Por GARY FIELDS y ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cuando el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, puso en marcha una operación de las fuerzas del orden en Washington, D.C., hace cuatro meses, la presentó como una misión para combatir la delincuencia rampante.

No obstante, activistas y líderes locales dicen que esa descripción contrasta con lo que se ha convertido en una ofensiva simultánea contra los inmigrantes, quienes están cada vez más preocupados por su estatus y seguridad en la ciudad.

Un tercio de todos los arrestos realizados durante la operación estuvieron relacionados con la inmigración, según cifras oficiales revisadas por The Associated Press. Activistas e inmigrantes reportan que los arrestos son frecuentes y alarmantes. En una demanda se alega que a menudo son ilegales. Y sin que se vislumbre un fin al aumento en la presencia de las fuerzas del orden en la ciudad, no hay indicios de que los arrestos por inmigración vayan a terminar.

La amenaza a los inmigrantes en la capital se ha vuelto rutinaria, expresan activistas y líderes locales.

Las redadas migratorias ya “no son noticia de la noche porque ya forman parte de la normalidad”, argumentó Brianne K. Nadeau, una concejal de Washington.

Trump dice que la operación en Washington D.C. es una misión para combatir la delincuencia

El presidente inició la intervención federal en Washington D.C. a mediados de agosto con una orden de emergencia que tomó el control de la fuerza policial de la ciudad y envió agentes federales junto con cientos de elementos de la Guardia Nacional.

El gobierno republicano de Trump afirma que la misión en Washington D.C. tiene como objetivo combatir la delincuencia y la ha promocionado como un éxito rotundo, aunque la delincuencia ya disminuía antes del inicio de la operación.

Las cifras oficiales muestran que alrededor del 33% de los más de 7.500 arrestos realizados desde el inicio de la operación hasta el lunes estuvieron relacionados con la inmigración. En septiembre, un análisis de The Associated Press encontró que el 40% de los 2.400 arrestos tuvieron que ver con la inmigración.

Según cifras del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (ICE, por sus siglas en inglés) publicadas por el Proyecto de Datos de Deportación de la Universidad de California en Berkeley, de los aproximadamente 1.130 arrestos por inmigración realizados en la ciudad de mayoría demócrata desde el inicio de la operación hasta el 15 de octubre, las fechas para las que se proporcionaron los datos, 947 no tenían antecedentes penales ni cargos pendientes.

“El enfoque de la muy exitosa operación del presidente Trump en Washington D.C. ha sido abordar los delitos cometidos por cualquier persona, independientemente de su estatus migratorio”, declaró Abigail Jackson, portavoz de la Casa Blanca, y añadió que muchas de las personas arrestadas cometían delitos, tenían órdenes de arresto pendientes o condenas previas.

Las estadísticas muestran que los arrestos durante ese período fueron de diversa índole, incluidos cargos por homicidio y tráfico de drogas.

“Mis vecinos sufren acoso, agresiones y secuestros”

Aunque la orden de emergencia relacionada con la policía expiró en septiembre, las redadas de arrestos, los retenes, los agentes enmascarados y los vehículos sin identificación aún son visibles.

En una audiencia municipal de más de 10 horas realizada a principios de este mes, decenas de testigos expresaron las persistentes preocupaciones. Los residentes dijeron haber presenciado detenciones, a menudo realizadas por agentes del orden enmascarados y no identificables. Los objetivos comunes eran zonas de descenso escolar, centros de distribución de alimentos, empresas de paisajismo y edificios de apartamentos con una importante población hispana. Hubo numerosas quejas de que el Departamento de Policía Metropolitana local aún colabora estrechamente con el ICE en sus iniciativas de inmigración, a pesar de la promesa de la alcaldesa demócrata Muriel Bowser de que no lo haría.

Nadia Salazar Sandi, inmigrante boliviana, dijo en la reunión que varios familiares suyos han sido detenidos en los últimos meses, lo que dejó asientos vacíos en la cena de Acción de Gracias.

“Esto es aterrador”, sostuvo, refiriéndose a las operaciones de inmigración. “Ahora soy ciudadana y traigo siempre mi pasaporte”.

