Category: News
Harvey man sentenced in East Chicago Tin break-in
A Harvey, Illinois, man was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison Thursday after a plea deal for breaking into the permanently idled U.S. Steel East Chicago Tin in January.
Shamar Fulwiley, 33, pleaded guilty in November to burglary, a level 5 felony. Four men dressed in black broke into the building, charges allege. Only one other man was caught and charged.
Defense lawyer John Cantrell said he was there to “scrap” and “make some money” but didn’t end up stealing anything.
Prosecutor Madeline Clement argued he was found with tools and other men with him were armed. There was a lot of “copper” to steal.
“Just because he didn’t get caught, we can’t ignore what would have happened,” she said.
Judge Salvador Vasquez said it was a mark on his character that he was involved. He called the 2.5-year term a break.
On Jan. 8, East Chicago Police responded to the plant, located at 101 129th Street. Two Whiting police officers were also dispatched.
The foreman sent officers to a sublevel near the southwest corner where they found co-defendant Johnnie Owens. He ran when cops told him to put his arms up.
A cop used a stun gun when he pulled a gun from his hoodie. He dropped the gun and ran north, tearing “prongs” and “wires” off himself. Multiple officers arrested him.
Two cops went back near the northeast stairwell to look for the gun. Fulwiley — in all black with a black mask — was lying in “mud and grease” to hide from the cops. He was arrested and gave officers a fake name — Mark Lee.
They found a gun on him and later found Owens’ weapon elsewhere.
Fulwiley had active warrants in Springfield, Illinois, Calumet City and another for a parole violation.
Owens was convicted of murder in Cook County in 2000, records show.
His burglary case is pending.
Post-Tribune archives contributed.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/harvey-man-sentenced-in-east-chicago-tin-break-in/
TikTok firma acuerdo para vender operación en EEUU a inversores, incluidos Oracle y Silver Lake
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — TikTok firmó un acuerdo para vender su operación en Estados Unidos a tres inversores estadounidenses –Oracle, Silver Lake y MGX– lo que garantiza que la popular plataforma social de videos se mantenga en funcionamiento en el país.
Se tiene previsto que el acuerdo se concrete el 22 de enero, según un memorando interno al que The Associated Press tuvo acceso. El CEO de la compañía, Shou Zi Chew, afirmó en el memorando que ByteDance y TikTok han firmado acuerdos vinculantes con los tres inversores.
La nueva empresa conjunta de TikTok en Estados Unidos será propiedad en un 50% de un consorcio de nuevos inversores, incluyendo Oracle, Silver Lake y MGX con el 15% cada uno. Otro 30,1% será propiedad de afiliados de los inversionistas existentes de ByteDance y ByteDance conservará el 19,9%, según el memorando.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
“Children Are NOT Experiments”: House-Passes Bill Criminalizing Transgender Treatments For Minors
“Children Are NOT Experiments”: House-Passes Bill Criminalizing Transgender Treatments For Minors
The House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that would criminalize transgender-related treatments for minors, which includes surgical procedures and puberty blockers.
The bill, called the “Protect Children’s Innocence Act” was sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and passed in a 216-211 vote.
Three Democrats voted along with Republicans, while four Republicans voted against it, according to Greene.
🚨Exciting news!! My Protect Children’s Innocence Act just PASSED the House!!!
This is a win for children all over America!!
Thank you to the 3 Democrats that voted to protect kids: Rep. Cueller, Davis (NC), & Gonzalez!
Unfortunately, 4 Republicans decided NOT to vote to… pic.twitter.com/zn5k1k3SOA
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 18, 2025
“This puts a stop to the radical left’s assault on kids! Children are NOT experiments. No more drugs. No more surgeries. No more permanent harm. We need to let kids grow up without manipulation from adults to make life-altering decisions,” Greene posted to X before the vote.
Today, the house will vote on my Protect Children’s Innocence Act. This puts a stop to the radical left’s assault on kids!
