Afternoon Briefing: Mother and daughter killed in Winnetka crash
When a driver hit and killed two women pushing a baby boy in a stroller in Winnetka on Friday, Mudassir Rashid and other family members were left in shock. His wife, Sediqeh 'Asra' Samadi, 37, of Kenilworth, a chemical engineer who worked at Abbott Labs, was one of the victims. The other was her mother, Saeideh Sigari, a 58-year-old teacher who was visiting from Iran and had been excited to meet her only grandson for the first time.
Samadi and Rashid's 4-month-old son, Yusuf, who was in the stroller, has been hospitalized at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge in critical condition, said Rashid, an assistant professor and director of the pharmaceutical engineering program at Illinois Institute of Technology, also called Illinois Tech, in Chicago.
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stops in Springfield to criticize state's immigration policies
Kristi Noem's event was held near where Emma Shafer, a 24-year-old community organizer, was stabbed to death in July 2023. The alleged killer, who Noem said was in the U.S. illegally at the time of the crime, remains at large. Read more here.
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US Sen. Jim Banks and Rep. Frank Mrvan ask US Treasury to consider national security in steel deal
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Do the Chicago Bulls have a chance at landing Giannis Antetokounmpo on the trade market?
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Column: When Harry met Wally, the result was a definitive book on how to watch television
They were young wide-eyed students when they met at Northwestern University. Walter Podrazik was from Bridgeport and Harry Castleman from Boston and it did not take them long to discover that they shared a passion for The Beatles. Read more here.
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Conclave begins in the Vatican: What to know about the election for the next pope
One hundred and thirty-three cardinals are sequestering themselves behind the Vatican's medieval walls for the start of a conclave starting today to elect a successor to Pope Francis. Read more here.
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Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Noem's free stay in military housing after death threats sparks Dem barbs
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been staying rent-free in the home reserved for the top Coast Guard official following death threats, drawing scrutiny and criticism from congressional Democrats. The Department of Homeland Security said it was a wide range of death threats, as well as reporting that showed the area around Noem's Navy Yard condo that spurred the unusual arrangement at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, where the Coast Guard commandant typically lives. 'Following the media's publishing of the location of Secretary Noem's Washington DC apartment, she has faced vicious doxing on the dark web and a surge in death threats, including from the terrorist organizations, cartels, and criminals gangs that DHS targets. Due to threats and security concerns, she has been forced to temporarily stay in secure military housing. Secretary Noem continues to pay rent for her Navy Yard residence,' Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. The move has prompted criticism from some Democrats, who say Noem is improperly using military resources because Cabinet officials traditionally pay fair market value to stay in federal housing that otherwise would be occupied by top military officials. 'Federal government coffers are not Noem's personal piggy bank, and Coast Guard service members are not her servants. Noem must pay her part. If she requires accommodations for her security, she should brief Congress and request appropriate resources—not take over property from the Coast Guard,' Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said in a statement. The Washington Post first reported Noem was staying in the commandant's residence rent-free, while the Daily Mail first reported the secretary moved there in July. McLaughlin went on to criticize The Post for choosing 'to again publish where Secretary Noem is staying—endangering her security.' 'It's a shame that the media chooses sensationalism over the safety of people enforcing America's laws to keep Americans safe,' she added. But Democrats argue the arrangement takes advantage of the Coast Guard — an argument that comes after Noem has faced fire for routinely using the service's jet. The quarters for the Coast Guard commandant would typically be held by Adm. Kevin Lunday, the No. 2 official who is leading the Coast Guard in an acting capacity but who has not yet been nominated to the role. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), told the Post the commandant's house is 'not a vanity residence' and that Noem is 'essentially taking that property from the military.' 'It's a real insult to the brave men and women who are protecting our shores that she thinks that house belongs to her instead of to the Coast Guard,' Murphy said. While cabinet officials are not provided housing, military personnel are given a housing allowance based on their rank, family size, and location. According to the Post, Coast Guard members typically use those funds to pay for a lease, including at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Noem has previously come under fire for tapping into Coast Guard resources. In May, the Coast Guard added $50 million to their budget request in order to fund the purchase of a new plane that would largely be used by Noem, sparking outrage from Democratic appropriators. 