Caleb Williams knew what he signed up for when he came to Chicago. As his own father told author Seth Wickersham in his book released earlier this year, Chicago is where “quarterbacks go to die.”

In a way, the Chicago Bears’ futile quarterbacking history was part of the draw for Williams. He has embraced the challenge of being the quarterback who finally changes that narrative. His coach, too, is here to flip the script. That’s what Ben Johnson said in May when an excerpt from Wickersham’s book “American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback” noted the comment from Caleb’s father Carl Williams.

“I love it,” Johnson said then. “I love the opportunity to come on in and change that narrative. That’s where great stories are written.”

Williams and Johnson are trying to write their own.

When the Bears face the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field, Williams will be staring down history. With 3,730 passing yards this season, Williams is 108 yards shy of tying Erik Kramer’s franchise record of 3,838 passing yards from 1995. He’s also 270 yards shy of becoming the first Bears quarterback ever to total 4,000 passing yards in a regular season.

The Bears are the only franchise to never have a 4,000-yard passer. When Carson Wentz threw for 4,039 yards in 2019 with Philadelphia, becoming the Eagles’ first 4,000-yard passer, the Bears were left as the only team still looking for its first.

It’s a remarkable stat, considering the 100-plus-year history of the Bears franchise.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams warms up to face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

“It’d be cool just in the sense of there’s never been one here,” Williams said Wednesday at Halas Hall. “I think I was brought here for those types of things and those types of moments, the things that haven’t been done here, to try and be able to accomplish.”

Williams has never been shy about his goals. In a 2023 interview with GQ magazine while he was still in college, Williams said his goal was to win eight Super Bowls, surpassing Tom Brady’s seven. This is a quarterback who is well aware that he’s on the cusp of history in Chicago.

Williams will almost certainly set the franchise passing record on Sunday. He needs 108 yards, something he’s surpassed in every game this season. Whether he throws for 270 or more (which he’s done four times this season) is a bigger question.

Johnson, though, is much less interested in such numbers. The coach hasn’t been shy about the fact that the Bears are “playing to win.” They have playoff seeding on the line. They’re also looking to avenge their most lopsided loss of the season, a 52-21 drubbing in Detroit in Week 2.

Johnson went so far as to call 4,000 passing yards an “arbitrary number.”

“If it were to happen that’d be great,” Johnson said. “But he would agree with me when I say that our No. 1 objective is to win this ballgame. Whatever that takes, that’s our goal. We’ll see where it’s at at the end of the year. That’s a tertiary goal, if you will.”

Upon being reminded that the Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passer Wednesday, Johnson said this: “There are probably some (teams) who don’t have a 5,000-yard passer. Right? So. It’s just a number.”

There have been only 15 instances of a quarterback throwing for 5,000 passing yards in a season — Drew Brees holds five of them. But on some level, the coach has a point. Other than being a round number, 4,000 is somewhat arbitrary and the 2021 addition of a 17th regular-season game will already change all the record books and benchmarks over time.

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But this is Chicago. “Bear weather” and poor quarterbacking are part of the city’s identity at this point. Asked about that history, Williams himself pointed at the cold temperatures and the franchise’s propensity to run the football over the years.

If nothing else, though, having a 4,000-yard passer would be like a monkey off Bears fans’ backs. Williams certainly believes he’s the right quarterback for the city.

“I want to be the best quarterback not only for Chicago, but in the league,” Williams said. “And that starts with consistency, that starts with me preparing the right way. It’s important to me. I don’t get up to be mediocre.”

Williams is coming off a season-high 330 passing yards in Sunday night’s loss to San Francisco. Over his last three games, he has averaged 274 passing yards per game with six total touchdown passes and zero interceptions. It has been, possibly, the best three-game stretch of his young career.

Johnson sees a quarterback who is grasping everything he has been preaching since the Bears returned to the practice field in the spring.

“The conversations we have now are a little bit more advanced than they were earlier in the season in terms of what we’re trying to get done with these plays,” Johnson said. “I think you’ve seen the pre-snap penalties start to go down. And when you see things over the last half of the season where you’re getting these free plays and you kind of feel his control at the line of scrimmage starting to come out. I think he feels very much involved in the process. I think he feels like he has a great grasp on what we’re trying to get done.”

