News and updates about Chicago

Due to war in Gaza:

Muslim leaders boycott White House invitation

A joint letter from more than forty leaders called for action instead of more meetings, including an end to support for Israel.

Muslim leaders boycott White House invitation

Chicago:

Jew carrying Israeli flag brutally assaulted

A man walking to a screening of a documentary about the October 7th massacre was surrounded and beaten by anti-Israel protesters.

Jew carrying Israeli flag brutally assaulted

Matisyahu concert canceled due to fear of protests

The sold-out event scheduled at the Chicago House of Blues was called off just hours before it was set to start due to fears that pro-Palestinian protesters would attempt to disrupt the performance.

Matisyahu concert canceled due to fear of protests

Chicago:

District where students held walkout investigated

Chicago school district, where students walked out to protest Israel-Hamas war, now faces federal Title VI investigation.

District where students held walkout investigated

Chicago:

33 arrested during anti-Israel protest

Police in suburban Chicago arrest 33 people who blocked streets outside company protesters say has a role in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza.

33 arrested during anti-Israel protest

By one vote:

Chicago calls for Gaza ceasefire

The measure came down to one single vote, that of Mayor Brandon Johnson's.

Chicago calls for Gaza ceasefire

Eyewitness was blind:

Chicago man freed after twelve years in prison for murder

Darien Harris spent twelve years behind bars before proving that the eyewitness to his alleged crime was legally blind.

Chicago man freed after twelve years in prison for murder

Chicago:

Father of murdered Palestinian boy files wrongful death lawsuit

Father of six-year-old Palestinian Arab American boy who was fatally stabbed by landlord files wrongful death lawsuit.

Father of murdered Palestinian boy files wrongful death lawsuit

Illinois:

Program that helped families with day school tuition ends

Illinois tax credit program for private schools set to end, upsetting Jewish advocates.

Program that helped families with day school tuition ends

Demand to remove consul who criticized Yom Kippur prayers

The Im Tirtzu movement calls for the removal of the Israeli Consul in Chicago after he criticized the public Yom Kippur prayers in Tel Aviv.

Demand to remove consul who criticized Yom Kippur prayers

Leading Chicago Jewish philanthropist killed in crash

James Crown, one of Chicago’s leading Jewish philanthropists, dies in racetrack crash at the age of 70.

Leading Chicago Jewish philanthropist killed in crash

Chicago real estate mogul Sam Zell dies

Billionaire real estate investor amassed fortune buying distressed properties and turning them around for profit.

Chicago real estate mogul Sam Zell dies

United Hatzalah EMT and doctor save two people on Chicago flight

Two separate medical emergencies occur on same United Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Chicago. Luckily, a doctor and EMT were on board.

United Hatzalah EMT and doctor save two people on Chicago flight

Chicago residents outraged over Nazi flags in apartment windows

Locals say their complains over man in Edgewater area who refuses to remove hateful flags are being ignored.

Chicago residents outraged over Nazi flags in apartment windows

Real threat to academic freedom at the University of Chicago

Vociferous anti-Israel activists cannot decide what can be taught and who can teach it, but they are trying their utomost to do so. Op-ed.

Real threat to academic freedom at the University of Chicago

Chicago man out on bail after threats to burn rabbi in oven

Self-described Nazi threatened to burn rabbi in oven and goose stepped in front of cops while making Nazi salutes near Jewish school.

Chicago man out on bail after threats to burn rabbi in oven

Chicago:

Man charged with hate crime for putting swastikas on signs

Suburban Chicago man faces hate crime charges for plastering swastika stickers on campaign signs of country board candidate.

Man charged with hate crime for putting swastikas on signs

Chicago art college revokes Kanye West’s honorary doctorate

Prestigious institute rescinds award rapper received in 2015 for contributions to arts and culture.

Chicago art college revokes Kanye West’s honorary doctorate

Jewish school calls out antisemitic bus incident as fake news

Antisemitic attack against school bus reported in Chicago media didn’t happen, Jewish school says.

Jewish school calls out antisemitic bus incident as fake news

Chicago:

Principal suspended over student giving Nazi salute on stage

Halloween contest descends into antisemitism as student in German military uniform goose-steps across stage, performs Nazi salute.

Principal suspended over student giving Nazi salute on stage

Kanye West hometown mural painted over

14-foot Chicago mural of rapper painted over at request of building's owner who is Jewish.

Kanye West hometown mural painted over

Chicago:

Building collapses after explosion, multiple injuries reported

Building on Chicago's West Side collapses after nearby explosion, causing multiple injuries.

Building collapses after explosion, multiple injuries reported

Watch: Reporter banned by Chicago mayor for 'tough questions'

Tucker Carlson interviews a Chicago reporter who says Lori Lightfoot needs 80 security guards to keep him at bay while crime skyrockets.

Watch: Reporter banned by Chicago mayor for 'tough questions'

Chicago mayor slams migrant buses: 'Riding a bus is tough'

Mayor Lori Lightfoot cites her horrible experience riding buses as a college student while slamming Texas for sending migrants to Chicago.

Chicago mayor slams migrant buses: 'Riding a bus is tough'

Chicago mayor faces growing number of challengers for her seat

'Collaboration - not confrontation' - a popular South Side alderman not the first to join bid to unseat Chicago's Lightfoot.

Chicago mayor faces growing number of challengers for her seat

Fox News: Lori Lightfoot is the 'worst mayor in America'

Sports analyst is stunned the Chicago Bears are not willing to play in a 'dangerous' part of the city despite the mayor's gracious offer.

Fox News: Lori Lightfoot is the 'worst mayor in America'

Highland Park shooter indicted on 117 counts

Robert Crimo, accused of opening fire at Independence Day parade near Chicago, indicted by grand jury on 117 counts.

Highland Park shooter indicted on 117 counts

Chicago:

Jewish man chases away group posting white supremacist stickers

Lincoln Park, Illinois residents chase away white supremacists posting hate propaganda in their neighborhood.

Jewish man chases away group posting white supremacist stickers

Confirmed: Four Jews killed in Highland Park shooting

Of the seven people murdered, four were Jewish.

Confirmed: Four Jews killed in Highland Park shooting

Watch: Aftermath of Amtrak train derailment in Missouri

A packed Amtrak passenger train travelling from LA to Chicago has derailed in Mendon, Missouri, with reports of multiple injuries.

Watch: Aftermath of Amtrak train derailment in Missouri

Erasing medical debts in Chicago - because of Shmita?

An interfaith coalition erased medical debts for over 2,000 people in the Chicago area, inspired by ancient Jewish custom.

Erasing medical debts in Chicago - because of Shmita?

Chicago ward boss caught calling rabbi antisemitic slur

Longtime city superintendent was found to be in violation of anti-discrimination rules but was allowed to retire to avoid being fired.

Chicago ward boss caught calling rabbi antisemitic slur

Chicago suburbs targeted with antisemitic flyers on Yom HaShoah

Antisemitic flyers found in Chicago suburbs on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Chicago suburbs targeted with antisemitic flyers on Yom HaShoah

Hate crime in Chicago:

Palestinian Arab allegedly attacks Jewish bartender with glass

Chicago woman charged with hate crime for attacking a Jewish bartender with antisemitic abuse and a cocktail glass.

Palestinian Arab allegedly attacks Jewish bartender with glass

Suppressing pro-Israel views at the University of Chicago

Free speech anyone? The University’s newspaper removed an op-ed challenging a noxious boycott request by anti-Israel SJP radicals. Opinion.

Suppressing pro-Israel views at the University of Chicago

Reporter to Chicago Mayor:

'Are you lying or just incompetent?'

The mayor disputed reports of record crime numbers in the city, calling the reporter the 'rudest person I've ever seen.'

'Are you lying or just incompetent?'

Chicago resident: 'We're living in a war zone'

A Chicago resident says she's 'living in constant fear' in the crime-ridden city after another mass shooting in broad daylight.

Chicago resident: 'We're living in a war zone'

Maine teen arrested for plotting to bomb Chicago synagogues

18-year old accused of planning to use homemade explosives containing sharp metal objects to bomb synagogues and mosques in Chicago.

Maine teen arrested for plotting to bomb Chicago synagogues

Chicago police searching for man who threatened Jewish students

Suspect yelled antisemitic abuse at yeshiva students and their teacher, including saying "All of you should be killed."

Chicago police searching for man who threatened Jewish students

Chicago:

Locals want to rename park for Jewish writer killed in Auschwitz

Group of Chicago residents working to have city park named after Jewish poet who was killed in the Holocaust.

Locals want to rename park for Jewish writer killed in Auschwitz

Dem congresswoman allegedly bribed to take anti-Israel positions

Chicago-area congresswoman under investigation on suspicion of bribery, allegedly promising to hire Palestinian-American as staffer.

Dem congresswoman allegedly bribed to take anti-Israel positions

Spate of hate crimes in Chicago

Five hate crimes reported in 24 hours in Chicago neighborhood. Police investigating.

Spate of hate crimes in Chicago

Black criminality must be recognized and dealt with

Soaring statistics of crimes committed by black youth can be changed, but not by pandering to perpetrators in court. We need a plan. Op-ed.

Black criminality must be recognized and dealt with

Synagogue, church partner teach a lesson of coexistence

In wake of Colleyville hostage crisis, Rabbi Ari Hart speaks about his congregation's partnership with a local African American church

Synagogue, church partner teach a lesson of coexistence

Chicago teacher with cancer refuses to stop teaching in person

Chicago teacher shares decision to continue teaching in person while battling cancer even as Chicago Teachers Union refuses to do so.

Chicago teacher with cancer refuses to stop teaching in person

As pandemic raged, Chabad bet on more than $137m in real estate

Some 250 new Chabad Lubavitch emissaries were sent out during pandemic to help existing Chabad centers or establish new ones.

As pandemic raged, Chabad bet on more than $137m in real estate

Jewish security group opens national command center in Chicago

Network coordinating security for Jewish institutions nationwide, has opened a command center in Chicago to monitor antisemitic threats.

Jewish security group opens national command center in Chicago

Chicago: Sukkah vandalized in Daley Plaza

Chabad sukkah in heart of Chicago vandalized on first day of Sukkot festival.

Chicago: Sukkah vandalized in Daley Plaza

Decrepit synagogue, once used as a church, is being redesigned

A law professor and artist are transforming a decrepit former South Side Chicago synagogue into a green community space.

Decrepit synagogue, once used as a church, is being redesigned

'Empty promises' - Chicago student rips into mayor Lightfoot

A University of Chicago student slams Mayor Lightfoot for claiming that, 'crime is down' in the city following a deadly 4th of July weekend.

'Empty promises' - Chicago student rips into mayor Lightfoot

Where's Lightfoot? Memes of Chicago mayor go viral

Social media abuzz with memes of Mayor Lightfoot sternly enforcing the city's 'stay-at-home' order.

Where's Lightfoot? Memes of Chicago mayor go viral

Watch: Chicago mayor outraged after spending powers quashed

Lightfoot was furious after Chicago aldermen blocked a vote on expanding her spending powers so she can avoid consulting fellow lawmakers.

Watch: Chicago mayor outraged after spending powers quashed

Watch: Chicago mayor in heated argument over botched arrest

Early adjournment at Chicago City Council as tensions boil over in more police-related drama in the city.

Watch: Chicago mayor in heated argument over botched arrest

Jewish student stabbed to death in Chicago

Anat Kimchi, a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, was murdered in broad daylight while visiting friends in Chicago.

Jewish student stabbed to death in Chicago

'Public enemy number 1' - Chicago mayor bashed for peddling race

Black conservative slams Lori Lightfoot, calling her the worst mayor in the country after she gets $10mil in funding for 'racism crisis'.

'Public enemy number 1' - Chicago mayor bashed for peddling race

Tucker: Chicago mayor enabling criminals

Carlson says Lightfoot has done everything in her power to destabilize the city and prevent law enforcement from doing its job.

Tucker: Chicago mayor enabling criminals

Jewish area of Chicago hit with anti-Semitic graffiti

Multiple buildings in Lake View neighborhood defaced with anti-Jewish caricature.

Jewish area of Chicago hit with anti-Semitic graffiti

Reverse discrimination - black hatred for whites

In the US, statements by black mayors echo the bigotry of white racist mayors of the past - just the direction is reversed. Op-ed.

Reverse discrimination - black hatred for whites

Chicago mayor heckled at press conference: 'Don't lie'

Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot repeatedly heckled by activist over allegedly lying about links to local organization.

Chicago mayor heckled at press conference: 'Don't lie'

MLK Jr.'s niece: Blacks didn't vote in Chicago mayor alone

Niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. slams Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot for increasing race tensions instead of fighting them.

MLK Jr.'s niece: Blacks didn't vote in Chicago mayor alone