An increase in Hyundai and Kia vehicle thefts is now, on average, resulting in 45 cars stolen every day in Chicago, according to NBC 5. While auto thefts in general are on the rise in the city, Hyundai and Kia drivers are more vulnerable than others given a hidden security flaw inside that was uncovered and shared on social media last year. This could be because some older Hyundai and Kia models made from 2010 to 2021 lack a device called a standard immobilizer, which prevents a car from starting without the key present.
In fact, in the month of November 2022 alone, Hyundai and Kia thefts amounted to more than half, or 59%, of all Chicago motor vehicle thefts recorded, according to data reviewed from the Chicago Police Department. That CPD data shows out of 2,003 motor vehicle thefts reported last November, 1,180 of those thefts involved Hyundai or Kia vehicles.
Both Kia and Hyundai have encouraged drivers to contact their customer assistance centers for more information on options to secure these impacted vehicles.
A sinkhole formed in October and the city has yet to do anything about it. An “eyesore” and “ridiculous” are ways that residents have described it, and their descriptions are entirely too accurate.
This gaping hole has been here since October(!!!) when a car fell through it.
We’re digging into this hole (see what I did there), who’s at fault, and if the surrounding buildings are at risk, tonight at 5P @cbschicagopic.twitter.com/KHEOPDi9U3
Almost three months ago, a car almost fell into the hole. The hole has brought on an invasion of raccoons and a fear that the ground could collapse under the community at any moment.
The Department of Buildings came by the lot in October. The property owner was ordered to fix the hole, but they didn’t. Now, the city’s Law Department is taking the property owner to court.
Drummer John Dolmayan is not a happy man. After advocating for a new System of a Down album for many years (which has been met with shrugs from Tankian), the drummer lashed out in an interview with Battleline Podcast, noting that the band should’ve broken up in 2006, after the release of their final two albums. He addressed side projects that band members have worked on, noting, “they’re never quite that good compared to System. In fact, I think a lot of ’em aren’t very good at all.”
He went on to say, “Serj hasn’t really wanted to be in the band for a long time. And quite frankly, we probably should have parted ways around 2006. We tried to get together multiple times to make an album, but there were certain rules set in place that made it difficult to do so and maintain the integrity of what System of a Down stood for. So we couldn’t really come together and agree. And part of that is Serj’s fault, and part of that is my fault, and Shavo’s and Daron’s as well.”
It’s been nearly four years since System of a Down played in Chicago, and based on this interview, we wouldn’t expect that to change anytime soon.
Rolling Stone published a list of “The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time” and it upset pretty much everyone. The list underrates names like Karen O (#184), Robert Smith (#157), and Fiona Apple (#111), while completely ignoring names like Brandon Flowers of The Killers and Celine Dion.
There have been two incidents over the last week that have made the Q101 staff believe that the NBA is working against the Chicago Bulls. Donovan Mitchell’s 71-point game on Sunday was too good to be true. The NBA reported on Monday that Mitchell’s intentionally missed free throws that sent the game to overtime shouldn’t have counted because, “over the plane of the free throw line before the ball touched the basket ring.”
According to Damar Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn, the Bills safety is improving in health. Glenn told NFL Network on Tuesday night that the Buffalo Bills safety remains in intensive care but has improved to 50% oxygen on a ventilator. He had previously been on 100%.
“Right now, they got him on a ventilator, so they’re trying to get him to breathe on his own,” Glenn told the network. “So, we’re just kind of taking it day by day. Still in the ICU. They have him sedated, so just continue to administer the medical treatment that they’ve been doing.”
Q101 sends our thoughts and prayers to Damar Hamlin and his family.
Brian always claims that he wants to start making changes, but Portillo’s has done it for him. The new year has brought on changes for the iconic Chicago staple. Starting on January 16, Portillo’s will no longer allow cash in the drive-thru. They claim this is done to speed up the line and to make everyone safer.
According to Portillo’s, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are all accepted as methods of payment for drive-thru customers.
