🌱 Chicago Area Ravaged By Tornadoes + Fatal Shooting At Mariano's

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Kaytlyn Smith, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's what you need to know about what's happening in town today.

But first, today's weather:

A shower and thunderstorm. High: 86 Low: 69.

Here are the top three stories in Chicago today:

1. Multiple tornadoes wreaked havoc in the Chicago area late on Wednesday, causing substantial damage to homes and uprooting trees, according to officials from the National Weather Service. The severe weather prompted the Weather Service to issue a shelter advisory, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights at O'Hare International Airport. The tornadoes, reaching wind speeds of up to 110 miles per hour, affected areas including Elgin, Burr Ridge, and Stickney, resulting in damaged businesses and displaced residents, although no injuries were reported. (Subscription: The New York Times)
2. A shooting incident unfolded inside a Mariano's store in Evergreen Park, resulting in the death of one person and the arrest of a suspect. The police described it as a "domestic-related" incident. Responding to a report of an active shooter, authorities evacuated the store and discovered a deceased 21-year-old female employee with multiple gunshot wounds. The suspect, believed to be the victim's boyfriend, was apprehended by Chicago police later on. (NBC Chicago)
3. Indiana State Police apprehended a 45-year-old Illinois man, identified as Thomas J. Sanhamel, following a bizarre incident in which he led troopers on a slow-speed chase along Interstate 65 in northwest Indiana. Sanhamel allegedly drove at a speed of 10 mph, refused to stop, and intentionally crashed into multiple squad cars. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, the pursuit continued as Sanhamel rammed into additional vehicles and even drove against traffic. He was eventually taken into custody and is now facing charges to be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor's Office. (FOX 59)

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Today in Chicago:

Friday, July 14

• Summer Music Series At 21c Museum Hotel Chicago (5:00 PM)
• Blake Rose At House Of Blues (6:30 PM)
• Grant Park Music Festival - Prokofiev Romeo And Juliet At Jay Pritzker Pavilion (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Illinois State Museum returned 37 wooden sculptures known as vigango to Kenya after suspicions arose regarding their acquisition, pointing to potential theft. The museum acknowledged the cultural significance of the statues and recognized the importance of repatriating sacred artifacts to their rightful communities. (Subscription: Chicago Tribune)
• Chicago's Shedd Aquarium has added a southern rockhopper chick to its penguin team! The chick recently received a wellness check and shows positive signs of growth and well-being. (U.S. News & World Report)
• The Angels with Tails adoption event is happening in Downtown Barrington this Sunday, where various shops will showcase adoptable pets to find them loving homes. More information about the adoption process and participating locations can be found here. (PAWS Chicago via Instagram)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday off right. See you all soon for another update!

— Kaytlyn Smith

About me: Kaytlyn Smith is a managing editor at Lightning Media Partners – a content creation agency. She is a Rowan University graduate where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in writing. Outside of work, Kaytlyn is a dog mom to a boglen terrier named Finn and a golden retriever named Willow.