Weekly Digest: September 25 - October 1

Well, after a long(ish) absence, we are back, bringing you the best of last week's Chicago community journalism. Not all of the newspapers are represented here, but then, not all newspapers have articles that are readily accessible online. This project is still very much a work in progress, so your feedback is very much appreciated.

News
The the most interesting news items from around Chicago.

Austin Weekly News - Austin Victim's Family Sues Killers
Austin Weekly News -Residents Gather To Protest Post Office Closings
Chicago Citizen - 1700 Jobs To Hit Pullman Area
Chicago Journal - Chicago Announces Bike Sharing Plan to Put 3,000 Bicycles Around City
The Gate -  Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle Signs Ordinance Against Immigration Detentions


Features
Longer stories that delve deeply into issues relevant to Chicago residents

The Austin Voice - Morton School of Excellence Rising Like a Phoenix From Its Own Ashes
Austin Weekly News -Teachers, Public Weight in on Extended Day
Chicago Citizen - Parker House Maintains “Link” With Black Community
Chicago Journal - Remap Proposal Would Change 2nd Ward's Makeup
Lakefront Outlook - The Cost of Trauma 
Lawndale News - New Director for Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Shares Vision
News-Star -  Second City No More, NYC Copies [Alderman] Moore's Budget Project

People to Know
Stories that spotlight interesting, laudable and otherwise noteworthy Chicagoans

Austin Weekly News - A Career That Just Clicked

Community Interest
Stories that matter most in their local area.

Austin Weekly News -West Side Church's Raucous Return
The Beverly Review - Annual Walk to Benefit JDRF Work
Chicago Citizen - Program Bridges Technology Gap In Englewood
Chicago Journal - Lawsuit: [Alderman] Fioretti used Law Firm's Cash for Campaign, Shorted Employees
The Gate -  Brighton Park Safety Net Coordinates Violence Prevention Services
Skyline -  Target Renovates Library for Chicago School
Southwest Side News-Herald - Pawn Shop in Archer Heights Brings Protest

Opinions
Opinion pieces about local and national issues alike

Austin Weekly News - What Happened to Our Strong Community
Chicago Citizen - African-Americans Wield Considerable Consumer Power
Lawndale News - Why Local News Is Still Relevant
Southwest Side News-Herald - Legislative Scholarship Rife With Abuse

Art and Entertainment
Plays, art galleries, movies and other cultural events

Chicago Journal - Steppenwolf Brings Pulitzer-Prize Winning Play to Chicago
The Gate -  Chicago Artists Month Kicks Off with Art Walks, Open Studios and More
Lakefront Outlook - Reviews of "Spuk" and "In the Next Room"

Weekly Digest: July 31st - August 6th

News

Beverly Review - Committee, Community Leaders Discuss Bringing Back South Side Irish Parade
Chicago Citizen - Summit Tackles Foreclosure Crisis
Chicago Journal - Clearing the Air in Pilsen
Chicago Journal - Grant Park Makeover Coming
Chicago Journal - Farms Could Pop Up All Over Chicago, If Mayor's New Pitch Sticks
The Gate - Gov. Pat Quinn Signs Illinois Dream Act Into Law
The Gazette - Help People, Not Banks, Say Community Groups

Features

Austin Weekly News - In the Dark: With Electricity Shut Off, Mom and Kids Looking For Help
Chicago Citizen - Good Citizenship: Antwoyne Miller
Lawndale News - Survey Finds People Are Willing to Help Financially Burden[ed] Neighbors
Skyline -  Here Comes the Neighborhood

Community Interest

The Austin Voice - Austin People's Action Center Launches Diabetes Prevention and Care Campaign
Austin Weekly News - A New Direction for Bethel New Life
Chicago Citizen - Community "Reunion" Supports Youth
The Gate - “The Plant” Owner John Edel Chooses Stockyards to House Industrial Vertical Farm
The Gazette - UIC Faculty Unionize Over Working Conditions
Skyline - Triangle Members Plan Revolt
Southwest News-Herald - Neighbors, Local Leaders Take Part in ‘Night Out

Opinions

Austin Weekly News - A Bold Step: In the Wrong Direction
The Gazette - Will the Real People's City Council Please Stand Up?
Southwest News-Herald -  The Real Meaning of Debt Ceiling Battle


Art and Entertainment

Brighton Park Life - Theatre Awards At De La Salle (pdf)
Chicago Journal - Group Wants to Revive Storied Vee Jay Records Building in Chicago
Chicago Journal - Lollapalooza Memories
The Gate - 12th Annual Summer Opera Presents “Maria de Buenos Aires” in Free Performances
Hyde Park Herald - City Pulls a Plug on Muntu Project
Hyde Park Herald - Herald Spotlight: The Smart Museum
Lakefront Outlook - Forum Building to be Spared From Demo

The week of July 24-30, 2011

 News

Chicago Citizen - Chicago's Second Wal-Mart Breaks Ground
Chicago Journal - Alderman Get Tough on Bank-Owned Buildings
Lakefront Outlook - Gun Violence Upends Kenwood
North Lawndale Community News - State Farm to the Rescue 

Features

Austin Weekly News - Exonerated Man Starts a New Life After 25 Years in Prison
Austin Weekly News - Why TIF Money for Coca-Cola?
The Beverly Review - Teen offers advice to legislators
Skyline - Republican Remap Revolt

Community Interest

Chicago Citizen - High School Freshmen Prepare for College
Inside-Booster - VIP's Strip Club 'Not a Problem' says Wageuspack
Lawndale News -Bank of America Connects Teens to Opportunities
Skyline - Carbini Target Reveals Design
Southwest News-Herald -  Local Alderman Back New Curfew Law Plan


Opinion 

Austin Weekly News - As the Rich Thrive, More Fall Through the Cracks
Chicago Journal - Get Over It - Bring a Casino to the South Loop
Southwest News-Herald - Floods Bring Tragedy Beyond Any Tragedies

Entertainment


The Beverly Review - BAC Art Fest a Huge Success
Chicago Citizen - Soul Group Prepares to Dazzle QBC Gala
The Gate - Back of the Yards Youth Group Performs at Fiesta Del Sol
Lawndale News - Hot Weather Calls for a Fiesta Del Sol
North Lawndale Community News - The First Annual Taste of WVON
Southwest News-Herald - Former West Lawn Resident Pens Mystery