Category: News
Trump Freezes All Visa Processing For 75 Countries: The Full List
Trump Freezes All Visa Processing For 75 Countries: The Full List
The US government announced Wednesday it will pause or suspend immigrant visa issuance for 75 countries, with Iran among the countries listed, at a moment President Trump is said to be mulling some kind of US military intervention after two weeks of protests – but which largely seemed to have died down at this point.
The new visa pause order will take effect January 21, and will also impact Iraq, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt and Nigeria, and dozens of others.
“The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement.
“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.” Somalia and Minnesota should of course come to mind in this context.
A State Dept memo “directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures.”
According to Fox News, the full list of countries includes the following in alphabetical order…
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Some of these countries have been focus of geopolitical headlines of late – such as Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria – all subject to bombings of military operations by US forces.
But it’s unclear why some like the Bahamas, Georgia, or Modolva would make the list. Presumably this also impacts Americans who have married or gotten engaged to someone abroad, and where said US citizen wants to bring them to the United States. But it’s unclear as yet whether there will be exceptions made for certain categories of visas.
Already, visa services at embassies abroad have been very slow moving under Trump, but this ensures what will be a likely permanent backlog.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/14/2026 – 13:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-freezes-all-visa-processing-75-countries-full-list
Naperville Police Arrests for Jan. 9-11
The following items were taken from Naperville police reports and press releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt:
A 33-year-old man from Lisle was arrested on a charge of theft/less than $500 at 11 a.m. Jan. 9 at the police station, 1350 Aurora Ave.
A 35-year-old woman from Naperville was arrested on two warrants at 7:08 p.m. Jan. 9 in the 1500 block of Naperville Wheaton Road.
A 30-year-old man from Plainfield was arrested on two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, three counts of resisting an officer and one count each of making an improper turn, improper window tinting, transporting or possession of open alcohol by a driver and obstructing an officer at 11:43 p.m. Jan. 9 at North Route 59 and West Diehl Road.
A 24-year-old man from Lombard was arrested on a warrant at 10:13 a.m. Jan. 10 in the 1500 block of McDowell Road.
A 26-year-old man from Romeoville was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding at 12:49 a.m. Jan. 11 at South Washington Street and East Gartner Road.
A 19-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on a charge of assault or battery at 12:55 a.m. Jan. 11 at Douglas Avenue and North Mill Street.
A 20-year-old woman from San Diego was arrested on a warrant at 1:17 a.m. Jan. 11 at Douglas Avenue and North Mill Street.
A 35-year-old man from Naperville was arrested on charges of defective backup lights and driving on a revoked license at 3:40 a.m. Jan. 11 at East Ogden Avenue and North Columbia Street.
A 42-year-old woman from Bolingbrook was arrested on a warrant at 7:01 p.m. Jan. 11 in the 2700 block of West 75th Street.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/naperville-police-arrests-blotter-january-4/
Signs coming for problem intersections in Porter
New signage is coming to caution motorists about three potentially dangerous intersections in the town of Porter.
Michael Barry, development director and building superintendent, told the Town Council Tuesday that the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is going to install flashers on U.S. 12 at the intersections of Waverly and Mineral Springs roads.
INDOT also granted permission to the town of Porter to install right-turn-only signs on Oak Hill Road on the north and south sides of U.S. 20.
Barry said the town could install the signs for Oak Hill Road on its own, but he will request that INDOT do it.
Residents expressed concern about Oak Hill Road after a number of serious injury crashes. There was even a resident-led petition drive that sought to close Oak Hill Road at U.S. 20 in both directions.
A fatal crash occurred this past summer at the Waverly Road and U.S. 12 intersection.
Motorists who go south on Waverly Road coming from Porter Beach have challenging sight lines from eastbound traffic when they try to cross U.S. 12.
A study by the Butler, Fairman & Seufert firm, performed for Porter and the Indiana Dunes National Park, recommended a roundabout to address the Waverly Road and U.S. 12 intersection.
A roundabout is considered the superior option over a traffic light because it would eliminate the sight line issue and slow traffic, the study found.
Barry said that he is meeting with the firm to discuss the possibility of getting the roundabout developed.
In other business, the cost for beach parking permits for Porter Beach will remain the same for 2026.
Clerk-Treasurer Corinne Peffers said that she hasn’t decided yet on the exact date when the sale will begin, but it will be around mid-March. Residents only can apply during the first two weeks of the sale.
