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In this Oct. 17, 2018 photo, Nicole Willis, left, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation who lives in Seattle, listens to speakers at a rally in Lacey, Wash. Willis grew up hours away from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation in the Pacific Northwest, which she calls home. She traveled often from Seattle for cultural events and to spend summers with her grandmother. To her, being Native American means her family is part of a distinct, interconnected community that has existed since ancient times. Her tribe requires citizens to be one-quarter Native American, with 1/16 specific to the tribe, but she said “theoretically, it shouldn’t matter.” (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Warren ancestry brings attention to how tribes decide membership

For centuries, a person's percentage of Native American blood had nothing to do with determining who was a tribal member. For some, it still doesn't.

By Felicia Fonseca , Associated Press

Trending in Chicago

City Hall

Chicago cop’s indictment threatens wiretap evidence in Four Corner Hustlers case

THE WATCHDOGS: The U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago now finds itself in the uncomfortable position of prosecuting indicted Chicago police Sgt. Xavier Elizondo while also defending the integrity of the affidavits he submitted regarding the brutal Four Corner Hustlers street gang.

By Sam Charles

What awaits Jason Van Dyke in prison, according to experts, ex-cop who did time

In other news

Featured Story

Gov. Bruce Rauner, right, and Democrat J.B. Pritzker met in a debate Tuesday at the Sun-Times. | Rich Hein/Sun-Times

Pritzker’s and Rauner’s $207M buys lots of TV, pals — caffè lattes and Munchkins

Both men insist they are not trying to buy the election. Ultimately, that will be up to the voters to decide. But the Sun-Times decided to look and see exactly what the two men were spending their millions on. The unsurprising answer: TV ads, staff, food and friendship.

By Tina Sfondeles and Tanveer Ali

In other news

A group of Central American migrants cross the Suchiate River aboard a raft made out of tractor inner tubes and wooden planks, on the the border between Guatemala and Mexico, in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. After Mexican authorities slowed access through the border bridge to a crawl, hundreds of migrants are boarding the rafts or wading across the river and crossing into Mexico illegally. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Mexico slowly processes caravan migrants at Guatemala border

By Mark Stevenson and Sonia Perez D. | AP

For the second straight day, Mexican authorities refused entry to a caravan of Central American migrants held at the border.

Mexico slowly processes caravan migrants at Guatemala border

For the second straight day, Mexican authorities refused entry to a caravan of Central American migrants held at the border.

Edward Coburn poses for a portrait at the Carriage House in Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 25, 2018. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Once a post-9/11 face of fear, now he’s an advocate for the mentally ill

By Robert Herguth

Arrested weeks after 9/11 for charging into the cockpit of an airline amid a bipolar breakdown, Ted Coburn is now an advocate for the mentally ill.

Arrested weeks after 9/11 for charging into the cockpit of a Chicago-bound jetliner while suffering a bipolar breakdown, Ted Coburn has since transformed his life, becoming an advocate for others like himself and trying to combat what he calls the “stigma” surrounding mental illness.

Once a post-9/11 face of fear, now he’s an advocate for the mentally ill

Chicago Sports

Report: Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski 'highly unlikely' to play vs. Bears

By Patrick Finley

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski didn't fly with the team to Chicago on Saturday, according to multiple reports, leaving his status up in the air.

Report: Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski 'highly unlikely' to play vs. Bears

By Patrick Finley

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski didn't fly with the team to Chicago on Saturday, according to multiple reports, leaving his status up in the air.

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 14: A detail of the taped ankle of Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 14, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775192647

A healthy Khalil Mack would make Patriots-Bears matchup so much more meaningful

By Rick Morrissey

If he’s close to 100 percent, the Bears have a shot against Tom Brady. If he’s not, there’s a decent chance Brady will run them through a shredder.

A healthy Khalil Mack would make Patriots-Bears matchup so much more meaningful

By Rick Morrissey

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 30: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears tackles Peyton Barber #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a loss at Soldier Field on September 30, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Buccaneers 48-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775192616

If Bears’ defense depends on Khalil Mack to be good, that's a problem

By Mark Potash

No doubt Mack takes the Bears’ defense to another level. But the Bears had a top-10 defense without Mack last season and added Roquan Smith.

If Bears’ defense depends on Khalil Mack to be good, that's a problem

By Mark Potash

Which Bears playmaker will Patriots try to take away? Or do Bears have too many?

