Category: News
Bill aimed at settling Ford Heights debt to Chicago Heights signed, though concerns remain
Legislation signed into law last month could help solve long-standing debt issues between the Chicago Heights and Ford Heights, lawmakers say.
Signed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Dec. 12, the legislation allows the state comptroller to collect debts between local governments if the entities reached an agreement or filed a court order. It takes effect June 1, according to the governor’s office.
Ford Heights owes Chicago Heights, its water supplier, nearly $2 million in unpaid water bills. Chicago Heights has attempted to collect the money for about a decade, including suing Ford Heights.
State Reps. Thaddeus Jones and Anthony DeLuca came together to revive the bill after it was pulled from the statehouse floor in April. Jones expressed concern state intervention could further hike water bills for Ford Heights, which already has some of the highest water bills in the south suburbs, after Chicago Heights threatened to turn off the water in 2018.
The legislation allows the state to deduct the debt from state payments to Ford Heights and forward the deducted funds to Chicago Heights, provided the municipalities came to an agreement or if Chicago Heights won a court order.
Jones told the Daily Southtown in April that he worried the court order measure would give Chicago Heights too much leverage over Ford Heights when the village already struggles with costly water bills.
DeLuca said despite the conflict, the two representatives were able to come together over the summer in favor of the bill and encourage Ford Heights and Chicago Heights to develop an outside agreement where Ford Heights slowly pays back the debt. If the terms of that agreement are violated, the state comptroller will be able to intervene.
“The hope is that it’s to the benefit of both communities to continue good communication and try and get this resolved,” DeLuca said.
Jones, who is also mayor of Calumet City, said he is grateful to DeLuca for helping resolve the issue, but maintains concerned about future state comptroller involvement in the village dispute. He said Chicago Heights has continued threatening to turn off Ford Heights’ water, which he hoped passing the legislation would prevent.
If Ford Heights is unable to keep up its commitment to Chicago Heights, Jones said, the state comptroller could “come in and seize the money” until the balance is paid off.
“It would devastate them,” Jones said.
Jones said the impoverished village of about 1,800 people continues to struggle financially and politically, to the point where the village is without any legal representation. The village’s former mayor, Charles Griffin, was forced to resign after being convicted of embezzling funds from the village, and Freddie Wilson was appointed interim mayor in October after serving less than a full term as village trustee.
“They’re fighting in Ford Heights for control of the village,” Jones said. “The mayor is under attack for some of the things that happened in the last administration, but he’s been fighting against a board that doesn’t want to move things forward.”
Wilson on Thursday directed all questions about the water issue to Jones. Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez did not respond to requests for comment.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/ford-heights-debt-chicago-heights-legislation/
Texas Issues Warning About Unsolicited Seed Packages From China
Texas Issues Warning About Unsolicited Seed Packages From China
Authored by Dorothy Li via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
Texas has warned residents not to plant what it calls “mysterious seeds” that arrived in unsolicited packages from China, as authorities investigate thousands of such reports across the state.
Packages containing unknown seeds from China. Texas Department of Agriculture
State authorities first became aware of this issue in February last year, when a resident in Clute reported that a package from an unknown sender in China contained “unidentified seeds and a liquid container,” according to the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Since then, officials have collected 1,101 packs of unsolicited seeds delivered to 109 locations across the state, the agency said in a Jan. 5 statement. The most recent packet was collected on Dec. 29.
“At a glance, this might seem like a small problem, but this is serious business,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in the statement.
“The possible introduction of an invasive species to the state via these seeds poses real risks to Texas families and the agriculture industry.”
The issue was not limited to Texas. Officials in Ohio, New Mexico, and Alabama issued similar advisories last year after families reported receiving unsolicited packages of unknown seeds at their doorsteps.
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, in a March statement, said that the seeds sent to Alabamians were identified as tomato and onion varieties. While no harmful compounds were detected in them, state officials cautioned that such practices could still be illegal or violate regulations without proper authorization.
“We urge all residents to be on the lookout for similar packages,” Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate said in the statement. “These seeds may be invasive to Alabama plants or be harmful to livestock.”