Children are NOT experiments.
No more drugs. No more surgeries. No more permanent harm.
We need to let kids grow up without manipulation from adults to… pic.twitter.com/q8RGGLx9M1
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) December 17, 2025
The law would subject anyone whop violates it to fines or up to 10 years in prison or both, though it does provide exemptions for those who medically require treatments, such as individuals with “precocious puberty, to the extent such genital or bodily mutilation or chemical castration is for the purpose of normalizing puberty.”
Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) praised the passage of the bill, calling it “common-sense legislation” that was meant to protect the nations’ future generations.
“As a father of two young boys, I will not stand by while radical woke policies push children into permanent, life-altering medical decisions they can never undo,” he stated, adding “Protecting our children isn’t a choice—it’s our moral duty.”
And of course, most Democrats opposed it – with Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) calling it “the most extreme anti-transgender legislation to ever pass through.”
“If this bill becomes law, doctors, pharmacists, and—in some circumstances—the parents of young trans people, would face time in prison for choosing to prioritize their child’s health,” he said in a statement, adding “This bill is beyond cruel, and its passage will forever be a stain on the institution of the United States Congress.”
As the Epoch Times notes further, before the vote, Greene stated that Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) introduced an amendment that would “gut the commerce clause” of her bill. She said that while his amendment would cut federal funding from transgender-related treatment providers, her commerce clause criminalizes such treatments for children.
Roy stated on Dec. 17 that he will not offer the amendment “to avoid any confusion about how united Republicans are in protecting children from these grotesque procedures.”
Greene is set to resign from Congress on Jan. 5, 2026.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/18/2025 – 18:00
British baker’s criticism of Mexican ‘ugly’ bread triggers outrage
MEXICO CITY — A blunt critique of Mexican bread by a British baker sparked a cascade of social media outrage, ultimately leading to a public apology.
In an interview for a food-themed podcast that resurfaced online, Richard Hart, the co-founder of Green Rhino bakery in Mexico City and a well-known figure in international baking circles, said Mexicans “don’t really have much of a bread culture,” adding that “They make sandwiches on these white, ugly rolls that are pretty cheap and industrially made.”
His comments quickly rippled across Instagram, TikTok and X, with many Mexicans accusing him of being dismissive and insulting of Mexico’s traditional breads.
What began as a dispute over bread soon ignited a national debate over food identity — not only over who defines Mexican culinary traditions, but also over the growing influence of foreigners in a capital already tense from a surge of U.S. expatriates and tourists.
“He offended the community of bakers in Mexico and all the people in Mexico who like bread, which is almost everyone,” said Daniela Delgado, a university student in Mexico City.
‘Don’t mess with the bolillo’
Social media was soon flooded with memes, reaction videos, and passionate defenses of Mexican bread. Users took to social media to praise everyday staples — from the crusty bolillos used for tortas to the iconic conchas found in neighborhood bakeries. In many cases, these simple street foods act as a uniting factor across social groups and classes, and often cut to the core of the country’s cultural identity.
While wheat bread was introduced to Mexico during the colonial period, the classic food staple evolved into a distinct national tradition, blending European techniques with local tastes and ingredients. Today, small neighborhood bakeries remain central to daily life in cities and towns, serving as social hubs as well as food sources.
The incident prompted many to question why a foreign entrepreneur would publicly disparage a staple so deeply embedded in Mexican life. For many, Hart’s remarks echoed long-standing frustrations over foreign chefs and restaurateurs receiving disproportionate prestige, as well as concerns over gentrification in the capital.
“Don’t mess with the bolillo,” warned one viral post on X.
‘An opportunity to learn’
As criticism mounted, Hart issued a public apology on Instagram, saying his comments were poorly phrased and did not show respect for Mexico and its people. He acknowledged the emotional response and said he didn’t behave as a “guest.”
“I made a mistake,” Hart said in his statement. “I regret it deeply.”
