The Latest Breaking News from Cook County

In its election Tuesday of Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson as its 57th mayor, Chicago chose an inspiring orator. This will be a City Hall first for most Chicagoans.

CHICAGO — After a lengthy and highly charged election season, Chicago voters have gone to the polls to choose between Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas for mayor.

The county lost an estimated 68,000 people. Only Los Angeles County lost more.

David Wright had been convicted of killing two neighborhood friends, Tyrone Rockett and Robert Smith, in 1994. His confession was thrown out on appeal.

Alex Nitchoff is charged with conspiring to bribe a key employee handling commercial properties with home improvement goods and services, jewelry, meals and sports tickets.

The attempts to hobble the Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission, which has uncovered case after case of credible allegations of torture and has hundreds of cases still to investigate, should stop.

CHICAGO — A Cook County judge last year moved cases involving allegations of torture by a former Chicago police detective to Will County, because the detective was married to another sitting Cook County judge.

During their first televised debate, Brandon Johnson was the undisputed aggressor. In Round Two, Paul Vallas took the gloves off. Round Three was pretty much a draw.

CHICAGO — A new report released by a watchdog group said some youths felt “fear,” “hopelessness,” and “like dogs” when physical restraint was used at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center as the group called for the detention center and an alternative high school to be shut down.