Chicago Politics

Business

Three Directors, including Deputy Commissioner of Streets and Sans, charged in alleged criminal conspiracies at failed Chicago bank

The new charges allege that the accused made and caused to be made false entries in bank records and provided them to the OCC with intent to deceive and obstruct.

Police

Chicago drops police union lawsuit over vaccine mandate

The percentage of police department employees reporting their status increased from about 65% in October to about 87% this week, according to the city.

News

Cook County tops 1,000 homicides for first time in 27 years

The last time Cook County had more than 1,000 homicides in one year was 1994, when the county recorded 1,141. The record for Cook County is 1,229 homicides in 1991.

Police

Police union president John Catanzara officially retires from CPD

Though he retired after 27 years as a Chicago Police officer, he is not going anywhere. He will remain as President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 and plans to run for Mayor in 2023.

Police

FOP President John Catanzara intends to retire from Chicago Police force Tuesday morning

Catanzara made the announcement after spending hours on the witness stand Monday in the first day of his own three-day scheduled disciplinary hearing, which he called, "a farce."

Chicago News

Agency report critical of slain Chicago cop sparks outrage

COPA recommended suspension because French failed to wear a body-worn camera when she arrived at Anjanette Young's home in 2019. Officer French was later killed in the line of duty in a separate incident.

Police

C.O.P.A. releases report on Anjanette Young raid

The agency's report recommended between one day and one year of suspension for multiple officers and “up to and including separation” from the department for some officers. Police Superintendent David Brown has already moved to terminate one sergeant.

Chicago Politics

Ex-Illinois House Leader Luis Arroyo pleads guilty to bribery

The so-called blind plea, offered without knowing of the sentence he will receive, could land the 67-year-old Chicago Democrat in prison for 20 years and cost him a $250,000 fine. Sentencing was set for Feb. 18.

Chicago Politics

Judge halts Mayor Lightfoot's vaccine deadline for Chicago cops

Disputes over vaccinations should be submitted to an arbitrator as a labor grievance, the CC Judge said. Officers still must be tested twice a week under city policy and officers also can still lose work and pay if they don't disclose their vaccine status.

Chicago Politics

City council OKs $16.7B budget, 30% increase in spending

Included in the budget is a 30% increase in spending on an array of programs using an infusion of federal funds.

Chicago Politics

Judge denies request to extend Catanzara mandate muzzle

The city argued the union's actions amounted to encouraging a work stoppage while union attorneys said the matter is part of a unfair labor dispute and the vaccine mandate was ordered without union input.

Police

Judge denies Chicago Police union's effort to recuse herself from case

The union wanted Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan to recuse herself because of what its attorney, Joel D'Alba, called the "appearance of impropriety."