Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago news, sports, politics, entertainment

White Sox

Andrew Benintendi's struggles at center of 3-21 White Sox' woes

The Sox hit two homers, but Garrett Crochet allowed five runs in the 6-3 loss to the Twins.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

Sky rookie Angel Reese's star power already being felt in Chicago

Reese’s jersey sold out on the online WNBA store within days of her being drafted by the Sky with the No. 7 overall pick.

By Annie Costabile

Crime

Southwest Side man charged with luring 14-year-old girl walking home from school

Media members enter the NFL Draft theater Wednesday in Detroit, where workers continue to set up for the event Thursday.

Sports Media

ESPN, NFL Network will put Bears at center stage for NFL Draft broadcasts

Bears

Caleb Williams' evaluation a test of Bears GM Ryan Poles' intuition

image (6).Hersh Goldberg-Polin (left) is pictured with his parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin. Goldberg-Polin was taken hostage by Hamas at a music festival on Oct. 7.

Israel-Hamas War

Hamas releases video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin — hostage with Chicago roots

Commentary

The opinions in and around Chicago that inform, analyze, hold power accountable and entertain.

CST Editorial Board

In blocking April Perry from U.S. attorney post, J.D. Vance shows he’s pro-Trump, pro-crime

Michael Eric Dyson

Author and professor of African American and Diaspora Studies, Vanderbilt University

The hard truth about Rainbow PUSH and why the Rev. Frederick Haynes III quit after 3 months

Neil Steinberg

Columnist

An empty chair at Passover Seder, affixed with a picture of a hostage

Rummana Hussain

Editorial board member and columnist

Para ver y aprender: El Festival de Cine Palestino de Chicago pretende entretener y educar

Politics

Bears

Bears eye taxpayers for stadium-related infrastructure costs. The bill? $325 million to start, $1.5 billion overall

Two additional infrastructure phases that would “maximize the site” and bring “additional opportunities for publicly owned amenities” could bring taxpayers’ tab to $1.5 billion over about five years, according to the team.

By Mitchell Armentrout

Israel-Hamas War

Hamas releases video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin — hostage with Chicago roots

Politics

April Perry's bid to be city's first female top federal prosecutor to end, Biden will tap her to be federal judge

Bears

Bears reveal plans for $4.7 billion domed lakefront stadium development: 'This is not an easy project'

Nation/World

Biden signs a $95 billion war aid measure that forces TikTok to be sold or banned in the U.S.

Sports

Horoscopes

Horoscope for Thursday, April 25, 2024

By Georgia Nicols

Cubs

Cubs’ Cody Bellinger to IL with fractured ribs; Pete Crow-Armstrong recalled

Elections

Arizona indicts 18 in case over 2020 election in Arizona, including Giuliani and Meadows

Bears

Caleb Williams a fan of the Bears' proposed dome

Bears

A chance to wipe out 75 years of Bears quarterback futility with one simple announcement

Entertainment and Culture

MAMMA-MIA-2.jpeg. Christine Sherrill (Donna Sheridan), and the Company of MAMMA MIA! 25th Anniversary Tour
Photo by Joan Marcus

Things To Do

Things to Do in Chicago April 25-May 1: The Mix

‘Mamma Mia!’ at the Nederlander Theatre, the spring One of a Kind Show at the Mart, and the Joffrey Ballet’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” are among some of the entertainment highlights in the week ahead.

By Mary Houlihan - For the Sun-Times

Music

After years of delays, Lee's Unleaded Blues reopening and vowing to celebrate musicmakers and the community

Celebrities

Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi is 'tickled pink' to inspire a Barbie doll

Movies and TV

'Challengers' as sexy as a tennis movie can be

Movies and TV

'Downtown Owl': '80s period piece doesn't know what it wants to be

All latest stories

A TikTok content creator, sits outside the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Washington as Senators prepare to consider legislation that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers.

Technology

What a TikTok ban in the US could mean for you

It would be at least a year before a ban goes into effect — but with likely court challenges, this could stretch even longer, perhaps years.

By Associated Press

College Sports

Heisman Trust returns trophy to USC's Reggie Bush

The Trust said in its statement that its decision followed a “deliberative process” in which it closely monitored changes in the college athletics landscape.

By Associated Press

Bears

Bears give assistant GM Ian Cunningham a contract extension

Cunningham has worked for the Bears since 2022.

By Patrick Finley

Outdoors

First woman chairs Chicago fishing advisory committee

Stacey Greene-Fenlon became the first woman and first person not connected to Chicago government to chair the Chicago fishing advisory committee on Thursday.