Los testigos manifestaron que varias de las detenciones comenzaron con controles de tráfico rutinarios por parte de la Policía Metropolitana. Un caso inició con una parada por tener la matrícula vencida que atrajo a más de una decena de agentes federales.

“Cada día, mis vecinos sufren acoso, agresiones y secuestros”, dijo Leah Tribbett, residente de la ciudad. “Probablemente podría hablar durante toda la audiencia y aun así no relataría todos los casos de brutalidad que he presenciado”.

Una reunión previa para obtener información realizada por Nadeau reveló un creciente deseo de algunos inmigrantes de desaparecer del ojo público. Un testigo es un profesional médico que contó que una familia ya consideraba la posibilidad de no recibir terapia del habla y ocupacional para sus hijos autistas por temor a que las autoridades los esperaran en la clínica.

Las tácticas empleadas durante los arrestos han sido impugnadas en los tribunales

A principios de este mes, un juez federal impidió que el gobierno de Trump realizara arrestos generalizados por motivos migratorios en la capital del país sin órdenes judiciales o causa probable de que las personas arrestadas hayan violado la ley migratoria o exista conocimiento de que representan un riesgo de fuga.

La Unión Estadounidense de Libertades Civiles y otros abogados demandantes argumentaron que los agentes federales con frecuencia patrullaban y establecían retenes en barrios con altas cifras de inmigrantes hispanos, para después detener y arrestar a personas indiscriminadamente.

José Escobar Molina, uno de los demandantes en el litigio, declaró en documentos judiciales que contaba con protección legal temporal y que había vivido en la ciudad durante 25 años. Contó que caminaba desde su edificio de apartamentos hacia su camioneta de trabajo cuando dos autos se detuvieron a su lado. Agentes federales no identificados lo sujetaron y esposaron sin preguntarle su nombre ni pedirle su identificación ni ninguna información sobre su estatus migratorio, manifestó. Tampoco le preguntaron dónde vivía, cuánto tiempo llevaba en la zona ni si tenía vínculos con la comunidad, añadió.

Los abogados del gobierno de Trump argumentaron que los agentes tenían causa probable para detener a Molina y a los demás demandantes de la manera en que lo hicieron.

Tricia McLaughlin, subsecretaria del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, declaró que los arrestos en Washington y otros lugares se llevan a cabo legalmente y que a todos los detenidos se les aplica el debido proceso.

Madeleine Gates, abogada asociada de la organización sin fines de lucro Comité de Abogados de Washington, y una de las asesoras jurídicas que representan a los demandantes, reportó que han presentado declaraciones adicionales de miembros de la comunidad con docenas de casos en los que se arrestó a personas al margen de los procedimientos adecuados.

“Lo que hemos visto en la práctica es que los agentes arrestan a personas sin que parezcan saber quiénes son”, expuso.

Trump no ha dicho cuándo podría reducir la presencia de las fuerzas federales del orden. Tras el tiroteo contra dos miembros de la Guardia Nacional en la ciudad el mes pasado, presuntamente perpetrado por un ciudadano afgano, el mandatario anunció que planeaba desplegar cientos de efectivos más para apoyar la operación.

Los líderes locales celebran audiencias y alertan sobre los arrestos. No obstante, reconocen que, en un distrito federal con autonomía limitada, es poco lo que pueden hacer para contrarrestarlo.

“La frustrante realidad”, dijo Brooke Pinto, una concejal de la ciudad, “es que no tenemos los mismos recursos de poder y control, ni los mismos derechos como distrito para proteger a nuestros residentes, que tienen cada uno de los otros 50 estados”.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/inmigrantes-enfrentan-redadas-y-arrestos-tras-despliegue-de-fuerzas-federales-en-washington-d-c/ 

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in November from the previous month, but slowed compared to a year earlier for the first time since May despite average long-term mortgage rates holding near their low point for the year.

Existing home sales rose 0.5% in last month from October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Friday.

Sales fell 1% compared with November last year. The latest sales figure came in slightly below the 4.14 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.

