Good morning, Chicago.
The high-tech cyber hacker who goes by the online moniker “Bouquet” jetted around the world, from Dubai to Thailand to New York, staying in five-star hotels and flashing cash and jewels, federal authorities allege.
As his internet attacks grew bolder and more sophisticated, he taunted the FBI for being a step behind, authorities allege, posted memes depicting his crew as mafia bosses and photos of himself wearing a diamond-studded necklace that spelled out in giant letters “HACK THE PLANET.”
Now, the feds say, “Bouquet” has been busted. His real name is Peter Stokes, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Estonia who was arrested earlier this month in Finland attempting to board a flight to Japan, according to court records obtained by the Tribune.
Perhaps most surprising? He’s only 19.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Jason Meisner.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: how a Chicago police officer fatally shot at Swedish Hospital is being remembered, the results of a Suffolk-Tribune poll on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s favorability and a look at the Bears’ top draft picks.
Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History
What happened inside the ballroom when a gunman tried to breach Trump’s night with the press
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is one of Washington’s enduring, if somewhat awkward, rituals. There is inherent tension in the room, with journalists dressed in finery sharing drinks and food with many of the subjects they cover. That friction was starkly evident this year given President Donald Trump’s often contentious relationship with the media.
That ritual was wildly upended Saturday night when a gunman charged the premises, trying to penetrate the hotel ballroom where Trump and Cabinet secretaries were assembled.
- Accused White House correspondents’ dinner attacker is tutor and computer programmer from California
- White House correspondents’ dinner shooting suspect aired grievances against Trump in writings to family
Chicago police officer fatally shot at Swedish Hospital remembered for kindness, public service
A knack for public service was one of Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew’s defining qualities, friends and neighbors recalled Sunday.
Bartholomew, 38, who had been with the police department for a decade, was identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office as the officer fatally shot Saturday morning at a North Side hospital.
More Chicagoans view Mayor Brandon Johnson unfavorably than favorably ahead of 2027 mayoral race, Suffolk-Tribune poll says
With less than a year until Chicago’s next mayoral election and amid a growing field of prospective candidates, more city residents hold a dim view of incumbent Brandon Johnson than a positive one about his often-chaotic first term at City Hall, a new poll shows.
Months after late property tax bills, thousands are still waiting with no resolution in sight
Property tax bills arrived months late for hundreds of thousands of Cook County homeowners last year, causing headaches and confusion for property owners and the local governments they fund.
Five months later, thousands are still waiting for bills and tens of thousands are waiting for refunds, the latest development in the technology upgrade debacle that has roiled the county’s tax system for more than four years with no clear end in sight.
Illinois educators learn how to teach a pro-Black curriculum with the help of the Erikson Institute
DeCarla Burton remembers the day when her four-year-old daughter returned from daycare, saddened with the question: ‘Mommy, am I Black like a skillet?’“The teacher was talking about skin tones…but the kids got the wrong idea; made her feel inferior instead of beautiful, like she is,” Burton said.
One Century, One Road: Route 66, ‘The Main Street of America,’ turns 100
It was created to connect us, a fused chain of existing roadways many unpaved that stretched 2,448 miles across eight states and three time zones, starting steps from Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago and ending near the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica’s famed fishing pier. Route 66, “The Main Street of America.”
Now, Route 66 boosters in all eight states (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California) are gearing up to celebrate the iconic route on its centennial in 2026. Ahead of the anniversary, the Chicago Tribune set out across Route 66 to introduce readers to the people and places it was designed to connect.
How much will the Chicago Bears’ top draft picks contribute as rookies in 2026?
After months of scouting and preparation, the Bears drafted seven players over the weekend. It was the culmination of a monthslong process for general manager Ryan Poles and his staff. Notably, the Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 pick during the first round Thursday. Thieneman should start for coach Ben Johnson’s defense right away.But the rest of their draft picks will have a harder path toward playing time on a team that reached the divisional round of the playoffs last season.
Dillon Thieneman followed his instincts to Oregon — and ultimately on a path to the Chicago Bears
As Dillon Thieneman’s high school coach tells it, Thieneman’s father, Ken, had a saying while Dillon was growing up.
“His dad says all the time: You’ve got to skate to where the puck’s going, not to where the puck is,” said Jake Gilbert, Thieneman’s coach at Westfield (Ind.) High School and now head coach at Division III Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind.
Goodman Theatre cancels ‘Ma Rainey’ performance due to death of actor Matt DeCaro, 70
The Goodman Theatre was forced to cancel its Saturday matinee of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” due to the death of cast member Matt DeCaro.
The theater also said Saturday that the cast had decided to proceed with the Saturday night show in DeCaro’s honor. Scott Aiello will play DeCaro’s role of Sturdyvant.
