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Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Donna Vickroy: Chicago's long history with grisly killings, and why we're so fascinated
We're obsessed with murder. Murders in the building, on the Orient Express, in the Rue Morgue. From Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot to Steve Martin's Charles Haden-Savage, murder detectives are among the most celebrated of fictional characters. But nothing captivates like true crime, whether we're a shocked and outraged member of the audience or an amateur sleuth trying to get to the bottom of things. Chicago historian Clarence Goodman gives all kinds of presentations, from talks about the Black Sox to a look at the Kennedys in Chicago, but when the topic is murder, 'the place is packed.' Goodman, a musician and radio personality, presents 'A Killer Among Us (Part 2): Killers, Stalkers, and Creeps of Chicago's Modern Era' at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Tinley Park Public Library. And, same as Part 1 a year ago, he expects the audience to take notes and ask lots of questions. 'The obsession with murder in this country is something I have been acutely aware of ever since I got into this about 20 years ago,' Goodman said. He started as a tour guide covering all kinds of topics in Chicago history but whenever the subject turned to grisly killings, he said, 'people hang on every word.' According to a recent YouGov poll, 57% of Americans say they consume true-crime content. Popularity is high across all demographics, but mostly among women under age 65. It's not just an entertaining topic, the poll reveals, 'it is seen by many Americans as having the potential to change how people understand crime and the criminal-justice system.' More than half of the fans say true-crime entertainment makes people more vigilant and safety-conscious, improves understanding of the criminal justice system, increases empathy with victims, and helps to solve cases that wouldn't have been solved otherwise, the poll states. Goodman says women are the biggest fans, perhaps because throughout history they have been extraordinarily marginalized and mistreated by a lot of men. And most often, men are the ones doing the killing. 'Maybe that's the root of the fascination,' he said. 'Women and gay men seem to be the most common victims.' Goodman said, 'Maybe our fascination with death begins as little children. But then we learn about murder, about taking someone's life, about exerting that control, imposing one's will and power on another person. 'The most arrogant act in the world is killing another human being,' he said. Goodman divides his coverage of killers into three distinct presentations: The Gilded Age killers, from the notorious H.H. Holmes to organized crime; the post-War 1940s and on, which features the horrendous acts of John Wayne Gacy, Richard Speck and The Unabomber; and political/social manifestos, the people who serial and mass kill from a distance using rifles and bombs. At the Tinley presentation, he will focus on the second school of Chicago-area serial killers — killers of the modern era. Beginning in post-war 1940s, he said, there has been an incredible timeline of murders in this country, almost always with a Chicago thread. John Wayne Gacy, Richard Speck, Theodore Kaczynski will be discussed, as will Ed Gein, Wisconsin serial killer upon whom 'Psycho,' 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' were based. Goodman, who gives his presentations at Chicago-area libraries and retirement homes, says he isn't trying to be the definitive voice, just one of the many delving into dark matter. 'People like to do their own digging, they get more excited about it. I want to get people excited about this, explain to them why this city is important. Among all the wonderful things Chicago gave us, it also gave us this,' he said. Why Chicago? Goodman said, 'It came of age during the Industrial Revolution. It blossomed like no other city in American history hitherto. So many people from so many different walks of life. It grew from a mudhole to a megalopolis overnight practically. 'The biggest confidante the serial killer has is anonymity granted by cities of a million or more people,' he said. In a town of a million or more, it's easy to go unnoticed, he said. It's easy to not care about neighbors. In addition to the Tinley gig, Goodman will present 'A Tale of Two Chicagos: The White City and the Murder Castle of Englewood' at the Helen Plum Memorial Library in Lombard on Oct. 1. For more information on these events and others, go to his website at or visit his Facebook page Is he ever taken aback by the evergreen popularity of Chicago's most notorious stories? 'I understand the interest,' he said. He opens his presentations with a brief explanation of what he's going to talk about: the most horrific killings. Then he scans the audience and, seeing everyone on the edge of their seats, chuckles and asks, 'What's wrong with all of you?'
