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Ed Burke Trial: Solis, 'Undercover Alderman,' takes the stand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

CHICAGO — Thirty-seven witnesses have already testified in the trial of former Chicago alderman Ed Burke, but today, all eyes were on one — Danny Solis, aka "The Undercover Alderman."Solis, who secretly gathered evidence on political power brokers while working for the government, entered the Dirksen Federal Building Tuesday with the same title as Burke — a former Chicago alderman. But once he entered the courtroom, he had a new title: star witness in one of the city's most consequential corruption trials.He was considered a "hostile" witness for the defense — since Solis provided key evidence against Burke. He is charged with bribery, but federal officials could drop the charge if he continues to cooperate with the prosecution in the case.A tense exchange between one of Burke's defense attorneys — Chris Gair — and Solis illustrated the atmosphere of the day:Gair: "Your reason to cooperate with the government was to save yourself is that correct?"Solis: "Yes."Gair: "This was not out...

Man fatally struck by car while allegedly fleeing from police on West Side

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

CHICAGO — Police say a man is dead after he was hit by a car while allegedly attempting to flee from police on the city’s West Side on Tuesday afternoon.According to police, officers were observing a stolen vehicle that was parked outside of a business in the 800 block of South Cicero Avenue around 2:30 p.m. when a 24-year-old man exited the vehicle.Police attempted to perform an investigatory stop, but the man allegedly fled on foot.  Calls for NAACP Illinois conference president to resign after racist remarks Police say the man only made it a short distance before he was struck by an oncoming vehicle. He later died at the hospital. Police say the vehicle that struck the man did not stop.An investigation into the incident is currently underway by the CPD Major Accidents Investigation Unit.SkyCam9 flew over the scene around 4:20 p.m. and police tape could also be seen strung across Arthington as officers walked around the area. Body believed to be missing Carpentersville te...

Rare '82 NCAA Championship ticket stub signed by Jordan goes to auction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

A rare ticket stub signed by Michael Jordan from the 1982 NCAA basketball championship — MJ's first and only NCAA title — is up for auction.The North Carolina Tar Heels faced the Georgetown Hoyas in the 1982 NCAA basketball final in what is widely considered one of the greatest college games of all time.  The Hoyas, led by first team all-American Eric “Sleepy” Floyd and freshman Patrick Ewing, faced off against the Tar Heels, led by future NBA Hall of Famers James Worthy and Jordan. The game was a back and forth affair for all 40 minutes of the match — Georgetown led by one at halftime, 32-31, with teams trading the lead back and forth before a freshman by the name of Michael Jordan hit the go-ahead basket with 17 seconds left to take North Carolina to the title. Chicago Bulls launch Ring of Honor, announce inaugural class A total of 17.52 million TVs tuned in to watch the game, making it the second-largest NCAA game in history behind the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird final i...

Emergency brakes were activated before CTA Yellow Line collision with snow equipment: NTSB report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

CHICAGO — The CTA operator onboard a southbound Yellow Line train that collided with rail equipment near Howard station, leaving dozens of people injured, was made aware of a potential wreck and tried to brake before the crash, according to a new report.The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday released their findings from a preliminary investigation concerning the Nov. 16 crash. On that day, just after 10:30 a.m., near the 7500 block of N. Paulina Street, a CTA Yellow Line train with a lone operator and 30 passengers collided with the rail-mounted snow-removal equipment in the Howard Rail Yard. Here’s a list of new Illinois laws going into effect in 2024 According to the report, the CTA train operator knew that the snow removal machine was operating on the Yellow Line, in part, because of a training exercise. The train operator did not know of the snow removal machine's exact location, however.NTSB investigators found that the train was traveling just under 55 mph ...

Former President Obama surprises South Shore preschoolers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

CHICAGO -- Former President Barack Obama surprised a group of South Shore preschoolers on Tuesday.The former president visited Parkside Community Academy in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood to spread holiday cheer ahead of winter break by reading Santa’s Gotta Go to a classroom of Pre-K students. When is SantaCon coming to Chicagoland? President Obama also gifted a set of toys to the Pre-K class and winter accessories to every student at the school.Watch the video player above for more.

Lawsuit to be filed in accident that killed Hinsdale teen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

HINSDALE, Ill. -- A lawsuit will be filed in the case of a Hinsdale teen who died when a Jeep crashed into a restaurant over the summer.The parents of 14-year-old Sean Richards will take legal action against Fuller's Car Wash and some of their employees. Calls for NAACP Illinois conference president to resign after racist remarks An investigation into the July crash found a 16-year-old driver who worked at Fuller's accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake as he pulled out of the car wash. The vehicle struck and killed Richards and hurt three others.The Jeep hopped a cub and crashed into Fontano's Subs near the intersection of Chicago Avenue and Lincoln Street in Hinsdale, directly across the street from Fuller's Car Wash.Officials said there's no evidence of reckless driving and called the incident a horrible accident. Hinsdale police said in October that no criminal charges will be filed against the teenager driver.

Austin police chief responds to criticisms about deadly shooting spree response

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department shared its first major update Tuesday about a sweeping investigation into a deadly shooting spree that left six people dead and three others injured one week ago. Central Texas shooting spree suspect faces 10 charges, including 4 for capital murder APD Interim Chief Robin Henderson responded to criticism raised by some of the victims' families as well as neighbors about the lack of an alert about the various shootings across the city. She told reporters the department did not connect the incidents to the same suspect until later in the evening on Dec. 5, the day the various shootings happened across Austin and San Antonio. "The descriptions we were working on throughout the day were different. Each vehicle used was different," Henderson explained, "so while it might have seemed that it was obvious, there was no indication based on the information and intelligence that we had at the time the incidents were unfolding that they were relat...

What could Texas Supreme Court ruling mean for future abortion exception cases?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Supreme Court ruling in the case of a Dallas woman who sought an emergency abortion amid pregnancy complications is raising new questions about what conditions doctors may perform the procedure under Texas law. Last week, a Travis County court ruled Kate Cox could receive an abortion under the medical exceptions in the state's abortion law, which bans nearly all abortions after six weeks. Cox received a fatal fetal diagnosis at 20 weeks of pregnancy called trisomy 18. The fetus is unable to sustain life, and Cox argued her health and future fertility would be at risk if she gave birth. The Travis County ruling was put on pause Friday after Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an emergency opinion to the highest court in Texas. While the state Supreme Court evaluated the merits of the case, attorneys for Cox said her condition worsened — saying she visited the emergency room four times and experienced elevated vitals and risked a uterine rupture, which could...

One-on-one with Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

AUSTIN (NEXSTAR0 – Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht joined Ryan Chandler on Dec. 7 for an extensive interview analyzing his legacy on the high court, his concerns for the politicization of the judiciary, and the fate of major abortion cases awaiting judgment. Watch the full interview on the video player above.

Kate Cox attorney: TX Supreme Court ruling disappointing, but leaves room for optimism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:43:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Kaplan – an attorney for Kate Cox, the 31-year-old Dallas woman at the center of a landmark challenge to Texas' abortion ban – sat down with Ryan Chandler just after the Texas Supreme Court blocked a lower court ruling that would have allowed her to have a medical abortion. Kaplan breaks down their reaction to the ruling and explains what it could mean for other women with challenges in front of the high court.Watch the full interview in the video player above.