How Illinoisans are cutting back on spending
Good afternoon, Chicago.
The Associated Press on Tuesday conducted a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide, concluding that worries about everyday expenses helped former President Donald Trump return to the White House.
In today's newsletter, we take a look at how Illinoisans have cut back their spending in response to higher expenses.
Plus, we've got reporting on a local Trump bump, why a Chicago hip-hop artist decided to create a "Rapbrary" and more community news you need to know below.
⏱: A 7-minute read
— Matt Moore, newsletter reporter
TODAY'S TOP STORY
I llinoisans cut back on spending to cope with higher expenses
" he said.
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NOW PLAYING
An imaginative children's play doesn't sidestep complex topics
" is a world-premiere adaptation of the children's book by Caldecott Medal-winning pair Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson.
The story follows Milo on his weekly Sunday train ride to visit his mother, who is incarcerated.
This play, which opened Oct. 12 at the Chicago Children's Theatre and wraps on Sunday, tackles topics that resonate beyond childhood.
Thirteen-year-old actor Ian Thigpen, who plays Milo, says the music — composed by the Atlanta duo Christian Magby and Christian Albright — is one of his favorite parts of the show.
"I would say my favorite song is 'Another Sunday,'" said the young actor after a rehearsal last month. "It's the start of the show, when we don't know anything yet, but we're getting ready." In the song, Milo and his sister Adrienne are getting ready for their weekly Sunday subway ride. At this point, this audience does not yet know their final destination will be a prison.
For Chicago-based playwright Terry Guest, the approach here was to make a play for kids that respects their ability to handle complex topics.
"I think that kids are audience members that deserve the same level of respect as adults do," Guest said.
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BRIGHT ONE
A Chicago rapper started a 'Rapbrary' to honor hip-hop as a literary art form
" one that heralded rappers as authors and albums as books.
This led him to create the Rapbrary : a special library dedicated to celebrating hip-hop as a literary art form and preserving banned books. Initially housed in Kinsey's home, its growing collection of books includes Black literature, texts on Black history, queer literature, musician memoirs and banned books, accumulated both from community donations and Kinsey's personal library.
"If we change our perspective," Kinsey said, "I think that we can empower a generation of artists and writers to truly understand the power of the craft and storytelling and the impact of the things that they create."
Kinsey plans to host the Rapbrary's first open house on Dec. 1. After that, it will be open to the public during occasional events.
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YOUR DAILY QUESTION
Have you cut back on spending this year? Tell us one way you did.
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