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

Renderings of the proposed new Bears stadium

Bears might need new playbook for initial lakefront stadium huddle with Pritzker aides

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has repeatedly voiced skepticism over the Bears’ stadium plans, which include public subsidies. On Wednesday, the team will meet with two top Pritzker staffers.

By Tina Sfondeles

College Sports

Northwestern's Izzy Scane — lacrosse's Caitlin Clark? — has a scoring record to break this week

Entering the Big Ten tournament semifinals on her home field in Evanston, Scane is six goals shy of the Division I career mark. After that, she and the No. 1-ranked Wildcats will go for a second straight national championship.

By Steve Greenberg

City Hall

What happened before Mayor Brandon Johnson finally agreed to stay away from slain offcer's funeral?

La Voz Chicago

El fallecido agente homenajeado por su valor y su personalidad: ‘Luis, tu apodo debería ser Corazón de León’

Agam Shah | For the Sun-Times

Patricia Kime | KFF Health News

Commentary

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

CST Editorial Board

City Council members, be honest when talking about migrants

Rick Telander

Sports columnist

Northwestern protests, encampments bring back dizzying memories

Beria Hampton

A community land trust would help my Far South Side neighborhood flourish again

Neil Steinberg

Columnist

Movie on Dante’s life, journey leads to look at hellish real-world events

Politics

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) in November; Gov. J.B. Pritzker (right) last week.

Politics

Taking the fight South? Pritzker's nonprofit spends $500K in Florida — battling DeSantis and GOP over abortion rights

Florida is the fourth ballot initiative Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s nonprofit Think Big America is supporting this year. Pritzker’s group is also supporting efforts in Nevada, Arizona and Montana.

By Tina Sfondeles

Iza Redlinski holds a bouquet of garlic mustard, an invasive plant she picked out of Red Gate Woods in the Cook County Forest Preserves on April 25, 2024.

Suburban Chicago

Cook County Forest Preserves is launching a $10 million makeover of Palos Preserves

Columnists

Coal ash pollution cleanup will boost Waukegan, other Great Lakes communities

Movies and TV

'The Daily Show' coming to Chicago for Democratic convention

Transportation

CTA, Metra and Pace could be merged into one transit agency under bill proposed in Springfield

Sports

Recipes

Let quinoa do the heavy lifting in this Southwestern salad

Quinoa may be prepared like rice, and its nutty flavor adds hearty, toothsome texture to salads, pilafs and stews.

By Lynda Balslev | Taste Food

Tama chefs and owners Adalberto Olaez (left) and Avgeria Stapaki..jpeg

Food and Restaurants

Tama — an adventurous Mediterranean escape opens in Bucktown

Theater

Chicago productions on Broadway among 2024 Tony Award nominations

City Hall

Mayor Brandon Johnson chooses seven members to serve on Chicago's permanent police oversight commission

Crime

Gun of slain Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca found at Far South Side home of suspect's relative

Entertainment and Culture

MAMMA-MIA-2.jpeg. Christine Sherrill (Donna Sheridan), and the Company of MAMMA MIA! 25th Anniversary Tour
Photo by Joan Marcus

Theater

Christine Sherrill celebrating 25th anniversary tour of 'Mamma Mia!' in a familiar role

The show stars the veteran Chicago actress in a role she’s performed more than 2,000 times, in a musical built around the music of ABBA.

By Stefano Esposito

Theater

Larissa FastHorse satirizes well-meaning theater artists with 'The Thanksgiving Play' at Steppenwolf

Movies and TV

After exciting premiere, Hulu thriller 'The Veil' bogs down over six episodes

Movies and TV

John Mulaney returns to St. Ignatius for playful, sometimes poignant David Letterman chat

Horoscopes

Horoscope for Tuesday, April 30, 2024

All latest stories

TOTW05-01-24Tony 24.5 lb Gobbler 042024RS.jpeg

Outdoors

'Nothing like the spring woods!' in turkey hunting

Tony Farinella Jr. had a good morning opening day of Illinois’ second season for spring turkey in Jo Daviess County.

By Dale Bowman

City Hall

Johnson to relaunch guaranteed basic income program to use up federal COVID-19 funds

The city has until the end of the year to allocate hundreds of millions of federal dollars or risk losing them.

By Mariah Woelfel | WBEZ and Tessa Weinberg | WBEZ

Angel Reese wears a sparkly black hooded evening gown, and Kamilla Cardoso is clad in a bright red pantsuit, as each stands with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and holds a Chicago Sky jersey in this composite image.

Chicago Sky and WNBA

Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are finding routine in Chicago

Less than a month ago, both rookies were competing in the NCAA Tournament. Cardoso’s run extended all the way to a title. The immediate turnaround to the draft and now training camp is a unique experience in the women’s game.