Through the first 11 months of this year, home sales are down 0.5% compared to the same period last year.

“It’s possible that 2025, unless December (sales) figures really improve, we may be technically slightly down from one year ago,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

One factor limiting home sales is weaker demand for condominiums. Sales of condos are down 6% so far this year, Yun noted.

Despite sluggish sales, home prices continued to climb last month. The national median sales price increased 1.2% in November from a year earlier to $409,200, an all-time high for any November on data going back to 1999.

Home prices have risen on an annual basis for 29 months in a row, even as the housing market has been mired in a slump that began in 2022 when mortgage rates began climbing from historic lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes sank last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.

Sales have been stuck at around a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023. That’s well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm.

Home sales got a boost this fall as the average rate on a 30-year mortgage declined at the end of October to 6.17%, the lowest level in more than a year.

Even so, affordability remains a challenge for many aspiring homeowners, especially first-time buyers who don’t have equity from an existing home to put toward a new home purchase. Uncertainty over the economy and job market are also keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.

A shortage of homes for sale, especially in the more affordable end of the market, continues to weigh especially on first-time homebuyers. They accounted for 30% of homes sales last month. Historically, they made up 40% of home sales.

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An annual survey of homebuyers by NAR showed first-time buyers accounted for an all-time low 21% of home purchases between July 2024 and June 2025, while the average age of such homebuyers rose to a record-high of 40.

Homes purchased last month likely went under contract in September and October, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage ranged from 6.5% to 6.17%, according to Freddie Mac. Mortgage rates have mostly remained close to their October low in recent weeks.

Home shoppers who can afford to buy at current mortgage rates benefited from a wider selection of properties on the market last month than a year ago, although the number of homes for sale in November declined from the previous month.

There were 1.43 million unsold homes at the end of last month, down 5.9% from October and up 7.5% from November last year, NAR said.

The latest inventory snapshot remains well below the roughly 2 million homes for sale that was typical before the COVID-19 pandemic.

November’s month-end inventory translates to a 4.2-month supply at the current sales pace. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.

Yun is forecasting that existing U.S. home sales will jump 14% next year. That’s more optimistic than several other housing economist forecasts, which range from a 1.7% to 9% increase.

Economists generally forecast that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will remain slightly above 6% next year.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/november-us-homes-sales/ 

The long awaited expansion to La Grange Park’s Recreation Center will begin this spring.

The Community Park District of La Grange Park Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to award the contract to Chicago Heights Construction Co., one of 10 companies that bid on the project.

“I think it’s great, and we came in pretty much under budget,” Bob Corte, board president, said after the vote. “So everything that we wanted will be in it. “I went with Jessica (Cannaday, executive director of the district) to look at the design. It’s going to be phenomenal.”

The Recreation Center expansion will be financed by a $10.7 million referendum passed by district voters in 2023. The original cost was estimated to be $14 million, to be financed by the referendum and additional capital outlays from the Park District.

But an additional 2023 referendum question asking for a tax rate increase failed and, without the additional revenue, the Park District’s original position was that it wouldn’t go forward with the expansion.

But even with the failure of the referendum for the tax rate hike, officials decided to go forward with the expansion in a plan with a reduced cost of $11.3 million.

“Operationally, we’re performing so well in our programming and operations that we’re actually generating our own money,” Cannaday said after the vote. “This is an incredible opportunity for Parks and Recreation. Indoor space like this allows us to provide the opportunities and activities that our community has been going elsewhere for. So we’re able to keep people at home and provide the services they deserve.”

The work will begin in spring — or “as soon as the snow melts” Cannaday said — and will include a new gymnasium with flexible recreation space and a stage, ADA accessible concession area and restrooms, a new lobby with play spaces and study nooks, and elevated indoor walking track, improved security, a dedicated entrance for preschool and summer camp, a green roof with recreation space to be added later, and offices to be added later.

Per the contract with Chicago Heights Construction Co., the expansion must be substantially completed by May 31, 2027.

Commissioner Sheri Sauer was excited about the project.

