Category: News
“Catholic Church Is Wrong” On Illegal Immigration, Homan Says
“Catholic Church Is Wrong” On Illegal Immigration, Homan Says
Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times,
The Catholic Church’s criticism of the Trump administration’s policies regarding illegal immigration is “wrong,” border czar Tom Homan told reporters on Nov. 14.
“Secure border saves lives. I wish the Catholic Church would understand that. We have the right to secure our borders like they have the right to secure their facility,” Homan said.
“You can’t enter their facility without getting arrested. Matter of fact, the penalties for entering their facilities are much worse than ours,” he said.
“So the Catholic Church is wrong. I’m sorry. I’m a lifelong Catholic. I’m saying it as not only a border czar. I’ll say it as a Catholic. I think they need to spend time fixing the Catholic Church.”
Homan’s remarks were in response to a “special message” issued on Nov. 12 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) saying the group was “disturbed” by the climate of fear and anxiety regarding questions of profiling and immigration enforcement among the church’s followers.
Homan said that under the Biden administration, more than 4,000 illegal immigrants died during their journey to the United States, which is a “historic record.” Meanwhile, more than a quarter million Americans died from fentanyl, which is also a “historic record,” he said.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 270,000 people are estimated to have died due to fentanyl overdose between 2021 and 2024.
In its message, USCCB said it opposes the “indiscriminate mass deportation” of people and prays for ending the “dehumanizing rhetoric and violence” aimed at illegal immigrants and law enforcement personnel.
“We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care. We lament that some immigrants in the United States have arbitrarily lost their legal status,” it said.
“We are troubled by threats against the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of hospitals and schools. We are grieved when we meet parents who fear being detained when taking their children to school and when we try to console family members who have already been separated from their loved ones.”
USCCB said that while nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders, they must also set up a just and orderly immigration system in service of the common good.
Homan said the organization’s views sent the wrong message about the rule of law. He also noted the price illegal immigrants have to pay in order to make the journey to the United States.
“So, according to them, the message we should send to the whole world is, if you cross the border illegally, which is a crime, don’t worry about it. If you get ordered removed by federal judge after due process, don’t worry about it because there shouldn’t be mass deportations,” he said.
“If that’s the message we send to the whole world, people are still going to put themselves in harm’s way to come to the greatest nation on earth. They’re going to spend their life savings to give it to a criminal cartel.”
USCCB is an assembly of bishops who seek to promote and carry on Catholic activities in the United States, including caring for illegal immigrants, according to the organization’s website.
The group’s special message was the first it had issued since 2013. The message received 216 votes in favor from conference members, with five voting against it, and three declining to vote.
The message follows Pope Leo’s criticism in September of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
“Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life,” Leo, the first American pope, said on Sept. 30.
During a press briefing in early October, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt countered the Pope’s accusations.
“I would reject there is inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the United States under this administration,” she said. “There was, however, significant inhumane treatment of illegal immigrants in the previous administration as they were being trafficked and raped and beaten, and in many cases killed over our United States southern border.”
“This administration is trying to enforce our nation’s laws in the most humane way possible and we’re upholding the law.”
USCCB Lawsuit
In February, USCCB filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for halting the funding of its refugee resettlement program.
Under the program, USCCB facilitated the integration of refugees into the United States. The refugees were entitled to receive federal funds as transitional support for up to 90 days, which the complaint said was essential to helping them set up a new home.
When the Trump administration suspended the program in January, there were more than 6,700 refugees assigned to USSCB by the government who were still within their 90-day transition period, the lawsuit said.
The suspension resulted in USCCB having “millions of dollars in pending, unpaid reimbursements for services already rendered to refugees and is accruing millions more each week—with no indication that any future reimbursements will be paid or that the program will ever resume,” it said.
The proceedings in the case were stayed in July upon the USCCB’s request after the organization and the federal government entered into an agreement to wind down the group’s participation in the refugee resettlement program.
In an interview with Fox News in February, Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, was critical of the Catholic bishops, saying he was disappointed because they had “not been a good partner in common sense immigration enforcement” and took more than $100 million to “help resettle illegal immigrants.”
“You love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country,” said Vance. “Then after that, you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world.”
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/17/2025 – 07:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/catholic-church-wrong-illegal-immigration-homan-says
Batavia rally focuses on immigrant rights, food insecurity and the affordability of health care
The recent end of the longest federal government shutdown in history didn’t end concerns some Fox Valley residents have about the state of the country right now.
A demonstration focusing on immigrant rights, health care affordability and food insecurity was held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday outside the Batavia Public Library.
The rally was organized by the Batavia-Aurora Area Chapter of Indivisible Illinois, which, according to a press release from the organization, is “an action group fighting for a democracy that is inclusive, fair and nonviolent, aiming to change policy at local, state and federal levels.”
Brian Strobel of Batavia was one of the protestors on site and said he has attended many rallies over the past several months.
“I continue to come out because this is something we believe in. We don’t like the way the country is going,” he said. “The present administration – we want to see change. Everything we can do to get the word out we’re doing.”
Batavia resident Sharon Riggle, who founded the Batavia-Aurora Area Chapter of Indivisible Illinois, said the group has been very active in the past year, especially given that it was just launched this past February.
“We’ve had something like 10 to 12 rallies already,” she said before Saturday’s event. “On Saturday, we’re focusing on three different issues as there is a lot going on right now. We’re looking at health care access and affordability, food insecurity and immigration rights and fair policies.”
Riggle spoke about the ending of the recent federal government shutdown and said that “the reopening did not solve all our problems.”
“I wish we didn’t have to continue to raise awareness. I wish the reopening had solved all our problems but clearly it does not,” she said.
Riggle said concerns remain about the affordability of health care. Regarding food insecurity, Riggle said rising prices and concerns about SNAP benefits make this a troubling time.
“I’m worried about people getting food down the road,” she said.
She also expressed concern about immigration issues and “the safety of our neighbors and friends in the Aurora-Batavia area.”
“There is talk about things scaling back but, in fact, things are ramping up,” she said. “I am worried about people being pulled off the street with lack of due process.”
Many who took part in Saturday’s rally spoke about the need to keep the pressure on politicians as well as the need for public awareness.
Ginger Neenan of Aurora said that “things are not going well in the country these days and the power is with the people.”
Kathy Sullivan of Batavia said events like the one held Saturday are important.
“I’ve been coming to these since they started having them and feel there is just too much corruption with the (Trump) administration,” she said. “We have to speak out. To me, this is making a difference because we’re getting publicity and people need to know there are also people out there who feel this way.”
Saturday’s event was organized just two weeks ago and Riggle said “due to a lot of competing activities it would probably be rather small.”
By 1 p.m. on Saturday, about four to five dozen participants had shown up.
“This is still a way of showing others how we feel – the people who drive by and honk – it encourages us as well as them,” she said. “It’s valuable regardless of the numbers. We know these events are making a difference.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
East Aurora School District’s Illinois Report Card: Chronic absenteeism rates top 30%, but graduation rates on the rise
Chronic absenteeism is still on the rise at East Aurora School District 131, but so is its graduation rate, according to its 2025 Illinois Report Card.
The annual report from the Illinois State Board of Education offers a comprehensive analysis of academic, demographic and financial data for every school and district in the state.
Mirroring statewide trends, East Aurora continues to struggle with chronic absenteeism, but saw its graduation rate tick up once again. The district also saw some schools’ designations shift in the state’s tiered system, which is based on metrics like test scores and graduation rates.
Here are some of the key data points for the district from the 2025 Illinois Report Card.
East Aurora’s total enrollment has been steadily going downward in recent years, though the most recent batch of data from the Illinois State Board of Education indicates a less sharp decline than in previous years. This year’s numbers put the district at just over 12,000 students, down from more than 14,000 in 2019.
The district’s own enrollment data, for comparison, puts that figure even a bit lower, based on numbers from October.
The figures from ISBE also show attendance rates declining slightly in District 131, for an average of just over 88% for 2025. That’s lower than the state average of a little under 92%.
Chronic absenteeism continues to be an issue for the district, mirroring a statewide trend. According to its 2025 data, more than 30% of district students missed 10% or more of school days with or without a valid excuse, a figure that has ticked upwards in recent years.
Attendance is an “area of focus” for the district, according to Associate Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessments Ami Engel. She said in a statement to The Beacon-News that, though some schools made a targeted effort to address absenteeism and saw a positive impact, the district is “reaching out to students and families to address any barriers they may have in coming to school.”
Four-year high school graduation rates, however, have been on the rise for the district, topping 90% on this year’s report card and again outpacing the state average.
The district saw some changes in individual schools’ summative designations — a five-tiered metric from the state Board of Education that assesses a school’s performance and, if it is designated as being in one of the lower three tiers, requires it to begin a four-year cycle of school improvement.
This year, one district school — Fred Rodgers Magnet Academy — received the highest designation of “exemplary.” Exemplary schools are those with overall performance in the top 10% in the state, with commendable the next highest rating, according to ISBE. In the East Aurora district, 10 schools were deemed commendable.
Seven district schools were designated as in need of targeted support this year, according to the report card figures.
But none were deemed “comprehensive,” which refers to schools in the lowest-performing 5% of schools in Illinois and any high school with a graduation rate of 67% or less. The year prior, two district schools had been designated as in need of comprehensive support, Engel said at a recent meeting of the district’s school board.
As for academic achievement, East Aurora’s rates of proficiency in English Language Arts, or ELA, math and science fell well below the state averages, the data from the Illinois State Board of Education shows.
The state’s benchmarks for proficiency have changed, however, meaning proficiency rates can’t be compared with previous years.
And students’ growth percentiles — which show their improvement compared with their peers — indicate that East Aurora students are improving slightly below the state average in ELA and math.
The district’s ACT scores also fall below state averages, and are slightly lower than the last time the ACT was recorded for the district, in 2017.
East Aurora’s average score on the ACT was 14.1 for ELA, 15.2 for math and 16 for science, according to this year’s Illinois Report Card data.
On the district’s ACT scores, Engel highlighted that this was the first year in many years that Illinois provided the ACT to students. She said the district provides the fall pre-ACT to students in advance of spring testing, and have incorporated practice for the assessment into their courses.
However, the district has been seeing gains in the number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement, or AP, coursework in recent years. Around 36% of students were enrolled in AP coursework, per the latest report card numbers, more than 10 percentage points higher than the state average.
Asked about the district’s AP enrollment, Engel said the district “strive(s) to provide a variety of programs” for students, and that “student choice is an important part” of supporting students “to be ready for whatever future they want.”
The district’s full Illinois Report Card for 2025 can be found at: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/east-aurora-2025-illinois-report-card/
Visualizing The World’s $111 Trillion In Government Debt In One Giant Chart
Visualizing The World’s $111 Trillion In Government Debt In One Giant Chart
While global public debt is lower than pandemic highs in real terms, it remains stubbornly elevated at $111 trillion.
This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Dorothy Neufeld, shows world debt by country in 2025, based on data from the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook.
A Closer Look at World Debt by Country
Below, we break down government debt around the world in 2025:
Country
Share of Global Debt
2025
Value of Debt
(Billions USD)
General Government Gross Debt
(Percent of GDP)
🇺🇸 U.S.
34.5%
$38,269.7
125.0%
🇨🇳 China
16.8%
$18,680.8
96.3%
🇯🇵 Japan
8.9%
$9,826.5
229.6%
🇬🇧 UK
3.7%
$4,093.4
103.4%
🇫🇷 France
3.5%
$3,916.2
116.5%
🇮🇹 Italy
3.1%
$3,479.8
136.8%
🇮🇳 India
3.0%
$3,357.9
81.4%
🇩🇪 Germany
2.9%
$3,228.7
64.4%
🇨🇦 Canada
2.3%
$2,601.0
113.9%
🇧🇷 Brazil
1.9%
$2,062.8
91.4%
🇪🇸 Spain
1.7%
$1,898.9
100.4%
🇲🇽 Mexico
1.0%
$1,097.2
58.9%
🇸🇬 Singapore
0.9%
$1,008.3
175.6%
🇰🇷 South Korea
0.9%
$992.5
53.4%
🇦🇺 Australia
0.8%
$933.0
51.0%
🇧🇪 Belgium
0.7%
$770.8
107.5%
🇵🇱 Poland
0.6%
$623.8
60.0%
🇮🇩 Indonesia
0.5%
$588.8
40.8%
🇷🇺 Russia
0.5%
$586.9
23.1%
🇳🇱 Netherlands
0.5%
$581.1
44.0%
🇦🇷 Argentina
0.5%
$538.5
78.8%
🇦🇹 Austria
0.4%
$464.5
82.0%
🇮🇱 Israel
0.4%
$422.6
69.2%
🇬🇷 Greece
0.4%
$413.7
146.7%
🇹🇷 Türkiye
0.3%
$380.4
24.3%
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
0.3%
$370.4
29.2%
🇨🇭 Switzerland
0.3%
$370.0
36.9%
