Chicago man gets 35 years for role in Mumbai terror attack

David Coleman Headley, the terrorist who played a key planning role in the Mumbai massacre that killed more than 160 people in 2008, was sentenced today in Chicago’s federal court  to 35 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber could have imposed a life sentence but chose the sentence recommended by federal prosecutors who wanted Headley rewarded for his extensive cooperation in spite of his help in the deadly attacks in India.

Before imposing the 35-year prison term, the judge said he wanted to make sure Headley, 52, is "never in a position again to commit a terrorist attack."

Leinenweber was skeptical of a letter that Headley recently wrote to him. "I don't have any faith in Mr. Headley when he says he's a changed person," the judge said.

Headley should be "under lock and key for the rest of his life," Leinenweber said.

Earlier, a victim of the terror attack told the judge how surprised she was by the youth of the terrorists who stormed into a hotel’s first-floor cafe while she was eating there.

Linda Ragsdale, a Nashville woman who was shot in the back during the 2008 rampage, recalled wondering how a man as young as her son could kill innocent people.  Holding back tears, Ragsdale described a barrage of bullets so intense that "waves of heat clouded" her vision.

"I know what a bullet could do to every part of the human body," Ragsdale said. "I know the sound of life leaving a 13-year-old child. These are things I never needed to know, never needed to experience."

Ragsdale also read from a statement written by another survivor of the shooting at the Oberoi Hotel who said it would be an "appalling dishonor" if Headley was sentenced to the 30 to 35 years in prison recommended by federal prosecutors.

But former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, making a surprise appearance at the sentencing hearing, told Leinenweber he should consider the “unusual nature” of Headley’s cooperation even though Headley was involved in a “very, very heinous crime.”

On the night of his arrest at O’Hare International Airport, Headley “freely admitted” his role in the Mumbai massacre within half an hour of being given his Miranda rights, Fitzgerald said.

Headley, 52,  appearing amid heightened security in Leinenweber’s courtroom, faced up to life in prison. He pleaded guilty to scouting out sites to be targeted in the terrorist attack that killed more than 160 people – including six Americans -- in India’s largest city. He also admitted playing a similar role in an aborted plot to storm a Danish newspaper and behead staffers in retaliation for printing a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad.

Federal prosecutors have cited Headley’s extraordinary cooperation for seeking a sentence of 30 to 35 years in prison.

Headley, who was arrested at O'Hare as he prepared to fly overseas, detailed the inner-workings of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistani terror organization that planned the Mumbai attacks. His information led to charges against seven terrorist figures, including his childhood friend from a Pakistani school, Tahawwur Rana, a former Chicago businessman.

Headley was the key witness at the trial of Rana, who was convicted of aiding the Denmark plot and providing support to Lashkar.  Judge Leinenweber sentenced him  last week to 14 years in prison, about half what prosecutors sought.

Headley, an American citizen of Pakistani descent, came to the United States at age 17 and was twice convicted of drug smuggling in the late 1980s. He later agreed to work as an informant for the DEA. Headley also revealed during testimony  at Rana’s trial that there was an overlap between his work for the DEA and his early days with Lashkar.

Headley became involved with Lashkar, a radical group that opposes Indian rule in divided Kashmir, around 2000, attending training camps between 2002 and 2005. He had moved to Chicago by 2009 and reconnected with Rana.

Though embraced by Rana’s family, Headley lived a very different life that included multiple wives and apparently indoctrinating even his children with his ideologies. His 5-year-old son once dropped to the ground in a Chicago park and pretended to fire a weapon after a soccer coach yelled "shoot, shoot!" to him during a game, Headley testified at Rana’s trial.

The charges against Headley and Rana likely represented the most significant terrorism case brought during Fitzgerald’s nearly 11 years as Chicago’s chief federal prosecutor.

Bomb-sniffing dogs checked the coats and bags of all the spectators entering Leinenweber’s courtroom today.  At one point, more than 100 people had lined up to attend the sentencing.

asweeney@tribune.com

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Pearl Jam announces July concert at Wrigley Field

The Buzz; Pearl Jam reunion, Beyonce lip synched, Shakira has baby, Music Man review

Tribune staff report

9:47 a.m. CST, January 23, 2013

Pearl Jam will be playing at Wrigley Field Friday, July 19, the band confirmed this morning.

The band tweeted out, "IT'S OFFICIAL: Pearl Jam will be playing at Wrigley Field. Will you be there?" The show will be called “An Evening With Pearl Jam," with no opening act.

Tickets will go on sale Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. central, according to concert promoter Live Nation. Tickets will be available at www.tickets.com or by calling 1-800-THE-CUBS. Tickets will not be available at the Wrigley Field Box Office.

Pearl Jam and the Cubs haven't been very subtle about the possibility of the iconic band playing a concert at Wrigley Field in 2013.

Tuesday afternoon, both the Cubs and Pearl Jam Tweeted pictures of the field at Wrigley, with a full concert setup. The band's Tweet, featuring the "stay tuned" hashtag, also included a "looking good" reference to the Wrigley image.

The Cubs also played a role in the suspense, sending out a Tweet that included "Ten," and a repeat of the "stay tuned" hashtag. There was also a link to a photo of a Ron Santo Cubs jersey (No. 10), the parallel being that “Ten” is also the title of Pearl Jam’s first album.

The band also announced a July 16 date in London, Ontario.

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Police rescue dog from Lake Michigan ice

CAPTIONS

Ice-bound dog
A dog is stranded at Jackson Park Harbor this morning. Marine Unit officers were called to the 6700 block of South Lake Shore Drive to attempt to rescue it. (Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune /January 22, 2013)

By Carlos Sadovi




Tribune reporter

11:38 a.m. CST, January 22, 2013

After several hours of trying, Chicago police rescued a dog from the ice at Jackson Park Harbor this morning, officials said.

Marine Unit officers were called to the 6700 block of South Lake Shore Drive at about 7:30 a.m. after someone spotted the black dog in the middle of the frozen harbor, police said.

The dog was rescued at about 10:30 a.m. after animal control officers were called to the scene and tranquilized the dog. Police officers then went onto the ice and retrieved the animal, police said.