“I think it’s awesome,” she said. “It’s going to have so much opportunity for our community and it’s just a great addition.”

Commissioner Mike Marusic cast the lone dissenting vote on the project.

“I’m not in favor of the gym, and I don’t think the residents of La Grange Park are in favor of it either,” he said.

The next meeting of the Park District Board of Commissioners will be 6:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 12 at the Recreation Center, 1501 Barnsdale Rd.

Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/la-grange-park-recreation-center-expansion/ 

Brown University Accused Of Removing Cameras To Evade ICE

Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/19/2025 – 11:40

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/brown-university-accused-removing-cameras-evade-ice 

PHOENIX — Camdyn Glover used to be a quiet conservative. She worried what her teachers would think or if she would lose friends over her convictions. But she said something changed when Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September, and she started crying in her classroom at Indiana University while other students cheered and clapped.

“We can’t be silenced,” Glover decided.

Now she’s visiting Phoenix with her parents and brothers for this year’s Turning Point USA conference, the first to take place since Kirk’s death. Although the organization became a political phenomenon with its masculine appeals to college men, it’s also been expanding outreach to young women like Glover. The shift is poised to accelerate now that Turning Point is led by Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, who has embraced her new role at the helm of a conservative juggernaut with chapters across the country.

If successful, the organization that helped return President Donald Trump to the White House could narrow a gender divide that has been a persistent challenge for Republicans. Turning Point offers a blend of traditional values, such as encouraging women to prioritize marriage over careers, and health trends pushed by online influencers.

Glover, 18, said discovering Turning Point in high school gave her an appreciation for dialogue when she felt like an outcast for her beliefs, such as being anti-abortion. At her first conference, she feels like she’s found a political and cultural home for herself.

“They want to promote a strong independent woman who does hold these values and can go stand up for herself,” she said. “But it’s also OK to do it in heels, put some makeup on, wear a dress.”

‘If Erika can do it, I can do it’

One of Glover’s classmates, Stella Ross, said she stumbled upon Charlie Kirk on TikTok in the months before the last presidential election.

She already felt like her perspectives were being treated differently on campus and thought she was receiving unfairly low grades in her political science classes. A devout Catholic, Ross said she was inspired by how Charlie Kirk wasn’t afraid to weave his evangelical faith into his political arguments.

She also noticed how many women posted comments of appreciation on Erika Kirk’s videos, and she joined Indiana University’s Turning Point chapter in the same month that Trump won his comeback campaign.

“I was like, wow, if Erika can do it, I can do it,” Ross said.

Ross has career aspirations of her own — she interns with Indiana’s Republican Party and aspires to be a press secretary for a governor or president. But she hopes to have flexibility in her job to be fully present with her children and believes that a traditional nuclear structure — man, woman and their children — is “God’s plan.”

When she thinks of Erika Kirk, “it’s really cool to see that she can live out that balance and it makes me feel like that could be a more realistic future for me because I’m seeing it firsthand.”

A new messenger

Erika Kirk often appeared alongside with her husband at Turning Point events. A former beauty pageant winner who has worked as a model, actress and casting director, she also founded a Christian clothing line and a ministry that teaches about the Bible.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, she said she had fully bought into “boss babe” culture before Charlie showed her a “healthier” perspective on life. Now she leads the multimillion-dollar organization, which she said at a memorial for her husband would be made “10 times greater through the power of his memory.”

‘Witch hunt’ or ‘accountability’? Teachers face backlash over Charlie Kirk posts

The political gap between young men and women has been growing for years, according to a recent Gallup analysis. Not only have women under 30 become more likely to identify as ideologically liberal, they’ve also embraced liberal views on issues such as abortion, the environment and gun laws.

The schism was clearly apparent in the last presidential election, where 57% of male voters under 30 supported Trump, compared to only 41% of women under 30, according to AP VoteCast.

Turning Point has been working to change that, hosting events like the Young Women’s Leadership Summit and urging attendees to embrace traditional family values and gender roles.