This wasn’t the first time U.S. households received packages of unidentified seeds they hadn’t ordered. In 2020, officials from all 50 states issued warnings about such unsolicited seeds. Many of these packages were processed by China Post, the Chinese communist regime’s official postal service.
At the time, U.S. state officials warned residents that seeds arriving by mail could introduce invasive species into local ecosystems, while some Americans expressed concern that they could carry diseases amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Individuals in European Union member states, the UK, Canada, and some in the Indo-Pacific, including Australia and Taiwan, also reported receiving similar unsolicited packets of seeds at the time, many of them from China.
An investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture determined that these seeds were likely part of a global “brushing scam.” By sending unsolicited, low-value items to residential addresses, sellers could post false-positive reviews under the name of a “verified” owner, thereby boosting sales, according to investigators.
As new reports continued to emerge, officials in Texas said they’re collaborating with the federal authorities to collect, test, and dispose of these seed packs safely.
Residents who received unsolicited packages are urged to contact their local agriculture departments immediately and are advised not to open the package, plant the unidentified seeds, or discard them in regular trash.
“Whether it’s part of an ongoing scam or something more sinister, we are determined to protect Texans,” Miller said in the Jan. 5 statement.
“Unsolicited seeds coming into our country are a risk to American agriculture, our environment, and public safety. Texas isn’t going to take chances when it comes to protecting our people and our food supply.”
Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/08/2026 – 15:25
https://www.zerohedge.com/food/texas-issues-warning-about-unsolicited-seed-packages-china
Holiday shoppers spent a record amount online, searching out deals amid economic anxiety
Consumers splurged this last holiday season, enticed by good deals even as they worried about growth and inflation.
Online shoppers spent a record $257.8 billion during the holiday season as they snagged major discounts on electronics, sporting goods and appliances, Adobe data show.
The San José company, which analyzes online transactions on its Adobe Analytics platform, said Wednesday that online consumer spending from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31 jumped nearly 7% in the U.S. compared to the same period a year earlier. The data provide a glimpse into how the U.S. economy is impacting e-commerce.
Amid anxiety around inflation, tariffs and layoffs, shoppers still opened up their wallets, especially during Cyber Monday, the biggest e-commerce day of the season. Consumers spent $14.25 billion on that day.
Many shoppers also anticipated bigger discounts to come during Black Friday and Thanksgiving.
“We saw that growth really scale up during those days, especially in this environment where consumers are very considerate about prices out there,” said Vivek Pandya, director of Adobe Digital Insights.
Shoppers found discounts on higher-priced items such as electronics, furniture and appliances, driving up the total spending during the holidays.
Some bought electronics 30% off the listed price and used payment methods that allowed them to buy gadgets such as smartphones but pay later.
The rise of chatbots, powered by artificial intelligence, and the popularity of shopping through social media meant consumers leaned more on technology to find products and deals.
“We have a consumer out there that was still willing to spend during this holiday season if they felt like the price was right,” Pandya said.
Adobe saw an uptick in people using smartphones to shop and AI chatbots to research products and search for deals. Traffic from AI sources had a higher conversion rate than from non-AI sources, he said.
Consumers might find AI more helpful for researching more expensive products such as electronics or appliances that involve comparing various features.
Consumers spent more on items such as video games, smartwatches, refrigerators and other pricey household items while also buying cheaper items such as puzzles and holiday decor.
Some of the top-selling toys included the Lego Icons sets and “Wicked” dolls along with gaming consoles and video games.
Hot tech products included the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Adobe found.
Online spending on electronics totaled $59.8 billion, up roughly 8% compared to the same period last year.
Adobe doesn’t break out the data by state, but other studies had predicted consumer spending in California would grow. Accounting firm KPMG found consumers planned to spend more because they were wary about having to pay more later because of inflation.
About 72% of consumers surveyed by KPMG in the Pacific region — which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska — cited inflation as a top concern last year.
Meanwhile, economists have described the U.S. economy as “K-shaped,” illustrating the disparity between the rich who have more money to spend and the poor who are more cautious about their finances.
In December, Bank of America released a report that showed higher-income households not only saw their after-tax wages grow but also increased their spending year over year by 2.6%. Lower-income groups increased spending by 0.6%.
