Category: News
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake causes small tsunami waves off northeastern Japan
TOKYO — A 6.9 magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan and caused small tsunami waves but no apparent damage Friday, days after a stronger quake in the same region.
Friday’s quake occurred off the east coast of Aomori prefecture, in the north of Honshu, the main Japanese island, at a depth of 12.4 miles at 11:44 a.m., according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, which issued a tsunami advisory that was lifted about two hours later.
Small waves were reported in Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures, but no serious damage or injuries were reported.
The quake followed a 7.5 magnitude earthquake Monday that caused injuries, light damage and a small tsunami on Japan’s Pacific coast.
At least 34 people were injured in that quake, power was knocked out temporarily in places, and tsunami waves more than 2 feet (0.6 meters) above tide levels were measured in Kuji port in Iwate prefecture.
Authorities had warned of possible aftershocks.
Officials said after Monday’s quake there was also a slight increase in the risk of a megaquake, at magnitude 8 or stronger, and a possible tsunami occurring along Japan’s northeastern coast from Chiba, just east of Tokyo, to the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. The agency urged residents in the area to monitor their emergency preparedness, reminding them that the caution is not a prediction of such a strong earthquake.
The recent quakes occurred around the area where the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in 2011 killed nearly 20,000 people and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/earthquake-tsunami-japan/
Naperville North’s Ava and Mia Podkasik don’t steal the ball from each other anymore. Watch out, opponents.
Naperville North junior guards Ava and Mia Podkasik have been working on their defense ever since they first started playing one-on-one against each other in their driveway.
The twin sisters scrapped for every rebound and constantly relieved each other of the ball.
“We did it all the time when we were younger,” Ava Podkasik said. “Back then, we weren’t very strong ball handlers, so there were lots of steals, definitely.
“But we were very physical growing up, always aggressive, always competitive with each other. I feel like that’s why we push each other so much and we have so much confidence in each other.”
The driveway showdowns are a thing of the past, but the Podkasiks’ mindsets haven’t changed. For the Huskies (7-1), they’re bringing the defensive heat as teammates.
Ava Podkasik is in her third varsity season and second as a starter. Mia Podkasik has joined her in the starting lineup this season. Both are thriving.
“The two of them are great,” Naperville North coach Aly Miller said. “Obviously, Ava has played up the last couple years, but Mia has kind of jumped in and solidified her role.”
Naperville North’s Mia Podkasik puts up a shot against Hinsdale Central during a nonconference game in Naperville on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Jon Cunningham / Naperville Sun)
The 5-foot-9 Ava Podkasik, who is 3 inches taller than her sister, is averaging 12.0 points, 7.4 deflections, 5.7 steals, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Mia Podkasik averages 9.3 points, 2.7 deflections, 2.7 steals, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist.
“They’re both great athletes,” Miller said. “They’re very tough kids, they’re both very consistent basketball players for us, and that’s exactly what we need.”
Ava Podkasik made three steals during an opening 9-0 run in the Huskies’ 36-20 nonconference win against visiting Hinsdale Central on Tuesday. She finished with six points, six rebounds and 10 steals, and Mia Podkasik had nine points, four steals and two assists. The Huskies totaled 24 steals.
“That shows that our defense is one of our strong suits,” Mia Podkasik said. “Even if our shots aren’t falling, we can always rely on our defense to get us some steals and get us back in the game, and I think every single girl does a really nice job.”
On Tuesday, no player did it better than Ava Podkasik, who got her steals in a variety of ways. She pilfered the ball from the top of Naperville North’s press, on the wings and in the lane.
“Sometimes I’ll go and attack an offensive player, and then sometimes I’ll stay and drop back,” Ava Podkasik said. “So it’s like the cat-and-mouse game — you bait them in, and then you read the eyes.
“Same thing I did last year, but it all works around our defense because if it passes over me, I have my two row that’s going to be there to help me on my back side. I have confidence in my team.”
Naperville North’s Katie Walker, left, and Mia Podkasik, right, tie up Hinsdale Central’s Kasey Quast during a nonconference game in Naperville on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Jon Cunningham / Naperville Sun)
That’s especially true when Mia Podkasik is on the floor too.
