Several people taken to hospital after Mace sprayed at school

Several people were taken to hospitals from a South Side elementary school Wednesday morning after a student reportedly sprayed Mace in a lunchroom, authorities said.

‘Major’ delays for CTA trains heading to and from Loop

From the North Side to the Loop, CTA elevated trains were experiencing delays, and passengers were met with crowded platforms, at stations Wednesday morning because of signal problems and “defective equipment.” Orange, Green, Brown, Pink and Purple line trains were affected by the signal problems, …

White supremacist to plead guilty to torching black neighbors’ home

A white supremacist accused of burning down his black neighbors’ home in a racist attack plans to plead guilty, according to court papers filed this week. Brian Moudry, 35, has until now denied torching a house rented by a black family on his block in Joliet in the early hours of June 17, 2007. He was due to stand trial next month, but has asked to enter a guilty plea in federal court on Friday, court records show.

Rich East board votes to fire teacher for alleged relationship with student

The Rich Township High School District 227 Board on Tuesday night voted 5-0 to fire a Rich East High School teacher for allegedly having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student last summer. The board voted to dismiss Earl Rogers, 39, a special-education teacher at the school since August 2010. Board member Cheryl Coleman was absent. Rogers did not attend the meeting at Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields. Board member Emmanuel Imoukhuede said Rogers’ conduct with his former student was “very unprofessional. . . . It’s disheartening, it’s sickening.”

1 in 3 Illinoisans lives in or near poverty level: report

One out of three Illinoisans today lives in or near poverty one in five Illinois children are living in poverty, according to the study released Wednesday. The forces behind this rising poverty go beyond unemployment to include lack of an inadequate living wage and lack of access to education, housing, health care and assets, the study says.

18 human heads found at O’Hare on last leg of final journey

Eighteen human heads that arrived at O’Hare International Airport just before Christmas — and remained there until this week — now appear to be on the last leg of their final journey to a crematorium.

Man killed in drug-related Lawndale shooting

A man was killed in a drug-related shooting in the West Side Lawndale neighborhood Tuesday morning, police said. The slaying is the 24th homicide of 2013, and the 21st fatal shooting of the year.

Convicted forger refuses to resign Thornton H.S. board president post

The Thornton High School District 205 board president notified the Cook County state’s attorney’s office Tuesday that he won’t resign — setting up a possible court fight.

Last month, Kenneth Williams received a letter from the state’s attorney’s office demanding he resign because he’s a …

County could pay $1.75 million to amputee for medical malpractice settlement

Cook County taxpayers would be on the hook for $1.75 million if elected leaders move ahead and settle a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by a man whose leg was amputated after he sought treatment at Stroger Hospital of Cook County five years ago.

The lawsuit, …

Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry pursue rate hikes

The Art Institute of Chicago would like to raise admission fees by as much as $5 and the Museum of Science and Industry would hike entry fees by as much as $3 in the coming weeks, under a proposal laid out in city documents. Those …

Axelrod: Despite NRA, Congress will take ‘some action’ on gun issues

As President Barack Obama is expected to unveil a sweeping set of proposals to overhaul gun laws on Wednesday, his chief political strategist said in Chicago he believes Congress will act even in the face of a “tremendously powerful” gun lobby.

“I do think there …

County edges closer to buying up vacant, foreclosed properties

What is being dubbed the nation’s largest landbank — an independent agency set up to acquire vacant land and foreclosed homes and commercial property in Chicago and the suburbs — moved one step closer to setting up shop Tuesday.

Chief Keef in custody for probation violation; sentencing hearing set

Rapper Chief Keef was taken into police custody Tuesday afternoon after a judge found that he had violated probation by firing a rifle at a gun range for a video. Keef, whose real name is Keith Cozart, had been on probation for pointing a gun at Chicago Police officers.

75-year sentence for man who killed 8-year-old

A Far South Side man gave a thumbs up in court Tuesday as he was being led away to begin serving a 75-year prison sentence for gunning down an 8-year-old girl and wounding her cousin.

‘Embarrassed’ aldermen OK almost $33 million in police misconduct settlements

With Chicago’s most powerful alderman describing himself as “embarrassed and ashamed,” the City Council’s Finance Committee agreed Tuesday to shell out nearly $33 million to settle two cases of police misconduct that gave the Chicago Police Department another “black eye.”