Christy Gutowski – Page 3

Chicago police work at the scene where a 27-year-old man was shot in the arm in the 4800 block of North Simmons Drive near Montrose Beach on Labor Day on Sept. 1, 2025. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

More than 50 shot in Chicago over Labor Day weekend, including a dozen in two Bronzeville mass shootings

September 2, 2025 at 7:39 a.m.

The shooting left a 17-year-old boy in critical condition at University of Chicago Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds to the body, according to police.

Stephen Grabowski, of Chicago, was serving in the Army during WWII in Italy in 1945 when a grenade struck his bunker, burying the 27-year-old private beneath the rubble. Grabowski survived, but he came home paralyzed from the waist down. He earned a Purple Heart, among other medals, for his service. He is shown here with his godson Bernie Ustaszewski at the boy's communion. (Family photo)

Chicago vet’s long-lost WWII Purple Heart, Bronze Star returned to family

August 22, 2025 at 4:56 p.m.

Some 80 years after Stephen Grabowski was wounded in WWII, medals he received for his heroism have made their way back to his Illinois family.

Jerry Moore, 86, looks at the Purple Heart that belonged to his late brother, World War II veteran John L. Moore, alongside John’s granddaughter Angie Holliger. The Illinois treasurer's office, which oversees unclaimed property, returned the medal at a July 2 ceremony in Decatur. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

Once lost to time and circumstance, Purple Heart is back with family of Peoria veteran

July 2, 2025 at 4:27 p.m.

“It means a lot to my heart,” Jerry Moore said of receiving his late brother's Purple Heart medal from World War II. "I don't think there can be any higher...

Chester Weger, then-77, in Pinckneyville Correctional Center, is seen on Dec. 6, 2016. He was sentenced to prison for the 1960 Starved Rock State Park murders of three women. (Zbigniew Bzdak/baiduhai)

Man known as ‘Starved Rock Killer,’ who long fought for his freedom, dies of cancer

June 24, 2025 at 6:11 p.m.

Despite his long claims of innocence, Chester Weger lived six decades in prison after confessing to the haunting 1960 Starved Rock State Park murders of three suburban Chicago women who...

Trey Shuey leaps into the water while hanging out at the pier near North Avenue Beach on June 22, 2025. Shuey, who lives in Ohio, was visiting friends in Chicago for the weekend. (Audrey Richardson/baiduhai)

Chicago weather: Heat and humidity to continue Monday; Saturday night’s low of 78 breaks a record

June 23, 2025 at 12:42 p.m.

An extreme heat warning remained in effect across Cook County through Monday night, while heat advisories were issued for the surrounding collar counties.

Kizzy Wells, center, hugs family and friends as dozens gather for a balloon release, June 22, 2025, in North Lawndale in honor of Wells’ daughter, Zahrie Walls, who found dead in Lake Michigan, near Navy Pier, the day before. Walls, 27, was a well-known hair stylist in the community. “Is this really happening,” Wells cried. “I have to bury my baby.” (Audrey Richardson/baiduhai)

Chicago hairstylist found dead in lake near Navy Pier had gone boating with friends, mom says

June 23, 2025 at 8:13 a.m.

There were at least a dozen rescues along the lakefront in the city and suburbs over the weekend as people flocked to the water to beat the heat.

Craig Lancaster, a Chicago police officer for nearly 30 years, arrives at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on June 12, 2025. (Antonio Perez/baiduhai)

Plea deal ends career of Chicago police officer who struck 14-year-old student

June 12, 2025 at 4:55 p.m.

A veteran Chicago police officer will no longer carry a badge as part of a plea agreement in which he admitted that he struck an eighth grade boy while making...

Henry Van Der Noord, a former Army corporal who was wounded in the Philippines in World War II, is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Calumet City. The Illinois treasurer recently returned his Purple Heart medal to his firstborn grandson. (Audrey Richardson/baiduhai)

Purple Heart returned to family of Lansing WWII veteran

May 21, 2025 at 10:12 a.m.

As Memorial Day neared, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a long-unclaimed Purple Heart to the firstborn grandchild of a WWII veteran.

Nicholas Trutenko hugs his son, Joey, after being acquitted on all charges by Lake County Judge Daniel Shanes at the courthouse in Rolling Meadows on Feb. 19, 2025. At right is Andrew Horvat who was also acquitted. Both men are former Cook County prosecutors. (Stacey Wescott/baiduhai)

Former Cook County assistant state’s attorneys acquitted of wrongdoing in ‘unprecedented’ trial

February 19, 2025 at 5:15 p.m.

Two former Cook County prosecutors on Wednesday were acquitted of multiple counts following an unusual criminal trial connected to a wrongful conviction case.

World War II veteran Edward Gorski Jr., who died in 1993 of a heart attack, is buried at Elm Lawn Memorial Park in Elmhurst. Gorski survived being hit in the face by shrapnel in Germany during one of the final battles of the war. (E. Jason Wambsgans/baiduhai)

Purple Heart medal’s owner identified as ‘a man’s man’ who fought in WWII

December 29, 2024 at 9:24 a.m.

A WWII veteran's sons hope to give his long-lost Purple Heart medal to his grandson, who also served in the Army and had a special bond with him.

All Stories