Barring something unusual happening, the franchise record is in sight on Sunday. That first 4,000-yard season isn’t out of the question either.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/31/chicago-bears-caleb-williams-4000-yards/ 

A plan by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport immigrants “like Prime, but with human beings” may include a Merrillville location — to the town’s complete surprise.

Town officials have been seeking clarification from federal sources since they got wind of a Washington Post article that ran on Christmas Eve saying the Trump administration “is seeking contractors to help it overhaul the United States’ immigrant detention system in a plan that includes renovating industrial warehouses to hold more than 80,000 immigrant detainees at a time.” Its plan, based on an unfinalized document the paper obtained, is to “speed up deportations by establishing a deliberate feeder system.”

“Newly arrested detainees would be booked into processing sites for a few weeks before being funneled into one of seven large-scale warehouses holding 5,000 to 10,000 people each, where they would be staged for deportation,” the Washington Post article said. “The large warehouses would be located close to major logistics hubs in Virginia, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Georgia and Missouri. Sixteen smaller warehouses would hold up to 1,500 people each.

“The new facilities will ‘maximize efficiency, minimize costs, shorten processing times, limit lengths of stay, accelerate the removal process and promote the safety, dignity and respect for all in ICE custody,’ the solicitation said. ICE plans to share it with private detention companies this week to gauge interest and refine the plan, according to an internal email reviewed by The Post.”

While not mentioned in the article outright, Merrillville was included and named in a graphic published with it. The revelation, however, came as a complete shock, town officials said.

“The town has received no official communication from ICE or any federal agency regarding such a proposal,” the Merrillville Town Council said in a release Wednesday. “Upon learning of the report, Merrillville officials immediately began reviewing the matter. Currently, the town has no information confirming the accuracy of the Washington Post report.

“Officials will keep the community informed as verified information becomes available.”

Council President Rick Bella, D-5, told the Post-Tribune that he believes Merrillville was included only as a “possible” location and not as an official one.

“It’s kind of like people who mention to us a possible Data Center: It’s just talk until something more formal happens,” Bella said.

Officials downstate also appeared to have been kept in the dark about any processing center plans for Northwest Indiana. Governor Mike Braun’s spokesman Griffin Reid said he had inquiries out on the matter, but did not respond by deadline.

This wouldn’t be the first time an immigration detention facility tried to set down roots in Northwest Indiana. Florida-based GEO Group in 2016 saw its plans for an $80 million private immigration detention center in Gary go up in smoke after nine months of wooing because at least six council members opposed it, the Post-Tribune previously reported.

GEO operates similar detention facilities across the country and some have drawn fire from human rights supporters and the ACLU over the treatment of immigrants. In response, GEO officials say some of the claims have been inflated by activists and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency holds its detention centers to high standards and procedures that are regularly audited.

Although no plans were ever revealed, GEO owns a 40-acre site in Hobart on West 49th Avenue where strident opposition from residents and city officials continues. GEO still owns the property.

ICE held more than 68,000 people at the beginning of this month, agency data shows, the highest number on record, according to the Washington Post article. Nearly half, or 48 percent of these people, have no criminal convictions or pending criminal charges, ICE data shows.

“We need to get better at treating this like a business,” ICE acting director Todd M. Lyons said at a border security conference in April, according to the Arizona Mirror. He would prefer the deportation process operate “like Prime, but with human beings.”

Adelina Pruneda, an ICE Public Affairs Officer out of Central & South Texas, was on vacation and did not return a request for comment.

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/31/merrillville-potential-ice-facility/ 

Violent crime is down in Gary and Lake County, according to recently released data from the city and prosecutor’s office.

On Dec. 17, the city of Gary announced that in 2025 it saw a decrease in the number of homicides and non-fatal shootings, according to a previous news release. The city also reported a “substantial increase” in federal prosecution of “the most violent offenders.”

From January to December, Gary had a 22.8% reduction in nonfatal shootings, going from 123 in 2024 to 95 this year. Homicides also decreased by 36.8%, from 38 in 2024 to 24 in 2025.

“Building a safer Gary has been our administration’s top priority, and a 36% drop in homicides proves that our focused, collaborative approach is saving lives,” Mayor Eddie Melton said in a news release. “While our work is far from over, these numbers signal a new chapter of peace and stability for our families and neighborhoods.”

In 2025, the city seized 369 firearms, according to the news release, which is a 41.4% increase from 2024, when they seized 261. Police Chief Derrick Cannon said in the news release that change is reflective of the city’s partnerships with other agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives.

