A South Side chef has turned the humble baked potato into a full meal, serving loaded spuds, wings and scratch‑made desserts from a new truck near 87th and Cottage Grove.

A 29-year-old man was shot Thursday night while exiting his car in North Pullman and taken to UChicago Medicine in critical condition; police say no arrests were made.

A downtown argument near State and Madison turned violent Thursday night; a 25-year-old was hospitalized and a suspect detained.

Cook County deputies say they found a loaded, stolen handgun and suspected drugs on a man at the 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line terminal. He was charged and later released after an initial court appearance.

A Chicago mother shared video showing someone trying to lure her child near the East Side Little League Fields and urged other parents to stay vigilant.

Dozens of Chicago families say Makeda E. Designs failed to deliver paid-for prom outfits days before dances, prompting police reports and a citywide rush to donate replacements.

Fitch cut the University of Chicago’s long‑term rating to AA, citing persistent operating deficits and a roughly $6.4 billion debt load. The move raises questions about future borrowing and capital plans.

A 36-year-old Grayslake man, Rudolfo Suris, died after his motorcycle struck a car on U.S. Route 41; the Lake County Coroner confirmed his death and investigators are probing the crash.

A superhero‑themed tempura shop from the team behind Chicago Ramen has opened in Schaumburg, serving jumbo ebi tempura, tendon and hot or cold udon.

Phone service at Sauk Village was cut off this week after trustees stalled a vendor payment. The outage left residents scrambling while the police chief paid to gas squad cars.

A person was shot near the Howard Red Line station in Rogers Park and taken to a hospital in fair to serious condition, officials say.

A 35-year-old man was killed early Friday on the 5800 block of West Potomac Avenue in Austin. Area Five detectives are investigating and asking for tips.

Breezy Friday with highs near 72°F; storms likely late tonight.