Tag: Chicago

Chicago battles unhealthy air quality amid Canadian wildfire smoke

The iconic skyline of Chicago was veiled in a thick blanket of smoke originating from the raging wildfires in Canada. The 360 Chicago Observation Deck of the John Hancock Building provided a striking view of the city obscured by the heavy haze on June 27, 2023. In response to the deteriorating air quality, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement urging residents to exercise caution. “The City of Chicago is carefully monitoring and taking precautions […]

Suspect in July 4 shooting an alienated youth with dark online persona

HIGHLAND PARK, United States (AFP) — Before he allegedly murdered seven spectators at a US Independence Day parade, the Highland Park community knew Robert Crimo as a quiet kid and former Cub Scout. But online, the 21-year-old known to friends and family as “Bobby” showed a strong inclination for violence and anger at being overlooked. “I know him as somebody who was a Cub Scout when I was the Cub Scout leader,” Highland Park Mayor […]

Developing story: Six killed, 24 wounded in US July 4 parade shooting: police

A shooter opened fire during a parade to mark US Independence Day in the state of Illinois, killing at least 6 people, American media reported, citing officials. The shooting in the city of Highland Park, located near Chicago, also left 24 people wounded, according to the reports. Highland Park announced that all July 4 festivities had been canceled as a result. Today a shooter struck in Highland Park during the Independence Day parade. My campaign […]

Shots fired near July 4 parade route in Illinois

  WASHINGTON, July 4, 2022 (AFP)  –  A shooter opened fire along the path of an Independence Day parade in the US state of Illinois on Monday, officials said. “The Illinois State Police is currently assisting Highland Park PD with an active shoot situation that occurred at the Highland Park Parade,” the Midwestern state’s police force tweeted. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, which is responsible for the area that includes Highland Park, the city near […]

Chicago mayor says schools safe to reopen despite pandemic

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The mayor of Chicago has said the US city’s public schools are “safe” and will reopen Monday, despite teachers union calls for them to continue remote work due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We expect all of our teachers who have not received a specific accommodation to come to school tomorrow,” Lori Lightfoot said during a press conference. “Those who do not report to work, and I hate to even […]

NBA postpones games at Dallas and Chicago due to Covid-19

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Two more NBA games were postponed by the league on Monday due to Covid-19 and contract tracing issues, bringing the total to four in the virus-shortened 2020-21 season. The New Orleans Pelicans game at Dallas on Monday and the Boston Celtics game Tuesday at Chicago were both delayed over unspecified health and safety protocol issues. The league also said it would meet with the National Basketball Players Association on […]

Donovan named new NBA Chicago Bulls head coach

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Chicago Bulls named Billy Donovan as the team’s new head coach on Tuesday, replacing Jim Boylen who was fired last month after the franchise’s latest failure to make the playoffs. Donovan, 55, joins the Bulls after parting company with the Oklahoma City Thunder by mutual agreement earlier this month after his team were eliminated from the postseason. “We are very pleased to welcome Billy and his family to […]

Shootout at Chicago funeral leaves 14 wounded

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — A shootout outside a funeral parlour left 14 people wounded Tuesday in Chicago, as President Donald Trump threatens to send federal agents to a handful of US cities led by Democratic mayors. The incident started when occupants of a vehicle “began firing at attendees of a funeral. At that time the attendees of the funeral exchanged fire,” Chicago deputy police superintendent Eric Carter told reporters. Shootings have become breathtakingly normal […]

Coronavirus spread from wife to husband in Chicago: official

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US health officials said Thursday they have identified the first case of a person who had caught the 2019 Novel Coronavirus from another person on American soil, a man who contracted the illness from his wife. “The second person in Illinois testing positive for the Novel Coronavirus is a Chicago resident and is the spouse of the first confirmed travel associated case in Illinois,” said Robert Redfield, director of the […]

US confirms second case of China virus, 50 suspected cases under investigation

  A woman in Chicago in her sixties was Friday confirmed as the second patient on US soil infected with a deadly new virus originating in China, health officials said, with 50 other suspected cases under investigation. The contagion has so far claimed 26 lives in China, sickened hundreds and has spread across several Asian countries as well as the US. “I’m pleased to report she is clinically doing well and is in stable condition,” […]

School out for 300,000 Chicago students as teachers strike

by Bob Chiarito CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — More than 32,500 teachers and other staff walked off the job Thursday in Chicago, canceling classes for 300,000 students in the nation’s third-largest school district. At the heart of the dispute is class sizes and resources rather than pay, with teachers saying they want more social workers, nurses and librarians for their students. And they want a three-year contract instead of being locked into the current offer […]

Chicago police charge US actor with filing false report of assault

by Nova Safo US police on Wednesday charged a TV actor with lying to authorities about being the victim of a racist and homophobic attack on the streets of Chicago. Jussie Smollett, a gay and black actor who stars in the Fox network drama “Empire,” is facing felony criminal charges of disorderly conduct and filing a false police report. He claimed that on January 29, two masked men beat him late at night in downtown […]