Good Sunday morning, Evanston.
This weekend had no shortage of news. Here’s a roundup of the RoundTable’s coverage of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, plus some of our most-read stories from the past week. Look for more MLK Day stories later this week.
Horton arrested: On Saturday, Georgia police arrested Devon Horton, former superintendent at District 65 and DeKalb County (Georgia) Public Schools, on charges of cruelty to children and aggravated assault, according to DeKalb County publication Decaturish. Few details were immediately available, though a DeKalb County Schools spokesperson said the alleged incident was “not related to the school district.”
Envision milestone: Next week, Evanston’s City Council is set to take a major vote on the city’s future: Whether to adopt a new comprehensive plan setting out policies and goals for the city’s land use over the next 20 years. The RoundTable presents a rundown of the Envision Evanston 2045 story so far: how the project began, how its timeline stretched into a yearslong saga, how the comprehensive plan has shifted through amendments and what to expect in the zoning rewrite still to come.
Willard TWI tension: The Willard Elementary two-way Spanish/English immersion program is set to close, but a Thursday meeting for TWI families left some parents upset and many questions unresolved, including whether the closure decision should have been a matter for the school board, not administrators. Superintendent Angel Turner (standing at right) said more information will be available at a Jan. 26 board meeting and a Feb. 4 Foster School session.
De-caffeinated: An employee confirmed Saturday that the Peet’s Coffee at 1622 Chicago Ave. will close Jan. 30 after nearly 23 years in business. Employees were told the decision was made because the location’s sales have been down. The coffee chain is also closing two locations in downtown Chicago.
More coffee news: The Starbucks at 1901 Dempster St. that closed in mid-November amid a national strike is being readied to reopen next week, according to a construction worker renovating the shop Thursday.
Peggy Tarr: In rhyme and prose, the RoundTable’s calendar columnist reflects on the life and words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (above, King delivers his “I Have a Dream Speech” in August 1963). She also shares information on more holidays and designations for the month of January…