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Homeless man jailed for spreading poo around Rotorua police cell
On May 8, he was in a parking building on Pukuatua St in Rotorua and defecated in it, making it clear to the CCTV cameras that he was there. On May 12, he walked past a Rotorua Lakes Council-employed City Guardian and verbally abused him. He also threatened to injure him by cutting off his nose and eating it. Judge Hollister-Jones said Smith was taken to the Rotorua Police station and put in a cell, where he defecated and spread the faeces throughout the cell. 'The odour caused significant disruption in the custody facility and had to be cleaned.' There was a breach of release conditions by failing to report. Judge Hollister-Jones described Smith as having a 'very concerning criminal history' including 18 previous convictions for intentional or wilful damage, 14 convictions for threatening or offensive behaviour, two for assaulting a prison officer and seven for disorderly behaviour or fighting. The Rotorua Public Library. Photo / Andrew Warner Smith's lawyer, Grace Banuelos, accepted her client would be sentenced to jail but asked the time be reduced given Smith's mental health. Judge Hollister-Jones said while there was no long-term damage to the cell, Smith's actions caused significant disruption to the custody centre for several hours. From a starting sentence of eight months' jail, the judge added time for the other offences and Smith's record, and gave a discount for the guilty pleas. Smith was sentenced to 12 months' jail. Judge Hollister-Jones noted Smith didn't recognise his mental health issues and didn't take medication. He described aspects of Smith's pre-sentence report, which the judge didn't divulge in open court, as 'deeply disturbing'. He said he would impose 'onerous' release conditions to protect the public, including GSP monitoring, not entering Gisborne without prior written approval and engaging with a psychologist. Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
Hamilton Spectator
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Yukon-based poet announces ‘Alaska Highway Poetry Crawl' tour
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A poet with extensive experience throughout his travels in Canada will descend on the Peace region for several readings later this month. Peter Jickling, a poet based in Whitehorse, Yukon, shared a press release announcing the Alaska Highway Poetry Crawl, with dates in Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson and Fort St. John. Currently an English professor at Yukon University, Jickling has also been a playwright and a journalist, with his 2011 play Syphilis: A Love Story touring western Canada and winning the 2013 best comedy at Victoria's Fringe Festival. His first book of poetry, Downtown Flirt, was published back in 2019. Jickling told the book came as a result of his travels to eastern Canada. 'I had always talked about one day going away somewhere, leaving Whitehorse behind,' said Jickling. 'I unexpectedly came into a little bit of money [in 2016]. Now I finally had the means to go away and do this. So it was sort of a put up or shut up situation. 'I actually had moved to Toronto for six months. I just started writing poetry. I [had] done it before, not in a sustained practice sort of way. But then in Toronto, I started doing it, started going out to readings and open mics and meeting the community and that ended [up being] my first poetry collection.' According to Jickling, the tour is designed to 'build connections and foster a collective writing community in northwestern Canada.' He says, with the semester at school finished, he started planning for the tour in May. 'Northwestern Canadian little towns are as far away [as you can] get from the Canadian literature centre,' said Jickling. 'I feel like it's important for us to make connections with each other [and] make opportunities. 'I'm hoping that [writers] along the Alaska Highway can start to build a slightly larger writing community and begin to operate as a little bit more of a cohesive unit. Maybe this poetry crawl is a small step in that direction.' Each stop will feature a special guest: in Fort Nelson writer Kerissa Dickie will take the stage alongside Jickling. Dickie's work includes the 2007 book Wild Flowers and Seh Woo, My Teeth, the latter of which made the 2022 CBC Nonfiction Prize shortlist. Dawson Creek's stop includes Donna Kane, who was nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award in 2020 for her book Orrery. Fort St. John's stop will be guested by Norma Rrae. Rrae's work includes the titles Justyce Scales of the Otherly and Obscura and Hot Moroccan Nights. Additionally, the Fort Nelson and Dawson Creek stops will feature an open mic where community members can showcase their own work. The Alaska Highway Poetry Crawl begins on Thursday, July 17th at the Fort St. John Public Library on 10015 100th Avenue from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Fort Nelson stop will take place at the Phoenix Theatre the following evening, starting at 7 p.m. The final stop in Dawson Creek is scheduled for July 19th beginning at 7 p.m. at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery. Booking in advance is not required for any of the events. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Marc Jacobs' Couture-Worthy Collection Bolsters Contemporary Offerings
