In an updated alert at 11:42 p.m., the university said an “all clear” had been given following a report of shots fired near 70 Arts Circle Dr., the Bienen School of Music. No injured person was found, the message stated. People were asked to continue to avoid the area as police remained on scene.

Northwestern initially sent an NUAlert emergency notification at 10:53 p.m., advising of an “active threat event” on the Evanston campus. The alert directed recipients to “Run, Hide, Fight. Take proper shelter. Lock and/or barricade doors. Await further information.”

Campus officials provided an update 25 minutes later, explaining that Northwestern University Police were investigating a report of shots fired. At 11:24 p.m., a third alert stated that police remained on scene, and no injured person had been found.

Additional information had yet to be released early Monday.

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According to police, a collision between a motorcycle and a Toyota RAV4 occurred at around 5:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Asbury Avenue, leading to traffic disruptions on the thoroughfare between Howard Street and Oakton Street.

Police said the driver of the RAV4, a 32-year-old Chicago man, was uninjured in the crash and was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

The 48-year-old man motorcyclist sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing, with police stating that impairment does not appear to be a factor at this time.

There is currently no further information available.

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According to officials, the fire broke out at approximately 8:30 p.m. Sunday at 1402 Greenleaf St.

Upon arrival, fire officials encountered smoke from the roofline, a press release from the EFD said. Crews from several agencies were called in to help battle the blaze, which was quickly upgraded to a third alarm as flames continued to engulf the building.

“Despite a well-coordinated, aggressive interior attack, fire operations quickly turned defensive as fire ravaged the structure, and conditions began to deteriorate rapidly,” the release said.

According to officials, seven fire lines and three master streams were used to help contain the blaze from spreading to nearby structures.

By 1 a.m., the fire was “largely under control,” though some hot spots still remained as of 5 a.m., officials said.

According to the CFD, the building, which houses a pottery studio, was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. However, extensive smoke and fire damage to the building forced displacement of its tenants.

“The structural integrity of the building is pretty music compromised,” Evanston Fire Department Division Chief Kimberly Kull said. “It will be awhile before we can do the investigation.”

As of 5:30 a.m., street closures impacting Greenleaf Street, Ashland, Wesley and Asbury Avenues remained in effect as crews continue cleanup efforts.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The department launched an investigation after receiving complaints of stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea from students who attended a $1 burrito event at Big Wig Tacos & Burritos, the department said.

During the investigation, staff confirmed the presence of an employee health policy and reviewed cleaning and sanitizing procedures, the department said. Big Wig Tacos & Burritos has fully cooperated with the investigation.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that affects people of all ages. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and nausea, the health department said. A person typically develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed and typically begins to feel better in one to three days.

The virus is highly contagious and spreads easily through having direct contact with someone with norovirus, eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus and touching surfaces or objects contaminated with norovirus and then touching one’s mouth, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Contracting norovirus can be prevented by washing hands thoroughly and often with soap and water.

The Evanston City Council 5-4 approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign a memorandum of understanding with the university. Mayor Daniel Biss broke the tie, voting in favor of the measure.

A number of residents said they were opposed to renovations and the possibility of hosting concerts at the open-air venue, due to concerns about a hike in property takes, selling off zoning rights, amusement and liquor taxes and traffic.

However, others said they are for much-needed and new business to come to Evanston.

The Most Livable City Association, which voiced opposition to the proposal, released the following statement regarding the motion’s approval:

“Tonight, our city government sided with powerful insiders and the billionaire donor who controls Northwestern Athletics, against the families who live in this community,” David DeCarlo, president of the association said in a news release. “It’s been an eye-opening experience: We’ve learned that Mayor Biss is just another politician, making backroom deals to advance his career instead of representing the people who elected him.”

“After carefully weighing the evidence, Evanston’s Land Use Commission overwhelmingly rejected commercial rezoning for the stadium. Mayor Biss and four councilmembers completely ignored that evidence and sold our zoning protections to Northwestern. Our fight will continue now as we seek legal recourse.”

Northwestern in late October pledged $100 million in donations to the Evanston community over the next 10 years if the proposal to host concerts is approved, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

A few weeks earlier, the Evanston Land Use Commission voted 7-2 against a zoning amendment that would allow concerts and similar events at the planned stadium. Northwestern in Sept. 2022 unveiled the estimated $800 million project, which would demolish the 97-year-old bowl-style arena and replace it with a differently designed stadium.

