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Hawks Game Day: Shaw, Toews make it 3-1

By Brian Hamilton — Sun, 26 May 2013 01:53:00 GMT

An exhumed power play produced scores by Andrew Shaw and Jonathan Toews, and the Hawks built a 3-1 lead after two periods of Game 5.

Portage Theater closed, padlocked

By Nina Metz — Sun, 26 May 2013 00:31:00 GMT

The 93-year-old Portage Theater won't be screening any filmsl for the foreseeable future. The only drama at the movie house that sits on the historic Six Corners intersection will come from ownership and city officials.

Homeless pair charged in string of Near North burglaries

By Liam Ford and Jeremy Gorner — Sat, 25 May 2013 19:06:00 GMT

A man and woman have been charged in a series of burglaries committed in the last month on the Near North Side, according to police and court records.

'America's toughest sheriff' used racial profiling, judge rules

Tim Gaynor and David Schwartz — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:35:00 GMT

Arizona lawman Joe Arpaio violated the constitutional rights of Latino drivers in his crackdown on illegal immigration, a federal judge ruled.

3 dead, 9 wounded in overnight shootings on South, West sides

By Peter Nickeas — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:01:00 GMT

A 17-year-old boy and 22-year-old man were killed within hours of each other in separate West Side attacks last night, according to authorities, and a 29-year-old man was killed on the South Side.

Lower lake levels plague harbors but benefit beachgoers

By Jennifer Delgado, Chicago Tribune reporter — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:46:00 GMT

Drifting sand, receding water on Lake Michigan expand beaches but make it more difficult for boats to launch into waters

Drifting sand, receding water on Lake Michigan expand beaches but are making it more difficult for boats to launch into waters.

Dolton mayor questions operators of struggling senior center

By Andy Grimm, Chicago Tribune reporter — Sat, 25 May 2013 07:44:31 GMT

Taxpayers in cash-strapped suburb have paid $7 million to subsidize rehab project, operations since 2007

Battles for control of a struggling, village-owned senior center have roiled politics in south suburban Dolton for years, and that tradition appears to be continuing under newly elected Mayor Riley Rogers.

Student wows crowds, YouTube while fighting for his school

By Colleen Mastony — Sat, 25 May 2013 05:40:00 GMT

Nine-year-old Asean Johnson's school became one of four taken off the chopping block of closings; many are giving partial credit to the 3rd-grader who stepped into the spotlight to fight for his school.

Aldermen fret new deal will feed meter firm's profits

By Hal Dardick, Chicago Tribune reporter — Sat, 25 May 2013 00:37:00 GMT

They ask city officials to prove their projections

Skeptical aldermen took aim Friday at Mayor Rahm Emanuel's plan to revamp the much-reviled parking meter lease, warning that his proposal to trade longer meter hours for free Sundays could turn into another financial boon for the company holding the lease.

Truck accident was likely cause of bridge collapse: officials

Tribune staff and wire reports — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:55:00 GMT

Witnesses say an oversize load on a truck hit the bridge before a large section collapsed

A bridge collapse that sent cars tumbling into a river in Washington state was caused when a truck carrying an oversize load struck a support beam.

Verdict in Burger King murder case helps family 'turn the page'

By Ruth Fuller — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:39:00 GMT

The jury found James Ealy guilty on first-degree murder of Mary Hutchison, his former manager at the Lindenhurst Burger King. "I want to thank the jury for doing justice today," Hutchison's son said.

Evanston prep baseball team out of playoffs after 'sexting'

Staff report — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:31:00 GMT

Allegations involved girls, varsity baseball players

Evanston Township High School pulled its varsity baseball team from the state playoffs after some players distributed "inappropriate photos" of girls.

Changes follow criticism of CTA's Ventra card plan

By Jon Hilkevitch — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:50:00 GMT

The CTA will waive a $5 fee for customers who obtain the new Ventra transit card and it also will eliminate or reduce some of the controversial service charges, officials said.

Revised meter deal still a gain for vendor

By Hal Dardick, Chicago Tribune reporter — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:41:00 GMT

Revised city deal still a gain for vendor, analysis finds

Tribune analysis: Chicago taxpayers still could end up pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the coffers of the company leasing the city's parking meters under Mayor Rahm Emanuel's revamp of the much-reviled deal.

Bears to retire Ditka's No. 89, 1st since Butkus and Sayers

By Brad Biggs , Chicago Tribune reporter — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:14:00 GMT

Hall of Fame tight end will become 14th Bear honored and 1st since Butkus and Sayers

Two sources have told the Tribune the Bears will retire the No. 89 of Michael Keller Ditka Jr., also known as Da Coach, in a ceremony during the Dec. 9 "Monday Night Football" game against the Cowboys at Soldier Field.

Hawks one game from elimination after 2-0 loss to Detroit

By Chris Kuc and Brian Hamilton — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:22:00 GMT

With Toews in box for 2nd of 3 penalties in 5 1/2 minutes, Wings net game-winner in 2nd period

Jonathan Toews barked at officials from the penalty box, venting his frustration during an almost-surreal string of three penalties called against the Blackhawks captain in a span of 5 minutes, 34 seconds.

One-on-one with Phil Jackson

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:30:00 GMT

Legendary Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson discussed his new book, "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success" with Tribune sports reporter K.C. Johnson Thursday evening. Watch the live interview and learn how the "Zen master" grew to be one of the most innovative coaches in sports.

British police ponder conspiracy in slaying of soldier

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:46:00 GMT

Police investigating the murder of a soldier hacked to death on a busy London street were looking on Friday into whether the two suspected killers, British men of Nigerian descent, were part of a wider conspiracy.

Jury sides with Trump in condo dispute with Evanston woman

By Annie Sweeney, Chicago Tribune reporter — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:10:00 GMT

Dispute over condo became theatrical slugfest; lawyers get last digs in during closing arguments

Donald Trump won a heated court fight today when a federal jury in Chicago awarded no damages to an 87-year-old Evanston resident who sued the TV celebrity over a disputed condo deal at his high-rise Chicago hotel.

Urlacher open to TV analyst role

By Vaughn McClure, Tribune reporter — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:36:00 GMT

Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher ended his illustrious NFL career Wednesday when he announced his retirement. Now it’s time for the next chapter in his life.

McDonald's CEO questioned on nutrition, wages

By Emily Bryson York — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:48:00 GMT

McDonald's executives fielded a number of questions at the company's annual shareholder meeting Thursday, including its role in the global obesity epidemic, marketing to children and wages for entry-level workers at its restaurants.

Hearing set in lawsuits over Chicago school closings

By Annie Sweeney — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:53:00 GMT

A day after the controversial Chicago Board of Education vote to shut down 50 schools, a federal judge today scheduled a four-day hearing in July to decide whether to halt the closures.

Mom, boyfriend plead not guilty in Maywood child's death

By Joseph Ruzich — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:23:00 GMT

A Maywood mother and her boyfriend pleaded not guilty today to charges they beat and killed her baby son before putting his body in the Des Plaines River.

2 found dead in car in West Englewood identified

By Deanese Williams-Harris — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

Police continue to investigate the deaths of two men, one a Cook County records clerk, discovered inside a white Camaro in the West Englewood neighborhood.

50 Chicago schools to close; teachers union vows to fight on

By Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah and John Byrne, Chicago Tribune reporters — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:06:00 GMT

Mayor Rahm Emanuel's hand-picked Board of Education gave a ringing endorsement to his vision for a downsized school system, voting to shut 49 elementary schools and one high school program and transfer thousands of children to new classroom settings.