Today in Chicago History: Former Gov. George Ryan leaves prison — 13 years after declaring moratorium on executions
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 30, according to the Tribune's archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
High temperature: 55 degrees (1988)
Low temperature: Minus 23 degrees (2019)
Precipitation: 0.97 inches (1939)
Snowfall: 14.9 inches (1939)
1939: Illinois was one of 13 states affected by a brief storm, which dumped almost 15 inches of snow here in roughly 15 hours.
It was the most severe snowfall Chicago had experienced in a 24-hour period in duration and accumulation.
The intense snowfall made it difficult for both the sick and the expecting to receive medical attention. After she and her husband's vehicle became stranded in a drift, a pregnant Mrs. Thomas Galbraith climbed into a police car to make the 5-mile journey to a hospital in Joliet. When it could go no farther, a wrecking truck took her in. Thankfully, she was finally transferred to an ambulance and delivered a baby girl at the hospital.
2000: Illinois Gov. George Ryan declared a moratorium on executions, saying it would be in effect until he could be morally certain that no innocent person would face execution in the state. Three years later, Ryan commuted the sentences of 164 death row inmates to life in prison without parole, citing a system 'haunted by the demon of error.'
2013: Ryan was released from a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, and spent just hours at a halfway house on Chicago's West Side before he was released and sent to his Kankakee home, where he remained on home confinement until July 2013.
Ryan entered prison on Nov. 7, 2007, after an April 2006 conviction for fraud, racketeering and other charges, which was the culmination of the federal Operation Safe Road investigation that exposed rampant bribery in state driver's license facilities while he was secretary of state as well as misdeeds as governor. He had been sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison.
2019: Chicago observed its coldest temperature in 34 years — minus 23 degrees on Jan. 30, 2019, at O'Hare International Airport, the city's official recording site. It was tied for the fifth coldest day since the National Weather Service began keeping records in 1872.
The polar vortex, a whirlpool of Arctic air typically perched atop the North Pole, dislodged and descended into the Midwest causing the bitter cold.
The week's record-breaking cold snap spotlighted weaknesses in the region's transit system. Problems like stuck train doors, cracked rails and minimal shelter for waiting passengers showed the need for more investment.
Chicago weather: A look back at our coldest recorded temperatures
Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past.
Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mary Lou Retton 'determined to learn and grow' after DUI conviction
Mary Lou Retton is "determined to learn and grow" following her conviction for driving under the influence (DUI). The Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast, 57, was arrested by police in West Virginia last month after she was found behind the wheel of her Porsche in a parking lot with a bottle of wine in the passenger seat and she appeared in court on Tuesday (10.06.25) where she pleaded no contest plea to a non-aggravated DUI charge. She has now released a statement via PEOPLE apologising for her actions. It reads: "I take full responsibility for my actions. What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses. To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry. "I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support." Retton's attorney Edmund J. Rollo added the former sports star "asks for privacy as she moves forward with her personal and professional life". Police claimed that during the incident in West Virginia, Retton refused to have her blood tested for alcohol but three field sobriety tests confirmed she was too impaired to drive. She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs; penalties and released from custody after posting a personal recognizance bond of $1,500. The former Dancing with the Stars contestant was fined $100 for the offence. The incident comes less than two years after Retton was left fighting for her life in intensive care after she was struck down with a rare form of pneumonia. Retton's daughter McKenna, 26, launched an online fundraiser to help pay for her mum's treatment because she didn't have medical insurance and it pulled in more than $459,000. The former sports star - who is mother to four daughters - went on to make a full recovery and shared an emotional open letter thanking her loved ones for all their support during such a tough time. In a post on Instagram, she wrote: "I want to express how truly blessed and thankful I am to be slowly improving and to be home with my girls, especially after my time in the hospital. "The love and support of my four amazing daughters have been a source of strength and inspiration throughout my journey. Their presence in my life is a testament to the incredible bonds of family. "My extended family, all of you, have shown me immeasurable kindness, offering prayers, encouragement, and unwavering support during my challenging times. Your love has been a beacon of hope in my life."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
