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

Bears

A chance to wipe out 75 years of Bears quarterback futility with one simple announcement

If presumed No. 1 pick Caleb Williams is as good as advertised, Chicago won’t know what to do with itself.

By Rick Morrissey

Lawsuits in Northwestern hazing scandal are consolidated

Seven lawsuits filed by former football players will be temporarily consolidated with a lawsuit filed by former head coach Pat Fitzgerald during the pretrial process.

By Kade Heather

Renderings of the proposed new Bears stadium

Columnists

Bears have designs on the lakefront, as Mayor Johnson plays the wrong position of cheerleader-in-chief

In blocking April Perry from U.S. attorney post, J.D. Vance shows he's pro-Trump, pro-crime

Bill Skarsgård plays a mute man whose inner voice is provided by H. Jon Benjamin in "Boy Kills World."

Movies and TV

Ultraviolent 'Boy Kills World' hits you over the head with gimmicks

Crime

Vandals smash Palestine flag window display at Women & Children First bookstore

Commentary

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

CST Editorial Board

In blocking April Perry from U.S. attorney post, J.D. Vance shows he’s pro-Trump, pro-crime

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

Neil Steinberg

Columnist

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

Rummana Hussain

Editorial board member and columnist

Para ver y aprender: El Festival de Cine Palestino de Chicago pretende entretener y educar

Politics

Bears

Bears eye taxpayers for stadium-related infrastructure costs. The bill? $325 million to start, $1.5 billion overall

Two additional infrastructure phases that would “maximize the site” and bring “additional opportunities for publicly owned amenities” could bring taxpayers’ tab to $1.5 billion over about five years, according to the team.

By Mitchell Armentrout

image (6).Hersh Goldberg-Polin (left) is pictured with his parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin. Goldberg-Polin was taken hostage by Hamas at a music festival on Oct. 7.

Israel-Hamas War

Hamas releases video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin — hostage with Chicago roots

Politics

April Perry's bid to be city's first female top federal prosecutor to end, Biden will tap her to be federal judge

Bears

Bears reveal plans for $4.7 billion domed lakefront stadium development: 'This is not an easy project'

Nation/World

Biden signs a $95 billion war aid measure that forces TikTok to be sold or banned in the U.S.

Sports

Bears

Caleb Williams' evaluation a test of Bears GM Ryan Poles' intuition

Does the USC quarterback have the “it” factor that makes everyone around him better and tilts the field in his favor in crunch time? There’s no doubt Poles sees something special in Williams.

By Mark Potash

Elections

Arizona indicts 18 in case over 2020 election in Arizona, including Giuliani and Meadows

Bears

Caleb Williams a fan of the Bears' proposed dome

Art

Art Institute argues it legally owns watercolor: 'No evidence' it was 'ever physically seized or “looted” by Nazis.’

Bears

No love for new Bears stadium from Illinois' top Democrats

Entertainment and Culture

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

Things To Do

Things to Do in Chicago April 25-May 1: The Mix

‘Mamma Mia!’ at the Nederlander Theatre, the spring One of a Kind Show at the Mart, and the Joffrey Ballet’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” are among some of the entertainment highlights in the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Music

After years of delays, Lee's Unleaded Blues reopening and vowing to celebrate musicmakers and the community

Celebrities

Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is 'tickled pink' to inspire a Barbie doll

Movies and TV

'Challengers' as sexy as a tennis movie can be

Movies and TV

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

All latest stories

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

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

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

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

Loop

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

The Chicago Loop Alliance released its latest report on the Loop, finding that it offered some signs of a revival.

By Amy Yee

Crime

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

Jeremy Smith, 17, was killed and another boy was wounded in the shooting in March, according to police.

By Mary Norkol

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

Small Business

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

The Kickstarter-backed mocktail bar called Solar Intentions will be joining a growing sober scene in Chicago.

