October 31, 2025 Edition

OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2025. Volume 3 No. 21

the purge is coming

the purge is coming

Inside the SNAP Benefit Crisis

2 OCT 29 --- OCT 31, 2025

E-NOTES Publisher Cheryl Mainor Norman

Editor-In-Chief

Kai El Zabar

Chief Content Officier Laura Miller Malachi Webster Editorial Assistant CNW Studio, LLC Creative Direction Laura Miller Executive Producer Kevin Ross Sales Manager Michael Toliver Sales Manager Max Blaisdell Copy Editor Mila K. Marshall PhD. Staff Writers 19 Malachi Webster Candi McCrary Neffer Kerr 24 Cabryl Breotti CL. Blackburn

Columnists

Dr. Sanja Rickette Stinson David Seaton

Intern & Illustrator

Elijah Lee

Cover Artwork

CNW Studios, created with Canva Chicago News Weekly, LLC 700 N Sacramento Blvd Suite 320 Chicago, IL 60612 (312) 877-5151 Volume 3 No. 21 October 15, 2025 Chicago News Weekly is Published on Thursday www.cnwmedia.com advertising@cnwmedia.c om editorial@cnwmedia.co m

CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S ISSUE AT WWW.CNWMEDIA.COM/E-EDITIONS

Nakedness is Freeing: Nothing is Hidden.

Everything is Exposed If I had to assess the majority of people I know, especially those of the Catholic faith, I’d be inclined to say that they are perhaps the most pious and least likely to feel comfortable naked. They’re not alone.

Most people are uncomfortable with their own nakedness and are actually embarrassed by it..

I have always been comfortable with my nakedness — until I wasn’t. As a youth, I would wash my mother’s back for her, as I did for her sister, my aunt. They had bathed me as a child, so it seemed very natural. I was not embarrassed to walk in on my mother, catching a glimpse of her naked as she dressed for a social affair.

When asked if we were lesbians, we laughed in shock, thinking our roommate was frigid or crazy. Both my best friend and I came from families with sisters and often spent time nude in the sauna on campus, discussing beauty routines, which our roommate found unusual.

Most of us learned that nakedness was personal and not to be shared.

Even married couples didn’t parade their nakedness. Women spent money on sexy lingerie to entice their husbands or lovers, and the men wore their boxers and aftershave cologne to bed. They undressed under the covers.

This was the way to do things. We learned that our naked selves were something to hide from others at a young age. Most of us may not have been exposed to another way of thinking. For instance, my At times she even asked for my assistance — to zip roommate may have been influenced by the naturalness expressed her dress or help with her long-waisted bra. Growing with our nudity by my friend, S.D.C., and me. up with no brothers, the comfortability of being naked in the company of other women was nurtured The truth is that many cultures regard nudity as completely acceptable, and seemed natural. Of course, we did not do so even in somewhat public settings. If you have ever had the good around our father. We knew that to be different. fortune to assimilate yourself to this way of doing things, you may have found the experience liberating enough to allow it to influence My sisters and I were taught to be ladies and carry the rest of your life. ourselves respectfully. Parading naked in the presence of our father was not permitted. We were always I recall in the mid-seventies, as an exchange student at Forah Bay appropriately dressed in the home, which sometimes College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, it was not unusual to see women meant sporting a robe. However, we were comfortable nursing their young publicly. Also, women could be seen topless in public settings like the marketplace — and no one thought it was with our bodies and with ourselves. unusual or sexually provocative. Only the foreign visitors and other We were taught that our bodies were beautiful and exchange students were shocked. felt very comfortable in our skin. My point: we come into this world born naked, beautiful babies.

Perhaps you have dared to swim topless in Hawaii or have indulged There is no shame in an infant’s nakedness. We all your nakedness at a sauna in Sweden. There are American cities that adore and shower them with love, change their offer you the experience of unselfconscious nudity in a Russian or diapers, bathe them, and hug them with a bountiful Korean spa. You can even seek out nude beaches in America and shower of love. abroad. You may have recognized the lack of false vanity in those who are comfortable with their naked bodies.

With that said, unfortunately, most of us probably can’t remember the last time we were comfortably Old ladies and young girls sit side by side, seemingly without concern naked for a period of time longer than 20 minutes or for how they appear. We see that it is not necessary to hide our so. Many of us are only naked for the length of time it imperfections; from cellulite to wrinkles, all is accepted with takes us to shower or bathe. We quickly dry off and equilibrium. We can see the beauty and naturalness of our different put our clothes or pajamas on without taking even a bodies, accepting ourselves as just right, just as we are. Being naked in moment to enjoy the feeling of the air against our bare front of children can be discussed with your spouse, and a plan skin. developed for your family. Children have their way of letting you know when they are ready for a clothes-only family.

I recall being in a shared dorm room one weekend when my best friend was visiting. We showered and Embracing your naked self can foster freedom and self-acceptance. entered my room, which I shared with another young Start with 10 minutes of self-exploration in the shower or bath to learn lady. To our surprise, as we laughed and talked while about your body and its unique features. Gradually extend this time, lathering our bodies with lotion and baby oil, my enjoying activities like reading or sleeping nude, which can enhance comfort and joy. Consider being nude in private outdoor spaces or roommate was extremely uncomfortable. engaging in creative activities. Ultimately, embracing nudity can cultivate feelings of contentment, freedom, and self-love.

OCT 29 --- OCT 31, 2025

3

NATIONAL SPORTS

The National Betting Association: Inside Professional Sports' Gambling Problem MALACHI WEBSITER - STAFF WRITER From the NBAto the NFL, athletes are getting caught in gambling traps. But some get lifetime bans while others get grace. The pattern reveals something uncomfortable about power and protection in professional sports.

Jontay Porter was supposed to be a comeback story. The younger brother of Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr., he had battled injuries that derailed his early career. When he got a shot with the Toronto Raptors in 2023, it felt like redemption.

Then came March 2024. Federal investigators discovered Porter had been sharing inside information with gamblers, manipulating his playing time to influence prop bets. The NBA banned him for life.

He was 24 years old.

Last week, federal prosecutors unsealed two massive indictments naming over 30 people—including active NBA coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player Damon Jones. The investigation revealed illegal high-stakes poker games tied to organized crime families, insider trading schemes involving player information, and millions in fraudulent bets.

If you've been tracking gambling scandals across professional sports, you'll notice a pattern: who gets caught, who gets prosecuted, who gets grace, and who doesn't. Welcome to the National Betting Association, where the house always wins, and the rules for playing seem to depend on your color, your profile, and your market value.

The Shohei Ohtani Precedent When Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was caught embezzling $16 million to cover gambling debts, the MLB superstar emerged unscathed. The narrative was immediate: Ohtani was the victim. Federal prosecutors agreed.

Mizuhara faced charges. Ohtani kept his $700 million contract, his endorsements, his reputation. He won the World Series.

The assumption of innocence was total.

The institutional protection was complete.

When Jontay Porter's case broke, the Raptors cut him immediately. His agent dropped him.

4 OCT 29 -- OCT 31, 2025

Endorsement deals vanished.

There was no crisis management team. No sympathetic press coverage. No benefit of the doubt.

"The double standard is glaring," says Dr. Travis Gosa, a sociologist at Cornell University who studies race and sports.

"When a white athlete is connected to gambling, the assumption is they've been deceived or led astray. When an athlete of color is involved, the assumption is criminality. It's not subtle."

The Gambling Gold Rush To understand why so many athletes are getting caught in gambling scandals, you have to understand how completely sports betting has consumed American culture in the last five years.

But here's the contradiction: while the leagues profit from gambling, athletes are prohibited from participating.

The rules are clear. The enforcement is aggressive. And the patterns of who gets caught —and how they're treated— reveal something ugly about power, privilege, and protection.

In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting. Since then, 38 states have legalized it. The industry has exploded from $300 million in annual revenue to over The Pattern Nobody Wants to $120 billion. Sports betting is Name now a bigger industry than Some people get caught in gambling Hollywood. scandals and recover. Others TAnd professional sports leagues disappear forever. Some get one-year suspensions. Others get lifetime bans. have embraced it with open The difference correlates heavily arms. Every broadcast features with three things: race, market value, betting odds. Every arena has and institutional support. sportsbook lounges. NBA CommissionerAdam Silver has "Look at the data," says Dr. Gosa. been one of the most vocal "White players in the NFL who proponents of legalized gambling in professional sports. violated gambling rules? Mostly oneyear suspensions, then reinstatement.

Players of color? Banned for life or "The leagues have turned multiple-year suspensions. Same gambling from a vice to a violation. Different consequences." revenue stream," says Patrick Rishe, a sports economist at Calvin Ridley (white) bet on NFL Washington University in St. games, got suspended for a year, Louis. "They've monetized came back. Shaka Toney (Black) bet every angle. Every stat. Every on NFL games, got suspended for an prop bet. They've essentially entire season, never returned. Both turned their athletes into violated the same policy. Different gambling commodities." outcomes.

Tucupita Marcano (Venezuelan player, minimal prior notoriety) placed 387 bets and got a lifetime ban—the first active MLB player in 101 years to be permanently banned.Andrew Saalfrank (white pitcher in minors) placed bets and got a one-year suspension, then was reinstated. First-time offenders. Radically different enforcement.

Pat Hoberg (white umpire) was connected to illegal gambling accounts through friends. MLB investigation cleared him of personally betting or influencing games, but fired him anyway.

He can apply for reinstatement in 2026.

Jontay Porter shared information and got a lifetime ban with no path back.

The patterns aren't random. They're not coincidental.

Why BlackAthletes Get More Caught There are structural reasons for this disparity.

"Black athletes, particularly young ones, are more likely to come from working-class and low-income backgrounds," explains Dr. Gosa. "They're more likely to have extended networks that include people involved in gray-market or illegal gambling operations.

They're more likely to be approached by people who knew them before they were famous. They're more vulnerable to exploitation."

The average white athlete comes from suburban or privileged backgrounds. Their social networks are more insulated. Their families have intergenerational wealth and connections that provide protection.

SPORTS The National Betting Association (cont’d ) Black athletes often become overnight millionaires in their early twenties with limited financial education, extensive family obligations, and social circles that include people operating on the margins of legality.

"These aren't bad people," says a former NBA player agent who requested anonymity. "They're young men who suddenly have millions of dollars and fifty people in their ear telling them how to use it. Some of those people have good intentions. Some don't. And when gambling gets involved, you've got the perfect storm."

The Exploitation Pipeline An athlete—usually young, usually earning their first substantial contract— gets approached by someone they trust. A childhood friend. A family member.

Someone who was there before the fame.

That person introduces them to someone who runs a sports betting operation.

Nothing illegal, they say. Just information sharing. Just conversations.

“Because sports betting is now legal and ubiquitous, it doesn't feel dangerous. The NBA promotes it. How bad could it be?

Then come the requests. "What's your injury status?" "Are you playing tonight?"

The athlete answers. Why not? It's just conversation.

Then money changes hands. A "gift." A "bonus." Nothing tied directly to gambling, of course.

By the time the athlete realizes they're compromised, they're already in too deep.

And when federal investigators come knocking, the athlete takes the fall.

"The people running these operations are professionals," says Gosa. "They know exactly how to exploit young athletes. They know the vulnerabilities. They know the psychology. And they know that when things go wrong, the athlete will be the one who gets destroyed, not them."

The Institutional Response When Shohei Ohtani's case broke, he had immediate access to elite legal representation..

His agency, CAA, mobilized a crisis management team. The Dodgers stood by him. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred made statements emphasizing Ohtani's victimhood.

When Jontay Porter's case broke, the Raptors cut him immediately. His agent dropped him. There was no crisis management team. No sympathetic press coverage. No possibility of redemption written into his punishment.

"That's the difference between being an asset and being expendable," says the former agent. "Ohtani is worth $700 million to the Dodgers. He's untouchable. Porter was on a two-way contract. He's replaceable. The institutions protect who they value."

And in American sports, valuation often breaks down along racial lines.

The Business of Betting Sports betting is a business designed to extract wealth from vulnerable populations. Sportsbooks target young men. They target communities of color.

They advertise relentlessly in spaces where disposable income is limited but hope is high. READ More on our website at www.cnwmedia.com .

OCT 29 --- OCT 31, 2025 5

POLITICS

Democratic Party of Illinois Hosts First “Beauty of Politics” Town Hall CNW STAFF REPORT

On October 17, the Democratic Party of Illinois held its first Beauty of Politics: A Women’s Town Hall Salon Conversation at I AM Precious Jewels, a Black womenowned beauty salon on Chicago’s South Side. The Democratic Party of Illinois held its first Beauty of Politics: A Women’s Town Hall Salon Conversation this evening at I AM Precious Jewels, a Black women-owned beauty salon on Chicago’s South Side.

TThe event brought community members together for a discussion on how politics intersects with daily life in a setting that felt local, welcoming, and culturally resonant.

Moderator Abierre Minor, Commissioner for the Community Commission for Public Safety and -

6 OCT 29 --- OCT 31, 2025

The City of Chicago has joined eight other local governments in filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration, challenging new restrictions on U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMAgrants.

Accountability, led the conversation with panelists Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, entrepreneur and health care professional Kierra Reed, and mental health and social justice leader Dr. Pavi Foster.

DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez said the event was designed to connect with community members where they live and work. “Tonight’s event was about meeting people where they are, and listening to Black women’s lived experiences,” said Hernandez.

“In order to get people involved, in and everyday spaces like beauty order to ensure everyone feels seen salons can also be spaces for and heard by our Party, we have to meaningful conversations about go out into our communities. I’m how to create those opportunities incredibly proud of this event.” and deliver real progress for our communities,” Stratton said.

