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More than 100 former Illinois youth inmates sue state over alleged sexual abuse in detention centers

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More than 100 former Illinois youth inmates sue state over alleged sexual abuse in detention centers
  • Dozens of former youth inmates have filed lawsuits seeking millions in damages for sexual abuse allegedly endured at Illinois detention centers.
  • Thirteen women and 95 men filed two lawsuits against the Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice.
  • The lawsuits contain allegations that employees at various juvenile detention centers sexually assaulted inmates between 1997 and 2013.

Dozens more former youth inmates filed lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages for sexual abuse they allegedly endured at Illinois detention centers dating back to the late 1990s.

Thirteen women and 95 men filed two separate lawsuits on Friday in the Illinois Court of Claims against the state Department of Corrections and the state Department of Juvenile Justice. Each plaintiff is seeking $2 million in damages, the most allowed under law.

The filings are packed with disturbing allegations that guards, teachers and counselors at multiple juvenile detention centers around the state sexually assaulted inmates between 1997 and 2013. Often the same perpetrators would assault the same children for months, sometimes offering to shorten their sentences or giving them snacks or extra free time in exchange for their silence, according to the lawsuits.

SURVIVORS OF ALLEGED CHILD SEX ABUSE IN ILLINOIS DETENTION CENTERS SPEAK UP

There was no immediate reply Monday morning to an email seeking comment from two state agencies.

The office building at 100 North Western Avenue is shown on May 6, 2024, in Chicago, where an office of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice is located. Dozens more former youth inmates filed lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages for sexual abuse they allegedly endured at Illinois detention centers dating back to the late 1990s. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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One female plaintiff alleged she was 15 years old when she was housed at a detention center in Warrenville in 2012. A guard groped her under her clothes and on another occasion attempted to rape her in a shower area. The guard said he would put her in solitary confinement if she told anyone. The woman went on to allege that another guard sexually assaulted her in a bathroom and then gave her a Butterfinger candy bar.

A male plaintiff alleged he was 13 years old when he was housed at a detention center in St. Charles in 1997. Two guards gave him food, extra time outside his cell and extra television time as a reward for engaging in sex with them, he alleged. When he reported the abuse, the guards locked him inside his cell as punishment, he said. The plaintiff said he was transferred to two other detention centers in Warrenville and Valley View. Guards at those centers groped him as well.

The lawsuits note that a 2013 U.S. Department of Justice survey of incarcerated youth found Illinois was among the four worst states nationwide for sexual abuse in detention facilities.

The former youth inmates’ attorneys have filed similar lawsuits around the country.

Last month, they sued on behalf of 95 other former youth inmates who allege they were sexually abused at Illinois juvenile detention centers between 1997 and 2017. Each of those plaintiffs is seeking $2 million as well. The state Department of Justice said in a statement in response to that lawsuit that those alleged incidents took place under former department leaders. The current administration takes youth safety seriously and all allegations of staff misconduct are investigated by other agencies, including the state police, the department said.

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The three Illinois lawsuits bring the total number of plaintiffs to more than 200.

“It’s time for the State of Illinois to accept responsibility for the systemic sexual abuse of children at Illinois Youth Centers,” one of the former inmates’ attorneys, Jerome Block, said.

The inmates’ attorneys also filed an action in Pennsylvania in May alleging 66 people who are now adults were victimized by guards, nurses and supervisors in that state’s juvenile detention system. The Illinois and Pennsylvania lawsuits follow other actions in Maryland, Michigan and New York City.

Some cases have gone to trial or resulted in settlements but arrests have been infrequent.

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In New Hampshire, more than 1,100 former residents of the state’s youth detention center have filed lawsuits since 2020 alleging physical or sexual abuse spanning six decades. The first lawsuit went to trial last month, and a jury awarded the plaintiff $38 million, though the amount remains disputed. Eleven former state workers have been arrested, and more than 100 more are named in the lawsuits.

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Detroit, MI

Report: Pistons Targeting 7-Time All-Star Wing to Pair With Cade Cunningham

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Report: Pistons Targeting 7-Time All-Star Wing to Pair With Cade Cunningham



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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MARCH 12: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons while playing the Philadelphia 76ers at Little Caesars Arena on March 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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The 2026 NBA offseason looks to be an interesting one for the Detroit Pistons, who are fresh off a 60-win regular season. The Pistons have had one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent history, going from the hands-down worst team in basketball to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. 

Detroit’s future is centered around none other than rising superstar point guard Cade Cunningham, who is coming off an MVP-caliber season and one of the best individual campaigns in franchise history. For Cunningham to continue turning the tide in Detroit and ascending individually, the Pistons will need to land their 24-year-old point guard some help. 


Could Pistons Feature Another All-Star Around Cade Cunningham?

Detroit Pistons v Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons v Chicago Bulls

GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 22: Jalen Duren #0 and Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons high five against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on October 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

While Cunningham is largely responsible for transcending the Pistons’ fortunes, Jalen Duren, the rising 22-year-old big man, is also to thank for the success. But for Detroit to rise into legitimate title contender status, it may need to feature another star. 

According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Pistons have their eyes on Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers. Leonard, a seven-time All-Star could be an addition that would take Detroit over the hump.

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“Now, if a team approached them with a massive trade offer for the seven-time All-Star, they would have to at least consider the idea of taking a step back and moving on from Leonard, especially since he turns 35 years old on Monday,” Siegel reported. “Multiple teams, including the Warriors, Timberwolves, and Pistons, have contacted the Clippers both at the trade deadline and this offseason to inquire about Leonard’s availability. At no point did Los Angeles show any interest in trading him, sources said.”

While the Clippers have not formally made Leonard available, Siegel reports there is a chance the franchise would look to move the two-time Finals MVP if they receive a worthy package. 

Does Detroit have enough in its asset bank to draw up a strong trade package for Leonard? Maybe. Nonetheless, it is a good sign the Pistons are searching for another big fish to slot alongside Cunningham.


Detroit Should Strong Consider a Big Trade; is Leonard Enough to Make a Contender? 

Los Angeles Clippers v Dallas MavericksLos Angeles Clippers v Dallas Mavericks

GettyDALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Los Angeles Clippers celebrates with a teammate during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 21, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.

Last season, the Pistons blew away expectations. Cunningham arrived as a blossoming superstar, Duren announced himself as a franchise cornerstone and Detroit showed it may just be one major piece away from claiming the Eastern Conference mantle. 

Perhaps making an offseason splash is something Pistons president Trajan Langdon needs to strongly consider. 

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In some ways, Cunningham’s situation mirrors Anthony Edwards’ in Minnesota. Both young, rising superstars on teams that can make noise in the playoffs. The Timberwolves realized they didn’t have enough to compete, so they landed LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets. 

Maybe something similar needs to happen in Detroit. Perhaps star guard or wing next to Cunningham is what it will take to elevate the Pistons from a regular season force to a playoff powerhouse.

Landing Leonard from the Clippers might raise the Pistons to that level. Although he’s 35 years old, Leonard is coming off an All-NBA season after registering a career high 27.6 points per game and doing it on an uber-efficient 51.5% shooting from the floor. 

Leonard is a proven winner and multi-time champion. He may be the superstar (and veteran) Detroit needs to put itself on equal footing with the NBA champion New York Knicks.

 

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Adel Ahmad Adel is a writer with over five years of experience covering the NBA. His work has appeared on various media platforms, both national and local. More about Adel Ahmad



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Milwaukee, WI

Missed opportunities haunt Crew as Brewers falls to Cubs in extras 4-3

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Missed opportunities haunt Crew as Brewers falls to Cubs in extras 4-3


A game and a series that started so promising, ended up in an emotional loss for the Milwaukee Brewers as they fall to their rivals, the Chicago Cubs, 4-3 in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon.

Brandon Woodruff was the big positive. In his second start since coming back from the IL, Woodruff shoved once again, allowing just one hit over 5.2 scoreless innings. He was efficient and filled up the strike zone as he usually does. Woodruff ended the day with six strikeouts on his line and protecting a one-run lead.

That one run lead was provided by Gary Sanchez, who took a 1-1 fastball from lefty Ryan Rolison and tattooed it into the second deck in left field. It was Sanchez’s eighth home run of the season.

However, that was all the Brewers offense could really muster off Rolison and then old friend Bryse Wilson, who shut down the Crew’s offense over his 4.1 IP.

