News - Chicago Sun-Times

Crime

Man charged in slaying of 74-year-old man in Greater Grand Crossing

Shermain Sargent, 41, is accused of beating Timothy Ash, 74, on Jan. 7 in the 6400 block of South King Drive. Ash died Jan. 12 of injuries suffered from the assault, the medical examiner reported.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

3 University of Chicago students held up near campus

The students were approached by people with guns Wednesday afternoon and robbed. No one was hurt. University police will ‘maintain an increased presence’ following the incidents.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Man charged with trafficking stolen Masters golf memorabilia

Richard Brendan Globensky allegedly transported stolen Masters golf tournament merchandise and memorabilia from the Augusta National Gold Club in Georgia between 2009 and 2022.

By Sun-Times Wire

News

Residential building in Pilsen collapses in blaze

Chicago Fire Department crews responded to the fire around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday in the 1300 block of West 16th Street. No injuries were reported. The fire was put out about 9:30 p.m.

By Sun-Times Wire

Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering community walk one-year anniversary Highland Park Fourth of July 4th parade mass shooting

Highland Park parade shooting

Highland Park to resume Independence Day parade two years after mass shooting

Mayor Nancy Rotering says the parade, dubbed ‘Sweet Home Highland Park,” and a celebration afterward will restore the community’s spirit while helping the city as it moves forward from the tragic events of 2022 with compassion and respect.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

News

Emergency assistance center connects residents to services following Back of Yards mass shooting

Chicago police and community organizations gathered at Richard J. Daley Academy to provide information about available services to people affected by violent crimes.

By Cindy Hernandez

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Education

What does Springfield's selective-enrollment bill mean for Chicago Public Schools?

The proposed legislation is the latest and most significant backlash to a declaration in December by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Board of Education that it would no longer prioritize selective schools and would refocus resources to neighborhood schools that have faced years of cuts and underfunding.

By Nader Issa

Columnists

City gets $2 million federal grant to address damage to the West Side by the Eisenhower Expressway

The apartment where Lynn Sweet’s father once lived was demolished to make way for the expressway. President Joe Biden has launched a new program to reconnect communities split by expressways such as the Eisenhower.

By Lynn Sweet

Environment

Early spring warming could be having an effect on bird migration: “A lot more, a lot earlier.”

Bird experts say temperature fluctuations could impact available food supply and the timing of arrivals.

By Jessica Ma

Crime

Person fatally shot in Brighton Park

The person, only identified by police as a male, was near an alley about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday in the 4600 block of South Washtenaw Avenue when he was shot in the chest, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Entertainment and Culture

Little Village venue Apollo's 2000 inks landmark status

Owners Javier and Lidia Galindo have operated Apollo’s 2000 for more than 35 years. Now, they’re ready for the venue to enter its next era as a city-designated landmark.

By Abby Miller

Mayor Brandon Johnson Chicago City Hall.

Politics

Chicago lobbyists escape serious punishment for improper donations to Mayor Johnson’s campaign

The board says it doesn’t have the authority to enforce an executive order barring lobbyists from contributing to a mayor’s political committee.

By Tessa Weinberg | WBEZ

City officials were warned of possible dangers months before the botched implosion of the Crawford smokestack in the 3500 block of South Pulaski Road in 2020.

Environment

Official who oversaw Little Village implosion gets City Council OK to head buildings department

Marlene Hopkins should have been disciplined for her role overseeing the botched Hilco demolition of the former Crawford power plant in 2020, a watchdog report said. On Wednesday, nearly two dozen alderpersons praised the new top buildings official.

By Brett Chase

Crime

New Chicago intelligence hub aims to ‘squeeze every last piece of evidence’ out of guns used in crimes

A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives facility is the latest effort to disrupt violent crime in Chicago, where police have been taking 12,000 guns off the street every year.

By Jon Seidel

Walter "Slim" Coleman (center) speaks at a rally in the Loop called to protest an immigration raid in Little Village in 2007.

Obituaries

Walter 'Slim' Coleman, 'supreme organizer' who helped elect Mayor Harold Washington, dies at 80

Mr. Coleman led countless demonstrations in his six decades as an activist. “Slim believed the real power was in organization, putting people in the streets and packing people into government meetings,” said friend Michael Klonsky.

By Mitch Dudek

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, left, is pictured with his parents, Rachel Goldberg center, and Jon Polin, right. Goldberg-Polin was taken hostage by Hamas at a music festival on Oct. 7, 2023.

News

Mother of Hamas hostage with Chicago roots named one of Time's 100 most influential people for 2024

Rachel Goldberg was named for her extensive campaign calling for the release of her son and the other hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7. She grew up in Streeterville.

By Kaitlin Washburn

City Hall

Retired firefighter meets 911 call-taker who helped save his life: 'God was resting on your shoulders'

Chicago fire communications operator Amanda Garr and retired Chicago firefighter George Ma’Ayteh met for the first time Wednesday morning, months after Garr instructed 911 caller Paula Anast how to save Ma’Ayteh’s life through CPR.

By Mohammad Samra

City Hall

Council delays votes on migrant funding, $1.25 billion bond issue, ShotSpotter

Votes on $70 million to help migrants and the bond issue to fund housing and economic development now are set for Friday. The Council was, however, poised to approve a slew of other measures.

By Fran Spielman

Mayor Brandon Johnson makes his inaugural address at Credit Union 1 Arena on Monday, May 15, 2023.

City Hall

Petition drive launched to give Chicago voters power to recall mayor

If Daniel Boland’s petition drive collects 56,464 valid signatures by Aug. 5, the question could go on the November ballot. But that would just give Chicago voters the power to remove a mayor via recall, which they don’t now have.

By Fran Spielman

FBI agent James Rudisill takes down a flag at sunset at his home. The Army veteran and his Chicago lawyer are asking the Supreme Court to take his case, which could help other long-serving vets tap college educational benefits for themselves and their families that they earned under more than one version of the GI Bill.

GI Bill

Supreme Court ruling in GI Bill case could force VA to give more than 1 million vets greater college benefits

The ruling Tuesday in favor of Rudisill, who’s now an FBI agent, also could help other long-serving vets tap college educational benefits for themselves and their families that they earned under more than one version of the GI Bill.

By Stephanie Zimmermann

Weather

Thunderstorms, strong winds move through Chicago, suburbs

A hazardous weather outlook, bringing gusty winds and showers, was in effect in Cook County on Tuesday evening, as well as much of northern Illinois and parts of northwest Indiana through midnight.

By Sun-Times Wire

Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes III chats with Rev. Jesse Jackson at the Rainbow PUSH Convention Faith Leaders Luncheon at the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago on the South Side, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Chicago

New leader of Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Coalition steps down after less than 3 months on the job

The Rev. Frederick Haynes III, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, took over as president and CEO of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in February and had planned to run the organization from Texas.

By Associated Press