Afternoon Briefing: Cook County to pay $15 million in civil rights settlement
Good afternoon, Chicago.
County commissioners approved roughly $48 million in legal settlements today, including $7.45 million each to two men who won a record jury verdict after wrongfully spending 16 years behind bars.
John Fulton and Anthony Mitchell sued the Chicago Police Department and the county in 2020 alleging they were railroaded as teenagers and falsely confessed in 2003 to the murder and burning of Christopher Collazo. The two men won a record $60 million each in damages from a jury this March after successfully arguing they were the victims of a bogus murder investigation by police and Cook County prosecutors.
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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When Robert Francis Prevost spoke in Spanish to his crowd of supporters for the first time in St. Peter's Square last week, Edgewater resident Julio Fernandez said it made him tear up. 'I've lived in Chicago for many years. And that he is from both places makes me double proud,' Fernandez, 74, a retired doctor from northern Peru, said. Read more here.
More top news stories:
Parking meter company could get $15.5 million more from Chicago in settlement
State Rep. Fred Crespo ousted as committee chair for working on a separate budget plan
2 being questioned after boy, 4, critically hurt in McKinley Park drive-by shooting
The Chicago developer that was negotiating to buy the northern swath of the stalled Lincoln Yards megadevelopment site is now in talks to purchase the entire 53-acre tract, according to sources familiar with the deal. Read more here.
More top business stories:
Northbrook home once owned by former Chicago Bears player Jim McMahon being listed for sale
A rare warning from Walmart during a US trade war: Higher prices are inevitable
A soft part in the Cubs' schedule continues this weekend as they face off against the White Sox, who own the worst record in the American League. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
From many Ben Johnsons to Minecraft and Mario Kart: How NFL teams revealed their schedules on social media
Today in Chicago History: Rocky Marciano KO's Jersey Joe Walcott in first round of fight at Chicago Stadium
Andrew and Kelsey McClellan are sign painters and gold-leafing artists, practitioners of venerable art forms that were once so prominent here that the city was, without argument, the center of the sign-painting world but, after new machine technologies were introduced, all but extinct by the 1980s. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
The Hand & The Eye will be a new, $50 million magic theater off Magnificent Mile
Beyoncé is in town for 3 shows at Chicago's Soldier Field for her Cowboy Carter tour. Here's what to know.
Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms of Pope Francis' pontificate by having women serve on the Vatican board that vets nominations for bishops. But he also has said decisively that women cannot be ordained as priests. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world:
Supreme Court could block Trump's birthright citizenship order but limit nationwide injunctions
Denver airport air traffic control went out for 6 minutes on Monday, report says
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Business Wire
2 hours ago
- Business Wire
Ample Brings Modular Battery Swapping Technology to Madrid with Support from the Spanish Government and the Moves Singulares Award
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2 hours ago
California labor leader charged with impeding officer during immigration crackdown
LOS ANGELES -- The arrest of a California labor leader has become a rallying cry for immigrant advocates across the country who called for his release and an end to President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. David Huerta, the 58-year-old president of Service Employees International Union California, was arrested Friday while protesting outside a business where federal law enforcement agents were investigating suspected immigration violations, authorities said. He was released from federal custody Monday on a $50,000 bond after a hearing in federal court in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, union members and immigrant advocates led rallies in cities from Los Angeles to Chicago to New York to call for Huerta's release. In Boston, hundreds of people gathered in City Hall Plaza, with protesters shouting 'Free David, free them all.' Huerta, a long-time labor leader born and raised in Los Angeles County, has become the face of the pushback against Trump's effort to drive up immigration arrests. His case has also drawn attention to the longstanding ties between Democratic officials and the union that represents hundreds of thousands of janitors, security officers and other workers across California. After he was released, Huerta told reporters he did not intend to get arrested, and said the only way to win change is through nonviolence. 'This fight is ours, it's our community's, but it belongs to everyone,' Huerta said in Spanish. 