Category: News
Boone Grove’s Sammie Grieger earns varsity minutes with hard work on defense. That ‘motivates everybody’ too.
Boone Grove junior guard Sammie Grieger isn’t most people.
Many upperclassmen would take it as a slight if they were told they’d be splitting time between the junior varsity and varsity teams.
Not Grieger.
“We talked to Sammie toward the start of the year,” Boone Grove coach Michael Simatovich said. “We told her what was going to happen, and with a smile on her face and everything, she said, ‘That’s fine with me. I’m good to go. I just want to play basketball.’
“And from there, I mean, she’s been a huge part of the growth of our JV team, pushing them harder and harder and making sure they keep their heads up. She’s a big part of why these girls are working as hard as they do.”
Grieger’s role demands flexibility and maturity. Boone Grove senior guard Jaelyn Voudrie, who has also been in that position, knows how tough it can be.
“It’s hard,” Voudrie said. “You’re like, ‘Man, why can’t I just be one or the other? Why do I have to play both?’ But Sammie is so positive. Other people would complain and have before, but Sammie does not complain. She takes whatever position you give her.
“If we’re just going with the flow, she is OK with that. She fills in and steps into whatever role someone gives her.”
Recently, the 5-foot-5 Grieger has been a defensive specialist for the Wolves (4-11, 1-5). Over six games, she’s averaging about two steals.
One of those steals came during a Porter County Conference game against Westville on Dec. 12, when Grieger took the ball from sophomore guard Hillary Labis, who averages 25.4 points. Grieger, her teammates and her coach all called it one of the highlights of the season.
“It made me feel good, and the rest of the game, I just kept working hard, and by the end of it, I felt good about what I did that whole game,” Grieger said.
“I stopped her, and I knew I could stop her. I just knew I could get the ball from her no matter what I did.”
When Grieger isn’t forcing turnovers, she’s disrupting passing lanes and getting deflections. She causes the kind of defensive chaos that doesn’t always show up in the box score, a trait that Voudrie said is “refreshing.”
“It motivates everybody a lot when she gets in,” Voudrie said. “She’ll get a big stop, and then everybody will get really excited. The whole bench gets an energy to them. Everyone else is like, ‘Wow, look what Sammie is doing,’ and they start working harder too.”
Boone Grove’s Sammie Grieger, right, guards Calumet’s Harmony Alvarez during a nonconference game in Gary on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Andy Lavalley / Post-Tribune)
Grieger’s work ethic doesn’t stop when she steps off the court, however. Her approach is the same in running, soccer and school. Balancing soccer and cross country in the fall, she qualified for the regional in the latter sport in October.
“It’s something I’ve built up over time,” Grieger said. “I think about how I can help other people work hard and about where it can get me one day in the future and where it can get me in sports.”
It’s a growth mindset that could pay dividends for Grieger down the road. In the meantime, it may be what ultimately earns her a full-time varsity spot.
“I see Sammie being a big part (of the varsity team) the rest of the year and a big part going into next season,” Simatovich said. “Because my biggest thing has always been that if you want playing time, you want to be on the floor, then you’re going to go out there and work your hardest on the defensive end of the ball, and she’s kind of living that.”
Noah Poser is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/basketball-boone-grove-sammie-grieger/
Bank of America Slides Despite Top, Bottom Line Beat As Underwriting, FICC Miss
Bank of America Slides Despite Top, Bottom Line Beat As Underwriting, FICC Miss
After some rather soggy earnings from JPM yesterday, in which the largest US bank disappointed with declining underwriting fees, and spooked markets with a jump in loan loss reserves on its Apple credit card deal as well as downbeat commentary from Jamie Dimon on what a credit card cap would mean for the bank, moments ago Bank of America reported Q4 results which at first glance were stronger, and sent its stock higher premarket, but as analysts read between the lines and noticed the weak parts of the report (underwriting fees, FICC miss), BofA stock has since sunk 2% in the premarket.
Here are the highlights: BofA Q4 net interest income beat expectations; $15.75 bn versus $15.48 bn expected by Bloomberg consensus. In the Q4 earnings report, total revenue (net of interest expense) for Q4 was $28.4 bn, slightly lower than Q3’s $29 bn but above Bloomberg expectations of $27.76 bn, similar to JPMorgan’s strong markets beat, as BofA traders reaped the benefits of a volatile Q4 for markets. Revenue from equity trading rose 23% to $2.02 billion in the final three months of the year, beating estimates of $1.9 billion. That helped give Bank of America earnings of 98 cents a share, just barely topping analysts’ estimates of 96 cents. Net income for the fourth quarter was $7.6bn, up 12% YoY, but down 8% from the $8.3bn in Q3. That was the good news. The bad news was an unexpected miss in the bank’s all important, high-margin FICC group, coupled with a miss across both debt and equity underwriting.
Here is a snapshot of what BofA reported in Q4:
EPS $0.98, up 18% YoY from $0.83, beating estimates of $0.96
Revenue net of interest expense $28.37 billion, up 7% YoY from $26.5 billion, beating estimate $27.78 billion; reflecting higher net interest income (NII), asset management fees, and sales and trading revenue
Net interest income $15.75 billion, beating estimate $15.48 billion
Net interest income FTE $15.92 billion, +9.7% y/y, analysts had expected a 7.8% increase for NII
Trading revenue excluding DVA $4.53 billion, beating estimate $4.33 billion
FICC trading revenue excluding DVA $2.52 billion, missing estimate $2.62 billion
Equities trading revenue excluding DVA $2.02 billion, beating estimate $1.89 billion
Investment banking revenue $1.67 billion, beating estimate $1.66 billion
Advisory fees $590 million, beating estimate $495.3 million
Debt underwriting rev. $810 million, missing estimate $864 million
Equity underwriting rev. $297 million, missing estimate $301 million
Wealth & investment management total revenue $6.62 billion, beating estimate $6.45 billion
Here are the highlights visually:
BofA’s provision for credit losses of $1.3B in 4Q25 vs. $1.3B in 3Q25 and $1.5B in 4Q24, and below estimates of $1.48BN
Net charge-offs (NCOs) of $1.29B declined $0.1B from 3Q25 and $0.2B from 4Q24 and below estimates of $1.44BN
“With consumers and businesses proving resilient, as well as the regulatory environment and tax and trade policies coming into sharper focus, we expect further economic growth in the year ahead,” CEO Brian Moynihan said in the press release. “While any number of risks continue, we are bullish on the US economy in 2026.”
The bank’s all important net interest income rose $0.5BN from Q3 to $15.9BN, “driven by higher NII related to Global Markets (GM) activity, higher deposit and loan balances, and fixed-rate asset repricing, partially offset by the impact of lower interest rates.” The Net Interest yield of 2.08% rose 7bps sequentially, beating estimates of 2.04%, and was the highest in years. Blended cash and securities yield of 3.04% vs. total deposit rate paid of 1.63%.
BofA’s Q3 efficiency ratio was 61.5% down from 63.4% y/y as noninterest expenses rose to $17.44 billion, but was below estimates of $17.47 billion. Compensation expenses $10.60 billion, estimate $10.55 billion
Taking a closer look at the bank’s balance sheet, we find ample liquidity:
Average Global Liquidity Sources of $975B
CET1 capital of $201B decreased $1B from 3Q25
CET1 ratio of 11.4%4 vs. 11.6% in 3Q25; well above regulatory minimum
Efficiency ratio 61.5% vs. 63.4% y/y
Paid $2.1B in common dividends and repurchased $6.3B of common stock
Basel III common equity Tier 1 ratio fully phased-in, advanced approach 12.8%, estimate 13%
Standardized CET1 ratio 11.4%, estimate 11.5%
Total deposits of $2.02TN increased $55B, or 3%, below estimates of $2.03TN
Total loans and leases of $1.19T increased $90B, or 8%, above estimates of $1.18TN
Turning to the all important Markets/Banking division, we find that just like JPM, markets revenue was ok, with Equities beating/FICC missedm while investment banking also saw underwriting weakness. Here are the details:
Total Markets Revenue of $5.3B increased 10% YoY, driven by higher sales and trading revenue
Trading revenue excluding DVA $4.53 billion, beating estimate $4.33 billion
FICC trading revenue excluding DVA $2.52 billion, missing estimate $2.62 billion, and was “driven by improved performance in macro products”
Equities trading revenue excluding DVA $2.02 billion, beating estimate $1.89 billion, and was “driven by increased client activity”
Noninterest expense of $3.9B increased 11% vs. 4Q24, driven by higher revenue-related expenses and investments in the business, including people and technology
But while Markets was ok, the same weakness JPM observed in Investment Banking was also palpable at BofA, where advisory fees came in strong, but were offset by very poor debt and equity underwriting environment.