Historically, online shoppers have been more affluent, Pandya said. But some consumers also view online shopping as a way to find better deals because it’s easier to compare prices from various retailers without having to walk into a store.
He anticipates consumers could still eye spending during major events such as Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day when retailers offer discounts.
“That might encourage them to continue to spend,” Pandya said. “We’ll see how January data looks as that starts to come in.”
Black Harvard Dean Fired After Anti-White, Anti-Police Social Media Posts Resurface
Black Harvard Dean Fired After Anti-White, Anti-Police Social Media Posts Resurface
A Harvard University dean has been removed after a student-run news outlet, the Yard Report, dug up old social media posts slamming whiteness, the cops, and advocating for looting and rioting.
Gregory Davis, the former Dunster House Allston Burr resident dean, wrote the posts in question between 2019 and 2024 – mostly on X. He became dean of the dormitory in 2024.
“It’s almost like Whiteness is a self-destructive ideology that annihilates everyone around it. By design,” he said in 2019.
Meanwhile in 2020 amid the George Floyd riots, Davis slammed the police, posting “You should ask your cop friends to resign since they’re racist and evil,” he said on X.
Davis then defended the ‘mostly peaceful’ riots that ensued, writing “Something to keep in mind: rioting and looting are parts of democracy just like voting and marching,” adding “The people WILL be heard.”
And when President Trump got COVID, Davis wrote “If he dies, he dies.”
When confronted about the posts, Davis wrote to Dunster House residents – saying:
“Recently, some media organizations have inquired regarding comments that I made on my personal social media accounts prior to my start in the Resident Dean role,” adding “These posts do not reflect my current thinking or beliefs. I deeply appreciate the responsibility inherent in the Resident Dean role and I value the trust that individuals have placed in me. I regret if my statements have any negative impact on the Dunster community.”
“Since becoming the Allston Burr Resident Dean, I have worked hard to ensure that Dunster House is a welcoming, warm and supportive space for all of its member,” the message continued. “That continues to be the guiding force of my work today. As events outside of Harvard have affected our House and me personally, my commitment to each of you, our students, has not wavered. In my role, I have enjoyed the opportunity to work collaboratively with members of HUPD and other colleagues across campus. I respect the work they do to support our community.”
How are we feeling about this? Discuss…
Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/08/2026 – 15:05
Afternoon Briefing: Indictment ties gun to shots fired at immigration agents
Good afternoon, Chicago.
A federal indictment filed yesterday alleged for the first time that a gun found on a man in a Little Village restaurant parking lot in November was the same weapon used to fire shots toward immigration agents as they ran enforcement raids earlier that day.
Hector Gómez, 45, was charged in the indictment with possession of a weapon by a felon as well as gun possession by a previously deported alien. While the indictment does not allege Gómez actually fired the shots at agents, the charges for the first time connect the 9 mm weapon allegedly found on Gomez to shell casings at the scene.
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.
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Federal immigration agents walk through a cloud of tear gas while facing off against community members at 105th Street and Avenue N in Chicago on Oct. 14, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)
Lawsuit over use-of-force tactics by immigration agents expected to be dropped, more evidence could be made public
The plaintiffs in a landmark injunction case limiting the use of force by immigration agents during Operation Midway Blitz are expected to formally dismiss their lawsuit today, a day after agents shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis and as federal officials have vowed to return to Chicago for more large-scale deportation efforts. Read more here.
More top news stories:
Rep. Bob Rita to run unopposed in primary after opponents removed or withdraw
Angry, frustrated residents flood Elgin immigration forum
A T.J. Maxx store in New Hampshire on Aug. 14, 2025. (Charles Krupa/AP)
New T.J. Maxx coming to refurbished Lincoln Park tower
T.J. Maxx signed a lease for 26,000 square feet on a prominent retail corridor in Lincoln Park, and will open a street-level store by the third quarter of 2026. Read more here.