'I was horrified last Friday when we received a last minute addition to your spend plan for fiscal '25, a new $50 million Gulfstream 5 for Secretary Noem's personal travel coming from the Coast Guard budget. She already has a Gulfstream 5, by the way, this is a new one,' said Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, at the time. The Department of Homeland Security has defended the request. 'The current CG-101 G550 is over twenty years old, outside of Gulfstream's service life, and well beyond operational usage hours for a corporate aircraft,' McLaughlin said in May. 'This is a matter of safety. Much like the Coast Guard's ships that are well beyond their service life and safe operational usage, Coast Guard's aircraft are too. This Administration is taking action to restore our Nation's finest maritime Armed Service to a capable fighting force.' The Post on Friday reported Noem has been using the Coast Guard jet extensively since taking office, including for nine personal trips to South Dakota. Federal law requires those trips to be reimbursed at the same cost as a seat on a commercial flight, which McLaughlin told the Post Noem has done. Thompson on Friday referenced the jet as another example of Noem stretching the resources of the Coast Guard. 'If Secretary Noem is living rent-free in military housing, she should be ashamed. Reports that she is also using Coast Guard executive jets for extensive personal travel … are just as despicable. Secretary Noem's focus seems to be on pampering herself at taxpayer expense, even as she directs the inhumane and unlawful treatment of so many,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
Trump's DHS touts massive number of illegal immigrants deported as Dems lash out at ICE
The Department of Homeland Security is touting new data showing that the nation's illegal immigrant population has plummeted by 1.6 million people since January. The statistics, from the Center for Immigration Studies, indicate that self-deportations are driving the trend. The federal government has provided financial incentives for illegal immigrants to leave and has run advertisements telling them they can only apply to return if they leave voluntarily. "In less than 200 days, 1.6 MILLION illegal immigrants have left the United States population," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement on Thursday. "This is massive. This means safer streets, taxpayer savings, pressure off of schools and hospital services and better job opportunities for Americans. Thank you, President Trump!" The agency says over 1 million people have opted for self-deportation through the CBP Home app. DHS began offering $1,000 and free travel out of the United States to those seeking to leave the country on their own and who do not have a criminal background outside of their immigration status. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., is becoming an example from the Trump administration to sanctuary cities around the country, as Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered that officers cooperate with federal immigration authorities and put Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole in an oversight role of the police force. "I sent out 33 letters to mayors around this country. I think three or four of them were in California alone. Not surprising. I sent out letters to all of these mayors and to the governors saying, "You must comply.' we want to know what you're doing to comply with our federal government," Bondi said on "Hannity" on Thursday night. Tensions are high between Democratic leadership and federal law enforcement in sanctuary cities, as there were immigration authorities outside Gov. Gavin Newsom's rally in Los Angeles on Thursday, and at least one arrest was made by U.S. Border Patrol. "WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY WEAK LITTLE DONALD TRUMP, THE CRIMINAL PRESIDENT!" Newsom's office told Fox News Digital in an email. Some New York City leaders are also making critical comparisons to rebuke the Trump administration's immigration policies. "When I look at the visuals of ICE agents masked on the street, taking people from their homes, taking people who are rightfully showing up for court. It reminds me of something that some of my ancestors had to go through, which is the KKK," New York City Council Member Nantasha Williams said this week. Many Democrats have likened ICE agents to Nazis since Trump took office. "I'm gonna start with the flashing red light — Donald Trump's modern-day Gestapo is scooping folks up off the streets," former vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in May. "They're in unmarked vans, wearing masks, being shipped off to foreign torture dungeons. No chance to mount a defense. Not even a chance to kiss a loved one goodbye. Just grabbed up by masked agents, shoved into those vans, and disappeared." "I don't know of any police department that routinely wears masks. We know that there are other groups that routinely wear masks. NSC-131 routinely wears masks," Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in June, referencing a neo-Nazi group. DHS says that ICE agents are facing a 1,000% increase in assaults since last year. "We will not and have not let this violence stop us or slow us down. Everyday our law enforcement continues to enforce the law and arrest the most depraved criminals including pedophiles, terrorists, murderers, gang members, and sexual predators," Noem stated earlier this month as ICE seeks to hire thousands of more agents. President Trump is touting the immigration crackdown, as the administration says the efforts to remove illegal immigrants from the country will lead to less of a strain on public resources. "We want to stop crime. I think if the Democrats aren't strong on this issue, they won't be able to do it. I think this is a bigger issue than all of the other ridiculous things that like open borders," he said Thursday.