The new venue would have around 35,000 seats, compared to the 47,000 currently at Ryan Field. Multiple residents have voiced concerns around the potential for concerts, specifically noise pollution, traffic and overcrowded street parking.

Although the proposal has received some community support, a number of residents have expressed opposition about renovations and the possibility of hosting concerts at the open-air venue. Northwestern in late October pledged $100 million in donations to the Evanston community over the next 10 years if the proposal to host concerts is approved, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

A few weeks earlier, the Evanston Land Use Commission voted 7-2 against a zoning amendment that would allow concerts and similar events at the planned stadium. Northwestern in Sept. 2022 unveiled the estimated $800 million project, which would demolish the 97-year-old bowl-style arena and replace it with a differently designed stadium.

The new venue would have around 35,000 seats, compared to the 47,000 currently at Ryan Field. Multiple residents have voiced concerns around the potential for concerts, specifically noise pollution, traffic and overcrowded street parking.

The Most Livable City Association, which is against rezoning to permit concerns, said most people appear to support the plan overall – as long as Northwestern stands by its community benefits agreement to help the community.

The group contends the project doesn’t benefit the city enough, and as a result, is calling for Monday’s vote to be delayed.

In a statement, Northwestern president Michael Schill said they have taken into consideration neighbors’ concerns and will drop the number of concerts held in a year from 10 to six.

Schill also announced the university will no longer ask for unlimited 10,000-person events and will limit community activities to 60 per year.

“The new stadium has never been solely about Northwestern football; its role as an economic and social engine goes well beyond that,” Schill said.

The announcement comes less than a week ahead of the Land Use Commission meeting. where the council will hear plans for the stadium and get input from residents.

The LUC, made up of volunteer community members, will hear plans for Ryan Field and concerns from residents on Aug. 23. They will then make recommendations to the Evanston City Council and Planning and Development Committee about the development of the stadium.

The Most Livable Association — an organization made up of residents — has opposed the stadium since it was announced last year, saying their concerns weren’t considered and warning the development would cause environmental and residential disruption.

“Northwestern clearly knows they’re losing the fight in public opinion. They’re grasping for some kind of support. What they propose are still the same radical zoning changes that focus on commercial use,” said David DeCarlo, co-president of the Most Livable Association.

DeCarlo said his group will attend next week’s meeting and bring evidence that will prove the stadium doesn’t meet city standards.

The university is guaranteeing a minimum of $2 million in tax and fee revenue for the city that will come solely from events held at the stadium. Ryan Field will also give opportunities to residents with low-paying jobs to move into better-paying careers, Schill said.

“We know that as a key part of this community, we need to listen to our neighbors across the entire city of Evanston.”

The rebuild will be privately funded with majority of the financing coming from the Ryan family.

The Evanston Police Department stated in a news release that on Thursday, officers were called to three separate locations regarding small Pride flags with the words “pride death” written on them. One of the flags had been burned, according to authorities.

Police said that the three incidents are believed to have occurred early Thursday morning in the 1700 block of Central Street, 2100 block of Central Street and 600 block of Dempster Street. Evanston police said that while what occurred is concerning and a priority for the department, the investigation has yet to reveal any specific threats to members of the LGBTQ community.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents is asked to call the Evanston Police Department’s detective bureau. Tips can also be submitted by texting 274637 and starting your message with EPDTIP.

Kenneth Lewis, 62, entered the plea Thursday to felony aggravated sexual abuse in a deal with Cook County prosecutors that saw other charges dropped, including predatory criminal sexual assault, court records show.

Lewis was immediately sentenced by Cook County Judge Anjana Hansen and will be required to register as a sex offender for life after his release.

Known as “Father Ken,” Lewis was charged in 2018.

The former Tulsa, Oklahoma pastor was accused of sexually assaulting the 13-year-old boy on a trip in the summer of 2001, the Sun-Times previously reported. The boy’s parents filed a report with the Tulsa police in June 2004, nearly three years. Authorities in Oklahoma referred the case to the Evanston police, who sought charges 14 years later.

Lewis was living in South America at the time a warrant was issued for his arrest and was taken into custody after flying to Atlanta in 2017.

Six people have come forward with sexual abuse complaints against Lewis, who was ordered to get treatment by church officials in 1994, according to news reports.

After Lewis finished treatment, he was ordered not to spend time alone with children but still served as an associate pastor at Oklahoma churches before being appointed pastor of St. John’s Catholic Church in McAlester, Oklahoma.

