Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Man Arrested for Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse On January 28, 2026, the Orland Park Police Department arrested Brett Smith, 43, following an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse involving a juvenile and the advertising of private tutoring services on social media. Smith turned himself in at the Orland Park Police Department after detectives attempted to…
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Chicago Couple Among Nine Individuals Charged in Federal Drug Investigation A federal drug investigation has resulted in criminal charges against nine individuals for allegedly trafficking cocaine in the Chicago area. The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Chicago Police Department, utilized covert surveillance operations, undercover narcotics purchases, and wiretapped communications to…
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Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to 48 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Minor A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 48 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Tercalo E. Thomas enticed, persuaded, and used a prepubescent minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct, which…
Cicero Man Charged in Fatal Stabbing A 54-year-old Cicero man is facing a murder charge in connection with the fatal stabbing of another man, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today. Just before 4 a.m. on Jan. 19, Cook County Sheriff’s Police responded to the 5000 block of South Luna Avenue in unincorporated Stickney…
Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau for Releasing Confidential Village Information On January 20, 2026, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Caroline Kate Moreland denied former Mayor Keith Pekau’s motion to dissolve the existing Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), allowing the Village’s lawsuit…
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Year in Review: U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago Cracked Down on Crime While Implementing Significant New Policies and Initiatives in Productive 2025 The United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago increased its caseload to crack down on crime in 2025 while implementing significant new policies and initiatives that have strengthened the Office for continued success now…
React to President Trump’s war on Venezuela from American leaders By Ray Hanania We will run statements as they are released by various American officials on President Donald Trump’s illegal invasion of Venezuela and his bombastic assertions of his greatness and plans to take over the Venezuelan Oil Field after his detention of Venezuelan President…
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Members and Associates of Violent Chicago Street Gang for Racketeering Conspiracy Involving 13 Murders A federal grand jury has indicted six alleged members and associates of a Chicago street gang for participating in a criminal organization that murdered rivals, committed armed robberies and carjackings, and violently protected their perceived territory on…
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man on Terrorism and Arson Charges for Lighting Train Passenger on Fire and Setting Chicago City Hall Ablaze Days Earlier A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a man on terrorism and arson charges for allegedly lighting a passenger on fire on a Chicago Transit Authority train and setting fire…
Status of Temporary Restraining Order Against Former Mayor Keith Pekau for Releasing Confidential Village Information On December 12, 2025, Cook County Circuit Court Judge Caroline Kate Moreland denied former Mayor Keith Pekau’s motion to dismiss, allowing the Village’s lawsuit to proceed. The court determined that the Village’s allegations regarding the improper retention and use of…
Hastings law modernizes missing persons investigations starting Jan. 1 According to the Department of Justice’s National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Illinois has 461 open missing persons cases. Starting Jan. 1, law enforcement will take a new approach to these cases, thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Michael E. Hastings. “I teamed…
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Orland Park Police Department releases Thanksgiving enforcement numbers Orland Park Police release data in Thanksgiving holiday enforcement campaign to keep motorists and residents safe. From Nov. 21 to Dec. 2, the Orland Park Police Department participated in the statewide “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization to reduce crashes and…
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Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations Journalist and social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh responds to the indictments against her and others in protesting against ICE arrests in Chicagoland A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted six individuals for allegedly forcibly impeding…
Chicago ranks as 161st worst city for crime in new national survey Threats to safety in the U.S. come in many forms, from public health crises and natural disasters to mass shootings and traffic accidents. People can feel unsafe in other ways, too. Aside from the types of hazards that can cause bodily injury or…
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Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Joins Clerk of the Circuit Court Mariyana Spyropoulos at Expungement Event This “Second Chance Summit” expunged and sealed previous convictions for residents throughout Cook County Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar joined Clerk of the Circuit Court Mariyana Spyropoulos and local elected officials at a Second Chance Summit. The Second Chance Summit…
Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” An alleged ranking member of a Chicago street gang has been charged in federal court with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official involved in the immigration enforcement operation known as “Operation…
Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and federal law enforcement leadership in Chicago today issued the following statements regarding ongoing criminal immigration enforcement actions in Chicago: “As U.S. Attorney…
Five Individuals Charged in Federal Court in Chicago With Assaulting or Resisting Federal Agents Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations Five individuals have been charged in federal court in Chicago with assaulting or forcibly resisting federal agents who were engaged in immigration enforcement operations in Broadview, Ill. over the weekend. The defendants were among a crowd…