Officers had tethered themselves and put on cold weather gear as they tried to reach the dog, police said. At one point, the dog appeared to make it to shore, only to dart back onto the ice, police said.

Witnesses called police when they couldn't reach the animal, officials said.

chicagobreaking@tribune.com

Twitter: @ChicagoBreaking

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Obama calls for national unity

Singers, musicians, vendors and a veteran parade planner tune up on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, for President Obama's Monday inauguration. (Chris Walker, Chicago Tribune)

President Barack Obama urged Americans on Monday to reject political "absolutism" and partisan rancor as he kicked off his second term with a call for national unity, setting a pragmatic tone for the daunting challenges he faces over the next four years.

Obama's ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol was filled with traditional pomp and pageantry, but it was a scaled-back inauguration compared to the historic start of his presidency in 2009 when he swept into office on a mantle of hope and change as America's first black president

With second-term expectations tempered by lingering economic weakness and the political realities of a divided Washington, Obama acknowledged the difficult road ahead even as he sought to build momentum from his decisive November re-election victory.

"We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate," Obama said as he stood in the wintry cold atop a giant makeshift platform on the Capitol steps overlooking the National Mall.

Looking out on a sea of flags, he spoke to a crowd of up to 700,000 people, less than half the record 1.8 million who assembled four years ago.

Obama arrived at his second inauguration on solid footing, with his poll numbers up, Republicans on the defensive and his first-term record boasting accomplishments such as a U.S. healthcare overhaul, ending the war in Iraq and the killing of Osama bin Laden.

But battles are looming over budgets, gun control and immigration, with Republicans ready to oppose him at almost every turn and Obama still seemingly at a loss over how to engage them in deal-making.

A flag-waving, cheering crowd of hundreds of thousands applauded as Vice President Joe Biden took his oath from Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, then a few minutes later, when Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., administered the oath to the President.

Four years ago, Obama took office with the country in the midst of two wars and the worst economic crisis in more than half a century. His second inauguration arrives with one war over, the other winding down and the economy recovering, but with Washington dominated by a bitter political stalemate that reflects a deep partisan divide in the nation.

The inaugural ceremonies, themselves, highlighted the idea of bipartisanship and continuity of American democracy. Two of Obama’s predecessors, Democrats Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, were among the dignitaries gathered at the Capitol’s West Front.

So, too, were many of the congressional Republicans who have battled Obama through the past four years. The country’s two living former Republican presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush were not present; the elder Bush recently was recently released from a  hospital in Houston after a bout with bronchitis.

Chicagoans in D.C., 'vested in his success'

Spencer Gould and his wife, Ardenia, of Chicago, arrived at the Capitol early enough to get seats on the front row of their section, directly center of where the president will take the oath of office.

For about a minute, Gould said, he considered staying at home in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood, but quickly realized that he could be no place else but here.

"We have worked on all of his campaigns," said Gould, 38. "We go back to when people couldn’t pronounce his name. It has been such a great experience to watch him go from someone no one knew to a world leader."

Four years ago, he said, he wanted to be part of the historical moment. This time, he came to show his support.

His wife, Ardenia, 37, said this time seems more subdued, compared to the electrifying experience of 2008.

"I feel vested in his success," said Ardenia Gould, who started out working on his senate campaign.

In his next term, she said, she would like to see the president use his power to push his policies through.

"I want to see him flex his political muscle and move this country in the direction it needs to go, regardless of what happens on the other side of the aisle." she said. "Now is the time to play hard ball."

She said she supports the president’s push for gun control and she does not want him to back down from that.

"Our kids are under siege, so I hope he can do something about gun control," she said. "That and keeping us from falling off the fiscal cliff are my two biggest concerns."

Her husband said he would like to see the president address trade issues so that more America-made products are available to consumers.

"I want to support our economy but it’s very hard to find products made in America," he said. "I’d love to see more of those on the shelves."

First family's fashion for the day

First lady Michelle Obama chose a navy-colored coat and dress by designer Thom Browne on a day when she’ll be the most-watched woman on the planet.

The fabric for the ensemble was based on the style of a man’s silk tie, an aide said.
Known for mixing and matching haute couture and off-the-rack pieces, Obama chose a necklace from Cathy Waterman, a cardigan by Reed Krakoff and a belt and shoes from J.Crew.

Daughter Malia, 14, picked out her clothing from J.Crew. Sasha, 11, went more upscale with a Kate Spade coat and dress.

After the inauguration, the first lady, who is sporting new hairstyle featuring bangs, plans to give her outfit to the National Archives, the aide said.

Former Obama pastor in town

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the president's former Chicago pastor whose sermons touched off a firestorm in the 2008 political campaign, urged today that Barack Obama heed the words of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and transform the country into the world's "No. 1 purveyor of peace."

Wright, in the capital today but skipping the inauguration, recalled a speech by King during the Vietnam war, when the civil rights leader denounced the U.S. as "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world."

Obama tweet: 'Let's go'

Obama, seeking to build on momentum from his decisive re-election on November 6, will lay out a vision for the next four years in his inauguration speech while trumpeting several notable first-term achievements, including a healthcare overhaul, ending the war in Iraq and the killing of Osama bin Laden.

"We have a chance to finish what we started. Our work begins today. Let's go," Obama said in a pre-inauguration message on Twitter.

The pageantry of his swearing-in is purely ceremonial, with Obama having already taken the oath of office Sunday in a low-key event held in the White House. Obama, sworn in by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., was  joined by the First Family for the official start to his second term in office.

Obama is expected to avoid a partisan tone in his inaugural speech, though that by no means clears the air in Washington, with battles over gun control, budget cuts, immigration and more waiting for the president after Monday’s celebration.

The event will include performances from Kelly Clarkson, James Taylor and a rendition of the national anthem from Beyonce. Following the swearing-in, the long standing traditional inaugural parade will commence.

And capping off the day, two official inaugural balls will be held for members of the military and their families, along with those who were quick enough to purchase limited general admission tickets.
Watch the stream above to follow the inauguration live, or keep up with the latest updates from the stage and from the crowds on Politics Now.

Tribune reporters Dahleen Glanton, Katherine Skiba, Reuters and the Los Angeles Times contributed.

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787 Dreamliner: NTSB rules out one cause in Boston incident

TOKYO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board on Sunday ruled out excess voltage as the cause of a battery fire last month on a Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner jet operated by Japan Airlines Co (JAL) and widened its investigation to include the Arizona-based manufacturer of the battery's charger.

Last week, governments across the world grounded the Dreamliner while Boeing halted deliveries after a problem with a lithium-ion battery on a second 787 plane, flown by All Nippon Airways Co (ANA), forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in western Japan.

"Examination of the flight recorder data from the JAL B-787 airplane indicates that the APU (auxiliary power unit) battery did not exceed its designed voltage of 32 volts," the NTSB said in a statement forwarded by a Boeing Japan representative.

On Friday, a Japanese safety official told reporters that excessive electricity may have overheated the battery in the ANA-owned Dreamliner that was forced to make the emergency landing at Japan's Takamatsu airport last week.

U.S. investigators have examined the lithium-ion battery that powered the APU, where the battery fire started in the JAL plane, as well as several other components removed from the airplane, including wire bundles and battery management circuit boards, the NTSB statement said.

On Tuesday, the NTSB said U.S. investigators will convene in Arizona to test and examine the charger for the battery, and download non-volatile memory from the APU controller, while other components have been sent for download or examination to Boeing's Seattle facility and manufacturer facilities in Japan.

Securaplane Technologies Inc, a unit of Britain's Meggitt Plc, on Sunday confirmed that it makes the charger for lithium-ion batteries used on the 787, and said it will fully support the U.S. investigation.

Shubhayu Chakraborty, president of Securaplane, declined to comment on the NTSB's planned visit, but said his company would support the investigation.

"At this time we are not really involved in the investigation. If and when we get involved, we will support it fully," he told Reuters.

Securaplane is making a lithium-ion battery system for the KC-390 military transport plane being built by Brazil's Embraer, which is due to have its first plane in 2014.

The company is also developing backup batteries for the Embraer 450/500 business jet and will make the lithium battery for the next-generation Eurocopter EC-135 helicopter being developed by EADS, according to the company's website.

Japan's GS Yuasa Corp makes lithium-ion batteries for the Dreamliner, while France's Thales produces the control systems for the battery.

In its statement, the NTSB said French authorities were also participating in the investigation.

Japan Transport Safety Board said it was aware of the NTSB report and would consider the U.S. statement in its probe.

The NTSB said the Japanese agency was participating in its investigation of the Boston incident, while NTSB officials were helping the agency with its investigation of the emergency landing in Japan. Both investigations were ongoing.

"There's nothing more I can add at this point as we still haven't started our investigation into the battery here," JTSB inspector Hideyo Kosugi told Reuters.

"The NTSB's investigation started earlier. We still haven't taken X-rays or CT-scans of the battery. In our case, both the battery and the surrounding systems are still stored in (Tokyo's) Haneda (Airport) as the third party organization where the Japanese investigation would take place still has not been chosen."

Boeing said on Friday it would continue building the carbon-composite 787, but put deliveries on hold until the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approves and implements a plan to ensure the safety of potentially flammable lithium-ion batteries.

In Washington, the top U.S. transportation official Ray LaHood said the 787, which has a list price of $207 million, would not fly until regulators were "1,000 percent sure" it was safe.

Japan is the biggest market so far for the 787, with ANA and JAL operating 24 of the 290-seat wide-bodied planes. Boeing has orders for almost 850 of the planes.

(Additional reporting by Kentaro Sugiyama, Yoshiyuki Osada and Yuka Obayashi in Japan and Andrea Shalal-Esa in Washington; Editing by Daniel Magnowski and Maureen Bavdek)

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2 shot to death in separate attacks on South, Northwest sides

About 9:15 p.m., a man was shot to death inside a Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen, 5500 W. North Ave. (January 19, 2013)

Two young men were shot to death during another night of gun violence in Chicago Friday: One inside a well-lit restaurant along a West Side thoroughfare, the other in a dark gangway on a South Side block populated by vacant brick buildings.

The Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen at 5500 W. North Ave. where Marshall Fields-Hall died is fortified: a chain link fence with barbed and razor wire encircles part of the roof near cooling units and thick glass separates the dining area from the cash registers. Food and money exchange hands through small openings at the counter.

Fields-Hall's killer was on foot when he fired four shots into the restaurant from the outside about 9:15 p.m., police said, close enough to the glass window that detectives had to step over shell casings and red tape when they opened the door to get inside. The holes in the glass, spiderwebbed by the impact, were all within a couple inches of each other, and there were bits of glass on a small ledge inside.

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Reggie Stiff was working in the back of the restaurant preparing an order when the shooting began. The pops didn't sound like gunfire, he said, but more like "a hammer hitting a table real hard."

He came out from the back and the workers up front were "just looking dazed," he said.

Fields-Hall, 21, who lived nearby on the 1500 block of North Luna Avenue, was unresponsive on the scene when police found him but was taken to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, police said. He was pronounced dead there at 9:55 p.m.

Across the street, separated by three police cars and crime scene tape stretched by strong wind, Fannie White stood with her two great grandchildren, who were playing on a small concrete stoop in front of a boarded-up sandwich shop, running in circles around a brick pillar on the corner of a patio.

"I adopted him as my grandson," Fannie White said. "It's really hard."

White said she wasn't sure how she was going to explain the death to the children, who knew Fields-Hall.

Trese Butler stood next to White and the children, trying to understand what happened after someone had called her to say her friend was shot and that people were talking about it on Facebook.

"He just made 21. We're all trying to piece this together," said Butler, who walked to the scene from her home about a block away. "To me, he's still a baby."

After a couple minutes, the four left together, westbound on North Avenue. The four-lane road with parking on both sides is dotted with liquor stores, sandwich shops and blue-light police department cameras.

"This is the first Friday ever ain't nobody outside," Butler said before she left, adding that the block was usually bustling. "It's very rare. Very rare."