More top business stories:
Chicago Tribune, other papers, seek sanctions over allegations Open AI deleted key evidence
Kane County mulling regulations on short-term home rentals in unincorporated areas
Blackhawks goaltender Glenn Hall, right, makes a save against the Maple Leafs on Dec. 20, 1959, at Chicago Stadium. Hall, who backstopped the Hawks to the 1961 Stanley Cup, died Jan. 7, 2026, at age 94. (Chicago Tribune)
Glenn Hall, aka ‘Mr. Goalie,’ who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup, dies at 94
Born in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, on Oct. 3, 1931, Glenn Hall captured just about every award a player can achieve during a Hall of Fame career that ran from 1952-71. He holds the record for consecutive games started in goal at 502 — all without wearing a mask. Read more here.
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7 players score for Chicago Blackhawks, who win their 4th straight to stay undefeated in 2026
What we heard from Chicago White Sox, including ‘healthy competition’ for rotation with Sean Newcomb’s arrival
Bruno Mars performs during the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty)
Bruno Mars tour will bring him to Soldier Field in May
“The Romantic” tour, in support of his fourth solo album of the same title, will be Bruno Mars’ first headlining tour in nearly a decade. Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
Review: ‘Is This Thing On?’ finds life in stand-up comedy
Review: ‘Greenland 2: Migration’ is Gerard Butler’s predictable January return
People protest as law enforcement officers work at the scene of the shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, 2026. (Tom Baker/AP)
Minneapolis protesters vent their outrage after an ICE officer kills a woman
Minneapolis was on edge today following the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal officer taking part in the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown, with protesters venting their outrage, the governor urging restraint and schools canceling classes as a precaution. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world:
Senate considers limiting Trump’s war powers after Venezuela raid
New food pyramid puts protein and vegetables at the top
Angry, frustrated residents flood Elgin immigration forum: ‘We can’t ignore what is happening here’
The shooting death of a Minnesota woman by an ICE agent earlier in the day weighed heavily on those who participated in an Elgin town hall meeting Wednesday to discuss ICE operations in the city.
Attended by about 250 people, the forum at the Edward Schock Centre of Elgin was in response to a Dec. 6 incident in which a man escaped U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement custody and barricaded himself for several hours in an apartment on Maple Lane.
A large group who gathered to protest the actions that day were sprayed with chemical weapons, residents said.
“I was tear-gassed by ICE,” Zack Hislip said. “(ICE) is lying about everything that happened that day.” He refuted allegations that federal agents were hit by bottles and rocks in a riot-like atmosphere.
The problem, Hislip said, is the situation is only growing more tense.
“This is going to keep happening. They’re not winding down. They’re ramping up,” he said. “They’re going to be more violent. They’re going to be more destructive. They’re going to kill people like they did today.”
Hislip was referring to the death of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was shot and killed Wednesday as she was leaving the scene of a Minneapolis protest in her SUV. ICE agents said they fired shots at her because she was attempting to run them down but video and witness accounts seemingly contradict that account.
In her memory, a moment of silence was held at the Elgin meeting.
The gathering was led by Joshua Brockway, director of spiritual formation for the Church of the Brethren in Elgin, who said the goal was to share information and experiences so there was a broader understanding of what has been happening in the city.
“There’s a lot of aggression around us today, especially after today’s killing in Minnesota,” Brockway said. “Anger is rightly at the surface for us. We’ll hopefully turn our aggression, anger and frustration to the conditions we are experiencing and not direct them toward the people around us.”
Joshua Brockway, director of spiritual formation for the Church of the Brethren in Elgin, moderates an Elgin town hall meeting Wednesday night at which residents discussed ICE immigration enforcement action in the city. (Gloria Casas/The Courier-News)
Residents said they were mad, as well as stymied and disheartened, by immigration enforcement actions in the city and around the country, what they witnessed on Maple Lane and the fatal shooting in Minnesota.
Elgin attorney Vanessa Zamudio said she believes Latinos are being hunted by the federal government.
“It’s a very violent, savage act to be hunted,” said Zamudio, noting that residents are being taken into custody while doing basic things like going to work or running to the store. “We can’t ignore what is happening here. When you don’t take a position, you are taking a position. What is happening here is something inhumane.”
Speakers wanted to know what Elgin would do if someone was shot in the city by ICE and what they can expect city police to do and not do.
Elgin Chief Ana Lalley, who faced shouts, chants and walkouts from the audience, said they will be providing information and answers to those questions in a post to be put out next week on the police department’s online Transparency Hub. The meeting was the result of residents voicing their disapproval of police actions at an Elgin City Council meeting in December.