Charlie Kirk said earlier this year that if a young woman’s priority is to find a husband, she should go to college for a “MRS degree.” Matthew Boedy, a professor of rhetoric at the University of North Georgia, said Erika Kirk could be a more effective messenger because she was focused on her career before meeting her husband.

“I do think her story resonates more because she tried it out and can tell them it is not for them,” he said.

Some conservative women are turned off by this approach. Raquel Debono, an influencer who lives in New York City, described the event as a “Stepford wives conference,” featuring women in pink floral dresses.

She said Turning Point’s emphasis on being traditional wives “leaves out a lot of women who work,” she said, “and I think they’re going to lose all those voters, honestly, in the next election cycle if they keep it up.”

Debono founded her own organization, Make America Hot Again, where she throws parties intended to make voters feel welcomed into the conservative movement and allow them to get to know people who share their politics.

‘Big time’ growth for some chapters

Aubree Hudson had been president of Turning Point’s chapter at Brigham Young University for only two weeks when she visited nearby Utah Valley University for an event with Charlie Kirk.

She said she was standing only about six feet away when he was fatally shot. She ran to find her husband, who was at the back of the crowd, and they fled to her car.

Hudson, 22, is from a rural farm town in southwestern Colorado. Her conservative convictions are rooted in her family’s faith and patriotism. A copy of the U.S. Constitution hangs in her parents’ home, and her father taught her to value God, family and country, in that order. Her mother stayed at home, telling her children that “you guys are my career.”

Since Kirk’s assassination, Hudson said the number of people — particularly women — getting involved with the organization jumped “big time.”

Emma Paskett, 18, is one of them. She was planning to attend the Utah Valley University event after one of her classes, but Kirk was shot before she made it there.

Although she wasn’t very familiar with Turning Point before that point, Paskett said she started watching videos of Kirk later that night.

Paskett considers Erika Kirk to be a “one in a million” role model, and her role as a leader was a driving factor in signing up.

“That’s exactly what I want to be like,” she said.

Associated Press writer Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed to this report from Washington

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/turning-point-usa-erika-kirk/ 

Por DARLENE SUPERVILLE

WASHINGTON (AP) — El Centro Kennedy comenzó el trabajo para añadir el nombre de Donald Trump a su edificio el viernes, un día después de que la junta designada por el presidente votara para hacerlo.

Varias lonas azules fueron colgadas frente a la institución temprano el viernes para bloquear la vista de la obra en curso. Se vio una gran letra D en el exterior antes de que se colocaran las lonas finales, junto con trabajadores en andamios en el centro, que fue nombrado en honor a John F. Kennedy, un presidente demócrata.

La junta votó para renombrar el Centro Conmemorativo John F. Kennedy para las Artes Escénicas como el Centro Conmemorativo Donald J. Trump y John F. Kennedy para las Artes Escénicas. Trump, un republicano, es el presidente de la junta.

Los críticos de la decisión, incluidos miembros demócratas del Congreso que son miembros ex officio de la junta, así como algunos historiadores, insisten en que solo el Congreso puede cambiar el nombre.

El centro es el más reciente edificio en Washington en tener el nombre de Trump grabado. Recientemente, el presidente añadió su nombre al edificio del Instituto de Paz de Estados Unidos.

El Centro Kennedy no respondió de momento a un correo electrónico enviado para conocer sus comentarios el viernes.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/el-centro-kennedy-comienza-obra-para-aadir-el-nombre-de-trump-a-su-edificio/ 

One person was killed Wednesday in a shooting in Hazel Crest that left two others injured, Hazel Crest police said in a statement.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the deceased as Phillip Kizer, 18, of Country Club Hills.

Police said officers had responded to shots fired in the 3300 block of Birchwood Drive at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and found two men with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Both were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

One of those two, Kizer, was pronounced dead of his injuries early Thursday morning, according to the medical examiner’s report.

A third gunshot victim was separately dropped off at the hospital and police said it was determined that person was injured in the same shooting.

No one was in custody as of Friday morning and the investigation is ongoing, police said, calling the shooting a “targeted, isolated incident.”

