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Afternoon Briefing

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Good afternoon, Chicago.

Speaking from his jury room a day after unseating Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans in a judicial election, Judge Charles Beach told the Tribune he seeks to bring the concepts of “good governance and transparency to the judiciary” when he takes on the role in December.

In a surprise victory, his fellow jurists voted for Beach to replace Evans, who has served as chief judge for 24 years, spearheading historic bond reform and programs meant to increase equity in the judicial system while also overseeing a court system beset with systemic problems, including grindingly slow progress in criminal cases and outdated technology.

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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news
Police investigate a crash scene involving at least two cars along Michigan Avenue on Sept. 11, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

One killed, 5 injured after attempted burglary, crash on Mag Mile

Five people were critically injured and one was killed after a smash-and-grab at a downtown Louis Vuitton store and multiple traffic crashes early this morning, officials said.

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business
Kyla Jeffries prepares a spicy chopped salad at Portillo’s in Chicago’s River North neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2024. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

As restaurant traffic wanes, Portillo’s slows store openings and ends Chicago breakfast experiment

Portillo’s, famous for its Italian beef, Chicago-style hot dogs and decadent cake shakes, is thinking leaner in terms of business expansion.

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sports
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams warms up for a game against the Vikings on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Bears Q&A: Are Caleb Williams’ flaws correctable? What went wrong with the running game?

A new era is underway for the Bears — but the Week 1 result looked awfully familiar as coach Ben Johnson’s team couldn’t maintain an 11-point fourth-quarter lead and lost 27-24 to the Minnesota Vikings.

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eat. watch. do.
Amanda Drinkall and Erik Hellman in “Dial M for Murder” at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. (Kyle Flubacker)

Review: In ‘Dial M for Murder’ at Drury Lane, figuring out whodunit was never the point

“Dial M for Murder,” a play by Frederick Knott, was adapted into a 1954 Alfred Hitchcock film and is now playing at Drury Lane Theatre with an updated script by Jeffrey Hatcher.


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nation & world
Arizonans mourn Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk outside of the Turning Point USA headquarters on Sept. 10, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty)

FBI releases photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s Utah university campus killing

The FBI released two photos of a person of interest in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters. The shooter, who fired a single shot from a distant roof, remained at large and unidentified today nearly 24 hours into the investigation.

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