She also responded to questions about police Officer Jason Lentz, who has been on administrative leave since October after posting pro-ICE comments on social media and suggesting locations that ICE agents should visit. Lalley said the probe is progressing and the Civilian Review Board will review the case soon.
Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser attended the event as well and said her office continues to look into complaints about possible law violations by ICE agents. She is working on a proposed legislative amendment to the Illinois TRUST Act, which prohibits police from getting involved in federal immigration cases unless there is warrant involved.
Mayor Dave Kaptain said residents need to understand that civil immigration enforcement is carried out by the federal government, and municipalities don’t have the legal authority to stop or direct those actions.
“That reality is deeply frustrating, especially when federal tactics create anxiety and uncertainty for our neighbors. While we cannot control federal enforcement, we can control how the city of Elgin can act within its own authority,” Kaptain said.
“Our immigrant community is not separate from Elgin. They are part of it. Families who live, work, worship and raise their children here belong here. They deserve to feel safe, respected and valued. … We hear that frustration, and we take it seriously.”
A 16-year-old Elgin High School student named Kimberly said her generation feels helpless in the wake of what’s been happening.
“It just hurts to see this,” she said. “We cannot just stand still.”
Twelve-year-old Jimena Gonzalez gave her account of being pepper-sprayed at the Dec. 6 protest.
“This is not justice. This is not freedom. We deserve freedom and justice,” she said.
But two members of the audience said they disagreed with the city’s recent resolution establishing ICE-free zones on public property.
“When did it become OK for people to fight ICE? I stand for ICE,” said one woman, who was booed by audience members. “I do think the police stand up for the immigrants in Elgin where they did nothing for the Black community.”
Residents, including Hislip, said they plan to keep protesting immigration enforcement actions in Elgin in spite of retaliation fears.
“I will keep showing up every time that ICE shows up because, like they say, freedom isn’t free,” he said. “We’re going to be the ones paying the price. We’re going to be the ones on the front lines battling it out and holding them accountable because no one else will.”
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/immigration-town-hall-elgin-ice/
Ford introduces new electronic system to support eyes-free driving
Ford Motor Co. says eyes-off and hands-off autonomous driving will be road-ready in 2028, and it’ll introduce new artificial intelligence-powered features to its current customers starting this year.
The Dearborn, Michigan automaker on Wednesday introduced the Ford AI assistant and its new vehicle compute center at the massive CES consumer electronics trade show in Las Vegas. The technology takes a similar approach to electric vehicle makers like Tesla Inc. and Rivian Automotive Inc. as well as Chinese automakers capable of offering inexpensive, tech-savvy EVs that executives have warned is a growing threat internationally.
“Our vision for the customer is simple, but not elementary: a seamless layer of intelligence that travels with you between your phone and your vehicle,” Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV, digital and design officer, said in a blog post. “What customers need is intelligence that understands where you are, what you’re doing, and what your vehicle is capable of, and then makes the next decision simpler.”
The full architecture will debut on Ford’s Universal EV Platform that it started developing in California with its “skunkworks” team. In the $30,000 midsize electric pickup truck that’ll launch the platform in 2027, the automaker will control the vehicle’s entire hardware and software stack. The in-house development approach provides a more flexible and cheaper system, according to the company.
“I like that they are developing vehicle specific tech that only they can provide as that has value to the vehicle owner and they will be willing to pay for that,” David Whiston, analyst at investment firm Morningstar Inc., said in an email.
Over years, automakers increasingly computerized various parts of their vehicles, upping the number of electronic control units often provided by suppliers. These computers control subsystems like seats, brakes and the engine, but with so many of them from various places, it makes it harder to update their software.
The more unified “vehicle brain” in Ford’s new architecture is a single, powerful module that centralizes control of infotainment, advanced driver assistance systems, audio and networking. The vertically integrated system is half the size and faster, offering more consistent and reliable service to customers through over-the-air updates, according to Ford.
The system also will a Universal Level 2 and Level 3 ADAS platform that is expected to reduce hands-off Level 2 automated driving costs by 30%. The Ford-developed platform also will support eyes-off Level 3 driving by 2028. First appearing on an affordable vehicle also democratizes the technology, Field wrote.
