The Chicago Times




Two Chicago Men Charged in 2022 Attempted Murder in West Roseland

By Kwame Michaels, The Chicago Times March 29, 2023 CHICAGO – Two Chicago men have been charged in the attempted murder of a man in the West Roseland neighborhood in November 2022. According to Chicago police, Khalid Mahadi, 20, of the 11200 block of S. Vernon Ave., and Elijah Washington, 22, of the 11200 block of S. Vernon Ave., were taken into custody by the Chicago Police Department and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force on March 27, 2023, in the 2600 block of S. California Ave.  Mahadi and Washington were identified as the suspects who, on November 26,…

Cook County Corruption: Construction Company Caught Bribing Cook County Official

By James R. Scott, The Chicago Times March 28, 2023 CHICAGO – The owner of a Chicago area construction company has been charged with bribing an employee of the Cook County Assessor’s Office. Nitchoff has been charged by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, with one count of conspiracy to bribe a public official, and two counts of using a facility in interstate commerce in order to facilitate the acts of bribery. According to federal prosecutors, Alex Nitchoff, 56, of Lemont, IL, allegedly conspired with other individuals both known and unknown to bribe Cook…

Taxi Driver Guilty of Sexually Assaulting Passenger

By Kathy Whitaker, The Chicago Times March 29, 2023 NAPERVILLE, IL – A taxicab driver has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a female customer in 2017. According to prosecutors, on July 9, 2017, Sandeep Arora, 48, of Naperville, picked up the victim and her friend at a Naperville establishment with the victim seated in the front passenger seat and the other individual seated in the back.  After Arora dropped off the victim’s friend, he allegedly drove away and then sexually assaulted the victim by ripping off some of her clothing and leaving bruises and marks on her body.  Arora…

Former Chicago Public Schools Employee Skates on 18 Months of Probation

By James R. Scott, The Chicago Times March 21, 2023 CHICAGO – A former Chicago Public Schools employee has been sentenced to 18 months of probation after pleading guilty to one count of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to federal prosecutors, Pedro Soto, 48, of Chicago, admitted in a plea agreement that he intentionally misled the FBI while the agency was conducting a criminal investigation into Soto’s interactions with a lobbyist and the lobbyist’s colleague regarding the awarding of a custodial services contract valued at approximately $1 billion.   Soto, a former member of a CPS…

Chicago Department of Public Health to Test Wastewater for Polio

By Gary Parker, The Chicago Times March 17, 2023 CHICAGO – The Chicago Department of Public Health announced today that it will expand its existing wastewater surveillance program to include testing for poliovirus.   CDPH said wastewater testing began this week to analyze water samples collected from area reclamation plants that serve the City of Chicago and surrounding Cook County suburbs.  The surveillance program is partnership between CDPH and the University of Illinois Chicago, the Regional Innovative Public Health Laboratory at Rush University Medical Center, the University of Illinois System’s Discovery Partner Institute, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Metropolitan…

Geneva Man Pleads Guilty to Fatal Aurora DUI Crash

By Kathy Whitaker, The Chicago Times March 17, 2023 AURORA, IL – A Geneva man pleaded guilty on Thursday for his role in a DUI crash that killed a Maywood resident and injured two other men. According to prosecutors, on March 7, 2022, at approximately 7:40 pm, Aurora police officers responded to a crash on northbound Eola Road.  On scene, police discovered Willie Mosley, of Maywood, Illinois, suffering from serious injuries after being pinned between a vehicle and truck.  Mosley was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.  Two other men suffered non-life threatening injuries. After further investigation, it was…

Chicago Man Charged in 2021 Lake View East Armed Robbery

By The Chicago Times Staff March 15, 2023 CHICAGO – A Chicago man has been charged in the 2021 robbery of a store in Lake View East. According to Chicago police, Christopher Savage, 20, of the 700 block of E. 72nd Street, Chicago, was taken into custody on March 13, 2023, in the 200 block of S. State St and identified as the suspect who robbed a retail store in Lake View East.  It is alleged that on April 24, 2021, Savage entered a retail store in the 900 block of W. Belmont Ave and implied he had a weapon…

Westinghouse ADOPT Fuel Achieves Regulatory Approval

By Ned Fielder, The Chicago Times March 14, 2023 CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA – Westinghouse Electric Company announced that it has received approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to use its Advanced Doped Pellet Technology fuel pellets in United States pressurized water reactors. Westinghouse said the approval follows a successful demonstration to the NRC and the Advanced Committee on Reactor Safeguards that ADOPT fuel enhances the safety and reliability of PWRs. Westinghouse further developed its advanced pellet technology to increase the accident tolerance of conventional uranium dioxide fuel pellets.  Westinghouse said an agreement was announced with Southern Nuclear Company for inserting…