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 30: Models seen backstage during the Marc Jacobs 2026 Runway Show at New ... More York Public Library on June 30, 2025 in New York City. (Photo byfor Marc Jacobs ) For his latest designer collection—which for all intents and purposes could be called Haute Couture as surely it involves had crafting—Marc Jacobs leaned into the less is more idea, stressing quality over quantity to perfection, For this runway outing entitled "Beauty", the designer showed exactly 19 looks at New York's Public Library Monday night. In show notes, the Jacobs defined beauty as "a quality or combination of qualities that gives pleasure to the mind or senses, and it is often associated with properties such as harmony of form or color, proportion, and authenticity." Adding to the definition could be "something that is a sight to behold." Indeed, this latest collection is precisely that. It also demonstrates the vocabulary Jacobs is developing in his latest design era that features outsize silhouettes, extreme structure, and doll and cartoon-esque elements imagined as high fashion. It also fuels the bevy of highly successful merch, especially in handbags, that falls into the attainable category, which is driving the Marc Jacobs business model. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 30: Model Alex Consani walks the runway during the Marc Jacobs 2026 Runway ... More Show at New York Public Library on June 30, 2025 in New York City. (Photo byfor Marc Jacobs ) Set to Nick Cave and Warren Ellis's "Song for Jesse," which itself had a childlike, mystical mood to it, models walked slowly down the library corridor in shoes that could double as stilts—the required slow pace for the footwear allowed for careful viewing of the clothes. Jacobs is furthering certain design elements, such as projected square hip seams or bustled skirts and balloon-like shapes, and explores them in different ways. Notably, Jacobs recalled the bow, a familiar design motif. They were enlarged and placed on the bums of skirts and dresses, adding in some cases the idea of the modern bustle, such as in the yellow lace dress, which felt very 'Gilded Age 2.0'—or as headdresses. Floral and lace prints, often in transparent fabrics, revealed boning and hoop skirt structures, and mutton sleeves added to the feminine innocence that prevailed. A modern vixen idea emerged in the pencil skirts with exaggerated padded flounces. Oversized pants anchored some opening looks, either cargo-influenced or a transformed white jean style that was paired with a layered bra-corset-camisole combo and dripping in chains and beaded necklaces that draped around the back and arms as well. A padded cream sweater ensemble, constructed from multiple stuffed sweaters, also pushed an idea into new design territory. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 30: A model walks the runway during the Marc Jacobs 2026 Runway Show at ... More New York Public Library on June 30, 2025 in New York City. (Photo byfor Marc Jacobs ) The clothes gave the sense that Jacobs and his team must have had a ball coming up with these creations. It feels like the tone that sets the bevy of merchandise available for sale on the brand's website, even though Jacobs doesn't turn his collection debut into a media circus driven more by marketing than design. The tight edit of 19 leaves you wanting more; perhaps that is by design. While many may dream of owning one of these runway styles, or even the pared-back designer merchandise exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, the attainable luxury goods with the contemporary price points ensure most can still get a Marc Jacobs fix. To wit, many attendees were brandishing the new Cristina Satchel bag style that retails for an easy $350.
CBS News
24-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Roxbury library to be named for WBZ's Sarah-Ann Shaw, Boston's first Black female reporter
The Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library will be renamed to honor WBZ's Sarah-Ann Shaw, Boston's first Black woman TV reporter. Boston's first Black female TV reporter Shaw, a lifelong resident of Roxbury, worked at WBZ-TV from 1969-2000. She died in 2024 at the age of 90. "Sarah-Ann Shaw paved the way for generations of journalists, storytellers, and leaders. Her passion for her Roxbury community and brilliance in reporting stories that otherwise would not have received the coverage they deserved reshaped Boston's media landscape," said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. The proposed name of the Roxbury Branch is the Shaw-Roxbury Branch Library. Wu and the Public Facilities Commission are expected to finalize the name change on July 2. "The family is very grateful to Mayor Wu and the Trustees of the Boston Public Library for this recognition of our matriarch, Sarah-Ann Shaw. As a Roxbury native and a BPS graduate, she would be pleased and humbled by this honor," said Klare Shaw, daughter of Sarah-Ann Shaw. "Mom was committed to this branch. Whether pushing for empowerment with the Master Plan or collaborating with her colleagues at the "Friends of the Library" to promote education, literacy, Black History, and culture-- she did the work." "I've tried to explain various ethnic and racial communities to people who don't live in those communities. I've tried to be a bridge," Shaw once said. Shaw remembered as "an inspiration" Her first decade at WBZ was a tumultuous time in Boston with the Civil Rights struggle, the Vietnam War and busing. Shaw gave a voice to Boston's underserved communities. "A trailblazing, beloved, and proud daughter of Roxbury, Sarah-Ann Shaw dedicated her life to educating and empowering her community and the entire City of Boston by unapologetically telling our stories, shattering concrete ceilings, and mentoring other Black journalists here and across the country," said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. "Her lifelong commitment to shed light on the joy and brilliance of Boston's Black and brown communities and lift up neighborhood grassroots movements is an inspiration to us all." The Roxbury Branch, located in Nubian Square, opened in 1978, replacing the smaller Mount Pleasant and Roxbury branches. The Roxbury Branch is now the largest branch in the Boston Public Library system. "I can vividly recall seeing her at the library speaking to folks sometimes about how proud they were as changes were made making our library what it has become, a place worthy to honor the dedication and commitment of Sarah-Ann Shaw," said Haywood Fennell Sr, community member.