Lewis resigned from that position in 2002 after diocesan officials renewed investigations into accusations that he improperly touched young boys in the 1990s. In 2007, he was the first pastor in the Tulsa diocese to become laicized, disallowed from further work as an ordained minister.

The same year, the parents of an alleged abuse victim filed a lawsuit in Chicago, accusing Lewis of molesting their son in 2001 at an Evanston hotel. Court records show the lawsuit was withdrawn in July 2009.

According to a social media post, beaches will be closed because of adverse conditions caused by smoke blanketing the Midwest as a result of wildfires in Canada.

According to federal officials, Evanston’s air quality index (AQI) was at 209 as of noon, which is considered “very unhealthy.”

The city’s Particle Pollution level was at 2.5, which is also at an unhealthy level. Those particles can cause damage to the heart and lungs, according to federal officials.

When AQI levels reach 200 or higher, residents are advised to avoid strenuous outdoor activities and to limit time outside. Those with respiratory issues, or heart or lung-related disease, are encouraged to avoid outdoor physical activity altogether.  

Those who have to go outside can use N95 masks, but are also encouraged to take frequent breaks, according to federal officials.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that there will be much easing of the conditions in coming days, as an air quality alert will remain in effect through at least Wednesday night.

Approximately an hour after the threat was reported, police issued an “all-clear.”

According to a tweet sent at 12:16 p.m. from the Evanston Police Department, a threat was called into a “local business” located at Church Street and Chicago Avenue in downtown Evanston.

Employees and patrons have been evacuated, officials said.

“Heavy police presence on scene as we work to investigate,” the tweet continues. “Avoid the area. Updates to follow.”

According to police, several roads were closed in the area as a result of the police activity.

Around 12:45 p.m. the Evanston Police Department tweeted that the area remains secure as officials continue to investigate.

“Heavy congestion reported on downtown roadways,” the department said. “Plan an alternate route.”

At 1:15 p.m., a police update said the initial call to police was regarding an “anonymous bomb threat” that had been phoned in to the Whole Foods grocery store located at 1640 Chicago Ave. in downtown Evanston.

“Cook County Bomb Squad has been assisting with a search of the location,” police added.

Fifteen minutes later, Evanston police issued an “all-clear,” and indicated that all road closures had been lifted.

“Detectives will continue to investigate this matter,” officials said.

No further details were immediately available. This is a developing news story and will be updated.

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According to officials, Evanston police at 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday responded a call of shots fired at Clark Street Beach, in the 1800 block of Sheridan Drive just south of Northwestern University’s campus.

At least three people were shot in the incident, according to officials. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner, the man killed has been identified as Jacquis Irby, 18, of Skokie.

A second victim, 15, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. A third victim, also 15, suffered a minor gunshot wound, police say.

Around 9 p.m., Northwestern University officials issued a shelter-in-place order, as the suspects were last seen driving north on Sheridan Road, towards the campus.

Approximately an hour later, the campus lifted the order, after police said it was determined there was no immediate threat to the community.

According to officials, no one is in custody, and an investigation is still ongoing. And while the University did implement an order and issue campus lockdown procedures, the city of Evanston did not.

“The investigation indicates this was not a random act and the participants in the altercation knew each other,” a press release from Evanston police read. “The Department did not issue an order to shelter in place because responding officers determined this was not a random act and not an active shooter incident.”

According to a statement from Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, the city received criticism from residents for the decision, saying that while the investigation into the incident is ongoing, “there’s already a lot more that needs to be said.”

“First of all, I want to respond to some questions I’ve received about the City’s decision-making and communications on Wednesday evening,” Biss’ statement reads. “The City quickly determined that this was not a random act and that there was no active shooter, and therefore that residents were not in any immediate threat.”

“This view had a significant impact on our communication that evening,” the statement continues. “While I understand that some residents may have been puzzled as to why we didn’t issue a shelter in place order or otherwise give people immediate instructions on how to stay safe, I believe strongly that we made the right call—it’s completely essential to reserve those sorts of communications for when they’re necessary, so as to ensure that they’re taken as seriously as possible if they do ever have to occur.”

In an update last week, officials at Northwestern University, which did issue a shelter-in-place during the incident, acknowledged criticism it received for its own response, saying that the order did not go out soon enough.

“We have received messages from community members expressing frustration with the length of time it took for the University to inform the community of the shooting and to shelter in place,” the update reads. “The first message went out roughly 30 minutes after shots were fired. We agree we should shorten that window.”

“We already have met with key members of the leadership team to discuss what happened last night and have instructed them to review our response, our procedures and the phone communication that was sent in error to ensure we do better when the next incident happens,” the update goes on to say.

In response to the incident, Biss said Evanston police will be adding additional patrols to the downtown and lakefront areas, in addition to extra police presence that will focus on “neighborhood nuisance complaints and crime hotspots.”

The statement also says that the department’s and youth and young adult, and community relations staffers will attend blocks parties and fairs, and “will provide additional outreach throughout the community.”

Biss’ message concludes by saying “it is impossible to discuss Wednesday’s tragedy without addressing the continuing horror of guns, gun violence, and access to guns in our society.”

“We know that without fundamentally limiting the availability of guns, we can never fully solve the problem of violence and safety,” the statement goes on to say. “My office continues to work on innovative strategies to address the scourge of gun violence, and we’ll continue to be in touch about this.”

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According to a press release, the ban will officially go into effect on April 1. Propane-powered leaf blowers will also be banned under the ordinance.

The City Council passed the ban in 2021 over concerns about air and noise pollution, as well as other environmental impacts.

Officials also announced that the use of electric leaf blowers will be limited. Residents and companies can use the devices Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays year-round.

Anyone violating the ordinance is subject to fines, including landscape companies.

The city is offering companies grants of up to $3,000 to upgrade their equipment to electric-powered leaf blowers, according to a press release.

Jalen Williams traded in the big city for a small town in Montana. A recent graduate of Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Jalen was pursuing his dreams of becoming an entrepreneur in the town of Livingston.

“He had reached that point to take off,” said his mother Lilonda Brooks.

Then Feb. 10 happened.

Jalen’s mom said she got a call from his former principal, and the news was devastating. Jalen had been found dead in a field, not far from his girlfriend’s house.

Brooks rushed to Livingston, meeting with the coroner, they said, but never talking to any detectives.

“He told me Jalen died of hypothermia,” Brooks said. “He was frostbitten.”

“He was found face down with no clothes on – in open field,” said Terrance Brooks, Jalen’s uncle.

Brooks said Jalen was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2021, but she believes foul play may be involved in his death, saying his body showed signs of trauma.

“It looked like he put up a fight – bruises – like he was swollen,” she said. “Something happened to my son, and not of his own actions.”

NBC 5 reached out to the coroner and police chief of Livingston but didn’t hear back.

Jalen’s family is now awaiting the results of two autopsies, one completed in Billings, Montana, and a second one performed here in Chicago. The family has also contacted the FBI.

According to Evanston officials, the Streetplus program, which was launched in Nov. 2022, has been halted at least temporarily after the release of the footage.

“It is incredibly disturbing,” first ward Ald. Clare Kelly said. “I watched it with dread.”

Downtown cameras captured the incident on Monday when a crew from Streetplus arrived at Fountain Square. At that point, they spotted an individual who was apparently urinating on a nearby utility box.

The crew, clad in blue coats, is seen in the video going over to the individual, and a verbal altercation begins. A short time later that altercation turned physical, with the crew assaulting the individual in the recorded clip.

“The actions captured in the footage of this incident are disturbing and entirely unacceptable, and are not in line with the city’s values,” officials said in a statement. “The city has immediately suspended the Streetplus program pending further investigation of this incident.”

Streetplus was launched in Nov. 2022 to provide “enhanced cleaning, maintenance and landscaping services” in the city.

The group is responsible for outdoor furniture maintenance, graffiti removal, litter cleanup and other jobs.

Evanston police say they have assigned a detective to the case, and that they will determine whether any charges need to be filed.

Kelly says the city will also need to evaluate its relationship not just with this vendor, but all vendors that are hired from outside of city limits.

“I know there are firms with strong reputations also in Chicago that do this,” she said of the cleanup work. “I did have mixed feelings about hiring a firm that’s not from this area.”

Streetplus has not yet responded to requests for comment from NBC 5.

“The purpose of this program is to limit young people having easy access to them for guns,” said outreach worker Monday Bamgbose. “It’s used to prevent guns being in the hands of the wrong people.”

Bamgbose, who works at the Robert Crown Community Center explained the city has teamed up with Moms Demand Action in Evanston to give free gun locks to residents.

“I think its very important,” he said. “We see it everyday in the city of Chicago and sometimes here in Evanston, that young people are having access to guns, and that’s what we’re trying to limit here in the city of Evanston.”

The campaign, which was launched Friday afternoon, comes days after a 13-year-old student brought a loaded gun to Chute Middle School, police said.

