Ashlyn Wright
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Articles by Ashlyn Wright
Newly elected school board could signal major shift for Chicago Public Schools Original
CHICAGO (WGN) — The Chicago Board of Education is heading in a new direction following Tuesday’s historic election, but the newly elected members will have some major challenges waiting for them. School board member and former CPS principal Jessica Biggs is now the first-ever elected president of the Chicago Board of Education. Biggs defeated Chicago Teachers Union-backed Hilario Dominguez and attorney Victor Henderson.
Chicago voters to decide first elected CPS school board president Original
CHICAGO (WGN) — For the first time ever, Chicagoans are voting to elect the president of the Chicago Board of Education in what has been a historic and contentious campaign. The three candidates are Jessica Biggs, Hilario Dominguez and Victor Henderson. Each is backed by different unions, organizations and coalitions, with very different visions for the future of Chicago Public Schools.
Woman details South Side confrontation involving Chicago firefighter that left man unconscious Original
CHICAGO (WGN) — A heated confrontation on Chicago’s South Side late Sunday afternoon was captured on video, showing a Chicago firefighter striking a shirtless man with a Halligan tool as the situation escalated. Cherokee Mahomes, who recorded the video, said she and her family had just left a service at True Life Baptist Church near 73rd and Maryland in the Grand Crossing neighborhood when they noticed the man who appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis.
Community mourns North Central College cheerleader killed in Bloomington mass shooting Original
CAROL STREAM, Ill. (WGN) — A North Central College student and cheerleader was killed early Sunday morning in a shooting at a Halloween party in Bloomington. Giana Dettloff, 19, of Carol Stream, was a cheerleader at North Central College and Glenbard North High School, who spent much of her time coaching and encouraging younger girls. “She was always bringing the sparkle to the sky,” said Nina Galto, the mother of one of Dettloff’s friends.
Monday forecast: Cloudy and breezy with above-average temps Original
November is starting off on the mild side, but a change is coming later this week. Monday will bring extensive cloud cover across the area, along with breezy conditions. High temperatures will be more than 10 degrees above normal for this time of the year. Scattered showers could develop during the afternoon or evening as moisture increases. A cooldown is expected to arrive around midweek, sending temperatures back toward more seasonal levels by the end of the week.
Illinois Democrats make final campaign push ahead of Election Day Original
CICERO, Ill. (WGN) — With Election Day just two days away, Illinois Democrats are making the most of the final hours on the campaign trail, taking their message directly to voters and urging them to make their voices heard. Gov. JB Pritzker was in Cicero Sunday, joined by Democratic candidates running for lieutenant governor, Congress and the Cook County Board of Commissioners. The message from Democrats was clear: There is still time to make your voice heard, but voters have to show up.
Waukegan police investigate reports of foreign objects found in unopened Halloween candy
WAUKEGAN, Ill. ( WGN ) — Waukegan police are investigating reports of possible foreign objects found inside wrapped, unopened Halloween candy during Saturday's trick-or-treating event. Reports involve objects including metal hairpins and wire discovered inside candy, according to a social media post from the Waukegan Police Department As a precaution, police are urging parents and guardians to carefully inspect all Halloween candy before allowing children to eat it.
A Halloween tragedy: Massive fire tears through Blue Island building, displacing residents Original
BLUE ISLAND, Ill. (WGN) — An investigation is underway in Blue Island Saturday after a massive fire tore through a building, displacing residents and destroying homes and businesses. Firefighters have been at the scene near Western and Union since just before 2:30 p.m., with crews still working to put water on hot spots nearly seven hours later. A third-level box alarm brought firefighters from Blue Island and mutual aid, including crews from Evergreen Park, Calumet Park and other departments.
Waukegan police investigate reports of ‘foreign objects’ found in unopened Halloween candy
Waukegan police investigate reports of ‘foreign objects’ found in unopened Halloween candy Sat, October 31, 2026 at 11:15 PM EDT Waukegan police investigate reports of ‘foreign objects’ found in unopened Halloween candy WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WGN) — Waukegan police are investigating reports of possible foreign objects found inside wrapped, unopened Halloween candy during Saturday's trick-or-treating event.
1 killed, 2 wounded in North Lawndale shooting
CHICAGO ( WGN ) — A man was killed, and two others were wounded in a shooting on Chicago's West Side Saturday evening. The shooting happened shortly after 5:15 p.m. in the 3400 block of West Ogden Avenue in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Police said two men, ages 29 and 23, and a 35-year-old woman were standing on the sidewalk when a vehicle pulled up next to them. Two suspects got out of the vehicle and opened fire, striking all three victims, police said. The suspects then fled westbound.
