Junior guard Sarah Gurley definitely understands what her role is for St. Edward.

While everybody on the other team is focused on all-state junior guard Savannah Lynch and some of her other teammates, Gurley knows that she can deliver a dagger for the Green Wave.

“My role is definitely shooting,” Gurley said. “It definitely makes them play closer to me, which helps me free up my other teammates.”

In a tight game, Gurley hit that decisive shot again.

Her 3-pointer in the third quarter Thursday night gave the visiting Green Wave a lead that they would not relinquish in a 54-51 nonconference victory at Aurora Central Catholic.

Gurley only scored seven points but her impact was felt for St. Edward (11-6). Lynch led all scorers with 24 points to go with nine rebounds and Ginger Younger added nine points.

Aurora Central Catholic’s Annalyse McCarty, left, and St. Edward’s Sarah Gurley (21) go for a loose ball during a nonconference game in Aurora on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)

Sofia Orozco led ACC (12-7) with 16 points. Ashley Watter added 14 points, while Gina Dutkanych chipped in with 10 points and Nora Schwartz followed with nine.

Gurley’s big shot came in the middle of a 15-4 spurt that turned a 35-29 deficit into a 44-37 lead, which was capped by a layup from Sanaii McPherson at buzzer to end the third quarter.

“It was big for Sarah to initiate that shot,” St. Edward coach Michelle Dawson said. “She’ll shoot when she’s open. But for her to have the confidence to go after that and look for that, I was very proud to see that.”

Gurley realized that she had a chance to make a difference as the play unfolded.

St. Edward’s Savannah Lynch (2) goes to the basket against Aurora Central Catholic’s Annalyse McCarty (11) and Ashley Watter during a nonconference game in Aurora on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)

“It was pretty big in the moment, but we set a good screen to get me open for that,” Gurley said. “In the offense we were running, it was a two-man side and they set a screen for me, so I dribbled out to the corner.

“I saw that I didn’t really have a driving lane, so I was like, ‘Maybe I can get a three.’ I dribbled back and hit it.”

Dawson confirmed that Gurley is leaning into her role as are many other players on the team.

“Definitely. the person that’s going to hit the dagger three, right?” Dawson said. “Because Savannah, Sanaii and Jordin (Sauls) are going to draw a lot of attention. Sarah came up huge for us at Lisle. She hit some key shots in key moments.

St. Edward’s Sarah Gurley (21) defends against Aurora Central Catholic’s Annalyse McCarty (11) during a nonconference game in Aurora on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)

“She’s getting more confident handling the ball, which is good. We have to look at next year, too. Without Ginger on the floor, she has to be one of the top three ball-handlers.”

Younger started the decisive run with a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws.

After Gurley’s 3-pointer, Lynch took over from there — as she often does. Lynch scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter as the Green Wave pushed the lead to 51-45.

“The Lynch girl is pretty good,” ACC coach LeVada Smith said. “Once she gets downhill, she’s pretty hard to stop.”

St. Edward’s Sarah Gurley (21) comes down with a rebound in front of Aurora Central Catholic’s Reese Schramka during a nonconference game in Aurora on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)

The Chargers never got the lead back after Gurley’s 3-pointer, but they were in the game until the final whistle. A 3-pointer from Dutkanych swirled around the rim at the buzzer to end the game.

“It’s probably the first time we fully played as a team the whole game, even though we got down in the third quarter,” Smith said. “We didn’t quit. We kept on battling. That’s all we can do.”

Gurley, meanwhile, is glad to experiencing this season with her classmates and friends in Lynch and Layne and Taylor Dawson.

Gurley joined those three in St. Edward’s feeder program in sixth grade, so they have grown up together on and off the court.

“We definitely built chemistry on the court just hanging out with each other,” Gurley said. “We’re really close. It makes it so much easier to play basketball. We know what our roles are.”

Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/sarah-gurley-st-edward-aurora-central-catholic-ihsa-girls-basketball/ 

Good afternoon, Chicago.

As construction on the 34-story Bally’s Chicago hotel steadily rises skyward over the Ohio Street feeder ramp, things are looking up for the region’s casinos in 2026 amid a building boom that is reshaping the gambling landscape.

Chicago-area casinos are coming off a big year in 2025, as three new facilities boosted revenue and brought millions of additional players to the tables and slot machines.

Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History

Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces an independent commission to document and collect evidence of abuses by federal immigration agents on Jan. 8, 2026, at the Union League Club of Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot launches ‘ICE Accountability Project’ to document immigration agents

Lori Lightfoot said residents could send videos, audio, photos or other information to reporticenow.com. The accounts will be published on the website and serve as a “centralized, permanent archive” that law enforcement, elected officials, journalists and others can refer to, she said. Read more here.

