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.
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Lawsuit claims cannabis companies intentionally made false claims about medical benefits
A federal lawsuit accuses three big cannabis companies of lying about pot's medical benefits and hiding its serious harms.

Ghosts of stadiums past haunt Chicago Bears quest for a new stadium deal
Past stadium fiascoes like Soldier Field and Rate Field have shown how not to build new stadiums, as the Chicago Bears seek public help building a new dome.

Chicago Bears stadium legislation passed the Illinois House, but may face concerns in the Senate
A proposal to help the Chicago Bears build a new enclosed stadium in Arlington Heights passed the Illinois House, but may need changes to satisfy critics before the Senate vote...

Chicagoans want to see Bears move to Arlington Heights — not Indiana, a Suffolk-Tribune poll says
In a new poll, 56% of Chicagoans said they wanted the Bears to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, not Indiana.

Illinois awards $32M to cannabis companies, but some are still struggling to open
Illinois is offering $32 million in loans to social equity cannabis companies, but some are still struggling to open.

Names of dead people on juror list raises legal challenge to Illinois jury pool process
Names of dead people on a rural county court jury pool raises red flags that the system for compiling juries in Illinois may be fundamentally flawed.

Judge allows suit to proceed against Alden nursing homes alleging understaffing
A class action lawsuit claims the operator of Alden nursing homes in the Chicago area systematically understaffed its facilities to make more money, increasing the safety risks of its patients.

The region: Home to steel mills, beaches and … the Chicago Bears?
If the Chicago Bears move to Indiana, they will become part of the region — a corner of the state that has much in common with both Chicago and Indiana,...

Chicago Bears brass looking for quick movement on a new stadium to open by 2030
The Chicago Bears hope to open a new domed stadium, in either Arlington Heights or Indiana, by 2030.

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