Lollapalooza weekend, Adopt-a-Beach, and an update on Trump’s indictment
Plus, gun advertising laws to change in Illinois
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! We’ve got a good one for you today. It’s your newsletter team — Alexandra, Zoe, Billie, Lauren, Sam, Elizabeth, Hailey and Emily F. — back again with another newsletter to start off your Monday night.
Tonight, a special feature story on Adopt-a-Beach, a nonprofit organization located on 150 N. Michigan Ave. that helps to organize cleanups around different beaches in the Chicago area. This organization is a great opportunity to go out and make a change in the environment and stay informed on important environmental issues! Also, Lollapalooza weekend took place Aug. 3-6 with over 150 performers. Some of the top headliners included Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Odesza and more. In national news, former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to each of the four accounts brought against him Thursday.
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With that, let's get into the news!
A Remedy for the Beaches
By Zoe Lemmon
Slathered in sunscreen and armed in thick gloves, 11 volunteers made their way to the Rogers Park Beach shore to endure the heat and traverse landscapes of litter. The low surf layered over the sand as nearby seagulls watched the group scatter across the land, a single question shared in each mind.
How much trash can we clean today?
Adopt-a-Beach is a local volunteer-run organization hosted by the nonprofit Alliance for the Great Lakes. The program cleans the sands and waters across the Great Lakes region. Registration is available to anyone.
Plastics found within the water never fully disappear. The molecules break into smaller pieces, creating disintegrating microplastics that absorb toxic chemicals that can be found in our lakes. These tiny plastics can then be confused for food by the underwater wildlife, harming the environment, sea life, and humans.
A study published by National Library of Medicine noted the presence of microplastics in tap water, sea salt and bottled water. With the lakes taking up 84% of North America’s freshwater, according to the United States EPA, microplastics quickly transfer directly through fish digestion. The aquatic organisms that consume these chemicals are filled with “noxious wastes,” which then disturb their physiological functions and disrupt the Great Lakes’ ecosystems.
Abigail Davis, a 22-year-old University of Illinois Chicago student, has hosted multiple beach cleanups, marking the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend as her third. “While a lot of change happens at the policy or government level, change also comes from community members organizing events and getting things done,” Davis said.
At her university, Davis is in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs with a concentration in Sustainable Cities. Though she originally planned to major in advertising, after the pandemic she opted to focus on the environment and social justice.
Volunteering for the program, the participants come across trash dispersed along the shore. On the Sunday event, this included empty and full plastic bottles, crushed cans, a single shoe, ripped-up wrappers, a washed-up chunk of a boat, ribbons, bottle caps, shattered glass and much more.
According to a study by the Rochester Institute of Technology, 22 million pounds of plastic debris enter the Great Lakes every year. On its website, Adopt-a-Beach has kept 20 years of data from cleanups. Compiling this information allows volunteers to assist scientists studying plastic pollution. In 2012, when scientists first began publishing research using data collected by Adopt-a-Beach, they showed the presence of plastic microbeads in all five Great Lakes.
Since beginning in 1991, Adopt-a-Beach has collected over half a million pounds of litter. With over 200,000 volunteers, the team celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2021 by remarking over the 8,282,807 different pieces of litter collected.
Beyond creating an impact on the environment and waterlife, Adopt-a-Beach also inspires newfound devotion in casual volunteers.
Forty-year-old Christina Way joined Davis in her first beach cleanup event after graduating with a degree in environmental science from Southern New Hampshire. “Doing activities like this helps you meet people that have similar interests and can give you their own perspective,” Way said.
Member Linda Elrayes joined solely to volunteer for the environment. “I was wanting to get more involved with the Earth,” Elrayes said, spending her Memorial Day weekend engaging with her first two beach cleanups. “I’ve volunteered before in other capacities, like in hospitals, and I think they’re both important in their own ways. ”
Volunteers clean hundreds of miles of shoreline of the plastic and debris that pollute the waters, but the organization doesn’t only clear trash. In 2007, the volunteers of the program worked to create a ban that kept smoking prohibited along 30 miles of shoreline stretching from Michigan to Chicago. In 2018, the team helped push for a federal ban on plastic microbeads in personal care products.
