Chicago Sun-Times: All posts by Sun-Times staff

Bears podcast: Journey to Believeland

2023-12-14T14:54:18.273-06:00

Browns defensive end Myles Garrett assists Bears quarterback Justin Fields after Fields was sacked during the teams’ 2021 game.

David Richard/AP

Patrick Finley and Jason Lieser break down the Bears’ chances against the Browns and what Sunday’s game means for Justin Fields and Matt Eberflus.

New episodes of “Halas Intrigue” will be published regularly with accompanying stories collected on the podcast’s hub page. You can also listen to “Halas Intrigue” wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Luminary, Spotify and Pandora.

At the Table with Lynn Sweet

2023-12-14T12:00:00-06:00

On the next episode of At the Table, former Rep. Liz Cheney, vice chair of the Jan. 6 Select Committee, joins Lynn Sweet.

Cheney discusses her new best seller, “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning,” the January 6 insurrection and the threats former President Donald Trump poses to our democracy.

Stream the show online starting December 21 at 6:30 p.m. CT.

RSVP now for a reminder and easy one-click link before the show airs!

At the Table with Lynn Sweet

December 21, 2023

RSVP

To watch previous episodes of At the Table, visit suntimes.com/atvt.

Death of man, 78, over summer on West Side ruled homicide: officials

2023-12-12T08:04:11.822-06:00

Adobe Stock Photo

Officials this week now suspect foul play in the death of a 78-year-old man who was assaulted on the West Side several months ago.

Charles Micenhamer died of blunt force injuries of the head from an assault and his Aug. 1 death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Police said they found Micenhamer lying face down in the 3900 block of West Madison Street on July 16, suffering from massive head injuries.

Micenhamer, of the 200 block of South Sacramento Boulevard, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and then transferred to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 1, the medical examiner’s office.

No arrests have been reported.

Cody Bellinger latest subject of Toronto social-media rumors

2023-12-11T16:11:49.749-06:00

Social media gossip mongers have moved on from Shohei Ohtoni to Cody Bellinger.

Frank Franklin II/AP

Goodbye Shohei Ohtani. Hello Cody Bellinger?

The Toronto Blue Jays lost out on getting the top free agent of the offseason when Ohtani agreed to a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers.

But could they be getting closer to a deal with Cody Bellinger? Model Chase Carter, Bellinger’s fiancee, posted an Instagram story featuring the Toronto skyline.

Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP with the Dodgers, hit a career-high .307 with 26 home runs, 97 RBIs and a .881 OPS in 2023 with the Cubs. He also won a Silver Slugger.

‘‘Cody did have a great experience in Chicago,’’ Bellinger’s agent, Scott Boras, said at the general managers meetings. ‘‘ . . . But where Cody can play and play well — he feels he can play well anywhere.’’

Twitter, er, we mean X, went all aflutter last weekend with rumors that Ohtani was seen on a plane to Toronto, prompting speculation that he was about to sign with the Blue Jays. That obviously turned out to be false.

So what about Carter’s Toronto post? Maybe it’s a hint about Bellinger’s plans. Or maybe it was a reference to the Toronto Fashion Expo, which is being held this week.

Halas Intrigue Bears podcast: Finally, a win streak!

2023-12-10T20:09:32.141-06:00

Bears defensive end Montez Sweat reacts after a play during the second half of Sunday’s game against the Lions.

Erin Hooley/AP

Patrick Finley and Jason Lieser break down Justin Fields’ performance and a dominant defense in the Bears’ 28-13 win against the Lions.

Picture Chicago: 15 photos from this week in news

2023-12-08T12:28:26.19-06:00

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw offloads 1,200 Christmas trees for families in need during the annual “Christmas Ship” event at Navy Pier, Saturday, Dec. 2.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Betty Boop, played by Jasmine Amy Rogers, is helped down the stairs by Dwayne, played by Ainsley Anthony Melham, during the curtain call of the musical’s opening night at the CIBC Theatre, Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Betty Boop, played by Jasmine Amy Rogers, and Dwayne, played by Ainsley Anthony Melham, begin to tear up on stage during the curtain call of the musical’s opening night at the CIBC Theatre, Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Jeremiah Watson stands for a photo near the Citgo gas station at East 76th Street and South South Chicago Avenue on the South Side, Tuesday, Dec. 5. Watson was a victim of a robbery as he walked to the Citgo in October, which is part of a larger overall increase in robberies throughout the city.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

A member of the Chicago Fire Department stands in front of a house that caught fire in the 1200 block of South Kedvale Avenue in Lawndale, Wednesday, Dec. 6. Dessie Street escaped the fire in critical condition, while her nephew Carlos Street died in the fire, authorities said. Two police officers were also injured when the porch collapsed.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

April Grant, whose sister’s godmother is Dessie Street, speaks to a reporter after Street’s house caught fire in the 1200 block of South Kedvale Avenue in Lawndale early Wednesday, Dec. 6. Street escaped the fire in critical condition, while her nephew Carlos Street died in the fire, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Two police officers were also injured when the porch collapsed.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Members of the Chicago Fire Department peer into a house that caught fire in the 1200 block of South Kedvale Avenue in the Lawndale neighborhood, Wednesday, Dec. 6. Dessie Street escaped the fire in critical condition, while her son Carlos Street died in the fire, authorities said. Two police officers were also injured when the porch collapsed.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Paul Lademthim, a manager at Barry-Regent Cleaners in Lake View who has been with the company for about 40 years, looks for a customer’s clothing, Monday, Dec. 4.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Volunteers dance to a DJ playing music as they prepare to decorate homes for Christmas during the annual My Block, My Hood, My City event Be A Part of the Light on South King Drive near East 83rd Street on the South Side, Saturday, Dec. 2.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Eileen O’Neill Burke, a retired Illinois Appellate Court judge and a former Cook County assistant state’s attorney, files nominating petitions with the Cook County Clerk’s office to run for Cook County State’s Attorney in the March 19 primary election, Monday, Dec. 4.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Former Chicago Ald. Bob Fioretti files his petitions to run for the Republican nomination for Cook County State’s Attorney at the Cook County Administration building in the Loop, Dec. 4.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Jack Murray’s mother Donna Murray (center) breaks down in tears as attorney Antonio Romanucci speaks during a news conference at his River North office about the fatal police shooting of her 24-year-old son in Elk Grove Village, Monday, Dec. 4.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

An inbound lane is closed on the I-90 Kennedy Expressway near Milwaukee Avenue, Thursday, Dec. 7. The lanes are scheduled to fully reopen by Tuesday.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Craig MacClugage, a machinery technician, dresses up as Santa Claus and helps the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw offload 1,200 Christmas trees for families in need during the annual “Christmas Ship” event at Navy Pier, Saturday, Dec. 2.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw offloads 1,200 Christmas trees for families in need during the annual “Christmas Ship” event at Navy Pier, Saturday, Dec. 2.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Bears Halas Intrigue podcast: Rematch vs. the Lions

2023-12-07T14:29:14.854-06:00

Bears quarterback Justin Fields is pushed out of bounds by Alex Anzalone of the Lions during last month’s game in Detroit.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Patrick Finley and Jason Lieser break down the Bears’ rematch against the Lions on Sunday and analyze what Justin Fields said about his future.

Motorist who struck, killed man in Oak Lawn to serve community service, pay fine

2023-12-06T22:14:07.533-06:00

Murod Kurdi

Provided

A driver who struck and killed a man in front of his Oak Lawn home in June will have to pay a fine for speeding and serve community service, despite demands from the man’s family for harsher punishment.

On Tuesday, Leanne Cusack was found guilty of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, according to Cook County court records. She was given 30 hours of community service and ordered to pay a fine of $750.

But the family of Murod Kurdi had been pushing for felony charges to be filed against Cusack, questioning why police released Cusack when it was clear at the scene that Kurdi had been gravely hurt. Kurdi died after several days on life support.

Kurdi, 28, had parked in front of his house in the 5100 block of West 91st Street the evening of June 5, when he was struck by a passing car and thrown 15 feet.

The driver, Leanne Cusack, allegedly told police at the scene that she had been drinking before the crash, but she refused a Breathalyzer test and was sent home with a ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, according to police reports.

Cusack fought the ticket, which is why she appeared in court this week.

Bob Olson, Cusack’s lawyer, told the Sun-Times in August that one officer noted a “faint” smell of alcohol on Cusack’s breath, but police reports indicate she did not appear impaired, Olson said.

“The police did a really good job,” Olson said, pointing out that Cusack stopped and returned to the scene almost immediately. According to the reports, Cusack told police that she felt a “bump” but wasn’t aware that she’d struck Kurdi. She stopped when she saw bystanders running into the street to help him.

“There were no indicators she was impaired, and they didn’t think she was under the influence,” Olson said. Olson said that Cusack has received death threats and was still “very upset.”

“She feels terrible about the accident,” he said. “But it was an accident.”

Kurdi’s family has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Cusack and asked the state attorney general’s office to look into the actions of the police department.

Contributing: Andy Grimm

Mag Mile Neiman Marcus smash-and-grab attempt may be linked to other robberies, police say

2023-12-04T21:04:11.729-06:00

A group crashed a Nissan into Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave., early Monday morning, police said.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Would-be thieves tried to crash their way into the Neiman Marcus department store early Monday along the Magnificent Mile.

The incident happened about 4:30 a.m. at the high-end retail store, 737 N. Michigan Ave., but the group, inside a Nissan sedan, were not able to get inside, Chicago police said.

The thieves ditched the Nissan, jumped into three other vehicles and sped away east on Chicago Avenue without taking any merchandise. No injuries were reported, and no arrests have been made, police said.

In a business alert sent out Monday night, police noted the early morning robbery resembled eight others that occurred across seven neighborhoods — River North, Near West Side, Gold Coast, Near South Side, Noble Square, Wicker Park and Garfield Park — between Oct. 24 and Oct. 31.

Police said that in each instance, the robbers rammed storefronts with a vehicle before jumping out to grab merchandise and then running back to vehicles waiting nearby.

Man, 21, slain in Little Village: CPD

2023-12-04T06:49:35.402-06:00

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of man in the Little Village neighborhood early Monday.

Emner Garcia, 21, was walking on the sidewalk in the 2800 block of South Drake Avenue when someone shot him in abdomen and leg about 3:30 a.m., Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

He was found by police lying on the ground, unresponsive and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

No one is in custody and Area 4 detectives are investigating.