Cop broke up with partner before fatal shooting: Family
Good morning, Chicago. ✶
???? Below: In a wrongful death lawsuit, the mother of Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera says her daughter's partner, Officer Carlos Baker, was struggling to accept Rivera's decision to end their romantic relationship when he shot and killed her during a foot chase.
????️ Plus: A judge found that property tax foreclosures illegally stripped Cook County homeowners of their equity, another deportation blitz case is rejected and more news you need to know.
???? Keeping score: The Blackhawks shut out the Rangers, 3-0.
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⏱️: An 8-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER ????️
Mostly cloudy with a high near 28 and a chance of snow tonight. Subzero temperatures and more snowfall are expected this weekend.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES ????
Family of cop killed in botched chase sues Chicago Police Department and partner who shot her
By Tom Schuba, Casey Toner and Peter Nickeas
Wrongful death: The mother of Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday in which she says her daughter’s partner, Officer Carlos Baker, was struggling to accept her decision to end their romantic relationship when he fatally shot her during a foot chase June 5.
What's alleged: The lawsuit, filed in Cook County court against Baker and the Chicago Police Department, says the breakup stemmed from Baker’s infidelity and that Rivera had threatened to tell his live-in girlfriend about their relationship. Baker knew that "Rivera’s death would prevent her from making disclosures that would likely destroy his relationship with his long-term girlfriend," the lawsuit alleges.
June 5 chase: Baker and Rivera, two Gresham District tactical officers, chased a gunman into an apartment in Chatham and encountered a second armed man, leading Baker to fire a single gunshot that pierced Rivera’s back, killing her. Baker then "ran in the opposite direction and left her to die," according to the lawsuit, which claims he failed to provide medical aid, call for an ambulance or acknowledge he was the shooter. The police department has described the shooting as a tragic accident.
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Property tax foreclosures illegally stripped Cook County homeowners of equity, judge rules
By Stephanie Zimmermann
Homeowners' win: A federal judge ruled in a class action lawsuit that the way Cook County handles unpaid property taxes violates the U.S. Constitution, a win for homeowners who lost their properties — and their built up equity — in tax sales.
The ruling: U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly wrote that the county’s annual tax sales have resulted in violations of the Fifth Amendment’s prohibition against taking property without just compensation and the Eighth Amendment’s ban on excessive fines.
The impact: The class action suit represents "more than 1,700" people who lost their homes in tax sales in recent years, according to Lawrence Wood, supervisory attorney at the nonprofit Legal Action Chicago and one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs. Wood says the judge’s decision effectively halts tax sales in Cook County because the county has been put on notice that it has violated people’s constitutional rights.
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Council opposition wins Round 1 in budget battle with Mayor Johnson
By Fran Spielman
Budget battle: City Council members who oppose Mayor Brandon Johnson's proposed budget and its corporate head tax showed Wednesday that they have more than the 26 votes needed to pass their alternate spending plan, which steers clear of short-term financial fixes that threaten Chicago’s beleaguered bond rating.
Likely drop: No matter how or when the city's second straight budget stalemate ends, one thing is certain: The bond rating that determines city borrowing costs is in real danger of dropping just one notch above junk status. Another drop in Chicago’s bond rating could impede the city’s ability to borrow at a time when it needs to rebuild aging infrastructure, grapple with climate change, and replace shrinking federal and state funding.
Curfew effort: Also during Wednesday's Council meeting, Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) proposed a revised curfew measure for teens that would empower Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling to declare a four-hour curfew anywhere in the city with 12 hours’ notice.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD ????
Today's clue:
7A: ???? Ida B. ___ Drive (street formerly called Congress Parkway)
MORE NEWS YOU NEED ????️
- Cash pass: U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi has donated $29,300 — the entirety of campaign contributions from Palantir chief technology officer Shyam Sankar — to immigrant rights groups, his Senate campaign said. The decision came after the Sun-Times reported that the congressman, who has raised $24 million for his Senate bid, accepted more than $90,000 in contributions from key Trump and MAGA contributors.
