Chicago Sun-Times

Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic added a few pounds and tweaked his slap-shot technique this offseason, but he generally tried to keep his routine the same as last summer considering how well things went for him in 2023-24.

Blackhawks' Alex Vlasic hopes to replicate breakout season after summer of gaining strength Vlasic added a few pounds and tweaked his slap-shot technique this offseason, but he generally tried to keep his routine the same as last summer considering how well things went for him in 2023-24.

ARC Music Festival, now in its fourth year, celebrates a Chicago-born musical genre with an eclectic lineup from around the globe. Continuing on Sunday, the house and techno music event is expected to draw about 60,000 attendees.

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Photos📸: Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Now in its 44th year, the annual Taste of Polonia festival marks a place for local Poles to find community and for non-Polish neighbors to experience a taste of the culture.

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Photos📸: Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

The sound of engines was replaced by clicks of spinning bicycle chains on DuSable Lake Shore Drive Sunday morning as nearly 15,000 bikers weaved through lanes for the 23rd annual Bike the Drive Sunday morning.

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Photos📸: Paul Beaty/Sun-Times

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in separate calls Sunday talked with Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg Polin, the couple with Chicago roots whose son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin held hostage in Gaza, was found murdered by Hamas on Saturday.

Biden, Harris call parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the hostage with Chicago ties murdered by Hamas Addressing the impasse over a ceasefire, U.S. Rep. Schakowsky said in a statement, "It is unconscionable that Israeli and Hamas leadership have delayed a final deal for so long. We must bring all the remaining hostages home immediately and end the violence once and for all."

It was a rough week at the top of the preseason Super 25 with Loyola, Mount Carmel and Maine South all picking up losses. Here are the Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 2:

Michael O'Brien's Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 2

Bears RB D'Andre Swift, could be precisely what the Bears need — a running back to take the pressure off quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. They gave Swift a three-year, $24 million deal to do just that.

Bears RB D'Andre Swift: 'If we’re winning, I’m going to be a big part of that' Swift, could be precisely what the Bears need — a running back to take the pressure off quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin's family has announced that he was killed in the Gaza Strip. His parents, Chicago natives Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg wore stickers with the number 320, representing the days he had been held captive while speaking at the DNC.

Family confirms death of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American with Chicago roots Hersh Goldberg-Polin, captured by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack, died in Gaza. Goldberg-Polin was attending the Nova Music Festival with a friend, who was killed. His parents addressed the DNC in Chicago on Aug. 21.

One year after Jerry Reinsdorf promoted Chris Getz and said he didn’t want any remodel to be a “long-term proposition,” the rebuilding Sox tied the 1970 team’s franchise record for 106 defeats in a season with a 5-3 loss to the Mets.

White Sox’ record-tying 106th loss marks grim first anniversary of Jerry Reinsdorf hiring Chris Getz as GM One year after Reinsdorf promoted Getz and said he didn't want any remodel to be a "long-term proposition," the rebuilding Sox tied the 1970 team's franchise record for defeats in a season with a 5-3 loss to the Mets.

East St. Louis dominated the top-ranked Loyola in a 34-7 victory that was almost never in doubt. Ramblers coach Beau Desherow said he’s “never seen speed like that.”

East St. Louis stuns top-ranked Loyola. 'I've never seen speed like that.' East St. Louis dominated the Ramblers in a 34-7 victory that was almost never in doubt.

The family of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin says he has been killed in the Gaza Strip.

Family confirms death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli American with Chicago roots Hersh Goldberg-Polin, taken hostage by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack died in Gaza. Goldberg-Polin was attending the Nova Music Festival with a friend, who was killed. Goldberg-Polin's parents addressed the DNC in Chicago on Aug. 21.

In an exclusive interview with the Sun-Times, Caleb Williams explains how his magnetic personality developed and made him a player Chicago fell in love with before he ever took a snap.

Caleb Williams wins Bears over with rare talent but even rarer people skills In an exclusive interview with the Sun-Times, Williams explains how his magnetic personality developed and made him a player Chicago fell in love with before he ever took a snap.

"Gov. JB Pritzker has been pressing home the importance of “freedom” for several years here," writes Rich Miller. "There can be no doubt that the national party has finally caught up with him, even if he didn’t get the nod for national office.”

Dems finally catch up to Gov. JB Pritzker on promoting 'freedom' Whether he's talking about abortion, marriage equality, labor rights or even hairstyles, Pritzker has a history of invoking a word that was repeated everywhere at the Democratic convention.

The Sox brought their flashy renderings of a potential new South Loop stadium to life this week, creating a baseball diamond where players could eventually take the field if the team lands public financing for a ballpark in The 78.

South Loop sandlot? White Sox, Related Midwest build temporary baseball diamond at stadium site The Sox and developer Related Midwest brought their flashy renderings of a potential new South Loop stadium partially to life this week, creating a baseball diamond where players could eventually take the field if the team lands public financing for a ballpark in the vacant parcel known as The 78.

"Not one of the thousands of fans that packed the stands could have imagined they would watch unknown junior Brady Gish run for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the Griffins’ 49-22 win," writes Michael O’Brien.

Backup running back Brody Gish explodes for 203 yards as Lincoln-Way East takes down Maine South Gish scored on a one-yard run late in the first half and broke out for TD runs of 65 and 33 yards in the second half.

