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CPS student shot and killed near South Side high school

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

CHICAGO — A 16-year-old boy has died following a shooting near Chicago Vocational High School on the city's South Side.Officers say the shooting happened in the 1900 block of East 87th Street just before 4 p.m. on Monday. According to Chicago police, the boy was critically injured after he suffered gunshot wounds to his back and right leg while in a parking lot in Avalon Park. Police say the boy was taken to Comer Children's Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The medical examiner has identified the 16-year-old boy as Ameer McMullin. The teen was a student at Chicago Vocational High School. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and officers say no arrests have been made. An investigation into the deadly shooting is currently underway.Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Area Two Detectives by calling the CPD non-emergency number at (312) 746-6000. Tips for police can also be f...

Bears trade for DE Montez Sweat

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The first Bears' move before the trade deadline is an addition to their defense. On Tuesday, the team acquired defensive end Montez Sweat from the Commanders in exchange for a 2024 second round pick.Now Official: The Bears acquire defensive end Montez Sweat from the Commanders for their 2024 second round pick. . A statement from Ryan Poles is below..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/3rn2Imgfyy— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 31, 2023“Montez is a huge addition to our team,” said general manager Ryan Poles in a statement from the Bears. “He is not is not only a great player but a great person. We expect him to help elevate our defense.”A first round pick of Washington in 2019, Sweat has shown his ability to get to the quarterback with 35 1/2 sacks in 67 career games with the Commanders over five seasons. So far in 2023, he's had 6 1/2 sacks along with ten tackles for loss in eight games.Establishing a consistent pass rush has been an issue for the Bears over the...

Chicagoland's Halloween Houses: Ausumtism Lair in Dyer, Indiana

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

It's rare that a Halloween decorated home starts INSIDE the house. That's how Jon Foster's incredible display began. He has spent 20 years collecting all kinds of Halloween decorations and memorabilia - and almost every piece of it is on display.You'll find plenty to look at outside of the home. There are giant skeletons, werewolves and a floating Max from Stranger Things. The yard is packed full of skeletons in all kinds of actions poses. If you are a Chicago Bulls fan, you will love the many tributes to Michael Jordan. A tombstone celebrates the famous Flu Game, and one skeleton is in the air recreating his last shot. On the side of the house, you will find a full Halloween inflatable walkthrough experience. In all of my years covering Halloween decorated homes, I have never seen this many inflatables packed into a small-ish space. Jon's 8 year-old son Ryno is a big part of putting this display together. Ryno has auti...

Man dead, another hospitalized after wrong-way crash in Zion

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

ZION, Ill. — An Indian Creek man died following a wrong-way crash Halloween morning in unincorporated Zion.Around 9:15 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a head-on collision on West Russell Road at Park Lane in unincorporated Zion.Arriving deputies located a Ford F-150 and a Chevrolet Malibu, both with significant damage.SEE ALSO: 2 men found dead in room of shuttered Waukgean hotel; names releasedEarly reports indicate that the driver of the Ford, a 46-year-old Milwaukee man, was traveling westbound on Russell Road. The Chevrolet, driven by a 72-year-old Indian Creek man, was traveling eastbound.  According to deputies, for reasons unknown, the driver of the Ford crossed into the eastbound lanes of traffic. Traveling in the wrong direction, the Ford driver struck the Chevrolet head-on. The 72-year-old man was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The driver of the Ford was hospitalized with severe injuries. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines ...

Chicago Public Schools celebrates record breaking graduation rates

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago Public Schools celebrated a record breaking graduation rate and post secondary successes for the Class of 2023.Four year graduation rate reached 84% and the five year graduation rate of 85.5% in 2023. Both metrics are more than 1% higher than the Class of 2022 and marked record highs for the school district.In 2013, the Chicago Public School graduation rate was 59%.“Our CPS graduates reflect the best of our city. Through collaboration with our teachers and community partners, nearly half our graduates are leaving CPS with more than a high school diploma,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.The CEO of Chicago Public Schools Pedro Martinez believes the data shows the district is recovering from set backs during the pandemic. Inaugural Southwest Job Fair set for January CPS also had their 11th straight year where the drop out rate reached less than 10%.The Class of 2023 collectively earned more than $2 billion in scholarships, the highest amount ever awarded to a Chicago P...

Search resumes for missing hunter in unincorporated Lake Villa

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — The search for a man who deputies say went missing while hunting near Fourth Lake in unincorporated Lake Villa resumed Tuesday morning. According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies are searching for a 60-year-old man, identified as Patrick R. Serzynski. Authorities said that Serzynski went missing Monday after he set out to go hunting in the area. He was last heard from around 10 a.m. when he was hunting on Fourth Lake from his duck blind, deputies added.Serzynski's boat and property were recovered at his duck blind. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Crews searched around the lake before efforts were suspended Monday night. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

2 men found dead in room of shuttered Waukgean hotel; names released

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A death investigation is underway after two people were found shot inside a room in the former Ramada Inn hotel in Waukegan. The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as 30-year-old Jamir Johnson, formerly of Gurnee and 59-year-old David Miller, formerly of Lindenhurst. Preliminary autopsy results indicate both Johnson and Miller suffered multiple gunshot wounds.Around 9:50 p.m. Friday, Waukegan police responded to the 200 block of North Green Bay Road, the site of the abandoned hotel. Arriving officers found Johnson and Miller already dead inside. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines The hotel has been vacant since 2018. Waukegan police are investigating.

TSA confiscates record number of firearms at Midway airport this year

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

CHICAGO — The Transportation Security Administration has confiscated a record number of firearms at Chicago's Midway International Airport.The latest gun found in a carry-on bag was found on Friday. North, NW suburban homeowners hit hardest by new Cook County tax bills The TSA has found 43 guns at Midway so far this year, breaking the previous record of set in 2021.Nationwide, transportation security officials have intercepted just under 5,100 firearms at security checkpoints.

UI Health hosts Halloween festivities for young patients, families

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

CHICAGO -- The University of Illinois Chicago Health hosted Halloween festivities for patients and their families Tuesday.Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit patients were joined by their loved ones on Tuesday to enjoy a Halloween parade that lead to a party. Chicagoland’s Halloween Houses: Ausumtism Lair in Dyer, Indiana Trick-or-Treating through the hallways and a costume contest allowed the patients an opportunity to celebrate the joyful and spooky holiday of Halloween.No word on the winner of the competition, but in the video player above, viewers can clearly see stiff competition.For more information on UI Health, click here.

Ghosts and Glögg: The mystery of Simon's Tavern in Chicago

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:52 GMT

CHICAGO — This Halloween, we’re revisiting a spooky chapter of Chicago folklore. It involves, a man, a mural, and a murder mystery — but that’s only where this ‘ghost story’ begins.In Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, the flag of Sweden wraps a rooftop water tank, across Clark Street, at Simon’s Tavern, the spiced wine of Sweden stirs in its own kind of tank.  “The basis of all glöggs is port wine,” said Scott Martin, the longtime owner of Simon’s. “In port wine, you cook raisins, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom seed, orange peels, almond, and a little bit of sugar. In the morning, brandy’s added – at least to our recipe here.”Owner Scott MartinMartin, 63, is bottling the brew for the holidays. It’s Simon’s signature blend of wine and spirits, but it’s an altogether different kind of spirit that is said to have haunted this bar.“I absolutely believe in ghosts,” customer Jack Moore said. “This place is haunted.”Simon’s dates back nearly 90 years, opening in 1934.“The story...