It's been a rough year for CPD superintendent Jody Weis, to say the least. Still under fire (literally and figuratively) about the city's homicide rate, as well as the shooting deaths of three CPD officers in a two-month span, Weis came out yesterday in defense of himself, saying that, no, actually crime is not up despite the public's perception. Said Weis: "Despite reading the screaming headlines and the nonstop coverage that these violent incidents receive — as well they should — the fact is that the decline in violence over the past two decades is significant." While this is certainly true, what Weis failed to point out is that in spite of a decline in other violent crimes, the decline in homicides plateaued - if not out-right reversed - after he took control of the department. more ›

In a violent summer, the city last night saw its most violent single incident so far. Nine people were hurt - one seriously - in what police are calling a gang-related shooting at a CTA turnabout at 7900 S. Western Ave., a junction for both the CTA's No. 49 and No. 79 buses. According to police, five of the nine victims are known gang members (four Gangster Disciples, one Vice Lord). The victims, eight males and one female, ranged in age from 16 to 31. CPD Supt. Jody Weis stressed the gang-related nature of the shooting, telling reporters, "I don't want people to think there's any kind of threat against people waiting for the bus or anything like that." We're all breathing a sigh of relief; thanks, Jody. more ›

Continuing a theme seen over the first four months of the year, crime in the city is still trending down, according to Chicago Police, but murders are still up over last year. With an overall six percent drop in crime in the first five months of 2010 over the same time period of 2009, there has also been an increase in murders: 164 so far this year compared to 158 last year. Despite the increase of overall murders over last year, the trend for the month of May remained steady compared to last year. According to Tracy Swartz, who's been doing a valiant job tracking the city's homicides for the Tribune via Red Eye (yes, that Red Eye), there were 47 murders in May 2010 which is the same as May 2009. So far in June, there have been seven reported murders; June 2009 had 46 homicides. more ›

• Chicago had almost as many murders in 2009 as New York did.
• Two young boys were killed yesterday in a fire in suburban Lansing.
• The University of Illinois is preparing to institute unpaid furlough days in the wake of the state budget crunch.

This morning, citing police statistics, the Tribune's RedEye reports that the most dangerous time for violent crime - classified as "homicide, criminal sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated battery" - in Chicago is between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. The lowest point for those crimes is 7 a.m. The midnight to 4 a.m. time period sees the highest rate of murders. The statistics come with the caveat that there are a host of different factors that contribute to them and - of course - violent crime can happen at any time of the day or night, anywhere. more ›

Between now and Wednesday, we're counting down the top 8 local stories that captivated us in 2008. more ›

A menu of my dinner tonight, by reillyandrew
• Thinking of ordering a "Choose Life" license plate? A federal appeals court ruled the state doesn't have to issue them.
• Two Englewood teens were shot dead thus putting the city past its 2007 murder total.
• The Sun-Times reported a net loss of $168.8 million during the third quarter of 2008 and it looks like more staff cuts are on the way.

In today's "No Shit" story, Chicago's 2008 murder rate is up 18 percent compared to the first seven months of 2007, including a particularly bloody July that saw 62 people killed. From January to July this year, 291 people were murdered while the same time period in 2007 saw 246 murders. While the July tally seems high, it's still below the 66 murders from July 2006, though 2008's year-to-date tally is still higher than 2006's 266 murders. more ›