🇹🇭 Thailand
0.3%
$362.5
64.9%
🇲🇾 Malaysia
0.3%
$331.3
70.4%
🇿🇦 South Africa
0.3%
$329.6
77.3%
🇵🇹 Portugal
0.3%
$307.2
90.9%
🇪🇬 Egypt
0.3%
$303.9
87.0%
🇵🇰 Pakistan
0.3%
$293.9
71.6%
🇵🇭 Philippines
0.3%
$287.6
58.2%
🇫🇮 Finland
0.2%
$273.2
86.8%
🇷🇴 Romania
0.2%
$258.6
61.2%
🇨🇴 Colombia
0.2%
$258.1
58.9%
🇮🇪 Ireland
0.2%
$233.9
33.0%
🇺🇦 Ukraine
0.2%
$227.7
108.6%
🇸🇪 Sweden
0.2%
$226.5
34.2%
🇳🇴 Norway
0.2%
$220.8
42.7%
🇹🇼 Taiwan
0.2%
$206.9
23.4%
🇦🇪 UAE
0.2%
$193.5
34.0%
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
0.2%
$191.4
40.3%
🇭🇺 Hungary
0.2%
$185.3
74.8%
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
0.2%
$168.7
44.0%
🇩🇿 Algeria
0.1%
$155.5
54.0%
🇻🇳 Vietnam
0.1%
$155.1
32.0%
🇨🇱 Chile
0.1%
$148.2
42.7%
🇮🇶 Iraq
0.1%
$141.0
53.1%
🇳🇿 New Zealand
0.1%
$139.9
53.2%
🇩🇰 Denmark
0.1%
$136.0
29.6%
🇻🇪 Venezuela
0.1%
$136.0
164.3%
🇮🇷 Iran
0.1%
$126.9
35.6%
🇲🇦 Morocco
0.1%
$120.7
67.2%
🇳🇬 Nigeria
0.1%
$103.7
36.4%
🇵🇪 Peru
0.1%
$102.2
32.1%
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
0.1%
$99.8
100.8%
🇰🇪 Kenya
0.1%
$92.5
68.0%
🇸🇰 Slovak Republic
0.1%
$92.1
59.6%
🇶🇦 Qatar
0.1%
$90.2
40.6%
🇸🇩 Sudan
0.1%
$79.5
221.5%
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
0.1%
$77.8
60.0%
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
0.1%
$74.4
24.8%
🇦🇴 Angola
0.1%
$71.9
62.4%
🇪🇨 Ecuador
0.1%
$70.2
53.8%
🇧🇭 Bahrain
0.1%
$67.5
142.5%
🇬🇭 Ghana
0.1%
$66.2
59.1%
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
0.1%
$61.3
59.7%
🇭🇷 Croatia
0.1%
$59.2
57.0%
🇺🇾 Uruguay
0.1%
$56.6
66.6%
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire
0.05%
$55.2
55.6%
🇵🇦 Panama
0.05%
$53.9
59.6%
🇧🇴 Bolivia
0.05%
$53.5
93.7%
🇸🇮 Slovenia
0.05%
$52.8
66.6%
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
0.05%
$51.1
46.7%
🇯🇴 Jordan
0.05%
$50.4
89.7%
🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR
0.05%
$50.1
11.7%
🇹🇳 Tunisia
0.04%
$47.6
80.6%
🇱🇧 Lebanon
0.04%
$46.3
163.8%
🇸🇳 Senegal
0.04%
$45.3
122.9%
🇷🇸 Serbia
0.04%
$43.9
43.9%
🇹🇿 Tanzania
0.04%
$43.4
49.6%
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
0.04%
$42.8
31.1%
🇱🇹 Lithuania
0.04%
$39.8
41.8%
🇲🇲 Myanmar
0.03%
$38.5
63.5%
🇴🇲 Oman
0.03%
$36.9
35.1%
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
0.03%
$36.3
28.4%
🇺🇬 Uganda
0.03%
$34.1
52.4%
🇿🇲 Zambia
0.03%
$33.7
114.9%
🇬🇹 Guatemala
0.03%
$32.6
27.0%
🇲🇿 Mozambique
0.03%
$32.4
131.1%
🇸🇻 El Salvador
0.03%
$32.1
87.6%
🇧🇾 Belarus
0.03%
$30.7
35.8%
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
0.02%
$27.3
27.1%
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
0.02%
$24.0
45.0%
🇨🇾 Cyprus
0.02%
$23.0
57.7%
🇨🇲 Cameroon
0.02%
$23.0
37.9%
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
0.02%
$22.8
18.0%
🇱🇻 Latvia
0.02%
$22.6
47.1%
🇳🇵 Nepal
0.02%
$22.4
49.3%
🇵🇾 Paraguay
0.02%
$19.8
41.7%
🇮🇸 Iceland
0.02%
$18.2
47.4%
🇭🇳 Honduras
0.02%
$17.8
45.1%
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
0.02%
$17.1
22.4%
🇹🇹 Trinidad and
Tobago
0.02%
$17.0
65.3%
🇵🇬 Papua
New Guinea
0.01%
$16.5
50.4%
🇬🇦 Gabon
0.01%
$16.3
76.2%
🇦🇱 Albania
0.01%
$16.2
54.1%
🇨🇩 DRC
0.01%
$15.7
19.1%
🇱🇦 Lao P.D.R.
0.01%
$15.4
90.7%
🇦🇲 Armenia
0.01%
$14.9
53.4%
🇨🇬 Congo
0.01%
$14.6
93.1%
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
0.01%
$14.3
53.2%
🇲🇺 Mauritius
0.01%
$13.9
88.1%
🇯🇲 Jamaica
0.01%
$13.7
59.2%
🇰🇭 Cambodia
0.01%
$13.6
27.8%
🇲🇹 Malta
0.01%
$13.0
46.9%
🇬🇪 Georgia
0.01%
$12.8
34.2%
🇲🇱 Mali
0.01%
$12.5
48.9%
🇾🇪 Yemen
0.01%
$12.4
71.4%
🇧🇯 Benin
0.01%
$12.4
50.7%
🇧🇸 Bahamas
0.01%
$12.1
74.1%
🇲🇼 Malawi
0.01%
$12.0
80.4%
🇲🇳 Mongolia
0.01%
$11.7
46.6%
🇬🇳 Guinea
0.01%
$11.6
42.2%
🇰🇼 Kuwait
0.01%
$11.5
7.3%
🇪🇪 Estonia
0.01%
$11.4
24.4%
🇷🇼 Rwanda
0.01%
$10.8
73.2%
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
0.01%
$10.2
30.6%
🇲🇻 Maldives
0.01%
$10.1
131.8%
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
0.01%
$9.9
52.9%
🇳🇪 Niger
0.01%
$9.7
42.2%
🇲🇬 Madagascar
0.01%
$9.6
49.7%
🇳🇦 Namibia
0.01%
$9.3
63.6%
🇵🇸 West Bank
and Gaza
0.01%
$9.0
65.6%
🇳🇮 Nicaragua
0.01%
$8.1
39.3%
🇹🇬 Togo
0.01%
$7.9
71.9%
🇰🇬 Kyrgyz Republic
0.01%
$7.6
37.8%
🇧🇧 Barbados
0.01%
$7.5
99.8%
🇧🇼 Botswana
0.01%
$7.4
38.8%
🇲🇩 Moldova
0.01%
$7.4
37.8%
🇬🇾 Guyana
0.01%
$7.3
29.0%
🇹🇩 Chad
0.01%
$6.8
31.5%
🇲🇪 Montenegro
0.01%
$5.7
60.8%
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
0.004%
$4.9
36.6%
🇲🇷 Mauritania
0.004%
$4.9
41.2%
🇫🇯 Fiji
0.004%
$4.9
76.6%
🇸🇷 Suriname
0.004%
$4.0
89.1%
🇹🇯 Tajikistan
0.003%
$3.7
22.0%
🇭🇹 Haiti
0.003%
$3.6
11.8%
🇧🇹 Bhutan
0.003%
$3.6
105.6%
🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
0.003%
$3.6
41.2%
🇸🇸 South Sudan
0.003%
$3.3
66.0%
🇨🇻 Cabo Verde
0.003%
$3.1
106.0%
🇦🇼 Aruba
0.003%
$2.9
67.1%
🇱🇷 Liberia
0.003%
$2.9
55.7%
🇧🇮 Burundi
0.003%
$2.8
40.3%
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
0.003%
$2.8
3.9%
🇽🇰 Kosovo
0.002%
$2.2
17.6%
🇸🇿 Eswatini
0.002%
$2.2
42.8%
🇧🇿 Belize
0.002%
$2.1
64.7%
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia
0.002%
$2.0
77.0%
🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau
0.002%
$1.9
76.2%
🇨🇫 Central African Republic
0.002%
$1.9
57.1%
🇬🇲 Gambia
0.002%
$1.9
74.4%
🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda
0.001%
$1.5
65.7%
🇩🇯 Djibouti
0.001%
$1.4
30.5%
🇸🇲 San Marino
0.001%
$1.4
62.7%
🇦🇩 Andorra
0.001%
$1.4
31.7%
🇱🇸 Lesotho
0.001%
$1.4
57.1%
🇸🇨 Seychelles
0.001%
$1.3
56.7%
🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines
0.001%
$1.2
94.0%
🇬🇩 Grenada
0.001%
$1.0
67.7%
🇩🇲 Dominica
0.001%
$0.7
95.7%
🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis
0.001%
$0.7
61.9%
🇻🇺 Vanuatu
0.0005%
$0.5
48.6%
🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe
0.0005%
$0.5
51.4%
🇰🇲 Comoros
0.0004%
$0.5
30.2%
🇸🇧 Solomon Islands
0.0004%
$0.5
23.7%
🇧🇳 Brunei Darussalam
0.0003%
$0.4
2.3%
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
0.0003%
$0.3
13.9%
🇼🇸 Samoa
0.0002%
$0.3
20.9%
🇵🇼 Palau
0.0002%
$0.2
63.1%
🇹🇴 Tonga
0.0002%
$0.2
31.6%
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
0.00004%
$0.047
0.5%
🇫🇲 Micronesia
0.00004%
$0.046
9.3%
🇲🇭 Marshall Islands
0.00003%
$0.032
10.6%
🇰🇮 Kiribati
0.00003%
$0.028
8.7%
🇳🇷 Nauru
0.00002%
$0.026
15.0%
🇹🇻 Tuvalu
0.000002%
$0.002
3.6%
🇲🇴 Macao SAR
0.0%
$0.000
0.0%
World
100.0%
$110,955.6
94.7%
America’s debt burden exceeds $38 trillion in 2025, standing at 125% of GDP.
