Rebecca Johnson –

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain speaks during a press conference April 11, 2025, in St. Charles regarding a 2023 officer-involved shooting in Batavia. (Brian Hill/Daily Herald)

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, who has been missing from the public eye for months, announces his retirement

October 2, 2026 at 6:28 p.m.

The Kane County Sheriff, who has been missing from the public eye for around six months, announced Friday that he’s stepping down to “focus on his health and to ensure...

Izidora Angel, a literary translator, in her home on Sept. 21, 2026. Angel recently translated the novel “She Who Remains” from Bulgarian into English, which was a finalist for an international award. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Chicago’s book translators ‘inhabit’ languages in their work, which is more art than science

October 1, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Chicago translators pore over words and themes to translate books into English, a practice they say is complex and deeply human, especially given the rise of artificial intelligence technology.

Taraji P. Henson as Lenore Lindsey in "Give Me Some Sugah." (Linsey Weatherspoon/Perry Well Films 2/Netflix)

Taraji P. Henson to star in movie based on Chicago baker reuniting with long-lost son

September 24, 2026 at 6:13 p.m.

Producers Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin are bringing a real-life Chicago feel good story to Netflix this December.

Ada County sheriff's office cold case Detective Tim Cooper addresses the media during a press conference on Sept. 23, 2026, announcing that his investigation, although not complete, has connected Mathew Betkouski to the 1982 Tylenol poisoning deaths. Betkouski was found dead in the 1980s at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Boise, known only as the “Unknown Wanderer.” (Darin Oswald/Idaho Statesman)

Idaho authorities say they have a new lead on the Tylenol murders. Illinois investigators are skeptical.

September 23, 2026 at 6:53 p.m.

Idaho authorities say they may have solved the Tylenol murders. Illinois investigators say they're wrong.

Yadira Escamilla sits inside her church,
Unity Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Austin, on June 2, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/baiduhai)

Chicago woman ‘felt relief’ as troubled South Side foster facility’s manager sentenced to 30 years in prison

September 21, 2026 at 5:46 p.m.

A young woman who was sexually assaulted by a manager at a troubled South Side foster facility when she was a teenager said she “felt relief” after he was sentenced...

Curtis Evans prepares to affix a bright pink poster underneath a Flock camera near McCormick Boulevard in Skokie on Sept. 3, 2026. Since mid-July, Evans has been posting the signs to alert the public about the controversial license plate reader cameras. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)

Police say Flock is invaluable. But as misuse mounts, many wonder how to rein in the surveillance system.

September 13, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

As allegations of Flock misuse mount, police departments and lawmakers are grappling with what must be done to prevent wrongdoing.

A Taylor Farms processing plant in Doctor Mora, Guanajuato, Mexico, on July 19, 2026. (Fred Ramos/The New York Times)

Chicago librarian who allegedly got cyclospora after eating Taco Bell chalupa sues Taylor Farms

August 28, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

A man who allegedly contracted cyclosporiasis after eating a chalupa from Taco Bell has filed a lawsuit against Taylor Farms, his attorneys announced Thursday.

Tom Hitcho, a longtime friend of Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, is the first person to sit next to the newly unveiled statue of the nun at Loyola University Chicago on Aug. 21, 2026. She died last year at age 106.(Arthur Maiorella/baiduhai)

Sister Jean statue unveiled at Loyola University: ‘A lasting reminder’

August 21, 2026 at 4:24 p.m.

Loyola marks the beginning of a new academic year by commemorating beloved Rambler and international icon, Sister Jean.

Lineworkers, part of a team from North Carolina, rebuild transmission lines in order to reenergize a substation south of Gary on Aug. 20, 2026. The substations need to be repowered before electricity to homes can be restored. (Arthur Maiorella/baiduhai)

Indiana power outage presses on after 10 days leaving thousands in the dark

August 20, 2026 at 6:19 p.m.

As of 4 p.m. Thursday, NIPSCO's outage tracker listed 68,000 customers who remain without power because of the storms.

Nine Chicago-area hikers pose alongside volunteers with the Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team after they were rescued from a steep rock face around 2 a.m. Sunday in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge. (Wolfe County Search & Rescue)

9 Chicago-area hikers rescued on ‘steep, slick rock face’ in Kentucky as thunderstorm approached

August 20, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team rescued the group, a task that involved a four-mile hike on a dangerous path and a 300-foot rope in high heat and humidity.

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