Cops: Son says in 911 call, 'I just killed him'

Minutes after allegedly beating and stabbing his father to death in his Arlington Heights home, Steven Cole called police late Monday evening and told a dispatcher: "I killed him because he's been abusing me and my psychiatrist said he could have killed me." 

Blagojevich jury ends 4th day without verdict

The federal jury deliberating the fate of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich went home this afternoon without reaching a verdict.

Lawmakers to return to Capitol next week to avoid construction shutdown

State lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week to consider legislation that would avoid a shutdown of the state's summer construction program Gov. Pat Quinn has threatened.

Cook County to set performance standards

Cook County will start using benchmarks such as wait times at hospitals and employee sick time as part of a plan to set performance standards.

Police seek truck in search for college student

Police made a new bid for help in finding a missing Indiana University student today, releasing security camera images showing her just before she left for a night out and showing a pickup truck spotted near where she was last seen.

Addison village planner charged with child porn

Bail was set at $150,000 today for an Addison village planner who was arrested Tuesday at his Geneva home and charged with possession of child pornography.

Police investigate apparent homicide in Will County

The body of a 59-year-old man was found today in the bedroom of his home near Mokena, a death Will County Sheriff’s police are investigating as a homicide.

Police kill man after carjacking in Roseland

Chicago police shot and killed a man in the Roseland neighborhood on the Far South Side, officials said this morning.

CPS board rescinds 4% teacher raises

The Chicago Public Schools board voted unanimously today to rescind a 4 percent increase in teacher salaries in the Chicago Teachers Union's contract.

Executive gets 16 months in city bid rigging case

An executive of a Chicago-based firm was sentenced today to 16 months in prison for rigging bids on a city contract to repair thousands of carts used by Chicagoans for their garbage.

Public funds to minorities overstated by 40%

A city agency that oversees hundreds of millions of dollars of construction projects "grossly overstated" the amount paid out to certified minority contractors in 2009, according to a report issued today by the city's top internal watchdog.

Prosecutors: Man charged in father's slaying planned to burn body

An Arlington Heights man charged with murder in his father’s beating and stabbing death had planned to light his father's body on fire, prosecutors said today.

DuPage State's Attorney Berlin to seek full term

Backed by top leaders of the Republican Party, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced today that he will seek a full four-year term in 2012.

Gaming Board chairman blasts casino expansion as 'garbage'

The state’s top gambling regulator blasted the large gambling expansion lawmakers approved last month, saying it was not well thought out and would erode oversight.

Warrant issued in shooting that injured 2 girls in Avondale Park

An arrest warrant has been issued for a second man wanted in connection with a gang-related shooting that left two young girls injured in a northwest side park last week, officials said.

Woman charged with crashing car into husband's SUV

A woman who police said intentionally crashed into her estranged husband’s SUV while driving with her three children has been charged with child endangerment and aggravated battery.

'Superman' studio to hold casting call

Naperville residents that have always wanted their time in the spotlight might want to dust off their headshots and maybe get their teeth whitened before Saturday. And, if they’ve got a a red cape or blue tights laying around, that might not hurt, either.

1 hurt in rollover crash on Southwest Side

A man was seriously injured this morning in a rollover crash in the Southwest Side's Gage Park neighborhood, authorities said.

Settlement opens choices for disabled on housing

A federal judge on Wednesday approved a settlement to a long-running civil case that will force Illinois to begin moving hundreds of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities into more community-based homes and apartments of their choice.

Ex-Lake Co. coroner's aide gets 7 years in sex assault

The former senior deputy coroner of Lake County pleaded guilty to a single count of criminal sexual assault this morning in a deal that will land him a seven-year prison sentence.

Teen mugged by group near Ogilvie

A 15-year-old boy was robbed at gunpoint and roughed up by a group of seven people near the Ogilvie Transportation Center Tuesday evening, police said.

Worst of storms has moved through area

The worst of today's heavy rains appears to have moved through the area.

Lawmaker said he felt like 'smacking' constituent

A southern Wisconsin lawmaker was recorded on a constituent's answering machine saying he felt like "smackin' her around" for hanging up on his campaign call.

Rebuilding Cline bridge depends on casino cash

The rebuilding of a closed highway bridge in northwestern Indiana hinges on whether a nearby casino decides to kick in $35 million toward the project.

Rob Lowe? Peterson prefers Denzel Washington

Drew Peterson says he's a little disappointed that Rob Lowe will play him in a movie being made by the Lifetime network.

Girl, 8, who followed biking rules is killed in hit-run

Mariela Crisotomo was only allowed to ride her bike after she had finished her homework. And she was never allowed to travel beyond the quiet Southwest Side block where she lived.

Man, 19, fatally shot in Lawndale

A 19-year-old man was fatally shot Tuesday afternoon in the city's Lawndale neighborhood, less than a mile from his home, authorities said.

CPS board will vote today on fate of pay raises

It'll be a baptism by fire when the new Chicago Public Schools board meets for the first time Wednesday.

4 people shot, wounded on Near West Side

Four people, including two teenage girls, were injured in a shooting this morning on the city's Near West Side, police said.

Cops: Man fatally shot in Roseland neighborhood

A man was shot and killed this morning in the city's Roseland neighborhood, police said.

Boy, 16, shot while playing basketball

A 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg late Tuesday when a gunman opened fire on a group of people playing basketball on a South Side street, police said today.

Police search for missing schizophrenic, 85

Chicago police are asking for helping looking for an elderly schizophrenic who disappeared from her South Side home.

Women's hospital to be added to 'endangered' list

Drawing national attention to the local campaign to stop Northwestern University from tearing down old Prentice Women's Hospital, the National Trust for Historic Preservation on Wednesday will name the concrete, clover-leaf shaped Chicago high-rise to its list of America's 11 Most Endangered...

Man shot, wounded in Austin neighborhood

A 43-year-old man was shot and wounded Tuesday evening in the city's Austin neighborhood on the West Side, police said.

Aurora teen dies after crashing into home

The Kane County Chronicle reports: Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances behind a crash that killed an Aurora teen after he drove into a house near the intersection of Mooseheart Road and Route 31 in unincorporated Batavia Township.

Boy, 14, shot in both legs on Southwest Side

A 14-year-old boy was hospitalized after being shot this afternoon in the Scottsdale neighborhood, police said.

Police search for missing girl, 15

Chicago police are searching for a 15-year-old girl who went missing Sunday, officials said today.

Man shot on block where boy, 15, killed Monday

A man was wounded in the legs when shots rang out in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood this afternoon, officials said.

Preckwinkle defends hiring two former lawmakers

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle ran for the job as a reformer, but on Tuesday she found herself defending a decision to put two former southwest suburban state lawmakers on the county payroll.