Another American shooting tragedy, this time in the state of Illinois. Celebrations for Juneteenth took a fatal turn late Saturday night when news of a brutal shooting occurred among a large Rush. One person is killed and 20 others have bullet wounds. The incident took place in a Chicago suburb.

US: Juneteenth celebrations in Illinois take an ugly turn

At least 20 people were shot, one fatally, reported the local media citing the officials as police are in the midst of investigating an overnight shooting in the US state of Illinois southwest suburban Willowbrook, on Sunday (June 18).&nbsp;

<h2>What do we know about the incident?</h2>

Witnesses have said over 200 teens and young adults were gathered for a Juneteenth celebration when over two dozen shots were fired into the crowd. The incident took place at the intersection of Honeysuckle Rose Lane and Route 83 (Kingery Highway) in DuPage County.

As of Sunday, at least 20 people had been shot, one fatally, said DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Eric Swanson told reporters. As per reports, victims were taken to the nearby hospitals in DuPage, Cook and Will counties.&nbsp;

Fire officials had earlier said that there are five gunshot victims and at least 10 people have been shot and injured out of which two of them are in critical condition. According to Battalion Chief Joe Ostrander with the Tri-State Fire Protection District the shooting took place at around 12:30 am (local time), reported the local media.&nbsp;At least 12 ambulances responded to the scene,&nbsp;Ostrander added.

The condition of the victims was not immediately known. Additionally,&nbsp;Swanson said that the&nbsp;motive behind the shooting is unclear and it is still an active investigation.&nbsp;

<h2>What did the eyewitnesses say?</h2>

“It was supposed to be like a Juneteenth celebration; we just started hearing shooting, so we dropped down until they stopped. They just kept going,” witness Markeshia Avery told the local media, adding that after that we “literally scattered away”.&nbsp;

Similarly, another witness, who was not named&nbsp;said, “We were all just out, and, next thing you know shots just kept going off; everybody ran, and it was chaos.”

<h2>Juneteenth celebrations in US&nbsp;</h2>

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, is observed on June 19 across the US to commemorate the end of slavery. The word Juneteenth originated from the words “June” and “nineteenth.” Last year, US President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing it as a national holiday.&nbsp;

The Juneteenth celebration and traditions vary across the country. In some states, parades are organised, and people gather together, make food and play games together.&nbsp;

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At least 20 people were shot, one fatally, reported the local media citing the officials as police are in the midst of investigating an overnight shooting in the US state of Illinois southwest suburban Willowbrook, on Sunday (June 18).

At least 20 people were shot, one fatally, reported the local media citing the officials as police are in the midst of investigating an overnight shooting in the US state of Illinois southwest suburban Willowbrook, on Sunday (June 18). What do we know about the incident? Witnesses have said over 200 teens and young adults were gathered for a Juneteenth celebration when over two dozen shots were fired into the crowd. The incident took place at the intersection of Honeysuckle Rose Lane and Route 83 (Kingery Highway) in DuPage County. As of Sunday, at least 20 people had been shot, one fatally, said DuPage County Deputy Sheriff Eric Swanson told reporters. As per reports, victims were taken to the nearby hospitals in DuPage, Cook and Will counties. Fire officials had earlier said that there are five gunshot victims and at least 10 people have been shot and injured out of which two of them are in critical condition. According to Battalion Chief Joe Ostrander with the Tri-State Fire Protection District the shooting took place at around 12:30 am (local time), reported the local media. At least 12 ambulances responded to the scene, Ostrander added. The condition of the victims was not immediately known. Additionally, Swanson said that the motive behind the shooting is unclear and it is still an active investigation. What did the eyewitnesses say? “It was supposed to be like a Juneteenth celebration; we just started hearing shooting, so we dropped down until they stopped. They just kept going,” witness Markeshia Avery told the local media, adding that after that we “literally scattered away”. Similarly, another witness, who was not named said, “We were all just out, and, next thing you know shots just kept going off; everybody ran, and it was chaos.” Juneteenth celebrations in US Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, is observed on June 19 across the US to commemorate the end of slavery. The word Juneteenth originated from the words “June” and “nineteenth.” Last year, US President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing it as a national holiday. The Juneteenth celebration and traditions vary across the country. In some states, parades are organised, and people gather together, make food and play games together. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

At least one killed, 20 shot after mass shooting in US amid Juneteenth celebration

The members of the Catholic clergy in Illinois are accused of sexual abuse of children, an investigative report published on Tuesday revealed. &nbsp;

The report mentioned that they have ministered in the church for almost seven decades. At least 1,997 children across the state were sexually abused by more than 450 Catholic clerics across the state.&nbsp;

Kwame Raoul, the attorney general of the office of Illinois, released the 696-page report detailing decades of child sex abuse.&nbsp;

The Illinois Catholic dioceses include the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Dioceses of Belleville, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, and Springfield.&nbsp;

The report revealed that the probe began in the latter half of 2018 on the heels of a Pennsylvania grand jury report finding that more than 300 Catholic clerics had abused more than 1,000 children in the Commonwealth over the prior 70 years.&nbsp;

Raoul mentioned that the probe aimed at achieving two goals — one is to obtain a full accounting of substantiated child sex abuse and to provide a complete public report of the abusers.&nbsp;

And the second one is to give voice to survivors in an attempt to contribute to their healing journey.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that attorneys and investigators examined thousands of diocesan files. They reviewed more than 100,000 pages of documents held by the dioceses.&nbsp;

The Illinois attorney general also mentioned that they spent countless hours engaged in interviews and conversations with diocesan leadership and representatives.&nbsp;

"I was raised and confirmed in the Catholic church and sent my children to Catholic schools. I believe the church does important work to support vulnerable populations; however, as with any presumably reputable institution, the Catholic church must be held accountable when it betrays the public’s trust," Raoul said.&nbsp;

In response to the findings, the Archdiocese of Chicago and the dioceses of Belleville, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, and Springfield issued a joint statement.&nbsp;

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago and Metropolitan of the Chicago Province, said, "The Catholic Church in Illinois has been at the forefront of dealing with sexual abuse of minors for many years."&nbsp;

He further said, "At this time, working with the Office of the Attorney General of Illinois, the leaders of all six Illinois dioceses endeavored to make clear and update our approach, mindful of our lived experience and best practices in this field."&nbsp;

"Our common goals in doing so are to ensure we offer pastoral support to those affected by this tragedy and to work diligently to prevent it from occurring again," he added.&nbsp; 
 
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The members of the Catholic clergy in Illinois are accused of sexual abuse of children, an investigative report published on Tuesday revealed. The report mentioned that they have ministered in the church for almost seven decades.

The members of the Catholic clergy in Illinois are accused of sexual abuse of children, an investigative report published on Tuesday revealed. The report mentioned that they have ministered in the church for almost seven decades. At least 1,997 children across the state were sexually abused by more than 450 Catholic clerics across the state. Kwame Raoul, the attorney general of the office of Illinois, released the 696-page report detailing decades of child sex abuse. The Illinois Catholic dioceses include the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Dioceses of Belleville, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, and Springfield. The report revealed that the probe began in the latter half of 2018 on the heels of a Pennsylvania grand jury report finding that more than 300 Catholic clerics had abused more than 1,000 children in the Commonwealth over the prior 70 years. Raoul mentioned that the probe aimed at achieving two goals — one is to obtain a full accounting of substantiated child sex abuse and to provide a complete public report of the abusers. And the second one is to give voice to survivors in an attempt to contribute to their healing journey. The report mentioned that attorneys and investigators examined thousands of diocesan files. They reviewed more than 100,000 pages of documents held by the dioceses. The Illinois attorney general also mentioned that they spent countless hours engaged in interviews and conversations with diocesan leadership and representatives. "I was raised and confirmed in the Catholic church and sent my children to Catholic schools. I believe the church does important work to support vulnerable populations; however, as with any presumably reputable institution, the Catholic church must be held accountable when it betrays the public’s trust," Raoul said. In response to the findings, the Archdiocese of Chicago and the dioceses of Belleville, Joliet, Peoria, Rockford, and Springfield issued a joint statement. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago and Metropolitan of the Chicago Province, said, "The Catholic Church in Illinois has been at the forefront of dealing with sexual abuse of minors for many years." He further said, "At this time, working with the Office of the Attorney General of Illinois, the leaders of all six Illinois dioceses endeavored to make clear and update our approach, mindful of our lived experience and best practices in this field." "Our common goals in doing so are to ensure we offer pastoral support to those affected by this tragedy and to work diligently to prevent it from occurring again," he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Illinois: Nearly 2,000 children sexually abused by 450 Catholic clerics over seven decades, says report

At least six people died Monday after a dust storm caused visibility to plummet along a US highway, leading to crashes involving nearly 100 vehicles, police said.

Some 40-60 passenger vehicles, along with 30 commercial vehicles, crashed in the Midwestern state of Illinois "due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway," the Illinois State Police said in a statement.

Watch the video below

At least 6 dead after dust storm causes crashes in Illinois

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The police added that dozens of people were wounded.

Two semi-trucks caught fire as a result of the late-morning crashes, which occurred along a two-mile stretch of Interstate 55, the statement said.

The highway is a major thoroughfare, connecting cities like Chicago and St. Louis.

Reuters quoted a police spokesperson as saying that crashes took place shortly after 11 am CT (1600 GMT)

More than 30 people were taken to the hospital with injuries ranging "from minor to life-threatening," police said. Victims ranged from ages two to 80.

Images published from the scene showed firefighters in the dusty, hazy aftermath, in some cases in near zero-visibility conditions as smoke -- and sometimes fires -- rose from vehicles, some of which had careened off the highway.

Eight people died in a similar accident in Utah in 2021 when a sandstorm caused a series of crashes ensnaring 22 vehicles.

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&nbsp;

At least six people died Monday after a dust storm caused visibility to plummet along a US highway, leading to crashes involving nearly 100 vehicles, police said.

At least six people died Monday after a dust storm caused visibility to plummet along a US highway, leading to crashes involving nearly 100 vehicles, police said. Some 40-60 passenger vehicles, along with 30 commercial vehicles, crashed in the Midwestern state of Illinois "due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway," the Illinois State Police said in a statement. Watch the video below At least 6 dead after dust storm causes crashes in Illinois × The police added that dozens of people were wounded. Two semi-trucks caught fire as a result of the late-morning crashes, which occurred along a two-mile stretch of Interstate 55, the statement said. The highway is a major thoroughfare, connecting cities like Chicago and St. Louis. Reuters quoted a police spokesperson as saying that crashes took place shortly after 11 am CT (1600 GMT) More than 30 people were taken to the hospital with injuries ranging "from minor to life-threatening," police said. Victims ranged from ages two to 80. Images published from the scene showed firefighters in the dusty, hazy aftermath, in some cases in near zero-visibility conditions as smoke -- and sometimes fires -- rose from vehicles, some of which had careened off the highway. Eight people died in a similar accident in Utah in 2021 when a sandstorm caused a series of crashes ensnaring 22 vehicles. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Watch: How a dust storm vehicle pileup in US led to fires, leaving six dead

At least six people were killed in a blinding dust storm in Southern Illinois on Monday. The national weather service informed that the winds were gusting at a speed of at least 56 to 74 kilometres per hour and visibility was low due to the blowing dust.

At least 6 dead after dust storm causes crashes in Illinois

IN PICS | Dozens of devastating tornadoes wreck the US Midwest and South

Storms continue to lash out on the central and Southern areas surround the Eastern United States with devastating winds and powerful tornadoes. The death toll has risen to 26. Kansas, Albama, Indiana, Illinois suffered maximum damage.

America's ravaging tornadoes: 26 killed as tornadoes pound Southern US

A tornado swept through a field at Macon County in central Illinois on Tuesday (January 3), as severe storms triggered weather warnings across the region.

US: Tornado swirls past wind farm in central Illinois

A gunman opened fire on July 4th Independence Day parade in Illinois' Chicago on Monday, killing at least six people and wounding at least 30 people.

6 killed after gunman opened fire on a July 4 Parade in Illinois

Decades ago, the united states imported four Asian species of fish to help control algae growth in lagoons and fish farms and now these foreign species have infested the Mississippi river.

Illinois finds a solution to its Copi fish infestation

New York has become the latest Democratic-run state to roll back its protective mask law, as health officials increasingly talk about America moving towards a phase where COVID-19 doesn't disrupt daily lives.

As the country gears up for key midterm elections later this year that could shape Joe Biden's second half of presidency, masks remain a hot political issue in the United States.

Democrats have led the enforcement of mask mandates, while Republican-led states such as Texas and Florida have gone as far as banning the mandatory wearing of face coverings.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beyond-tragic-who-reports-130-million-cases-and-500000-deaths-linked-to-omicron-451604" hreflang="en">'Beyond tragic': WHO reports 130 million cases and 500,000 deaths linked to Omicron</a>

Citing a 96 per cent decline in the number of reported infections since early January, New York governor Kathy Hochul announced that she would not renew an indoor mask mandate for businesses when it expires on Thursday.

Rather, it will be up to each city and business to decide whether to require masks.&nbsp;Hochul however, added&nbsp;that face coverings in schools would remain compulsory until she reviews it next month.

