Good afternoon, Chicago.
The smell of raw cannabis is grounds for police to search a vehicle, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled today.
The decision runs counter to the court’s previous ruling that the smell of burnt cannabis in itself was not sufficient reason for a vehicle search.
The two rulings create a situation in which, though it is illegal to smoke pot in a vehicle, drivers are protected from a search based only on the smell of burnt cannabis, but are not protected from a search based on the smell of raw marijuana.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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With detention hearing looming, Lil Durk lawyer says there’s ‘no real evidence’ against artist
Weeks after he was charged in a cross-country murder-for-hire plot, a lawyer for Chicago rapper Lil Durk said the allegations brought by federal prosecutors “are false and lacking in the most basic due diligence.” Read more here.
More top news stories:
- Person of interest in custody in deadly Lincoln Park shooting, Chicago police say
- NHL will host a free fan festival before the Winter Classic game at Wrigley Field
Future of Northbrook’s Metra station coffee shop cast into doubt
After 30 years, the tiny coffee shop inside Northbrook’s Metra train station faces an unclear future, with commuters waiting to see whether they’ll still be able to get their morning java. Read more here.
More top business stories:
- Suburban roofing contractor cited again for alleged safety hazards: ‘A callous invitation to tragedy’
- Kenwood 6-bedroom home with fully renovated coach house: $3.9M
Former White Sox player Bill Melton throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a 2018 game.
Bill Melton, the 1st Chicago White Sox player to lead the AL in home runs, dies at 79
Melton’s playing career ended early, at age 31, because of recurring back problems. The always blunt and outspoken Melton, who often battled with the Chicago media during his playing days, later became a Sox TV analyst. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
- Meet the 3 finalists for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, celebrating its 100th anniversary
- ‘We seemed dejected.’ ‘We were sloppy.’ 6 takeaways from the Chicago Blackhawks’ 4th straight loss.
At the Goodman Theatre’s New Stages Festival, the audience plays a part in theater-making
The 2024 event includes the musical “Broken Eggs,” the Chicago-set “Ashland Avenue” and a new stage adaptation of “The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” among others. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
- Review: “& Juliet” at the Cadillac Palace is a crowd-pleasing musical with few ideas of its own
- Column: Meet Mark Vancil, the sportswriter who’s old friends with Michael Jordan
What to know about the deadly shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO
The masked gunman who killed the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies in front of midtown Manhattan surveillance cameras remained free Thursday from the dragnet thrown by the nation’s largest police department. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world:
