Latest news with #WillCountyFreedomCaucus
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Editorial: From Dolton to Will County, municipal voters stood against drama and for moderation
In a time of intense polarization, voters in municipal elections that were held Tuesday around the Chicago area showed encouraging signs of exhaustion with politicians' drama. On both the left and the right. Look no further than the beleaguered overwhelmingly Democratic village of Dolton, which overwhelmingly drummed out its controversial mayor, Tiffany Henyard, after four years of chaos and governmental extravagance. And on the other side of the political spectrum, primary voters in Will County's Homer Township, a GOP stronghold, sent packing a slate of incumbents whose MAGA-style posturing and divisiveness prompted a challenge from another GOP slate of candidates promising moderation. To which we say: good! We are in great need of civility, moderation and simple competence in our politics. We hope that these early glimmers that a majority of voters want the same is repeated in the general municipal elections in April and next year and beyond. In Homer Township, the extremely conservative slate of candidates called the Will County Freedom Caucus, led by Supervisor Steve Balich, lost to a rival group of candidates that dubbed itself the Homer Township Reset slate. Typifying the tactics Balich employed, he posted last month on X that his faction was prioritizing holding 'fellow Republicans to conservative principles,' and castigated his opponents as 'RINOs' (Republicans in Name Only.) Homer Glen voters preferred the message of Balich opponent Susanna Steilen, a Homer Glen trustee, who emphasized fiscal responsibility, transparency and treating others with respect. In south suburban Dolton, Trustee Jason House thrashed Henyard, winning 88% of the vote. Henyard's record of poor governance is well-documented, but she also brought national shame to the village, as conservative websites relished her misadventures. Dolton's woes — sky-high property taxes among them — won't disappear along with Henyard, but at least a new leader can focus on the issues rather than the political circus around him. We wish Dolton well in its chance at a fresh start. Elsewhere, we saw more of the anti-incumbency strain that sunk the Democrats in the national election and returned Donald Trump to the presidency. In Aurora, voters seem to be tiring of two-term incumbent Republican Richard Irvin, who was the top vote getter but got just 38%. That doesn't bode well for his chances in the April 1 runoff, which will be a rematch of his 2021 race with Democratic Ald. John Laesch. Aurora — Illinois' second largest city, with Latinos as the single largest demographic but sizable white, Black and Asian American populations — is an interesting combination of suburban sensibilities and the diversity of a big city like Chicago. It's also long been a manufacturing hub, with lots of blue collar workers. Laesch's performance in the primary is a testament to Aurora's increasingly progressive political climate. Laesch is well to the left, focusing for example on social justice and the environment. Irvin's more moderate approach emphasizes public safety, economic development and business. And then there's Cicero, which is there to remind us that some things in Illinois never change. On Tuesday, a slate of incumbents swept the primary. The most notable win came from town President Larry Dominick, a former member of the Cicero Police Department who has held the position for 20 years. It's not just that Dominick emerged victorious; his entire slate, which calls itself the Cicero Voters Alliance, won. Still, mayoral challenger Esteban Rodriguez had a respectable showing, which is not the norm for Dominick, who ran uncontested in the 2017 and 2021 races. The race raised important questions about immigration in a town where 90% of the population is Hispanic. Challenger Rodriguez wrote in an opinion piece for the Tribune last month, calling for Cicero to adopt sanctuary city protections for immigrants and calling Cicero 'ground zero as the most vulnerable town in Illinois during immigration raids.' Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania said that criticism was untrue, pointing out in a letter to the editor that in 2008 Cicero adopted the Safe Space Resolution, adding, 'We treat documented and undocumented residents in Cicero the same.' Cicero continues to captivate spectators who don't live there. The city was home to a massive corruption scandal in the early 2000s, when former town President Betty Loren-Maltese was sent to prison for an insurance scam, convicted for attempting to steal $12 million from Cicero. Loren-Maltese was married to the late Frank Maltese, a convicted bookmaker involved in organized crime. It was Loren-Maltese's corruption scandal that led to Dominick's ascent in Cicero, where in 2005 he defeated her handpicked successor, Ramiro Gonzalez. Dominick's political survival skills in this predominantly Hispanic suburb are instructive. Loren-Maltese shared her thoughts on how he does it in a 2013 conversation with former Better Government Association President Andy Shaw. Her answer? Old school, Chicago-style politics. Turnout overall in Tuesday's primaries was predictably underwhelming. Election season never seems to end around these parts, we understand, but voters need to get educated before the April 1 general election and make their voices heard. We'll have endorsements in some of the biggest races next month. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@
