Chicago News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

An 18-year-old from Country Club Hills, Jordan Butler, faces serious charges after allegedly firing a weapon into a home in Oak Forest at 3:40 AM—thankfully without injuring anyone. Accused of aggravated discharge of a firearm, he’s been held without bond following a recent court hearing, as the case unfolds with real stakes and unanswered questions about what led to this dangerous moment. Listen...

Fifty-two-year-old Romairal Allen, once a top-ranking leader in the Sin City Deciples motorcycle club, just got a six-year sentence for racketeering after pleading guilty in August. Rising quickly from 2019, he allegedly held chapter president and regional boss roles, even taking orders from the club’s founder while he was incarcerated. Prosecutors painted him as a violent enforcer, citing inciden...

Jeremiah Jackson delivered a clutch two-run double in the bottom of the eighth, lifting the Orioles to a 3-2 victory over the Cubs and preventing a series sweep. After a sluggish start with only one run from Tyler ONeill’s homer, Jackson stepped up as a pinch-hitter, sending a gap shot to score two and seal the win. Tyler Wells earned the win in relief, while Andrew Kittredge locked down his secon...

A major legal win for gun control in Illinois: a federal appeals court in Chicago has upheld the state’s assault weapons and high-capacity magazine ban, rejecting claims it violates the Second Amendment. The ruling, led by Judge Amy St. Eve, emphasizes the link between these weapons and mass shootings, citing historical precedent and the evolving nature of gun regulation. While this victory bolste...

A new report calls for sweeping reforms to Chicago’s fractured domestic violence response system, urging the creation of a unified, transparent framework to better protect victims. With rising fatalities, advocates blame chaos caused by disjointed agencies, lack of data sharing, and court records kept secret—even from open records laws. The task force demands legislative action to force transparen...

Lockport’s Zoning Commission narrowly approved a 90-foot cell tower over a high school district property near Rotary Park — a scaled-down version of the original 120-foot plan — after heated debate, with one commissioner pushing for the shorter height despite AT&T’s concerns about future carrier compatibility. The vote was 4-2, with one commissioner absent. Residents remain alarmed, citing health...

A tiny 2.9-magnitude quake rattled the North Shore of Lake Michigan — only the second time in a century such a tremor has hit that spot. Scientists suspect a missed aftershock may have followed, too small to register officially. While experts say another quake is likely — possibly even near Chicago — they believe it won’t be stronger, just closer. The quake’s underwater origin hints at hidden seis...

New research reveals music doesn’t just play in our ears—it rewires our brains, lighting up memory and emotion centers even with unfamiliar tunes, suggesting our brains are constantly weaving new sounds into personal emotional tapestries. This discovery, powered by cutting-edge brain imaging, deepens our understanding of music’s role in memory recall and emotional response, with major implications...

A former Mormon leader, Wade Christofferson, 73, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of abusing two minors, facing up to life in prison. His arrest followed accusations of extensive abuse and explicit contact with children under ten. Despite being excommunicated in the 90s over abuse allegations, he was reinstated and later held leadership roles without his past being disclosed. Court docs show...

A major legal win for gun control advocates: A Chicago federal appeals court upholds Illinois’ assault weapons ban, calling AR-15-style rifles “military-grade” and aligning with historical firearm regulation. The ruling, joined by two judges and dissenting from Chief Judge Brennan, comes just days after the Supreme Court signaled it will review a similar Cook County ban. Signed last year after the...

Settlement talks between West Suburban and Weiss Memorial Hospital hit another snag as a new lawyer joins the fray, forcing a pause while they catch up on all the details — a fresh twist in an already slow-moving, high-stakes negotiation. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level ne...

Step into nature’s brushstrokes at South Shore Arts’ free “A Brush with Nature” exhibit, featuring plein-air masterpieces by artists like Andrea Williams and Mark Vander Vinne—open until August 30th, with a reception July 16th tied to the Annual Salon Show. Then, sing along to classic American hits at Girls Like Us’ patriotic concert July 26th, celebrating 250 years of the U.S. with special vetera...

A 20-year-old man, Thurman Atkinson, sentenced to 23 years for shooting and killing Aahric Whitehead in a chaotic, gun-filled confrontation, pleaded for mercy, claiming he acted out of fear—not malice. The judge, unmoved, held Atkinson responsible for choosing violence with a rifle, calling the epidemic of youth gun violence a national shame. Whitehead’s mother praised the verdict as justice, whil...

