The Latest Breaking News from Anthony Vazquez

The racing franchise seemed foreign to this Midwestern city, more accustomed to a baseball or football game than souped-up stock cars tearing around downtown. Neither of us were NASCAR fans. We had never even watched an entire race.

Recent immigrants from Venezuela, Angola and Haiti say they are happy to be in Chicago as they attempt to build their lives here but miss their relatives back home. Many are planning to celebrate by maintaining holiday traditions like eating hallacas — Venezuelan tamales — and cachupa — an Angolan…

A 5-year-old boy died after living in a crowded migrant shelter in Pilsen, the Blackhawks unveiled Rocky’s Bar at the United Center, and former Ald. Edward Burke (14th) was found guilty of racketeering, bribery and attempted extortion.

Bo Deal left prison and became a rap battle champ and an anti-violence worker, but to keep moving up in his career, he had to go back to school. Classmates say his street smarts were like a real-world textbook.

Sun-Times photographers fanned out across Chicago’s South, West and North Side neighborhoods to capture their favorite displays.

The space is currently housing over 2,300 people, more than half of whom are minors. Families there and health care providers say illnesses are spreading rapidly.

Rocky’s Bar, where everything was done in memory of the former Blackhawks owner, opens its doors to fans Tuesday. The menu features classic cocktails like Old Fashioneds, Manhattans and Moscow mules and bar snacks such as black truffle fries, crispy prosciutto and mini hot dogs wrapped in puff…

Longtime star Rich Koz is healthy and happy playing the cult-classic TV character but says the Sven Squad’s relative youngsters might take over down the road.

Seven people are being rehoused through the city, while 15 people declined the offer, officials said.

Former President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to a pre-kindergarten class at Parkside Community Academy in South Shore, people enjoyed hot tub rides down the Chicago River, andthe Humboldt Park Puerto Rican flag at Western and Division was lit up for the holiday season for the first time…

Lorenz Elion, 23, who works in real estate, knows people from his neighborhood who’ve been killed and others in prison for murder. But Englewood, he says, is home.