Former Death Row cop set up killing chamber in latest plot: feds

A former Chicago cop sentenced to Death Row but later released has been arrested and charged in a plot to abduct, extort, murder and dismember a victim whom he believed had large amounts of cash from commercial real estate holdings. Steven Mandell, once known as Steven Manning, set up an office as a killing chamber, the feds say. He had a large sink, large counter and a shower put in, the feds say.

• Historic church burns

  The Englewood church has stood for more than 120 years. And within its sanctuary people have prayed, they have celebrated and they have made history. The red brick building — severely damaged in a raging fire Friday — housed the first Englewood church to be …Read More

• Humboldt Park man dies in overnight house fire

  An overnight fire in a Humboldt Park home killed a man and injured another. Jaime Martinez, 43, was badly burned in the 1:30 a.m. Saturday fire in his home in the 1600 block of North Central Park Avenue, authorities said. He suffered second and third …Read More

• Chicago cops arrested, charged in tow truck bribery probe

  Two Chicago Police officers who allegedly sought and received extortion payments from tow truck drivers became the sixth and seventh cops busted in the federal Operation Tow Scam on Friday. Deavalin Page, 46, a 19-year veteran officer, was arrested Friday and charged with two counts …Read More