Good afternoon, Chicago.
Cook County judges often grant prosecutors’ requests to hold defendants in jail while awaiting trial, according to a new report from a court advocacy group, even when defendants are given a low numerical score for risk of flight or committing new offenses.
The report, released yesterday by the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice, a group that advocates to reduce pretrial incarceration, is based on the observations of trained court watchers who monitored one month of detention hearings during a specific court call at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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Air quality hits hazardous levels in Chicago from wildfire smoke and could worsen tonight
Thick haze settled over northern Illinois today as dangerous levels of wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota rolled into the area, and it might get worse tonight, according to the National Weather Service. Read more here.
More top news stories:
- Cook County watchdog finds Samantha Steele offered job to opponent
- Ex-Summit police chief gets three years in prison in shakedown scheme
Evanston Council clears five-story apartment complex over landmark Black church’s objections
Extended protest from a neighboring Black historic church and Evanston landmark was not enough to squelch a five-story, 30-unit apartment complex on Emerson Street from being approved, with conditions, in City Council. Read more here.
More top business stories:
- Nike, Everdine’s Grilled Cheese close this week in downtown Naperville
- West Loop 2-bedroom home with 2 private balconies and a home office: $1M
5 things we learned from Chicago Bulls’ 1st 3 summer league games, including Caleb Wilson’s desire to compete
After a week in Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League, the young Chicago Bulls are drawing both excitement and concern. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
- A’ja Wilson picked 1st as Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon choose WNBA All-Star teams
- Photos: The ESPYS honor top athletes and sports moments
New play about Chicago Mayor Harold Washington is coming to Lookingglass Theatre
Titled “Prince Hal,” a riff on a famous character in William Shakespeare’s “Henry IV,” the drama by J. Nicole Brooks will portray Harold Washington as a reluctant candidate for greatness who is buoyed by finding supporters among everyday Chicagoans in a West Loop tavern, a plot that suggests parallels with the Shakespeare history play. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
- William Shatner will debut his new heavy metal band at Riot Fest
- What to do in Chicago: Sharks at Shedd and concerts by Paul Simon, Melanie Martinez and Rush
President Donald Trump is expected to make election conspiracies a focus of his national address
The president is set to address the nation tonight on topics he said will include elections and voting machines, suggesting he is likely to revisit some of the unproven claims he has previously made about Republican losses, particularly his own in 2020. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world:
