Top Stories Chicago » Updated http://www.topstorieschicago.com What is happening in Chicago Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:53:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Poshard taps new chancellor at SIU http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/poshard-taps-new-chancellor-at-siu/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/poshard-taps-new-chancellor-at-siu/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:21:59 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/poshard-taps-new-chancellor-at-siu.html CARBONDALE -- The president of Southern Illinois University has picked a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee administrator to be the next chancellor of SIU's flagship Carbondale campus.

ritacheng.jpgGlenn Poshard today announced he'll recommend Rita Cheng to succeed former university trustee Samuel Goldman, who's been serving as Carbondale's interim chancellor since spring 2008.

Cheng has served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UWM since May 2005. She's a licensed certified public accountant who holds a doctorate in management from Temple University and an MBA from Rhode Island.

The other finalist was University of Nebraska senior vice chancellor Barbara Couture.

Poshard will recommend Cheng to the SIU board on Dec. 10.

The official SIU release | Cheng's biography from Wisconsin-Milwaukee

-- Associated Press


]]> CARBONDALE — The president of Southern Illinois University has picked a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee administrator to be the next chancellor of SIU’s flagship Carbondale campus.

ritacheng.jpgGlenn Poshard today announced he’ll recommend Rita Cheng to succeed former university trustee Samuel Goldman, who’s been serving as Carbondale’s interim chancellor since spring 2008.

Cheng has served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UWM since May 2005. She’s a licensed certified public accountant who holds a doctorate in management from Temple University and an MBA from Rhode Island.

The other finalist was University of Nebraska senior vice chancellor Barbara Couture.

Poshard will recommend Cheng to the SIU board on Dec. 10.

The official SIU release | Cheng’s biography from Wisconsin-Milwaukee

– Associated Press



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/poshard-taps-new-chancellor-at-siu/feed/ 0 Steelers fan says he was poisoned, left blind in Chicago bar http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/steelers-fan-says-he-was-poisoned-left-blind-in-chicago-bar/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/steelers-fan-says-he-was-poisoned-left-blind-in-chicago-bar/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:54:00 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/steelers-fan-says-he-was-poisoned-left-blind-in-chicago-bar.html heddinger400.jpg

A Pittsburgh Steelers fan says he was left blind and is living with brain damage after he was apparently poisoned at a Chicago bar following a game in September.

The Steelers had lost to the Bears at Soldier Field, and some trash-talking was going on between Zack Heddinger's group of Pittsburgh fans and a group of Bears fans. Afterward, Heddinger, 46, was offered a drink by one of the Chicago fans, a gesture he thought was a peace offering, his older sister Linda Heddinger said this morning in an interview.

It still isn't clear what substance was in the drink, but doctors believe, based on the effects, that it was grain alcohol, antifreeze or some kind of pesticide, Linda Heddinger said.

What is clear, she said, is that her brother is having memory difficulties and is nearly blind.

"It seems like a bad connection you have with television," Linda Heddinger said. "He has glimpses, but just because he can see you today doesn't mean he will see you tomorrow."

Based on conversations with those with Heddinger, he and his family have "narrowed down" the instances in which he could have been poisoned to the incident at Kitty O'Sheas after they left the Sept. 20 game, his sister said.

Linda Heddinger said the game was part of an annual trip her brother takes with childhood  friends to see sporting events in various cities.

According to a Chicago police report, at around 6 p.m. Heddinger, his sister Lisa and their friends were at the bar at 720 S. Michigan Ave. There was an "altercation between Bears and Pittsburgh fans," said Chicago Police Officer Laura Kubiak.

"My brother, trying to be a peacemaker, drank it," Linda Heddinger said. "No one else did."

The police report also mentions Heddinger took the drink and notes his group left the bar a short time later. At about 11 p.m. a call was made from their hotel for an ambulance.

Linda Heddinger said another sister received a call at about 2:30 a.m. from Rush University Medical Center that their brother's heart had stopped and he wasn't expected to survive. Doctors told the family, who later traveled to Chicago to be with Heddinger, that his reaction was much more severe than if he had just been drinking alcohol.

By Thursday, Heddinger was still hospitalized; he was getting headaches and starting to lose his vision, his sister said.

Heddinger later returned to the Pittsburgh area, where he is staying with one of his sisters and his account was first reported by WTAE-TV Ch. 4.

The last two months have been "very, very difficult," Linda Heddinger said, as the family has tried various treatments for their brother's ailments and made arrangements for his rehabilitation.Heddinger is the 7th of nine siblings, most of whom live in the Pittsburgh area.

A regional sales manager for a jewelry company, Zack Heddinger hasn't been working and he doesn't have health insurance, his sister said. "We're emotionally drained, financially drained," she said."I don't understand the mentality where you would do this to someone."

Police said Belmont Area detectives are still investigating the incident.

-- Andrew L. Wang


]]> heddinger400.jpg

A Pittsburgh Steelers fan says he was left blind and is living with brain damage after he was apparently poisoned at a Chicago bar following a game in September.

The Steelers had lost to the Bears at Soldier Field, and some trash-talking was going on between Zack Heddinger’s group of Pittsburgh fans and a group of Bears fans. Afterward, Heddinger, 46, was offered a drink by one of the Chicago fans, a gesture he thought was a peace offering, his older sister Linda Heddinger said this morning in an interview.

It still isn’t clear what substance was in the drink, but doctors believe, based on the effects, that it was grain alcohol, antifreeze or some kind of pesticide, Linda Heddinger said.

What is clear, she said, is that her brother is having memory difficulties and is nearly blind.

“It seems like a bad connection you have with television,” Linda Heddinger said. “He has glimpses, but just because he can see you today doesn’t mean he will see you tomorrow.”

Based on conversations with those with Heddinger, he and his family
have “narrowed down” the instances in which he could have been poisoned
to the incident at Kitty O’Sheas after they left the Sept. 20 game, his
sister said.

Linda Heddinger said the game was part of an
annual trip her brother takes with childhood  friends to see sporting
events in various cities.

According to a Chicago police
report, at around 6 p.m. Heddinger, his sister Lisa and their friends
were at the bar at 720 S. Michigan Ave. There was an “altercation
between Bears and Pittsburgh fans,” said Chicago Police Officer Laura
Kubiak.

“My brother, trying to be a peacemaker, drank it,” Linda Heddinger said. “No one else did.”

The
police report also mentions Heddinger took the drink and notes his
group left the bar a short time later. At about 11 p.m. a call was made
from their hotel for an ambulance.

Linda Heddinger said another
sister received a call at about 2:30 a.m. from Rush University Medical
Center that their brother’s heart had stopped and he wasn’t expected to
survive. Doctors told the family, who later traveled to Chicago to be
with Heddinger, that his reaction was much more severe than if he had
just been drinking alcohol.

By Thursday, Heddinger was still hospitalized; he was getting headaches and starting to lose his vision, his sister said.

Heddinger later returned to the Pittsburgh area, where he is staying with one of his sisters and his account was first reported by WTAE-TV Ch. 4.

The
last two months have been “very, very difficult,” Linda Heddinger said,
as the family has tried various treatments for their brother’s ailments
and made arrangements for his rehabilitation.Heddinger is the 7th of nine siblings, most of whom live in the Pittsburgh area.

A regional sales manager for a jewelry company, Zack Heddinger
hasn’t been working and he doesn’t have health insurance, his sister
said. “We’re emotionally drained, financially drained,” she said.”I don’t understand the mentality where you would do this to someone.”

Police said Belmont Area detectives are still investigating the incident.

– Andrew L. Wang



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/steelers-fan-says-he-was-poisoned-left-blind-in-chicago-bar/feed/ 0 Man killed in West Humboldt Park drive-by shooting http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/man-killed-in-west-humboldt-park-drive-by-shooting/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/man-killed-in-west-humboldt-park-drive-by-shooting/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:57:00 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/west-humboldt-park-man-shot-and-killed.html A 19-year-old man was shot and killed Monday morning in West Humboldt Park, according to police.

Jeremy Moore, of the 2700 block of West Evergreen Avenue, was pronounced dead at 10:30 a.m. at Mt. Sinai Hospital, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Moore was on the 900 block of North Keeler Avenue when an unknown suspect in a gray vehicle drove by and started firing shots, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro.

After being shot in the chest, Moore ran to the 4200 block of West Walton Street where he collapsed, Alfaro said.

Harrison Area detectives are investigating.

--Alejandra Cancino


]]> A 19-year-old man was shot and killed Monday morning in West Humboldt Park, according to police.

Jeremy Moore, of the 2700 block of West Evergreen Avenue, was pronounced dead at 10:30 a.m. at Mt. Sinai Hospital, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Moore was on the 900 block of North Keeler Avenue when an unknown suspect in a gray vehicle drove by and started firing shots, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro.

After being shot in the chest, Moore ran to the 4200 block of West Walton Street where he collapsed, Alfaro said.

Harrison Area detectives are investigating.

–Alejandra Cancino



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/man-killed-in-west-humboldt-park-drive-by-shooting/feed/ 0 Englewood man shot to death in home http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/englewood-man-shot-to-death-in-home/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/englewood-man-shot-to-death-in-home/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:54:00 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/11/englewood-man-is-shot-and-killed.html A 21-year-old Englewood man was shot and killed while sitting inside his home on Monday afternoon, according to police.

Ronald Young, of the 500 block of West 62nd Street, was pronounced dead at 2:12 p.m., according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office.

At about 1:30 p.m., Young was shot several times in his lower back at his residence, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro.

Wentworth Area detectives are investigating.

--Alejandra Cancino


]]> A 21-year-old Englewood man was shot and killed while sitting inside his home on Monday afternoon, according to police.

Ronald Young, of the 500 block of West 62nd Street, was pronounced dead at 2:12 p.m., according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

At about 1:30 p.m., Young was shot several times in his lower back at his residence, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro.

Wentworth Area detectives are investigating.

–Alejandra Cancino



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/englewood-man-shot-to-death-in-home/feed/ 0 Cook commissioners fail again to cut sales tax http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/cook-commissioners-fail-again-to-cut-sales-tax/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/cook-commissioners-fail-again-to-cut-sales-tax/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:06:25 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/cook-commissioners-fail-again-to-cut-sales-tax.html _cooktax640.jpg

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger talks to the media following the Cook County Board meeting today at which county commissioners again did not have enough votes to override Stroger's veto of a plan to cut the county sales tax. (José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)

Cook County commissioners today couldn't make their roll back of the county's controversial sales tax stick, failing by one vote to override Board President Todd Stroger's veto of their attempted tax cut. That means the county sales tax rate remains at 1.75 percent, despite a majority of the county board wanting to reduce it to 1.25 percent. Tax-cut backers needed 14 of 17 commissioners to override Stroger's veto. The vote was 13-4.

Commissioner Deborah Sims (D-Chicago), who had been part of the tenuous coalition supporting a roll back, today chose to support Stroger and sustain the veto. In July, Sims voted to roll back the sales tax increase, but today she switched positions and voted in favor of keeping the tax hike.

More from Hal Dardick in Clout Street on chicagotribune.com

 


]]> _cooktax640.jpg

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger talks to the media following the Cook County Board meeting today at which county commissioners again did not have enough votes to override Stroger’s veto of a plan to cut the county sales tax. (José M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune)

Cook County commissioners today couldn’t make their roll back of the county’s controversial sales tax stick, failing by one vote to override Board President Todd Stroger’s veto of their attempted tax cut. That means the county sales tax rate remains at 1.75 percent, despite a majority of the county board wanting to reduce it to 1.25 percent. Tax-cut backers needed 14 of 17 commissioners to override Stroger’s veto. The vote was 13-4.

Commissioner Deborah Sims (D-Chicago), who had been part of the tenuous coalition supporting a roll back, today chose to support Stroger and sustain the veto. In July, Sims voted to roll back the sales tax increase, but today she switched positions and voted in favor of keeping the tax hike.

More from Hal Dardick in Clout Street on chicagotribune.com

 



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/cook-commissioners-fail-again-to-cut-sales-tax/feed/ 0 Stolen Millennium Park ATM found in Joliet http://www.topstorieschicago.com/chicago/stolen-millennium-park-atm-found-in-joliet/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/chicago/stolen-millennium-park-atm-found-in-joliet/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:28:44 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/atm-found-in-joliet-confirmed-stolen-near-millenium-park.html An ATM machine that was stolen from Millennium Park last week was found in pieces in a remote area of Joliet, police said this morning.

The machine was found near a Waste Management site 2850 Mound Road at about 11 a.m. Friday, said Joliet Police Comdr. Michael Trafton. He said the unit was in a "very remote area'' and said the machine was found on the south side of the road by two Waste Management employees.