Pplice asked anyone with information to call 708-335-9640 or email CRIMETIP@villageofhazelcrest.com.

elewis@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/one-dead-hazel-crest-shooting-two-injured/ 

Ford is recalling more than 270,000 electric and hybrid vehicles in the U.S. because of a parking function problem that could lead to them rolling away.

The Detroit automaker said that the recall includes certain 2022-2026 F-150 Lightning BEV, 2024-2026 Mustang Mach-E, and 2025-2026 Maverick vehicles. At issue is the integrated park module, which may fail to lock into the park position when the driver shifts into park.

Ford said that it will implement a park module software update for free.

Vehicle owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 for additional information.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/ford-recall-electric-hybrid-vehicles/ 

Por TODD RICHMOND y SCOTT BAUER

MADISON, Wisconsin, EE.UU. (AP) — Defensores de la jueza de Wisconsin acusada de obstrucción por ayudar a un inmigrante mexicano a evadir agentes federales expresaron su alarma luego que ella fue declara culpable, denunciando que el fallo vulnera la independencia judicial y expresando esperanzas de que la condena sea revocada en apelación.

Sin embargo, la administración de Trump celebró la condena punible con hasta cinco años de prisión, como una señal de que nadie está por encima de la ley.

Un jurado encontró culpable a la jueza del Circuito del Condado de Milwaukee, Hannah Dugan, el jueves por la noche, después de un juicio de cuatro días y seis horas de deliberación. El jurado la declaró inocente de un cargo menor de ocultamiento. Hasta la mañana del viernes no se había fijado una fecha para la sentencia.

El veredicto fue una victoria para el presidente Donald Trump, cuya administración presentó los cargos y promocionó el arresto de Dugan, publicando fotos de ella siendo llevada esposada.

La secretaria de Justicia Pam Bondi publicó el viernes que “NADIE ESTÁ POR ENCIMA DE LA LEY”.

“Nadie puede obstruir a las fuerzas del orden mientras llevan a cabo sus deberes básicos”, declaró Bondi en redes sociales. “Este Departamento de Justicia no vacilará mientras nuestros agentes y socios de las fuerzas del orden continúan haciendo que Estados Unidos sea seguro nuevamente”.

El caso avivó las tensiones sobre la represión de la inmigración de Trump, con su administración calificando a Dugan como una jueza activista y los demócratas contrarrestando que la administración está tratando de hacer un ejemplo de Dugan para frenar la oposición judicial a la operación.

El fiscal federal Brad Schimel, ex fiscal general republicano de Wisconsin y juez, negó que el caso fuera político e instó a la gente a aceptar el veredicto pacíficamente.

“Algunos han intentado hacer de esto una batalla política más amplia”, indicó Schimel. “Si bien este caso es serio para todos los involucrados, en última instancia se trata de un solo día, un solo mal día, en un tribunal público. La acusada ciertamente no es malvada. Tampoco es una mártir por alguna causa mayor”.

El abogado defensor de Dugan dijo al jurado en los argumentos finales que los “niveles más altos del gobierno” estaban involucrados en presentar cargos contra Dugan. Pero los fiscales argumentaron que Dugan puso sus creencias personales por encima de la ley.

“No tienes que estar de acuerdo con la política migratoria del gobierno para ver que esto estuvo mal”, señaló la fiscal Kelly Brown Watzka al jurado en los argumentos finales. “Solo tienes que estar de acuerdo en que la ley se aplica por igual a todos”.

Dugan no testificó. Dugan y sus abogados abandonaron la sala del tribunal, se metieron en una sala de conferencias lateral y cerraron la puerta sin hablar con los periodistas.

Steve Biskupic, su abogado principal, más tarde se expresó decepcionado con el fallo y dijo que no entendía cómo el jurado pudo haber llegado a un veredicto dividido, ya que los elementos de ambos cargos eran prácticamente los mismos.

Los abogados de Dugan probablemente apelarán el veredicto.

Una coalición de 13 grupos de defensa, incluidos Common Cause Wisconsin y la Liga de Mujeres Votantes de Wisconsin, aseguró que “los tribunales superiores deben revisar cuidadosamente las serias cuestiones constitucionales que este caso plantea sobre el debido proceso, la autoridad judicial y el exceso federal”.