“It’s kind of like having another clone of me out there,” Ava Podkasik said. “We know where each other are.
“I could be facing backward, and I know she’s behind me, and I’ll pass it with full confidence that she’ll get it. It’s just nice knowing that she has my back whenever, and I’ll always have hers.”
That synergy began long ago.
“Even from a young age, we’ve always been that one-two, extra pass, extra dribble, and it really does show in the game,” Mia Podkasik said. “We have that type of chemistry that really shows on the court.
“We come together and really just play well. We can also feed the ball to other girls to get open looks, and I think once we’re all clicking, it really does change the energy of the game.”
Naperville North’s Ava Podkasik (4) shoots the ball as Hinsdale Central’s Shirin Khairkhah (0) defends during a nonconference game in Naperville on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Jon Cunningham / Naperville Sun)
But Ava Podkasik’s energy level and defensive technique are next level.
“She always comes out with a different type of energy, always runs with her hands up and is fundamentally strong,” Mia Podkasik said. “I think that just changes the basis of the game. We really need her out there, and she’s a really strong defensive player.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/basketball-naperville-north-ava-podkasik-mia-podkasik/
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, reelegido como presidente de la FIA sin oposición tras disputa de reglas
PARÍS (AP) — Mohammed Ben Sulayem fue reelegido el viernes sin oposición como presidente del ente rector de la Fórmula 1 tras una campaña ensombrecida por las acusaciones de sus rivales de que las reglas electorales los mantenían injustamente fuera de la boleta.
El nuevo mandato de cuatro años de Ben Sulayem, aprobado en la asamblea general de la Federación Internacional del Automóvil (FIA) en Taskent, Uzbekistán, continúa un período que ha incluido desacuerdos con los pilotos de la F1 y una constante rotación de personal en el organismo.
“Gracias a todos nuestros miembros de la FIA por votar en números notables y depositar su confianza en mí una vez más. Hemos superado muchos obstáculos, pero hoy aquí, juntos, somos más fuertes que nunca”, declaró el ex piloto de rally de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos en un comunicado.
La FIA afirmó que la presidencia de Ben Sulayem ha registrado unas finanzas más sólidas y “mayor transparencia, responsabilidad y estándares profesionales”.
Cuatro candidatos se postularon al cargo, pero Ben Sulayem fue el único elegible para la votación del viernes. Otra candidata, la piloto suiza Laura Villars, ha iniciado procedimientos legales en Francia sobre las reglas electorales.
Villars manifestó en un comunicado la semana pasada que se había programado una audiencia para febrero y que, dependiendo del resultado de ese caso, la elección podría ser “revisada, impugnada o anulada por el tribunal”.
Villars cuenta con el apoyo de otro aspirante a candidato, el ex comisario de carreras de F1 estadounidense Tim Mayer, quien alegó en octubre que las reglas significaban dejó de ser un “proceso democrático”.
Los candidatos a la presidencia de la FIA debían presentar una lista que incluyera siete candidatos a vicepresidentes de varias regiones del mundo, incluido un candidato de América del Sur. La única sudamericana en una lista de 29 candidatos elegibles era Fabiana Ecclestone de Brasil, una partidaria de Ben Sulayem.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Fermi Craters 50% After Losing First Tenant For Its Massive Texas Data Center
Fermi Craters 50% After Losing First Tenant For Its Massive Texas Data Center
Fermi America announced their first potential tenant for the Project Matador data center campus terminated their $150 million Advance in Aid of Construction agreement (i.e., lease). The stock has plunged as much as 50% in premarket trading in what is a wild overreaction with unprecedented demand for data center space (especially data centers named after the president) still offset with limited supply.
Several weeks ago, we documented Fermi’s difficulties with signing their first major tenant last month for their President Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence campus in Texas, set to become the world’s largest mixed-use data center. Co-founded by former Texas Governor and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, the company has yet to close a deal with a data center developer for their massive 11 GW campus outside of the Pentax facility.
What is bizarre, is that the company is on track to bring hundreds of megawatts on line for the site by the beginning of next year, has 6 GW of gas turbine power already permitted, and is currently progressing with the NRC to allow the construction of 4 AP1000 reactors. Yet somehow there isn’t a line of potential customers around the block desperate for rack space. At least not yet, although we expect that will change one Trump tweets about it.
Fermi is marketing their campus towards hyperscalers, with some tenants likely to include the biggest tech players such as Palantir. One of the government’s leading AI providers, Palantir was noted as currently being in discussion with Fermi about taking up a spot at Project Matador with a site visit expected to occur in the near future.
Fermi’s Project Matador – The President Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus.
The company notes that negotiations on the terms of the lease are continuing with their first potential mystery tenant that has cut off the $150 million for construction advances, and Fermi is continuing discussions with other potential tenants.
We have noted multiple times the extreme difficulties experienced by other data center developers throughout the United States, and abroad, with overcoming local opposition from NIMBY activists. Locals are still struggling to welcome the large data center developments to their towns due to concerns about increased energy consumption and prices, along with water usage.
With some of the data centers consuming as much as an entire city’s worth of water on their own, many activists have been able to petition regional leadership to block data center development on those grounds alone. Fermi has already demonstrated that they are well ahead of this with pre-permitting already completed for new power generation and millions of gallons of water per day already secured from nearby towns with access to massive aquifers.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/12/2025 – 09:15
Police officers, woman injured Thursday night in collision in Fuller Park
Two officers and another driver were injured Thursday night in a traffic crash on the South Side in the Fuller Park neighborhood, Chicago police said.
About 10:50 p.m., two officers in a squad car were headed north in the 4200 block of South LaSalle Street when a silver sedan headed west disregarded a traffic signal and caused a collision, police said.
The driver ofthe sedan, a 33-year-old woman, suffered injuries and was taken to UChicago Medicine and listed in good condition, police said. The officers also were taken to an area hospital where they were both listed in good condition, police said.
The driver of the sedan was given four citations.
Social Justice Gone Wild: Oklahoma BLM Leader Indicted On Fraud, Money Laundering Charges
Social Justice Gone Wild: Oklahoma BLM Leader Indicted On Fraud, Money Laundering Charges
A federal grand jury has unsealed a 25-count indictment against the leader of the far-left Marxist group Black Lives Matter in Oklahoma City over allegations of wire fraud and money laundering.
Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, 52, served as Executive Director of Black Lives Matter OKC (BLMOKC). As Executive Director, Dickerson had access to BLMOKC’s bank, PayPal, and Cash App accounts, where federal prosecutors allege she looted the organization “for her personal benefit,” including travel to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, tens of thousands of dollars in retail shopping, more than $50,000 in food deliveries, a vehicle, and six properties.
🚨BREAKING: Oklahoma BLM executive director federally charged with wire fraud and money laundering.
Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson has been federally indicted on 25 counts after prosecutors said she diverted more than $3.15 million in returned bail checks into her personal bank… pic.twitter.com/BwmnUkErAR
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) December 11, 2025
According to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release, BLMOKC raised millions of dollars to support its woke mission from online donors and national bail funds.
In total, BLMOKC raised $5.6 million, including grants from Community Justice Exchange, the Massachusetts Bail Fund, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund. Most of those funds were routed through Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ), as a fiscal sponsor, to BLMOKC.
The indictment said that BLMOKC was supposed to deploy these national bail fund grants to those who were arrested in connection with riot/protests after the death of George Floyd.
Yet federal prosecutors allege that, despite the organization’s stated mission, Dickerson diverted $3.15 million for her own use, financing luxury travel, extensive shopping sprees, food deliveries, a personal vehicle, and multiple real estate purchases:
recreational travel to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for herself and her associates;
tens of thousands of dollars in retail shopping;
at least $50,000 in food and grocery deliveries for herself and her children;
a personal vehicle registered in her name;
and six real properties in Oklahoma City deeded in her own name or in the name Equity International, LLC, an entity she exclusively controlled.
Corporate structure of BLMOKC. Jesse Jackson, founder??
Related:
Black Lives Matter Under Federal Investigation For Donor Fraud; Report
BLM Grifter Pleads Guilty To Fraud, Spending Donations On Herself
BLM Founder Branded “Fraud” After Buying Million-Dollar Home In Mostly-White LA Enclave
The wild, wild West of the nonprofit world: you can hate America, start riots, burn down city streets, and do it all behind a 501(c)(3). What has captured our attention is AFGJ …
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/12/2025 – 09:05
NWSL may adopt policy allowing teams to sign select players above the salary cap
The National Women’s Soccer League could soon adopt a roster mechanism that would allow teams to sign certain players over current salary cap rules, a person with knowledge of the proposal told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to publicly disclose discussions, first reported by ESPN. Any policy change would have to be approved by the NWSL Players Association.
Details about the new mechanism were not available but it would help teams sign and retain top players while still maintaining the NWSL’s salary cap.
World Cup champion goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher re-signs with the Stars for an 11th season in Chicago
The issue has attracted attention in the past two weeks as the Washington Spirit have sought to re-sign Trinity Rodman, one of the league’s biggest stars.
The Spirit and Rodman struck a multiyear deal last week that was vetoed by the league. The NWSLPA filed a grievance in response, maintaining that the denial violated Rodman’s free agency rights.
On Tuesday, the Spirit said they were continuing to work with the NWSL and Rodman’s representation to reach a resolution that would keep her within the league. Rodman, who won a gold medal with the United States at the Paris Olympics, has been drawing interest from European teams that don’t have the same salary restrictions.
The NWSL’s salary cap is $3.5 million for each team for the 2026 season, although it will rise each year until it hits $5.1 million in 2030.
The union did not provide specifics about the offer to Rodman, but said the compensation structure fit within the salary cap and was calculated to include team revenue share.
The league can raise the salary cap at any time, the union has maintained.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/nwsl-salary-cap-new-policy/
Only a sophomore, Addyson Figueroa’s an uncommon leader. ‘She gives up herself for Highland girls basketball.’
Addyson Figueroa has the “it” factor, that indefinable, know-when-you-see quality, according to Highland coach Eric Kundich.
People tend to flock to the 5-foot-6 sophomore guard, who is one of the Trojans’ captains.
“She’s naturally outgoing,” Kundich said. “She can talk to anybody, all groups of people. She’s taken a leadership role with our younger kids.”
Figueroa can’t exactly explain the phenomenon.
“It comes naturally, being a leader,” she said. “I’ve been playing basketball since first grade, and most of the time I’ve been a leader on those teams, whether it’s appointed or not. Most of the time, my teammates look to me if they need to talk about something or just ask a question.
“Even now, during drills, some of the girls will come up to me and ask if they’re supposed to be doing this or just ask a question. It’s just in my nature. I don’t really know what I do to make people see me as a leader, other than talking and helping direct people around.”
Sophomore guard Addyson Figueroa is one of Highland’s three captains this season. (Michael Osipoff / Post-Tribune)
Figueroa’s nonstop effort and team-first approach also could factor into the equation. She’s so valuable to Highland (6-3) that she rarely, if ever, comes off the court. She was averaging 2.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, a team-high 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals before a win against Whiting on Thursday.
“She plays extremely hard,” Kundich said. “Scoring isn’t the strongest part of her game, though she’s trying to become more of a threat, and that’s going to take some time. But she’s focusing on the other things she can do immediately.
“Like, we’re limited in size, so she’s done a great job of boxing out and rebounding this year. She’s leading us in assists this year. She’s averaging two steals a game, and she’s also cut down on her turnovers. She’s doing all the little things that we need in order to continue to develop and improve throughout the season.”
Kundich pointed to Figueroa’s willingness to play inside as an example of her selflessness.
“We have her listed at 5-6, and she’ll play one of our post positions at times, which is a testament to the fact that she’ll sacrifice some numbers in order to better our basketball team,” Kundich said. “That’s a lot to ask a high school kid to do, and she does it with no excuses, no complaints.”
Figueroa, who said she has played in the post “a little bit” when her AAU team has had only six players, has embraced the challenge.
“When I get thrown in there, I’m not fazed,” she said. “I know all the positions. It’s just embedded in my brain. I know all the spots. So going down there, I find myself strong. Sometimes the girls push me around a little bit, but there’s not much I can do. I just try as much as I can.”