By Olivia Dimmer | For the Sun-Times

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

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

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

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

The White Sox didn’t get a hit against Chris Paddock until the fourth inning as the Twins handed the Sox their eighth shutout of the season.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

White Sox

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

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

By Daryl Van Schouwen

Bears

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

It would be beyond shocking to this city if the Bears’ future had any other path than following Williams as a trailblazer.

By Rick Telander

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

Bears

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

If Ryan Poles is right about USC quarterback Caleb Williams in Shane Waldron’s offense, drafting the Marvin Harrisons of the world won’t be as critical as it usually is for the Bears. More often than not, elite QBs make elite receivers rather than the other way around.

By Mark Potash

Small Business

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

The store closings started Tuesday morning and include two Dom’s Kitchen sites and 33 Foxtrot locations.

By Abby Miller and Isabel Funk

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

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

A judge has affirmed officers’ right to have an arbitrator decide their fate in serious cases, but has also said those hearings should be open because of the public interest in misconduct by police.

By Andy Grimm

Clouds of dust spread across the Little Village neighborhood after a smokestack was imploded April 11.

Environment

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

Developer Hilco and its contractors agreed to pay the money to neighborhood residents for the 2020 botched smokestack implosion. Mayor Brandon Johnson was urged to release a report on the city’s “negligent” oversight.

By Brett Chase

HARRY LENNIX as AUGUST WILSON- in "How I Learned What I Learned" at The Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place." 3.jpeg

Theater

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

Actor Harry Lennix wears August Wilson’s persona with ease and grace. As he weaves together anecdotes from the playwright’s eventful life, the audience gets a direct look at the power within the man behind the pen.

By Catey Sullivan | For the Sun-Times

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

Bears

Bears plan to play at Soldier Field throughout construction of new stadium; no transitional venue needed

The final project would turn the current Soldier Field site into a park-like area, but that wouldn’t necessitate playing home games elsewhere during construction.

By Jason Lieser

Small Business

Dom's Kitchen & Market and Foxtrot facing class action over sudden layoffs at specialty grocers

The complaint, field Wednesday, said the companies violated the state and federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act by failing to properly notify employees that they would be laid off.

By Abby Miller

Highland Park parade shooting

Suspected Highland Park parade shooter granted permission to call family from jail

Robert Crimo III’s phone, tablet and internet privileges were revoked in December by a Lake County judge.

By Sophie Sherry

A TikTok content creator, sits outside the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Washington as Senators prepare to consider legislation that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers.

Technology

What a TikTok ban in the US could mean for you

It would be at least a year before a ban goes into effect — but with likely court challenges, this could stretch even longer, perhaps years.

By Associated Press

College Sports

Heisman Trust returns trophy to USC's Reggie Bush

The Trust said in its statement that its decision followed a “deliberative process” in which it closely monitored changes in the college athletics landscape.

By Associated Press

Bears

Bears give assistant GM Ian Cunningham a contract extension

Cunningham has worked for the Bears since 2022.

By Patrick Finley

Outdoors

First woman chairs Chicago fishing advisory committee

Stacey Greene-Fenlon became the first woman and first person not connected to Chicago government to chair the Chicago fishing advisory committee on Thursday.

By Dale Bowman

Drinks That Do More. A can of Celsius, a fitness drink that is supposed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat, is shown on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in New York. The frenzy of functional beverages – drinks designed to do more than just taste good or hydrate - has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Eat Well

With 'functional' beverages, brands rush to quench a thirst for drinks that do more than just taste good

Nutritionists say the general trend of consumers seeking out healthier beverages is a good one. But experts also say people should be cautious and read ingredient labels.

By Associated Press

Quarterback Caleb Williams, wearing a T-shirt with SC and 13 printed on it, raises his arm, football in hand, preparing to throw.

Other Views

NFL draft day: How teams legally collude to restrict draftees' rights and choices

Sports leagues benefit from two technical points that allow collusion.

By Eldon Ham

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Couple’s noisy canoodling bugs the neighbors

Funny at first, the racket during their many intimate moments now disturbs people and keeps them up at night.

By Abigail Van Buren