“If a feature doesn’t solve a real problem or make you smile, customers shouldn’t have to pay for it,” he said. “Truly impactful technology must be attainable. If it doesn’t reach the many, it isn’t a revolution — it’s a luxury.”
Tesla, Rivian and several Chinese companies have zonal electrical architectures on the road. General Motors Co. began rolling out a zonal electrical architecture in 2023 called its Ultifi platform, though it integrates with the vehicle’s existing hardware, which includes many ECUs for different functions. The automaker also plans to launch in 2028 Level 3 driving technology on the Cadillac Escalade IQ SUV, which starts at close to $130,000. Chrysler parent Stellantis NV’s zonal architecture is its STLA Brain platform.
“It’s a catch-up, but it’s a huge statement,” Daniel Ives, analyst for investment firm Wedbush Securities Inc., said of Ford. “They’re pivoting, especially with AI technology and Ford trying to find opportunities that they could significantly increase their brand and market opportunity across automotive, but also tech.”
Ford customers won’t completely have to wait for a new vehicle for the benefits of the software it’s developing. The Ford AI assistant will begin rolling out to as many as 8 million customers with the Ford and Lincoln app in the first half of 2026.
“Imagine you’re at a home improvement store standing in front of a pallet of supplies,” Field said. “Instead of guessing or searching for a tape measure, you can simply snap a photo on your phone of the bags of mulch and ask: ‘How many of these will fit in my truck bed?’ Within seconds, the assistant analyzes the photo, calculates the volume of the bags, and confirms that you can fit 35 of them based on your Ford truck.”
The feature will become integrated into Ford’s native vehicle systems starting in 2027 on vehicles like the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. But launching it in its app first empowers the most customers, said Mike Aragon, president of Ford’s Integrated Services software business, harkening to Ford’s history with the Model T that first made the automobile accessible to the masses.
“It allows us to reach millions of Ford customers faster,” he wrote in a blog post. “You shouldn’t have to wait to buy a brand-new vehicle to experience the future of Ford intelligence. With an in-app launch, we can deliver advanced features and personalized assistance to the Ford you already own.”
Ford has been on a seven-plus-year journey to develop its own electronics. Its in-house electronic team has produced 35 million modules — about 10 million per year and growing, Paul Costa, executive director of electronics platforms, said in a blog post. The approach and unifying many modules found in a vehicle into a more centralized system will offer cost savings of 10-15% per module, he added. The UEV architecture gives Ford five times more control over critical semiconductors powering the modules.
Software has been a major challenge for the auto industry. Ford last year set a record for recalls in a single year, nearly doubling the previous record, with a large chunk of the notices related to verifying software that fixed previous recalls ended up in the right place. A more unified system will help to ease those kinds of processes.
Emphasizing reduced costs, parts and complexity, Ford in August announced the UEV Platform and Production System, which will have it trading out a three-pronged assembly tree over the traditional Henry Ford-developed moving assembly line. The platform geared toward competing against Chinese competitors will launch at Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky, and the facility ended production of the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair crossovers in December for retooling.
“We are moving beyond the status quo of generic, fragmented tech,” Aragon wrote, “to create a future where your vehicle is as smart, responsive, and personalized as the rest of your life.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/ford-eyes-free-driving/
Lebanese Army Says Plan To Limit Weapons To State Forces At Advanced Stage
Lebanese Army Says Plan To Limit Weapons To State Forces At Advanced Stage
Authored by Evgenia Filimianova via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
The Lebanese armed forces said on Jan. 8 that their plan to restrict weapons to official security agencies had entered an “advanced stage,” after expanding their presence across southern Lebanon.
The army said that it has secured vital areas and extended control over territories under its authority in the South Litani sector, excluding areas that remain under Israeli occupation.
The announcement follows the Lebanese government’s August 2025 decision to authorize the army to prepare a plan to limit all weapons in the country to six recognized security agencies by the end of 2025. That decision came after a visit by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who pressed Lebanese officials to consolidate state authority over all armed entities.
Military activity between Israel and Lebanon has persisted despite a cease-fire agreement reached in 2024 and mediated by the United States and France.
