Maia Spoto
Daily Northwestern
Evanston, IL, United States
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Past articles by Maia:
Chloe x Halle talk art, relationships, astrology in A&O event
R&B sister duo Chloe and Halle Bailey, better known as Chloe x Halle, dished on their artistry after performing some of their top songs at Sunday’s A&O Productions 2021 Ball. The screening was A&O’s first in-person event of the academic year. Northwestern students could attend the event on their computers or Deering Meadow, where admission... → Read More
Everything you need to know about Evanston’s April 6 election
Tuesday marks the culmination of a controversial and contentious election season that began in November and has the potential to bring in an entirely new City Council. There are 30 combined candidates vying for aldermanic, city clerk and school board seats. Polling places across the city will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 7... → Read More
Policy Guide to 5th Ward Aldermanic Race
Candidates Carolyn Murray and Bobby Burns will face off for the 5th Ward aldermanic seat in Tuesday’s general election. Murray’s endorsements include the Community Alliance for Better Government and former 5th Ward candidate Tina Foster, and Burns’ endorsements include Ald. Robin Rue Simmons (5th), former Ald. Delores Holmes (5th) and Shorefront Legacy Center founder Dino... → Read More
NUCNC reconvenes, met with heavy NIPAS presence
In its first in-person action since last November, NU Community Not Cops assembled Saturday to push for the abolition of University Police and to criticize University leadership. The group of about 150 students was met with over 70 fully armed riot police from the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System’s Mobile Field Force. In addition to... → Read More
Local activists criticize Fiske “Civility Matters” campaign newsletter
A section of Ald. Judy Fiske’s (1st) re-election campaign newsletter, titled “Civility Matters,” has drawn criticism from residents who say Fiske’s message contains coded racism targeting local activists. The newsletter, published toward the end of February, emphasized Fiske’s commitment to accessibility, transparency, rebuilding Downtown Evanston’s economy and utilizing fiscal responsibility… → Read More
Mendoza appears to win over 70 percent of city clerk votes
City clerk candidate Stephanie Mendoza appears to have won over 70 percent of the vote, with all precincts reporting. The office will release results for write-in candidates in the coming days. If a write-in candidate receives over 921 votes, they will have a spot on the ballot to run against Mendoza in the April 6... → Read More
Century 12 Evanston movie theatre closes its doors
The Century 12 Evanston movie theatre, which has been closed for almost a year, will not reopen under its current ownership, city officials told the Evanston RoundTable Monday. Paul Zalmezak, the city’s economic development manager, said to the RoundTable a loophole in the lease agreement between Century 12/Cinemark theatres and the Stockbridge Capital Group, which... → Read More
Health and Human Services department issues cold weather advisory
As temperatures plummet, the city issued a cold weather advisory. For residents who must go outside, the city recommends wearing several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing — wool, if possible — as well as a hat, gloves and scarf, an Evanston Health and Human Services Department news release said. Frostbite can occur in extreme... → Read More
Tomate Fresh Kitchen to reopen Feb. 15
This pandemic winter just got a little brighter — Tomate Fresh Kitchen is set to reopen Feb. 15, the restaurant announced Wednesday night. “Hello Friends, Thank you for your outpouring love and concerns,” owner and head-chef Tania Merlos-Ruiz wrote on Facebook. “Everyone is doing fine.” The family-owned Latin American street cuisine restaurant closed temporarily toward... → Read More
ETHS to open in-person activities in February
Evanston Township High School will open some in-person activities in February, school officials announced Thursday. Due to improving local health metrics, students will soon have the option to participate in athletics, fine arts, hands-on learning, mindfulness practices and other activities in-person at ETHS, the email said. Students will continue learning according to the school’s Enhanced... → Read More
Marta Torres, 61, was a beloved and joyous friend, teacher
Marta Torres had “an unforgettable joyous voice” and was a friend to all, her family members said. Torres, also known as “Chacha” to her grandchildren, was most recently a teacher’s assistant at Washington Elementary School. The Evanston resident was also a mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister and aunt who loved to read, write, dance, attend live... → Read More
Rep. Jan Schakowsky votes to impeach President Donald Trump
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) joined the House of Representatives in a 232-197 vote to impeach President Donald Trump for a historic second time Wednesday. The impeachment on charges of “inciting an insurrection” comes exactly a week after pro-Trump rioters breached the U.S. Capitol, leaving five dead. Shortly after the attack, Schakowsky, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and... → Read More
Woman shot, critically injured after being taken hostage in IHOP
A woman was shot and critically injured after being taken hostage in IHOP, 100 Asbury Ave, Saturday evening. Evanston and Chicago Police responded to a 5:38 p.m. call of shots fired at CVS Pharmacy, 101 Asbury Ave, Evanston police chief Demitrous Cook said. EPD sergeant Kenneth Carter said preliminary investigations indicate the man was attempting... → Read More
Evanston, NU gear up for next phases of vaccine distribution
Evanston’s Health and Human Services department called city residents and workers Thursday to complete a COVID-19 vaccination interest form to help the city gauge local demand as it moves into new stages of administration. Those who complete the form will not automatically be registered for the vaccine, but they will receive regular updates on the... → Read More
State, local leaders condemn President Trump, rioters
After pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for President Donald Trump’s immediate impeachment and removal. The violent mob delayed the ceremonial counting of electoral votes that was set to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Trump released a video statement on Twitter a few hours after the initial breach... → Read More
Pritzker lowers Illinois Phase 1B vaccine eligibility age to 65
The priority eligibility age will lower from 75 to 65 for the next stage of Illinois COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday. The shift marks a departure from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendations. “ACIP’s guidance serves as the foundational blueprint for Illinois’ Phase 1B plan, with one key adjustment: here in... → Read More
District 65 delays hybrid learning launch
Evanston/Skokie School District 65 will not launch its hybrid learning model Jan 19 as previously planned and is currently reviewing the health metrics in place for reopening schools, Superintendent Devon Horton announced Tuesday. District guidelines had previously included meeting a three-day rolling COVID-19 positivity rate of 8 percent or lower for Suburban Cook County, metrics... → Read More
Homeownership assistance reparations program continues to take shape
Reparations subcommittee members met virtually Friday to continue developing a Restorative Housing Reparations program, the first facet of the city’s reparations initiative. As part of the city’s $10 million reparations fund, which includes revenue from a recreational cannabis retailers tax and resident donations, city officials have budgeted $400,000 for the homeownership assistance program.… → Read More
Approved 2021 budget set to raise property taxes by 1 percent
City Council passed a budget for the 2021 fiscal year that raises property taxes by 1 percent, a vote coming after residents called on aldermen to slim down a 5.9 percent tax increase proposed in October. After a Nov. 10 city council meeting where residents expressed dismay over the tax, city officials lowered the increase... → Read More
Proposed beer pong ban sparks controversy among residents, students
Ald. Judy Fiske (1st) proposed a ban on public drinking games, which she said were “devastating” some Evanston neighborhoods, at a Nov. 2 Human Services Committee meeting. Fiske said the ban could be modeled after a 2005 Belmar, New Jersey ordinance that prohibits outdoor drinking games visible from public vantage points and adjacent properties. If... → Read More