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Backing for Biden from Illinois Democratic delegates is strong, but cracks are appearing, Sun-Times survey finds

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Backing for Biden from Illinois Democratic delegates is strong, but cracks are appearing, Sun-Times survey finds


As President Joe Biden fights for his political life due to concerns over his age and ability to beat former President Donald Trump, Chicago Sun-Times interviews with Illinois delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago reveal cracks in the once solid support for the president.

Biden’s disastrous debate with Trump June 27 sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party and triggered widespread uncertainty over whether the president should remain at the top of the ticket.

Yet most Illinois delegates — whether elected or appointed — continue to back the nominations of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for a second term.

The tumult over whether Biden should stay or go has, to the consternation of the Biden-Harris campaign, drawn attention away from Trump’s impeachments, indictments and convictions — along with the dozens of false claims he made during the debate.

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An unscripted news conference Biden held Thursday after the NATO summit in Washington did not resolve for Democrats doubts about Biden’s viability, even as the president repeated his vow to stay in the race.

This past week, the Sun-Times reached out to the state’s roster of Democratic delegates and interviewed 37 of them, all before the Thursday news conference.

Of those who responded, four declined to answer questions about Biden, and three said they do not back the president. One delegate was unsure, and another said it was too soon to say. The remaining 28 delegates said they are continuing to back Biden.

That nine delegates out of 37 did not offer robust endorsements of Biden at this time reveals cracks in his Illinois delegate support. The three who said they want Biden to drop out asked to remain anonymous.

Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins said he backs Biden staying in the race, though he recognized the situation remains fluid.

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“I would like to see President Biden do what he feels is best for the country. But if he decides to step down, then I think Vice President Harris should be the candidate,” Hoskins said.

State Sen. Adriane Johnson from Buffalo Grove, a delegate elected from the north suburban 9th congressional district, said “Biden should stay on the ticket, and he has my full support.”

“Biden had one bad debate. We all fall down occasionally, but we get back up,” Johnson said. “Biden knows the job — he’s doing the job well right now. He knows right from wrong, and he tells the truth. Let’s switch gears and talk about how Trump should be removed from his party’s ticket because he is unfit, unqualified and uncouth.”

State Rep. La Shawn Ford, from Chicago’s West Side and an elected delegate from the 7th congressional district, said he stands behind Biden, “but he needs to quiet the storm.”

Ford also warned that if Biden steps down, he needs to do so in a way that avoids a divisive battle over who should replace him. “Democrats can win whether it’s Kamala or Biden. We just need one of them to be the nominee.”

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Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), also elected from the 7th, said the party should “close ranks” around Biden.

Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega, an elected delegate from the 9th congressional district, said he remains with Biden “even though he is 81 years old. You can’t take away the great things he’s done to bring our country back. He has delivered time and time again.”

Robert Reiter, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor and an elected delegate elected from the 1st congressional district, said, “I am with Biden,” adding that the president has been “one of the most consequential presidents supporting the American worker.”

Another union leader, American Federation of Teachers vice president Dan Montgomery, elected from the 9th congressional district said he’s “absolutely, unequivocally behind our president, and I will throw my full support behind him happily.”

State Sen. Laura Murphy, from Des Plaines, an appointed at-large delegate, said Biden’s debate performance “was very disappointing, but that looks like the way the convention is going to break, and I want anyone that’s going to defeat Donald Trump.”

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Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, an elected delegate from the 10th congressional district, said she’s sticking with Biden because he “is excellent on so many issues that matter: gun violence prevention, reproductive freedom, accessible health care, support for Israel, and strengthening the economy.”

The top Democrats in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, as hosts for the Aug. 19-22 convention, have made strong public comments backing Biden as he is struggling to save his candidacy. So has Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a co-chair of the Democratic National Committee and a Biden-Harris campaign co-chair.

Last Wednesday, Sen. Dick Durbin asked by reporters in the Capitol, “How concerned are you about Biden’s chances?”

Durbin replied “I am very concerned. It’s going to be a close race.”

