‘‘I never saw it coming,’’ said Bears coach Lovie Smith when asked about Hurd’s arrest by federal agents. Hurd's teammates were also stunned and dismayed by Thursday's developments. But there were signs that Hurd had made some questionable choices even before signing with the Bears this off-season. more ›

Looks like a different kind of snow was left on the streets of Cicero. more ›

Rene Ortega, 33, and Leonel Torres-Torres, 43, of the 100 block of North West Road, both face drug charges after a search of their home on Wednesday night uncovered 38 kilograms--about 84 pounds--of cocaine, officials said via the Chicago Tribune. Each man faces a charge of one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a sentence that usually carries between 15 and 60 years in prison, according to the DuPage County state's attorney's office. Both Ortega and Torres-Torres appeared before DuPage County Judge Liam Brennan on Friday morning, and both their bails were set at $1 million each. They will appear before Judge Daniel Guerin on January 10, 2011. more ›

And we mean huge. Yesterday, police arrested a Cicero man who 220 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle; the amount has a street value of over $1.5 million. But that's not all they found. The investigation took the officers to a nearby garage at 26th and Kildare where they found 25 kilos of coke (street value: $3.1 million), four pounds of methamphetamine (street value: $600,000), and a 9mm handgun. Herrera wasn't charged with the Scarface-esque coke discovery in the garage and police say the investigation is ongoing. [Tribune] more ›

• On again, off again: the abortion notification law is on hold once more after a judge issued a restraining order on it this afternoon at the request of the ACLU.
• According to prosecutors, the man accused of causing a wreck that killed a pregnant mother and the baby - delivered by emergency c-section after the crash - had cocaine in his system at the time of the crash.
• Mick Dumke breaks down Mayor Daley's interview with WBEZ from earlier in the week.

U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald is calling today's unsealed indictments of 36 members of three drug cartels - including two leaders of feuding cartels - "the most significant drug importation conspiracies ever charged in Chicago." The three biggest figures charged are Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman-Loera (#701 on Forbes' list of the world's richest people), Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada-Garcia, and Arturo Beltran-Leyva. The Tribune has much more background on the story and also has the actual indictments. more ›

Keeping it all in the family, a Chicago firefighter has been placed on unpaid leave after he was charged with selling cocaine to a Department of Water Management worker. The firefighter, 62-year-old Ruben Santiago, was charged with "manufacture, delivery and possession of more than 15 grams of cocaine" while the DWM worker, 63-year-old Waldemar Cruz, was charged with "felony possession of a controlled substance." Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said, "At this time, there is no indication that anything illegal was done on city time. However, the conduct alleged clearly violates the oath taken to protect life." more ›

Two Little Village men were arrested yesterday with cocaine in their possession. How much cocaine? $19 million worth. A tip led CPD Narcotics officers to set up surveillance of a drug deal. Officers watched the deal which led to the arrests of Anastacio Esparza and Lorenzo Barrios. Esparza was driving a van containing 50 kilograms of blow and further investigation led to the arrest of Barrios who was found to be in possession of 104 kilograms at his home. more ›

Federal officials arrested 11 members accused of being members of the Juarez Drug Cartel who they say are responsible for distributing cocaine and marijuana in the Chicago area. According to WBBM, "Between December 2007 and July 2008, the cocaine was sold wholesale to for $20,000 to $22,000 per kilogram, while marijuana sold for $500 to $1,050 per pound". Feds think members rounded up in the arrest are also linked to a Little Village triple murder which officials are calling a "drug hit." more ›

Autopsy results released yesterday in the death of Gefery Johnson revealed that the 42-year-old Gresham resident died of cocaine intoxication and not from being shocked by a taser while being arrested by police. In August, police responded to a domestic disturbance call at Johnson's family residence, where he "became really combative with police" and resisted arrest. Police subdued Johnson with pepper spray and the taser. He was pronounced dead at St. Bernard Hospital. Johnson's death, followed by the police-related shooting of 18-year-old Aaron Harrison a few days later, led to heated protests against the police department, charges of police brutality, and a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Johnson's family. more ›

The Special Operations Section of the Chicago PD has yet another scandal on its hands: An unconstitutional sweep of a bar on March 27, 2004, was caught on video, and the officers' story does not, in any way, match what's on the tape, which is now in the hands of the Tribune. News of this perversion of the social contract comes as part of the bigger take-down of the SOS cops' style of protecting and... more ›

It's grown easy to take Ministry for granted. Hell, we bet most people didn't even realize that the band was putting out albums since the group's public profile has dropped considerably since they had a hit with the Gibby Haynes-sung speed freakabilly of "Jesus Built My Hotrod." more ›

Did anybody see the picture of the effing boatload of keys authorities seized in Will County this week? more ›

One of our favorite writers, Dawn Powell, once wrote, "Satire is people as they are; romanticism, people as they would like to be; realism, people as they seem with their insides left out." This explains why the documentaries of Frederick Wiseman, some of which are screening at the Chicago International Documentary Festival starting this weekend, often feel so scathing. They show people as they are, not how we usually see them, and in doing so... more ›

