Jo Marquez

Amidst growing concern over a recent domestic violence incident in Portage Park, Cook County Judge Thomas E. Nowinski has come under fire from both domestic violence advocates and state officials. The situation escalated when Constantin Beldie, previously released by Judge Nowinski despite facing charges for an attack on his estranged wife, allegedly committed murder followed by suicide. On Tuesday, Beldie was accused of fatally stabbing his estranged wife, Lacramioara Beldie, in the 5600 block of West Leland Avenue, before being found dead blocks away, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Chicago Police Department is ramping up their efforts to curb impaired driving in the city with a DUI Saturation Patrol occurring this weekend in the 19th (Town Hall) District. According to Chicago Police Department's announcement, officers will be on high alert from Friday, November 22, 2024, at 6 p.m., to 2 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, looking not only to catch potential DUI violations but to also strictly enforce traffic laws related to speed, seat belts, and more.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners is making waves with its unanimous approval of a nearly $10 billion budget for 2025, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, this move prominently includes a bolstering of reproductive health services amid concerns of potential federal rollbacks. The budget features an amendment put forward by Democratic Commissioner Bridget Degnen, providing $2 million in grants for organizations supporting reproductive health, a nod to the county's commitment to maintaining access amidst a shifting national landscape regarding abortion rights.

The Illinois State Police is currently in mourning after an unexpected loss. Their K-9, Riggs, suffered a "cardiac event" on Tuesday leading to his untimely passing at the age of 10. Riggs was a seasoned member of the force, graduating with Canine Class 75 in the spring of 2017 and initially partnering with Sgt. Jeremy Moyer of District 11, as reported by WGN-TV.

Authorities are seeking the public's help in locating 17-year-old Jakilah Vaden, who went missing earlier this week. According to the Chicago Police Department, Jakilah was last seen on November 18, 2024, near the 200 block of N. Whipple. She is described as a Black female, 4'11"in height, weighing 90 lbs., with brown eyes, and brown/blonde hair. Concerns are growing as her absence prolongs.

Early Friday morning in West Humboldt Park, a fire broke out in an apartment building, resulting in six people being hospitalized. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Chicago police said the emergency response was initiated around 2 a.m. at the 4300 block of West Thomas Street.

Early today, a fire ignited at a storage shed near Cafe Brauer in Lincoln Park, injuring two people, including a Chicago firefighter. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the incident occurred around 4:20 a.m. on Stockton Drive. The Chicago Fire Department reported that propane tanks within the shed were involved in the blaze. Spokesperson Larry Langford said, "The fire was in the shed where the propane tanks are stored," and added, "The tanks were on fire."

A man was shot and injured during an evening altercation at the Hawthorn Hills Shopping Center in Vernon Hills, with police activity drawing significant attention to the scene. The incident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, at 700 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

Early Friday morning, a man's life was claimed by violence on the streets of Oak Park. According to WGN-TV, the incident that left a man fatally wounded unfolded in the vicinity of Roosevelt Road and Ridgeland Avenue shortly after the hour of 7 a.m. Multiple reports of gunfire precipitated the police response, with witnesses recounting the echo of around seven shots tearing through the morning calm.

An elderly woman in a wheelchair was pronounced dead after a multi-vehicle crash on the I-65 in Northwest Indiana. The incident occurred around 11:35 a.m. on Thursday as snow compromised visibility on the interstate. According to