Latest news with #Route66
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Daywatch: Dispatches from Route 66
Good morning, Chicago. Our Route 66 road trip began at the end, at the famed fishing pier jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. On a breezy Sunday afternoon, the first day of June, a steady stream of visitors waited their turns to pose with one of the pier's most popular attractions: a Route 66 sign, perched on a pole 12 feet above the wooden planks, advertising the spot as the 'end of the trail.' Except, it's not really the end. That distinction resides a mile east, at Lincoln and Olympic boulevards, the 'official' end of a route that since its decommissioning in 1985 does not officially exist. Read the full dispatch from Tribune reporter Jonathan Bullington and photojournalist E. Jason Wambsgans. Have a suggestion for a stop along their drive? Share it with us. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the future of a grocery tax in Chicago, the Fire calling dibs on The 78 and our picks for the best food and drink festivals to attend this summer. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Elon Musk blasted President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' of tax breaks and spending cuts as a 'disgusting abomination' yesterday, testing the limits of his political influence as he targeted the centerpiece of Republicans' legislative agenda. As the city gets set to borrow $518 million for infrastructure projects and $92 million more toward Mayor Brandon Johnson's massive affordable housing plan, aldermen and the mayor's team argued yesterday over which of them are to blame for recent credit downgrades that will end up costing taxpayers more. Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing aldermen to add a city grocery tax in Chicago as the long-established state grocery levy expires. Johnson's top finance leaders urged aldermen to implement the tax soon during a meeting of the City Council's Revenue Subcommittee. Failing to install the tax would blow an additional $80 million hole in Chicago's 2026 budget as the city already faces a budget gap of around $1 billion, Budget Director Annette Guzman said. A parade of witnesses in Michael Madigan's recent corruption trial — including Madigan himself — insisted there were airtight protocols in place to avoid any potential conflicts of interest between the powerful Democratic House speaker's public duties and his private job as a property tax attorney. But in asking a federal judge to sentence Madigan to 12 ½ years in prison, prosecutors wrote in a lengthy court filing Friday that in reality he was working behind the scenes to exert his unmatched political powers to help his own bottom line. A new report on hemp-derived THC highlights growing concerns over its safety, legality and impact on health — even as Illinois lawmakers have failed again to keep the products away from children. The report by the University of Illinois System Institute of Government and Public Affairs notes that the lack of regulation of hemp means there is no state oversight of ingredients, potency or marketing to kids. The black-crowned night heron is the world's most widely distributed species of its kind, found on every continent except for Australia and Antarctica. But it's been endangered in Illinois since the 1970s as the population has declined across the Great Lakes region because of human harassment and disappearing wetlands. For the last 15 years, however, Chicago has become a popular summer hub and the location of the last remaining breeding colony of the species in the state, specifically atop the red wolf enclosure at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Hundreds of black-crowned night herons flock there starting in mid-March every year, migrating from nearby Indiana and Kentucky, and from farther away like Louisiana, Florida and Georgia, and more recently, even Cuba. There may be a few more balls in the air at The 78 than just the Chicago Fire's proposed $650 million soccer stadium. In the wake of the announcement that the Fire's privately financed, 22,000-seat stadium could open for play before the 2028 MLS season, the White Sox said they are still considering building their proposed new ballpark at the South Loop site as well, potentially creating a new pro sports nexus in Chicago. Column: Did the Fire just call dibs on The 78? Or are the White Sox's ballpark dreams still alive? Editorial: Soccer-loving Joe Mansueto comes through for Chicago and its Fire In his soft-spoken but businesslike manner, D'Andre Swift offered four words yesterday regarding his outlook for the 2025 season: 'Excited about this year.' Swift shared that sentiment after the first of three Chicago Bears minicamp practices at Halas Hall and at the end of a response to a question regarding his reflections on 2024. The movement du jour is for a museum to describe its offerings as 'immersive.' It's become a cliché, but it does nod to a cultural trend that predated, then was amplified by, the pandemic: Experiences, not exhibitions, are coaxing folks off their couches and into cultural institutions. That trend crops up in our museum preview this year. In fact, some of these suggested events don't even take place within the confines of their host institution. Festivals are one of the best parts of summer in Chicago, ranging from blowout concerts to small neighborhood parties. Food and drinks are key to any celebration, but sometimes they're the real headliners. The city and surrounding suburbs host annual bashes including burger competitions, beer and wine tastings, and celebrations of vegan fare. Enjoy the weather by heading to one of these 30 festivals.
Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Daywatch: Dispatches from Route 66
Good morning, Chicago. Our Route 66 road trip began at the end, at the famed fishing pier jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. On a breezy Sunday afternoon, the first day of June, a steady stream of visitors waited their turns to pose with one of the pier's most popular attractions: a Route 66 sign, perched on a pole 12 feet above the wooden planks, advertising the spot as the 'end of the trail.' Except, it's not really the end. That distinction resides a mile east, at Lincoln and Olympic boulevards, the 'official' end of a route that since its decommissioning in 1985 does not officially exist. Read the full dispatch from Tribune reporter Jonathan Bullington and photojournalist E. Jason Wambsgans. Have a suggestion for a stop along their drive? Share it with us. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the future of a grocery tax in Chicago, the Fire calling dibs on The 78 and our picks for the best food and drink festivals to attend this summer. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Elon Musk blasted President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' of tax breaks and spending cuts as a 'disgusting abomination' yesterday, testing the limits of his political influence as he targeted the centerpiece of Republicans' legislative agenda. As the city gets set to borrow $518 million for infrastructure projects and $92 million more toward Mayor Brandon Johnson's massive affordable housing plan, aldermen and the mayor's team argued yesterday over which of them are to blame for recent credit downgrades that will end up costing taxpayers more. Mayor Brandon Johnson is pushing aldermen to add a city grocery tax in Chicago as the long-established state grocery levy expires. Johnson's top finance leaders urged aldermen to implement the tax soon during a meeting of the City Council's Revenue Subcommittee. Failing to install the tax would blow an additional $80 million hole in Chicago's 2026 budget as the city already faces a budget gap of around $1 billion, Budget Director Annette Guzman said. A parade of witnesses in Michael Madigan's recent corruption trial — including Madigan himself — insisted there were airtight protocols in place to avoid any potential conflicts of interest between the powerful Democratic House speaker's public duties and his private job as a property tax attorney. But in asking a federal judge to sentence Madigan to 12 ½ years in prison, prosecutors wrote in a lengthy court filing Friday that in reality he was working behind the scenes to exert his unmatched political powers to help his own bottom line. A new report on hemp-derived THC highlights growing concerns over its safety, legality and impact on health — even as Illinois lawmakers have failed again to keep the products away from children. The report by the University of Illinois System Institute of Government and Public Affairs notes that the lack of regulation of hemp means there is no state oversight of ingredients, potency or marketing to kids. The black-crowned night heron is the world's most widely distributed species of its kind, found on every continent except for Australia and Antarctica. But it's been endangered in Illinois since the 1970s as the population has declined across the Great Lakes region because of human harassment and disappearing wetlands. For the last 15 years, however, Chicago has become a popular summer hub and the location of the last remaining breeding colony of the species in the state, specifically atop the red wolf enclosure at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Hundreds of black-crowned night herons flock there starting in mid-March every year, migrating from nearby Indiana and Kentucky, and from farther away like Louisiana, Florida and Georgia, and more recently, even Cuba. There may be a few more balls in the air at The 78 than just the Chicago Fire's proposed $650 million soccer stadium. In the wake of the announcement that the Fire's privately financed, 22,000-seat stadium could open for play before the 2028 MLS season, the White Sox said they are still considering building their proposed new ballpark at the South Loop site as well, potentially creating a new pro sports nexus in Chicago. In his soft-spoken but businesslike manner, D'Andre Swift offered four words yesterday regarding his outlook for the 2025 season: 'Excited about this year.' Swift shared that sentiment after the first of three Chicago Bears minicamp practices at Halas Hall and at the end of a response to a question regarding his reflections on 2024. The movement du jour is for a museum to describe its offerings as 'immersive.' It's become a cliché, but it does nod to a cultural trend that predated, then was amplified by, the pandemic: Experiences, not exhibitions, are coaxing folks off their couches and into cultural institutions. That trend crops up in our museum preview this year. In fact, some of these suggested events don't even take place within the confines of their host institution. Festivals are one of the best parts of summer in Chicago, ranging from blowout concerts to small neighborhood parties. Food and drinks are key to any celebration, but sometimes they're the real headliners. The city and surrounding suburbs host annual bashes including burger competitions, beer and wine tastings, and celebrations of vegan fare. Enjoy the weather by heading to one of these 30 festivals.
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Route 66: The end of the road at Santa Monica pier
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Our Route 66 road trip began at the end, at the famed fishing pier jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. On a breezy Sunday afternoon, the first day of June, a steady stream of visitors waited their turns to pose with one of the pier's most popular attractions: a Route 66 sign, perched on a pole 12 feet above the wooden planks, advertising the spot as the 'end of the trail.' Except, it's not really the end. That distinction resides a mile east, at Lincoln and Olympic boulevards, the 'official' end of a route that since its decommissioning in 1985 does not officially exist. We think of roads as fixed paths between fixed points. But since its creation nearly 100 years ago, Route 66 was different. It discarded entire sections of roadway and absorbed others. Sometimes the motivation was necessity — planners choosing a realignment that offered a straighter and safer option for motorists or a wider section that eased congestion, an especially important feature when the highway was used as a main transport for World War II troops and supplies. Other times, it was changed to satisfy influential people who wanted motorists and their money to pass by a particular town or business. When first commissioned, the highway ended at Seventh Street and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, in the city's once-thriving theater district. Today, most have been converted to other uses. Jewelry shops dominate storefronts. Street vendors dot the sidewalk. Some sell produce; others, like Roberto Cruz, sell rings, batteries, nail clippers, phone chargers and key chains and magnets, including some that advertise Route 66. The 68-year-old native of Honduras has sold his wares on downtown LA streets for the last three decades. He works seven days a week, he said, 'just to survive.' Near his tables stands Clifton's. Around the time Route 66 was depositing motorists to its end, and long before the highway started collecting 'world's largest' novelties, a man named Clifford Clinton opened a five-story cafeteria unrivaled in its size. The son of missionaries who worked for a time with starving children in China, Clinton offered customers at his cafeteria the option of paying what they could for food. His family sold the business in 2010. Now called Clifton's Republic, it offers food and drinks on multiple floors. Shortly after Clifton's opened, Route 66 was extended west to its current terminus. There, the multilane boulevards of Olympic and Lincoln meet the confluence of Interstate 10 and California Pacific Coast Highway. The result is a heavily trafficked intersection with few opportunities to stop and take a picture with the brown Route 66 signs on streetlights 20 feet high. Other than Mel's Drive-In, a retro diner housed in the former Penguin Coffee Shop building built in 1959, the spot gave no hints of its distinction as the end of 'America's Main Street.' Or, perhaps it offered a glimpse into the future of the country's streets. A man panhandling at one corner watched a remote-controlled delivery robot (picture a large cooler on four wheels) scurry down an empty sidewalk, while multiple autonomous ride-share vehicles passed the other direction, their driver's seats empty. The symbolic switch of the route's end from there to Santa Monica was formally dedicated in 2009, according to a New York Times story that described the event as a 'quintessentially American' resolution of 'placing the terminus in a place where it can best be monetized.' One of those businesses selling Route 66 gear to visitors is the Santa Monica Pier Bait and Tackle Shop at the tip of the pier. Manager Victor Cruz estimated about a third of the shop's business comes from Route 66 travelers stopping for a souvenir. Some come armed with questions about the fabled highway and Cruz, 49, typically tells them about Robert Waldmire. Waldmire's family opened the Springfield, Illinois, institution Cozy Dog, which is located on Route 66 and claims to have invented the corn dog. Waldmire, who was born in St. Louis, became a legendary figure of the route's lore. His hand-drawn postcards (some sold at the Santa Monica shop), maps and murals served as a route touchpoint for countless people. Both he and the van he took on his frequent route trips served as the inspiration for the character Fillmore in the Disney Pixar film 'Cars.' Waldmire died in 2009. Soon after, the Santa Monica shop's owner, Mannie Mendelson, created a memorial to his close friend Waldmire outside the shop. Among the items in the display case are some of Waldmire's ashes. On Sunday afternoon, a tour group that just finished a Route 66 trip stopped to browse Mendelson's shop. The group, 32 in total, left Chicago on May 23. 'On a bus tour, sometimes you're a little rushed, but we saw things — a lot of things — that we wouldn't have done on our own,' said Fran Gruver, 70, from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 'I enjoyed seeing the old towns and the old little gift shops that are still running and people are able to make a living from it. I think that's fantastic, and I hope the centennial really boosts them.' Back at the Route 66 sign, a line of maybe two dozen people stood waiting for their turn to pose for a picture. Few had the road-weary look of people who had just completed a 2,400-plus-mile odyssey. Kyone Johnson, 40, said she photographed her kids Khloe, 8, and Kyndell, 7, at the sign because she knew it was a popular photo op. 'I might have to try to drive it,' the Shreveport, Louisiana, resident said when informed of its meaning. Barrie Phillips and his son Ryan Phillips did finish a Route 66 road trip that Sunday. The trip began on May 18 with a flight from their homes in Birmingham, England, to Chicago. 'My dad just retired, so I wanted to do a trip before it's too late,' Ryan Phillips, 21, said. 'Before I'm in a career where I can't take a lot of time off. Before he gets too old.' 'Yeah, yeah, I'm almost there,' replied his dad, 58.
The Independent
5 days ago
- General
- The Independent
How much of Route 66 remains after a century?
Q We love the American highways and are already looking ahead to the centenary of Route 66 next year. How much of the actual road remains, and do you recommend an end-to-end journey? Adrian P A The 'Mother Road' was born on 11 November 1926, running for 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, the Los Angeles suburb on the Pacific Ocean. For the following three decades it carried millions of Americans migrating west to the Golden State in search of better lives. But in 1956 the Federal-Aid Highway Act created the interstate network of freeways that obliterated many of the old roads. Interstate 40 supersedes Route 66 for much of the journey. As a result, anyone harking back to the glory days of transcontinental road trips across the US may be sadly disappointed. In the 21st century, the heritage value of Route 66 has been more appreciated. Springfield Illinois, southeast of Chicago, has some traces. They continue sporadically, with elements such as the Route 66 State Park Visitor Center just outside St Louis, Missouri, and the iconic signpost at the end of the trail at Santa Monica pier. But my favourite stretch is in California: connecting Victorville with San Bernardino, over a mountain range. Both towns have another key element of Americana. San Bernardino was the location chosen in December 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald for a new restaurant on the corner of 14th and E Streets, now a shrine to the fast-food revolution. At the Southern California Logistics Airport outside Victorville, great American planes (as well as the odd Airbus) touch down to grow old beneath the desert sun. Victorville also has an excellent Route 66 Museum. You can easily access this stretch from either Las Vegas or Los Angeles on a two-day road trip. For me, that would be enough. Q I am going for a family visit to Northern Ireland. I was hoping to spend a day going out to the Gobbins Cliff Path, but I understand it is closed until August at least because of a rockfall. What would you suggest instead? Anthony W A Take a trip around Strangford Lough, east of Belfast. It is shaped roughly like a dolphin and is officially 'the largest seawater inlet in Ireland and the UK'. The lough is also a marine conservation zone; a quarter of the world's population of pale-bellied Brent geese turn up there from Greenland each autumn. You can make a rewarding circuit of the lough thanks to a ferry link across the narrow channel at the southern end. A car will be near-essential. Going clockwise, start at Bangor: a former mill town turned seaside resort. Then head for Newtownards at the northern end of Strangford Lough. Start the circuit along the lough-side road. First stop: Mount Stewart – a magnificent 19th-century mansion belonging to the National Trust. The next village along is Greyabbey. The abbey ruins date from the 12th century. Lately, Greyabbey has become a hub for antique/vintage/craft shops. The peninsula offers two coasts for the price of one, so veer across to the eastern shore for a fine view (weather permitting) of the Mull of Galloway in southwest Scotland and possibly the Isle of Man. It's a good drive along to the end of the lough and Portaferry – which, you may not be amazed to learn, is a ferry port. An eight-minute boat ride takes you across the narrow neck of water to the town of Strangford, with a postcard-perfect waterfront and good places to eat and drink. Just outside: the National Trust property of Castle Ward, which played the part of Winterfell Castle (home of the Stark family) in Game of Thrones. Continue to the town of Downpatrick. Here, you can turn sharp right to travel along the western shore of the lough; steer straight back to Belfast on the A7; or go west to Banbridge for the Game of Thrones Studio Tour. Q What are your thoughts on visiting Romania? If you recommend it, which city do you prefer and how long should I stay? Paul Y A Romania receives far fewer visitors from the UK than it should, given the nation's natural beauty, fascinating heritage and friendly people. I have been travelling there on and off for the past four decades and will return in July. Ideally, you should plan a trip of at least two weeks to make a full circuit of the nation, which is almost as large as the UK. I shall pick out my highlights, so you can decide which and how many to include. Public transport is intermittent in many rural areas, so a rental car is a good idea if you want to explore deeply – starting with Transylvania, at the nation's heart. You can fly direct to many Romanian cities from the UK but I recommend Wizz Air from Luton to Brasov (where, in unusual circumstances, I was arrested for spying on my first visit). The city provides an excellent introduction to the Carpathian landscape and medieval architecture, including Saxon walls, which hint at the lands beyond. The countryside is peppered with Saxon villages such as Viscri, which are slowly being brought back to life – thanks in no small part to tourism. Northeast from here, the swathe of territory south from the Ukrainian border, taking in Suceava and Iasi, has some astonishing painted monasteries. If you choose to stay in Iasi for at least a night, try the Neuscotz Palace: a former banker's mansion that is now the Hotel Select. Bucharest, home to nearly 2 million people, is a good place to end your trip. As with so many capitals, it is unrepresentative of the wider nation but still rewarding. The 'Paris of the East', it may not be. But with appealing neo-classical mansions, places of worship and the vast Palace of Parliament – said (by the tourist office) to be 'the heaviest and the most expensive building in the world' – there is much to enjoy. In addition, prices are far lower than in western Europe, so you can live indulgently on the excellent food and drink. Q Can you recommend an itinerary around Jamaica? I want to see as much as possible in nine days. Name supplied A Jamaica is unlike the average Caribbean island. Its sheer size – more than half the area of Wales – and geographical diversity make it ripe for exploration. The nation is also made for a circuit. It doesn't matter whether you arrive or depart at Kingston or Montego Bay, but this itinerary assumes 'MoBay' as the starting point. Montego Bay is the hub for much Jamaican tourism, in the shape of all-inclusive resorts strung along the northwest coast. Call in at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre on Sam Sharpe Square, then follow the sun west to Negril. This is Jamaica's Land's End, and it feels suitably relaxed. Rick's Cafe is the place to go to watch the sunset, along with a can of Red Stripe. Head inland to find the biggest expanse of pure wilderness in the Caribbean: Cockpit Country, a vast slab of limestone eroded into a strange landscape. A series of domes is interrupted by deep ravines and smothered by impenetrable vegetation – impenetrable, that is, except to the Maroons, the escaped slaves who created a community here in the 17th century. Turn southeast to Mandeville, over 2,000 feet above the Caribbean: a hill station boasting the oldest golf course in the western Hemisphere. The capital, Kingston, is all about Bob Marley. A statue of the dreadlocked guitarist greets you as you walk through the gates of 56 Hope Road. He bought this rambling brick and clapperboard villa on the edge of Kingston 50 years ago, but sadly died of cancer six years later, aged 36. His former home is now a shrine. Oracabessa Bay on the north coast is home to GoldenEye: 'A collection of private villas, cottages and beach huts … set amid tropical gardens, private beaches and secluded coves.' Ian Fleming's Caribbean hideaway is now a luxury resort with prices to match. Further west, Ocho Rios is the cruise capital of Jamaica, with a couple of attractions on the edge of town: just to the south (on the road to Kingston), you can drive through Fern Gully – which feels as though you are tunnelling through the rainforest. And two miles out on the westbound coast road back towards Montego Bay, Dunn's River Falls comprises some pleasing cascades.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Millions in federal funding for history preservation in jeopardy due to budget cuts
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Preserving history in Oklahoma and across the United States could be at risk due to federal budget cuts. Without the millions in funding, projects restoring and maintaining pieces of state history may be on the chopping block. In President Trump's proposed budget, the Historic Preservation Fund is eliminated. Lynda Ozan, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, says their agency could run out of money by late summer, putting a stop to their efforts. 'We are currently operating on our fiscal year 24 money, which will run out soon. Our fiscal year 25 money should have been released in October of last year,' said Ozan. Oklahoma City: The pinnacle of the sports world Oklahomans working in the agency are also at risk of losing their jobs due to layoffs. Ozan says preserving history is a big part of economic development, as older buildings and historical artifacts are restored over generations. 'Things from road construction to cell tower installations, and then our big tax credit programs like First National or even Price Tower up in Bartlesville that was just purchased, those are going to need our staff to help them through that process,' said Ozan. 'And then, just regular things that we do with our community, whether it's education with children or community outreach through our Main Street program here in Oklahoma to help revitalize downtowns.' Oklahomans are now encouraged to act. 'They need to reach out to their elected officials, whether that is at the local level or all the way up to Washington, D.C.,' Ozan said. Ozan provided an example on one of the ways we see history preserved in Oklahoma, using the mother road, known as Route 66. 'We're coming up on a major anniversary for Route 66. All those small communities are going to see influx of people. We've done a lot of history in these communities that people will now be experiencing because we've helped them do that,' Ozan said. Ozan also recommends asking local lawmakers to walk through the historic buildings in a specific community to show them why they're important. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