Sunday forecast: Unseasonable warmth to start November Original
The first days of November are shaping up to be remarkably warm across Chicagoland. The month will open under mostly cloudy skies with mild conditions, and temperatures will climb into the upper 60s. A few widely scattered showers are possible during the afternoon, but rain is expected to be limited. Only about 20% of the metro area is expected to see measurable rainfall.
1 killed, 2 wounded in North Lawndale shooting Original
Posted: Oct 31, 2026 / 06:51 PM CDT Updated: Oct 31, 2026 / 06:51 PM CDT CHICAGO (WGN) — A man was killed, and two others were wounded in a shooting on Chicago’s West Side Saturday evening. The shooting happened shortly after 5:15 p.m. in the 3400 block of West Ogden Avenue in the North Lawndale neighborhood. Police said two men, ages 29 and 23, and a 35-year-old woman were standing on the sidewalk when a vehicle pulled up next to them.
Man fatally shot by FBI agent in Pilsen was firing into a homeless encampment, sources say
CHICAGO ( WGN ) — A man who was shot and killed by an FBI agent in Pilsen Monday evening was firing a gun into a homeless encampment, according to sources. The shooting happened shortly after 5:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of South Union Avenue in Pilsen. A spokesperson for the FBI says an off-duty agent was driving home and saw an individual, identified as 27-year-old Oscar Corrales, fire at least two shots in the direction of a group of people.
Suspect killed in shooting involving FBI agents in Pilsen
CHICAGO — A person who was shot by FBI agents in Pilsen on Monday afternoon has died, according to officials. According to the FBI, the agent-involved shooting happened shortly after 5:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of South Union Avenue in Pilsen. While details surrounding what led up to the incident are currently unclear, multiple agencies appeared to respond to the incident, including the Chicago Police Department, the Illinois State Police and the FBI.
Tuesday forecast: Following a one day hiatus, 70-degree temperatures return for much of the area Original
Tuesday will feature considerably more cloudiness than recent days as more than half the sky is likely to be covered by clouds throughout much of the day. But, there will be intervals of sunshine at times as a stationary frontal boundary draped across central Illinois moves north toward Chicagoland as a warm front Tuesday afternoon. This will set the stage for another round of unseasonably warm late October weather to take place.
Shooting involving federal agents under investigation on Chicago's Lower West Side
CHICAGO ( WGN ) — A shooting involving federal agents is under investigation Monday evening on Chicago's Lower West Side, according to Chicago police. The incident happened shortly after 5:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of South Union Avenue. SkyCam9 was over the scene, where a large police presence could be seen. An ambulance was also seen leaving the area shortly after 5:45 p.m. The Chicago Police Department's Investigative Response Team responded to document the incident, a spokesperson said.
Shooting involving federal agents under investigation on Chicago’s Lower West Side
Shooting involving federal agents under investigation on Chicago’s Lower West Side Mon, October 26, 2026 at 7:34 PM EDT CHICAGO (WGN) — A shooting involving federal agents is under investigation Monday evening on Chicago's Lower West Side, according to Chicago police. The incident happened shortly after 5:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of South Union Avenue. SkyCam9 was over the scene, where a large police presence could be seen.
Shooting involving federal agents under investigation on Chicago’s Lower West Side
This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Seek to live, currently behind live A shooting involving federal agents is under investigation Monday evening on Chicago’s Lower West Side, according to Chicago police. CHICAGO (WGN) — A shooting involving federal agents is under investigation Monday evening on Chicago’s Lower West Side, according to Chicago police.
Lemont man accused of keeping 76 dogs in ‘deplorable conditions’ released Original
LEMONT, Ill. (WGN) — A Cook County judge released a suburban man from custody Monday after he was accused of keeping 76 dogs in “deplorable conditions” at his Lemont home. Andrew Malak, 58, was released by a Cook County judge following an appearance at the Bridgeview courthouse. He is facing several weapons and animal cruelty charges. Malak was arrested Thursday after Cook County Animal Care and Control seized 76 dogs from his home in the 800 block of McCarthy Road.
Family speaks out after Chicago mother was shot in head during alleged road rage incident Original
CHICAGO (WGN) — The family of a Chicago mother who was shot in the head in a suspected road rage incident is speaking out as she remains in a medically induced coma. “This may actually have gone on for several blocks, ultimately culminating with the woman being shot here at this [intersection of 47th and Western].” Rosa was the passenger in the car, while her two- and five-year-old children were in the back seat.