Chicago Tribune
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: From Dolton to Will County, municipal voters stood against drama and for moderation
In a time of intense polarization, voters in municipal elections that were held Tuesday around the Chicago area showed encouraging signs of exhaustion with politicians' drama. On both the left and the right. Look no further than the beleaguered overwhelmingly Democratic village of Dolton, which overwhelmingly drummed out its controversial mayor, Tiffany Henyard, after four years of chaos and governmental extravagance. And on the other side of the political spectrum, primary voters in Will County's Homer Township, a GOP stronghold, sent packing a slate of incumbents whose MAGA-style posturing and divisiveness prompted a challenge from another GOP slate of candidates promising moderation. To which we say: good! We are in great need of civility, moderation and simple competence in our politics. We hope that these early glimmers that a majority of voters want the same is repeated in the general municipal elections in April and next year and beyond. In Homer Township, the extremely conservative slate of candidates called the Will County Freedom Caucus, led by Supervisor Steve Balich, lost to a rival group of candidates that dubbed itself the Homer Township Reset slate. Typifying the tactics Balich employed, he posted last month on X that his faction was prioritizing holding 'fellow Republicans to conservative principles,' and castigated his opponents as 'RINOs' (Republicans in Name Only.) Homer Glen voters preferred the message of Balich opponent Susanna Steilen, a Homer Glen trustee, who emphasized fiscal responsibility, transparency and treating others with respect. In south suburban Dolton, Trustee Jason House thrashed Henyard, winning 88% of the vote. Henyard's record of poor governance is well-documented, but she also brought national shame to the village, as conservative websites relished her misadventures. Dolton's woes — sky-high property taxes among them — won't disappear along with Henyard, but at least a new leader can focus on the issues rather than the political circus around him. We wish Dolton well in its chance at a fresh start. Elsewhere, we saw more of the anti-incumbency strain that sunk the Democrats in the national election and returned Donald Trump to the presidency. In Aurora, voters seem to be tiring of two-term incumbent Republican Richard Irvin, who was the top vote getter but got just 38%. That doesn't bode well for his chances in the April 1 runoff, which will be a rematch of his 2021 race with Democratic Ald. John Laesch. Aurora — Illinois' second largest city, with Latinos as the single largest demographic but sizable white, Black and Asian American populations — is an interesting combination of suburban sensibilities and the diversity of a big city like Chicago. It's also long been a manufacturing hub, with lots of blue collar workers. Laesch's performance in the primary is a testament to Aurora's increasingly progressive political climate. Laesch is well to the left, focusing for example on social justice and the environment. Irvin's more moderate approach emphasizes public safety, economic development and business. And then there's Cicero, which is there to remind us that some things in Illinois never change. On Tuesday, a slate of incumbents swept the primary. The most notable win came from town President Larry Dominick, a former member of the Cicero Police Department who has held the position for 20 years. It's not just that Dominick emerged victorious; his entire slate, which calls itself the Cicero Voters Alliance, won. Still, mayoral challenger Esteban Rodriguez had a respectable showing, which is not the norm for Dominick, who ran uncontested in the 2017 and 2021 races. The race raised important questions about immigration in a town where 90% of the population is Hispanic. Challenger Rodriguez wrote in an opinion piece for the Tribune last month, calling for Cicero to adopt sanctuary city protections for immigrants and calling Cicero 'ground zero as the most vulnerable town in Illinois during immigration raids.' Cicero spokesman Ray Hanania said that criticism was untrue, pointing out in a letter to the editor that in 2008 Cicero adopted the Safe Space Resolution, adding, 'We treat documented and undocumented residents in Cicero the same.' Cicero continues to captivate spectators who don't live there. The city was home to a massive corruption scandal in the early 2000s, when former town President Betty Loren-Maltese was sent to prison for an insurance scam, convicted for attempting to steal $12 million from Cicero. Loren-Maltese was married to the late Frank Maltese, a convicted bookmaker involved in organized crime. It was Loren-Maltese's corruption scandal that led to Dominick's ascent in Cicero, where in 2005 he defeated her handpicked successor, Ramiro Gonzalez. Dominick's political survival skills in this predominantly Hispanic suburb are instructive. Loren-Maltese shared her thoughts on how he does it in a 2013 conversation with former Better Government Association President Andy Shaw. Her answer? Old school, Chicago-style politics. Turnout overall in Tuesday's primaries was predictably underwhelming. Election season never seems to end around these parts, we understand, but voters need to get educated before the April 1 general election and make their voices heard. We'll have endorsements in some of the biggest races next month.