The Trojans are trying to get back to their level from last season, when they won their first regional title since 2003, if not exceed it.
Highland’s Addyson Figueroa, left, dribbles the ball up the court during the Class 3A Griffith Sectional championship game against East Chicago Central on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
Four starters returned from that breakthrough run, including Figueroa, who averaged 3.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals as a freshman. Star senior guard/forward Jordan Steele and junior guard Savannah Ballard also are captains with Figueroa this season.
“Addy’s really important to our team this year, a really important piece,” Kundich said. “She seems to be one of our younger players that wants to step up and replace the leadership of our senior class last year that I loved.
“One of the things we’ve been missing so far through the beginning of the season was leadership, so it seems like Addy is trying to take on that role although she’s only a sophomore. Addy’s just the most vocal one of our three captains this year. Jordan has so much on her plate as far as playing the game, and she’s a leader in her actions on the floor. Savannah’s a leader as the point guard. But we needed more of an emotional leader, and Addy’s our emotional leader on the floor. Addy embodies that for us.”
Highland senior forward Rubi Rubalcaba notices Figueroa’s contributions.
“She’s an amazing asset to the team,” Rubalcaba said. “Our team wouldn’t be what it is without her. She glues it together. She has a lot of positivity. She does a lot on and off the court. It’s just refreshing that a player is able to just bring such a good dynamic to a team in general.
“Seeing her come in as a freshman last year and into this year, it’s just admirable because I see her growth.”
Figueroa has grown up in the Highland system. When she was in seventh grade, she watched the Trojans win a sectional title.
“I remember thinking, ‘Wow, that’s really cool. I want to be there one day,’” she said.
Highland’s Addyson Figueroa (1) guards Andrean’s Aubrey Grasha (23) during a Northwest Crossroads Conference game in Highland on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. (John Smierciak / Post Tribune)
When Highland took it a step beyond that last season to win the regional, Figueroa described it as “one of the craziest experiences I’ve ever had, for sure.”
“Addy embodies the team attitude,” Kundich said. “She’s been playing Highland girls basketball since she was little. Her father has been running the Highland feeder program for a long time. Her sister attends all of our games.
“There are a lot of reasons why she’s so team-oriented. It’s really important to her to be Highland girls basketball before herself. She gives up herself for Highland girls basketball.”
Figueroa also plays volleyball and qualified for a regional as part of the 1,600-meter relay team in track. But basketball sits at the top of her list of sports.
“Basketball takes over my whole life,” she said.
Still, Figueroa has time to sing in the school choir. She has been known to sing the national anthem before volleyball games, and boys basketball games could be in her future. She’s also a member of Key Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
“She’s a great kid,” Kundich said. “She’s a great kid in the classroom, a great kid in the school.
“She’s hit the weight room hard from freshman year to this year. She’s grown up, matured a lot, and gotten a lot stronger. She’s just playing with a lot of confidence.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/basketball-highland-addyson-figueroa/
Arne Slot dice que hablará con Mohamed Salah para resolver situación en Liverpool
Por JAMES ROBSON
MANCHESTER, Inglaterra (AP) — El técnico Arne Slot dijo que mantendrá una conversación con Mohamed Salah a raíz de que las explosivas declaraciones del delantero pusieron en duda su futuro en Liverpool.
Salah dijo la semana pasada que su relación con Slot se había deteriorado después de ser descartado durante tres partidos consecutivos, y que sentía que “alguien no me quiere en el club”.
El atacante egipcio se quedó en casa cuando Liverpool viajó a media semana para enfrentr al Inter de Milán en la Liga de Campeones, y Slot dijo que no sabía si Salah volvería a jugar para el vigente campeón de la Liga Premier inglesa.
Hablando antes del partido de la Premier el sábado contra Brighton, Slot señaló que hablará con Salah y sugirió que podría haber un camino de regreso al equipo para el ícono del club.
“Tendré una conversación con Mo esta mañana y el resultado de esa conversación determinará cómo se verá el equipo mañana”, dijo Slot en una conferencia de prensa. “Lo que necesito es tener una conversación con él y creo que la próxima vez que hable sobre Mo debería ser con él y no aquí”.
Salah no salió de la banca de suplente en el empate 3-3 contra Leeds la semana pasada y luego dio una entrevista improvisada a los periodistas fuera del estadio.
“Me parece que el club me ha echado a los leones. Así es como me siento. Creo que está muy claro que alguien quería que yo recibiera toda la culpa (por los recientes malos resultados)”, dijo.
Slot dijo que esos comentarios se produjeron después de que ya había tenido discusiones con el jugador.
“Hemos hablado mucho en la última semana después del partido contra Sunderland (el 3 de diciembre). Creo que ha habido muchas conversaciones entre sus representantes y los nuestros, nuestros representantes y él, entre él y yo después del partido contra Sunderland y hoy volveré a hablar con él”, afirmó.
Salah, quien ha marcado cuatro goles en 13 partidos de la liga esta temporada, fue descartado por primera vez para el duelo contra West Ham el mes pasado. Luego estuvo en el banquillo para el partido contra Sunderland y nuevamente en Leeds.
Ha ganado dos títulos de liga y la Liga de Campeones con Liverpool. También es el máximo goleador del club en la Premier.
Salah tiene previsto partir hacia la Copa Africana de Naciones la próxima semana y dijo la semana pasada que no sabía qué sucedería mientras estuviera fuera.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Valparaiso Council OKs zoning change for high-end living units
After considerable discussion Monday and at its last council meeting, the Valparaiso City Council unanimously approved a rezoning of the 1.25-acre parcel upon which the Banta Center sits from public space (PS) to urban residential (UR).
The change would allow plans to move forward for Matt and Wayne Welter to purchase and repurpose the former school into high-end living units. The vote followed a 7-0 vote in November by the Valparaiso Plan Commission to recommend approval of the rezoning.
Nothing would happen with the building until the senior center, which is proposed to transfer to the Valparaiso Rec Project, had changed locations.
Several members of the audience spoke of their concern for the architectural significance of the structure named for William Banta, the city’s first superintendent of Valparaiso Public Schools. Blake Swihart of Indiana Landmarks echoed the desire of many that the city’s architectural commission be included in final design approvals. “It is a modest building,” he said of the collegiate gothic style building, “but, as we’ve just heard, has some good architectural features” that should be maintained.
Council President Ellen Kapitan, D-At-Large, said she’d like for the historic preservation committee to weigh in. The physical transaction of sale won’t be for two years, according to Parks Director Kevin Nuppnau, but in the meantime, Reed didn’t want to put too many demands on the prospective buyer.
“We only had one RFP come in,” she said. “I don’t want to do anything that is going to harm the sale of this building.”
Councilmember Robert Cotton, D-2nd, wanted to know if, when approving the zoning change, some requirements for historical preservation could be compelled. Costas said that was taking things too far, especially when the city can’t afford to maintain the property.
“First of all, we’re dealing with a legacy family,” he said. “The Welters are a legacy family. I’m confident that they would want in every way economically feasible, that they would want to keep beauty and integrity of this building. I think at some point we need to just trust the process.”
“But then, in essence, there’s no assurance,” Cotton countered.
In other business, the Democratic members of the council and Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas criticized the mid-census redistricting plan that was under consideration by the Indiana General Assembly this month, which would have split Porter County into two separate congressional districts.
“It’s been what’s been called by some people a race to the bottom,” Costas said. “Hopefully, the Senate will think hard about this and make the right choice.”
On Thursday afternoon, the Indiana Senate defeated the proposal with 21 Republicans joining all 10 Democratic senators in voting against it, including Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso; 19 senators voted in favor of the map.
In other business, Central Elementary fifth grader Nora Burk was honored by the Council as Valparaiso’s Rising Star for 2025. The award honors a responsible, hardworking, intelligent young person who contributes to Valparaiso’s excellence every day. The award was created by the Mayor’s Youth Council in 2024.
Burk has been serving her community since the second grade through the K-Kids program and more. She has tied warm blankets for people in need, made holiday place mats for Meals on Wheels, and crafted colorful dog toys for local animal shelters. “You have a kind heart, but you put that into action,” Costas told her. Burk was chosen from 16 candidates for the award.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
