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Kanye’s and Drake’s ‘Free Larry Hoover’ concert to benefit social justice groups PAGE 2
FREE Vol. 35 No. 50
Details on page 16
December 15, 2021
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Christmas lights in Austin, page 6
Gov. Pritzker visits Austin church in wake of tragedy
‘We are one in tragedy,’ governor says during Dec. 12 service at Greater St. John Bible Church, a day after visiting Edwardsville By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
On Sunday, Greater St. John Bible Church, 1256 N. Waller in Austin, held its typical 10 a.m. service. There was singing, church announcements, prayers and an offering. The church’s pastor, Rev. Ira Acree, delivered a sermon scattered with pop cultural references — from the late rapper DMX to Muhammad Ali to Tom Brady — and that galvanized parishioners (“preach reverend!” called out one captivated congregant). As all of this took place, one notably atypical visitor sat quietly for over an hour, enjoying the Sunday worship like everyone else. In his front row pew, Gov. J.B. Pritzker clapped, nodded his head, laughed and delighted in Acree’s genre spanning sermon before giving some brief remarks himself. “When it comes to motivational speaking,” Pritzker said, addressing Acree, “you’re the See PRITZKER on page 10
PASCAL SABINO/Block Club Chicago
Austin’s pink house at 556 N. Central Ave., pictured here in 2018, is up for sale.
Austin’s iconic Pink House to be sold and saved, owners say
After several offers to demolish the house, the family found a buyer who wants to restore it By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago
The family that lived for decades in one of Austin’s most iconic homes, an old pink-and-white Victorian, fought for
years to save it from being torn down. The 127-year-old house was buckling beneath its age, and Yolanda Anderson’s family couldn’t afford the laundry list of urgent repairs, so the prospects of saving the home seemed dim.
But just days before throwing in the towel and giving up hope of saving their house, the Anderson family found a buyer with the skills and the will to restore it. See PINK HOUSE on page 3
FREDRICK R.
CHI.GOV/REALSTORIES