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Serial Bank Robber Joseph Donelson Jr. Sentenced to 76 Years for Chicago Bank Heists While on Parole

Serial Bank Robber Joseph Donelson Jr. Sentenced to 76 Years for Chicago Bank Heists While on Parole

Joseph Donelson Jr., a 68-year-old serial bank robber, has been sentenced to 76 years in prison for violently robbing or attempting to rob four banks in downtown Chicago in 2023. These crimes occurred between October and December 2023 in the Loop and Streeterville areas, while Donelson Jr. was on supervised release for previous bank robberies. Surveillance footage captured some of these incidents, including one where he was seen sprawled over a counter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Minje Shin emphasized that Donelson Jr.'s actions terrorized multiple bank employees, causing physical injury to one and lasting psychological trauma to others. The prosecution argued that his crimes demonstrated a profound disrespect for the law, necessitating a severe sentence as just punishment.

Former NBA Player Enes Kanter Freedom Files Federal Lawsuit Against Chicago Sky and Arena Owners Following Ejection and Ban

Former NBA Player Enes Kanter Freedom Files Federal Lawsuit Against Chicago Sky and Arena Owners Following Ejection and Ban

Former NBA Player Enes Kanter Freedom Files Federal Lawsuit Against Chicago Sky and Arena Owners Following Ejection and Ban

White Sox Minority Owner Proposes Riverside Stadium at 'The Railyards' in Chicago

White Sox Minority Owner Proposes Riverside Stadium at 'The Railyards' in Chicago

White Sox Minority Owner Proposes Riverside Stadium at 'The Railyards' in Chicago

Shedd Aquarium Reports Deaths of Two More Beluga Whales, Including Recent Canadian Rescue

Shedd Aquarium Reports Deaths of Two More Beluga Whales, Including Recent Canadian Rescue

Chicago's Shedd Aquarium announced the deaths of two more beluga whales: Rain, a 20-year-old female recently rescued from a closed Canadian marine park, and Beethoven, a 34-year-old male who had been a long-term resident at the aquarium. These deaths follow that of Peekachu, another rescued beluga, last week. Rain arrived at Shedd in mid-August as part of an international effort to rehome 30 beluga whales from Marineland, a shuttered marine park in Ontario, Canada. Beethoven had been part of Shedd's resident beluga pod for decades. The aquarium stated that both whales passed away despite immediate efforts by animal care and veterinary teams to provide lifesaving measures. Officials have indicated that it is currently unknown if these passings are isolated incidents or related, and necropsies, blood tests, and additional examinations are underway to determine the causes of death. The Shedd Aquarium has taken in a total of 10 beluga whales from Marineland as part of this rescue mission.

Former FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Government Property, Including Secret Documents

Former FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Government Property, Including Secret Documents

Yen Cham Yung, a 62-year-old former FBI special agent, has pleaded guilty in federal court to three misdemeanor counts of unlawful possession of government property. Yung, who previously worked in Chicago’s organized crime division and held top government security clearance, admitted to taking sensitive government documents related to terrorism and national defense, as well as FBI-owned electronics, and hoarding them in his Colorado home after his retirement in 2016. The charges he pleaded guilty to specifically involved the theft of camera equipment and two early-era BlackBerry phones. However, as part of his plea agreement, Yung acknowledged possessing at least 69 documents containing 'secret information,' including national defense secrets, at his Colorado Springs residence. A search of his home also uncovered 7,000 unclassified documents, 141 floppy discs, 66 CDs and DVDs, 16 thumb drives, and two credit cards under his undercover alias name. Yung was arrested in June 2020 after his wife filed an order...

Enes Kanter Freedom sues Sky, alleges rights were violated

Enes Kanter Freedom sues Sky, alleges rights were violated

By Field Level Media Sep 04 (Field Level Media) - Enes Kanter Freedom, ejected from a WNBA game last month after a verbal dispute with Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud, filed a lawsuit on Thursday in connection with the incident, alleging a violation of his First Amendment rights.

