FRANKFORT, Ky. — At least one person was killed and another was critically wounded in a shooting at Kentucky State University on Tuesday, and a suspect was in custody, police said.

Police in Frankfort, the state’s capital city, said the campus was on lockdown. Video from WLKY-TV in Louisville showed multiple police vehicles outside a cluster of dormitories and crime scene tape in a courtyard.

It’s not clear yet where the shooting happened. Campus police and school officials did not immediately respond to messages.

Frankfort police said it responded to an incident involving “an active aggressor” and that the campus was secured. Authorities planned to release more information at an evening news conference.

The governor’s office confirmed there was a shooting.

“We will share more information as available,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a post on X. “Law enforcement are on scene, and a suspect has been arrested. Let’s pray for all those affected.”

Kentucky State is a public historically Black university with about 2,200 students. Lawmakers authorized the school’s creation in 1886.

The school sits about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) east of the Capitol building.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/kentucky-state-university-shooting/ 

A Gary man was sentenced to a 33-year split prison term Tuesday in a drug dealer’s death.

Brandon “FettyBando” McFadden, 25, pleaded guilty in October to robbery resulting in serious bodily injury.

He would serve 31 years in prison, with the last two years in work release, according to a prosecutor’s office spokeswoman. His sentence includes an additional 8-year sentencing enhancement because of his status as a serious violent felon.

Gary Police arrived at 1:40 p.m. March 30, 2023, to the 4400 block of Delaware Street, where a young man lay on the front steps of a small apartment building.

The victim was identified as Jordan Miller, 24, of East Chicago. He died from six gunshots to the torso, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

Witnesses said Miller and another man were there to sell drugs, according to the affidavit.

Police found a handgun on Miller’s body, which was unused, and noted the apartment’s back door was “barricaded.”

A witness said Davion “Ray-Ray” Dean called Miller “several times” to get marijuana and mushrooms. The man was a longtime customer, according to court records.

Miller went inside, while the other man stayed in the car.

About five seconds later, Miller walked out. McFadden shot him from behind, then stood over the body, according to the affidavit. A third man with Miller returned fire, then ran into an alley, court records state.

“Ray-Ray” and “FettyBando” ran back into the apartment.

McFadden was arrested on the 3900 block of Tennessee Street with a “red-like substance” on his pants.

The case was before Judge Natalie Bokota. Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie and defense lawyer Angela Jones were assigned.

Dean faces up to 20 years after admitting in a plea deal that he set up the robbery. His sentencing is Dec. 18.

Post-Tribune archives contributed.

mcolias@post-trib.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/gary-man-gets-33-year-split-term-in-drug-dealer-slaying/ 

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua held a news conference Tuesday to address the Irish’s omission from the College Football Playoff and his issues with how the ACC handled the lead-up to the bracket release.

Here are five takeaways from his session with reporters.

1. Bevacqua believes the CFP committee should have better defined metrics for its weekly rankings — or else release only one set of rankings.

Bevacqua said the Irish were “shocked” and “mystified” Sunday when the final CFP rankings bumped them to No. 11 — and out of the final at-large playoff spot. Notre Dame, which went on a 10-game winning streak after an 0-2 start, had been ranked No. 9 or No. 10 in all of the rankings up until that point.

While Bevacqua believes Notre Dame should have been a playoff team, he said he also thinks No. 9 Alabama and No. 10 Miami, which leapfrogged the Irish over the last two weeks, were deserving. His issue was with the sudden readjustment of the rankings at the end, including CFP committee Chairman Hunter Yurachek saying members went back to watch Miami’s Week 1 win over Notre Dame this past week.

In the first CFP rankings, when both Notre Dame and Miami were 6-2, the Irish were ranked 10th and the Hurricanes 18th.

“These rankings can’t be a game of musical chairs at a fifth-grade birthday party, and that’s what it felt like to us,” Bevacqua said. “And we don’t appreciate that because of the impact it’s had on the kids in that room and this university quite frankly. These are big decisions, and we just have not had anybody answer us in a way that gives us any satisfaction at all as to what happened.”

Bevacqua said the issues need to be fixed, either through a “series of defined metrics that everybody can rely on” or by having only one rankings show when the bracket is released. He said that would have been “less of a shock to the system.”

“You ask anybody in college football, we’re one of the best teams in the country,” he said, while noting he is biased. “We’re one of those handful of teams that can absolutely win the national championship this year, and then standing up here today knowing that we have 0% chance of proving that on the field is a bitter pill to swallow.

“But it’s a situation we’re in. And what frustrates me, and I know what frustrates (coach) Marcus (Freeman), is there’s just no good explanation.”

2. Bevacqua expressed his dissatisfaction with the ACC’s tweets about Notre Dame well before Monday.

Commissioner Jim Phillips smiles during a news conference at ACC football media days July 22, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Amid the CFP controversy Monday, Bevacqua went on “The Dan Patrick Show” and said the ACC did “permanent damage” to its relationship with Notre Dame while campaigning for Miami to get in the playoff over the Irish. The ACC football social media account sent multiple tweets over the last few weeks pitting Miami’s case against Notre Dame’s.

Bevacqua doubled down on that sentiment Tuesday, saying the ACC “went on a social media campaign, in my opinion, attacking our football program.” He said while all things can be healed, the relationship is “strained.”

Notre Dame has a football scheduling agreement with the ACC, and all of its other sports besides football and men’s ice hockey play in the conference.

He said when he saw the first tweet, he thought a social media producer “got over their skis and did something that the ACC was going to correct.” When the posts continued, he reached out to the conference via text and email over the last few weeks to express dissatisfaction with the tweets. He spoke to Commissioner Jim Phillips about it via phone a week ago.

“It raised a lot of eyebrows,” he said. “And we made our feelings known that we didn’t particularly understand this and it just kind of puzzled us that a conference that’s home to over 600 of our student-athletes walking around this campus today chose to go down that road. I guess intellectually I understand it, but I certainly don’t agree with it.

“And why would you attack an unbelievably important business partner of yours in football and a member of your conference in 24 other sports? I’m one person. I don’t see the logic in that. I know other leaders at the university didn’t see the logic in that.”

Bevacqua made sure to note the attendance and ratings boosts ACC teams receive for their football games against Notre Dame. He said he didn’t think an apology would unwind what happened but at some point in the future both parties’ leadership would sit down for an “honest” conversation.

Phillips released a statement Monday that the ACC has “a responsibility to support and advocate for all 17 of our football-playing member institutions” and that he stood by the conference’s efforts to do that.

3. Notre Dame’s decision to opt out of bowl games doesn’t necessarily affect future non-CFP bowl appearances.

When Notre Dame found out it didn’t make the CFP, Freeman reached out to his captains to get a feel for whether the team still wanted to play in a bowl game. He asked them to try to take emotions out of the decision, though they had only a few hours to make it.

Bevacqua said the players decided they didn’t want to take the field again without the complete team. Given that some NFL prospects would opt out of the bowl individually, they decided to opt out as a team.

Bevacqua said that doesn’t mean Notre Dame will opt out of all non-CFP bowls in the future.

“It was a decision that I applaud, and it was a hard decision,” he said. “They knew it was going to be a hard decision. They knew it was going to be a decision that not everybody was going to love, but it was the right decision for this team at this moment. I’m positive of that.

“And does that mean that if we’re in this situation again in the future that the same decision would be made? No. It’s year by year, case by case.”

4. As the NFL coaching rumor mill heats up, Bevacqua is all-in on keeping Freeman on board.

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman reacts after a touchdown against Arkansas on Sept. 27, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Freeman, who is 43-12 with a national championship game appearance in four-plus seasons as the Irish head coach, already has had his name mentioned for NFL coaching jobs that will come open over the next month.

Bevacqua, whom Notre Dame hired after Freeman had been promoted to head coach, understands that buzz.

“Everybody has eyes on Marcus,” Bevacqua said. “College has eyes on Marcus. NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in the next Leo DiCaprio movie with Martin Scorsese. Marcus is Marcus.

“All the credit to him. He deserves it. He is the absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop, and one of the greatest college coaches in the country. And people forget how young he is (39). So I get it. And that’s a compliment to him and his success and the way he represents himself and the way he prepares and who he is and how he talks.”

Bevacqua put it on himself to do everything in his power to keep Freeman in South Bend, Ind., noting he “would never say we wouldn’t match anything when it comes to Marcus.”

“It’s my one of my main obligations and responsibilities to this university is to make sure Marcus wakes up every day knowing that he is supported and valued by Notre Dame,” he said. “And I can say with 100% certainty he feels that way, and Notre Dame is totally aligned around the importance of college football for Notre Dame. We’re totally aligned on how he is the perfect coach for Notre Dame.”

Bevacqua said his duty is to make sure Freeman knows he will be at “the top, top, top tier of college football coaches when it comes to compensation every year.” He said Notre Dame would revise Freeman’s contract every year, if need be, to keep him.

5. Bevacqua favors a 16-team playoff with a five-and-11 format.

Bevacqua said a 16-team playoff would have been perfect for the sport this year, allowing quality teams such as Notre Dame, Texas and Vanderbilt a chance to compete.

As the sport considers playoff expansion, he favors a format that would give five automatic bids to conference champions and 11 at-large bids.

“You’re never going to have the same data points each year,” he said. “It’s never going to work out perfectly whether you have four teams, 12, 14 or 16. What I like about 16 is it does create for more opportunity, does create more narratives around more schools and yet preserves the integrity and the importance of the regular season.

“And that’s one of the greatest things college football has going for it. The regular season is more important in college football than it is in any other sport by a mile.”

One notable piece of news that came out in the last few days — and that Bevacqua confirmed Tuesday — is that Notre Dame has a memorandum of understanding that it would make a 12-team playoff next season if it’s ranked in the top 12. He said there’s a different set of metrics if the playoff expands.

“People have asked me, ‘Well, how come Notre Dame gets that benefit?’” Bevacqua said. “And we still have prove it on the field more than anybody. We still have to put ourselves in that area, that zip code of a top-12 team, but we want to protect ourselves against what happened this year.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/notre-dame-pete-bevacqua-cfp/ 

Por DEE-ANN DURBIN

Buenas noticias para los que harán dieta en Año Nuevo: las galletas Oreo tendrán una opción sin azúcar.

Mondelez dijo que las Oreo Zero Sugar y las Oreo Double Stuf Zero Sugar saldrán a la venta en Estados Unidos en enero. Son una adición permanente a la línea de productos Oreo de la compañía.

Es la primera vez que Mondelez vende Oreos sin azúcar en Estados Unidos. Ya se venden en Europa y China, según la compañía.

Mondelez afirmó que los consumidores están buscando cada vez más lo que llama “indulgencia consciente”, y las nuevas Oreo llenarán un vacío existente en el mercado de galletas sándwich sin azúcar.

Otros también han notado la tendencia hacia bocadillos más saludables. En un informe a principios de este año, la empresa de investigación de mercado Circana encontró que la mayoría de los estadounidenses están buscando bocadillos que consideran “buenos para ellos”. Conagra Brands, que produce palomitas de maíz y bocadillos de carne Slim Jim, dijo en un informe reciente sobre bocadillos que los consumidores Millennials y de la Generación Z, en particular, están buscando bocadillos controlados por porciones y enfocados en el bienestar.

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, que se introdujo en 2017 y sus ventas aumentaron 9% el año pasado, mientras que las ventas de Coca-Cola original crecieron solo 2%. Mondelez también enfrenta la competencia de Hershey, que vende versiones sin azúcar de Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups y otros dulces, y de Voortman, una marca de galletas con relleno sin azúcar.

Mondelez dijo que pasó cuatro años desarrollando las Oreo sin azúcar para asegurarse de que las galletas supieran como las originales. Para endulzarlas, las Oreo contienen maltitol, un tipo de alcohol de azúcar que también se encuentra en algunas frutas y verduras; polidextrosa, una fibra soluble; sucralosa, un edulcorante derivado del azúcar; y acesulfamo de potasio, un edulcorante sintético.

Comparar los datos nutricionales de las Oreo Zero Sugar y las regulares es complicado, ya que los tamaños de las porciones difieren.

Una porción de galletas Oreo Zero Sugar, que se define como 22,6 gramos, tiene 90 calorías, 4,5 gramos de grasa y 16 gramos de carbohidratos. Una porción de Oreo regular, que se define como tres galletas o 34 gramos, tiene 160 calorías, 7 gramos de grasa y 25 gramos de carbohidratos.

La mayor diferencia: una porción de Oreo regular contiene 13 gramos de azúcares añadidos, o el 26% de la cantidad diaria recomendada. Las Oreo Zero Sugar no contienen ninguno.

______

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/oreo-lanza-galletas-sin-azcar-en-estados-unidos/ 

La Grange resident Jonathon Robinson definitely thinks the village has a grudge against him.

At a recent Village Board meeting, Robinson alleged he was “bullied off the podium” after 10 minutes at a Nov. 18 La Grange Plan Commission meeting.

“Please note the village staff did not step in to prevent this, even though it would appear we had established by village staff before I began that there was no time limit for an open discussion,” he said.

Robinson said his wife, Kiersten Robinson, tried to cover the rest of his points before the Plan Commission, but was told by the chairperson that he would close the meeting to prevent her from speaking.

“It was only after reminding him that it would be an Open Meetings Act violation that he allowed her to speak,” he said.

Robinson said the timing of new rules for public comment felt directed at him.

“I hope it is not the case, but the timing seems more than coincidental,” he said.

The new rules — which passed unanimously Nov. 24 with little comment — for public meetings, not formal public hearings, limit the time for each speaker to three minutes, “unless the presiding officer designates a longer time period for that meeting.”

No speaker will be allowed additional time when speaking on behalf of a group or association, and no speaker may yield time to another speaker.

Robinson’s interactions began at an Oct. 14 Plan Commission meeting involving a proposed 5-story, 39-unit condo building on property now occupied by the Jackson Square Antique Mall, 112 E. Burlington.

“This is an extremely ridiculous process and for the first time in my life I have felt ridiculously minimized, ridiculously not listened to,” Jonathon Robinson told the commission then. “I have eight balconies that are overlooking my private back yard.”

While Robinson has several concerns, primary among them is the design and height of the proposed development.

Robinson and his family live nearby on 7th Avenue, in a spot where the building would overshadow his 140-year-old home.

Other residents also voiced concerns about the development, including the residents from the condo building next door at 11 S. 6th Ave.

Village President Mark Kuchler denied that anyone on village staff or trustees were taking aim at Robinson personally.

“Rest assured, the code that’s being implemented is not directly related to you,” Kuchler said. “You did raise issues that did cause research by our attorneys, and the law firm of Elrod Friedman, had these procedures in place for many of their villages and recommended that we adopt them.

I can tell you that in the past, the three minute time is pretty much what we have used up here as the guide, although it isn’t always followed.”

Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/lagrange-limits-public-comment/ 

Lake County voters, in certain precincts, have until Dec. 19 to object to changes in precinct boundaries approved Tuesday by the Lake County Board of Elections.

The vote, 3-2, was taken along partisan lines with Republican board members Michael Mellon and John Reed voting no. Democrats Kevin Smith, Michael Brown and Mara Candeleria Reardon voted yes.

The proposed precinct boundary changes were posted in a legal notice published in a local newspaper on Tuesday, Michelle Fajman, election board director said.

The boundaries of the following existing precincts would be changed by the adoption of the county’s proposed order: CCT 02, CCT 06. CL 03, CL O5, CL 11, EC 02 EC 03, EC 22, EC 23, G5 06, G5 13, G5 16, GR 05, GR 06, GR 07, H2 03, H2 05, H2 06, H2 14, HO 10, HO 16, HO 19, HO 22, HT 02, MER 02, MER 30, SCH 14, SJ 10, SJ 12, SJ 17, SJ 18, SJ 20, SJT 04, SJT 08, WCT 01, WCT 02, WT 03 and WT 10,

Those objecting must file with the Election Division no later than noon, Indianapolis time, on Dec. 19. The mailing address is: Election Division of the Office of the Secretary of State of Indiana, 302 W. Washington St., Room E-204, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2743

Mellon objected to approving the proposed precinct boundary changes because he hadn’t received a copy of the legal notice and didn’t know what he was voting on.

“We will get you copies,” Smith told him.

Mellon, after the meeting, said the proposed precinct boundary changes approved on Tuesday were the same version as Democrats had voted on back in July.

There will be objections filed by voters, Mellon said.

He said the precinct boundary changes approved by the Democratic majority weren’t the ones the Secretary of State had sent to the board, which Mellon said was a blend of the versions both the Democrats and Republicans had sent downstate.

A majority of the board voted at its November meeting to submit the proposed precinct consolidations to the state’s election division because the Secretary of State’s proposal created county council, county commissioners, school and city splits, officials maintained at that time.

Secretary of State Diego Morales sent the county a letter in July stating that Indiana law dictates that after a presidential election, precincts with fewer than 600 active voters should be consolidated.

In the letter, Morales said that the election board should submit “a proposed precinct consolidation plan with unanimous approval” from the board members.

“In the alternative, individual members of the Lake County Board of Elections and Registration can present the office with a proposed precinct consolidation plan if an agreement between members cannot be made,” Morales wrote in the letter.

During its July 30 meeting, the board unanimously approved 29 precinct consolidations, while five precinct consolidations were approved in a 3-2 vote along party lines and one precinct consolidation was approved in a 3-1 vote with one member abstaining, according to election board data.

Lake County ultimately sent in two reports for precinct consolidation, Fajman said, one by her on behalf of the board after it voted on the precincts and one by Republican assistant director Jessica Messler.

“It was not a Democrat plan, it was a board looking at specific precincts that were under 600,” Fajman said of the report she submitted.

Messler said her report contained a public record of the precinct consolidations the board discussed. Messler said she submitted a report after the Republican election board members asked her to.

“It’s been a standard practice that both sides submit a report,” Messler said.

A precinct split would just add a step on Election Day as poll workers would have to make sure of the right encoder, which has the proper ballot, Messler said. The voters wouldn’t see a shift in procedure, she said.

Mellon said at the board’s Oct. 21 meeting that the Republican members can submit a separate report.

“The minority party obviously has the right and the obligation to submit information when there’s a 3-2 vote against,” Mellon said.

The election board’s practice has been to submit one report approved by the board, Fajman said.

The Secretary of State’s precinct consolidations, which were established after the county board approved precinct consolidations, were mostly similar to the board’s proposal but made eight changes that created various splits, Fajman said.

Further, Fajman said, the eight precincts that the Secretary of State established were taken from Messler’s submission.

The eight impacted precincts were:

*The Secretary of State merged Gary 5-13 with Gary 5-16, which created a county council split.
*The Secretary of State merged West Creek Township 01 with West Creek Township 02, which created a town boundary split.
*The Secretary of State merged East Chicago 02 and East Chicago 24, which created a city council and school board split.
*The Secretary of State merged East Chicago 22 and East Chicago 23, which created multiple splits.
*The Secretary of State merged Hammond 2-05 and Hammond 2-14, which created a county council split.
*The Secretary of State merged Hobart 19 and Hobart 21, which created a city council and school board split.
*The Secretary of State merged Gary 05 with Gary 07, which created a commissioner and county council split.
*The Secretary of State merged Merrillville 02, Merrillville 30 and Merrillville 30A, which created a county council split.

The Lake County board has been working to clean up precinct splits when reviewing precinct data, Fajman said.

“Splits can be very confusing. It’s confusing to voters. It’s confusing to candidates, as they walk a precinct trying to get materials out,” Fajman said.

The Secretary of State’s precinct consolidation went into effect when he issued it, Fajman and Messler said.

When the election board met Oct. 21, it voted 3-2 to correct the changes made by the secretary of state for precinct consolidations. That means, Fajman said, the board directed the office to change the precinct consolidations back to what the board approved July 30.

Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

Post-Tribune staff writer Alexandra Kukulka contributed to this story.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/lake-county-voters-have-until-dec-19-to-protest-precinct-changes/ 

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India is noteworthy. The sheer energy of the long-term Russian dictator is significant, given persistent rumors about his health. Additionally, current India-U.S. frictions provide collaborative opportunities for both Moscow and New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is repressive. This includes hostility to India’s religious minorities and repression of public criticism. India continues to purchase oil from Russia, despite an international embargo in reaction to the invasion of Ukraine.

The visit resulted in economic agreements, but no great breakthrough. During the Cold War, India was often friendly with the Soviet Union.

“The Great Game” refers to the historic competition between Great Britain and Russia for strategic influence in South Asia.

The same logic broadly applies today. Asia-Europe trade routes through South Asia have been important since ancient times. Beijing is acutely aware of this dimension.

Additionally, sectarian conflict is deeply rooted in the region.

In 2012, Taliban attackers shot young Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan in revenge for her advocacy of education for females. She survived and has become a vital international symbol of courage. Vital Voices Global Partnership, a nonprofit organization to empower girls and women, established the Malala Fund.

In early 2016, militants raided an Indian military base. The United Jihad Council, a Kashmir group, claimed credit. Simultaneously, terrorists attacked an Indian consulate in Afghanistan.

In 2019, an attack in disputed Kashmir killed 40 Indian police. Periodic violent clashes continue.

Global media emphasis on incidents involving U.S. military ally Pakistan reflects the region’s strategic importance, but overshadows democratic progress. In September 2013, Mamnoon Hussain succeeded Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who did not seek reelection. This was the first peaceful presidential transition in Pakistan’s history.

This somewhat balances the deterioration of long-established political democracy in India.

Pakistan-U.S. relations remain vexed. Pakistan, since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, is important in the continuing struggle against Islamic terrorism. The ability of Osama bin Laden, mastermind of the attacks,  to hide in Pakistan raised suspicion that officials there may have been complicit.

Pakistan was not informed in advance of the U.S. SEAL Team 6 raid that killed him.

However, Pakistan has been a generally reliable ally of the West, a point often overlooked in media commentary. The British-trained military is extremely capable.

In the 1950s, Pakistan joined both the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) in the Middle East and the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). Pakistan and Britain were distinctive as members of both alliances. These alliances are gone, but geostrategic interests continue.

Significantly, India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (The Quad), established in 2007, substantially revitalized in 2017, involves growing collaboration among Australia, India, Japan and the United States. Important incentives include containing China.

In 2023, despite shortcomings of the Indian regime, Modi was accorded a state dinner by President Joe Biden and addressed a joint session of Congress.

At that time, India’s leader demonstrated astute diplomacy, including joining a mass yoga exercise on the grounds of the United Nations.

Respect accorded to Modi by the Biden administration in no way indicated approval of the unfortunate and ugly aspects of his government, but rather a realistic awareness of the undeniable importance of the South Asia region.

Reasonable relations with New Delhi are essential to further stability in that volatile part of the world, especially given the alliance with Pakistan.

A cooperative stance regarding India reflects political realities. The international strategic situation remains unchanged and should guide U.S. officials in their work today.

Arthur I. Cyr is author of “After the Cold War – American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia” (Palgrave/Macmillan and NYU Press).

Contact acyr@carthage.edu

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/arthur-i-cyr-column-putin-india/ 

Por KRISTIE ACKERT

ORLANDO (AP) — Mike Trout, la piedra angular del equipo de Estados Unidos en el Clásico Mundial 2023, sigue en consideración mientras se conforma el roster para el torneo de 2026.

El mánager Mark DeRosa dijo el martes que Trout está “en consideración” para una de las últimas plazas en el roster, suponiendo que esté saludable y cómodo con su rol.

“Estamos hablando con él, estamos hablando con un par de otros jugadores y tratando de saber qué quiere hacer Mike”, comentó DeRosa en las reuniones de invierno de las Grandes Ligas.

El dos veces MVP de la Liga Americana representa un dilema para el equipo de Estados Unidos, que disputará su primer partido del Clásico el 6 de marzo contra Brasil en Houston.

Una contusión en la rodilla izquierda lo envió a la lista de lesionados en mayo. Es la misma rodilla que requirió cirugía de menisco en 2024, y los problemas persistentes lo mantuvieron mayormente como bateador designado la temporada pasada. Aun así, conectó 26 jonrones en 130 juegos, pero su línea de bateo de .232/.359/.439 y su tasa elevada de ponches generaron preguntas sobre su salud y disponibilidad para el torneo del próximo año.

Trout, quien fue capitán del equipo en 2023, tendrá que evaluar su participación en el torneo o estar completamente listo con los Angelinos la próxima temporada. Y DeRosa tiene que considerar llevar a un bateador designado a tiempo completo en un roster corto y en juegos de alta presión.

“Tiene que estar listo para 2026 con los Angelinos”, expresó DeRosa. “No jugó mucho a la defensiva, si es que lo hizo, así que es un dar y recibir: lo que él quiere hacer, con lo que se siente cómodo”.

Estados Unidos anunció el martes a cuatro jugadores de posición más: el bateador designado Kyle Schwarber, los infielders Gunnar Henderson y Brice Turang, y el receptor Will Smith. Se unen al capitán Aaron Judge, los jardineros Corbin Carroll y Pete Crow-Armstrong, y el receptor Cal Raleigh.

En el montículo, Paul Skenes, ganador del Premio Cy Young de la Liga Nacional, lidera el grupo de Estados Unidos, junto con el zurdo Matthew Boyd y el relevista Garrett Whitlock.

El gerente general Mike Hill dijo que ahora el enfoque se centra fuertemente en el pitcheo.

“Fuimos respetuosos con la temporada de todos y nos aseguramos de que terminaran saludables”, manifestó Hill. “Ahora que estamos en la temporada baja y preparándonos para el torneo, intensificaremos nuestro proceso de pitcheo. Pasaremos las próximas semanas finalizando el roster y tratando de construir el cuerpo de lanzadores más profundo que podamos”.

Tarik Skubal, dos veces ganador del Premio Cy Young de la Liga Americana, sigue siendo una prioridad en la lista de deseos.

“Queremos que nuestros mejores participen”, dijo Hill. “Él es obviamente el dos veces ganador reinante del Cy Young, así que no hay duda sobre su habilidad con todo nuestro pitcheo. Lo estamos intentando”.

DeRosa comentó que el objetivo no es simplemente reunir estrellas para este equipo, sino armar un roster que encaje: defensa, velocidad, versatilidad, equilibrio. Una aplastante derrota ante Japón en la final del Clásico Mundial 2023, en la que Shohei Ohtani ponchó a Trout, su entonces compañero de equipo de los Angelinos, para terminar el juego, ha servido de motivación.

Si Trout se une y se mantiene saludable, DeRosa dijo que su nombre por sí solo podría cambiar la dinámica del vestuario. Por ahora, sin embargo, la convocatoria sigue abierta.

___

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/estados-unidos-sigue-considerando-a-mike-trout-para-el-clsico-mundial-pero-hay-dudas/ 

Calumet City aldermen say they will seek reimbursement of several payments to people and businesses after receiving more information on city spending, including via Mayor Thaddeus Jones’ municipal credit card,

During a special meeting Monday that Jones did not attend, some aldermen said they received conflicting information on expenses that represent a larger pattern of lack of transparency.

Aldermen have raised concerns about Jones’ September municipal credit card statements, citing $44,000 in expenses, much of it spent during the Congressional Black Caucus’ 54th annual legislative conference in Washington that some city officials attended. The City Council voted to reduce Jones’ credit card limit from $50,000 to $5,0000 but has not yet decided how much the mayor will have to reimburse the city.

“Although things may seem stagnant at times, we do have to get as much information as we can, and sometimes that’s delayed,” Ald. Ramonde Williams said Tuesday. “We’re definitely moving things in the right direction, trying to be more fiscally responsible.”

Council members revisited some of those expenses after receiving documentation from Jones, including $650 to musician Craig Harper, $1,400 to Crete-based Del Santo’s Sausage and Catering, $140 to Cafe Borgia in Munster, Indiana, and $545 to Bill’s Grill in Calumet City.

Miacole Nelson and Melissa Phillips, who campaigned with Jones before being elected to represent the 6th ward earlier this year, pointed out discrepancies in expense reports, including that Harper was hired to perform at a breast cancer awareness event in October. Both said they attended the event and Harper was not working.

“The DJ’s bill has already come through,” Nelson said. “(Jones) gave the wrong explanation. He could’ve mixed it up, but it’s not the DJ.”

Calumet City 4th Ward Ald. Ramonde Williams reviews an expense document during a special City Council committee meeting on Tuesday. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Nelson expressed concerns about previous payments to Harper that also show discrepancies.

“We see a pattern here,” Nelson said. “Let’s talk about it.”

The City Council voted to table the payment to Harper as aldermen continue discussing how to reimburse the city for many charges they say were unauthorized.

Second Ward Ald. Monet Wilson pointed out a pattern of payments via Jones’ credit card to Cafe Borgia over the past year for which she said the mayor should reimburse the city. She said the $545 payment to Bill’s Grill was made the same day as the breast cancer awareness event as well as the restaurant’s grand opening, which were both offered as explanations for spending there.

Wilson has announced plans to run as an independent candidate for state representative against Jones in his other capacity as state representative in the 29th District.

“The breast cancer walk was held at the local school, not at Bill’s Grill,” Wilson said. “I understand that they had a grand opening that same day. We normally do not pay for people’s grand openings.”

Calumet City 2nd Ward Ald. Monet Wilson speaks during a special City Council committee meeting Monday. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)

Payments to Mulch Masters, Accurate Board-Up and Glass, and Napleton River Oaks Cadillac were approved as aldermen said explanations of the payments were adequate.

Jones said Tuesday that Monday night’s meeting was an example of aldermen “trying to impugn on the executive branch” and that he is unable change receipts and invoices provided to the City Council.

He said new Alds. Nelson and Phillips don’t understand Calumet City’s expense system, leading to the removal of “legitimate city expenses.”

“They’re complaining about expenses that are routine expenses,” Jones said.

Nelson said Monday she held off on criticizing the mayor until receiving documentation of the questioned expenses, but “things need to change.”

“It’s nothing personal toward anybody, but I was elected to handle the people’s business, and I am a professional woman,” Nelson said.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/calumet-city-questions-mayor-thaddeus-jones-expenses/ 

Tony Blair ‘Dropped’ From Trump’s Gaza ‘Board Of Peace’

Tyler Durden
Tue, 12/09/2025 – 17:00

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/tony-blair-dropped-trumps-gaza-board-peace