As many as five people were shot just outside the Chicago Theatre in the Loop late Friday night, according to Chicago police.

According to a preliminary internal police notification, the shooting took place at around 9:50 p.m at 164 N. State Street. Those struck were being taken to multiple hospitals, per the notification. The victims’ conditions weren’t immediately available.

At least six evidence markers were sitting on State Street by the theater’s marquee around 11:40 p.m as Central (1st) District police kept the area blocked off.

Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, posted to social media around 10:50 p.m. that there were “at least” five people wounded and that 300 youths were “rioting” downtown, but didn’t give a specific location. Hopkins also said that at least one police officer had been hospitalized and others had been injured while responding to the scene.

Crowds had been in the downtown area earlier Friday evening for the annual tree lighting ceremony.

A police investigator picks up evidence to place in bags at the scene of a multiple shooting outside the Chicago Theatre in the 100 block of North State Street on Nov. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A police investigator walks through the scene of a multiple shooting outside the Chicago Theatre in the 100 block of North State Street on Nov. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Police officers guard the scene of a multiple shooting outside the Chicago Theatre in the 100 block of North State Street on Nov. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Police were still trying to determine a final number of shooting victims as of midnight Saturday. It was the first shooting with that number of victims in the center of the city in a number of months.

Earlier this year, 14 people were wounded and 4 were killed in a drive-by rifle shooting that the drill rapper Mello Buckzz’s album release party in the River North neighborhood. Authorities are still investigating that shooting, which was among the city’s worst in recent years even as violent crimes have dropped sharply.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/22/five-shot-state-street-chicago-theater-police/ 

Por JOSEPH WILSON

BARCELONA (AP) — Y Rosalía dijo: “Que se haga la Lux”.

Rosalía, la estrella global del pop español amada por millones por fusionar el flamenco con el hip hop latino y el reggaetón, ha sorprendido a sus fans con un cambio radical.

El nuevo álbum de la cantante y compositora, “Lux” (“Luz” en latín), es abiertamente espiritual. Quince canciones, cantadas en 13 idiomas diferentes, incluyendo fragmentos en latín, árabe y hebreo, están cargadas de un anhelo por lo divino.

Y está recibiendo elogios desde lo alto.

Xabier Gómez García, obispo de Sant Feliu de Llobregat, que incluye la ciudad natal de Rosalía, Sant Esteve Sesrovires, cerca de Barcelona, fue uno de los primeros líderes de la iglesia en alabar su trabajo en una carta abierta a su congregación. Según la diócesis, la abuela de Rosalía asiste regularmente a misa en Sant Esteve Sesrovires.

En una entrevista con The Associated Press, Gómez manifestó que, aunque algunas de sus canciones eran “provocativas”, Rosalía “habla con mucha libertad y sin filtros de lo que intuye que es Dios, del deseo, de la sed interior”.

“Cuando escuché el disco LUX y las entrevistas a Rosalía compartiendo el contexto y su proceso creativo me encontré con un proceso y una obra que no se limita a lo musical, es una búsqueda espiritual a través del testimonio de mujeres con una gran madurez espiritual”, expresó.

Desde sus letras iniciales cantadas sobre piano y un violonchelo melancólico, ”¿Quién pudiera vivir entre los dos/ Primero amar el mundo y luego amar a Dios”, Rosalía anuncia que este álbum es una ruptura con sus predecesores ganadores del Grammy. “El mal querer” y “Motomami” habían establecido a Rosalía como una de las artistas líderes en el mundo de la música española con sus ritmos urbanos experimentales.

A pesar de —o gracias a— su diversidad de estilos y formas de canción, que van desde cuerdas clásicas, fragmentos de electrónica con una aparición de Björk, un coro de niños de un monasterio milenario, una canción tipo aria en italiano, un fado portugués y, por supuesto, flamenco moderno y ritmos de hip hop, “Lux” ha tenido un comienzo poderoso entre los oyentes. Tiene cuatro canciones en el Top 50 global de Spotify esta semana, más que cualquier artista, incluida Taylor Swift.

Madonna se ha declarado fan de “Lux”, y el compositor Andrew Lloyd Webber lo ha llamado generosamente el ”álbum de la década”.

Volver hacia adentro

Rosalía, de 33 años, ha dicho que después de su éxito en estilos de música más populares, dejó que su anhelo de larga data por una guía espiritual la condujera al hacer “Lux”.

“Al final, en una era que parece que no es la era de la fe, o de la certeza, o de la de la verdad, quizás es más necesario que nunca una fe, o una certeza, o una verdad”, dijo a reporteros en la Ciudad de México el mes pasado.

Agregó que se dejó guiar por el concepto de que “un artista duda menos de su vocación, cuando trabaja al servicio de Dios, que cuando trabaja al servicio de sí mismo”.

Aparentemente Rosalía no ha tenido ese momento revelador de “acercarse a Jesús” que es común entre los creyentes evangélicos en Estados Unidos. Como muchos españoles, creció en un país que alguna vez fue firmemente católico y que se ha secularizado rápidamente en las últimas décadas, especialmente entre las generaciones más jóvenes, dejando las iglesias principalmente a los feligreses ancianos.

Pero incluso su música temprana coqueteaba con la poesía religiosa medieval, incluyendo un videoclip de 2017 cuando musicalizó un poema del español del siglo XVI San Juan de la Cruz.

Si bien adopta símbolos católicos y expresa fascinación por las santas, Rosalía parece rechazar la práctica estrictamente organizada y también se inspira en otras religiones. “Lux” responde a esa diversidad de intereses, citando en un momento dado a una poetisa sufí.

“He leído mucho más que hace años y al estar leyendo muchas hagiografías de santas de alrededor del mundo”, dijo. “Me acompañan a lo largo de todo el proceso”.

Su estilo también ha cambiado. Han desaparecido la moda hip hop y las largas uñas postizas que Rosalía lucía hace solo unos años cuando arrasó en los Latin Grammy. Contrasta eso ahora con su apariencia en la portada del álbum “Lux”, donde está vestida con un velo de monja blanco sólido con los brazos aparentemente atrapados dentro de una blusa blanca, su mirada desviada.

El cardenal de cultura del Vaticano se une al club de fans

A pesar del movimiento potencialmente controvertido de comparar a Dios con un amante obsesionado en la canción “Dios es un stalker”, Rosalía ha conquistado al equivalente del ministro de cultura del Vaticano.

El cardenal José Tolentino de Mendonça, prefecto del Dicasterio para la Cultura y la Educación del Vaticano, dijo este mes a la agencia de noticias española EFE que Rosalía ha detectado una insatisfacción más amplia con el mundo secular.

“Cuando una creadora como Rosalía habla de espiritualidad”, comentó, “significa que ella capta una necesidad profunda en la cultura contemporánea de acercarse a la espiritualidad, de cultivar una vida interior”.

Entre las canciones sobre la fe, Rosalía encontró tiempo para ofrecer temas como “La perla” que despotrica contra un antiguo amante.

Esa hábil mezcla de alta cultura y pop es parte del atractivo de “Lux”, dijo Josep Oton, profesor de historia religiosa de la escuela de teología ISCREB en Barcelona.

“Ha logrado hacer música popular con raíces culturales muy profundas”, comentó Oton a AP. “Cualquiera puede escucharla, y personas con diferentes antecedentes pueden llevarse cosas diferentes. Es música pop, pero es profunda”.

Interpretar “Lux”

“Lux” puede ser intimidante para los oyentes, tanto por su elaborada orquestación como por la dispersión de letras esotéricas que Rosalía se inspiró para escribir después de leer a poetas místicos medievales y sus relatos de experimentar una unión transformadora con Dios a través de la oración y la meditación profundas.

En la emocionante “Reliquia”, Rosalía se compara con santas femeninas, enumerando las partes de su cuerpo y vida que ha dejado en ciudades de todo el mundo como reliquias para que otros las conserven. Su “Mio Cristo piange diamanti” está llena de la extravagante imagen barroca de las joyas goteando de los ojos del Mesías.

En “Divinize”, Rosalía canta sobre la “divina buidor”, un concepto central del misticismo medieval que se centra en cómo el alma debe experimentar el abandono para abrir un espacio donde Dios pueda entrar.

Victoria Cirlot, profesora de humanidades en la Universidad Pompeu Fabra de Barcelona y experta en la tradición mística femenina medieval, apreció “Lux” por su capacidad para introducir conceptos religiosos complejos al público en general, aunque señaló que es “una muestra minimalista” de la tradición mística.

Cirlot dijo que la conmovedora “La yugular” es rica en pensamiento místico porque la garganta, el hogar de la voz y la respiración, está asociada en muchas tradiciones religiosas como la puerta del cuerpo hacia lo divino.

Pero, para Cirlot, es todo el conjunto lo que hace que “Lux” sea tan impactante.

“Rosalía no es solamente una gran cantante, es una gran actriz. Tiene una gestualidad mística, este rostro ido, en éxtasis, y el vestimento de monja fashion, y su gran voz, que da la sensación de vuelo.”

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La periodista de The Associated Press Berenice Bautista en la Ciudad de México contribuyó a este despacho.

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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.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/22/lux-de-rosala-cautiva-a-cardenal-y-obispos-del-vaticano/ 

Por SETH BORENSTEIN, MELINA WALLING y ANTON L. DELGADO

BELÉM, Brasil (AP) — Los delegados en las conversaciones climáticas de Naciones Unidas trabajaban el sábado para encontrar un terreno común en una serie de propuestas, incluyendo el pedido de muchas naciones para citar de forma explícita la causa del calentamiento global: la quema de petróleo, gas y carbón para alimentar nuestro mundo.

Las cumbre anual se celebra este año en Belém, una ciudad brasileña a orillas de la selva amazónica. Estaba previsto que concluyese el viernes, pero los negociadores superaron ese plazo y no estaba claro cuándo podría terminar.

Juan Carlos Monterrey Gómez, uno alto negociador de Panamá, apuntó el viernes que el proceso de la ONU, que lleva décadas en marcha, corre el riesgo de “convertirse en un espectáculo circense” por la omisión. Su país fue uno de las 36 que pusieron objeciones a una propuesta del presidente de la COP30, el brasileño André Corrêa do Lago, porque no ofrece una hoja de ruta explícita para que el mundo abandone los combustibles fósiles, ni refuerza los planes de lucha contra el clima presentados a principios de año.

Antes de las negociaciones de alto nivel a puerta cerrada, Monterrey Gómez advirtió que las conversaciones estaban “al borde del colapso”. Unas horas más tarde, señaló que la situación no había cambiado mucho.

Do Lago comenzó la jornada diciendo a los diplomáticos que pensaba que estaban “muy cerca” de lograr lo que se propusieron al inicio de la cumbre hace una semana. Cuando las conversaciones entre todos los países se estancaron, cambió de estrategia reuniendo en su oficina a grupos más reducidos de negociadores.

Conversaciones retrasadas

“Espero que haya otro texto”, dijo Jennifer Morgan, veterana observadora y exjefa de la delegación de Alemania en estas cumbres, el viernes por la tarde. “Creo que hay bastante trabajo por hacer”.

Las propuestas brasileñas, también llamadas textos, se presentaron tras un incendio el jueves que se extendió brevemente por los pabellones de la conferencia. Nadie sufrió heridas graves, pero el incidente supuso la pérdida de prácticamente un día de trabajo.

“El problema es que llevamos un retraso de 24 horas”, señaló David Waskow, director internacional de clima para el Instituto de Recursos Mundiales.

Recibimiento frío

La Unión Europea dijo claramente que no aceptaría el texto. El comisario de Clima de la UE, Wopke Hoekstra, recordó a los negociadores que se habían reunido al borde de la Amazonía para reducir las emisiones y abandonar los combustibles fósiles.

“Miren el texto. Mírenlo. Nada de eso está ahí. No hay ciencia. No hay un balance global. No hay transición. Pero en cambio, hay debilidad”, afirmó Hoekstra en una reunión a puerta cerrada entre negociadores, según una transcripción proporcionada por la UE. “Bajo ninguna circunstancia vamos a aceptar esto. Ni nada que esté remotamente cerca, y lo digo con dolor de corazón, (…) de lo que ahora está sobre la mesa”.

“Después de 10 años, este proceso sigue fallando”, dijo Maina Vakafua Talia, ministra de Medio Ambiente de Tuvalu, una pequeña nación insular en el Pacífico, en una intervención antes en el día. “El Pacífico vino a la COP30 exigiendo una hoja de ruta para la supervivencia lejos de los combustibles fósiles. Sin embargo, los borradores de texto actuales que se han presentado no nombran siquiera la principal amenaza para nuestra propia supervivencia y existencia”.

Un texto clave entre las propuestas de Brasil aborda cuatro temas complicado. Incluye ayuda financiera para los países vulnerables más afectados por el cambio climático y lograr que las naciones refuercen sus planes nacionales para reducir las emisiones que calientan el planeta.

Además, está la disputa sobre la creación de un plan detallado para que el mundo elimine de forma gradual los combustibles fósiles que están impulsando en gran medida el clima cada vez más extremo que sufre la Tierra. Cualquier plan de este tipo ampliaría la frase —“transición para abandonar” los combustibles fósiles— acordada hace dos años en la cumbre climática en Dubái. Pero no se concretó ningún calendario o proceso y los poderosos productores de petróleo, Arabia Saudí o Rusia, se oponen.

Más de 80 naciones reclamaron directrices más firmes y el presidente de Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, se unió al llamado a principios de mes.

Al Gore, exvicepresidente de Estados Unidos, instó a los países a mantenerse firmes en su oposición y elogió la implicación de Lula.

“Arabia Saudí y Donald Trump y la Rusia de Vladímir Putin han intimidado a los países para apoyar una propuesta absurda”, afirmó Gore en una entrevista con The Associated Press. El último documento “elimina incluso la propuesta de dejar gradualmente los ridículos y autodestructivos subsidios a los combustibles fósiles. Este es un texto de la OPEP”, apuntó refiriéndose a la organización que representa a los países productores de petróleo.

Lucha contra combustibles fósiles

Acerca de la eliminación gradual de los combustibles fósiles, la propuesta “reconoce que la transición global hacia unas bajas emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero y un desarrollo resistente al clima es irreversible y la tendencia del futuro”.

El texto “también reconoce que el Acuerdo de París está funcionando y se propone ir más allá y más rápido”, indicó en referencia a las conversaciones climáticas de 2015 que establecieron el objetivo de limitar el calentamiento global a 1,5º Celsius (2,7º Fahrenheit) con respecto a los datos de mediados del siglo XIX. Una cuestión clave es que los 119 planes nacionales para reducir emisiones presentados este año no se acercan ni remotamente a limitar el calentamiento a 1,5º C.

Aunque el texto abordaba las directrices para la transición de los combustibles fósiles, podría terminar con una sección vagamente redactada sobre un plan para los próximos años en una hoja de ruta separada.

Entre las 36 naciones que consideraron que el texto no iba lo suficientemente lejos había algunas adineradas, como Reino Unido, Francia y Alemania, y pequeñas islas vulnerables al clima como Palau, Islas Marshall y Vanuatu. Apuntaron que la propuesta no cumple “las condiciones mínimas requeridas para un resultado creíble de la COP”.

La ministra de Medio Ambiente de Colombia, Irene Vélez Torres, dijo que la propuesta de la presidencia es inaceptable para “aquellos de nosotros que estamos comprometidos con la vida en este planeta, con la justicia climática”.

Todos en una sala

En estas cumbres, los acuerdos se alcanzan oficialmente cuando ninguna nación pone objeciones, lo que suele requerir muchas rondas de negociaciones. En la práctica, las deliberaciones pueden terminar con la adopción de acuerdos y la presidencia levantando la sesión tras tomar nota de las objeciones.

En lugar de las habituales reuniones en grupos pequeños, la presidencia brasileña convocó una reunión a puerta cerrada de los principales representantes de las naciones durante gran parte del viernes. El objetivo era que ningún país se sintiese excluido de los acuerdos tras bambalinas, pero no permite que el público vea las objeciones.

Después de unas horas, la reunión se disolvió sin señales de éxito y do Lago optó por una estrategia diferente.

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La periodista de Associated Press Teresa de Miguel contribuyó a este despacho.

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La cobertura climática y ambiental de Associated Press recibe apoyo financiero de múltiples fundaciones privadas. La AP es la única responsable de todo el contenido. Encuentre los estándares de AP para trabajar con filantropías, una lista de patrocinadores y áreas de cobertura financiadas en AP.org.

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Esta historia fue producida como parte de la Alianza de Medios sobre el Cambio Climático 2025, una beca de periodismo organizada por la Red de Periodismo de la Tierra de Internews y el Centro Stanley para la Paz y la Seguridad.

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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.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/22/negociadores-en-cop30-divididos-sobre-cundo-y-cmo-dejar-gradualmente-el-petrleo-gas-y-carbn/ 

HOUSTON (AP) — Nikola Jokic se acreditó 34 puntos, diez rebotes y nueve asistencias, mientras que Jamal Murray agregó 26 unidades y diez asistencias para que los Nuggets de Denver resistieran y superaran el viernes 112-109 a los Rockets de Houston.

Jokic, quien anotó 24 puntos en la segunda mitad, terminó atinando 11 de 20 tiros de campo. Tim Hardaway Jr. sumó 12 puntos desde el banco por los Nuggets, que dispararon con un 53% de efectividad.

Denver mejoró a 2-1 en la Copa NBA con un partido restante el 28 de noviembre, en casa contra los Spurs. Los Rockets cayeron a 1-2 en el certamen, con un duelo por disputar contra los Warriors el miércoles.

Reed Sheppard anotó 27 puntos, un récord personal, para liderar a los Rockets, quienes vieron interrumpida su racha de cinco victorias consecutivas. Consiguió 20 puntos en la primera mitad, al embocar ocho de 11 disparos, incluidos cuatro de seis triples.

Amen Thompson agregó 22 puntos y siete rebotes, Jabari Smith Jr. contabilizó 21 tantos y 11 tableros, Alperen Sengun anotó 14 unidades y Kevin Durant terminó con 13 por Houston, que ostentó un 44% de efectividad en el disparo.

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/22/jokic-anota-34-puntos-y-nuggets-vencen-a-rockets-por-112-109/ 

Dear Eric: I have an 18-year-old daughter who just moved four hours away to college. Her father and I have been separated for almost three years. Prior to moving to college, she visited him only during court-ordered visitation. She felt like he did not want her around or he made no effort to have a relationship with her.

She recently came home to visit for three days. She did not go see her father. Every day I would ask if she’d seen her dad and every day, she said he knows I’m here but hasn’t called or texted me.

Not 30 minutes after she left, he called and cursed me out. He blames me for her not coming to visit.

After a child turns 18, they do not have to visit their parents. I understand why he feels the way he does, and I understand why she feels the way she does. I just don’t know what to do next. We also have two younger kids, and I know this is going to cause so much trouble between us all. Any advice?

– Caught in the Middle

Dear Middle: Your children’s father is putting you in an inappropriate position that, conveniently, clears him of any responsibility for maintaining the relationships in his life. It’s much easier, presumably, to believe the narrative that you’re not doing enough to make your daughter available to him, rather than acknowledging the truth: he is perfectly capable of dialing his own phone.

Tell him and your daughter that you need to remove yourself from their planning. That means you won’t ask her about whether she’s going to visit him, but also that you won’t receive calls from him berating you about another adult’s actions. Be firm and clear about this.

This frustration he has may bleed into other parts of the relationship you have with him. But it sounds like this conflict is born of issues that have always been at the core of the separation, if not the relationship itself. Removing yourself from a conflict that doesn’t involve you may not be comfortable, but it will help.

Dear Eric: My husband and I recently moved into a condominium. Our first holiday here I had a small holiday gathering. Some of the neighbors do not like each other and some did not come. We don’t know whether to try it again or let it go. About half of the small group invited did not come. I don’t want to include those who backed out at the last moment, but my husband thinks I should. Your thoughts?

– Second Chance Festivities

Dear Festivities: If your husband is genuinely interested in cultivating friendships with the people who canceled last year, then a second invitation might be a good way to go about it. It’s not as useful, I think, as a one-on-one invitation, especially in a condo building rife with contentious relationships. But if he’s doing it out of a sense of obligation, there’s no need.

It sounds like there’s a lot of drama going on in this building. I understand the desire to make new connections and to get to know your neighbors. But it seems burdensome to go to the trouble of planning and executing a gathering, only to have your efforts go to waste because of situations you have no control over nor any stake in.

My take: invite the ones who showed up last year, build on those relationships and find other ways to get to know the rest of your neighbors.

Dear Eric: I have a weekend planned with my sister-in-law. We split the cost for two nights. We each paid about $250. There was a cancellation policy that after a certain date you could not get a refund. That date has passed. She now has a conflict which is completely legitimate and possibly can’t come. I can still go. Should I offer to pay her back for her half if I go without her?

– Solo Vacation

Dear Vacation: If you can afford it, it would be kind to reimburse her. However, it’s not a requirement.

You both entered into the agreement with the hotel or resort, and both paid knowing about their cancellation policy. So, the obligation for reimbursement doesn’t sit with you.

It isn’t as if you’ll be getting twice the value, so you’re not getting something for nothing. Rather, you’ll be getting what you paid for. It’s unfortunate that she can’t also get what she paid for – presumably the other bed in a double room or a room in a suite. But one presumes she understands that your hands are as tied as hers are.

Related Articles

On the next trip, perhaps spring for a dinner or an excursion, if you’d like. With regard to this trip, however, enjoy your break with a clear conscience.

(Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.)

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/22/asking-eric-he-blames-me-for-her-not-coming-to-visit/ 

Merrillville senior safety Greg Hughes was filled with emotion and understandably so.

Hughes wasn’t alone. For the Pirates, it was a long-awaited moment.

“I’ve been playing for all four years, and I had to experience all of the losses, all of the heartbreaks,” he said. “Last year was my first time crying after a loss in I don’t know how long. I was like, ‘I can’t feel that again. We have to play at Lucas Oil.’

“We’ve been working hard all season, going at it in practice, to conditioning, to weights, to all of it. We’ve just been getting it done to go to state.”

Hughes and the Pirates are headed there after defeating Concord 41-14 in a Class 5A semistate in Merrillville on Friday night.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Hughes had a momentum-swinging fumble recovery and made a key interception for the Pirates (11-2), who were making their sixth semistate appearance in seven seasons but had yet to win one. They will play New Palestine (13-0), which won the 4A state title last season and is ranked No. 1 in the final 5A coaches poll, in the state championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium at 6 p.m. Nov. 28.

“We knew we’d have a chance to get to this point,” Merrillville coach Brad Seiss said. “It’s just what you do in this game. For us to break through in a big way, you feel awesome for the kids. Us coaches, it was kind of the elephant in the room. So it was awesome to break through. We’ve been so close.”

Merrillville’s Greg Hughes, bottom, tackles Concord’s Reese Breveard during a Class 5A semistate game in Merrillville on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Andy Lavalley / Post-Tribune)

The No. 5 Pirates came close to falling behind by two touchdowns against the No. 6 Minutemen (11-2) early in the second quarter. But just as Concord senior quarterback Bo Brunner was about to cross the goal line, Merrillville senior safety Warren Brown III knocked the ball loose, and Hughes recovered it in the end zone.

“He’s an elusive guy,” Hughes said of Brunner. “We had to get him down. I was running with the receiver at first, and I saw him take off, and I saw the ball on the ground. I had to get it. We needed the ball back. We needed a big play, and I had to step up.”

Hughes, who entered the game with 54 tackles, made another big play, coming up with his second interception of the season with the score tied early in the second quarter.

“We’ve been working plays like that all week in practice,” he said. “They’ve been trying to get the ball in there, and I saw him looking, and I was like, ‘I have to attack the ball.’

“Just to go to state, impact players make impact plays. The crowd was hype. It was just an amazing feeling.”

Seiss praised Hughes’ performance.

“Huge interception when they were in the red zone, and when Warren punched it out, you still have to get on the ball, and he was able to do that,” Seiss said. “That was the game-changing play. All the momentum was with us, and we were just able to go from there.”

Hughes, who junior running back Cameron Jordan said “has a nose for the ball,” also didn’t surprise senior running back Jac’Quarious “JQ” Johnson.

“Greg has been starting since sophomore year right along with us,” Johnson said. “We just have that chemistry. We told everybody in eighth grade we were going to do this, and we finally did it.”

Merrillville’s Michael Hill Jr., left, holds up three fingers for teammate Cameron Jordan, center, in the end zone after Jordan scored the third of his four touchdowns against Concord during a Class 5A semistate game in Merrillville on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Andy Lavalley / Post-Tribune)

Jordan and Johnson had big games too.

Jordan ran for 179 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries. The highlight was an 80-yard burst on the first play after Hughes’ fumble recovery to get the Pirates on the scoreboard. He had fumbled on the 15th play of the opening drive, ending what had been an impressive Merrillville march.

“I faced a little adversity with the fumble, and I had to come back for my teammates,” Jordan said. “I have to have it in the back of my mind it’s the playoffs and you can’t dwell on one play. You have to go to the next play.”

Johnson ran for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. His signature play was a 60-yard score on which he somehow broke a simultaneous tackle between two Concord players, squeezing through and shaking loose to go the distance.

“This has been a long time coming,” Johnson said. “I’m finally ready to just embrace the moment and break the curse. I told my teammates after we lost to Warsaw last year, ‘This is going to be the year.’ After Warsaw, Thanksgiving break, we got right into the weight room and just got bigger and stronger.”

Merrillville’s Jac’Quarious “JQ” Johnson (2) runs to the end zone during a Class 5A semistate game against Concord in Merrillville on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Andy Lavalley / Post-Tribune)

Michael Hill Jr., Merrillville’s prolific junior quarterback, orchestrated the run-focused offense.

“It was a little rainy, playoff football,” Seiss said. “You have to be able to run the ball. Obviously, we chucked the ball around all the beginning of the year, knowing you’re going to have to run the ball at some point. Come the playoffs, we’ve done that.

“Cam and JQ, everybody knew about them last year, and they did a great job of just seeing their blocks. Coach (Josh) Sabinas, our offensive coordinator, got us in great spots to get some leverage, and we hit some home runs, which was huge.”

The Pirates have earned the opportunity to play on the biggest stage and will seek their first state title since 1976.

“Once we saw the clock hit zeroes, there was so much excitement,” Hughes said. “Just finally being able to live these dreams that we always had, it’s great. Amazing.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/football-5a-semistate-concord-merrillville-greg-hughes/ 

PHOENIX (AP) — Collin Gillespie encestó un tiro decisivo con 6,4 segundos por jugar y los Suns de Phoenix sorprendieron 114-113 a los Timberwolves de Minnesota el viernes por la noche con una remontada en el último minuto.

Minnesota parecía tener una cómoda ventaja de 111-104 con 1:13 por jugar, pero Phoenix se recuperó para reducir la diferencia a 113-112 con una bandeja de Jordan Goodwin a falta de 21,4 segundos.

Anthony Edwards de Minnesota —quien anotó 41 puntos— falló dos tiros libres con 12,7 segundos restantes, dando a los Suns una oportunidad de ganar.

Gillespie aprovechó, conduciendo hacia la canasta y encestando un tiro en salto de diez pies disputado para tomar la delantera y sumar el último de sus 20 puntos.

Minnesota se apresuró para el tiro final, pero el triple de Julius Randle en el último segundo no fue certero.

Los Timberwolves borraron un déficit de 15 puntos al medio tiempo en menos de cinco minutos del tercer cuarto después de que Edwards anotara una bandeja para una ventaja de 69-68. Edwards —tres veces All-Star— anotó 19 unidades en el tercer cuarto con siete de nueve tiros y Minnesota lideró 82-81 al entrar al cuarto.

Fue una noche difícil para la estrella de los Suns, Devin Booker, quien terminó con solo 16 tantos con cuatro de 18 tiros y nueve pérdidas de balón antes de salir por faltas. Los balones perdidos han sido un problema para el cuatro veces All-Star —llegó al encuentro con 57, la mayor cantidad en la NBA.

Booker salió por faltas con más de tres minutos restantes y le señalaron una falta técnica al salir de la cancha. Los Suns tuvieron 27 pérdidas de balón.

Dillon Brooks lideró a los Suns con 22 puntos antes de salir por faltas. Williams añadió 19.

Los Suns tenían ventaja de 18 en la primera mitad antes de conformarse con una ventaja de 62-49 al medio tiempo. Gillespie lideró a los Suns con 16 puntos después de encestar cuatro triples. Edwards tuvo 16 para los Wolves antes del descanso.

Los Suns mejoraron a 2-0 en la Copa NBA, mientras que los Timberwolves cayeron a 2-1.

___

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/gillespie-anota-con-64-segundos-restantes-y-suns-sorprenden-114-113-a-timberwolves/ 

With Hampshire’s hold on the lead slipping away Friday night, sophomore guard Jiselle Lopez was put into a difficult spot on defense.

The strategy was to make sure Lopez got right in front of senior guard Keira McCann, who was Geneva’s main offensive threat all game long.

“I think I handled it well,” Lopez said. “Knowing I was face-guarding, not helping, having my teammates switch knowing there were only four defenders, they did really well with that.”

It’s just part of Lopez’s expanded role in her second varsity season.

Her work defensively and handling the ball against the Vikings proved to be the key as the host Whip-Purs picked up a rugged 38-36 victory in the Doreen Zierer Turkey Tournament.

Lopez also scored nine points as part of a balanced attack for Hampshire (1-1).

Hampshire’s Jiselle Lopez (3) gets past Geneva’s Emma Peterson (15) and Kendall Parsons (25) in the fourth quarter of the Doreen Zierer Turkey Tournament in Hampshire on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

Veronica Dumoulin paced the Whip-Purs with a team-best 11 points. McCann, meanwhile, poured in a game-high 19 points for Geneva (0-2) and Emma Peterson grabbed 10 rebounds.

Coming into the season, Hampshire coach Eric Samuelson challenged Lopez. Knowing she has a knack for getting the ball to the basket, he wanted to instill confidence in her to do that more often.

“She’s probably one of the quickest girls in the area,” Samuelson said of Lopez. “When she turns the corner, it’s hard to stop her.

“Last year as a freshman, she would get to the elbow and she would stop. This year we said, ‘Kid, that’s not going to be OK. For our team to do well, you need to go to the hole.’”

Hampshire’s Jiselle Lopez (3) directs a play against Geneva during the third quarter of the Doreen Zierer Turkey Tournament in Hampshire on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

Four-year varsity guard Mikala Amegasse, a returning all-conference player, also recognized how the Whip-Purs needed to get Lopez going this season.

Watching a drill with Samuelson early on in practice, she even mentioned it to her coach.

“They were running a drill and J-Lo did what J-Lo does,” Samuelson said of Lopez. “She has a gift. Mikala was like, ‘We need to get her the ball a lot this year.’

“Jiselle is finally saying, ‘OK, I know what you need.’”

Hampshire’s Mikala Amegasse (11) drives between Geneva’s Keira McCann (30) and Linnea Popp (13) during the Doreen Zierer Turkey Tournament in Hampshire on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

Having a role model like Amegasse has helped Lopez come to that realization.

“I really look up to her,” Lopez said. “I want to follow in her footsteps. I feel like we work really well together.”

Amegasse has been in Lopez’s position before as an underclassman trying to find her way in varsity basketball. That gives her a unique perspective that she can pass on to Lopez.

“Looking at her from last year to this year, she’s grown so much,” Amegasse said. “Still, I yell at her. I’m like, ‘Dribble the ball, shoot it, keep attacking and don’t be afraid.’

“It’s cool to see her grow with her confidence. Everyone has her back.”

A layup off a steal and a 3-pointer from Lopez helped Hampshire take a 23-18 halftime lead. She was held scoreless in the second half, but her defense changed the game.

The Whip-Purs only scored four points as a team in the fourth quarter, but she slowed down McCann and the Vikings didn’t have another answer.

Hampshire’s Jiselle Lopez (3) battles Geneva’s Adelyn Estabrook (42) and Emma Peterson (15) for a rebound during the Doreen Zierer Turkey Tournament in Hampshire on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

“Keira played really well for us,” Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. “We have to score. We struggled to score on Wednesday and we struggled again (Friday). We have to be able to put points on the board.

“We’ll get it. We’re still trying to figure it out.”

Lopez, meanwhile, isn’t the only underclassman that Hampshire is relying on this season. Amegasse and Dumoulin are the only seniors on the team.

Amegasse knows that in order for her to close her career out in memorable fashion, she’s going to have to help bring Lopez and the rest of the younger players along for the ride.

“We have a young team, so we’re expected to have some hard times in the beginning, but I’m proud of us,” Amegasse said. “I think we just really trust each other until the end.

“I think we maintained our composure.”

Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/jiselle-lopez-hampshire-geneva-ihsa-girls-basketball/ 

High school and local college results and highlights from the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake County coverage areas.

Email Daily Southtown results to southtownsports@gmail.com, Beacon-News, Courier-News and Naperville Sun results to tribwestsports@gmail.com and News-Sun results to newssunsports@gmail.com.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

HIGH SCHOOLS

FOOTBALL

CHICAGO PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Morgan Park 30, Kenwood 19

Morgan Park (9-4): Ronald Smith Jr. 31-yard TD pass to Travezz Jones. Reggie Gray Jr. 2 TD runs (14, 3 yards).

GIRLS BASKETBALL

BEECHER FALL CLASSIC

Andrew 55, Oak Forest 13

Andrew (3-0): Anna Cisek 10 points. Christa Olson 10 points.

Crete-Monee 52, Peotone 20

Crete (2-1): Jada Franklin 16 points. Kimora Darby 12 points.

T.F. North 63, Bradley-Bourbonnais 24

T.F. North (3-0): Lauryn Jackson 30 points, 12 rebounds. Natalie McGhee 13 points, 11 rebounds. Kamariyah McClinton 10 points, 6 rebounds.

Manteno 50, Beecher 30

Beecher (1-2): Gianna Bonomo 13 points.

BURLINGTON CENTRAL MARK EINWICH KICKOFF

TOURNAMENT

Kaneland 35, Rockford Auburn 31

Kaneland (2-1): Grace Brunscheen 15 points. Amani Meeks 11 points.

St. Charles North 63, Burlington Central 32

CHICAGO CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT

Argo 59, Chicago Christian 40

DUNDEE-CROWN TOURNAMENT

South Elgin 52, Dundee-Crown 32

HAMPSHIRE DOREEN ZIERER TURKEY TOURNAMENT

Hampshire 38, Geneva 36

Hampshire (1-1): Veronica Dumoulin 11 points. Jiselle Lopez 9 points.

Geneva (0-2): Keira McCann 19 points.

Fremd 61, Lake Zurich 41

MUNDELEIN THANKSGIVING CLASSIC

Grayslake North 47, Regina 35

Mundelein 57, Grant 34

Mundelein (4-0): Casey Vyverman 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals. Anahya Castro 12 points, 8 rebounds, 7 steals. Gabby Macapinlac 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals. Grace Balling 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals.

St. Viator 42, Highland Park 17

NAPERVILLE CENTRAL TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT

Benet 72, Romeoville 38

Homewood-Flossmoor 54, Batavia 30

Naperville Central 71, Kenwood 70

Naperville Central (2-0): Trinity Jones 43 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals. Erin Hackett 14 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds. Annabelle Kritzer 12 points, 11 rebounds.

SOMONAUK TIM HUMES BREAKOUT TOURNAMENT

Aurora Central Catholic 57, Sandwich 27

Dwight 59, Somonauk 42

Somonauk (2-2): Kiley Mason 11 points, 7 steals.

WAUCONDA BOB GILLEN MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

Wauconda 65, Belvidere 21

Wauconda (2-0): Sarah Palmer 22 points, 8 steals, 4 rebounds. Alessandra Rodriguez 10 points.

WHEATON ACADEMY TOURNAMENT

Yorkville Christian 45, Morgan Park 26

WJOL TOURNAMENT

At Joliet Junior College

Joliet Catholic 48, Joliet Central 40

Providence 70, Joliet West 20

Providence (3-0): Landrie Callahan 22 points. Meredith LaMonte 14 points. Kennady Kotowski 10 points. Eilish Raines 7 assists, 7 steals.

YORK TOURNAMENT

Waubonsie Valley 72, Prospect 40, championship

St. Charles East 69, Glenbrook South 62, third

St. Charles East (3-1): Brooklyn Schilb 30 points. Kathlyn Bainbridge 19 points. Addie Schilb 16 points.

ZION-BENTON TOURNAMENT

Fenton 50, North Chicago 20

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

HIGH SCHOOLS

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Glenbard West 55, Neuqua Valley 22

Morgan Park 50, Curie 26

BEECHER FALL CLASSIC

Andrew 56, Peotone 19

Andrew (2-0): Christa Olson 11 points. Ana Cisek 11 points.

Beecher 40, Bradley-Bourbonnais 37

Beecher (1-1): Carmela Irwin 11 points. Molly Vladika 10 points.

Crete-Monee 44, Oak Forest 29

Crete (1-1): Jada Franklin 12 points.

Oak Forest (1-1): Maddie Martinez 12 points. Rebecca Yerkes 11 points.

T.F. North 70, Manteno 45

T.F. North (2-0): Kamariyah McClinton 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists. Natalie McGhee 14 points, 10 rebounds. Lauryn Jackson 12 points, 6 rebounds.

BOBBY BOLTON TIP-OFF CLASSIC

At Richards

Ag. Science 33, Thornton 28

Evergreen Park 62, Richards 41

Evergreen (3-0): Ella Throndson 20 points. Tatum Harris 12 points. Grace Kole 10 points.

Richards (2-1): Zofia Kuzmiuk 13 points. Brianna Gladney 9 points.

At Shepard

Hillcrest 58, Eisenhower 13

Hillcrest (2-1): Da’Jha Johnson 13 points.

Marist 73, Shepard 20

Marist (3-0): Lily Porter 18 points. Lucy Cosme 11 points. Avery Mullaghy 11 points. Olivia Barsch 10 points.

BUFFALO GROVE TOM DINEEN CLASSIC

Libertyville 68, Barrington 42

Libertyville (1-0): Lily Fisher 28 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 6 steals. Jenna Stowe 14 points. Elle Knight 11 rebounds.

Waukegan 59, Buffalo Grove 46

Maine South 58, Grayslake Central 28

CHICAGO CHRISTIAN TOURNAMENT

Argo 57, Bremen 8

Argo (1-0): Aliyah Cummings 14 points.

Reavis 60, Westmont 20

HINSDALE SOUTH BRENDA WHITESELL TOURNAMENT

Metea Valley 29, Warren 28

Naperville North 51, Yorkville 43

Yorkville (1-1): Ashlyn Peterson 8 points.

HOFFMAN ESTATES TOURNAMENT

Resurrection 64, Jacobs 53

IMSA KEITH MCINTOSH TOURNAMENT

Harvest-Westminster 48, Mather 42

West Chicago 43, Hinckley-Big Rock 38

LOYOLA/NEW TRIER TOURNAMENT

Carmel 50, Stevenson 21

MAINE EAST TOURNAMENT

T.F. South 70, Willowbrook 29

Glenbrook North 72, Lakes 43

NAPERVILLE CENTRAL TIP-OFF TOURNAMENT

St. Laurence 46, Batavia 44

Batavia (0-1): Ali Thomas 11 points.

OREGON TOURNAMENT

Dixon 46, St. Edward 26

REED-CUSTER COMET CLASSIC

Coal City 47, Rosary 21

RICH TOWNSHIP RAPTOR CLASSIC

Bloom 77, Champaign Central 38

Lincoln-Way West 60, Oak Lawn 32

SCHAUMBURG THANKSGIVING CLASSIC

Wheaton Warrenville South 65, Bartlett 21

SOMONAUK TIM HUMES BREAKOUT TOURNAMENT

Dwight 59, Plano 57

Plano (1-2): Chloe Rowe 12 points, 15 rebounds. Jadyn Long 14 points. Niya Vise 14 points.

LaSalle-Peru 45, Somonauk 28

WAUKEGAN BOB GILLEN MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

Wauconda 64, Rockford Jefferson 34

Wauconda (1-0): Alessandra Rodriguez 12 points, 3 steals. Sarah Palmer 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals. Sophie Giles 10 points, 6 rebounds.

YORK TOURNAMENT

Oswego East 60, Downers Grove South 40

Oswego East (1-2): Aubrey Lamberti 25 points.

St. Charles East 59, Lane 55

Waubonsie Valley 60, Glenbrook South 51

ZION-BENTON TOURNAMENT

Deerfield 46, Zion-Benton 29

LOCAL COLLEGES

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Illinois Valle 69, Joliet Junior College 65

Miami Dade College (Fla.) 84, Elgin Community College 67

South Suburban College 88, Prairie State 54

South Suburban (3-1): A.J. Abrams 25 points, 6 rebounds.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Elgin Community College 58, Harper 51

South Suburban College 66, Prairie State 55

NEWS AND NOTES

St. Xavier linebacker Terry Elias Jr. was named co-defensive player of the year in the MSFA Midwest. Also making the team from St. Xavier were defensive lineman Justin Yeazell and defensive back Taj McClellan. St. Francis was represented by wide receiver Ryan Little; offensive linemen Anthony Niecikowski and Matt Alston; linebacker Karsen Hansen; and kick returner Carl Bew. Judson wide receiver Grant Alexander Jr. also made the team.

Compiled by Josh Krockey.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/football-local-scores-southland-aurora-elgin-naperville-lake-county-26/ 

There’s just something about the Miami Heat.

It’s hard to put a finger on it. Maybe it’s talent. Maybe it’s toughness. The Heat aren’t some superhuman foe. They entered the United Center on Friday night only one win ahead of the Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings. And they’ve been beatable even for the Bulls, who won all three of their regular-season matchups last season.

But things change when the games matter more than a win or a loss in the regular season. Every time the Bulls face the Heat in a game with real stakes — the play-in tournament, the NBA Cup — they always seem to fall flat. And Friday was no exception.

Photos: Miami Heat 143, Chicago Bulls 107 at the United Center

It was a familiar story. The Heat battered their way to the basket, scoring 50 points at the rim and 35 more at the free-throw line. The Bulls tried a few defensive twists — including a few rotations of a hapless zone — but never managed to slow the downhill force of the Heat offense in a 143-107 blowout loss.

“We’ve got to start to be the aggressor,” said guard Josh Giddey, who finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. “Teams are starting to realize they can punish us on the offensive boards. They’re starting to run through us. It’s got to come to a point as a team where we make a stand.”

For another team, the game might have turned again in the opening minute of the second half.

After being whistled for a foul, Kevin Huerter batted at the ball, face scrunched in disgust. He wasn’t even watching as the bounced into the leg of referee Che Flores, who was turned to the scorer’s table to log the foul. Official Tony Brothers whistled the play immediately and tossed Huerter from the game after a short review.

After the game, Huerter swore he didn’t intend to aim the ball at Flores. He did not receive an official explanation from the officials, who made the call because of a rule that prohibits players from hitting or throwing the ball at an official.

“It wasn’t malicious,” Huerter said. “It wasn’t intended to be aggressive to (them). I didn’t know the rule so now I guess I’m aware. … I was frustrated with the call. I apologize if that was too much. Obviously it was. I’m going to try to move on.”

Some teams play better when they’re angry. It fuels them, sparks a fire that elevates physicality and drives relentlessness toward the rim. For those teams, an ejection can serve as a catalyst. That was not the case for the Bulls, who simply melted under the Heat’s sustained pressure.

Kel’el Ware had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Heat, who had eight players score in double figures. Ayo Dosunmu led the Bulls with 23 points.

The loss essentially eliminated the Bulls from advancement out of the group stage of the NBA Cup. The Bulls already had lost one East Group C game to the Milwaukee Bucks. They will play one final game on the road against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, but no team has advanced to the quarterfinals with two losses.

Here are three takeaways from the loss, which dropped the Bulls to 8-7.

1. Injury concerns

Bulls guard Coby White, center, is dressed in street clothes as he watches the second quarter against the Heat on Nov. 21, 2025, at the United Center. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

The Bulls came into Friday short-handed again as guard Coby White sat out to manage his return from a calf injury — and they only lost players as the game progressed.

Matas Buzelis twisted his ankle 24 seconds into the second half, going down at the baseline and remaining on the ground until play was whistled dead. Buzelis was able to walk gingerly to the locker room under his own power, then returned for nearly six minutes before being pulled for good. The second-year forward went 0-for-5 from the floor after the injury.

Barely two minutes after Buzelis went down, forward Isaac Okoro came up limping on another offensive drive. After being fouled, Okoro crumpled over and appeared to grab his left hamstring or glute. He managed to stay on the court long enough to take two free throws before coach Billy Donovan called a timeout to sub him out of the game. The forward was never officially ruled out but did not return with a lower back injury.

Forward Dalen Terry was also ruled out of the game after suffering a left calf injury midway through the fourth quarter. After Patrick Williams fouled out with 7:19 remaining, the Bulls had only seven available players. Giddey was forced to reenter the game for the final five minutes of the blowout because guard Tre Jones hit his minutes restriction in his return from an ankle injury.

2. Giving up the boards

Physicality is a sore spot for the Bulls, who lost the offensive boards in their last two games despite a buzzer-beating win in Portland. The Bulls gave up 15 offensive rebounds to the Heat — and allowed 26 second-chance points.

These allowances combined with fouls and free throws gave the Heat a stiff advantage. But they also took away from the Bulls offense, which is predicated on moving the ball in transition and bumping up the tempo. The Bulls managed only six fast-break points in the loss as the Heat dominated the open court, scoring 22 points off 18 turnovers.

3. Second-quarter deflation

The Bulls struggled to match the Heat’s scoring throughout the game, but the extent of the blowout loss hinged on the second quarter.

It started with the Bulls missing their first four shots of the quarter. They didn’t score for the first 2:28 of the frame as the Heat scored six unanswered points. The Bulls did not crack 10 points until 3:20 remained in the quarter. The Bulls ultimately went 9-for-22 from the floor in the quarter and made only one of their seven attempts from 3-point range.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/21/chicago-bulls-miami-heat-nba-cup/