NBC Chicago

Paris Schutz · post

Chicago’s City Council is poised to approve the largest single payout for misconduct in the city’s history, all tied to disgraced former CPD detective Reynaldo Guevara. The City Council’s finance committee Monday unanimously approved $260.8 million to 17 plaintiffs who were convicted of murder – but later had their convictions vacated due to purported false confessions. Eruby Abrego was one of the 17 plaintiffs. He was freed from state prison in 2022 after serving 23 years for a mur… (truncated)

NBC Chicago Staff · post

New details were revealed in court Monday on what happened when a woman fatally stabbed a 7-year-old girl she didn’t know while walking on a street on Chicago’s South Side over the weekend. According to prosecutors, Eddimar Paola Hernández Chacón was walking just before noon Saturday down an East Chatham street with her teen sister, heading to pay a phone bill. The pair were holding hands as they exited the business where they were paying the bill and continued walking along South C… (truncated)

Monica Alba and Raquel Coronell Uribe | NBC News · post

The White House prohibited Politico on Monday from traveling on Air Force One with President Donald Trump as he heads to Nebraska for a campaign rally. The move comes amid a legal fight between the Trump administration and several news organizations. “Many outlets including Politico are granted access to attend and cover presidential events unilaterally, but traveling with the President of the United States aboard Air Force One is a privilege not a right,” a White House official sai… (truncated)

Berkeley Lovelace Jr. and Erika Edwards | NBC News · post

The death of a 28-year-old woman who worked in an anti-plague laboratory in Russia is raising concerns about what caused her illness. The woman died Friday, according to the World Health Organization, with no cause of death confirmed. A Russian official said the woman died of pneumonia of “undetermined” origin and did not link her death to her work at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East. The U.S. State Department said, however, that it’s monitoring reports… (truncated)

Alex Dvorak · post

A 36-year-old father of four died unexpectedly after he collapsed while running a half marathon in Wisconsin over the weekend, according to reports. NBC affiliate station TMJ4 reported John Meise collapsed Sunday on the course of the Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon and died at a local hospital shortly after. Witnesses reported seeing Meise collapse, though TMJ4 reported Weise was not known to have any history of medical problems. In fact, family members told the station it was his… (truncated)

NBC Chicago Staff · post

The 2026 Illinois elections are quickly approaching, and there are some key deadlines to know if you still haven’t registered to vote. For Illinois voters, there are multiple methods that can be used to register to vote, and some have different deadlines according to the state’s Board of Elections. Here’s everything you need to know about how to register to vote, and when. Automatic Voter Registration Under Illinois state law, voters are given the opportunity to register automatical… (truncated)

James Neveau and NBC Chicago Staff · post

We’re just weeks from the 2026 Illinois general election, and candidates are kicking their campaigns into high gear. In the state of Illinois, voters will choose their next U.S. senator, decide whether or not to reelect Gov. JB Pritzker, and in some districts will get to choose their next representative in Congress as multiple sitting members of the chamber serve out the remainder of their terms. There will also be several referendums that will be presented to voters on Election Day… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

The Chicago Bears had some drama around their starting quarterback in their game against the Jets, but there will not be any question heading into Sunday’s game against the Packers. That’s because head coach Ben Johnson has already told ESPN 1000’s Jeff Joniak that the Bears will start Tyson Bagent in Green Bay, meaning Caleb Williams will be out for a third consecutive game. “Tyson will be the guy. We’ll go from there,” Johnson said during the interview. There had been some questio… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

Coming off of two wins in a row, the Chicago Bears are hoping to make a statement against the Green Bay Packers, and the betting line for the game is showing something truly remarkable. According to DraftKings, the Packers were initially favored by three points over the Bears when betting opened, but that line has quickly swung in Chicago’s favor, and the Bears are a 2.5-point favorite to win Sunday’s game at Lambeau Field. Those odds are similar to what’s currently found on Fanduel… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

Voters wanting to cast ballots in the 2026 election in Indiana are running out of time to register to vote. According to the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, the voter registration deadline in the state falls 29 days prior to the date of an election, which this year falls on Monday, October 5. Unlike in the state of Illinois, where there is “grace-period” voter registration and a later deadline for online voter registration, all registration methods for Indiana voters will close… (truncated)

