Latest news with #AdrianaPérez
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Daywatch: How clean are the Chicago and Calumet rivers?
Good morning, Chicago. Before an outing on the Chicago River, coaches from a year-round local rowing team of breast cancer survivors check forecasts for storms and lightning, strong winds or air pollutants to decide whether it's safe to head out. During the summer months, they also get in the habit of checking for bacteria levels from human poop in the water. It might seem gross to think about, but for the group, it's necessary because some of its members have compromised immune systems due to their illness or treatment. In the last year, more often than not, test results reassured them that contact with the river wouldn't pose a health risk. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2024, microbial water quality readings in the Chicago and Calumet rivers showed that conditions remained good or low-caution for recreational users on 78 of 101 summer days, according to a report released today by local water innovation hub Current. Current has been collecting real-time microbial water quality data in the city's rivers every summer since 2021 as part of its H2NOW program, the first of its kind in a U.S. urban waterway. Read the full story from the Tribune's Adriana Pérez. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the latest on the Chicago man charged in the fatal D.C. shooting, what care the massive House bill puts at risk for Illinois residents and what records were found in the Cook County clerk's office relating to Pope Leo XIV. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History A Chicago man who railed on social media against the ongoing bombing of Gaza fatally shot two members of the Israeli Embassy near the Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday before allegedly admitting to a police officer he 'did it for Palestine,' according to federal charges unsealed yesterday afternoon. According to the complaint, Elias Rodriguez boarded a flight for Washington at O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday. Shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, Rodriguez shot two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington as the victims were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, the complaint stated. Editorial: We mourn the slayings of two young Israeli embassy workers, and the crime's Chicago ties In addition to cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid, a massive bill passed by the House yesterday would also prohibit the health insurance program from covering gender-affirming care — a provision that's at odds with Illinois' current practice. The provision is a result of a last-minute change to the bill before its passage out of the Republican-controlled House yesterday. Between a barrage of executive orders, foreign trips and norm-shattering proclamations, Donald Trump has also been busy raking in cash. The president has amassed a war chest of at least $600 million in political donations heading into the midterm elections, according to three people familiar with the matter. It's an unprecedented sum in modern politics, particularly for a lame-duck president who is barred by the U.S. Constitution from running again. Illinois lawmakers advanced a measure that would eliminate mandatory road testing for drivers under 87 and allow people to report close relatives they believe are no longer capable of driving safely. A new Chicago Teachers Union report criticizes the lack of oversight of the district's over 100 charter schools. Charter schools make up about a sixth of all schools in the district and receive public funding from Chicago Public Schools based on student enrollment, similar to district-run schools. Though charters are authorized and overseen by CPS, they operate as separate and private nonprofit organizations that manage their own day-to-day operations. Found within the Circuit Court of Cook County archives was a Declaration of Intention signed by Pope Leo XIV's paternal grandfather in 1920. It was the first step Salvatore Giovanni Riggitano — originally from Italy — took in the process to become a U.S. citizen. In the wake of the Illinois comptroller's office's decision to shut down a Chicago Heights crematory, at least 30 lawsuits have been filed by people who believe their loved ones remains were mishandled. The Chicago Cubs denied a report from their flagship radio station that the 2027 All-Star Game was coming to Wrigley Field, telling the Tribune 'no decision has been made.' The Cubs' first All-Star Game was played in 1947, and they hosted again in 1962. The Cubs were awarded the 1990 game after Tribune Co., the then-owners, agreed to install lights in 1988, ending the day-baseball-only tradition. The '90 All-Star Game at Wrigley included a rain delay in the seventh inning of a 2-0 American League win. Vintage Chicago Tribune: How Wrigley Field got lights The Chicago Stars will depart their usual Bridgeview venue to play a 'test run' game at an Evanston lakefront stadium in September as they consider a permanent move there. The City of Evanston has granted approval for the team, which competes in the National Women's Soccer League, to play all of its 16 home matches in 2026 at Northwestern University's Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The venue is the temporary home of the Wildcat football team, but the soccer club has not committed to playing there next year, said Emmanuel Salazar, spokesman for the Stars. Few things in Christopher Borrelli's life have been as consistent as 'Jaws.' It debuted 50 years ago this spring, soon after Memorial Day, and for those of us who spent summer breaks getting wrinkled in water, it ruined the next eight weeks. That said, from Cape Cod to saltwater-free Chicago, perhaps for you, the response was just as primal: 'Jaws' inaugurated the lifelong feeling that something's down there, beneath us in the water, wherever we were swimming, even if we were wading in a neighbor's aboveground pool. Why is Tribune film critic Michael Phillips cautiously optimistic — hope springs occasional, as they say — about the summer season, a time when all the franchisees come out to play and take you away from the sun? His reasoning is simple. Heading into summer means first closing the book on yet another network TV season, which still follows the fall-spring slot on the calendar. Tribune TV and film critic Nina Metz likes that regularity and thinks most viewers miss it when it comes to streaming. 'The Bear' is an outlier, premiering new episodes each June like clockwork. Shakira, Peso Pluma, Don Omar and Grupo Frontera headline Sueños, which returns to Grant Park this weekend. Expect more than 100,000 people, as the Latin music festival expands to include a second stage, a larger footprint and a dance zone for even more fun.