In addition to the ATF, the Gary Police Department partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana, which the department said helped lead to a 25% increase in the number of federal firearms prosecutions in 2025.

“We are aggressively targeting violent offenders and removing the tools of violence from our streets, making it clear that those who threaten our community will be held accountable,” Cannon said.

Homicide data for 2025 in Gary was collected up until Dec. 18, but the number might change once the year is complete. The city collects data from 2012 to 2025, and this year has the lowest number of homicides in that time frame.

Before this year, Gary had its lowest homicide rates in 2018 and 2024 when it recorded 40, while 2012 had 42 homicides. The highest rates were 64 in 2022, 58 in 2019 and 57 in 2013.

“The partnership between ATF, the Gary Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office has enabled us to jointly target the most violent offenders who seek to drive violence in the city of Gary,” ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon said in a news release. “The reduction in violent crime, along with the increase in federal firearms prosecutions and firearm recoveries from violent offenders, underscores not only that our joint strategy is working, but also the strength of our partnerships.”

The Lake County Prosecutor’s Office also announced in a separate news release that the homicide rates for Gary and East Chicago declined by about 46% since 2022, partially due to the office’s Homicide Task Force, which was created in 2023. The task force consists of detectives from the Indiana State Police, Indiana State Excise Police, East Chicago Police Department, Gary Police Department and cold case assistance from the Hobart Police Department, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The task force is responsible for investigating homicides and deaths in Gary and East Chicago, and if requested, assists other law enforcement agencies throughout the county.

In Gary and East Chicago, the 2025 homicide charge and closure rate is at 83%, according to the news release. Throughout the year, the task force detectives helped with eight murder trials, helped convict about 22 defendants, and supported efforts to deny bond to 18 murder defendants.

In 2025, three defendants were charged with murder for 2002, 2018 and 2024 homicides, according to the prosecutor’s office. Other crimes include neglect of a dependent causing death, attempted murder, arson, assisting a criminal, maintaining a common nuisance, unlawful carrying of firearms, and possession of a controlled substance.

“These outcomes reflect the relentless commitment and professionalism of our Homicide Task Force detectives,” Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said in a news release. “Their work is detailed, demanding, and often unseen by the public, but the results speak for themselves. Every case represents a victim, a family, and a community seeking justice — and our detectives never lose sight of that responsibility.”

Carter said the partnerships with East Chicago, Gary and other entities through Lake County helped make the homicide task force’s work successful.

“Public safety is a shared responsibility,” Carter said. “We thank the mayors and local leaders who continue to prioritize cooperation, transparency and community safety. Together, we are making Lake County safer for our residents.”

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/31/gary-lake-county-report-positive-changes-to-2025-crime-rates/ 

The Kane County Board is again seeking applications to fill a vacancy on its 24-member board, this time for its District 9 seat.

The candidate appointed to the seat would serve until November, when a board member will be selected by voters.

The seat was previously held by Gary Daugherty, who was elected to represent District 9 — which encompasses the northwest corner of Kane County, including portions of Hampshire, Huntley, Pingree Grove and Elgin — in 2022.

Recently, however, Daugherty said he would be resigning before the end of December, citing illness as the reason for his departure. That leaves the county board with its second vacancy in recent months.

With Daugherty’s term set to expire in November 2026, three candidates have already filed to run for the seat during the 2026 election, according to the Kane County Clerk’s Office: Republican candidates Jennifer Abbatacola and Jeffrey R. Magnussen and Democratic candidate Marc A. Guttke, all of Hampshire.

But, in the meantime, the county board is seeking someone to fill the seat until the upcoming election.

A candidate for the seat has to live within the district and be at least 18 years old, a registered voter, a member of the Republican Party since Daugherty is a Republican and a resident of Kane County for at least a year, per the county.

According to state statute, a vacancy on the board needs to be filled within 60 days of it occurring, with the new member appointed by the county board chair with “the advice and consent” of the board.

The county currently has another vacancy on its board too – its District 2 seat, formerly held by Dale Berman, who died in October at the age of 91.

The board sought applications for Berman’s seat and made several attempts to appoint someone to fill the position until it’s up for election in the fall of 2026, but ultimately failed to vote in a candidate in November. The situation prompted some concern from board members about the transparency of the selection process and the board’s procedure for appointing candidates.