NBC Chicago Staff · post

More details could be revealed Monday as the Chicago woman charged with first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a 7-year-old girl in the city’s East Chatham neighborhood makes her first court appearance. Shavon Gayden, 48, was taken into custody minutes after the stabbing Saturday morning along South Cottage Grove Avenue near East 86th Street. According to officials, Gayden is expected to appear in court at noon. According to police, the girl was walking down the sidewalk on So… (truncated)

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A Chicago-bound British Airways plane that departed London Monday made an emergency landing back at Heathrow Airport after a “technical issue,” with flight tracking sites showing the jet descending 27,000 feet in a matter of minutes. According to flight tracking website FlightAware, British Airways Flight2PD departed London Heathrow Airport at 11:50 a.m. local time. After about 30 minutes in the air and reaching an altitude of 35,000 feet, the Boeing 777 sharply descended to 9,000 f… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

The Chicago White Sox will look to win a fourth straight playoff game and grab a stranglehold on the ALDS, and they’ve revealed their Game 2 lineup. The White Sox used a home run from Munetaka Murakami and an RBI double from Colson Montgomery to score a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the best-of-five series, and now they’ll hope to grab a commanding 2-0 series lead when things resume at Progressive Field on Monday afternoon. With the White Sox facing right-handed… (truncated)

Michael Tarm and Herbert G. McCann | The Associated Press · post

NOTE: The video in the player above is from a previous story. Dennis Hastert, the nation’s longest-serving Republican House speaker, who helped turn much of President George W. Bush’s agenda into law before his own political legacy was forever fouled by allegations that he molested high school athletes when he was a wrestling coach, died over the weekend, a coroner said Monday. He was 84. Hastert, who was speaker from 1999 until 2007, died of natural causes at his home, according to… (truncated)

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PepsiCo has recalled thousands of cases of Gatorade distributed in 37 states, including Illinois, because the bottles have undeclared food colorings that could pose a health risk. According to a Food and Drug Administration enforcement report,122,021 cases of 28 ounce Gatorade bottles were recalled Sept. 25. The flavors affected are Lemon Lime, Lemon Lime Zero, Orange and Orange Zero. The drinks contain undeclared Yellow No. 6 and/or Yellow No. 5, the report said. While both color a… (truncated)

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Check your freezers: A major recall of frozen blueberries due to E. coli concerns has expanded once again, with more bags recalled from Walmart and now Trader Joe’s grocery stores in more than two dozen states including Illinois. The announcement, issued Oct. 2, from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., marks the second time the recall has expanded. It was initially announced July 3, with only certain bags of frozen GreenWise Organic IQF Blueberries berries sold at some Publix stores i… (truncated)

NBC Chicago Staff · post

Major street closures will begin this week for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The race, which which winds its way through more than two dozen Chicago neighborhoods, takes place Sunday, Oct. 11. As of Monday, one street closure–Balbo Drive from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive– was already in place, and will remain closed until the Friday after the event. More street closures will begin starting at 4 a.m. Here’s a full list of street closures for the marathon, and a l… (truncated)

Sophie Comeau, Shayna Jacobs, Marlene Lenthang and Abigail Brooks | NBC News · post

A Cornell University student gave campus police leads in the alleged rape of Jane Doe in 2024 but expressed dismay over how the authorities handled the case. The student, who spoke to NBC News on Sunday on condition of anonymity over concerns about repercussions, said she first heard about allegations that Doe was raped as a rumor on campus about 24 to 48 hours after the incident. Doe, who filed a lawsuit last month, claimed she was plied with alcohol and ketamine and gang-raped at… (truncated)

Jennifer Jett and Janis Mackey Frayer | NBC News · post

The death of a worker at an anti-plague laboratory in Russia has prompted officials to put at least one hospital facility under quarantine and nearly 200 people reportedly under medical observation as of Monday. The female staffer at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and the Far East died from a “pneumonia of undetermined” origin last week, according to the regional governor, Igor Kobsev. He said no “microorganisms linked to the employee’s professional activities were det… (truncated)

Kostya Manenkov, Lauran Neergaard and Adithi Ramakrishnan | The Associated Press · post

