11-07-2025
Afternoon Briefing: The Disney show that lives up to all the expectations
Good afternoon, Chicago.
One of the sons of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman could spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty today in federal court in Chicago to helping his father and brothers run the notoriously violent Sinaloa cartel, importing thousands of tons of narcotics into the U.S., bribing public officials and using murder and kidnapping to amass and maintain power.
By pleading guilty, however, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 35, has agreed to cooperate with U.S. authorities in any ongoing investigations and testify against his associates in the hopes that prosecutors will recommend a sentence of less than life in prison.
Those details were revealed in a dramatic, 90-minute hearing under tight security at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, where Guzman Lopez pleaded guilty to two counts each of supervising an ongoing criminal enterprise and drug trafficking conspiracy.
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When activist Jean Kaczmarek was elected DuPage County clerk seven years ago, she became the first Democrat elected to countywide office in 84 years and her subsequent work as clerk to make voting easier and more available was lauded by the party faithful.
But the appointment of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office as special prosecutor to investigate Kaczmarek's office over allegations of official misconduct has prompted concern among Democrats that the gains they have made in wresting significant control of the once strongly Republican suburban county could be at risk. Read more here.
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The Lake Forest College Board of Trustees has tapped West Chicago native Michael 'Mike' Sosulski to be its next president, the school announced. Read more here.
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Young High School in Chicago never has produced a first-round pick in the MLB draft. That could change Sunday if outfielder Brendan Summerhill is picked, as projected, after three seasons at Arizona. Read more here.
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Disney's new North American tour, now playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, delivers just about everything I could hope for in 'Beauty and the Beast' — lovely music, dazzling costumes and standout choreography that made me fall in love with new moments in the show, writes critic Emily McClanathan. Read more here.
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President Donald Trump has sent letters this week outlining higher tariffs countries will face if they don't make trade deals with the U.S. by Aug. 1. Read more here.
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