Obama Center contractor controversy
An engineering firm working on the Obama Presidential Center says that claims it racially discriminated against a Black-owned subcontractor on the project are baseless and that simply criticizing the subcontractors’ work does not amount to racism.
The New York-City-based engineering firm was responding to a lawsuit accusing it of acting with racist intent when it criticized the alleged underperformance of a Black-owned concrete subcontracting firm. The lawsuit has drawn national attention to the diversity, equity and inclusion goals connected to the project, which has been plagued by delays and costs ballooning from an initial $350 million to $830 million.
Migrant arrested for fatal Iowa crash
A Venezuelan migrant who had been living at an Illinois shelter is now in custody, awaiting extradition to Iowa where he is charged with killing two people in a car crash while driving with THC in his system.
According to CWB Chicago, 27-year-old Renzo Parra ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle at a rural intersection. He is being held on an Iowa warrant charing two counts of homicide by vehicle while under the influence.
Driver takes police on long distance chase
The driver of a stolen car was finally arrested after leading police on a long distance chase from Chicago to Livingston County.
Illinois State Police said a trooper located a stolen vehicle on a Chicago expressway. The driver of the vehicle tried to flee south on Interstate 55 through DuPage, Will and Grundy counties. Police finally disabled the vehicle with spike strips near Dwight.