Over the past five years, net interest payments on the national debt have nearly tripled. They are projected to double again by 2035 to reach $1.8 trillion per year.
With $18.7 trillion in debt, China ranks in second. In 2025, debt expanded by almost $2.2 trillion, driven by government stimulus and weaker land revenues given a struggling property market sector.
As we can see, Japan follows next with a $9.8 trillion debt pile, equal to 230% of GDP. Even though debt remains sky-high, the country’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is proposing $92.2 billion in stimulus spending and subsidies.
The UK and France round out the top largest debt burdens, both hovering near $4 trillion. France, in particular, has experienced significant political instability amid contentious budget cut proposals, cycling through five prime ministers over the past two years.
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on government debt to GDP around the world.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/17/2025 – 06:55
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/visualizing-worlds-111-trillion-government-debt-one-giant-chart
Por su trayectoria, Tom Cruise finalmente recibe un Oscar en los Premios de los Gobernadores
Por ANDREW DALTON
LOS ÁNGELES (AP) — Tom Cruise, a sus 63 años todavía la mayor estrella de cine en una sala llena de ellas, finalmente pudo sostener su propio Oscar en un escenario de Hollywood el domingo por la noche.
“Hacer películas no es lo que hago, es quien soy”, declaró Cruise en los Premios de los Gobernadores, que la Academia de Ciencias y Artes Cinematográficas organiza anualmente. Se mostró sereno como siempre, pero por momentos pareció estar al borde de las lágrimas mientras hablaba, sosteniendo la estatuilla dorada honorífica que celebraba sus más de 40 años en la cima de la industria.
“En ese cine reímos juntos, sentimos juntos, albergamos esperanza juntos”, expresó después de una ovación de dos minutos.
El director mexicano Alejandro González Iñárritu —que ya ha ganado varios Oscar— presentó el premio a Cruise. Ambos han pasado varios meses rodando una película en Londres que se estrenará en 2026. La colaboración deja entrever que Cruise, quien se ha mantenido en franquicias de gran éxito en los últimos años, podría no haberse dado por vencido en intentar ganar un premio de la Academia a la antigua usanza.
“Este puede ser su primer Oscar”, expresó Iñárritu, “pero por lo que he visto y experimentado, este no será el último”.
El diseñador de producción Wynn Thomas y la coreógrafa y actriz Debbie Allen también fueron seleccionados por la junta de gobernadores de la Academia para ser honrados por sus ilustres carreras, y una ausente Dolly Parton fue honrada por una vida de filantropía en la ceremonia efectuada en el salón Ray Dolby en Los Ángeles.
Un Oscar competitivo ha eludido a Cruise, quien ha sido nominado cuatro veces: como actor por “Nacido el cuatro de julio”, de 1989; “Jerry Maguire” de 1996, y “Magnolia” de 1999, y como productor por “Top Gun: Maverick” de 2022.
Antes de subir al escenario, el público vio un largo montaje de clips de esas y otras de sus películas —cargado de acrobacias temerarias que a menudo realizó él mismo—, desde “Taps” de 1981 hasta “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” de este año.
Era lógico que los Premios de los Gobernadores no se televisaran. Tom Cruise no trabaja en televisión, y ha sido uno de los mayores defensores de la experiencia de ir al cine por encima del streaming.
“Siempre haré todo lo que pueda para ayudar a esta forma de arte”, expresó Cruise. “Para apoyar y defender nuevas voces, para proteger lo que hace al cine poderoso. Esperemos que sin muchos más huesos rotos”.
La lista de estrellas que asistieron deja entrever que la campaña para los próximos Oscar competitivos ya está en marcha, aunque discretamente. Las mesas del banquete estaban llenas de posibles nominados, incluidos Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Sydney Sweeney, Dwayne Johnson, Ariana Grande y Jacob Elordi.
———
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Taiwan’s Central Bank To Explore Bitcoin Reserves, Pilot BTC Holdings
Taiwan’s Central Bank To Explore Bitcoin Reserves, Pilot BTC Holdings
Authored by Micah Zimmerman via BitcoinMagazine.com,
Taiwan’s Premier and Central Bank have reportedly agreed to study Bitcoin as a strategic reserve, draft pro-Bitcoin regulations, and pilot Bitcoin treasury holdings, starting with seized Bitcoin that is ‘awaiting auction.’
The initiative is led by legislator Dr. Ju-chun Ko and supported by Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3, a Bitcoin technology company focused on accelerating Bitcoin adoption.
The announcement comes via JAN3 after growing discussions among lawmakers about the risks of over-reliance on traditional reserves.
In May, Dr. Ju-chun Ko urged the National Central Bank to evaluate including Bitcoin in the country’s strategic reserves. Ko cited the New Taiwan Dollar’s volatility, global inflation, and regional geopolitical risks as reasons for exploring alternative reserve strategies.
Taiwan’s New Taiwan Dollar has seen extreme volatility this year, swinging up or down by 5% in a single day. Ko criticized the country’s overreliance on the U.S. dollar, noting a lack of financial resilience. He suggested that Bitcoin should also be considered as part of Taiwan’s financial strategy.
