Category: News
Elgin high school instructor nabs $65,000 in prizes on ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Steve Knapp’s appearance this past week on “Wheel of Fortune,” where he won a new car, cash and a trip to Punta Cana, has not gone unnoticed.
The driver’s ed teacher and boy’s golf coach at Elgin’s Larkin High School received more than 500 congratulatory texts from friends and family and kudos from fellow teachers and students, some whom hadn’t even heard of the long-running game show before he was on it.
“I’ve felt like a celebrity. It’s been awesome,” said Knapp, a Hampshire resident.
He surprised a lot of people by hosting a watch party Tuesday at Old Republic [Kitchen + Bar] in Elgin, teasing his guests by only telling them he was going to be on TV, he said. Per game rules, he was required to keep the outcome a secret after recording the show Dec. 4 at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.
Breaking the news via a viewing party was the “coolest experience,” he said. And even when he let them in on the surprise, some guests were wondering why he invited them given that he didn’t fare well in the early rounds, he said. His luck kicked in toward the end, when he wound up winning $20,400, the Dominican Republic vacation trip and, during the bonus round, a Nissan Z Sport— his prizes totaling $65,800.
The winning answer to the bonus round puzzle was “giving an autograph,” which led some students to ask Knapp for his autograph.
His answer has also led to some online drama, with some viewers claiming he actually said “getting an autograph.”
“I did say giving,” said Knapp, who rewatched the episode to confirm his response and noted that the letter T had already been turned over prior to his guess, he said.
He expects he will collect his prizes in the next couple of months, and is planning to keep the car and trip and to consult with an accountant about taxes he will owe on the cash winnings.
Knapp credits some of his success to host Ryan Seacrest, who suggested that Knapp use his ambidextrous skills to spin the wheel with his left hand after not finding success using the right.
That’s not a easy as it looks. Knapp was told the wheel weighs 2,500 pounds and spinning it takes more strength that it might appear at home, he said.
Knapp, who’s been watching “Wheel” for most of his life — first with his parents and later with his wife, Lindsey — applied to be a contestant in March 2024, spurred on by a discussion he and Lindsey had while watching the show one night.
Lindsey, being introverted, decided not to submit an application but Knapp followed through. He received an email from the show about a week later, participated in two auditions playing the game via Zoom and learned he’d been chosen in December 2025, he said.
The couple had to pay for their own flights and hotel, and they brought a friend to join Lindsey in the audience, Knapp said. He had to be at the studio by 5:45 a.m. and, in addition to having makeup applied, contestants had to fill out paperwork, watch videos and then practice playing, he said.
Recording started about noon for his show, which took less than an hour to tape, he said.
“It was great to meet and talk to people from around the country. There was a camaraderie among the contestants. The producers were great too,” Knapp said.
The show can be viewed on Hulu through Tuesday, Jan. 27, and clips of his bonus round win can be found on YouTube and social media, Knapp said.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/larkin-knapp-elgin-wheel-fortune-win/
Aurora man identified as person killed in officer-involved shooting
The man killed in an officer-involved shooting Wednesday in Aurora has been identified as 27-year-old Temesgen Welendreyas of Aurora, the Kane County Coroner’s Office said on Friday.
At around 12:35 p.m. Wednesday, Aurora Police Telecommunications received a call for a person with a weapon in the 300 block of South Broadway in Aurora, according to a press release on Wednesday from police.
Responding officers found a man barricaded and armed with a weapon, the release said. When the officers encountered the man, he displayed a knife, according to police.
Aurora police officers fired shots, and the man sustained at least one gunshot wound, the release said. Officers then began to render aid until Aurora Fire Department paramedics arrived. The fire department continued to provide emergency medical care to the man, who ultimately died from his injuries, according to officials.
An autopsy conducted on Friday determined the preliminary cause of death to be gunshot wounds, the Coroner’s Office said on Friday. Toxicology samples have been collected and sent for further forensic analysis.
The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office and Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force are conducting an independent investigation into the shooting, according to a news release from the State’s Attorney’s Office on Friday. The investigations typically take a few months, at which time a full report outlining the findings will be released, officials said.
No personnel from the Aurora Police Department will be involved in the investigation, the release said.
