Chicago

Volunteer Sean Cameron, a project manager at Ryan Companies, cuts wood in the 6800 block of South Morgan Street in Englewood during Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago’s National Rebuilding Day, Saturday, April 27, 2024. About 1,500 volunteers from different corporations helped repair over 60 homes in the Englewood area and in Park Forest, Illinois, according to a press release. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Chicago

Volunteers repair Englewood, Park Forest homes for National Rebuilding Day: 'It’s like I’m in a new home'

Rebuild Together Metro Chicago and their network of 1,500 volunteers from local unions and businesses completed work ranging from installing mobility aids like grab bars to overhauling large parts of electrical and plumbing systems.

By Violet Miller

Crime

Arrest warrant issued for Aurora man charged with killing Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca

Xavier L. Tate Jr., 22, is charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Huesca in the 3100 block of West 56th Street, court records show.

By Tom Schuba

University of Chicago students, faculty members and their supporters protest in support of Palestine and march around the South Side campus, Friday, April 26, 2024. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Israel-Hamas War

Hundreds join pro-Palestinian protests at Chicago universities; Northwestern encampment continues for 2nd night

Hundreds of protesters from the University of Chicago, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University rallied in support of people living in Gaza.

By Isabel Funk, Sophie Sherry, and 1 more

Food and Restaurants

Plymouth Restaurant, rooftop bar closing after 20 years downtown; rooftop to reopen as Mexican cantina

The owner hopes the rebrand will appeal to more customers after the spot suffered losses in recent years. The restaurant downstairs, for now, will be used for private events and catering.

By Jessica Ma

Entertainment and Culture

Heading to C2E2 this weekend? Have a game plan ready to navigate its vast offerings

The massive pop culture convention runs through Sunday at McCormick Place.

By Stefano Esposito

Cook County Democrats selected Monica Gordon on Friday to appear on the November ballot as the party's nominee for Cook County Clerk in a special election.

Politics

Cook County Democratic leaders pick Monica Gordon to run for county clerk: 'I have some big shoes to fill'

Gordon will run in the November general election to fill the rest of the late Karen Yarbrough’s term as Cook County clerk.

By Kristen Schorsch | WBEZ Chicago

La Voz Chicago

15 parejas de migrantes venezolanos contraerán matrimonio en iglesia de Chicago

Todas las parejas son miembros de la Iglesia Cristiana La Vid, 4750 N. Sheridan Road, en Uptown, que brinda servicios a los recién llegados.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Work

Former Foxtrot workers rally, demand back pay after grocer's sudden closure

The former employees contacted workers rights organization Arise Chicago and filed charges with the Illinois Department of Labor, according to the organization.

By Abby Miller

Small Business

Call & Response Books opening new store in Hyde Park

Owner Courtney Bledsoe said the store will focus on stocking books by authors of color and celebrating the stories they tell.

By Isabel Funk

Cristina Nichole Iglesias, who received gender affirming surgery in March 2023 while she was serving her prison sentence, sits among the flowers at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Garfield Park, Friday, April 5, 2024. Iglesias said that going through gender dysphoria was “traumatic” and “torture.” The surgery was made possible by a settlement she reached with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

LGBTQIA+

After fighting to have gender-affirming care, a former prisoner adjusts to life in Chicago as a woman

Cristina Nichole Iglesias sued the federal Bureau of Prisons for the right to have the surgery and get the agency to pay for it and won.

By Stefano Esposito

R. Kelly

R. Kelly's Chicago conviction upheld by appeals court

The former R&B star is being held in a medium-security prison in North Carolina, records show. He is not due to be released until December 2045.

By Jon Seidel

A grey wind turbine with three blades stands against a hazy blue sky, near the Testa Produce facility in Chicago.

The Watchdogs

Will climate change suck the air out of Illinois' wind power industry?

Wind and solar are supposed to replace coal plants that are closing, but that didn’t happen in 2023. Another fossil fuel, natural gas, filled the void.

By Brett Chase and Dan Gearino | Inside Climate News

Crime

2 shot, wounded near United Center on Near West Side

The men, 18 and 20, were in the 1800 block of West Monroe Street about 9:20 p.m. when two people got out of a light-colored sedan and fired shots. They were hospitalized in fair condition.

By Sun-Times Wire

Education

Facing budget criticism, CPS officials say changes are 'milestone' to be celebrated

In a surprise, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s top ally — the Chicago Teachers Union — was also critical of the district’s lack of transparency and failure to prioritize classroom aides in the budget, even though the union has long supported a shift toward needs-based funding.

By Nader Issa

Immigration

15 migrant couples to exchange wedding vows at Near North church

A big ceremony will be held Friday evening at Community Park Near North Church for 15 migrant couples. They pooled together money to help pay for the celebration, which will be witnessed by about 200 family and friends of the couples.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Bears

Bears' Caleb Williams has one thing on his mind: Winning the Super Bowl

“My last goal is immortality,” Williams said two hours after the Bears made him their first-ever No. 1 overall pick at quarterback. “The only way to reach that is winning championships.’'

By Patrick Finley

Bears Stadium

Bears President Kevin Warren: 'I'm not going to think negatively' about stadium obstacles

The vision laid out by the Bears on Wednesday included detailed renderings of Museum Campus upgrades, including the conversion of Soldier Field to public parkland. But all that work would be paid for by taxpayers, not the team.

By Fran Spielman

Entertainment and Culture

Butterfly sculptures unveiled outside Peggy Notebaert Museum before spreading wings to other parts of city

The sculptures, each designed by local artists, made their debut Thursday.

By Mitch Dudek

Crime

Three years for man who helped set CTA van on fire during 2020 riots

Prosecutors say Darion Lindsey helped put “scores of people at risk” as George Floyd protests gave way to violence.

By Jon Seidel

Chicago

Piping plover Imani returns to Montrose Beach

Birders hope Imani, son of beloved couple Monty and Rose, will find a mate this year.

By Jessica Ma

Chicago police officers surround Dexter Reed's SUV.

Dexter Reed Shooting

Dexter Reed was shot 13 times in deadly gunfight with Chicago police, autopsy shows

The oversight agency investigating the shooting has reported that four officers fired nearly 100 rounds at Reed after he shot another officer in the wrist March 21 in the 3800 block of West Ferdinand Street.

By Tom Schuba

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