Cashier From Bucky’s Viral Video Fired:
A gas station clerk at a Bucky’s convenience store in Naperville has been fired after a viral video showed him questioning some customers’ citizenship. In the video released Tuesday, the employee is seen telling some Hispanic customers that they “need to go back to their country.” A second video taken shortly after that shows the clerk and another customer telling the group to leave, saying, “you have no right here.” A protest was held yesterday outside of the gas station. Mayor Steve Chirico commented yesterday on his Facebook page, saying, “…hate has no home here in Naperville.”
Rezoning Approved for Washington St. Development:
The rezoning of a development on 1001 South Washington Street was approved. At last night’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, the group voted unanimously to change the zoning of the 3.5-acre lot from Office/Commercial/Institutional to a B1 Neighborhood Convenience Shopping Center District. Formerly the location of a PNC bank, the space will now become a mixed-use office and retail development under a proposal by Tartan Realty.
Many neighbors came out to voice concerns about traffic and safety issues, as the site is just a few blocks from an elementary school. But the commission voted unanimously in favor of the rezoning, saying it is more compatible with the community shopping district just east of the site, and more appropriate than OCI zoning which would open the opportunity for an even larger development. The proposal now goes to city council.
Excessive Heat Warning Delayed:
The extreme heat isn’t here yet, but it’s coming. An excessive heat warning previously scheduled to start today will now be put into effect from 10 a.m. Friday through Saturday night at 7 p.m. Temperatures during that time are expected to soar well into the 90’s, with heat indices reaching up to 115 degrees. These extremely high temps can be dangerous, especially to the elderly, small children, pets, and those without air conditioning. If you do have to be outside, stay hydrated, wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing, and take frequent breaks. Remember, temperatures in a car can become lethal within minutes in this type of weather, so never leave your child or pet unattended in a vehicle. And if you need a place to cool off, check the city’s website for a list of cooling centers.
Pickleball Tournament Begins:
The Inaugural Chicago Pickleball Open begins competition today at Nike Park. Over 450 participants will compete in pro, amateur, senior, singles and doubles tournaments all weekend long, with a $25,000 purse for the pro and senior events. Last night was the ribbon cutting for the event, which included free pickleball instruction, exhibition matches from some of the top players in the world, and a “Dunk the Pro” fundraiser for pickleball equipment in Naperville area schools. The tournament will run Thursday-Sunday from 8am-6pm at the newly opened outdoor pickleball courts at Nike Park.
