Deadline extended for restaurants to apply for smaller Taste of Chicago

Chicago restaurants aren't lining up to take part in a smaller Taste of Chicago this summer.

City says weather helping war on potholes

With a little help from Mother Nature and a new strategy for filling potholes, the city says it has reduced the backlog of requests to fix bumps in the road.

Sister of boy killed in hit-run: 'I lost my best friend'

A parade of relatives, cops and former judges spoke out today in support of a Chicago police officer convicted of DUI in a hit-and-run crash that killed a boy riding a bike.

Man's death triggered by North Chicago police beating, private autopsy finds

A private autopsy has found that a North Chicago man died from multiple causes that were triggered by a beating, allegedly at the hands of North Chicago police officers, his family’s attorney said today.

Man jumps into Calumet River from Skyway

A man who jumped into the Calumet River from the Skyway Bridge this evening was reported in "very critical" condition, officials said.

Police: More than $6M in pot grabbed from Englewood ring

Four people were charged in connection with an Englewood drug ring after police seized more than $6 million in marijuana along with crack cocaine during separate arrests on the South Side.

Man faces new charges in fatal Monday afternoon crash

A Blue Island man who faces DUI charges after his SUV struck and killed a man unloading a beer truck in Chicago's Morgan Park neighborhood Monday had a blood-alchol level more than three times the legal limit, prosecutors said.

Husband shot ex-wife to death in self-defense outside Oak Brook hotel, lawyer says

A Bolingbrook man shot his ex-wife to death in self-defense in the parking lot of an Oak Brook hotel on New Year’s Day 2010, his lawyer said today.

Prosecutors: Man charged in flower shop attack claimed to be deaf

A 24-year-old West Side man charged with stabbing a Wicker Park flower shop employee in the head and arm claimed to be deaf and communicated in writing before attacking her and robbing the store, prosecutors said.

Pucinski, Brown blame each other for Circuit Court clerk mess

It takes more time and money to go to court in Cook County because Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown keeps poor records, an appellate court judge who once held Brown’s post said Wednesday.

Brookfield Zoo introduces baby aardvark

Brookfield Zoo today announced the birth of an aardvark at the zoo, the first born there in a decade.

West Side cops answer domestic call, find pot growing in house

A man initially arrested in connection with a domestic battery also faces felony drug-manufacturing charges in connection with a growing operation police found at his house when they arrested him, police said today.

Emanuel backs Duckworth in suburban congressional primary

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel waded into a contested suburban Democratic primary for Congress, backing former U.S. Veterans Affairs official Tammy Duckworth.

Woman charged with DUI in wrong-way crash on Kennedy

DUI charges have been filed against a woman who drove her car the wrong way on the Kennedy Expressway early this morning and collided with another car, seriously injuring her and the other driver.

Man held without bail in shooting of police officer

A 21-year-old South Side man charged with shooting a Chicago police officer in the South Shore neighborhood on Sunday was ordered held without bail today.

Seven arrested at Evanston Township High School after fight breaks out

Seven Evanston Township High School students were arrested today after a brawl in a school hallway.

Parents plead with CPS to put off vote on school closings

Dozens of people packed a conference room at Chicago Public Schools headquarters today and another 100 or so filled an overflow room upstairs to plead for board members to put off a vote on closing or overhauling 17 struggling schools.

RTA switches tracks, OKs lobbying deal

In a complete about-face, the Regional Transportation Authority today approved a $850,000 contract to lobby members of Congress for more money for mass transit.

Officials: Teacher fired after student's wrists taped together

A substitute teacher was fired from a Naperville school after instructing an elementary student to bind his wrists together with duct tape, police and Indian Prairie Unit School District 204 authorities said.

Police: Man shot stranded motorist's car window

A 70-year-old Downers Grove-area man is accused of shooting out the window of a car as a motorist who claimed to be stranded tried to flee, Darien police said Wednesday.

Meth lab busts up across country, Indiana ranks 3rd

Methamphetamine lab seizures rose nationally again in 2011, further evidence the powerfully addictive and dangerous drug is maintaining a tight grip on the nation's heartland, according to an Associated Press survey of the nation's top meth-producing states.

Quinn's bad news budget: 'Our rendezvous with reality has arrived'

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn today delivered a bad news budget speech, calling for prison closures, layoffs and cutbacks to health care for the poor.

Oak Park expands Wright Historic District

Oak Park has expanded its Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District boundaries, adding 444 homes to an area once declared one of America’s 10 great neighborhoods.

Cops: $20,000 and 100 narcotic pills disappear after teen party near McHenry

A party held by two teenagers while their parents were out of town brought about 25 teens to their home in McHenry County—and resulted in $20,000 in cash and about 100 prescription narcotic pills disappearing from the home, police said.

Bad news budget: Quinn to call for prison, health care cuts

SPRINGFIELD -- Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn will deliver a bad-news budget today, suggesting that Illinois close numerous prisons, mental health centers and social service offices, cut health care for the poor and shut down popular tourist sites for two days a week at times during the year.

Police: Boy kills younger brother, 14, by accident

Ida Grant always feared the outbursts of violence from her two autistic grandsons would leave a family member injured.

Girl, 13, sexually assaulted at gunpoint in West Englewood

Police continue to search this morning for the man who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl at gunpoint in an alley in the West Englewood neighborhood.

Chicago firefighters battle a pair of early-morning blazes

The Chicago Fire Department battled a pair of fires Wednesday morning that injured one person and left at least two people displaced.

Two hurt when car crashes into building

Two people were injured when the car they were traveling in ran into a building about 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to police.

Developer says he may save Wilmette homes linked to Wright

A Schaumburg-based developer who had initially intended to demolish two Prairie-style homes in Wilmette, one of which preservationists say has a direct tie to Frank Lloyd Wright, said he is rethinking his plans.