Author: Voxtrend News
CHICAGO – For the first time in 24 years, the Cook County Circuit Court will have new leadership. What we know: Judges in the county’s circuit court held their triennial election to select a chief judge. Timothy Evans, who has held the role since 2001, was narrowly unseated. Charles “Charlie” Beach, a circuit judge since 2017 and former criminal defense attorney, won the post. As chief judge, Beach will oversee the criminal courts, the juvenile detention center and, more recently, the county’s pretrial electronic monitoring program. Maya Dukmasova, a reporter with Injustice Watch who covers the courts, said the…
CHICAGO – The City of Chicago has agreed to pay $90 million to settle dozens of wrongful conviction lawsuits tied to former Chicago police Sgt. Ronald Watts and his tactical team. What we know: The settlement, which still requires approval from the City Council, would resolve 176 lawsuits involving nearly 200 people who collectively spent more than 200 years in prison. Each case stems from false arrests, fabricated evidence and other misconduct by Watts and his unit, city lawyers said. The lawsuits represent one of the largest police misconduct scandals in Chicago’s history. Watts and Officer Kallatt Mohammed were…
A groundbreaking study has uncovered fascinating details about how octopuses use their arms in the wild, providing new insights into their behavior and adaptability. Unlike humans, octopuses don’t have a dominant arm, but they do show a preference for using their front arms for certain tasks. What Did the Study Find? Researchers conducted an in-depth study by observing wild octopuses in their natural habitats, capturing footage of their movements as they crawled, swam, and explored. The results were surprising: while octopuses use all eight of their arms for various functions, they predominantly favor the front four arms, using them about…
Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a significant move on Thursday by firing Peter Mandelson as the UK Ambassador to the United States, following the revelation of new emails linking Mandelson to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. What Happened? The decision came after emails from the 2000s surfaced, revealing that Mandelson had supported Epstein during the financier’s legal troubles. The emails suggested that Mandelson considered Epstein’s 2008 conviction “wrongful” and should be challenged, as well as referring to Epstein as his “best pal” and advocating for his early release from prison. These revelations raised concerns, especially after Mandelson had been vetted…
CHICAGO – A new poll sponsored by the Urban Institute sheds light on how Chicago’s Hispanic voting population aligns politically. What we know: The poll, conducted by M3 Strategies, found that 48.8% of Hispanic/Latino respondents described themselves as politically centrist or moderate, while 27.3% identified as progressive or left. It also found that 70% of Latinos support deploying more Chicago police officers. According to the results, Latinos are overwhelmingly opposed to both Mayor Brandon Johnson and his ideological opposite, former President Donald Trump. Fourteen percent of respondents said they had a favorable opinion of Johnson, while 65% said they…
ILLINOIS – Illinois officials are joining national leaders Wednesday in condemning political violence after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk, 31, was hospitalized following the attack, which came during the first stop of his “American Comeback Tour.” President Donald Trump said around 3:45 p.m. that Kirk died from his injuries. What they’re saying: Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the shooting “horrifying.” “The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying. Political violence has no place in this country and should never become the norm. I’m sending my sympathies to his family and…
NFC North week 1 recap: McCarthy’s homecoming, Caleb struggles & the Micah effect | 1st & North On this episode of “1st & North,” Lou Canellis and NFC North insiders recap all the key storylines from Week 1, including J.J. McCarthy’s 4th quarter heroics, Caleb Williams showing flashes of hope but struggling in the second half, and Micah Parsons making an immediate impact in the Packers’ win over the Lions. They also discuss whether it’s time to panic in Detroit, provide injury updates from around the division, and preview the key matchups heading into Week 2. After a disappointing collapse…
ATLANTA (AP) – Carson Kelly homered for the first of three runs against reigning NL Triple Crown winner Chris Sale and the Chicago Cubs outlasted the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Wednesday to win the series. What happened In the fourth inning, Kelly homered and Justin Turner had an RBI double. Chicago made it 3-1 in the fifth on Seiya Suzuki’s sacrifice fly. Nico Hoerner went 3 for 4 and scored the final run for the Cubs. They have won six of 10 to hold onto the first National League wild-card spot. Cubs starter Jameson Taillon was reinstated from the 15-day…
Ben Johnson doesn’t have to wait long to revisit some nostalgia. He was asked about the thought process and emotions of choosing to leave Detroit, especially choosing to leave the top offense he built for a division rival for what’s going to be a multi-year project. Johnson, now 0-1 at the helm of the Chicago Bears, said he still considers the coaching staff in Detroit friends. “At times, you have to make tough decisions,” Johnson said Wednesday. “That’s really how that went down.” Now, in Week 2, Johnson will face the winner he helped build while trying to steer the…
Ben Johnson returns to Motown on Sunday, as the head coach’s Chicago Bears play the Detroit Lions in Week 2, but the team’s former offensive coordinator won’t be getting a standing ovation from his former star playmaker. “Week 2 is going to be so crazy. I promise you it’s going to be so electric, but as soon as Ben [Johnson] walks in there, we’re booing him,” Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown joked on the latest edition of the “St. Brown Podcast,” which the Lions star hosts with his brother, Equanimeous St. Brown. “I don’t give a f—. We’re all…