Illinois

Illinois' longest-serving exonerated man files $200M lawsuit against Chicago authorities

Published

1 year ago

October 22, 2024

Press Room

Illinois' longest-serving exonerated man files 0M lawsuit against Chicago authorities

‘Justice for me’: Longest-serving exonerated man in Illinois files lawsuit

Jimmy Soto served more than 42 years in prison for a double murder he says he didn’t commit.

CHICAGO – Illinois’ longest-serving exonerated man is taking legal action after spending more than 42 years in prison for a double murder that he said he didn’t commit.

Jimmy Soto, 63, spent more time in prison than any other known wrongfully convicted individual in Illinois history.

On Tuesday, Soto filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department, several Cook County prosecutors, Cook County and the city of Chicago. His conviction, which dates back to 1981 when he was just 20 years old, was overturned last December after a judge ruled that he and his cousin did not receive adequate legal counsel during their trial.

Soto and his cousin, David Ayala, were convicted of murdering a Marine and a teenager. At the time of their conviction, there was reportedly no physical evidence linking them to the crime.

Now, Soto is seeking more than $200 million in damages, expressing doubts that even that amount could fully compensate for the years of his life lost.

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Illinois

Illinois high school football playoffs expanding in 2026

Published

8 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Illinois high school football playoffs expanding in 2026

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (KWQC) – The IHSA football playoffs will be expanding by 50 percent in 2026.

IHSA member schools approved an amendment to expand the playoffs from 32 teams per class to 48.

There will still be 8 classifications increasing the total number of playoff teams from 256 to 384.

As a result of the change, the start of the season will be moved up by a week in August to allow the season to still finish with State Championship games the week of Thanksgiving.

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Illinois

Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody

Published

20 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Woman found dead near Schamburg, Illinois shopping center, man in custody

December 16, 2025 / 10:36 AM CST
/ CBS Chicago

A woman was found dead near a shopping center in Schaumburg, Illinois early Tuesday, and a man was taken into police custody.

Around 5:25 a.m., Schaumburg police were called to the 100 block of South Roselle Road. They found a woman dead at the scene.

Police said a man was taken into custody at the scene.

The investigation so far indicates that the incident was domestic, and the man and woman knew each other.

Police said the incident was isolated and there was no threat to the public. But there was a large police presence at the scene, and alternate routes were advised.

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Illinois

Illinois officials investigating death connected to Rock Co. homicide

Published

1 day ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Illinois officials investigating death connected to Rock Co. homicide

PRINCETON, Ill. (WMTV) – The Illinois State Patrol is investigating a death after officials found a suspect’s vehicle wanted in connection to a Wisconsin homicide, Illinois State Police reported.

Just before 10 p.m. on December 10, ISP troopers and several other agencies attempted to pull a vehicle over in Princeton, Illinois, that was wanted in a Rock County homicide.

Officials did not specify which Rock Co. case this incident is connected to.

Princeton is about an hour and 45 minutes away from Rock County, Wisconsin.

After the driver did not pull over, police chased the vehicle into the Great Sauk Trail Rest Area on I-80 westbound.

When officers went up to the vehicle, authorities stated the driver was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Authorities did not identify the driver.

ISP is working with the Bureau County State’s Attorney’s Office in this investigation.

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