More top news stories:

Residents, activists, officials demand police oversight board open inquiry into CPD’s actions during Midway Blitz
Illinois, four other states sue Trump administration over frozen child care funds
Gov. JB Pritzker signs sweeping Illinois energy law boosting batteries and renewables that GOP opposed

Police escort a participant away from the microphone during a public hearing on a resolution to declare a 725-acre parcel in Hobart as an Economic Revitalization Area on Jan. 7, 2026. (Kyle Telechan/for the Post-Tribune)

Hobart council OKs data center amid tight security, opposition

Pleas from the dozens of Hobart residents who asked city officials to table action fell on deaf ears as the City Council approved three resolutions allowing Amazon Data Services to proceed with its data center plans. Read more here.

More top business stories:

Sports dome west of Brookside Marketplace moves forward; one of three planned in Tinley Park
Tax season is almost here. Here’s what to know and when you can begin filing.

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1) and middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) celebrate after Edmunds recovered a fumble in the third quarter of a game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 20, 2025. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Amazon’s Prime Video has the Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers playoff game. Here’s how you can watch.

Here’s what to know about the wild-card round matchup and how to watch it. Read more here.

More top sports stories:

Connor Bedard will play tonight for Chicago Blackhawks after missing 12 games with a separated shoulder
College football transfer portal tracker: WR Alex Perry and OLB Will Holmes among Illinois signees

The Oscar-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell sits for an interview at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry on Jan. 7, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

‘Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell’ will debut at Griffin MSI

Long before audiences saw Glinda’s dazzling pink dresses or Elphaba’s dramatic layered ensembles on the big screen, Paul Tazewell was imagining how silhouette, color and texture would bring the witches of Oz to life. Read more here.

More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:

Review: Once a storefront theater curiosity, ‘Bug’ opens big on Broadway
City seeking co-chairs to plan Naperville’s 200th anniversary celebration

Demonstrators march to the White House in Washington on Jan. 8, 2026, as they protest against a federal immigration agent fatally shooting Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

Minnesota shooting videos challenge administration narrative, policing experts question tactics

President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the ICE officer shot the driver in self-defense. Trump said based on that video “it is hard to believe he is alive.” He said the driver “viciously ran over the ICE officer.” But it’s unclear in the videos if the car makes contact with the officer. Read more here.

More top stories from around the world:

As Trump promises Venezuelan renaissance, locals struggle with crumbling economy 
Iran supreme leader signals crackdown coming as protesters are ‘ruining their own streets’ for Trump

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/afternoon-briefing-lori-lightfoot-launches-ice-accountability-project/ 

“You Don’t Want This Smoke”: Philly Sheriff, DA Threaten To Arrest ‘Fake Law Enforcement’ ICE Officers

Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/09/2026 – 15:05

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/you-dont-want-smoke-philly-sheriff-da-threaten-arrest-fake-law-enforcement-ice-officers 

The North Aurora Village Board recently approved a supplemental entertainment class liquor license for Mariscos El Catrin Del Mar, a Mexican restaurant that opened in October at 19 S. Randall Road in the village.

According to documentation provided by the village, the Village Board approved an ordinance increasing the number of Class A liquor licenses for Mariscos El Catrin Del Mar back on Aug. 4, 2025, and also passed a resolution that night approving a temporary, conditional 60-day supplemental entertainment liquor license for the restaurant.

That liquor license allows live, amplified entertainment provided by musicians, vocalists, DJs, comedians and other acts, village officials said.

Village Administrator Steve Bosco said the village has two supplemental licenses including “one for outdoor eating and the other is for entertainment,” both of which have now been granted for the restaurant.

“The reason you do this is because it gives the board an opportunity to say like, if you’re a restaurant and you want to have liquor and food, that’s great,” he said. “But if you want to go one step forward and have live music or something in a neighborhood it gives them the opportunity to say, you can still be a restaurant and serve liquor but you can’t have live bands or things that might disturb the surrounding businesses or neighborhood.”

Bosco said there are now only three such entertainment licenses issued in the village including one for a local brewery and another for “an event space that is rented for parties and such.”

In October, the village formally issued a temporary, conditional supplemental license that allowed for a 60-day trail period for the restaurant, “in order for the license applicant to demonstrate the ability to operate devoid of any distinguishably excessive noise, as confirmed by village personnel,” officials said.

Bosco said there were two anonymous complaints during that time period and that in both cases, “the police went out there and verified that they didn’t hear music that was excessive.”

