A rendering of a planned new Ryan Field in Evanston. (Credit: Northwestern University)
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Evanston residents are getting a new neighbor: an $800 million rebuilt Ryan Field. Evanston City Council on Monday voted yes on the field revamp and on a controversial zoning change to allow concerts.

Ryan Field file photo. (WTTW News)
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The $800 million proposal to revamp Ryan Field has been controversial from the very beginning. The plans call for a new state-of-the-art stadium that will be smaller in size than the nearly century-old structure it would replace, moving from a capacity of 47,000 to 35,000 for football games.

A rendering of a planned new Ryan Field in Evanston. (Credit: Northwestern University)
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The move to table the measure until next Monday allows more time to negotiate and consider a community benefits agreement with the university. 

Dusty and June, portrayed by Reilly Anspaugh and Daniel Rashid, in “Into the Mist. (Submitted photo)

Held at Studio5 in Evanston, the interactive experience takes the audience back in time to the 1920s for music, dancing and comedy. 

(WTTW News)

The initial program issued payments of $25,000 for housing benefits like mortgage assistance or renovations. Black residents who lived in Evanston during a 50-year period of discriminatory zoning laws and their direct descendants receive priority for eligibility.

Evanston's city council approved a cash option to its Housing Restorative Program. (Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP/Getty Images / File via CNN)

On Monday night, the Evanston City Council approved a cash option to its Housing Restorative Program. Now, the program includes direct cash benefits for those who qualify.

(WTTW News)
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According to a statement from the Evanston Police Department, three of the four people struck were hospitalized with “serious injuries,” while a fourth was treated at the scene. Northwestern confirmed all four people are university employees.

A rendering of a planned new Ryan Field in Evanston. (Credit: Northwestern University)
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“This is more than just a football stadium. This is going to become, we believe, an amazing community asset,” Coach Pat Fitzgerald said.

A rendering of a planned new Ryan Field in Evanston. (Credit: Northwestern University)
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Northwestern University on Wednesday unveiled plans for a state-of-the-art $800 million stadium, which would replace the almost 100-year-old Ryan Field. 

Peggy Lipschutz is passionate about painting. She is perhaps best known as a painter of social and political causes. This past fall an exhibit at the Noyes Cultural Center showcased her decades-long career. We revisit Jay Shefsky's tour of the exhibit and talk with this prolific painter.

Peggy Lipschutz is passionate about painting. She is perhaps best known as a painter of social and political causes. A new exhibit at the Noyes Cultural Center showcases her decades-long career. Jay Shefsky takes a tour of the exhibit and talks with this prolific painter.

Evanston was once the center of the temperance movement and a dry community until 1972. But now it has its very first distillery called FEW. The name just happens to be the initials of the one-time president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, Frances Elizabeth Willard. Whatever Ms. Willard might think of that, the distillery is one of a growing number of spirits producers popping up all around Chicago. We get a taste of what’s being bottled.

We learn about a New Year's Eve celebration that's bringing a community together.

Evanston celebrates New Year's Eve with several free family-friendly "First Night" performances, including Grammy-winning harmonica player Howard Levy. We get a preview of the event, and a performance from Levy and guitarist Bobby Broom. Watch a web extra video performance.

Northwestern University's construction of a $32 million parking garage and visitor center on the lakefront is sparking controversy in Evanston. We talk with a resident who is suing the city for approving the project.

Lovers of used and rare books are mourning the impending loss of a celebrated and unusual neighborhood bookstore. Jay Shefsky has the story.