Good morning, Evanston.
Local independent bookseller Bookends & Beginnings is the lead plaintiff in a federal class action lawsuit brought against Amazon and the five largest book publishers in the U.S. The suit alleges Amazon and the “Big Five” colluded and acted to restrain competition in the sale of books. Bookends & Beginnings opened in June 2014 in the space formerly occupied by Bookman’s Alley.
District 65 Superintendent Dr. Devon Horton formed an LLC, Altering the Education Xpectation, in October of last year to provide executive coaching services in the educational field. Dr. Horton’s contract permits consulting work as long as it occurs during vacation days, holidays, or other non-duty days and the board president is notified. Dr. Horton stated that he notified President Anya Tanyavutti about the one-hour virtual Equity symposium for Harris County, Texas, held on March 5 and he was not compensated for the speaking engagement.
Don’t let this happen in Evanston: In the United States, 25% of newspapers have ceased operation, and 2,000 community newspapers have closed in the past 15 years. When a community loses a newspaper, it loses a critical source of unbiased information and a way to hold government accountable.
At the Evanston RoundTable, we have responded to the threat to journalism by pivoting our business model to become a non-profit digital news outlet. Our mission is to expand our reporting capacity, allowing us to better inform the community about local government, schools, civic and artistic activities, and other important issues facing Evanston. Our goals include fostering civic engagement and empowering people to address complex issues facing our diverse community, promoting a better understanding and appreciation of people of all races, ethnicities, and income levels.
We continue to provide vital news at no charge, reinforcing our belief that a strong democracy is based on a free press that provides solid journalism, enabling citizens to make informed decisions.
Help us continue to provide timely coverage of important news and events in Evanston! Become a member of the Evanston RoundTable today.
Tomorrow is Mary De Jong’s last day with the Evanston RoundTable. Mary has worn many hats over the last 13 years, including photographer. We wish her well in her retirement!
Local Election News: Early in-person voting is open at the Civic Center for the April 6 election. Residents have until April 1 to request a mail-in ballot. See Voting in the April 6 General Election and our Election Guide.
COVID-19 by the numbers: We are checking in with many sources to keep you updated on COVID-19 cases and vaccine information.
- Six new cases were reported yesterday in Evanston. The seven-day average is nine.
- There were no reported fatalities yesterday. Evanston has lost 114 residents to the pandemic.
- Our City’s positive test rate for the past seven days is 1.5%; in suburban Cook County it is 4.0% and in Illinois it is 3.3%.
- The number of cases per 100,000 population over the past seven days is 82 in Evanston, 98 in suburban Cook County, and 130 in Illinois.
- Illinois received 936,000 doses and used 829,600 doses of the vaccine in the past seven days. Illinois has used 83% of the 6.7 million doses received to date.
- About 2.1 million or 16.3% of total Illinois residents are fully vaccinated, including 310,890 in the past seven days.
Variants – IDPH reports 250 cases of more infectious COVID-19 variants including 19 cases of variant P.1, first identified in Brazil.
Evanston Vax Facts: One-third or 20,901 of Evanston residents 16 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and a fifth or 12,372 of residents 16 and older are fully vaccinated as of March 19. The proportion of Evanston seniors vaccinated is higher: 88% of residents 65 and older have received at least one dose and 56% are fully vaccinated.
Evanston received 1,256 doses of the vaccine last week. The City has “substantially vaccinated” individuals 65 and older and is now vaccinating Phase 1B and 1B+ individuals. More details are available on the City’s Vaccine Dashboard.
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.
Upcoming Events
Vigil in Solidarity With Asian Americans. The public is invited to attend a vigil hosted by local elected officials and community organizations to show solidarity with the Asian American community on Thursday, April 1 at 5 p.m. Virtual or in-person at Lovelace Park.
Community Events to Celebrate Earth Month. The City of Evanston’s Office of Sustainability is encouraging residents to help celebrate Earth Month by participating in community events and weekly challenges throughout April.
Elsewhere on the RoundTable Website
Michael Matek’s Chess Problem Returns. In addition to Keith Holzmueller’s chess column, Rank and File, the RoundTable is delighted that Michael Matek will resume his chess problem on a regular basis.
Did School Board Members Abdicate Transparency or Duty? A former District 65 and District 202 School Board member writes in response to Saturday’s RoundTable story about District 65 School Board members conducting the public’s business in private meetings with administrators.
Masked Person of the Day: Steve Lemieux-Jordan, taking a break from his post as an election judge, posed for this photo.
Around the Web
Pfizer, Moderna vaccines are 90% effective after two doses in a study of real-life conditions, the CDC finds. The Washington Post reports that a federal study released Monday provides reassurance of protection for front-line workers in the U.S.
Radio and TV host Jon Hansen offered a traffic report on the Suez Canal stoppage, Chicago style.
The 17-year cicadas’ coming-out party is expected in one corner of the State, reports the Chicago Tribune.
If you appreciate the RoundTable newsletter, please forward it to friends and suggest that they sign up!