Weather records <\/strong>(from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Our grand, old flag<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 1915:<\/strong> Lucy Derwent<\/a> of Rockford won a $25 prize (almost $800 in today\u2019s dollars) from the Daughters of the American Revolution for her design of a state flag for Illinois \u2014 a field of blue on which a circle of white bears the state\u2019s coat of arms. Derwent, who later lived in the Chicago area, presented her prize to the Rockford chapter of the D.A.R.<\/p>\n 1970:<\/strong> \u201cSoul Train\u201d<\/a> premiered in Chicago on WCIU-TV with a budget so tight it couldn\u2019t afford color cameras or a dance floor bigger than a typical living room. But the show was an instant hit in Chicago, and it started consuming the after-school viewing time of a young, African American audience that other teen-oriented shows, including Dick Clark\u2019s \u201cAmerican Bandstand,\u201d largely ignored.<\/p>\n 1984:<\/strong> One person died and 47 were injured when two Chicago Transit Authority rapid transit trains collided at Montrose Avenue<\/a> station on the O\u2019Hare Line.<\/p>\n 2003:<\/strong> Ozzy Osbourne<\/a> and wife Sharon Osbourne sang \u201cTake Me Out To The Ball Game\u201d<\/a> during the seventh inning stretch at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n Near the end of the broadcast, WGN-Ch. 9 showed a replay of legendary Los Angeles Dodgers announcer Vin Scully giving the thumbs up after Osbourne\u2019s rendition.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you get the seal of approval from Hall of Famer Vin Scully, you know you\u2019re doing OK,\u201d Cubs announcer Chip Caray said.<\/p>\n 2010:<\/strong> After 14 days of deliberations, a six-man, six-woman jury convicted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich on just one of the 24 felony counts he faced\u00a0\u2014 a charge that he had lied to FBI agents about his intense involvement in campaign fundraising.<\/p>\n At his second trial, in 2011, Blagojevich was found\u00a0guilty<\/a>\u00a0on the more widespread allegations, including the Senate seat charges, trying to shake down a children\u2019s hospital leader in exchange for sending money approved for pediatric services, and seeking a $100,000 contribution from a horse track owner in exchange for signing favorable legislation.<\/p>\n In 2020, President Donald Trump, a Republican later\u00a0convicted<\/a> of felonies himself, commuted<\/a> Blagojevich\u2019s 14-year sentence to about eight years served.<\/p>\n How many presidential pardons or sentence commutations have been granted to people from Illinois?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\n
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![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-CTHIST-AMW-015-CT_F_232595896.jpg\")
Members of the Chicago Fire Department work to remove the injured from two CTA trains that collided near Montrose Avenue station on Aug. 17, 1984. (Quentin Dodt\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Ozzy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-CUB0817_190172911-e1755308384705.jpg\")
Ozzy Osbourne and wife Sharon sing “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” at a Cubs game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 17, 2003, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. (Jos\u00e9 M. Osorio\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CTC-L-MET-AJ-1-BLAGOJEVICH_189101255.jpg\")
Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Aug. 17, 2010, after he was convicted on one count in his federal corruption trial. (Terrence Antonio James\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n