Good morning, Chicago.
Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced his pick to lead the Chicago Police Department yesterday, the mayor’s first major public safety decision that will set the tone on how his administration will tackle crime for the next four years.
“Chief Larry Snelling is a proven leader who knows and holds dear the soul of Chicago,” Johnson said. “He commands the highest respect of his brothers and sisters in the department, and I’m fully confident in his ability to unify and strengthen these critical public servants.”
Snelling introduced himself as an Englewood native who fully supports the mayor’s belief in tackling the “root causes” of violence. Johnson during his mayoral campaign stressed the importance of tapping a lifelong Chicagoan for the job following the mixed tenure of David Brown, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s embattled police superintendent who hailed from Dallas.
During the press conference, Johnson deflected questions about firing Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady when he was asked whether the decision was retaliation due to disputes between the Chicago Teachers Union and Arwady during COVID-19 over school reopenings.
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Donald Trump is indicted in Georgia over 2020 election meddling, the 4th criminal case against him
Donald Trump and 18 allies were indicted in Georgia on Monday over their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state, with prosecutors using a statute normally associated with mobsters to accuse the former president, lawyers and other aides of a “criminal enterprise” to keep him in power.
The nearly 100-page indictment details dozens of acts by Trump or his allies to undo his defeat, including beseeching Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to find enough votes for him to win the battleground state; harassing a state election worker who faced false claims of fraud; and attempting to persuade Georgia lawmakers to ignore the will of voters and appoint a new slate of electoral college electors favorable to Trump.
Donald Trump has been indicted in a fourth case. Here’s where all the investigations stand
Chicago-area families, volunteers rally to help Maui wildfire survivors
Susan Burch celebrating her 62nd birthday when a friend frantically knocked on her door, saying her house was on fire. Within 10 minutes, fire erupted across the street from her.
“There was a Salvation Army that went into flames and we literally had five minutes to run into our houses and get whatever we could and get in the car,” Burch said. Originally from Mundelein, Burch has lived in Lahaina, Hawaii, for 19 years, working in an art gallery and as a bartender.
Burch was one of thousands of people who lost their homes in the fires that engulfed Maui last week. More than 2,700 buildings in Lahaina were destroyed, wiping out $5.6 billion in value.
Students at Deerfield and Highland Park high schools will arrive on the first day of school this year and pass through a metal detector before proceeding to their locker and class.
Plans originally called for a random announcement and implementation of the new safety precaution but were moved up to Aug. 16 after a Highland Park High School student was shot and killed over the weekend. 16-year-old Omar Morales-Diaz was shot early Sunday morning on Green Bay Road by a man on the sidewalk. Authorities believe the shooting was intentional.
Former House Speaker Michael Madigan has long been known as “The Velvet Hammer” for the way he quietly wielded power.
But in a federal courtroom Monday, the man once considered Illinois’ most powerful politician may have been given a new moniker: Don Madigan.
Former top Michael Madigan aide on trial: What you need to know — and what’s next for Tim Mapes
Tim Mapes perjury trial: Evidence seen and heard by the jury
The Chicago Bears regrouped from their preseason opener with a practice inside the Walter Payton Center on Monday because of inclement weather.
Here’s our camp report.
“We reported Coach Foster’s conduct to Northwestern believing that they would do the right thing. Northwestern did not do the right thing,” Chris Beacom, former team operations director, said in a statement read during a news conference Monday announcing the lawsuit.
“Instead,” he continued, “they swept our reports under the rug, putting their staff, student-athletes and reputation at risk.”
Chance the Rapper will discuss his career, impact of hip-hop at Michigan Ave. Apple Store
Chance the Rapper will take Apple store customers in Chicago on his hip-hop journey as part of an audio series celebrating the genre’s 50th anniversary.
Robert Swan appreciation: Movie actor, singer and founder of Harbor Country Opera has died at 78
Swan died in his sleep in the early morning of Aug. 9 in his home in Rolling Prairie, Indiana. He had long been battling cancer. He was 78 years old.
“Bob was so modest about his accomplishments, reluctant to toot his own horn,” said his widow, Barbara. “He was always so enthusiastically energetic, both physically, until recent years, and mentally to the very end. In his last days, he talked about how much he wanted to play the narrator in his play.”