Hochul said the state was "trending in a very, very good direction."

"That is why we are now approaching a new phase in this pandemic," she told reporters. Broadway said it would require masks inside all theatres until April 30.

Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker said masks would no longer be required indoors in most public places by February 28; schools will, however, remain subject to the rule.

As Coronavirus infections fall in the US, several states announced plans Monday to lift mask requirements in indoor places and schools.

This easing of restrictions is also a response to an increasingly pandemic-weary public, occurring at a time when northern neighbour, Canada, is battling trucker-led protests against Covid rules, which have paralysed its capital, Ottawa.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-fda-poised-to-tap-brakes-on-china-made-cancer-drugs-451741" hreflang="en">United States: FDA poised to tap brakes on China-made cancer drugs</a>

Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that vaccinated residents of California will no longer be required to wear masks indoors as of February 15. However, unvaccinated residents will be required to do so.

The mask requirement in Oregon will be lifted no later than March 31, and the mask requirement in Delaware will end on Friday, with mask usage in classrooms ending by March 31.

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey led the rollbacks, announcing that children and staff would no longer need to wear masks in schools starting March 7.

Connecticut followed suit, with Ned Lamont saying that he was recommending that schools stop wearing masks after February 28.

In addition, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that his state's mask requirement for schools will end on February 28.

Watch |&nbsp;Canada truckers' protest against COVID mandates enters the second week

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School boards still have the option of requiring masks if they so desire despite the lifting of the mandates.

With these changes, a shift is taking place towards learning to live with COVID-19 on an everyday basis.

CDC officials still mandate face masks at federal buildings, train stations, airports and airport terminals. However, its officials are upping their rhetoric about normalizing life.

"We're moving toward a time when Covid won't disrupt our daily lives. A time when Covid won't be a constant crisis, but rather will be something we can protect against and treat," White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said Wednesday.

(With inputs from agencies)

New York has become the latest Democratic-run state to roll back its protective mask law, as health officials increasingly talk about America moving towards a phase where COVID-19 doesn't disrupt daily lives.

New York has become the latest Democratic-run state to roll back its protective mask law, as health officials increasingly talk about America moving towards a phase where COVID-19 doesn't disrupt daily lives. As the country gears up for key midterm elections later this year that could shape Joe Biden's second half of presidency, masks remain a hot political issue in the United States. Democrats have led the enforcement of mask mandates, while Republican-led states such as Texas and Florida have gone as far as banning the mandatory wearing of face coverings. Also read | 'Beyond tragic': WHO reports 130 million cases and 500,000 deaths linked to Omicron Citing a 96 per cent decline in the number of reported infections since early January, New York governor Kathy Hochul announced that she would not renew an indoor mask mandate for businesses when it expires on Thursday. Rather, it will be up to each city and business to decide whether to require masks. Hochul however, added that face coverings in schools would remain compulsory until she reviews it next month. Hochul said the state was "trending in a very, very good direction." "That is why we are now approaching a new phase in this pandemic," she told reporters. Broadway said it would require masks inside all theatres until April 30. Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker said masks would no longer be required indoors in most public places by February 28; schools will, however, remain subject to the rule. As Coronavirus infections fall in the US, several states announced plans Monday to lift mask requirements in indoor places and schools. This easing of restrictions is also a response to an increasingly pandemic-weary public, occurring at a time when northern neighbour, Canada, is battling trucker-led protests against Covid rules, which have paralysed its capital, Ottawa. Also read | United States: FDA poised to tap brakes on China-made cancer drugs Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that vaccinated residents of California will no longer be required to wear masks indoors as of February 15. However, unvaccinated residents will be required to do so. The mask requirement in Oregon will be lifted no later than March 31, and the mask requirement in Delaware will end on Friday, with mask usage in classrooms ending by March 31. Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey led the rollbacks, announcing that children and staff would no longer need to wear masks in schools starting March 7. Connecticut followed suit, with Ned Lamont saying that he was recommending that schools stop wearing masks after February 28. In addition, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that his state's mask requirement for schools will end on February 28. Watch | Canada truckers' protest against COVID mandates enters the second week School boards still have the option of requiring masks if they so desire despite the lifting of the mandates. With these changes, a shift is taking place towards learning to live with COVID-19 on an everyday basis. CDC officials still mandate face masks at federal buildings, train stations, airports and airport terminals. However, its officials are upping their rhetoric about normalizing life. "We're moving toward a time when Covid won't disrupt our daily lives. A time when Covid won't be a constant crisis, but rather will be something we can protect against and treat," White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said Wednesday. (With inputs from agencies)

New York, Illinois latest to announce an end to mask mandates. These US states are also ending mask mandates

Multiple tornadoes have ripped across six of the US states in a Stormfront that killed dozens and tore apart a candle factory, crushed a nursing home, derailed a train, and smashed an Amazon warehouse.

US: Tornadoes hit six state including Kentucky, Illinois

A storm hit Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Friday with nearly 100 workers trapped inside. Describing it as a "mass casualty incident," the Collinsville Emergency Management Agency worked through the early hours of Saturday to rescue employees at the facility.&nbsp;

At least 100 emergency vehicles were at the scene.&nbsp;

In a statement, Amazon spokesperson Richard Rocha said "the safety and well-being of our employees and partners is our top priority right now. We're assessing the situation and will share additional information when it's available."

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My prayers are with the people of Edwardsville tonight, and I've reached out to the mayor to provide any needed state resources. 
 
Our <a href="https://twitter.com/ILStatePolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ILStatePolice</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ReadyIllinois?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ReadyIllinois</a> are both coordinating closely with local officials and I will continue to monitor the situation.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovPritzker/status/1469525380843384832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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According to the reports by AFP, the employees were on the night shift processing orders ahead before the Christmas holidays.&nbsp; 
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker took to his official Twitter handle as he wrote, "My prayers are with the people of Edwardsville tonight, and I've reached out to the mayor to provide any needed state resources."

He further added that the Illinois State Police and Illinois Emergency Management Agency have been 'coordinating closely' with local officials.&nbsp;

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🙏🙏RT <a href="https://twitter.com/PrestonTVNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrestonTVNews</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: Multiple first responders and crews now on scene in Edwardsville, Illinois, where workers are trapped, some feared dead, after possible tornado hit an <a href="https://twitter.com/amazon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@amazon</a> warehouse, leading to a partial roof collapse. <a href="https://t.co/rlwk5T2SFF">pic.twitter.com/rlwk5T2SFF</a>
— KAZ (@kimmiedq) <a href="https://twitter.com/kimmiedq/status/1469566778405699588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Various images and videos that have emerged on social media show the roof being torn off.&nbsp;

Not just Illinois, but several other US states were also affected by the storm. In Arkansas, one person was killed and 20 others were trapped after a tornado struck the Monette Manor nursing home. In Tennessee, at least two people were killed.

(With inputs from agencies)

A storm hit Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Friday with nearly 100 workers trapped inside. Describing it as a "mass casualty incident," the Collinsville Emergency Management Agency worked through the early hours of Saturday to rescue employees at the facility.

A storm hit Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Friday with nearly 100 workers trapped inside. Describing it as a "mass casualty incident," the Collinsville Emergency Management Agency worked through the early hours of Saturday to rescue employees at the facility. At least 100 emergency vehicles were at the scene. In a statement, Amazon spokesperson Richard Rocha said "the safety and well-being of our employees and partners is our top priority right now. We're assessing the situation and will share additional information when it's available." My prayers are with the people of Edwardsville tonight, and I've reached out to the mayor to provide any needed state resources. Our @ILStatePolice and @ReadyIllinois are both coordinating closely with local officials and I will continue to monitor the situation. — Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) December 11, 2021 × According to the reports by AFP, the employees were on the night shift processing orders ahead before the Christmas holidays. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker took to his official Twitter handle as he wrote, "My prayers are with the people of Edwardsville tonight, and I've reached out to the mayor to provide any needed state resources." He further added that the Illinois State Police and Illinois Emergency Management Agency have been 'coordinating closely' with local officials. 🙏🙏RT @PrestonTVNews: #BREAKING: Multiple first responders and crews now on scene in Edwardsville, Illinois, where workers are trapped, some feared dead, after possible tornado hit an @amazon warehouse, leading to a partial roof collapse. pic.twitter.com/rlwk5T2SFF — KAZ (@kimmiedq) December 11, 2021 × Various images and videos that have emerged on social media show the roof being torn off. Not just Illinois, but several other US states were also affected by the storm. In Arkansas, one person was killed and 20 others were trapped after a tornado struck the Monette Manor nursing home. In Tennessee, at least two people were killed. (With inputs from agencies)

Tornado in US updates: Storm hits Amazon warehouse in US; Nearly 100 people trapped inside

Massive flames engulfed a chemical plant in northern Illinois on Monday prompting widespread evacuations from the region. Authorities have said that the fire is expected to continue burning for several days.

Massive fire at Illinois chemical plant could burn for days

To Black Americans in the 1960s who were targeted and harassed by the police, 21-year-old Fred Hampton was an empowering figure.

To the FBI and its director, J. Edgar Hoover, Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, was a radical threat.

Hampton was killed by Chicago police officers early on the morning of Dec. 4, 1969, during a raid on his West Side apartment, which was a block south of the Black Panther Party’s Chicago headquarters. The ambush, and the months of FBI surveillance of Hampton and the Panthers that preceded it, are dramatized in Shaka King’s film “Judas and the Black Messiah,” which began streaming Friday on HBO Max.

 
At the time of Hampton’s death, Chicago was the site of political protests and violent clashes with law enforcement. The infamous trial of the Chicago 7, a court battle that involved seven Vietnam War protesters charged with conspiring to incite riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention (a saga chronicled in Aaron Sorkin’s recent film “The Trial of the Chicago 7”), had been underway for a little over two months.

King, who co-wrote the script with Will Berson, drew mostly from fact while taking viewers inside the Black Panther Party in the months leading up to Hampton’s death, though they took a few dramatic liberties. For instance, the film’s star, Daniel Kaluuya, is a decade older than the 21-year-old Hampton was when he was killed.

Here is a guide to the real-life people, groups and events that feature in “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Be warned, there are spoilers, if such a thing is possible when speaking of history.

Who were the Black Panthers?

The Black Panther Party was founded in 1966 in Oakland, California, by a pair of Black college students, Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton, to oppose police brutality and racism in local neighborhoods. The Panthers, who were known for their military-style black berets, leather jackets and raised-fist salute, believed in removing abusive officers from communities by any means necessary, including armed resistance.

The FBI viewed the Panthers as a radical group capable of galvanizing a militant Black nationalist movement. (Hoover, the bureau’s first director, called the Black Panther Party “the greatest threat to the internal security of the country”). But the Panthers also launched a number of social initiatives: Members ran medical clinics, provided free transportation to prisons for family members of inmates, and started a free breakfast program that fed thousands of schoolchildren.

Who was Fred Hampton?

The charismatic community organizer enjoyed a meteoric rise that took him from campaigning for an integrated community pool and recreational center in his hometown, Maywood, Illinois, to preaching to thousands as the chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party.

In 1969, a few months after helping to found the party’s Illinois chapter, the 20-year-old Hampton brokered an alliance he called the Rainbow Coalition, which united the Black Panthers, the Young Patriots (Southern white leftists) and the Young Lords (a Puerto Rican civil and human rights organization) in an effort to combat poverty and racism in their Chicago communities.

Hampton’s rapid ascent through the ranks of the Black Panther Party landed him in the cross hairs of a secret FBI counterintelligence program, known as Cointelpro, that Hoover formed to “expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit or otherwise neutralize the activities of Black nationalist, hate-type organizations.” Targets included both the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Ku Klux Klan. Hoover declared in an internal memo that he sought to prevent the “rise of a ‘messiah’ who could unify and electrify the militant Black nationalist movement.”

Under Cointelpro, the FBI tried a number of tactics to sow discord within the Black Panther Party at the national and local levels, including sending bogus letters to two of its leaders, Eldridge Cleaver and Huey Newton, which claimed that each sought to depose the other. Authorities also arrested Hampton and several other Panthers in an effort to publicly discredit the group.

In the months before the raid on Hampton’s apartment, the Panthers and the police also faced off in two gunbattles: One in July 1969 at the party’s West Side headquarters in which five police officers and three Panthers were injured, and a South Side fight that November that left two officers and one Panther dead.

 
Who was William O’Neal?

At 17, O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield in the movie) already had a criminal record when the FBI agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) tracked him down after he stole a car in 1966. But O’Neal soon took on a new role: FBI informant. Given the choice between facing felony charges or agreeing to infiltrate the Panthers, he opted for the latter: as a security captain in the Illinois Black Panther Party, he infiltrated Hampton’s inner circle.

In 1969, O’Neal sketched a floor plan of Hampton’s West Side apartment, including where everyone slept, which the FBI then shared with the Chicago Police Department, the agency that conducted the fatal raid. But unlike the character in “Judas and the Black Messiah,” the real O’Neal did not see his actions as a betrayal of Hampton or the Panthers. “I had no allegiance to the Panthers,” he recalled in an interview for the PBS docuseries “Eyes on the Prize,” which chronicled the history of the civil rights movement in the United States.

