Latest news with #WGN
The Hill
2 days ago
- The Hill
Landlord convicted in hate crime killing of 6-year-old Muslim boy dies in custody
WILL COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — The Illinois landlord convicted of killing a 6-year-old Muslim boy and injuring his mother in a brutal hate crime attack in October 2023 has died in custody just months after he was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison. 73-year-old Joseph Czuba died Thursday while in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, officials from the Will County Sheriff's Office confirmed Saturday. Earlier this year, Czuba was found guilty of killing 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and wounding his mother, Hanan Shaheen, after he attacked them over their Islamic faith. Czuba's death comes less than three months after a judge handed him a 53-year sentence for the deadly attack. Back in February, Czuba was convicted on murder and hate crimes charges. In court, prosecutors said the attack was a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which had escalated greatly following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. Czuba had been renting rooms to the pair in his home at the time of the attack. Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated for less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict. Authorities have not provided details on Czuba's cause of death.
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Plainfield landlord convicted of killing 6-year-old Palestinian American boy reportedly dies in custody
The Plainfield man convicted of killing a Palestinian American boy in an October 2023 hate crime has died in the state prison system just weeks after his sentencing, WGN reported Saturday. Joseph Czuba, 73, died Thursday while in Illinois Department of Corrections custody, the Will County Sheriff's Office confirmed to WGN. A jury found Czuba guilty of killing 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi in a fatal stabbing and wounding the boy's mother, Hanaan Shaheen. He was sentenced in May to 53 years in prison. The Will County Sheriff's Office, Illinois Department of Corrections and his attorney, George Lenard, did not immediately confirm Czuba's reported death to the Tribune. Authorities charged the attacks as hate crimes. Czuba, who was renting part of his house to Alfayoumi and Shaheen, stabbed them after he became 'heavily interested' in the Israel-Gaza war after the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, prosecutors said. Shaheen testified during trial that Czuba grew angry with her because she was Muslim and from Jerusalem, telling her, 'Muslims are not welcome here.' Czuba stabbed Alfayoumi 26 times, and Shaheen also sustained dozens of wounds as he tried to kill her. He was sentenced to 53 years in prison. Lenard said to his understanding, Czuba was held at Menard Correctional Center in downstate Illinois. Plainfield community members unveiled a monument dedicated to Alfayoumi in June.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago's budget deficit threatened by pension bill that awaits Pritzker's signature
CHICAGO (WGN) — As Chicago stares down a billion-dollar budget deficit, a bill sitting on Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's desk threatens to sink the city's finances further into the red. At the center of the debate is a plan to boost pension payouts for some police and fire retirees. The measure is known as a 'pension sweetener,' and passed the legislature at the end of the spring session with almost no public discussion. Democratic Senate, comptroller candidates pitch for Cook County party's support The bill would boost pension benefits for officers and firefighters hired after 2010 by increasing the cap on pensionable salary and the annual cost-of-living adjustment for pensioners. To cover the adjustment, fiscal watchdogs project Chicago taxpayers would be on the hook for $60 million in 2027 and $754 million by 2055. 'We're still evaluating the bill. Obviously, there is a lot to consider here,' Pritzker said Tuesday. The presidents of the Civic Committee and Commercial Club of Chicago, the Civic Federation, and the Better Government Association all urge the governor to veto the bill, writing in the Tribune last week: 'Chicago and Illinois have among the most underfunded pension systems in the entire country. Taxpayers are on the hook for a combined state and local pension tab of $459 billion, or more than $90,000 per household.' 'One thing to consider is the finances of the city of Chicago; how will they pay for it? Another thing to consider is these are our policemen, these are our first responders, and we want to make sure that they're well taken care of,' Pritzker said. Faced with a nearly $1 billion budget deficit, the legislation has put Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson in a difficult spot. The former union organizer, turned elected official, says he'd like to increase fire responder compensation, but the government needs more money. 'I've spoken to the legislature about my concerns about this particular bill,' Johnson said. 'He's what should or could still happen is that in our effort to secure retirement for our public employees, which is critical and constitutional, absent progressive review, it's impossible to sustain that expectation.' Chicago alders fail to override mayor's veto of 'snap' curfew ordinance If Pritzker signs the pension bill, it's likely that Tier 2 workers elsewhere in Illinois will also seek a pay adjustment. Sweeping pension reform stalled at Springfield back in the spring. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SPF 30 vs SPF 50: What's the real difference in sun protection?
