Today’s Headlines for Friday, August 24

• Vallas: City Should Have Used Ride-Share Settlement to Reopen Mental Health Clinics (Tribune)
• Sterling Bay Buys Old Wheat Mill in Fulton Market, Hopes to Open a Metra Stop There (Tribune)
• CPD Officer in Unmarked Car Critically Injured in Crash at 103rd and Stony Island (WGN)
• Reported Case of CTA Bus Driver Seriously Injuring Pedestrian Near Harrison/Ogden
• Mt. Greenwood Flower Peddler Arrested After Complaints About Blocking Traffic (Block Club)
• Tollway Board Agrees to Extend Online Payment Grace Period to 14 Days (Tribune)
• The Divvy for Everyone Program Has Been Expanded to Evanston (Patch)
• Napervillians Say 1,681-Car Metra Lot Should Be Expanded to Accommodate New TOD (Tribune)
• 87-Year-Old Napervillian Aims to Be the Oldest Person to Complete the Chicago Triathlon (Tribune)

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First of all, a huge thanks to all the advertisers, sponsors, and readers who have helped out with the effort to win the $50K challenge grant from the Chicago Community Trust. The additional $25K The Trust is offering this year will allow us to hire a part-time reporter to expand our coverage of the South and West sides, communities of color, and women's transportation issues.

Unfortunately, due to a major sponsorship that didn't materialize in time, we didn't hit $50K by the midnight 8/1 deadline. Fortunately, The Trust has graciously extended the deadline to 9/1. We're currently at $49,605, so we've got only $395 left to raise.

So if you appreciate Streetsblog Chicago's daily transportation coverage and haven't already chipped in, there's still time to do so. You can make a donation on our Public Good page.

And be sure to come to our party on Thursday, August 30, 6-8 p.m. at Revolution Brewing's Kedzie Avenue taproom (not to be confused with their Milwaukee Avenue brewpub), 3440 North Kedzie in Avondale. All $100+ donors will get a free book and a free pint. Thanks again to everyone who has stepped up during the fund drive so far -- we really appreciate your support.

- John Greenfield, editor, Streetsblog Chicago