Under that agreement, Lebanon committed to expanding its army’s control over southern areas and restricting the operations of the terrorist group Hezbollah near the border with Israel.
Israel continues to hold positions in southern Lebanon and has carried out repeated airstrikes that it says are aimed at preventing Hezbollah from rearming and planning new attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Jan. 8 that the U.S.-brokered cease-fire agreement “states clearly, Hezbollah must be fully disarmed.”
The statement added that this was “imperative for Israel’s security and Lebanon’s future.”
While welcoming Lebanese efforts, Netanyahu’s office described them as “an encouraging beginning, but they are far from sufficient,” citing what it described as Hezbollah’s attempts to rebuild its “terror infrastructure with Iranian support.”
Lebanese Leadership Backs Army
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Jan. 8 just before convening a Cabinet session at Baabda Palace in Beirut, publicly endorsed the army’s statement.
“I also emphasize that the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces south of the Litani River falls under a comprehensive national decision grounded in the Constitution, state resolutions, and relevant international commitments,” Aoun said in a statement issued by the presidency on Jan. 8.
He said the move was aimed at “consolidating the exclusivity of arms in the hands of the state.”
Aoun, Salam, and Lebanese army commander General Joseph Haykal met with U.N. Undersecretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Jan. 7.
The talks focused on the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon’s (UNIFIL’s) support for Lebanese authorities in sustaining the cessation of hostilities and advancing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which bars armed groups from operating near the border with Israel.
The Lebanese army said on Jan. 8 that it continues to coordinate closely with UNIFIL and the U.S.-backed cease-fire monitoring mechanism. It thanked the U.S. and French teams involved in monitoring the truce, as well as the countries contributing troops to the mission.
Ongoing Operations and Israeli Strikes
Operations in the South Litani sector remain ongoing until unexploded ordnance and tunnels are cleared, the Lebanese army also said in its statement. These steps, it added, were necessary to consolidate control and prevent armed groups from rebuilding their capabilities.
Lebanese armed forces condemned continued Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory, saying they negatively impact their ability to complete the restoration of control over southern areas.
Israel carried out airstrikes on multiple targets in Lebanon on Jan. 5 that it said were linked to Hezbollah and Hamas, according to the Israeli military.
On Jan. 6, the Israel Defense Forces said it struck weapons storage facilities and military structures used by Hezbollah in attacks against Israeli troops and territory. The military also said it hit Hamas weapons production sites in southern Lebanon that it described as critical to the group’s military buildup.
Aoun condemned the strikes on Jan. 6, saying they had hit towns in the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon, reaching as far north as Sidon.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/08/2026 – 14:45
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman shuffles the defensive staff
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman is shuffling his defensive coaching staff by putting former defensive line coach Al Washington in charge of the linebackers and hiring Charlie Partridge to coach defensive linemen.
The moves come less than two weeks after Freeman decided to remain Notre Dame’s coach on a restructured contract.
Washington will reman the defensive run game coordinator and will replace Max Bullough as linebackers coach. Bullough recently left to become the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Michigan State, his alma mater, under new coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Washington was Ohio State’s linebackers coach from 2019-21 before joining Freeman’s staff at Notre Dame. He also coached linebackers at Michigan in 2018.
“When the linebackers role came open, we immediately thought of Al,” Freeman said in a statement released Wednesday. “With his previous experience coaching linebackers, he will be a great asset to that room, and taking on this role will continue to enhance his skill set as he ultimately looks to elevate in his career.”
Then-Florida Atlantic coach Charlie Partridge talks to an official during a game against Kansas State on Sept. 17, 2016, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
On Thursday, Notre Dame announced the hiring of Partridge, who spent the last two seasons coaching the Indianapolis Colts defensive linemen.
He spent the previous 26 seasons as a position coach, special teams coordinator, co-defensive coordinator and head coach at the college level. His most recent college experience came at Pittsburgh, where he was defensive line coach from 2017-23.
Partridge went 9-27 as Florida Atlantic’s head coach from 2014-16.
