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Chicago, IL

‘I Did It For Gaza’: Gunman Flew In, Killed Israeli Couple Outside DC Jewish Museum: Court Docs ‘I Did It For Gaza’: Gunman Flew In, Killed Israeli Couple Outside DC Jewish Museum: Court Docs
‘I Did It For Gaza’: Gunman Flew In, Killed Israeli Couple Outside DC Jewish Museum: Court Docs He flew in from Chicago with a gun, bought a ticket to a Jewish diplomatic event, waited outside, then opened fire. Moments later, he told police: “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.” Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Illinois, is now facing multiple federal charges, including the murder of foreign officials, after he allegedly carried out a deadly ambush near the entrance of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 21, federal officials announced. The attack happened just after 9:00 p.m., outside a ticketed event hosted by the American Jewish Committee that was designed…
George Wendt, Who Played Norm On Cheers, Dies George Wendt, Who Played Norm On Cheers, Dies
George Wendt, Who Played Norm On Cheers, Dies Actor and comedian George Wendt who played the beer-loving character Norm Peterson on NBC's iconic Cheers sitcom has died. He was 76. A cause of death has not been released. Wendt was nominated six times for Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series during Cheers' 11-year run from 1982 to 1993. He also appeared in a slew of movies, including The Little Rascals (1994), Sandy Wexler (2017), No Small Affair (1984), Fletch (1985), Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), and Outside Providence (1999). He was an alumnus of The Second City improv comed…
First US-Born Pope Vows Unity At Historic Inauguration In Rome First US-Born Pope Vows Unity At Historic Inauguration In Rome
First Us-born Pope Vows Unity At Historic Inauguration In Rome In a historic celebration, Pope Leo XIV, the first United States-born pontiff in the nearly 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, made a pledge to work for unity during his inauguration mass on Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter's Square in Rome. Addressing a crowd of over 200,000, including many world leaders, he expressed gratitude for the support he has received as he steps into his new role after Pope Francis died at age 88 on Easter Monday, April 21. “Following the death of Pope Francis, we felt like sheep without a shepherd," Pope Leo said. "Yet, having received his final blessing on E…
Memorial Day Travel Expected To Break 20-Year Record Memorial Day Travel Expected To Break 20-Year Record
Memorial Day Travel Expected To Break 20-Year Record More Americans are planning trips for Memorial Day weekend, with a new forecast suggesting this year could set a new benchmark for holiday travel. AAA projects more than 45 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the five-day holiday stretch, making it the busiest Memorial Day weekend for domestic travel since 2005. That year, 44 million people took trips. This year’s forecast includes an estimated 39.4 million people expected to hit the road. Driving remains the preferred travel method for Memorial Day, with roughly 87 percent choosing to travel by car.  Lower-t…
Holy Curveball: Orioles Fan Scores Signed Baseball From Pope Leo XIV After Curious Question Holy Curveball: Orioles Fan Scores Signed Baseball From Pope Leo XIV After Curious Question
Holy Curveball: Orioles Fan Scores Signed Baseball From Pope Leo XIV After Curious Question A Baltimore Orioles fan from Colorado was gifted a precious signed baseball by the new American pope—but not before being subjected to a slightly awkward question. Pope Leo XIV, a known baseball fan who was at a World Series game in 2005 sporting White Sox gear, offered up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an avid collector, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Well, would you look at that... Congratulations to Chicago's own Pope Leo XIV pic.twitter.com/U5DJ7TOyDr — Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 8, 2025 Jason Perash, who visited the Vatican this week with the intention of ge…
'Never Again War!': Pope Leo XIV Issues Powerful Plea In Historic First Address 'Never Again War!': Pope Leo XIV Issues Powerful Plea In Historic First Address
'Never Again War!': Pope Leo XIV Issues Powerful Plea In Historic First Address In his first Sunday address as head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV urged world leaders to end all global conflicts, describing them as a “third world war in pieces.” Speaking to tens of thousands outside St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, May 11, the first U.S.-born pope delivered his message in fluent Italian, calling for an end to violence and a renewed global effort of care. It echoed remarks made by his predecessor before his death last month.  “Let us take up the invitation that Pope Francis left us in his message for today: the invitation to welcome and accompany young people,…
Habemus Bobble: Pope Leo XIV Depicted In Bobbleheads — Here's How To Get One Habemus Bobble: Pope Leo XIV Depicted In Bobbleheads — Here's How To Get One
Habemus Bobble: Pope Leo XIV Depicted In Bobbleheads — Here's How To Get One Pope Leo XIV is being honored with a couple of special collectibles. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum released two limited-edition bobbleheads of the new pope on Friday, May 9. The 267th pope of the Catholic Church was elected on the conclave's fourth ballot on Thursday, May 8. The pontiff, born Robert Francis Prevost, is the first US-born pope and the first one from North America. His Argentinian predecessor, Pope Francis, was the first pope from the Americas. The Chicago native's historic moment emerging on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica has been captur…
Leo XIV Celebrates First Mass As Pope: Hear His Message To Catholics Leo XIV Celebrates First Mass As Pope: Hear His Message To Catholics
Leo XIV Celebrates First Mass As Pope: Hear His Message To Catholics Pope Leo XIV had a simple message during the first Mass of his papacy: life lacks meaning where faith is lacking. The Chicago native, born Robert Francis Prevost, celebrated Mass at the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on Friday, May 9. It was the 69-year-old's first service as head of the Catholic Church, leading about 1.4 billion followers worldwide. Leo XIV is the church's 267th pope, the first born in the US, and the first North American pontiff. His predecessor, Pope Francis, was the first pope from the Americas, hailing from Argentina. Briefly speaking in English during his homily,…
New Pope Blasted Trump, Vance On X Before Election — And Now He’s In The Vatican New Pope Blasted Trump, Vance On X Before Election — And Now He’s In The Vatican
New Pope Blasted Trump, Vance On X Before Election — And Now He’s In The Vatican President Trump welcomed the new pope — though Pope Leo XIV hasn’t always welcomed him. As recently as three weeks ago, Pope Leo XIV — formerly known as Chicago's Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69 — shared articles and news on social media critical of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and some of the administration's hard-line stances. Tweets condemning Trump date back to 2015, when he shared a story from the Washington Post about Trump's "anti-immigrant rhetoric."  In February, Prevost slammed Vance, stating that "Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others," with a …
From Math Class To The Vatican: Villanova Alum Named First American Pope From Math Class To The Vatican: Villanova Alum Named First American Pope
From Math Class To The Vatican: Villanova Alum Named First American Pope The Catholic Church made history on Thursday, May 8, naming its first American pope — and he’s a math whiz from Villanova. White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:06 p.m. Rome time, signaling the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, of Chicago, as the 267th pope in the Church’s 2,000-year history. He has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. At 6:06 p.m. Rome time, Thursday, May 8, white smoke emanated from the Sistine Chapel's chimney Vatican News The conclave began just a day earlier on Wednesday, May 7, and concluded in either the fourth or fifth round of vo…
REAL ID ‘Deadline’ Not So Real? TSA Still Allowing Some To Fly Without It REAL ID ‘Deadline’ Not So Real? TSA Still Allowing Some To Fly Without It
Real ID ‘Deadline’ Not So Real? TSA Still Allowing Some To Fly Without It The federal REAL ID deadline is officially here — but travelers say enforcement may not be as strict as advertised. Beginning Wednesday, May 7, TSA started enforcing the long-postponed REAL ID Act, which requires a REAL ID-compliant license or federally approved ID to board domestic flights. But social media users and TSA say passengers without one are still being allowed to fly — after undergoing extra screening. If you have a non-compliant state ID or driver’s license and do not have another acceptable form of ID, you'll be notified of your noncompliance (see photo below), and you may …
Woman Strips Naked, Defecates On Seat Aboard Southwest Flight Woman Strips Naked, Defecates On Seat Aboard Southwest Flight
Woman Strips Naked, Defecates On Seat Aboard Southwest Flight Chicago’s Midway Airport was the scene of an unusual incident involving a female passenger aboard a Southwest Airlines flight traveling from Philadelphia to Chicago.  Reports indicate that the woman allegedly disrobed and then defecated on her seat during the flight on Saturday, April 26.  After the plane landed, it was met by law enforcement, NBC Chicago reports, adding that the aircraft was then taken out of service for thorough cleaning.  In response to the incident, Southwest Airlines issued a statement acknowledging the disruption, according to a report by NBC…
Kanye West Admits To Incestuous Relationship With Cousin Kanye West Admits To Incestuous Relationship With Cousin
Kanye West Admits To Incestuous Relationship With Cousin Kanye West claimed on X that he had an incestuous relationship with a male cousin until the age of 14.  The 47-year-old rapper made the admission Monday, April 21, to his 33 million followers on the social media platform. He was teasing his forthcoming song called "Cousins." He said the sexual contact began after he and his cousin would re-enact what they saw in adult magazines that belonged to his parents. The Chicago native said his cousin was 6 when it began, and West was 14 when the relationship ended. It's unclear how long it lasted.  Perhaps in my self centered me…
Helicopter Pilot In Deadly Hudson River Crash Was Navy SEAL Who Dreamed Of Flying: Reports Helicopter Pilot In Deadly Hudson River Crash Was Navy SEAL Who Dreamed Of Flying: Reports
Helicopter Pilot In Deadly Hudson River Crash Was Navy SEAL Who Dreamed Of Flying: Reports Just two weeks before a deadly helicopter crash over the Hudson River, Navy veteran Sean Johnson posted a video of himself flying past the Freedom Tower. “When it all comes together,” the 36-year-old wrote on Facebook on March 27, alongside the clip showing him piloting a Bell 206. On Thursday, April 10, that same type of helicopter went down in Hudson County, NJ, killing Johnson and the family of five on board: Siemens exec Agustin Escobar, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three children. Johnson was identified by his wife Kathryn, who spoke with Gothamist.  A cause of…
Bone Voyage: New Dog-Friendly Airline To Offer Flights At NY Airport Bone Voyage: New Dog-Friendly Airline To Offer Flights At NY Airport
Bone Voyage: New Dog-Friendly Airline To Offer Flights At NY Airport It'll soon be wheels – and paws – up for a new airline taking off from a Long Island airport. RetrievAir, a pet-centric airline built entirely around traveling with dogs, will begin service out of Republic Airport (FRG) in Farmingdale, the company said in a news release on Wednesday, Mar. 26. Flights will begin on Thursday, May 22. From the executive airport, RetrievAir will offer service to seven US cities with weekly departures. The cheapest flights go to West Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursdays for $749 one way. Other destinations from Farmingdale's airport include Chicago,…
Stonehill's Conference Foe Dropping Sports To D-III After Ending 34-Year March Madness Drought Stonehill's Conference Foe Dropping Sports To D-III After Ending 34-Year March Madness Drought
Stonehill's Conference Foe Dropping Sports To D-iii After Ending 34-Year March Madness Drought Just two weeks after the men's basketball team punched its first March Madness ticket in almost 35 years, Saint Francis University is making a historic move by dropping down to Division III. Saint Francis University will leave the NCAA's Division I and the Northeast Conference, the school announced on Tuesday, Mar. 25. The Red Flash will reclassify to Division III and compete in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. The shocking decision came one week after the Loretto, Pennsylvania, school played in its first NCAA men's tournament since 1991. The Red Flash lost to Alabama State 70-68 in the…
Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter Headlining Lollapalooza Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter Headlining Lollapalooza
Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter Headlining Lollapalooza This year's Lollapalooza comes with a shot of "Espresso." As long as you have your "Drivers License." Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter are among the headliners for the 2025 Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago, running from Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 3. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Olivia Rodrigo (@oliviarodrigo) Other headliners include Tyler the Creator, Gracie Abrams, Luke Combs and Korn. This is Rodrigo's first time playing the venerable music festival. The "Get Him Back" singer has been on her acclaim…
Close Call: Southwest Plane Nearly Collides With Private Jet Close Call: Southwest Plane Nearly Collides With Private Jet
Close Call: Southwest Plane Nearly Collides With Private Jet A Southwest Airlines plane and a private jet were involved in a near miss at Chicago Midway International Airport on Tuesday morning, Feb. 25.  The incident required the Southwest flight crew to execute a go-around to avert a potential collision.
 According to Southwest Airlines, Flight 2504 successfully landed at the airport after avoiding the other aircraft on the runway.  INCIDENT: Southwest #WN2504 (Boeing 737-800 N8517F) in near miss 1448UTC/0848CST today @ Chicago/Midway as FlexJet #LXJ560 (Challenger 350) crosses Runway 31C.ATC Audio (skip to 18min): https://t.co/e6OVal…
Dunkin' Drops This Controversial Charge Dunkin' Drops This Controversial Charge
Dunkin' Drops This Controversial Charge Dunkin’ customers will soon be able to add dairy alternatives to any beverage without paying an extra fee. The coffee giant previously charged an upcharge for almond and oat milk, with costs varying by location. In New York City, the additional fee was 75 cents, while in Chicago, customers ordering through the Dunkin’ app paid one dollar. The new policy, which takes effect Wednesday, March 5, comes in response to customer feedback and aims to provide more flexibility for those with dietary preferences. With over 13,200 locations worldwide, Dunkin’ ranks as the second-largest coffee chain g…
The Weeknd's Massive Summer Tour Coming To MA After 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Release The Weeknd's Massive Summer Tour Coming To MA After 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Release
The Weeknd's Massive Summer Tour Coming To MA After 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Release R&B and pop star The Weeknd has announced a massive summer tour that'll stop at several Northeast stadiums after releasing what may be the final album under his iconic persona. The Weeknd released the 2025 tour dates for the continuation of his After Hours til Dawn Tour. The announcement came just hours after the release of his album "Hurry Up Tomorrow" on Friday, Jan. 31. Like the new album, The Weeknd's tour completes a trilogy started by 2020's "After Hours" and 2022's "Dawn FM". The tour went across North America in 2022, along with Europe and Latin America in 2023. In the fall of …
Boston Gets 'Closer' To Nine Inch Nails: Rock Hall-Of-Famers To Perform At TD Garden Boston Gets 'Closer' To Nine Inch Nails: Rock Hall-Of-Famers To Perform At TD Garden
Boston Gets 'Closer' To Nine Inch Nails: Rock Hall-Of-Famers To Perform At TD Garden Nine Inch Nails are heading out on tour for the first time in three years, the rock band said. Nine Inch Nails have announced their long-awaited "Peel It Back Tour 2025", Live Nation said in a news release on Wednesday, Jan. 22. It's the first tour for the band led by singer and composer Trent Reznor since a 2022 tour across the U.S. and the United Kingdom. The group known for 90s alt-rock hits like "Closer" and "The Hand That Feeds" will play throughout Europe in June and July. The first U.S. show will be in Oakland, California, on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Nine Inch Nails will perform at&n…
Here's Where Boston Ranks Among 10 Worst Cities For Traffic In US Here's Where Boston Ranks Among 10 Worst Cities For Traffic In US
Here's Where Boston Ranks Among 10 Worst Cities For Traffic In US Traffic jams continue to plague urban centers across the United States, leading to lost time, increased costs, and frustration for millions of commuters.  The 2024 INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard sheds light on the cities most affected, providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by drivers. Here are the 10 cities with the worst traffic, according to INRIX: New York City – The Big Apple leads the nation, with drivers losing countless hours in traffic. Chicago – The Windy City ranks second, with congestion remaining a major issue. Los Angeles – LA’s infamous gridlock earns it…
Long-Range Forecast Reveals Separate Storm Chances Christmas Week Long-Range Forecast Reveals Separate Storm Chances Christmas Week
Long-Range Forecast Reveals Separate Storm Chances Christmas Week Dreaming of a White Christmas? You may get your wish. Long-range weather models indicate the chance for two separate storm systems during Christmas Week, occurring right before and after Wednesday, Dec. 25. The first system is anticipated on Monday, Dec. 23. With overnight low temperatures in the upper teens and low 20s, and daytime highs around the freezing mark, the precipitation is likely to fall as snow.   The second chance for a storm that week will occur on Thursday, Dec. 26, when high temperatures are expected to reach the upper 30s to low 40s, which could result in r…
Walgreens To Close 1,200 Stores Walgreens To Close 1,200 Stores
Walgreens To Close 1,200 Stores Walgreens plans to close about 1,200 stores over three years amid a decline in prescription drug payments and a rise in online competition. About 500 closures will come in 2025, the company announced in a statement released Tuesday morning, Oct. 15. Specific sites for store closures were not announced. Walgreens said its operating loss in fiscal 2024 was $14.1 billion, an increase of 104.5 percent compared to the year-ago period. Retail sales decreased 3.5 percent compared with the year-ago quarter, "reflecting a challenging retail environment and continued channel shift," Walgreens s…
Ethel Kennedy, Matriarch To America's Most Famous Political Family, Dies At 96 Ethel Kennedy, Matriarch To America's Most Famous Political Family, Dies At 96
Ethel Kennedy, Matriarch To America's Most Famous Political Family, Dies At 96 Ethel Kennedy, the matriarch of America's most famous political family, died Thursday, Oct. 10. She was 96.  Ethel Kennedy was wife to Robert "Bobby" Kennedy Sr., sister-in-law to President John F. Kennedy, and mother to 11 children, including former presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  She suffered a stroke at her home last week, her grandson, former Rep. Joe Kennedy said on X, formerly Twitter.  It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our amazing grandmother, Ethel Kennedy. She died this morning from complications related to a stroke su…
Harris Taps Gov. Tim Walz As Running Mate As Swing State Tour Starts Ahead Of Convention Harris Taps Gov. Tim Walz As Running Mate As Swing State Tour Starts Ahead Of Convention
Harris Taps Gov. Tim Walz As Running Mate As Swing State Tour Starts Ahead Of Convention Vice President Kamala Harris has ended weeks of speculation after naming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday, Aug. 6.  The 60-year-old Walz was a seemingly late entrant to the "veepstakes" but gained popularity after several media appearances went viral.  The chair of the Democratic Governor's Association, Walz was a US Congressman from 2007 to 2019. A former high school social studies teacher, he's served 24 years in the Army National Guard. Harris said she chose Walz because of his dedication to working-class families.  One of the things that stood out …
Harris Expected To Name Running Mate In Campaign Video Within 24 Hours: Report Harris Expected To Name Running Mate In Campaign Video Within 24 Hours: Report
Harris Expected To Name Running Mate In Campaign Video Within 24 Hours: Report Kamala Harris is expected to name her running mate in a campaign video announcement on Tuesday morning, Aug. 6, several reports say.  The move is similar to how President Joe Biden announced Harris as his running mate in 2020. While more than a dozen names have been floated as Harris' potential vice presidential nominee, six candidates seem most likely, Politico reported.   Those are 51-year-old Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, 46-year-old Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, age 60, Transportation Secretary Pete Bu…
ABC News Reporter Rachel Scott Goes Viral For Grilling Trump Over VP Harris' Race ABC News Reporter Rachel Scott Goes Viral For Grilling Trump Over VP Harris' Race
ABC News Reporter Rachel Scott Goes Viral For Grilling Trump Over VP Harris' Race A clip of former President Donald Trump saying Vice President Kamala Harris "turned black" to court the African American vote has gone viral, and it happened because of someone familiar to many in the region. ABC News' Rachel Scott, a 32-year-old former reporter for WTNH News 8 in New Haven, moderated a discussion with Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists in Chicago on Wednesday, July 31.  She opened the panel by pressing the former Republican president on his party's attacks on Harris as a "DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) hire." Harris is of mix…
Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee
Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee President Joe Biden has just announced he is pulling out of the 2024 race against Republican nominee Donald Trump. In a letter to "My Fellow Americans" released just before 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21, Biden said: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president. “And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.” The news comes amid concerns over the 81-year-old Biden's health, which were loudly …