Univar Solutions to be Acquired by Apollo for $8.1 Billion

By Grant McCormick, The Chicago Times March 14, 2023 DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Univar Solutions Inc. announced today that it will be purchased by Apollo after the two companies entered into a definitive merger agreement to be completed in an all-cash transaction of approximately $8.1 billion.  According to Univar, the transaction includes a minority investment from a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. According to the agreement, Univar Solutions shareholders will receive $36.15 per share in cash, which represents a 20.6% premium to the Company’s undisturbed closing stock price on November 22, 2022.  When the merger is…

Chicago Police Warn Residents in Grand Crossing of Multiple Robberies

By Kwame Michaels, The Chicago Times March 14, 2023 CHICAGO – The Chicago Police Department is warning residents in the Grand Crossing neighborhood of multiple carjackings and robberies in the area. Police said that several robbery incidents have occurred throughout February and March in which 2-5 masked offenders approach victims sitting in their vehicle.  Victim reports indicate that the suspects demand victims to exit their vehicle at gunpoint and give them their property.  It has also been reported that one of the suspects entered a victim’s vehicle and removed the victim’s belongings.  The suspects are described as 2-5 African American…

17-Year-Old Charged in Armed Robbery in North Kenwood

By Edward LaSalle, The Chicago Times March 14, 2023 CHICAGO – A 17-year-old male has been charged in the robbery of a female at gunpoint in the North Kenwood neighborhood. Chicago police said the male suspect was taken into custody on Monday, at approximately 7:59 pm in the 3800 block of S. Cottage Grove Ave after being identified as one of the offenders who, minutes earlier, robbed a 16-year-old female victim at gunpoint in the 4500 block of S. Woodlawn Ave.  Police quickly located the suspect after he was discovered inside a reported stolen vehicle that had crashed into an…

$23.8 Million Settlement Reached Between the City of Chicago and E-Cigarette Maker Juul Labs

By John Armour, The Chicago Times March 13, 2023 CHICAGO – Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office announced Friday that the City has reached a $23.8 million settlement with e-cigarette maker JUUL Labs over claims that the company was engaged in harmful and deceptive business practices by marketing and selling vaping products to juveniles. “E-cigarette businesses cannot be allowed to come in our city and boost their profits at the expense of minors. The use of any tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, among youth is a serious public health concern — to CDPH and parents across Chicago. We’ve made remarkable progress over…

United Kingdom and France Vow Greater Defense Cooperation

By H. Haverstock, The Chicago Times March 11, 2023 PARIS – UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and France’s Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu met Friday at the 36th UK-France Summit in Paris to discuss new initiatives to further strengthen the military relationship between the two nations. At the meeting, Wallace and Lecornu met to reaffirmed the two nations’ long standing partnership and friendship as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President Macron outlined their vision to meet the greatest challenges the UK and France face, including the war in Ukraine and ambitions for further integration of the Armed Forces…

USDA to Offer $29 Million in Grants to Promote Fertilizer Production in USA

By Sam K. Jones, The Chicago Times March 11, 2023 ORLANDO, FL – The United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Friday that the USDA received $3 billion in applications from more than 350 independent businesses from 47 states and 2 territories for the first two rounds of a new grant program to add innovative domestic fertilizer production capacity. The USDA also announced the first round of $29 million grant offers to encourage independent businesses to increase production of American-made fertilizer.  It is hoped that it will encourage competition, give U.S. farmers more choices and fairer prices and…

Paramount Global Declares Quarterly Dividends

By Phillip Russo, The Chicago Times March 10, 2023 NEW YORK – Paramount Global announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share on both its Class A and Class B Common Stock. The dividend will be payable on April 3, 2023, to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 20, 2023. In addition, the Board of Directors also declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.4375 per share on its 5.75% Series A Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock. The dividend will be payable on April 3, 2023, to stockholders of…

FDIC Creates a Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara to Protect Insured Depositors of Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, California

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation March 10, 2023 WASHINGTON – Silicon Valley Bank, Santa Clara, California, was closed today by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To protect insured depositors, the FDIC created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara (DINB). At the…

