Chicago's Alternative News

562 people have been shot to death in Chicago this year with about a month and a half to go.  30-year-old Michael Evans of South Chicago is the latest to be identified.  Police say he was shot and killed last week.  The shooting death toll for November is at 14.   FEMA will not offer assistance to victims of last year’s summer flooding.  Administrators sent a letter to governor Bruce Rauner saying the agency determined the damage in Cook, Kane, and surrounding counties from the flooding was not beyond the state’s capability to address.   A judge has ruled a Wheaton woman will remain in the care of the Illinois Department of Human Services for the 2010 death of her 4-year-old daughter.  DuPage County judge George Bakalis denied Marci Webber’s request for conditional release but said he will reconsider her request in six months.  

The Chicago shooting death toll hit 562 over the weekend with two new reported deaths.  One man gun downed last week has also been identified as 30-year-old Michael Evans from South Chicago.  14 people have now been shot and killed in November.   Governor Bruce Rauner and his wife Diana Rauner are trying to make sure members of the military around the world receive holiday cards from people throughout Illinois.  The first lady announced the 2017 holiday card drive for the military.  The Rauner’s ask that cards be sent to the USO of Illinois “Cards For Heroes” by Monday. Lawyers for an Aurora man say they plan to appeal his 15-year prison term for seeking to join an Al Qaida linked group in Syria.  Attorneys for 23-year-old Abdella Tounisi filed the notice late last week with the 7th U-S circuit court of appeals.

560 people have been shot to death in the Chicago in 2017 including 12 so far in the month of November.  38-year-old Paris Thompson is the latest identified victim to die of gun violence.  Police say he was killed Sunday in South Chicago. 200 veterans will be honored as part of the stat’s bicentennial celebration.  Governor Bruce Rauner and Veterans Affairs director Eric Jefferies announced the launch of Honor 200 this week.  Officials will work to solicit nominations for people to be recognized.   Glen Ellyn police are investigating after someone reported a man caught with his pants down.  The incident was reported on Prairie Path last week.  Police say multiple reported indecencies as well as groping incidents have been reported along the path including two such cases last year.

38-year-old Paris Thompson is the latest identified Chicago victim killed in a shooting.  Police say the father of a 3-year-old girl was killed Sunday evening in South Chicago.  559 people have been shot to death in the city in 2017 including 11 so far in the month of November.   Governor Bruce Rauner has ordered all flags in Illinois to be flown at half-staff in honor of a Rockford police officer who died in the line of duty.  Rauner’s order is in effect as of sunrise today and goes until sunset Saturday.  Jaimie Cox died of blunt force trauma during a traffic stop Sunday. Bolingbrook police believe they are close to finding a person responsible for a deadly hit-and-run.  35-year-old Tricia Hoyt was found dead on the side of the road near I-55 in Bolingbrook earlier this week.  Police say they have credible information identifying the alleged driver involved.

There have been 10 reported shooting deaths in Chicago in the month of November.  Three were reported Sunday in the Washington Heights, Near West Side, and South Shore neighborhoods on Sunday.  The shooting death toll for 2017 right now stands at 558.   Governor Bruce Rauner has congratulated the Illinois general assembly for adopting anti-sexual harassment protections.  Last week lawmakers scrambled to adopt a plan to prohibit sexual harassment and require annual training for its members.   Authorities say an elderly man taking a driving test in Naperville plowed into the DMV.  No one reported injured.  The man was taking his driver’s test in a Chevy Equinox when he reportedly hit reverse instead of drive, sending the car through the window.  

A woman was shot to death at a party over the weekend in south Chicago.  37-year-old Pamela Enge is the latest victim of gun violence in the city that has now claimed nine lives in the month of November.  Police say Enge was at a party in the West Pullman neighborhood.  It’s the 557th shooting death in Chicago this year. The republican leader of the Illinois house wants to establish a hotline for helping victims of sexual harassment.  Minority leader Jim Durkin says his legislation would create a “safe outlet” for victims seeking counseling, protective services, or assistance in filing a sexual assault complaint.   A man accused of causing a crash that killed an Elgin woman has pleaded not guilty.  62-year-old Brian Thunderkick appeared in court Monday.  Police say he was driving 135 miles per hour when he rear-ended a car driven by 22-year-old Erika Villagomez last month.