Across town, about the same time Fields-Hall was being taken to the hospital, police found 19-year-old Jovantay Alexander lying dead on his back between two brick buildings in the Back of the Yards neighborhood with a gunshot wound to the head.

Police had responded to a shots fired call and found Alexander where he had been shot. Police said nobody in the neighborhood, along the 5400 block of South Laflin Street, knew the man, who authorities said lived in the 1800 block of East 72^nd Street in the South Shore neighborhood. It doesn't appear that he affiliated with a gang.

A handful of detectives stood over Alexander with large flashlights, examining the rest of his body for wounds and other evidence. A single officer blocked northbound traffic on the one-way street, north of an alley that runs parallel to Garfield Boulevard.

Fields-Hall was the 28^th person killed in Chicago this year. Alexander was the 29^th. They were among at least eleven people shot Friday afternoon into Saturday morning across the city.

In the other shootings:

• A 35-year-old man told police he "heard shots and felt pain" when someone shot him just before 4 a.m. Saturday morning in the 1600 block of North Sawyer Avenue, police said. The man, who police said was a gang member, was taken from the Logan Square crime scene to Stroger hospital in stable condition with a gunshot wound to the arm, police said.

The victim had been paroled in 2011 after having served about 18 years in prison on first degree murder charges filed in 1993, when he was 16, according to state records. Police said he is a gang member who was shot at by the passenger in a white vehicle that approached him from the south as he tried to get into his car.

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Autopsy today for lottery winner poisoned by cyanide

The body of poisoned lottery winner Urooj Khan is in the hands of the Cook County medical examiner in hopes to learn more about how he died.

Officials will conduct an autopsy this morning on the body of a West Rogers Park man who was exhumed from Rosehill Cemetery on Chicago's North Side after dying of cyanide poisoning last summer after winning a million-dollar lottery.

A hearse was being opened in front of a green tent set up at the grave site just north of Peterson Avenue and Urooj Khan's body was loaded into it. An evidence technician snapped a photo of it before the hearse's rear doors were closed up and the vehicle began driving away across the grass on the cemetery, escorted by a Chicago police evidence technician squad car and several other marked and unmarked police vehicles. They exited west onto Peterson Avenue.

The whole exhumation process lasted about two hours.

Khan's body was not frozen, officials said, and his autopsy will be today. A medical examiner's office spokeswoman, Mary Paleologos, said Khan's body will be buried again on Monday.

Dr. Marta Helenowski, the forensic pathologist who originally handled Khan's case, will be performing the autopsy this morning at the medical examiner's office, 2121 W. Harrison St., Paleologos said in a telephone interview.

The pathologist is going to be taking samples of Khan's lungs, liver and spleen for further testing. She will also be looking at the contents of Khan's stomach and intestines and taking bone, nail and hair samples, all for further examination, according Paleologos.

"Depending on the condition of the body and the quality of the samples, (the medical examiner's office) will hopefully be able to determine how the cyanide entered his body," Paleologos said.

Chief Medical Examiner Stephen J. Cina will hold a 2:30 p.m. news conference about the autopsy. He will likely only be able to discuss whether Khan's body is in good condition and if the samples taken from it are good quality.

It'll be two or three weeks before the medical examiner's office knows how the cyanide got into Khan's system. The office will also have to wait for independent lab test results.

Helenowski and a few medical examiner's office personnel were on hand for the exhumation. An imam also was present to say prayers at the grave site as the exhumation went on.

Several helicopters hovered over Rosehill Cemetery this morning and a backhoe and three or four pickup trucks were stationed at the grave site in the middle of the cemetery's northern section, where a beam of light could be seen shining over Khan's headstone. The backhoe soon began its work digging into the ground at the grave site. In addition to the backhoe, one or two workers were seen helping dig up the body with shovels.

A large tent was set up at the site where some two dozen police officers were gathered. Among the officers are two Chicago police evidence technicians, Paleologos said. One was taking still photos of the exhumation, while the other was shooting video.

An unmarked police car and two blue barricades blocked off the Peterson Avenue gate to Rosehill, the only entrance and exit in the northern section of the cemetery.

Four TV trucks sat parked along the fence about 100 yards west of the grave site along Oakley Avenue, the designated staging area for the media. A group of about a dozen photographers, a videographer and TV reporters stood along the Peterson Avenue fence, next to where traffic moved along the busy thoroughfare like any normal morning rush hour.

A few passersby gazed at the police activity at the grave site from Oakley Avenue. One, curious about large presence inside the cemetery, was surprised to learned from a Tribune reporter that it was Khan's body being dug up. Another thought someone was having a funeral.

The exhumation of Khan's remains – scheduled to begin at about 7 a.m. – will come about six months after he was buried at Rosehill. In court papers last week, Cina said it was important to exhume the remains "as expeditiously as possible" since Khan's body was not embalmed.

In court papers, Cina said it was necessary to perform a full autopsy to "further confirm the results of the blood analysis as well as to rule out any other natural causes that might have contributed to or caused Mr. Khan's death."

The exhumation comes after the Tribune broke the story on Jan. 7 about Khan's mysterious death, sparking international media interest in the case.

The medical examiner's office initially ruled Khan's July 20 death was from hardening of the arteries when there were no signs of trauma on the body and a preliminary blood test didn't raise any questions. But the investigation was reopened about a week later after a relative suggested to authorities that Khan's death "may have been the result of poisoning," prosecutors said in a court filing seeking the exhumation.

The medical examiner's office contacted Chicago police Sept. 11 after tests showed cyanide in Khan's blood. By late November, more comprehensive toxicological tests showed lethal levels of the toxic chemical and the medical examiner's office declared his death a homicide.

Khan's widow, Shabana Ansari, who has hired a criminal-defense lawyer, told the Tribune last week that she had been questioned for more than four hours by detectives and had fully cooperated.  She said the detectives had asked her about ingredients she used to prepare his last meal of lamb curry, shared by Ansari, her father-in-law Fareedun Ansari and Khan's daughter from a previous marriage, Jasmeen, 17.

While a motive has not been determined, police have not ruled out that Khan was killed because of his lottery win, a law enforcement source has told the Tribune. He died before he could collect the winnings – a lump-sum payment of about $425,000 after taxes.

According to court records obtained by the Tribune, Khan's brother has squabbled with Shabana Ansari over the lottery winnings in probate court. The brother, ImTiaz Khan, raised concern that since Khan left no will, Jasmeen Khan would not get "her fair share" of her father's estate.

Khan and Ansari did not have children together. Since her father's death, Jasmeen Khan has been living with Khan's siblings.

An attorney for Ansari in the probate case said the money was all accounted for and the estate was in the process of being divided up by the court. Under state law, the estate typically would be split evenly between the spouse and Khan's only child, he said.

In addition, almost two years ago, the Internal Revenue Service placed liens on Khan's residence on West Pratt Boulevard in an effort to collect more than $120,000 in back taxes from his father-in-law,  Fareedun Ansari, who still lives at the home with his daughter.

Fareedun and Shabana Ansari have denied involvement in Khan's death.

jgorner@tribune.com

Twitter: @ChicagoBreaking

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Trestman: 'Passion' and 'urgency' to win with Bears

Beginning a new era the Chicago Bears hope will push the organization into a different offensive realm, Marc Trestman was introduced Thursday morning at Halas Hall as the 14th coach in franchise history.

General manager Phil Emery, in explaining his decision to fire former coach Lovie Smith more than two weeks ago, cited long-running offensive efficiencies for an organization that has typically looked to the defensive side of the ball for its highest leader.

Emery on Thursday described the interview process that led to Trestman this way: "It was an interesting road ... and a road well-traveled." He confirmed that Trestman, Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell were the three finalists, with Bevell the first to be eliminated.

As to why he choose Trestman over Arians, Emery first cited adaptability, the fact that Trestman has been with numerous NFL teams as an assistant and also coached in the unfamiliar Canadian Football League and excelled at each stop.

"He’s had personal ups and downs, but in the end, where is he? He’s a champion and now he’s the head coach of the Chicago Bears," Emery said. "Do not underestimate Mark Trestman as a cmpetitor. He's as tough-minded as anybody I've been around. That's the kind of guy I want to be in a room with."

Trestman followed Emery to the podium and said the Bears were "clearly a franchise that has the highest expectations for its team."

"I do feel the passion, I do feel the urgency, and boy, do I feel the commitment to win," Trestman said.

Trestman said his first priority would be assembling a staff and said he had the final say. He said some of his assistants from the CFL's Montreal Alouettes could be joining him.

"We've got to put together a staff of high character," he said. "Men who are experts in the science of football."

Trestman emphasized the importance of the quarterback position and also the line that protects him.

"I'm going to be responsible for keeping Jay (Cutler) and our quarterbacks safe in the pocket," he said.

As for his role, Trestman said, "I get to be the GPS system of the team. That's the fun part."

Asked about Cutler, Trestman said he spoke with the quarterback recently over lunch and, "I can't wait to get my hands on him, and work with him. I think he's ready."

"This guy loves football. He wants to be great. Hopefully we can give him some protection and some direction."

Trestman said he will continue to call the offensive plays: "I love calling plays. As long as Phil lets me, I get to do that. If it's in the best interests of the team, that's what I will start out doing."

Trestman termed his expected relationship with Cutler this way: "The No. 1 marriage in all of sports is the marriage between a quarterback and his coach." He said the quarterback "is going to have the keys to the car."

Asked about the pass/run balance on offense, Trestman said, "The only objective is to score touchdowns."

On defense, Trestman said it all starts with pressuring the opponent's quarterback.

"We've got to hurry 'em, hit 'em and knock 'em down,'' he said.

Asked about Rod Marinelli, Trestman said the veteran defensive coordinator wouldn't be staying.

"I had a chance to talk to Rod," Trestman said. "He's made up his mind I believe to move on."

Trestman said he and Emery would discuss the future defensive leadership.

Asked about Brian Urlacher, Trestman lavished praise on the veteran linebacker but stopped short of saying he definitely will be part of the defense going forward.

"I recognize what he's meant to this locker room," Trestman said.

Trestman said he would be open to playing a 3-4 defense, but that it would depend on his team's personnel and that he was aware of the success the Bears have enjoyed with the 4-3.

As for goals, Trestman said, "Our goal will be to hold up a trophy."

Under Smith, Dick Jauron and Dave Wannstedt, the three coaches that followed Mike Ditka, the Bears rarely have produced consistent offensive efforts. All three were defensive coordinators before coming to the club. While the Bears were stout defensively throughout Smith’s nine seasons, they were almost always deficient on offense.

With Trestman in place, the Bears will work to revamp the offense on the fly and take advantage of what remains a productive defense with aging core players. Trestman’s long history as a quarterback guru and innovative offensive mind pushed him to the top of a thorough coaching search by Emery.

The challenge for Trestman will be bringing out the best in Cutler, whom the Bears traded for by mortgaging the future in 2009. The belief then was the young, Pro Bowl gunslinger was the missing piece. He’s played in two playoff games since, winning one. Now, Cutler will be 30 in April and is entering the final year of his contract. His future must be determined in the coming months and Emery made the handling of Cutler a key component of the interview process.

Trestman did more than work with quarterbacks during a five-year stint as the head coach of the Alouettes. His team reached the playoffs in five consecutive seasons, winning two Grey Cup championships. Previously, he spent 17 seasons working as an assistant in the NFL for eight different organizations. He last worked for the Dolphins in 2004 under Wannstedt. Now, Trestman has the opportunity to operate his own club in the NFL, fulfilling a lifelong goal of the 57-year-old, who has a law degree.

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Bears name Trestman next head coach

Chicago Tribune sports reporter Dan Pompei on the potential success Marc Trestman could have as head coach of the Bears. (Posted on: Jan. 16, 2013.)

The Bears took a swing for the fences by choosing Marc Trestman to be the 14th head coach in team history, an NFL source told the Tribune early Wednesday.

The Bears made it official with a news release shortly after 4 a.m. Trestman will be introduced Thursday at a 10 a.m. news conference.

