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

Grandmother-granddaughter tattoos, inked at Roscoe Village parlor, honor faith, family

By Mary Norkol

This artistic creation, celebrating the rodent imprint on a North Side sidewalk that's captivated the city was done by McKinley Park artist Don Mega. It's for sale at a Lincoln Park gallery.

Chicago artist celebrates famed 'rat hole' with mixed-media sculpture

By Sun-Times staff

Chicago newcomer found solace in a strange place — the rat hole. Now he tattoos it on his clients.

By Mary Norkol

Raj Sarathy and his now-husband, both wearing tuxedos, clasp hands as they get married in front of the Chicago rat hole, surrounded by pink and blue balloons.

Roscoe Village

Chicago ‘rat hole’ legacy grows with wedding and engagement

A day after neighbors restored the sidewalk imprint that had been patched up, some people are incorporating the Roscoe Village landmark into important life moments.

By Violet Miller

Chicago ‘rat hole’ figure is the longtime mascot for local softball team

By Mitch Dudek

A woman removes debris from the iconic Chicago rat hole in Roscoe Village on Jan. 19, 2024.

‘Chicago rat hole’ mysteriously filled in, then restored by neighbors — ‘Chicago takes care of its own’

By Violet Miller

The “Chicago rat hole,” which some say is an imprint of a squirrel, near 1918 W. Roscoe Ave. in Roscoe Village. The “Chicago rat hole” has received a lot of attention on social media.

News

Going down the ‘rat hole?’ Viral phenom is actually decades-old squirrel imprint beloved by the block, neighbors say

The “rat hole” gained attention across the city this week following news reports and social media posts about the mysterious animal imprint.

By Kaitlin Washburn

Los presuntos incendios provocados de decoraciones de Halloween han asustado a los residentes del lado noroeste. | Pat Nabong/Archivos Sun-Times

Crime

Northwest Side man accused of setting fire to Halloween hay at one home, cutting heads off decorative figures at another

So far this month, at least eight Halloween and autumn decoration displays on sidewalks and front porches have been set on fire in the Lincoln Square, North Center and Roscoe Village neighborhoods.

By Kaitlin Washburn

Obituaries

Colleen Flood, owner of The Four Treys Tavern who helped revitalize Roscoe Village, dies at 79

Ms. Flood, who started the Retro on Roscoe festival, was the eyes and ears, as well as the smiling face, of Roscoe Village.

By Mitch Dudek

An exterior shot of Lane Technical College Prep High School, a public selective-enrollment magnet high school in Roscoe Village.

Education

Lane Tech students analyze Chicago’s fentanyl crisis

Fentanyl was involved in 86% of opioid-related overdoses in Chicago in 2020, according to city data. Fentanyl overdoses started skyrocketing in 2018, said Luis Agostini, a spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Chicago field division.

By Catherine Odom

Roscoe Village

Lane Tech sophomore is Chicago’s only national master chess player under 18

Lane Tech’s Avi Kaplan earned a national master’s title in 2022. “He demonstrates maturity levels that many 16-year-olds do not typically have,” one mentor says.

By Vanessa Lopez

Chicago

Chicago Police Department defenders, detractors vie for seats on new civilian oversight panel

Many factors are driving the 122 candidates’ desire to become part of the grand experiment of civilian oversight at the grassroots level.

By Fran Spielman

Roscoe Village

Police oversight officials investigating after off-duty CPD officer shot in the leg in Roscoe Village

The officer was shot early Saturday in the 2300 block of West School Street.

By Jermaine Nolen

Roger Romanelli, the Chicago Restaurants Coalition coordinator, at news conference on Jan. 12, 2021.

City Hall

Possible indoor vaccine mandate faces flak from city restaurant group

The plea against an indoor vaccine mandate is in response to a letter eight aldermen sent to the city health commissioner, urging her to require proof of vaccination for entrance to some gathering spots, such as restaurants, bars, gyms and theaters.

By Jason Beeferman