Lieutenant Governor Stratton “From birth equity to education, reflected on the importance of entrepreneurship, and building creating spaces where women can generational wealth, my mission is discuss issues that affect their lives. to ensure that every woman – “As a mom of four daughters, I’ve regardless of race, background, or always fought for a world where zip code – Read more on every woman can thrive – www.cnwmedia.com

COVER STORY

THE PURGE IS COMING

By Malachi Webster

EMPTY REFRIGERATORS BROKEN PROMISES They call it a fiscal cliff. A budgetary necessity. A temporary emergency measure that's finally expiring. But for 3.2 million Americans—including 487,000 Chicagoans—the potential loss of SNAP benefits isn't policy. It's the purge.

“Not the Hollywood version with masks and mayhem. The real purge.

The quiet kind. The one where grocery carts get lighter, diabetes medications get skipped, and families start making calculations no one should have to make: insulin or rent. Diapers or dinner. Heat or meat.

We're not there yet. Congress hasn't pulled the trigger. But the gun is loaded, the chamber is spinning, and everyone's holding their breath.

The Arithmetic of Hunger Let's do the math that keeps caseworkers up at night.

The average SNAP benefit in Illinois is $181 per person, per month.

That's roughly $6 a day. Two dollars per meal. For context, a Starbucks latte costs more than breakfast and lunch combined under SNAP. Now imagine that $181 disappears. Not reduced—eliminated. For a family of four, that's $724 a month. Nearly $9,000 a year. For households already living paycheck to paycheck—or check to no check—that's not a budget cut. That's a trapdoor.

"People think SNAP is a safety net," says Marcus Thompson, a community organizer with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. "It's not. It's the floor. And we're talking about removing the floor."

Thompson knows the numbers because he lives them. Before he worked in food security, he received it. Single father, two jobs, still qualified. "You know what SNAP bought me?" he asks, leaning forward. "Time. Time I didn't have to spend choosing which bill not to pay. Time I could spend with my kids instead of working a third shift I couldn't physically handle."

"People think SNAP is a safety net," says Marcus Thompson, a community organizer with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. "It's not. It's the floor. And we're talking about removing the floor."

Thompson knows the numbers because he lives them. Before he worked in food security, he received it. Single father, two jobs, still qualified. "You know what SNAP bought me?" he asks, leaning forward. "Time. Time I didn't have to spend choosing which bill not to pay. Time I could spend with my kids instead of working a third shift I couldn't physically handle." \

7

OCTOBER 22 – 28, 2025

COVER STORY Time, as it turns out, is a luxury poverty doesn't afford.

The Emergency That Never Ended SNAP benefits were expanded during COVID-19. Emergency allotments increased monthly benefits, bringing some households up to the maximum allowable amount. It was supposed to be temporary. A bridge. A way to keep people fed while the world stopped spinning.

But here's what nobody wants to say out loud: the emergency never ended for millions of Americans. The virus might have receded, but the economic wreckage remains. Inflation has driven grocery prices up 25% since 2020. Rents in Chicago have climbed 18% in the same period. Wages, for most people, haven't kept pace.

So when policymakers talk about "returning to normal," the question becomes: normal for who?

“Thenumbersbearthatout.SNAPrepresents80%of

"They're acting like everything's fine," says Jennifer Ramirez, a federalnutritionassistance.Foodbanks,pantries,and mother of three in Pilsen. "But my paycheck is the same as it was in soupkitchenscombinedrepresentlessthan10%.You 2019. My rent isn't. My groceries aren't. My gas isn't. So what normal can'treplaceariverwithagardenhose. are they talking about?"

TheRippleEffect

Ramirez works full-time as a medical assistant. She makes $42,000 a year—just above the poverty line for a family of four, but not enough Here's what happens when millions of people lose to absorb a $700 monthly hit. "If SNAP goes away, I'm going to have foodbenefitsovernight: to choose," she says, her voice tight. "Do I take my son to his therapy Week One: Families drain savings—if they appointments, or do I buy food? Do I pay my electric bill, or do I feed have any. Credit cards get maxed. Family my kids?"

These aren't hypotheticals.

They're preview trailers. “ Chicago's Fault Lines Chicago is a city of staggering contrasts. The Gold Coast and Englewood exist in the same municipality but might as well be different planets. When SNAP benefits expire, those fault lines will crack wide open.

In wealthier neighborhoods, the impact will be invisible. In neighborhoods like Austin, Roseland, and North Lawndale—where SNAP usage rates exceed 40%—the impact will be catastrophic.

Food pantries are already preparing. The Greater Chicago Food Depository projects a 60% increase in demand if emergency SNAP allotments end. That's an additional 200,000 people seeking emergency food assistance in a system already stretched to its breaking point.

"We're essentially preparing for a disaster that hasn't been declared a disaster," says Thompson. "We're stockpiling. We're expanding hours.

We're training more volunteers. But even if we do everything right, we can't replace SNAP. Nobody can."

8 OCT 29 --- OCT 31, 2025

membersgetcalledforloans.

WeekTwo: Bills start getting skipped. Utilities Carpayments.Rent.

MonthTwo: Eviction notices. Utility shutoffs.

Carsrepossessed.

Month Three: Homelessness. Job loss.

Schooldisruption.Medicalcrises.

Conservativesarguethatemergencybenefits discouragework.Theypointtolaborshortagesand claimgenerousbenefitsarekeepingpeoplehome.

Thedatasaysotherwise.MostSNAPrecipientswho canwork,dowork.AccordingtotheUSDA,60%of SNAPhouseholdswithable-bodiedadultshaveat leastonepersonworking.Thebenefitssimplydon't coverenoughtoliveonwithoutemployment.

"This idea that people are choosing SNAP over work is insulting," says Ramirez. "I work 40 hours a week. I still need help. That's not laziness. That's reality."

Progressives, meanwhile, argue for making the emergency benefits permanent. They frame it as economic stimulus, public health intervention, and moral imperative rolled into one.

But in a divided Congress, neither side has the votes to get what they want. So the deadline This isn't speculation. It's what happened in 2013 approaches, and millions of families watch the when Congress allowed a smaller SNAPcut to take calendar with dread. effect. Emergency room visits spiked. School attendance dropped. Homeless shelter populations What the Experts Fear surged.

Dr. Coleman and other researchers are already "You can't pull $8 billion out of low-income modeling worst-case scenarios. Their communities and expect nothing to happen," says projections are grim.

Dr. Alisha Coleman, an economist at the Urban Institute who studies food insecurity. "That money If emergency SNAP ends: doesn't just feed people. It circulates. It pays cashiers.

Food insecurity will increase by 30% It keeps grocery stores open. It stabilizes entire among households currently receiving neighborhoods."

WhenSNAPbenefitsflow,theygenerate$1.50in economicactivityforeverydollarspent.Whenthey stop,thatmultipliereffectreverses.Grocerystores close.Jobsdisappear.Taxrevenuesdrop.The economicdeathspiralaccelerates.

