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Patrick Smith

News

Teen killed in Austin six years ago remembered

By Patrick Smith | April 17, 2014

The legacy of Marcus Greer’s short life endures as friends and family still mourn his passing.

News

Vigil marks teen’s death, tries to prevent more

By Patrick Smith | April 15, 2014

The public is invited to attend from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight in the 400 block of South Lotus Avenue.

News

Circle Family Healthcare Network a victim of state’s financial problems

By Patrick Smith | February 19, 2013

Experts and political leaders say the state’s huge backlog of unpaid bills is hurting the neediest residents of Illinois and demands a permanent solution.

News

West Side teen’s death affects many for years to come

By Patrick Smith | February 14, 2013

The trauma of 16-year-old Antonio Fenner’s killing reverberates through his circle of friends and family.

News

Rev. Flowers laid to rest

By Patrick Smith | December 18, 2012

State Rep. La Shawn Ford, Rev. Ira Acree and others mourn the lost of the longtime West Side leader.

News

Rep. Ford supporters flood courtroom

By Patrick Smith | December 13, 2012

A group of more than 40 joined the state representative Downtown on Tuesday when he pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of bank fraud and other related charges.

News

Experts: Ford will still be able to serve West Side

By Patrick Smith | December 1, 2012

Political scientists and a fellow state lawmaker say the representative will be able to continue his work in the Illinois House despite his indictment.

News

New liquor store likely coming to West Madison

By Patrick Smith | November 29, 2012

The public has until Dec. 17 to submit feedback about the proposed Austin business.

News

At Peace Tournament, mayor, West Side aldermen call for more activities for Austin youth

By Patrick Smith | November 20, 2012

The Nov. 17 basketball game, sponsored by NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas and CeaseFire, brought together rival gang members with the hope of ending conflict on the streets.

News

IDOT close to second stage of Ike improvements, window for public input narrowing

By Patrick Smith | November 12, 2012

The Illinois Department of Transportation is considering 10 options that would widen the section of the Eisenhower Expressway through Austin. Residents still have time to submit feedback.

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News

  • Expungement, record sealing event helps West Siders get jobs after leaving prison

    Austin resident Anthony Jefferson has been working over the past six years to expunge his criminal record. With help from the Monroe Foundation, he's moving toward the clean slate he wants to achieve to secure employment.

  • Get free groceries, other help from these Austin groups

    On a recent Thursday, volunteers from What About Us Charitable Enterprises spent the morning filling dozens of grocery bags with fresh food and staples that soon filled the arms of West Side residents in need. Dorin “Pastor Mac” McIntyre, executive director and co-founder of What About Us Charitable Enterprises and pastor of Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church, is one of many helping Austin residents struggling with food insecurity.

  • 29th Ward residents invited to holiday events on Tuesday

  • 29th Ward residents invited to propose how to spend $450,000

    Austin residents are invited to participate in this year's participatory budgeting cycle. The annual process lets ward residents ages 14 and up decide how to spend a portion of the aldermanic menu money.

  • Forty Acres Fresh Market marks important moment this week in bringing store to Austin

    Austin moves one step closer this week to getting a new grocery store with the groundbreaking of Forty Acres Fresh Market in the heart of the Soul City Corridor. Another effort to expand food offerings on the West Side continues with the Austin Community Food Co-op, which held a virtual info session last week on its efforts to bring a grocery store to the area.

  • Healing in nature workshop set for Saturday

    The Westside Cultural Alliance continues its "See, Feel and Heal" nature series Saturday at Garfield Park Nature Area, 100 N. Central Park with a workshop on making memory boxes. The workshop sessions focus on art and nature as vehicles of healing through art therapy, which provides wholistic healing for the body, mind and spirit.

  • Illinois residents can apply for help with paying gas, electric bills

    Applications are now open for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for qualified residential customers who are over the age of 60, have a disability or have children under the age of 6 to receive financial assistance to pay their energy bills. LIHEAP is a federally funded bill payment assistance program that helps low- and fixed-income families pay their utility during the winter heating season.

  • West Siders turn out for chili cook off in Austin’s Soul City

    Over a dozen local chefs competed in the second annual "It’s Getting Chili in Soul City" event on Saturday. A team of five who make up the Austin African American Business Networking Association board – Malcolm Crawford, Shirley Fields, Sharmine Rickett, Ronald Smith and Marshawn Felton – created the chili contest last year.

  • Chicago Marathon runner raises money for West Side girls

    Over the last 20 years, Ashley Graham has run 56 marathons - including the Chicago Marathon five times. Several of those marathons she raised money for charity - and this year was no different.

  • Stop by Austin farmers market this week

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