Phillip Morris Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend 

By The Chicago Times Business Staff March 10, 2023 STAMFORD, CT –  The Board of Directors of Philip Morris International Inc. declared on Thursday a regular quarterly dividend of $1.27 per common share to be paid on April 11, 2023, to shareholders of record as of March 23, 2023.  The…

Juvenile Charged with Vehicular Hijacking Near Midway Airport

By The Chicago Times Staff March 10, 2023 CHICAGO – A juvenile has been charged in connection with a carjacking near Chicago’s Midway International Airport. Chicago police said a 13-year-old male juvenile was arrested by the members of the Vehicular Hijacking Task Force on March 8, 2023, in the 6400 block of S. Kedzie Ave.  The suspect was identified as one of the offenders who, on February 7, 2023, carjacked a 34-year-old female at a gas station in the 6400 block of W. Archer Ave near Midway Airport. The suspect has been charged with one felony count of vehicular hijacking…

13-Year-Old and 15-Year-Old Charged with Aggravated Battery and Robbery

By James R. Scott, The Chicago Times March 10, 2023 CHICAGO – Two male juveniles, 13 and 14 years of age, have been charged in the beating and attempted robbery of an elderly man in the Chatham neighborhood. Chicago police said the two juvenile suspects were taken into custody on March 8, 2023, in the 7900 and 8000 blocks of Eberhart Ave.  The two offenders were identified as two of the suspects who, 30 minutes earlier, beat and attempted to rob an 84-year-old male in the 400 block of E. 81st St.  Responding officers located the offenders, who attempted to…

Lockheed Martin to Partner with Korea Aerospace and Red 6 on ATARS

By Frank Savage, The Chicago Times March 10, 2023 BETHESDA, MD – Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Korea Aerospace Industries and Red 6 Aerospace to deliver advanced 21st Century Security capabilities across a spectrum of training and combat aircraft. According to Lockheed, the partnership will bring the Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS), developed by Red 6 into the TF-50 and variants.  ATARS provides pilots and ground operators capabilities to interact with synthetic threats in real-time environments. The TF-50A variant was recently submitted by Lockheed to the U.S. Air Force after a February 2023 request for…

Chicago Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Gangland Murder

By James Malone, The Chicago Times March 10, 2023 CHICAGO – A Chicago man has been sentenced to life in a federal prison for committing murder to maintain and increase his power in a violent Chicago street gang. According to prosecutors, Pierre Robinson, 29, of Chicago, was found guilty of committing murder in aid of…

Chicago Man Charged with Beating Transit Employee

By J.J. Quincannon, The Chicago Times March 10, 2023 CHICAGO – A Chicago man has been charged in the beating of a CTA employee on Wednesday in the East Garfield neighborhood. According to Chicago police, on March 8, between 1:00-1:15 am, Curtis Washington, 37, of the 5100 block of W.…

Woman Charged with Leading Police on 120 mph High-Speed Chase

By T.C. Mayfield, The Chicago Times March 10, 2023 NAPERVILLE, IL – A Sleepy Hollow woman has been charged with leading police on a high-speed chase in Naperville on March 7. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Thursday that Tianna Bryson, 23, of the 800 block of Hemlock Drive, Sleepy Hollow, has been charged with one felony count of aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer.  Bryson has also been charged with multiple misdemeanors and petty traffic offenses.    According to prosecutors, on March 7, at approximately 12:27 pm, an Illinois State Trooper allegedly observed Bryson’s 2016 Volkswagen Jetta traveling…

Celebrate a “Green” Tradition! Ride CTA to the Highly Anticipated St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Dying of the River

Chicago Transit Authority March 09, 2023 Service to/from The Big Ten Tournament and other sporting events at the United Center and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and River Dying CTA will be your driver to all the fun activities happening across the city this week including – The Big Ten Tournament and St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Customers can save money by purchasing an unlimited rides pass, either the 1-Day ($5) – far more economical and convenient than the price of gas and parking – or the 3-Day ($15) pass – a real budget-saving move. Service for Upcoming Events St. Patrick’s…

Two Chicago Residents Charged in Oak Park Crime Spree

By Judd Mustin, The Chicago Times March 7, 2023 CHICAGO – Two Chicago residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce.   According to John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Equisha Butler, 29, of Chicago, has been charged with five counts of robbery and Kishawn Brownlee, 26, of Chicago has been charged on two counts of robbery.   The indictment alleges that between April 13 and July 29, 2022, Butler robbed five 7-11 convenience stores and that Brownlee participated in two of those robberies. The five…

