I was born in Elgin, 10 minutes before my twin brother, Tim. He has since made up for his tardiness in height, towering over me today by about 1 and 1/2 feet. He and I are tied for the youngest in the family—though I like to consider myself a middle child—and have two older brothers. I grew up on one of the last standing farms in what is now the well-developed area of Prairie View. For those who do not know the town, it is a northwest suburb of Chicago sandwiched in the middle of Long Grove, Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire. I moved to Minnesota to attend Winona State University, which is situated right on the Mississippi River. During my time there, I left for six months to study abroad in Granada, Spain, where I traveled throughout the provinces and even ran with the bulls in Pamplona. I returned to Illinois in June 2007 after graduating with a B.A. in Mass Communications: Journalism and Spanish. I wrote for The Daily Chronicle in DeKalb until June 2010. There, I covered education for about two years, crime for nearly one and during my home stretch, delved into issues centered on the governments of DeKalb County and the City of Sycamore.
Lincoln Park Zoo officials said the newest addition to their Regenstein Center for African Apes was in stable condition on Monday following a recent emergency surgery.
Lincoln Park Zoo officials said the newest addition to their Regenstein Center for African Apes was in stable condition on Monday following a recent emergency surgery.
In an ongoing effort to battle gun violence issues in Chicago, police held a news conference on Monday to share their progress so far.
Police said the teenager broke into a 43-year-old woman's home Sunday afternoon on West Moffat Street. He appeared in court Monday morning and has been charged as an adult.
Chicago Police said a male armed with a weapon broke into a Bucktown home Sunday and sexually assaulted a woman
Students at Lincoln Park's DePaul University are "Harlem Shaking" it all over the neighborhood. We've rounded up several videos of the action.
Friends, family members and now, police, are searching for answers in a Wicker Park hit-and-run accident that injured a former DePaul University theater student.
Friends, family members and now, police, are searching for answers in a Wicker Park hit-and-run accident that injured a Lake View man.
All Cook County pet owners are eligible for a rebate program for having their pet spayed or neutered during National Spay and Neuter Month.
Do you know a WWII veteran who would like to participate in this year’s Honor Flight Chicago day trip to Washington D.C.?
This week's "Wow House" is an 8,000-square-foot Lincoln Park home that includes a custom staircase and one-of-a-kind outdoor patio area. See our accompanying photo gallery for a look at the details.
Students at Lincoln Park's DePaul University are "Harlem Shaking" it all over the neighborhood. We've rounded up several videos of the action.
CNN Money reported Monday the average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. is $3.73. Gas prices are about 50 cents higher at many stations in Lake View.
Chicago Police announced first-degree murder charges Saturday against a Bolingbrook man. They say he's responsible for the death of an 18-year-old woman earlier this month.
Membership on the international extramarital affairs website, Ashley Madison, soared last Valentine's Day, resulting in nearly 10 times its number of usual users. The site's Oak Park presence is strong, according to reports.
The Lincoln Park Zoo has officially announced the names of its two new Sichuan takins. Voters helped choose them through online voting.
Life moves fast and at Chicago Patch, we know it's easy to miss something. Every week, we're compiling a list of the most-read news stories of the past seven days or so that we've reported right here on the North Side.
The Lincoln Park Zoo has officially announced the names of its two new Sichuan takins. Voters helped choose them through online voting.
All Cook County pet owners are eligible for a rebate program for having their pet spayed or neutered during National Spay and Neuter Month.
All Cook County pet owners are eligible for a rebate program for having their pet spayed or neutered during National Spay and Neuter Month.