Good morning, Chicago.
Within the Cook County legal system, 2024 in many ways marked a shift in approach that will be noticeable in local courtrooms.
After eight polarizing years, former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx stepped down. Her successor, Eileen O’Neill Burke, a former appellate judge, took office with a different mandate.
With a new year ahead, and a new state’s attorney at the helm of the country’s second-largest prosecutors office, 2025 appears poised for more change, even as systemic issues such as gun violence, inequities in the system and the legacy of police torture continue to reverberate through new and old cases.
The Tribune’s Madeline Buckley details some cases and issues to watch in 2025.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
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New Orleans inches toward normalcy while mourning victims of deadly New Year’s rampage
A mix of law enforcement, street performers and football fans has filled New Orleans’ blocks as the city inches back to normalcy while mourning victims of the deadly New Year’s rampage in which an Army veteran plowed a truck into revelers.
Authorities finished processing the scene Thursday morning, removing the last of the bodies. Bourbon Street — famous worldwide for music, open-air drinking and festive vibes — reopened for business by early afternoon.
- An aspiring nurse, a former Princeton football star and a father of 2 among those killed in New Orleans attack
- Family and investigators search for signs Texas man had planned deadly New Orleans attack
Opioid overdose deaths plummeted in Cook County in 2024
Last year in Cook County, 1,026 people died from opioid overdoses — a nearly 44% drop from 2023. The medical examiner’s office expects another 200 to 300 of its pending cases will be ruled opioid overdose deaths. But even with those additional cases, the number would still be far fewer than in 2023, when 1,822 people died of opioid overdoses.
Convictions in Hadiya Pendleton slaying to remain overturned after Illinois Supreme Court dismisses appeal
An Illinois appeals court decision that overturned the convictions for a man accused of fatally shooting 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton in 2013 will stand, after the state’s highest court found that its justices were divided on the matter and dismissed the appeal.
Bald eagles, now officially the national bird, not uncommon within city limits
Many dream of waking up on Christmas to a mound of presents stacked around a tree. Others simply wish to glimpse a few snowflakes when looking out the window.
And then there’s Alexandra Greenberg, who walked onto her back balcony on the holiday and saw two adult bald eagles.
Man charged in Park Forest double homicide detained as prosecutors share details
The man charged in a Park Forest double homicide was living with the two victims and in a dating relationship with the older woman, court records show.
Coleman Franklin, 50, was arrested Tuesday and ordered detained Thursday by Cook County Judge Luciano Panici, who found Franklin presents a clear and present danger to the community. He is due back in court Jan. 24.
‘Aggressive’ Notre Dame advances to the CFP semifinals with a win over Georgia in the delayed Sugar Bowl
In a Sugar Bowl delayed because of the deadly New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans, Coach Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame found the right balance of family and football to produce a memorable performance under unprecedented, emotionally trying circumstances.
The Fighting Irish made enough big plays and its defense held up to propel the team to a 23-10 victory over No. 2 seed Georgia.
Colton Dach will make his Chicago Blackhawks — and NHL — debut against his brother: ‘Keep it family-friendly out there’
Colton Dach’s call-up to the Chicago Blackhawks yesterday was a surprise. And there’s a sweetener. He’s scheduled to make his NHL debut today at the United Center against the Montreal Canadiens — and Dach’s brother, Kirby.
Can Josh Giddey turn a corner on defense? How the Chicago Bulls guard is redefining himself on his worst side of the ball.
Josh Giddey is tired of being the target on defense. In only four years as an NBA player, it’s become the hallmark of his career. Not the no-look passes. Not the full-court heaves. Regardless of his skill and impact on offense, the Chicago Bulls guard has become known as a defensive liability.
Giddey knows this about himself. He also wants to change it. And since returning from an ankle sprain last Saturday, the guard is beginning to show signs of life on the defensive side of the ball — early signs of what Giddey hopes will be a transformative trend in the new year.
For Chicago’s improv and stand-up comics, stage time is more important than screen time
Open TikTok and in seconds, a clip from a comedy show materializes. The proliferation of videos featuring comics’ jokes, crowd work or takedowns of rowdy hecklers may lead the average person to conclude that the road to comedy success runs through the Internet. But Chicago comedians understand that despite the allure of a viral post, true success is found on the stage.
What to do in Chicago: Kevin Hart and Bill Murray shows, plus rooftop curling
Need a jolt? Kick off the New Year with Kevin Hart’s brand of high-energy comedy as he brings his “Acting My Age” tour to the Chicago Theatre. Also this weekend, Bill Murray performs rock ‘n’ roll and blues at Thalia Hall, the Young Playwrights Festival and more.
