Chicago Sun-Times Metro News

CTA and I-Go to launch joint smart car

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Starting at the end of the year, people who sign up for the I-GO car sharing program can use the same card they�d use to open the car to ride the CTA. 'This smart card will make it even easier to make the transition from one mode of transportation to another,' CTA President Ron Huberman said.

Daley plans to eliminate 240 city jobs

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Mayor Daley said Friday he will consolidate city departments that handle consumer issues, human services, economic development and business affairs to tighten the bureaucratic belt during Chicago�s worst budget crisis in a generation. The consolidations will save $5 million.

CTA board member: I'd vote against increase

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

New CTA board member Sheila Nix said if the vote on a proposed fare increase were held today, she'd go against it. "At first glance, yes, I think I would vote against it," said Nix, a former deputy governor under Governor Blagojevich. Blagojevich, a critic of the CTA's management, recently placed Nix on the transit agency board.

Student attacked: I was victim of hate crime last week

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A student who says she was attacked by a masked gunman at Elmhurst College Thursday night was the target of anti-Muslim graffiti a week ago, authorities say.

Parents: Girl made up Palos Heights rape story

BY KIM JANSSEN SouthtownStar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

The parents of a 17-year-old Palos Heights girl who claimed she was abducted and raped last month released a statement today saying their daughter made up the whole story. The girl, a Stagg High School senior, sparked a widespread manhunt Sept. 17 when she claimed she had been kidnapped from T.J. Grinders sandwich shop, 12250 S. Harlem Ave., and sexually assaulted.

Woman found dead in park was strangled

FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A Southwest Side woman found unclothed with a belt around her neck near a Marquette Park lagoon Thursday morning was strangled, authorities said.

Sports fans and concergoers to pay more to park cars at events

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Chicago sports fans, movie mavens, concertgoers and theater patrons will pay more to attend live events--and so will those who park their cars in garages and surface lots--under a $25 million revenue package tied to Mayor Daley's 2009 budget.

Bus shooting suspect denied bail

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

No fewer than seven CTA cameras caught the mayhem.

Ill. Senate candidates face off

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Republican challenger Steve Sauerberg accused incumbent U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of endangering troops in Iraq by criticizing the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, prompting an outraged response from Durbin as the two debated Thursday night.

Woman arrested after false report of rape at Wal-Mart

FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A northwest suburban woman who reported being raped in a Wal-Mart washroom on Sunday ended up behind bars herself when the actual story proved a little different.

Woman found slain in Little Village garage

FROM SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP WIRE REPORTS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A mother found her 25-year-old daughter shot to death in a garage outside her Little Village home on the Southwest Side on Friday morning.

West Loop eatery closed for rat infestation

FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A West Loop restaurant and bar remains closed Friday morning after being shut down by city health inspectors for a rat infestation and other health code violations. It marked the third time this year that a Bar Louie restaurant in the city has been shut down.

Only 2% of accused cops face discipline

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Discipline was recommended in only about 2 percent of the misconduct investigations closed over the past year by the Independent Police Review Authority, according to a report released Thursday. But in 40 percent of those 2,160 cases, people failed to sign affidavits and those investigations went nowhere, the report added.

Millions expected to watch Chicago Marathon

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Chicagoans have a choice Sunday: either join the 1.5 million people expected to watch the Chicago Marathon -- or try to avoid it altogether. But it won't be easy, as 45,000 runners will clog up the 26.2 mile race course and more streets for a good part of the day. Meanwhile, those running in the race should take precautions, experts said, especially with forecast temperatures in the high 70s.

Man charged in fatal CTA bus shooting

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A South Side man was charged Thursday with the shooting death of a high school student aboard a CTA bus -- one day after he surrendered at a South Side church, authorities said.

Fire on Chicago River shuts down bridge

FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Support structures jutting out of the Downtown branch of the Chicago River caught fire early Friday, causing massive smoke and forcing police to shutdown a major bridge.

Lincoln Park High brawl leaves boy hurt

FROM STNG WIRE REPORTS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A boy was punched in the mouth during a fight outside a North Side high school in the Lincoln Park neighborhood Friday morning.

Medicaid covers breast cancer gene test

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Women enrolled in the state's Medicaid program can receive insurance coverage for tests to see if they carry genetic mutations linked to breast and ovarian cancer, state officials said Thursday.

Cell phone law may be softened

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Chicago motorists who get caught talking on cell phones while driving without a hands-free device would no longer lose their driver's licenses, under a mayoral plan that would have spared a North Side alderman political embarrassment.

