David Mendell –

Cindy Pontoriero, Chicago Police Department's first female detective. (Chicago Police Department)

Cindy Pontoriero, Chicago Police Department’s first female detective, dies at 84

September 18, 2026 at 10:28 a.m.

Cindy Pontoriero was a 19-year-old stenographer for the Chicago Police Department's Area 5 homicide division before, in 1972, she became the department's first female detective.

The Real Problem with Chicago's Shrinking Population

July 2, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

Recent Census numbers aren't as bad as they sound—except for one major factor. Since 1980, Chicago has lost more than a quarter of its black population.

With Friends Like These …

July 2, 2026 at 4:40 p.m.

They’ve rattled two of the biggest local projects in years—the Lucas museum and Obama library. How did Friends of the Parks become so powerful?

Why Anita Alvarez Is Still a Frontrunner

July 2, 2026 at 4:56 p.m.

Think the embattled state’s attorney doesn’t stand a chance in the March primary? Think again.

Can Kamau Murray Build the Next Serena?

July 2, 2026 at 4:59 p.m.

The tennis guru is on a mission to improve the lives of South Side kids. His tactic: helping them master the game so they can land college scholarships—or more.

On the Way

July 3, 2026 at 1:22 a.m.

Sitting on a small campaign jet during Barack Obama's 2004 race for the U.S. Senate, I found myself lost in thought. The candidate, dressed in a crisp white shirt and...

The Worry

July 3, 2026 at 1:24 a.m.

In the formative stages of Barack Obama's fame, no topic would make him or his aides more uncomfortable than his personal safety. When I first broached the subject, in July...

The Teachings of Toot

July 3, 2026 at 1:22 a.m.

Save for his mother, no one in Barack Obama's life was more influential in shaping his character than his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, known affectionately among the family as "Toot." "I...

The Jealousy Factor

July 3, 2026 at 1:21 a.m.

It's hard to say exactly when the moment arrived, but well into Wednesday's final presidential debate John McCain must have realized that he was not "whipping" Barack Obama's "you-know-what" and,...

The Fear Card

July 3, 2026 at 1:23 a.m.

As the first biographer of Barack Obama, I have often found myself in a position where few journalists find comfort: defending the honor of a politician. Yet, over the past...

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