Metro/State

Officer Luis Huesca wears a light blue police uniform as he poses for a portrait in front of an American flag.

Crime

Arrest warrant issued for Aurora man charged with killing Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca

Xavier L. Tate Jr., 22, is charged with first-degree murder in the early Sunday slaying of Huesca in the 3100 block of West 56th St., court records show.

By Tom Schuba

Education

Arlington Heights school nurse placed on leave amid probe into possible medicine swap

One student has suffered health problems after blood tests showed signs of excessive aspirin intake and fentanyl, lawyers for the child’s family say.

By Daily Herald

Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.

Crime

A list of every known Illinois resident charged in the U.S. Capitol breach

More than 1,300 people have been arrested in connection with the breach in almost all 50 states. That includes Illinois, where at least 49 known residents have faced federal charges for their role.

By Jon Seidel

R. Kelly

R. Kelly's Chicago conviction upheld by appeals court

The former R&B star is being held in a medium-security prison in North Carolina, records show. He is not due to be released until December 2045.

By Jon Seidel

Crime

2 teens critically wounded in South Shore shooting

Two people entered an apartment and began shooting, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Man dies after being shot 20 times in South Shore

The man was found by police in the 200 block of West 72nd Street around 2:30 a.m.

By Sun-Times Wire

A grey wind turbine with three blades stands against a hazy blue sky, near the Testa Produce facility in Chicago.

The Watchdogs

Will climate change suck the air out of Illinois' wind power industry?

Wind and solar are supposed to replace coal plants that are closing, but that didn’t happen in 2023. Another fossil fuel, natural gas, filled the void.

By Brett Chase and Dan Gearino | Inside Climate News

Crime

2 shot, wounded near United Center on Near West Side

The men, 18 and 20, were in the 1800 block of West Monroe Street about 9:20 p.m. when two people got out of a light-colored sedan and fired shots. They were hospitalized in fair condition.

By Sun-Times Wire

Education

Facing budget criticism, CPS officials say changes are 'milestone' to be celebrated

In a surprise, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s top ally — the Chicago Teachers Union — was also critical of the district’s lack of transparency and failure to prioritize classroom aides in the budget, even though the union has long supported a shift toward needs-based funding.

By Nader Issa

Crime

Boston man who fatally stabbed Chicago-area Marine gets 17 to 20 years in prison

Alvaro Larrama, a bouncer at a bar, chased and stabbed Daniel Martinez to death in 2022. Martinez, a former Marine sergeant, grew up in Gage Park.

By Violet Miller

Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a news conference at state of Illinois’ offices in the West Loop last week.

Housing & development

Pritzker spending boost to fight homelessness includes targeting racial disparities

Illinois’ Black residents are nearly eight times more likely to be homeless than its white residents, University of Illinois Chicago study found.

By Mohammad Samra

Environment

ComEd unveils 2 more EV charging stations in Bronzeville as part of 2-year pilot project

Since the pilot project launched in 2022, the Bronzeville stations have served almost 300 drivers and provided more than 2,800 charging sessions, according to ComEd officials.

By Sophie Sherry

Crime

Three years for man who helped set CTA van on fire during 2020 riots

Prosecutors say Darion Lindsey helped put “scores of people at risk” as George Floyd protests gave way to violence.

By Jon Seidel

Chicago

Piping plover Imani returns to Montrose Beach

Birders hope Imani, son of beloved couple Monty and Rose, will find a mate this year.

By Jessica Ma

Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse for jury deliberations in his rape trial, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. New York's highest court has overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction and ordered a new trial.

Crime

Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction is overturned. Here's why and what happens next.

The decision by New York’s highest court to overturn the rape conviction of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has reopened a painful chapter in America’s reckoning with sexual misconduct by powerful figures — an era that began in 2017 and helped launch the #MeToo movement.

By Associated Press

Crime

Four armed robberies in downtown Chicago in 30 minutes

A 66-year-old woman was dragged into the street in the 600 block of North Fairbanks Avenue by two armed robbers who fired shots, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Southwest Side man charged with luring 14-year-old girl walking home from school

Arley Carrillo Mendez, 39, is charged with one felony count of child abduction and luring of a minor after he followed a girl Monday afternoon in the 5000 block of South Long Avenue.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

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

A window of the Andersonville feminist bookstore displaying a Palestine flag and a sign calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war was shattered early Wednesday. Police are investigating.

By Kade Heather

Bears Stadium

Chicago Bears fans excited about new stadium in city: 'A win-win'

Fans said they liked the new amenities and features in the $4.7 billion stadium proposal unveiled Wednesday, although some worried the south lakefront could become even more congested than it is now.

By Isabel Funk

An artist's rendering of a revamped Museum Campus anchored by a new stadium for the Chicago Bears.

Bears Stadium

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

Crime

Orland Park man held in custody in connection with fatal Oak Forest shooting

Omar Zegar, 37, was arrested after the shooting Sunday and was charged with a felony count of aggravated unlawful use of weapon with a revoked firearm owners ID card, Oak Forest police said.

By Mohammad Samra

Chicago gangs

Four Corner Hustler chief's conviction threatened by revelation from feds

The judge presiding over the case of Labar “Bro Man” Spann said prosecutors made an “extraordinary” disclosure about a sentencing promise made by one of their former colleagues.

By Jon Seidel