Irving Park

VELOMOBILE-040724.jpg. Father Ephraim of Saints Athanasios and John Greek Orthodox Church shows how he navigates his Velombile, a covered, non-motorized tricycle, outside his church in Irving Park, Thursday, April 4, 2024. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

What's that lean, green, pedal-powered machine on Chicago streets? And who's inside it?

It’s a velomobile, and the man behind the wheel is Greek Orthodox monk Father Ephraim, who moved to the Northwest Side after five years at a religious commune in remote Alaska. And who wouldn’t want to navigate Chicago streets in a vehicle not much taller than a fire hydrant?

By Stefano Esposito

Crime

Man shot, killed in Irving Park

A 25-year-old man was sitting on a porch in the 4200 block of North Kimball Avenue about 1:23 p.m. Sunday when two men walked up and shot at him, police said, hitting him five times.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Motorist fatally shot, crashes in Irving Park neighborhood

The man, 21, was driving when a white Jeep began following him for about two miles until someone inside the Jeep fired shots, striking him in the back of the head, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

A bald eagle takes off from a tree Friday along the North Branch of the Chicago River near the Montrose Avenue Bridge on the Northwest Side.

Outdoors

Bald eagle moves into Irving Park neighborhood, and spirits soar — ‘Oh, it’s so beautiful’

Bald eagles are not rare in Chicago. But it’s unusual for one to spend an extended period of time near Horner Park. “That’s it. You see it? White tail, white head,” said Mark Hines, while walking his dog along the North Branch of the Chicago River on Friday.

By David Struett

A man was fatally shot and another wounded July 8, 2021, in Wentworth Gardens.

Crime

Man found dead in Irving Park neighborhood

The man was found unresponsive about 1:30 p.m. Friday in the 4600 block of West Montrose Avenue.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Employee shot in attempted robbery at NW Side liquor store

The 46-year-old told officers two unknown men entered the store and shot him in the shoulder around 10:25 p.m. in the 4400 block of West Belmont.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Girl, 16, grazed in Irving Park neighborhood drive-by

She was hit in the arm just after midnight in the 3600 block of North Sawyer Avenue, police said.

By Kaitlin Washburn

Crime

5-year-old boy hospitalized after hit by car while crossing street in Irving Park

The boy was struck by a car in the 4300 block of North Monticello Avenue, police said. The driver fled the scene but was taken into custody a few blocks away, where his car came to a stop after hitting several parked vehicles.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Man found stabbed to death in Irving Park

Officers responding just after 10 p.m. to the 3700 block of North Kedzie Avenue found the man lying on the street unresponsive.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Woman with a bat attacks 8 people on Northwest Side, suspect taken into custody

The woman struck five people within a half-hour Tuesday, including one victim with her young daughter who were chased down a street. One woman was hospitalized.

By Sun-Times Wire

Isabella Snow and Noah Nichols, who got matching tattoos to memorialize a crash they were in on their first date — and falling in love.

Chicago love story: Couple’s matching tattoos are about their relationship — and the crash they experienced on their first date

By Sun-Times staff

One car is overturned and another is seriously damaged at the scene of a crash near the intersection of West Addison Street and North Kimball Avenue.

Irving Park

Woman dead, 2 children among 6 others injured in North Park car crash

Seven people were taken to area hospitals after a crash Tuesday night that caused one car to roll over, officials said.

By Mary Norkol and Emmanuel Camarillo

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

Crime

It’s ‘unclear’ whether man killed in police shooting in Irving Park fired at officers, COPA says

But hours after the shooting Wednesday, Chicago police chief said the man was killed during “an apparent exchange of gunfire.”

By Tom Schuba

Chicago

Family of bicyclist killed in Irving Park hit-and-run files suit against motorist, city, Metra

Nick Parlingayan, 22, was riding his bike under a viaduct in Irving Park last year when he was struck by a car. The suit alleges construction work created a hazard for cyclists.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

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

News

Two men robbed at gunpoint in Irving Park area

A man was walking in the 4000 block of West Cornelia Avenue when he was robbed, police said. Hours later, another man was robbed less than a mile away.

By Sun-Times Wire

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability has released video footage of an officer shooting into an SUV Nov. 9, 2022, in Irving Park.

News

Newly released video shows Chicago cop firing at SUV with heavily tinted windows that was wanted in shooting of off-duty officer

The officer and his partner stopped the SUV near the 5000 block of West Lawrence Avenue on Sept. 20, but it sped off as the two approached.

By Sophie Sherry and Tom Schuba