Good morning, Evanston.
Today is the last day for early in-person voting at the Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and tomorrow is Election day for aldermanic, District 65 and District 202 School Boards, and the City Clerk race. On Tuesday, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Find your polling place here. After polls close, results will be reported here.
For more details about who is on the ballot, see Voting in the April 6 General Election and our Election Guide.
Thank you, RoundTable readers! We wrapped up our first big membership drive this past weekend – and it was a resounding success. More than 400 Evanstonians have stepped up – and more than 750 have contributed since we became a non-profit news outlet. Your support makes it possible for the Roundtable to expand our work covering local government, schools, civic and artistic activities, and other important issues facing Evanston. And that expansion is just getting started.
We may be done with our daily “asks” for now – but it’s never too late to join!
COVID-19 By the Numbers: We are checking in with many sources to keep you updated on COVID-19 cases and vaccine information.
After bottoming out in early March, the number of COVID-19 cases are rising in Evanston and in the State.
- The number of COVID-19 cases in Evanston doubled again to 114 cases from 63 the week ending March 28 and from 31 the week ending March 21. The City cites congregate housing – which includes Northwestern University residences – and community spread for the rising case counts.
- Northwestern reported 75 new cases the week ending March 31. The majority of cases were among undergraduate students. Northwestern students, staff, and professors living in Evanston are included in City test and case counts.
- There were no fatalities reported last week. The last fatalities were reported on March 4. Evanston has lost 114 residents to the pandemic.
- Our City’s seven-day positive test rate rose to 2.0% from 1.5% the week ending March 28; the test positive rate in suburban Cook County is 5.0% and in Illinois is 3.8%.
- The number of cases per 100,000 population over the last seven days is 153 in Evanston, 123 in suburban Cook County and 148 in Illinois.
- Illinois received 1.1 million doses and used 708,400 doses of the vaccine in the past seven days. Illinois has used 81% of the 7.8 million doses received to date.
- As of Sunday, 2.4 million or 18.6% of Illinois residents are fully vaccinated, including 305,000 in the last week.
Variants: The Illinois Department of Public Health now reports 494 cases of more infectious COVID-19 variants including 388 cases of variant B.1.1.7 (UK), 59 cases of P.1 (Brazil) and 44 cases of B.1.427/429 (California).
Evanston Vax Facts: Some 44% of Evanston residents 16 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 22% of residents 16 and older are fully vaccinated. The proportion of Evanston seniors vaccinated is higher; 91% of residents 65 and older have received at least one dose and 60% are fully vaccinated.
Evanston received 1,035 doses of the vaccine this past week. The City is now vaccinating Phase 1B and 1B+ individuals. More details are available on the City’s Vaccine Dashboard.
Starting April 12, everyone 16 and older will be eligible for vaccination in the State of Illinois.
The RoundTable is adding journalists to our stable of writers. As we expand our coverage, we’re looking for reporters interested in covering topics related to Evanston school, arts, business, and City news. Interested? Please email us at news@evanstonroundtable.com with a resume and writing clips.
Looking at the Week Ahead
All events virtual unless otherwise noted.
Today
Last day for early in-person voting at the Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Human Services Committee Meeting, 6 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday
Election day: If you haven’t already voted, be sure to cast your vote for Aldermanic, District 65 and District 202 School Board and City Clerk races. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Find your polling place here. After the polls close, follow election results here.
Levy Lecture Series: We Crossed a Bridge and it Trembled, Voices from Syria. Northwestern University Professor Wendy Pearlman discusses her new book based on interviews conducted with displaced Syrians across the globe. 1 p.m.
A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance. Join New York Times bestselling poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib in conversation with award-winning poet Nate Marshall for a discussion on how Black performance is woven into the fabric of American culture. Sponsored by Family Action Network (FAN). 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Community Solar Webinar, noon to 1 p.m.
Design and Project Review Committee, 2:30 p.m.
Citizen Police Review Commission, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday
“Why Native Plants?” Evanston Public Library’s Lunch & Learn, Part of the Climate Resilient Communities Series. Noon to 12:45 p.m.
Environment Board: agenda is available, 6:30 p.m.
2nd Ward Meeting, 7 p.m.
Housing & Homelessness Commission, 7 p.m.
Fans: How Watching Sports Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Understanding, Author Larry Olmstead explains the positive social, psychological, and physical health benefits of being a sports fan. Sponsored by Family Action Network (FAN). 7 p.m.
Race, Gender & Policing: Legal Scholars Discuss Their Works – A Feminist Critique of Police Stops & Policing the Black Man. Josephine Ross and Roger A. Fairfax, Jr. discuss their writings and research on the injustices of our criminal justice system and shed light on the ways policing and our legal systems can be improved. Sponsored by Evanston Public Library. 6:30 p.m.
For a list of other upcoming events and meetings, check the RoundTable calendar. Have an event to publicize? Submit it for our calendar.
Around the Web
- Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory has reopened to the public, and its “Saturation” Spring Flower Show is a Technicolor Sight for Winter-Weary Eyes.
- It was supposed to be a pandemic triumph. Instead, The New York Times reports that the coronavirus testing program at New Trier High School offers a cautionary lesson about what happens when educators are asked to take on public health responsibilities.
- The Biden administration rethinks mass vaccination sites. The federal government has found that Americans prefer vaccination at pharmacies over expensive mega-sites.
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