Chicago Sun-Times

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.

Skokie police searching for gunman in shooting outside Old Orchard mall

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:52:58 -0500

Two days after a shooting outside Old Orchard Mall, Skokie Police Chief Tony Scarpelli on Sunday said police continue searching for the gunman. The victim injured in the Friday night shooting, underwent surgery on Saturday and remained hospitalized.

3 hurt in Kennedy crash

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:02:01 -0500

Four people were injured in a crash on the Kennedy Expressway on the Northwest Side Sunday morning. The accident happened about 10:40 a.m. in the outbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway just south of Armitage Avenue, according to an Illinois State Police District Chicago trooper. At least five ambulances were sent to the crash scene, according toChicago Fire Department. Three people were taken in serious to critical condition to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County and one person was taken in good condition to Saint Mary Hospital, Fire Media Affairs said. Three others were also in good condition …

Police, prosecutors differ on charging driver in alleged incident outside Aurora Planned Parenthood

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:05:36 -0500

A driver accused of swerving his SUV at a teenage demonstrator outside an Aurora Planned Parenthood clinic was charged with aggravated assault even though police said security cameras never showed him veering toward the protester. As a result Aurora police declined to charge the driver. But the DuPage County State’s Attorney did. The disagreement focuses on security video of the incident.

Woman pleads guilty to molesting 3-year-old

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:26:00 -0500

A Northwest Indiana woman accused of photographing herself molesting a 3-year-old for her boyfriend pleaded guilty Friday to two of the 13 felony charges against her. Tara Tryon, 23, of Wanatah, Ind., will serve 10 years for Class B felony child molesting and eight years for Class C felony child exploitation if Indiana’s Porter Superior Judge William Alexa accepts her plea at a July 12 sentencing hearing.

Red Line reroute ‘smooth sailing’ on Sunday, but true test comes Monday

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:52:32 -0500

In 17 years of commuting on the Red Line to her housekeeping job downtown from the South Side, Stephanie Williams can count on one hand the number of times she’s arrived late to work. “I’m giving myself a whole bunch of grace time — I’m not a late person,” said Williams, 45, as she headed to work Sunday morning.

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.”

Toddler found wandering on West Side reunited with family

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:56:51 -0500

Chicago Police had sent out an alert Sunday morning seeking the parents or guardians after the boy, believed to be between 18 and 24 months old, was found in the 1300 block of South Fairfield Avenue. By about 10:30 a.m. the boy’s family had been located and they were reunited with him, police said.

Jail time for Naperville puppy thief

Sat, 18 May 2013 22:02:00 -0500

A 21-year-old Aurora woman has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to undergo counseling after being convicted of stealing a puppy last fall from a Naperville pet store.

Stories differ over pitbull shot by off-duty Chicago cop

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:38:25 -0500

The family of a pitbull puppy shot dead by an off-duty Chicago police officer grieved Saturday over the pet they described as “just like my baby.” The wife of the officer said they feared for their 5-year-old’s safety when her husband fired at the dog.

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.

Jail inmate charged in killing last year in Robbins

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:58:50 -0500

A Robbins man who’s been jailed since September on a shooting charge in the south suburb has been charged with first-degree murder in a separate case, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said Saturday.

Gov. Pat Quinn signs crackdown on social media ‘flash mob’ attacks

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

Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation on Saturday that doubles the maximum prison term — to six years — for anyone who uses social media and text messaging to organize violent “flash mobs” like those that have occurred on North Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile and in other tourist areas.

Boy, 4, falls from second-story window but isn’t badly hurt

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:00:20 -0500

A 4-year-old boy fell from a second-floor window on the West Side Saturday afternoon but wasn’t badly hurt, according to the police and fire departments.

Marchers, led by teachers union, speak out against school closings

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:53:13 -0500

Crystal Cook moved to Washington Heights so her four children could attend Marcus Garvey Elementary School. And she’s willing to move again if the school is closed by the Chicago Public Schools.Cook joined hundreds of teachers, students and parents on Chicago Teachers Union-led marches and rallies on the West Side and the and South Side on Saturday, hoping to draw attention and voice their objection to officials’ plan to close 54 Chicago schools.

Man charged with videotaping women in Elmhurst Hospital bathroom

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:58:31 -0500

A 49-year-old Franklin Park man is accused of using his cellphone video camera to record women in a unisex bathroom at Elmhurst Hospital.