What happened the morning Fred Hampton was killed?

Fourteen Chicago police officers showed up before dawn on Dec. 4, 1969, at Hampton’s apartment, acting on the orders of Edward V. Hanrahan, the Cook County state’s attorney. Over the course of about 10 minutes, more than 80 shots were fired. When the smoke cleared, Hampton, 21, and another party leader, Mark Clark, 22, were dead, and four other Panthers and two police officers were wounded.

At first, the police claimed they killed Hampton in self-defense after people in the apartment began firing shotguns at them as they tried to execute a search warrant for illegal weapons. But ballistics experts determined that only one of the bullets was probably discharged from a weapon belonging to an occupant of the apartment. A federal grand jury investigation also revealed that the “bullet holes” in the apartment’s front door, which officers had cited as evidence that the Panthers had shot at them, were in fact nail holes created by police.

Though the Chicago Police Department had led the raid, the grand jury concluded that it had been coordinated by the FBI as part of Hoover’s mission to cripple the Black Panther Party — and an FBI memo later revealed that the bureau had authorized a bonus payment to O’Neal.

The first federal grand jury declined to indict anyone involved in the raid, and though a subsequent grand jury indicted Hanrahan and the police officers who participated in the shootings, all the charges were dismissed. In 1982, without admitting any wrongdoing, the federal government, the city of Chicago and Cook County agreed to pay $1.85 million to the families of Hampton and Clark and to survivors of the raid.

Clarence M. Kelley, who succeeded Hoover as head of the FBI in 1973, issued a public apology three years later for the bureau’s abuse of power in the “twilight” of Hoover’s career. “Some of those activities were clearly wrong and quite indefensible,” Kelley said. “We most certainly must never allow them to be repeated.”

To Black Americans in the 1960s who were targeted and harassed by the police, 21-year-old Fred Hampton was an empowering figure. To the FBI and its director, J. Edgar Hoover, Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, was a radical threat.

To Black Americans in the 1960s who were targeted and harassed by the police, 21-year-old Fred Hampton was an empowering figure. To the FBI and its director, J. Edgar Hoover, Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, was a radical threat. Hampton was killed by Chicago police officers early on the morning of Dec. 4, 1969, during a raid on his West Side apartment, which was a block south of the Black Panther Party’s Chicago headquarters. The ambush, and the months of FBI surveillance of Hampton and the Panthers that preceded it, are dramatized in Shaka King’s film “Judas and the Black Messiah,” which began streaming Friday on HBO Max. At the time of Hampton’s death, Chicago was the site of political protests and violent clashes with law enforcement. The infamous trial of the Chicago 7, a court battle that involved seven Vietnam War protesters charged with conspiring to incite riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention (a saga chronicled in Aaron Sorkin’s recent film “The Trial of the Chicago 7”), had been underway for a little over two months. King, who co-wrote the script with Will Berson, drew mostly from fact while taking viewers inside the Black Panther Party in the months leading up to Hampton’s death, though they took a few dramatic liberties. For instance, the film’s star, Daniel Kaluuya, is a decade older than the 21-year-old Hampton was when he was killed. Here is a guide to the real-life people, groups and events that feature in “Judas and the Black Messiah.” Be warned, there are spoilers, if such a thing is possible when speaking of history. Who were the Black Panthers? The Black Panther Party was founded in 1966 in Oakland, California, by a pair of Black college students, Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton, to oppose police brutality and racism in local neighborhoods. The Panthers, who were known for their military-style black berets, leather jackets and raised-fist salute, believed in removing abusive officers from communities by any means necessary, including armed resistance. The FBI viewed the Panthers as a radical group capable of galvanizing a militant Black nationalist movement. (Hoover, the bureau’s first director, called the Black Panther Party “the greatest threat to the internal security of the country”). But the Panthers also launched a number of social initiatives: Members ran medical clinics, provided free transportation to prisons for family members of inmates, and started a free breakfast program that fed thousands of schoolchildren. Who was Fred Hampton? The charismatic community organizer enjoyed a meteoric rise that took him from campaigning for an integrated community pool and recreational center in his hometown, Maywood, Illinois, to preaching to thousands as the chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party. In 1969, a few months after helping to found the party’s Illinois chapter, the 20-year-old Hampton brokered an alliance he called the Rainbow Coalition, which united the Black Panthers, the Young Patriots (Southern white leftists) and the Young Lords (a Puerto Rican civil and human rights organization) in an effort to combat poverty and racism in their Chicago communities. Hampton’s rapid ascent through the ranks of the Black Panther Party landed him in the cross hairs of a secret FBI counterintelligence program, known as Cointelpro, that Hoover formed to “expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit or otherwise neutralize the activities of Black nationalist, hate-type organizations.” Targets included both the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Ku Klux Klan. Hoover declared in an internal memo that he sought to prevent the “rise of a ‘messiah’ who could unify and electrify the militant Black nationalist movement.” Under Cointelpro, the FBI tried a number of tactics to sow discord within the Black Panther Party at the national and local levels, including sending bogus letters to two of its leaders, Eldridge Cleaver and Huey Newton, which claimed that each sought to depose the other. Authorities also arrested Hampton and several other Panthers in an effort to publicly discredit the group. In the months before the raid on Hampton’s apartment, the Panthers and the police also faced off in two gunbattles: One in July 1969 at the party’s West Side headquarters in which five police officers and three Panthers were injured, and a South Side fight that November that left two officers and one Panther dead. Who was William O’Neal? At 17, O’Neal (Lakeith Stanfield in the movie) already had a criminal record when the FBI agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) tracked him down after he stole a car in 1966. But O’Neal soon took on a new role: FBI informant. Given the choice between facing felony charges or agreeing to infiltrate the Panthers, he opted for the latter: as a security captain in the Illinois Black Panther Party, he infiltrated Hampton’s inner circle. In 1969, O’Neal sketched a floor plan of Hampton’s West Side apartment, including where everyone slept, which the FBI then shared with the Chicago Police Department, the agency that conducted the fatal raid. But unlike the character in “Judas and the Black Messiah,” the real O’Neal did not see his actions as a betrayal of Hampton or the Panthers. “I had no allegiance to the Panthers,” he recalled in an interview for the PBS docuseries “Eyes on the Prize,” which chronicled the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. What happened the morning Fred Hampton was killed? Fourteen Chicago police officers showed up before dawn on Dec. 4, 1969, at Hampton’s apartment, acting on the orders of Edward V. Hanrahan, the Cook County state’s attorney. Over the course of about 10 minutes, more than 80 shots were fired. When the smoke cleared, Hampton, 21, and another party leader, Mark Clark, 22, were dead, and four other Panthers and two police officers were wounded. At first, the police claimed they killed Hampton in self-defense after people in the apartment began firing shotguns at them as they tried to execute a search warrant for illegal weapons. But ballistics experts determined that only one of the bullets was probably discharged from a weapon belonging to an occupant of the apartment. A federal grand jury investigation also revealed that the “bullet holes” in the apartment’s front door, which officers had cited as evidence that the Panthers had shot at them, were in fact nail holes created by police. Though the Chicago Police Department had led the raid, the grand jury concluded that it had been coordinated by the FBI as part of Hoover’s mission to cripple the Black Panther Party — and an FBI memo later revealed that the bureau had authorized a bonus payment to O’Neal. The first federal grand jury declined to indict anyone involved in the raid, and though a subsequent grand jury indicted Hanrahan and the police officers who participated in the shootings, all the charges were dismissed. In 1982, without admitting any wrongdoing, the federal government, the city of Chicago and Cook County agreed to pay $1.85 million to the families of Hampton and Clark and to survivors of the raid. Clarence M. Kelley, who succeeded Hoover as head of the FBI in 1973, issued a public apology three years later for the bureau’s abuse of power in the “twilight” of Hoover’s career. “Some of those activities were clearly wrong and quite indefensible,” Kelley said. “We most certainly must never allow them to be repeated.”