Dugan fue suspendida como jueza después de ser acusada y la Constitución de Wisconsin prohíbe a los delincuentes convictos ocupar cargos. La Comisión Judicial de Wisconsin, que supervisa la disciplina de los jueces en el estado, no respondió a una solicitud el viernes para obtener información sobre lo que sucederá a continuación en el caso de Dugan.

El 18 de abril, agentes de inmigración fueron al tribunal del condado de Milwaukee después de enterarse de que Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, de 31 años, había reingresado ilegalmente al país e iba a comparecer ante Dugan en una audiencia por un caso de agresión estatal.

Dugan confrontó a los agentes fuera de su sala de audiencias y, después de que se fueron, condujo a Flores-Ruiz y a su abogado por una puerta privada del jurado. Los agentes vieron a Flores-Ruiz en el pasillo, lo siguieron afuera y lo arrestaron después de una persecución a pie. El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional anunció en noviembre que había sido deportado.

___________________________________

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/condena-a-jueza-de-wisconsin-en-caso-migratorio-despierta-alarma-entre-activistas/ 

Aurora is planning to build a bike path that will cross the railroad tracks at South Edgelawn Drive and connect to the Virgil Gilman Nature Trail.

The Aurora City Council on Tuesday passed various measures connected with the project, including a contract for the final phase of engineering. Construction on the project isn’t expected to start until fall 2026, according to Aurora Public Works Director Jason Bauer.

The 190-foot-long path is planned for the east side of Edgelawn Drive where the road crosses the BNSF railroad tracks, which is near the “smart neighborhood” by Nicor Gas and Habitat for Humanity that is currently under construction, Aurora University’s Spartan Athletic Park and the Aurora Country Club.

Bauer told The Beacon-News that the project is important because it continues to build the city’s bicycle network. Railroad crossings are a major barrier to access, and since there is currently no bicycle or pedestrian crossing over the tracks, this project will be removing a hazard, he said.

Because of that, the project was selected for federal funding, so the city only needs to put in 10% of the total cost, according to Bauer. He said the project’s construction and construction engineering is expected to cost nearly $560,000, but the cost to the city will only be around $56,000.

The bike path is expected to connect at the Virgil Gilman Nature Trail to the north and on the road’s paved shoulder at the entrance of a commercial driveway to the south.

The bike path planned to cross the BNSF railroad tracks at Edgelawn Drive in Aurora will connect to the Virgil Gilman Nature Trail near this sign, seen here on Dec. 17, 2025. (R. Christian Smith/The Beacon-News)

The eight-foot-wide path is planned to have some parts on-street and others off-street, plus include a gate and flashers at the railroad crossing, a staff report included online with the Aurora City Council meeting’s agenda showed.

At the meeting on Tuesday, City Council approved a nearly $30,000 contract with Baxter and Woodman, Inc. for the project’s phase three engineering. Agreements with the Fox Valley Park District to connect the path to the district-owned Virgil Gilman Nature Trail, with Aurora Township for a detour during construction and with BNSF Railway Company for maintenance and construction of the crossing were also approved at the meeting.

Aurora is looking to buy an easement from BNSF for $11,000 to build the path, which was the final item related to the project approved at the City Council meeting Tuesday. Certification of the land acquisition, Bauer said, may cause some delays in getting the project out to bid.

A similar path that would also cross railroad tracks, but is in an earlier stage of planning, is set to connect Aurora’s far East Side to Wolf’s Crossing Park in Naperville. That project is being spearheaded by the Will County Forest Preserve District, as it runs across multiple jurisdictions.

Earlier this year, the Aurora City Council approved a new biking plan that recommends nearly 135 miles of new bike infrastructure along with 279 miles of new sidewalks. A key project in the plan is a proposed connection between the Virgil Gilman Trail and Waubonsee Creek Trail.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/aurora-plans-bike-path-to-cross-railroad-tracks-near-virgil-gilman-nature-trail/