“It’s always horrible and terrifying to hear of weapons being found in our schools,” said Sara Hines with Moms Demand Action, a grassroots movement of Americans seeking solutions to end gun violence. “The best thing that we can do is have really community focused efforts to educate the public around safe storage practices.”

Evanston police are urging gun owners to store their weapons properly and believe safety locks, such as the ones being handed out, give people an extra layer of protection.

“You want to place the chain through the opening, push it into he lock, turn the key, and now your gun is completely safe,” explained Evanston Police Department Detective Pedro Carrasco. “You cannot load it, you cannot fire – makes the gun completely inoperable.”

Gun safety advocates say the goal is to educate the public and to encourage residents to take advantage of free resources.

“It is the number one thing we can do to improve school safety and community safety universally, especially for our children,” said Hines.

Residents can pick up a gun safety lock by stopping by the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., and Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

According to police, the 18-year-old was charged with filing a false police report, a misdemeanor, in connection with the Jan. 23 incident.

“The investigation revealed circumstances that were not consistent with the reporter’s account of what happened,” officials said in a statement.

Police say that after the woman was approached about the inconsistencies in her story that she  admitted to fabricating the reported kidnapping.

According to police, the report centered around an incident in the 1200 block of Fowler Avenue, when the woman said she had been walking to work when two men got out of a car, picked her up, and attempted to bring her back to the vehicle.

She told police that she fought back and was able to free herself before running to the shop where she works.

Now, she will face a court date on March 7 in connection to the fabricated report.

A community is in shock after two men tried to kidnap an 18-year-old woman in suburban Evanston on Monday.

According to authorities, the incident occurred in the 1200 block of Fowler Avenue just before 4 p.m.

The woman told police that she had been walking in the neighborhood on her way to work when she saw a gray four-door sedan driving towards her. That car parked across the street, and two individuals got out of the car and walked up to her.

Police say the suspects then grabbed the teen and picked her up.

She was able to fight back and to free herself, and ran to a nearby shop where she works, according to police.

Tsedeke Handero, who lives nearby, expressed shock at the incident.

“It’s disturbing. I’ve never heard of things like this around here,” Handero said. “This is the first time.”

Sgt. Sophia Syed says that the teen is shaken by the incident, and that police are working as hard as they can to investigate and bring the suspects into custody.

“It is obviously something that was, I can only imagine, very frightening for her,” she said. “It is something that is very frightening for the community, so we’re doing our best to get it wrapped up as soon as we can.”

“It makes you think twice when you let your kids go outside,” resident Kyle Mason added.

Police are seeking out home surveillance footage of the incident, as they have only released a vague description of the suspects. One was wearing a gray hoodie, black pants and a black ski mask, while the other was wearing all black clothing and a black ski mask.

Authorities are also advising residents to do exactly what the teen did: fight back if they are in a similar situation.

“We would advise if you are in a situation where you may be abducted and taken to another place to fight for your safety, make noise, try to get away, attract attention to yourself,” Syed said. “Those are the types of things where hopefully someone would feel they should call the police and come to assist you.”

The home, at 3022 Payne St. in Evanston, is the home of Molly Ringwald’s character in “Sixteen Candles” — high school sophomore Samantha “Sam” Baker, whose family famously forgets her 16th birthday in favorite of older sister Ginny’s upcoming wedding.

The 5,000-square-foot home, built in 1931, includes five bedrooms, four full bathrooms, a heated two-car garage along with an outdoor kitchen and jacuzzi, the listing says.

According to the listing, the completely renovated home has changed hands a number of times since 2003. More recently, it sold in July of 2018 for $1,135,000. In 2022, after four months on the market, the home sold for $1,625,500 — $24,500 less than its original list price.

According to IMDB, Evanston isn’t the only Chicago suburb “Sixteen Candles” used for filming. The movie also filmed at locations in Highland Park, Northbrook, Glencoe, Winnetka and Skokie.

Evanston police stated officers were called to the Holiday Inn on Sherman Avenue at around 11:16 a.m. after a person was found dead in a hotel room. The individual, said to be a woman in her 20s to 30s, was originally discovered by hotel cleaning staff, which informed management who called 911.

As of Saturday evening, it remained unclear if foul play was suspected.

The cause and manner of death have yet to be determined.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Evanston Police Department Detective Bureau at 847-866-5040 or text Text-A-Tip to CRIMES (274637) then start your message with “EDPTIP.”

The school’s safety staff had received a tip Wednesday afternoon that the student, Rashaun Watkins, had a gun.

They escorted him to the dean’s office, where staff found a loaded 9mm handgun “while checking inside of Watkins’ upper pant leg area,” according to a statement issued by police.

Watkins was taken to the Evanston police station but did not make a statement, the statement said.

“The investigation did not reveal plans for a school shooting or an act of violence against students or staff,” police said. “There were no injuries in connection with this incident.”

Watkins was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He was due in court Friday.

“I credit Harlow with saving my life,” Conley said.

In February 2022, when Conley was 32 weeks pregnant, she noticed that her gums were bleeding and she was getting nose bleeds more frequently.

”I started bruising like crazy. My legs were covered with bruises,” Conley said.

She called her obstetrician at NorthShore Evanston Hospital, who ordered a blood test. Conley got a phone call early the next morning.

“You need to come in immediately. The doctor is concerned you have a super rare bleeding disorder,” Ashley remembers the caller saying.

Dr. Amy Wang, a hematologist-oncologist at NorthShore, feared it was acute promyelocytic leukemia, an extremely rare and aggressive blood cancer which accounts for only about 600 cases in the U.S. every year.

“It was so important to be able to stop the leukemia in its tracks as early as possible,” Dr. Wang said.

Kurt Conley, Ashley’s husband, said he could tell right away his wife was in trouble. “Seeing the doctors and seeing the look in their eyes and knowing how serious this was and thinking any moment, “This is it. I’m going to lose my wife,” Kurt said.

Within an hour of entering the hospital, Conley started oral chemotherapy, which is considered safe during the third trimester of pregnancy, according to Dr. Erin Tran, a high-risk obstetrician with NorthShore’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine team.

However, over the next 48 hours, Conley’s platelets continued to drop.

“It was very difficult to treat until she was on a more aggressive chemo regimen, so it was decided that ultimately the best thing to do was deliver the baby,” Dr. Tran said.

Conley was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she delivered Harlow Rose early at 33 weeks. Conley started a more aggressive, intravenous chemotherapy an hour later.

Harlow spent nearly a month in the NICU, but then went home to her three big brothers in Cary, where she is now a healthy, smiley baby girl.

After eight months of treatment, Conley is now in remission. She said she’s beyond grateful to the entire team at NorthShore for saving her life, but she also admits she’s feeling a whole spectrum of emotions, including fear the leukemia could return.

“I went through hell and back, but hopefully I’m coming out of this alive and I get to spend the rest of my life with my children,” Conley said.

Northwestern’s Board of Trustees has approved initial plans for a brand new football stadium, which will be privately-financed and will feature a slew of amenities for both fans and the general public.

According to a press release Wednesday, the board approved plans for the new 35,000 seat stadium, which would feature multiple seating levels, a canopy over the seating area, and numerous other future-leaning designs.

According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the plan would require the demolition of Ryan Field, and the new stadium would be constructed on the site, with a targeted opening date of 2026.

In all, the project could cost an estimated $800 million, per Crain’s.

“We are extremely excited to move forward with a transformational stadium project and grateful for our university leadership and to the board of trustees for their decision to take the next steps toward a new Ryan Field,” Dr. Derrick Gragg, VP of athletics and recreation at the school, said in a statement.

Northwestern University

The stadium project got a significant push in Sept. 2021 when the family of Patrick and Shirley Ryan made a $480 million donation to the university. While some of the money was earmarked for research and educational initiatives, the funding was also meant to go toward the construction of a new stadium, which will still be called Ryan Field.

According to the university’s website, the stadium would have a capacity of 35,000, far lower than the current 47,000 that the stadium can hold.

School officials say the reduction in size was deliberate, so that fans could sit closer to the field and so that congestion, light and noise pollution would be reduced in the area around the stadium.

New ride-share and public transportation plans are also part of the proposal, with free bike valets also employed in the design.

Northwestern University

Officials say that the seating area would feature seatbacks for all levels of the stadium, and a canopy would both protect fans from the elements and keep light and noise inside the building.

The proposed structure would also be Gold LEED certified for sustainability purposes, and would be designed to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, making it one of the “most accessible stadiums in the country,” according to officials.

Officials with the school say that they would also seek to hold a limited number of concerts at the venue, generating up to $35 million in revenue for the city in the first decade after opening. The project itself would generate up to $600 million in indirect development for the city, and would create up to 2,900 jobs.

Northwestern University

Greenspace outside of the stadium would be open throughout the year to the general public, and designated tailgating areas would also be implemented to help with gameday traffic and congestion.

The plan still needs to be approved by Evanston officials, and there is no timetable for that decision to be made.