The District 2 seat still remains vacant, a county spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday. The board can leave that position vacant until the election, or could still bring up a resolution to fill Berman’s seat, but it would be outside of the 60-day timeline outlined in state statute.

As for the District 9 seat, individuals looking to apply for the appointment can submit a cover letter and resume by email to tallitschjane@co.kane.il.us or by mail or in person to the Kane County Board office at 719 S. Batavia Ave. in Geneva, per the county. Applications are due by Jan. 14.

mmorrow@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/31/kane-county-board-district-9-vacancy/ 

CONCORD, N.H. — The Trump administration can continue to withhold Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood and other health centers that provide abortions while a coalition of mostly-Democratic states challenge the cuts, a federal appeals court ruled.

The decision Tuesday in one of multiple lawsuits filed after President Donald Trump signed tax breaks and spending cuts legislation in July that Medicaid reimbursement for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that received more than $800,000 in 2023. The lawsuits include two filed in Massachusetts by 21 states and the District of Columbia and Planned Parenthood itself, and a third filed in Maine by a network of medical clinics there.

In the Massachusetts cases, a federal judge issued separate preliminary injunctions siding with Planned Parenthood in July and the coalition of states in early December. But an appeals court overturned the first order on Dec. 12 and put the second on hold Tuesday.

“Although we are disappointed in the court’s decision, we remain committed to holding the federal administration accountable and ensuring vulnerable Californians can access the health care they need,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Maine lawsuit has been dismissed at the request of the clinics that challenged the cuts.

Maine Family Planning, which operates 18 clinics in many of the poor and rural areas of the state, shut down their primary care operations in October due to the loss of funding.

In August, a federal judge ruled against restoring funding as the lawsuit proceeded, and the clinics appealed. But earlier this month, the network notified the court that it was ending the lawsuit.

“As the Trump administration has dismantled the nation’s health care system, we have remained focused on delivering high quality care to our patients, particularly those across rural Maine,” CEO George Hill said in a statement Wednesday. “Though our lawsuit will not continue, we are not wavering in our commitment to our patients and to advocating for the health care system that Mainers need and deserve.”

The Center for Reproductive Rights, which represented Maine Family Planning, said Wednesday that clinic leaders have decided to focus their resources on treating patients.

“The Trump administration on the other hand has no regard for patients or how the ‘big beautiful bill’ has made healthcare even harder to access in this country,” the center said in a statement.

Planned Parenthood, which did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday, has said that nearly half its patients rely on Medicaid for health care aside from abortions, which was already not covered by the federal insurance program that serves millions of low-income and disabled Americans. At least eight states have directed state funds to compensate Planned Parenthood for the lost funding, including Connecticut, where Gov. Ned Lamont recently announced $8.5 million for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.

Tuesday’s court decision makes that kind of action even more important, Connecticut Attorney General William Wong. He called the ruling a “disappointing setback,” but noted the legal process has a long way to go.

“This defunds essential, preventive healthcare, including cancer screenings, birth control, and testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections,” he said in a statement Wednesday. “We will keep fighting to protect access to essential healthcare and to keep partisan politics out of doctors’ offices.”

Health and Human Services press secretary Emily Hilliard said Wednesday the department doesn’t comment on litigation but added, “We remain committed to protecting the integrity of Medicaid programs to ensure full compliance with the law.”

Associated Press writers David Collins in Hartford, Connecticut, Ed White in Detroit and Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, contributed.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/31/medicaid-funding-cuts-planned-parenthood/ 

National Guard Patrols New Orleans Ahead Of New Year Amid Vehicle-Ramming Threats

Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/31/2025 – 15:40

https://www.zerohedge.com/military/national-guard-patrols-new-orleans-ahead-new-year-amid-vehicle-ramming-threats 

The Fox Valley Park District helped families with young children welcome in the new year with its annual mid-day Family New Year’s Eve Party which kicked off at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Vaughan Athletic Center in Aurora.

For the next two hours, families were able to enjoy a variety of activities including bouncing on giant inflatables, playing interactive games and dancing to music provided by a live DJ.

In addition, the event included a photo booth, crafts and other hands-on activities for kids.

At noon, balloons were dropped out of a net suspended over the gym area in the center to usher in an early start to the new year.

Leigh Cohoon of Sugar Grove, who works as a nanny with a family in Geneva, said the event was a perfect fit for her young charges.