The Fox Valley Major Crimes Task Force will be handling the ongoing investigation into the use of force, the State’s Attorney’s Office said in the release. Those findings will be presented to the State’s Attorney’s Office for an independent review of the facts.
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/man-identified-officer-involved-shooting-aurora/
Venezuela dice ha liberado 626 prisioneros y pide apoyo a Alto Comisionado de ONU para verificación
CARACAS (AP) — La presidenta encargada de Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, afirmó el viernes que han continuado las liberaciones de presos venezolanos y extranjeros detenidos bajo el mandato del depuesto presidente Nicolás Maduro, y anunció que pedirá al Alto Comisionado de la ONU para los Derechos Humanos la verificación de las listas de excarcelados para poner fin a las discrepancias existentes en las cifras.
“Al día de hoy (viernes) ya han sido excarcelados 626 personas”, aseguró Rodríguez durante la instalación del llamado Programa para la Convivencia y la Paz. El gobierno dice que se trata de una iniciativa que busca consolidar la estabilidad del país sudamericano tras la captura de Maduro en un operativo militar estadounidense el 3 de enero.
Rodríguez indicó que “hay sectores que persisten en manipular y maniobrar con cifras a través de la mentira”.
En ese sentido, la mandataria encargada comentó que el lunes tendrá “una llamada telefónica con el Alto Comisionado para los Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas, Volker Türk, y ahí le voy a pedir que a través de su oficina se verifiquen las listas de excarcelados”.
Después de la operación militar estadounidense, el gobierno de Rodríguez ofreció la liberación de “un número importante” de encarcelados como una señal, dijo, para consolidar la paz. Sin embargo, el proceso enfrenta críticas de familiares y organizaciones civiles por falta de celeridad e información de las excarcelaciones.
Según la organización civil Foro Penal, que monitorea la situación de los presos en Venezuela, hasta el martes 151 personas habían sido excarceladas y que 777 permanecen detenidas por razones políticas.
Las autoridades niegan que existan “presos políticos” y acusan a los detenidos de conspirar para desestabilizar al gobierno.
Las autoridades no han dado a conocer el nombre ni el número de presos que tienen pensado liberar, lo que ha dejado a grupos defensores de los derechos humanos en busca de pistas e información, provocando una angustiosa espera de sus familiares, muchos de ellos a las puertas de las cárceles.
Los comentarios de Rodríguez además se produjeron más de siete meses después que la Asamblea Nacional, con abrumadora mayoría oficialista, aprobó declarar persona non grata a Türk y a todos los funcionarios que lo acompañan, al considerar que no defienden los derechos humanos de los migrantes venezolanos en Estados Unidos y en su momento en El Salvador.
Los legisladores solicitaron al entonces gobierno de Maduro que se retirase de esa oficina mientras Türk estuviese a la cabeza.
La relación entre el gobierno del depuesto presidente Maduro y esa oficina de Naciones Unidas se deterioró en años recientes.
La oficina de la ONU en Caracas fue cerrada en febrero del 2024, casi cinco años después de su apertura, en medio de preocupaciones de que el gobierno estaba reprimiendo a oponentes reales o percibidos meses antes de las pasadas elecciones presidenciales. En esos comicios, el organismo electoral, de mayoría oficialista, declaró ganador a Maduro, un resultado que fue duramente cuestionado por la oposición que se adjudicó la victoria.
En diciembre de 2024, la oficina de la ONU en Venezuela reanudó sus operaciones, meses después de que el gobierno venezolano expulsara a su personal acusándolo de ayudar a golpistas y grupos terroristas.
En mayo pasado, Türk renovó su denuncia afirmando que, desde mediados de 2024, su oficina documentó una serie de violaciones entre las que destacaban “detenciones arbitrarias, desapariciones forzadas, torturas”, particularmente en el contexto de elecciones en Venezuela.
Türk también instó entonces a Estados Unidos a detener las deportaciones de venezolanos que puedan correr riesgos al regresar a su país.
With Control Of Virginia, Democrats Go Into A Tax And Regulatory Frenzy
With Control Of Virginia, Democrats Go Into A Tax And Regulatory Frenzy
In the last election, Democrats again campaigned as moderates, including Abigail Spanberger.
