Matthew Bufis News Today

When Kemone Hendricks started Evanston’s annual Juneteenth parade in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrations included just a car parade and online events. Four years later, the founder and executive director of Evanston Present and Future said the fifth annual celebration will feature floats, music and dance performances at the parade, as well as various...

For Evanston Township High School’s Wildkit Marching Band, this year was about rebuilding.  Because COVID-19 reduced the program’s membership, rehearsal time and performance opportunities in 2020, the directors said their primary goal this fall was to get the band back on its feet. “The pandemic was really hard on music programs across the country,” director...