The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded Monday to three scientists working on the mechanisms the brain uses to switch on, or off, the activity of individual nerve cells. Karl Deisseroth, 54, Peter Hegemann, 71, and Georg Nagel, 73, have carried out research into light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. The Nobel Assembly lauded their work, writing on X that the method “is now being used in laboratories around the world to reveal the brain’s mysteries.” The assembly said Deisseroth… (truncated)

Izzy Stroobandt · post

Two types of viral squishy toys sold nationwide were recalled this week because of a potentially deadly hazard to children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. California-based ABC Trading recalled roughly 37,000 of its squishy dumpling and crazy squib ball toys because the water beads inside the toys can expand larger than permitted by the mandatory safety standard for toys, USCPSC said in the recall notice posted on Oct. 1. The recalled squishy dumplings are model 36… (truncated)

Matt Stefanski, Michelle Baik and NBC Chicago Staff · post

A Chicago woman was charged with first-degree murder after a 7-year-old girl was fatally stabbed in the city’s East Chatham neighborhood, authorities said. Shavon Gayden, 48, was taken into custody minutes after the stabbing occurred late Saturday morning along South Cottage Grove Avenue near East 86th Street. The girl was walking down the sidewalk when a woman who did not know her approached and stabbed her in the back multiple times, police said. In surveillance video obtained by… (truncated)

Matt Stefanski · post

One person was taken into police custody after a shooting in Michigan City, Indiana, left two people injured overnight, authorities said Sunday. The shooting was reported near the Michigan City Senior Center in Washington Park, south of Lake Michigan. The Michigan City Police Department said officers responded to the area after receiving a report of a person who had been shot and rendered aid until EMS arrived. During the investigation, police learned a second person who had been sh… (truncated)

Matt Stefanski · post

Two restaurants in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood were damaged in overnight burglaries, the businesses confirmed Sunday. Bronzeville Soul, 4655 S. Martin Luther King Dr., posted a video on Facebook showing a shattered window and broken glass outside the restaurant, saying it was one of several businesses broken into in the area. Peach’s Restaurant across the street was also burglarized and said it will remain closed for several days as a result. “Unfortunately Peach’s was burgla… (truncated)

Michelle Baik · post

Grieving family members gathered at a vigil to remember a 7-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed in what was believed to be a random attack in Chicago’s East Chatham neighborhood. The incident was reported at around 11:55 a.m. on Saturday along South Cottage Grove Avenue near East 86th Street. On Sunday, relatives took part in a vigil, pleading for justice for their young loved one. A prayer circle formed as family members and neighbors gathered to mourn, and white balloons were re… (truncated)

Matt Stefanski · post

A celebration of Palestinian culture was met with tense protests in Bridgeview on Sunday. Thousands turned out for Palestine Fest at SeatGeek Stadium in the south suburb, which is often referred to as “Little Palestine,” because of its large Palestinian-American community. The fourth annual event featured live music, traditional dances, food, local vendors and family activities. Organizers said it was a chance to honor their heritage, keep Palestinian identity and traditions alive a… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson was mum all week about the team’s starting quarterback this week, and his first playcall Sunday may have been a nod to that. Johnson had to choose between Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum to get the start for the Bears against the New York Jets, but as he does so often, he let his creativity come to the forefront as he chose the first play of the game. Instead of having one quarterback on the field for the snap, Johnson dialed up a play that had both… (truncated)

NBC Chicago Staff · post

The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is right around the corner, and street closures will soon be underway for the big event. The 26.2-mile course winds its way through the city of Chicago and numerous neighborhoods, and while most of the street closures get started on the day of the race, there are some that will go into effect sooner. There is currently one street closure in place, as Balbo Drive is closed from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive, and will remain closed unti… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

The Chicago Bears have released their inactives list for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Defensive back Cam Lewis, who was listed as doubtful for the game with a hip injury that kept him out of practice on Friday, will not suit up for the Bears, leaving their secondary a bit thinner on Sunday. Lewis has appeared in three games for the Bears so far this season, with 14 combined tackles in those contests. Quarterback Caleb Williams was also listed as inactive as expected, as… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

The Chicago area is going to continue through a run of extremely pleasant weather, with plenty of sunshine and consistently mild temperatures in coming days. According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, the next chance of rain in the Chicago area won’t enter the forecast until at least Friday, and even that currently seems like a remote possibility as the region goes through a run of sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. That will certainly be the case on Sunday, as the forecast for the Chic… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

NOTE: The original version of this story reported the bicyclist being struck in the Loop. Chicago police have corrected the location of the incident A 33-year-old man has died after he was struck by a driver while riding a bicycle in Garfield Park Sunday morning. According to Chicago police, the man was riding a bicycle in the 200 block of North Homan at approximately 6:06 a.m. Sunday when he was struck by the driver of a two-door sedan. The man was taken to an area hospital, where… (truncated)

NBC Chicago Staff · post

An off-duty Chicago police officer shot two men during an altercation in the Little Village neighborhood Sunday morning. According to Chicago police, an off-duty officer was driving in the 2600 block of West 24th Street at approximately 12:48 a.m. Sunday when he “engaged with a group” that was standing on a nearby sidewalk. A man then approached the vehicle and allegedly punched the officer in the face, according to authorities. The officer then pulled out a weapon and shot the susp… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

The Chicago Bears have placed offensive lineman Braxton Jones on injured reserve as he continues to deal with a knee injury. Jones, the team’s starting left tackle to open the regular season, suffered a knee injury in last week’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles, and after missing practices this week he will be guaranteed to miss at least the next four games. Before Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, the Bears have elevated defensive lineman Marcus Davenport and defensive back… (truncated)

Izzy Stroobandt and Michelle Baik · post

Authorities identified the 7-year-old girl who died after she was stabbed several times while walking on a sidewalk in Chicago on Saturday. Cook County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Eddimar Paola Hernández Chacón hours after she was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The incident occurred around 11:55 a.m. on Saturday on South Cottage Grove Avenue near East 86th Street in the city’s East Chatham neighborhood. The girl was walking down the sidewalk when a woman who did… (truncated)

Vi Nguyen · post

Families of homicide victims came together for a day of healing and remembrance on Chicago’s Near West Side on Saturday. It was a somber and emotional morning for families as they remember their loved ones killed in Cook County while connecting to much needed support and resources. “I miss him every day, it’s been a long journey for me,” said Cindy Lucumi, who lost her son to gun violence in 2024. “It’s not easy I think of all the moms who lost their babies it’s so hard for us.” Mor… (truncated)

Izzy Stroobandt · post

A west suburb of Chicago transformed into a Hollywood set this week for the filming of a Netflix movie set to release next year that is based on a viral and best-settling book. Town House Books and Cafe, located at 105 N. 2nd Ave. in St. Charles, will make an appearance in the upcoming Netflix romantic comedy based on “Better Than the Movies” by Lynn Painter, a New York Times bestselling novel that is also highly popular on ‘BookTok’ and ‘Bookstagram’. The film is directed by Julia… (truncated)

Izzy Stroobandt, Michelle Baik and Matt Stefanski · post

Editor’s Note: Authorities later identified the girl who was killed. Our latest coverage can be found here. Surveillance video captured the aftermath of a broad daylight stabbing on a Chicago sidewalk that left a 7-year-old girl dead on Saturday morning. Witnesses can be seen rushing over to what is assumed to be the area where the young girl was stabbed several times by a woman who is now in custody in the video obtained by NBC Chicago from a business on the block. The incident occ… (truncated)

Izzy Stroobandt · post

A plume of dark smoke could be seen billowing from a building in River North on Saturday, video showed. Around 6:15 p.m., video shared to social media showed smoke rising from a building at the corner of West Kinzie Street and North Clark Street. The Chicago Fire Department said the smoke came from a kitchen fire in the building and no one was injured. Several fire trucks could also be seen in the area as crews investigated. Clark Street was also partially blocked in front of the bu… (truncated)

STNG Wire · post

Two suspects are in police custody after a man visiting from upstate New York with his wife was shot during an attempted robbery while in a Streeterville parking garage Friday evening. The attack happened about 6:30 p.m. in the 400 block of East Illinois Street as the man, 64, and his wife, 29, of Plattsburgh, were retrieving something from their rental car in a lower level of a garage, according to a police report obtained by the Sun-Times. Witnesses told police two masked robbers… (truncated)

Joe Reedy / The Associated Press · post

Munetaka Murakami hit a two-run homer, five Chicago pitchers combined for a three-hitter and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in Game 1 of their AL Division Series on Saturday. Colson Montgomery added an RBI double for the White Sox, who have won nine of their last 11 games dating back to the regular season. Chicago advanced to the division series after sweeping Houston in the wild card series. Cleveland — which won its third straight AL Central title by one game over… (truncated)

Matt Stefanski and Michelle Baik · post

Editor’s Note: Authorities later identified the girl who was killed. Our latest coverage can be found here. A woman was taken into police custody after allegedly stabbing a 7-year-old girl to death in the Chatham neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, police said. The stabbing was reported around 11:55 a.m. on Saturday along South Cottage Grove Avenue near East 86th Street. Police said a 7-year-old girl was walking outside when a woman approached, displayed a sharp object and stabbed… (truncated)

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A video that shows an unidentified homicide suspect running across a Chicago street in broad daylight while holding a long gun in 2022 was released by police on Friday as their search and investigation continues. Police said the man in the video allegedly shot and killed someone around 10:41 a.m. on May 3, 2022, on the 3700 block of West Chicago Avenue in the city’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. The man can be seen running across the street, through a massive puddle and down the sidew… (truncated)

NBC Chicago Staff and Joe Reedy/The Associated Press · post

The Chicago White Sox have unveiled their starting lineup for the first game of the AL Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. Cleveland will host Chicago in Game 1 of the ALDS, which gets underway at 1 p.m. ET. Here is the team’s lineup: 2B Chase Meidroth LF Randal Grichuk 3B Miguel Vargas 1B Munetaka Murakami DH Tommy Pham CF Brenton Doyle C Kyle Teel RF Brayden Montgomery SS Colson Montgomery SP Hagen Smith It’s the third straight year the Guardians will open the postsea… (truncated)

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Two people were in connection with the murder of a high school senior who was shot and killed in Chicago’s North Austin neighborhood earlier this year, police said. Melissa Castrejon, 17, was fatally shot Jan. 21 near West Bloomingdale Avenue & North Latrobe Avenue. Family members previously told NBC Chicago two shooters, standing on the street, began firing toward Melissa, her cousin and three friends. Christopher Vazquez, 19, and David Morocho, 18, were arrested by members of the… (truncated)

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TODAY: Mostly sunny, a little cooler. Highs in the mid 60s. TONIGHT: Clear skies. Lows in the upper 40s; cooler away from the lake. TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs around 70°. WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 70s. THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs around 70°. FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs around 70°. Slight chance for a shower late. SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs around 70°. SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 70s. Temps in the upper 50s with sunshine to start the Bank of America… (truncated)

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One person was shot and killed by a suspect who forced his way into an apartment during a home invasion in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood early Saturday, authorities said. The shooting was reported at around 5:19 a.m. in the 3000 block of North Lotus Avenue near West Wellington Avenue. Chicago police said a preliminary investigation indicates that a suspect entered through the rear door of an apartment and fatally shot a 60-year-old man. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.… (truncated)

Jay Cohen / The Associated Press · post

Editor’s note: The video in the player above is from a previous report. As Eva Liu and Angie Lee took in the new Ryan Field on Friday, there was one thing in particular that stood out to the pair of Northwestern juniors. The new home of the football team is unmistakably, unabashedly connected to their school. “It’s a lot of purple,” said Liu, a double major in neuroscience and film from Vancouver, British Columbia. “It really brings the school spirit immediately because I’ve been to… (truncated)

Matt Stefanski and Kevin Jeanes · post

A pleasant weekend is shaping up across the Chicago area, with sunshine expected alongside seasonable temperatures. But there’s a catch: it’ll start out chilly. Before the comfortable weather takes hold, conditions will turn noticeably cooler late Friday into early Saturday, with values quickly dropping into the 40s in some areas, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes said. It’ll be jacket weather for the next few mornings, with temperatures hovering in the upper 40s near the… (truncated)

PJ Randhawa · post

If you’ve ever had an auto policy with State Farm, you could have money coming to you. Starting in July, State Farm began issuing $5 billion in cash back dividends to its auto customers. According to the company, “The dividend is being distributed in waves to eligible customers across more than 49 million State Farm Mutual auto vehicles. Each customer’s payment is based on a percentage of the premium paid for each qualifying policy in 2025. Percentages vary by state, ranging from 4%… (truncated)