Three of 14 Illinois Democrats in the House called for Biden to step aside.

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Motorcyclist killed in Mundelein crash, police say

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Motorcyclist killed in Mundelein crash, police say


ByABC7 Chicago Digital Team

Tuesday, July 7, 2026 1:19AM

ABC7 Chicago 24/7 Stream

MUNDELEIN, Ill. (WLS) — A motorcyclist was killed in a north suburban crash on Monday evening, police said.

Mundelein police said officers and members of the fire department responded to a crash involving a Suzuki motorcycle and a Honda SUV near Route 45 and Route 83 around 5:25 p.m.

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The motorcyclist, a 34-year-old man, was ejected, police said. He was pronounced dead on the scene, and his name was not immediately released.

Police said the intersection was shut down but is expected to reopen around 8:30 p.m.

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The Mundelein Police Department, the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team, and the Lake County Coroner’s Office are investigating.

Authorities did not immediately provide further information.

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Severed arm in Illinois lake: Court records say body parts found in freezer, half-brother claimed self-defense

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Severed arm in Illinois lake: Court records say body parts found in freezer, half-brother claimed self-defense


Editor’s note: This story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers. Viewer discretion is advised.

New details have emerged in the case of a severed arm bearing a distinctive Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers tattoo that was recovered from an Illinois lake, leading investigators to identify the victim.

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James Adams, 26, and Robin Turner, 62, have been charged in connection with the death of 38-year-old Dalewayne Turner. Both face charges of concealment of a homicidal death, a Class 3 felony, and dismembering a human body, a Class X felony.

The backstory:

Two charged after severed arm with Packers tattoo found in Illinois lake, police say

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Will County court documents released Monday identify Adams as Dalewayne Turner’s half-brother and Robin Turner as his wife.

According to the documents, Adams admitted to fatally stabbing Dalewayne Turner, while Robin Turner did not contact law enforcement after the killing.

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Investigators allege the two took extensive steps to conceal the crime, including using bleach to clean the home and mask odors, repainting portions of the house, removing and burning wood paneling in a fire pit, and disposing of rugs.

Court records describe a large amount of blood at the scene and state that Dalewayne Turner’s body was dismembered. Some of his remains were placed in a freezer that investigators say was purchased specifically for that purpose.

Authorities allege the remains were placed in trash bags, weighted down, sealed with duct tape and transported to Lake Mattoon, where they were dumped in an effort to prevent the victim from being found and identified.

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Prosecutors said one weighted bag came apart, allowing Dalewayne Turner’s tattooed arm to surface. Boaters discovered the arm on the evening of June 28.

Pictured is an arm tattoo of a skeleton holding a Green Bay Packers helmet. (Illinois State Police)

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A dive team later recovered additional weighted bags containing human remains from the lake.

What they’re saying:

After Adams was taken into custody June 30, court documents say he confessed to the killing but claimed he acted in self-defense.

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“The one thing I will say is that I did it, but I did it out of self-defense. I will tell you guys that,” James said. 

During an interview with investigators June 30, Robin Turner said Adams and Dalewayne Turner argued in the living room before Adams stabbed him multiple times.

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According to court documents, Adams later told Robin Turner that Dalewayne Turner either fell or was pushed down a staircase after the stabbing and that he placed the body in a freezer.

Robin Turner told investigators she believed the body was still in the freezer, which she said she purchased from Best Buy on June 19 after her previous freezer broke.

She also told investigators that the repainting and remodeling inside the home were part of renovation work completed between June 21 and June 30.

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On July 1, Illinois State Police agents searched the home and found a downstairs freezer with what appeared to be a bloodstain dripping from a drain hole, according to court records.

Investigators opened the freezer and found a partial body consisting of a torso, neck and head, but no limbs, court documents state.

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What’s next:

Both Robin Turner and Adams are scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Thursday for a detention hearing.

The Source: The information in this article was provided by Will County court documents and previous FOX Chicago reporting.

