Chicago Sun-Times

South Siders savor last Red Line ride before 5-month shutdown

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:54:57 -0500

As he rode the last Red Line train north from 95th to Cermak early Sunday, Cleveland Jones acknowledged that the tracks fading away behind him wouldn’t be used again during five months of upcoming repairs, but he rolled his eyes at the accompanying hullabaloo. “What is this, the Last Supper?” asked Jones, 59, a Catholic school janitor from Gresham on his way to work. “It’s just like anything else in life. You’ve got to adjust.”

SPECIAL REPORT: CPS closings create school zone, danger zone

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:56:22 -0500

Like his classmates, Jaleel isn’t expected to finish 8th grade at Yale. CPS plans on shuttering the school, one of a record 54 the district says are under enrolled. If the closing plan is approved, CPS would send Jaleel and his classmates more than five blocks south to the Harvard School of Excellence. The difference between going to Harvard and Yale — and between other schools shutting down and the ones opening their doors to those students — is more than a matter of yards or blocks. Many parents fear their kids’ new routes will be more treacherous.

After Amtrak derailment Sunday, Metra schedule back on track

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:37:13 -0500

No injuries were reported after a locomotive on the City of New Orleans train, heading into Chicago, “lost contact with the tracks” at 18th Street, authorities said. After some delays, cancellations Metra resumed its regular schedule.

4 dead, 15 wounded in citywide gun violence

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:56:00 -0500

Four people have been killed and at least 15 other people wounded -- including a 12-year-old boy left in critical condition -- in shootings around the city since Friday night. On the South Side, a 17-year-old was shot to death Friday night in the Chatham neighborhood. Clifton Barney was found with a gunshot wound to the chest in the in the 7700 block of South Langley Avenue at 7:24 p.m., police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. On the West Side, Ramar Bonner, 40, was found shot to death in the Austin neighborhood Friday night. About 8:05 p.m. …

12 arrested near North Michigan Avenue

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:05:25 -0500

Eleven juveniles and one adult were arrested Saturday night for obstructing traffic after police responded to groups of teens running through traffic on North Michigan Avenue and elsewhere on the Gold Coast.

Authorities: 1 killed, 4 critically injured in South Side crash

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:42:04 -0500

About 2:20 a.m., Sunday a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am was heading westbound on 102nd Street approaching Sangamon Street, when a 2004 Grand Am was northbound on Sangamon, approaching 102nd Street, said Chicago Police Officer Michael Sullivan, a department spokesman. The Grand Am traveling down 102nd Street went through a stop sign and failed to reduce its speed, and crashed into the other car, Sullivan said.