Category: News
Cinco heridos al encallar ferry surcoreano con unas 270 personas a bordo
SEÚL (AP) — Un ferry surcoreano que transportaba a casi 270 personas encalló en las rocas frente a la costa suroeste del país el miércoles, informó la guardia costera.
La agencia de noticias Yonhap informó que cinco personas sufrieron heridas leves, pero no se han reportado otras víctimas.
El incidente ocurrió cuando el barco navegaba desde la isla sureña de Jeju hacia la ciudad portuaria suroccidental de Mokpo, según un comunicado de la guardia costera.
El comunicado indicó que recibió un informe del incidente tarde el miércoles, y que el barco transportaba a 267 personas, incluidas 246 pasajeros y 21 miembros de la tripulación.
La guardia costera manifestó que estaba movilizando todos los recursos disponibles para rescatar a los que estaban en el barco.
Por ahora se desconoce qué causó que la embarcación encallara.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Connor Bedard’s 2nd career hat trick sends Chicago Blackhawks to their 10th win of the season
It was a good night to be a Chicago Blackhawks fan at the United Center.
The home team and the visiting Calgary Flames were in a slugfest for the first two periods on Tuesday. It was 2-2 early in the third, and it seemed like the Flames would steal a win after a goal from defenseman Rasmus Andersson.
The Hawks needed a jolt. That’s when they looked to alternate captain… Connor Bedard? In the absence of team captain Nick Foligno and alternate captain Jason Dickinson, No. 98 wore the “A” patch for the first time in his young career. And he wore it with pride.
Hats off to the captain. And hats off from the fans.
Bedard’s second career hat trick lifted the Hawks to a 5-2 win. The center has scored 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in the past 10 games. He notched his first hat trick less than a month ago — also a win at the United Center.
“I’ve been so fortunate to learn from guys like Fliggy (Foligno), Dicky (Dickinson), Murph (Connor Murphy), all those guys that have been leaders in our room. The Blackhawks jersey in general is such a special thing,” Bedard said. “There have been a lot of great players who have a letter on their chest and it’s a great honor and something I don’t take lightly.”
Bedard completed the hat trick at the end of the third on an empty-netter. Winning comes first, but you can’t blame the 20-year-old for wanting the accolade.
Photos: Chicago Blackhawks beat the Calgary Flames 5-2 at the United Center
“I think if anyone goes out there for the empty-netter with a chance for a hat trick, you’re not going to force it, but I felt good in that spot to shoot that one,” Bedard said. “I turned it over too, so just wanted to make sure to ice the game.”
The Hawks (10-5-4) are 5-0-1 in their last six games — their longest point streak since 2019. They hit the 10-win mark in 19 games, which is the fastest they’ve hit double-digit wins since the 2016-17 season (14 games).
Bedard’s first game with a patch was a fun one. He even saw the pros of skating with a letter.
“The refs were way nicer to me today, I didn’t get kicked out of a draw for the first time in my career,” Bedard said. “I always have something to say to the refs, so it was fun.”
Fans are running out of compliments to say about Bedard’s game. But that didn’t stop Hawks coach Jeff Blashill from praising his top-line center.
“What I like the most about (Bedard) is the consistency in his approach,” Blashill said. “The fact that he’s competed and stopped on pucks and played pretty good defensively and really tries to do the right things on a consistent basis, he gets rewarded for that with offense over this stretch that he’s been (on).”
Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) shoots on goal during the first period against the Flames on Nov. 18, 2025, at the United Center. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
The star center used a one-of-a-kind release to give the Hawks the lead for good at 4:57 in the third period.
Forward Oliver Moore scored his second NHL goal on a not-so-pretty breakaway. It went in the net, that’s all that matters. “I just put it on the forehand for mine, so it was good,” Moore said.
Ryan Donato opened the Hawks scoring with his seventh goal of the season late in the first period. As always, he was happy to see the puck go in.
“You pray for those opportunities (and) that the puck finds you at the right place,” Donato said. “A couple guys made some nice plays there and I was fortunate to have it come to me in the slot.”
When the final buzzer sounded, defenseman Sam Rinzel and Flames right winger Adam Klapka got into a fight near center ice. The last few games between the two teams have been chippy, and Calgary outhit the Hawks 43-13 on Tuesday.
“There’s been things that have happened (with the Flames), but that’s up for a lot of those other guys to watch the videos,” Donato said. “I didn’t even see the hit, I saw what happened after.
“It’s tough, but they’re a team that plays hard. They’re struggling a little bit, and things can get nasty pretty quickly. Guys aren’t shying away from it right now, and that’s great for us. It’s definitely fun to be a part of, but you’ve got to be careful at the same time.”
A 4-game homestand after a 3-2-1 road trip ends Thursday against the Seattle Kraken, with more opportunities to add to the Hawks’ point total.
“It’s an every-night league, that’s what I’m learning here,” Moore said. “Definitely you can’t take your foot off the pedal. Each game is a new challenge, each opponent is different. We want to earn a win every night.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/19/connor-bedard-hat-trick-chicago-blackhawks/
This Was A Major Red Flag In 2008, And Now It Is Happening Again!
This Was A Major Red Flag In 2008, And Now It Is Happening Again!
Authored by Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse blog,
The alarms are getting even louder each week. It has become exceedingly clear that the U.S. economy has entered a crisis that is similar to what we experienced in 2008 and 2009, and a lot of people are really starting to freak out. For those that cannot see the stunning parallels between the Great Recession and what we are going through now, I don’t know what to say to them. There are a lot of people out there that simply choose to believe whatever they want to believe no matter what the evidence indicates. In this case, all of the evidence is pointing in a single direction.
When foreclosure filings started to spike prior to the global financial crisis in 2008, that was a major red flag.
Now it is happening again.
In fact, during the month of October 2025 foreclosure filings were 19 percent higher than they were in October 2024…
In October alone, there were 36,766 foreclosure filings — the first step in the process, when a lender warns a borrower they’re in default. That’s up three percent from September and 19 percent from a year ago.
‘Foreclosure activity continued its steady upward trend in October — the eighth straight month of year-over-year increases,’ said ATTOM CEO Rob Barber.
The rise is stirring uncomfortable memories of 2008, when a wave of foreclosures triggered the worst housing crash in modern US history.
Read the second paragraph in that quote again.
Foreclosure activity has increased for eight consecutive months.
That is what we call a trend.
Some of the markets that were once the hottest are now seeing the highest rates of foreclosure filings…
States with the worst foreclosure rates were Florida (one in every 1,829 housing units with a foreclosure filing), South Carolina (one in every 1,982), Illinois (one in every 2,570), Delaware (on in every 2,710), and Nevada (one in ever 2,747).
Among metro areas with populations of a million or more, Tampa posted the highest foreclosure rate at one in every 1,373 housing units.
Following Tampa were Jacksonville (one in every 1,576 housing units), Orlando (one in every 1,703), Riverside (one in every 1,983), and Cleveland (one in every 2,114).
What a mess.
The good news is that it looks like there will soon be a lot of homes on the market in Florida.
We live at a time when our nation is facing a very serious housing affordability crisis, and this has hit our young adults particularly hard.
The following chart which was once posted by Charlie Kirk demonstrates how home ownership among young adults has plunged in recent years…
These days, a lot of young adults are convinced that they will never be able to become homeowners.
Others that have really stretched themselves financially to purchase homes are now being hit with foreclosure notices.
I really detest what Wall Street has done to the housing market, and now we are reaping the consequences.
Renting is the primary alternative to home ownership, but renters are having a really hard time right now too.
As Daisy Luther has aptly pointed out, vast numbers of renters are being ruthlessly evicted from their homes in this very harsh economic environment…
Rents in America are ridiculously high in many areas, and nearly impossible to find in other areas. This is harder to track than foreclosures for two reasons.
Nobody official is keeping track of evictions, so we have to rely on extrapolated data from regions that do have somebody watching. One example of this is a company called “Eviction Lab” that tracks data from ten states, but only in specific cities and counties in those states. Even with this sparse reporting, their home page shows more than a million evictions over the last year, and more than 78,000 just last month.
The other reason we don’t have official numbers is something called “informal evictions.” Some states have laws against dramatic increases in rent, but not all states do. Both my daughter and I, living in a metro area, have faced a vast increase in rent when our leases were up. For my daughter, the increase was $900 a month and for me it was $600 a month.
Most of the country is just barely scraping by from month to month.
So it is really easy to push most Americans into a state of financial disaster.
Just look at what is happening with subprime auto loans.
The share of those loans that are at least 60 days delinquent has reached the highest level ever recorded…
The share of subprime borrowers at least 60 days behind on their auto loans rose to 6.65% in October, the highest level on record, according to Fitch Ratings data going back to the early 1990s.
As auto loan delinquencies spike, we are seeing a shocking surge in vehicle repossessions as well…
A near-record number of cars are being repossessed as Americans continue to fall behind on their auto loans amid mounting financial strain.
According to data from the Recovery Database Network (RDN), analyzed by CURepossession, 2025 has seen over 7.5 million repossession assignments—authorizations given to an agency to recover a vehicle on behalf of a lender. Based on historic trends, this figure is expected to reach a record 10.5 million by the end of the year.
Although recovery ratios have fallen in recent years—potentially lowering the number of actual repossessions—it is projected that over three million cars could be repossessed in 2025, a level only reached in 2009 during the Great Recession.
Do you remember the “subprime mortgage meltdown” that we witnessed in 2008 and 2009?
Well, this time around we have a “subprime auto loan meltdown”, and a couple of very large lenders have already gone belly up…
PrimaLend, which serves the “buy-here-pay-here” auto financing market — where dealers sell and directly finance vehicles for customers with poor or limited credit — filed for bankruptcy protection last month.
Tricolor, which sold cars and provided auto loans mostly to low-income Hispanic communities in the Southwestern United States, also filed for bankruptcy in September.
Unfortunately, a lot more Americans will be getting behind on their mortgages and their auto loans during the months ahead because a lot more Americans will be losing their jobs.
With each passing day, we learn of more mass layoffs.
Today, it is being reported that Verizon “is planning to cut 15,000 jobs”…
The optics look awful for Verizon Communications if the Wall Street Journal’s report is accurate: the carrier is preparing for its largest job cuts ever just days before millions of Americans hit the road for Thanksgiving.
WSJ says Verizon is planning to cut 15,000 jobs. If that figure is correct, Bloomberg’s latest data suggests this would be about 15% of its roughly 100,000-person workforce. WSJ notes this would be the largest workforce reduction on record for the carrier.
Does this mean that Verizon’s customer service is about to get even worse?
Of course it would be exceedingly difficult for it to get any worse than it is right now.
By the way, you may have noticed that stock prices are absolutely plummeting.
I think that we will see a lot more market volatility in the days ahead, because global events are going to get quite chaotic.
We are truly living in one of the most pivotal times in all of human history.
Sadly, the vast majority of the population still doesn’t understand what is happening to us, and that is very unfortunate.
Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 11/19/2025 – 08:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/was-major-red-flag-2008-and-now-it-happening-again
Summers deja la junta de OpenAI tras correos sobre Epstein
The Associated Press
El exsecretario del Tesoro estadounidense Larry Summers renunció al consejo de administración de OpenAI, el creador de ChatGPT, informaron el miércoles tanto la empresa como su oficina.
Su salida se produce tras la divulgación de correos electrónicos que muestran que mantuvo una relación amistosa con Jeffrey Epstein mucho después de que el financiero se declarara culpable de solicitar prostitución de una menor en 2008.
“Larry ha decidido renunciar al Consejo de Administración de OpenAI, y respetamos su decisión”, declaró el consejo en un comunicado.
“Apreciamos sus numerosas contribuciones y la perspectiva que aportó al Consejo”, agregó.
El anuncio llegó un día después de que Summers manifestara que se está retirando de sus compromisos públicos.
“En línea con mi anuncio de alejarme de mis compromisos públicos, también he decidido renunciar al consejo de OpenAI”, indicó Summers en un comunicado separado emitido por su portavoz, Kelly Friendly.
“Estoy agradecido por la oportunidad de haber servido, emocionado por el potencial de la empresa y espero seguir su progreso”.
Summers, quien también es expresidente de la Universidad de Harvard, se unió al consejo de OpenAI en noviembre de 2023, como parte de un esfuerzo por restaurar la estabilidad en la organización sin fines de lucro y traer de vuelta a su CEO Sam Altman después de que sus anteriores miembros del consejo despidieran a Altman días antes.
Epstein, quien murió por suicidio hace varios años, era un delincuente sexual convicto infame por sus conexiones con personas ricas y poderosas, lo que lo convirtió en un foco de indignación y teorías de conspiración sobre irregularidades entre las élites estadounidenses.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
First Home Depot, Now Target Reports Soft Demand
First Home Depot, Now Target Reports Soft Demand
At the start of the week, Goldman’s top consumer specialist Scott Feiler pointed out this would be a “very important week” for earnings across the consumer sector. Home Depot set the tone on Tuesday by cutting its full-year outlook as big-ticket spending and home-renovation demand continue to fade. Now, the next major earnings report just hit the tape, and it’s delivering another clear signal of softening trends.
Target slashed the top end of its 2025 profit outlook amid softening demand, heavy markdowns, and uneven traffic, which continue to plague its turnaround strategy.
Adjusted EPS is now forecasted at $7 to $8 for the year, trimming the prior $7 to $9 range. The Bloomberg Consensus estimate stood at $7.29.
Full-Year Outlook Adjusted
EPS: $7–$8 (prior: $7–$9; BBG Consensus: $7.29)
Q3 Takeaway: Results reflected consumer softness, weaker comps, declining traffic, margin pressure, and elevated costs. While EPS printed slightly ahead of consensus, the key retail metric of comparable sales fell more sharply than expected.
Q3 Highlights
Comparable sales: -2.7% (consensus: -2.06%; prior year: +0.3%)
Digital comps: +2.4% (consensus: +3.43%; prior year: +10.8%)
Net sales: $25.27B (vs. est. $25.33B)
Gross margin: 28.2%
EBIT: $974M, -19% y/y
EBITDA: $1.75B, -10% y/y (est. $1.89B)
Operating income: $948M, -19% y/y (est. $1.12B)
Operating margin: 3.8% (prior: 4.6%; est. 4.34%)
Q3 Customer Metrics
Transactions: -2.2% y/y (prior: +2.4%)
Avg. ticket: -0.5% (est. -0.79%; prior: -2%)
Digital share of sales: 19.3% (prior: 18.5%)
Stores originated sales: 80.7% (prior: 81.5%)
Q3 Footprint & Costs Total stores
1,995 (+0.9%; est. 1,988)
SG&A: $5.54B, +1.4% (est. $5.48B)
Store comps: -3.8% (est. -3.33%; prior: -1.9%)
Q3 Bottom Line
Total stores: 1,995 (+0.9%; est. 1,988)
SG&A: $5.54B, +1.4% (est. $5.48B)
Store comps: -3.8% (est. -3.33%; prior: -1.9%)
“We are relentless in our pursuit of returning to growth and not satisfied with our current results,” Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke said on a call with analysts. Fiddelke is set to become CEO in February.
In New York, the stock fell about 2% in premarket trading, deepening its mutli-year bear market. As of Tuesday’s close, shares were already down roughly 34.5% year-to-date.
Shares are trading at mid-2019 lows.
Target’s uninspiring earnings report and the continuation of a low- to mid-income squeeze build on a similar story from Home Depot’s earnings report on Tuesday.
Goldman’s Feiler laid out the key earnings across the consumer sector this week (read here). Once earnings are finished this week, investors should have better visibility into spending behavior, particularly the mounting pressure on low- and middle-income consumers (read here). That backdrop helps explain the Trump administration’s renewed “operation affordability” push ahead of the midterm election cycle.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 11/19/2025 – 08:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/first-home-depot-now-target-reports-soft-demand
Indonesia eleva alerta tras erupciones de volcán Monte Semeru
YAKARTA (AP) — Las autoridades indonesias elevaron el miércoles la alerta para el volcán Monte Semeru al nivel más alto después de una serie de erupciones. El volcán se encuentra en la isla más densamente poblada del país.
El Monte Semeru, en la provincia de Java Oriental, desató avalanchas de nubes ardientes de ceniza caliente y una mezcla de rocas, lava y gas que viajaron hasta 7 kilómetros (4,3 millas) por sus laderas varias veces desde el mediodía hasta el anochecer, mientras una columna de nubes calientes se elevó 2 kilómetros (1,2 millas) en el aire, informó la Agencia de Geología de Indonesia en un comunicado.
La erupción a lo largo del día cubrió varias aldeas con ceniza caída y obligó a las autoridades a elevar el nivel de alerta del volcán dos veces, del tercer nivel más alto al más alto, según la agencia. No se han reportado víctimas.
El Semeru, también conocido como Mahameru, ha entrado en erupción numerosas veces en los últimos 200 años. Sin embargo, como ocurre con muchos de los 129 volcanes activos en Indonesia, decenas de miles de personas continúan viviendo en sus fértiles laderas.
Indonesia, un archipiélago de más de 270 millones de habitantes, se encuentra a lo largo del “Anillo de Fuego” del Pacífico, una serie de fallas en forma de herradura, y es propensa a terremotos y actividad volcánica.
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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.
Dutch Retreat: Beijing Wins Control Fight Over Nexperia After Chip Shipments Squeezed
Dutch Retreat: Beijing Wins Control Fight Over Nexperia After Chip Shipments Squeezed
The Dutch government has fully withdrawn its emergency powers over chipmaker Nexperia, returning control to Chinese parent Wingtech and ending the tense standoff that had led Beijing to halt key automotive-chip shipments, Bloomberg reported. If tensions persisted, this would’ve sparked snarled automotive supply chains worldwide. The reversal marks a clear de-escalation and comes just weeks after the Trump-Xi meeting in South Korea helped cool broader trade tensions.
The powers were initially invoked in September under a Cold War-era law, prompting Beijing to retaliate with export restrictions on chips from Nexperia’s Guangdong plant, sparking shipment delays that hit automakers including Honda and Volkswagen.
Some of the first evidence of cooling tensions between the Netherlands and China emerged last Friday when Dutch Economy Minister Vincent Karremans stated that he expects chip supplies to Nexperia’s customers in Europe and elsewhere to be resolved “in the coming days.”
Earlier on X, Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans said the Netherlands is suspending its emergency order over Nexperia after constructive talks with Chinese officials and coordination with European and international partners. He noted that China has already taken steps to ensure chip supplies to Europe and beyond.
In light of recent developments, I consider it the right moment to take a constructive step by suspending my order under the Goods Availability Act regarding Nexperia, in close consultation with our European and international partners.
Full statement ⤵️https://t.co/i0zzqsYahA pic.twitter.com/aR2lajS1CY
— Vincent Karremans (@MinisterEZ) November 19, 2025
Nexperia timeline (via BBG):
Our reporting:
Nexperia-Linked Chip Shortages Ripple Through Global Auto Supply Chain, From Germany To Japan
Chipmaker Nexperia’s China Arm Tells Staff To Ignore Dutch HQ, Deepening Semiconductor Split
White House Unveils Details Of U.S.-China Deal, Including Resolution To Nexperia Auto Chip Crisis
Nexperia Chip Crisis Defused? Dutch Minister “Trusts” China To Resume Chip Exports Next Week
Karremans’ statement suggests that the Dutch miscalculated their trade spat with Beijing. This underscored how little leverage Europe actually has – and how quickly China can squeeze the fragile continent’s already-failing automotive sector.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 11/19/2025 – 07:45
Round Lake’s Kaleigh Skowronski learns the game from her dad. ‘He inspired me.’ So do Luka Dončić highlights.
Kaleigh Skowronski was a fifth grader when Round Lake girls basketball coach Molly Hennig first met her.
Skowronski was no-nonsense back then, Hennig recalls. The 5-foot-10 senior forward hasn’t changed.
“She was very serious,” Hennig said. “She’s always been very serious and taken basketball very seriously. Her love for basketball was evident.”
Skowronski credits her father, Martin, for her serious approach to the sport. He played basketball at Grand Valley State.
“It’s mostly because of my dad,” Skowronski said. “I grew up watching basketball with him. He inspired me. I wanted to be just like my dad.
“I wanted to take the commitment just as he did, and I felt that if I took it seriously, I would be able to be just as great as him. I love my dad very much.”
Skowronski’s father routinely sends her videos that she considers instructive. Highlights of Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić are a particular favorite.
“Luka knows what he’s doing and when to do it,” Skowronski said.
Knowing those things is critical, she said.
“I feel like IQ in basketball is also a very important factor because if you don’t know the sport mentally, then you can’t perform physically,” she said. “If you mess up, it’s just a matter of keeping your head up and not letting anything take you down.”
Morton’s Rilley Smith, left, tries to block out Round Lake’s Kaleigh Skowronski for a rebound during an Elk Grove Thanksgiving Tournament game in Elk Grove Village on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (James C. Svehla / News-Sun)
With that mindset, Skowronski has been named one of three captains for the Panthers, who are looking to improve upon their 10-23 record last season and be more competitive in the Northern Lake County Conference.
“I felt very honored,” Skowronski said. “Now I have to take that authority to show underclassmen what it means to be a varsity player.”
Skowronski was prepared for that responsibility. She had been watching.
“Even at a younger age, she was trying to understand what some of our seniors were doing,” Round Lake assistant Jeff Robinson said.
Even so, Hennig discussed leadership with Skowronski during the summer, outlining what would be expected of her. Of course, Skowronski took it seriously.
“Kaleigh is one of the hardest workers in practice every day,” Hennig said. “She’s definitely coming into her own as a vocal leader too.
“She’s built really good friendships, and her leadership in the program has really evolved from being the little kid looking up to the older kids. Now the younger kids are looking up to her.”
Round Lake’s Kaleigh Skowronski, left, shoots the ball during an Elk Grove Thanksgiving Tournament game against Morton in Elk Grove Village on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (James C. Svehla / News-Sun)
The older Skowronski is noticeably stronger too. She started weightlifting halfway through her sophomore year. Since then, she has set three team records in the weight room: 125 pounds on the bench press, 130 pounds on the power clean and 130 pounds on the split jerk.
“I’m hoping to break 135 in all three by the end of my senior year,” she said.
Skowronski’s weight training has paid dividends on the court.
“With that work, she’s really become a better rebounder this year,” Hennig said. “We see it in her strength going up for rebounds and in playing in the post against taller opponents. But now she’s stronger than them and can finish at the rim through contact.”
But Skowronski, who averaged 4.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals last season, has expended her game further.
“She’s turned into a complete player,” Robinson said. “We used to look at her as just a post player, but now she’s able to help out in the backcourt too.”
Skowronski also plays flag football. Hennig is the coach of that team, which debuted last year.
“She persuaded me to join,” Skowronski said. “I was like, ‘Why not give it a shot?’”
At first, Skowronski viewed flag football as a chance to improve her conditioning for basketball and have some fun. But she has made a big impact. She had 32 catches for 529 yards and six touchdowns this past season.
“We were like, ‘Wow, we didn’t know you were so fast,’” Hennig said. “Sometimes, she’d just leak out from the center spot and get a big touchdown when we needed it. She went from just doing it to have fun to becoming a viable offensive option.”
Round Lake’s Kaleigh Skowronski (14) shoots the ball over Zion-Benton’s London Davis during a nonconference game in Zion on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (Mark Ukena / News-Sun)
Skowronski earned all-conference honors and helped the Panthers win a regional title.
“I genuinely started to enjoy flag football for what it is, instead of thinking of it as preparation for basketball,” she said.
But it has better prepared Skowronski for basketball. As the season begins, she can focus on the finer details, like free-throw shooting.
“They’re free points,” she said. “I should not be missing them. I’ve always had a bit of trouble with free throws, especially when it’s a close game.
“As a varsity player and captain, I need to show that I can get the easy points. I try to do things not just for myself, but also to be an example to everyone this year.”
Sam Brief is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/19/basketball-round-lake-kaleigh-skowronski/
Daywatch: EPA moves to cut wetlands protections
Good morning, Chicago.
After the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is redefining the scope of the nation’s bedrock clean water law to limit the wetlands it protects from pollution and destruction, environmental groups are urging Illinois legislators to establish safeguards. The state has already lost 90% of its original wetlands to urban development and agriculture.
The Trump administration’s action builds on a 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. EPA that sharply limited the U.S. government’s authority to regulate water pollution in certain wetlands, effectively stripping 72% of remaining wetlands in Illinois — more than 700,000 acres — of federal protections and leaving them vulnerable to “catastrophic” loss, according to a September analysis by University of Illinois researchers.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Adriana Pérez.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the latest on the Epstein files, why the House admonished Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García and the ‘Wizard of Oz’ collection goes on display at the Driehaus museum.
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House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., center, is joined from left by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., to talk to reporters about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Congress acts swiftly to force release of Epstein files, sending bill to Trump
Both the House and Senate acted decisively to pass a bill to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a remarkable display of approval for an effort that had struggled for months to overcome opposition from President Donald Trump and Republican leadership.
U.S. Border Patrol Commander at large Gregory Bovino looks on, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
DHS plans to deploy 250 border agents to Louisiana in major immigration sweep, sources say
Around 250 federal border agents are set to descend on New Orleans in the coming weeks for a two-month immigration crackdown dubbed “Swamp Sweep” that aims to arrest roughly 5,000 people across southeast Louisiana and into Mississippi, according to documents obtained and three people familiar with the operation.
More immigration coverage:
Pope Leo strongly backs US bishops in blasting Trump immigration crackdown, urges humane treatment
Plea negotiations underway with Wisconsin judge accused of helping immigrant dodge agents
U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, 4th, speaks during the American Legion Veterans Day ceremony, Nov. 11, 2025, at Manuel Perez Jr. Memorial Plaza in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
House admonishes Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García over ballot maneuver as most Democrats defend Chicago congressman
Twenty-three congressional Democrats — including two fellow members from Illinois — joined with Republicans on Tuesday in favor of a resolution admonishing U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García for using old-school tactics to clear the way for his own House successor.
Related:
US Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García defends insider move that cleared path for top staffer to enter Congress
A five-bedroom, 6,671-square-foot, contemporary-style mansion in Oak Brook sold in mid-Oct. for $5.3 million — the highest sale price in Oak Brook in 16 years and the west suburban village’s third highest-priced sale ever. (Michael LaFido)
Oak Brook mansion sells for $5.3M, the highest sale price in that village in 16 years
Built in 2016 and set on wooded lot measuring just over an acre in Oak Brook’s guard-gated Hunter Trails subdivision, the mansion is made of wood, stone, glass and steel. It has 7 1/2 bathrooms, a glass paneled front door, an open floor plan, new European white oak floors, sculptural wood and stone accents and a brand-new kitchen with Gabana Quartzite slabs, custom cabinetry and a triple-width hood.
Mercedes Wells, center, cries during a press conference in Chicago on Nov. 18, 2025. Mercedes Wells was told to leave Franciscan Health Crown Point’s hospital after being in labor for about six hours. (Maya Wilkins/Post-Tribune)
Dolton woman turned away by Crown Point hospital while in labor speaks out
As she was told to leave Franciscan Health Crown Point and had to give birth in her car, Mercedes Wells said she felt less than human.
Now, she wants the hospital staff to be held accountable for their actions.
Investigators and police supervisors stand in an alley behind the 5600 block of South Michigan Avenue after a police-involved shooting on Nov. 18, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Man wounded by police in Washington Park shooting
Chicago police said they shot a man while attempting to question a man they said had a firearm in the Washington Park neighborhood yesterday.
More Crime and Public Safety coverage:
A ‘Loop puncher’ sentenced to seven years in prison for aggravated battery, burglary
Person of interest questioned after woman set on fire on CTA train, police said
Cubs starter Shota Imanaga heads to the dugout after the first inning against the White Sox on July 25, 2025, at Rate Field. Imanaga gave up three runs in the inning. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Shota Imanaga accepts his qualifying offer to stay with the Chicago Cubs, while Kyle Tucker rejects his
Shota Imanaga is staying with the Chicago Cubs for at least one more season.
Imanaga accepted the Cubs’ qualifying offer ahead of yesterday’s 3 p.m. deadline, a source confirmed to the Tribune. Kyle Tucker declined his qualifying offer as expected, which will net the Cubs draft-pick compensation if the 28-year-old right fielder signs elsewhere.
Mo’ne Davis autographs baseballs during the fourth day of tryouts for the Women’s Professional Baseball League, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Nationals Park in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Women’s Pro Baseball League will play its inaugural season in Springfield
The Women’s Pro Baseball League will play its inaugural season at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield.
A bottlenose dolphin nicknamed “Mimmo” leaps out the water with an acrobatic flip in St. Mark’s Basin, in Venice, Monday Oct. 20, 2025. (Venice Luxury Boat di Penzo Gianluca Via AP)
Venice’s newest marvel is a wild, acrobatic dolphin. His refusal to leave puts him in danger.
Venice has been charmed by a recent visitor: An acrobatic, wild dolphin. The feeling appears to be mutual — he so far refuses to leave — but proximity to humans has put him in danger.
Replica of Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, 1989, Leather sequins, bugle beads, and rhinestones, from the Richard H. Driehaus collection, on display at the Land of Oz: Beyond the Page exhibit at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum in Chicago, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
‘Wizard of Oz’ collection goes on display at the Driehaus museum
Richard H. Driehaus began buying “Oz” items at auction in 1990 and this is the first time the collection is on view to the public.
Jake Potashnick is the owner and chef at Feld restaurant in Chicago on Dec. 18, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
Michelin announces 2025 awards, and Chicago has new one-star and two-star restaurants
The Michelin Guide Northeast ceremony in Philadelphia last night saw Chicago add a new one-star restaurant and a two-star restaurant to its repertoire. The ceremony featured restaurants from Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Boston.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/19/daywatch-epa-moves-to-cut-wetlands-protections/
Indonesia eleva la alerta para el volcán Monte Semeru al nivel más alto tras una serie de erupciones
YAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia eleva la alerta para el volcán Monte Semeru al nivel más alto tras una serie de erupciones.
