Embattled R&B singer R. Kelly, who was acquitted of child pornography charges in June, has resurfaced for an interview about the trial. Noting that it was time to "move on," Kelly said, "I can't keep answering these questions. If you was charged with something and you was found innocent, then you can't be found guilty for being found innocent." Ah, the legal wisdom of pop stars. But he didn't stop there. On his image, Kelly......

OUT has named what they deem to be the 100 Greatest, Gayest Albums of All Time, and we didn't see a single Chicagoan on the list How could they overlook R Kelly's "Trapped In The Closet" saga? We call foul!......

In honor of R Kelly's new album leaking online, Slate has decided to compile all their coverage of his trial a few months ago and has posted it online. Relive the fond, fond memories.......

The Trib is reporting, "R&B superstar R. Kelly has been acquitted on all counts at his child pornography trial, according to a court reporter's account displayed in a room set aside for the news media." Yeah, we can't believe it either. We guess the Wayans Defense has legs!......

Was it a mole or an "artifact"? That's the question that was batted around in court yesterday as the case turned its focus to a blemish on the back of the individual in the alleged R. Kelly sex tape. Kelly has "a caterpillar-shaped mark" along his spine. While the back of the man alleged to be Kelly is only visible on the tape for less than one second, both the prosecution and the defense have......

R Kelly's defense called private investigator Jack Palladino today, who said one of the prosecution's star witnesses once attempted to extort Kelly. [Trib] Nine people were shot last night and this morning in seven separate incidents. [S-T] A Joliet bar is being punished for violating liquor codes that ban certain forms sexually-oriented entertainment after a guy in a G-string and chaps performed. "Undercover police said they saw the dancer take money from women at the......

Jim DeRogatis won't have to testify in R. Kelly's trial after all, Judge Gaughan ruled today after DeRo was questioned at a hearing this morning. Kelly's attorneys argued that DeRogatis has a personal agenda against Kelly, and that DeRo's reporter privilege doesn't apply here because no one is asking about interviews or sources. At this morning's hearing, DeRo answered every question the same way: "I respectfully decline to answer that question on the advice of......

Jim DeRogatis didn't show up for court today as Judge Gaughan had ordered, and according to a Trib source, it's because he never officially received a subpoena. Gaughan is threatening to issue a warrant for DeRo's arrest, even though Sun-Times lawyer Damon Dunn says not only did Dero never get a subpoena, but he's appealing the one he's supposed to get anyway. Dunn asserted that the Illinois reporter's privilege statute protects the critic from having......

Photo by little pretty The University of Chicago Medical Center will be opening a physicians' office downtown, which the Trib says is "another attempt to compete with Northwestern Memorial Hospital on its home turf." [Trib] A Wisconsin man found what he says is $1,700 in Depression-era currency when he tore down an old shed on his property. [AP] Lisa Van Allen testified today that she had sex with R. Kelly and an underage girl,......

Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis will have to testify at R. Kelly's trial, Judge Gaughan ruled today. DeRo's lawyer says he's going to appeal. DeRogatis's testimony is key to the case, according to Kelly's defense team, because he's person who turned the tape over to the police.From the Sun-Times: Kelly's attorneys say they believe DeRogatis may undermine the testimony of Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards, who told police she had seen a copy of the tape with......

We hope R. Kelly rested up over the long weekend, because it's looking to be another rough week for him in court. A witness is expected to testify tomorrow that she participated in a ménage-à-trois with R. Kelly and an underage girl (different than the one involved in the current trial). There have also been allegations that there's a sex tape of this alleged encounter. The impending testimony had been discussed in secret hearings back......

Photo by johnsadowskiii R. Kelly's defense team wants to call rock critic Jim DeRogatis as a witness. Save DeRo! [Trib] Oldish, but new to me, and as someone who sees 4am more often than most, I got a real kick out of it: Is 4am the new midnight? The Illinois Department of Transportation released its wishlist yesterday. $10.9 billion buys a nice dream, IDOT. [S-T] A school bus and a semitruck crashed near the......

