‘Chicago P.D.’ Showrunner on How Jesse Lee Soffer’s Exit Will Stay True to His Character and the Major Challenges Ahead for Hailey

Taylor Kinney took a break from fighting fires when he paid a visit to someone very special on Friday.The Chicago Fire actor delighted fans by stopping by the Today show with Al Roker, who had flown to the windy city for work. It was Al who shared the snapshot which sent both his and Taylor's fans into a frenzy.MORE: Chicago Fire: Did Chief Hawkins die? Fans react to latest episodeIn the selfie, Taylor was beaming, as was Al and the rainy Chicago backdrop was just about visible.WATCH: Unearthed Christmas commercial starring Taylor Kinney and Jesse SpencerAl captioned it: "Had a great time in the rain in #chicago and a good friend of @todayshow stopped by.

A man free on bond for attempted murder and drug charges allegedly shot and killed two men last month in Chicago, prosecutors said this week.  Absalom Coakley, 29, allegedly fired a single shot with a .40-caliber handgun, striking 29-year-old Terrance Johnson Jr. in the back of the head in the early morning hours of Sept. 25 during a "video shoot party." Around 50 people were in attendance, according to a court complaint obtained by Fox News.

It’s the end of an era for Chicago P.D. fans who watched Jesse Lee Soffer and his character Jay Halstead exit stage right following 9+ seasons on Wednesday night. Soffer shared a message of gratitude via social media as he looks toward the future.

Is this the end? Jesse Lee Soffer addressed his exit from Chicago P.D. after Jay Halstead made the difficult decision to move on.

SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers from tonight’s episode of NBC’s Chicago P.D. “A Good Man.”

Kanye West is accusing the Kardashians of being “liars” who “basically kidnapped” his daughter Chicago on her birthday. The rapper’s claim came as Khloe Kardashian, 38, publicly pleaded for the 45-year-old to stop “tearing down” her sister as Kanye dragged up his family dispute amid his ‘White Lives Matter’ fashion show scandal.

Emily Longeretta SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “A Good Man,” the Oct. 5 episode of “Chicago P.D.“ Jay Halstead no longer works for the CPD. Jesse Lee Soffer appeared in his final episode of NBC’s “Chicago P.D.” on Wednesday night. After another hour of shutting out his wife and partner, Hailey Upton (Tracy Spiridakos), Jay finally realized that he had changed — and not for the better. During a case that involved saving the reputation of an Army vet who had assisted in a robbery, Jay went around the law (once again) to take down the robbers. He didn’t turn in the vet, who ultimately died saving another woman, in order to protect the man’s family and reputation. However, knowing that he’d broken the law once again — and stabbed a man in the process — Jay chose to resign from Intelligence.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! DO NOT READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!

SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers from tonight’s episode of NBC’s Chicago P.D. “A Good Man.”

About twenty minutes into “Till” — the 1955 story of Emmett Till’s brutal murder — a moment encapsulating this conventional, elegantly rendered biopic’s greatest asset arises. An anxious Mamie Till-Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler), the mother of 14-year-old Emmett (she affectionately calls her son Bo), plays poker in the living room of her Chicago home with two of her girlfriends.

Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic Growing up in Texas toward the tail end of the 20th century, I was not taught about Emmett Till. I’ve learned about him since, of course. Till’s name adorns this year’s overdue federal antilynching act, and his tragic fate has inspired plays and films, including 2018’s Oscar-nominated short, “My Nephew Emmett,” and now a powerful new feature from Chinonye Chukwu, who gave Alfre Woodard one of her greatest roles in 2019 Sundance winner “Clemency.” Till’s story — that of a 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago who was kidnapped in the middle of the night and lynched while visiting his family in Mississippi — may have been omitted from my Southern schooling for racist reasons, though I suspect it had as much to do with Western culture’s “great man” bias. History, as a field of study, celebrates the achievements of heroic individuals. Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks. Those names were all taught. But Emmett Till was a kid whose murder galvanized the American civil rights movement, and it has taken a different kind of thinking — à la “Say Their Names” campaign or Ryan Coogler’s “Fruitvale Station” — to position victims in the public’s mind.

Chaz Ebert has become one of the foremost agents of change in the entertainment industry, working to make sure traditionally overlooked communities get the chance to develop their talents in the business.

Roy Trakin As the new documentary on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group puts it, Chicago is “The Last Band On-Stage,” marking its 55th anniversary since its founding in the city of the same name in 1967. The feature film is the second about the band from director Peter Curtis Pardini, who also helmed 2016’s “Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago,” and catches us up on the last six years, the title referring to their 18-month absence due to the pandemic after a final performance on March 14, 2020 at Las Vegas’ Venetian before everything shut down. From the members’ beginnings as part of Windy City cover bands to their incarnation as Chicago Transit Authority on their groundbreaking debut, the band has had 28 different members over the years, with only vocalist/keyboardist Robert Lamm, trumpet player Lee Loughnane and trombonist Jimmy Pankow remaining from that original lineup. Their contemporaries include Joe Mantegna, now the star of TV’s “Criminal Minds,” but then just a member of fellow Chitown cover group the Apocryphals — hence his presence as narrator of the documentary, and moderator of a recent panel hosted by the Grammy Museum in L.A., joining the three band mainstays in front of an audience of adoring fans.

Chicago Fire fans were left heartbroken on Wednesday when Sylvie Brett made the emotional decision to end her long-distance relationship with Matt Casey.Exclusive: Chicago PD's Marina Squerciati shares what Jesse Lee Soffer's departure means for VoightFormer Captain Casey made the decision to leave Chicago to move to Oregon and help raise his late best friend's children, with him and Brett attempting to try long distance. But at the end of Wednesday's premiere episode, which had seen Brett share her frustrations with their lack of communication, viewers saw her on the phone ending the romance.WATCH: One Chicago returns to NBCHanako Greensmith, who stars as Brett's paramedic colleague Violet Mikami spoke to HELLO! about that moment, sharing that "Brett, in a large and beautiful way, is stepping up for herself".That decision will also affect Violet, with Hanako adding: "Brett doesn't need a man to be confident, and that is inspiring for Violet.

SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from tonight’s episode of NBC’s Chicago P.D.

Chicago PD fans have fallen in love with Kim Burgess and Adam Ruzek - but after seven years of will-they-won't-they, star Marina Squerciati has shared that season 10 will finally be a turning point.Exclusive: Chicago PD's Marina Squerciati shares what Jesse Lee Soffer's departure means for VoightThe pair ended their romance in season three, but in the years since have never moved on, and began co-parenting Kim's adopted daughter Makayla.WATCH: One Chicago returns to NBCHowever Marina has teased that episode two will see a big change for the pair: "You are either moving forward and evolving, or dying, and at this point it has been so long something has to change."You'll see that change in episode two, there is a decision made, and it moves us forward in a way that I am excited about. It will be less will-they-won't-they, but more how-will-they."Exclusive: Chicago PD's Marina Squerciati shares what Jesse Lee Soffer's departure means for VoightExclusive: Chicago Med stars Nick Gehlfuss and Jessy Schram tease 'redirection of energies' in season 8Season 10 will also see the departure of Jesse Lee Soffer as Detective Jay Halstead, and at the time of the news breaking Marina took to Instagram to pay tribute to her co-star "Jake"; the pair have long joked that their characters Jay and Kim never interact on screen and have taken to calling each other Jake and Kate.Luckily for fans, that isn't the last we've seen of Jake and Kate.

Chicago Med will pick up where season seven left off with Doctor Will Halstead trapped in his burning building with Doctor Guy Scott.Exclusive: Chicago PD's Marina Squerciati shares what Jesse Lee Soffer's departure means for VoightAlthough fans know the pair will survive, Nick Gehlfuss has shared that Will will be "guilt-ridden" as the season continues.WATCH: One Chicago returns to NBC"This is his building and he doesn't know what has happened, and Hannah is suffering for it, and he is carrying a lot of guilt,' Nick told HELLO! "We don't know what happened so [his focus is on] saving Hannah's life and figuring out what happened and building back up from it."Exclusive: Chicago Fire bosses detail Brett's 'turmoil' ahead of emotional premiereNick added: "Will had an idea to get finances in order, and I don't think it will work out for him. [It was a ] valiant effort but there is no saving this complex, and this is another notch on Will's scrubs.

Chicago PD stars Marina Squerciati and Jason Beghe have revealed how the departure of Jesse Lee Soffer as Jay Halstead from the show will change the dynamics of the investigative unit.Exclusive: Chicago Fire bosses detail Brett's 'turmoil' ahead of emotional premiereFans will see Detective Halstead leave later in the season, although how it plays out on screen remains to be seen. The loss of Halstead will affect the team in different ways and viewers will also see them be forced to reckon with their loss while also welcoming newcomer Officer Dante Torres into the fold.WATCH: One Chicago returns to NBC"Jay was Torres' handler - or even mentor - and they had a nice rapport on screen, so it is a loss for all of us to lose Halstead but it is a wonderful thing to have Torres," Jason shared with HELLO!"It will be a new relationship for all of us; Torres has a lot to offer, and we allow him to be himself and relationships will develop.MORE: Chicago PD star Marina Squerciati shares first day back on set picture"Atwater to an extent will take Torres as his responsibility when Jay leaves but it is something that will unfold naturally."For several seasons Halstead has been the angel on Voight's shoulder, and Marina adds that viewers must see "Voight find that balance now" on his own.

Chicago Fire fans saw Matthew Casey and Sylvie Brett return to the Windy City at the end of season 10 and have an emotional conversation that revealed they were unsure whether their long-distance romance would last.MORE: Chicago PD star Marina Squerciati shares first day back on set pictureNow, executive producer Derek Haas has confirmed that fans will get "clarification" on the future of Brett and Casey's romance in the season 11 premiere.WATCH: One Chicago returns to NBC"We’ll definitely get some answers to where she stands with Casey," he told HELLO!, adding: "I’d say that Brett is going to face some major turmoil this season."Fans saw Casey decide to leave Chicago to move to Oregon and help raise his late best friend's children, with him and Brett attempting to try long distance.He returned for the finale of season 10 and the wedding of Kelly Severide and Stella Kidd, and during an emotional dance together Brett asked: "Can we keep this up with so much time apart?"Casey paused before cryptically telling her: "I don't know, but we're together tonight." Season 11 will see Brett go through 'turmoil'Elsewhere the season opener will pick up immediately where season 10 left us - with Severide and Kidd on their honeymoon and being tracked by unknown attackers."We like doing these immediate pick-ups, because the show really launches out of a cannon when you do that," shared Derek. The premiere picks up where season 10 left off"Pace is so important to us as a show, and we like it when the audience can’t take a breath until the first commercial.