Chicago daily roundup: Lightfoot vows not to defund police, a La Niña winter is coming, a heroic police dog, and more

(CHICAGO) Welcome to the daily roundup on Friday, October 22. This October has been unseasonably warm for the area, but temperatures are expected to drop tonight and tomorrow night.

Mayor Lightfoot spoke to police recruits Wednesday, and a Wisconsin police dog helped to apprehend a Chicago murder suspect.

And finally, Lincoln Park's ZooLights is back, running from Nov. 20 through Jan. 2.

Awaiting Chicago’s 1st fall freeze and the return of La Niña. Here’s what to expect this winter

(Lukasz Szmigiel/Unsplash)

La Niña's climate pattern is hard to predict. Trent Ford, Illinois state climatologist, wrote in an email to the Tribune, "La Niña falls tend to be a bit drier and warmer across the Midwest, but there is A LOT of variability between La Niña years,”

However, rather than drier weather, the Climate Prediction Center predicts more precipitation than the average for the Great Lakes Region this winter.

So either we will get a lot of snow this year, or we won't. Which way it goes seems to be anyone's guess.

Lightfoot says she won’t defund police, says most Chicagoans want more cops

During a graduation ceremony for police recruits and promoted officers held at Navy Pier, Mayor Lightfoot announced she has no intention of cutting funding for the Chicago police department.

“Our residents are desperate for your help and your support. They want more police — not less police. We are not a city and will never be a city that bows to those arguing for de-funding. That’s not who we are. And that’s not what our residents want," said Lightfoot during the ceremony.

Police dog a 'hero' for taking bullet from Chicago murder suspect wounded by Kenosha County deputies

Deputy Terry Tifft and K9 RiggsKenosha County Sheriff's Department

A very heroic police dog took a bullet from a Chicago murder suspect on Thursday. The suspect was then shot and wounded by Kenosha deputies.

Kenosha County Sheriff David G. Beth said the dog, a German Sheperd, may have saved others from harm, "In a lot of ways, he's a hero today. He took the suspect down and kept him from running onto Highway 50. Who knows if he would've tried to carjack someone on the highway."

The dog was treated at an Illinois emergency center and is expected to make a full recovery.

ZooLights returns next month at Lincoln Park Zoo — and tickets are available now

Lincoln Park ZooLights(Christine Zenino from Chicago, US/CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons)

The annual holiday lights show at the Lincoln Park Zoo is back on for 2021. Tickets will be required to attend the popular event. They are on sale now for members and open to the general public on October 28.

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