National Weather Service confirms 7 tornadoes touched down in River Valley on June 6
WATCH ABOVE: Drone footage of the damage in Van Buren. (COURTESY: Charles Peek and the Weather Channel) TULSA, Okla. (KNWA/KFTA) — The National Weather Service confirmed June 10 that seven tornadoes touched down in Sequoyah County and Van Buren on June 6. The NWS says a line of severe thunderstorms moved across Sequoyah County and into west-central Arkansas. Damaging winds occurred along virtually the length of Sequoyah County. According to the NWS, an EF1 tornado formed near Mc Key in Sequoyah County and moved southeast before turning to the northeast and dissipating northwest of Sallisaw. Wind speeds hit 95 mph. The NWS says damage appeared to be confined to trees. An EF1 tornado hit Sallisaw with wind speeds up to 95 mph. It formed between North Wheeler Avenue and South Road 4640, north of East Road 1060. It headed east-southeast, crossing East Road 1060 near South Road 4650. The tornado traveled to South Road 4670 where it dissipated. Damage was primarily done to trees. An EF1 tornado with wind speeds of up to 90 mph formed near Liberty in Sequoyah County. It formed in the western sections of the community. The tornado traveled near and just south of East Road 1060. Minor damage was done to the roof of the community's school, and a power pole was damaged. Many trees were damaged. Some trees were uprooted. Van Buren tornado from June 6 rated EF-1, 2 other brief tornadoes reported Van Buren was hit by three tornadoes. An EF0 tornado hit the city with wind speeds of 85 mph. The tornado developed just west of the Arkansas River south of Interstate 540 in an open area and traveled across the Arkansas River to the Port of Van Buren. The tornado damaged a fabric and metal storage shelter and the roof of a nearby building. It dissipated as it left the port area. An EF1 tornado with wind speeds between 95 mph and 105 mph touched down in southeast Van Buren near South 4th Street and Wood Street. The tornado moved rapidly northeast into the area just south of the Baptist Health-Van Buren complex. A commercial building was damaged, along with multiple homes on Ozier Street, Mulberry Street and South 19th Street. Winds blew in the walls that contained windows of two homes. One home lost its entire roof and the other lost a large portion of its roof. The tornado quickly dissipated, lasting a little more than one minute. Another EF0 tornado hit Van Buren with 85 mph wind speeds. It traveled near the Union Pacific Railroad line north of Kibler Road and west of Shibley Road. The tornado damaged trees and passed over homes. The NWS says damage to structures appeared to be limited. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tornado count creeps higher, record already set
The spring severe weather season spilled into the month of June in Missouri and Arkansas, with more tornadoes added to this year's tornado count. The preliminary number in Missouri stands at 115. This is second in the nation! And this is a new yearly record for Missouri, topping 106 tornadoes in 2006. In Arkansas, the count stands at 54. The record year was 1999 with 107 tornadoes. Texas leads the nation at 136, but this shouldn't be a surprise given its size relative to other states. Tornado concentrations this year have been outside of the more traditional tornado hotspots like Tornado Alley, which runs from the Dakotas south to Texas, and Dixie Alley, which runs from Louisiana to Georgia north into Kentucky. This year's tornadoes have focused from Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas east into Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky. Why? Well, this year, the timing and intensity of storm systems early in the season led to big outbreaks in the same spots. Remember the windstorms back in March. The wind was driven by deep areas of low pressure that moved through the region. That wind energy helps drive severe weather as well if there's enough instability and thunderstorms develop. The pattern remained consistently active through April and the middle of May. This also contributed to big rain totals across the region, with nearly two feet of rainfall falling in Springfield from April through May. Looking ahead, it appears we're transitioning to more of a summer pattern as the jet stream, or storm-organizing winds, shift further north. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.