The Hill
2 days ago
- The Hill
Noem's free stay in military housing after death threats sparks Dem barbs
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been staying rent free in the home reserved for the top Coast Guard official following death threats, drawing scrutiny and criticism from congressional Democrats. The Department of Homeland Security said it was a wide range of death threats, as well as reporting that showed the area around Noem's Navy Yard condo, that spurred the unusual arrangement at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, where the Coast Guard commandant typically lives. 'Following the media's publishing of the location of Secretary Noem's Washington DC apartment, she has faced vicious doxing on the dark web and a surge in death threats, including from the terrorist organizations, cartels, and criminals gangs that DHS targets. Due to threats and security concerns, she has been forced totemporarily stay in secure military housing. Secretary Noem continues to pay rent for her Navy Yard residence,' Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. The move has prompted criticism from some Democrats who say Noem is improperly using military resources, as traditionally cabinet officials pay fair market value to stay in federal housing that would otherwise be occupied by top military officials. 'Federal government coffers are not Noem's personal piggy bank, and Coast Guard service members are not her servants. Noem must pay her part. If she requires accommodations for her security, she should brief Congress and request appropriate resources—not take over property from the Coast Guard,' Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said in a statement. The Washington Post first reported that Noem was staying in the commandant's residence rent-free, while the Daily Mail first reported that the secretary had moved there in July. McLaughlin went on to criticize The Post for 'chos[ing] to again publish where Secretary Noem is staying—endangering her security.' 'It's a shame that the media chooses sensationalism over the safety of people enforcing America's laws to keep Americans safe,' she added. But Democrats argue that the arrangement takes advantage of the Coast Guard – one that comes after Noem has come under fire for routinely using the service's jet. The quarters for the Coast Guard commandant would typically be held by Adm. Kevin Lunday, the No. 2 official who is leading the Coast Guard in an acting capacity but who has not yet been nominated to the role. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), told the Post that the commandant's houseis 'not a vanity residence' and that Noem is 'essentially taking that property from the military.' 'It's a real insult to the brave men and women who are protecting our shores that she thinks that house belongs to her instead of to the Coast Guard,' Murphy said. While cabinet officials are not provided housing, military personnel are given a housing allowance based on their rank, family size, and location. According to The Post, Coast Guard members typically use those funds to pay for a lease, including at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Noem has previously come under fire for tapping into Coast Guard resources. In May, the Coast Guard added $50 million to their budget request in order to fund the purchase of a new plane that would largely be used by Noem, sparking outrage from Democratic appropriators. 'I was horrified last Friday when we received a last minute addition to your spend plan for fiscal '25, a new $50 million Gulfstream 5 for Secretary Noem's personal travel coming from the Coast Guard budget. She already has a Gulfstream 5, by the way, this is a new one,' Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, said at the time. The Department of Homeland Security has defended the request. 'The current CG-101 G550 is over twenty years old, outside of Gulfstream's service life, and well beyond operational usage hours for a corporate aircraft,' McLaughlin said in May. 'This is a matter of safety. Much like the Coast Guard's ships that are well beyond their service life and safe operational usage, Coast Guard's aircraft are too. This Administration is taking action to restore our Nation's finest maritime Armed Service to a capable fighting force.' The Post on Friday reported that Noem has been using the Coast Guard jet extensively since taking office, including for nine personal trips to South Dakota. Federal law requires those trips to be reimbursed at the same cost as a seat on a commercial flight, which McLaughlin told The Post Noem has done. Thompson on Friday referenced the jet as another example of Noem stretching the resources of the Coast Guard. 'If Secretary Noem is living rent-free in military housing, she should be ashamed. Reports that she is also using Coast Guard executive jets for extensive personal travel…are just as despicable. Secretary Noem's focus seems to be on pampering herself at taxpayer expense, even as she directs the inhumane and unlawful treatment of so many,' he said.