By Annie Costabile

White Sox

White Sox' mental performance coach helps players find balance, strive for consistency

Cristian Guzman, who has worked for the Mets and the Mariners, meets players “where they are at for what they need.”

By Daryl Van Schouwen

White Sox

Twins' eighth straight win halts White Sox' streak at 3

Garrett Crochet, who retired last 11 Twins he faced, pulled after five innings.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

Bears

1st-and-10: Shane Waldron, your table is ready

With No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, proven weapons in DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift and a touted rookie in Rome Odunze, it’s up to the Bears’ new offensive coordinator to make it work.

By Mark Potash

Cubs

Cubs' Jameson Taillon matches Mets' Luis Severino in fierce pitching battle: 'I love pitching in New York'

The Cubs scratched out a 3-1 victory, thanks to Christopher Morel’s two-run home run in the ninth inning.

By Maddie Lee

Crime

Man killed in Belmont Cragin shooting

A man, 32, was near the sidewalk in the 5600 block of West Diversey Avenue just before 6 p.m. when someone approached him and shot him with a handgun, police said. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital where he later died.

By Sun-Times Wire

University of Chicago student protesters rally on the Main Quad of campus where a pro-Palestine encampment was set up on Monday.

Israel-Hamas War

University of Chicago students set up pro-Palestinian encampment on campus as protests spread

Hundreds of University of Chicago students set up an encampment in the Main Quadrangle on Monday, joining groups on over 100 university campuses nationwide in support of Palestinians.

By Jessica Ma and Isabel Funk

Crime

16-year-old boy among 3 wounded in Humboldt Park shooting

They were standing near the sidewalk when someone opened fire around 1 p.m. Monday in the 1200 block of North Keeler Avenue, Chicago police said.

By Cindy Hernandez

Stacy Davis Gates, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, speaks during a June 2020 rally in Federal Plaza.

Education

CTU, CPS negotiations open with optimism

The teachers union was happy to see “more people in the first session ... with direct understanding and clarity about how school works,” CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said.

By Nader Issa

Cubs

Cubs provide promising injury updates on Kyle Hendricks, Justin Steele and Seiya Suzuki

The team has been snakebitten by injuries early this season.

By Maddie Lee

Bulls

Bulls' changes continue with team moving on from Chip Schaefer

Schaefer made his name as the Bulls’ trainer during their dynasty years. But with executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas looking for changes, the Bulls parted ways with him Monday.

By Joe Cowley

Crime

Slain Officer Huesca celebrated for his courage and character: 'Luis, your nickname should be Lionheart’

Family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers filled St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel for the funeral. “This day is for Officer Luis Huesca,” said Police Supt. Larry Snelling. “This is his day, nothing else.”

By Sophie Sherry

Candace Parker and Angel Reese shown in game action.

Chicago Sky and WNBA

Angel Reese on Candace Parker’s influence: 'I always will love her'

The retiring Parker’s legendary career started at Naperville Central, and she continued to influence others through her 16-season tenure in the WNBA.

By Sun-Times staff

Billie Eilish acknowledges the cheers during her Grant Park performance at Lollapalooza 2023.

Music

Billie Eilish tour comes to United Center in November

Pop star’s worldwide ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ tour kicks off Sept. 29 in Quebec City.

By Associated Press

Crime

Man fatally shot outside Logan Square Walgreens

The man, 28, was found with multiple gunshot wounds around 3:15 a.m. Sunday in a parking lot of the Walgreens, 2001 N. Milwaukee Ave., officials said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Cristina Nichole Iglesias at the Garfield Park Conservatory earlier this month.

Afternoon Edition

Afternoon Edition: After fighting for gender-affirming care, former prisoner looks toward future

Plus: University of Chicago students protest, a statewide transit agency pitch and more.

By Matt Moore

Hundreds of police officers from Chicago and elsewhere gather outside St. Rita Cascia Shrine Chapel on Monday, April 29, 2024 for the funeral of Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca, who was killed earlier this month.

City Hall

Family of Officer Luis Huesca didn't want Mayor Brandon Johnson, Gov. J.B. Pritzker at funeral

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, whose brother is a Chicago police officer, spoke with the mother and sister of Officer Luis Huesca at Sunday’s wake and passed their wishes along to the mayor’s office that night.

By Fran Spielman and Tina Sfondeles

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch (29) celebrates after scoring on a single by Matt Mervis during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Boston.

MLB

MLB uniforms will be modified after complaints from players

“This has been entirely a Nike issue,” a memo from the union to players read. “At its core, what has happened here is that Nike was innovating something that didn’t need to be innovated.”

By Associated Press

SOLITARY-041924_5.jpgJoseph Moore, an apprentice at Restore Justice who advocates for the abolishment of solitary confinement, stands in the middle of an alley in the 300 block of West Erie Street in River North, Thursday, April 18, 2024. Moore spent 15 months in solitary confinement while serving a 60-year prison sentence. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Politics

Solitary confinement in Illinois prisons violates human rights, Chicago lawyers group says

“Prisons exist to punish and rehabilitate people — not to torture and destroy them,” says the report from the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.

