There are two ways to determine which posts were the most popular posts on Chicagoist this year: comments and hits. A lot of commenting tells us you've got feedback, you want to talk about things. Either the subject of the post or the way the post was written has struck a cord. A lot of hits means that even though you may not have commented on a post a lot, you went back and read it a lot. Or maybe you forwarded the link to the post to a lot of people. more ›

Now we didn't tell you this, but approximately four months after Bart Ross murdered her husband and mother at her Chicago home, Judge Lefkow returned to court Tuesday to preside over a number of routine civil cases. Her deputy said she "didn't want a lot of fanfare", and a note on her courtroom door said so: more ›

Bart Ross committed suicide during a routine traffic stop in West Allis last night and police found a note in his minivan claiming responsibility for killing the husband and mother of U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow. more ›

A DNA sample investigators took from cigarette butt left in Judge Lefkow's kitchen sink after the murder of her husband and mother didn't match any of the 2.27 million genetic profiles currently in the national database. Nor did the DNA match any of Lefkow's family members. The butt was called a key piece of evidence along with a fingerprint on a broken window, a bloody footprint, other cigarette butts and a soda can found near the home. Investigators have received over 600 tips and information about the case aired on "America's Most Wanted" Saturday night. They're being careful to explore all leads, but a number of Krotchety Kantankerous Kooks and Hale's associates have been interviewed about the case. more ›

Officials announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification of anyone involved in the Lefkow murders at a press conference this morning. GET THEM FUCKERS! more ›