Trestman is a somewhat unconventional choice, having been out of the NFL for eight years. But he also is a proven winner, having won back-to-back Grey Cup championships as coach of the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. Trestman has a 64-34 record in five years as a head coach.

In addition to having head coaching experience, Trestman is a quarterback guru who has spent most of his professional life coaching passers. Clearly, he is being brought to the Bears to get the most out of Jay Cutler and whoever else lines up under center during his tenure.

Trestman, 57, was Bernie Kosar’s quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami in 1983, when the Hurricanes won the national championship. In the NFL, Kosar, Steve Young, Scott Mitchell, Jake Plummer and Rich Gannon played well under Trestman’s guidance. Gannon won the 2002 Most Valuable Player award while being coached by Trestman on the Raiders.

“The skill set that Marc has, being an offensive mind, and then his great relationships that he's had with quarterbacks historically in the NFL and the work he's done with them makes him a good fit for the job,” Alouettes general manager Jim Popp said.

“A lot of guys want to be head coaches. Some leave the NFL to go to NCAA schools, and then once they've proven themselves, all of a sudden those college coaches are some of the hot commodities to be an NFL coach. It's no different. Coach Trestman has run a professional team as a head coach for five years. He's had a winning record for five years. He's proven himself as a head coach at a professional level. You can call it what you want, but on-hand training as a head coach and proof goes a long way, goes a real long way. You can't replace that.”

Trestman should know what he is getting into with Cutler. As a consultant, he worked with Cutler to prepare him for the 2006 combine. Among other players he worked with before their drafts are Jason Campbell and Tim Tebow.

Trestman’s appointment should not come as a surprise to Fox analyst Jimmy Johnson, who was Trestman’s boss at the University of Miami. Johnson tweeted Jan. 11 that it “looks like” Trestman would be getting the Bears job.

Trestman was one of 13 known candidates to be interviewed for Lovie Smith's old position. While Trestman, Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell received second interviews, Emery's final decision is believed to have come down to Trestman vs. Arians. Eight of the candidates had offensive backgrounds.

Trestman's final interview was Monday. Arians and Bevell met with Emery on Tuesday. None of the coaches knew Emery's decision until early Wednesday morning.

Interestingly, Smith nearly hired Trestman in 2004 when he was looking for an offensive coordinator. Instead, Smith settled on Terry Shea, and Trestman became Dave Wannstedt’s quarterbacks coach with the Dolphins.

Trestman also interviewed for the Browns’ head coaching vacancy this month, as well as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator position. Last year, he interviewed for the Colts’ head coaching job.

Trestman is known for a cerebral, measured approach.

“One thing about him that is a strength is his ability to listen,” Gannon said. “He takes feedback. Marc has always been the type of guy who can sit down with you and talk about things. What do you like about this? What don’t you like? His feedback is excellent. And he has an ability to be honest with you. Somebody needs to be honest with Jay Cutler.”

Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer will serve Trestman both in that role and also as offensive coordinator, which suggests that Trestman will call the plays. Kromer served as the Saints' interim head coach for the first six games of the 2012 season due to the suspensions of Sean Payton and Joe Vitt.

League sources say the Bears are expected to hire Joe DeCamillis as their assistant head coach/special teams coordinator to replace Dave Toub.

DeCamillis, who has been with the Dallas Cowboys for the last four years, had been one of 13 candidates to interview for the head-coaching job.

A 16-year NFL coaching veteran, DeCamillis, like Toub, is one of the more highly regarded special teams coaches in the league.  He had been under contract with the Cowboys but apparently is being granted permission to leave.

Trestman’s plans for the defense are unknown, but there’s a good chance he will retain coordinator Rod Marinelli and some of the other defensive assistants. Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates also is a possibility to stay. Trestman previously worked with Bates’ father, Jim.

Trestman played quarterback at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State-Moorhead. He was with the Vikings for two training camps as a defensive back.

Trestman also graduated from the University of Miami School of Law and has been a member of the Florida bar since 1983. He took a few years away from coaching in the early ‘90s to practice law. He is the author of the book “Perseverance: Life Lessons on Leadership and Teamwork.”

Trestman and his wife, Cindy, have two daughters, Sarahanne and Chloe.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs

dpompei@tribune.com

Twitter @danpompei

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DCFS investigating mother of boy found wandering streets

Police have located the mother of a young boy who was found running down the sidewalk in the West Englewood neighborhood overnight. (Chicago Police Department / January 15, 2013)

Staff report

11:45 a.m. CST, January 15, 2013

State welfare officials are investigating the mother of a young boy who was found alone in the West Englewood neighborhood overnight, running down the sidewalk.

The boy was found shortly before 11:30 p.m. Monday in the 7200 block of South Hermitage Avenue, police said. He appeared to about 3 or 4 years old and was not able to tell police his name, who his parents were or where he lived, police said.

The police issued an alert asking for the public's help. The mother arrived at the Englewood police station this morning and was speaking with detectives, police said.

"The tears are flowing," a police official said.

The boy was evaluated at a hospital and released into the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Spokesman Jimmie Whitlow said the department is investigating the mother for neglect. He would not disclose any details.

It was unclear how long the boy had been outside, police said. But despite the bitter cold -- it was 19 degrees at Midway Airport at 11 p.m., according to the National Weather Service -- the boy was determined to be in good condition.

He was wearing a black down coat, a red Nike hooded sweatshirt and a black winter hat with the word "Obama" on it. He was also wearing black and white Adidas gym shoes and blue jeans inscribed with the words "D.J. Bottoms," police said.

chicagobreaking@tribune.com

Twitter: @ChicagoBreaking

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Emanuel aims for divestment from gun makers, sellers

The Mayor is asking city pension and retirement fund managers to review their portfolios to make sure fund managers are not investing in companies that manufacture or sell assault weapons from their investment plans.

WASHINGTON -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel said today he was asking all city pension funds to examine whether they have investments in assault weapons manufacturers and sellers as the first step toward getting them to divest any such holdings.

Speaking to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, Emanuel said he would lead a charge of mayors across the country urging them to do the same.