By Kaitlin Washburn

Crime

SWAT incident concludes after woman shot in South Shore

The alleged gunman fled into a nearby building and a SWAT team responded, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Outdoors

Personal-best walleye comes from Heidecke Lake

Dave Strobel caught and released his personal-best walleye Thursday at Heidecke Lake.

By Dale Bowman

Crime

Man fatally shot in South Chicago

The man was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

A cyclist rides in a bike lane alongside a white sedan.

Other Views

Chicago should lower its default speed limit from 30 mph to save lives

The City Council and state Legislature will hold hearings on a proposal to reduce the urban area default speed limit. Other cities, including New York, have done so.

By Amy Rynell

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: As daughters help man with dementia, his sons do little

Woman who takes time off to care for her father wishes brothers would stop up, too.

By Abigail Van Buren

Eileen O’Neill Burke, Democratic nominee for Cook County State’s Attorney, speaks to reporters after a victory event at the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 headquarters in the West Loop, Monday, April 1, 2024.

Letters to the Editor

There's no going back to the old days of cash bail in Illinois

Eileen O’Neill Burke backs the Pretrial Fairness Act, and that should fill people working toward a more just and equitable system with hope, a pastor writes.

By Letters to the Editor

Opponents of Summit Carbon Solutions’ carbon dioxide pipeline, which would go from Midwestern plants to North Dakota, affix a sign to a roadside fence east of Bismarck on Aug. 15.

Other Views

Say no to CO2 pipeline projects in Illinois until safety is assured

We need legislative guardrails to ensure that projects involving carbon capture and sequestration legitimately serve the economic and environmental interests of all Illinois citizens.

By Jack Darin

Horoscopes

Horoscope for Monday, April 29, 2024

By Georgia Nicols

Cubs

Cubs put lefty Jordan Wicks on 15-day IL in another early hit to the rotation

Notes: The team also made a series of bullpen moves, and Cody Bellinger made progress in his rehab.

By Maddie Lee

Blackhawks

Blackhawks' Connor Bedard named finalist for Calder Trophy

Bedard, one of three finalists along with Wild defenseman Brock Faber and Devils defenseman Luke Hughes, is very likely to receive the award as the NHL’s rookie of the year.

By Ben Pope

Close-up of someone's hands typing on a laptop.

La Voz Chicago

Programa federal de banda ancha que ayuda residentes del Condado de Cook está a punto de terminar

El Programa de Conectividad Asequible ofrecía $30 al mes a los hogares que cumplían los requisitos necesarios para pagar su factura de Internet de banda ancha, pero con el fin del programa, algunos proveedores de servicios ofrecen sus propias opciones.

By Amy Yee

Marijuana

US drug control agency will move to reclassify marijuana in a historic shift, AP sources say

The DEA’s proposal would recognize the medical uses of cannabis. However, it would not legalize marijuana outright for recreational use.

By Associated Press

A dosage of Wegovy, a drug used for weight loss, on March 1, 2024, in Front Royal, Va. Illinois state employees will get expanded access to the high-priced weight-loss drugs, but that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

Politics

Weight-loss drug coverage for Illinois state workers could cost hundreds of millions of dollars

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office estimates the drugs — which include Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic — will cost taxpayers $210 million the first year. Others put that number much higher.

By Dave McKinney | WBEZ

Outdoors

Chicago fishing: Spring signs abound, perch closure and Wisconsin opener

Leading this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report are spring signs on Lake Michigan and inland waters plus the perch closure beginning May 1 on Illinois’ Lake Michigan waters and Wisconsin’s general inland opener coming Saturday.

By Dale Bowman

Transportation

US to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles in 5 years and set performance standards

The regulation is designed to prevent many rear-end and pedestrian collisions and reduce the roughly 40,000 traffic deaths per year.

By Tom Krisher | AP

White Sox

White Sox sign first baseman Jared Walsh to minor league deal

The former All-Star was DFA’d by the Texas Rangers.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

Bears draft picks Rome Odunze and Caleb Williams

College Sports

Bears help Pac-12 go out with a bang in NFL Draft

The conference produced a record haul over the draft weekend, led by the Bears taking No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams of Southern California and No. 9 pick Rome Ozunze of Washington.

By Associated Press

Crime

Man found fatally shot in Chatham apartment building

The victim, found early Tuesday morning, hasn’t been identified.

By Sun-Times Wire

Editorials

CTA, Metra and Pace could ride together under separate plans to improve transit governance

Two new proposals seek to bring the change that’s needed. We believe they are both worthy of consideration.

By CST Editorial Board