Middle Eastern community celebrates Illinois becoming first state to add its racial classification

Good afternoon, Chicago.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, one of Chicago’s most storied arts institutions and long a crucial part of the city’s identity, said today that it was laying off 12% of its staff, effectively immediately.

Thirteen current employees have been let go, with seven open positions eliminated.

ICYMI, read Tribune critic Chris Jones’ recent column on the state of Chicago theater.

Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/breaking and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

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With just a few short words, lawmakers passed a bill that, once signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, makes Illinois the first state to add the racial classification of Middle Eastern or North African for state data collection purposes. Read more here.

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Demolition of the office building and parking deck on the former Alcatel-Lucent campus in Naperville is underway but what the property’s new owner plans to do with the site hasn’t been disclosed. Read more here.

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Chris Getz takes over as the new Chicago White Sox general manager, showing that Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf’s opinion is the only one that matters. Read more here.

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“Contra/Banned” curator Rebecca Fons: “With book bans around the country right now, it felt like the Film Center could do something in response.” Read more here.

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Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty and says he’ll skip a hearing next week in the case accusing him and others of illegally trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. Read more here.

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Originally Published: Aug 31, 2023 at 1:29 pm