ThePoliticalTheater InWashington,thedebateoverSNAPisn'treally aboutSNAP.It'saboutbudgetdeficits,government dependency,andwhetherpoorpeopledeservehelp orsuspicion.

benefits Child hunger will rise by 40% in affected families Healthcare costs will spike as nutritionrelated illnesses increase Economic activity will contract by an estimated $12 billion annually.

"We're talking about a policy decision that will quite literally make people sicker and poorer," Coleman says. "And for what?

COVER STORY But in a divided Congress, neither side has the votes to get what they want. So the deadline approaches, and millions of families watch the calendar with dread.

If SNAP ends, she'll feed her kids first. Always.

That's non-negotiable. Which means she'll eat less. Maybe skip meals entirely. She's done it before.

What the Experts Fear Dr. Coleman and other researchers are already modeling worst-case scenarios. Their projections are grim.

"You get good at ignoring hunger," she says quietly. "You drink water. You drink coffee. You tell yourself you're not that hungry. And then you start losing weight you don't have to lose, and you're tired all the time, and you get sick easier, and you know you're running yourself into the ground. But what choice do you have?"

If emergency SNAP ends: Food insecurity will increase by 30% among households currently receiving benefits Child hunger will rise by 40% in affected families Healthcare costs will spike as nutrition-related illnesses increase Economic activity will contract by an estimated $12 billion annually.

"We're talking about a policy decision that will quite literally make people sicker and poorer," Coleman says. "And for what?

But in a divided Congress, neither side has the votes to get what they want. So the deadline approaches, and millions of families watch the calendar with dread.

What the Experts Fear Dr. Coleman and other researchers are already modeling worst-case scenarios. Their projections are grim.

If emergency SNAP ends: Food insecurity will increase by 30% among households currently receiving benefits Child hunger will rise by 40% in affected families Healthcare costs will spike as nutrition-related illnesses increase Economic activity will contract by an estimated $12 billion annually.

"We're talking about a policy decision that will quite literally make people sicker and poorer," Coleman says. "And for what?

This is the real face of the coming purge. Not violence. Not chaos. Just millions of people quietly suffering, making impossible choices, and hoping nobody notices.

Her son, seven-year-old Miguel, has autism. His therapy is covered by Medicaid, but the copays aren't. Neither are the special foods he'll eat, or the sensory tools that help him regulate. If SNAP disappears, those expenses don't.

"I'm already trying to figure out what I can cut," Ramirez says. "But there's nothing left to cut.

We're already bare bones. So I guess I'll just... I don't know. Pray? Hope? Figure it out somehow?"

That "somehow" is what keeps Marcus Thompson awake.

"People are resilient," he says. "But resilience has limits. You can only stretch people so far before something breaks. And when millions of people break at the same time..." He trails off, shaking his head. "I don't think people in power understand what they're about to unleash."

The Clock Ticks As of this writing, Congress hasn't made a decision. Maybe they'll extend emergency benefits. Maybe they'll let them expire. Maybe they'll split the difference with some compromise nobody's happy with.

But for the 3.2 million Americans watching the calendar, the uncertainty might be worse than the cuts themselves. At least with a definitive answer, you can plan. You can prepare. You can make your terrible choices in advance. The limbo is its own kind of torture.

"Every day I wake up and check the news," Ramirez says. "Has Congress decided? Have they voted? What's going to happen to us? And every day it's the same: nothing. They're still debating. Still discussing. Still playing politics with our lives."

She laughs, but there's no humor in it.

"Must be nice to debate about hunger when you're not hungry."

The Question Nobody'sAsking Here's what should terrify everyone, regardless of political affiliation: What happens to a society when millions of people simultaneously lose access to food?

Not eventually. Not Practically. Immediately.

theoretically.

Do crime rates spike when desperation sets in? Do health systems collapse when preventable illnesses surge? Do children fall further behind in school when they're too hungry to learn? Do neighborhoods destabilize when grocery stores close and food deserts expand?

The answer to all of those questions is yes.

We know because we've seen it before, in smaller doses, in specific communities. We know what happens when the floor drops out.

But we've never done it to 3.2 million people at once. We've never run this experiment on this scale.

"And make no mistake," Thompson says.

"That's what this is. An experiment. With real people. Real families. Real children."

He pauses, choosing his words carefully.

"They're about to find out what happens when you strip millions of people of their last resource. I just hope we all survive the lesson."

The deadline is coming. The purge, if it happens, won't announce itself with sirens.

It'll be quiet. Invisible. Just millions of people disappearing into hunger, one missed meal at a time.

And maybe that's the point. Maybe if the suffering is quiet enough, dispersed enough, slow enough, nobody in power will have to watch.

But it'll be there. In every empty pantry.

Every skipped meal. Every parent lying to their child about why dinner is smaller tonight.

The purge is coming. It just won't look like the movies. It never does.

OCT 29 --- OCT 31, 2025

9

IN MEMORIAL

Nia Malika Augustine Was Born With the Gift of Purpose On September 23, 1973, Nia entered the world, and on March 2, 2025, she departed from her earthly phase of life. On October 25, her memorial celebration reminded us all that her spirit lives on—through her contributions to everyone whose lives she touched, and throughthejoyandenergyshebroughtwherevershewaspresent.

Born to Olu Augustine and Carol Adams, Nia was described as having “burst onto the scene” one month earlier than expected, setting the precedent for how she would move throughout her lifetime. Uno! Always first to do this or achieve that, her keen intelligence was evident from the start. Both of her parents—deeply rooted in the African American communityandblessedwithhighintellectualpower—nurturedthatsamespiritwithinher.

At three years old, Nia already had a passport and began traveling across Africa and the Diaspora. She experienced the warmth of an extended family as part of the Ujima Family Center, where she and the other watoto (children) built lifelong relationships. There, she learnedtoswimandlaterbecameamemberoftheSouthShoreY’schampionswimteam.

HereducationcontinuedatindependentBlackinstitutionssuchasBlydenAcademy,where she excelled and skipped a grade. She went on to attend the Lewis Wirth Experimental School while also taking classes at KenwoodAcademy. That strong academic foundation led to her early graduation fromWhitney M.Young Magnet High School—and at just 16, shewasofftoHowardUniversity.

During her time at Howard, Nia’s entrepreneurial spirit took flight. In the second month of her freshman year, she launched her first business, Nails by Nia, which quickly became lucrative and was the first of many ventures she would found. True to her independent nature,shemovedintoherownapartmentatage17—withoutherparents’knowledge.

Having worked for Black-owned businesses since grammar school, Nia understood early that she wanted to be the one signing the checks, not cashing them. Following in the footsteps of her grandfathers, she explored concert promotion, marketing, and multi-level marketing before ultimately founding Lip Service Consulting, her signature company.

Inspired by her own lips, she turned them into the brand’s logo—an emblem of her confidenceandcreativity.

Her mind was a think tank of endless ideas, often accompanied by the soothing sounds of music—a pillar of her life. She even dedicated an entire room in her home to none other thanPrince.