The Associated Press reached out to Green Rhino, but representatives of the bakery declined to comment.
Hart previously worked at high-profile bakeries in the United States and Europe and has been part of Mexico City’s growing artisanal bread scene. That market caters largely to middle and upper-class customers, many of them foreigners, seeking sourdough loaves and European-style pastries, often at prices far above those of neighborhood bakeries.
The apology did little to immediately quiet the debate. While some users accepted it, others said it failed to address deeper concerns about cultural authority and who gets to critique Mexican traditions.
“If you want to be part of Mexican culture by owning a restaurant or bakery, you have to educate yourself,” Delgado said.
Others, like Josué Martínez, a chef at the Mexican Culinary School, said he was happy that the debate was happening because it opened the door for a more robust and nuanced discussion.
Mexican bread has long been criticized domestically for its industrialization and reliance on white flour and sugar. But many like Martínez say those conversations are different and more nuanced when led by Mexicans themselves rather than by a foreign entrepreneur.
“It’s an opportunity to learn about the culture of Mexican breadmaking and pastry, to take pride in it, to highlight the richness of our ingredients, and to stop thinking that the so-called first world represents the ultimate standard,” Martínez said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/mexican-bread-criticism/
Program gives Waukegan second graders free swim lessons: ‘For some … it’s their first time in the water’
Some students in Ana Belen Abadias’ and Kimberly Ramacho’s second-grade classes at North Elementary School never experienced being in a swimming pool or Lake Michigan, but they got their chance as part of a field trip to the pool at the Fieldhouse Sports Fitness & Aquatics Center.
Others, like second graders Ximena Canaveral and Nicklaus Burton already knew how to swim, and the field trip was fun for them as well. Nicklaus said he got a little education on his outing to the pool.
“It was fun learning how to lay and paddle,” Nicklaus said.
“I liked playing with the other kids,” Ximena said. “I can swim fast.”
Ximena and Nicklaus were among a group of students participating in a field trip to the Waukegan Park District’s Fieldhouse Sports Fitness & Aquatics Center pool on Thursday for a free swim lesson that every second grader in the city’s public schools receives.
Participants spent some time in a classroom learning about water safety, as well as time in the pool where lifeguards pulled them as they were attached to a flotation device. They kicked to propel themselves.
A North Elementary School second grader is pulled by a lifeguard as he kicks during a free swimming lesson during a joint program of the Waukegan Park District and Waukegan Community School District 60 on Thursday in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
After each child got their turn being mobile in the water, they had the opportunity to jump into the pool and the waiting arms of a lifeguard. When the lesson was over, they all got time to play in the adjacent wading pool, where the longest line was the one going up to the water slide.
Tony Strack, the Park District’s aquatics supervisor, said the program started in the 2018-2019 school year and has continued each term except for the two years the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it.
Strack said each second grader in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60’s elementary schools gets a field trip to the fieldhouse during the school year for a free swim lesson and a class in how to safely be around water.
“They learn the basics of water safety,” Strack said. “They learn what to do in a larger body of water. They learn about life jackets and life preservers. For some of them, it’s their first time in the water. Some of them don’t have a bathing suit. We give them one they can keep.”
After learning to kick and paddle, students get to jump into the arms of a lifeguard during a joint program of the Waukegan Park District and Waukegan Community School District 60 on Thursday in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake
County News-Sun)
Abadias said she prepared her students for the trip by letting them know they were going swimming. It is her third year at North Elementary School, and her third trip to the pool with the youngsters.
“It’s very useful, especially for those who’ve never been in the water before,” Abadias said. “Once they’re here, they don’t have to fear the water anymore. When I told them we’re going swimming, they had a lot of questions. I answered their concerns.”
Brooklyn Mittner, a recreation specialist with the Park District assigned to aquatics, said it is important for the students to be comfortable in the water.
“They’re learning life safety skills at an early age,” Mittner said. “It’s important in a community like this where we have a big lake. We give them what they can learn in 30 to 40 minutes.”
Their lesson done, North Elementary School second graders hit the wading pool during a joint program of the Waukegan Park District and Waukegan Community School District 60 on Thursday in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
For parents who want their young children to learn to swim well, Mittner said the Park District offers its Learn to Swim Smart program free to youngsters between the ages of 6 and 8. The goal is to have them swimming on their own. It is a six-class program.
“They learn to float and tread water,” Mittner said. “We introduce freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. They learn rhythmic breathing. They come out learning life safety skills.”
During a joint program of the Waukegan Park District and Waukegan Community School District 60, offering free swim lessons, second-grade students get classroom instruction on Thursday in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/waukegan-park-district-swim-lessons/
Jeffery Simmons de Titans agradece que su madre no estuviera en casa durante robo armado
Por TERESA M. WALKER
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, EE.UU. (AP) — El tackle defensivo de los Titans de Tennessee, Jeffery Simmons, está agradecido de que su madre no estuviera siguiendo su rutina habitual de verlo jugar partidos de visitante en su casa cuando unos ladrones irrumpieron en su hogar portando armas.
“Todas las cosas materiales, eventualmente puedo recuperarlas. Pero si uno de mis familiares hubiera perdido la vida, eso es lo que me habría dolido, así que estoy agradecido”, expresó el jueves Simmons.
Simmons regresó a casa después de la derrota de los Titans por 37-24 ante los 49ers de San Francisco y descubrió que la puerta de su garaje estaba abierta y faltaban cosas. Llamó a la policía y también publicó varias historias en Instagram, incluyendo un video de seguridad del hogar que mostraba a dos personas enmascaradas entrando a su casa por el patio el domingo por la noche.
Los Titans dijeron en un comunicado el lunes que la seguridad del equipo estaba trabajando con el Departamento de Policía Metropolitana de Nashville para investigar el robo.
El tres veces nominado al premio Walter Payton Man of the Year de los Titans se emocionó el jueves y usó una toalla para secarse los ojos mientras hablaba sobre los ladrones que parecían chicos o jóvenes adultos portando armas cuando vio su video de seguridad. Dijo que por eso su fundación trabaja para ayudar a los jóvenes en la comunidad.
“No lo hago por la publicidad ni por el Walter Payton Man of the Year. Lo haces para tratar de impactar la vida de alguien. Así que sí, hombre, apesta”, comentó Simmons.
El tackle, tres veces seleccionado al Pro Bowl, está empatado como el jugador con más tiempo en la plantilla de los Titans. La semana pasada, se convirtió en el sexto jugador registrado en lograr una captura, forzar un balón suelto y anotar un touchdown en un juego. Recibió un pase de touchdown de una yarda de Cam Ward para el segundo touchdown de recepción de su carrera.
No estaba claro de inmediato si el robo estaba relacionado con robos anteriores en las casas de atletas profesionales. La casa del quarterback novato de los Browns de Cleveland, Shedeur Sanders, fue robada durante su debut en la NFL en noviembre por tres personas que llevaban máscaras y guantes y que robaron objetos con un valor aproximado de 200.000 dólares.
Simmons dijo que su mensaje para sus compañeros de equipo y personas alrededor de la NFL es seguir trabajando con los jóvenes.
“Cuando miré la grabación, esos chicos parecen jóvenes”, manifestó Simmons. “Jóvenes adultos que están perdidos en este momento, y esa es la razón por la que tenemos que seguir usando nuestra plataforma”.
El FBI advirtió a las ligas en diciembre de 2024 sobre organizaciones criminales que supuestamente apuntaron a las casas de Luka Doncic, Bobby Portis, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes y Joe Burrow. Los investigadores creían que grupos organizados de robo de Sudamérica estaban detrás de los crímenes, en los que los ladrones irrumpían en las casas de los atletas mientras se sabía que estaban de viaje con sus equipos.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
TikTok firma acuerdo para vender su unidad en EEUU a inversores estadounidenses, incluidos Oracle y Silver Lake
TikTok firma acuerdo para vender su unidad en EEUU a inversores estadounidenses, incluidos Oracle y Silver Lake.
NASCAR lamenta la pérdida de Greg Biffle y su familia en trágico accidente aéreo
Por JENNA FRYER
CHARLOTTE, Carolina del Norte, EE.UU. (AP) — Greg Biffle fue elegido por la NASCAR como uno de sus 75 mejores pilotos en la historia. Fue nominado al Salón de la Fama de la serie de autos de carrera y condujo durante 18 años en la cima del deporte.
Sin embargo, a pesar de todas las carreras y las memorables victorias, quizás se le recuerde mejor por su trabajo desinteresado e incansable ayudando a otros como piloto de helicóptero, suministrando ayuda hace un año en la devastación del Huracán Helene.
A Biffle le encantaba volar y estaba en el aire nuevamente el jueves, a bordo de un pequeño jet que se estrelló en el aeropuerto de Statesville, al norte de Charlotte, dijeron las autoridades. Se cree que estaba entre las siete personas fallecidas, incluyendo a su esposa y dos hijos. Tenía 55 años.
“Esta tragedia ha dejado a todas nuestras familias con el corazón roto más allá de las palabras”, dijo un comunicado conjunto emitido en nombre de las víctimas. “Greg y Cristina eran padres devotos y filántropos activos cuyas vidas giraban en torno a su joven hijo Ryder y la hija de Greg, Emma. Emma era un ser humano maravilloso con un alma amable que era amada por muchas personas. Ryder era un niño activo, curioso e infinitamente alegre.”
El comunicado identificó a los otros a bordo como Dennis Dutton, su hijo Jack, y Craig Wadsworth, todos “amados por muchos en la comunidad de NASCAR.”
“Cada uno de ellos significaba todo para nosotros, y su ausencia deja un vacío inconmensurable en nuestras vidas”, decía el comunicado.
Biffle ganó campeonatos tanto en la Truck Series como en la Serie Xfinity, siendo el primer piloto en hacerlo, y pasó casi toda su carrera conduciendo para Roush Fenway Racing, con sede a unas 40 millas al sur del lugar del accidente.
“He perdido a un querido amigo y socio en nuestro programa de NASCAR”, dijo el propietario del equipo, Jack Roush, en las redes sociales. “Sus contribuciones a nuestro equipo de carreras a lo largo de los años son inconmensurables.”
La angustia se extendió por la comunidad de carreras de autos, desde pilotos hasta propietarios de equipos como Chip Ganassi. El gobernador de Carolina del Norte, Josh Stein, destacó a Biffle por su “valentía y compasión” y por ayudar a las víctimas del huracán. NASCAR también lo hizo.
“Greg fue más que un piloto campeón, fue un miembro querido de la comunidad de NASCAR, un feroz competidor y un amigo para muchos”, dijo la serie. “Más allá de su carrera en las carreras, se entregó para el mejoramiento de nuestra comunidad. Más notablemente, Greg dedicó incontables horas de su tiempo ayudando a los ciudadanos de Carolina del Norte durante los desastres que siguieron al Huracán Helene. Su incansable trabajo salvó vidas.”
Nacido en Vancouver, Washington, Biffle compitió en más de 800 carreras en las tres series de NASCAR y ganó el título de la Truck Series en 2000 y el título de Xfinity en 2002. En total, ganó 54 carreras en los tres circuitos nacionales de NASCAR, incluidas 19 en el nivel superior de la Serie de la Copa. Terminó segundo en la clasificación del campeonato detrás de Tony Stewart en 2005, su mejor temporada, y tres años después se convirtió en el primer piloto en ganar dos carreras de playoffs en un solo año.
Se retiró parcialmente en 2016, pero regresó en 2022 para disputar cinco carreras, incluida la Daytona 500. Tenía 52 años en ese momento.
Biffle pasó sus años de retiro fabricando autos en su taller, dirigiendo una cantera en Virginia y manteniéndose al día con sus dos hijos. Hace menos de una semana, Biffle publicó un video de su familia: su hija Emma de 14 años, su hijo Ryder de cinco y su esposa Cristina, eligiendo un árbol de Navidad en una salida que incluyó un viaje por helado.
“Ha sido un día exitoso”, dijo Biffle. “Ahora es el momento de sacar las decoraciones y ponerla en marcha.”
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Police Investigate Leftist Who Harassed Elderly Target Worker Over Charlie Kirk Shirt
Police Investigate Leftist Who Harassed Elderly Target Worker Over Charlie Kirk Shirt
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
In a swift turn toward justice, police have opened an investigation into Michelea Ponce, the leftist agitator caught on video berating an elderly Target employee named Jeanie for daring to wear a Charlie Kirk “FREEDOM” shirt.
The harassment, which exploded across social media, highlights the toxic entitlement of progressives who can’t stomach symbols of patriotism in everyday life.
As we highlighted, the incident unfolded in a Chico, California Target store where Jeanie calmly folded clothes while Ponce unleashed a profanity-laced rant, accusing Kirk of racism and threatening to escalate the matter to management.
Jeanie’s composed response—“He is NOT a racist—that’s your opinion, have a nice day”—stood in stark contrast to Ponce’s profanity laden meltdown, exposing the fragility of leftist “tolerance.”
Now, the Chico Police Department has confirmed they’re aware of the viral video and are actively investigating the verbal assault.
In a statement on Facebook, they noted the clip depicts “a verbal altercation” and urged anyone with direct information to contact them, signaling a formal probe into potential harassment charges.
🚨 BREAKING: Police are now INVESTIGATING the incident where leftist woman Michelea Ponce harassed and berated an old lady for wearing a Charlie Kirk shirt while working in Target.
Ponce’s employer says police are investigating and that they’ve been FLOODED with calls.
GOOD!… pic.twitter.com/wNUgpHWj1M
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 17, 2025
Ponce, identified as a healthcare worker at Enloe Medical Center in Chico, has scrambled to delete her social media profiles amid the backlash.
Her employer revealed they’ve been inundated with calls from outraged citizens demanding action.
Enloe issued a response acknowledging the flood of complaints and confirming cooperation with authorities, a move that underscores how public pressure can force accountability on bullies hiding behind so called ‘progressive’ rhetoric.
This comes after Ponce’s own video—intended to shame Jeanie—backfired spectacularly, turning her into the villain online.
Records show Ponce has a prior history, including arrests, which only amplifies questions about her fitness for a role in healthcare where vulnerability is key.
Meanwhile, a GiveSendGo campaign launched for Jeanie has surged to over $135,000 in donations at time of writing, fueled by thousands eager to reward her dignity in the face of leftist aggression.
Here is the campaign established by @CassandraRules https://t.co/80dCy0Zrop
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 17, 2025
The fundraiser, organized by conservative activist Cassandra Rules, describes Jeanie as a hardworking senior who embodied grace under fire.
Donors have flooded the page with messages of solidarity, turning a moment of harassment into a triumph for free expression.
With funds climbing rapidly, Jeanie now has the means to retire comfortably or take a well-deserved break from retail chaos.
This outpouring stands as a rebuke to the left’s harassment tactics, proving that Americans won’t let patriots like Jeanie stand alone.
Incidents like this aren’t isolated. Leftists, emboldened by years of cultural dominance, routinely target ordinary folks for wrongthink—whether it’s a t-shirt, a bumper sticker, or a yard sign. But as Ponce learns the hard way, the tide is turning. With police involved and her professional life under scrutiny, this case could set a precedent against unchecked progressive bullying.
Charlie Kirk’s legacy of championing freedom lives on through supporters like Jeanie, who refuse to be silenced. As the investigation unfolds, it sends a clear message: harass patriots at your peril. Freedom isn’t just a slogan—it’s a line in the sand that more Americans are ready to defend.
Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/18/2025 – 17:40
Indiana officials excited by Chicago Bears’ interest
Northwest Indiana mayors and state officials have been beaming with pride since the Chicago Bears announced Wednesday that the team’s search for a new stadium location includes the region.
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren confirmed the possibility of crossing state lines, but said the organization also would consider sites in other parts of Illinois.
“We’re looking at opportunities that may exist in the Chicagoland area including Northwest Indiana,” Warren said. “We still believe that Arlington Park is the most viable location in Cook County, but now we’re putting everything back on the table and exploring all options.”
The news broke Wednesday amid growing concerns that Illinois lawmakers will not approve the financial incentives needed to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, a top team official told the Tribune.
“Northwest Indiana is in our home marketing area,” Warren said. “From a TV, media, radio rights standpoint and our fan base, it’s an extension of Chicago. It seems like it would provide a viable opportunity.”
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said in a statement that city officials and the Gary Common Council are drafting a “comprehensive proposal,” and that city leaders look forward to working with state officials “to bring the Bears to Gary.”
With its location near Interstates 80, 94 and 65, the South Shore Line, the Gary International Airport and “large-scale contiguous land,” Gary would be a prime location for a Bears stadium, Melton said.
The city has recently been approved for a Lake County Convention Center next to the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, so the city is prepared for an increase in tourism and hospitality, Melton said.
“By formally expanding their search to include Northwest Indiana, the Bears organization has acknowledged what we in Greater Gary have long understood: our region is no longer divided by an invisible state line — we are an integral part of the Chicago metropolitan fabric,” Melton said.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott and vice chair of the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission said Thursday he’s “doing whatever (he) can to make sure if the Bears choose Northwest Indiana as their next locale, that Hammond will be their choice location.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement the news of the Bears expanding their stadium search “is a startling slap in the face of all the beloved and loyal fans who have been rallying around the team during this strong season.”
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said he would work with team officials to build a northwest Indiana stadium.
“This move would deliver a major economic boost, create jobs, and bring another premier NFL franchise to the Hoosier State. Let’s get it done,” Braun said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the state legislature created the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission to attract a major sports organization such as the Bears.
State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, said when he heard the news Wednesday, it meant “so much to northwest Indiana to be considered.” As the excitement settles, it’s time for state and local officials to get to work on securing a stadium, Harris said.
In the short term, Harris said it’s important for him and state officials to have conversations with team officials about what they need and how northwest Indiana provides solutions to those needs. Ultimately, Harris said the goal would be for a lasting partnership between Indiana and Bears officials.
Harris, who authored the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission legislation, said he would like the commission to be a part of those discussions. Harris said he contacted the commission Wednesday, and its members expressed excitement about the prospect of a Bears stadium.
So much so, Harris said, that a discussion about the Bears stadium has been added to the commission’s Jan. 6 meeting agenda. Harris said he will work hard to connect with Bears officials before then to make a presentation to the commission at the meeting.
A Bears stadium would bring tourism and economic development to northwest Indiana, Harris said. Building the stadium translates into construction jobs, and once the stadium is built, then jobs — from residents working for the team franchise to local businesses that open nearby — will be created and tourism will increase, Harris said.
As a State Representative for East Chicago, Gary and Hammond, Harris said with a laugh that his “bias and preference” is that the stadium would be built in his district. Ultimately, it will come down to the best location, likely closest to the Illinois-Indiana border, he said.
“That’s probably going to be one of the things I would presume the Bears would want,” Harris said. “It really will be finding out a little bit more about what their needs are and figuring out the best location.”
Harris said he’s seen people have fun on social media about changing the team’s name, with ideas like the East Chicago Bears or the Hammond Bears. While the ideas are creative, Harris said the team will remain the Chicago Bears.