The Adopt-a-Beach program consists solely of volunteers, and their involvement in the program helps create a better Earth for sea life, humans and the environment.
DePaul News
By Billie Rollason
DePaul’s athletic season kicks off with a block party
This Saturday, Aug. 12, the DePaul Athletics department is hosting “DeBlock Party” under the Fullerton Station, next to Wish Field at 900 W. Belden Ave. The free event will be held from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., alongside the DePaul soccer doubleheader. The women’s soccer game v. Milwaukee begins at noon, and the men’s game v. Detroit Mercy begins at 3 p.m. The party is presented by Undeniably Dairy and the first 200 attendees will receive complimentary ice cream. The event’s activities include music, face painting, yard games and meet and greets. For full details on this event you can find the complete reporting here.
The School of Music’s large ensemble opens auditions
All students, including non-music majors, are invited to audition for a spot in this year’s large ensemble. Auditions are scheduled to occur Sept. 5-7. To secure an audition, you must sign up for a time slot by Aug. 25 at 5 p.m. The outcome of these auditions are exclusively for a spot on the ensemble, and not admission into the School of Music. Learn more about the auditions and specific time slots here.
DePaul Urban Gardeners meet Wednesday
At the 925 W. Belden Ave. garden, DUG will meet for their summer volunteer hours from 5 -7 p.m. The meetings occur weekly with a variety of opportunities throughout the season including planting, composting, harvesting and more. For all the details, keep up with DUG’s instagram page.
DePaul’s Women’s Basketball team is scheduled to take on Western Michigan University
The women’s team will kick off their upcoming basketball season on Nov. 6 at Wintrust Arena against WMU. This will be the third all-time match between the two programs and the first match the team has had against WMU since 2000. Find more information on the season’s non-conference schedule and the entire story, here.
Chicago Headlines
By Lauren Sheperd
Lollapalooza in review – Lollapalooza took over Grant Park this weekend, pulling in crowds from around the world. With nine stages and over 150 performing artists, there was something for fans of all genres. The festival opened on Thursday with headliners Billie Eilish and Karol G. On Friday, rapper Kendrick Lamar and alternative rock band The 1975 headlined. Those who went on Saturday were able to see K-pop group Tomorrow X Together and DJ duo Odesza perform as headliners. The festival closed last night with headliners Lana del Rey and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Lollapalooza will be returning to Chicago next year – and for the next decade – thanks to a deal made by former mayor, Lori Lightfoot. Read more about Lollapalooza and its significance to the city in this Sun-Times story by Emmanuel Camarillo.
Father of Highland Park shooter charged – The father of the July 4 shooter has been charged with seven counts of reckless conduct for helping his son obtain a gun license three years before the shooting. The shooting – which took place last summer at Highland Park’s annual July 4 parade – left seven people dead. Each charge represents a life lost and carries up to a three-year sentence, or 21 years total. Defense lawyers will argue to have the case overturned, claiming that the law the father was charged under is “unconstitutionally vague.” If the case goes through, the trial will begin Nov. 6. The Associated Press and NBC Chicago have more.
What to know as COVID spikes, again – Health officials are tracking the spread of COVID following a late summer rise in cases and hospitalizations. As of right now, there are no indications that there will be a surge in Chicago and Illinois, though the recent uptick can be tied to the end of the national public health emergency surrounding COVID and the way cases are now tracked. Vaccine manufacturers are expected to roll out a new vaccine to target the XBB.1.5 Omicron strain this fall. WTTW’s Eunice Alpasan has more.
Gun advertising laws to change in Illinois – Firearms are no longer to be advertised to children and militants soon as Gov. J.B. Pritzker continues to try to curb gun violence in the state. Illinois would be the eighth state to approve this type of legislation, which will allow legal action against firearm manufacturers and companies based on how they choose to advertise. Similar to other times Pritzker has introduced gun-control legislation, gun-rights advocates are fighting back, saying this law doesn’t only infringe on their Second Amendment rights, but also their right to free speech. Chicago Sun-Times reporter John O’Connor has more information.