“I’ve actually been a nanny for eight years and one of the children is 9, so I’ve known them forever,” Cohoon said at the event. “I looked this up and we were going to go to the Ronald McDonald House and I heard from the neighbors where the kids live that they were coming here. The kids are excited for the bounce house and the balloon drop.”

Joanne Lamb, recreation supervisor at the Vaughan Center, said the number of balloons dropped at the event has been growing over the years.

“This year, we’re looking at about 2,500 balloons as compared to last year when we had 2,000,” she said, noting the number dropped in 2022 was just 500.

Lamb said the event usually draws people “who are looking for a way to celebrate the new year as a family.”

“It’s a great way for families with young children to come together and celebrate while the kids are still awake in a fun and safe family environment,” Lamb said. “Last year we added some things and got some really positive feedback and so we are going with the same things this year which included more inflatables and craft options.”

Officials said with last-minute walk-ups, about 350 attended the event on Wednesday.

Katie Kolakowski of Aurora said she has come to the event previously, calling it “my favorite event to bring my family to.”

Katie Kolakowski of Aurora, left, checks her children in at the Vaughan Athletic Center in Aurora on Wednesday morning, Dec. 31, 2025, for the annual two-hour Family New Year’s Eve Party sponsored by the Fox Valley Park District. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)

“This is my third year and I have kids from ages 9 down to 4 so there’s something for every age group that we can do as a family experience,” she said. “I like that there is something to do before midnight and the kids get a memory and look forward to this every single year. The balloon drop is amazing.”

Mike Barry of Aurora enjoyed dancing in front of the DJ with his kids at the event and said it was his first time at the Family New Year’s Eve Party.

“My wife knew about it. I’m looking at all the balloons and it’s a lot of work,” he said. “We just got here and we are doing some dancing. Later, we are just going to have a little dinner at home – kind of a quiet night. I’m not sure if we’re going to make it until midnight, but we’re going to try.”

Kirsten and Michael Argyelan of Sugar Grove and their family stopped by the center for the event on Wednesday.

“My sons have already done the bounce houses, some Bingo, and played bags,” she said, adding that while the family planned to have a fun day, “we’re not making it until midnight.”

“Oh no, that’s not happening,” she said.

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/31/aurora-event-gives-families-a-head-start-on-celebrating-the-new-year/ 

Investors Scoop Up 40% Of Vacant Lots Sold After Los Angeles Fires: Report

Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/31/2025 – 15:20

https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/investors-scoop-40-vacant-lots-sold-after-los-angeles-fires-report 

Good afternoon, Chicago.

Wendy Davis said every Christmas she travels with her dad to Bloomington, Indiana, to visit family. But this year her dad, Daniel Davis, has been missing for over a month, and she stayed in Chicago to continue searching for him in the south suburbs.

Davis, 59, was last seen Nov. 25, leaving 115 Bourbon Street at 3359 W. 115th St. in Merrionette Park, and the search narrowed on Blue Island in early December, according to police. For 26 years her dad was the head lighting designer for concerts at 115 Bourbon Street.

Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

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Chicago Teachers Union member Tom Felson, center, attends a community engagement session to discuss the Chicago Public Schools budget at Dyett High School in Chicago on July 14, 2025. CPS held engagement sessions to elicit feedback on its budget strategy prior to the Board of Education’s vote to approve a 2026 budget. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Budget fights to funding freezes: Chicago’s top education stories of the year

Chicago’s education landscape faced an unprecedented set of challenges this year — from Chicago Public Schools’ protracted budget fight, to intensified immigration enforcement, to federal funding cuts. Read more here.

More top news stories:

Oysters, crab and lobster meat stolen in New England, some destined for Illinois Costco stores
Son charged with murder in Richton Park double homicide

The “Home Alone” house at 671 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, is one of the most famous movie locations on the North Shore.

Owner of Winnetka’s ‘Home Alone’ house wants to return the driveway configuration to the way it was in the movie

The current owner of the home is asking Winnetka officials to re-allow the horseshoe driveway. To do so requires a front-yard impervious coverage variation, and Winnetka’s zoning board will take its first look at his proposal at a meeting on Jan. 12. Read more here.

More top business stories:

Retired Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin sells River North condo for $1.4M
Seven new businesses, including Illinois’ first 99 Ranch Market, to open in Naperville shopping center

Illinois defensive back Miles Scott (10) hoists the trophy with teammates after winning the Music City Bowl against Tennessee Dec. 30, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (George Walker IV/AP)

Music City Bowl: Last-second field goal gives Illinois a 30-28 victory over Tennessee

Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer, named the bowl MVP in his final game with the team, led the offense on the winning drive that took most of the final 4 minutes, 58 seconds. Read more here.

More top sports stories:

‘Tough as nails’ Luke Altmyer puts a fitting finish on one of Illinois’ most successful QB tenures
Chicago Blackhawks’ late rally falls short as they lose 3-2 in a shootout to the New York Islanders

Cases of beer are displayed at a grocery store on Feb. 11, 2025, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty)

American Heart Association revives theory that light drinking may be good for you

For a while, it seemed the notion that light drinking was good for the heart had gone by the wayside, debunked by new studies and overshadowed by warnings that alcohol causes cancer. Now the American Heart Association has revived the idea in a scientific review that is drawing intense criticism, setting off a new round of debate about alcohol consumption. Read more here.

More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:

Isiah Whitlock Jr., Indiana native and actor from ‘The Wire’ and Spike Lee films, dies at 71
LAPD places security hold on medical examiner’s report in Reiner murders

Fireworks light up the sky over the Sydney Opera House during New Year’s Eve celebrations on Jan. 1, 2026, in Australia. (Izhar Khan/Getty Images)

New Zealand’s Auckland kicks off 2026 celebrations with fireworks

Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year at a celebration dampened by rain. Read more here.

More top stories from around the world:

These bipartisan bills were noncontroversial — until Donald Trump vetoed them
Justice Department now said to be reviewing 5.2 million pages of Epstein files

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/31/afternoon-briefing-woman-continues-search-for-missing-dad-over-the-holidays/ 

A North Chicago man has been sentenced to five years in prison after he recently pleaded guilty to federal drug charges, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

Alfredo Rollins, 47, pleaded guilty on Dec. 16 in Chicago to distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

Rollins was arrested in June following an investigation that involved Lake County Sheriff’s Office personnel and federal agents.

The sheriff’s office said it received information that Rollins was selling heroin laced with fentanyl in Lake County. Police said they purchased more than 115 grams of a powder containing fentanyl and 2,000 pills containing the drug.

At the time of his arrest, Rollins was in possession of more than two pounds of cannabis, authorities said.

“Yet again, our Special Investigations Group investigated and arrested a dangerous offender who was selling a deadly drug in Lake County,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “I cannot stress enough that SIG, composed of federal and local law enforcement, investigates and arrests some of the worst drug traffickers in the region.

“Every year, they prevent deaths from both firearms and drugs, while also making significant strides in combating human trafficking,” he said.

Shots into the air

Police say they arrested a man who fired a gun several times in the parking lot of a Beach Park bar.

Danis J. Nunez-Bonilla, 22, of the 1100 block of Adams Street, North Chicago, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon following the Dec. 27 incident.

Police said Nunez-Bonilla fired off the weapon as an act of celebration at about 1:50 a.m. at the bar in the 37800 block of North Sheridan Road.

A Lake County sheriff’s deputy who was in the area heard the shots and alerted fellow officers. Another deputy saw a white work van leaving the parking lot and initiated a traffic stop. The officer found a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine, as well as several spent shells. Another 11 spent shell casings were found in the parking lot, police said.

“I am extremely proud of our alert deputies involved in this dangerous situation,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “Working together, they quickly identified the man who was recklessly firing shots into the air and safely took him into custody without anyone being injured. This incident serves as a powerful reminder that 24/7, our sheriff’s deputies are out there protecting our community.”

Child porn charges

Zion police charged a man with possession of child pornography after arresting him at a local restaurant where they say he went expecting to meet a minor.

Stephen Maggio, 38, was arrested on Dec. 26 after an investigation.

Police said they were contacted by a YouTube content creator, who said Maggio arrived at a local café. The content creator obtained Maggio’s phone before police arrived and gave it to officers.

Zion police said that despite numerous telephone calls from people who saw the video of the arrest online, officers had to take the time necessary to confirm when the illicit material had been loaded onto the phone.

Maggio, who required medical attention following the arrest, was charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. Police said there is no evidence that Maggio created the content that led to the charges.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/31/law-and-order-2/