It’s Cinco de Mayo, Chicago. Start your Tuesday with these stories from WTTW News.
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(WTTW News)
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A federal jury is set to decide whether disgraced former Chicago Police Department Detective Reynaldo Guevara coerced a man into confessing he committed a gruesome double murder and kidnapping in 1998, records show.
In the trial set to start May 11, the jury will be asked to decide whether Guevara coerced Arturo DeLeon-Reyes into confessing to a 1998 Bucktown double murder by striking him repeatedly in the head and lying about what he said during an interrogation that lasted nearly two days. DeLeon-Reyes’ confession was overturned in 2017 after a judge determined the former detective told “bald-faced lies” while under oath.
DeLeon-Reyes, who was sentenced to life in prison, was convicted alongside Garbriel Solache, who was sentenced to death in 2000, records show.
Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan commuted the sentences of all inmates on death row, including Solache, to life in prison without parole in 2003.
Solache’s attorneys, with the People’s Law Office, and lawyers for the Chicago Department of Law reached a settlement to resolve his lawsuit against Guevara on April 28, court records show. Ben Elson, Solache’s lawyer, declined to comment to WTTW News.
In response to an inquiry by WTTW News, Chicago Department of Law spokesperson Kristen Cabanban declined to reveal how much it would cost taxpayers to resolve Solache’s lawsuit until the agreement is presented to the Chicago City Council.
Some backstory:
No physical evidence tied either DeLeon-Reyes or Solache to the slaying of Mariano and Jacinta Soto and the kidnapping of their children, 2-month-old Maria Guadalupe and 3-year-old Santiago, but both confessed after being interrogated by Guevara.
Chicago taxpayers have paid more than $6 million to attorneys to defend the city, Guevara and the other officers he worked with during the investigation into the murder of the Sotos and the kidnapping of their children.
Fourteen lawsuits naming Guevara have now been resolved by paying Chicagoans who had been wrongfully convicted of murder a total of $141.9 million, records show.
Guevara is set to collect a pension of at least $91,000 every year for the rest of his life, and has already banked nearly $1.5 million, records show.
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Yusef Jackson appears on “Chicago Tonight” on April 14, 2026. (WTTW News)
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A new chapter begins for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition following the death of civil rights icon the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.
The organization Jackson Sr. made into a national force for economic and racial justice has new leadership: the reverend’s youngest son, Yusef Jackson, who was unanimously chosen by the Rainbow PUSH board.
He’s inheriting an organization with decades of history and is charged with taking it into the future.
Newly appointed Rainbow PUSH CEO and President Yusef Jackson joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss his father’s legacy and modernizing the social justice organization.
On heading the organization his father founded:
“I’m honored that the board of directors had faith in me. I thank my mother; I thank my father, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., for the faith he had to entrust me with this legacy of service and to take it into the future.”
On taking Rainbow PUSH into the future:
“What we’ve got to do is we’ve got to teach civics on a block by block, person by person, group by group level, state by state, city by city. What does that mean? There are civil rights advocates, (from) ‘64 and ‘65, a lot of them are passing on, as my father has, but the beneficiaries of civil rights is 80% of the country.”
On main priorities:
“We have a big trade deficit with the country — Black and Brown people. If we close those gaps with the Civil Rights Act alone, the Voting Rights Act alone, the public accommodations bill, education, housing, life expectancy, affordable health care, then Black and Brown people would represent over the next five years $5 trillion of additional GDP. $5 trillion. It’s worth investing in African American and Brown people in the country right now because it’s a safe bet. We’re right here, right next to you.”
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Giraffes pictured at Brookfield Zoo Chicago in 2023. (Jim Schulz / CZS-Brookfield Zoo)
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Staff at Brookfield Zoo Chicago hit the picket line Monday after members of Teamsters Local 727 and zoo management failed to come to terms over a new contract.
“While this is a disappointing announcement, the zoo anticipated this possibility and has comprehensive plans in place to ensure uninterrupted and continued operations,” zoo officials said in a statement. The zoo remains open for guests.
Negotiations between management and the union had been ongoing since February but broke down late last week when agreement couldn’t be reached on sticking points that included wages and health insurance costs.