It's been a tough week for two of Chicago's most beleaguered boys. After an entertaining week of jury selection, the R. Kelly trial started in earnest with with the first day of testimony. Cautionary tale Drew Peterson was arrested on a felony weapons charge and there's trouble surrounding the reopening of the estate of his third (possibly murdered) wife, Kathleen Savio. Though both of these cases are scandalous in their own right, there are actually......

Both sides presented opening arguments today in the ongoing media circus that is R. Kelly's kiddie porn trial. The jurors will be shown the now-infamous tape that shows two people engaging in sex acts; the prosecution says those people are R. Kelly and an underage girl, and the defense says it's not R. Kelly, nor has the prosecution correctly identified the girl on the tape. Assistant State's Attorney Shauna Boliker argued for the prosecution that......

Today in Weird Shit Happening at the R Kelly Trial, from the Trib's bordering-on-the-absurd blog: ....Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan held up a plastic baggy filled with chewed gum. He announced that a colorful array of spit-out wads was found stuck under the press benches and he was not pleased. ... Unconvinced that the gum had come from the press, this reporter got down on the floor and looked under the benches, where decades of......

Two things that blew our mind today from the Trib's "gavel to gavel" R. Kelly coverage: "'My son told me nature already has provided an age of consent: puberty,' he said. 'I thought it made sense.'" -- Rejected potential juror "Attorneys complained Monday, saying the tiny room was being overpowered by the smell of urine." Blink. Blink.......

R. Kelly's long-awaited child pornography trial is officially underway. Jury selection started Friday, resumed this morning and should take about a week, with around 150 potential jurors being screened down to 16 (the standard 12 plus 4 alternates). The judge and lawyers from both sides are questioning potential jurors, asking about impartiality and how much they already know about the case. Also, being a little weird: [Judge] Gaughan also asked the first prospective juror to......

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has launched a new campaign specifically aimed at physicians, who have a higher suicide rate than people in other professions. [NYT] Mail delivery is improving. [Trib] Another thorough review/preview of the R. Kelly trial, which starts tomorrow. [Radar] A Naperville man was arrested Tuesday for a 1981 murder. [S-T] Ever wonder if people eat iguana eggs? They do. [Gourmet] Federal agents seized at least 85 illegal guns and over......

Photo by Genial23 God, we love a good Mavis Beacon joke. [Lonely Sandwich] The Blackhawks are raising ticket prices. [Trib] "'My kid's going to be born in a week, and I'm going to name him 'Dude.'" [CTA Tattler] A quilt with a quilt on it. Meta! [IamSusie] "Mark me down, I’m against violence." Mike Madigan, taking a tough stance. [S-T] The Sun-Times Media Group is being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Please,......

The Illinois Supreme Court denied a request today to unseal the court proceedings in R. Kelly's child pornography trial. The Trib, Sun-Times, AP and WBEZ had joined forces (media powers: activate!) to petition the court to overrule the lower court's ruling to keep the court records private. In other R. Kelly news, prosecutors are facing a uphill battle, given that the girl (now 23) authorities identified as the victim on the tape denies that it's......

WBEZ joined the Trib, Sun-Times and Associated Press today in filing a petition to unseal R. Kelly's court proceedings. Kelly's trial is scheduled to start May 9, a mere six years after charges that he videotaped himself having sex with underage girls were filed against him. The petition was filed in Illinois Supreme Court to overturn decisions from Cook County Circuit Court Judge Vincent M. Gaughan, who has kept all filings and records of meetings......

Will watching the above video of xkcd genius Randall Munroe's talk at Google be the geekiest hour of your life? Maybe. But it's worth it. [via waxy] Cook County judges aren't fucking around with the no-cameras-in-the-court-room stuff. Kiddie porn, though, take your sweet time. A woman who snapped a picture of R. Kelley in court went to jail this week, but was released today. Just for the record, charges were filed against Kelly in......

The CPD wants you to be on the look out for people with maps, people taking pictures, and anyone who looks like he or she doesn't belong. No, not an anti-tourism initiative. An anti-terrorism one. [Via boingboing, which is kind of like saying "via the internet."] R Kelly missed a court date. He'll be arrested again if he doesn't show up in court at 9 a.m. tomorrow. [S-T] Option A, option B. Some Chicago......

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