Afternoon Briefing: Closing arguments begin in Burke corruption trial
Good afternoon, Chicago.
Ex-Ald. Ed Burke stood at the center of a “steady drumbeat of unlawful activity,” federal prosecutors said in closing arguments at Burke’s racketeering trial today, painting the powerful alderman as greedy and extortionate.
“Mr. Burke’s hand was out again and again, demanding money and benefits from the very people he was supposed to act on behalf of,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane MacArthur told jurors. “Ed Burke was a powerful and corrupt politician and this was his racket.”
Arguments in the landmark racketeering trial will cap off a hot-button case that laid bare the inner workings of “old-school” Chicago politics.
Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/breaking and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
Subscribe to more newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Daily horoscope | Ask Amy
Alleged Highland Park parade shooter’s father released a month early from jail for good behavior
The father of the alleged Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooter was released from jail Wednesday morning after serving less than a month of his 60-day sentence due to “good behavior,” according to the Lake County sheriff’s office. Read more here.
More top news stories:
Board of Ethics finds probable cause that four lobbyists improperly donated to Mayor Brandon Johnson
Brother of former Harvey Mayor Eric Kellogg convicted in strip club shakedown scheme
Google will reconstruct the Thompson Center starting early next year, but will retain the building’s atrium
Historic preservationists who fought to save the Helmut Jahn-designed building from the wrecking ball praised the development team. Read more here.
More top business stories:
Halal restaurant coming to Park Ridge; Kyrgyz owners to serve mocktails, but no alcohol
Time magazine names Skokie-based CEO Jennifer Holmgren to top 100 worldwide fighting climate change
Yannick Ngakoue will miss the rest of the Bears season with a broken ankle, forcing a resurgent pass rush to adjust
Chicago Bears defensive end Yannick Ngakoue needs season-ending surgery to repair a broken ankle suffered in Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
Oprah Winfrey painting by Chicago artist is unveiled at Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery
Painted by Chicago artist Shawn Michael Warren, it goes on display to the public Wednesday at the museum in Washington, D.C. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
‘Wonka’ review: A clever candy-man origin story starring Timothée Chalamet
‘Reacher’ review Season 2: The big guy is back, guns blazing
The Supreme Court will rule on limits on a commonly used abortion medication
The Supreme Court has agreed to take up a dispute over a medication used in the most common method of abortion in the United States. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world:
