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Chicagoland's Halloween Houses: Ausumtism Lair in Dyer, Indiana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

It's rare that a Halloween decorated home starts INSIDE the house. That's how Jon Foster's incredible display began. He has spent 20 years collecting all kinds of Halloween decorations and memorabilia - and almost every piece of it is on display.You'll find plenty to look at outside of the home. There are giant skeletons, werewolves and a floating Max from Stranger Things. The yard is packed full of skeletons in all kinds of actions poses. If you are a Chicago Bulls fan, you will love the many tributes to Michael Jordan. A tombstone celebrates the famous Flu Game, and one skeleton is in the air recreating his last shot. On the side of the house, you will find a full Halloween inflatable walkthrough experience. In all of my years covering Halloween decorated homes, I have never seen this many inflatables packed into a small-ish space. Jon's 8 year-old son Ryno is a big part of putting this display together. Ryno has auti...

Man dead, another hospitalized after wrong-way crash in Zion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

ZION, Ill. — An Indian Creek man died following a wrong-way crash Halloween morning in unincorporated Zion.Around 9:15 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a head-on collision on West Russell Road at Park Lane in unincorporated Zion.Arriving deputies located a Ford F-150 and a Chevrolet Malibu, both with significant damage.SEE ALSO: 2 men found dead in room of shuttered Waukgean hotel; names releasedEarly reports indicate that the driver of the Ford, a 46-year-old Milwaukee man, was traveling westbound on Russell Road. The Chevrolet, driven by a 72-year-old Indian Creek man, was traveling eastbound.  According to deputies, for reasons unknown, the driver of the Ford crossed into the eastbound lanes of traffic. Traveling in the wrong direction, the Ford driver struck the Chevrolet head-on. The 72-year-old man was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The driver of the Ford was hospitalized with severe injuries. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines ...

Chicago Public Schools celebrates record breaking graduation rates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago Public Schools celebrated a record breaking graduation rate and post secondary successes for the Class of 2023.Four year graduation rate reached 84% and the five year graduation rate of 85.5% in 2023. Both metrics are more than 1% higher than the Class of 2022 and marked record highs for the school district.In 2013, the Chicago Public School graduation rate was 59%.“Our CPS graduates reflect the best of our city. Through collaboration with our teachers and community partners, nearly half our graduates are leaving CPS with more than a high school diploma,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson.The CEO of Chicago Public Schools Pedro Martinez believes the data shows the district is recovering from set backs during the pandemic. Inaugural Southwest Job Fair set for January CPS also had their 11th straight year where the drop out rate reached less than 10%.The Class of 2023 collectively earned more than $2 billion in scholarships, the highest amount ever awarded to a Chicago P...

Search resumes for missing hunter in unincorporated Lake Villa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. — The search for a man who deputies say went missing while hunting near Fourth Lake in unincorporated Lake Villa resumed Tuesday morning. According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies are searching for a 60-year-old man, identified as Patrick R. Serzynski. Authorities said that Serzynski went missing Monday after he set out to go hunting in the area. He was last heard from around 10 a.m. when he was hunting on Fourth Lake from his duck blind, deputies added.Serzynski's boat and property were recovered at his duck blind. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Crews searched around the lake before efforts were suspended Monday night. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

2 men found dead in room of shuttered Waukgean hotel; names released

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A death investigation is underway after two people were found shot inside a room in the former Ramada Inn hotel in Waukegan. The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as 30-year-old Jamir Johnson, formerly of Gurnee and 59-year-old David Miller, formerly of Lindenhurst. Preliminary autopsy results indicate both Johnson and Miller suffered multiple gunshot wounds.Around 9:50 p.m. Friday, Waukegan police responded to the 200 block of North Green Bay Road, the site of the abandoned hotel. Arriving officers found Johnson and Miller already dead inside. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines The hotel has been vacant since 2018. Waukegan police are investigating.

TSA confiscates record number of firearms at Midway airport this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

CHICAGO — The Transportation Security Administration has confiscated a record number of firearms at Chicago's Midway International Airport.The latest gun found in a carry-on bag was found on Friday. North, NW suburban homeowners hit hardest by new Cook County tax bills The TSA has found 43 guns at Midway so far this year, breaking the previous record of set in 2021.Nationwide, transportation security officials have intercepted just under 5,100 firearms at security checkpoints.

UI Health hosts Halloween festivities for young patients, families

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- The University of Illinois Chicago Health hosted Halloween festivities for patients and their families Tuesday.Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit patients were joined by their loved ones on Tuesday to enjoy a Halloween parade that lead to a party. Chicagoland’s Halloween Houses: Ausumtism Lair in Dyer, Indiana Trick-or-Treating through the hallways and a costume contest allowed the patients an opportunity to celebrate the joyful and spooky holiday of Halloween.No word on the winner of the competition, but in the video player above, viewers can clearly see stiff competition.For more information on UI Health, click here.

Ghosts and Glögg: The mystery of Simon's Tavern in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

CHICAGO — This Halloween, we’re revisiting a spooky chapter of Chicago folklore. It involves, a man, a mural, and a murder mystery — but that’s only where this ‘ghost story’ begins.In Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, the flag of Sweden wraps a rooftop water tank, across Clark Street, at Simon’s Tavern, the spiced wine of Sweden stirs in its own kind of tank.  “The basis of all glöggs is port wine,” said Scott Martin, the longtime owner of Simon’s. “In port wine, you cook raisins, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom seed, orange peels, almond, and a little bit of sugar. In the morning, brandy’s added – at least to our recipe here.”Owner Scott MartinMartin, 63, is bottling the brew for the holidays. It’s Simon’s signature blend of wine and spirits, but it’s an altogether different kind of spirit that is said to have haunted this bar.“I absolutely believe in ghosts,” customer Jack Moore said. “This place is haunted.”Simon’s dates back nearly 90 years, opening in 1934.“The story...

85-year-old woman killed in Palatine crash identified

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

PALATINE, Ill — A woman is dead after a crash that ended in front of a home in the northwest suburbs on Monday afternoon, according to police.Officers say the deadly crash happened near the intersection of South Quentin Road and West Hillside Street just before 3 p.m. in Palatine. City to use shuttered Kmart as migrant shelter after reversing course According to police, 85-year-old Rina Casiello was killed after striking multiple objects after her vehicle was hit by another car while she was traveling northbound along South Quentin Road.Police say the woman was driving in a white Lexus ES350 when her vehicle was hit by another car traveling in the same direction.According to officers, after her car was hit, she traveled into the southbound lanes before veering off the road and into the parkway where her vehicle then struck several fixed objects, including a utility pole and the front steps of a nearby home. CPS student shot and killed near South Side high school Officers say Cas...

First female City Manager in Joliet's history selected

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:00 GMT

JOLIET, Ill. — Joliet has a new City Manager and her selection is making history.Terry D’Arcy, the Mayor of Joliet, announced Tuesday that Beth Beatty has been selected as Joliet's new City Manager. According to the mayor, Beatty is the first woman to serve in the role in the city's history. Man charged in North Lawndale shooting that wounded 15 D’Arcy made the historic announcement in a news release on Monday afternoon. “Ms. Beatty's qualifications include a law degree and extensive experience in municipal government,” D’Arcy said in the release. “She served as a policy analyst, Deputy Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Finance, and most recently as the Deputy Mayor of Intergovernmental Affairs in the City of Chicago."According to D’Arcy, the new city manager comes into the role with nearly 20 years of experience, having worked with former Chicago mayors and members of the Chicago City Council. Beatty also spent time as a law clerk for the Illinois Supreme Court’s Third Judici...