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Daywatch: How clean are the Chicago and Calumet rivers?
Good morning, Chicago. Before an outing on the Chicago River, coaches from a year-round local rowing team of breast cancer survivors check forecasts for storms and lightning, strong winds or air pollutants to decide whether it's safe to head out. During the summer months, they also get in the habit of checking for bacteria levels from human poop in the water. It might seem gross to think about, but for the group, it's necessary because some of its members have compromised immune systems due to their illness or treatment. In the last year, more often than not, test results reassured them that contact with the river wouldn't pose a health risk. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2024, microbial water quality readings in the Chicago and Calumet rivers showed that conditions remained good or low-caution for recreational users on 78 of 101 summer days, according to a report released today by local water innovation hub Current. Current has been collecting real-time microbial water quality data in the city's rivers every summer since 2021 as part of its H2NOW program, the first of its kind in a U.S. urban waterway. Read the full story from the Tribune's Adriana Pérez. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the latest on the Chicago man charged in the fatal DC shooting, what care the massive House bill puts at risk for Illinois residents and what records were found in the Cook County clerk's office relating to Pope Leo XIV. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History A Chicago man who railed on social media against the ongoing bombing of Gaza fatally shot two members of the Israeli Embassy near the Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday before allegedly admitting to a police officer he 'did it for Palestine,' according to federal charges unsealed yesterday afternoon. According to the complaint, Elias Rodriguez boarded a flight for Washington at O'Hare International Airport on Tuesday. Shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, Rodriguez shot two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington as the victims were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, the complaint stated. In addition to cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid, a massive bill passed by the House yesterday would also prohibit the health insurance program from covering gender-affirming care — a provision that's at odds with Illinois' current practice. The provision is a result of a last-minute change to the bill before its passage out of the Republican-controlled House yesterday. Between a barrage of executive orders, foreign trips and norm-shattering proclamations, Donald Trump has also been busy raking in cash. The president has amassed a war chest of at least $600 million in political donations heading into the midterm elections, according to three people familiar with the matter. It's an unprecedented sum in modern politics, particularly for a lame-duck president who is barred by the U.S. Constitution from running again. Illinois lawmakers advanced a measure that would eliminate mandatory road testing for drivers under 87 and allow people to report close relatives they believe are no longer capable of driving safely. A new Chicago Teachers Union report criticizes the lack of oversight of the district's over 100 charter schools. Charter schools make up about a sixth of all schools in the district and receive public funding from Chicago Public Schools based on student enrollment, similar to district-run schools. Though charters are authorized and overseen by CPS, they operate as separate and private nonprofit organizations that manage their own day-to-day operations. Found within the Circuit Court of Cook County archives was a Declaration of Intention signed by Pope Leo XIV's paternal grandfather in 1920. It was the first step Salvatore Giovanni Riggitano — originally from Italy — took in the process to become a U.S. citizen. In the wake of the Illinois comptroller's office's decision to shut down a Chicago Heights crematory, at least 30 lawsuits have been filed by people who believe their loved ones remains were mishandled. The Chicago Cubs denied a report from their flagship radio station that the 2027 All-Star Game was coming to Wrigley Field, telling the Tribune 'no decision has been made.' The Cubs' first All-Star Game was played in 1947, and they hosted again in 1962. The Cubs were awarded the 1990 game after Tribune Co., the then-owners, agreed to install lights in 1988, ending the day-baseball-only tradition. The '90 All-Star Game at Wrigley included a rain delay in the seventh inning of a 2-0 American League win. The Chicago Stars will depart their usual Bridgeview venue to play a 'test run' game at an Evanston lakefront stadium in September as they consider a permanent move there. The City of Evanston has granted approval for the team, which competes in the National Women's Soccer League, to play all of its 16 home matches in 2026 at Northwestern University's Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. The venue is the temporary home of the Wildcat football team, but the soccer club has not committed to playing there next year, said Emmanuel Salazar, spokesman for the Stars. Few things in my life have been as consistent as 'Jaws,' writes Christopher Borrelli. It debuted 50 years ago this spring, soon after Memorial Day, and for those of us who spent summer breaks getting wrinkled in water, it ruined the next eight weeks. That said, from Cape Cod to saltwater-free Chicago, perhaps for you, the response was just as primal: 'Jaws' inaugurated the lifelong feeling that something's down there, beneath us in the water, wherever we were swimming, even if we were wading in a neighbor's aboveground pool. Why is Tribune film critic Michael Phillips cautiously optimistic — hope springs occasional, as they say — about the summer season, a time when all the franchisees come out to play and take you away from the sun? His reasoning is simple. Heading into summer means first closing the book on yet another network TV season, which still follows the fall-spring slot on the calendar. Tribune TV and film critic Nina Metz likes that regularity and thinks most viewers miss it when it comes to streaming. 'The Bear' is an outlier, premiering new episodes each June like clockwork. This time of year is also when broadcasters announce cancellations and the biggest changes are coming to NBC, where five shows got the ax. Shakira, Peso Pluma, Don Omar and Grupo Frontera headline Sueños, which returns to Grant Park this weekend. Expect more than 100,000 people, as the Latin music festival expands to include a second stage, a larger footprint and a dance zone for even more fun.
Chicago Tribune
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Daywatch: Is the green dye in the Chicago River safe for fish?
Good morning, Chicago. Every year as part of the city's St. Patrick's Day celebrations, thousands of onlookers clad in green cheer on a boat crew sprinkling orange powder into the Chicago River to turn it a festive shade. But with the federal government considering sweeping rollbacks to environmental protections, tomorrow many may wonder: How will the bright green water affect the underwater denizens? The Tribune's Adriana Pérez spoke with experts who conducted an extensive study about their findings. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including where to watch the river turn green in person or from the comfort of your couch this weekend, where to get the best corned beef and a toast to Harry Caray. Columbia University says it expelled some students who seized building last year Columbia University says it has expelled or suspended some students who took over a campus building during pro-Palestinian protests last spring, and had temporarily revoked the diplomas of some students who have since graduated. Pritzker and Illinois educators condemn Trump's cuts at Department of Education Gov. JB Pritzker warned at an Illinois Education Association convention yesterday that cuts to federal education funding could 'damage the future of the people of Illinois,' shortly after the state sued to stop President Donald Trump's moves to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. 'This experience is very traumatizing': Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot testifies about death threat she received in 2022 Growing occasionally emotional, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot testified during a bench trial that she was disturbed and traumatized by a profane and racist death threat sent to her in 2022 through a city feedback email system. Lightfoot, who served as Chicago's mayor from 2019 to 2023, took the stand at the Leighton Criminal Court Building to testify against William Kohles, a Michigan man who is charged with two felony counts of threatening a public official. CPD launches internal investigation after cop's gun found in courthouse bathroom The Chicago Police Department yesterday opened an internal investigation after an officer's gun was found unattended in a bathroom of the Leighton Criminal Court Building. The Cook County sheriff's office, which provides courthouse security, was notified and determined that the gun belonged to a CPD officer, according to sheriff's office spokesperson Matt Walberg. CPS school board members push for outside experts in budget showdown Several school board members requested yesterday that outside experts opine on Chicago Public Schools' budget woes. CPS finalized its $9.9 billion budget for the 2025-26 school year in July without accounting for the pension payment or a new teachers contract. Now, just $139 million is available from the money CPS received from Chicago's tax increment financing districts, funds around that are allocated by aldermen for special projects. Chris Collins says Northwestern won't accept any postseason bids after Wildcats bow out of Big Ten Tournament Northwestern's coaches and players met before the Big Ten Tournament and came to a decision. Unless the Wildcats could make a run in Indianapolis and secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament, they would not accept any other bids to postseason tournaments. That meant that as the 13th-seeded Wildcats left the floor after a 70-63, second-round loss to No. 5 seed Wisconsin yesterday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, players such as starting center Matthew Nicholson and guard Ty Berry were doing so for the final time. Drew Dalman is at the center of a revamped Chicago Bears offensive line The Bears spent the past week revamping the interior of their offensive line. They traded for a four-time Super Bowl champion in Joe Thuney and a former Pro Bowler in Jonah Jackson to play the two guard spots. Then they signed Drew Dalman, who was widely considered the top center on the free-agent market. General manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson addressed a major problem area in a big way. Now all they have to do is make it work. Chicago Bulls' championship banners damaged during concert — and won't return to United Center rafters this season The banners commemorating the Chicago Bulls' six NBA championships will not be displayed at the United Center for the remainder of the season. The banners were removed when United Center staff discovered 'minor damage' to the banners after a Saturday concert, according to a source. The concert — which featured Three Days Grace, Sevendust and local headliner Disturbed — included pyrotechnics and other on-stage theatrics, which were located directly underneath the banners. Photos: 2025 Citywide Spelling Bee Championship Chicago Public School students in grades first through eighth competed in the 2025 Citywide Spelling Bee Championship at Marie Curie Metropolitan High School yesterday. This year's winner, 13-year-old Beatriz Whitford-Rodriguez, of Skinner North Classical School, will go to the 100th Scripps' National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' review: A family funeral digs up a history of hidden trauma Delicate but fierce, 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' is the second feature from the Zambian-born, Welsh-raised writer-director Rungano Nyoni. As both participant and observer, like its protagonist, the film contends with many shades of anguish, in a story about an extended Zambian family mourning the death of a man known to all as Uncle Fred, writes Tribune film critic Michael Phillips. What to do in Chicago for St. Patrick's Day weekend, plus a Dr. Phil parody and Mary J. Blige There's plenty of St. Patrick's Day fun to be had this weekend across Chicago, from the parades and river dyeing to Shamrock'n, where you can indulge in a drink or two and some Irish pub fare while your kids are occupied with crafts, balloon artists and face-painting.