To her people, she was loyal—the kind of ride-or-die friend you could always count on.The children of her friends and family were her children too, often seeking her guidance and comfort. Her warrior spirit never wavered; she had no fear when called to defend someone beingdisrespectedortreatedunfairly.

Hercelebrationoflifebroughttogethermembersofherimmediatefamily,extended family,andcommunity—alltheretohonorherandexpresstheirgratitude.Moving tributesweresharedbytheUjimaFamily,ToiSalter,AfrikaPorter,andVanceHenry, amongothers.MusicalcontributionsfromDrumDivas,underthedirectionofMama Kimosha,filledtheroomwithrhythmandspirit.JoanCollassoperformed,andavideo messagefromStevieWonderhonoredNia—herecalledrecognizingher“mature intellect”evenasababy,whenshetraveledwithhisfamilyandinspiredasongdedicated toherspirit.

ButitwasthepresenceofDianneReevesthatswepteveryoneintoacollectivewaveof emotion.HerangelicvoicemovedtheaudiencetotearsasshesanginhonorofNia Malika—whomshelovinglydescribedas“herconcert.”

Knownforherrelentlessspiritandhercommitmenttolivinglifeexactlyassheenvisioned it,NiaMalikaAugustineUnowillberememberedalwaysforhavinglivedlifeherway.

OCT 29 --- OCT 31, 2025 11

HEALTHY LIVING

Should Older Black Women Still Get Mammograms For many in Chicago, continuing breast cancer screening past 74 could save lives.

Laura Miller - Managing Editor

Each October, pink ribbons bloom across Chicago in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

But for many older Black women, the conversation about screening seems to fade just when it should be growing louder.

Peterson emphasizes that cost should never deter women from screenings. She encourages viewing health holistically, recognizing the impact on families and communities. Early detection of breast cancer through mammograms is crucial, with a survival rate over 95% when diagnosed early, despite the discomfort of the test. She highlights the importance of knowledge in making health decisions and urges older women to stay proactive about preventive care, especially during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. “Invest in your health,” she advises, stressing that age should not prevent seeking care.

To explore why this discussion matters so much, Chicago News Weekly sat down with Dr. Liz Peterson, vice president of Health Services for Humana in Chicago, to talk about breast cancer, aging, and why women over 70 should keep having these important conversations with their doctors.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends mammograms every two years from ages 40 through 74. Beyond that, there is no clear rule — the decision is left to a woman and her doctor. But in Chicago, where Black women face a 54 percent higher breast cancer mortality rate than white women despite a 4 percent lower incidence, silence can be deadly.

National data echo this disparity. The American Cancer Society reports that while Black women are diagnosed with breast cancer about 5 percent less often than white women, they are 38 percent more likely to die from it. The numbers reveal a troubling pattern: fewer diagnoses, more deaths — a sign of inequities in access, follow-up care, and trust in the healthcare system.

“The average age of diagnosis is 62, and the average age of dying from breast cancer is 70,” Dr. Peterson said. “It is a disease that peaks in a woman’s seventies.”

Despite that, most awareness campaigns still focus on younger women.

“We talk about breast cancer in your forties,” Peterson said. “But the truth is, the greatest risk is later in life.”

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For older Black women, the stakes are even higher.

“The most aggressive kind of breast cancer, triple-negative, occurs more often in Black women,” Peterson explained. “It is not hormonesensitive and it is harder to treat or cure. So if you are healthy and expect to live another ten years, you should keep getting mammograms.”

Barriers beyond biology also play a major role. Black women get mammograms at rates similar to white women, but disparities appear after that first scan.

“If follow-up tests like an MRI or ultrasound are recommended, are they getting done?” Peterson asked.

“Those might mean added costs or longer travel distances. And some hospitals never reopened after COVID, creating real care deserts.”

There is also a legacy of distrust.

“The Black community has a tragic history of not getting quality healthcare,” she said. “That makes some women wonder, ‘Are they really telling me the truth?’We have to rebuild that trust so women feel safe taking the next step in care.”

Even as guidelines become less clear for older adults, coverage remains strong.

“If it is ordered and done, Medicare covers it at no cost to the patient,” Peterson emphasized. “Medicare does not have a cutoff after 74. And most Medicare Advantage plans do the same.”

CITY NEWS

Groundbreaking Discussion on Health Equity on Chicago’s West Side Economy CNW STAFF REPORT On a Thursday evening earlier this October, health officials, medical professionals, policy experts, and elected leaders gathered at the Garfield Park Conservatory’s Horticulture Hall for Wellness West’s Fourth Annual Forum on Healthcare Transformation. The event, titled “Reimagining Care: A Healthcare Transformation Blueprint,” focused on multidisciplinary collaboration and the sustainability of Illinois’ healthcare transformation collaboratives.

1. To address community needs at all levels of healthcare, with a focus on social and structural determinants of health.

2. To improve health and wellness for individuals and communities.

3. To tailor solutions to the unique needs of each person.

4. To invest in projects that improve outcomes, decrease disparities, and remain sustainable over time.

These efforts are supported by Collaborative Bridges, part of the Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives program. The initiative brings together hospitals and community health organizations to close gaps in care and deliver holistic mental and behavioral health services to the West Side’s most vulnerable populations.

The evening’s panel featured Dr. Omar Lateef, President and CEO of Rush University System for Health and Rush University Medical Center; Brenda Palms, President and CEO of North Lawndale Employment Network; Nancy Cao, Director of Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services; Cristal Gary, Plan President and The program was introduced by Misty Wellness West is one of several CEO of Meridian Health Plan of Illinois; and Heidi OrtolazaDrake, Executive Director of Wellness collaboratives working to modernize and Alvear, CEO of IWS Family Health. The discussion was West, a not-for-profit partnership of more humanize healthcare delivery across Illinois. moderated by Dina Bair, anchor and medical reporter for WGNthan 40 healthcare and social service Its goal is to increase convenient access to TV. providers serving ten West Side zip codes culturally responsive care while supporting and beyond. The organization works to the changing socio-economic needs of Panelists explored how organizations like Wellness West are reduce healthcare disparities through individuals and families. Similar initiatives breaking down silos between hospitals, clinics, and communityinclude the 55th & Pulaski Health based organizations to deliver coordinated, patient-centered care. The collaboration and innovation. conversation distinguished between the “easy” and “hard” aspects of Wellness West is funded by the Illinois Collaborative, which takes an “all-in” collaboration — from aligning missions and funding streams to approach to improve access to care, and the Department of Healthcare and Family maintaining communication across multiple service networks.

Services’ Healthcare Transformation South Side Healthy Community a community-driven Collaboratives, an initiative that aims to Organization, partnership dedicated to advancing access A second session focused on the sustainability of Illinois’ healthcare reorient the state’s healthcare delivery system transformation collaboratives, including funding models and policy around people and communities. The and outcomes for South Side residents. tools such as value-based payment, 1115 waivers, and Medicaid program’s four main objectives are: reform efforts. Panelists discussed how incentives can be better aligned among managed care organizations (MCOs), providers, and community-based organizations to ensure long-term viability.

In a sidebar conversation, Donald Dew, Wellness West board member and President/CEO of Habilitative Systems, Inc., emphasized his commitment to improving health outcomes: “One’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being is the foundation for one’s success, and the work of Wellness West addresses all those issues and concerns.”When asked about the organization’s future amid potential federal budget cuts, Dew added: “We have been fortunate that Governor Pritzker’s support has been generous, and I hope that continues from the state. Yet there is cause for concern as to how federal cuts will impact us. Still, we must pursue other opportunities.”

Audience members left the forum with a deeper understanding of how these collaboratives are reshaping healthcare on the West Side.

The discussions highlighted a shared commitment to viewing health more holistically — accounting for lifestyle, environment, and social determinants such as income, education, housing, and even exposure to violence or food insecurity.

As Brenda Palms noted, “Where one lives — whether in a food desert, an area with poor soil, or a high-crime neighborhood — inevitably impacts mental, physical, and emotional health.”

The evening closed on an optimistic note, with attendees expressing enthusiasm about the path forward. The forum underscored that transforming healthcare begins with changing the lens through which providers view patients — not as isolated cases, but as whole people shaped by their environments.

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FOOTNOTES

Jasmine Crockett:Short,Sweet,and Sharp

Kai El Zabar - Editor-In-Chief

Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett made a stop in Chicago last week— quietly, under the radar—as one of the noted speakers in the city’s African American Speaker Series. She spoke truth to power, addressing the issues facing America and those particular to Black people. With conviction, she declared, “Our nation is in trouble, and it’s time to wake up, stand up, and speak up.”

Reminding the audience that she represents Texas, she made her connection to Chicago personal by sharing that she used to visit her grandmother on the South Side, on 81st Street, with her parents Gwen and Pastor Joseph Crockett.

“I tell you that because I want y’all to know that I feel like I’m one of yours,” she said.

She went on to explain that because she lives in Texas, “they don’t have ICE on their streets.” Then, turning to the crowd, she urged, “Now pay attention, because I know some of you”—quoting Kendrick Lamar—“turned the TV off. A lot of you decided to do that, but I’m here to turn something on inside you.”“We’re dealing with a president in the White House who thinks he knows Chicago better than the governor, your mayor, or the people who actually live here,” she continued. “I don’t know if y’all have noticed, but he has an obsession with going after the blue states and their leaders—many of whom are Black.

He overrides the states’ authority, clearly ignoring the law as we know it.

When the government is targeting and attacking its own people—America, we have a problem.

When the people who stormed the Capitol are attacking elected officials, law enforcement, federal buildings, and property, while peaceful protestors are punished—America, we have a problem. And I’m gonna pause here and say, that’s why you have to turn on the TV—to hear and see for yourself what’s happening.”

“When politicians ignore the laws within the Constitution and the institutions that were put in place to ensure checks and balances— America, we have a problem. I’m here to tell you that we must turn something on, because you’ve got to stay awake.”

“Unfortunately,” she continued, “since January, the Democrats have lost three members of the House—Gerry Connolly, Raúl Grijalva, and Sylvester Turner. One has been elected. Listen—denying an elected Congress person from being sworn in to prevent the vote from going the Democrats’ way is illegal. But that’s exactly what the Republicans are doing.”

“Look, most people heard that when it comes to Medicaid and Medicare, 15 to 17 million people would be dropped. But we didn’t talk about the fact that deleting $1 trillion out of the healthcare ecosystem means somebody has to pay for that. Let me tell you—it’s easy to see who. If the hospital is going to keep its doors open, somebody’s got to pay for it. And if the federal government has decided to deny the poor the assistance that paid the hospitals—i.e., the doctors, the staff, etc.— then that creates a major deficit in that field, which benefits the billionaire class. That is why I’m saying, we have a problem.”

“Finally, I’m talking about the redistricting taking place in Texas that will surely assure the Republicans a dominant voting force. Why? Because they fear you. They’re doing this to win. So here’s my last plea: we can’t wait for others to fight on our behalf. We must do it ourselves. I am pleading with you to call on the spirit of our civil rights brothers and sisters—those who refused to be moved from their positions, no matter what or how long it took. I need you to make that same commitment to stand firm in your position, to protect the rights of the people.“ “Thank you,” she concluded.

And just like that, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett was over and out.

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The Impact of Convenience and Connection

Laura Miller Managing Editor

LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

Dating in this city can feel like finding love in a hopeless place, if the hopeless place is a day party where everyone already knows everyone. You meet someone new at brunch only to realize you’ve been orbiting each other for years — same group chats, same playlists, the same late-night hangouts that blur one weekend into the next.

When the world feels that small, convenience starts to look like fate. The person who’s already around, who knows your friends, who fits into your rhythm — they start to seem inevitable. But comfort and connection aren’t the same thing.

It’s easy to romanticize what’s already in reach. It feels organic, like something that “just happened.” But convenience can trick you into mistaking proximity for compatibility. What begins as chemistry between two people often becomes a social event, rippling through everyone who shares your orbit.

The social network of it all In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell describes the “connector,” the person who brings different worlds together, whose relationships form bridges across boundaries.

Connectors keep communities alive; they’re the social glue that lets information, emotion and opportunity move. Most of us know one — the friend who can introduce you to anyone, who never shows up alone, who somehow keeps five circles spinning in perfect sync.

When you date inside that kind of ecosystem, every new connection sends a pulse through the entire network. In a city where social circles overlap like concentric rings, one romantic choice doesn’t exist in isolation; it reshapes the emotional geometry of everyone around it. You think you’re falling for one person, but you’re also rewriting the story of who sits where, who gets invited, who feels comfortable showing up.

The thing about networks, as Gladwell implies, is that they’re dynamic, not fixed.

One altered link creates movement everywhere else.

A connector might not realize how deeply their relationships influence the structure until the structure begins to react — subtle shifts in group text energy, slightly longer pauses at the next get-together, the quiet recalibration of closeness and distance.

It doesn’t have to be scandalous. No one has to behave badly for things to feel off. It’s just how human systems respond to change.

Every social web, no matter how modern or emotionally literate, runs on balance. When intimacy enters the mix, that balance gets tested. The network absorbs every move we make, a living, breathing organism with its own kind of memory.

It doesn’t have to be scandalous. No one has to behave badly for things to feel off. It’s just how human systems respond to change.

Every social web, no matter how modern or emotionally literate, runs on balance. When intimacy enters the mix, that balance gets tested. The network absorbs every move we make, a living, breathing organism with its own kind of memory.

What the Gottman research suggests Being the connector feels noble at first.You think you can hold the center — keep the peace, The Gottman Institute found that lasting balance the moods, make the group feel whole relationships often start with friendship. even as things shift underneath. But connection Couples who share humor, trust and without boundaries becomes maintenance.You responsiveness tend to thrive. But start managing emotion as if it’s logistics.