In a genuinely off the rails interview with Marc Maron on ‘WTF with Marc Maron’, Courtney Love spilled a lot of info. A LOT. She claimed Brad Pitt fired her from ‘Fight Club’ because she wouldn’t approve of a Kurt Cobain biopic starring Pitt, noted that she had a song called “Justice for Kurt” (which she won’t release on her upcoming album), and that her former husband and Lana Del Rey are the only two musical she’s ever known.
Love noted that despite her relationships with Billie Joe Armstrong, Bono, and Michael Stipe, they were not on the level that Cobain and Del Rey were on.
Our friends at NBC 5 have helped compile a list of everything that is changing for those behind the wheel this year.
One of the biggest changes, which could affect you after a collision, is an increase in the use of the word “crash” instead of “accident”. Personal injury attorney Lance D. Northcutt noted, “As a personal injury attorney, we see far too many crashes caused by drunk or distracted driving. We often make an effort here at the firm to not use the word ‘accident’ in these types of situations that would have been avoidable had a driver taken proper care behind the wheel. It is encouraging to see lawmakers acknowledging that these incidents are preventable.”
Outside of that, changes include:
HB3772: Relief for Victims of Carjackings, Stolen Vehicles
As carjackings continue to rise across Illinois, lawmakers approved a bill in the spring that makes it so “a person shall not be liable for violations, fees, fines, or penalties during the period in which the motor vehicle was reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency as stolen or hijacked.”
In order to be reimbursed for fees paid after the vehicle was reported stolen or hijacked, such as for impounding fees, “the owner or the agents of the owner or lessee must submit proof that a report concerning the motor vehicle was filed with a law enforcement agency in a timely manner.”
Still, towing and storage fees can only be reimbursed up to a maximum of $1,000.
SB03793: School Zone Changes
This new law will add community service as a penalty for failing to stop for a school bus that is “receiving or discharging pupils and has displayed visual signals,” or for speeding in excess of 20 miles per hour or more in a school zone or while traveling on a roadway on public school property or where children pass to go to and from school.
SB03216: Clarifications to Illinois Vehicle Code
Under this new law, Illinois Vehicle Code is amended to add that a licensed physical therapist “can verify that a person is a person with disabilities.”
HB04716: Changes to Drivers Education Standards
Under this bill, the course content and learning standards for drivers education will instead be based on the national Novice Teen Driver Education and Training Administrative Standards. This will replace the current structure, which requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to adopt standards for those under the age of 18.
New data from the Census Bureau and Chamber of Commerce has revealed that the Second City is one of the loneliest in America. Nearly 29% of all homes in America are one-person households, but in Chicago, that number is nearly 40%.
While it does not rank in the top five, Chicago trails closely behind the likes of Richmond and Cincinnati. In the city, 20% of women live in a one-person home, while 28% of men do live alone.
If you are looking for a way to support Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who collapsed on Monday Night Football on January 3, you can donate to his charity toy drive here. This was a toy drive originally set up in 2020, but donations have flooded in since Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on Monday night.
At press time, Hamlin is currently sedated and in critical condition.
Maneskin have shared a new short film, Everything This Way. The 36-minute film showcases all aspects of the band both on and off stage, rehearsing, travelling and exploring in their downtime.
Maneskin’s new album “Rush!” will be released January 20th.
Getting some serious old school vibes from this pic that Flea shared of himself when he was 16. Like — Marlon Brando vibes, no? Well, anyways, here’s an unrecognizable photo of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist. Enjoy.
Barbara Walters, the pioneering television anchor and journalist, has died at the age of 93.
She broke barriers for women as the first female co-host of the “Today” show, she was the first female anchor of a network evening news program and was widely known as one of television’s marquee interviewers.
"The fact that I ended up on television — never ever thought that would happen."
Her annual special Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascination People ran from 1993 to 2015, she also co-created and co-hosted the daytime panel show The View.
She was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1989 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2000.
Sure, you love Ted’s TV work on Cheers or Curb Your Enthusiasm or The Good Place, but did you know Ted appears (and is lyrically name checked: “Opened up a restaurant with Ted Danson“) in the awesome Beastie Boys video for “Make Some Noise”.
Today is Ted Danson’s birthday.
— Is Today Ted Danson's Birthday? (@TedDansonBDay) December 29, 2022