Asked later about the extent of city pension fund investment in assault-weapons companies, Emanuel said, “You never know until you check.”

City Comptroller Amer Ahmad said the city pension funds do have investments in various investment pools that hold stock in companies that manufacture or sell assault weapons.

“We do know that there are some holdings, and they may not add up to a lot of money, but every dollar matters,” Ahmad said, adding that the mayor hopes to spark a movement of divesture similar to the campaign that helped end  apartheid in South Africa.

“We hope that other cities and states start picking this up, and we’re hearing that others may,” Ahmad said. “This could become a good national movement.”

The mayor exerts various degrees of control over the city’s four main pension funds, which have trustees appointed by the mayor and others elected or appointed by unions. City Treasurer Stephanie Neely, who is independently elected, also serves on all the funds, and city Clerk Susana Mendoza, also independently elected, serves on the firefighters’ fund.

In his speech, Emanuel said, “We're going to divest of any investment in any gun manufacturer,” but he later clarified that he was talking about those who make or sell assault weapons.

The mayor’s comments came as Chicago battles continued gun violence. Last year, the city’s homicides jumped 16 percent to 506.

In the just-concluded lame-duck session of the Illinois General Assembly, efforts to pass an assault weapons ban fell short. Last month, a federal appeals court threw out the state's decades-old ban on concealed carrying of a weapon in public.

kskiba@tribune.com
hdardick@tribune.com

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Japanese airline's grounded 787 leaks fuel in tests

The FAA stepped in Friday to assure the public that Boeing's new 787 "Dreamliner" is safe to fly. The AP spoke with Kevin Hiatt, Flight Safety Foundation CEO & President, who says mechanical issues with new aircrafts are not uncommon. (Jan. 11)

Reuters

9:22 a.m. CST, January 13, 2013

Tokyo—

Japan Airlines Co (JAL) said on Sunday that a Boeing Co 787 Dreamliner jet undergoing checks in Tokyo following a fuel leak at Boston airport last week had leaked fuel during tests earlier in the day.

An open valve on the aircraft caused fuel to leak from a nozzle on the left wing used to remove fuel, a company spokeswoman said. The jet is out of service after spilling about 40 gallons of fuel onto the airport taxiway in Boston due to a separate valve-related problem.

In Boston, a different valve on the plane opened, causing fuel to flow from the centre tank to the left main tank. When that tank filled up, it overflowed into a surge tank and out through a vent.

The causes of both the incidents are unknown, the JAL spokeswoman added.

There is no timetable for the plane to return to service.

On Friday, the U.S. government ordered a wide-ranging review of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, citing concern over a fire and other problems, but insisted the passenger jet was still safe to fly.

JAL and local rival All Nippon Airways Co fly 24 of the 49 Dreamliners delivered to end-December.

(Reporting by James Topham; Editing by Jeremy Laurence and Catherine Evans)

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14-year-old, 15-year-old killed in separate shootings

Chicago Tribune reporter Adam Sege with an update on the shootings in Chicago that killed two teenage boys. (Posted Jan. 12th, 2013)

Two gunmen shot a 14-year-old boy several times Friday night as he stood on his porch, leaving him to die in the front hallway of his Humboldt Park home, authorities said.

The shooting came just hours after a 15-year-old boy was fatally shot in a separate attack in the Little Village neighborhood. Including both homicides, at least six teens were shot since Friday afternoon, according to police.

In the Humboldt Park shooting, two male shooters opened fire about 11:50 p.m. in the 2400 block of West Augusta Boulevard, striking the boy multiple times in the chest, Chicago Police Department News Affairs Officer Amina Greer said.

Immediately following the shooting, a car sped down the street in reverse and took off, a neighbor said.

It appeared the boy, later identified by the Cook County medical examiner's office as Rey Dorantes of the 2400 block of West Augusta Boulevard, managed to take a couple of steps before collapsing. When paramedics arrived, he was lying just inside the home, bleeding from several bullet wounds, police said. He died at the scene.

Police found blood on the front steps and more than half a dozen shell casings on the sidewalk.

The high school freshman had been talking on a cellphone in front of his home just moments before shots rang out, his stepmother said.

The shooting may have been gang-related, police sources said. Family and friends on the scene, however, said the victim avoided gangs and spent his free time listening to music and riding his bicycle.

He'd thrown himself into a school program offering experience in a local bike shop -- a program designed, his mother said, to keep kids away from the type of violence that ended his life.

The boy would have turned 15 on Tuesday, said his stepmother Jo Ann Tenev.

"Now he's not even going to see his 15th birthday," she said, crying.

Neighbors returning home stared at squad cars and crime scene tape blocking the street of two- and three-story brick homes.

On the sidewalk near the crime scene, the father of one of the boy's friends sobbed as he paced near a group of somber teenagers.

When a neighbor asked him what had happened, his answer was brief.

"A little boy just got murdered," he said.

In the Little Village shooting, a shooter walked up to the 15-year-old about 6:40 p.m. in the 2600 block of South Ridgeway Avenue, News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said.

The shooter shouted a gang slogan and opened fire, striking the 15-year-old in the torso, Mirabelli said, citing preliminary information.

The boy was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:19 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The medical examiner's office identified him as Victor Vega, of the 2600 block of South Central Park Avenue.

No suspects are in custody in either shooting as detectives investigate.

asege@tribune.com

Twitter: @AdamSege

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Judge OKs exhumation of body of lottery winner

Meraj Khan, the sister of Urooj Khan, leaves court today after Judge Susan Coleman gave a quick OK to exhume her brother's body at Rosehill Cemetery on Chicago's North Side. (Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune / January 11, 2013)

By Jason Meisner




Tribune reporter

10:37 a.m. CST, January 11, 2013

A Cook County probate judge gave the go-ahead today to exhume the body of a million-dollar lottery winner who died of cyanide poisoning.

Judge Susan Coleman gave a quick OK to the request by the medical examiner’s office, saying no one had objected to exhuming Urooj Khan’s body at Rosehill Cemetery on Chicago’s North Side.

