Stories by Peter Hancock — Capitol News Illinois

The case involved a 14-year-old Chicago boy who was struck by a hit-and-run driver in 2020 while riding his bicycle on a public street. He suffered injuries to his right arm, shoulder and thigh that required medical attention.

Former Ald. Ed Burke faces 14 criminal charges, including racketeering, bribery and extortion, in a case that accuses Burke of using his powerful position at City Hall to force those doing business with the city to hire his private law firm, formerly known as Klafter & Burke.

David Vass’ new memoir, “Liar, Alleged,” is a wildly entertaining narrative of gay life in the 1950s and ‘60s. The book moves through the hedonism of the ‘70s, the tragedy of the ‘80s and why it all matters now.

Joseph Pavlik, 66, was sentenced to two months in prison, six months of home confinement and 24 months of supervised release. He also must pay a $6,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution.

In a 2-1 decision published Friday, the First District court rejected the actor’s claims that he had faced double jeopardy when a special prosecutor filed renewed charges against him after Cook County prosecutors dropped their initial criminal case.

The vote to expel was 311-114. Expulsion requires support from two-thirds of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a blistering House Ethics Committee report that accused Santos of breaking federal law proved decisive.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra O’Connor died of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness, the Supreme Court said in a news release.

The mayor drops plans to house migrants at Amundsen Park. How local organizations are aiding those facing homelessness. And a nonprofit that’s helping Chicago restaurants start up and scale up.

Winter in Chicago can be brutal, and it can be even worse for those experiencing homelessness. A Latino Muslim organization is coming together to help those in need on the city’s Southwest Side.

“The imminent addition of significant new shelter space,” means the Amundsen Park field house is no longer needed as a migrant shelter, Mayor Brandon Johnson said.

The justices ruled against a pair of nurses who sued their employers over their use of fingerprint-enabled medication storage — a technology many hospitals have adopted to curb abuse or theft of certain drugs.

Over the years, Henry Kissinger joined John Callaway and Phil Ponce on “Chicago Tonight” three times where he discussed foreign policy news of the time.

Imagine if Santa wore leather and had reindeer named Harley and Davidson — that’s the annual Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade.

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that people may obtain records about their own Firearm Owners Identification cards, but they may not use the state’s Freedom of Information Act to do so.

After an internal investigation, the Blackhawks said earlier this week that Corey Perry’s actions violated his contract, putting him on unconditional waivers to terminate his $4 million deal for this season. Perry cleared Wednesday, and his contract was terminated.

Some of Ald. Ed Burke’s turns of phrase have already become an indelible part of Chicago’s long history of political corruption. They are also now evidence in a federal trial.

Graceland Cemetery has debuted a new entryway designed to draw people in rather than keep people out, embracing its status as one of Chicago’s great green spaces.

The EPA proposal said lines must be replaced within 10 years, regardless of the lead levels in tap or other drinking water samples.

The group filed a lawsuit to invalidate the Evanston City Council’s recent vote to change the city’s zoning law to allow the renovated stadium to host as many as six concerts per year.

Following the Thanksgiving break, faculty members represented by the Columbia College Faculty Union (CFAC) have entered the fifth week of the ongoing strike.

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, the diplomat with the thick glasses and gravelly voice who dominated foreign policy as the United States extricated itself from Vietnam and broke down barriers with China, died Wednesday. He was 100.

Exploring why so many Black women go missing in Chicago. And how educator vacancies are disproportionately impacting children of color.

“Most tragically, students of color and students from low-income households are dramatically more likely to be in districts with high vacancy levels, more than twice the vacancy rates than the rest of state,” said Robin Steans, president of Advance Illinois.

Black people comprise about two-thirds of all reported missing persons cases in Chicago over the past two decades.

Burke is charged with what prosecutors say are four criminal schemes, three involving the former alderperson’s side hustle as a property tax attorney. Perhaps the most elaborate scheme Burke is charged with involves the Old Post Office.

A winter walk, art exhibit and community lighting event usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in Chicago.