Once in control of the Governor’s mansion and the legislature, however, Virginia Democrats have moved quickly to fulfill the worst stereotype of a tax-hungry, economy-crushing party.
The Democrats introduced an array of new taxes on every aspect of life.
At the same time, Spanberger moved to take control of Virginia universities and colleges after years of trying to move those schools to the center.
Now, members are pushing rent control legislation and defining landlords as “gougers” if they raise rents by as little as 3%.
The tax frenzy immediately began after the Democrats took control.
Spanberger has also announced that the state will rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional cap-and-trade program that imposes a de facto carbon tax.
Virginia Democrats appear to be replicating California’s disastrous tax policies that have chased high earners and companies from the state. Here are a few of the new taxes being pushed:
HB 378 – Imposes a 3.8% net investment income tax on individuals, trusts, and estates beginning in taxable year 2027. This would raise the state’s top marginal income tax rate on portfolio and passive income to 9.55% in addition to federal taxes.
HB 900 – Imposes sales tax hikes on transportation districts as well as a new tax on every retail delivery in Northern Virginia (Amazon, Uber Eats, FedEx, UPS, etc.). This appears modeled on a Minnesota law.
HB 919 – Imposes a firearm and ammunition tax equal to 11% percent of the gross receipts from the retail sale of any firearm or ammunition by a dealer in firearms, firearms manufacturer, or ammunition vendor.
HB 978 – Extends the retail sales and use tax to dry cleaning, landscaping, and other previously exempt services.
Now, the Democrats are pushing rent control legislation despite a long history of failure in such programs to discourage new construction and property improvements. At the same time, it has been shown actually to increase rents overall.
Democrats have introduced two bills under the guise of fighting “rent gouging.” However, they define gouging as rent increases of just over 3%. That does not cover inflation in past years. Under these laws, restrictions could kick in for increases even below 3%.
In my forthcoming book, Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution, I discuss the challenges for the American Republic in the 21st Century. That includes a predicted move by the left to introduce guaranteed incomes and rent controls. That appears to be unfolding sooner than anticipated.
In New York, Zohran Mamdani is seeking rent freezes and enhanced rent controls.
He has surrounded himself with radicals who have called for the elimination or sharp curtailment of private property.
The most noteworthy is Cea Weaver who has called for the elimination of private property.
The American left has cited South Africa and Cuba as models for the United States despite their economic meltdowns.
As they seek to impose an array of new taxes and regulations, Democrats are also pushing a bill that would make it more difficult to find federal fraud by nonprofits.
As billions have been lost to fraud in other states, the Democrats want to make it harder for the federal government to investigation such fraud in Virginia.
Virginia Democrats are taking a prosperous and moderate state into the same failed direction as states like California. The desire to spend “someone else’s money” is irresistible when you want to increase spending. For many wealthy families, West Virginia or Florida are likely looking more and more appealing.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/23/2026 – 19:15
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/control-virginia-democrats-go-tax-and-regulatory-frenzy
JD Vance touts the Trump administration’s record against abortion at a Washington rally
Vice President JD Vance on Friday encouraged anti-abortion activists to “take heart in how far we’ve come” on the quest to limit the practice, listing the Trump administration’s accomplishments including an expansion of a ban on U.S. foreign aid for groups supporting abortion services.
“There is still much road ahead to travel together,” Vance told attendees at the annual March for Life demonstration, which draws tens of thousands of people annually to Washington. Attendees rallied on the National Mall before heading to the Supreme Court.
Vance, a Republican, has spent years passionately advocating for Americans to have more children. He repeatedly expressed alarm about declining birth rates as he launched his political career in 2021 with a successful bid for the U.S. Senate in Ohio, and as vice president he has continued on that mission.
“I want more babies in the United States of America,” Vance said in addressing last year’s March for Life.
Earlier this week, Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, announced in a social media post they are expecting a son, their fourth child, in late July.
“Let the record show, you have a vice president who practices what he preaches,” Vance said Friday.
Vance cited the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, calling it “the most important Supreme Court decision of my lifetime.” He said President Donald Trump’s leadership and appointment of conservative jurists “put a definitive end to the tyranny of judicial rule on the question of human life.”
He also lauded the “historic expansion of the Mexico City policy,” the broadening of a ban on U.S. foreign aid for groups supporting abortion services, to include assistance going to international and domestic organizations and agencies that promote gender identity as well as diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
“We believe that every country in the world has the duty to protect life,” Vance said, to a sea of supporters waving signs reading “Choose Life,” “Make More Babies” and “I am the Pro-Life Generation.”
“It’s not our job as the United States of America to promote radical gender ideology,” he said. “It’s our job to promote families and human flourishing.”
From the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV — the first U.S.-born pope — sent a message of support to participants in the march.
“I would encourage you, especially the young people, to continue striving to ensure that life is respected in all of its stages,” Leo wrote in a letter shown on a video at the march. “May Jesus, who promised to be with us always, accompany you today as you courageously and peacefully march on behalf of unborn children.”
On Thursday, an official said the Trump administration was implementing new rules, halting foreign assistance from going not only to groups that provide abortion as a method of family planning but also to those that advocate “gender ideology” and DEI. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity ahead of the rules’ publication in the Federal Register on Friday.
First established under President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, the policy was rescinded by subsequent Democratic administrations and was reinstated in Trump’s first term.
With its origins in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that nationally enshrined federal protection for abortion rights, the March for Life developed an entrenched presence among conservatives arguing against abortion. In 2017, Trump addressed the march by video, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to make live remarks. Three years later, he attended the event in person, further cementing its role in conservative politics.
In a video address to this year’s crowd, Trump recounted his administration’s “unprecedented strides to protect innocent life and support the institution of the family like never before,” enumerating his appointment of “judges and justices who believed in interpreting the Constitution as written” and “reflecting on the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
Since the June 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe, the march has become more celebratory, with organizers relishing a state-by-state fight in legislatures around the country and urging a continued fight until abortion is eliminated.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/vance-trump-administrations-against-abortion/
When a coat becomes a symbol of conflict
First the masks, then the coat.
Ever since agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement began to spread out across American cities, their uniforms have been points of contention. Clothes have become symbols of the battle over Trump administration immigration and deportation policies, their enforcement and the debate about whether those policies are a tool of authoritarianism or a justified reaction to an untenable situation.
The face masks (or buffs or gaiters or scarfs) worn by agents that hide them from the eyes of the public, or protect them, depending on the point of view, were the initial point of contention.
Now, as the situation in Minneapolis escalates and more and more images emerge of protesters pitted against ICE agents, another one has reemerged: the overcoat worn by Gregory Bovino, the official in charge of President Donald Trump’s Border Patrol operations.
Known as a greatcoat, the long, double-breasted Army-green coat with wide lapels, big metallic buttons, epaulets and insignia on the arms stands out amid the sea of bomber jackets and tactical vests worn by the ICE agents around Bovino. It is impossible to ignore. And it has become a flashpoint in the online conversation about ICE, in part because its historical antecedents are also impossible to ignore.
It was, after all, part of the classic military costume in World War I and II.
For anyone who has seen pictures of those wars, which is pretty much anyone who has taken a history class in school, the connection is almost Pavlovian in its immediacy and intensity.
And while the greatcoat was worn by officers on both sides of the world wars, including Gen. Douglas MacArthur, it is closely associated with the German military under Adolf Hitler. And thus it did not take long for Bovino’s coat to become, for many viewers, a sign not just of militarization but also of tyranny, as various commentators have been quick to point out.
The coat became a talking point late last year when Bovino led ICE operations in Los Angeles and Chicago, and the Department of Homeland Security posted a video set to the tune of Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” and featuring quick cuts of Bovino in the field with the subtitle “We Will Not Be Stopped.” Among the shots: numerous images of Bovino in his greatcoat.
Almost immediately, Gestapo comparisons began. Even California Gov. Gavin Newsom got in on the debate, adding a post on the social platform X: “If you think the calls of fascism and authoritarianism are hyperbole, pause and watch this video.”
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, wrote in an email that the coat was part of a “standard-issue Border Patrol winter dress uniform.” Bovino has worn it “since 1999,” she wrote, noting that the coat was already available to officers at that point. (In a 2025 document detailing the Border Patrol’s Uniform and Grooming Standards, a greatcoat is not listed as part of any official uniform.)
“There are legitimate policy debates to be had, but manufacturing fake outrage and likening law enforcement to the Nazis or Gestapo is incredibly dangerous,” McLaughlin continued, attributing an increase in assaults against law enforcement agents partly to the issue.
The problem, said Harold James, a professor of history at Princeton University, is not necessarily the coat, which like many items of military garb was long ago appropriated by fashion, but the way Bovino is wearing it and the context in which it is worn.
“Using the coat to confront crowds with armed supporters, together with Bovino’s cropped hair and the (apparently) black or dark clothing underneath, gives the unmistakable whiff of dictators and of the 1930s,” James said in an email. Accessorized with black leather shoes and gold-trimmed patches, it is a look, he said, “intended to intimidate and also provoke.”
Although the Department of Homeland Security has regularly protested the comparisons to Nazi Germany and has asked people to tone down their language, Bovino has not stopped wearing his coat — or the black scarf and shoes he wears with it. While he has sometimes worn the standard ICE uniform since the Minneapolis protests began, he has also appeared in the greatcoat, despite the way the look was being interpreted.
In this, he is in line with the Trump administration’s clear embrace of the power of costume as a tool of communication, be it the MAGA hat or Trump’s patriotic blue suit, white shirt and red tie, which many of the men in his Cabinet and his party have embraced, the better to demonstrate their allegiance.
Bovino is also emulating the approach of his boss, Kristi Noem, who underwent a makeover of sorts before joining the administration and is given to holding news conferences in ICE gear or a cowboy hat, as if to emphasize the wild, wild West nature of the frontier over which she presides. (As governor of South Dakota, she once made marketing videos in which she donned the outfits of various professions — dental hygienist, highway patrol officer, electrician — to demonstrate that her state was open for business.)
It is possible that Bovino, by wearing the highly recognizable coat and accoutrements of an old-fashioned strongman, is playing to a very specific audience. Trump loves a man in uniform, as his military parade demonstrated. Even, apparently, if that uniform means that some minds go straight to the SS.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/coat-symbol-conflict-bovino/
Bills entrevistan a Philip Rivers para el puesto de entrenador en jefe
Por JOHN WAWROW
ORCHARD PARK, Nueva York, EE.UU. (AP) — Philip Rivers fue entrevistado por los Billls de Buffalo como candidato al puesto de entrenador en jefe el viernes, el último giro en un par de meses ajetreados para uno de los quarterbacks más prolíficos en la historia de la NFL.
Rivers, de 44 años, no tiene experiencia previa como entrenador en la NFL. Desde su retiro inicial de la liga ha trabajado como entrenador de secundaria en su natal Alabama.
El mes pasado, terminó su retiro de cinco años y finalizó la temporada con los Colts de Indianapolis. Rivers inició tres duelos, todos perdidos, en un intento fallido de salvar las posibilidades de los Colts, de avanzar a los playoffs.
Rivers fue el cuarto candidato entrevistado desde el miércoles, cuando los Bills iniciaron su búsqueda. Sean McDermott fue despedido el lunes después de lograr una foja de 98-50 y alcanzar los playoffs ocho veces en nueve temporadas,
Los Bills se convirtieron en el décimo equipo en reemplazar a un entrenador en jefe en este ciclo.
Asimismo, Buffalo ha entrevistado al exentrenador de los Giants, Brian Daboll, quien anteriormente fue el coordinador ofensivo del equipo; al actual coordinador ofensivo Joe Brady, y al coordinador defensivo de los Colts, Lou Anarumo. Se han programado más reuniones durante este fin de semana en un proceso de búsqueda liderado por el gerente general Brandon Beane.
El mariscal de campo Josh Allen ha sido parte de la búsqueda y está participando en reuniones con los candidatos.
El propietario Terry Pegula decidió despedir a McDermott después de una derrota en tiempo extra 33-30 en Denver en la ronda divisional de los playoffs. McDermott llevó a los Bills a siete temporadas consecutivas de diez victorias, pero nunca condujo al equipo al Super Bowl.
Pegula determinó que Buffalo había alcanzado lo que él llamó “el proverbial muro de los playoffs” bajo McDermott. Los Bills se convirtieron en el primer equipo de la NFL en ganar un encuentro de playoffs en seis años consecutivos sin una aparición en el Super Bowl.
Rivers ha sido un mentor para Allen, y ambos siguen siendo amigos cercanos.
“Philip es uno de los más grandes que ha jugado este deporte”, dijo Allen el mes pasado cuando Rivers salió del retiro. “Veremos cómo resulta. Estoy apoyándolo, porque es otro gran ser humano”.
Rivers jugó 17 temporadas antes de su retiro inicial en 2021 y asumió un trabajo supervisando el programa de fútbol americano en la Escuela Secundaria Católica St. Michael en Fairhope, Alabama. Su último partido de playoffs fue la derrota de Indianápolis por 27-24 ante Buffalo en la ronda de comodines de la temporada 2020.
El mariscal de campo se reincorporó a los Colts después de que Daniel Jones sufrió una rotura del tendón de Aquiles derecho que puso fin a su temporada. El novato suplente Riley Leonard lidiaba con una lesión en la rodilla derecha.
Rivers pasó sus primeras 16 temporadas con los Chargers y estableció récords de franquicia con 59.271 yardas por pase y 397 touchdowns. Sus 63.984 yardas por aire ocupan el octavo lugar en la lista de la NFL, y es sexto con 425 pases de touchdown.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
US carries out first known strike on alleged drug boat since Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said Friday that it has carried out a deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the first known attack since the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.
U.S. Southern Command said on social media that the boat was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” and that the strike killed two people and left one survivor. It said it notified the Coast Guard to launch search and rescue operations for that person.
A video accompanying the post announcing the latest strike shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames. The U.S. military has focused lately on seizing sanctioned oil tankers with connections to Venezuela since the Trump administration launched an audacious raid to capture Maduro and bring him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
With the latest military action, there have been 36 known strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in South American waters since early September that killed at least 117 people, according to announcements from the U.S. military and Trump. The majority of those of strikes have occurred in the Caribbean Sea.
The last reported boat strikes occurred in late December, when the military said it struck five alleged drug-smuggling boats over two days, killing a total of eight people while others jumped overboard. Days later, the Coast Guard suspended its search.
The U.S. conducted a large-scale operation in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on Jan. 3 that led to the capture of Maduro and his wife, who were then flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges.
Maduro, before his capture, said the U.S. military operations were a thinly veiled effort to oust him from power.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the U.S. strikes targeting alleged smugglers are having an enormous impact on slowing drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
“We’ve stopped — virtually stopped almost 100% of all drugs coming in by water,” Trump said in remarks on Thursday at the World Economic Forum at Davos.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/alleged-drug-boat-strike-maduros-capture/
Daily Horoscope for January 24, 2026
General Daily Insight for January 24, 2026
Feelings test our plans, but patience helps. With the Moon squaring expansive Jupiter at 4:36 PM EST, impulses could clash with expectations. The morning favors slow starts, nudging us to notice needs early and respond without wasting time. Midday may bring ruffled feelings as we’re forced to adapt to changing circumstances. As long as we keep checking in with each other, we should be able to handle any mismatches. We’re balancing courage with care. Keep progress modest and grounded to let small wins stack up.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Speak from the heart, but let your brain mull over the exact wording first! The emotional Moon is in your sign, electrifying your intuition. Today, it squares auspicious Jupiter in your 4th House of Family, so big feelings at home may press on your plans. If a relative asks for a favor, name your bandwidth and offer an honest timeline. You’re allowed to help others, but you must respect your own need for rest at home. Aim for transparency, since clear limits invite support.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
You don’t need to turn up the volume this morning. With the intuitive Moon drifting through your 12th House of Solitude, relaxation and reflection carry extra value. Luna squares jovial Jupiter in your 3rd House of Distractions, so brace for interruptions to your calm. If a neighbor drops by or your phone pings, feel free to wait to return any calls until you feel grounded. These quiet moments strengthen your patience, which helps later talks stay friendly and productive. Get some rest!
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
What turns a chat into shared momentum? The Moon and Jupiter, that’s what! With Luna squaring Jupiter across your aspirational 11th house and your resourceful 2nd house, vague group ideas might actually come to fruition. Keep everyone’s budget in mind — if friends suggest an expensive dinner, you could instead pitch a cozy, low-cost spot. Your natural curiosity becomes leadership when you ask questions and keep everyone focused on what matters: spending time together. Guide the plans gently to keep these connections flowing freely.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Recognition grows when your effort stays focused. With Luna highlighting your 10th House of Goals, you’ve got the strength to start building your dreams in reality. The Moon also pokes lucky Jupiter in your very own sign, which pushes you to show up boldly without overextending yourself. If a supervisor adds a new task, negotiate the scope and timeline rather than accepting unnecessary work. Share wins warmly and give credit where it’s due. These small moments all add up to an amazing reputation!
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Big dreams ask for gentle pacing. The moody Moon in your 9th House of Journeys is squaring Jupiter in your quieter 12th house. Even as your mind reaches for bigger ideas and places, the stars are asking you to balance exploration with rest. If you’re studying or planning a trip, schedule regular breaks and protect buffers around bedtime. You shine when you stretch with wisdom, not strain, because an energized mind makes growth joyful. Plan pauses, since pacing keeps your fire bright.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
This afternoon favors delicate money talks. The temperamental Moon energizes your 8th House of Intimacy, while extravagant Jupiter emboldens your 11th House of Community. Their square today tests how you handle group expenses and promises. When you’re covered by someone else, be sure to show your gratitude. In a similar vein, if a friend owes you for tickets, ask kindly for repayment and suggest a system for next time. Keeping receipts isn’t a bad thing! Unambiguous money talks are a great way to build trust.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Certain connections may not fit as well as they once did. You’re more equipped to notice these imbalances during this Moon-Jupiter square, especially when it comes to close personal or professional partnerships. There may also be some pressure around public decisions and visible promises. If someone presses for an answer about timing, offer only what you can realistically commit to. Your diplomatic nature brings grace to tough talks because you listen before you decide. Seek fair terms to obtain the most long-term benefits.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Detours, shmetours — you can handle any twist or turn in your path today. You can thank Luna and Jupiter for that! They’re colliding in an energetic square, emphasizing your 6th House of Habits and your 9th House of Learning. Conversely, it also means that big ideas may distract you from everyday necessities. Do your best to work with your brain, not against it. Look for tasks you can do while pondering philosophy or imagining the perfect comeback for potential debates. Thoughtful pacing is everything!
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Where are you pouring your heart? The nurturing Moon in your inspired 5th house is nudging upbeat Jupiter in your earnest 8th house, reminding you to nourish your soul, wherever it lives. Look for ways to indulge in joy without splurging. For example, a couple of markers and scratch paper are all you need to draw something, and a phone is all you need to listen to new music. Your optimism shines when you lead with generosity while honoring agreements about money. Express yourself freely!
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Home repairs — literal or emotional — are on the table today. The Moon and Jupiter are clashing, which could cause some tension, but could also benefit your energy levels. Family ties may need some mending, and once they’ve been handled, those bonds could be immensely helpful. If a partner or ally needs your time, share your to-do list and agree to meet up when you both have time. Sharing time and effort is currently the best way to improve your time at home.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Conversations may seem to move faster than your thoughts. The temperamental Moon is visiting your 3rd House of Neighborhoods, where it squares Jupiter in your 6th House of Practice. Your local environment will probably keep you pretty busy today! If traffic snarls or a sibling vents, slow the pace so you can keep track of the topic without losing your own train of thought. Your innovative mind shines when you reframe delays as chances to improve the system. Ready, set, go!
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Treat your resources with care. The thoughtful Moon moves through your 2nd House of Values, spotlighting money choices and the worth you assign to your possessions. It squares lucky Jupiter in your 5th House of Originality, asking you to honor a limit and still welcome joy. If an art class or outing would stretch your budget, consider scheduling it for a more affordable future and staying in for the time being. Caring for your wallet is caring for yourself! Today is about lightening burdens.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/23/daily-horoscope-for-january-24-2026/
New Gig Economy Job: Train AI That Replaces You
New Gig Economy Job: Train AI That Replaces You
A Bay Area startup called Mercor has hired tens of thousands of white-collar contractors for temporary work, training artificial intelligence to perform the very jobs many of them once held, according to a new Wall Street Journal report.
