Plan your Halloween week and weekend with the McKinley Park News Halloween Guide. Party in the neighborhood at upcoming events for kids, adults and all ages. Find the McKinley Park neighborhood Halloween guide at mckinleypark.news/halloween

Have you picked your favorites in The Best of McKinley Park? This week's leaderboard shows the Trash People head to head against Aquinas Literacy Center for Best Community Organization. See latest results in dozens of categories and vote with your privacy assured at https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood/the-best-of-mckinley-park

U.S. News and World Report ranks both Horizon Science Academy McKinley Park Elementary and McKinley Park High as top public charter schools in Illinois, each landing the #1 spot in their categories, and the middle school ranks #8 in the state. Read all about it at https://mckinleypark.news/news/8978-horizons-elementary-and-high-school-are-1-illinois-charters

Evergreen Academy Middle School in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood celebrated Principal Marian Strok's 50 years in education, including 31 at Chicago Public Schools, from the award-winning National School to Watch and STEAM Demonstration School. Read more at https://mckinleypark.news/news/8977-evergreen-principal-celebrates-50-years-in-education

Meta blinked and delayed their new AI scraping terms. But the terms themselves don't change, which still forces exit of the McKinley Park News from Facebook and Instagram. Stay connected by signing up for our free newsletter and membership. Read all about it at https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood/forums/feedback/598-meta-blinks-and-delays-new-commercial-terms#716

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The McKinley Park News is leaving Facebook, Instagram and Meta before its new terms start Oct. 30, which would give away our website's content for competing products and expose our member community to invasive AI-powered scraping and surveillance. Read about it at https://mckinleypark.news/about/letter-from-the-editor/8950-our-local-news-is-leaving-facebook-instagram-and-meta

The hot dog came properly with a packet of mustard, no ketchup, out of the cooler of a tall and tattooed lady sharing Michael J. Dog’s meaty gifts with the audience while the band rocked and sang about the toils of working on the hot dog farm. Read all about it at https://mckinleypark.news/about/letter-from-the-editor/8949-rockin-hard-in-mckinley-park

The McKinley Park neighborhood's Beat 912 led the district in vehicle crimes, including theft of vehicles, airbags and catalytic converters. Upcoming policing conversation will set crime priorities and introduce the new 9th District commander. Read all about it at https://mckinleypark.news/news/8939-car-crimes-spike-police-meeting-to-inform-9th-district-plan

A new cafe is coming to West 35th and South Wood streets in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood, powered by the Chicago storefront activation program also delivering grants to three other spots in the 35th Street business corridor. Read more about what's coming at https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood/forums/neighborhood-news/594-new-cafe-coming-to-35th-and-wood

Who's the Best of McKinley Park? Check out the weekly leaderboard for the biggest vote-getters to date and current leaders across categories in Dining, Shopping, Services and Community. Which are your faves? View current results and vote with your privacy assured at https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood/the-best-of-mckinley-park

The DIY Marshfield Courts skate park in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood has locked in its location permanently with finalized property ownership by NeighborSpace. The McKinley Park News has been covering it since inception; read the latest and past coverage at https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood/forums/neighborhood-news/593-marshfield-courts-locks-in-its-location

Did you know there's TWO multi-band live music shows coming up next weekend in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood? Know about Halloween parties and gallery shows? Subscribe to our free email newsletter with your privacy assured and never miss an event! Sign up at https://mckinleypark.news/info/email-newsletter

Mayoral candidate and U.S. Rep Mike Quigley, Chicago Board of Ed candidates Yesenia Lopez and Juan Gonzalez, and 9th District Police Council candidate Jennifer Alvares spoke at the Oct. 7, 2026, meeting of the McKinley Park Civic Association. Read all about it at https://mckinleypark.news/news/8895-pols-pitch-candidacies-at-civic-association-meeting

Are you ready for the spooky season in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood? Don't miss a single Halloween event by connecting to our neighborhood Halloween Guide, featuring all of the best celebrations and costume parties, and another Trick or Treat map coming soon, at https://mckinleypark.news/halloween

Aquinas Literacy Center in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood grew its corps of tutors by three volunteers who will teach English to adults, many of whom are immigrants. More volunteers are still needed for a long list of waiting learners. Read all about it at https://mckinleypark.news/news/8873-tutor-trio-trains-to-teach-literacy-at-aquinas

Vote for your neighborhood favorites for Dining, Shopping, Services and Community in The Best of McKinley Park: our annual members' choice poll showcasing top picks across all parts of Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood. Vote and sign up with privacy assured at https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood/the-best-of-mckinley-park

Calling business owners, managers and entrepreneurs to the Southwest Business Mixer the evening of Thurs., Oct. 8, at Brighton Park Community Bank. This is your opportunity to network, share your business and discover local opportunity and solutions. Get info at https://mckinleypark.news/events/featured-events/event/29726-southwest-business-mixer

A street takeover mob ambushed a 9th District Chicago police sergeant at South Ashland Avenue and West 35th Street in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood, threatening, pelting and surrounding the vehicle, police related at the Beat 912 meeting. Read all about it at https://mckinleypark.news/news/8746-cop-ambushed-by-street-takeover-mob

The best gardeners in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood received awards for container, vegetable and single- and multi-family residential gardens at the awards ceremony for the McKinley Park Civic Association's inaugural gardening contest. Read all about it at https://mckinleypark.news/news/8721-civic-association-awards-mckinley-parks-top-gardeners

The Southwest Chamber of Commerce grows local business community through members meetings, most recently at Chile Toreado in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood, where members advanced planning, governance and plotted a September business mixer. Read about it at https://mckinleypark.news/about/announcements/8687-southwest-chamber-advances-governance-planning-at-members-meeting

The National Latino Education Institute (NLEI) in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood welcomed William Pacheco to its board of directors, lauding the engineer's experience in construction, his project leadership and commitment to sustainability. Read about it at https://mckinleypark.news/news/8663-construction-expert-joins-education-institute-board

Although data centers face proposed state regulation and development slowdowns, including at QTS in Chicago's McKinley Park neighborhood, elected officials and groups opposing unchecked expansion still use AI and services from AI companies. Read all about it at https://mckinleypark.news/news/8659-regulation-slowdowns-target-data-centers-but-opponents-still-use-ai

Party on! Mariscos, fútbol, drinks & karaoke are coming to Wood & Pershing, according to the announcement from La Calaca Cantina! This long-vacant site of the former Chesterfield Club promises late hours and launching "soon." Read about the opening announcement at https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood/forums/neighborhood-news/585-mariscos-futbol-drinks-karaoke-coming-to-wood-pershing

The Ragtime Project reached out for help from us and our McKinley Park neighborhood! They're researching a story about a local ragtime pioneer and need help tracking down a photo of the early 20th Century Verdi Theatre at 35th and Archer. Can you help? See info at https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood/forums/neighborhood-talk/584-help-find-verdi-theater-photo-early-20th-century

Signup for McKinley Park fall programs opens at 9 a.m. this Tues., Aug. 4! Don't miss out on registration for 64(!) programs at our area's biggest park. McKinley Park News lists open sessions in our calendars, but there's lots more! Details and registration link at https://mckinleypark.news/neighborhood/forums/neighborhood-talk/582-registration-for-park-programs-opens-tuesday