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The Brewers did have a number of opportunities, though. Runners at the corners in the 3rd with one out, both Chourio and Turang strike out. In the 4th, Andrew Vaughn gets a leadoff triple, no one can even muster a sac fly to bring him home. Runners on first in the 6th, 7th, and 8th, no advancement. In the 9th, the Brewers had runners on 1st and 2nd with one out, a base hit can walk it off, and both Cooper Pratt and Joey Ortiz strike out.

“I think sometimes guy maybe try to do too much, and that’s where we try to preach ‘take what the game gives you and go back to taking pitches and handing it to the next guy’” offense and strategy coordinator Jason Lane said.

Meanwhile the Crew used up their top bullpen arms in those earlier leverage innings. Aaron Ashby spiked a curveball with a runner on 3rd to allow the Cubs to tie the game in the 7th. But then Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill got the jobs done in the 8th and 9th. But with few leverage arms left, the Brewers turned to Joel Kuhnel in the 10th.

Kuhnel was able to get the first two batters out at the bottom of the Cubs order. Then he just lost the strike zone. They intentionally walked Pete Crow-Armstrong, then Kuhnel hits Bregman, then walks Michael Busch to bring in a run. Then Seiya Suzuki rips a single to left to score two more and put the Cubs up 4-1.

The Brewers put together some big chances in the 10th. Christian Yelich singled home Ortiz, then Chourio walked and Turang singled, loading the bases for pinch-hitter Garrett Mitchell. Mitchell worked a walk and the Brewers were within a run, down 4-3, with the bases loaded and nobody out.

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That’s exactly when it all went sideways. Jake Bauers, after seeing Mitchell get walked, swung at the first pitch and hit a shallow pop fly into left field that was nowhere near deep enough to score a run. Then Gary Sanchez, who homered in the 2nd, grounded into a tailor-made 5-4-3 double play to end the game.

Milwaukee was 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base. Woodruff pitched well enough to win. The bullpen did well enough to win through nine innings. The offense just couldn’t give them enough.

The Brewers missed way too many opportunities to put this game away when they should have and that leaves them on the short end of this series where they had their top three arms in the rotation going. The lead over the Cubs sits at 5.5 games now and the Brewers will look to turn the page to the Reds series.



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Minneapolis, MN

1 dead, 8 hurt in Minneapolis amid string of weekend shootings

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1 dead, 8 hurt in Minneapolis amid string of weekend shootings


One person is dead and eight others are hurt in a string of weekend shootings across Minneapolis.

Police say the first shooting occurred Friday around 5 p.m. near North Humboldt and 26th avenues. A man was outside of his home when shots rang out, leaving him with multiple gunshot wounds.

Around 9:35 p.m. Friday, two men were shot outside in the area of north Lowry and Logan avenues. 

Just after 12:30 a.m. Saturday, a man was found shot in an alley near Mortimer’s Bar and Restaurant off South Lyndale and Franklin avenues. He told police he was outside walking when he was hit.

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Just before 12:50 a.m. Saturday, police say a man outside was shot near North Penn Avenue, just north of Highway 55, by someone driving by.

Around 1:50 a.m. Saturday, a man suffering from gunshot wounds showed up at Hennepin Healthcare, with police later determining he was shot in the area of North Lyndale and 45th avenues.

Police comb the scene of the shooting outside a business off Northeast Lowry Avenue and Fourth Street Northeast on June 28, 2026.

WCCO

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Just after 3:30 a.m. Saturday, a man showed up to Children’s Minneapolis hospital with a gunshot wound he said occurred when he was asleep inside his vehicle.

On Sunday around 1 a.m., a man was found laying on the ground near Bloomington Avenue and East 24th Street. He was brought to Hennepin Healthcare where he later died. Police say investigators “located evidence of gunfire, including a firearm recovered next to the man who died.”

On Sunday just before 1:30 a.m., a 15-year-old girl was shot in the area of Hennepin and Laurel avenues in downtown. Two boys, ages 14 and 15, were soon arrested in connection to the shooting.

And just before 1:50 a.m. Sunday, a man was found shot inside a business off Northeast Lowry Avenue and Fourth Street Northeast. Investigators believe the shooting began as an altercation in the business’s parking lot.

With the exception of the shooting of the 15-year-old girl, police say no arrests have been made in any of the cases. All surviving victims have injuries described by police as non-life threatening.

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Anyone with information on any of these shootings can submit an anonymous tip online to Crime Stoppers, or call 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).



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