JUST IN: Taiwan Congress Legislator announces its central bank has committed to studying “#Bitcoin as strategic reserve” 🇹🇼
They also committed to piloting a BTC treasury 🚀 pic.twitter.com/KvbbkBY3Y4
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) November 12, 2025
Taiwan’s existing reserves reportedly include around 423 metric tonnes of gold and $577 billion in foreign currency, of which 92% is invested in U.S. Treasury bonds.
Ko emphasized that Bitcoin would not replace these assets but serve as a complementary component, enhancing financial resilience through diversification.
Taiwan embracing Bitcoin as a strategic reserve
Global trends appear to support this approach. In March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, absorbing over $17 billion in forfeited bitcoins.
Other countries, including Argentina and El Salvador, have also explored Bitcoin integration into national reserves, citing its potential as a hedge against inflation and centralized banking risks. Argentina’s Javier Milei supports Bitcoin as a tool to fight inflation and lessen dependence on central banks.
Ko referenced these international examples during his Legislative Yuan speech back in May, highlighting Bitcoin’s fixed supply and decentralized nature as unique advantages over traditional assets.
He argued that even a small allocation of Bitcoin could improve Taiwan’s preparedness against global currency shocks and financial instability.
While no formal policy has yet been enacted, it appears like the central bank intends to conduct detailed studies and pilot BTC holdings with seized Bitcoin before any broader implementation, according to JAN3’s twitter.
If approved, Taiwan would be among the first Asian countries to hold or pilot Bitcoin as a strategic reserve.
Back in 2024, Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission started to permit professional investors to buy foreign Bitcoin and crypto ETFs.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/17/2025 – 06:30
https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/taiwans-central-bank-explore-bitcoin-reserves-pilot-btc-holdings
Thornton Township District 205 giving teachers $5,000 bonuses for good attendance
While still struggling with chronic absenteeism among students post COVID-19, Thornton Township High School District 205 is tackling teacher attendance issues with $5,000 bonuses.
“Thousands of more students have had their own teachers in front of them, teaching their curriculum, building trust, and you can’t overstate how important that is to our learning, our culture and our stability,” District 205 Superintendent Nathaniel Cunningham said Thursday.
The bonuses for teachers present for 95% or more of the school year, or absent for about nine days, were first instituted for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years in negotiations with the district’s faculty union.
They were later extended through the current school year as part of a separate agreement with the union. The District 205 faculty union did not respond to requests for comment.
The bonus incentive rewards people for doing the right thing during exceedingly difficult times, Cunningham told the school board June 8, 2022, according to the board’s meeting minutes.
Cunningham said he is unsure whether the district will opt to extend the bonuses for another year, “but the way it’s working, it looks like the teachers like it and we’re getting a bonus for it.”
The district’s bonus in exchange for bonuses, Cunningham said, is more consistency in classrooms.
In 2022, about 54% of teachers had 10 or more absences, slightly lowering to 49% in 2023, according to the Illinois State Board of Education’s district report card. Statewide, about 34% of teachers miss 10 or more days.
The district saw a major boost in teacher attendance, with only 21% of teachers missing 10 or more days in 2024 and 20% so far in 2025.
Teacher attendance is considered critical for instruction and giving students adequate attention, Cunningham said. While teachers are entitled to take sick days and other leave, he said “we wanted to reward those teachers who went above and beyond.”
“Teacher attendance matters for kids,” Cunningham said. “At a high poverty district like ours, students rely on strong relationships, consistent instruction. ”
Thornton High School District 205 Superintendent Nathaniel Cunningham (Daily Southtown)
The district also sees some cost savings in hiring fewer substitute teachers, Cunningham said.
“Our kids deserve consistent, high quality instruction, and this program helps make that possible,” Cunningham said.
District 205, which includes Thornton High School in Harvey, Thornwood High School in South Holland, and Thornridge High School in Dolton, educates about 6,000 students, 81% of whom are designated low income.
The district did not say how much it has spent on attendance bonuses, but based on Illinois Report Card data 270 of the district’s roughly 340 teachers received the bonuses, costing taxpayers $1.4 million this year alone.
Meanwhile, chronic absenteeism among District 205 students has declined slightly, but remains significantly higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Illinois Report Card, student chronic absenteeism since the pandemic hit its peak in 2022, with 30% of District 205 students missing 10% or more of the school year. In 2023, 28% of students were chronically absent, decreasing to 26% in 2024 and 25% in 2025. The current rate is in line with the state average.
Cunningham said chronic absenteeism is something the district is working on, “because there was such a change after the pandemic.”
“Working on connecting again with your students and your community — and part of this program also helps because the teachers are consistently there, and that consistently helps kids want to come back to school,” Cunningham said.
While Cunningham said he’s unaware of any other school districts offering bonuses for employee attendance, the Tribune in 2016 reported more experimentation taking place in school districts with linking compensation and student achievement.
What has long been the status quo in teacher compensation are raises for experience and adding education credentials, such as a master’s degree.
Matthew Springer, an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University who has researched performance-based pay for educators, told the Tribune that that approach goes back decades. It aims to standardize pay for educators and fix inequities in pay based on race, gender, nepotism and other factors, said
That traditional system results in the same type of raises for teachers, “regardless of their effectiveness,” Springer said. “It is inefficient, it is broken — but we don’t know how to fix it yet.”
Bonus and incentive programs in other states have produced varied results, some short-lived, Springer said.
“They are so controversial that they are likely to come under some type of scrutiny,” he said.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/thornton-township-district-205-teacher-bonuses/
Thanksgiving 2025: 36 Chicago restaurants and bakeries offering pies and dessert
No matter how delicious the turkey and fixings are, Thanksgiving diners always find some restraint to save a bit of room for dessert. Pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan and apple pie might be the most traditional way to finish the meal, but everyone has a favorite slice, which means it’s nice to have a few to choose from.
If you’re in charge of satisfying sweet tooths, you don’t have to stress out about baking. These 36 area restaurants and bakeries are selling Thanksgiving pies that will provide the perfect end to your meal, whether you’re sticking to the classics, looking to dazzle with something novel, or catering to diners with dietary restrictions. Make sure to plan ahead and place your order in advance to get the best selection.
The Loop and Near North Side
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
The restaurant’s signature pies are all available to go, with options including Key lime ($60), sweet potato pecan ($70), coconut cream ($70) and chocolate fudge ($80). Place an order by Nov. 21 for pickup Nov. 25-26. 60 E. Grand Ave., 312-379-5637, joes.net/chicago
Marisol Restaurant & Bar
The restaurant within the Museum of Contemporary Art offers pumpkin pie ($25), vegan cranberry apple pie ($29) and a bourbon brown sugar cheesecake with cranberry caramel sauce and ginger streusel ($32). Orders must be placed by Nov. 21 for pickup from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 25-26. 205 E. Pearson St., 312-799-3599, order.toasttab.com/online/marisol
Prime & Provisions
The steakhouse offers whole banana cream, apple, caramel pecan, cherry and pumpkin pies ($40, $100 for three) for pickup. 222 N. LaSalle Blvd., 312-726-7777, primeandprovisions.com
Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co.
A whole 10- ($35) or 14-inch ($65) apple pie made with pizza dough will serve a group of six or 12. Orders must be placed by Nov. 24 for pickup Nov. 26. 465 N. McClurg Court, 312-265-1328, robertspizzacompany.com
Shaw’s Crab House
Whole Key lime, raspberry, Dutch apple, pumpkin and pecan pies ($50) are available for pickup from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 25-26. Place your order by Nov. 24. 21 E. Hubbard St., 312-527-2722, shawscrabhouse.com
North Side & Northwest Side
Andros Taverna
Pastry chef Hsing Chen offers Greek-inspired pies including pumpkin phyllo, chocolate halva and baklava cream for $44, with vanilla whipped cream available for $11. Orders must be placed by Nov. 23 for pickup from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 26. 2542 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-365-1900, androstaverna.com
Bang Bang Pie Shop
This Logan Square Bakery’s options include pumpkin ($38) and apple ($42) pies, and you can cater to gluten-free and vegan guests with an apple crisp ($66). Orders can be picked up from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 25-26. 2051 N. California Ave., 773-276-8888, bangbangpieshop.com
Defloured
The gluten-free bakery offers pecan, apple and pumpkin pies, with vegan options for apple and pumpkin ($36-$44). Orders must be placed by Nov. 20. 1477 W. Balmoral Ave., 773-234-5733, deflouredbakery.com
Delightful Pastries
The family-owned bakery’s offerings include apple ($26), pecan ($32), pumpkin ($18) and cranberry fudge ($28) pies along with a pumpkin roll ($12). 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., 773-545-7215, delightfulpastries.com
Floriole
Try twists on the classics with a pumpkin pie sweetened with brandied honey caramel and topped with vanilla bean mascarpone cream, toasted pepitas and crunchy chocolate pearls, and a five-spice apple crumble pie. Both are available in portions for two ($23-$25) or six to eight ($58-$60). Orders must be placed by Nov. 23 for pickup Nov. 25-26. 1220 W. Webster Ave., 773-883-1313, floriole.com
Honeypie
Feed eight to 12 people with nine varieties of 11-inch pies, including vegan apple with streusel, Key lime and whiskey-walnut pecan. Orders can be picked up from Nov. 21-26. 6155 N. Broadway, 773-754-7429, honeypiechicago.com
Little Goat Diner
Chocolate shake french fry pie from Little Goat Diner. (Boka Restaurant Group)
Chef Stephanie Izard’s diner offers cheesy caramel apple pie, pecan pie and chocolate shake french fry pie ($45 each) for pickup from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 26. 3325 N. Southport Ave., 3325 N. Southport Ave., 773-819-7673, littlegoatchicago.com
Mindy’s Bakery
James Beard Award winner Mindy Segal’s bakery offers pumpkin pie ($45) and apple honey cake ($45) with pecan pie ice cream ($15) and vanilla bean chantilly ($7-$14). Orders must be placed by Nov. 22 for pickup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 25-26. 1623 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-489-1747, mindys-bakery.square.site
Minyoli
The Taiwanese restaurant offers its signature pineapple tart ($48) for pickup from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 25-26. Orders must be placed by Nov. 21. 5420 N. Clark St., minyolichicago.com
West Side & Near West Side
Good Ambler
Pick up a classic pumpkin pie with a side of whipped vanilla bean, white chocolate ganache ($35) or a chocolate espresso pie ($45) Wednesday or Thursday. Add on some chocolate turkeys ($12) or bonbons with filling inspired by maple pecan, caramel apple and pumpkin pie ($6). 216 N. Peoria St., 312-872-7165, goodambler.com
Kasama
The Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant and bakery offers a pumpkin pie ($70), lemon-pecan pie ($75) and their popular ube and huckleberry Basque cake ($65) for pickup Nov. 26. 1001 N. Winchester Ave., 773-697-3790, kasamachicago.com
Momotaro
Place an order by Nov. 23 to get an Okinawa sweet potato pie with graham cracker crust and cardamom whipped ganache for $50. Pickup is Nov. 26. 820 W. Lake St., 312-733-4818, momotarochicago.com
Nettare
Thanksgiving pies from Nettare. (Ryan Beshel)
Pick up 6-inch pecan, pumpkin or malted chocolate chess pie ($25) on Nov. 26 or get all three for $70. 1953 W Chicago Ave. 312-219-5101, barnettare.com
Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain
Key lime hibiscus pie from Spinning J. (Clayton Hauck)
Go bold with cranberry-yuzu meringue ($48) or Key lime hibiscus pie ($40) or keep it traditional with pumpkin ($40) or chocolate-bourbon-pecan pie ($48). If you’re also handling Thanksgiving sides, add on house-made sourdough stuffing ($30) or half a dozen buttermilk biscuits ($24). Orders can be picked up Nov. 25-27. 1000 N. California Ave., 872-829-2793, spinningj.com/thanksgiving
Swift & Sons
Pastry chef George Mouzelis offers pumpkin and French silk pies for $35 each. Place an order by Nov. 24 to pick up from 2-7 p.m. Nov. 26. 1000 W. Fulton Market, 312-733-9420, swiftandsonschicago.com
South Side & Near South Side
Weber’s Bakery
A part of holiday traditions since 1930, Weber’s Bakery offers pumpkin, baked apple, pecan and chocolate whipped cream pies along with turkey cookies. 7055 W. Archer Ave., 773-586-1234, webersbakery.com
Suburban and multiple locations
Beatrix
Thanksgiving pie from Beatrix. (Samantha Brauer)
The restaurant’s four locations are offering their signature Oh My! Caramel Pie ($50) along with pumpkin chiffon pie ($55) and gluten-free chocolate cake ($55) for carryout or delivery from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 20-26. Multiple locations, beatrixrestaurants.com
Bennison’s Bakery
Bennison’s has been making its pumpkin pie ($23) the same way since it opened in 1938. Try the classic recipe or one of their many other options, such as pecan, sweet potato or apple ($23-$36). They also offer turkey cookies ($4) and cupcakes ($7). Orders can be picked up from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 26 or 7 a.m. to noon Nov. 27. 1000 Davis St., Evanston, 847-328-9434, bennisonscakes.com
Bub City
A slice of pie from Bub City. (Lindsay Eberly x Eberly Film Lab)
Choose from a whole peanut butter pie ($48), apple pie ($35) or pumpkin pie ($35) or a dozen chocolate chip cookies ($28). Orders must be placed by 7 p.m. Nov. 25 for pickup from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 26. 435 N. Clark St., 312-610-4200 and 5441 Park Place, Rosemont, 847-261-0399; bub-city.com
Buck Russell’s Bakery & Sandwich Shop
Buck Russell’s offers treats for everyone, selling dog-friendly mini pup pies ($12) in addition to pumpkin, Dutch apple, blueberry and bourbon-pecan pies ($32-$38). Add on salted caramel sauce ($8) or pints of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream ($9). Place an order by Nov. 23 to pick up Nov. 25-26. Desserts can also be picked up at sibling spots DeNucci’s and Sophia Steak. 1137 Greenleaf Ave., Wilmette, 847-920-4222, buckrussells.com/thanksgiving
First Slice Pie Cafe
Choose a small pie that serves three to five ($26-$30) or a large one for 10 to 12 ($32-$40), with flavors including balsamic-raspberry-pear, chocolate pecan and sweet potato praline. The bakery also offers a gluten-free polka dot pie for $32. Orders can be picked up Nov. 24-26. Multiple locations, firstslice.org
The Goddess and Grocer
Thanksgiving pies from The Goddess and Grocer. (Kristen Mendiola)
Pecan, apple and pumpkin pie is available by the slice ($6-$7) or as a whole 9-inch pie ($23-$32) along with gluten-free cupcakes ($32) and a cookie decorating kit ($35). Orders can be picked up or delivered Nov. 26-27. Multiple locations, goddessandgrocer.com/thanksgiving
Hewn
The bakery’s three locations offer pecan pie made with FEW bourbon and a cornmeal crust ($42), apple pie ($40) and pumpkin log cake ($35). You can also get a $15 frozen pie crust if you want to try baking at home. Orders must be placed by 8 p.m. Nov. 22 for pickup Nov. 25-26. Multiple locations, hewnbread.com
L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge
Place an order by 8 p.m. Nov. 23 to pick up a whole pecan, pumpkin or Key lime pie ($50) or chocolate layer cake ($70) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26. 7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, 847-677-3350, lwoodsrestaurant.com
Lost Larson
Both the Wicker Park and Andersonville locations offer an apple pie with a bit of cheddar in the crust, and a bourbon-chocolate -pecan pie, and a pumpkin pie topped with house-made vanilla cream and pepita pralines ($52-$54). Add on a box of take-and-bake cinnamon rolls ($24) to get a decadent start to your feast day. Orders can be picked up Nov. 25-26. 5318 N. Clark St., 773-944-0587 and 2140 W. Division St., 773-770-9015; lostlarson.com
Sweet Mandy B’s
Pumpkin pie from Sweet Mandy B’s. (Sweet Mandy B’s)
Head to Streeterville or Lincoln Park for a wide variety of 9-inch pies designed to serve six to eight people for $30-$36. Flavors include pumpkin, chocolate cream, pecan and apple streusel. Orders can be picked up Nov. 23-27. 1208 W. Webster Ave., 773-244-1174 and 254 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1632; sweetmandybs.com
Vanille Patisserie
Order a pumpkin pie ($37), an apple streusel pie ($44), a traditional pecan pie ($44) or chocolate-hazelnut French silk pie ($46). Add a Thanksgiving cookie ($7.95) or take & bake cinnamon rolls ($19). For every 10 pies sold, the bakery will donate one to Fight2Feed. 2108 N. Clark St. and 131 N. Clinton St., 773-868-4574, vanillepatisserie.com
Vistro Prime
Pies from Vistro Prime. (Nathan Olsen)
Pastry chef Angelyne Canicosa offers hazelnut chocolate silk pie ($65) and cherry lattice pie ($55) for pickup from noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 26. 112 S. Washington St., Hinsdale, 630-537-1459, opentable.com/r/vistro-hinsdale
West Town Bakery
Pick up your pies from the bakery’s West Town or River North locations. Options include apple crumble, chocolate silk and caramelized honey ($28-$36). For extra festive treats, add on a turkey sugar cookie ($6.25) or pumpkin pop ($5). 1916 W. Chicago Ave. and 15 E. Ohio St., westtownbakery.com
Wildfire
A slice of pie from Wildfire. (Anjali M. Pinto)
Finish your meal with a slice of pumpkin, maple pecan, Door County cherry or Key lime pie ($10.95) or take home the whole thing for $35. Multiple locations, wildfirerestaurant.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/thanksgiving-pies-2025/
Letters: Acts of kindness in our communities reinforce connection as fear and anxiety pervade
As a hospice chaplain and a state representative, I am guided by a simple truth: We are all connected. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” I see that every day, whether sitting with a family in hospice or amending a bill in Springfield.
At its best, government reflects that interconnection. It’s how we come together to serve the common good, to make sure every neighbor has a fair chance, a safe home, and the food and health care they need. When one person falls behind, the whole community feels it.
But lately, that shared sense of connection has been strained. The lingering trauma of COVID-19 and the loneliness that comes from so much time online have left many feeling isolated and less empathetic. When compassion fades, we all lose something essential.
We see it now as fear spreads through our immigrant communities. When neighbors are afraid to go to work, take their children to school or seek medical care, the harm ripples outward. Businesses lose trusted employees, schools lose engaged students and hospitals lose patients who delay care until it’s too late. Our economy depends on stability and inclusion, not fear and division.
That same ripple effect happens when programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are cut. Families must choose between rent and groceries. Children, veterans and seniors go hungry. The harm doesn’t stop there: Local grocers lose business, health outcomes worsen and the strain spreads across our entire community.
Yet even in hardship, I’ve seen neighbors step up, delivering meals, stocking food pantries, organizing neighborhood watches and supporting immigrant families harmed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions. These acts of kindness remind us that connection isn’t lost; it’s being rebuilt, one caring act at a time.
— State Rep. Nicolle Grasse, D-Arlington Heights
Don’t provoke agents
Here’s a radical idea for preventing violent confrontations between federal agents and protesters. Suppose Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson and national Democrats stop encouraging confrontations with inflammatory demagoguery. Suppose protesters observed a nonthreatening distance from agents enforcing federal law enacted by Congress. Suppose no one throws objects. Then federal agents would have no excuse to respond with force.
That would also allow an already stretched-thin Chicago Police Department to redirect officers to the job of protecting Chicago residents instead of protecting federal agents. It would also remove any excuse to send the National Guard into communities to protect agents who are being assaulted.
— R. Staneiak, Woodridge
Diversity in military
A heartfelt thank you to the staff of the Tribune for the story about the Navajo code talkers (Nov. 11).
My father served as a highly decorated senior master sergeant in the Air Force. I represent his voice when I write that he was extremely proud of all of the service members who worked under his leadership in Bomb Nav. He did not care about the backgrounds, the color and the gender of his soldiers. He cared that they loved the United States of America and that they were masters of their trade.
Because of my dad, his staff and thousands more like them, bombers could fly their missions, soldiers could come home and the United States of America stayed safe.
Articles about the Montford Point Marines and the Navajo code talkers remind us that the armed services are made of loyal men and women from every ethnicity, gender, religion and background.
We are living under this current administration and secretary of defense who seem determined to erase the history of the men and women who proudly served this country in every branch of the armed services. Many served without thanks. Many served without recognition. Many served without receiving jobs or benefits that were duly theirs after their service.
We cannot let their stories go untold. We cannot let veterans and their service be wiped from print or official websites.
Thank you for being the voice of so many.
— Patricia Kluzik, Elgin
Necessity of change
After reading the Tribune article “‘This is a Veterans Day like no other,’” I had to respond to how interconnected our struggles are. The Statue of Liberty has long been the first beacon of America’s light and hope, which guided my grandparents’ boat to shore. As a 74-year-old retired reading teacher, grandmother, and active supporter of peace and justice groups — including Veterans For Peace — I read the news with alarm. Mass deportations, militarization in our cities, and constant cuts to crucial programs such as food assistance, health care and education are shameful tarnishes to the legacy of that great statue and its values.
This systemic failure confirms the necessity of change. As my professional mantra states: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” As Jesus was forced to do to the money lenders in the temple, it’s time to turn the tables over and fulfill the promise of a “more perfect union.” Perhaps we all need to get into a little “good trouble.” For God’s sake, the Eucharist was not even allowed into the Broadview processing center!
The issue boils down to our priorities. When the national debt is staggering, we spend billions on border enforcement and trillions on military and nuclear weapons and yet allow billionaires to evade their fair share in taxes, the system is fundamentally broken. Even children grasp this absurdity; in a simple exercise of distributing “budgetary pennies” among education, health care, housing, environment and military, students consistently fund the first four and leave the military with little.
We must heed the call from groups such as About Face: Veterans Against the War. Take action: Call your representatives to enact comprehensive immigration reform, oppose troops in our streets and stand against authoritarianism.
It is high time to follow the Peace Alliance’s all-inclusive, simple demand: Give peace a bigger piece of the budgetary pie!
— Concetta Smart, Crete
Immigration in the US
In 1910 and later in 1914, my grandfather and grandmother were processed at Ellis Island. They were both from unstable Eastern European countries speaking different languages.
Like most immigrant families, my grandfather worked hard raising a family but hadn’t become a citizen. During the mid-1940s, much like today’s environment, my grandfather was rounded up for deportation. My father was an Army officer in Europe, preparing for the invasion, so his oldest sister fought and saved the day.
Three years later, my grandfather became a citizen. He was like most immigrants who came to our country after and in between wars: His priority was raising a family.
Immigration has always been a challenge for both the countries and the immigrants. Without immigrants, we wouldn’t be the most successful country in the world. But we could do a better job on handling it!
— Mike Krauss, Wayne, Illinois
Durbin lacks courage
Many have praised U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin for his courage on his recent vote. I respectfully disagree. Durbin is not running for reelection. Didn’t anyone else notice Sen. Tammy Duckworth did not vote to reopen the government?
If Durbin had “courage,” he would have negotiated with the majority party. Durbin voted the way he did because he knew there would be no consequences which is hardly the definition of courage.
— Mitch Johnson, Western Springs
Honorable service
Thanks to the Tribune Editorial Board for the description of U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin as an “honorable public servant” (“In defense of Dick Durbin, honorable public servant of our state,” Nov. 13).
Illinois has been graced with the services of this intelligent, thoughtful, good and honest man for many years, and our state has been the better for it. His qualities are not much on display on our national scene right now, and his recent vote has demonstrated again his ability to fairly deal with ambiguous situations, weighing the factors with an eye to public good, not political popularity.
— Patricia Groh, Wilmette
Note to readers: As part of our annual Thanksgiving tradition, we’d like to hear from you about what is making you feel thankful this year. (Sincere thoughts only, please.) Email us a letter of no more than 400 words by Sunday, Nov. 23 to letters@chicagotribune.com. Be sure to include your full name and your city/town and use the subject line “Thankful.”
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/letters-111725-acts-of-kindness/
Melissa Conyears-Ervin: Chicago will not help fund Donald Trump’s terror
In recent weeks, my team at the Chicago treasurer’s office and I worked tirelessly to craft our budget for City Council review. This work was conducted amid the backdrop of our federal government waging a campaign of terror against our residents and taxpayers.
I believe we have a responsibility to use every lawful tool at our disposal to push back on what they are doing. At the treasurer’s office, that tool is our investment portfolio. The dollars we invest can either quietly support that behavior or send a clear message that Chicago will not bankroll its own abuse.
Before my budget presentation on Wednesday, I informed City Council members that I would boycott the purchase of United States Treasury securities and seek their authority to grant me freedoms to modify the portfolio of the nearly $11 billion of Chicago taxpayer money the office manages.
This boycott and divestment plan is simple and targeted. First, we immediately stop making new, direct purchases of U.S. Treasury marketable securities. Second, with approval from the City Council, we will explore reducing our indirect exposure by adjusting our holdings in money market funds and other instruments that derive their value from Treasurys.
That’s it.
This is a temporary, lawful portfolio adjustment that meets our three core objectives as managers of taxpayer funds: safety, liquidity and competitive returns for the taxpayer.
The city of Chicago will not invest in a federal administration that is using the power of government to terrorize us. Federal agents in our neighborhoods pepper-spraying a 1-year-old, dragging a teacher out of a day care in front of toddlers and drawing guns on our citizens are what brought about this response.
What is happening is not normal, and pretending it is will not age well in the history books. Our constituents will remember who stood up when it mattered and who didn’t.
When I rolled out my plan, I was met with hysteria from a few members of the council and some members of the media. They sounded more concerned about aggravating Donald Trump than using every tool we have to stop his U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from waging war on our citizens.
Others expressed reasonable concerns with the plan that we can address. I have managed more than $9 billion of our public funds on an annual basis over the past six years across two administrations. I am intimately familiar with our portfolio, my responsibility to taxpayers and the risks embedded in my decisions. I am eager to collaborate further and look forward to modernizing outdated restrictions that actually limit our ability to earn more for Chicagoans.
But let’s be clear: This is a safe move that poses no financial risk to the taxpayer, it will earn an appropriate return, it is consistent with our liquidity obligations and, most importantly, it is consistent with our values.
That’s why I was elected and what I’ve done for the past six years. We’ve outperformed previous treasurers, we’ve divested from fossil fuels, and we’ve still maintained competitive returns and strong liquidity.
Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, called this move “reckless,” and others reminded me that Treasurys are “the most liquid and secure debt instrument in the history of the world.” I’m well aware, but any financial expert also knows that Treasurys are not the only high-quality, secure and liquid option available.
We can and do invest in agency securities. We can and do invest in investment-grade corporate bonds. We can and do invest in municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities and fully secured cash vehicles. These instruments are all permitted under our existing policy, widely used by large institutional investors and compatible with our fiduciary duty to keep the city’s money safe and accessible.
This is not gambling with taxpayer dollars. It’s a choice not to write a blank check to an administration that is violating our rights.
It’s also wholly transparent. The municipal code gives me authority to adopt and amend our investment policy, including the ability to direct no new purchases of Treasurys, but the next phase of this plan requires council approval. I’ve already begun those conversations, and changes will be reported publicly, fully consistent with our collateral and liquidity requirements, and voted on after an open debate.
Some suggest that by taking this stand, I’m somehow turning my back on America or violating my oath. Let me tell you what I believe as a Black woman, as a daughter of Englewood and Austin, and as a proud American: The most patriotic thing you can do in this country is to use your voice, your vote and, yes, your public office to protest your government when it is wrong.
The idea that we must silently underwrite policies we believe are unconstitutional and immoral is what’s un-American.
Finally, to those that question the impact of this decision, I say every major act of divestment, from apartheid South Africa to fossil fuels, has started with “just” one institution. I believe Chicago is in a unique position to lead.
To every resident, whether you agree with this plan or not, I want you to know I am not making this decision lightly. I know what it means to be responsible for billions of dollars. I know what it means when payroll has to be met, when pension checks have to clear, when a city has to ride out a crisis. My first obligation is to keep your money safe and accessible.
But I will not separate that obligation from our moral responsibility to ensure that our own dollars are not weaponized against us.
Melissa Conyears-Ervin is the Chicago city treasurer and running for Illinois’ 7th Congressional District.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/opinion-chicago-treasurer-boycott-us-treasury-securities/