Chicago Tribune
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Suburban Chicago elections: Two high-profile politicians ousted, Larry Dominick keeps control of Cicero
Two high-profile politicians were ousted in reelection bids this week as change swept through south suburban Dolton and Homer Township. Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard appeared to have lost in a landslide Tuesday to village Trustee Jason House, who campaigned on a promise to 'clean house.' In Homer Township, Supervisor Steve Balich, who headed the Will County Freedom Caucus, failed in his reelection bid, as well. Neither official, however, is leaving politics immediately. Henyard remains Thornton Township supervisor, while Balich will continue as a Will County board member. Henyard has been under federal investigation since at least last spring, when subpoenas were delivered to Dolton Village Hall and Thornton Township offices. Unofficial results show she was trounced by House, who garnered 88% of the vote. 'Today marks an end to a dark day in Dolton,' House told supporters. 'Today marks the first day of the future.' House emphasized community engagement, enhanced services and sustained growth during the campaign. Three trustees running on a slate with House also had substantial leads in their races. Henyard has been under federal investigation since at least last spring, when subpoenas were delivered to Dolton Village Hall and Thornton Township offices. House, who is chief financial officer for the Healthcare Consortium of Illinois, ran with and supported Henyard in 2021, but parted ways with her after a series of controversies. Trustees accused the mayor of failing to fully disclose how she was spending public funds. Board members hired former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoo t to investigate. She filed a report concluding that the village's previously healthy finances turned into a multi-million dollar deficit since Henyard was elected mayor. Henyard also took junkets to Las Vegas that Lightfoot said produced no tangible benefit to the village. In 2022, Dolton voters opted to recall Henyard, but an appellate court ruled the vote was invalid. Henyard was unavailable for comment Wednesday. She previously has denied the allegations against her, calling them 'a conspiracy.' In Homer Glen, Trustee Susanna Steilen led the ReSet slate to victory in the Republican primary for township government. With all precincts reporting, the Will County unofficial election results show 59.44% for Steilen and 40.56% for Balich in the supervisor's race. The campaign was fueled by allegations the current township administration divides the community, isn't transparent and hires family members of elected officials for full-time township jobs. 'People want good honest government,' Steilen said. 'I don't feel they were getting that. … We are going to have a good team. We are serious about serving the people.' In addition to Steilen, the ReSet slate included John Robinson for highway commissioner, Tami O'Brien for clerk, Sara Palermo for collector and Ken Marcin, Chris Sievers, Don Melody and Keith Gray for trustees. They will run unopposed in the April 1 election. Balich, who Will County Freedom Caucus ran on an unapologetically conservative platform, said his administration did a good job, but Democratic crossover voters decided the race. He promised an orderly transition to the next administration. Other incumbents fared better in the suburbs Wednesday. In Aurora, Mayor Richard Irvin and Ald. John Laesch looked ready to advance from their primary election to a runoff showdown in the April 1 general election. They were the top two candidates in a field of six Tuesday, amassing substantial leads over the other candidates. Irvin, an Army veteran and former prosecutor, has been the mayor of Aurora since 2017, and in 2022, ran unsuccessfully for governor of Illinois, l osing in the Republican primary. He boasted of major economic development during his tenure, including the Rush Copley Medical Center, the Terminal Building and the Hobbs Building, as well as new housing. Laesch, a Navy veteran and former congressional candidate who lost in a bid for mayor in 2021, said he supports investing in the green economy, and wants to stop development deals for the mayor's insiders. Closer to Chicago in west suburban Cicero, town President Larry Dominick appeared to hang onto his seat, with 57% of the vote against challenger Esteban Rodriguez. Dominick started working for the town's public works before becoming a police officer and then mayor in 2005. He said his major achievements include reducing local gang killings and improving town services. 'We focused on two things that are most important to the people of Cicero: services and safety,' Dominick said. 'We will continue to expand those services during the next four years and continue to make Cicero the safest town in the Chicagoland region.' Rodriguez, the former executive director of Corazón Community Services, a Cicero-based nonprofit for youth, said he considered the outcome a win against a longtime 'political machine.' Rodriguez had called for the town to become a 'sanctuary city' for immigrants, but Dominick maintained the city policy is to treat everyone, documented or in the country without legal permission, the same. In north suburban Waukegan, former Mayor Sam Cunningham will get a rematch against incumbent Mayor Ann Taylor, who unseated him four years ago. Cunningham took 75% of the vote in the Democratic primary. Voters also sent Ald. Keith Turner and former Ald. Harold Beadling into the mayoral election on April 1. Waukegan has seen a lot of turnover in the mayor's office. Taylor, the city's first woman mayor, was elected in 2021 after a string of six one-term mayors. She boasted of balancing the budget by increasing city revenue with no new property taxes. Cunningham was the city's first Black mayor. He called for increased public safety and supplying Lake Michigan water to other municipalities. And in north suburban North Chicago, Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr., seeking his sixth term, had 15-percentage-point lead over Ald. Kenneth Smith. Rockingham will likely face two independent candidates in April — Ald. Anthony Coleman and David Hood, a security guard in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Daywatch: What we know about primary elections in Chicago's suburbs
Good morning, Chicago. Primary elections were held last night in Chicago's suburbs, and several well-known names were on the ballot. In Dolton, Trustee Jason House declared victory over incumbent Mayor Tiffany Henyard in the Democratic primary. 'The community spoke loud and clear tonight,' House told supporters. 'We faced four years of intimidation, four years of failure.' 'Today marks an end to a dark day in Dolton,' he said. 'Today marks the first day of the future.' In Aurora, unofficial results show incumbent Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and Ald. John Laesch leading to advance through the primary election to be on the April 1 ballot as mayoral candidates. Irvin has been the mayor of Aurora since 2017 and before that was an alderman at-large for 10 years in the city. In 2022, he unsuccessfully ran for governor of Illinois, losing in the Republican primary. Other Democratic contests in Aurora Township included races for clerk between Adam Pauley and Angela Thomas and highway commissioner between incumbent Jason Owens and Donald Ishmael. The Homer Township Reset slate, a group of Republicans challenging the incumbent township administration, was leading by a large margin Tuesday night in the Homer Township Republican primary after all precincts reported, according to unofficial results. The Will County Freedom Caucus headed by incumbent Supervisor Steve Balich sought an additional four years, but the Homer Township Reset slate said they wanted to change the tone of the community. In other elections, incumbents Jada Curry and Lawrence Jackson lead in Lynwood and Riverdale primaries, and Thaddeus Jones declared victory over James Patton in the Calumet City mayoral race. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Federal authorities are investigating two jets that appeared to narrowly avoid a collision at Midway Airport, as a string of recent aviation disasters has caused public confidence in air safety to start to waver. Around 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, a Southwest plane aborted a landing when a business jet entered the runway without authorization, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident. Video circulating on social media shows a dramatic reversal of plans by the Southwest plane. Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration said his latest pension payment and borrowing plan for Chicago Public Schools is imminently needed to avert a city budget deficit, the latest twist in his struggle with CPS leadership over the fate of the school district's finances. At a City Hall news conference, the mayor and Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski addressed their March 30 deadline to persuade the school board to make a $175 million pension payment that is blowing a hole in last year's budget. His team's pitch for the similarly cash-strapped school district to cover that cost — as well as the start of the upcoming Chicago Teachers Union contract — is to issue $242 million in bonds, the Tribune reported last week. Mayor Brandon Johnson tweaks bond plan as City Council set to vote on it On the final day of his life, 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi ate breakfast with his mother, helped her change the sheets on their beds and played an educational game on a cell phone. The kindergartener was getting ready to take a shower when their landlord knocked on the door, his mother Hanan Shaheen testified yesterday. In the moments that followed, Joseph Czuba – who owned the home in unincorporated Plainfield where the family rented two bedrooms – charged at Shaheen and stabbed her with a knife, she testified. She said he screamed during the rampage about the war between Israel and Hamas. More than 3.2 million Social Security recipients who received pensions from their time as teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public service jobs will soon see a boost in their benefits. Pope Francis was sitting upright and receiving therapy for double pneumonia today, the Vatican said, as Argentines, Romans and others kept up the steady stream of prayers for his recovery. Francis remained in critical condition but the Holy See machinery ground on, with the announcement of new bishops and a new church fundraising initiative. Sandhill cranes are the latest victims of a particularly persistent strain of avian influenza, killing at least 1,500 of the migrating birds in recent weeks, according to a biologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The NFL scouting combine is in full swing, and Tuesday offered an opportunity for new Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles to provide updates on the team's offseason progress. Johnson and Poles each met with reporters for 15 minutes Tuesday. Here are five key things we learned from those sessions. Column: Chicago Bears aren't making national headlines at this year's NFL combine. That's a welcome change. Nine-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro offensive tackle Jason Peters is retiring after 21 NFL seasons and transitioning into a front-office role with the Seattle Seahawks, general manager John Schneider said Tuesday. Diana Taurasi is retiring after 20 seasons, ending one of the greatest careers in women's basketball history. The WNBA's career scoring leader and a three-time league champion, Taurasi announced her retirement on Tuesday in an interview with Time magazine. The Phoenix Mercury — the only WNBA team she played for — also confirmed her decision. Starbucks is making cuts to its menu, with some of the coffee giant's 'less popular beverages' set to take their final bow next week. A magnet for immigrants, Toronto boasts a deep bench of multicultural neighborhoods, each adding its own flavor and flair to the city's 15,000-plus restaurants. It doesn't have one Chinatown. It has three. More, if you include the suburbs. And lots of 'Littles.' Little Jamaica. Little India. Little Italy. Little Tibet. 'There are all these enclaves of different communities … and you really see it reflected in the food,' said Toronto native and 'Top Chef' judge Gail Simmons. In a room full of Pakistanis, 'I love nihari' is as obvious a statement as 'I like pizza' is to some people, writes Tribune food reporter Ahmed Ali Akbar. At Ali's Nihari & BBQ, sometimes called Ali Nihari, the dish is made traditionally; a hearty cut of beef braised for hours results in a bowl of fall-apart meat with a punch of umami and spice. The red-orange braising liquid at nihari's base is finished in the cooking pot with a partial emulsification with flour, ending up perfectly tandoori naan-scoopable. Fresh green chilis, ginger and lemon toppings freshen up each person's bowl to their taste; modifications with additional bone marrow, brain or ghee infused with a tarka of spices are available as well.
Chicago Tribune
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Daywatch: What we know about primary elections in Chicago's suburbs
Good morning, Chicago. Primary elections were held last night in Chicago's suburbs, and several well-known names were on the ballot. In Dolton, Trustee Jason House declared victory over incumbent Mayor Tiffany Henyard in the Democratic primary. 'The community spoke loud and clear tonight,' House told supporters. 'We faced four years of intimidation, four years of failure.' 'Today marks an end to a dark day in Dolton,' he said. 'Today marks the first day of the future.' In Aurora, unofficial results show incumbent Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and Ald. John Laesch leading to advance through the primary election to be on the April 1 ballot as mayoral candidates. Irvin has been the mayor of Aurora since 2017 and before that was an alderman at-large for 10 years in the city. In 2022, he unsuccessfully ran for governor of Illinois, losing in the Republican primary. Other Democratic contests in Aurora Township included races for clerk between Adam Pauley and Angela Thomas and highway commissioner between incumbent Jason Owens and Donald Ishmael. The Homer Township Reset slate, a group of Republicans challenging the incumbent township administration, was leading by a large margin Tuesday night in the Homer Township Republican primary after all precincts reported, according to unofficial results. The Will County Freedom Caucus headed by incumbent Supervisor Steve Balich sought an additional four years, but the Homer Township Reset slate said they wanted to change the tone of the community. In other elections, incumbents Jada Curry and Lawrence Jackson lead in Lynwood and Riverdale primaries, and Thaddeus Jones declared victory over James Patton in the Calumet City mayoral race. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day. A Southwest plane and business jet nearly collided at Midway. It's not the first close call investigated at the airport. Federal authorities are investigating two jets that appeared to narrowly avoid a collision at Midway Airport, as a string of recent aviation disasters has caused public confidence in air safety to start to waver. Around 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, a Southwest plane aborted a landing when a business jet entered the runway without authorization, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident. Video circulating on social media shows a dramatic reversal of plans by the Southwest plane. Mayor Brandon Johnson warns he will need to dip into reserves unless school board approves pension payment, borrowing Mayor Brandon Johnson's administration said his latest pension payment and borrowing plan for Chicago Public Schools is imminently needed to avert a city budget deficit, the latest twist in his struggle with CPS leadership over the fate of the school district's finances. At a City Hall news conference, the mayor and Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski addressed their March 30 deadline to persuade the school board to make a $175 million pension payment that is blowing a hole in last year's budget. His team's pitch for the similarly cash-strapped school district to cover that cost — as well as the start of the upcoming Chicago Teachers Union contract — is to issue $242 million in bonds, the Tribune reported last week. 'He's killing my baby': Palestinian-American boy's mother testifies at hate crime murder trial On the final day of his life, 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi ate breakfast with his mother, helped her change the sheets on their beds and played an educational game on a cell phone. The kindergartener was getting ready to take a shower when their landlord knocked on the door, his mother Hanan Shaheen testified yesterday. In the moments that followed, Joseph Czuba – who owned the home in unincorporated Plainfield where the family rented two bedrooms – charged at Shaheen and stabbed her with a knife, she testified. She said he screamed during the rampage about the war between Israel and Hamas. Social Security says higher payments are on the way for millions of former public workers More than 3.2 million Social Security recipients who received pensions from their time as teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public service jobs will soon see a boost in their benefits. Pope Francis resting as Argentines in Rome pray for his recovery Pope Francis was sitting upright and receiving therapy for double pneumonia today, the Vatican said, as Argentines, Romans and others kept up the steady stream of prayers for his recovery. Francis remained in critical condition but the Holy See machinery ground on, with the announcement of new bishops and a new church fundraising initiative. Migrating sandhill cranes latest bird flu victims in Indiana; more than 1,500 killed Sandhill cranes are the latest victims of a particularly persistent strain of avian influenza, killing at least 1,500 of the migrating birds in recent weeks, according to a biologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. 5 things we learned at the NFL combine, including a potential overhaul of the Chicago Bears offensive line The NFL scouting combine is in full swing, and Tuesday offered an opportunity for new Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles to provide updates on the team's offseason progress. Johnson and Poles each met with reporters for 15 minutes Tuesday. Here are five key things we learned from those sessions. Column: Chicago Bears aren't making national headlines at this year's NFL combine. That's a welcome change. Jason Peters, the 9-time Pro Bowl tackle who played 1 year for the Chicago Bears, retires after 21 NFL seasons Nine-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro offensive tackle Jason Peters is retiring after 21 NFL seasons and transitioning into a front-office role with the Seattle Seahawks, general manager John Schneider said Tuesday. Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury retires after 20 WNBA seasons, 3 titles and 6 Olympic golds Diana Taurasi is retiring after 20 seasons, ending one of the greatest careers in women's basketball history. The WNBA's career scoring leader and a three-time league champion, Taurasi announced her retirement on Tuesday in an interview with Time magazine. The Phoenix Mercury — the only WNBA team she played for — also confirmed her decision. Starbucks is cutting some 'less popular' drinks from its menu. Here's what will be removed next week Starbucks is making cuts to its menu, with some of the coffee giant's 'less popular beverages' set to take their final bow next week. Tasty Toronto: Pamper your palate with a trip around the world, all within Canada's multicultural metropolis A magnet for immigrants, Toronto boasts a deep bench of multicultural neighborhoods, each adding its own flavor and flair to the city's 15,000-plus restaurants. It doesn't have one Chinatown. It has three. More, if you include the suburbs. And lots of 'Littles.' Little Jamaica. Little India. Little Italy. Little Tibet. 'There are all these enclaves of different communities … and you really see it reflected in the food,' said Toronto native and 'Top Chef' judge Gail Simmons. 'Deli Boys' on Devon Avenue: How Ali's Nihari became a favorite spot for actors on the Hulu show In a room full of Pakistanis, 'I love nihari' is as obvious a statement as 'I like pizza' is to some people, writes Tribune food reporter Ahmed Ali Akbar. At Ali's Nihari & BBQ, sometimes called Ali Nihari, the dish is made traditionally; a hearty cut of beef braised for hours results in a bowl of fall-apart meat with a punch of umami and spice. The red-orange braising liquid at nihari's base is finished in the cooking pot with a partial emulsification with flour, ending up perfectly tandoori naan-scoopable. Fresh green chilis, ginger and lemon toppings freshen up each person's bowl to their taste; modifications with additional bone marrow, brain or ghee infused with a tarka of spices are available as well. Originally Published:
