Chicago 2015 Year in Review

CHICAGO (WLS) -- 2015 started with a loss of one of Chicago's most beloved sports hero: Mister Cub Ernie Banks. Banks died in January at the age of 83. The Hall of Famer's ever-optimistic trademark "Let's play two" will live on forever for baseball fans.

Chicago police shootings dominated the headlines for the last couple of months. Protests in the streets and calls for reform. Video of Laquan McDonald's death became political dynamite, ousting Garry McCarthy as Chicago's top cop and taking aim at Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Emanuel promises change as he tried to restore confidence in the CPD.

Chicago violence garnered attention after 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee was lured into an alley and executed. An aspiring model, Kaylyn Pryor was killedin a shooting in Englewood.

Sandra Bland died while in a Texas County Jail. The coroner said it was suicide, but her family questions the ruling.

Spike Lee's movie "Chi-Raq" filmed and then premiered in Chicago.

A murder mystery unfolded before the cameras; originally hailed a hero, authorities determined Fox Lake Police Lieutenant Joe Gliniewicz carefully staged his suicide to look like a murder to try to hide embezzlement.

Politics brought a budget stalemate to Springfield, where Governor Bruce Rauner tried to turn away Syrian refugees. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel won re-election after a runoff with Chuy Garcia. Jesse Jackson Junior was released from prison while Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty to a hush money scandal and Barbara Byrd Bennett admitted to taking bribes while serving as the head of Chicago Public Schools.

Two people were killed during a tornado in Fairdale, Ill. Another hit Coal City and Braidwood.

The winter was bone-chillingly cold and summer was stormy. A mid-air accident at the Chicago Air and Water Show killed Army parachutist Corey Hood while Chicago Firefighter Daniel Capuano was killed on the job and Francis Cardinal George was laid to rest.

Chicago's Second City regrouped after a fire.

Also in 2015, President Barack Obama announced his presidential library would be coming to Hyde Park and the 606 park and trail opened on the city's Northwest Side. The city approved the Lucas Museum on the shore of Lake Michigan, but the fight continues in court.

The city put on a good show with the NFL Draft, but it's clearly a year of rebuilding for Coach John Fox and the Chicago Bears. The Cubs made into the playoffs... maybe next year.

The Blackhawks did it again- bringing the Stanley Cup back to Chicago.