"All the money was gone,'' said Trafton.

The ATM had been cut open by a torch and was in several pieces, he said. Serial numbers located on the unit linked it to a unit that had been stolen in Chicago. The unit was turned over to Chicago police on Saturday at about 11:50 a.m.

Trafton said Chicago police were investigating the unit's theft.

-- Carlos Sadovi


]]> An ATM machine that was stolen from Millennium Park last week was found in pieces in a remote area of Joliet, police said this morning.

The machine was found near a Waste Management site 2850 Mound Road at about 11 a.m. Friday, said Joliet Police Comdr. Michael Trafton. He said the unit was in a “very remote area” and said the machine was found on the south side of the road by two Waste Management employees.

“All the money was gone,” said Trafton.

The ATM had been cut open by a torch and was in several pieces, he said. Serial numbers located on the unit linked it to a unit that had been stolen in Chicago. The unit was turned over to Chicago police on Saturday at about 11:50 a.m.

Trafton said Chicago police were investigating the unit’s theft.

– Carlos Sadovi



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/chicago/stolen-millennium-park-atm-found-in-joliet/feed/ 0 Dueling Olympics oversight measures introduced http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/dueling-olympics-oversight-measures-introduced/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/dueling-olympics-oversight-measures-introduced/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:52:40 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/city-council-ponders-oversight-plan-for-olympics.html With little more than a month until the International Olympics Committee decides whether Chicago will get the 2016 Summer Games, aldermen are unveiling new ordinances that they say would provide greater oversight should the city's bid prevail.

Ald. Manuel Flores (1st) held a news conference to pitch a measure that would empower the city's inspector general to monitor the Olympic committee if Chicago hosts the Games. Separately, Mayor Richard Daley's administration introduced a plan to let two aldermen sit on the organizing committee if Chicago wins its 2016 bid.

Read the rest on Clout Street


]]>

With little more than a month until the International Olympics Committee decides whether Chicago will get the 2016 Summer Games, aldermen are unveiling new ordinances that they say would provide greater oversight should the city’s bid prevail.

auto insurance home  insurance life   insurance health insurance

Ald. Manuel Flores (1st) held a news conference to pitch a measure that would empower the city’s inspector general to monitor the Olympic committee if Chicago hosts the Games. Separately, Mayor Richard Daley’s administration introduced a plan to let two aldermen sit on the organizing committee if Chicago wins its 2016 bid.

Read the rest on Clout Street


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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/dueling-olympics-oversight-measures-introduced/feed/ 0 Koenig & Strey sold to unit of Buffett’s Berkshire http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/koenig-strey-sold-to-unit-of-buffetts-berkshire/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/koenig-strey-sold-to-unit-of-buffetts-berkshire/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:46:58 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/warren-buffett-buys-chicago-realty-firm.html Koenig & Strey GMAC Real Estate, a longtime Chicago-based real estate brokerage with 21 offices and 900 agents, has been sold to a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

Terms of the sale to HomeServices of America Inc. were not disclosed.

Koenig & Strey, which had 2008 sales of $2.6 billion, will continue to operate under its own name. The company was founded in 1961.

The acquisition is the 21st for HomeServices, which describes itself as the nation's second-largest full-sevice independent real estate brokerage.

-- Mary Ellen Podmolik


]]> Koenig & Strey GMAC Real Estate, a longtime Chicago-based real estate brokerage with 21 offices and 900 agents, has been sold to a unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.

Terms of the sale to HomeServices of America Inc. were not disclosed.

Koenig & Strey, which had 2008 sales of $2.6 billion, will continue to operate under its own name. The company was founded in 1961.

The acquisition is the 21st for HomeServices, which describes itself as the nation’s second-largest full-sevice independent real estate brokerage.

– Mary Ellen Podmolik



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/koenig-strey-sold-to-unit-of-buffetts-berkshire/feed/ 0 NW suburb wants last call on single-serving booze http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/nw-suburb-wants-last-call-on-single-serving-booze/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/nw-suburb-wants-last-call-on-single-serving-booze/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:35:00 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/nw-suburb-wants-last-call-on-single-serving-booze.html In an effort to curb alcohol abuse that is leading to unlawful and undesirable behavior in public areas of downtown Arlington Heights, trustees Monday night voiced support for a plan to eliminate sales of single servings of alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises.

