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.
Law
Opinion & Comment
Comment: Streaming now “JUSSTICE” Season 2, Return to MAGA Country
IN A WORLD where ATTENTION is the only currency, ONE MAN gets LESS than he bargained for…but he’s coming back for the whole thing.
Crime
Summary of recent cases brought by the US Attorney in NDIL
A brief summary of 4 cases brought last week by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Illinois.
Law
Families of two Naperville friends killed at Astroworld concert file lawsuits
As with many of the other lawsuits, this one puts the blame on the companies and Scott, an organizer of the concert who was on stage when the deadly scene unfolded, for failing to take even the most basic safety precautions.
Illinois Politics
Gov. Pritzker signs new heavily Democrat gerrymandered Illinois congressional map into law
Interest groups and activists, many aligned with Democrats on most issues, criticized the secretive process and the result.
U.S. News
Kyle Rittenhouse cleared of all charges
The jury deliberated for close to 3 1/2 days. Rittenhouse could have received life in prison if found guilty on the most serious charge, first-degree intentional homicide.
Law
Chicago area convenience store owners charged with defrauding millions from low-income food program for women and children
The various businesses involved were located on the city's northwest side, as well as in the suburbs of Addison, Elgin, Melrose Park, and Mt. Prospect.
Chicagoland News
Human trafficking suit spreads to Hindu temples in 5 locations, including Bartlett
Similar to the allegations in the initial suit against the Hindu temple outside of Trenton, New Jersey, workers at the temples in the other four states claim they weren't allowed to have their passports and slept in large halls on the temple grounds that were monitored by security guards.
Law
Rittenhouse takes the stand
Rittenhouse could get life in prison if convicted of the most serious charges against him. Rittenhouse’s decision to testify came despite several legal experts saying that an underwhelming prosecution case had made it less likely he would need to do so.
Illinois Politics
Pritzker signs amendment to Illinois conscience law
The law was adopted in 1978 and Democrat AG Kwame Raoul asked Pritzker to encourage legislation to make clear the law was not intended to cover a pandemic.
Law
Gaige Grosskreutz admits to pointing gun at Rittenhouse before he shot
Wisconsin’s self-defense law allows someone to use deadly force only if “necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.” The jury must decide whether Rittenhouse believed he was in such peril and whether that belief was reasonable under the circumstances.
Law
Another federal racketeering charge leveled against violent Chicago street gang
First it was a set of the Black Disciples and today a set of Vice Lords. For the second time in three weeks, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced racketeering charges against a violent Chicago street gang. Prosecutors could seek the death penalty in some of the charges.