Joseph Pannell was 19 years old when he shot a Chicago police officer in 1969. And then he skipped bail. And skipped bail again in 1974, this time fleeing to Canada, where he changed his name to Douglas Gary Freeman and lived under that identity for almost 40 years. But in 2004, Chicago's cold case squad tracked him down and started extradition proceedings, which Parnell fought....until this week. more ›

In the US, February marks Black History Month, and while there are no shortage of opportunities to learn about important and significant people of African descent this month, the purpose and history behind the event is sometimes lost. While Africans have been present in North America at least since colonial times, black history had barely begun to be studied — or even documented — when the tradition formally began in 1926. It wasn't until later... more ›

How to piss off Chicago cops: Rename Monroe St. from Western to Oakley "Chairman Fred Hampton Way," after the violent Black Panther who urged followers to "off the pigs." Oprah says that money can't buy you love or happiness and then tells you all the expensive things you should buy. Some dude in Hegewisch, IL, settled down with his popcorn and was getting freaked out watching The Exorcist when the sky started falling in... more ›

Joseph Pannell, (identified in the Tribune as James Pannell) 55, was arrested in Canada yesterday for shooting a Chicago police officer in 1969. The former Black Panther allegedly shot Terrence Knox, now 56, three times in the arm. Pannell was released on bail in 1971 but failed to return to court. He was rearrested in 1973, again released on bail, and again failed to return. The case pretty much collected dust until 2003, when Knox asked the cold case squad to reopen the case. That's a young Pannell in the picture, bee tee dubs. more ›