Federal authorities charged two men Wednesday with plotting to kidnap the owners of a West Side restaurant in retaliation for testimony last year against convicted drug kingpin Luis Vazquez. Saul Alejander Sanchez of Cicero and Armando Garza of Berwyn appeared before a federal magistrate Wednesday on charges that they conspired to kidnap the two victims–a husband and wife–and take them to Mexico for ransom.
Purple Line closings over the weekend
The CTA Purple Line in Evanston will be shut down over the weekend as crews demolish a viaduct and install a steel bridge at Church Street, officials said Wednesday. No trains are scheduled between Linden Street in Wilmette and Howard Street in Chicago from 8:30 p.m. Friday to 4:30 a.m. Monday. Also, buses that usually stop at the Davis Street station will be rerouted. The CTA will operate shuttle buses in both directions.
Activist’s son joining march
Elvira Arellano said Wednesday that her 7-year-old son will join several dozen children in Washington, D.C., next week to fight for children who are U.S. citizens but whose parents are undocumented immigrants. Arellano is a prominent activist and has tried to avoid deportation by seeking sanctuary in a Humboldt Park church since Aug. 15. Arellano said about 25 families with children have already confirmed their participation.
Apartment fire kills woman
Fire officials said there were no working smoke detectors in a Southeast Side apartment where a fire killed a 37-year-old woman Wednesday morning. Firefighters found Sitania Gilbert unconscious in the Jeffery Manor apartment. After the blaze, firefighters went door to door handing out free smoke detectors to residents, said Chicago Fire Department Chief Kevin MacGregor.