National Headlines
By Sam Freeman
Trump pleads not guilty on election charges – In a hearing on Thursday, Former President Donald Trump appeared before the court, pleading not guilty to a series of charges that he colluded to remain in office despite his loss in the 2020 election. He pleaded “not guilty” to each of the four accounts brought against him, and the first pretrial hearing is set for Aug. 28. This charge – as opposed to previous charges of illegally retaining classified documents and withholding information from the government about such documents – is more significant, according to federal prosecutors, because it evaluates Trump’s loyalty to democratic principles. In the meantime, Trump’s legal strategy includes delaying the proceedings; if he wins the 2024 election, he will be able to dismiss federal cases against him. Glenn Thrush and Charlie Savage from the New York Times have more information.
The FDA approves first pill for postpartum depression – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved zuranolone (sold by Zurzuvae) as a medication to treat postpartum depression; it is to be taken once daily for two weeks post-birth. Symptoms of postpartum depression can include energy depletion, suicidal thoughts and sadness, according to the FDA; one in seven women experience postpartum depression. Zurvuvae has shown, in clinical trials, to reduce depressive symptoms in three days. The only previous treatment for postpartum depression was an intravenous injection. Aoife Walsh from the BBC has more information.
The U.S. women’s soccer team was knocked out of the World Cup – The U.S. team lost in round 16 of the World Cup against Sweden in a series of penalties after zero scores. The women’s soccer team previously won four consecutive tournament championships, so its loss this early in the series comes as a surprise to many. The team proceeded from the group stage with a win against Vietnam and unfortunate draws against the Netherlands and Portugal. "We should be proud that those days aren't here. We, as members of the U.S. women's national team, have always fought for the growth of this game globally, and I think that is what you're seeing,” said defender Crystal Dunn. Annie M. Peterson from the Associated Press has more information.
Only 20 percent of people with an opioid addiction have access to the proper medication, a new study shows – According to a new study published Monday in the JAMA, one in five people with opioid use disorder are receiving treatment. Treatments include methadone, buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone. All of these medications have been shown to be safe and effective. However, doctors are rarely using them, specifically among minority groups, including women and Black adults. Brian Mann from NPR has the story.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Elizabeth Gregerson
Detractors aside, reality television is here to stay. Entire online communities spring up around a specific show. TikTokers find success in recapping and rehashing on-screen and behind-the-scenes drama. Commentary podcasts become so popular they end up having cast members as guests. The industry is an untameable and unavoidable beast. So what is one to do when they feel like watching another catfight will be dangerous to their increasingly high cortisol levels?
Enter the reality television comfort show, the visual version of easy listening music. A show that requires nothing more from you than a cozy blanket and a cup of tea, caffeine free of course. It may seem somewhat contradictory, but today’s recommendation is a reality competition show. These competitors aren’t out for blood. There are no giant egos to be appeased or alliances to make. The only thing being made on this show is art.
“Blown Away” is a Canadian reality show on Netflix. Viewers watch glassblowers compete to win a cash prize and a residency at the Corning Museum of Glass. Much like the “Great British Baking Show,” “Blown Away” follows an equation. The challenge is presented, the artists execute their interpretation of the challenge by creating a glass art piece, the art pieces are judged, one person wins and one person goes home. Intertwined within the repetitive rhythm is the opportunity to watch skill and creativity in motion, spliced with glass-blowing history and education. It feels important to note the show has a surprising abundance of “dad jokes” and no one is taking themselves too seriously.
Seeing the artist manipulate lava like liquid into delicate glass looks at the same time magical and scientific, it is enough to calm the most anxious mind. Next time life’s stresses get too loud, watch “Blown Away,” the low-stakes show that lets viewers escape life and discover the art of glass blowing.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, abortion access, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
That’s it for today! See you next Monday.
The 14 East Newsletter Team