The cost for Porter residents will be $50 and $25 for seniors. Indiana residents would pay $80, while the cost would be $115 for out-of-state residents.
The town quickly sold out all 800 passes last year. Peffers said they will sell the same number of passes this year.
One change with the pass is that it will be smaller and applied inside the windshield.
Peffers said the motorist would also have the option of placing the sticker on the driver’s side windshield instead of just the back window.
Council also selected its officers for the year as William Lopez, D-Ward 3, will be the president and Kelly Karriman, D-Ward 5, will serve as vice-president.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/signs-coming-for-problem-intersections-in-porter/
US Designates Chapters Of Muslim Brotherhood As Foreign Terrorist Organizations
US Designates Chapters Of Muslim Brotherhood As Foreign Terrorist Organizations
Authored by Jill McLaughlin via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
The Trump administration has followed through on its stated goal of designating three branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, sanctioning the groups and their members in accordance with President Donald Trump’s plan to strengthen national security.
The Lebanese, Jordanian, and Egyptian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood were designated by the U.S. State Department as foreign terrorist organizations on Jan. 13.
The designations are a first step in support of Trump’s November order that aims to eliminate chapters of the organization that pose security threats to the United States and its allies.
The group’s leader, Muhammad Fawzi Taqqosh, has also been named as a specially designated global terrorist.
The Department of the Treasury also named the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood as specially designated global terrorists for providing material support to the Hamas terrorist group.
“These designations reflect the opening actions of an ongoing, sustained effort to thwart Muslim Brotherhood chapters’ violence and destabilization wherever it occurs,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Jan. 13. “The United States will use all available tools to deprive these Muslim Brotherhood chapters of the resources to engage in or support terrorism.”
The State Department designated the Lebanese branch a foreign terrorist organization, the most extreme label, which makes providing support to the group a criminal offense.
The Jordanian and Egyptian branches were listed by the Treasury as specially designated global terrorists for providing support to Hamas.
“The Muslim Brotherhood has inspired, nurtured, and funded terrorist groups like Hamas, that are direct threats to the safety and security of the American people and our allies,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist and Financial Intelligence John Hurley in a statement.
Following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel, the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood, also known as al-Jamaa al-Islamiyah, reactivated its al-Fajr Forces and launched rockets in coordination with Hamas and the Hezbollah terrorist group from Lebanon into northern Israel.
In March 2024, the Israel Defense Forces launched an attack against the Lebanese operatives who were preparing terrorist attacks against Israel, according to the State Department.
The Lebanese Army dismantled a covert military training camp in July 2025 that was used by the Lebanese Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas fighters. Under Taqqosh’s leadership, the brotherhood has pushed for a more formal partnership with Hezbollah and Hamas.
Hamas, formed in 1988, is a self-described wing of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Palestinian territories and a designated specially designated global terrorist organization since 2001, according to the State Department.
The Muslim Brotherhood was formed in Egypt in the 1920s and was one of the most influential Islamist organizations in the world, mixing religious teaching with political activism and social welfare programs, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
Trump considered the idea of a terrorist designation during his first term, supported by U.S. House Republicans on the National Security Committee. Florida and Texas designated the group as a terrorist organization this year.
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain have also designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/14/2026 – 13:20
Naperville residents receive college/university degrees, named to honor rolls and dean’s lists
The following Naperville residents have completed college/university degrees or have been named to their school’s dean’s list, honor roll or similar academic achievement list.
Names, degrees and honors appear below as provided by the respective schools.
GRADUATIONS
University of Illinois-Chicago: Matthew J. Miller, bachelor’s degree, Psychology.
Trine University in Angola, Indiana: Terence Coutinho, master’s degree, Information Studies; Varun Sai Karasala, master’s degree, Information Studies; Fnu Shaik Ahmed Hussain, master’s degree, Information Studies.
Southern Illinois University in Carbondale: Vaughn A. Beallis, bachelor’s degree, Exercise Science; Jack T. Rose, bachelor’s degree, Automotive Technology; Kamil A. Rizvi, bachelor’s degree, Zoology.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester: Mikayla Ramos, Adriana Rodriguez, Jodie Kelly, Floyd Wills, James Rotramel, Imari Collins, Aravind Shankar Suresh Kumar, Nicole Mendoza, Gavin Chavez.
University of Wisconsin-Madison: Aneesh Bangalore, Natalie Bannon, Sasha Baranovski, Ellie Beck, Emma Bednar, Harry Bonoris, Nicholas Chen, Arshiya Chugh, Nina Davis, Ian Denker, Dyaus Dhar, Grace Ellinger, Cameron Felix, Mia Flowers, Connor Furby, Eshaan Ganguly, Harshad Gunasekar, Aarti Gupta, Talula Hayes, Peyton Hennig, Yuxuan Hu, Joshua Hung, Aryan Jain, Sydney James, Safa Jeffery, Maria Kondrasheva, Grace Larsen, Ariana Liu, Joshua Liu, James Lukasevics, Lindsey McDonald, Michael Meng, Hrutik Munigeti, Sarojshree Namasivayam Janaki, Lexi O’Brien, Owen O’Hara, Nathan Pease, Maddie Pecak, Victoria Petrina, Liv Phillips, Vinay Ramanathan, Rittvic Ray, Evan Scamehorn, Alexander Schwartz, Jack Shabaker, Atiksh Shah, Elizabeth Shamoun, Sufiyah Siddique, Thomas Stras, Venus Svec, Claire Tanza, Anika Telu, Prithvi Thakur, Tomasz Wargala, Jason Xu, Timothy Zangler, Reigna Zhang, Connie Zhao.
Southern Illinois University in Carbondale: Grace A. Davidson, Hannah Thomas-Johnson, Vaughn A. Beallis, Cate L. Thompson, Lillian G. Witte, Aidan D. DiLallo, Ryan A. Emmens, Alex Goff, Clark R. Hastings, Avery I. Irvin, Gabby S. Samaan, Jack W. Schuerenberg, Anthony J. Affatato, Sophie E. Benavent, Jack R. Butler, Ali Fawzi, Josh M. Frait, Vincent C. Jones, Michael J. Landato.
Elmhurst University: Bianca Cima, Teresa Duffrin, Rohan George, Kelly Hamman, Elana Jackson, Amanda Kovacs, Victoria LaPointe, Jayden Louie, Alec Murphy, Gianna Ptaszek.
Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin: Arthur Landorf, Kayla McElhatten, Rachel Viehweg, Sofia Esposito, Jackson Wasson, Emmerson Childs, Ermuun Batchuluun, Maya Stone, Hannah Stumpf, Grace Pantano, Tristan Gildemeister, Carter Schoeck, Katie Amato, Samantha Lockhart.
University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana: Christopher McCormack.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point: John Feddor, Ryan Saran.
Missouri State University in Springfield: Halle Sullivan.
Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio: Jamie Kwon, Gabrielle Schlecht.
McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois: Mark Wagner.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/naperville-residents-college-graduation-honors/
Chesterton parks identify priority projects for bond money
A recently obtained bond generating $1.9 million will first be used this year in Chesterton parks to help fund the replacement of the boardwalk at Coffee Creek Park and to repave the Prairie Duneland Trail.
Chesterton’s Park Board learned of the project priorities during its first meeting of the new year Tuesday evening.
Chesterton was notified last fall that it was approved for a $200,000 federal grant from the Lake Michigan Coastal Program for the boardwalk project at Coffee Creek Park.
The grant’s terms call for the town to provide a 50% match of $200,000 toward the project.
The project involves reconstructing 350 linear feet of boardwalk from Coffee Creek Park to Lois Lane.
Replacing the boardwalk complements the recent construction of new piers and a trail around the pond in the park. The town created a master plan in 2021 that called for improving the park and its link with downtown.
Chesterton is responsible for 3.1 miles of the popular Prairie Duneland Trail, which starts at S. 15th Street and Broadway and stretches southwest to the Portage city limit, just west of a pedestrian bridge over Ind. 149. The 11.2-mile trail extends to the Lake County line.
Parks Superintendent Tyler McLead said the Chesterton portion of the trail needs repaving. He said he doesn’t know how much of the trail can be done this year.
The bond will be used toward future long-range projects that include developing 27 acres donated to the town on Dickinson Road, which would include a dog park and building an inclusive playground that would accommodate children with disabilities at Chesterton Park.
Chesterton would have to obtain outside grant money to fund such projects, with money from the bond used to provide a match.
In other business, McLead gave an update for the ongoing reconstruction project involving the Thomas Centennial Park bandstand.
The Chesterton High School trades program has been providing the labor for the project.
McLead said that electrical work still needs to be performed along with the replacement of decking and benches.
Painting and landscaping around the bandstand is expected to be done in the spring, when there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The bandstand has anchored the downtown park since 1924, becoming a community landmark.
The board decided that Paul Shinn will serve as the Park Board president, while Bob Cohn, who had been the president last year, will be the vice president. Wendy Marciniak will be the secretary this year.
Jim Wood is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Disruptions Reported At Major US Cellular Carriers, Downdetector Shows
Disruptions Reported At Major US Cellular Carriers, Downdetector Shows
Downdetector, the website that tracks real-time outages and service disruptions across the internet, reported moments ago that users of Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon Fios, and U.S. Cellular are experiencing disruptions and outages that began within the last hour.
At a more granular level of the Verizon outage, reports indicate that outages and disruptions are being logged across the Washington-Baltimore region, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, and areas near Seattle.
Reports of AT&T outages and disruptions appear more widespread in the central US.
Reports of T-Mobile outages appear widespread as well.
This report is based solely on Downdetector data and has not yet been confirmed by the carriers.
*Story is developing…
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/14/2026 – 13:06
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/disruptions-reported-major-us-cellular-carriers-downdetector-shows
Rivian Shares Slide After Second Sell Downgrade In Week As UBS Flags “Limited Catalysts”
Rivian Shares Slide After Second Sell Downgrade In Week As UBS Flags “Limited Catalysts”
Shares of Rivian Automotive moved lower on Wednesday morning after UBS analyst Joseph Spak downgraded the struggling EV maker from “Neutral” to “Sell,” marking the second analyst this week to slash their rating on the stock.
Spak told clients that his downgrade of Rivian from Neutral to Sell, along with shifting his price target from $15 to $13, implies about 20% downside from current levels, and that it was driven by stretched expectations rather than deteriorating fundamentals.
Here’s the analyst’s reasoning:
We are downgrading RIVN to Sell from Neutral, $15 PT
We downgrade RIVN to Sell, $15 PT seeing a less favorable risk/reward. RIVN stock has been prone to sentiment swings (often driving stock more than fundamentals) and the stock is +15% since Autonomy and AI Day on Dec. 11 (vs. S&P500 +1%) as the market assigned more enthusiasm to their AI potential. However, in our view, most of the AI related news is “out”. The other point of enthusiasm is the launch of the R2 and while we like the vehicle, expectations may be too high; our 2026/27 sales forecast is 16/19% below consensus, and current stock prices in ’27 sales ~25% above UBSe. We see ~20% downside in our base case ($15 PT) and a ~1.6x downside to upside negative skew.
Limited AV catalysts
We see limited autonomous catalysts near-term as point-to-point (P2P) capabilities are not until 2H26 and “eyes-off” not until 2027. Further, while some investors expressed enthusiasm for the potential to sell/license their AV tech to other OEMs, we saw two developments at CES that could dampen hope: 1) the release of Nvidia’s open sourced Alpamayo model, 2) Ford developed their own L3 P2P system in-house.
Risk to R2 2026 delivery expectations
Our 26/27 R2 forecasts are ~22/7% below consensus. Recall, R2 is scheduled to start in 1H26. However, Gen 3 hardware available late ’26. We believe early customers are likely current RIVN owners or early adopters, and we see risk they wait for the latest and greatest R2 (that may be available ~2 qtrs later). Further, we see a tougher US BEV environment with the absence of the EV tax credit and a pull back in regulations, which means R2 will compete against broader ICE/hybrid offerings, not just BEVs. We do see an opportunity for R2 to capitalize off customers changing from Tesla. Our 2026 R2 forecast is 10.6k vs. consensus at 13.6k (S&P production forecast is only 6.1k). We forecast R1 units -7% y/y (pre-buy giveback, no EV credit, high lease rate) vs. consensus that has R1 +10% y/y. Further, we see cost pressure from DRAM and lithium pricing.
Where could we be wrong?
1) Sentiment/momentum could continue to trump fundamentals leading to multiple expansion; 2) R2 demand and production is stronger than we forecast; 3) RIVN is able to license more of their technology.
Valuation: $15 PT based on 2.5x 2027e EV/sales
We now apply a 2.5x EV/sales multiple to our 2027 sales estimate from 2.0x prior. 2.5x is below current NTM of ~3x, but at the +1 st. dev. level over past 3-years. We believe 2.5x balances near-term concerns with long-term potential.
Following the downgrade, shares in the U.S. cash session fell 7.5% by late morning. The stock has been locked in a four-year lateral move amid declining EV sales across the industry.
Spak’s downgrade to Sell from Hold comes shortly after Wolfe Research analyst Emmanuel Rosner also cut the stock to Sell. According to Bloomberg data, there are 10 Buy ratings, 10 Holds, and 7 Sells. The average 12-month price target among analysts tracked by Bloomberg is around $16.75.
Perhaps Rivian just needs to replicate Tesla by adding robots and AI. If not, Rivian appears to be treading water.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/14/2026 – 13:00
Column: McCaskey clan anchored Chicago Bears magical season
Chicagoland is abuzz following the Bears’ fourth-quarter comeback last weekend. Players, coaches and the Soldier Field crowd are all being credited with roles in the exciting rivalry win over the Green Bay Packers.
Overlooked in all the post-game hoopla and cheese-grating is the team’s management, members of the McCaskey clan, scions of legendary Bears founder George Halas, who died in 1979. For decades, they have had ties to Lake County, where many team executives and players reside.
It has been their enduring journey and long-term vision to bring another championship to Chicago. It’s surely been a season to remember, which includes the death of family matriarch Virginia Halas McCaskey at age 102 in February of 2025.
For years, sports columnists and callers to sports talk shows railed over the family’s stewardship of the Bears as teams faltered on the field. They pressed the McCaskeys to sell the franchise, worth an estimated $8 billion, to some nouveau riche entrepreneur who would open his or her pocketbook.
The McCaskeys were cheapskates, they said, unwilling to spend money on high draft stars or free agents. The family didn’t know how to steer one of the founding teams of the National Football League, they complained.
The worst canard spewed by the masses: The McCaskeys didn’t know football, despite having Halas genes. They couldn’t pick the right coach, the right general manager and they couldn’t choose the right quarterback.
The 2025-26 campaign and postseason — the Bears are two wins away from next month’s Super Bowl LX after winning the division and beating the Packers twice — so far has made their snarky detractors clam up. Apparently, team management can select key players and coaches after all.
Like football itself, fans are a fickle lot. At last check, there were nine head coaching openings in the NFL.
As the season ended, eight of those owners gave up on their once-highly thought-of selections to run their teams. They are seeking the right replacement to mimic winning franchises after missing out as playoff time came along.
As Mary McGrory, the Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, said in the early 1970s as pro football began its all-consuming rise in America: “Baseball is what we were, and football is what we have become.” The sport is all-consuming among fans across the nation.
Europeans are getting a taste of American football, and they’re liking what they see when NFL teams travel across the Atlantic for games. Large stadiums usually reserved for soccer leagues in London, Dublin, Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich are filled with rabid fans at game time.
The league, whose founders included one George Halas, has its own cable TV network. It also doles out games to streamers, leaving some diehards hard-pressed to find a free-TV outlet, having to subscribe to a service or head to a friendly watering hole.
Besides being a sport, football is a cold-blooded, harsh and lucrative business. Which many fans forget about as they line up at stores for the latest in team apparel.
It takes a lot of cash to operate a football team, and the McCaskeys have spent their fair share, despite what backbiters may think. Not that we need to start up a GoFundMe page for them.
First, they built the initial Halas Hall on the grounds of Lake Forest College, off Sheridan Road, south of Deer Path, in 1977. The complex, which included offices and two practice fields, was eventually turned over to the college’s athletic department.
For a while in the early 1990s, they used the “Bears Bubble,” an indoor 60-by-80-yard practice facility between routes 41 and 43 in Waukegan, which from a distance appeared to be a prone Bibendum, aka, the Michelin Man. Management decided to stay in Lake Forest, building the new Halas Hall and training complex in the Conway Farm development, just east of the Tri-State Tollway, for an estimated $20 million.
The 38-acre complex opened in the spring of 1997 and was expanded in 2013; it doubled in size in 2019. The site is the headquarters for the team’s front office, along with state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor practice facilities.
It was a major investment in the team and in its Lake Forest operational roots. Management has also spent $197 million to purchase the old Arlington International Racetrack in Arlington Heights for a proposed mixed-use development, including a domed stadium.
The team could still end up at Soldier Field, but the lakefront stadium is the smallest in the NFL. The Bears’ lease at Soldier Field runs through 2033.
Also being eyed are two sites in northwest Indiana. Not being considered is the property that Waukegan officials offered for a new stadium on the city’s Lake Michigan shoreline.
Reports the other day said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell toured the Arlington Heights site and Indiana locations with Bears Chairman George McCaskey and team President Kevin Warren. Those visits took place after the team emailed a survey to season ticket holders asking their thoughts on a stadium in Hoosierland.
All the palaver over a new stadium, though, can be shelved until the Bears’ season is officially over. They host the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, with the game set to air on NBC.
One thing to remember: George Halas said he chose the team’s uniform colors because he liked the orange-and-blue worn by the football Illini of his alma mater, the University of Illinois.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor.
sellenews@gmail.com
X @sellenews
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/selle-column-chicago-bears-mccaskey/
In second year of organized basketball, Sincere Williams gets into groove for Metea Valley. ‘Come a long way.’
Sophomore forward Sincere Williams is making up for lost time at Metea Valley.
In only his second year of playing organized basketball, the 6-foot-7 Williams has already worked his way into the starting lineup in his first season on the varsity for the Mustangs.
“I started playing basketball very late,” Williams said. “So I feel like the people in my circle and the coaches I’ve worked with, they’ve helped me a lot and I’m just getting better every day.
“I started playing in eighth grade. I was probably about 6-1 or 6-2. I feel like it’s come a long way.”
The same could be true for the improving Mustangs.
Williams was the right-hand man Tuesday night for usual team leader Tre Watkins, scoring 13 points and grabbing six rebounds as Metea rolled 90-53 in a nonconference win at East Aurora.
Metea Valley’s Sincere Williams (33) shoots a free throw against East Aurora during a nonconference game in Aurora on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Junior forward Collin Booker came off the bench to add 10 points for Metea (10-7), which had all 14 players in uniform score.
Watkins, an athletic senior guard and Illinois-Springfield recruit, was one short of his season best with a game-high 28 points.
“We’re 4-0 in the new year and this win shows us we can keep stacking them up to get a good seed in the playoffs,” Watkins said. “We had no lulls like we often do.
“We kept our foot on the gas and kept going.”
Metea Valley’s Sincere Williams (33) shoots a baseline jumper against East Aurora’s Jason Moore (14) during a nonconference game in Aurora on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Junior guard Tyrone Evans paced East Aurora (8-11) with 14 points off the bench, followed by sophomore guard Jamir Malone with 12.
It was the fifth straight loss for the Tomcats, who were directed for the ninth straight game by apparent interim coach J’Son Sanders, a former varsity assistant.
Noel DeLaMar, in his first year as East Aurora’s athletic director, wouldn’t comment to offer clarification on the status of coach Rick Robinson, saying it was a personnel matter.
Williams, meanwhile, added a pair of steals and made all five of his free throws Tuesday.
Metea Valley’s Sincere Williams (33) reacts after scoring off a foul against East Aurora during a nonconference game in Aurora on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
“Sincere was a big freshman,” Watkins said. “Hanging out with him, he’s improved so much as a person off the court and as a player. Playing with him is fun, just dumping the ball down to him.
“He like bullies people to get to the rim. Sincere never took basketball really seriously, I guess. He played outside but didn’t get serious until last summer.”
Williams is definitely serious now. He will play his second year of travel ball in the offseason.
In the meantime, Williams and 6-6 senior forward/center Marcus Wallace, who transferred back to Metea from East Aurora for this school year, share the starting spot and battle daily in practice.
“It’s been a big difference because last year we didn’t have another 6-5 with us,” Williams said. “Having him coming in is a lot of competition in practice and just helps the team get better.”
Metea coach Isaiah Davis likes how the duo is trending.
“Working together is helping them get better,” Davis said. “Sincere is getting better as the year goes on. He’s young but getting more comfortable with us.
“He has a strong body and is just a coachable kid with a high motor who plays real hard.”
Metea Valley’s Sincere Williams (33) drives to the basket against East Aurora’s Ryan Robinson (1) during a nonconference game in Aurora on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Assistant coach Brian Johnson pointed to Williams’ ceiling.
“He’s on the floor a lot more and he’s gonna get it,” Johnson said. “And when it clicks and he’s older, Sincere is gonna be a load to handle in our league.”
It also helps that the team is trending well.
“We’ve won six of seven and the guys are playing well — team ball,” Davis said. “As you always say in basketball, when you make shots, you look better.
“You can say the same thing if you miss shots. People will ask, ‘What are you doing?’ But right now, we’re playing good team ball and we’ve got them jelling.”