Gottman’s work also shows that Eventually, the ripple reaches you too. relationships under social pressure struggle.Acouple can be perfectly And yet, it’s not all loss. There’s something tender matched in private and still falter when about realizing how deeply connected we are, they’re navigating public perception. how one choice can change the emotional weather of a dozen lives. It reminds you that love, The psychology of convenience When that public is your friend group — even the inconvenient kind, is never private. It your brunch crew, your shared history — always echoes.

Psychologists call it the merethe relationship becomes communal exposure effect — the tendency property. Every gathering carries subtext. The ripple, not the wave to develop preference simply It’s easy to confuse what’s close with what’s right The romance stops being just yours. because something is familiar.

The Gottmans say that successful couples — to believe that love lives in proximity. Maybe The more often we see someone, learn to “turn toward” each other, even that’s why Rihanna’s line, we found love in a the safer they feel, and safety can when outside forces tug them apart. But hopeless place, still hits. Sometimes the hopeless look a lot like love. place isn’t heartbreak; it’s convenience. that’s harder when those forces have names, shared jokes and group photos.

When we fall for someone inside our social world, Convenience also feeds the When you are the connector we aren’t just creating intimacy; we’re altering the illusion of fate. When current that holds us together. The ripple itself isn’t someone is already in your circle, it feels effortless, like Gladwell’s connector is magnetic, but wrong. It’s simply real. Which is why, before we fall, we might pause — not to stop the ripple, but to the universe had a plan. But in dating, that magnetism can turn heavy. If you’re the person who links respect it. effortlessness isn’t destiny; everyone, your relationships rarely stay it’s infrastructure. The private. When you fall for someone in environment made it easy.

And easy can be dangerous your network, your choices ripple outward. If things go well, everyone because frictionless stories glows with secondhand joy. If they are the ones we rarely collapse, the group feels the aftershock. examine.

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ENTERTAINMENT Saying Yes Comes Home: Shonda Rhimes Returns to Chicago for a Decade of 'Yes' Laura Miller Managing Editor On a brisk Sunday night in Lincoln Park, the Athenaeum Center filled with the low hum of anticipation.

Patrons sat anxiously awaiting the arrival of one of the world's most popular writers, and then many seated people stood up in a flash mob sequence singing Sounds of Blackness's "Optimistic". The group was the Chicago HBCU Alumni Choir, and those that knew the record, knew that the evening was off to a hopeful and transformative start. By the time Shonda Rhimes stepped onto the stage with Valerie Jarrett—fellow Chicago native and Chief Executive Officer of The Obama Foundation— the applause sounded more like a homecoming than a literary celebration.

The evening, presented by WBEZ, was billed as An Evening with Shonda Rhimes: Celebrating 10 Years of Yes. What unfolded was part reflection, part reunion, and part master class in the courage it takes to live the life you imagine.

“I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago,” Rhimes began, smiling toward the crowd. “I was always a writer, even before I knew what that meant.” The youngest of six children, she described herself as painfully shy —a girl who felt more comfortable in stories than in conversation. “I grew up in books,” she said. “It was easier to live in my imagination than in the world.”

That shy girl became one of the most influential storytellers in modern television—the creative force behind Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and Bridgerton. Yet for all her success, Rhimes admitted that she once hid behind the lives she created. “My characters were living these big, extraordinary lives,” she told Jarrett, “and I wasn’t.”

The moment of reckoning came when her sister pointed out that she never said yes to anything. “Once you know that about yourself, you can’t unknow it,” she said. “It was like an itch in my brain.” From that realization came her now-famous “Year of Yes,” a yearlong experiment in saying yes to everything that frightened her.

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One of the first invitations she received during that time was to give the Dartmouth College commencement address. “I’m not a person who could give a speech in front of five people, much less a stadium,” she confessed. But she accepted anyway. Two weeks before the event, she rewrote the entire speech on a plane. “I made a list of my three biggest fears,” she said, laughing. “Passing out, throwing up, or pooping on stage. And by naming them, they didn’t own me anymore.”

That raw honesty has become Rhimes’s signature. The audience erupted with laughter when she recounted her infamous PTA story: a bake-sale mom once insisted that everything for the fundraiser had to be homemade. “And I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Rhimes recalled, shaking her head. “If I bring storebought cookies, they’re just as baked as anyone else’s!” Beneath the humor was a larger truth about the pressures women face to do everything perfectly. “We can be successful in some areas and bring cookies from a bakery in others,” she said. “That doesn’t make us any less of a mother.”

Rhimes’s candor softened when she spoke about her creative philosophy.

“I’ve only ever written about one thing,” she said. “Being alone, the fear of being alone, and the choice not to be.” For her, television is less about plot than empathy. “Drama is the creation of empathy. If you’re not crying with Cristina when she rips off her wedding gown, then we haven’t done our job.”

Her reflections turned contemplative when Jarrett asked how the pandemic changed her perspective. Rhimes admitted that she realized she had built “a beautiful life I wasn’t actually living in.” So she made another bold decision: she left Los Angeles and moved her three daughters to New England. “I went to Costco and cried,” she said. “The woman at the checkout didn’t know who I was. For the first time, I could just be me.”

Rhimes has since taken up golf, a hobby she never imagined for herself.

“I hadn’t had a hobby since before Grey’s Anatomy,” she said. “It’s about doing something you’re bad at and having to work at it.

How often do we start learning something new when we’re fifty?”

She laughed. “Now I’m obsessed.”

Legacy was also on her mind. She recalled being inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame by Oprah Winfrey. “Up until that moment, I always thought it could all be taken away,” she said. “I was running like I was being chased, not like I was headed toward something.”

Then she looked at her daughter and whispered, “We made it.” Her daughter replied, “I made it a long time ago.”

As the evening wound down, Jarrett asked what Rhimes most wanted people to take away from her book.

Rhimes didn’t hesitate. “Whatever’s not working in your life, you have the power to change it,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be everything. Just one or two small yeses that lead to bigger ones.”

When the lights came up, the audience lingered, holding copies of Year of Yes: 10th Anniversary Edition. Outside, Lincoln Park buzzed with post-show chatter, the air sharp with October chill. Rhimes had come home not just to celebrate a decade of saying yes, but to remind Chicago that courage doesn’t always look like ambition. Sometimes it looks like a woman standing onstage, laughing at her old fears, and finally saying yes to herself.

ARTS & CULTURE

The Joffrey Debuts Two New Ballets Kai El Zabar - Editor-in-Chief

Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet presents Matters of the Heart at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance — the highlight of its 2025–26 season — featuring works by two of today’s most highly recognized women choreographers, Chanel DaSilva and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.

