Chicago Children’s Choir Celebrates Holiday Season throughout City

Nothing puts us in the holiday spirit like good ‘ole holiday music. It’s just something about those classic favorites; White Christmas, Let it Snow, and of course Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. These songs cheer us up. They are comforting. They make us feel warm and fuzzy. And more than likely this holiday season, you’re going to hear them playing somewhere.

Historical Strand Hotel Opens as Apartment Complex

Regina Clippard immediately panics when she gets off of the bus and then walks two blocks in the dark every night to her apartment, after she leaves her job as a home healthcare worker. The single 50-year-old woman says at least two people were shot in the last year near her home in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.

Chicago Cop Charged with Fatally Shooting African American Teen 16 Times

A white Chicago Police Officer was charged Tuesday with murdering a 17-year-old black youth – believed to be the first on-duty city officer charged with murder in more than three decades.

Chevrolet Volt wins 'Green Car of the Year' at LA Auto Show

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An auto industry magazine has named the 2016 Chevrolet Volt its "Green Car of the Year."

Hotel Visits, Bullets, Lawsuits to Cost More in Cook County

Hotel visits, bullets and lawsuits will all cost more in Cook County next year. The increases are a result of tax and fee hikes Cook County Commissioners approved with a 12-5 vote last week for Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s $4.5 billion budget in the 2016 fiscal year. “This is not an easy budget,” said Preckwinkle in a news conference after the meeting. “But it is a responsible budget that tackles our needs head-on, without dodging tough decisions or kicking the can down the road.”

Firm Withdraws Plans to Open Marijuana Dispensary in Chatham Neighborhood

For the last few months, Dedra Delaney has attended meeting after meeting trying to stop a planned marijuana dispensary from opening at 1111 E. 87th St. in Chicago. Last Friday, Delaney and two busloads of Chatham neighborhood residents got what they wanted. A city staffer at the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting announced that Haborside Illinois Grown Medicine, LLC (IGM) withdrew its petition for the planned dispensary.

Turkey Chop Gourmet Grill to Give Extra Helping of Community Love for Thanksgiving

The week of Thanksgiving, West Humboldt Park’s Turkey Chop Gourmet Grill will serve an extra helping of community love by giving away 250 turkeys Monday at noon, then serving free Thanksgiving dinner Thursday to 1,000-plus people identified as in need or homeless.

Nationwide Crackdown against Abusive Debt Collectors Initiated

Washington, D.C. — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan last week joined with the Federal Trade Commission and other law enforcement authorities around the country to announce the first coordinated federal-state enforcement initiative targeting deceptive and abusive debt collection practices.

Ex-Mcdonald's CEO Joins Board of Vegan Firm

Former McDonald's CEO Don Thompson is flipping a new type of burger—one made without meat.

Spike Lee Shares Worst Film Experience, Top Career Moments

Spike Lee gets so excited when talking about movies, he can barely sit down. Reflecting on his career as he prepares to accept an honorary Oscar, the 58-year-old suddenly stands up and bounds around as he considers various ideas, at times bellowing so exuberantly, it echoes. Lee laughs as easily as he gets serious, and says he's profoundly touched by the film academy honor he'll receive Saturday at the seventh annual Governors Awards.

Heroin, Prescription Pain Pills Top Drug Threat in the U.S.

Heroin and prescription pain pills are among the top drug threats in the U.S., according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s latest drug threat assessment.

Judge orders release of video showing fatal shooting by Chicago police officer

A judge ordered Chicago Police to make public by Nov. 25 a dashboard video of a white police officer shooting an African-American teen 16 times.

Wynton Marsalis Honored for Humanitarian Work

PHILADELPHIA— Jazz great Wynton Marsalis has been honored with an award named for a pioneering opera singer.

Q & A with Kim Foxx

Kim Foxx, former chief of staff to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, believes that the criminal justice system in Cook County could use some shaking up. And the former Cabrini Green Housing Complex resident believes that she is the person to unseat current Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Metra Train Fares Increase Next February

Dorian Lofton regularly rides the Metra train from his home in Matteson, Ill., to his job as a teacher in downtown Chicago.

Napoleon Harris Officially Announces Senate Run

Returning to his former high school in Harvey, Ill., Ill. State Sen. Napoleon Harris (Dist.-15th) officially announced Tuesday he is jumping into the U.S Senate race.

Mayor Emanuel Announces Start of City’s Debt Relief Program

Chicago Mayor Emanuel announced this week that the City’s Debt Relief Program has begun. The program, passed as part of the 2016 budget process, allows individuals and businesses who owe debt to the City to pay what they owe without additional costs.

Senator Dick Durbin Hosts Panel on the African Diaspora

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) recently hosted an assembly of U.S. diplomats, development specialists and economic empowerment experts during a forum entitled “Going Far Together: Helping the African Diaspora Build Their American Dreams and Helping African Nations Realize Their Potential”.

Roseland Woman Wins ComEd Contest; Utility Provides Winter Savings Tips

Melissa Petty enjoys saving money and conserving energy: She turns off lights when she isn’t using them and doesn’t overuse her home’s furnace or air conditioner.

Chicago Native Captains Only HBCU Division I Lacrosse Team

The upcoming 2016 season will be the first for Hampton University’s lacrosse team as a member of the NCAA Division I tier. The team that initially started out as a club team, will be captained by a native of Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Midfielder Jeremy Triplett, a senior and marketing major, had never heard of lacrosse, despite attending college in a part of the country where the sports in prevalent.