Woman found in park likely slain: cops

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

The body of a woman was found in a Southwest Side park Thursday morning, and Chicago Police detectives said they think she was the victim of a homicide.

Suit: Sheriff must obey eviction orders

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A mortgage lender wants a Cook County judge to force Sheriff Tom Dart to get back to the business of evicting people from foreclosed homes. On Wednesday, Dart announced his eviction moratorium, saying he's willing to face contempt-of-court charges for not following court eviction orders.

ComEd: No favoritism toward O'Hare official

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

ComEd has concluded that clout and favoritism played no role in the company's decision to deliver a generator to the home of Chicago's No. 2 man at O'Hare Airport to restore power during a violent August storm.

Debate viewers win big at Bingo

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Hundreds of people played the Chicago Sun-Times' Presidential Debate Bingo during Tuesday night's sparring between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain.

CTA proposes fare hike

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Most CTA users would have to dig deeper to use the city�s transit system, with agency officials announcing a proposed increase today. The increase would raise fares by as much as 50 cents a ride on the rail system and eliminate the 10 percent bonus on Chicago Cards.

Alderman: I've had enough valet gripes

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) is fed up with valet parking companies that damage cars, park illegally, gobble up on-street spaces and tie up downtown traffic. Reilly wants to require valet companies serving Chicago restaurants, bars and hotels to provide enough off-street spaces to serve 25 percent of the establishment's seating capacity. The current requirement is 10 percent.

State trooper injured in crash

FROM SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP WIRE REPORTS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

An Illinois State Police officer was injured late Thursday in a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway on the South Side.

Man from Oak Park detained in Syria

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

DAMASCUS, Syria---- Two American journalists whose disappearance prompted a U.S. Embassy alert and a wide search turned up in Syrian custody Thursday after being detained while trying to sneak into the country with smugglers, Syrian officials said.

Ex-altar boy describes massaging 'holy priest'

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Each morning and each night, a 17-year-old boy who worked as a personal assistant for a world-renowned priest said he had to follow a certain routine. The boy brought out balms and baby oil, and, as the Rev. Donald McGuire lay naked, he massaged him, the former altar boy testified Thursday in federal court.

Man fatally shot on West Side: police

FROM SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP WIRE REPORTS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A man was fatally shot early Friday in the West Side�s Austin neighborhood.

Chase ends when suspect runs out of gas

FROM SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP WIRE REPORTS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A police-chase that started in west suburb early Friday ended on the Eisenhower Expressway after the suspect's vehicle ran out of gas.

Survivor of Minn. bridge collapse gets 7 years

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

SHELL LAKE, Wis. � A survivor of the Twin Cities bridge collapse that killed 13 people has been sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison on charges of injuring his fiancee�s daughter.

Another 'official' car parked in handicapped spot

By KIM JANSSEN, Staff Writer — Thu, 9 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

First a Cook County sheriff's officer was nabbed parking his squad car illegally in a disabled parking spot.

Daley vows to fire garbage crew slackers

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Mayor Daley on Thursday branded rampant loafing by city garbage crews as "criminal activity" and vowed to "take the necessary steps to fire" the slackers. "No one should be sleeping, loafing, drinking, quitting early or anything else. This deals with criminal activity. This deals with cheating. This is not overall management. Leaving early, drinking. This is really kind of criminal activity," Daley said.

Surveillance investigation finds garbage crews paid to 'do nothing' | Read the full city report | Tell us what you think

Benefactor to many now needs a bone-marrow donor

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

When Jon Simon's 20-year-old son, David, was killed by an errant driver while standing outside O'Hare Airport 15 years ago, Simon and his family set up a scholarship fund to help other students and got to work improving traffic safety at Chicago's airports. The fund has helped 75 students at Bradley University -- the Peoria college David attended -- by distributing tens of thousands of dollars, and the airport work has led to safety improvements.

Minister pleads guilty to bigamy

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

INDIANAPOLIS � A minister at an Indianapolis church has pleaded guilty to bigamy.

Man acquitted in 7-month-old daughter's death

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

A Bolingbrook man accused of beating to death his 7-month-old daughter hugged his attorneys and praised God after he was acquitted Thursday of murder charges.

Metro briefs

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00 CST

Two teenagers were ordered held in lieu of $1.5 million bonds Thursday in the beating death of 17-year-old Shawn Bowens over the weekend. Teron Griffin and Jakari Glass, both 17, and several others chased Bowens in the street and attacked him with sticks and pieces of concrete Sunday night, Assistant State's Attorney Susanne Groebner said. The group allegedly kicked and stomped Bowens when he fell to the ground.