“The police, proactively, went out there several times during that 60-day window and they also conducted their own assessments,” Bosco said.

He said after the 60-day window ended “the board looked at it and concluded that they didn’t have any concerns,” he said.

Denise Gomez, who serves as a manager at the restaurant, spoke the day after the board approved the new license earlier this month and noted it would absolutely help the restaurant and its amount of foot traffic, “especially on the weekends.”

“Having live entertainment obviously brings more people in,” Gomez said. “We can get a crowd of maybe 150 more people on average when we have someone performing. We are looking forward to having good attendance here.”

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/north-aurora-oks-supplemental-license-for-entertainment-at-restaurant-that-opened-in-the-fall/ 

Eleanor Walsh, who faces an increase of approximately $14,300 in health insurance costs this year as the Affordable Care Act subsidies sunset, said she was pleased that the U.S. House passed a three-year extension on the subsidies.

But, Walsh said she’s still anxious about the measure successfully passing the Senate and then being signed by President Donald Trump.

“I am happy about it. I wish the rest of it all falls in place too,” Walsh said.

Walsh, who lives in St. John, said in 2025 her and her husband paid approximately $9,100 for health insurance, and in 2026 it will increase to $23,400. To save money, they decided to switch to a different insurance plan, she said.

In November, her husband had open-heart surgery to fix an aortic valve, Walsh said. While they used insurance for the operation, they still have been left with more than $10,000 in medical debt, she said.

While the subsidy extension doesn’t address the increase in insurance costs, it will be a huge help to decrease the overall cost, Walsh said.

“It’s still going to be a big increase, but it will still be a big relief if we can get some subsidy from the deal,” Walsh said.

The House passed legislation Thursday that would extend expired health care subsidies for those who get coverage through the Affordable Care Act as 17 renegade GOP lawmakers joined every Democrat in support.

The tally, 230-196, signified growing political concern over Americans’ rising health care premiums. Forcing the issue to a vote came about after a handful of Republicans signed on to a so-called “discharge petition” to unlock debate, bypassing objections from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana. The bill now goes to the Senate, where pressure is building for a bipartisan compromise.

Together, the rare political coalitions are rushing to resolve the standoff over the enhanced tax credits that were put in place during the COVID-19 crisis but expired late last year after no agreement was reached during the government shutdown.

Ahead of the vote, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill, which would provide a three-year extension of the subsidy, would increase the nation’s deficit by about $80.6 billion over the decade. At the same time, it would increase the number of people with health insurance by 100,000 this year, 3 million in 2027, 4 million in 2028 and 1.1 million in 2029, the CBO said.

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, voted to approve the extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies “to protect healthcare access for Northwest Indiana residents,” he said.

Mrvan said he supported the subsidies because amid the uncertainty around the extension of the tax credit, health insurance companies haven’t been able to accurately predict premiums for 2026.

“Forcing Americans to renew their health insurance plans without knowing exactly how high their premiums will be in 2026, creating uncertainty,” Mrvan said.

Mrvan shared stories from constituents who called him to ask him to vote in favor of the extension.

Margaret, from Gary, whose healthcare for 2026 under the Affordable Care Act increased from $343 to $1,000 per month. Margaret decided to forgo health insurance and “pray she does not have a healthcare emergency this year,” Mrvan said.

Sarah, from LaPorte, runs a business with her husband and they are raising two children, Mrvan said. Her family will see the Affordable Care Act coverage premiums from $1,500 to $4,000 month, he said.

Kirk, from Valparaiso, is a cancer survivor who relies on the Affordable Care Act for his treatment, Mrvan said. Kirk and his wife can barely afford the premium payments, and any increase in the payment would make the plan unaffordable, Mrvan said.

“The goal of the vote today was to make it a little bit easier and to make sure that those individuals who rely on the ACA for healthcare have the ability to have access, and for everyday Americans to be able to provide for their families and to be able to provide healthcare,” Mrvan said.

While the momentum from the vote shows the growing support for the tax breaks that have helped some 22 million Americans have access to health insurance, the Senate would be under no requirement to take up the House bill and has already rejected it once before.

Instead, a small group of senators from both parties has been working on an alternative plan that could find support in both chambers and become law. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said that for any plan to find support in his chamber, it will need to have income limits to ensure that the financial aid is focused on those who most need the help. He and other Republicans also want to ensure that beneficiaries would have to at least pay a nominal amount of their coverage.

Finally, Thune said there would need to be some expansion of health savings accounts, which allow people to save money and withdraw it tax-free as long as the money is spent on qualified medical expenses.

Trump has pushed Republicans to send money directly to Americans for health savings accounts so they can bypass the federal government and handle insurance on their own. Democrats largely reject this idea as insufficient for covering the high costs of health care.

The action by Republicans to force a vote has been a rebuke to Johnson and his leadership team, who essentially lost control of what comes to the House floor as the Republican lawmakers joined Democrats for the workaround.

After last year’s government shutdown failed to resolve the issue, Johnson had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on another health care bill that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes.

But after days of discussions, Johnson and the GOP leadership sided with the more conservative wing, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up the ACA, which they consider a failed government program. He offered a modest proposal of health care reforms that was approved, but has stalled.

It was then that rank-and-file lawmakers took matters into their own hands, as many of their constituents faced soaring health insurance premiums beginning this month.

What started as a long-shot effort by Democrats to offer a discharge petition has become a political vindication of the Democrats’ government shutdown strategy as they fought to preserve the health care funds.

Democrats intend to focus on the higher health insurance costs many Americans are facing as part of their efforts to retake the majority in the House and Senate in the fall general election.

Trump, during a lengthy speech this week to House GOP lawmakers, encouraged his party to take control of the health care debate — an issue that has stymied Republicans since he tried, and failed, to repeal the ACA during his first term.

The Associated Press contributed. 

akukulka@post-trib.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/u-s-house-passes-affordable-care-act-subsidy-extension/ 

Por JACK BROOK

NUEVA ORLEANS (AP) — Agentes federales de inmigración se retiran de una operación en Luisiana y se dirigen a Minneapolis, en un abrupto cambio en una operación que generó protestas en toda Nueva Orleans y que tenía como objetivo realizar miles de arrestos, según documentos obtenidos por The Associated Press.

El cambio parecía indicar una reducción del despliegue en Luisiana, denominado “Catahoula Crunch”, que comenzó en diciembre con la llegada de más de 200 agentes. Se esperaba que la operación durara hasta febrero y rápidamente generó temores en las comunidades inmigrantes.

El gobierno del presidente Donald Trump envió a miles de agentes federales a Minnesota en una nueva y amplia ofensiva vinculada, en parte, a acusaciones de fraude relacionadas con residentes somalíes. Más de 2.000 agentes participan en lo que el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional califica como la mayor operación de control de inmigración jamás realizada.

Los agentes en Minneapolis han enfrentado manifestaciones y enojo después de que un agente del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) matara a tiros a una mujer el miércoles.

Documentos obtenidos por la AP indican que los agentes federales estacionados en Luisiana seguían partiendo hacia Minneapolis a finales de esta semana.

“Por la seguridad de nuestros agentes del orden, no divulgamos detalles operativos mientras están en curso”, dijo el viernes el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés) en respuesta a preguntas sobre si el despliegue en Luisiana estaba terminando para enviar agentes a Minnesota.

En diciembre, el DHS desplegó a más de 200 agentes federales en Nueva Orleans para llevar a cabo una redada de varios meses en la ciudad y sus alrededores bajo el mando del comandante de la Patrulla Fronteriza Gregory Bovino, quien también fue la imagen de agresivas operaciones efectuadas en Chicago, Los Ángeles y Charlotte, Carolina del Norte. Bovino fue visto en Minneapolis esta semana.

El operativo “Catahoula Crunch” comenzó con el objetivo de realizar 5.000 arrestos, informó primero la AP. La operación había generado aproximadamente 370 arrestos hasta el 18 de diciembre, según el DHS.

Documentos revisados previamente por la AP mostraron que la mayoría de las personas arrestadas en los primeros días de la operación en Luisiana no tenían antecedentes penales y que las autoridades rastrearon críticas en línea y protestas contra el despliegue.

El gobernador republicano de Luisiana, Jeff Landry, recibió con beneplácito la operación. Pero los líderes demócratas de Nueva Orleans calificaron el objetivo de 5.000 arrestos como poco realista y criticaron videos que mostraban a agentes arrestando o intentando detener a residentes, entre ellos, la escena de una ciudadana estadounidense siendo perseguida por la calle por hombres enmascarados cerca de su casa.

Los líderes demócratas de Nueva Orleans han sido más receptivos a un despliegue de la Guardia Nacional autorizado por Trump después de que Landry pidiera ayuda para combatir el crimen. Las tropas llegaron justo antes del aniversario del ataque con camión en Bourbon Street que mató a 14 personas el Día de Año Nuevo.

En el enclave hispano de Kenner, justo en las afueras de Nueva Orleans, muchos negocios dirigidos por inmigrantes cerraron temporalmente durante la operación para proteger a los clientes que temían serían etiquetados racialmente por los agentes federales sin importar su estatus legal. Algunos restaurantes anunciaron recientemente su reapertura.