It's been nearly 10 years since the untimely, unfortunate demise of Chicago-area comedian Chris Farley. We're not going to lie and say we remember exactly where we were when we heard the news or anything like that, but we can't believe it's been that long already. He had still been big in the movies with a promising future at the time of his death, if he could have broken out of the stereotypical fat-guy-does-crazy-shit-cuz-he's-fat role.... more ›

Hot Doug's is the proud recipient of the city's first Foie Gras ticket. Doug Sohn, who puts the Doug in Hot Doug's, has been taunting the hell out of city officials since the ban went into effect. Sohn framed the warning letter he received from the city and placed it on his counter. Coming half a year after the ordinance was passed, the Chicago Health Department inspector went to Hot Doug's on Friday morning, issued... more ›

If there is one thing Alderman Arenda Troutman doesn't know how to do, it's lay low. You might remember Troutman, who made news earlier this month when the FBI raided her South Side home on suspicion of taking bribes. You may also remember that this didn't come out of nowhere — Troutman has been under suspicion for a while now, after allegations that she was not only dating a Black Disciple, but was leaking information about the Chicago police to him. If we were all over the papers for something like that, we wouldn't be making noise in the press about it, that's for sure. And we sure as hell wouldn't be (allegedly) accepting bribes. more ›

Having a troubled family member is a classic story in politics. We all remember Roger Clinton, failed rock musician, alcoholic and convicted cocaine user, who's legacy lurked in the shadow Bill Clinton's presidency. And who could forget Billy Carter, Jimmy's good ol' boy brother, who endorsed Billy Beer and registered as a foreign agent with Libya in exchange for nearly a quarter million dollars? Rod Blagojevich should be so lucky to have a relative as... more ›

Craigslist — a "virtual smorgasbord of products and services" — is a pretty fine resource for jobs, bikes, Sifl 'n Olly show DVD sets, and really killer missed connections. What it is not, however, is a pimping outlet. more ›

That new TV show, "Armed & Famous," where they train Z-list celebs to be cops ... it's in Indiana. Figures! Some racist assholes with a pro-Chief Illiniwek page on Facebook made threats against a Native American University of Illinois student. Suggested one person, "I say we throw a tomahawk into her face." A lady from Florida is suing Kraft because Capri Sun says "All Natural" on the label. When did she figure out that... more ›

We might not have gotten a shiny new game console this weekend, but we have crime to comfort us: A 58-year-old patient at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora died in a police shootout on Saturday. Johnnie Russell holed himself up in his room in a 4.5 hour standoff with local police, at one point taking a 71-year-old fellow patient hostage. Russell eventually opened his door and fired a shot; police opened fire in kind.... more ›

Marco Morales has a special place in Chicagoist's heart. Not because he once distributed a kilogram of cocaine for $25,000. Not because he became a wealthy city sewer-repair contractor by paying kickbacks of up to $5000 a pop. Not because his son's construction company has made millions off taxpayer-funded city projects. Not because he managed to make millions of dollars for his own business (illegally), in spite of being a 7th grade drop out. more ›

Chicagoist wondered when the Cocaine energy drink would hit the shelves here, and it seems we’ve got some more waiting to do. The drink has gotten a lot of hype, but if no one is willing to carry the beverage, all the press in the world won’t matter. more ›

If you missed the global sports extravaganza that was the Gay Games this summer (see, we've already *had* an Olympics, people!), you can still get in on a part of the action. To wrap things up and to clean out the closet, the organizers are having a mega garage sale. What might you find at this garage sale, you ask? "Items available for sale will include country and state banners used in the Opening and... more ›

Chicagoist has a dark sense of humor. And, we’ve got a hardcore caffeine habit. Lucky for us, the two now come in a controversial 8.4-ounce can. Las Vegas-based Redux Beverages recently rolled out their marketing campaign for the new energy drink Cocaine. It compares in calories to Red Bull (only 70 vs. Red Bull’s 80) but weighs in with 350 percent more caffeine (280 mg, about the same as four espresso shots). The drink also boasts an instant rush with no crash. more ›

Chicagoist knows sometimes someone just needs a good groin kick and/or cock punch. We get it. But there are some circumstances in which this response is inappropriate. Say, when a law enforcement official is involved. Then, it’s not such a great idea. more ›

San Francisco is proud host of a new reality show called "How to Get the Guy" that's unfortunately not a descendant of Will and Grace, Queer Eye, The L Word, American Idol etc. Also a biodefence lab is coming to the East Bay and SFist teaches wine pairing. Getting on the wrong train sucks. Getting on the wrong train and becoming the victim of what will later be described as a "stabbing spree" really sucks.... more ›

A new boot for your car. Stroger was in the hospital again. This just in: Poorer schools have less qualified teachers. Makes sense to us. A former Chicago cop plead guilty to stealing cocaine, money and guns from drug dealers. An ordinance to ban the sale of meat treated with carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide? Really? We had no idea! Topinka says if she's elected she'll block any plan to sell or lease the IL... more ›

We’ll admit, you had us a little worried last week, people. But you met our challenge head on and brought your stupid A game this week. We knew you had it in you. more ›