|
Local MLS club the Chicago Fire want a new home — and it would be privately-funded. That and more stories this Wednesday from WTTW News. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
(WTTW News) |
|
Chicago’s registry of gun offenders is “incomplete and unreliable,” a city watchdog investigation found, due to a lack of enforcement, procedural controls and inconsistent guidance.
The city's Office of Inspector General (OIG) on Tuesday published a new report which found numerous issues with the city’s Gun Offender Registration Ordinance — which requires anyone convicted of certain firearm-related charges to register during their release from custody or sentencing. “As Chicago reckons with the scourge of gun violence, we ought to be measuring up every available tool to control it,” Chicago Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said in a statement.
In the report, OIG found that some gun offenders who are supposed to register following their convictions are not informed that they need to do so due to coordination issues between the Chicago Police Department and jails and prisons. Due to the broad scope of the ordinance, Witzburg’s office said the CPD currently has no way of ensuring that all offenders are notified of their need to register.
Those who are informed are required to register in-person, but issues arose there too, according to the OIG. The report said both the city and CPD have provided “inconsistent and conflicting information” on where and when to register, while there’s also a lack of available locations, limited hours and long lines. The OIG also found that police don’t typically conduct routine residency verifications or other proactive missions necessary to enforce the ordinance and the city rarely seeks to enforce penalties for ordinance violations.
Some backstory:
The registry was first introduced in 2010, and then expanded three years later following efforts from the Ald. Ed Burke (14th Ward), whom the OIG reported believed the ordinance had significant importance as a gun violence prevention strategy, a community resource and a law enforcement tool. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A drone image of The 78, the planned site of the Chicago Fire's new stadium on the Chicago River, just south of Roosevelt Road. (Courtesy of Related Midwest and Black Creative) |
|
Chicago’s other football club — the Fire — is doubling down on its commitment to the city, with team owner Joe Mansueto announcing a plan to personally finance a $650 million soccer-specific stadium to be built along the Chicago River in Related Midwest’s development, The 78.
The proposed 22,000-seat, open-air stadium will provide The 78 — a 62-acre site in the South Loop — with a much-needed anchor for additional residential and commercial development. It could break ground in fall 2025 or early 2026, with an anticipated opening in time for the 2028 Major League Soccer (MLS) season. MLS Commissioner Don Garber dubbed the Fire’s stadium plan “one of the most ambitious” in Major League Soccer history.
In other stadium news:
As the Chicago Bears train their focus back on Arlington Heights for a new NFL stadium, they aren't getting help from Springfield for now.
Last week, lawmakers did not appropriate funding for the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium in their just-passed $55.5 billion budget. But NASCAR would be the recipient of a $5 million grant ahead of the sport’s third downtown Chicago race in July, and the PGA Tour would receive a $1 million grant as part of hosting the 2026 President’s Cup in DuPage County. Those were two economic development measures criticized by Republicans during the Senate committee hearing. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Chicago Police Department headquarters. (Michael Izquierdo/WTTW News) |
|
The family of a 10-year-old girl who was killed after a 2020 police chase will receive $62.5 million, the latest massive payment prompted by a police pursuit that violated department policy, records obtained by WTTW News show.
A Cook County jury ordered the city to pay $79.85 million in December to the family of Da’Karia Spicer, who was killed in the crash that occurred on Sept. 2, 2020, near 80th and Halsted streets, that also seriously injured her father and 5-year-old brother.
City lawyers appealed that verdict, one of the largest in Chicago history, and reached an agreement to resolve the lawsuit by paying a total of $62.5 million, with $20 million coming directly from Chicago taxpayers and the city’s insurance company paying $42.5 million, said Kristen Cabanban, a spokesperson for the Department of Law.
How much have we spent so far in 2025?
Just five months into the year, Chicago taxpayers have spent at least $165 million to resolve more than two and a half dozen lawsuits, exceeding its budget to resolve lawsuits alleging police misconduct by more than 100%, city records show. |
|
|
|
|
|
Back in the Day: June 4, 1990 - Chicago Bulls Lose Game 7 of Eastern Conference Finals
|
|
For the Chicago Bulls in 1990, their biggest rivals were just a couple of states away in the Detroit Pistons. They had lost to the Isiah Thomas-led team in the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals and Detroit would go on to win their first ever NBA title. This season, with new coach Phil Jackson and his triangle offense, Michael Jordan and the Bulls thought they could break through. On this day, 35 years ago, the Bulls took the Pistons to seven games but couldn’t finish the job, losing 74-93 away in Detroit. Michael Jordan had 31 points and 8 assists, and said after the game, “They were the better team and they played better today.” While the Pistons would win in the NBA finals—their second championship in a row — the Bulls had a brighter future. They’d finally best their division rivals in 1991 and would win a massive six titles by 1998.
|
 |
|
|
|
Local Live Music Recommendations for June 4-June 10 |
|
Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more.
Wednesday, June 4:
Dutch Interior, Poor Image, Sleeper's Bell at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
The adventurous indie rock group boasts a healthy dose of twang and multiple songwriters who take lead vocal duties.
Thursday, June 5:
Samuel Aaron, Winefred RT, Lucky Cloud at Empty Bottle. Tickets.
An all-local bill gathers in Ukrainian Village to celebrate Aaron’s new LP “Rambler.”
Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6:
Cosmic Country Showcase at Judson and Moore. Thursday tickets and Friday tickets.
This charming revue mixes live music, comedy and country music, highlighting local artists and touring acts. Two shows.
Friday, June 6:
Dead Gowns, Lillian King at Hideout. Tickets.
One of indie rock’s most transfixing voices performs at the Bucktown dive.
Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7:
Billy Strings at Allstate Arena. Friday tickets and Saturday tickets.
See why this Michigan-born bluegrass picker inspires a Grateful Dead-like following. Two shows.
Saturday, June 7:
Mei Semones, John Roseboro at Lincoln Hall. Tickets.
The New York artist makes intricate, string-laden and stunning music that combines jazz, indie rock and bedroom pop.
Discus, Lake J, Josephine at Sleeping Village. Tickets.
All Chicago bands and all are excellent.
Grace Jones, Janelle Monae at Ravinia. Tickets.
Two generations of boundary-pushing pop stars team up in the northern suburbs.
Sunday, June 8:
Mavis Staples at Pritzker Pavilion. Free.
The iconic soul legend caps off the Chicago Blues Festival with a headlining set. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
What’s the most overrated thing about summer in Chicago? |
|
|
|
Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
5:30 PM | 10:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more. |
|
Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry |
|
|
|
|