“Charlie’s record of developing highly impactful defensive linemen speaks for itself,” Freeman said in a statement. “His experience in both college football and the NFL, as well as his experience working with (Notre Dame defensive coordinator) Chris Ash, will be very beneficial to our program.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/08/notre-dame-defense-coaching-changes/
México presume descenso de homicidios al nivel más bajo desde 2016. Expertos matizan las razones
Por MARÍA VERZA
CIUDAD DE MÉXICO (AP) — México presumió el jueves de un descenso notable de los homicidios que en 2025 se situó al nivel más bajo desde 2016 y aunque pocos discuten que los asesinatos hayan caído, algunos analistas dudan de que se deba solo a acciones de las autoridades.
Según las cifras proporcionadas durante la conferencia presidencial, el año pasado se registraron 17,5 asesinatos por cada 100.000 habitantes, la cifra más baja desde hace diez años y que destaca con los 29 que hubo en 2018, cuando este índice tuvo el nivel más alto de las últimas dos décadas.
No se ofrecieron cifras totales de asesinatos en 2025 (más fáciles de confrontar con datos previos) pero la presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum destacó el descenso de homicidios dolosos en un 40% de septiembre de 2024 a diciembre de 2025.
“Esto significa 34 homicidios diarios menos y es el número más bajo desde 2016”, un dato que consideró resultado de una estrategia basada en la coordinación con “todas las áreas de seguridad, de justicia, de procuración de justicia y con los gobernadores de los estados”, según la mandataria.
El número de homicidios empezó a crecer desde 2006, con el inicio de la guerra frontal contra los cárteles lanzada por el presidente Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) y tuvo su máximo durante la administración de Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024).
Con la llegada de Sheinbaum, el 1 de octubre de 2024, el gobierno endureció su estrategia, en gran parte debido a la fuerte presión por resultados exigida desde Estados Unidos; dejó atrás el lema de “Abrazos no balazos” de López Obrador y apostó por intensificar la inteligencia y la coordinación entre dependencias.
Nadie cuestiona la tendencia a la baja en los asesinatos dada en esta administración pero los analistas y expertos matizan sus implicaciones. Recuerdan, en primer lugar, que el número de desaparecidos no deja de crecer —ya suman más de 133.000 personas—, según datos oficiales, y los colectivos que los buscan no dejan de encontrar nuevas fosas clandestinas.
“Sí veníamos viendo una reducción muy importante” de homicidios, dijo Lisa Sánchez, directora de la ONG México Unido Contra la Delincuencia, que analiza datos de seguridad.
Pero falta contrastar y matizar esas cifras de forma independiente porque “no sabemos cómo son recopilados y tratados” y llama la atención que desde que las autoridades empezaron a reportar descensos en homicidios comenzaron a crecer las muertes violentas catalogadas como accidentes, suicidios o sin explicación, agregó la activista.
Pese a la satisfacción del gobierno de Sheinbaum, la violencia vinculada al crimen organizado sigue siendo una realidad en muchas partes del país, como Sinaloa, Michoacán, Jalisco o Guanajuato donde operan seis cárteles declarados terroristas por Estados Unidos.
David Saucedo, experto en seguridad con sede en Guanajuato, el estado más violento del país, coincidió en el posible “maquillaje” de datos de ciertas instituciones sobre todo locales, “una ejecución del narco la hacen pasar como si fuera un accidente”, cita como ejemplo. Pero dijo también que hay lugares en los que “son los propios cárteles los que están disminuyendo la violencia al establecer monopolios de actividad delictiva”.
De hecho uno de los delitos que el gobierno mostró en aumento fue la extorsión, un método muy usado por el crimen organizado para intimidar y controlar a la población y contra el que se lanzó una estrategia a mediados del año pasado.
“Uno de los grandes objetivos en 2026 es reducir de manera significativa el delito de extorsión, que afecta a muchas familias de distintos niveles económicos”, afirmó la presidenta.
El gobierno se jactó también de haber detenido a más de 40.000 personas, aunque está por ver si los arrestos se traducen en procesos judiciales en un país con altísima impunidad — y de desmantelar más de 1.800 laboratorios de droga, aunque Sheinbaum matizó que la gran mayoría eran metanfetaminas y no fentanilo.
La presidenta reiteró de nuevo la colaboración con Estados Unidos en esta materia.
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El periodista de The Associated Press Martín Silva colaboró con esta nota.
