Humboldt Park

Crime

Woman whose murder convictions were overturned sues city, Chicago police detectives

Madeline Mendoza’s attorneys allege that Dets. Reynaldo Guevara and Ernest Halvorsen fabricated her involvement in a 1992 double slaying. She spent 17 years behind bars.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

A man was shot to death Mar. 20, 2022, in Roseland.

Crime

Teen boy, 17, fatally shot in Humboldt Park

Seandel Carter, 17, was among others shot in Humboldt Park on Sunday night. He was pronounced dead, police said.

By Mary Norkol

Lori Torres Whitt (left), 36th Ward candidate, outside her campaign office on Wednesday; Ald. Gilbert Villegas (right) outside his campaign office last month.

News

Villegas fights to hold onto ward called both ‘snake’ and ‘noodle’ against challenge from CTU-backed Torres Whitt

The 36th Ward was redrawn to include more than a handful of communities in a nearly eight-mile stretch of Chicago that includes parts of the West Town, Humboldt Park, Belmont Cragin and Montclare neighborhoods.

By Elvia Malagón

Ruth Poole-Rivera, 49, a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient, stands in her kitchen in the Chatham neighborhood, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Poole-Rivera, who has diabetes and other health problems, said she and her family made $514 of SNAP assistance meet their needs, but she is worried now that her allowance is reduced to $281 because she will no longer receive additional funds from SNAP’s emergency allotments that started in April 2020. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Coronavirus

As SNAP recipients see reduction in funds, Chicago residents make adjustments: ‘I make do’

Starting this month, recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will see a decrease in their benefits after a coronavirus pandemic-era funding boost ended.

By Elvia Malagón

Elections

Gardiner, Villegas headed to runoff as incumbents (mostly) cruise in Northwest Side wards

James Gardiner faced several scandals in his first term on the City Council; Jessica Gutierrez is poised for a runoff to replace Ariel Reboyras after falling 300 votes short in 2019.

By Andy Grimm and Allison Novelo

Elections

Open City Council seats in 2 Northwest Side wards spark call for open minds in addressing crime

Ald. Roberto Maldonado’s decision earlier this year not to seek reelection in the 26th Ward and Ald. Ariel Reboyras’ announcement in the 30th last year prompted a push for new ideas to address crime and other issues in the wards.

By Allison Novelo

A man has been charged in the death of a woman who was hit by a stray bullet last month on the West Side.

Crime

Woman charged with fatally stabbing romantic rival in front of her 3-year-old son

Tyteanne Bell, 34, faces a count of first-degree murder in the Jan. 20 attack on 24-year-old Jamilah Brown, who was walking in the 3700 block of West Chicago Avenue with her 3-year-old son.

By Matthew Hendrickson

Humboldt Park

Community rallies to raise funds for family of organizer, activist slain in Humboldt Park. ‘He was just a really good guy.’

Ruben Olivares, who helped distribute food, vaccines and other services through the Northwest Center, was shot Jan. 18 and died days later. A GoFundMe has been set up.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Vivek Doshi (left), president of the board of the Chicago Tool Library, helps Wilson Wallace look over the gear he was checking out on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023.

News

Chicago Tool Library opens new location, in West Side warehouse

The library’s collection includes a range of items, from home improvement tools to projectors, all available for Chicago residents to borrow. It’s open three days a week.

By Michael Loria

Crime

Man killed in Humboldt Park

A 35-year-old man was fatally shot 700 block of South Spaulding Avenue.

By Sun-Times Wire

Los robos ocurrieron entre las 7:20 y las 8:20 a.m. el jueves, según la policía. | Archivos Sun-Times

Crime

Woman fatally stabbed in Humboldt Park

Jamilah Brown, 24, was in the 3700 block of West Chicago Avenue about 4:10 p.m. when she was stabbed in the neck and ear, Chicago police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Edie Jacobs (left) and Anthony Stewart (right) speak about Amazon’s failure to open to the warehouse during a news conference as community members and union members stand outside of a yet-to-open Amazon warehouse near the corner of Division and Kostner in West Humboldt Park.

Business

Community activists want answers, hiring commitment as Amazon’s giant Humboldt Park site remains dormant

Amazon plans to open the distribution center later this year. Community activists want jobs to go to people in the neighborhood.

By Mitch Dudek

Jordan Gearey (left), 27, a case manager with a Puerto Rican Cultural Center violence prevention program trains withChristian Colunga, 24, at The Barracks Boxing Club on the Northwest Side.

News

Friendship starts with a fight, blossoms into a boxing club training at-risk youth

‘The vision for the gym is to be able to serve the community we’re in and the neighborhoods we grew up in,’ said Antonio Beniquez, co-founder of the Barracks Boxing Club on the Northwest Side.

