Stories by Heather Cherone

Chicago Police Officer Arrested in Connection With Off-Duty Shooting

Officer Joseph Cabrera faces charges of aggravated assault and making a false statement in connection with the Oct. 13 shooting which occurred near 5200 S. Monitor Ave., according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

Cardinal Removes Pfleger From St. Sabina as Child Abuse Complaint is Investigated

Cardinal Blase Cupich asked the Rev. Michael Pfleger to step down as senior pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church while the Archdiocese of Chicago investigates an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor more than 40 years ago. 

Competing Proposals to Create Elected Board to Oversee CPD Remain in Limbo

Long-stalled efforts to put an elected board of Chicago residents in charge of the Chicago Police Department remain mired in debate, as Mayor Lori Lightfoot declined Tuesday to commit to a timeline to create the required police oversight body.

Lightfoot: ‘We Do Not Have Enough Vaccine,’ as 1st Doctors, Nurses Get 2nd Dose

Chicago health officials have distributed 95% of the vaccine sent to the city by federal officials, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said, but has the capacity to handle more doses. The current pace is “frankly, unacceptable,” she said. “The federal government must step up.”

Wrigleyville Bar Shuttered by City After Cops Discover New Year’s Eve Party

The Dugout Bar in Wrigleyville will remain closed indefinitely after police officers responding to a call for help about a person being attacked in the 900 block of Addison Street found a large New Year’s Eve party, officials said.

City Council Supermajority Urges Lightfoot to Rethink School Reopening Plan

A cross section of aldermen — including some of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s closest allies  — urged her on Sunday to rethink her plan to reopen the Chicago Public Schools for in-person learning, 24 hours before the first teachers must report to school buildings for work.

Watchdog Opens Probe of Botched Raid as Lightfoot Meets With Young

Inspector General Joseph Ferguson told aldermen on Thursday that his office “has initiated and is proceeding with a formal inquiry into aspects of the search warrant” that authorized a botched raid in February 2019 that left Anjanette Young handcuffed while naked and pleading for help.

‘Fair Workweek’ Law Takes Full Effect After 6-Month Delay Caused by Pandemic

Chicago employers who are required to give their workers two weeks’ notice of their schedules in an effort to reduce the stress caused by unpredictable shift work can be sued when the law takes full effect Friday after a six-month delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Era of Horse-Drawn Carriages in Chicago Ends With Whimper

The sound of hoofs pounding the pavement along the Magnificent Mile will be a thing of the past starting Friday, as a ban on horse-drawn carriages takes effect after a yearslong effort by animal welfare advocates.

Lightfoot Told Botched Raid ‘Was Pretty Bad’ in November 2019

Mayor Lori Lightfoot was told in November 2019 that a raid that left Anjanette Young handcuffed and pleading for help during a mistaken raid of her home in February 2019 was “pretty bad,” according to emails released Wednesday by the mayor’s office.

Officials Shut Down 153-Person Party in Austin for Violating COVID-19 Restrictions

More than a half dozen large parties have been shut down by city officials in the past month, even as Chicago remains under a stay-at-home advisory designed to prevent people from contracting COVID-19.

Chicago Water Commissioner Randy Conner Retires

The resignation was announced 3 1/2 years after Randy Conner took the top job amid a furor caused by the city watchdog’s determination that the Department of Water Management was rife with “overtly racist and sexist behavior and attitudes.” 

Visitors from Wisconsin No Longer Face Mandatory 10-Day Quarantine: Chicago Officials

Travelers from the Badger State can avoid the 10-day quarantine if they record a negative test for COVID-19 within 72 hours, according to the city’s COVID-19 travel order.

Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Site for Health Care Workers Opens at Malcolm X City College

As part of the city’s campaign to convince those skeptical about the coronavirus vaccine to get inoculated, Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, got the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the new clinic.

Lightfoot Declines to Commit to Meet with Victim of Botched Raid, Attend Forum

Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday declined to commit to a Wednesday meeting with Anjanette Young, who was handcuffed while naked during a botched raid by the Chicago Police Department in February 2019.

Chicago Health Officials Start to Roll Out COVID-19 Vaccine to Clinics, Long-Term Care Facilities

Five staff members at a health clinic that serves Chicago’s Latino community became the first Chicagoans to get the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.

Former Ald. Joe Moreno Charged with Drunken Driving After Gold Coast Crashes

Former 1st Ward Ald. Proco Joe Moreno was charged with drunken driving in connection with a string of crashes that damaged at least eight cars parked along a Gold Coast street late Sunday, Chicago police announced Monday.

3rd Person Charged with Murder in Carjacking that Killed Retired Chicago Firefighter

A 20-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of a retired Chicago firefighter during an attempted carjacking, the Chicago Police Department announced Monday.

General Iron’s Application for Southeast Side Metal Scrapper ‘Deficient’: City

The Chicago Department of Public Health has asked Reserve Management Group to resubmit its application to operate Southside Recycling at 11600 S. Burley Ave. with a significant amount of additional information.

More Than 100K Illinoisans Have Gotten 1st Dose of Vaccine, Leading Nation: Pritzker

More than 100,991 Illinois residents have gotten an initial dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, leading the nation, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday.

Attorney General Charges Parking Garage Operator for Failing to Pay $100K in Taxes

William Sommerfeld, 63, of Western Springs, faces two felony charges of theft of government property as well as a felony charge of wire fraud. He is free on bond, and due back in court on Jan. 29.

As Aldermen Demand Answers After Botched Raid, Top Cop Announces Policy Changes

Chicago police Superintendent David Brown says he will tighten the rules governing the department’s use of search warrants as furious aldermen demanded answers about the February 2019 raid that left a Chicago woman handcuffed and naked.

Officials Shut Down 2 Large Near North Side Parties for Violating COVID-19 Restrictions

Nearly a half-dozen large parties have been shut down by city officials in three weeks, even as Chicago remains under a stay-at-home advisory designed to prevent people from contracting COVID-19.

Mayor Taps Retired Judge to Lead Outside Investigation of Mistaken Raid

Retired Judge Ann Claire Williams of the Chicago-based law firm Jones Day will lead an outside investigation of the February 2019 raid that left a Chicago woman handcuffed and naked as well as the city’s handling of the raid’s aftermath.

Accountability, Transparency Lacking in 2019-23 Infrastructure Plan: Watchdog

Chicago officials failed to consistently evaluate the way the city repaired and rebuilt roads, bridges, bikeways and other infrastructure since 2019, according to a new audit by Chicago’s watchdog.

All Police Officers Involved in Mistaken Raid Placed on Desk Duty: Lightfoot

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Monday that all of the officers involved in the February 2019 raid that left a Chicago woman handcuffed and naked have been placed on desk duty.
 

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