Carmela Díaz, una ciudadana estadounidense nacida en El Salvador, ha mantenido cerrado su negocio en Kenner, Taquería La Conquistadora, por más de un mes. Sigue preocupada de que los agentes de inmigración puedan regresar, pero analiza la posibilidad de reabrir el negocio pronto.

“Voy a esperar y ver esta semana”, dijo. “Tengo muchos clientes que quieren comer aquí.”

___

La periodista de The Associated Press Rebecca Santana contribuyó a este informe desde Minneapolis.

___

Brook es miembro del cuerpo de The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America es un programa nacional de servicio sin fines de lucro que coloca periodistas en redacciones locales para informar sobre temas poco cubiertos.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/agentes-federales-se-trasladan-a-minneapolis-tras-operativo-migratorio-en-luisiana/ 

Por CIARÁN FAHEY

RABAT, Marruecos (AP) — La antesala del partido de Nigeria en los cuartos de final de la Copa Africana de Naciones contra Argelia ha estado marcada por especulaciones sobre conflictos internos que involucran al delantero Victor Osimhen y reportes de que los jugadores no han recibido sus bonos.

El técnico interino Éric Chelle no quiso comentar sobre los informes el viernes, cuando dijo que tales preguntas deben dirigirse a la Federación de Fútbol de Nigeria.

“Este es mi trabajo, mantenerme enfocado — intentar mantenerme enfocado — mantenerme enfocado solo en el campo, y definitivamente mi trabajo está en el campo, no alrededor”, dijo Chelle en Marrakech un día antes de que Nigeria juegue contra Argelia en la ciudad.

La NFF todavía anuncia una vacante de tiempo completo para la selección masculina, un año y un día después de haber nombrado a Chelle para el puesto.

Medios nigerianos informaron que los jugadores habían amenazado con no entrenar ni viajar a Marrakech para el partido a menos que se les pagaran los bonos acordados por ganar sus primeros cuatro partidos de la Copa Africana.

El equipo llegó a Marrakech el jueves y tuvo su primera sesión de entrenamiento allí el mismo día. Chelle dijo que entrenarían nuevamente más tarde el viernes.

Chelle se negó a comentar sobre los informes de que Osimhen estaba a punto de abandonar el equipo después de una discusión en el campo con su compañero Ademola Lookman durante la victoria 4-0 de las Súper Águilas sobre Mozambique en los octavos de final el lunes.

“Prefiero hablar sobre el (próximo) partido. Victor está allí y eso es todo”, dijo Chelle. “Sí, todos están hablando sobre Osimhen y Lookman, es normal, son los dos últimos mejores jugadores africanos, pero estamos aquí para servirles para que anoten, estamos trabajando para ellos. Somos un equipo, y de eso se trata el trabajo en equipo.”

Osimhen anotó dos goles en ese partido con Lookman involucrado en ambos, pero aparentemente estaba furioso cuando Lookman intentó anotar en lugar de asistirle para otro.

Lookman minimizó la discusión cuando se le preguntó al respecto después del partido, cuando dijo que era “solo fútbol” y llamó a Osimhen su “hermano.”

Lookman también publicó posteriormente fotos en las redes sociales de él celebrando con Osimhen con el pie de foto “siempre juntos.”

Nigeria, que perdió la final ante Costa de Marfil en la última edición, está buscando ganar el título por cuarta vez. Esto ayudaría a compensar la decepción de no haber clasificado para el Mundial 2026.

Los dos títulos de Argelia incluyeron victorias sobre Nigeria en el camino – dos veces en 1990 y nuevamente en las semifinales en 2019.

___

Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/nigeria-enfrenta-informes-de-bonos-impagos-y-disputa-con-osimhen-antes-de-jugar-contra-argelia/ 

In the midst of wintry January, is there anything better than a view of a sunny Naperville street back in the day? This postcard of Loomis Street, looking north from Liberty Street (now known as Van Buren Avenue), was taken circa 1912, according to Naperville Heritage Society information. The photographer is not known. It’s interesting to note that while the sidewalks appear paved, the street is not. Given that car buying would not be affordable for average people until the 1920s, when mass production of the Ford Model T began, it’s fun to see hitching posts for horses located in front of some homes.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/09/naperville-loomis-street-1912-van-buren/ 

Rio Tinto And Glencore In Talks To Form World’s Largest Mining Company With $200 Billion Valuation

Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/09/2026 – 14:25

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/rio-tinto-and-glencore-talks-combine-form-worlds-largest-mining-company-200-billion