Latest news with #WMAQ
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Longtime Chicago television investigative reporter Renee Ferguson dies at 75
Former WBBM-TV reporter Renee Ferguson has died at the age of 75. Ferguson, the first African American woman to work as an investigative reporter in Chicago television, was an investigative reporter for WBBM from 1977 to 1983, when she went to work as a correspondent for network CBS News. She returned to Chicago in 1987 as an investigative reporter for WMAQ-TV, where she spent the bulk of her career at the NBC station. Ferguson retired from WMAQ-TV in 2008. "Renee Ferguson left an incredible echo in our newsroom that still rings through the DNA of our investigative journalism, and that legacy will continue," said Kevin Cross, president and general manager of NBCU Local Chicago.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Triplets Who Graduated at Top of Middle School Class Now Headed to Same University: 'We Won't Leave Each Other Behind'
A set of triplets are all headed to the University of Illinois this fall However, Aaron, Brandon, and Christopher Williams-Orr say the similarities may stop there as they all plan to have different majors As their high school noted, the brothers previously made news when they graduated 'as the top three eighth graders at their middle school in 2021"Students and staff at the University of Illinois will soon be seeing triple. Triplets Aaron, Brandon and Christopher Williams-Orr are graduating from high school in Chicago on Saturday, May 24, and all three brothers are set to attend the college together in the fall. "We won't leave each other behind," Brandon told NBC affiliate WMAQ. But don't expect to see them attending the same classes. Brandon is planning to become a computer engineering student, Aaron has his sights set on studying business and Christopher is interested in political science, according to the outlet. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In a sweet tribute, their high school, Providence St. Mel School, noted that the brothers previously made headlines when they graduated 'as the top three eighth graders at their middle school in 2021.' In high school, the trio 'found their footing quickly' and all three received 'impressive scholarships' provided by the University of Illinois and outside organizations. They credit their parents for helping them get to this milestone moment. "They kept pushing us from a young age," Christopher told WMAQ. "When we were little, my mom and my dad had us spelling words all over the wall, they made sure we knew how to spell, read and write and everything else like that." The Williams-Orr brothers are not alone in their success. Their high school's website says that for 47 consecutive years, 100% of Providence St. Mel graduates have been accepted to four-year colleges. A representative from the school tells PEOPLE, 'We are very proud of our triplets and all our graduates, which this year include a National Merit Scholarship finalist and a Gates Scholarship recipient.' Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Woman brutally attacked at McDonald's for her sexual orientation, IL cops say
A pair passing by a woman at an Illinois McDonald's made 'derogatory remarks' toward her, then brutally attacked her, police said. A 19-year-old and a juvenile started a verbal confrontation about the woman's sexual orientation as she was going into the bathroom on May 13, according to Carpentersville police and a GoFundMe started by Kady Grass. The confrontation escalated and Grass was punched and kicked in the head, according to a criminal complaint. The victim shared photos of bruises on her face and body and said she was attacked 'all because I date women instead of men,' she wrote in a GoFundMe. 'One hit me in the jaw and one was hitting me in the front and then I didn't realize that I was getting hit behind until a little bit later, like it took me a while to realize,' Grass told WMAQ. She was taken to the hospital for her injuries, police said. She suffered a broken nose and injuries to her face, according to charging documents. John Kammrad, 19, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery and mob violence, according to charging documents. The juvenile suspect was not named, but is facing felony charges. Deputy Police Chief Kevin Stankowitz said in an email to McClatchy News that case facts were reviewed to see if hate crime charges were warranted, but he said prosecutors declined to charge the two with hate crimes. The juvenile turned himself in on May 16 and Kammrad was arrested May 17. Kammrad is scheduled to appear in court June 27, prosecutors said. Carpentersville is about a 40-mile drive northwest from Chicago.
Miami Herald
08-04-2025
- Miami Herald
Teen killed in spring break crash, IN cops say. Dad ‘never got to say goodbye'
A family spring break trip ended in tragedy when a car crash claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy from Illinois. Jordan Laskowski, his sister Riley, his mother, his grandmother and another sister, were driving through Lebanon, Indiana, when the single-car crash occurred April 4, according to WMAQ. The crash ejected Jordan and Riley from the car, WMAQ reported. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital and his sister was severely injured, the outlet reported. WLS reported his other sister, mom and grandma weren't seriously injured. 'This is a very tough time for (the) family,' a friend said in a GoFundMe. The Daily Herald reported that Jordan was an eighth grade student at Wredling Middle School in St. Charles Community Unit District 303. His father Scott called Jordan an 'amazing kid' in a Facebook post expressing his devastation. Before the crash, he was excited to watch his son play high school football within the year. 'I never got to say goodbye to my son,' he said. 'He was my best friend and everyone knew that. I wish I could trade places with him.' The crash is still under investigation, WRTV reported.
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dolton mayor Tiffany Henyard found in contempt of court after allegedly stonewalling liquor licenses
Tiffany Henyard, the scandal-plagued mayor of Dolton, Illinois, has reportedly been found in contempt of court after allegedly stonewalling liquor licenses for months. The owners of St. Patrick's, a three-story restaurant and banquet hall on Lincoln Avenue, sued in August, claiming the mayor had repeatedly promised to sign the liquor licenses, which were already approved by the village board of trustees, but did not. In court on Wednesday, Henyard, who also serves as the village liquor commissioner, reportedly vowed again that she'd sign the licenses, but she did not before a 5 p.m. Thursday deadline. The parties were therefore forced to return to court again Friday, and Henyard arrived a half hour late for the hearing, WGN-TV reported. Fellow Democratic Mayor Backs Tiffany Henyard's Voter Suppression Claims: 'Telling The Truth' Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan held Henyard in indirect criminal contempt. That means the mayor was considered "disrespectful to the authority of the court," Adrian Vuckovich, an attorney for the owners of St. Patrick's, told Wmaq-tv. "It's been a challenge to put it mildly. It shouldn't be so difficult. This is an ordinary event to get liquor licenses issued," Vuckovich told WGN separately. Read On The Fox News App "The judge asked the mayor, 'Will you sign these licenses?' and instead of signing them or answering the judge directly, she began talking in circles and so that's when the judge made one determination of what's called indirect criminal contempt," Vuckovich reportedly said, adding: "It's serious. It's not something anybody would want to happen, especially if you're a public official." Henyard was not taken into custody, but, under threat of being held in contempt again, she signed two of the three liquor licenses, meaning St. Patrick's can finally open for business. Scandal-ridden Illinois Mayor Loses Township Supervisor Nomination In Historic Caucus "This should have been over in November," Tiffany Kamara, one of St. Patrick's owners, told WMAQ. Vuckovich said his client is pursuing the third license, as well as additional consequences for the mayor over the hold-up. "We want her to be fined. We want her to pay attorney fees, and we want damages. She has hurt my client," the attorney reportedly said. "We are wasting money every day… taxpayers' money. This is a nice building that people could be using and not to mention the jobs." Henyard's attorney, Max Solomon, reportedly attempted to justify the delay. "It is very important for people to understand that the documents signed today had another entity on there. That was the holdup," Solomon told WMAQ. "That was the only thing." Fox News Digital reached out to Henyard and Solomon for comment but did not immediately hear back. Meanwhile, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who had been hired to investigate Henyard last summer, has concluded her probe and is expected to release her findings Monday night, FOX 32 Chicago reported. Henyard is facing allegations including that she misused taxpayer dollars, overspent on village credit cards and fired an employee who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by a village trustee while on a work trip to Las article source: Dolton mayor Tiffany Henyard found in contempt of court after allegedly stonewalling liquor licenses