PJ Randhawa · post

Walmart just pulled more than 4 million grill brushes from shelves and its website because the tiny wire bristles can come loose and get into food. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the brushes pose a “risk of serious internal injuries that could require surgery.” The brushes were sold in Walmart and online from January 2021 through August 2026 for between $1 and $28. The brushes have black plastic or stainless-steel handles. Some brushes come with metal scraper a… (truncated)

James Neveau · post

The Chicago White Sox have won three consecutive playoff games away from Rate Field, but when will they come home for their fans to enjoy postseason baseball? The White Sox won both of their games against the Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series, and they followed that up with a win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday at Progressive Field. Now, the White Sox will have one more game on the road before they head home to take on t… (truncated)

Matt Stefanski · post

An investigation was underway after a 64-year-old man was shot during an attempted robbery in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood, authorities said. The shooting was reported at around 6:30 p.m. in the 400 block of East Illinois Street near North McClurg Court. Police said the victim was inside a parking garage when he was approached by two men. One of the men demanded the victim’s property, at which point he refused, and one of the suspects opened fire. The victim was shot in his… (truncated)

Paris Schutz · post

Chicago Public Schools football and other fall sports contests are going on as planned this weekend, days after the school district finally paid around 70 referees who had gone weeks without a paycheck. The referees were paid after they spoke out and threatened to walk off the job. CPS blamed the payment delays on a “software glitch” that they said improperly withheld money. But Referee Breyion Hutchinson, who talked to NBC Chicago, said the blame falls on CPS Sports Executive Direc… (truncated)

Randy Gyllenhaal · post

The annual fall migration is underway in Chicago, bringing millions of birds through the city and over Lake Michigan.  But as some migratory birds make a pitstop downtown, they can mistake reflections in glass for open sky, or trees in lobbies for a place to rest.  “So this is how we often find them. It’s concussed and a little disoriented,” volunteer Tim Ramsey said as he secured a golden-crowned kinglet into a paper bag.  Volunteers reported a significant number of dead and injure… (truncated)

Regina Waldroup · post

As gas and grocery prices keep climbing, more people are turning to food pantries just to get by. The Rich Township food pantry in Richton Park has been around for 26 years, but the township supervisor said the pantry is seeing more new folks coming by and an uptick in people calling asking about eligibility. “One thing that we don’t do here, we don’t turn people away,” said Calvin Jordan, Rich Township supervisor. “Behind every measure of demand is a person trying to make a househo… (truncated)

Michelle Baik · post

Just days after the release of her new novel “American Hagwon,” internationally best-selling author Min Jin Lee sat down with NBC Chicago’s Michelle Baik ahead of an event in Evanston on Friday night. Her complete interview can be found below. BAIK: You have an event in Evanston later tonight, which brings you to town. But are you familiar with Chicago? What do you know about it and the literature scene here? LEE: No, I love Chicago. I’ve been here quite a lot, and the reason I like… (truncated)

Rose Schmidt, Lisa Capitanini and Nathan Halder · post

The Cornell University case is reigniting conversations about a lawsuit filed against Loyola University in 2022. Ten young women say they were all sexually assaulted when they were Loyola students. NBC 5 Investigates has followed the case since these women first sued Loyola University. Now, with Cornell in the spotlight, some of these young women are asking their attorney for updates in their case. Jane Doe G, as she is named in the lawsuit, said she hopes the stories force change o… (truncated)

Alex Dvorak · post

With the Bears playing yet another game at Soldier Field this weekend, Cole Kmet has a message for hometown fans — and it’s an important one. The message stems from a situation the team faced during Monday night’s win over the Eagles. Fans got so excited, Kmet said players had a hard time hearing each other on offense. “P.S.A. to the fans: They need to be quiet when we’re on offense,” Kmet told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It is ridiculous. It’s insane. I appreciate the energy, but take… (truncated)

Izzy Stroobandt · post

A 14-year-old boy was critically injured when he was shot in broad daylight while on a sidewalk in West Ridge on Friday, police said. Around 3 p.m., the 14-year-old was shot while on the sidewalk on the 6300 block of North Rockwell Street by a suspect who police have not yet located, authorities said. The teen was taken to a local hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition, police said. Video captured by NBC Chicago Sky 5 and shared on social media by people in th… (truncated)