The Shedd Aquarium is spearheading a historic global rescue mission to save up to ten beluga whales from the shuttered Marineland in Canada, where 20 whales died since a 2019 ban on marine mammal captivity took effect. With the park’s owner once threatening euthanasia, the whales are now being airlifted to Chicago in specially designed slings, accompanied by vets and caretakers, to join eight alre...

Starting January 1, Illinois is cracking down on e-bikes and similar devices with sweeping new rules—speed limits, age restrictions, and licensing requirements for faster models. Devices over 28 mph or 750 watts now qualify as motor-driven cycles, demanding licenses, insurance, and registration. Parents, beware: a statewide education campaign is underway to clarify the rules before kids ride. Loca...

Thornton Reservoir, at 94% capacity — its fullest since 2015 — is spilling over with rainwater, sending a foul, roadkill-like odor into nearby neighborhoods. Residents and business owners, stunned by the unprecedented water levels, are frustrated by the lack of response from the MWRD, which manages the reservoir and treats its water before release. With more rain on the horizon, locals hope levels...

A Chicago teen just won a $5,000 prize to revolutionize how young voters engage with democracy—by turning confusing ballots into binge-worthy YouTube videos. Isabella Taylor’s channel, Democracy Simplified, breaks down candidates, policies, and the voting process for Gen Z and millennials, meeting them where they already spend their time online. With her mom’s push and a dream of law school, she’s...

Lowell Animal Hospital hit pause after the DEA raided their offices over a suspected overprescription of canine cough meds — but the hospital insists the prescription was fully compliant and all records were handed over. The DEA confirmed the search was part of a broader investigation into controlled substance diversion, though they say the canine cough angle came from the hospital itself. With th...

Chicago taxpayers face a $9 million settlement for wrongful imprisonment of Alberto Ochoa, a teen coerced into confessing to a murder he didn’t commit—highlighting systemic police misconduct and a city already paying over $130 million in similar cases this year. Ochoa, a non-English-speaking laborer falsely identified by officers who promised leniency, was physically abused and tricked into signin...

A second teen, 16, has been charged in the 2024 Gresham mass shooting that killed three, over two years after the deadly incident. Facing multiple murder and attempted murder charges, he joins an earlier 16-year-old arrested last year — both treated as adults. The February 25, 2024, home invasion erupted from an argument, claiming victims aged 14 to 36. Witnesses helped identify the suspects, and...

Earth’s core is spinning faster than the rest of the planet — a startling discovery revealed through seismic wave data from 60 years of earthquakes. Scientists now believe the inner core may have reversed direction around 2010, shifting from a slower or even stalled spin. While this doesn’t affect daily life, it could subtly influence Earth’s magnetic field — our shield against solar radiation. Re...

Two teens now face deadly charges after a horrific February 25, 2024, shooting in West Chatham that killed a 14-year-old boy, a 20-year-old man, and critically wounded a 36-year-old — all inside a home on South Vincennes Avenue. The second teen arrested, also 16, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and armed robbery. The first teen charged, Antonio Velasco, was reportedly close...

Elgin’s mayoral race heats up as Corey Dixon and Rose Martinez officially enter the race, following Mayor Dave Kaptain’s retirement announcement. Dixon, running for a second time, emphasizes showing up, listening, and delivering real solutions on affordability, safety, and downtown growth, backed by 15 years of local service. Martinez, a U.S. Army veteran and postal worker with 30+ years of commun...

Chicago’s tackling heat inequality head-on: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $1 million initiative will install air conditioning in 42 parks—mostly in historically underserved neighborhoods—using data from Northwestern’s Heat Vulnerability Index to target the hottest, most at-risk communities. First 20 parks get cooling by summer’s end, with 10 more by year’s end, and 12 more getting major upgrades. This i...

A Will County committee is recommending against Badger Daylighting’s hydro-excavation business on 159th Street in Homer Township, citing local opposition and concerns over economic fit — especially from neighboring Homer Glen, which fears industrial operations near homes and wants businesses that drive foot traffic. While the company offers concessions like off-site water hauling and land donation...