IRMA's Featured Retailer
We Are Retail: M.D. Trains
M.D. Trains in downtown Woodstock is a full-service hobby shop owned by Matt Drennan, offering model trains, cars, and collectibles for hobbyists of all ages.
The store has become a welcoming community hub for those with a passion for railroading and model building. From vintage finds to modern supplies, M.D. Trains has it all for nostalgic and creative collectors.
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After pledging that the city would only loosen restrictions once guidelines are in place, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Tuesday she was comfortable announcing a date for the city to move into phase three: Wednesday, June 3.
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MAY 29, 2020
Owners of small apartment buildings, independent hotels and restaurant spaces are likely to benefit most from an ambitious plan by Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi to bake the economic impact of Covid-19 into the assessed values of properties all over the county.
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Chicago businesses now have restriction guidelines for reopening in early June. In talking with reporters Wednesday, Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar said the guidance, announced Wednesday, is a result of a collective of about 200 industry leaders.
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MAY 28, 2020
Consultants from the William Everett Group gave an update on Wednesday to members of the Cook County Complete Census Commission about efforts to boost responses to the U.S. Census.
Dozens of small groups using public dollars to help spread awareness of the U.S. Census are running up against a problem: they have not been able to spend the nearly $1 million they were originally given, and next week they are scheduled to receive more. -
MAY 27, 2020
A pair of North Side aldermen want to give their constituents more time to force a ban on cannabis dispensaries from opening in their immediate neighborhoods. They say launching petition drives during a stay-at-home order is virtually impossible.
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MAY 27, 2020
Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners were surprised to learn Tuesday morning that county board President Toni Preckwinkle vetoed their proposal to hand over the addresses of Covid-19-positive residents to suburban police and fire agencies, a 180-degree reversal days after Preckwinkle said she would reluctantly support the measure.
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Chicago is directing $56 million in federal money to escalate its contact tracing program, which the city hopes will serve the city in future years, well past the Covid-19 pandemic.
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MAY 26, 2020
A long-awaited plan to legalize the construction of extra homes across Chicago would cut back the number of parking spaces required in residential areas all over the city, a move aimed at clearing away room for thousands of affordable new homes.
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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is expected to release details this week on special restrictions connected to a phased reopening of some industry sectors planned for early June.
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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said restaurants in Chicago will not be offering outdoor dining, as suggested by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker a day earlier. In talking with reporters Thursday, Lightfoot said the data does not show Chicago has reached the benchmark where it is safe to loosen those restrictions. Chicago ranks as the biggest hotspot in the state for Covid-19 cases and deaths .
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MAY 22, 2020
County commissioners overwhelmingly voted Thursday to extend a series of emergency powers for county Board President Toni Preckwinkle through September, notching a victory for the president as she tries to harness every lever of county government to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.
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A mile-long retail corridor in South Shore could be targeted for redevelopment, bringing upgraded infrastructure and new retail and entertainment to the neighborhood.
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Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle would see her emergency governing powers extended for an additional four months to respond to the coronavirus pandemic under a measure set to be considered Thursday.
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MAY 21, 2020
City planning officials are scheduled Thursday to approve a $1 billion plan to build a pair of residential towers on the site of the ill-fated Chicago Spire proposal at the junction of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
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MAY 21, 2020
UNLOCKEDAffordability for renters and equity for contract hiring were two issues discussed Wednesday at the monthly meeting of the Chicago City Council. The three-hour meeting was also the one-year anniversary in office for Mayor Lori Lightfoot who credited the 12 freshman aldermen she shared the milestone with. Over the past year their collective efforts made the city “more fair and more transparent” since the time they took office, she said.
Near the top of the meeting, Lightfoot introduced a new ordinance (O2020-2862) that she said enshrines tenant stability by extending the notice period for eviction or lease non-renewals from 30 to 90 days. The so-called Fair Notice ordinance also guarantees renters $2,500 from their landlord if they are forced to leave because their building will be either demolished or redeveloped. The payment is based on federal standards developed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