In effect, these white-collar workers are being paid to accelerate their own obsolescence by feeding and perfecting models for chatbot makers, such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
What is marketed as short-term income increasingly looks like participation in a system that is not on “team humanity,” but instead is perfecting AI’s ability to hollow out even more white-collar work.
“Welcome to the next gig economy. Instead of driving for Uber or delivering Postmates, a new wave of workers is signing up to school AI. These white-collar contractors review and critique the output of the large language models that power chatbots and other AI tools,” the WSJ story read.
Mercor recruits experts across fields such as medicine, law, finance, engineering, writing, and the arts, with pay ranging from $45 per hour to $250 per hour. These contractors spend weeks or months reviewing and critiquing AI model outputs.
WSJ said that 30,000 contractors were hired in 2025 to work on AI models for some of the largest tech companies, furthering chatbot development.
“Many of the people we work with already see AI as inevitable in their field, but that doesn’t mean humans will run out of meaningful work,” a Mercor spokeswoman told the outlet. “Many of our experts see it as their responsibility to infuse their knowledge and expertise into the models to ensure accurate and thoughtful outcomes.”
WSJ spoke with one of the contractors, Katie Williams, 30, who has been working for Mercor for 6 months …
Williams is now about six months into various projects that have involved watching video clips and writing out captions of everything that’s happening in them, and rating the quality of videos generated by prompts. She has mixed feelings about the work.
“I joked with my friends I’m training AI to take my job someday,” she says.
Co-workers in her Slack channel express similar sentiments, she adds. They don’t feel great about training AI but they feel their job prospects are limited.
And another contractor…
After more than 20 years at the same job as an automotive journalist, Peter Valdes-Dapena was laid off in 2024. He spent months sending out résumés for full-time jobs to no avail. He finds freelance work inconsistent and it doesn’t make up for his past salary. Though he saved for his retirement, he’d rather not start dipping in yet.
One day, Mercor popped up in his LinkedIn feed.
The 61-year-old now spends 20 to 30 hours a week critiquing AI’s attempts at writing news articles. He finds the work challenging and says it’s had the pleasant side effect of improving his own writing.
The nature of the work does produce some internal conflict. Valdes-Dapena says journalists will always exist—he thinks people appreciate ideas and writing from humans—but he worries AI could lead to more job losses.
“I didn’t invent AI and I’m not going to uninvent it,” he says. “If I were to stop doing this, would that stop it? The answer is no.”
Our most recent reporting shows that AI-driven workforce disruptions are rising as AI adoption in corporate America continues to rise.
Latest from Goldman on AI adoption by firms:
AI adoption by firms now stands at 17.4% among US establishments according to the Census Bureau’s Business Trends and Outlook Survey. This reflects a significant increase from the 10% adoption rate last reported in late September, but the sharp increase likely mostly reflects a change in the BTOS AI adoption survey question wording from use of AI for “the production of goods and services” to use of AI for “any business function.” Within industries, information, professional, and education firms continue to lead adoption. Publishing and computing firms reported the largest expected increase in AI adoption over the next six months. We continue to see higher adoption rates among subsectors with greater exposure of work tasks to AI automation. Adoption remains the highest among large firms with 250+ employees, 40% of which expect to be using AI in six months. Recent industry surveys suggest that many adopters are already starting to see positive returns on investment from AI business initiatives.
Labor market impacts (via Goldman):
AI’s impact on the overall labor market still remains limited, although AI employment headwinds are visible in specific occupations like marketing, graphic design, customer service, and especially tech (where the share of overall employment has fallen below its long-run trend). Early signs of headwinds are also emerging among younger workers aged 20-30 in industries with higher AI adoption. Since the last update, AI was mentioned in corporate layoffs affecting 44,319 employees (we expect that AI-driven job displacement will eventually affect 6-7% of all workers following full adoption). At the same time, AI-related job openings now account for 28% of all IT job openings and nearly 5% of Indeed.com job postings contain AI-related keywords in the UK, Canada, and Australia.
We wonder which side these contractors are on: team humanity or the robots?
Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/23/2026 – 18:50
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/new-gig-economy-job-train-ai-replaces-you
