• Terrence Ligon, the man acquitted of killing a 4-year-old in a 2001 shooting, was shot dead Monday night.
• A faked ID production ring in Chinatown was busted up by federal authorities today.
• Both the Cook County Sheriff's office and the Chicago Police Department are implementing new, more rigorous background checks for employees.

Until recently, CTA drivers caught running red lights had to pay their own traffic citations. Thanks to a new policy, they are no longer financially liable for their violations. Instead, the Transit Authority will pick up the tab for their drivers' fines, which in turn can be paid with public funds. Good news if you drive a city bus, bad news for your average taxpayer. CTA spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney pseudo-explains that the new policy was implemented "due to objections from the union and the CTA's wish to streamline a cumbersome process to strengthen enforcement." Strengthened enforcement that no longer includes traffic tickets for running lights, apparently. more ›

You know that awful feeling you get when you have to sit and wait while the police officer writes you a ticket? Not just that adrenaline rush from being pulled over, but the sense of shame as people drive by, glancing in your direction and saying to themselves, "Man, glad it wasn't me"? Well, that feeling will always be there but your wait will be shorter soon thanks to a new electronic traffic ticket system being implemented which allegedly cuts the time taken to issue a ticket in half, thus enabling Johnny Law to get back out on the highway and issue more tickets. Officials hope to have the system in place by the end of the year. Um, hooray? more ›