Michael Tarm, Author at Valley News

Actor Jussie Smollett, center, leaves the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago after prosecutors dropped all charges against him on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. (Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Prosecutors dismiss charges against actor Smollett, draw backlash in Chicago

by Amanda Seitz Associated Press, and Michael Tarm Associated PressMarch 26, 2019

CHICAGO — Infuriating Chicago’s mayor and police chief, prosecutors abruptly dropped all charges against Jussie Smollett on Tuesday after the Empire actor accused of faking a racist, anti-gay attack on himself agreed to do volunteer service and to let…

ADDS NAMES OF LAWYERS - In this courtroom sketch, R&B singer R. Kelly, attorney Steve Greenberg and prosecutor Jennifer Gonzalez appears before Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 in Chicago. The judge has set Kelly’s bond at $1 million saying that the amount equals $250,000 for each of the four people he’s charged with sexually abusing. (AP Photo/Tom Gianni)

Prosecutors paint dark portrait of manipulative R. Kelly

by Michael Tarm Associated PressFebruary 23, 2019

FILE - In this June 13, 2008 file photo, R&B singer R. Kelly leaves the Cook County Criminal Court Building in Chicago after a jury found him not guilty on all counts in his child pornography trial. In 2002, Kelly was indicted on 21 counts of child pornography, based on a videotape allegedly showing him having sex with an underage girl. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

R. Kelly charged with abuse

by Sara Burnett Associated Press, and Michael Tarm Associated PressFebruary 22, 2019

Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke attends his sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Chicago, for the 2014 shooting of Laquan McDonald. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Cop Who Killed Teen Gets 7 Years

by Don Babwin Associated Press, and Michael Tarm Associated PressJanuary 18, 2019

Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, left, is taken into custody after jurors found him guilty of second-degree murder and aggravated battery in the 2014 shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald, Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)

Chicago Officer Guilty of Murder

by Don Babwin Associated Press, and Michael Tarm Associated PressOctober 5, 2018

Man Dragged From Plane Reaches Deal

by Michael Tarm Associated Press, and Don Babwin Associated PressApril 27, 2017

This Sept. 30, 2015 photo provided by Lambda Legal shows Kimberly Hively at the federal courthouse in Chicago. A federal appeals court ruled for the first time Tuesday, April 4, 2017, that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBT employees from workplace discrimination, setting up a likely battle before the Supreme Court as gay rights advocates push to broaden the scope of the 53-year-old law. The case stems from a lawsuit by Indiana teacher Hively alleging that the Ivy Tech Community College in South Bend didn't hire her full time because she is a lesbian. (Lambda Legal via AP)

Supreme Court Likely to Hear LGBT Case

by Michael Tarm AP Legal Affairs WriterApril 6, 2017

FILE - In this Feb. 4, 2007 file photo, Prince performs during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XLI football game at Dolphin Stadium in Miami. The disclosure that some pills found at Prince's Paisley Park home and studio were counterfeit and contained the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl strongly suggests they came to the superstar illegally. Prince died April 21, 2016, of an accidental fentanyl overdose. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Prince Had Fentanyl-Laced Pills When He Died

by Amy Forliti Associated Press, and Michael Tarm Associated PressAugust 22, 2016

FILE - In this April 13, 2016, file photo, Eddie Johnson, left, speaks after being sworn in as the new Chicago police superintendent in Chicago. Superintendent Johnson says he will recommend the firing of seven officers involved in the Oct. 20, 2014 shooting death of black teenager Laquan McDonald. Superintendent Eddie Johnson said Thursday Aug. 18, 2016 he was accepting the recommendations of the city's inspector general who concluded that the officers filed false police reports. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

Chief: Fire Chicago Officers Accused of Lying

by Don Babwin Associated Press, and Michael Tarm Associated PressAugust 18, 2016

FILE - In this April 26, 2008 file photo, Prince performs during the second day of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. A law-enforcement official says that tests show the music superstar died of an opioid overdose. Prince was found dead at his home on April 21, 2016, in suburban Minneapolis. He was 57. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

Autopsy: Prince Died of Accidental Overdose

by Michael Tarm Associated Press, and Amy Forliti Associated PressJune 3, 2016