By Dale Bowman

Drinks That Do More. A can of Celsius, a fitness drink that is supposed to accelerate metabolism and burn body fat, is shown on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in New York. The frenzy of functional beverages – drinks designed to do more than just taste good or hydrate - has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Eat Well

With 'functional' beverages, brands rush to quench a thirst for drinks that do more than just taste good

Nutritionists say the general trend of consumers seeking out healthier beverages is a good one. But experts also say people should be cautious and read ingredient labels.

By Associated Press

Quarterback Caleb Williams, wearing a T-shirt with SC and 13 printed on it, raises his arm, football in hand, preparing to throw.

Other Views

NFL draft day: How teams legally collude to restrict draftees' rights and choices

Sports leagues benefit from two technical points that allow collusion.

By Eldon Ham

Dear Abby

Dear Abby: Couple’s noisy canoodling bugs the neighbors

Funny at first, the racket during their many intimate moments now disturbs people and keeps them up at night.

By Abigail Van Buren

Stephen Mitchell wears a dark blue zip-up sweater and red ballcap as he stands in a meeting room with several white tables.

Education

CPS selective, magnet schools appear to take hit under new equity funding formula

Local school councils at several specialty elementary schools in Chicago say they’re facing budget cuts — a claim backed by a WBEZ/Sun-Times analysis.

By Sarah Karp | WBEZ and Nader Issa

Environment

Cicadas' mass arrival is just a few weeks away in northern Illinois, experts say

People have spotted nymphs of the 17-year cicadas on the ground. That’s a sign the periodical cicadas are preparing to emerge. They should appear once the soil reaches 64 degrees, which is expected by late May.

By Kade Heather

Bowl of sauerkraut in close up on wooden table

Eat Well

Sauerkraut has plenty to offer, from tangy flavor to some health benefits

Although sauerkraut is perhaps the best-known national dish of Germany, and has been a staple of the German diet since the 1600s, it didn’t originate in Germany.

By Environmental Nutrition

Horoscopes

Horoscope for Wednesday, April 24, 2024

By Georgia Nicols

White Sox

White Sox blow three-run lead to Twins, find another way to lose

It was the fifth loss in a row and 11th in the last 12 games for the Sox, who plummeted to 3-20.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

Bears

Bears’ second selection in NFL Draft is where the mystery starts

By pure circumstance, USC quarterback Caleb Williams was on the same flight to Detroit on Tuesday as Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. Time will tell whether they’re on the same flight out of Detroit — and to Chicago — on Friday morning.

By Patrick Finley

White Sox

Ken 'Hawk' Harrelson on White Sox: 'It's been ugly, and I feel bad for our fans'

Harrelson says he feels bad for chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, too.

By Daryl Van Schouwen

Cubs

Jordan Wicks pitches 'wonderful game,' makes key adjustment as Cubs beat Astros

The Cubs also provided an update on outfielder Cody Bellinger’s midgame injury.

By Maddie Lee

Chicago Sky and WNBA

Kamilla Cardoso is looking forward to her WNBA transition with Sky

There are 13 former Gamecocks on WNBA training-camp rosters. The only program with more is UConn, which has 18 players on training-camp rosters.

By Annie Costabile

Cubs

Former Cub Don Kessinger watching with pride as grandson Grae arrives with Astros at Wrigley Field

“We’re kind of living through Grae right now,” Kessinger told the Sun-Times. “I’m more excited and nervous watching him play than I was when I broke in.”

By Steve Greenberg

Crime

Man shot, killed in South Shore

The 59-year-old was found about 7 p.m. in the 6700 block of South Chappel Avenue with a gunshot wound to his abdomen, police said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Crime

Man shot dead at Schiller Park bar

Jonathan Vallejo, 38, of River Grove, suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the Friday shooting and was pronounced dead at Lutheran General Hospital, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

By Sun-Times Wire

Money

Oberweis Dairy has two potential buyers following Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Brian Boomsma of Dutch Farms in Pullman made an offer to buy Oberweis Dairy while Hoffmann Family of Cos. in Winnetka also expressed an interest to purchase the company.

By Amy Yee

Bulls

Bulls guard Coby White finishes second in Most Improved Player voting

Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey jumped into the national spotlight this season, becoming an All-Star, leading the 76ers to the playoffs and edging out White for the league award.

By Joe Cowley

Crime

Services set for Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca as off-duty killing ruled line-of-duty death

Funeral services for Huesca will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church at 7740 S. Western Ave. in Chicago, according to the Fraternal Order of Police.

By Tom Schuba

Back in 2020, the Castaways Bar and Grill located on North Avenue Beach was one of the few restaurants to reopen amid the COVID-19 shutdown.

Food and Restaurants

Castaways Beach Club, formerly Castaways Bar & Grill, closed for renovations last summer. A refresh features an updated menu and renovations costing more than $3 million.

By Jessica Ma

Cubs

Cubs put struggling right-hander Kyle Hendricks on IL with back strain amid flurry of roster moves

The Cubs also put left-hander Drew Smyly on the IL, DFA’d Garrett Cooper and recalled Hayden Wesneski, Matt Mervis and Luke Little from Triple-A Iowa.

By Maddie Lee

Editorials

Time for a leadership change at CTA: Show Dorval Carter the exit door

CTA President Carter has held the job since 2015 and has served under three mayors. It’s time for a new captain who can right CTA’s ship and restore public confidence in public transit’s future.

By CST Editorial Board

Crime

39-year-old slain in Oak Forest shooting remembered as 'loving father' who'd 'help anyone in need'

Three others, including a 12-year-old girl, were wounded in the shooting, Oak Forest police said.

By Mohammad Samra

Bears

NFL Draft is final piece of Bears GM Ryan Poles' rebuild

Poles has the Nos. 1 and 9 picks, and then it’s time to test the sturdiness of his construction.

By Jason Lieser

Bears

Justin Fields trade 'tough' for ex-Bears teammates, who think he'll do well with Steelers

The Bears weren’t blindsided by the trade of Justin Fields to the Steelers last month. But that didn’t make it any easier.

By Patrick Finley

USC quarterback Caleb Williams grips a football as he looks on from the sidelines during a game against UCLA on Nov. 18, 2023.

Halas Intrigue

Halas Intrigue podcast: It's almost time for Caleb Williams

All indications are the Bears are taking the USC quarterback with the first pick, but we’ll still have to wait until the NFL Draft to make it official.

By Sun-Times staff

Bears

Caleb Williams to the Bears is only a matter of time

Though Bears GM Ryan Poles has played it coy, selecting the USC quarterback has gone from presumed to inevitable. “I feel really good about our process and where we’re headed,” Poles said. “We know what we’re going to do.”

By Mark Potash

Crime

Vandals smash Palestine flag window display at Women & Children First bookstore

A window of the Andersonville feminist bookstore displaying a Palestine flag and a sign calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war was shattered early Wednesday. Police are investigating.

By Kade Heather

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (center), Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch (left) and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (right) discuss the budget agreement Wednesday afternoon.

Bears

No love for new Bears stadium from Illinois' top Democrats

Gov. J.B. Pritzker brushed aside the latest proposal, which includes more than $2 billion in private funds but still requires taxpayer subsidies, saying it “isn’t one that I think the taxpayers are interested in getting engaged in.”

By Tina Sfondeles

Crime

Orland Park man held in custody in connection with fatal Oak Forest shooting

Omar Zegar, 37, was arrested after the shooting Sunday and was charged with a felony count of aggravated unlawful use of weapon with a revoked firearm owners ID card, Oak Forest police said.

By Mohammad Samra

Dexter Reed’s mother Nicole Banks attends a news conference outside the 11th District police station in East Garfield Park, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, where her attorney announced a lawsuit that they filed against the City of Chicago and the five officers allegedly involved in the traffic stop that led to the shooting of Reed in March. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Dexter Reed Shooting

Family of Dexter Reed files federal civil rights lawsuit over his killing by Chicago police

The lawsuit accuses Chicago police of promoting “brutally violent, militarized policing tactics,” and argues that the five officers who stopped Reed “created an environment that directly resulted in his death.”

By Mary Norkol, Andy Grimm, and 1 more

Guests take part in a learning lab held by the Arts & Business Council of Chicago.

Entertainment and Culture

Two Chicago nonprofits serving the arts unite, form one organization

Lawyers for the Creative Arts and the Arts & Business Council of Chicago said they will combine to better serve Illinois arts organizations.

By Amy Yee

Columnists

Trump's immunity claim has alarming implications

The Supreme Court will hear arguments involving the federal case charging Donald Trump with illegally trying to remain in office after he lost the 2020 presidential election.

By Jacob Sullum

Crime

Four Corner Hustler chief's conviction threatened by revelation from feds

The judge presiding over the case of Labar “Bro Man” Spann said prosecutors made an “extraordinary” disclosure about a sentencing promise made by one of their former colleagues.

By Jon Seidel

Roscoe Village

Chicago rat hole in Roscoe Village removed by city

The Chicago rat hole in Roscoe Village became a viral phenomenon in January. Officials say the concrete slab was preserved, and its destination is being decided.

By Jessica Ma

Columnists

Why Republicans are actually relieved Trump is on trial

Most Americans say Republican efforts to limit abortion access go too far, so it’s easier for GOP leaders to blast the Trump trials as political “witch hunts” than to defend their unpopular policies.

By S. E. Cupp

Letters to the Editor

'Illiteracy epidemic' exists in CPS, but don't dismiss progress

There’s clearly more to do to improve reading among lower-income students of color. But over the last two decades, no other large city in the nation has made as much progress, as quickly, as Chicago.

By Letters to the Editor