CHICAGO — "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett staged a racist and homophobic attack because he was unhappy about his salary and wanted to promote his career, Chicago's police superintendent said Thursday. Before the attack, Smollett also sent a threatening letter that targeted himself to the Fox studio in Chicago where "Empire"...
Police: Pilot in Fatal California Crash Had Fake Records
LOS ANGELES — The man piloting a small plane that broke apart over a Southern California neighborhood had false credentials identifying him as a retired Chicago police officer, authorities said Tuesday. Antonio Pastini was killed when the twin-engine plane broke up shortly after takeoff and fell in pieces in Yorba...
‘Empire' Cast Member Alleges Homophobic Attack in Chicago
CHICAGO — A cast member on the hit television show "Empire" alleged he was physically attacked by men in Chicago who shouted racial and homophobic slurs, police said Tuesday. Police did not release the actor's name but a statement from Fox, which airs "Empire," identified him as Jussie Smollett, 36....
The Myths and Truths About Chicago's Guns and Murder Rate
CHICAGO — Chicago police are wrestling with gun violence, blamed largely on gangs. President Donald Trump has frequently singled out the city for criticism, calling the crime problem "a total disaster" and claiming Chicago has the strongest guns laws in the nation and still hasn't been able to curb violence. But...
Washington Post Fact Checks John Cox's Claim About His Childhood
Glenn Kessler — who writes researches and writes The Fact Checker for The Washington Post — decided to investigate this oft-repeated statement by California gubernatorial candidate John Cox: "I'm not part of the political class. I was raised by a single mom, public school teacher on the South Side of Chicago."...
11-Year-Old Girl Gets Heart Transplant After Visit by Drake
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago girl has received a heart transplant just days after she danced her way into a hospital visit from Drake. Surgeons performed the transplant on 11-year-old Sofia Sanchez on Monday at Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital. The Canadian rapper visited Sofia there after seeing a video of her dancing...
$3.9B Buyout of Tribune by Sinclair Ends in Acrimony
NEW YORK — The $3.9 billion buyout of Tribune Media by Sinclair collapsed Thursday, ending a bid to create a massive media juggernaut that could have rivaled the reach of Fox News. Tribune Media Co. said Thursday that it is suing Sinclair for breach of contract and at least $1...