Chanel DaSilva

Broken Wings, by Ochoa, which celebrated its Midwest debut in 2024, is inspired by the life and art of Frida Kahlo. It is set to a score

by UK ballet composer Peter Salem, performed by the Chicago Philharmonic, a Harris Theater resident company. Broken Wings will not disappoint. According to our When asked when she knew she was a dancer, Chanel shared, “The story is that interview with Chanel DaSilva, Ochoa’s Broken Wings “is exciting in a different way I told my grandmother — as I pointed up at a picture — ‘Grandma, I want to do than my piece, but it will stimulate excitement and interest just as much as mine that.’ And it was a picture of dance. She DaSilva says her mantra for this show put me in a dance school in Queens, the will beg you to have fun.” has been threefold: “Number one, Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center, because the content of the show and the and I was hooked right away. I remember DaSilva explores themes of love and elements — the band, the live music — knowing at three that this is what I want resilience through her ballet, “Wabash are so full, I want our audience to have to do.” & You,” which presents its world fun. To have fun! To come and just have premiere, capturing a love story set in an evening of enjoyment. In this world Addressing her creative process, DaSilva Chicago and featuring a live band on right now, I want you to be able to escape says, “As a storyteller, I tend to blend stage, The Main Squeeze. The “love to the theater and have, you know, 90 dance languages that already exist — like letter,” as she describes it, is “both to minutes to two hours of fun. ballet, modern, West African, jazz, and the city and to the hopeless romantics hip-hop — and I blend them with what I that live within us all.”

“Number two, for my piece in particular, call just humanity. You know, a simple I would love our audience to walk away As a multifaceted artist, DaSilva touch of the face, or a touch of the heart, knowing that love can find you at any explains, “When I think about my or like a beating heartbeat, right? So time. To say yes to love at any time, and purpose and why God has given me you’ll see the swirly swirl thing, and then to know that if that love doesn’t last, that this gift of art and dance and artthe dancer will just be there, and all of a doesn’t make it any less valuable. making, it’s to serve a few different sudden you’re like, ‘Oh my God, I know purposes that moment when your heart is racing so “And number three, I would love our fast and you have to stop it.’”

So much of my life has been spent in audience to continue to support the arts.” the dance industry — I grew up as a On Wabash & You, she explains, “Yes, dancer, I performed as a dancer — and Wabash — like Wabash Avenue — She closed with: “Looking forward to then, around age 30, I decided that I which is performed in collaboration seeing you all there — Thursday, wanted to expand how I use the arts to with a band called The Main Squeeze, November 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Harris impact the world and society, creating an incredible band that began in Theater, located at 205 East Randolph greater diversity and equity in the Bloomington, Indiana, and is now Street.” dance profession and beyond. based in Los Angeles. The stage set presents a downtown Chicago Next week’s Arts & Culture section will In that way, I call myself an artivist landscape, depicting Wabash Avenue feature the full interview with Chanel — to create ripples of change, under the El train.

It tells a brief but DaSilva, and you can catch the podcast moving the needle from where I met unforgettable love story that happens in — recorded at CNW Studios. my own experience of being in the the Chicago Loop.” dance community, where most often I was the only brown face in the room. And I asked myself, ‘Why is OCT 29 --- OCT 31, 2025 17 that?’”

FOOD & WINE Butter Chicken Mari Evans - Staff Writer What is it about butter chicken (or murgh makhani in Hindi) that makes it beloved by children, adults, and people all over the world? If you’ve never tried Indian food, make this your first entrée at an Indian restaurant.

This home-cooked version has the same complexity of flavor—yet it’s simple to make yourself. Tender chicken simmers in a tomato sauce flavored with sweet spices such as cumin, coriander, and garam masala, and is finished with a generous splash of cream.

Let me guide you in making the best butter chicken at home with an authentic Indian recipe. This murgh makhani is creamy, flavorful, and better than restaurant versions, perfect with basmati rice or naan. The dish features marinated grilled chicken simmered in a silky tomato curry gravy.

It's aromatic, mildly spicy, and globally loved. Unlike tikka masala, which has a chunkier texture from onions, butter chicken offers a smooth sauce. You can roast the marinated chicken in a pan, bake it, or grill it, and all ingredients are easily found at your local grocery store.

MARINADE - 1/2 cup plain full-fat yogurt - 1 tbsp lemon juice - 1 tsp turmeric powder - 2 tsp garam masala (Note 1) - 1/2 tsp chili powder or cayenne pepper (Note 2) - 1 tsp ground cumin - 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger - 2 cloves garlic, crushed - 1.5 lb / 750 g chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-size pieces

RECIPE NOTES: CURRY - 2 tbsp (30 g) ghee or butter, or 1 tbsp vegetable oil (Note 3) - 1 cup tomato passata (tomato purée) (Note 4) - 1 cup heavy/thickened cream (Note 5) - 1 tbsp sugar - 1 1/4 tsp salt TO SERVE - Basmati rice or white rice - Coriander/cilantro (optional)

Directions 1. Optional (for extra smooth sauce): Combine all marinade ingredients (except the chicken) in a food processor and blend until smooth. (I usually skip this step.)

2. Marinade: Combine the marinade ingredients with the chicken in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours (minimum 3 hours).

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1.Garam Masala: A spice mix found in supermarkets, priced similarly to other spices.

2.Pure Chili Powder: Use this or cayenne pepper for a mild kick, not the American-style blend.

3.Ghee: Clarified butter in Indian cooking; can be substituted with butter or neutral oil.

4.Tomato Passata Pureed, strained tomatoes available near pasta sauces, comparable in cost to canned tomatoes.

5.Lighter Version: Use 3/4 cup light cream and 1/4 cup milk as a substitute.

No-Fry Quick Papadums: Microwave store-bought raw papadums for 45 seconds to 1 minute until puffed.

They will crisp as they cool.

3. Cook chicken: Heat ghee (butter or oil) over high heat in a large frying pan. Remove the chicken from the marinade but do not wipe it off (do not pour the leftover marinade into the pan yet). Cook the chicken for about 3 minutes, or until it turns white all over. It won’t brown much because of the marinade.

4. Make the sauce: Add the tomato passata, cream, sugar, and salt. Add any remaining marinade from the bowl. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Taste and adjust salt as needed.

5. Garnish with coriander/cilantro leaves and serve with basmati rice.

Shoe Fashion Trends in 2025

FASHION

Here’s the skinny from those in the know: round-toe boots are out!

Ummm… that’s questionable, because the reality is that not everyone got the memo. The controversy? Some fashion influencers insist the motorcycle boot (yes, the round-toe one) is in, while others— especially from the Dallas crew—have given it a firm thumbs-down.

And you know what I say: wear what looks good on you, no matter what trends come and go. Realistically, only a small circle of people can afford to completely revamp their wardrobes every year.

That said, the black boot is definitely in, preferably, the pointier the better. The good news is that a tall, pointed boot elongates the legs.

Knee-high, over-the-knee, ankle boots, and booties are all on trend.

Don’t overlook the folded-over drape boot, either. It’s sexy, sophisticated, and very popular this season—especially in burgundy, which happens to be the color of the moment.

While the black boot still dominates, burgundy offers a rich, colorful alternative when you don’t want to finish your outfit with a black exclamation point. Because black can overpower softer tones, burgundy provides a warmer option—still polished, but a bit gentler on the palette. Boots are the go-to shoe this fall, pairing effortlessly with everything from pantsuits and jeans to dresses and even the right evening gown.

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