Chicago Breaking News

2 accused of beating up elderly man at North Side gym

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:01:07 -0600

Two men are accused of beating up and seriously injuring a 67-year-old man at a gym in the North Side's Uptown neighborhood, Chicago police said today.

Paul J. Velez, 29, of Cicero, and Todd J. Krasnow, 33, of Lowell, Ind., repeatedly punched and kicked the victim at the World Gym Fitness Center, 909 W. Montrose Ave., on Nov. 9, police allege.

The Chicago police fugitive apprehension unit brought Velez into custody at his Cicero residence on Friday, and Krasnow turned himself later that same day.

The men were identified in a police lineup as the victim's attackers and charged with two counts of aggravated battery, police said.

-- Staff report

Cops: Mom in wheelchair robbed by son

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:48:10 -0600

A 54-year-old Chicago man faces robbery charges in connection with the strong-arm robbery of his mother in a wheelchair, police said today.

Randy Suggs, who lives on the West Side but whose exact address was unavailable today, is accused of pushing his mother to the ground and taking about $67 in cash from her about 12:30 a.m. Friday, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer JoAnn Taylor.

Suggs was at his mother's home in the 700 block of North Long Avenue when he pushed his mother to the ground and grabbed the money from her clothing, Taylor said.

After the robbery, Suggs fled the home and police were called, Taylor said. A witness who knows where Suggs may have gone told police, and police were able to arrest him there, she said.

When arrested, Suggs gave his mother's address as his own but he may live elsewhere, Taylor said.

Court records show Suggs has numerous prior arrests on drug-possession charges.

Suggs was scheduled to appear in Cook County Bond Court today.

-- Staff report

Elderly woman suffers smoke inhalation after North Side fire

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:45:34 -0600

A 76-year-old woman suffered from smoke inhalation following a fire at a North Side residence this afternoon.

She was taken in fair-to-serious condition to Swedish Covenant Hospital, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Quention Curtis.

The fire happened about noon at the residence in the 5900 block of North Maplewood Avenue.

Further details were unavailable.

-- Staff report

Ammonia leak sends 1 to hospital, evacuates building

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:40:00 -0600

A business within a Southwest Side industrial complex was evacuated this morning following an ammonia spill that sent one person to the hospital.

About 50 people had to evacuate the building when the spill was reported shortly before 11 a.m., and they remained outside it as of 12:30 p.m., according to a Chicago Fire Department spokesman.

A person was working on a cooling system at a business, Preferred Freezer Service, in the 4500 block of West Ann Lurie Place in the Archer Heights neighborhood, when somehow an ammonia leak took place, causing the person to get sprayed by the toxic substance.

"The person is conscious, talking and appears to be in good condition," said Chicago Police Officer Robert Perez, a police spokesman.

The person was tranported, though, in fair-to-serious condition to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, said Fire Department spokesman Quention Curtis. He did not know what kind of injuries the person suffered.

Firefighters instituted a hazardous materials response for the leak. They remained on the scene as of 12:40 p.m.

-- Jeremy Gorner

Quinn creates public health advocate post

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:03:22 -0600

Gov. Pat Quinn signed an Executive Order today to appoint a public health advocate who will be charged with championing health issues, particularly those affecting the poor and minorities.

Quinn signed the order at Norwegian American Hospital in the Humboldt Park neighborhood among those who have fought an ongoing battle to make public health more accessible to people with common chronic conditions such as diabetes.

The appointed advocate would help residents understand medical coverage options and better understand their public health rights, as well as find ways to use the state's money more efficiently, the governor's office said.

No one has been appointed for the position.

-- Serena Daniels

3 Red Line stations out of service until 6 p.m.

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:45:04 -0600

Southbound CTA Red Line trains will be unable to stop at three of its stations, Granville, Thorndale and Bryn Mawr, until 6 p.m. today, the Chicago Transit Authority said in a news release.

Maintenance work, which began about 10 p.m. Friday, was being done on the southbound tracks alongside those three stations, which Red Line trains stop at in succession. Northbound train service would not be affected, however, by the track work.

Southbound Red Line riders who want to exit at those three stations should do so at the Berwyn station and travel on a northbound train to the appropriate stop, the CTA said. Riders who normally begin their journey at the Granville, Thorndale or Bryn Mawr stations should board a northbound train to the Loyola station to access a southbound train.

-- Staff report

Missing South Side girl found safe

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:31:00 -0600

A 12-year-old girl who went missing Thursday afternoon while on her way home from school on Chicago's South Side has been found safe this morning.

Jasmine Brown was walking home from school with her mother about 5:15 p.m. Thursday in the 7900 block of South Wabash Avenue when she walked away from her mother, said Chicago Police Officer Amina Greer, a police spokeswoman.

The girl's mother lost sight of her, Greer said, adding that the mother said the girl was walking west on 79th when she vanished.