By Adam L. Jahns

Adam L. Jahns' "Inside the Huddle" columns appears in game-day editions of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Which Bears playmaker will Patriots try to take away? Or do Bears have too many?

By Adam L. Jahns

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 5: Artemi Panarin #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets warms up prior to the start of the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 5, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775041733

Will Blackhawks still look good after six-games-in-nine-days stretch?

By Steve Greenberg

The Hawks must redouble their efforts beginning Saturday in Columbus, lest the season take a less-promising turn in a hurry.

Will Blackhawks still look good after six-games-in-nine-days stretch?

By Steve Greenberg

Crime

2 homicides hit same block in E. Garfield Park within 24 hours

By David Struett

A man was shot to death Saturday afternoon in East Garfield Park, marking the second homicide in the same block over a 24-hour period.

A man was shot to death Saturday afternoon in East Garfield Park, marking the second homicide in the same block over a 24-hour period, according to police.

2 homicides hit same block in E. Garfield Park within 24 hours

By David Struett

A man was shot to death Saturday afternoon in East Garfield Park, marking the second homicide in the same block over a 24-hour period, according to police.

Police investigate a shooting about 10:30 p.m. Friday, October 19, 2018 in the 9900 block of South Ewing Avenue in Chicago. | Justin Jackson/ Sun-Times

13 shot — 4 killed — in Chicago since Friday evening

By Sun-Times Wire

He was taking out some trash at 5:30 p.m. in the 7000 block of South Cornell Avenue when gunfire rang out.

13 shot — 4 killed — in Chicago since Friday evening

By Sun-Times Wire

8 shot, 2 killed Friday in citywide shootings

By Sun-Times Wire

Two men were shot to death in separate shootings, both around 9:30 p.m., while an 82-year-old man was wounded while taking out the trash, police said.

8 shot, 2 killed Friday in citywide shootings

By Sun-Times Wire

5 teenagers charged with felonies after North Side carjacking of woman

By Alice Yin

The five teenagers were arrested early Thursday after a 47-year-old woman was carjacked by a group of people who then sped down Lake Shore Drive.

5 teenagers charged with felonies after North Side carjacking of woman

By Alice Yin

23-year-old man grazed by bullet in River North drive-by shooting

By Alice Yin

About 4 a.m., the 23-year-old was arguing with a male driver in the 600 block of North LaSalle Drive when the person fired a round of shots at him.

23-year-old man grazed by bullet in River North drive-by shooting

By Alice Yin

Politics

Political daybook in Illinois and Chicago on Oct. 20

By Alice Yin

This political daybook from the newsroom of the Sun-Times offers a rundown of events featuring key players in the 2018 midterm elections on Nov. 6.

Political daybook in Illinois and Chicago on Oct. 20

By Alice Yin

This political daybook from the newsroom of the Sun-Times offers a rundown of events featuring key players in the 2018 midterm elections on Nov. 6.

Pritzker’s and Rauner’s $207M buys lots of TV, pals — caffè lattes and Munchkins

By Tina Sfondeles and Tanveer Ali

Both men are spending money hand over fist, but on nearly every measure, Pritzker is outspending the Republican governor nearly two to one.

Pritzker’s and Rauner’s $207M buys lots of TV, pals — caffè lattes and Munchkins

By Tina Sfondeles and Tanveer Ali

Hundreds of Honduran migrants stand at the shore of the Suchiate river on the border between Guatemala and Mexico, in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. Mexico's foreign ministry says government officials at its southern border with Guatemala have started assisting the early arrivals from a caravan of some 3,000 Honduran migrants that has drawn sharp criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump. (AP Photo)

Caravan migrants break Guatemala border fence, rush Mexico

By Sonia Perez D. | AP

Migrants in a caravan traveling through Central America have broken down gates at a border crossing and are streaming toward a bridge to Mexico.

Caravan migrants break Guatemala border fence, rush Mexico

By Sonia Perez D. | AP

Melissa Conyears, 10th IL House candidate. | Santiago Covarrubias/Sun-Times

Alderman's wife works City Council floor to build support for city treasurer bid

By Fran Spielman

Melissa Conyears-Ervin, wife of Ald. Jason Ervin, broke a seldom-enforced rule that only former aldermen are allowed on the City Council floor.

Melissa Conyears-Ervin, whose husband is Ald. Jason Ervin (28th), bristled at suggestions she is trying to ride into the city treasurer's job on her husband’s political coattails. “I actually have my masters in business administration and finance. I’ve spent my entire career in corporate America."