Melissa Espana is a Digital Content Producer at WGN-TV.
Before joining WGN in June 2017, she worked as a web producer at ABC7 Chicago. She also produced at KTIV News in Sioux City, Iowa.
Melissa graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s in broadcast journalism.
PITTSBURGH — A man seen offering Pride Parade attendees in Pittsburgh “Dad Hugs” has gone viral. Howie Dittman went to the Pride Parade on June 9 wearing a shirt that said “Free Dad Hugs” along with a friend who wore a “Free Mom Hugs” shirt. Dittman said he gave out hundreds of hugs to parade go-ers. On a now-viral Facebook post, Dittman said most of the people he gave hugs to were happy, but a few were more emotional. He […]
CHICAGO — Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson will remain in the hospital Friday evening for observation after doctors found a blood clot following a physical examination. The city’s top cop went to Rush University Medical Center Friday morning for an annual cardiac stress test and a physical, according to police spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi. The tests came back normal, but doctors found a small blood clot in his lung. The blood clot will be treated with medication and rest, Guglielmi said. […]
CHICAGO — A teenager was shot while playing basketball in the city’s Far South Side. Chicago police said the 17-year-old boy was shot on the 10400 block of South Avenue J around 1 p.m. Friday. Police said someone in a dark colored Nissan drove up and fired shots hitting the teen in the hands and stomach. The teen was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. No one was taken into custody. No further information was […]
CHICAGO — On Friday evening, Showtime will air a new documentary about the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald just months after former Officer Jason Van Dyke was sentenced for second degree murder. The 99-minute documentary will examine the fatal shooting as well as the coverup surrounding the incident, according to Showtime. A trailer for the documentary shows former Chicago Police Department top cop Garry McCarthy and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx giving interviews. Journalist Jamie Kalven is also […]
CHICAGO — Three people, including a child, were injured after a drive-by shooting in the city’s Albany Park neighborhood Thursday evening. Chicago police said the three people were shot on 4900 block North Kedzie Avenue around 9 p.m. The three self transported to Swedish Covenant Hospital. The adults, a man and a woman, were then transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital. The juvenile was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital. The ages and conditions of those shot is unknown. No further information […]
CHICAGO — No injuries were reported after a fire broke out on a train at Union Station. About 100 passengers on Metra BNSF No. 1285 were evacuated around 6:30 p.m. Thursday due to a fire in the engine. The fire broke out as the train was about to depart. According to Chicago fire officials, the fire was put out around 7 p.m. using lines to cool the engine. A passenger who was on the train, Steve Sadowski, posted photos on […]
CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. — Three women were arrested and charged with prostitution after an undercover investigation at three spas in suburban Crystal Lake, according to police. Crystal Lake police said they conducted an investigation on Monday and Wednesday at JJ’s Massage, Crystal Spa and Infinity Day Spa, which were suspected to be operating without a valid permit. Police said they also received complaints that these locations may have been engaged in criminal activity as well. The officers went to the […]
**For the latest on the trial, visit wgntv.com/scholar.** CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Brendt Christensen, 29, was charged in the 2017 disappearance and death of a visiting Chinese scholar at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Yingying Zhang, 26, a visiting scholar doing research at the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, went missing on June 9, 2017 in Champaign, and her body was never found. Zhang was on her way to sign an apartment lease and was waiting for a […]
CHANNAHON, Ill. — A 29-year-old man was charged in connection to the death of his 10-week-old daughter. Jonathon Middono was charged with aggravated battery to a victim under the age of 13, according to the Channahon Police Department. On Monday, police were called to Morris Hospital around 12:30 a.m. after staff made a request after an assessment of 10-week-old Kora Middono indicted she had injuries to her head consistent with blunt force trauma. Kora was flown to Lurie Children’s Hospital […]
HAMMOND, Ind. — Two people were charged after a northwest Indiana church was vandalized last week. Aaron James Vanoppens, 23, and Nicholas Dylan Reding, 22, are charged with one count each of felony burglary and felony institutional criminal mischief. Police said the men were responsible for the vandalism of the Faith United Church of Christ on May 29. A custodian walked into the building around 7 a.m. that day and saw the destruction left behind. Windows were smashed, bathroom sinks […]
