Local search for Chicagoans

11+ min ago (698+ words) North Chicago School District 187 Superintendent John Price plans to leave his current position at the end of June after nine years, but will continue his career as an educator helping youngsters in underserved areas. "This is my passion," Price said in an interview on Thursday. "This is my joy. My mom was a teacher. My dad was a pastor. Service is the family business. Serving communities that are often underserved is where I will focus my service and my career." Price, 53, announced Thursday his decision to resign as superintendent effective June 30 in a letter to the school community. "The district has come a long way and now it is time to find the next leader to continue and build upon the successes we have achieved together and like me, this new leader will need your help," Price wrote in the…...

20+ min ago (495+ words) PROVO, Utah " The 22-year-old Utah man charged with killing Charlie Kirk made his first in-person court appearance Thursday as his attorneys push to further limit media access in the high-profile criminal case. A Utah judge is weighing the public's right to know details in the prosecution of Tyler Robinson against his attorneys' concerns that the swarm of media attention could interfere with his right to a fair trial. Robinson's legal team and the Utah County Sheriff's Office have asked Judge Tony Graf to ban cameras in the courtroom. Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 shooting of the conservative activist on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, just a few miles north of the Provo courthouse. They plan to seek the death penalty. Robinson arrived in court with restraints on his wrists and ankles and wearing…...

22+ min ago (834+ words) Starbucks employees at the 1448 Naperville Wheaton Road store in Naperville have voted 12-5 to join Starbucks Workers United, the union that represents more than 11,000 baristas at over 560 stores across the country. They represent the first Starbucks in Naperville " and the 41st in Illinois " to unionize. The vote comes as Starbucks union baristas across the country continue to strike against the company, with 36 Starbucks locations in 34 cities joining the nationwide movement Thursday. Naperville was not among the list of stores that joined the strike. "Inspired by their co-workers taking action to demand a fair contract and an end to unfair labor practices, the Naper and Ogden partners join a growing nationwide movement of Starbucks baristas working together to win a real voice on the job and the support and protections they need to succeed," Starbucks Workers United said in a news release on…...

26+ min ago (752+ words) SHAKOPEE, Minn. " Mike Lindell, the fervent supporter of President Donald Trump known to TV viewers as the "MyPillow Guy," officially entered the race for Minnesota governor Thursday in hopes of winning the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. He said he has a record of solving problems and personal experiences that will help businesses and fight addiction and homelessness as well as fraud in government programs. The fraud issue has particularly dogged Walz, who announced in September that he's seeking a third term in the 2026 election. Lindell, 64, founded his pillow company in Minnesota in 2009 and became its public face through infomercials that became ubiquitous on late-night television. But he and his company faced a string of legal and financial setbacks after he became a leading amplifier of Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. He said he…...

27+ min ago (409+ words) The village of Lincolnwood has made a community call for student volunteers to participate in the year-round Rescue Rangers program, which provides assistance to senior and disabled residents. "It's a great way for the younger people to get involved and help those in need," Assistant Village Manager Madeline Farrell told Pioneer Press. "It's a great way for the community to show support to our residents who are limited for one reason or another." Rescue Rangers, which Farrell said receives a lot of wintertime requests for assistance with snow removal, seeks middle and high school students in Lincolnwood to volunteer for the program. "These are usually students who are not yet driving so we usually are pairing them with somebody in their neighborhood or close by," Farrell said. "The program was set up to seek the student volunteer population and help…...

33+ min ago (187+ words) Por ALANNA DURKIN RICHER y MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Es otro duro golpe para el Departamento de Justicia tras la desestimaci'n de cargos anteriores contra James y otro antiguo adversario de Trump, el exdirector del FBI James Comey, en una sorprendente reprimenda a los empe'os del gobierno de Trump por procesar a oponentes pol'ticos del mandatario. Un juez desestim' la acusaci'n original contra James y Comey en noviembre, dictaminando que la fiscal que present' el caso al jurado investigador, Lindsey Halligan, fue nombrada ilegalmente fiscal federal para el Distrito Este de Virginia. El Departamento de Justicia solicit' a un jurado investigador en Alexandria, Virginia, que emitiera una acusaci'n el jueves despu's de que un jurado investigador distinto en Norfolk se negara a hacerlo la semana pasada. La persona que confirm' el fracaso para asegurar una acusaci'n formal carece de autorizaci'n para declarar…...

41+ min ago (197+ words) A Cedar Lake woman is facing a low-level felony after she admitted spending $1,700 worth of unauthorized purchases on a Cub Scouts debit card. Amber Pfiel, 35, was charged Dec. 8 with one count of theft, a level 6 felony. She made the purchases between Dec. 10, 2024 and June 20, 2025. A judge ordered her release on an ankle monitor Wednesday, according to court records. Her next hearing is Jan. 21 before Lake Superior Judge Nicholas Schiralli. According to court filings, Katherine Lomberger, a Cub Scouts chairwoman, went to the police after she tried to buy something and the Centier bank account was overdrawn. Pfiel was the only other person with the organization's debit card. Their bank identified unusual transactions at Target, La Gaviota Supermercado and Strack and Van Til. Pfiel claimed to Lomberger and Cub Master Ryan Nolan that she lost the debit card. During a later…...

41+ min ago (286+ words) Matthew Sokolowski, 34, of Palos Park is charged with two counts of attempted murder following a Nov. 24 attack against two people, described in court documents as his adoptive parents. The Cook County sheriff's police responded to reports of a stabbing at about 9 a.m. Nov. 24 to the 12000 block of South Newport Drive in unincorporated Palos Township. The victims were an elderly woman with wounds to her face and an elderly man with multiple stab wounds, police said. Both were taken to a hospital for treatment. In a petition seeking detention of Sokolowski, prosecutors said Sokolowski punched his mother in the face, shattering the mug of coffee she was drinking from, and proceeded to batter her with another coffee cup. When the other victim, his father, attempted to intervene, Sokolowski stabbed him multiple times with a kitchen knife until the knife snapped into two…...

41+ min ago (570+ words) Elgin police said they have no evidence that people threw "rocks and bottles" at ICE agents during an hours-long effort to take a man into custody last weekend or that Elgin police officers "refused to help protect law enforcement." The police department is conducting its own investigation into the allegations made Monday by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about what they experienced as they conducted a federal immigration enforcement operation on Dec. 6 in the 1600 block of Maple Lane, including physical attacks on agents. It is also investigating complaints made by residents about the actions of ICE agents. "The water container strikes the rear window of the federal agent's vehicle and bounces as the vehicle is driving away," the statement said. A review of online social media posts and video also showed a bystander who "picks up what appears to be…...

45+ min ago (543+ words) More than 2,000 participants were registered for the annual "Lincolnwood Turkey Trot" 5K and 10K race in Lincolnwood, stepping off in what organizers say was a sell-out event. Race Director Julie Glowacki, who is also a recreation supervisor for the Lincolnwood Parks and Recreation Department, told Pioneer Press the amount of registrants this year matched the 2024 count. "This year it will be a sell-out race," said Glowacki about what is billed as a chip-timed, USA Track & Field-certified 5K and 10K. The Lincolnwood tradition, which also includes a 5K fitness walk and "Drumstick Dash" open to ages 6 and younger, began and ended in Proesel Park. "The goal of our event is to really bring the community together, not just the Lincolnwood community but surrounding communities as well," Glowacki said. Glowacki said this year's event, emceed by Dave Kappas, included participants from Skokie, Niles, Evanston, Park Ridge and…...