Robert McCoppin

Robert McCoppin reports on news and trends in Chicago's suburbs, focusing especially on the legalization of marijuana. Having worked at the City News Bureau and Daily Herald before joining the Tribune in 2010, he has covered crime, the courts, flooding, and health, and has won multiple Chicago Headline Club awards.

Wine enthusiasts fill Hudson Crossing Park for the Wine on the Fox festival in downtown Oswego in 2024. (Linda Girardi/for The Beacon-News)

Cook County population growth is flat due to decreased immigration, while Kendall County leads Illinois, census numbers show

March 25, 2026 at 11:01 p.m.

U.S. census numbers show Cook County's population remained about the same due to lower immigration, but Kendall County had the greatest percentage growth in Illinois, at 1.6%.

Firefighters and supporters exit after attending the postponed detention hearing for Sheaves Slate, charged in connection with the death of firefighter Michael Altman, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, March 21, 2026, in Chicago. Altman died on March 17 after suffering injuries while working to extinguish a building fire in Rogers Park the previous day, which Slate is charged with starting. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Hearing postponed for man charged with murder, arson in Chicago firefighter’s death

March 22, 2026 at 9:24 a.m.

The defendant, Sheaves Slate, 27, of Avondale, was hospitalized and did not appear for his hearing Saturday.

Soldier Field would get a translucent roof and a surrounding entertainment district under an architect's new proposal. The Chicago Bears, the city and the Park District, which owns the stadium, are not involved with the proposal, but it's meant to show that Soldier Field remains a viable option. (Edward Peck Design)

Proposal envisions a dome on Soldier Field, but Chicago Bears focused on Arlington Heights or Indiana

March 21, 2026 at 3:48 p.m.

If the Chicago Bears want an enclosed stadium, no need to cross state or city lines, one local architect is suggesting. Why not create one where the team already plays.

Thoroughbreds run at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, on Dec. 16, 2022. The race course is for sale and will re-open for thoroughbred racing this spring despite recently filing for bankruptcy. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Hawthorne to reopen for horse racing this spring, officials say, while operators say they are owed money

March 19, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

Hawthorne Race Course is for sale, but will resume racing this spring despite bankruptcy, officials said. Horsemen say they are owed millions of dollars.

Melissa Bean, 8th Congressional District candidate, greets supporters as she enters her election night party at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg on March 17, 2026, in Schaumburg. (John Konstantaras/for the Chicago Tribune)

Melissa Bean wins 8th District Democratic primary in race to succeed US Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi

March 18, 2026 at 3:16 p.m.

Former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean won Tuesday's Democratic primary to succeed outgoing Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in the 8th Congressional District in the northwest suburbs.

State Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, walks to his desk at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis shortly before the Senate passed a bill Feb. 26, 2026, that outlines a financial structure for a Chicago Bears stadium in Hammond. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Some Indiana taxpayers not as thrilled by Chicago Bears stadium plan as lawmakers

March 1, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.

In the rush by the Indiana legislature to bring the Chicago Bears to the state, lawmakers gushed over the proposal. One group was conspicuously absent from comments: taxpayers who opposed...

Democratic candidates for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District Neil Khot, seated from left, Sanjyot Dunung, Junaid Ahmed, former Rep. Melissa Bean, Cook County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, Yasmeen Bankole, Dan Tully and Ryan Vetticad participate in a candidate forum at Harper College in Palatine on Feb. 7, 2026. (Talia Sprague/for the Chicago Tribune)

A changing Illinois 8th District sets stage for wide-open Democratic primary to replace Rep. Krishnamoorthi

February 27, 2026 at 12:12 p.m.

Eight Democrats are running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi in the 8th Congressional District, a district that has seen major demographic shifts in recent years.

Soldier Field sits in front of the Chicago skyline on a cold day on Jan. 22, 2026. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Park District pushes $630M plan to revamp Soldier Field post-Bears

February 23, 2026 at 8:08 p.m.

The Park District pitched state officials on converting the 61,500-seat venue to a destination for concerts and other special events once the Bears leave.

A sign welcomes motorists to Hammond on Jan.13, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Arlington Heights? Hammond? Chicago Bears could join 10 NFL franchises who left namesake cities for suburbs.

February 22, 2026 at 7:55 a.m.

The Chicago Bears are pondering a move to a new taxpayer-subsidized stadium in Hammond. If so, they would join 10 other NFL teams that left their namesake cities for the...

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. gestures after the House Ways and Means Committee passed Senate Bill 27, a stadium authority bill that will create the financial structure for a Chicago Bears stadium, at the Indiana State House in Indianapolis on Feb. 19, 2026. The bill still needs to be approved by the Indiana House. (Andy Lavalley/for the Chicago Tribune)

Next stop Hammond? Indiana lawmakers approve Chicago Bears stadium bill, taking a big step.

February 19, 2026 at 8:58 p.m.

Indiana lawmakers took another step Thursday toward potentially luring the Chicago Bears to the state, as a key committee approved a plan to create an agency that would build a...

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