Charlie Wojciechowski · post

The city of Chicago is stepping up efforts to force the owners of the shuttered Ford City Mall to improve security at the 70-acre site as new video shows dozens of people participating in a mass break-in. At a hearing set for Monday, Oct. 5, the City of Chicago Department of Law is expected to demand that the current owner, New York-based Namdar, create a full security plan for the property, including an increased physical security presence and limiting access to the parking lots. A… (truncated)

Regina Waldroup and Matt Stefanski · post

The family of a 6-year-old south suburban girl who was struck and killed by a school bus in September has filed a lawsuit against two school districts, alleging the tragedy was preventable and the districts ignored safety concerns raised by the girl’s mother. Jenna Menias was killed on Sept. 8 after being struck by a school bus driver on the block where her family resides. The bus involved in the crash was a Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 bus carrying Frankfort Schoo… (truncated)

Vi Nguyen · post

She was a social media influencer, but her topics were not about skin care or fashion. Instead, Brooke Eby spent the last years of her life documenting her journey and battle with ALS. Eby created a community on TikTok — gathering hundreds of thousands of followers — with the goal of helping to change how others understand ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. On Thursday, she died from complications of ALS at the age of 37, according to the ALS Network. Eby was diagnosed with AL… (truncated)

NBC Chicago Staff and Matt Stefanski · post

Three people who were taken in for questioning following a deadly shooting outside the popular Oakbrook Center Mall this week were released without charges, authorities said Friday. The Oak Brook Police Department said the three individuals who had been in police custody since the shooting were released Thursday night after investigators conducted a comprehensive review of the evidence. “Investigators have worked diligently and in close coordination with the DuPage County State’s At… (truncated)

STNG Wire · post

Financial services firm Morningstar will move its global headquarters to the Thompson Center, joining tech giant Google. The company said Wednesday it would occupy 275,000 square feet in the building. Google has been redeveloping the former state government’s office hub at 171 N. LaSalle St., which opened in 1985, into its Chicago headquarters, where it plans to employ 2,000 people. “Morningstar was founded in Chicago more than four decades ago, and we’re proud to continue building… (truncated)

Alex Dvorak · post

Who will be the quarterback for the Chicago Bears as they take on the Jets on Sunday? Ben Johnson gave an update on that decision Friday. Speaking to the media at practice, the coach said he has ruled Caleb Williams officially out for Sunday’s game. “He’s out this week,” Johnson said. Beyond that, however, he wouldn’t say. “We’ll find out on Sunday,” Johnson said with a smile. Last week, Case Keenum started at center, leading the Bears to a massive victory over the Eagles. But with… (truncated)

Izzy Stroobandt · post

Portillo’s teased the debut a new addition to its menu on Friday in an ominous social media post. The iconic Chicago fast-casual restaurant shared a video on social media that shows a person walk into a restaurant in modern day before suddenly transforming into a black and white retro scene that appears to take inspiration from the 1940s. The video ends with a screen that reads “something delicious is coming…” Though Portillo’s did not say what the “something delicious” is, the capt… (truncated)

NBC 5 Responds and Consumer Reports · post

Federal cybersecurity bans are changing which new routers, robot vacuums, drones, and other connected devices can be sold in the U.S. Consumer Reports says the changes could eventually affect product selection, but many devices already approved for sale remain available. Citing cybersecurity risks and national security concerns, the Federal Communications Commission has banned certain new foreign-made drones, WiFi routers, and home robotic devices, including robot vacuums, from ente… (truncated)

Alex Dvorak · post

Illinois residents who purchased a generic drug between May 2009 and December 2019 could be eligible for payouts as part of a series of allegations that drug companies conspired to manipulate prices. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 43 other states and territories seeking approval for a $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. following allegations “the generic drug manufacturers engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artific… (truncated)

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Police in Highland Park were investigating Friday after reports of shots fired on the busy Edens Expressway in broad daylight. Highland Park police and fire departments responded about 10:12 a.m. to a report of shots fired near Route 41 North, just south of Central Avenue. According to authorities, a 60-year-old man was driving when he heard gunshots from a passing car and discovered his vehicle had been damaged. The man was able to safely pull over and report the incident to police… (truncated)