--Deanese Williams-Harris

Chicago man struck, killed by train in Evanston

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:19:00 -0600

A Chicago man was struck and killed early this morning by a Chicago Transit Authority train in Evanston.

Eric Utech, 42, of the 1300 block of West Fargo Avenue in the Rogers Park neighborhood, died on the scene, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Utech was struck on the Purple Line tracks located near the 1200 block of Isabella Street, which is located between the Central Street station and the Linden Street station in Wilmette, officials said.

A CTA spokeswoman said the incident, which happened about 1 a.m., involved a northbound Purple Line train. Power was shut off along the tracks in both directions between the Linden station and the Davis Street station in downtown Evanston.

The spokeswoman said Purple Line service would have ended at 3 a.m., but shuttle bus service was made available to train customers between the Linden and Davis stations from shortly after the time of the incident until 3:30 a.m.

--Deanese Williams-Harris and Jeremy Gorner

Illinois officials use $1.4M for homeowner counseling

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:50:28 -0600

Struggling homeowners in Illinois will soon get some guidance.

Officials with the Illinois Housing Development Authority say they've approved allocating $1.4 million in federal grant money to pay for free counseling for homeowners.

The grant comes through the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling program. It will pay for 5,000 mortgage delinquency and foreclosure prevention counseling sessions.

The head of the housing authority says financial counseling is the most effective step struggling homeowners can take.

More information is available at www.findaforeclosurecounselor.org.

-- Associated Press

Group urges Chicagoans to seek jobs with Census

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:45:35 -0600

The nation's largest civil rights coalition is urging Chicago residents to apply for temporary jobs with the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund says census workers will play an important role in making sure their communities are fully counted in the 2010 census.

The census is conducted once every decade and counts the U.S. population. It determines the number of seats states have in the House of Representatives and affects the apportionment of political districts. It also affects the distribution of funding for schools, roads and neighborhood improvements.

Available positions include census takers, crew leaders, supervisors and administrative personnel.

More information is available by calling, toll free, 1-866-861-2010.

-- Associated Press

McHenry man found guilty in 2006 arson case

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:26:00 -0600

The Northwest Herald reports: McHenry County judge Sharon Prather found John T. Krawec of McHenry guilty of arson, insurance fraud and conspiracy Friday in connection with a fire that destroyed Krawec's used-car business in April 2006.

Get the full story: nwherald.com

5 shot in Marquette Park neighborhood

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:22:00 -0600

Five people were shot as they were leaving a bar Saturday morning in Chicago's Marquette Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side, according to police.

At about 4:15 a.m., four men and a woman were shot in the 6800 block of South Talman Avenue, said Chicago Police Officer Amina Greer, a police spokeswoman said.

One of the victims walked to Holy Cross Hospital and another suffered a graze wound, refusing medical treatment, police said. Conditions for the other three victims were unavailable.

The shooter is described as African-American with a light complexion, dreadlocks, 6 feet, 200 pounds and was last seen wearing dark clothing, police said.

The motive for the shooting has yet to be determined. Wentworth Area detectives were investigating this morning.

-- Alejandra Cancino and Jeremy Gorner

Wauconda man pleads guilty in McHenry restaurant arson

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:10:25 -0600

The Northwest Herald reports: Seventeen-year-old Kasimer Sowa of Wauconda pleaded guilty Friday to arson in connection with a fire that destroyed Joey T's on the Fox restaurant in February. Three men were charged in the crime; the newspaper reports that one, Joseph Drews of McHenry, pleaded guilty in August and was sentenced to six months in jail and two months probation. The third, Brian Lawler of South Bend, Ind., is next due in court Dec. 16.

Get the full story: nwherald.com

Fa-la-la felony? Sneaky decorator escapes charges

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:56:36 -0600

HERSCHER -- The home-invading Christmas elf has been identified, and it turns out to be a teenage prankster.

Police in the Kankakee County town of Herscher had been puzzling over who decked the halls of an apartment while a family was away last weekend.

The family returned Monday to find Christmas tree lights and ornaments throughout the apartment.

Police Chief Rick Gilbert said Friday that the rogue elf turned out to be a 14-year-old girl, who came forward after the story appeared in a Kankakee newspaper.

The girl was a friend of children who lived in the apartment. She could have faced felony charges, even though nothing was stolen and there was no damage.

The family, however, has decided not to press charges.

-- Associated Press

Fire erupted in Kelvyn Park neighborhood strip mall

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:46:21 -0600

An early morning fire broke out in a Kelvyn Park neighborhood strip mall, damaging several stores, officials said, but no one was hurt.

At about 2:40 a.m., fire officials responded to a fire in the strip mall located in the 4600 block of West Diversey Avenue, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Quention Curtis. The fire started in the B Fresh clothing store in the mall, Curtis said.

Other surrounding stores, including a Subway restaurant, sustained smoke and water damage.

The cause of it was beng investigated.

--Deanese Williams-Harris