The ruling came after a Cook County judge sentenced Smollett last week to immediately begin serving 150 days in jail for his conviction on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. The appeals court said Smollett could be released on a personal recognizance bond of $150,000, meaning he does not need to post any money to be released.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced Tuesday that while officers Eric Stillman and Evan Solano erred and “escalated” the situations in their pursuits of Toledo, there’s insufficient evidence and facts to justify criminal charges. 

Jason Vincent of Giant is a finalist for outstanding chef and Parachute in Avondale is up for outstanding restaurant, among several Chicago nominees. Winners will be announced in June at the James Beard Award ceremony in Chicago.

Marisa Monte’s concert at the Vic Theatre seemed to be a great liberation for the performer who has been unable to tour the world over the last two year of the pandemic. And it was just one stop in a 10-city U.S. tour highlighting her new album, “Portas.”

A colorful celebration of spring, a St. Patrick’s Day-themed run, German beers and film festival usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago this weekend.

In the U.N. health agency’s weekly report on the pandemic issued late Tuesday, WHO said there were more than 11 million new COVID-19 infections last week — about an 8% rise — and 43,000 new deaths. The number of COVID-19 deaths globally has been dropping for the past three weeks.

According to a November study, researchers estimate that anywhere from 700,000 to 1.6 million people in the U.S., are currently experiencing chronic smell loss or distortion because of COVID-19. For several Chicago-area residents, the loss persists. 

The Ricketts family went public with its interest in the buyout with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich forced to sell up after he was sanctioned by the British government and banned by the Premier League.

The $1 trillion federal infrastructure package includes spending on construction projects and puts the U.S. on the path toward transitioning to electric-powered and hybrid vehicles. It also contains a variety of safety provisions, including impaired driver monitors.

No charges against police officers involved in two fatal shootings. The city's ward remap process to head to voters. A class-action suit from blind pedestrians. And changes to Illinois' equal pay law.

Located on East Garfield Boulevard, just blocks away from Hyde Park, Currency Exchange Café serves as an incubator for culinary artists looking to expand their crafts without the stresses that come with starting a business.

An amendment to the Equal Pay Act means new requirements are coming for some Illinois businesses.

Wednesday’s meeting will be the second time in six months that alderpeople have called an emergency meeting of the City Council to publicly push back against Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot — and the three-person committee advising her — will have to work fast to narrow down the applicant pool and nominate a replacement for the disgraced grandson and nephew of Chicago Mayors Richard J. Daley and Richard M. Daley who was convicted Feb. 14 on seven counts of lying to federal bank regulators and filing false tax returns.

Even with officials from several government entities keeping watch, someone dumped dye into the North Branch of the Chicago River, turning it bright St. Patrick's Day green over the weekend.