Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago news, sports, politics, entertainment

Crime

Off-duty killing of Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca announced as line-of-duty death on his 31st birthday

In a letter to department members on Tuesday, Police Supt. Larry Snelling described Huesca as “a kind spirit who cared deeply for his family, friends, and our city.”

By Tom Schuba

Education

$5 million fund to aid Chicago students with disabilities

The Diverse Learners Recovery Fund, launched through a partnership with the city and Ada S. McKinley Community Services, will provide up to 8,000 families with one-time grants of $500.

By Sophie Sherry

Loop

Loop's weekend foot traffic exceeds level before pandemic, but retail vacancies still at record high

Small Business

Dom's Kitchen and Foxtrot abruptly shutter stores, months after specialty grocers merged

Crime

14-year-old boy charged with murder in South Loop shooting

Image from a video Chicago Police released of a person of interest they are seeking to identify in the investigation of the murder of Officer Luis Huesca early Sunday in the 3100 block of West 56th Street in Gage Park.

Crime

Chicago police release photos, video of person of interest sought in probe of Officer Luis Huesca slaying

Commentary

The opinions in and around Chicago that inform, analyze, hold power accountable and entertain.

CST Editorial Board

Time for a leadership change at CTA: Show Dorval Carter the exit door

Rummana Hussain

Editorial board member and columnist

Watch and learn: Chicago Palestine Film Festival aims to entertain, educate

Michael Eric Dyson

Author and professor of African American and Diaspora Studies, Vanderbilt University

The hard truth about Rainbow PUSH and why the Rev. Frederick Haynes III quit after 3 months

Ismael Pérez

Columnist, audience specialist

Someone in Chicago wants to support lemonade stands but shuns germs

Politics

Housing & development

House next to Obamas' Kenwood home, once linked to Tony Rezko, nears completion

A Chicago couple has invested at least $4.2 million into building a home on a lot once owned by the wife of convicted political fixer Tony Rezko.

By Abby Miller

Chicago Police graduation at McCormick Place. Chicago Police shoulder patch.

Police Reform

Chicago police union files notice of appeal in case that would open serious discipline cases to the public

Other Views

The hard truth about Rainbow PUSH and why the Rev. Frederick Haynes III quit after 3 months

Money

Kroger, Albertsons — still hoping to merge — agree to sell more stores to satisfy regulators

Environment

Judge OKs $12.25 million class-action settlement over Hilco's Little Village dust storm

Sports

Bears

Bears GM Ryan Poles: Plan is set for No. 1 pick in draft Thursday

The Bears have been studying quarterbacks for months as they look to turn their offense around.

By Jason Lieser

White Sox

Pedro Grifol talks accountability, but the White Sox offense has nothing to say

Bears

Caleb Williams sure looks to be Bears’ guy – a true talent available at just the right time

Bears

Why drafting a receiver at No. 9 is not a must-have for Bears

Cubs

Former Cub Don Kessinger watching with pride as grandson Grae arrives with Astros at Wrigley Field

Entertainment and Culture

JoJo Siwa speaks during the GLAAD Media Awards last month in Beverly Hills, California.

Entertainment and Culture

JoJo Siwa, Natasha Bedingfield among headliners for 2024 Chicago Pride Fest

Bob the Drag Queen and Amber Riley also set to perform during June 22-23 event at Halsted and Addison.

By Leah Love

Movies and TV

'Downtown Owl': '80s period piece doesn't know what it wants to be

Theater

Sublime ‘How I Learned What I Learned’ delves into life lessons that shaped August Wilson the writer and his works

Theater

Eddie Izzard delivers solo 'Hamlet' with range, directness of a stand-up comedian

Small Business

Astrology-themed sober bar raised $47k in Kickstarter funds, predicts late summer opening

All latest stories

Cubs

Cubs put Kyle Hendricks on the IL with back strain amid struggles, flurry of roster moves

The Cubs also put lefty Drew Smyly on the IL, DFA’d Garrett Cooper and recalled Hayden Wesneski, Matt Mervis and Luke Little.

By Maddie Lee

Crime

39-year-old man slain in Oak Forest shooting remembered as 'loving father who loved to help anyone in need'

Three others, including a 12-year-old girl, were wounded in the shooting, Oak Forest police said.

By Mohammad Samra

Bears

Justin Fields trade 'tough' for ex-Bears teammates, who think he'll do well with Steelers

The Bears weren’t blindsided by the trade of Justin Fields to the Steelers last month. But that didn’t make it any easier.

By Patrick Finley

Bears

The Bears' second selection in the NFL draft is where the mystery starts

By pure circumstance, USC quarterback Caleb Williams was on the same flight to Detroit on Tuesday as Washington receiver Rome Odunze. Time will tell whether they’re on the same flight out of Detroit — and to Chicago — on Friday morning.

By Patrick Finley

USC quarterback Caleb Williams grips a football as he looks on from the sidelines during a game against UCLA on Nov. 18, 2023.

Halas Intrigue

Halas Intrigue podcast: It's almost time for Caleb Williams

All indications are the Bears are taking the USC quarterback with the first pick, but we’ll still have to wait until the NFL Draft to make it official.

By Sun-Times staff

Bears

Caleb Williams to the Bears is only a matter of time

Though Bears GM Ryan Poles has played it coy, selecting the USC quarterback has gone from presumed to inevitable. “I feel really good about our process and where we’re headed,” Poles said. “We know what we’re going to do.”

By Mark Potash

Bears

Bears matriarch Virginia McCaskey, 101, attends Brian Piccolo Awards

The Bears paid their annual tribute to Brian Piccolo in front of their matriarch Tuesday.

By Patrick Finley

Lomelok, the 15-month-old lion cub, plays with a cardboard roll in his outdoor enclosure at Lincoln Park Zoo, Tuesday, April 23, 2024. | Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

Entertainment and Culture

Lion cub returns to Lincoln Park Zoo exhibit weeks after unprecedented surgery

The spinal surgery is common in dogs and older big cats, but it’s the first documented case in a growing lion cub, according to experts at Lincoln Park Zoo.

By Mary Norkol

Taste

Pasta a great go-to for a tasty, budget-friendly meal options

The average price an American pays for pasta is about $1.45 per pound. It’s easy to see why the country’s pasta consumption is on the rise.

By Wealth of Geeks

Moroccan Chicken Skewers With Apricots and Onion

Recipes

Moroccan chicken skewers burst with flavors from spices and apricots

This recipe relies on a heady blend of North African spices muddled with oil, lemon and runny honey to create a soupy, fragrant paste.

By Lynda Balslev | Taste Food

Columnists

An empty chair at Passover Seder, affixed with a picture of a hostage

The continuing bloody war in Gaza — the 33,000 Palestinians killed and the unknown fate of Israeli hostages — casts a pall over Passover celebrations.

By Neil Steinberg

Outdoors

Chicago fishing: Lakefront spurts of salmon and trout while inland fishing heats up

Spurts of lakefront salmon and trout along with inland fishing heating up lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report.

By Dale Bowman

Crime

2 attempted sexual assaults reported in Lake View

Chicago police said they believe the same man attacked both women Monday night.

By Sun-Times Wire

South Deering

Woman dead, 2 children critical after car crash in South Deering

The woman struck a pole in the 3000 block of East 106th Street, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

From left, Frances Walker's brother Arnold Walker and sister-in-law Maggie Walker wear pink and speak into news microphones at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.

Crime

Tenant convicted of murdering, dismembering 69-year-old landlord on Northwest Side

After about 7½ hours of deliberations, the jury convicted Sandra Kolalou of all charges including first-degree murder, dismembering Frances Walker’s body, concealing a homicidal death and aggravated identity theft. Her attorney plans to appeal.

By Emmanuel Camarillo and Sophie Sherry

Outdoors

Finding early morel mushrooms is underway

Ryan Leonard continues a tradition of finding early morel mushrooms in Cook County.

By Dale Bowman

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: I wasn’t supposed to see my sister’s texts complaining about me

During a tense vacation together, it turns out she was writing to someone about her sibling’s ‘B.S.’

By Abigail Van Buren

Spicy Lamb Loin Chop With Tomatoes and Mint

Recipes

Menu Planner: Spicy lamb loin chops promise to hit the spot

Thinking ahead to your next few meals? Here are some main dishes and sides to try.

By Andrews McMeel Syndication

Horoscopes

Horoscope for Tuesday, April 23, 2024

By Georgia Nicols

White Sox

With two singles, Danny Mendick is helping the Sox' offense already

Mendick, a utility infielder, has hit eight homers at Triple-A Charlotte. Lenyn Sosa, sent to minors.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

Bears

Bears have fewest draft picks in franchise history — and among NFL teams — this year

The Bears will focus on quality over quantity in this week’s draft.

By Patrick Finley

Back in 2020, the Castaways Bar and Grill located on North Avenue Beach was one of the few restaurants to reopen amid the COVID-19 shutdown.

Food and Restaurants

Castaways Beach Club, formerly Castaways Bar & Grill, closed for renovations last summer. A refresh features an updated menu and renovations, costing more than $3 million.

By Jessica Ma

Officer Luis Huesca wears a light blue police uniform as he poses for a portrait in front of an American flag.

Editorials

Off-duty CPD Officer Luis Huesca's murder is another city tragedy

Huesca, killed on his way home to Gage Park, was a “great officer, great human being” as police Supt. Larry Snelling put it.

By CST Editorial Board

Cubs

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks tries to stay positive amid struggles

Hendricks having longer outings would make things easier for manager Craig Counsell and the bullpen.

By Brian Sandalow

White Sox

White Sox option Nick Nastrini to Charlotte, reinstate John Brebbia from IL

Infielder Mendick is in the lineup against the Twins on Monday after getting called up from Charlotte.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle speaks at a news conference last week.

Politics

Toni Preckwinkle unanimously wins another term running Cook County Democratic Party

Preckwinkle said she expects the Democratic Party will be united behind President Joe Biden as he seeks reelection.

By Kristen Schorsch | WBEZ Chicago

Outdoors

Sometimes you have to swim to get a turkey

Matt Kopec made sure to collect his turkey, even swimming out to retrieve it.

By Dale Bowman

Money

Retailer Express files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, announces store closures, possible sale

The retailer operates 24 stores in Illinois, according to its website, including a site at Water Tower Place and on State Street.

By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and Anne D’Innocenzio | AP

News conference announcing the start of construction on renovating Terminal 3 at O’Hare Airport on Monday April 22, 2024.

Transportation

Makeover of O'Hare's Terminal 3 takes off as airlines mull deal on expansion, Global Terminal

The Terminal 3 project, made possible by $90 million in federal grants, includes wider concourses, renovated restrooms, a revamped baggage claim area, more concession space and a host of other passenger amenities.

By Fran Spielman