Chicago Sun-Times :: News ::

Top cop 'nervous' about likely retirement surge

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis said Friday he is "extremely nervous" that a wave of police retirements next year --after an arbitrator rules on the new police contract -- will stretch a burgeoning manpower shortage beyond levels he considers safe.

Laid-off workers tapping 401(k) funds to survive

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

As the last of his severance pay dwindled away in March, Brad Cleghorn of northwest suburban Marengo cashed out his 401(k) plan in order to pay his mortgage and feed his family. Cleghorn is not alone. A Hewitt Associates study shows that 46 percent of workers with 401(k) plans who lost or switched jobs cashed the plans in, a trend that could lead to serious problems when younger generations of people working today reach retirement.

4 charged in lottery scam targeting elderly Hispanics

Sun-Times Media Wire — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Police arrested two men and two women earlier this week who allegedly ran a lottery ticket scam that targeted elderly Hispanic victims.

Speeding tickets get tossed, but no LIDAR letup

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Chicago Police will stick to their speed detector guns -- churning out tickets generated by LIDAR detectors purchased to slow neighborhood speeding -- despite widespread dismissals in Traffic Court, Supt. Jody Weis said Friday.

Chicago Firefighters get new tool to revive pets

BY STEVE METSCH SouthtownStar — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Up to 150,000 pets die in fires every year, succumbing mostly to smoke inhalation. But, increasingly, fire departments across the country are using pet oxygen masks to revive the animals.

Aurora man who robbed 16 banks caught again in Kentucky

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

After admitting to 16 bank robberies and being sentenced to more than five years in federal prison, Daniel Vincent could have reformed. After being released from federal custody in April 2008, the Aurora resident could have turned his life around.

Gary mayor urges city to resist surge in city's violent crime

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Gary Mayor Rudy Clay and the Gary Police Department are urging citizens to stand together against criminals causing a surge of violence in their neighborhoods.

Three teens shot at Southeast Side party

Sun-Times Media Wire — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Gurnee cabbie held in Ohio corpse tampering case

LAKE COUNTY NEWS-SUN — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

A Gurnee cab driver is being extradited to Ohio for gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in connection with a skeleton discovered in southwest Ohio two years ago.

Buffalo Grove police charge alleged fire, police impostors

PIONEER PRESS — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Two men have been charged by Buffalo Grove police this month with pretending to be something they're not: firefighters and police officers.

Obama asks House to vote on health care bill

ASSOCIATED PRESS — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama summoned Democrats to "answer the call of history" Saturday as the House pushed toward a vote on a landmark health care bill holding out the promise of coverage for tens of millions who lack it.

Muslim leader found talks with Ft. Hood suspect disturbing

ASSOCIATED PRESS — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

FORT HOOD, Texas--An Army psychiatrist who authorities say went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood was so conflicted over what to tell fellow soldiers about fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan that a local Islamic leader was deeply troubled by it, the leader said Saturday.

Unemployment hits 10.2%, worst since '83

BY JEANNINE AVERSA AND CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

WASHINGTON -- Just when it was beginning to look a little better, the economy relapsed Friday with a return to double-digit unemployment for only the second time since World War II and warnings that next year will be even worse than previously thought.

Gunman kills 1, hurts 5 in Orlando

Y MIKE SCHNEIDER AND ANTONIO GONZALEZ — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A man so broke that he said he didn't have the money to visit his son 30 minutes away opened fire Friday at the engineering firm that fired him two years ago, killing one person and wounding five, authorities said.

'DWI chair' brings $10,000 in cops' eBay auction

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

DULUTH, Minn. -- Operating a motorized recliner while drunk apparently drives up the chair's value. Police in northern Minnesota listed the "DWI chair" on eBay after the owner was arrested for driving it into a parked car last year. It sold Thursday for $10,099.99.

L.A. City Council rushing out cat claws clause

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles City Council has given preliminary approval to an ordinance that would ban the declawing of cats.

Baltimore mayor's trial to start in gift-card scandal

ASSOCIATED PRESS — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

BALTIMORE -- The accusations that Mayor Sheila Dixon used holiday gift cards for the needy during personal shopping sprees may sound like a minor embarrassment at worst, a small-time case of a politician enjoying the perks of power.

Obama extends jobless benefits, mortgage break

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

President Obama signed a $24 billion economic stimulus bill into law Friday, giving tax incentives to prospective home buyers and additional jobless benefits to those idled by the business slump.

Ex-Gov. Palin to headline at Gridiron Club

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

WASHINGTON -- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin -- on a book tour to promote her memoir, Going Rogue: An American Life -- will headline the Gridiron Club winter dinner here, along with Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).

Two men from northwest suburbs charged with beating sleepwalker

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Two suburban Chicago men have been charged with beating an Iowa man who sleepwalks after they found him asleep in the Iowa City apartment of a third accused man.

South Korean woman passes driver's exam on 950th try

ASSOCIATED PRESS — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

The aspiring driver spent more than 5 million won ($4,200) in application fees, but until now had failed to score the minimum 60 out of a possible 100 points needed to get behind the wheel for a driving test.

British Columbia already gets $821M Olympics bonus: study

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Chicago aimed to win the 2016 Olympics -- citing job creation and a storm of new dollars blowing into the Windy City.

Britain wants G20 insurance against future bailouts

ASSOCIATED PRESS — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Germans commemorate fall of Berlin Wall

ASSOCIATED PRESS — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

BERLIN -- Massive colorful dominoes painted by German students were placed Saturday along the former path of the Berlin Wall to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the barrier that divided the city for nearly three decades.

Snows of Kilimanjaro rapidly melting

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

The snows of Kilimanjaro may soon be gone.

2 GIs missing in Afghanistan

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

KABUL -- Two American soldiers disappeared in western Afghanistan after a routine resupply mission, and more than 25 NATO and Afghan security forces members were wounded during the search for them, the alliance said Friday.