Child killer charged: ‘He’s gone forever. He was just a 9-year-old boy.’
By Thomas Vogel The man charged Monday for the grisly killing of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee in November made incriminating statements while in police custody, boasting about the murder and describing plans to write a rap song about it, city and county officials revealed Tuesday. During a press conference at Chicago police headquarters, however, authorities declined to […]
As state’s finances sink, anti-tax group lets barbs, blame fly
By Thomas Vogel Taxpayers United of America President Jim Tobin called Wednesday for Illinois taxpayers to oust Speaker of the House Michael Madigan in the upcoming March primary. As lawmakers continue to grapple with the state’s pension system, which currently has more than $100 million in underfunded obligations, the TUA released its annual analysis of […]
If SCOTUS calls, shortlist veteran Judge Wood will answer
By Thomas Vogel As a new faculty member at the University of Chicago Law School in 1981, Diane Wood had two children, both under age 2. Balancing motherly duties with workplace commitments, Wood sometimes tapped one of her colleagues, Antonin Scalia, for help. As the father of nine, he had a steady stream of clutch […]
Calling funding cuts wrong approach, panel says higher ed should be a right
By Thomas Vogel Mariane Magbanua fought back tears as she described the positive effect of higher education on her life. The daughter of immigrant parents, Magbanua is a first-generation college student, working toward a bachelor’s degree in public policy at DePaul University. “I grew up thinking I only had one path,” Magabanua said. “Higher education […]
Urban League panel works out community trust issues
By Thomas Vogel Video by Hannah Gebresilassie Police tactics, mental-health awareness and youth engagement were top concerns for a panel of community leaders, government officials and media personalities assembled Tuesday for a community forum at the South Side headquarters of the Urban League of Chicago. [vimeo 155727836 w=474] Representatives from Chicago Police Department, community leaders […]
State’s attorney race: Alvarez ally defects to Foxx
By Thomas Vogel and Aryn Braun Kim Foxx’s quest to unseat Anita Alvarez as Cook County State’s Attorney got a big boost Tuesday as U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) pledged his support. “There’s a lot of distrust, mistrust out there,” Gutierrez said. “We need to heal that.” Citing lack of transparency in the controversial Laquan McDonald […]
Proposed law aims to take sting out of police spy-tech
By Thomas Vogel State lawmakers are working to prevent local law enforcement agencies conducting investigations from violating the privacy of Chicagoans. Any resident using a phone to place a call, send a text message or browse the web may be at risk. “Stingrays,” refer to a broad category of so-called cell site simulator devices, which, […]
Feeling the heat, Chicago Police counter criticism, highlight ‘good works’
By Thomas Vogel De-escalating a domestic dispute in Englewood. A drug bust in the Harrison District. A South Side foot chase to catch a carjacker. These are just a few of the instances the Chicago Police Department recognized Tuesday morning at its monthly Commendation Ceremony. Designed to emphasize positive instances of crime fighting, the event […]
Commission approves Uptown high-rise project despite TIF tug of war
By Thomas Vogel The city’s Community Development Commission approved Tuesday a development plan for a long-vacant property at Montrose and Clarendon avenues in Uptown, despite opposition from a coalition of neighborhood groups and dozens of residents. The objections come at a time of heightened scrutiny at City Hall, where Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration has received […]
More touts outsider status, slams Alvarez, at campaign kickoff
By Max Greenwood and Thomas Vogel A former federal prosecutor running for Cook County’s top attorney job called for more steadfast investigation and prosecution of police-involved shootings Wednesday, and criticized State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s handling of the 2014 shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Donna More kicked off her campaign at a Michigan Avenue hotel […]