'Judas and the Black Messiah': What to know about this much-talked about film

Authorities have charged a 37-year-old active military member in connection with a deadly shooting at an Illinois bowling alley on Saturday night. 
 
Rockford Police Department Chief Dan O`Shea told a news conference on Sunday morning that a man identified as Duke Webb opened fire at Don Carter Lanes in Rockford, Illinois, killing three people and injuring three more. 
 
Webb, a Florida resident and an active member of the U.S. military, faces three murder charges and three attempted murder charges, said Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley. 
 
Authorities declined to comment on a motive but O`Shea said he believed the incident was a "completely random act." 
 
A shots fired call was placed to 911 shortly before 7 p.m. local time, the chief said, and officers were able to apprehend the suspect several minutes after they arrived at the location, without firing their weapons. 
&nbsp;

Authorities have charged a 37-year-old active military member in connection with a deadly shooting at an Illinois bowling alley on Saturday night. Rockford Police Department Chief Dan O`Shea told a news conference on Sunday morning that a man identified as Duke Webb opened fire at Don Carter Lanes in Rockford, Illinois, killing three people and injuring three more.

Authorities have charged a 37-year-old active military member in connection with a deadly shooting at an Illinois bowling alley on Saturday night. Rockford Police Department Chief Dan O`Shea told a news conference on Sunday morning that a man identified as Duke Webb opened fire at Don Carter Lanes in Rockford, Illinois, killing three people and injuring three more. Webb, a Florida resident and an active member of the U.S. military, faces three murder charges and three attempted murder charges, said Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley. Authorities declined to comment on a motive but O`Shea said he believed the incident was a "completely random act." A shots fired call was placed to 911 shortly before 7 p.m. local time, the chief said, and officers were able to apprehend the suspect several minutes after they arrived at the location, without firing their weapons.

Suspect charged in Illinois bowling alley shooting

Three people were killed and another three injured Saturday in the US state of Illinois when a shooter opened fire at a bowling alley

Rockford city police urged people on Twitter to stay away from the area near the Don Carter Lanes bowling alley, as it was an "active situation" and officers were clearing the site.

Police chief Dan O'Shea said in a press conference outside the building that&nbsp;three other people had been injured from the gunfire and were being treated at local hospitals.

A person of interest is reported to be in custody.

(This is a developing story)

Three people were killed and another three injured Saturday in the US state of Illinois when a shooter opened fire at a bowling alley Rockford city police urged people on Twitter to stay away from the area near the Don Carter Lanes bowling alley, as it was an "active situation" and officers were clearing the site.

Three people were killed and another three injured Saturday in the US state of Illinois when a shooter opened fire at a bowling alley Rockford city police urged people on Twitter to stay away from the area near the Don Carter Lanes bowling alley, as it was an "active situation" and officers were clearing the site. Police chief Dan O'Shea said in a press conference outside the building that three other people had been injured from the gunfire and were being treated at local hospitals. A person of interest is reported to be in custody. (This is a developing story)

Three killed, three injured in Illinois bowling alley shooting

A wearable device the size of a postage stamp is being tested by researchers at Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab as a way to monitor and catch early signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Small wearable device monitors virus symptoms

Illinois started the new year on a high note Wednesday, becoming the latest US state to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/recreational-marijuana-becomes-legal-in-illinois-on-new-years-day-270024">legalise recreational marijuana</a> as the governor pardoned thousands for past low-level cannabis convictions.

The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act will allow residents 21 and older to legally purchase marijuana and will expunge thousands of individuals' criminal convictions throughout the state.

"We are restoring rights to many tens of thousands of Illinoisans. We are bringing regulation and safety to a previously unsafe and illegal market. And we are creating a new industry that puts equity at its very core," Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in a statement.

On Tuesday night, Pritzker granted 11,017 pardons for people with low-level cannabis convictions, the first round of a planned total of more than 700,000.

According to the statement, the new law will use 25 per cent of the state's cannabis revenue to help "the communities hit hardest" by the earlier crackdown on marijuana.

"Today we took another step toward justice, as we continue to address the failed war on drugs and the disproportionate impact it had on communities of colour," Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx said in the statement.

Illinois&nbsp;residents age 21 and older will now be allowed to legally possess 30 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate or 500 milligrams of THC -&nbsp;the main active ingredient of cannabis - contained in a cannabis-infused product.&nbsp;

Non-residents are allowed to carry 15 grams of cannabis under the bill, which will also create a licensed growing and dispensary system.

Illinois is the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana, along with Washington, DC. Thirty-four states and the federal capital permit medical cannabis treatment.

But the US Drug Enforcement Administration still considers marijuana a dangerous substance alongside LSD and heroin.&nbsp;

A study by the federal Centers for Disease Control published in August found that states that legalize recreational marijuana see a reduction of at least 20 per cent in fatalities linked to opioid overdoses.

Marijuana legalization has also been shown to improve a state's economic activity, creating jobs and bringing in new tax revenue.

Illinois started the new year on a high note Wednesday, becoming the latest US state to legalise recreational marijuana as the governor pardoned thousands for past low-level cannabis convictions.

