Cook County Judge Kathy Flanigan today denied a motion from media conglomerate Clear Channel requesting a summary judgment that would have removed it from dozens of lawsuits stemming from the 2003 E2 nightclub stampede. Clear Channel's inclusion as a defendant in the wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits — one of the disc jockeys accused of inciting the stampede was a Clear Channel employee — means that lawyers representing victims of the 21 dead and over 50 injured can now ask for more damages or make movements for quick settlements. Last November E2 owners Dwain Kyles and Calvin Hollins were sentenced to two years in prison for criminal contempt after refusing to comply with city orders to close the club for building code violations. [Chicago Breaking News] more ›

• Police hope surveillance footage will give them leads in a shooting that happened yesterday in the Irving Park neighborhood.
• Attorney General Lisa Madigan today said that Gov. Quinn is clear to sell Thomson Correctional Center to the federal government for housing terrorism suspects currently being held at Guantanamo Bay.
• Dwain Kyles and Calvin Hollins, the owners of E2 who were recently sentenced to two years in jail, have asked a judge to allow them to remain free pending their appeal.

E2 owners Dwain Kyles and Calvin Hollins were due to be sentenced this morning for their part in the February 2003 stampede that killed 21 people. While Kyles and Hollins have since both been cleared of involuntary manslaughter charges - making this charge the only criminal charge they'll be sentenced for - the [air were found guilty of contempt in housing court in September of this year for refusing to close the club after receiving four notices to do so. We'll update as soon as we hear. [Tribune] more ›

Involuntary manslaughter charges against E2 nightclub owner Dwain Kyles stemming from the 2003 stampede tragedy have been dropped this afternoon by Cook County prosecutors. The dismissal comes on the heels of last year's acquittal of Kyles' three co-defendants. According to the A.P., "Wednesday's dismissal follows an appellate court's upholding of the same judge's ruling not to allow prosecutors to introduce a Housing Court order as evidence at Kyles' trial. The order was issued before the stampede and required E2 to close because of code violations. The judge, however, said it was vague." Still no word on co-owner Calvin Hollins, Jr.'s lawsuit against the city. more ›

We don't know about you, but if we managed to escape 63 counts of involuntary manslaughter after being hanged in the court of public opinion, we might try to go back to our lives, shut the hell up, and count our lucky stars. more ›