomings with the county’s assessments and appeals course of, my colleague Adora Namigadde studies for WBEZ.
Karin Schluecker Korth stated her home is just too huge for her, however she doesn’t wish to go away as a result of it holds the reminiscence of her late husband, Bruce, who died in 2015. Korth has been studying all she will about interesting her property tax assessments however stated the method has been “extremely exhausting.”
When interesting her 2021 evaluation, Korth needed to work with the Prepare dinner County Board of Overview and the Illinois Property Tax Enchantment Board. She introduced details about comparable properties in her space to show her personal evaluation ought to be lowered. She additionally spent hours documenting proof detailing the inside state of her residence and people of properties close by.
Prepare dinner County officers stated entry to key details about the inside state of individuals’s properties, which already exists in a federal database, would assist make property assessments extra correct and stop the necessity for appeals. [WBEZ]
The fencing violated the deliberate growth ordinance requiring 24-hour open entry to the 1.2-acre public plaza, Abby Miller, Fran Spielman and Stephanie Zimmermann report for the Chicago Solar-Instances.
Final fall, black-meshed fences and indicators studying “personal property” and “no trespassing — violators will likely be prosecuted” went up.
The town’s Division of Planning and Growth, in an April 14 letter to Trump Tower possession, ordered them to take away the barricades by July 1. If the limitations weren’t taken down, the town would have pursued enforcement choices, together with searching for a courtroom order. [Chicago Sun-Times]
The order will limit the mass assortment and sharing of autism-related knowledge for Illinois residents, in response to rhetoric from the nation’s prime well being administrator round the reason for autism, Tina Sfondeles studies for the Chicago Solar-Instances.
It comes after Kennedy, the federal well being and human Companies secretary, not too long ago stated he would undertake a “huge testing and analysis effort” to find out the origins of autism, together with an investigation into whether or not any environmental components are inflicting a spectrum of neurodivergent circumstances.
With Pritzker’s signature, Illinois will turn into the primary state to formally limit the gathering or sharing of autism-related knowledge absent authorized or medical necessity. [Chicago Sun-Times]
On the Little Ducky Flower Farm, a small “U-pick” flower farm tucked away in suburban Barrington Hills, residents may (as soon as upon a time) get pleasure from choosing tulips, dahlias and different seasonal flowers whereas studying in regards to the village’s agricultural historical past.
However final Might, the village despatched a cease-and-desist letter to proprietor Chris Yamamoto, forcing him to shut store. The village contends the farm violates its zoning codes for companies on residential property, Shannon Tyler studies for the Chicago Solar-Instances.
Yamamoto isn’t giving up. He’s already submitted two extra purposes and has been ready for a response since February. Within the meantime, he and his spouse are choosing and delivering tulips themselves. [Chicago Sun-Times]
Right here’s what else is occurring
- The Trump administration plans to deport migrants to Libya. [NPR]
- The conclave to decide on a brand new pope has begun. [AP]
- India fired missiles at Pakistan in what it stated was retaliation for final month’s bloodbath of Indian vacationers. [AP]
- Disney is constructing its seventh theme park, this one within the United Arab Emirates. [AP]
Oh, and another factor …
In case you assume relocating is difficult in the present day, a century in the past, Chicago tenants confronted price-gouging, extortion and havoc within the streets each Might 1, my colleague Justin Bull studies for WBEZ’s Curious Metropolis.
“How Shifting Day started actually relies on whom you requested,” stated Paul Durica, director of exhibitions on the Chicago Historical past Museum. “Some folks thought it needed to do with seasonal change. You’re proper on the cusp of summer time. It is sensible. Others tied it to annual occasions just like the ending of the college yr.”
Folks from each stroll of life participated in Shifting Day, together with immigrants, longtime residents and even the well-off. [WBEZ]
Inform me one thing good …
What’s the smartest thing you’ve performed on your mother for Mom’s Day, whether or not it’s a considerate expertise or a novel present?
Jennifer writes:
“I’ve three sisters, and we reside in numerous elements of the nation. Final yr for Mom’s Day, my sisters and I made a decision it could be enjoyable for all of us to ship my mother the identical card. I discovered a humorous card, purchased 4 of them, and despatched them out to my sisters. Our mother thought it was a very humorous prank, and he or she nonetheless has no thought which of us got here up with the concept. We’re doing it once more this yr!”
Be at liberty to e mail me, and your response could also be included within the e-newsletter this week.