CHICAGO (WGN) — When it comes to protecting your skin from the sun's rays, not all sunscreens are created equal. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is made up of two main types of rays that can damage your skin. UVB rays cause sunburn and UVA rays penetrate deeper and lead to skin aging, wrinkles and long-term damage. The SPF, or sun protection factor, mainly measures UVB protection. It indicates how much longer it would take for your skin to burn compared to if you weren't wearing any sunscreen at all. For example, with SPF 30, it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you had no sunscreen on at all. The Skin Cancer Foundation says SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays while SPF 50 blocks about 98%. While the difference may seem small, the Skin Cancer Foundation says SPF 30 allows 50% more UV radiation to reach your skin than SPF 50, which can make a big difference if you're in the sun for a long period of time. But even when using a higher SPF, extra precautions should still be taken. The Skin Cancer Foundation stresses the importance of: Applying sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure Reapplying every two hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating Wearing protective clothing, hats and sunglasses For those who are at high risk of skin cancer, SPF 50 may not even be enough. In these cases, layering protection and seeking shade when possible becomes even more crucial. For any extended outdoor activity, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
21-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: Scopes monkey trial ends
Today is Monday, July 21, the 202nd day of 2025. There are 163 days left in the year. Today in History: On July 21, 1925, the so-called 'Monkey Trial' ended in Dayton, Tennessee, with John T. Scopes found guilty of violating state law for teaching Darwin's Theory of Evolution. (The conviction was later overturned.) Scopes monkey trial, broadcast by WGN radio, held nation in thrall 100 years agoColumn: Returning again to the Scopes 'monkey trial,' and what I learnedAlso on this date: In 1861, during the Civil War, the first Battle of Bull Run was fought at Manassas, Virginia, resulting in a Confederate victory. In 1944, American forces landed on Guam during World War II, capturing it from the Japanese some three weeks later. In 1954, the Geneva Conference concluded with accords dividing Vietnam into northern and southern entities. In 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin blasted off from the moon aboard the ascent stage of the lunar module for docking with the command module. In 1970, construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt was completed. In 1972, the Irish Republican Army carried out 22 bombings in Belfast, Northern Ireland, killing nine people and injuring 130 in what became known as 'Bloody Friday.' In 2002, Ernie Els won the British Open in the first sudden-death finish in the 142-year history of the tournament. In 2008, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, one of the world's top war crimes fugitives, was arrested in a Belgrade suburb by Serbian security forces. (He was sentenced by a U.N. court in 2019 to life imprisonment after being convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.) In 2011, the 30-year-old space shuttle program ends as Atlantis landed at Cape Canaveral, Florida, after the 135th shuttle flight. In 2012, Erden Eruc became the first person to complete a solo, human-powered circumnavigation of the globe. In 2023, the 'Barbenheimer' buzz reached its peak as the films 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' opened in theaters; the critical and public acclaim for both films led to the fourth-largest weekend box office of all time. Column: The lesson Hollywood should learn from 'Barbenheimer'? Let originality come Birthdays: Singer Yusuf Islam (also known as Cat Stevens) is 77. Cartoonist Garry Trudeau is 77. Author Michael Connelly is 69. Comedian Jon Lovitz is 68. Retired soccer player Brandi Chastain is 57. Rock-soul singer Michael Fitzpatrick (Fitz and the Tantrums) is 55. Actor/singer Charlotte Gainsbourg is 54. Actor Justin Bartha is 47. Actor Josh Hartnett is 47. Reggae singer Damian Marley is 47. Basketball Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings is 46. Former MLB All-Star pitcher CC Sabathia is 45. Singer Blake Lewis ('American Idol') is 44. Latin singer Romeo Santos is 44. Actor Betty Gilpin is 39. Actor Juno Temple is 36. Actor Rory Culkin is 36.
