Chicago City Wire

Second-tier elderly, disabled treatment during coronavirus emergency violates federal law, rights groups say

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 26, 2020

Alarmed by reports that care for the elderly and disabled might be rationed during the coronavirus emergency, a public interest law firm and civil rights group issued a joint legal memo warning officials that prioritizing treatment violates federal law.

Chicago FOP claims two officers unfairly dismissed for 2016 shooting

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 25, 2020

Chicago’s police union said that two officers dismissed last week by a disciplinary board is unfair as a July 2016 South Shore was “completely justified.”

Advocate for crime victims of undocumented immigrants questions if Lightfoot would welcome Capone back

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 23, 2020

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot tried to turn the tables on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose director recently blasted her and the city’s sanctuary policies over the February sexual assault of a 3-year-old by an undocumented immigrant.

From Prairie State Wire

Restaurateurs plead with Gov. Pritzker for help after shutdown order

By W.J. Kennedy | 14 days ago

Chicago Chef Erick Williams, and other members of a coalition of city restaurants, are urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to immediately release unemployment funds and enact additional emergency measures to help their employees withstand the economic shock of his directive to close all the state’s restaurants and bars until March 30.

Chicago Police union president to be decided in runoff election

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 9, 2020

No candidate in the March 5 election for president of the Chicago Police union, FOP Lodge 7, received more than 50 percent of the needed votes, sending it into a runoff.

Chicago FOP looking for its own exoneration in federal wrongful conviction trial

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 9, 2020

The Chicago Police union is closely following a civil trial in federal court brought by a Chicago man, Stanley Wrice, who spent 31 years in prison for his alleged part in a rape and torture.

Robling: Rashid “unqualified for any position of public trust”

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 28, 2020

Abdelnasser Rashid, a Democratic candidate for Cook County Board of Review, should apologize and abandon his campaign after boasting of the appearance of Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) as the headliner at his upcoming political fundraiser, says Chris Robling, a Chicago-based political strategist.

Having better educated students would remove incentive for CPS to game standardized testing, leading conservatives say

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 28, 2020

“Irregularities” in standardized testing alleged

CBS reporter, Savini, named in CPD harassment report

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 19, 2020

CBS 2 investigative reporter Dave Savini, 52, allegedly harassed a woman with “obscene” texts and Facebook messages over a year’s time, according to a Chicago Police case incident report obtained by Chicago City Wire.

Judge rules former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge's supervisory position not relevant in civil action

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 29, 2020

A federal judge has ruled that former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge’s supervisory position is irrelevant in a civil action brought by a man convicted in the rape and torture of a Chicago woman in 1982.

From Prairie State Wire

Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady said to have voiced private support for abortion funding, gun control legislation

By W.J. Kennedy | 2 months ago

Former high-level aides to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has revealed that Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) told the then governor he was right for signing HB 40 in September 2017, the law requiring Medicaid funding of abortions. At a separate meeting, Brady also recommended that the governor sign gun control bills should they reach his desk.

Chicago police union, citing anti-police bias, petitions state labor board for arbitration in separation cases

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 16, 2020

Chicago’s police union says its members can’t get a fair shake from a disciplinary body, the Chicago Police Board (CPB), so it's petitioning the Illinois Labor Relations Board for the right for officers to select arbitration involving separation cases.

Candidate Fioretti 'extremely disappointed' by recommendation to keep state's attorney Foxx on ballot

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 14, 2020

A representative for Bob Fioretti says the Democratic candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney was “extremely disappointed” by reports that a hearing officer is recommending incumbent state's attorney Kim Foxx remain on the primary ballot despite challenges to her nominating petitions.

March for Life Chicago features prominent OB-GYN as speaker for first time

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 10, 2020

Speaking out about her views on abortion is new to Dr. Karen Deighan, an OB-GYN at the Loyola University Medical Center.

ISRA director agrees with gun rights advocate's blame of 'feral thugs' for Chicago murder spike

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 3, 2020

Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) Executive Director Richard Pearson placed a comment by longtime gun rights advocate David Codrea in the complimentary “I wish I had said that” category.

Chicago FOP joins aldermen in urging city council to reject payout in Godinez case

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 23, 2019

The Chicago City Council on December 18 deferred a final vote on a proposed $1.2 million payout to the family of Heriberto Godinez, who died in 2015 while being arrested for burglary on the Southwest side.

Emboldened by restorative justice, shoplifters in Chicago carry winter clothes from Marshall’s in plain sight of store employees

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 18, 2019

Shoplifters have become so brazen in Chicago that a Facebook video posted recently by CWB Chicago shows four of thieves strolling out of a Marshall’s in Lincoln Park, their arms loaded with winter clothes. Store employees appear helpless to stop them.

Good Samaritan who held would-be CTA robber will not be charged

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 10, 2019

A spokesperson for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office said that no charges will be filed against an armed citizen who last week held a would-be Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) mugger at gunpoint until police arrived.

Chicago police union calls on Kim Foxx to denounce the anti-police rhetoric in wake of body-slamming incident

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 10, 2019

The Chicago police union is asking Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to condemn statements directed at police after last week’s body-slamming of Bernard Kersh, who spit in an officer’s face and resisted arrest, was caught on video.

State Rep. Curtis Tarver arrested for carrying a weapon with a revoked license

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 21, 2019

State Rep. Curtis Tarver II (D-Chicago) was arrested Monday night in the Woodlawn section of Chicago and charged with carrying a weapon with an invalid concealed carry license (CCL), according to Chicago police.