Coco Delivery Robots Cause Sidewalk Congestion in Chicago Due to Deployment Error

Coco Delivery Robots Cause Sidewalk Congestion in Chicago Due to Deployment Error

Several delivery robots operated by the company Coco caused a temporary blockage on a Chicago sidewalk earlier this week. A video captured by Becca Ostien showed multiple robots clustered together, obstructing pedestrian movement. Coco issued a statement acknowledging the incident, attributing it to a 'sidewalk deployment error' that caused several robots to reroute simultaneously from their station. The company stated that this behavior is not typical for their robots and that their team quickly identified and corrected the issue, clearing the sidewalk within minutes. Coco has since resolved the routing problem and implemented safeguards to prevent similar occurrences. This incident is not the first malfunction involving food delivery robots in Chicago; earlier this year, one Coco robot and one SERVE robotics robot crashed into bus shelters.

Joliet Police Department Members Placed on Leave Amidst Allegations of Flock Camera Misuse

Joliet Police Department Members Placed on Leave Amidst Allegations of Flock Camera Misuse

Two members of the Joliet Police Department, one a sworn officer and the other a dispatcher, have been placed on paid leave due to alleged misuse of Flock surveillance camera and license plate reader technology. Both the Joliet Inspector General and the Illinois State Police are currently investigating these allegations. The police department has stated its intention to review policies related to Flock technology. This development follows previous investigations into Chicago-area police officers for misusing Flock camera searches for personal use. Specific details regarding the nature of the alleged misuse by the Joliet Police Department members have not yet been released.

Chicago Father Fatally Shot While Taking College Test on Pilsen Porch

Chicago Father Fatally Shot While Taking College Test on Pilsen Porch

Charles Senase, a 35-year-old father of three, was fatally shot on Monday night while sitting on the front porch of his home in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. His family reported that Senase was taking a college test at the time of the incident. Surveillance video, which the family believes captured the event, reportedly shows a shooter exiting a gray vehicle, opening fire, and then driving away. Senase was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries. His mother, who was inside the home, heard the gunshots and found him wounded. The family had recently moved back to Chicago, just weeks prior, after Senase was accepted into college, aiming to build a better future for his family. Chicago police have not yet released a description of the shooter or a motive for the shooting.

Mayor Brandon Johnson Condemns Washington Park Mass Shooting, Reaffirms Crime-Fighting Efforts

Mayor Brandon Johnson Condemns Washington Park Mass Shooting, Reaffirms Crime-Fighting Efforts

Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago publicly condemned a mass shooting that occurred in Washington Park over the weekend, which resulted in one fatality and 14 injuries, marking it as the largest mass shooting in the city this year. Speaking at a news conference alongside police and other city leaders, Mayor Johnson described the violence as "absolutely unacceptable" and emphasized that it does not reflect the true nature of Chicagoans. He reiterated his administration's commitment to addressing the city's gun violence epidemic, highlighting programs focused on community violence intervention, youth jobs, mental health resources, and policing. Interim police Superintendent Fred Waller provided details on the incident, stating that two shooters in black clothing and ski masks fired into a crowd from across Cottage Grove Avenue, with someone from the park returning fire. Shell casings, including rifle casings, were found at the scene. The victims ranged in age from 21 to 47, and 35-year-old Rontonio Guterz was ...

Joliet Teen Dies Following Crest Hill Park Shooting Incident

Joliet Teen Dies Following Crest Hill Park Shooting Incident

Jamari Finch, an 18-year-old resident of Joliet, Illinois, died in a Chicago hospital on Tuesday after being shot in Crest Hill. Finch was one of four teenagers injured in a shooting incident that occurred on Saturday night in the 1900 block of Willow Court. Another victim, 18-year-old Kamarion L. Coleman of Woodridge, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other teenagers, aged 15 and 16, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities believe the shooting was connected to a gathering in a nearby park earlier that evening and was not a random act. The Crest Hill Police Department and the Will Grundy Major Crimes Task Force are actively investigating the incident and are seeking information from the public, including any videos or tips. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Will County.

Chicago City Leaders Announce Labor Day Safety Plans Following Violent Weekend

Chicago City Leaders Announce Labor Day Safety Plans Following Violent Weekend

Following a weekend marked by significant violence, Chicago city leaders have unveiled their safety strategies for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The announcement comes after a period where three individuals were killed and 39 others sustained injuries from various incidents. The city's proactive measures aim to prevent a recurrence of such violence during the holiday period. Details of the safety plans were shared on Tuesday, indicating a swift response from authorities to address public safety concerns. The initiative reflects an effort to enhance security and maintain order across the city, particularly in areas that experienced heightened criminal activity over the preceding weekend. The plans are expected to involve increased law enforcement presence and community engagement to ensure a safer environment for residents and visitors during the holiday.