Illinois started the new year on a high note Wednesday, becoming the latest US state to legalise recreational marijuana as the governor pardoned thousands for past low-level cannabis convictions. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act will allow residents 21 and older to legally purchase marijuana and will expunge thousands of individuals' criminal convictions throughout the state. "We are restoring rights to many tens of thousands of Illinoisans. We are bringing regulation and safety to a previously unsafe and illegal market. And we are creating a new industry that puts equity at its very core," Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in a statement. On Tuesday night, Pritzker granted 11,017 pardons for people with low-level cannabis convictions, the first round of a planned total of more than 700,000. According to the statement, the new law will use 25 per cent of the state's cannabis revenue to help "the communities hit hardest" by the earlier crackdown on marijuana. "Today we took another step toward justice, as we continue to address the failed war on drugs and the disproportionate impact it had on communities of colour," Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx said in the statement. Illinois residents age 21 and older will now be allowed to legally possess 30 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate or 500 milligrams of THC - the main active ingredient of cannabis - contained in a cannabis-infused product. Non-residents are allowed to carry 15 grams of cannabis under the bill, which will also create a licensed growing and dispensary system. Illinois is the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana, along with Washington, DC. Thirty-four states and the federal capital permit medical cannabis treatment. But the US Drug Enforcement Administration still considers marijuana a dangerous substance alongside LSD and heroin. A study by the federal Centers for Disease Control published in August found that states that legalize recreational marijuana see a reduction of at least 20 per cent in fatalities linked to opioid overdoses. Marijuana legalization has also been shown to improve a state's economic activity, creating jobs and bringing in new tax revenue.

Illinois becomes latest US state to legalise recreational pot

Many pot-smoking adults in Illinois will ring in the new year on a high note when <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jay-z-goes-into-the-marijuana-business-234650">recreational marijuana</a> use becomes legal in the state on January&nbsp;1.

Starting New Years Day, people 21 and older will be able to legally buy up to 30 grams of marijuana flower, 5 grams of marijuana concentrate, or 500 grams of THC-infused products such as edibles at licensed commercial dealers throughout the state.

Cannabis consumers are expected to flock to the handful of licensed shops across Chicago on New Years Day. On the city's North Side, a dealer sold $250 tickets to clients who wanted to be at the front of the line when the store opens early in the morning next Wednesday.

Another shop, Dispensary 33, in the city's Uptown neighbourhood, will use a paging system to usher in customers who are waiting at a bar next door.

"The whole neighbourhood is joining on the party... it'll be a whole new world in Chicago on January&nbsp;1," manager Abigail Watkins said, noting that many businesses in the neighbourhood are offering specials and deals to celebrate the day.

Illinois joins 10 other states and the District of Columbia where small amounts of the drug for adult use is legal. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-teen-arrested-in-russia-over-medical-marijuana-247629">Medical marijuana</a> in Illinois has been legal since 2014.

In June, Illinois Governor JB&nbsp;Pritzker, a Democrat, signed into law marijuana legislation that also allows for some 700,000 marijuana-related records and convictions to be erased.

Not everyone approves of the legislation.

"The message that... these foolish politicians are sending to our communities and especially to our young kids is that it's no big deal," said Illinois Family Institute Executive Director David Smith, who opposes the measure.

"We know that it's a big deal from all of the studies that have been done about the high-potency marijuana that is today's product... we are seeing a spike in marijuana illnesses and addictions," he said.

Private pot sales, driving while high and consuming marijuana in public will remain prohibited in state.

The law is projected to generate more than $57 million in new tax and fee revenue for Illinois in fiscal 2020, which begins on July 1 for the financially troubled state, according to Illinois’ revenue department.

Many pot-smoking adults in Illinois will ring in the new year on a high note when recreational marijuana use becomes legal in the state on January 1. Starting New Years Day, people 21 and older will be able to legally buy up to 30 grams of marijuana flower, 5 grams of marijuana concentrate, or 500 grams of THC-infused products such as edibles at licensed commercial dealers throughout the state.

Many pot-smoking adults in Illinois will ring in the new year on a high note when recreational marijuana use becomes legal in the state on January 1. Starting New Years Day, people 21 and older will be able to legally buy up to 30 grams of marijuana flower, 5 grams of marijuana concentrate, or 500 grams of THC-infused products such as edibles at licensed commercial dealers throughout the state. Cannabis consumers are expected to flock to the handful of licensed shops across Chicago on New Years Day. On the city's North Side, a dealer sold $250 tickets to clients who wanted to be at the front of the line when the store opens early in the morning next Wednesday. Another shop, Dispensary 33, in the city's Uptown neighbourhood, will use a paging system to usher in customers who are waiting at a bar next door. "The whole neighbourhood is joining on the party... it'll be a whole new world in Chicago on January 1," manager Abigail Watkins said, noting that many businesses in the neighbourhood are offering specials and deals to celebrate the day. Illinois joins 10 other states and the District of Columbia where small amounts of the drug for adult use is legal. Medical marijuana in Illinois has been legal since 2014. In June, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, signed into law marijuana legislation that also allows for some 700,000 marijuana-related records and convictions to be erased. Not everyone approves of the legislation. "The message that... these foolish politicians are sending to our communities and especially to our young kids is that it's no big deal," said Illinois Family Institute Executive Director David Smith, who opposes the measure. "We know that it's a big deal from all of the studies that have been done about the high-potency marijuana that is today's product... we are seeing a spike in marijuana illnesses and addictions," he said. Private pot sales, driving while high and consuming marijuana in public will remain prohibited in state. The law is projected to generate more than $57 million in new tax and fee revenue for Illinois in fiscal 2020, which begins on July 1 for the financially troubled state, according to Illinois’ revenue department.

Recreational marijuana to become legal in Illinois on New Years Day

More than 32,500 teachers and other staff walked off the job Thursday in Chicago, cancelling classes for 300,000 students in nation's third-largest school district.

At the heart of the dispute is class sizes and resources rather than pay, with teachers saying they want more social workers, nurses and librarians for their students.

And they want a three-year contract instead of being locked into the current offer of a five-year deal.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she was disappointed the Chicago Teachers Union walked out despite the city's offer of what she called a "historic package."

The union had already spent a month negotiating with the mayor's team without an agreement, leading to the first teachers strike in the city since 2012.

One teacher on the South Side said having a nurse at school only one day a week was dangerous.

"Every school should have a nurse five days a week," said the teacher who asked to remain anonymous.

"Not having a nurse is dangerous for kids with asthma and other conditions."

Kathe Myers, who has been teaching in the third-largest US city for 24 years, said teachers did not have the expertise to take on more than one role.

"Our kids are traumatised. It's no secret that this is a violent city. So they bring all of that to school with them and we try to deal with that, but we aren't the experts in those fields," she added.

"Trying to do that and teach a full class is almost impossible."