- Fatal police shooting: Chicago police officers fatally shot a 20-year-old man Tuesday night in West Ridge during a stolen vehicle investigation. It was the second police shooting in four days. So far this year, police officers have reportedly shot at least 20 people, well above last year’s total of 12.
- Therapist sued: A woman’s family filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging she was sexually abused for years by Matthew Rounds, a Chicago therapist, pushing her to take her life last year at age 21.
- Case rejected: A federal grand jury refused to indict Nathan Griffin, a manager at the Laugh Factory, who’s now been cleared of charges that he assaulted a U.S. Border Patrol agent involved in this fall’s aggressive deportation campaign in Chicago.
- Police reform recs: A commission formed following the murder of Sonya Massey in her home by a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy last year has released its call for reforms, including psychological screenings for prospective law officers and a stronger focus on how police respond to mental health calls.
- Ex-cop convicted: A federal jury on Wednesday convicted John Kosmowski, a former police chief of Summit, finding him guilty of bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice at the end of a seven-day trial tied to several corruption cases that swept the suburbs.
- Restaurant Week: Reservations for all of the Chicago restaurants taking part in the 19th annual Chicago Restaurant Week opened Wednesday. The discounted dining tradition runs Jan. 23-Feb. 8.
WATCH: PRISON HEALTH CARE INVESTIGATION ▶️
Sun-Times reporter Kaitlin Washburn explains her investigation into Illinois' new prison health care provider, Centurion Health. | Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times
FROM THE PRESS BOX ????????????
- Built to last?: Coach Ben Johnson's hot start with the Bears looks like a sturdier foundation than Matt Nagy's in 2018, writes Jason Lieser.
- ‘He can still dominate’: The Blackhawks want top prospect Anton Frondell to prioritize himself in Sweden.
- Bulls analysis: The 2025 draft-day results get worse by the day for the Bulls' front office, writes Joe Cowley.
- Boys basketball scores: We've got the results of Wednesday's matchups, including Neuqua Valley’s win over Yorkville.
BRIGHT ONE ????
Can Music Box build a mini-empire of historic theaters?
By Courtney Kueppers
As many movie theaters struggle to attract audiences in the age of streaming, Chicago’s Music Box Theatre is preparing to double its screen count. The arthouse cinema announced it has acquired The Heights Theater just outside of Minneapolis and will add a third screen to its Lake View home.
The expansion is a bit of an experiment, Music Box’s co-owner and CEO Brody Sheldon admitted. Sheldon said the Music Box has managed to be profitable and contends that in an era of megaplexes, leaning into what makes it unique is key to the draw.
Music Box takes a "365-day film festival" approach. That means a calendar that includes everything from a 24-hour horror film fest to holiday singalongs that get people off their couches. In between big events, like the Chicago International Film Festival, theater programmers curate a mix of cult classics, international flicks, rare movies and some new releases.
"We seem to be doing something right here, and Chicago has given us feedback that whatever we’re offering, they’re happy to receive," Sheldon said.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
Are you going to Sunday's Browns-Bears game at Soldier Field? What are your tips for staying warm in subzero temperatures?
Email us here (please include your first and last name). We may include your answers in Friday's Morning Edition newsletter.
Yesterday, we asked you: Whether you’re relatively new to Chicago or an old-timer, how are you feeling about this winter so far? ❄️
Here’s some of what you said…
"After 70 years of Chicago winters, I'm used to it. Although I'm always glad when it's over." — Tony Galati
"The problem is that it's not even winter yet, because winter starts Dec. 21! We all know that Chicago weather is unpredictable, so we got to go with whatever it throws at us." — Edgar Valencia
"I'm grateful for them. As annoying as shoveling snow can be, with the planet warming, we might see less and less of winter in our lifetime!" — Jordan Mainzer
"Winter here is the price you pay for living in a place with four very different seasons. Do I enjoy having to occasionally wear more layers than a high-class wedding cake or to scrape ice from car windows? No, but I’d probably take other seasons for granted if we didn’t have winter. "— Paul Lockwood
PICTURE CHICAGO ????
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Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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