"At Wintrust Arena, there was no comparison to be drawn as the Sky lost 100-81, dropping to 4-12 at home and 11-20 on the season. As the Fever continue to become a stronger team, the Sky are on the brink of coming undone," writes .

Sky's 19-point loss to Fever extends losing streak to five As the Fever continue to jell, the Sky are crumbling.

"What is conservatism conserving? As someone who spent decades as a conservative advocate, I am no longer as certain as I once was that conservatives have all the right answers," writes columnist Mona Charen.

Conservatives, what are we conserving? This election, it's not about tax policy or small government or a vigorous defense posture. The overriding task is to save the Founding. That's simply incompatible with Donald Trump.

Chicago made a $13.5 million deal with supermarket operator Yellow Banana to reopen six Chicago Save-A-Lot stores. Instead, the company has racked up $2 million in debts and shrunk to one open store amid lawsuits from creditors.

Chicago’s answer to food deserts has left a trail of debts, lawsuits, 'can't pay' an $800 utility bill The city of Chicago made a $13.5 million deal with supermarket operator Yellow Banana, but the company has racked up $2 million in debts and shrunk to one open store amid lawsuits from creditors.

Here's a look at how the Super 25 teams fared in Week 1 including all the results from the ranked teams.

How the Super 25 high school football teams fared in Week 1 All the results from the ranked teams.

"Nobody visits a casino for its architecture. But given the complex’s expense, its proximity to downtown’s fine architecture, and the primo, chef’s-kiss-of-a-site along the Chicago River it’ll occupy, we deserve a better design," writes Lee Bey.

With demolition under way at River West site, new design for Bally's casino is hardly a winner Nobody visits a casino for its architecture. But given the River West complex's size, its proximity to downtown's fine architecture, and primo, chef's-kiss-of-a-site along the Chicago River, the city deserves a better design.

Chicago-based Ogden Partners is redeveloping the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, where the parish will maintain a presence after adding a six-story residential tower. Under the project, three exterior walls of the 123-year-old church are being reused.

Residential addition to historic Lincoln Park church is underway The 1901 church will see three of its exterior facades preserved as redevelopment pairs a new space for the congregation with residential units.

It was another big “W” for Pearl Jam Thursday night as the veteran rockers brought their A-game to Wrigley Field on a North American leg of their Dark Matter World Tour.

Pearl Jam pulls out all the stops in vibrant Wrigley Field concert Eddie Vedder and the rest of the crew bring their A game — and heady dose of sentimentality — in first of two shows this week at the ballpark.

Jade and Joy Lee, 12 and 11, set up a lemonade stand in Roseland with a goal of raising $700 to pay for tickets to see the Chicago Sky take on the Indiana Fever. On Friday, their dream came true.

Come on, Barbie, let's go party! Sisters running lemonade stand surprised with Chicago Sky VIP tickets Jade and Joy Lee, 12 and 11, set up a lemonade stand in Roseland with a goal of raising $700 to pay for tickets to see the Chicago Sky take on the Indiana Fever. On Friday, their dream came true.

With their 5-1 loss to the Mets, the White Sox are now 31-105

White Sox drop to 31-105 with 5-1 loss to the Mets Jonathan Cannon had a third-inning lapse with two out and nobody on, and the Sox had five hits — only one after the third inning. They are one loss from the franchise record of 106 set in 1970.

Wintrust Arena was painted pink Friday to celebrate the Sky’s Barbie theme night.

Wednesday night was the latest in a long line of examples of how Angel Reese is leveraging her brand.

Sky's Barbie theme night reflects Angel Reese's impact on the WNBA Wednesday night was the latest in a long line of examples of how Reese is leveraging her brand.

In the anticipated duel between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, the Sky lost by 19 points to the Fever.

Sky's 19-point loss to Fever extends losing streak to five As the Fever continue to coalesce, the Sky are on the brink of coming undone, epitomized by the Sky's 100-81 loss Friday night.

The Cubs narrowly beat the Nationals, winning 7-6.

Cubs escape with 7-6 win over Nationals Since starting their 18-game stretch in which they didn’t play a team with a record above .500 on Aug. 16, the Cubs are 9-3.

From Sun-Times Opinion:

"But given the complex’s expense, its proximity to downtown’s fine architecture, and the primo, chef’s-kiss-of-a-site along the Chicago River it’ll occupy, we deserve a better design," Lee Bey writes.

With demolition under way at River West site, new design for Bally's casino is hardly a winner Nobody visits a casino for its architecture. But given the River West complex's size, its proximity to downtown's fine architecture, and primo, chef's-kiss-of-a-site along the Chicago River, the city deserves a better design.

Retired Chicago Fire Captain Paul McLaughlin tells Michael Sneed about the trouble really started that night in August of 1968: “when Wallace threw a punch at my father, Fifth District Police Commander Paul McLaughlin.”

The Boss's punchline after 1968 Mike Wallace episode: 'We don’t answer to these New Yorkers!' Retired Chicago Fire Captain Paul McLaughlin tells Sneed the trouble really started that night in August of 1968 “when Wallace threw a punch at my father, Fifth District Police Commander Paul McLaughlin.”

JUST IN: Two high-ranking officials with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability were abruptly fired Friday, just days after one of them complained to the inspector general about bias against police.

2 Chicago police oversight officials fired amid allegations of anti-cop bias at the agency The two high-ranking officials with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability were abruptly fired Friday, just days after one of them complained to the inspector general about bias against police.