“They’re the Chicago Bears, you don’t mess with that name,” Harris said. “It would just be a bad play to think about changing the name. Chicago Bears is a classic team.”
As a state legislator, Harris said his late father proposed bills aimed to incentivize a professional sports team to come to northwest Indiana. Harris, who filed the bill to establish the commission in his father’s honor, said his father would be amazed at how far Harris has been able to run with this proposal.
“I’m excited and proud as his son to continue one of his legacy projects. I wish he was here to see where it’s going, but I’m very happy and proud about where we are and looking forward to continuing this,” Harris said.
Portage Mayor Austin Bonta said he was thrilled when he heard about the team’s announcement.
“The idea is super exciting,” Bonta said. “You consider if it’s real, but because it’s from the CEO in a letter to fans … it’s exciting.”
Portage would be a strong location for a stadium because of its proximity to multiple highways and a train line, and it’s off of Lake Michigan, Bonta said.
The Hillcrest Site, for example, is on the north side of I-94 and south of the train station, Bonta said. The city owns the land, he said, and city officials would like to see the property developed.
“All said and done, Portage is definitely a prime spot,” Bonta said. “I would just be happy if they picked anywhere in Northwest Indiana.”
If the Bears build a stadium in Northwest Indiana, then the whole region would see an economic boost because as more people come to the region then so do hotels, restaurants and shops, Bonta said.
It’s also not unheard of, Bonta said, for a team from one state to play in a nearby state, like the New York Giants and New York Jets playing in a stadium in New Jersey.
“If the Bears come to Northwest Indiana, it would be a win for the Bears,” Bonta said. “We’d be honored for them to consider us.”
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, said Thursday that state officials welcome discussions about building a Bears stadium in Northwest Indiana.
“I think it speaks so well of where Indiana is. One of the premier teams in not just professional sports but off one of the premier brands in our nation, is saying, ‘look, we want to explore an opportunity to partner with you,’ and we’ll have those conversations.”
A Bears stadium would bring with it “transformative investment” into the region, Huston said.
“There is no better state in the country at hosting people and major events than the state of Indiana,” Huston said. “This is potentially another opportunity for us to do even more of it in a portion of our state we’d love to see a big investment in.”
Impact on Indiana taxpayers
While building a Bears stadium in Northwest Indiana is exciting, there are economic factors to consider, said Anthony Sindone, Indiana University Northwest Director of the Center for Economic Education and Research.
“The literature is a bit mixed on the net positive or net negative of sports stadiums,” Sindone said.
Stadiums are major investments financed through public-private partnerships, Sindone said, which means state officials and private developers work together to build and finance the stadium. As a result, taxes typically increase for residents and consumers around the stadium, Sindone said.
Typically, the developers fund between 60% to 65% of the stadium and states, through tax revenue, fund the remaining 40% to 35%, Sindone said.
Building a stadium has multiple pros and cons, Sindone said, like creating construction jobs and traffic around the stadium. In the long run, economic studies have found that the funds used to build, develop, operate and maintain the stadium aren’t refunded to the taxpayers, he said.
An important thing for Indiana state officials to consider, Sindone said, would be to find a way to build a multi-use stadium to ensure it can be utilized beyond just Bears games.
“I think you need to have some kind of multi-use out of the stadium in order to even come close to being economically feasible and viable for using taxpayer money to fund these things,” Sindone said.
Lucas Oil Stadium, which opened in 2008 as the new home of the Indianapolis Colts, was predominantly funded by food and beverage taxes, auto rental taxes, innkeeper’s taxes, and admission taxes in Marion County, with additional food and beverage tax revenue from most of the doughnut counties surrounding Marion County. The Colts contributed $100 million toward the $720 million stadium, which is operated by the Capital Improvement Board.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/indiana-officials-excited-by-chicago-bears-interest/
