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Study says a ‘silent hazard’ of heat is sinking one of America’s largest cities

July 13, 2023
A group of scientists are warning about a “silent hazard” around climate change that could impact some of America’s largest cities in the coming decades. In a new study, a team from Northwestern University found that excessive underground heat is causing buildings in Chicago to sink.

The team called the phenomenon “underground climate change.”

Using over 150 temperature sensors both above and below the surface of Chicago’s Loop District, Dr. Alessandro F. Rotta Loria and his team found that since 1951, the ground between Chicago’s city surface and the bedrock has warmed by an average of 5.6 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in ground deformation.

The study was published in the journal Communications Engineering.

The study further stated that near some heat sources, the ground beneath Chicagoans’ feet has warmed by 27 degrees Fahrenheit, which has caused layers of earthen to swell, contract, sink and crack.

There is no immediate threat of buildings collapsing. The researchers projections however indicate buildings in Chicago could sink by as much as 8 millimeters by 2051.

While this may appear subtle, the team emphasizes that it is sufficient to create problems in the future.

“The ground is deforming as a result of temperature variations, and no existing civil structure or infrastructure is designed to withstand these variations,” Loria said in a press release. “Although this phenomenon is not dangerous for people’s safety necessarily, it will affect the normal day-to-day operations of foundation systems and civil infrastructure at large.”

The study cited two recommendations that could help mitigate the effects of underground climate change.

First, it suggests improving thermal insulation on both new and existing buildings to limit the amount of heat entering the ground.

Additionally, the researchers hope that waste heat can eventually be recaptured with the right technology and utilized as an energy source.

Other cities around the world are also reported to be sinking, albeit for other reasons.

Experts warn that one-third of Jakarta, Indonesia, could be submerged underwater by 2050, primarily due to excessive groundwater extraction.

Meanwhile, a study published in May revealed that New York City is sinking at a rate of 1-2 millimeters per year under the immense weight of its concrete, metal, and glass structures.
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Tags: Chicago, Climate Change, Indonesia, New York City, Science
Chinese hackers target government officials: July 13 rundown

July 13, 2023
Chinese hackers breached the email accounts belonging to top government officials, and Hollywood actors could join writers in striking. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Thursday, July 13, 2023.

Chinese hackers breach U.S. government email accounts

Microsoft email accounts belonging to top government officials and agencies have been breached by Chinese hackers, according to statements from Microsoft and the White House. Affected agencies include the State Department and the Commerce Department.

According to The Washington Post, hackers accessed the email account of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. Sources familiar with the investigation said the Chinese hackers also targeted a handful of other government officials.

The FBI had previously said Beijing has a larger hacking program than all other governments combined. The latest breach could escalate cybersecurity concerns regarding China.

“We always look at incidents such as this and seek to learn how to better protect our systems,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Wednesday, July 12. “And of course, we engage in conversation with the third-party providers about how they can better protect the systems that they provide to us.”

Russian general dismissed over criticism of leadership

A Russian general said he was dismissed after telling military leadership about the dire situation on the front lines of the war with Ukraine. Major General Ivan Popov said Russian soldiers had been stabbed in the back by the failings of military leadership.

Popov also said the Russian army lacked proper reconnaissance of enemy artillery and counter artillery systems. His criticism and subsequent dismissal comes less than three weeks after the Wagner group staged a brief but significant revolt against Russia, further demonstrating discontent within Russian fighters as the country continues the biggest land war in Europe since World War 2.

“Putin still wrongly believes that he can outlast Ukraine. He can’t believe it’s their land, their country and their future. And even after all this time, Putin still doubts our staying power,” President Joe Biden said Wednesday in his closing remarks at this week’s NATO summit. “He’s still making a bad bet that the conviction and the unity among the United States and our allies and partners will break down.”

Tornado spotted near Chicago’s O’Hare airport

A tornado was spotted near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport Wednesday night. Just behind planes on the tarmac, a funnel and dark clouds hovered in the skies, grounding nearly 700 flights as pilots waited for the powerful storm to pass through.

Homes were lost and trees and powerlines were toppled in the suburbs. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage at the airport.

Ray Epps sues Fox News over Jan. 6 charges

Among the thousands of people participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, Ray Epps became the center of a conspiracy theory accusing him of being an FBI informant, at the Capitol to incite the crowd. Several Fox News hosts ran with the story, with former primetime host Tucker Carlson often questioning why Epps hadn’t been arrested when hundreds of others had.

Epps has now sued Fox News for defamation. According to the suit, Epps was informed in May of 2023 that he faces criminal charges for his actions on Jan. 6. Epps blames the charges on “the relentless attacks by Fox and Tucker Carlson and the resulting political pressure.”

The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of Delaware, the same court where Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox over its coverage of the 2020 presidential election. Before trial was set to begin, Fox agreed to settle that lawsuit for $787 million. Soon after, Carlson was ousted.

Hollywood actors strike looms

Hollywood actors may soon join screenwriters on the picket lines. A deadline for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to reach a deal with studios and streaming services passed at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.

The SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee then voted unanimously to recommend a strike, which would halt Hollywood productions. Issues in the negotiations include better residuals with streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon, as well as the use of AI technology.

The looming strike cast a shadow over Wednesday’s Emmy nominations.

“There are certain streamers that have really kind of changed the way we work and the way we have work,” actress Jessica Chastain said Wednesday. “And the contracts really haven’t caught up to the innovation that’s happened.”

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since early May of 2023. If the actors go on strike, it would be the first time since 1960 that the two guilds would be on strike at the same time.

Elon Musk creates new company “xAI”

Elon Musk has begun his next business venture. This time, he’s entering the space of artificial intelligence.

Musk said he built “xAI” with a goal to “understand reality and the true nature of the universe.” He hired researchers from Google, OpenAI and other top tech firms to be part of his initial xAI team.

According to Musk, xAI will be its own entity, separate from his other businesses like Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX. However, Musk also said the companies will work closely together.
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Baltimore police search for suspects after 30 shot in mass shooting: July 3 rundown

July 3, 2023
Cities across the U.S. are riddled with gun violence and violent protests in France continue. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Monday, July 3, 2023.

31 people shot at Baltimore block party

A mass shooting at a holiday celebration in Baltimore left two young people dead and another 28 people shot and injured. Just after midnight on Sunday, two people started shooting into an annual block party. An 18 and 20 year old were shot and killed. More than two dozen others were shot and injured. Many of them were minors with the youngest being just 13 years old.

Police say they are still looking for suspects.

Mass shooting in Kansas, explosives detonated in D.C.

Over the weekend In Chicago, 31 people were shot, 3 of them fatally. And in Wichita, Kansas, seven people were shot and two more were injured when they were trampled in a nightclub.

And in Washington, D.C., police are searching for the people responsible for setting off multiple explosive devices around the city. Three businesses were targeted including a supermarket, a Nike store, and a bank. No injuries were reported.

Hundreds arrested as French riots rage in streets

Violent protests continued in France over the weekend following the deadly police shooting of a teenager. Police fatally shot the teenage-driver while he was attempting to drive away from police during a traffic stop.

Angry crowds launched fireworks at police, and set fire to France, mainly in Paris. Dozens of police officers have been injured. More than 500 vehicles and 74 buildings have been set on fire, along with more than 800 fires set on public roads. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested daily since the shooting last Tuesday.

The policeman who fired the fatal shot has been placed under formal investigation for murder. He has apologized to the family. And the grandmother of that 17-year-old who was killed called for calm and asked protesters to end the rioting.

U.S. treasury secretary to visit China this week

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to China later this week. She is scheduled to meet with Chinese officials on a range of issues, including U.S. concerns about a new Chinese counter-espionage law that could potentially have consequences on U.S. firms overseas.

This trip comes just two weeks after Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing in another attempt to shore up battered-relations between the world’s two largest economies.

Chicago floods, extreme heat spans the U.S.

Heavy rains over the weekend flooded the streets of Chicago, prompting NASCAR officials to postpone a race because of the hazardous conditions. Cars were stranded as underpasses flooded and basements across the Chicago area had inches of rain water rush in. Some areas received more then five inches of rain on Sunday, breaking previous records in the city.

Meanwhile, 110 million Americans are under extreme weather alerts as a scorching heat wave is spanning across the country from the West Coast to the South. The Fourth of July is set to be steamy across the U.S.

Roller coaster shut down after visitor spots cracked beam

A North Carolina amusement park shut down one of its largest attractions over the weekend after a visitor spotted a cracked support beam on a roller coaster ride.

The visitor took a video of the roller coaster in action where he described the beam as moving two to four feet when the coaster’s car full of people sped past it on the track. He reported the incident and the amusement park shut the ride down immediately for repairs.

An inspection is taking place and the ride will be closed indefinitely until the issue is fixed.

Twitter limits tweets

Twitter users will now be limited in how many tweets they can view per day. The temporary restrictions are described as an attempt to prevent unauthorized scraping of data, something that was slowing down and glitching the platform for users.

Unverified accounts, not paying for the platform, can read 1,000 posts per day. Verified accounts will be able to scroll through 10,000.

According to Elon Musk, the restrictions could result in users being locked out of Twitter for the day after scrolling through their limit. Thousands of users ran into the issue on Saturday.
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Severe weather leads to canceled flights, United blames FAA: June 28 rundown

June 28, 2023

The CEO of United Airlines called out the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after flights across the country were canceled, and Ford is set to make more job cuts. These stories and more highlight the rundown for Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

United Airlines CEO blames FAA for thousands of flight cancellations

Hundreds of flights have been canceled Wednesday following thousands of cancellations on Tuesday, June 27. In airports across the Northeast, thousands of passengers were waiting for hours to reach their destination. 2,000 flights were canceled and 7,000 flights were delayed on Tuesday as severe storms struck the Northeast.

United Airlines said 150,000 of its customers had been impacted. In a memo to employees, United CEO Scott Kirby slammed the FAA over canceled flights in the Newark region claiming the severe weather is something the FAA has historically been able to manage.

This comes as the FAA faces new scrutiny after a government audit released last week revealed a “critical shortage” of employees in air traffic control facilities. The audit claims the staffing issue poses a risk to flight operations with a busy summer travel season approaching.

Chicago, Detroit ranked worst air quality in world due to wildfire smoke

The National Weather Service warned more smoke from the Canadian wildfires will likely move into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic Wednesday, potentially impacting more flight schedules across the region. Chicago and Detroit ranked as having the worst air quality in the world Tuesday due to the wildfire smoke looming over the city.

More than 80 million Americans from the Midwest to the East Coast were under air quality alerts Wednesday. Canada is seeing its worst fire season on record with hundreds of wildfires burning out of control.

U.S. to house migrant children at former boarding school

The Biden administration plans on housing up to 800 unaccompanied migrant children at a repurposed boarding school in Greensboro, North Carolina. The former American Hebrew Academy will house boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 17 who entered U.S. border custody without their parents or legal guardians. The 800 available beds will make the former boarding school the government’s largest active housing facility for unaccompanied minors.

Another facility in Texas currently has the capacity to house up to 500 additional migrant children. However, the Department of Health and Human Services has tried to reduce the use of the facility following reports of substandard conditions and child depression.

Spacey sex assault trial gets underway

Actor Kevin Spacey’s sexual assault trial began Wednesday. The two-time Oscar winner is charged with sexually assaulting four men between 2001 and 2013 while he was the artistic director of London’s Old Vic theater.

The trial is expected to last four weeks. If convicted, Spacey could face prison time. If he is acquitted, it could lead to a revival of an acting career that’s largely been on ice since the allegations surfaced.

“There are people right now who are ready to hire me the moment i am cleared of these charges,” Spacey said in an interview with a German magazine earlier in June. He added that the media has turned him into a monster.

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett dead after apparent drowning

Former Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who went on to have a seven-year career in the NFL, died Tuesday in an apparent drowning incident at a Florida beach. Mallet’s sudden passing has stunned the NFL community, who offered an outpouring of support for the former New England Patriots backup quarterback. .

Mallet also played for the Houston Texans, where he made his first career touchdown pass to defensive end J.J. Watt. Mallet was most recently the head football coach at White Hall High School in his home state of Arkansas. He was 35 years old.

Ford to cut another 1,000 jobs in EV push

Ford plans to lay off at least 1,000 salaried employees and contract workers in North America. The move is the latest effort to cut company costs in order to better afford their new focus on electric vehicles.

A chunk of the layoffs will be white-collar jobs, including hundreds of engineers in the U.S. and Canada. Ford has made several rounds of global layoffs over the past year, nixing 3,000 jobs in the U.S. in the summer of 2022 and conducting an even larger layoff in Europe earlier in 2023.

Volvo to adopt Tesla’s charge port

Another automaker has announced it will start using Tesla’s charging standard port in its electric cars starting in 2025. Volvo is joining Ford, General Motors, and Rivian in using Tesla’s technology so drivers can use Tesla’s broad charging network across North America.
Blinken and Xi meet to improve relationship: June 19 rundown

June 19, 2023

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping met, and the Biden reelection campaign was set to ramp up this week. These stories highlight the rundown for Monday, June 19, 2023.

Blinken meets with Xi Jinping

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Chinese president Xi Jinping as the two attempted to improve a deteriorating relationship between the two nations. The meeting with Xi wrapped up a two-day visit for Blinken, which included a meeting with China’s top diplomat. Blinken is the highest-level U.S. official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office.

The most recent downward spiral between the two countries first spiked in the summer of 2022, when Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) visited Taiwan. Things escalated again in February after a Chinese spy balloon was shot down over American airspace.

In May, a Chinese warship nearly slammed an American ship transiting the Taiwan Strait, and a Chinese fighter jet in the same region flew so close to a U.S. military plane it created turbulence. The goal of Blinken’s meeting with Xi, as well as the trip as a whole, was to open communication channels with China to avoid a military clash.

Biden to announce climate investment amid fundraising push

President Biden was set to visit Palo Alto, California Monday. He was expected to announce over $600 million in climate investments aimed at helping coastal communities. Most of the money will go to projects to fight rising sea levels, storm surges, and tidal hurricanes.

The Palo Alto trip will also kick off a week of campaigning in the Golden State as Biden looks to raise funds from donors in the tech and climate industries. This week alone, Biden had four fundraisers planned in the San Francisco area.

In the back half of this month, Biden’s campaign will have over 20 fundraisers involving the President, Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. The re-election campaign ramp-up comes after Biden held his first campaign rally in front of a crowd of union workers over the weekend.

“There are a lot of politicians in this country who can’t say the word union. You know I’m not one of them. I’m proud to say the word. I’m proud to be the most pro-union president in American history,” Biden said.

Mass shootings taint Juneteenth weekend celebrations

23 people were shot, one fatally, at a Juneteenth celebration southwest of Chicago. The fatal shooting is one of several that occurred over the holiday weekend.

There were no initial arrests in the Willowbrook, Illinois shooting. It was just after midnight Sunday, June 18 when gunshots scattered the crowd of people.

That shooting occurred just hours after a Father’s Day celebration turned deadly on Chicago’s south side. At least two people were killed and three others injured after witnesses say someone drove by a park and started shooting.

In St. Louis, 10 teenagers were shot at a party, according to local police. One of the teens died from their injuries. Meanwhile, officials in Washington state say a fatal shooting took place there at a music festival

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study showing homicide and suicides have becomes a leading cause of death for young Americans between 10 and 24 years old.

UPS workers set stage for largest strike since 1959

UPS workers have voted overwhelmingly to strike if no contract agreement is reached between the package delivery company and their workers union. If the strike does occur, it could be the biggest labor walkout in the U.S. since the 1950s.

On Friday, June 16, the union voted to authorize a strike by the time the current contract expires on July 31st. The union is seeking higher pay and the elimination of two-tier wages.

They are also demanding the removal of surveillance cameras from delivery trucks and more full-time opportunities. The union represents about 340,000 employees.

Nearly 100 dead after heat wave hits India

A heat wave in the world’s most populous country has killed nearly 100 people in just two regions of India alone. Temperatures have reached above 110 degrees.

Nearly half of India’s workforce is outdoors, and the strenuous labor in extreme heat have proven to be deadly. Local hospitals have been overwhelmed with hundreds and hundreds of people experiencing heat exhaustion and stroke.

Asia experienced the hottest April on record as the region continues to see excessive heat early on in the summer.

Corporations pledge to hire 13,000+ refugees

Ahead of World Refugee Day on Tuesday, June 20, some of the largest companies in the world have pledged to hire more than 13,000 refugees over the next three years.

More than 40 corporations including Amazon, Marriott and Hilton promised to either hire, train or connect 250,000 refugees to work. Among these refugees are Ukrainian women who fled in the wake of Russia’s invasion.

By the end of last year, nearly 12 million Ukrainians remained displaced after Europe’s largest movement of refugees since World War II.
Violent ‘Teen Takeover’ brings chaos in Chicago, mayor-elect responds

April 17, 2023

Chicago experienced a wave of violence during the weekend of April 15 when teenagers and young adults flooded the downtown area for a “Teen Takeover” event. Videos posted on social media captured young people fighting in the streets, jumping on the roof of a bus, breaking into vehicles and setting a Tesla on fire.

At least 11 people were killed, and more than 26 were wounded in violent scenes that played out near the Millennium Park area, according to NBC Chicago. Fifteen people — nine adults and six juveniles — were arrested in connection with the “reckless and disruptive behavior” seen on Saturday night, April 15, a police spokesperson confirmed as reported by Newsweek.

‘Teen Takeover’ terrorizes Chicago as hundreds of teenagers destroy property, attack tourists pic.twitter.com/miXKjELZTP

— Anny (@anny25717503) April 16, 2023

The city’s newly-elected mayor, Brandon Johnson, responded to the incident by stating that he does not condone the destructive activity and called it “unacceptable.” However, he added that “it is not constructive to demonize youth who have been starved of opportunities in their own communities.”

The mayor-elect also stated that the city must “work to create spaces where people can gather safely and responsibly, under adult guidance and supervision.”

pic.twitter.com/cwZb9n1Q9i

— Brandon Johnson (@Brandon4Chicago) April 16, 2023

Some users criticized Johnson’s response, saying it sided with violent offenders. However, others stated the Johnson is just being cognizant of the root societal causes of the problem.

Last year, Chicago had a reported 695 homicides. This was notably lower than the 797 homicides in 2021, which was reportedly the worst year on record since the 1990s.

Mayor-elect Johnson, who will assume office in May, has promised to address Chicago’s crime situation. In an April interview with ABC, Johnson stressed that there’s a direct correlation between youth unemployment and violence, and that he has a plan to address this on day one in office.

“We’re going to get at the root causes but we’re also going to respond to the immediate crisis, training and promoting 200 more detectives, making sure that we are implementing the consent decree, and of course making sure we are enforcing the red flag laws,” Johnson said. “There’s a direct correlation between youth employment and violence production. We’re going to stand it up day one when I am in office.”
Trump goes after prosecutors following not guilty plea: April 5 rundown

April 5, 2023

Former President Donald Trump is back in Florida after pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. What’s next in the unprecedented criminal case against him? And Nashville police executed a search warrant at the home of the school shooter who killed six people at a Christian private school. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

Trump gives speech following arraignment

Former President Donald Trump was arraigned in a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday, April 4. He pleaded not guilty to all 34 felony counts related to falsifying records in connection to alleged hush money payments paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels laid out in a 16-page indictment. Trump attorneys said they will file a motion to dismiss in the coming months.

The next hearing in the case isn’t until Dec. 4, where Trump will be expected to appear. Trump returned to Florida where he addressed the indictment brought forth by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, calling it a political stunt and promoting his own presidential campaign.

“We are a nation in decline,” Trump said. “And now these radical left lunatics want to interfere with our elections by using law enforcement. We can’t let that happen. With all of this being said and with a very dark cloud over our beloved country, I have no doubt, nevertheless, that we will make America great again.”

On the same day of former President Trump’s indictment, a federal appeals court ordered Daniels to pay Trump’s legal fees in a separate case. Daniels had sued Trump for defamation in 2018 over a Twitter post, but lost. The adult film star will now have to pay more than $121,000 to cover Trump’s defense.

Nashville shooter’s home searched

We’re learning new details in the Nashville school shooting that killed three students and three staffers at a Christian school last week. Investigators have revealed what they found and confiscated during a search warrant of the shooter’s home. Police recovered 47 items from the house and logged them into evidence.

The shooter, 28 year old Audrey Hale, had left behind an apparent suicide note. There were 19 journals and covenant school yearbooks. There was also reading material on school shootings and firearms courses.

Two shotguns were recovered from the house along with more ammunition. Police have not yet released a motive in the case as the investigation is ongoing.

J&J proposes settlement over talc

Johnson & Johnson is offering nearly $9 billion to settle talcum powder lawsuits. The health and consumer goods company says the proposal is being backed by more than 60,000 parties that have filed lawsuits. They claimed the talc used in its products was contaminated with asbestos and gave them illness, including cancer.

Johnson and Johnson says the settlement, which still needs approval by a bankruptcy court, does not mean an admission of wrongdoing.

GM avoids layoffs after buyouts

About 5,000 white-collar employees at General Motors have accepted buyout offers from the company, helping GM to save about $1 billion per year in costs and other employees to keep their jobs. The automaker said the success of buyouts means GM won’t be making any layoffs, at least at this time.

The move comes as General Motors tries to bring down costs and make the transition to electric vehicles.

Violence at holy temple ahead of holiday

During a sensitive holiday season, violence broke out between Israeli police and Palestinian youth inside of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.

Police fired stun grenades in response to Palestinians throwing rocks and firecrackers at forces. Fifty people were injured and 350 people barricaded inside the building were arrested.

The outburst then resulted in Palestinian militants firing off a rocket on Southern Israel. Israel responded by sending in its own airstrikes.

The location is known to be used by both Jews and Muslims. Muslims are marking Ramadan while Jewish people are preparing for Passover.

Chicago’s new mayor elected

We reported Tuesday that two highly contested elections were happening in the U.S., and now, the results are in. Chicago has a new mayor in Chicago, and Wisconsin has elected in its newest state Supreme Court Justice.

Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson was elected Chicago mayor in the city’s run-off election. Paul Vallas conceded to Johnson by night’s end. Johnson will replace Lori Lightfoot, whose bid for a second term was rejected by Chicago voters in February.

Meanwhile in Wisconsin, Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a Democratic-backed Milwaukee judge, won a high-stakes Supreme Court race, ensuring liberals will take over the majority of the court for the first time in 15 years. The timing of the election comes as the fate of the state’s abortion ban will be on the line.
Finland joins NATO, doubling presence along Russia’s border: April 4 rundown

April 4, 2023

Finland is set to become the newest member of NATO today, doubling NATO’s presence along Russia’s borders. It is election day in Chicago, as two Democratic candidates are in a run-off for Chicago mayor. These stories and more highlight the daily rundown for Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Finland joins NATO as 31st member

Finland will become an official member of NATO nearly a year after it first applied following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO’s border with Russia will now double with the addition of Finland, though the world’s biggest security alliance says it has no plans to send additional troops there.

The Finnish flag is set to be raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels at a ceremony on April 4. Finland is now the 31st NATO member.

Trump to be arraigned in New York

Former President Donald Trump is expected to face an arraignment on criminal charges in New York City on Tuesday, April 4. The judge handling the arraignment ruled a handful of photographers will be allowed in the courtroom to take still pictures, but no video will be taken.

Trump will first go to the Manhattan courthouse for fingerprinting and processing. Then this afternoon he’s expected to stand before the judge and plead not guilty to any charges related to hush money payments.

Trump is expected to travel back to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida where he plans to give a speech reacting to the charges.

Chicago votes for new mayor in runoff

Voters in Chicago are going to the polls to decide who their next mayor will be. The run-off election between Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson and former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas comes after no candidate received the majority of the votes in February.

The initial election ousted incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot. In the six-week run-up to today, Vallas and Johnson have debated issues from crime to education. Both men are Democrats but have different political approaches.

“I’m getting broad support from the business community because they’ve been decimated because of high crime, they’ve been decimated because of escalating taxes,” Vallas said.

“We do what works. And that’s investing in young people. There’s a correlation between hiring young people and, and violence reduction. And so these are the preventive measures that I am taking as mayor of Chicago,” Johnson said. He represents the progressive left, while Vallas is part of the moderate wing of the party. Polls will close at 8 p.m. ET.

Wisconsin Supreme Court election

Voters in Wisconsin head to the polls on April 4 for a crucial state Supreme Court election. The race is nonpartisan but Republican organizations are backing Dan Kelly, while Democratic groups are supporting Janet Protasiewicz. Democrats are hoping to flip the court’s balance for the first time in 15 years. Abortion rights has been the biggest focus of the race.

China warns against McCarthy meeting

China has warned House Speaker Kevin McCarthy not to “repeat disastrous past mistakes” by meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen this week, saying it would undermine regional peace and stability and worsen U.S.- China relations.

The Taiwanese government dismissed criticism of the planned meeting, which it confirmed would take place in California on Wednesday, April 5.

Tsai’s transit through the United States has fueled new threats from Beijing as relations between the world’s two largest economies spiral.

UConn wins national championship

The University of Connecticut men’s basketball are national champions after their victory over San Diego State University. The final score was 76-59. It is the fifth national title for the University of Connecticut and the first since 2014.

The team dominated in the tournament, winning each game by double digits.

Husky fans celebrated big at a watch party at their home stadium, coming in as a fourth seed, and coming out on top.
Morning rundown: Chicago’s mayor loses reelection; FBI’s COVID origins report

March 1, 2023

Chicago’s mayoral race goes to a runoff – Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) lost her bid for reelection Tuesday night. Eight other candidates were in the mayoral race with no candidate receiving 50% of the vote. A runoff between the top two candidates from Tuesday night’s election is scheduled for April 4. Chicago Public Schools CEO and City Budget Director Paul Vallas (D) will face off against Cook County Board of Commissioners member Brandon Johnson (D). Lightfoot finished the race in third place and conceded Tuesday night, telling supporters she is rooting and praying for the next mayor of Chicago.

Passenger and freight train collide in Greece – A passenger train carrying hundreds of people collided at high-speed with an oncoming freight train in Greece on Tuesday. 32 people were killed and at least 85 others were injured at press time. The collision resulted in a fiery scene in north Greece where several train cars derailed with three bursting into flames. The possible cause of the collision was not immediately clear. The regional governor confirmed the trains were traveling on the same track. The crash occurred after the passenger train carrying 350 people emerged from a tunnel.

FBI Director said COVID-19 originated from lab leak in China – Just days after a Department of Energy assessment concluded that COVID-19 was most likely transmitted as the result of a lab leak in Wuhan, China, another intelligence agency shared the same conclusion in a separate investigation. FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a FOX News interview Tuesday the Bureau’s assessment of the origins of COVID-19 concluded with it most likely leaking from a lab in Wuhan, China. While the Department of Energy put a “low confidence” rating on its report, Wray said the FBI had moderate confidence in its conclusion. Wray couldn’t give many details because much of the assessment is classified.

Wray also said the Chinese government tried to thwart the work of U.S. agencies attempting to investigate COVID’s origins. Federal intelligence agencies are divided on the origins of COVID. Four other U.S. intelligence agencies have released their own findings concluding the virus jumped from animals to humans at a wet market in China.

FAA investigating a close call at Boston airport – The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a close call between a JetBlue flight preparing to land and a Learjet taking off at Boston Logan International Airport Monday night. The FAA said the pilot of the Learjet did not have clearance for takeoff. According to the FAA, an air traffic controller instructed the Learjet pilot to line up and wait on its runway. The pilot read back the instructions clearly but began a takeoff roll instead. The JetBlue flight was preparing to land on an intersecting runway.

The JetBlue pilot took evasive action and initiated a climb-out as the Learjet crossed the intersection. The JetBlue flight coming from Nashville to Boston eventually landed safely at the airport.

Iran school girls poisoned by the hundreds – Nearly 700 schoolgirls have been poisoned by toxic gas in Iran since November. More than ten girls’ schools have reported poisoning incidents. There haven’t been any reports of deaths related to the poisonings. Dozens of girls have reported a rotten fish or tangerine smell before falling ill.

Iran’s Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said he opened a criminal investigation last week. Iran has faced much unrest for months with one of its greatest criticisms being its treatment of women. Some parents of school children believe the poisonings are a deliberate attempt to force girls’ schools to shut down.

Beer and wine sales in Canada drop to record lows – Beer and wine sales in Canada have dipped to a new low. Overall, alcohol sales between 2021-2022 decreased by 1.2 percent, marking the first decline since 2013 and the largest drop in more than a decade. According to Statistics Canada, the volume of beer sold dropped 2.8%. Wine sales decreased by 4%, the largest decrease ever recorded by government data cruncher Statistics Canada going back to 1949. Come April 1, Canada is raising federal taxes on beer by 6.3%, potentially further hindering sales in the beer and wine industries.
DeSantis visits Chicago and New York, expresses support for police

February 21, 2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has become one of the top choices to win the Republican nomination for president in 2024, in part due to his involvement in politics outside his home state. That trend continued Monday as DeSantis brought the message that he’s tough on crime to a gathering of law enforcement officers in New York.

The governor expressed his support for the police, while explaining his intolerance for “wokeness.”

“They’re putting woke ideology ahead of your safety as New Yorkers or as people from Illinois or wherever you have this type of policy taking place. So, what have we done in Florida? When they were talking about defunding police and slashing budgets, we said, ‘not on my watch,’ that’s not happening,” DeSantis said.

The same day, DeSantis brought that same message to an event for members of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police. That visit is now causing a stir in the city’s ongoing mayoral race.

Paul Vallas, the candidate endorsed by the union, expressed disappointment in hosting DeSantis.

“DeSantis’ record of trying to erase the LGBTQ community, banning books on Black history, and much more, is not in line with my values, the values of our community, or the values of the rank and file police officers, who I believe have no interest in getting swept up in culture wars and national Republican Party politics,” Vallas said.

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DeSantis visits Chicago and New York, expresses support for police