Ride Metra for St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

By Jeff L. Tucker, The Chicago Times March 5, 2023 CHICAGO – Metra announced that it will be offering extra trains to bring passengers to this year’s Chicago St. Patrick’s Day and South Side Irish parades on Saturday, March 11 and Sunday, March 12.  “Riders know the value of taking Metra to big events and…


Lombard: Berlin Finds Officer Justified in Shooting

By Kathy Whitaker, The Chicago Times March 3, 2023 WHEATON, IL – DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced on Thursday that a Lombard police officer was justified in the shooting of an armed suspect back in December of 2022. According to Berlin, “. . . it was determined after…

Chicago Man Charged in CTA Attack of 16-Year-Old Girl

By J.J. Quincannon, The Chicago Times March 3, 2023 CHICAGO – A Chicago man was charged in the attack of a 16-year-old girl on CTA platform in February.   Chicago police said, on February 21, 2023, Lijah Graham, 45, of the 400 block of N. St. Louis Ave, allegedly threatened a…


Three Plead Guilty to $6.5 Million Healthcare Fraud

By Janice Cameron, The Chicago Times March 3, 2023 CHICAGO – A Chicago-area physical therapist, health care professional, and a personal trainer have pleaded guilty to healthcare fraud schemes that totaled $6.5 million dollars in fraudulent claims.   United States Attorney for the Northern District John R. Lausch, Jr. said Inessa…

ISP Firearm Enforcement Grant Sees More Than 1,000 Compliance Checks

By David Slavik, The Chicago Times February 25, 2023 SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois State Police announced that their firearm enforcement grants awarded to law enforcement agencies across Illinois saw 1,115 firearm enforcement checks and placed 472 individuals into compliance with the Firearm Owner Identification Card Act (FOID) in 2022. According…


Norway Orders 54 New German Tanks

By H. Haverstock, The Chicago Times February 3, 2023 OSLO – Norway announced it will order 54 new German Leopard 2 tanks, produced by German based Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Group, for its military with an option to purchase another 18 tanks in the future. “We ensure that we have the same…

Communist China Suspends Social Media Accounts of Covid Critics

By Douglas F. Roberts, The Chicago Times January 08, 2023 BEIJING – Communist China has suspended the social media accounts of some 1,200 critics of the government’s policies on the Covid-19 outbreak. In true communist fashion, the suppression of freedom of speech and thought was carried out by the popular…

United States and Germany Announce Armored Vehicle Deal with Ukraine

By W. Spencer, The Chicago Times January 06, 2023 KIEV – The United States and Germany announced Friday that they will supply armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine as a possible Russian military onslaught looms in the coming months.   The agreement will supply Ukrainian forces with 50 Bradley Fighting Vehicles as…


Textron Aviation Delivers Grand Caravan EX to Belize Military

By Gus G. Manion, The Chicago Times March 3, 2023 WICHITA, KS –  Textron Aviation announced Friday that it has delivered a special mission Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft to the Belize Ministry of National Defense and Border Security under a Foreign Military Sale contract executed by the U.S. Army…

Raytheon Technologies awarded $250 Million Missile Warning Contract

By Brooks M. Deering, The Chicago Times March 3, 2023 ARLINGTON, VA – Raytheon Technologies announced Thursday that it received a contract valued at more than $250 million to design, develop, and deliver a seven-vehicle missile tracking satellite constellation by the Space Development Agency. Raytheon said once the system is…

Southwest Airlines Offers Inflight Iced Coffee

By James M. Douglas, The Chicago Times February 25, 2023 DALLAS – Southwest Airlines announced that it has teamed up with long time partner Community Coffee to offer inflight Coffee’s Espresso + Cream iced coffee. Southwest said the inflight coffee drink is available for passengers to purchase for $4.  The…


NASA: Consolidated Operations, Management, Engineering Contract Awarded

By Chuck B. Hickam, The Chicago Times February 24, 2023 WASHINGTON – NASA announced Thursday that it has selected Jacobs Technology Inc., of Tullahoma, Tennessee, to manage launch infrastructure, and to operate and maintain ground systems required for flight spacecraft processing at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center. According to NASA the Consolidated Operations,…

O’Hare Airport to Restore Terminal Transfer Bus Service on March 1

By Jeff L. Tucker, The Chicago Times February 24, 2023 CHICAGO – The Chicago Department of Aviation announced Thursday that secure airside bus service between Terminal 5 and Terminals 1 and 3 will resume operation on March 1. “After having to suspend this service due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Terminal 5 construction,…