Investment banking revenue $1.67 billion, beating estimate $1.66 billion
Advisory fees $590 million, beating estimate $495.3 million
Debt underwriting rev. $810 million, missing estimate $864 million
Equity underwriting rev. $297 million, missing estimate $301 million
Noninterest expense of $3.1B increased 6% vs. 4Q, driven by investments in the business, including people and technology
Looking ahead, the bank’s 2026 outlook was solid, just like JPM, with the bank expecting NII to grow 5-7%, a solid increase but a slowdown from the 10% YoY increase in Q4. The bank also expects to deliver 200bps of operating leverage in 2026, although costs will be elevated in Q1.
Bank of America’s results offer a further look at how the biggest US banks fared during the first year of Trump’s return to office. On Tuesday, JPMorgan reported earnings that beat analysts’ estimates, with trading activity boosting results, despite an unexpected decline in investment-banking fees, similar to BofA. The market was not impressed and the stock tumbled 4%, its worst post-earnings reaction since Q1 2024.
That said, execs expect deals to pick up in 2026, with a strong pipeline and corporate clients who pushed off activity coming back to the market.
Shares of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Bank of America, slumped 1% in premarket trading as algos realized read the fine print below the superficial beat. BofA had gained 19% in the 12 months through Tuesday, more than the 12% increase in the S&P 500 Financials Index.
BofA’s full investor presentation can be found here: pdf link.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/14/2026 – 08:26
Primer ministro canadiense llega a Beijing para histórica visita a China
BEIJING (AP) — El primer ministro canadiense Mark Carney llegó a Beijing el miércoles por la noche, comenzando una visita de cuatro días diseñada para reparar las deterioradas relaciones entre las dos naciones en momentos en que Canadá busca desarrollar vínculos con países distintos a Estados Unidos.
Es la primera visita de un líder canadiense a China en casi una década. Carney se reunirá con el primer ministro Li Qiang, su homólogo como jefe de gobierno, y con el presidente chino Xi Jinping.
Los medios estatales chinos han instado al gobierno canadiense a establecer una política exterior independiente de Washington, lo que llaman “autonomía estratégica”.
Canadá ha sido durante mucho tiempo uno de los aliados más cercanos de Estados Unidos, tanto geográficamente como de otras maneras. Pero Beijing espera que la agresión económica del presidente Donald Trump —y, ahora, la acción militar— contra otros países erosione esa relación. Trump ha dicho, entre otras cosas, que Canadá debería convertirse en el estado número 51 de Estados Unidos.
Carney se ha centrado en el comercio, describiendo el viaje a China como parte de un movimiento para forjar nuevas asociaciones en todo el mundo y poner fin a la dependencia económica de Canadá del mercado estadounidense. Trump ha impuesto aranceles a Canadá y sugirió que el vasto país rico en recursos podría convertirse en el estado número 51 de Estados Unidos.
El gobierno chino se irritó con los esfuerzos del expresidente estadounidense Joe Biden para fortalecer las relaciones con Europa, Australia, India, Canadá y otros para confrontar a China. Ahora ve una oportunidad para intentar aflojar esos lazos, aunque sigue siendo cauteloso sobre hasta dónde llegará eso.
El deterioro en las relaciones comenzó con el arresto de un ejecutivo tecnológico chino a finales de 2018 a petición de Estados Unidos y se intensificó más recientemente por el gobierno del ex primer ministro Justin Trudeau, que decidió en 2024 seguir el ejemplo de Biden al imponer un arancel del 100% a los vehículos eléctricos fabricados en China. El país asiático ha tomado represalias por eso y por un arancel del 25% sobre el acero y el aluminio imponiendo sus propios aranceles sobre las exportaciones canadienses, incluyendo canola, mariscos y cerdo.
Carney se reunió con Xi en octubre en la cumbre de Cooperación Económica Asia-Pacífico en Corea del Sur.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Fiscales españoles investigan acusaciones de agresión sexual contra Julio Iglesias
Por JOSEPH WILSON
BARCELONA, España (AP) — Los fiscales españoles están estudiando acusaciones de que el cantante Julio Iglesias agredió sexualmente a dos exempleadas en sus residencias en la República Dominicana y las Bahamas.
La fiscalía española informó a The Associated Press el miércoles que las acusaciones estaban relacionadas con reportes de los medios de comunicación de principios de esta semana de que Iglesias había agredido sexual y físicamente a dos mujeres que trabajaban en sus residencias caribeñas entre enero y octubre de 2021.
Iglesias aún no ha hablado públicamente sobre las acusaciones. Russell L. King, un abogado de entretenimiento con sede en Miami que menciona a Iglesias como cliente en su sitio web, no respondió a una solicitud de comentarios por parte de la AP.
La fiscalía española que maneja casos para la Audiencia Nacional de España dijo que había recibido acusaciones formales contra Iglesias por parte de una persona no identificada el 5 de enero. Iglesias podría ser llevado ante el tribunal con sede en Madrid, que puede juzgar presuntos delitos cometidos por ciudadanos españoles en el extranjero, según la oficina de prensa del tribunal.
El periódico en línea español elDiario.es y el canal de televisión en español Univision Noticias publicaron la investigación conjunta sobre la supuesta mala conducta de Iglesias.
Iglesias, de 82 años, es uno de los artistas musicales más exitosos del mundo después de haber vendido más de 300 millones de discos en más de una docena de idiomas. Después de comenzar su carrera en España, ganó una inmensa popularidad en Estados Unidos y en el resto del mundo en las décadas de 1970 y 1980. Es el padre del cantante pop Enrique Iglesias.
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Suman Naishadham contribuyó a este informe desde Madrid.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
DOGE Cancels Or ‘Descopes’ Contracts Worth $1.5 Billion Over A 5-Day Period
DOGE Cancels Or ‘Descopes’ Contracts Worth $1.5 Billion Over A 5-Day Period
The demise of DOGE has been greatly exaggerated.
Over the weekend, the Department of Government Efficiency announced that agencies have terminated and descoped ’42 wasteful contracts with a ceiling value of $1.5B and savings of $269M, including a $1.2M Millennium Challenge Corp. DEI professional services contract for a “DCO Gender and Social Inclusion Director Full Time”.”
Contracts Update!
Over the last 5 days, agencies terminated and descoped 42 wasteful contracts with a ceiling value of $1.5B and savings of $269M, including a $1.2M Millennium Challenge Corp. DEI professional services contract for a “DCO Gender and Social Inclusion Director… pic.twitter.com/RDnmCxSaKq
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) January 10, 2026
The post came roughly a week after DOGE announced that over a three-day period, federal agencies had similarly terminated and descoped 55 “wasteful” contracts with a ceiling value of $1.6 billion, resulting in $542 million in savings. Included in those was a $47 million State Department contract for “Africa/Djibouti, Somalia armored personnel carriers and Somalia National Army crew.”
Contracts Update!
Over the last 3 days, agencies terminated and descoped 55 wasteful contracts with a ceiling value of $1.6B and savings of $542M, including a $47M State Dept. program support contract for “Africa / Djibouti, Somalia armored personnel carriers and Somalia… pic.twitter.com/JgF8YR6ht4
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) January 3, 2026
As the Epoch Times notes further, as of Jan. 1, DOGE had saved approximately $215 billion through contract, grant, and lease cancellations, according to the department. Among an estimated 161 million individual federal taxpayers, DOGE has saved $1,335.40 per taxpayer.
Based on data displayed on its leadership board, the U.S. agencies that accounted for most of the savings are the Department of Health and Human Services, the General Services Administration, the Social Security Administration, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Small Business Administration.
Regarding contracts, the top amounts terminated are $12.5 billion and more than $5.7 billion from the Department of Defense (DOD), nearly $4 billion from the Department of the Air Force, and $3.75 billion again from the DOD, now known as the Department of War.
As for grants, the highest value amounts canceled are $4 billion and $2.6 billion from the now-defunct United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID was dismantled by the Trump Administration on July 1, 2025.
Fraud Alleged in States
DOGE’s latest announcement comes in the wake of large-scale government benefit fraud discovered in Minnesota, resulting in the waste of billions of taxpayer dollars, according to a Jan. 9 statement from the Department of the Treasury.
“Under Democratic Governor Tim Walz, welfare fraud has spiraled out of control,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “Billions of dollars intended for feeding hungry children, housing disabled seniors, and providing services for children in need were diverted to benefit Somali fraud rings.”
Complex fraud rings in Minnesota have allegedly stolen billions of dollars from taxpayer-funded state programs, with criminals using the money to purchase residential and commercial real estate, luxury goods, vehicles, planes, international flights, and other luxury expenses, the statement said.
On Jan. 6, President Donald Trump also announced a fraud investigation targeting California.
Also, after the incidents in Minnesota, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed state agencies to investigate social services for potential fraud.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/14/2026 – 07:45
Ny’Asia Short, whose sisters played for Zion-Benton, becomes leader for Warren. She ‘has really stepped up.’
Warren senior guard Ny’Asia Short realized that time wasn’t on her side to showcase her game.
After averaging 6.0 points last season, Short wanted to make her mark like her older sisters Niquera and Niquaysia did at Zion-Benton.
“When I was younger, they used to beat me all the time, but that’s what pushed me to get better,” Short said. “Competing against them taught me how to work hard, stay confident and not back down from challenges.
“I watched how serious they were about improving and how much time they put into their game, and that motivated me to do the same.”
During the offseason, the 5-foot-6 Short worked on fine-tuning different elements of her game to become a consistent factor on both offense and defense.
“I got so many shots up after school and was extremely motivated for this year,” she said.
Warren’s Ny’Asia Short (3) drives against Stevenson during a North Suburban Conference game in Lincolnshire on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Talia Sprague / News-Sun)
Short’s development is one of the bright spots in a tough season, particularly in the North Suburban Conference, for the Blue Devils (4-15, 1-6). She’s averaging 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
“It’s inspiring to look back and realize that trying to keep up with them helped shape who I am today and the goals I have for my future,” she said.
Warren coach Jennifer Swanson said Short has turned into a well-rounded offensive player.
“Her shot has improved a lot,” Swanson said. “She has a good 3-point game and is able to use both hands when driving to the basket and finish with both hands.”
Warren’s Ny’Asia Short (3) puts up a shot during a North Suburban Conference game against Stevenson in Lincolnshire on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Talia Sprague / News-Sun)
Warren junior guard Alia Pyrek said Short is making smarter decisions with the basketball too.
“Her averages are up because she’s reading the floor better, taking higher-percentage shots and staying aggressive the entire game,” Pyrek said. “She also improved defensively and does a better job of impacting the game even when she’s not scoring, whether that’s rebounding, hustling or setting up her teammates.”
Pyrek said Short’s impact extends beyond statistics on a team with no other seniors.
“Asia has really stepped up as a leader this year,” Pyrek said. “On the court, she communicates constantly, keeps everyone focused and leads by example with her work ethic. Off the court, she stays positive and encourages everyone, especially during tough moments. She brings energy and confidence to the team.”
Warren’s Ny’Asia Short (3) pushes the ball up the court during a North Suburban Conference game against Stevenson in Lincolnshire on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Talia Sprague / News-Sun)
Warren sophomore guard Ella Volante echoed Pyrek.
“This season, Asia has improved her work ethic and comes in early to shoot around and work on her game,” Volante said. “Being just her second year on the varsity, she shows great leadership by knowing the plays and creating opportunities.”
Short credits her mother, Eurydice Key, for providing the emotional and physical support to help her succeed in basketball and in life.
“My biggest motivation in basketball and what pushes me to give my best and never give up is my mom,” Short said. “She holds me accountable and corrects me when I’m wrong, not to bring me down but to make me better.
“Knowing she believes in me and wants the best for me drives me to work harder, stay disciplined and keep pushing even when things get tough.”
Stevenson’s Leila Markicic, left, and Warren’s Ny’Asia Short dive for a loose ball during a North Suburban Conference game in Lincolnshire on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (Talia Sprague / News-Sun)
Short, who attended Carmel for her first two years of high school, said she has accomplished several of her goals but wants to lead the Blue Devils to more wins.
“I knew I had to step up and improve and be a leader,” she said. “I’m motivated to do good and help the team. I know I’ve improved a lot, but I have to do more.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/basketball-warren-nyasia-short/
Daywatch: EPA criticized for leaving cleanup unfinished
Good morning, Chicago.
Nearly a year after a toxic asphalt spill in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, state and local officials and environmental advocates say the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ended the cleanup effort before it was completed.
A week before Thanksgiving, the agency posted a notice on its website that federal operations in the canal had been concluded.
“That was kind of shocking that (the EPA) is not living up to the things that they need to do, protecting the environment and monitoring this,” said Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council. “It was a half-million gallons of liquid asphalt that was just poured into the river. That’s incredibly problematic.”
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Christiana Freitag.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including why the Justice Department will not open a civil rights investigation in the Minnesota ICE shooting, this week’s Bears mailbag and 5 concerts across 5 genres for your MLK weekend.
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People walk along a street in downtown of Nuuk, Greenland, on Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Trump says anything less than having Greenland in the United States’ hands is ‘unacceptable’
President Donald Trump said today that anything less than U.S. control of Greenland is unacceptable, hours before Vice President JD Vance was to host Danish and Greenlandic officials for talks.
Denmark, Greenland leaders stand united against Trump’s Greenland takeover call ahead of key meeting
Protesters demonstrate against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after Renee Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Jan. 12, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck)
Justice Department sees no basis for civil rights probe in Minnesota ICE shooting, official says
The decision to keep the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division out of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good marks a sharp departure from past administrations, which have moved quickly to probe shootings of civilians by law enforcement officials for potential civil rights offenses.
Six prosecutors quit after push to investigate ICE shooting victim’s widow
Tensions flare in Minnesota as protesters and federal agents repeatedly square off
Former 9th Congressional District candidate Bruce Leon, left, talks about endorsing Phil Andrew, right, while at Andrew’s campaign office in Skokie on Jan. 13, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois 9th Congressional District candidate Bruce Leon drops out, backs ex-FBI agent Phil Andrew
Long-shot congressional candidate Bruce Leon, who has said the influential pro-Israel lobbying organization AIPAC pressured him into dropping out of the race for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, officially filed paperwork to remove his name from the ballot and endorsed Phil Andrew, a former FBI agent.
Chicago police investigate the scene of a shooting where Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles was killed in the 9400 block of South Forest Avenue, April 10, 2017.
(Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune).
‘He was watching them:’ Murder trial opens in case of slain Cook County judge
Before presiding over his courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building each morning, Cook County Associate Judge Raymond Myles was known to rise early and go to the gym.
But unbeknownst to him, prosecutors said, someone was watching him, studying his movements over the course of several days as he and his girlfriend left to work out in the morning before work.
State senators work during arguments about redrawing the state’s congressional map at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Dec. 11, 2025. (Jon Cherry/The New York Times)
Indiana doxing bill passes; firing squad bill held in Senate committee
The doxing bill was amended and passed out of the Indiana Senate Corrections and Criminal Law committee, while the firing squad bill was held — with an ominous message from the committee chairman about the death penalty.
Judge residency ballot question bill passes Indiana House
Protesters wave transgender pride flags outside the Supreme Court as it hears arguments over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Supreme Court seems likely to uphold state bans on transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports
The Supreme Court on appeared ready yesterday to deal another setback to transgender people and uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams.
The court’s conservative majority, which has repeatedly ruled against transgender Americans in the past year, signaled during more than three hours of arguments it would rule the state bans don’t violate either the Constitution or the federal law known as Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education.
Linda Brown, right, pictured with her husband, Antwon Brown. Linda Brown, a special education teacher at Robert Healy Elementary School in Bridgeport, had been reported missing for more than a week when authorities recovered her body from Lake Michigan, Jan. 12, 2026. (Jen Rivera)
Autopsy: Missing CPS teacher drowned in apparent suicide
An autopsy performed yesterday determined that Linda Brown, the Chicago Public Schools teacher whose body was pulled from Lake Michigan after going missing earlier this month, drowned in a suicide.
“I wish she knew how much of an impact she had,” Brown’s niece, Jen Rivera, told the Tribune, “and how much she was loved.”
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams looks before throwing a pass during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on Jan. 4, 2026, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears Q&A: Is Caleb Williams throwing over the middle more? How is Matthew Stafford in the cold?
The Green Bay Packers are in the rearview mirror. The Los Angeles Rams are coming to Soldier Field for an NFC divisional-round game Sunday against the Bears.
But before we turn the page on Saturday’s epic comeback, the Tribune’s Brad Biggs fields one more question in his weekly Bears mailbag about coach Ben Johnson stoking the Packers rivalry.
What is Bears coach Ben Johnson’s ‘good, better, best’ victory speech?
Bears’ wild-card win over Packers sets NFL streaming viewership record with 31.61 million average
Monica Casillas-Rios, bar director for Elske, 1350 W. Randolph St. in Chicago, makes a nonalcoholic cocktail, Jan. 8, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
For Dry January, hospitality industry experts discuss why they’re cutting back on alcohol
This time of year, with Dry January in full swing, it’s hard to ignore the sobering (pun intended) stories and stats on alcohol consumption. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, a record-low 54% of Americans reported that they consume alcohol. It was the third consecutive year the poll found declines in Americans’ reported drinking. For the first time, a majority of Americans say drinking in moderation — one or two drinks a day — is bad for their health.
The Rebirth Brass Band performs during Chicago Jazz Festival at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park on Sept. 3, 2017. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)
5 concerts across 5 genres for your MLK weekend
Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend has become a special time to celebrate the life and legacy of the reverend and civil rights activist. Besides being a national day of rest and service, the weekend has also become a great time to support a variety of Black artists and musicians. And this year is no exception, with something to appease the tastes of listeners across genres as different as country, classical, R&B, and house music, among many others. We’ve selected some of the most eclectic and special events taking place across the city.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/daywatch-epa-leaving-cleanup-unfinished/
Francia veta la entrada a activistas británicos de ultraderecha que atacan a barcos de migrantes
Associated Press
PARÍS (AP) — Diez miembros de un grupo de extrema derecha británico no recibieron autorización para entrar en Francia, donde han sido acusados de destruir pequeñas embarcaciones utilizadas por migrantes que intentan llegar a Reino Unido, reportó el miércoles el Ministerio del Interior francés.
El veto, dictado el martes, impide a los activistas antimigración del grupo “Raise the Colours” entrar o permanecer en Francia, según el ministerio.
En un comunicado, señaló que los miembros del colectivo han estado buscando y destruyendo pequeños barcos empleados en la ruta migratoria a través del canal de la Mancha, desde Francia al Reino Unido.
Además, llevaron a cabo “actividades propagandísticas” a lo largo de la costa norte de Francia “dirigidas a la población británica, a la que se instó a reforzar las filas del movimiento para poner fin al fenómeno migratorio”.
El ministerio no dio los nombres de los 10 ciudadanos británicos, pero dijo que habían sido “identificados como militantes dentro del movimiento que llevaron a cabo acciones en territorio francés”.
La migración a través del canal de la Mancha se ha convertido en un obstáculo en las relaciones entre Londres y París en los últimos años y es una cuestión política especialmente divisiva en Reino Unido.
Más de 41.000 personas cruzaron el canal hacia suelo británico en pequeñas embarcaciones el año pasado. La cifra supuso un incremento con respecto a 2024, pero estuvo por debajo del récord alcanzado en 2022, cuando más de 45.000 personas se embarcaron en la travesía, según el Ministerio del Interior.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
US Military Opens New Air Defense Coordination Cell In Qatar
US Military Opens New Air Defense Coordination Cell In Qatar
Authored by Ryan Morgan via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), on Jan. 13, announced the launch of a new air defense coordination cell in Qatar.
CENTCOM, the U.S. military command that oversees operations in the Middle East, said the new unit is located at the Al Udeid Air Base and will be operated by personnel from the United States and other regional partners.
Called the Middle Eastern Air Defense—Combined Defense Operations Cell, the center is situated within the existing Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base.
Over the past 20 years, representatives from 17 nations have helped to coordinate air operations from the Combined Air Operations Center.
“This is a significant step forward in strengthening regional defense cooperation,” Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, said in a statement on Tuesday.
“This cell will improve how regional forces coordinate and share air and missile defense responsibilities across the Middle East.”
CENTCOM and its regional partners have contended with long-range missile and drone attacks in recent years.
In April 2024, Iran launched a wave of one-way attack drones and missiles at Israel in response to an apparent Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria.
U.S. forces helped blunt that Iranian barrage, with CENTCOM reporting it intercepted 80 drones and six ballistic missiles.
American forces in the region again helped intercept Iranian ballistic missiles bound for Israel in October 2024.
As Israel and Iran came to blows in June 2025, U.S. forces again helped intercept Iranian attacks targeting Israel.
After U.S. forces struck Iran on June 22, Al Udeid Air Base came under direct retaliatory attack from Iran, and U.S. and Qatari air defense forces arrayed around the base defended against multiple missiles.
Lt. Gen Derek France, who leads the U.S. Air Force’s CENTCOM component, said the new air defense cell at Al Udeid Air Base “creates a consistent venue to share expertise and collectively create new solutions together with our regional partners.”
Qatar has been a key regional partner of the United States for years.
In addition to providing one of the largest bases for U.S. forces in the region at Al Udeid, Qatar has also played an intermediary role in negotiations for a cease-fire in the Israel–Hamas conflict in Gaza.
President Donald Trump has taken steps to expand the U.S.–Qatari partnership.
In September, Trump signed an executive order stating it is the policy of the United States “to guarantee the security and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar against external attack.”
In October, the Pentagon announced it had approved the creation of a new facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho that will be dedicated to training members of the Qatar Armed Forces.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 01/14/2026 – 07:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-military-opens-new-air-defense-coordination-cell-qatar
President Donald Trump says anything less than having Greenland in the United States’ hands is ‘unacceptable’
NUUK, Greenland — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that NATO should help the U.S. acquire Greenland and anything less than American control is unacceptable, hours before Vice President JD Vance was to host Danish and Greenlandic officials for talks.
In a post on his social media site, Trump reiterated his argument that the U.S. “needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security.” He added that “NATO should be leading the way for us to get it” and that otherwise Russia or China would — “AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!”
“NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” Trump wrote. “Anything less than that is unacceptable.”
Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, is at the center of a geopolitical storm as Trump insists he wants to own it — and residents of its capital, Nuuk, say it isn’t for sale. The White House hasn’t ruled out taking the Arctic island by force.
Vance is to meet Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt in Washington later Wednesday to discuss Greenland.
Greenland residents want the US to back off
Along the narrow, snow-covered main street in Nuuk, international journalists and camera crews have been stopping passersby every few meters (feet) asking them for their thoughts on a crisis which Denmark’s prime minister has warned could potentially trigger the end of NATO.
Tuuta Mikaelsen, a 22-year-old student, told The Associated Press in Nuuk that she hoped American officials would get the message to “back off.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen told a news conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday that “if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU.”
Asked later Tuesday about Nielsen’s comments, Trump replied: “I disagree with him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know anything about him. But, that’s going to be a big problem for him.”
Greenland is strategically important because, as climate change causes the ice to melt, it opens up the possibility of shorter trade routes to Asia. That also could make it easier to extract and transport untapped deposits of critical minerals which are needed for computers and phones.
Trump said in Wednesday’s post that Greenland is “vital” to the United States’ Golden Dome missile defense program. He also has said he wants the island to expand America’s security and has cited what he says is the threat from Russian and Chinese ships as a reason to control it.
But both experts and Greenlanders question that claim.
“The only Chinese I see is when I go to the fast food market,” heating engineer Lars Vintner said. He said he frequently goes sailing and hunting and has never seen Russian or Chinese ships.
His friend, Hans Nørgaard, agreed, adding “what has come out of the mouth of Donald Trump about all these ships is just fantasy.”
Denmark has said the U.S. — which already has a military presence — can boost its bases on Greenland. For that reason, “security is just a cover,” Vintner said, suggesting Trump actually wants to own the island to make money from its untapped natural resources.
Nørgaard said he filed a police complaint in Nuuk against Trump’s “aggressive” behavior because, he said, American officials are threatening the people of Greenland and NATO.
Mikaelsen, the student, said Greenlanders benefit from being part of Denmark, which provides free health care, education and payments during study, and “I don’t want the U.S. to take that away from us.”
More diplomatic efforts
Following the White House meeting, Løkke Rasmussen and Motzfeldt, along with Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., are due to meet with senators from the Arctic Caucus in the U.S. Congress.
Two lawmakers — Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican — have introduced bipartisan legislation that would prohibit the use of funds from the U.S. Defense or State departments to annex or take control of Greenland or the sovereign territory of any NATO member state without that ally’s consent or authorization from the North Atlantic Council.
A bipartisan delegation of lawmakers is also heading to Copenhagen at the end of the week to meet with Danish and Greenlandic officials.
Last week, Denmark’s major European allies joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a statement declaring that Greenland belongs to its people and that “it is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told RTL radio that his country plans to open a consulate in Greenland on Feb. 6, following a decision last summer to open the diplomatic outpost.
“Attacking another NATO member would make no sense; it would even be contrary to the interests of the United States. And I’m hearing more and more voices in the United States saying this,” Barrot said. “So this blackmail must obviously stop.”
Geir Moulson in Berlin, Lisa Mascaro in Washington and Catherine Gaschka in Paris contributed to this report.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/trump-greenland-us-talks/
