The Latest Breaking News from Cook County

Tom Dart, in an about-face, says he’ll comply with judge’s order banning furloughs for defendants on home confinement

The sheriff initially defied Judge Edward Maloney’s order, saying a new law requires the furloughs, but changed his mind after the Sun-Times posted a story Friday about the case.

Chicago Sun-Times · May 6, 2022

Indoor masking once again ‘strongly recommended’ in Chicago as COVID-19 numbers increase

CHICAGO — Chicago health officials announced Friday that indoor masking is once again “strongly recommended” — but not required — in the city as the risk of contracting COVID-19 in Cook County has increased.

Chicago Tribune · May 6, 2022

After years of not paying property taxes, Chinatown mall’s owners face a new tax problem

A hoped-for county bailout failed. An appeal to Assessor Fritz Kaegi cut only a portion of the $2.4 million Chinatown Square owed. Now, its taxes have been auctioned off.

Chicago Sun-Times · May 6, 2022

Trump’s Operation Legend’s legacy: 2 years later, Chicago gun defendants getting stiff sentences

In cases the Sun-Times reviewed from the 2020 federal crackdown, the average sentence of nearly four years was far higher than typically seen in Cook County’s courts.

Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 29, 2022

Kaegi hits Trump Tower with big tax increase a year after slashing its taxes

The Cook County assessor says the value of the downtown skyscraper’s mostly vacant retail space is 68% higher than it was last year — when he lowered its value by 37%.

Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 29, 2022

As eviction cases increase, Cook County officials say less are resulting in orders to vacate apartments

In March, there were 2,500 evictions filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, which was the first time the court processed that many cases since January 2020, according to figures released from Cook County.

Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 27, 2022

Felon who wasn’t ‘supposed to have a weapon at all’ charged with accidentally shooting friend

Manuel Robles, 28, was talking with others at a party while holding a gun that accidentally discharged, killing his friend, Cook County prosecutors said Tuesday.

Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 26, 2022

Prosecutors drop case connected to disgraced ex-police detective

CHICAGO — Two years after launching a review of convictions connected to discredited former Chicago police Detective Reynaldo Guevara, Cook County prosecutors on Monday agreed to dismiss charges in one Guevara-related case.

Chicago Tribune · Apr 25, 2022

March against antisemitism and all forms of hate

Too often, we have seen extremist elected officials making veiled anti-Jewish statements and pursuing racist policies. We must not become desensitized to these attitudes.

Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 23, 2022

Ex-CPD sergeant’s corruption toll: 212 convictions overturned after dozens more thrown out Friday

The Cook County state’s attorney’s office did an about-face Friday and said it would agree to vacating the convictions of an additional 44 people it had initially opposed.

Chicago Sun-Times · Apr 22, 2022