Lightfoot has acknowledged schools need support staff, but the union wants to get an agreement in writing.

Teachers also say they are concerned about the lack of preparation time they get for writing lesson plans, grading assignments and administrative work.

The Chicago Public Schools district, which had been dealing with a budget crisis, was recently buoyed by significant new state funding of $1.9 billion.

The union says the cash has resolved the district's structural deficit, but the district says it is still carrying $8.4 billion in long-term debt and is forced to borrow to meet day-to-day obligations.

Lightfoot told a news conference she hoped for a short strike but had to keep the city's taxpayers in mind.

"We don't have unlimited resources," she said, and called the city's offer a "fair and generous compensation package." &nbsp;

The union said negotiations continued Thursday as members demonstrated outside schools and downtown.

Lightfoot said that while there would be no lessons, schools would be open during the action and staffed by non-union personnel.

More than 32,500 teachers and other staff walked off the job Thursday in Chicago, cancelling classes for 300,000 students in nation's third-largest school district.

More than 32,500 teachers and other staff walked off the job Thursday in Chicago, cancelling classes for 300,000 students in nation's third-largest school district. At the heart of the dispute is class sizes and resources rather than pay, with teachers saying they want more social workers, nurses and librarians for their students. And they want a three-year contract instead of being locked into the current offer of a five-year deal. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she was disappointed the Chicago Teachers Union walked out despite the city's offer of what she called a "historic package." The union had already spent a month negotiating with the mayor's team without an agreement, leading to the first teachers strike in the city since 2012. One teacher on the South Side said having a nurse at school only one day a week was dangerous. "Every school should have a nurse five days a week," said the teacher who asked to remain anonymous. "Not having a nurse is dangerous for kids with asthma and other conditions." Kathe Myers, who has been teaching in the third-largest US city for 24 years, said teachers did not have the expertise to take on more than one role. "Our kids are traumatised. It's no secret that this is a violent city. So they bring all of that to school with them and we try to deal with that, but we aren't the experts in those fields," she added. "Trying to do that and teach a full class is almost impossible." Lightfoot has acknowledged schools need support staff, but the union wants to get an agreement in writing. Teachers also say they are concerned about the lack of preparation time they get for writing lesson plans, grading assignments and administrative work. The Chicago Public Schools district, which had been dealing with a budget crisis, was recently buoyed by significant new state funding of $1.9 billion. The union says the cash has resolved the district's structural deficit, but the district says it is still carrying $8.4 billion in long-term debt and is forced to borrow to meet day-to-day obligations. Lightfoot told a news conference she hoped for a short strike but had to keep the city's taxpayers in mind. "We don't have unlimited resources," she said, and called the city's offer a "fair and generous compensation package." The union said negotiations continued Thursday as members demonstrated outside schools and downtown. Lightfoot said that while there would be no lessons, schools would be open during the action and staffed by non-union personnel.

School out for 300,000 Chicago students as teachers strike

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the evening from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 12th, 2019

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 11th, 2019

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/extradition-bill-is-dead-no-plans-to-restart-legislation-hong-kong-chief-executive-carrie-lam-234142">Extradition bill is dead, no plans to restart legislation: Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam</a>

Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam announced on Tuesday that proposal to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland "is dead" -- but she again stopped short of protester demands to immediately withdraw the bill.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-approves-possible-22-billion-arms-sale-to-taiwan-amid-tension-with-china-234130">US approves possible $2.2 billion arms sale to Taiwan amid tension with China</a>

The US State Department has approved the possible sale to Taiwan of M1A2T Abrams tanks, Stinger missiles and related equipment at an estimated value of $2.2 billion, the Pentagon said on Monday, despite Chinese criticism of the deal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kevin-spacey-sexual-assault-case-may-get-dropped-accuser-could-be-forced-to-testify-about-missing-phone-234144">Kevin Spacey sexual assault case may get dropped, accuser could be forced to testify about missing phone</a>

There's been an unexpected twist to Kevin Spacey's sexual assault case. The man who accused the American actor of groping him at a bar in 2016 may now be forced to testify about his allegedly missing cell phone and the assault case against Spacey might just get dismissed due to the missing phone.&nbsp; 
The former `House of Cards` star`s defense attorneys claimed that they require the phone in order to recover text messages that they allege the accuser deleted that would bolster Spacey`s case.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-offers-full-support-to-us-ambassador-trump-lashes-out-at-theresa-may-after-leak-of-damning-cables-234128">UK offers 'full support' to US ambassador, Trump lashes out at Theresa May after leak of damning cables</a>

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Monday reiterated its "full support" for its ambassador to Washington after US President Donald Trump said he would no longer deal with him.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-prosecutors-seek-death-penalty-for-man-involved-in-calculated-murder-of-chinese-student-234135">US prosecutors seek death penalty for man involved in 'calculated' murder of Chinese student</a>

US prosecutors argued on Monday that an Illinois man who raped and murdered a Chinese graduate student two years ago should be executed, and called on her heartbroken fiance and friends to tell the jury about the victim's kind, optimistic nature.

Extradition bill is dead, no plans to restart legislation: Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam announced on Tuesday that proposal to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland "is dead" -- but she again stopped short of protester demands to immediately withdraw the bill.

Extradition bill is dead, no plans to restart legislation: Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader Carrie Lam announced on Tuesday that proposal to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland "is dead" -- but she again stopped short of protester demands to immediately withdraw the bill. US approves possible $2.2 billion arms sale to Taiwan amid tension with China The US State Department has approved the possible sale to Taiwan of M1A2T Abrams tanks, Stinger missiles and related equipment at an estimated value of $2.2 billion, the Pentagon said on Monday, despite Chinese criticism of the deal. Kevin Spacey sexual assault case may get dropped, accuser could be forced to testify about missing phone There's been an unexpected twist to Kevin Spacey's sexual assault case. The man who accused the American actor of groping him at a bar in 2016 may now be forced to testify about his allegedly missing cell phone and the assault case against Spacey might just get dismissed due to the missing phone. The former `House of Cards` star`s defense attorneys claimed that they require the phone in order to recover text messages that they allege the accuser deleted that would bolster Spacey`s case. UK offers 'full support' to US ambassador, Trump lashes out at Theresa May after leak of damning cables British Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Monday reiterated its "full support" for its ambassador to Washington after US President Donald Trump said he would no longer deal with him. US prosecutors seek death penalty for man involved in 'calculated' murder of Chinese student US prosecutors argued on Monday that an Illinois man who raped and murdered a Chinese graduate student two years ago should be executed, and called on her heartbroken fiance and friends to tell the jury about the victim's kind, optimistic nature.

News brief: Big stories of the day

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