By Michael Loria

Lemuel Romero (left), Angel Coto (center) and Jaylen Reyes (right) of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center dressed as the Three Wise Men for the center’s annual toy drive in Humboldt Park on Friday, January 6, 2023.

News

Three Kings Day celebrations in Chicago include toy and bicycle drive, sold-out bakeries

Across Chicago on Friday, Latin American families of different backgrounds celebrated the annual traditions that come with the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day.

By Ambar Colón

Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th), shown at a Chicago City Council meeting in November, was appointed to the Council in 2009 by Mayor Richard M. Daley.

News

Ald. Roberto Maldonado withdraws from race for Chicago City Council

Ald. Maldonado (26th) becomes the 16th member of the Council not seeking reelection. He has served on the Council since 2009, when he was appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley.

By Fran Spielman

A newly-built home that was prefabricated in a North Lawndale warehouse sits at 647 N. Lawndale Ave. in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

News

Humboldt Park getting 24 new homes — all built in West Side warehouse

The builder, Inherent LC3, installed the first home in August and is weeks away from delivering the second and third. The single-family houses are all going up near Laura S. Ward Elementary School.

By Michael Loria

News

South American migrants celebrate their first Christmas in Chicago

Migrants recently arrived from Venezuela and Colombia enjoy a holiday party at the Salvation Army’s Shield of Hope Center, but many are homesick for loved ones left behind.

By Ambar Colón

A mural by Humboldt Park native Antonio Beniquez facing the intersection of California Avenue and Division Street, near the West Side neighborhood’s namesake park.

Humboldt Park building will block mural — so artist was asked to create new one

By Michael Loria

Crime

Single robbery crew suspected of nearly 20 armed attacks a day in Chicago

City robberies have increased by 15% from 2021, and thefts are up 59%.

By Tom Schuba, Kade Heather, and 1 more

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Crime

Armed robbers hit Humboldt Park in six attacks – five in just half an hour

In each robbery, an unknown number of male youths and young men riding in a dark colored SUV approached victims on the street and robbed them at gunpoint, police said. In two of the attacks the robbers struck the victims with a handgun.

By Sun-Times Wire

Education

Relatively low COVID-19 rates this fall mean a cautious ‘normal’ for Chicago schools

An uptick in flu and respiratory illness among kids, and a potential spike in COVID this winter, worries doctors, students and school leaders.

By Nereida Moreno | WBEZ

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News

Man charged with murder after fatal beating in Humboldt Park

Jacquail Jones attacked a man in the 3700 block of West Chicago Avenue, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

News

15-year-old shot in Humboldt Park

The teen was in the 700 block of North Hamlin Avenue when he was shot.

By Sun-Times Wire

Chicago

‘Feeling very grateful’: Hundreds gather to share Thanksgiving dinner at Salvation Army

The sit-down meal for 700 was the first the Salvation Army has offered in-house since the start of the pandemic. Another 2,300 to-go meals, prepared by Levy Restaurants, were also distributed.

By Kaitlin Washburn

A Chicago Police Department vehicle sits in the alley in the 2600 block of West Potomac Avenue on Thursday morning, Oct. 27, 2022, the morning after 7-year-old Akeem Briscoe was fatally shot on that block.

Crime

Teen among 3 charged in fatal shooting of 7-year-old in his Humboldt Park home

Police say the 16-year-old boy wasn’t the shooter, but he passed a gun to an adult who also was arrested recently in the slaying of Akeem Briscoe.

By Tom Schuba

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Crime

Man fatally shot in Humboldt Park

The man was shot about 6:20 p.m. in the 3700 block of West Chicago Avenue. He died at a hospital.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Man found shot in Humboldt Park dies at hospital

The 41-year-old was located about 5 p.m. in the 700 block of North Homan Avenue, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Proco Joe Moreno walks with supporters out of the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on May 15, 2019 after a hearing on charges that he had filed a false police report.

Fran Spielman Show

After descent into alcoholism cost him City Council seat, Proco Joe Moreno hits the comeback trail

In a soul-searching interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, former Ald. Proco Joe Moreno (1st) talked about going into his own tailspin after failing to talk a beloved friend out of committing suicide.

By Fran Spielman

News

4 men shot, wounded in Humboldt Park

Four men between the ages of 26 and 62 were shot in Humboldt Park. One is in critical condition, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Students play instruments in a hallway at The Chicago High School for the Arts.

Education

Fine arts high school auditioning for students

The Chicago High School for the Arts will highlight its different conservatories at a series of open houses throughout November, beginning with a showcase of the music department on Tuesday.

By Michael Loria