Police say the move will eliminate the root cause of such problems as fighting, theft, public urination, disorderly conduct, property damage and threats.

"The convenience [of single servings] adds to this continuing cycle of behaviors that are very unsettling to our community," police Cap. Richard Niedrich told trustees.

"We look at this as a comprehensive approach to a rather severe social problem we've had here in the village," Niedrich said in proposing the new ordinance. Evanston has had a similar ordinance in effect for about 20 years, Niedrich said.

The ordinance would apply only to retail sales for consumption off premises. Items to be banned include single containers of beer unless they are 40 fluid ounces or more, single containers of wine unless greater than 12 ounces or 375 milliliters and single containers of alcohol other than beer or wine unless the containers are greater than 16 fluid ounces.

"The focus is on giving substance abusers a break from their habits," said Officer Robert Kostka. "This is aimed at helping them to deal with their problem."

Kostka, who spoke with several liquor retailers in preparation for the meeting, showed trustees a number of empty single-serving containers picked up in the downtown area to illustrate the problem. Many of the containers were 24-ounce cans of beer.

Trustees are expected to confirm their approval of the plan Sept. 8, and formally approve the ordinance Sept. 21.

--Graydon Megan

Listen to Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder with host Greg Jarrett on WGN-AM 720 this morning.


]]> In an effort to curb alcohol abuse that is leading to unlawful and undesirable behavior in public areas of downtown Arlington Heights, trustees Monday night voiced support for a plan to eliminate sales of single servings of alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises.

Police say the move will eliminate the root cause of such problems
as fighting, theft, public urination, disorderly conduct, property
damage and threats.

“The convenience [of single servings] adds to this continuing cycle
of behaviors that are very unsettling to our community,” police Cap.
Richard Niedrich told trustees.

“We look at this as a comprehensive approach to a rather severe
social problem we’ve had here in the village,” Niedrich said in
proposing the new ordinance. Evanston has had a similar ordinance in
effect for about 20 years, Niedrich said.

The ordinance would apply only to retail sales for consumption off
premises. Items to be banned include single containers of beer unless
they are 40 fluid ounces or more, single containers of wine unless
greater than 12 ounces or 375 milliliters and single containers of
alcohol other than beer or wine unless the containers are greater than
16 fluid ounces.

“The focus is on giving substance abusers a break from their
habits,” said Officer Robert Kostka. “This is aimed at helping them to
deal with their problem.”

Kostka, who spoke with several liquor retailers in preparation for
the meeting, showed trustees a number of empty single-serving
containers picked up in the downtown area to illustrate the problem.
Many of the containers were 24-ounce cans of beer.

Trustees are expected to confirm their approval of the plan Sept. 8, and formally approve the ordinance Sept. 21.

–Graydon Megan

Listen to Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder with host Greg Jarrett on WGN-AM 720 this morning.



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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/nw-suburb-wants-last-call-on-single-serving-booze/feed/ 0 Dog rescued from Chicago River http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/dog-rescued-from-chicago-river/ http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/dog-rescued-from-chicago-river/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:43:40 +0000 Chicago Breaking News http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/09/emergency-crews-respond-to-dog-in-the-chicago-river.html Chicago Fire Department divers pulled a German Shepherd from the North Branch of the Chicago River this morning.

Answering a distress call about 8:45 a.m., Chicago fire rescue squad divers went into the water and accomplished the rescue. The dog was taken to a nearby firehouse before it was turned over to Chicago Animal and Control officers, said Quention Curtis, a spokesman for the Chicago fire department.

The rescue took place in approximately the 1400 block of West Cortlandt Street, north of Goose Island.  The dog was described as a large white German Shepherd.

-- Carlos Sadovi


]]> Chicago Fire Department divers pulled a German Shepherd from the North Branch of the Chicago River this morning.

Answering a distress call about 8:45 a.m., Chicago fire rescue squad divers went into the water and accomplished the rescue. The dog was taken to a nearby firehouse before it was turned over to Chicago Animal and Control officers, said Quention Curtis, a spokesman for the Chicago fire department.

The rescue took place in approximately the 1400 block of West Cortlandt Street, north of Goose Island.  The dog was described as a large white German Shepherd.

– Carlos Sadovi


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Share/Save/Bookmark]]> http://www.topstorieschicago.com/updated/dog-rescued-from-chicago-river/feed/ 0