Union members rejected an offer from the zoo that offered raises below 4%.
“Management has also claimed that zoo employees are already fairly compensated, pointing to wage comparisons with states like Alabama and West Virginia. These comparisons ignore the reality of the Chicagoland area,” the union said in a statement, while also asserting that executive compensation at the zoo had increased significantly.
In a statement, the union also said the zoo’s final proposal “would eliminate the 100% employer-paid union health care,” a claim the zoo disputed.
“We are not taking away healthcare from our employees,” zoo officials said in a statement released Monday afternoon.
More context:
Striking workers include grounds, custodial and facilities employees but animal care professionals are currently on the job, according to a statement from the zoo.
“The care and wellbeing of our animals remain our highest priority,” the zoo said. “Animal care continues without interruption under the supervision of our experienced team, including veterinarians, curators and trained specialists.”
The zoo said it remains focused on “reaching a fair and responsible contract — one that supports our employees while protecting the zoo’s long-term sustainability and mission.”
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More From WTTW News:
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Back in the Day: May 5, 2001 - Cubs Hand Dodgers Their Worst Loss in Franchise History
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It was a normal Saturday at Wrigley Field 25 years ago. At the seventh inning stretch, the Cubs were leading the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1, but the game blew open at the bottom of the seventh. Right-hander Terry Adams entered the game for the Dodgers, and subsequently allowed five Cubs runs to score, making the tally 9-1. With much of L.A.’s bullpen strength depleted, struggling rookie reliever José Núñez replaced Adams. He gave up a three-run HR, and then in the bottom of the eighth, was smacked around for another eight runs. The final score was 20-1, which to date is the worst loss in Dodgers history. Both the Cubs and the Dodgers ended the 2001 campaign in third place with
similar records.
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This Week’s Staff Recommendations
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Every Tuesday, WTTW News staffers highlight their favorite things about Chicago. This week, it’s newsletter producer Josh Terry on his favorite spots along Division Street.
Josh Terry: Division Street has long been a muse of the city's literati. It was Nelson Algren’s favorite thoroughfare in the city: read “The Man With the Golden Arm” and you’ll get a tour of the 1940s West Side. Studs Terkel even wrote a book titled “Division Street: America,” an oral history collection of reporting and interviews that showcased the social, class-based and racial differences amongst Chicagoans. While I don’t live on Division, I’m close enough to walk along it every week. From west to east, here are my favorite places to visit along this historic strip.
Café Colao
Amazing, reasonable sandwiches from a Puerto Rican cafe and bakery that feels like it hasn’t changed since it opened in 2002. Ingredients are key here, especially the house-made pan sobao. 2638 W Division St.
Smash Jibarito
A recent addition to the neighborhood, this burger joint features a limited but potent menu and plantain buns. Get the papitas and the spicy Aye El Amor burger, which you can also get in a Café Colao pan sobao bun. 2534 W Division St.
Perpetual Books
Though it opened less than a year ago, this has quickly become my favorite bookstore. Friendly staff, a great selection and great prices. 2136 W Division St.
Prequel Cafe
If you’re looking for a quick coffee and a dynamite breakfast sandwich, head to the Prequel Cafe’s newly opened second location. I’d recommend the Brown Sugar Cardamom Latte and the “Deluxe” breakfast sandwich, which comes with pastrami, a soft kaiser roll, house sauce, avocado and LTO. 2034 W Division St.
Valhalla
This is a special occasion restaurant, and it’s among the greatest prix fixe options in the city. From the chefs and owners behind S.K.Y. and Apolonia, you’ll be wowed by the multiple courses that touch on chef Stephen Gillanders’ Filipino heritage and the inventive drink pairing. 2020 W Division St.
Gemini Shop
A perfectly curated shop of indie fashion for both men and women. You get what you pay for here, and you’ll own these pieces for a long time. 1911 W Division St.
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What's your favorite Mexican restaurant in Chicago?
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Email DailyChicagoan@wttw.com with your responses and your answers might be published.
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5:30 PM | 10:00 PM
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Want more WTTW News content? Follow WTTW on Instagram to check in with us daily, go behind-the-scenes, and more.
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Newsletter Producer: Josh Terry
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