Monday forecast: Cloudy, cooler start to the work week around Chicagoland, but more warm fall temps are coming right back
Current Conditions The Next Few Hours Extended Outlook Monday will bring a noticeable change of pace to Chicagoland to start the work week after a stretch of warmer weather. But if you're enjoying the sunshine and warm fall temperatures, don't worry: They're coming right back later this week. As for Monday, conditions won't be awful, just much more fall-like.
Monday forecast: Cooler, cloudy start to the week
Current Conditions The Next Few Hours Extended Outlook Monday will bring a noticeable change of pace to Chicagoland after a stretch of warmer weather. Clouds and fog will make for a gloomy start to the week, with cooler temperatures settling in. There will also be a slight chance of showers late in the day. Despite the cooler conditions, temperatures will remain above normal for late October. Highs are expected to reach the lower 60s, though it will feel cooler compared with much of the past week.
Sunday almanac: Spectacular conditions, unseasonably warm late October temps
NOTE: This is an almanac of Sunday's weather. A new forecast story for Monday has been published. It was another spectacular, unseasonably warm fall day across Chicagoland on Sunday. A mix of sun and clouds moved through the area. High temperatures reached the mid-70s in some locations. That's about 15 degrees above normal for late October and more typical of what we see in mid-September. The mild weather came during an unusually sunny stretch for Chicago.
Monday forecast: Cooler, cloudy start to the week Original
Monday will bring a noticeable change of pace to Chicagoland after a stretch of warmer weather. Clouds and fog will make for a gloomy start to the week, with cooler temperatures settling in. There will also be a slight chance of showers late in the day. Despite the cooler conditions, temperatures will remain above normal for late October. Highs are expected to reach the lower 60s, though it will feel cooler compared with much of the past week.
Families celebrate Halloween with a side of science at Nature Museum Original
CHICAGO (WGN) — The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum invited families to its annual BOO-seum Bash Sunday, with animal encounters, hands-on activities and plenty of Halloween fun. Museum guest Sophie dissected an owl pellet. She and her sister, Avery, explored the nature museum’s 169-year-old collection. “There’s like some bones in there. We’re trying to find them to get out,” Sophie said. It was trick-or-treating with a little science mixed in.
Construction delay extends Green, Pink Line disruptions Original
CHICAGO (WGN) — A construction project is running behind schedule, impacting Green and Pink Line riders as commuters navigate additional disruptions this weekend. If you commute through downtown Chicago, expect two more days of train service disruptions. The Chicago Department of Transportation has extended construction on the Lake Street Bridge, with work now set to wrap up by 4 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. Service was originally set to resume Monday, Oct. 26.
Sunday forecast: Spectacular conditions, unseasonably warm late October temps continue across Chicagoland
Current Conditions The Next Few Hours Extended Outlook Another spectacular, unseasonably warm fall day is on tap Sunday across Chicagoland. A mix of sun and clouds will move through the area, with high temperatures reaching the low to mid-70s in some locations. That's about 15 degrees above normal for late October and more typical of what we see in mid-September. The mild weather comes during an unusually sunny stretch for Chicago.
Sunday forecast: Unseasonably warm temperatures continue across Chicagoland
Current Conditions The Next Few Hours Extended Outlook Another unseasonably warm day is on tap for Chicagoland Sunday. A mix of sun and clouds will move across the area, with highs reaching the low to mid-70s. That's about 15 degrees above normal and more typical of what we see in mid-September. The mild weather comes during an unusually sunny stretch for the city. October to date has been the sunniest in the city since 1924, more than 100 years ago.
CPD: 3 shot, 1 critically, on Chicago's West Side
CHICAGO ( WGN ) — Three people were shot, one critically, Saturday afternoon on Chicago's West Side. The shooting happened just before 3 p.m. in the 3000 block of West Flournoy Street in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. Police said three victims, a 40-year-old woman and two men, ages 41 and 46, were standing near the corner when an unknown vehicle approached. At least one person inside the vehicle fired shots in the victims' direction, according to police.
Chicago woman pleads guilty to random glass bottle attacks at CTA stop, Macy's
NOTE: The video above is from a previous report. CHICAGO ( WGN ) — A Chicago woman pleaded guilty Wednesday after she used a glass bottle to attack multiple people at random at a downtown subway stop and a nearby Macy's store in December 2025. Jada Beatty, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated battery of a victim over 60-years-old and one count of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in exchange for six other counts she faced being dropped.
Record crowd raises more than $1M at Chicago ALS Walk for Life Original
CHICAGO (WGN) — A record number of people made their way to Soldier Field Saturday for the annual ALS Walk for Life. “I think when I start the walk, it’s going to get emotional. That’s why I got glasses on in case I start crying,” participant Jewel Richardson said. Richardson and her daughter, Bailey Lee, walked in memory of Andre Ratcliff, who died a year ago after being diagnosed with ALS in 2022. “I never heard of ALS until it reached him,” Richardson said. “He was a fun, loving guy.
Chicago family honors teen killed by stray bullet with annual harvest fest Original
CHICAGO (WGN) — Twelve years after their daughter’s senseless murder, a Chicago family continues to turn their pain into purpose, uplifting others along the way. Invited to show up in costumes, families came out for some fall fun at the Aspira Community Center and High School. “This gives me joy to see them smile, to let them know that there’s hope in life,” Milagros Burgos said. The annual Imani Dream Angel Harvest Fest is about much more than fun and games.
Former Bears kicker Robbie Gould steps down as St. Viator football coach Original
Posted: Oct 21, 2026 / 07:45 PM CDT Updated: Oct 21, 2026 / 07:45 PM CDT NOTE: The video above is from a previous report. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (WGN) — Former Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould resigned as head football coach at St. Viator High School Wednesday. The school said Gould decided to step away from coaching to spend more time with his family. He said he will continue to help the school’s senior student-athletes with their college recruiting efforts.
CDA announces temporary closure of Midway runway for repairs Original
FILE – The air traffic control tower stands at Chicago’s Midway International Airport, March 12, 2013. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File) Posted: Oct 19, 2026 / 09:43 PM CDT Updated: Oct 19, 2026 / 09:44 PM CDT CHICAGO (WGN) — A runway at Midway International Airport is temporarily closed for repairs, a closure that could lead to flight delays and cancelations. The Chicago Department of Aviation announced Monday that Runway 22L is closed for arrivals and departures.
19-year-old Illinois man plotted mass shooting at Hindu temple, police say
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PALATINE, Ill. ( WGN ) — Police in Illinois say that if not for one woman coming forward about concerning messages from her coworker, authorities could be talking about an entirely different situation this week. On Sunday, Palatine police arrested Alexandros Paporakis, a 19-year-old local accused of planning a mass shooting targeting a suburban Hindu place of worship. Police say Paporakis had been planning for two years to commit a mass shooting at Aurora's largest Hindu temple.
By Ashlyn Wright Verified, Ethan Illers Verified, Michael Johnson, Jenna Barnes Verified, Erik Runge Verified
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MSN
Verified
19 year-old Illinois man plotted mass shooting at Hindu temple, police say
PALATINE, Ill. (WGN) — Police in Illinois say that if not for one woman coming forward about concerning messages from her coworker, authorities could be talking about an entirely different situation this week. On Sunday, Palatine police arrested Alexandros Paporakis, a 19-year-old local accused of planning a mass shooting targeting a suburban Hindu place of worship. Police say Paporakis had been planning for two years to commit a mass shooting at Aurora’s largest Hindu temple.
19-year-old Illinois man plotted mass shooting at Hindu temple, police say
PALATINE, Ill. (WGN) — Police in Illinois say that if not for one woman coming forward about concerning messages from her coworker, authorities could be talking about an entirely different situation this week. On Sunday, Palatine police arrested Alexandros Paporakis, a 19-year-old local accused of planning a mass shooting targeting a suburban Hindu place of worship. Police say Paporakis had been planning for two years to commit a mass shooting at Aurora’s largest Hindu temple.
19 year-old Illinois man plotted mass shooting at Hindu temple, police say
PALATINE, Ill. (WGN) — Police in Illinois say that if not for one woman coming forward about concerning messages from her coworker, authorities could be talking about an entirely different situation this week. On Sunday, Palatine police arrested Alexandros Paporakis, a 19-year-old local accused of planning a mass shooting targeting a suburban Hindu place of worship. Police say Paporakis had been planning for two years to commit a mass shooting at Aurora’s largest Hindu temple.
19-year-old Illinois man plotted mass shooting at Hindu temple, police say
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By Ashlyn Wright Verified, Ethan Illers Verified, Michael Johnson, Jenna Barnes Verified, Erik Runge Verified
|
MSN
Verified
19 year-old Illinois man plotted mass shooting at Hindu temple, police say
PALATINE, Ill. (WGN) — Police in Illinois said that if not for one woman coming forward about concerning messages from her coworker, authorities could be talking about an entirely different situation this week. On Sunday, the Palatine Police Department arrested Alexandros Paporakis, a 19-year-old local accused of planning a mass shooting targeting a suburban Hindu place of worship.
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