'We all have to fight for them.' Protests broke out last week in Los Angeles in response to reports of immigration raids, and have escalated with thousands taking to the streets of the nation's second-largest city after Trump took the extraordinary move of deploying the National Guard. Over the weekend, demonstrators blocked a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as law enforcement used tear gas and rubber bullets to control the crowd. Huerta was arrested while law enforcement officers were executing a federal search warrant at a Los Angeles business suspected of hiring illegal immigrants and falsifying employment papers, a special agent for Homeland Security Investigations, which is part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, wrote in a federal court filing. A crowd of people including Huerta gathered outside the business yelling at the officers. Huerta sat down in front of a vehicular gate and encouraged others to walk in circles to try to prevent law enforcement from going in or out, the agent wrote, adding it was clear 'he and the others had planned in advance of arrival to disrupt the operation.' A law enforcement officer approached Huerta and told him to leave, then put his hands on Huerta to move him out of the way of a vehicle, the agent wrote. Huerta pushed back and the officer pushed Huerta to the ground and arrested him, according to the filing. 'Let me be clear: I don't care who you are—if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted,' Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, said in a post on the social platform X. 'No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties.' Messages left for Huerta's attorney, Marilyn Bednarski, have not been returned. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and California's two Democratic senators wrote a letter to federal officials demanding answers regarding Huerta's arrest. California Sen. Adam Schiff attended Huerta's bond hearing. 'It is deeply troubling that a U.S. citizen, union leader, and upstanding member of the Los Angeles community continues to be detained by the federal government for exercising his rights to observe immigration enforcement,' the senators wrote. Huerta has worked for the SEIU for more than 25 years and was elected president of SEIU California, which has more than 750,000 members, in 2022. He was honored during the Obama administration for his efforts to build an immigrant integration program that included English classes for union members. Huerta was injured during Friday's arrest, the union said on its website. In a statement, the SEIU condemned the immigration raids and said its members will continue to demonstrate for workers' rights.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
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ACEL Power Partners With Vector Náutico to Launch MOLA-e Electric Boat Line in Spain
VANCOUVER, British Columbia & MADRID, June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ACEL Power, a leader in intelligent electric propulsion systems, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Vector Náutico, a respected boat builder based in Madrid. The collaboration introduces MOLA-e powered by ACEL, a new line of eco-conscious electric boats designed for coastal and inland cruising. This partnership marks ACEL Power's official entry into the Spanish market—an important step in its European expansion strategy. As demand for sustainable marine solutions grows across the EU, this alliance underscores both companies' shared commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility. "We are excited to partner with Vector Náutico, an innovative builder committed to sustainability," said Natasha Chawla, VP of Sales and Marketing at ACEL Power. "The MOLA line aligns perfectly with our 50HP and 75HP Intelligent Electric Series, powered by 32 kWh and 43 kWh LFP battery packs. These systems deliver high energy density, extended lifecycle, and enhanced thermal stability—offering zero-emission propulsion without compromising performance." "Working with ACEL Power brings our vision for the next generation of electric boats to life," said Rus Kochman, CEO of Vector Náutico. "The MOLA-e is elegant, efficient, and built for modern boaters who value reliability and sustainability." The 5.99-meter MOLA blends the design of a luxury yacht with the accessibility of a day cruiser. Its optimized hull geometry maximizes range and handling, while wide swim platforms offer easy water access—ideal for lake cruising, coastal exploration, and eco-tourism. Available Configurations: ACEL 50HP with 32 kWh LFP battery ACEL 75HP with 43 kWh LFP battery Both setups are fully integrated and engineered for quiet, efficient, zero-emission cruising. The first MOLA units will debut in mid-2025, with sea trials and showcase events scheduled throughout Spain. Pricing and customization options will be announced soon. This partnership further accelerates ACEL Power's mission to lead the marine industry's transition to clean, intelligent propulsion—region by region, boat by boat. For more information, visit: About ACEL Power ACEL Power, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, is a pioneering manufacturer of electric outboard propulsion systems, leading the marine industry in innovation and sustainability. Noted for introducing the world's first mass-produced 50 and 75HP electric motors, ACEL Power is committed to shaping a sustainable future through the creation of a smart electric eco-system. With a forward-looking vision, ACEL aims to offer a comprehensive range from 1HP to 650HP, establishing new benchmarks for marine propulsion in performance, safety, and longevity. Leveraging patented technology and integrated software solutions, ACEL Power is driving change towards a cleaner, more efficient boating experience. About Vector Náutico Based in Madrid, Spain, Vector Náutico is a next-generation boatbuilder focused on sustainability, accessibility, and innovation. Its vessels are designed and manufactured in Spain, combining Mediterranean aesthetics with European quality standards. With electric and traditional configurations, Vector Náutico aims to redefine coastal and inland navigation for the modern era. View source version on Contacts Media Inquiries:ACEL Power Inc. Natasha Chawla, VP Sales & MarketingEmail: natasha@ Vector Náutico Rus Kochman, CEOe-mail press@
