Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Frank Calabrese and Ray Hanania on Politics podcast discuss court ruling on Samatha Steele’s alleged DUI Political consultants and writers Frank Calabrese and Ray Hanania discuss the shocking decision by a former judge this week to reject DUI charges against outgoing Board of Review 2nd District Commissioner Samantah Steele on the “Ray Hanania on Politics”…
Orland Hills Police update on shots fired Sunday, 167th 88th Ave Shots were reported very early Sunday morning, around 2 AM, near the area of 88th Avenue between 167th and 171st Street in Orland Hills. It was a targeted incident. No details are being released at this time on the subject. Orland Hills Police are…
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Owner of Chicago-Area Convenience Stores Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Low-Income Food Program CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced the owner of several Chicago-area convenience stores to four years in prison for scheming to defraud a low-income food program for women and children. From 2010 to 2018, Hassan Abdellatif schemed…
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…
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…
Federal Indictment Charges Man With Illegally Possessing Loaded Machine Gun in Chicago Park A man has been indicted on a federal firearm charge for allegedly illegally possessing a loaded machine gun in a Chicago park. Eddie Arguelles possessed the firearm on May 14, 2025, in Riis Park in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago, according…
Illinois Republicans slam crime challenges in Chicago and region Illinois faces a growing public safety crisis, and nowhere is it more evident than in Chicago. While Washington, D.C. has seen progress under President Donald J. Trump’s crime initiative—leading to hundreds of illegal firearm arrests and thousands overall—our own state leadership refuses to take decisive action….
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Alleged Boss of Violent Sinaloa Cartel Faction Indicted in Chicago on Narcoterrorism, Drug, and Firearm Charges A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted an alleged boss of a violent faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico on narcoterrorism, drug, and firearm charges. Oscar Manuel Gasatelum Iribe, also known as “El Musico,” oversaw the importation…
Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Five Individuals for Alleged Covid-Relief Fraud A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted five individuals for allegedly fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in small business loans and other benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. George Kavroulakis, Athanasios Intzes, Adam Jaber, Hassan Kurdi and…
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Seven Individuals Charged in Drug and Firearm Investigation Centered on South Side of Chicago A drug and firearm investigation centered on the South Side of Chicago has resulted in federal criminal charges against seven individuals. A superseding indictment returned by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses the seven defendants of participating…
Bridgeview Police arrest two suspects in major chop shop crackdown The Bridgeview Police announced Tuesday, July 1, 2025, that two suspects have been taken into custody following a police raid of an illegal chop shop at 10024 S. Harlem Avenue. The Police raid took place in the early morning hours on Monday at the public…
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Five Defendants Charged in Federal Investigation Targeting Fentanyl Sales in Chicago A federal investigation into fentanyl sales in Chicago has resulted in drug or firearm charges against five individuals. An indictment unsealed this week in federal court in Chicago accuses four of the defendants of conspiring to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in the city…
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Suburban Chicago Physician Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud A suburban Chicago physician has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for billing Medicaid and private insurers for nonexistent and unnecessary services. Mona Ghosh owned and operated Progressive Women’s Healthcare, S.C., a medical office in Hoffman Estates, Ill., specializing…
Federal Jury in Chicago convicts man of robbing bank in Lake County, Ill. Francisco Martinez entered a First Midwest Bank branch in Round Lake, Ill., on Dec. 20, 2021, and handed the teller a folded piece of paper that read, “40k, 30 seconds, no tricks, go now.” Martinez then raised his shirt, showing what appeared…
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Hastings and Cook County Sheriff’s Office work to streamline missing persons investigations State Senator Michael E. Hastings and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office are working to improve Illinois’ policy regarding missing persons investigations. “In missing persons cases, every second and small piece of information is paramount,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This legislation works to give law…
Fourth Member of Alleged Chicago Robbery Crew Ordered Detained in Federal Custody Pending Trial The fourth member of a robbery crew allegedly responsible for violently robbing multiple liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago has been ordered detained in federal custody pending trial. Xavier Harris, 26, of Chicago, conspired with his brother and two…
Investigation leads to aggravated vehicular hijacking arrest A Country Club Hills man on Tuesday (March 4, 2025) was charged with felony aggravated vehicular hijacking stemming from an incident that occurred in September in Tinley Park. Police said Jamal Britton, 33, approached a 27-year-old man as he was leaving work Sept. 11 in the 18700 block…
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Recent Ray Hanania columns you may have missed on Madoff, Kaegi and targeting criminals How is it that members of Congress can far exceed the profit performance of the stock market when it comes to their own investments? Why did Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi artificially increase the assessments of suburban homes, thereby dramatically increasing…