Brandon Johnson speaks after being projected winner as mayor Tuesday in Chicago. (Photo by Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)Plus: Wisconsin has a new Supreme Court justice.Continue reading Chicago Has a New Mayor »
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The Dispatch→ What the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Tells Us About 2024
Wisconsin voters cast their ballots on November 8, 2022, in Madison. (Photo by Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)Plus: A progressive wins in Chicago. Continue reading What the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Tells Us About 2024 »
The Dispatch→ Will Donald Trump’s Attacks Sink Ron DeSantis?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to Iowa voters on March 10, 2023. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)Plus: Two Democratic visions for Chicago’s future meet in next week’s mayoral runoff. Continue reading Will Donald Trump’s Attacks Sink Ron De
Snopes→ Deaths of 3 Women in Early Heat Wave Raise Questions, Fears
Temperatures barely climbed into the 90s and only for a couple of days.
Snopes→ Chicago Police Officer Charged in Downtown Subway Shooting
A Chicago police officer who shot an unarmed man in the back as he tried to escape capture by running up an escalator in a busy subway station has been charged with felony aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct.
Truth or Fiction?→ Lollapalooza Crowd 2021 Image
Between July 30 and August 1 2021, a purported photograph from the Lollapalooza 2021 music festival in Chicago went viral, hitting social media users a little differently against the backdrop of an ongoing pandemic. Perhaps the most prominent version w
Snopes→ Man Ticketed in Suburban Chicago Dog Park for Tree Treatment
A man who said he sprayed trees in a suburban Chicago park to protect them after an anxious dog chewed off the bark has been ticketed by authorities.
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘State of Illinois Definition of a COVID-19 Death’
In July 2020, social media users continued spinning a remark by a top health official in Illinois to claim that death tolls attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic have been inflated around the United States — and to attempt to sow doubt around the
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Ending White Privilege Intersects Ending Jewish Privilege’ Flyer
In June 2020, as protests against ongoing racism and police brutality continued throughout the United States and beyond, a curious image appeared: The image showed a flyer taped to a cork board with text that said: ENDING WHITE PRIVILEGE… Privi
Truth or Fiction?→ Does This Video Show That ‘Tanks Have Arrived in San Diego’?
In another case of social media users and disreputable blogs stoking fear via disinformation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, footage of a routine shipment of tanks in two states has been interpreted — and then disseminated — as an omen of so
Snopes→ Police Overseers Fire 4 Officers in McDonald-Related Case
The nine-member board found the officers exaggerated the threat posed by the 17-year-old McDonald to justify his shooting.
Snopes→ US Customs Agents Seize Rat Meat at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport
Customs officials prohibit the entry of African meats to prevent the spread of African swine fever.
Truth or Fiction?→ Do New Chicago City ID Cards Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Vote?
On January 19 2019, a Facebook user shared a text-based status update (archived here), claiming that Chicago’s “City ID Cards” enables undocumented immigrants to legally vote in state and federal elections: Chicago now has City ID Ca
Snopes→ Argument at Chicago Hospital Erupts Into Deadly Shooting
The attacker, Juan Lopez, also died Monday but it was not clear if he took his own life or was killed by police.
Snopes→ Chicago Police: Shots Fired Near Hospital, Multiple Victims
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said at least one potential suspect was shot but offered no details.
Snopes→ Some Kids Killed in Chicago Fire Were There for Sleepover
The cause of the fire remains under investigation but there's no indication that it was deliberately set.
Snopes→ Did 600 Murders Take Place in Chicago Last Weekend?
Omarosa Manigault said that 600 murders took place in Chicago during the second weekend of August 2018, but the actual number was one.
Truth or Fiction?→ Stormy Daniels’ Lawyer Michael Avenatti Worked for Rahm Emanuel, Democratic Campaigns-Truth!
Stormy Daniels’ Lawyer Michael Avenatti Worked for Rahm Emanuel, Democratic Campaigns-Truth! Summary of eRumor: Adult film actress Story Daniels’ lawyer, Michael Avenatti, has worked for Rahm Emanuel and various Democratic campaigns over th
Snopes→ Does Chicago’s Identification Card Program Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Vote?
Election officials rejected the possibility that CityKey cards could cause an upswing in voter fraud.
Snopes→ Will UN Peacekeepers Be Deployed on the Streets of Chicago?
There are no plans to put UN Peacekeeper boots on the ground in Chicago.
Snopes→ Judges to Examine if Drug Stash-House Stings Racially Biased
A question about whether federal agents stage phony stash-house stings overwhelmingly in black neighborhoods is the focus of landmark hearings in Chicago.
Truth or Fiction?→ Hate Crimes Dropped Against Black Lives Matter Kidnappers-Fiction!
Hate Crimes Dropped Against Black Lives Matter Kidnappers-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Rumors spread on social media that hate crimes against four Black Lives Matter (BLM) members accused of kidnapping were dropped. The Truth: Hate crime charges were no
Truth or Fiction?→ 339 People Severely Wounded, 66 Killed, Trump Just Addressed the Nation-Unproven!
339 People Severely Wounded, 66 Killed: Trump Just Addressed the Nation-Truth! & Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Stories with the headline, “339 People Severely Wounded 66 Killed – Trump Just Addressed The Nation,” that began circul
Snopes→ 16-year-old from Minnesota Finally Identified as Victim of John Wayne Gacy
Jimmy Haakenson is one of eight previously unidentified victims found under the serial killer's Chicago-area home in 1978.
Snopes→ Malia Obama Busted Buying 6 Pounds of Marijuana in Chicago?
A fake news site photoshopped Malia Obama into an image from a 2013 news report about dogfighting to falsely claim she was arrested in Chicago.
Snopes→ Did a Janitor Collect $20 Million in Life Insurance on Dead Chicago Teens?
An old fake news item appeared to play off stereotypes about Chicago and controversial "dead peasant" insurance.
Snopes→ Did President Trump Send Federal Troops, Armored Vehicles to Chicago?
A video shows a Chicago Police Department SWAT vehicle along with the claim that Trump sent federal troops in armored vehicles to the city.