News Minute: Here is the latest Illinois news from The Associate - WSIL-TV 3 Southern Illinois

News Minute: Here is the latest Illinois news from The Associated Press at 5:40 a.m. CST

CHICAGO (AP) - Police tapped into Chicago's vast network of surveillance cameras to help track down two brothers who later claimed they were paid by "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett to stage an attack on him. Police have access to more than 32,000 cameras mounted on buildings, poles, train tunnels and buses _ even in private businesses and residences. And they can track someone by linking those cameras at an emergency command center, police stations or even from tablets in officers' squad cars.

CHICAGO (AP) - Lawyers for Jussie Smollett say the Chicago Police Department put on an "organized law enforcement spectacle" when its superintendent detailed its findings about the alleged attack on the "Empire" actor. In a statement, Smollett's legal team said Superintendent Eddie Johnson's comments had no place in the American legal system. At a news conference, Johnson said Smollett owes the city an apology and should admit what he did. Johnson accused Smollett of paying two men to stage the attack.

(AP) - The case of "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett could have consequences beyond the Chicago courtroom where he was charged with staging a racist, anti-gay attack on himself. The saga has inflamed political tensions even more, and people worry about damaging fallout for genuine hate crime victims.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The case against Jussie Smollett could do more lead to a conviction for the "Empire" star _ some experts see the allegations he orchestrated an attack designed to look like a hate crime as dealing a potentially fatal blow to his career. The 38-year-old's arrest on charges he filed a false police report over his account to authorities about an attack on a downtown Chicago street last month hasn't yet slowed down his Hollywood career. He went straight from his release to the set of "Empire."

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