News - Chicago Sun-Times

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

fathers of housemusic.jpeg. Vince Lawrence (from left), Wayne Williams, Curtis McClain, Byron Stingily, Chip E., and Marshall Jefferson (Credit Tara Lawrence).

NASCAR In Chicago

Top house music artists to perform during NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend

Powerhouse showcase is part of a weekend of music events planned for Grant Park’s Festival Field great lawn, which also features previously announced sets by Keith Urban, the Chainsmokers, the Black Keys and Lauren Alaina.

By Miriam Di Nunzio

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

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

The video is the first proof of life of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was captured Oct. 7 in southern Israel. His parents have Chicago ties. Last week, his mother was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people of 2024.

By Associated Press

Elections

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

Eleven Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Donald Trump won Arizona in 2020 are among those indicted. Trump is described as an unindicted co-conspirator.

By Associated Press

Northwestern hazing scandal

Northwestern hazing scandal lawsuits 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

A rendering of a proposed domed stadium on the lakefront unveiled at Wednesday's news conference.

Bears Stadium

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

The plans, according to the team, will include additional green and open space with access to the lakefront and the Museum Campus, which Bears President Kevin Warren called “the most attractive footprint in the world.”

By Fran Spielman, Mitchell Armentrout, and 1 more

“Russian War Prisoner” by Egon Schiele is a watercolor painting with shades of green, blue and red on a pencil drawing.

Art

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

The Chicago museum, responding to a motion filed by New York prosecutors, says claims that Egon Schiele’s ‘Russian War Prisoner’ was looted by Nazis from the original owner’s heirs is ‘factually unsupported and wrong.’

By Emmanuel Camarillo

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

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

Dexter Reed’s mother Nicole Banks stands outside the 11th District police station in Chicago as supporters stand on each side, with one holding a sign demanding justice for Reed.

Dexter Reed Shooting

Dexter Reed's family files federal civil rights lawsuit over his killing by Chicago police

The lawsuit accuses Chicago police of promoting “brutally violent, militarized policing tactics,” and argues the five officers who stopped Reed “created an environment that directly resulted in his death.”

By Mary Norkol, Andy Grimm, and 1 more

Guests take part in a learning lab held by the Arts & Business Council of Chicago.

Entertainment and Culture

Two Chicago nonprofits serving the arts unite, form one organization

Lawyers for the Creative Arts and the Arts & Business Council of Chicago said they will combine to better serve Illinois arts organizations.

By Amy Yee

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

Roscoe Village

Chicago rat hole in Roscoe Village removed by city

The Chicago rat hole in Roscoe Village became a viral phenomenon in January. Officials say the concrete slab was preserved, and its destination is being decided.

By Jessica Ma

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

President Joe Biden speaks before signing a $95 billion Ukraine aid package that also includes support for Israel, Taiwan, and other allies, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Washington.

Nation/World

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

The Democratic president Wednesday reached the end of a long, painful battle with Republicans to secure urgently needed replenishment of aid for Ukraine.

By Aamer Madhani | AP and Seung Min Kim | AP

April Perry, nominated by President Joe Biden to be Chicago's U.S. attorney. | Provided

Politics

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

The White House on Wednesday will officially announce Biden’s intention to nominate April Perry to be a U.S. District Court judge. For months, the effort to confirm Perry as Chicago’s new U.S. Attorney was stalled by Sen. J.D. Vance, a Republican from Ohio.

By Lynn Sweet and Jon Seidel

Environment

Cicadas' mass arrival is just a few weeks away in northern Illinois, experts say

People have spotted nymphs of the 17-year cicadas on the ground. That’s a sign the periodical cicadas are preparing to emerge. They should appear once the soil reaches 64 degrees, which is expected by late May.

By Kade Heather

Stephen Mitchell wears a dark blue zip-up sweater and red ballcap as he stands in a meeting room with several white tables.

Education

CPS selective, magnet schools appear to take hit under new equity funding formula

Local school councils at several specialty elementary schools in Chicago say they’re facing budget cuts — a claim backed by a WBEZ/Sun-Times analysis.

By Sarah Karp | WBEZ and Nader Issa

Crime

Man shot, killed in South Shore

The 59-year-old was found about 7 p.m. in the 6700 block of South Chappel Avenue with a gunshot wound to his abdomen, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Man shot dead at Schiller Park bar

Jonathan Vallejo, 38, of River Grove, suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the Friday shooting and was pronounced dead at Lutheran General Hospital, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Money

Oberweis Dairy has two potential buyers following Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Brian Boomsma of Dutch Farms in Pullman made an offer to buy Oberweis Dairy while Hoffmann Family of Cos. in Winnetka also expressed an interest to purchase the company.

By Amy Yee

Crime

Services set for Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca as off-duty killing ruled line-of-duty death

Funeral services for Huesca will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church at 7740 S. Western Ave. in Chicago, according to the Fraternal Order of Police.

By Tom Schuba

Back in 2020, the Castaways Bar and Grill located on North Avenue Beach was one of the few restaurants to reopen amid the COVID-19 shutdown.

Food and Restaurants

Castaways Beach Club, formerly Castaways Bar & Grill, closed for renovations last summer. A refresh features an updated menu and renovations costing more than $3 million.

By Jessica Ma

Crime

39-year-old slain in Oak Forest shooting remembered as 'loving father' who'd 'help anyone in need'

Three others, including a 12-year-old girl, were wounded in the shooting, Oak Forest police said.

By Mohammad Samra

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

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