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Catholic Charities Fort Worth Expands Research-Backed Anti-Poverty Program to Illinois

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Catholic Charities Fort Worth Expands Research-Backed Anti-Poverty Program to Illinois


Catholic Charities Fort Worth developed the Padua program, which is an anti-poverty program that ‘meets clients where they are.’

In the heart of one of Chicago’s most challenged neighborhoods, a proven, dignity-centered approach to breaking the cycle of poverty is about to take root.

Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago recently announced a major partnership with Catholic Charities Fort Worth (CCFW) to bring the innovative Padua program to the greater Englewood community in south Chicago.

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Named after St. Anthony of Padua, patron saint of the poor, the program pairs participants with a team of two dedicated caseworkers for long-term, client-led support, with no arbitrary time limits. The only eligibility requirements for the program are that the client be 18 years old and willing to work.

The collaboration marks a significant expansion of the model, which was developed in 2015 by CCFW and validated through a randomized controlled trial by the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO).

Participants in the study were 25% more likely to achieve full-time employment, earned 46% higher incomes, and were 64% more likely to secure stable housing.

Brendan Perry, director of Padua National at Catholic Charities Fort Worth, told EWTN News that the program was in response to the nonprofit “seeing a lot of repeat customers,” which, “in the nonprofit world is not a good thing.” 

“We weren’t truly creating economic mobility,” Perry recalled of the organization’s earlier efforts. “Padua was our answer to that challenge.”

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Perry said the program was born from a simple but powerful question: What if?

“What if the way we’ve always addressed poverty isn’t the way it has to be?” he explained. “What if we created a program where clients set their own goals, timelines were built around people instead of funders, and we holistically addressed a client’s root issues instead of just the symptoms of their poverty? And what if we could prove it through research and create a model that was replicable?”

Unlike many short-term workforce programs, Padua’s two-person case management teams (a case manager and caseworker) provide holistic support in employment, housing, education, and emotional resilience. Clients define their own goals and remain in the program for as long as needed.

Perry said that people begin their journey with Padua from many different places and often come from a place of crisis. While Padua “is not a crisis program,” Perry said the program helps clients get to a place of stability.

“Once theyʼre there, weʼre gonna be sticking with you for the long haul to get to a point of strength and of prosperity.”

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One client who has benefited from the Padua program is Lisa, a divorced mother of three who faced single parenthood, housing instability, unemployment, and mental health issues among her children. 

“When I was in my marriage, there was a lot of breaking up and getting back together,” Lisa said. “There was a lot of moving around, and I believe thatʼs how my son developed separation anxiety, which led to depression, and [he] became highly suicidal.”

Lisa’s caseworker helped her find counseling for her son as well as for Lisa, who learned coping skills that helped her better care for her son. 

“I pour into his life daily by reminding him that you are handsome, you are smart, you are capable, you have a mum and a family that loves you. You are loved, you deserve to be alive. This world needs you,” she said.

The Padua program helped her attend culinary school and taught her financial skills like budgeting and saving.

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Lisa is now employed, has a stable home for her children, and has attended a culinary arts program with dreams of becoming a catering and private chef.

She gives credit to her caseworker, Taelor: “I call her my guardian angel because … sheʼs just been so loving and supportive.”

Perry added that the partnership with Goodwill reflects a shared commitment to human dignity.

“We’re not just expanding the program — we’re ensuring more families have access to the tools they need to build bigger, brighter futures.”

Clayton Pryor, chief mission officer for Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago, emphasized how naturally the program aligns with their existing work.

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“At Goodwill, we believe lasting change starts with meeting people where they are,” Pryor told EWTN News. “Padua allows us to go deeper with individuals who need more intensive, long-term support. It’s client-led, research-backed, and focused on real stability — not just a job, but a foundation for life.”

The Illinois program is scheduled to launch in October out of Goodwill’s new Neighborhood Opportunity Center in Englewood. Pryor said the organization aims to serve 50 clients in the first year, scaling to more than 200 over five years.





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