Khan’s death is being investigated as a homicide after comprehensive toxicological tests showed he had lethal levels of cyanide in his blood.

Court papers said the body was not embalmed, leading prosecutors to indicate that it was “critical” to arrange for the remains to be exhumed as soon as possible.

In an affidavit, Chief Medical Examiner Stephen J. Cina said it was necessary to do a full autopsy to “further confirm the results of the blood analysis as well as to rule out any other natural causes that might have contributed to or caused Mr. Khan’s death.”

jmeisner@tribune.com

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'Lincoln' leads Academy Award contenders with 12 nominations

With a conspicuous diss of Kathryn Bigelow, the un-nominated director of “Zero Dark Thirty,” the Academy Awards nominations were announced Thursday morning.

“Zero Dark Thirty” was one of nine films given the best picture nomination nod. The others: “Beasts of the Southern Wild”; “Silver Linings Playbook”; “Lincoln”; “Les Miserables”; “Life of Pi”; “Amour”; “Django Unchained”; and “Argo.” With 12 nominations total, director Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” led this year’s pack, unusually full of films that have reached a broad mainstream audience. “Life of Pi” came in with 11 nominations; “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Les Miserables” received eight.

The best actress Oscar nominees include the oldest-ever performer in that category (Emmanuelle Riva, 85, for “Amour”) as well as the youngest (Quvenzhane Wallis, 9, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”). They’ll compete for the Feb. 24 Oscars against Naomi Watts (“The Impossible”), Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”) and Jennifer Lawrence (“Silver Linings Playbook”).

To the surprise of no one on this planet or any other, Daniel Day-Lewis led the best actor competition for “Lincoln.” His fellow nominees: Denzel Washington, “Flight”; Hugh Jackman, “Les Miserables”; Bradley Cooper, “Silver Linings Playbook”; and in the year’s most unsettling performance, Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master.”

“Silver Linings Playbook” fared well, against some predictions, scoring a supporting actor nomination for Robert De Niro and a supporting actress nod for Jacki Weaver. Other supporting actors nominated include Christoph Waltz for “Django Unchained”; Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”; Alan Arkin, “Argo”; and Tommy Lee Jones,” Lincoln.” All have won Oscars before.

Along with Weaver, Sally Field received a supporting actress nomination, hers for “Lincoln.” The competition: Anne Hathaway, singing her guts out all the way to the podium on Feb. 24 (I’m guessing) for “Les Miserables”; Helen Hunt for “The Sessions” (more of a leading role, in fact); and Amy Adams as the Lady Macbeth of the action in “The Master.”

It’s a huge showing for “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” whose director, Benh Zeitlin, goes toe to toe against his fellow directing nominees David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook”), Ang Lee (“Life of Pi”), Michael Haneke (“Amour”) and Spielberg. Along with “Zero Dark Thirty” director Bigelow, “Argo” helmer Ben Affleck, widely expected to be nominated ... wasn’t.

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Baseball Hall of Fame to render verdict on Steroid Era

Jon Keller reports

By Dave van Dyck




Tribune reporter

10:12 a.m. CST, January 9, 2013

Rank-and-file members of baseball’s Steroids Era – most notably Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa – finally were facing a jury Wednesday that would decide whether they are worthy of the Hall of Fame. The 2013 induction announcement is set for 1 p.m. Chicago time.

Their inclusion on this year’s ballot overshadowed those who were thought to have the best chance of being voted into baseball’s hallowed shrine in Cooperstown: former Chicago White Sox outfielder Tim Raines, the Houston Astros’ long-time duo of Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell and All-Star pitcher Jack Morris.

Also in contention was former Chicago Cubs closer Lee Smith, who was on the ballot for the 11thtime.

This Hall of Fame eligible class has received more attention than most because of the inclusion of Bonds, who won seven MVP awards; Clemens, who won seven Cy Young awards and Sosa, the former Cub who won a National League MVP award after his famous 1998 home run duel with the Cardinals’ Mark McGwire.

McGwire, the only one of those who publicly has acknowledged using performance-enhancing drugs, has failed seven times in his Hall of Fame election bid. Former Cub Rafael Palmeiro, who tested positive for a drug, has failed three times.

The so-called Steroids Era has caused division within the electorate, comprised of 10-year members of the Baseball Writers Association. They historically have been very stingy with their votes, especially considering it takes 75 percent to be included in the summer induction ceremonies.

dvandyck@tribune.com

Twitter @davandyck

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Brown's Chicken killings: 20 years ago today

Seven people were found shot to death at Brown's Chicken & Pasta in Palatine on Jan. 8, 1993. Juan Luna and James Degorski were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. (Chicago Tribune)

By John Keilman




Tribune reporter

11:41 a.m. CST, January 8, 2013

Twenty years ago today, Juan Luna and Jim Degorski entered a Brown's Chicken and Pasta restaurant in Palatine and committed one of the most awful crimes in Illinois history, killing seven people in what jurors later found to be premeditated murder.

The pair escaped justice for nearly a decade until investigators caught a break. Degorski had told an ex-girlfriend of his role in the killings, and a friend who overheard her talking about it in 2002 went to police.

Another piece of evidence was crucial to the case. Investigators had saved a discarded meal from the scene, and as DNA analysis improved, they were able to match DNA left on a chicken bone with Juan Luna's saliva. The two were arrested in May 2002.

Luna was convicted of murder in 2007, and Degorski followed two years later. Jurors spared them the death penalty, but both are serving life sentences with no possibility of parole.

Joy Ehlenfeldt, 38, daughter of slain restaurant owners Richard and Lynn Ehlenfeldt, said this year's milestone has been harder than most because her parents have been gone for more than half of her life.

She said she hoped the memory of the crime would lead to action to reduce violence in America.

"Every time (a mass shooting) happens, people say, 'This will make the difference,' " said Ehlenfeldt, now a Chicago physical therapist. "We really need to say enough is enough. I don't want the community of Palatine to have this as a black mark. It was a great place to grow up. But we need to remember that this happened, and is still happening, and we need to deal with it with greater urgency."

jkeilman@tribune.com

Twitter: @JohnKeilman 

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