Internet sleuths have been compiling information on Strahan for weeks and even set up a Facebook page demanding Strahan be brought to justice. more ›

On the list of worst jobs, working the drive-thru window at McDonald's during the graveyard shift has to be one step below being asked to do the "chocolate shake" dance at Wiener's Circle. Or being Jackee Harry's personal shopper. more ›

• Gapers Block reminds us that 15 years ago today was the peak of the legendary 1995 Heat Wave that claimed the lives of 700 people.
• Bail has been set at $1.5 million for a West Side woman accused of setting her disabled boyfriend on fire.
• Police want a new gun range in an area surrounding Whitford Pond near 134th street but environmentalists aren't so hot on the idea.

A quick head's up: the language in the below video is NSFW. more ›

If there's one thing we know about professional sports and the athletes that play them, is that it's as likely for someone to face criminal charges as it is for someone to donate to charity. Unfortunately, Chicago Bears rookie Lance Louis is associated with the former. Louis, offensive linemen and 7th round draft pick out of San Diego state, faces a misdemeanor assault charge for an altercation that happened while in college. The incident, occurring last fall, involved Louis and fellow teammate Nick Sandford. Authorities report that Louis assaulted Sandford in a team meeting room, causing Sandford to suffer a fractured cheekbone, broken eardrum and a concussion on top of it all. more ›

• A school bus driver has been arrested for allegedly holding a boy against his will on the bus and sexually assaulting him.
• A new 10-point reform plan for Tamms Correctional Center was announced today.
• Lara Hunt, accused of causing an accident that killed a motorcyclist earlier this summer because she was distracted by painting her nails, has been indicted on a reckless homicide charge.

As expected, Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and his cousin James have reached a plea deal to settle the case against them for their August 9 assault on a cab driver over 20 cents. The two Kanes pleaded guilty to the non-criminal charge of disorderly conduct. The sentence? They must write a letter of apology to cab driver Jan Radecki. Not a bad deal considering they could have each faced 15 days in jail and a $250 fine for the misdemeanor charges they were indicted on. The pair also have a conditional discharge, which means they have to stay out of trouble for a year to avoid further punishment. Kane shot the Trib a text message, saying, "Right now all I'm going to say is I'm happy to move forward." more ›

It looks like Blackhawks star Patrick Kane and his cousin are close to reaching a plea deal in relation to the alleged assault against a cab driver, The Buffalo News reports today. Any deal would be reached after Kane and his cousin are indicted, possibly on misdemeanor charges, later this week. more ›

At the opening of U.S. Hockey camp today in Woodridge, Illinois, Blackhawks star Patrick Kane spoke briefly, addressing his recent arrest for allegedly assaulting a cab driver in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. While he didn't comment directly on the incident due to the ongoing legal proceedings, he did issue an apology, saying, in part: more ›

There are moves afoot in regards to last night's Wrigley Field outfield shenanigans. Cubs chairman Crane Kenney personally called Philadelphia outfielder Shane Victorino and apologized. Not only that, the Tribune is reporting that charges will be filed if/when the perp is caught. The matter is now with the Chicago Police who will charge the fan with assault - after the Cubs and Victorino filed a complaint - if the fan is caught. And, by all accounts, it looks like he will. Besides the above image, courtesy of Deadspin, the Trib's story features a detailed Getty Image of the fans involved that pretty clearly shows who was the thrower. You can also reference the video below which confirms what the pics already show. more ›

• Police have arrested a man in connection with an attempted assault on a doctor in her office earlier this week; the man was turned in by his girlfriend.
• Has Mayor Daley ditched Stroger for Preckwinkle in the upcoming Cook County Board President race?
• A quick thinking paramedic helped save a woman who suffered a heart attack at the Taste of Chicago earlier today.

Both the Trib and Sun-Times are reporting Chicago Police officer Anthony Abbate has been found guilty on one count of aggravated battery. He originally faced 15 felony counts of aggravated battery in a public place, communication with a witness, intimidation, conspiracy and official misconduct. more ›

By a vote of 33-23, the Illinois State Senate approved a bill that would give schools more control over how to handle students with criminal records. The bill would allow schools to place such students in alternative schools. State Sen. Randy Hultgren, the bill's sponsor, said, "They realize that it is something that school districts aren't going to use lightly, because it is serious. But a forcible felony is serious, too." The impetus for the case is an incident at a Naperville Unit District 204 school where two boys allegedly sexually assaulted a third. When the victims' parents asked that the alleged attackers - who have been charged with felony criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault - be moved to a different school, the school said it was out of their control. While this bill moves onto the state House, a similar bill, introduced State Rep. Darlene Senger, has already been introduced to the House but is under review. [Daily Herald] more ›

The indispensable blog CTA Tattler brings us a very interesting story about the Guardian Angels and CTA graffiti artists. In particular is a recent incident in which some GA's caught a tagger at the Western/Milwaukee Blue Line stop but the Tattler suggest their "detainment seems to cross the line to assault" territory. (Note - according to the Tattler, the Guardian Angels choose to videotape such detainments to help prevent lawsuits.) more ›

Ofelia Garcia, 59, Maria Olvera-Garcia, 35, and Linda Dirzo, 58, have pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree murder and several counts of heinous battery stemming from an acid attack against Esperanza Medina in Logan Square this summer. Police believe Garcia hatched the plan because she thought Medina was seeing her ex-husband. The trio hired a trio of teens to attack Medina; she suffered third-degree burns over 25 percent of her body and may lose sight in one eye as a result of the attack. Two of the teens have already been charged in the attack. Dirzo has already admitted to driving the teens to the scene of the attack. more ›

In a story that's sadly not as shocking as it should be, one (barely) teen and another child have been charged with assault after pointing a gun at a man. A 13-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy approached a pedestrian on the 1000 block of East 53rd Street in Hyde Park last night and, after a conversation, one of the children pointed a small, silver gun at the man and said, “I’ll just pop you right here." While details of how the children were apprehended is still unclear, police were involved, the children were charged with assault, and were turned over to the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. more ›

A man has been charged with six counts of aggravated battery to an officer after he became "rambunctious" on a CTA bus and wound up striking the CTA bus driver in the head and, when police responded, hit and kicked five arresting officers. Police called him "highly intoxicated" and said the man struck another officer in lock-up. After complaining of pain, he was taken to Mt. Sinai hospital where he had to be sedated. He has since been returned to lock-up. more ›

In the town of Morris, just south of Joliet, a soccer dad has been jailed for trying to choke the referee of a game involving 6- ad 7-year-olds. William Favretto has been sentenced to 14 days in jail, 2 years of probation, pay a $500 fine, seek anger-management counseling, stay away from the victim, and apologize to the referee and the Morris Soccer Association. more ›