New trial sought in 1988 murder conviction

Jacques Rivera, a former Latin King, was convicted of the 1988 murder of a teenage rival based on the testimony of a single witness — a 12-year-old boy who said he watched from a hiding place as...

U.S. sues Joliet in housing complex battle

Attempts by Joliet to condemn a low-income housing complex would push poor African-Americans out of town, a civil lawsuit filed Thursday by the U.S. attorney general alleges.

F-16s intercept plane during Obama's Chicago visit

Two F-16 fighter jets intercepted a plane flown by a 75-year-old woman after it entered restricted airspace during President Barack Obama's recent visit to Chicago, federal officials said Thursday.

No joke: Volpendesto gets 15 years

Anthony Volpendesto provided the comic relief for jurors during the monthlong trial of mobster Michael "The Large Guy" Sarno and his crew.

Add mosquitoes to a wet July's legacy

In addition to flooded basements, impassable roads and days without power, Chicagoland residents have one more lasting effect from the wettest July on record — mosquitoes.

Back pats: Officer saves baby

Chicago police Officer Christopher Elliott was getting ready to pull out of the gas station at Western and Diversey avenues Wednesday night when a man pounded on the window of his squad car,...

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  Video: Police officer saves choking child

Jerseys get Minnesota man arrested at Rosemont sports show

The head of a Minnesota sports memorabilia company was charged Thursday with orchestrating a scheme to sell fraudulent sports merchandise online, including fake baseball jerseys he claimed were worn...

2 wounded in Washington Park shooting

Two men were wounded this evening in a shooting on the South Side in the city's Washington Park neighborhood, officials said.

2 additional Cook County deaths blamed in part on heat

Two more people died in Cook County due to heat, the medical examiner’s office said today, bringing to 20 the total number of heat-related deaths since May.

Hammond teen killed in robbery on Far South Side

A Hammond teen shot this morning in an armed robbery in the Far South Side's West Pullman neighborhood has died from his injuries, police said.

Sex attack on teen brings 55-year sentence

A man convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a boy in 2008 has been sentenced to 55 years in prison, the Cook County state's attorney's office said today.

Feds find no Asian carp in 4-day hunt near Chicago

Authorities hunting for Asian carp in waterways near Chicago say they didn't find any during four days of intensive monitoring.

Judge wants more testimony in Elgin schools discrimination case

More witnesses will be taking the stand in School District U-46’s racial bias trial.

Feds: Couple hid taxes, gave out weight-loss drugs illegally

A Tinley Park couple who operated weight-loss clinics faces federal drug and tax evasion charges for allegedly providing prescription weight-loss drugs to patients without performing physicals and not...

Suspected pipe bomb found in Naperville

A bomb squad was called to Naperville to assist with what police suspected was a possible pipe bomb, police said Thursday.

Boy, 13, gunned down playing basketball: 'He died doing what he loved to do'

Basketball was a way of life for Darius Brown, 13 and determined that one day he would play in the pros.

Searchers recover body of canoeist near Woodridge

Searchers this morning recovered the body of a man who had been missing since his canoe capsized in a retention pond near southwest suburban Woodridge earlier this week.

Firefighter injured battling South Side blaze

One firefighter suffered minor injuries this afternoon while fighting a blaze in an abandoned building in the South Side’s Gresham neighborhood, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman said.

2 die when ultralight plane crashes near Wisconsin Dells

A pilot and a passenger were killed this morning when their ultralight aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from a municipal airport near Wisconsin Dells, authorities said.

Wisconsin backs down on closing DMV offices

After being stung with criticism for their original plan to close 16 motor vehicle offices, Gov. Scott Walker's administration shifted into reverse on Thursday and said it will keep all of them open...

Prosecutors: Dispute over hat led to slaying

A 19-year-old man appeared in court today, accused of killing another teen at a July party in a dispute over a hat, prosecutors said.

Durbin says tax reform must be part of future deficit talks

With the nation getting a temporary reprieve from Washington’s partisan battles over debt and deficit reduction, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said today that Democrats will continue to press the...

Company sues after losing O'Hare concessions contract

The company that lost the concession contract at O'Hare International Airport's international terminal sued today, arguing the new firm will shortchange the city by tens of millions of dollars and was...

Man charged in Waukegan bank robbery

A Waukegan man accused of robbing a bank in the north suburban city this week told federal investigators he was trying to pay another person for drugs, according to a federal complaint.

Wisconsin Capitol worker charged with popping protester's balloon

MADISON, Wis. — Prosecutors have charged a state Capitol worker with disorderly conduct with a dangerous weapon for using a knife to pop a protester's balloon and then slamming her into a...

Police report: Drunk trooper used racial slur

A former member of Gov. Pat Quinn's security squad was drunk last March when he got into a bar fight and allegedly used a racial slur, according to a police report.

