Cops Catch Robber in the Act on Southwest Side

(CHICAGO) -- Police say they arrested a 22-year-old man Thursday night on the Southwest Side, after they caught the suspect committing a robbery.

Officials say officers on patrol in the 8400 block of South Kedzie spotted a man wearing a mask and robbing two male victims at gunpoint. The officers intervened, and took suspect QuoiQuoi Murphy into custody.

Murphy is charged wih committing armed robbery with a firearm.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Woman Pleads Guilty in Baby's Death

(GENEVA, Ill.) -- A woman pleaded guilty to reckless conduct after she left an 8-month-old infant at her home for five hours resulting in the child's death.

On Thursday, Deanna Williams, 46, entered a blind plea in which she pleaded guilty without knowing the specific sentence. Officials say on April 21, 2009, Sparsh Dhar was dropped off at William's house. She left the child at home while she ran errands. The child died of hyperthermia, or exposure to excessive heat.

Williams will return to court for sentencing on September 22.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Illinois Toll Highway Authority Considers Doubling Fares

(CHICAGO) -- The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority wants to increase toll fares to help pay for $12 billion in new projects, according to ABC News Chicago affiliate WLS-TV.

I-PASS users would see an increase ranging from 35 to 90 cents while drivers paying cash would continue to pay double the I-PASS rate.

Some of the Toll Highway Authority’s proposed projects include construction of the O'Hare West Bypass and continued work on the Jane Adams Tollway, I-90.

Public hearings will be held on the proposed toll increase.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Chicago Deli Raising Funds for Orphaned Texas Crash Victims

(CHICAGO) -- Some Chicago residents are doing their part to assist three children from Texas who survived a deadly car crash in which their parents were killed.

On July 2, Robin and Joshua Berry were killed in a vehicular accident in West Texas, however, their children Peter, 9, Aaron, 8, and Willa, 6, survived the accident, but suffered some injuries. The youngest child was treated for her injuries and released from the hospital. The other two children remain hospitalized with spinal injuries that have left them paralyzed.

Manny's Deli in Chicago is hosting a benefit dinner to raise funds for the children on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. Organizers say proceeds from the event will be donated to The Berry Children’s Fund, to support the "rehabilitation and growth of the three Berry children."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

GOP Congressman File Suit Challenging Illinois Redistricting

(CHICAGO) -- Current and former Republican members of Congress filed a lawsuit on Wednesday which challenged the redistricting Illinois map drawn by a Democrat-dominated legislature.

The Committee for a Fair and Balanced Map and all but one of Republican Illinois congressman filed the suit, saying the law signed by Gov. Pat Quinn discriminated against Republicans and Hispanics. The group said the redistricting violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by marginalizing Hispanics and reducing their electoral influence, and called the new map a power grab by the Democrats.

In a statement the group said, "The Democrats' map fails to recognize communities of interest; splinters counties, towns and populations which historically have been represented by common congressional districts; and blatantly disregards compactness in district design, a standard which is required by federal case law."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio