Police resist release of Vanecko lineup photos in Koschman case

The decision by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office not to charge a nephew of Mayor Daley in the one-punch death of 21-year-old David Koschman in 2004 hung largely on the fact that witnesses couldn’t positively identify the nephew, Richard J. “R.J.” Vanecko, in a police lineup, according to prosecutors. …

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North Siders not smiling on plan for Wal-Mart

They may be clamoring for Wal-Marts on the South Side, but on the North Side on Monday night, the “smiley faces” were few and far between during a meeting to discuss a proposed store in Lake View. About 250 people filled Lake View’s Wellington Avenue Church, many of whom don’t …

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Cicero officials linked to criminals

BY STEVE WARMBIR A local school board president in Cicero has ties to a notorious large-scale drug dealer as well as a ranking member of a motorcycle gang who is a trusted associate of the Chicago mob, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned. Jeff Pesek, 38, president of the Morton High …

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Ex-boss of Chicago equity firm is sentenced in NYC

The Associated Press NEW YORK — The former president of a Chicago-based private equity firm has been sentenced in New York City to more than 13 years in prison after admitting he misspent millions of dollars in investor money. Steven Byers was head of WexTrust Capital. He pleaded guilty last …

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Some Chicago schools ban some lunches brought from home

To encourage healthful eating, some Chicago schools don’t allow kids to bring lunches or certain snacks from home — and some parents, and many students, aren’t fans of the policy A Little Village Academy student cringes at an enchilada dish served at his school. Many students throw away their entrees …

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Another Illinois Bank Failure

A small town Illinois bank was shut down last night by government regulators. The Western Springs National Bank and Trust was seized last night by The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Operations will resume as normal today with everyone’s account intact and insured. The bank’s $368.7 million in assets and deposits …

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Farming on water: Stackable, sustainable, in the city

Former meatpacking plant poised to become aquaponic farm, with startup food firms, brewery planned Melissa Harris John Edel is turning a former meatpacking plant on the edge of Chicago’s old Union Stockyards into an indoor farm. In the basement, microorganisms are eating tilapia waste, converting it into fertilizer for the …

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Justice Dept. to Congress: Don’t Saddle 4th Amendment on Us

The Obama administration is urging Congress not to adopt legislation that would impose constitutional safeguards on Americans’ e-mail stored in the cloud. As the law stands now, the authorities may obtain cloud e-mail without a warrant if it is older than 180 days, thanks to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act …

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