Mob thief gets 15 years but asks: 'Where is the injured party?'

Anthony Volpendesto, a mob-connected thief who fled armed robberies on bicycles, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison on racketeering charges.

District attorney investigating claims in Wisconsin recall race

The Milwaukee County district attorney's office is reviewing accusations of illegal activity by groups supporting incumbent Republican Sen. Alberta Darling and her Democratic opponent state Rep....

Carjackers take off in SUV carrying woman, 3-year-old son

Carjackers stole an SUV carrying a woman and her 3-year-old son from Chicago who were visiting Providence, R.I., police say.

Stevenson reopens 6 hours after fatal crash

Inbound lanes of the Stevenson Expressway have been reopened, six hours after a fatal crash caused a backup that stretched as long as five miles.

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  Check area traffic

36 million pounds of turkey recalled in salmonella outbreak

Meat giant Cargill is recalling 36 million pounds of turkey after a government hunt for the source of a salmonella outbreak that has killed one person in California and sickened dozens more.

Man killed by police was frequent target of protective orders

A West Side man fatally shot by Chicago police during a struggle with officers who answered a domestic disturbance call had a history of violating orders of protection as well as a long criminal...

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  Police: Man shot to death after injuring 2 officers in Austin neighborhood

Chicago officer saves choking baby

A Chicago police officer is being credited this morning with saving the life of a choking infant.

Addison man found shot dead in West Town neighborhood

A 29-year-old Addison man was discovered fatally shot inside a vehicle in the city's West Town neighborhood, police said.

3 teens shot in Englewood neighborhood

A bicycle-riding gunman shot and wounded three teenagers Wednesday night in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side, Chicago police said.

Missing West Side teen returned to family

A West Humboldt Park teenager who Chicago police initially feared may have left the city with a man she met from Facebook has been returned to her family, authorities said.

Coast Guard rescues swimmer near Wilmette breakwall

A U.S. Coast Guard boat crew pulled an 18-year-old Chicago man in danger of drowning from Lake Michigan Wednesday evening near the breakwall at a Wilmette park.

'The atmosphere blew its top'

The air over the Chicago region Tuesday afternoon was more typical of the Amazon rain forest than the upper Midwest: a rare but potent mix of heat and humidity that produced the most lightning of...

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  Lightning strikes several area homes

Obama tries to turn page with Chicago campaign fundraiser

Taking a brief hometown respite Wednesday night, President Barack Obama used a 50th birthday bash in Uptown to raise re-election money from a friendly crowd as he sought to recharge a presidency...

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  Obama celebrates, fundraises

National 'poverty tour' will highlight hardships in Obama's backyard

Tavis Smiley, the syndicated talk show host who has been a vocal critic of President Barack Obama's policies on behalf of African-Americans, will bring his national "poverty tour" to Chicago this...

Former welfare director admits stealing almost $200K in tax money

The former welfare director for Hanover Township pleaded guilty today to stealing almost $200,000 in tax money during her six-year tenure and was sentenced to six years in prison, prosecutors said.

Police issue alert for Lakeview strongarm robber

Police issued a community alert this evening warning Lakeview residents of a recent robbery and battery of a female victim.  

Woman shot, 3 in custody in Oak Lawn home invasion

A 24-year-old woman was shot in the arm after three armed men broke into her home early this morning in Oak Lawn, police said.

Man found dead in suburban garbage can

A Steger man was found dead this afternoon with a plastic bag over his head inside of a garbage can in the south suburb, officials said.

Man, 18, shot to death in South Shore neighborhood

A man has died following a shooting in the South Shore neighborhood this morning, authorities said.

Dismissing firefighters might cost more than mileage racked up, Emanuel says

Mayor Rahm Emanuel agrees that Chicago firefighters accused of padding their mileage misused taxpayer money, but expressed frustration Wednesday that it could cost more to terminate them than the...

Family: Dolton slaying victim 'a very kind-hearted person'

The Dolton Police Department is releasing few details about a homicide investigation, but relatives said a 26-year-old Chicago man was killed early today in a home in the south suburb.

Deal reached on Lincoln Park Hospital development

The company behind the controversial Lincoln Park Hospital site redevelopment has agreed to scale down its plans, place further limits on truck traffic and donate money to a local school and park,...

2 more die of heat-related circumstances in Cook County

The latest heat wave is partially responsible for the deaths of two men, officials said today.

Man on parole for 1987 murder charged in roommate's stabbing death

A man days from completing his parole for a 1987 murder in Michigan has been charged with the murder this week of a Chicago roommate he had been quarreling with in recent weeks, authorities said.

Cops release surveillance photo in shooting of 13-year-old

Chicago police are asking for the public’s help identifying a man who shot a 13-year-old boy in the head on a South Side street last month.

Chicago gets ready for Lollapalooza

The annual Lollapalooza music festival has taken over most of Grant Park, much of which —- including the historic Buckingham Fountain -- will be largely closed to the public until next week.

70 years for Wheeling man accused of producing child porn

A suburban Wheeling man has been sentenced to 70 years in prison for producing child pornography that included images of him sexually abusing a young girl, federal authorities said Wednesday.

Chicago to host 50 students at Ideas Week fest

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday announced the creation of a program to bring 50 college students from around the Midwest to Chicago during the Chicago Ideas Week festival.

Sex offender sent back to prison on registry violation

A former Schaumburg art student returned to prison Wednesday for violating the sex offender registry, after a judge said the law that sealed his fate was designed for “people who commit horrible...

$3 million bail in knife attack at Walgreens in Gage Park

Bail was set at $3 million today for a man accused of stabbing three people, including a customer who was critically injured, inside a Gage Park Walgreens store.

Autopsy: Man who fell from boat and drowned was drunk

A man who drowned after falling off a boat on Lake Michigan over the weekend was intoxicated, according to autopsy results.

Interest groups pour millions into Wisconsin recalls

A government watchdog organization reports nearly 30 outside groups have spent millions in Wisconsin's Senate recall elections.

U. of Washington provost tapped as next U. of I. chancellor

University of Illinois officials have chosen Phyllis Wise as the next chancellor and vice president of the Urbana-Champaign campus, filling the top position after nearly two years of it being held...

Lost pet microchip scan measure signed into law

Gov. Pat Quinn today signed a measure into law aimed at helping reunite lost pets with their owners by requiring animal shelters to be more diligent in checking for microchips that contain identifying...

Feds scramble to find source of salmonella outbreak

The government is scrambling to find the source of a salmonella outbreak likely linked to ground turkey that has killed one and sickened dozens more.

No sign of missing canoeist after 2 days

Searchers today once again failed to find any sign of a Bolingbrook man who disappeared after his canoe capsized in a retention pond near southwest suburban Woodridge.

Landfill may be searched for missing Indiana student

Authorities may search a western Indiana landfill for signs of an Indiana University student who's been missing for two months.

Photos of Rolling Meadows bank robber released

The FBI today released security video photographs of the man who robbed a Chase branch bank Thursday in Rolling Meadows and asked for the public's help in identifying and finding him.

Cops: Suspect in teen sex abuse case reported himself to police

A 19-year-old Bolingbrook man who allegedly had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl reported the incidents himself, according to police.

Woman dies 2 weeks after Joliet shooting

A second person has died of injuries suffered in a July shooting outside a southwest suburban group home for people with disabilities, authorities said.

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  1 dead, 2 wounded outside Joliet-area counseling center

Walker to sign bill extending jobless benefits in Wis.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker plans to sign into law a bill that will make another 13 weeks of federal unemployment benefits available to out of work Wisconsin residents.

T-storms push out heat, knock out power to thousands

Powerful overnight thunderstorms quelled a brutal heat wave, but also brought high winds, thousands of new power outages and heavy lightning believed responsible for at least two suburban house fires.

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  Tom Skilling's forecast

Man found stabbed on South Side porch identified

Authorities this morning identified a man found fatally stabbed on a South Side porch on the same block where he lived.

How DNA cracked case of woman killed in Wheaton in 1976

A sheet from a bed where a woman was raped and fatally stabbed in Wheaton provided the DNA evidence that allowed prosecutors to charge a man Tuesday in a 35-year-old cold case, authorities said.

Laid-off traffic aides hit red light at work

About 80 Chicago traffic control aides who are being laid off will get paid not to work during their last two weeks on the city payroll after Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration put them on...

Cops fire shots at carjacking suspect, no one hurt

Chicago police fired shots at an armed carjacking suspect in the city's Burnside neighborhood on the South Side, authorities said today.

Lake in the Hills man pleads guilty in fish-toxin case

A north suburban man pleaded guilty Tuesday to posing as a doctor to buy a deadly neurotoxin that comes from sources including puffer fish, which he intended "to use as a weapon," according to the...

Lightning hits roof of Naperville home

Lightning from a line of powerful thunderstorms that moved through the area is believed to be responsible for a roof fire at a Naperville home late Tuesday night, officials said.

South Suburban man charged in rent for sex scheme

A man who worked as a security guard at theTribune Tower is in jail on charges that he forced two teenage girls to have sex with him, his landlord and another man in exchange for food, money and rent,...

Boy cut by relative during argument in Avondale neighborhood

A boy was treated and released from a local hospital after being stabbed in the Avondale neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Man in wheelchair dies in fire caused by smoking

A man died today after he accidentally lit himself on fire in a smoking accident at a Rogers Park nursing home this morning, officials said.

Blue Line train derails near O'Hare, 1 injured

A southbound Blue Line train that was leaving the O'Hare International Airport CTA station derailed this afternoon, officials said.