Suburbs on alert, but so far little impact from NATO

This weekend’s NATO Summit in downtown Chicago may seem worlds away from the suburbs, but authorities throughout the region are preparing for any problems that could spill out of the city. So far, though, police departments haven’t reported any problems like the rallies that have taken place this week in the city. And many suburban hotel managers said their rooms are mainly booked to tourists and wedding parties and even factory workers — and not protesters.

Man paid prostitutes in heroin, food from McDonald’s dollar menu: cops

A West Side man who allegedly forced young girls into prostitution — and then rewarded them with drugs and food from McDonald’s dollar menu — was ordered held in lieu of $1 million Wednesday. DaJuan Brown, also know “Juan Clark,” beat and exploited at least …

Busloads of protesters on their way to Chicago for NATO Summit

Look out Chicago. Here comes Occupy Wall Street. More than 40 protesters from the original occupation of New York’s financial district are due to be the first of 17 busloads of protesters from across the country when they arrive in Chicago Wednesday night. “Stay safe and kick some NATO ass!” one activist yelled as the bus left.

L.A. man charged with felony after allegedly striking cop in NATO protest

A Los Angeles man was ordered held in lieu of $10,000 bail Wednesday for allegedly punching a Chicago Police sergeant off his bike during an anti-deportation protest in the Loop.

Emanuel on NATO Summit: It’s going to be historic — ‘The Chicago Accords’

Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday offered Chicago area residents a new and compelling reason to welcome a NATO Summit many are dreading as a giant inconvenience: a place in world history. “NATO will be now deciding how to de-emphasize its involvement, its footprint in Afghanistan and how to wind down its presence. It will be known as the ‘Chicago Accords,’ basically,” the mayor said.

Medical examiner halts autopsies in drug, alcohol abuse deaths

A staffing shortage has prompted the Cook County medical examiner’s office to halt full autopsies in some cases where a person died from drug or alcohol abuse.

Kevin Hickey, pitched for Sox after open tryout, dies at 56

Kevin Hickey was the South Side’s Natural — a punk kid from Burroughs Playground in Brighton Park who by sheer will, talent and a little luck of the Irish made it to the big leagues to pitch for the Chicago White Sox, his favorite team. Hickey, a batting practice pitcher for the club, died on Wednesday. He was 56.

Occupy Chicago marches in Loop against evictions

About 150 people took part in a rally and march Wednesday morning in downtown Chicago, calling for a yearlong moratorium on foreclosure evictions in Cook County. Occupy Chicago organized the rally.

Police: Girl, 11, drowns in Bolingbrook pond

BOLINGBROOK — Crisis counseling teams were activated Wednesday at both Pioneer Elementary School and Bolingbrook High School following Tuesday’s drowning death of an 11-year-old student, a spokesman for the Valley View School District announced.

The victim has been identified as Jordan Oliver by the Will …

Warrant issued for husband of bride found murdered

Authorities are searching for the bridegroom of a newly married woman found stabbed to death Sunday in her Burbank condo’s bathtub. Thirty-year-old Arnoldo Jimenez, of Chicago, is wanted for the murder of his 26-year-old bride, Estrella Carrera, who was found stabbed “several” times, police said.

Body pulled from Lake Michigan identified as missing man

A man whose body was pulled from Lake Michigan near North Avenue Beach on the Near North Side Monday has been identified. The police Marine Unit pulled the body from the water about 2:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of North Lake Shore Drive, police …

2nd driver dies after wrong-way crash that killed Tribune employee

A 24-year-old man involved in a wrong-way crash that killed a Chicago Tribune employee April 30 has also died. The Tribune employee -- 54-year-old Ronnie Head -- was killed April 30 when the vehicle he was driving was struck head-on by a man driving in …

4 Guardian Angels stabbed at CTA Red Line stop during robbery

Police are looking for two men who attempted to rob a CTA rider at a Red Line stop and then injured four Guardian Angels who tried to intervene. The incident happened about 11:13 p.m. on the platform of the Clark and Division Red Line stop.

Shedd staff camping in  for pregnant dolphin

There’s nothing fishy — or even political — about the scheduled sit-in of sorts at the Shedd Aquarium during the NATO Summit. Veterinarians, animal caretakers and building engineers are set to lock themselves inside the lakefront tourist attraction — which will be closed Friday through …

Courthouse weddings off

Hoping to get hitched in front of a judge downtown this Saturday? Well, it won’t happen this weekend, thanks to the NATO Summit. The Marriage and Civil Union Court at 119 W. Randolph will be closed Saturday, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced …