Category: News
Appeals Court Halts DOT Restrictions On Commercial Driver’s Licenses For Illegals
Appeals Court Halts DOT Restrictions On Commercial Driver’s Licenses For Illegals
Authored by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times,
A federal appeals court in the District of Columbia has temporarily blocked the Department of Transportation (DOT) from enforcing a new rule that narrows the conditions under which states may issue commercial driver’s licenses to noncitizens.
The ruling followed an Oct. 20 petition from two truck drivers and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) seeking judicial review of the interim final rule by the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in September.
The rule limits eligibility for nondomiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) to holders of H-2A (temporary agricultural workers), H-2B (temporary non-agricultural workers), and E-2 (treaty investors) visas, with no other immigration categories eligible, according to a document published on the Federal Register on Sept. 29.
In its Nov. 13 ruling, the appeals court said the federal government didn’t follow proper procedure in drafting the rule and failed to “articulate a satisfactory explanation for how the rule would promote safety.”
The court said the FMCSA’s data show that nondomiciled CDL holders make up roughly 5 percent of all CDL holders but are involved in only about 0.2 percent of fatal crashes in the United States.
“FMCSA does not appear to have demonstrated any safety benefit from the rule, the county petitioner has furnished evidence that the rule would harm public safety by forcing it to replace safer experienced drivers with less-safe new drivers,” it stated.
The ruling also found that the petitioners will likely succeed in their claims that the FMCSA issued the rule without prior consultation with the states.
The agency has argued that it did not consult states because the total cost of compliance with the rule was not expected to be substantial and that such consultation was “not practicable,” according to court documents. The court rejected that argument.
Circuit Judge Karen L. Henderson dissented, noting that FMCSA had presented five recent fatal crashes involving foreign-domiciled CDL drivers—which killed 12 individuals—suggesting that an audit of their foreign driving records might have barred them from obtaining CDLs in the United States.
“These examples merely bolstered the FMCSA’s already reasonable determination that allowing CDL-holders with unverified driving histories on our roadways is unsafe,” Henderson stated.
In a statement to multiple news outlets, a DOT spokesperson said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will continue efforts to keep “unqualified, foreign drivers off American roads.”
“This is not a ruling on the merits of the case,” the spokesperson noted.
AFSCME president Lee Saunders applauded the court’s decision on Nov. 14.
“Many public service workers who provide essential services like keeping our streets clean and driving our children to school require commercial drivers’ licenses,” Saunders said in a statement.
The FMCSA posted the court’s decision on its website, noting that the interim final rule is on hold until further notice, while states facing corrective action must continue to adhere to the guidance.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) had supported the new rule.
“For too long, loopholes in this program have allowed unqualified drivers onto our highways, putting professional truckers and the motoring public at risk,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said in a statement.
The DOT took emergency action in September following a fatal crash in Florida on Aug. 12 that involved a semitruck driver who illegally entered the United States in 2018 through the southern border. The driver, identified as Harjinder Singh, obtained a commercial driver’s license in California.
The federal government has already withheld more than $40 million in funding from California after an investigation found that the state had not met federal English-language proficiency standards for truck drivers.
On Nov. 12, the DOT stated that California has revoked about 17,000 illegally issued trucking licenses, which were issued to nondomiciled CDL drivers.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/17/2025 – 19:15
Las esperanzas de playoffs de los Chiefs peligran tras otra derrota de último minuto ante Denver
Por DAVE SKRETTA
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, EE.UU. (AP) — Andy Reid intentó asumir la culpa por la última derrota de los Chiefs de Kansas City en Denver el domingo.
Patrick Mahomes trató de hacer lo mismo.
No hay necesidad de pelear por ello: había suficiente culpa para repartir.
Ahora, los Chiefs tienen un récord de 5-5 con siete juegos por jugar en la temporada regular, a tres y medio detrás de los Broncos en la División Oeste de la AFC y habiendo perdido los desempates directos tanto contra Denver como contra los Chargers en la carrera divisional.
Su racha de nueve títulos consecutivos de la AFC Oeste parece haber terminado. Y si Kansas City no logra encarrilarse pronto, también podría terminar su racha de una década de apariciones en los playoffs, que precede a los días de Mahomes como quarterback titular por tres años completos.
“Obviamente va a ser difícil volver a la carrera divisional”, dijo Mahomes después de la derrota 22-19 el domingo, la última de una serie de decepciones de último minuto. “Todo lo que puedes hacer es enfocarte en la próxima semana. Tenemos que aprender de esta lo más posible.”
Los Chiefs batallaron en zona roja, con uno de cuatro contra Denver. Convirtieron cinco de 13 ocasiones en tercera oportunidad y fallaron en su único intento en cuarto down. Mahomes lanzó una intercepción costosa y fue capturado detrás de la línea tres veces, Harrison Butker tuvo un punto extra bloqueado y los Chiefs permitieron un par de devoluciones de despeje enormes. Y cuando la defensiva necesitaba detener, los Broncos en su lugar avanzaron para el gol de campo ganador.
“Hubo decepción anoche. Lucharon con todo su corazón. Pero cometimos demasiados errores”, dijo Reid el lunes. “Estos muchachos normalmente asumen la responsabilidad de ese tipo de cosas. Tengo una buena idea de lo que los muchachos están pensando inmediatamente después de un juego, y estos muchachos son responsables de sus acciones. No señalan con el dedo ni cosas así. Eso nos va a ayudar a salir adelante.”
Mejor que lo hagan rápido. Los Colts, que con 8-2 lideran la AFC Sur, están programados para jugar en el Arrowhead Stadium el domingo.
Esa es usualmente la posición en la que están los Chiefs en esta época del año, liderando su división mientras todos los demás los persiguen. Pero en gran medida el mismo grupo de jugadores que una vez ganó un récord de la NFL de 17 juegos consecutivos por una sola anotación ha perdido cinco de ellos esta temporada, y el resultado es el peor récord en diez juegos desde que Kansas City comenzó 5-5 con Alex Smith durante la temporada 2015.
Está funcionando
Travis Kelce tuvo su mejor juego de la temporada el domingo, atrapando nueve pases para 91 yardas y un touchdown. El ala cerrada de Pro Bowl perenne ha estado callado la mayor parte de la temporada, y puede que esté despertando justo cuando los Chiefs más lo necesitan.
Necesita ayuda
Los Chiefs necesitan encontrar su instinto asesino nuevamente. En las derrotas contra los Chargers y Eagles, no pudieron recuperar el balón en los minutos finales para tener una oportunidad de ganar el juego. En las derrotas contra los Jaguars y Broncos, no pudieron evitar una anotación de ventaja cuando era demasiado tarde para superarla. Esos son el tipo de juegos que Kansas City ha ganado en años anteriores.
___
Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Texas National Guard departs Illinois
The Texas National Guard has departed Illinois, ending a futile 41-day deployment in which its soldiers spent less than 24 hours working in support of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation mission.
The troops, who had been living at a U.S. Army Reserve training center in southwest suburban Elwood, left the facility around 1 p.m. Monday, according to a memorandum obtained by the Tribune. Additionally, any military personnel not permanently assigned to the Elwood facility would leave the site by Friday, the memo stated.
In the memo, which was sent to local government officials on Monday, an official with Homeland Operations, 88th Readiness Division in Fort Sheridan, wrote that the “status of forces at the Joliet Local Training Area (JLTA), Elwood” had changed.
As of 1 p.m., “all Soldiers that were utilizing the JLTA for living accommodations have departed the property. All established support requirements with your agencies beyond your normal scope of duties may cease at this time. There will still be a small element providing access control while contracted entities remove their equipment,” the memorandum stated. Currently there is no definitive timetable for when the contractor will complete this action, however the Task Force Commander has directed that Friday will be the last day for any Military Personnel not permanently assigned to the Elwood Reserve center to be on site.”
The departure marks yet another sign that Operation Midway Blitz — the name given to Trump’s immigration crackdown — is winding down.
Last week, the Tribune reported Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, the top official on the ground leading the Trump administration’s efforts, was soon departing Chicago for another assignment, and most of the agents under this command were redeploying elsewhere. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security closed its command center at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, ending a more than two-month stay there.
About 200 Texas National Guard members arrived in the Chicago area last month over the repeated objections of Illinois officials, who rejected President Donald Trump’s pledge to deploy the military domestically in response to heated protests here. The California National Guard also had troops temporarily assigned to the area.
The Guard members, however, spent only one day protecting a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Broadview before a federal judge blocked their deployment. The judge, however, allowed the out-of-state troops to remain at the Elwood training center, where they lived in mobile bunks and could be seen practicing drills during the day.
A week after arriving, the Texas National Guard sent home seven soldiers whose fitness levels seemingly “did not meet mission requirements” for their deployment. The decision came after some soldiers were ridiculed on social media for their physical appearance upon their arrival in Illinois. Widely circulated media photographs showed heavier guardsmen at the Elwood base, prompting critics to question how the troops fit in with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s insistence that all military members must meet height and weight standards.
The troops’ stay was otherwise uneventful, as underscored by the memorandum sent to local government agencies Monday.
“I would like to thank all of you on behalf of the United States Army Reserve Homeland Operations Division for your support over the last 2 months in helping make the living area safe by providing emergency response functions and services, traffic mitigation, and decontamination coordination,” wrote Joseph Arne, an emergency management specialist with Homeland Operations. “There wasn’t ever a moment where the Task Force was concerned for Soldier safety knowing your organizations were on stand-by.”
It’s unclear how the troop departures will impact the ongoing legal battle between Illinois and the Trump administration, as the issue is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.
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While considering a motion to stay a lower court’s order blocking the deployment, the Supreme Court last month asked both sides — the Trump administration and the state of Illinois — to submit supplemental briefs dealing with a provision in federal law that Trump says allows him to dispatch National Guard troops in cases where there is an invasion, a rebellion or a time and when the president “is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”
The key issue the high court sought briefings on was whether the term “regular forces” means “the regular forces of the United States military,” and if so, how that fits into existing law involving the president’s power to order up the National Guard.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/texas-national-guard-illinois/
Daily Horoscope for November 18, 2025
General Daily Insight for November 18, 2025
Little signals carry big meaning at the moment. As witty Mercury retraces its steps into Scorpio at 10:20 PM EST, we’re reminded to revisit plans and ask patient, specific questions to stay on the right track. Later, the emotional Moon meets romantic Venus, guiding us to smooth a touchy conversation over a simple, comforting meal. We start cautious and curious, grow steadier through small edits, and end lighter, with honesty gradually healing any misunderstandings. Gentle edits today will make tomorrow’s choices much easier.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Private talks can currently clear stubborn worries. Clever Mercury revisits your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, inviting words about shared expenses and the trust behind them. Resist the urge to jump into things without double-checking everyone’s comfort levels. When you take it slow, you can have tougher chats without people freaking out (including you)! If a bill feels unfair, though, don’t hesitate to propose a more fair split. Say what you mean, because simple truth should reduce needless tension.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Partnership promises benefit from specific language. Chatty Mercury returns to your 7th House of Bonds, nudging practical talks about how you share everyday efforts in a kind, realistic way. This applies whether those “everyday efforts” are shared with a roommate, co-worker, family member, or romantic partner. Compromise is important, but you’re also allowed to have standards! The best way to navigate that balance is to ensure that if how a task is done matters, do that task yourself. Then let others handle less vital chores!
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Small systems can make today run smoother. Your 6th House of Health is under fire as mischievous Mercury revisits daily tasks, nudging you to fix confusing instructions before they trip people up. You may rewrite a handoff note for a teammate so the next step is unmistakable, or call your doctor to clarify a confusing prescription. Wins arrive when you give others a chance to catch up with your quick mind! Reminding someone now should save time they would have spent redoing their work later.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
The truth isn’t boring — it can actually be a lot of fun. Old joy wants a chance to warm your heart as Mercury rolls back into your excitement zone. You may text an apology that warms a friendship and opens the door to playful plans later this week after a busy stretch. It’s okay to set expectations low, because it’s better to enjoy a good moment instead of chasing a “perfect” one. Celebrate progress and invite warmth! Affection grows when welcomed.
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Home feels better when everyone feels heard. Mercury’s lively spirit returns to your domestic zone, prompting chatter around routines at home that make everyone comfortable each night. You may post a kitchen cleanup plan so shared spaces stay peaceful after dinner — especially for the cook! You’re capable of reminding everyone of their responsibilities without sounding bossy. Your generous spirit shines when everyone feels respected, and the house warms as you set steady rhythms. Lead gently so harmony becomes the daily habit.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
One careful message can fix multiple recent problems. Loose threads across conversations need stitches while intellectual Mercury activates your 3rd House of Communication, encouraging you to refine a message so your intent lands. For instance, you may write a parking note that sets a friendly tone and solves the confusion on the block. Your organized mind shines when you leave no guesswork, and people appreciate kindness because it makes their day flow easier. Trim words so usefulness stands front and center.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Money choices are on the table, Libra. Your financial quadrant is hosting Mercury Retrograde, boosting the importance of regular budget reviews. Keep an eye out for unnecessary fees! Perhaps you’ll cancel a trial you forgot about and feel immediate relief when the next bill date vanishes. Regardless, grace matters to you, and people reciprocate when they feel respected and kind. That means your bottom line can improve while your relationships stay friendly. Value yourself, because wise limits protect your peace.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Your voice shapes how people meet you. First impressions carry extra weight as intelligent Mercury steps into your sign, sharpening your identity. Being yourself is the best way to find success. When you tell a recruiter or leader what truly motivates you, that honesty builds trust. That said, you’re allowed to practice your truthful statements beforehand! Intensity is your superpower, and today it lands best when curiosity leads. People should love being invited to understand your nuances. Speak plainly so your strength feels welcoming.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Silence offers peace amidst today’s noise. Unfinished thoughts ask for privacy, while messenger Mercury slides into your 12th House of Solitude and Closure. If you can’t get a complex issue off your mind, try journaling out your feelings on the subject. Conversely, you may archive old emails or chat threads that stir residual anxiety. Consider taking a quiet walk alone. Rest can reset your inner compass, allowing it to guide you toward enthusiasm once more. Protect quiet moments to let yourself refill your courage.
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Team efforts are currently improving alongside your expectations. Your 11th House of Socializing takes the stage as social butterfly Mercury encourages planning with teammates, getting together with pals, and general organizing of your time. For ongoing projects, you may propose a rotating note-taker to ensure everyone knows what’s up. Whatever’s going on, be honest about your bandwidth. Avoid taking on excessive responsibility, as it’s dangerously easy to accept more than anyone could do. Once you agree on the basics, making progress shouldn’t be too hard.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Your reputation improves with thoughtful communication. Coordinated Mercury refreshes your 10th House of Visibility, inviting you to update your bio so people recognize your strengths. You may send a short status note to your manager that shows progress clearly. If you’re a regular poster online, double-check the tone of a draft post before clicking publish. Your innovative style shines brightest when framed clearly, allowing allies to rally around you because they actually understand your fresh ideas. State goals clearly to attract the support you deserve.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
A bigger view helps small choices align. Reviewing recent plans would be wise as analytical Mercury trots into your 9th House of Beliefs. Do they still align with your most recent goals? Travel plans are also under fire — don’t forget to pack all your necessary paperwork before you leave! Meanwhile, if someone starts an argument for any reason, listen closely. Your compassionate instincts travel well when paired with firm boundaries. Others are more likely to have reasonable conversations when they feel heard.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/daily-horoscope-for-november-18-2025/
Perú pedirá a Bélgica extraditar a exjuez fugado tras investigación por presunta corrupción
LIMA (AP) — Perú aprobó solicitar la extradición a Bélgica de un exjuez de la Corte Suprema quien se fugó del país sudamericano hace siete años tras ser implicado en una investigación por presunta corrupción que remeció a la élite política, empresarial y judicial.
La oficina del primer ministro Ernesto Álvarez informó el lunes en un comunicado que tras la reunión semanal de los ministros se aprobó la decisión de pedir la extradición del exjuez César Hinostroza “por la presunta comisión del delito de cohecho activo genérico” propuesta por el Ministerio de Justicia.
El Ejecutivo reafirma su “voluntad de impulsar el fortalecimiento institucional, que exige una lucha firme contra la corrupción”, se indicó en el comunicado.
Hinostroza, de 69 años, está investigado por la fiscalía por un caso que involucra a un extenso grupo que incluye a jueces, fiscales, empresarios y políticos quienes presuntamente aprovechando sus cargos se realizaban favores mutuos para ascender en la pirámide judicial y en perjuicio de los intereses públicos.
El exjuez se fugó de Perú en 2018 luego que se ordenó una prohibición de salir del país sudamericano. En España pidió asilo y alegó sufrir de persecución política para frenar su extradición, pero la justicia española le negó esa posibilidad, luego salió de España y ha sido fotografiado varias ocasiones en Bélgica.
El caso conocido localmente como “Los Cuellos Blancos”, empezó en 2018 cuando periodistas de investigación comenzaron a difundir audios obtenidos por fiscales, quienes en medio de otra investigación —por narcotráfico— descubrieron por casualidad coordinaciones entre funcionarios judiciales para realizarse favores entre sí.
La investigación también tiene efectos claves en la política de Perú. En un audio un empresario, Antonio Camayo, ligado al importante partido Fuerza Popular, dirigido por la política Keiko Fujimori, le dice a Hinostroza que “la señora K” de la “fuerza número uno” quiere reunirse con él. En 2019 Camayo le dijo a la fiscalía que “la señora K” era Keiko Fujimori.
Hinostroza iba a revisar y podía anular una incómoda investigación fiscal sobre un financiamiento de la campaña presidencial de Fujimori en 2011. El exjuez ha negado cualquier favorecimiento a Fujimori.
Chicago Blackhawks players call the 7-defensemen lineups ‘a learned skill,’ but see the positives as well
The Chicago Blackhawks have used an unusual lineup approach this season, running seven-defenseman lines for the majority of the first 18 games.
The lines have given the Hawks opportunities to experiment with different forward combinations and confuse opposing teams. There are times when a 12th forward would’ve helped, but overall it’s been a success in the Hawks’ 9-5-4 start.
Connor Bedard has 26 points this season while seeing a variety of linemates like André Burakovsky, Ryan Greene, Tyler Bertuzzi and others. The offense has ramped up overall as they average 3.28 goals for per game, seventh in the NHL.
The forwards are getting the goods with one less position player, but what about the defensemen? An extra skater on their side means at least one defenseman will get the short end of the playing time stick.
Sam Rinzel skated for 11:29 in the Hawks’ overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils. During the road trip, Connor Murphy’s ice time was as high as 13:41 (at Detroit Red Wings) and as low as 8:30 (at Seattle Kraken).
It’s an adjustment for sure, one that even the consistent defensemen are feeling — but they are also seeing the benefits.
“It’s a chemistry thing (and) getting used to who you’re out there with,” defenseman Alex Vlasic said. “It allows for variability (and) change within the lineup.
“You can put whoever you want out there with each other. The coaches are trying to figure out the lineups that they want too, so that gives them the ability to mix things up.”
It applies less to Vlasic than to other defensemen, but when they get less playing time, it can take a mental toll. Artyom Levshunov needed to take a game off to regroup this year, and Rinzel was a healthy scratch Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
When they’re next in line for fewer minutes, the defensemen come up with methods to get involved off the ice. Having this effect, though, takes some time.
“You find ways to stay in the game on the bench,” defenseman Wyatt Kaiser said. “It’s a learned skill, just like anything in hockey.
“Take a guy who’s used to playing a ton of minutes and now he’s playing less minutes, it can be tough to adjust right away because you’re (used to) going and playing hockey. Now it’s ‘how do I stay in the game?’”
Hawks coach Jeff Blashill has noted the cons of running seven-defensemen lineups, including a change of the rhythm among the lines. “I wouldn’t say there’s no rhythm, but it’s a different rhythm,” he said.
It has also earned them a 9-5-4 record, so the 11-7 lineup won’t be abandoned anytime soon. As the season goes on, the defenseman will likely come to learn and excel with seven.
“If you’re not put out there as much, you have a little bit more time to sit there and kind of think about the mistakes you might have made or the shift that you had,” Vlasic said. “It can definitely be a little bit challenging when you’re not getting as many minutes.
“But like I said, I think when everybody’s right around the same level of minutes, it allows everybody to have more energy.”
Practice notes
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno headbutts a puck into the net during warmups before a game against the Seattle Kraken on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Team captain Nick Foligno (hand/wrist) was officially placed on injured reserve on Monday after blocking a shot in the second period on Saturday against the Maple Leafs.
Jason Dickinson remains on IR, but has said that he wants to take time to be 100 percent before he returns. The forward regrets pushing through his unclosed injury and said that it “gave up” on him in the Hawks’ 6-3 road loss at the Winnipeg Jets.
“It definitely was something that I should have been a little bit more cautious,” Dickinson said. “There was no way I could keep going.”
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The Foligno roster move means the Hawks’ team captain and assistant captain are on IR. Connor Murphy, the other assistant captain, is the only healthy skater with a captain’s patch.
Dickinson said that Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar have impressed him with their leadership skills. In essence, they should be able to fill the shoes of him and Foligno while they heal.
“They’ve taken (it) on their shoulders to say, ‘I’m gonna win games for us’ night after night,” Dickinson said. “That leadership has been nice to see because it’s growth.”
Goaltender Laurent Brossoit was on the ice prior to practice as he eases toward a team debut. He missed the entire 2024-25 campaign with a knee injury and underwent hip surgery in the offseason.
His last game action came in 2023-24, where he had a 15-5-2 record, a .927 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA with the Jets. He signed a two-year, $6.6 million contract with the Hawks in 2024, but has yet to play a game for his new team.
“He says he feels good to be honest with you,” Blashill said. “He’s excited to be back and have the opportunity to be around more shooters and start to get from a really controlled environment into a little less controlled environment.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/chicago-blackhawks-seven-defensemen-lineups/
A $22 million pediatric health care facility taking shape in Austin neighborhood will address unmet needs
Austin community residents, civic leaders and developers celebrated on Monday at a beam-raising event for the Austin HOPE Center, a $22 million development that will provide pediatric health care services hard to find on the Chicago’s West Side.
Builders plan to complete the 25,000-square-foot, three-story facility at 5036 W. Chicago Ave. by late summer 2026. It’s the culmination of a yearslong effort to identify and address unmet health care needs in the Austin neighborhood, where life expectancy is far lower than in the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods.
“During the pandemic, I saw an uptick in trauma and a mental health crisis,” said the Rev. Contrell Jenkins, CEO of Stone Community Development Corp. and pastor of Lively Stone M.B. Church. He knew several young people who either committed suicide or fell victim to violence and substance abuse. “I was doing what I could on the spiritual side, but as a pastor I began to feel overwhelmed and underequipped.”
Jenkins forged partnerships with developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. All primary health care providers in Austin were surveyed, along with many community residents, to find out which services were not locally available at affordable rates.
“What you can’t do as an academic institution like ourselves is go into a community and tell them what to do,” said Dr. Tom Shanley, president and CEO of Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “The fine-tuning of the clinical programming was dictated by the community, and even the design of the building itself was formed by the community.”
Most needed were pediatric specialty care services, especially mental health care, behavioral health and clinics to address chronic conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure and sickle cell disease, Jenkins said. Young Austin residents, ranging from sixth graders to high school seniors, were deeply involved in designing the space, even choosing its color scheme and name.
“We wanted to make sure they would take personal ownership of the space, and that’s what happened,” Jenkins said.
Life expectancy in Austin is seven years lower than the citywide average, and nearly 16 years less than the Loop, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health’s Chicago Health Atlas. Hospitalizations for preventable conditions are more than twice as high for neighborhoods such as Austin as compared with affluent neighborhoods, the department found.
“Right now, your ZIP code means more to your health outcomes than your genetic code, and that’s a sad statement,” Shanley said. But Austin HOPE Center will help people manage chronic disease, and “that will start generationally to have an impact. We’re going to make sure we do our part.”
The center will also include a full-service Wintrust Bank branch, spaces for educational programs and administrative offices for Thresholds’ community-based mental health services for adults. Stone CDC will own the property and lease space to Lurie and Thresholds.
“It’s great to see this level of investment going into Austin, especially because it’s in response to the specific needs of the community,” said David Doig, president of Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives. “I lived in Austin for about 20 years, and I can tell you this is one of the single largest investments into the community in decades.”
Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives helped arrange financing for Austin HOPE Center, including a $5 million grant from the city and private financing through New Market Tax Credits.
Other recent major neighborhood investments include the opening of Forty Acres Fresh Market at 5713 W. Chicago Ave., which bills itself as Chicago’s only Black-owned grocery store, the transformation of a former school at 5500 W. Madison St. into the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation and the redevelopment of the historic Mars Wrigley factory site.
Doig said he hopes the new investments will spur job creation and eventually help reverse Austin’s decades-long population decline.
“For too long, Austin residents have paid more — financially and emotionally — for the same basic health services others take for granted,” said Ald. Emma Mitts, 37th.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/austin-hope-center-healthcare/
Broadview mayor declares civil emergency after reported death, bomb threats
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson signed a declaration of civil emergency after a series of reported threats against the village and its elected officials through the course of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, the village announced in a news release Monday.
With the declaration, Village Board meetings will be held remotely, starting with a meeting scheduled Monday night.
The announcement comes after two Broadview police officers were injured in a skirmish Friday during a protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs processing center in Broadview that resulted in 21 arrests.
According to the village’s release, Broadview received a bomb threat against its municipal building over the phone Sept. 4. A month and a half later, the village further stated, a death threat was made against Thompson on Oct. 13. The FBI has been notified of the threat against Thompson, the village said.
In response to questions about the reported threat, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Chicago field office wrote in an emailed statement to the Tribune, “While Department of Justice policy prevents the FBI from commenting on the nature of investigations that may or may not be occurring, we take all potential threats seriously.”
Threats further escalated over the weekend after a group of “out-of-town protesters, non-Broadview residents, attempted to storm Village Hall and explicitly threatened to ‘shut down’” Monday’s board meeting, the village’s release said, citing the Broadview Police Department.
Officers face protesters after 21 people were arrested earlier in the day at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility in Broadview on Nov. 14, 2025. Two Broadview police officers were injured in the skirmish Friday. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
“Since ICE’s Midway Blitz and the subsequent, intensifying protests began, the serious and credible bomb and death threats and the threat to disrupt village government has left me with no alternative but to declare a civil emergency in Broadview,” Thompson said in a statement.
Since the launch of Operation Midway Blitz, which sources said last week could be winding down, protesters have held near-daily demonstrations at Broadview’s ICE processing center, thrusting the tiny suburb into the national spotlight. In the wake of Friday’s protest, during which one Illinois State Police trooper and a Cook County sheriff’s deputy were also hurt, Thompson in a statement, called the injuries to officers “outrageous.”
Per the village’s release Monday, the injured Broadview police officers were transported to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for treatment and have been released but are now sidelined due to their injuries.
“I will not allow threats of violence or intimidation to disrupt the essential function of our government, and I will not allow other elected officials, village hall staff or residents to be placed in harm’s way,” Thompson said.
Thompson’s executive order declares that until she deems “the emergency no longer imminent,” regularly scheduled board meetings will be held remotely and accessed publicly through YouTube livestream.
The order also comes as the Department of Homeland Security announces the launch of “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” the agency’s latest immigration sweep targeting Charlotte, North Carolina.
On Friday, DHS closed its command center at the Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, ending a two-month-plus stay. However, it was not immediately clear what the closing of the command center meant for the future of federal immigration enforcement operations in Lake County and the rest of the Chicago area.
Meanwhile, The Associated Press reported Monday that hundreds of National Guard troops deployed to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, are being sent home and that those who remain will continue to stay off the streets amid court battles over their domestic mission by the Trump administration.
Chicago Tribune’s Madeline Buckley, Lake County News-Sun freelancer Steve Sadin and The Associated Press contributed.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/broadview-emergency-immigration-blitz-chicago/
Threats Of Sanctions, Economic Warfare, As Japan-China Relations Sink To Decades Low
Threats Of Sanctions, Economic Warfare, As Japan-China Relations Sink To Decades Low
China and Japan are experiencing their most intense diplomatic tensions in years after Beijing issued economic warnings in response to recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about a potential Taiwan conflict. As we featured previously, Takaichi had suggested that any Chinese use of force against Taiwan could be considered a “situation threatening Japan’s survival” – which could justify Tokyo supporting allied nations in defense of the self-ruled island.
Beijing reacted swiftly, with a Chinese state broadcaster over the weekend having cautioned that the country is “fully prepared for concrete countermeasures,” which could include sanctions, trade repercussions, and even the suspension of all diplomatic or military engagement – as cited in Bloomberg. All of this comes after NATO scrapped highly provocative plans to open a ‘NATO office’ in Japan.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
Takaichi is only a month in office, and became the first Japanese leader in decades to publicly raise the Taiwan Strait crisis alongside the possible deployment of Japanese troops.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Monday repeated Beijing’s demand for a full retraction and apology. She called on Japan to “Stop crossing the line and playing with fire, retract the wrongful remarks and deeds and honor its commitments to China with real action.”
She further declared there is “no space” for ambiguity on what China sees as its territory. She further explained, “China has made its serious position clear several times on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s wrongful remarks on Taiwan.” She added: “The remarks seriously violate the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and cause fundamental damage to the political foundation of China-Japan relations.”
Bloomberg has cited one regional analyst who says a full severing of relations is likely not on the agenda:
“Although China’s reaction has been very strong so far, it’s very calculated,” said Rui Aoyama, a professor of Japan-China relations at Waseda University in Tokyo. “China is aiming to deal a blow to Japan’s economy, but I don’t think there’s an intention to cut ties.”
Yet this will be a serious test for Takaichi, and there could be painful economic repercussions for Japan just around the corner.
Already last week China urged its nationals not to travel to Japan, and summoned the Japanese ambassador to Beijing to condemn Takaichi’s remarks.
State media ramping up the trolling and attacks…
“Learning from” mistakes of the past.#militarism #Japan #history #SanaeTakaichi pic.twitter.com/FMpuzU9yXh
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 17, 2025
The situation then turned into a tit-for-tat of outrage. Fox example Japan has been most angered at a social media post issued a week ago by China’s consul general in the Japanese city of Osaka, Xue Jian. He had shared article about Takaichi’s parliamentary remarks on X with his own words, “the dirty head that sticks itself in must be cut off.” Tokyo quickly lodged its own diplomatic protest over the “high inappropriate” commentary.
But China has still maintained all of this ultimately stems from the “extremely wrong and dangerous” words of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi related to defending Taiwan.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 11/17/2025 – 18:50
What we learned from the Chicago Bears, including why Ben Johnson isn’t talking about the playoffs
The Chicago Bears sit alone in first place in the NFC North after the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.
At 7-3, the Bears are ahead of the Green Bay Packers (6-3-1) and the Lions (6-4), but Ben Johnson isn’t ready to start talking about the playoffs yet. That’s not how the first-year coach operates.
Week 11 photos: Chicago Bears 19, Minnesota Vikings 17
Johnson spoke with the media Monday, one day after his team came from behind for a dramatic 19-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Here are four takeaways from Johnson’s session.
1. Ben Johnson isn’t talking about the playoffs yet.
After Sunday’s game, Johnson said his team and coaching staff are “not even looking at that” when asked about the standings.
The Bears have a much tougher slate of opponents coming up, but they’ve positioned themselves well to remain in the playoff hunt down the stretch. The Bears currently would own the No. 3 seed in the NFC, behind only the Eagles and Los Angeles Rams (both 8-2).
But seven games is a long time in an NFL season. A lot can change between now and January. Asked again Monday about where his team stands, Johnson reiterated his point.
“We’re way far away from that,” he said. “I haven’t even been thinking about that. We’re still in the third quarter of the season. That’s really where we’re focused on. We set goals once we hit the halfway mark and once we make it through the three-quarter mark, then we’ll start shifting our focus.
“We’re in a good spot right now for where we want to be this quarter of the season.”
Johnson breaks the season into four quarters and sets goals for each quarter. His team hit its 3-1 mark in the second quarter. The Bears aren’t ready to start thinking about the fourth quarter yet.
2. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores blitzed at a crazy rate.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is sacked by Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner in the second half Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Flores is the NFL’s unquestioned king of the blitz. His Vikings defense leads the NFL in blitz rate this season (37.6%) and led the league in each of his previous two seasons in Minnesota.
Any quarterback knows he’s going to face a healthy number of blitzes from a Flores-led defense.
That said, Flores kicked it up to another level Sunday. The Vikings sent an extra rusher at quarterback Caleb Williams on 66.7% of the plays, by far the highest rate Williams has seen this season. Per Next Gen Stats, it was the second-highest blitz rate by any team in a game this season.
When the Bears and Vikings squared off in Week 1, Flores blitzed on what now looks like a relatively modest 37.2% of plays.
“The interesting thing was not just the percentage, because it was completely different than Week 1 … but also the type of pressures that he was bringing,” Johnson said. “(It) was a lot of (cornerback blitzes), which he hadn’t shown a ton of. So I thought we recognized it fairly early, and we did the best we could as a staff and as players to make our adjustments to it.”
3. Caleb Williams missed two early deep shots.
Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze, defended by Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, can’t catch an overthrown ball by quarterback Caleb Williams in the first quarter Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
On each of the Bears’ first two offensive possessions, Johnson called deep shots on third down. Both times Williams missed his target and the Bears were forced to punt.
The first was to Rome Odunze, while the second targeted DJ Moore. Both were overthrows. The deep pass to Odunze on the first possession was just out of reach.
“Sometimes that happens early in the game when you take a deep shot,” Johnson said. “You’re not quite in a rhythm yet and that can get away from you. I wasn’t too terribly disappointed by it.”
On the second one, Moore had his man beat by a step or two and Williams sailed the throw by about 4 or 5 yards. Johnson said he thinks Williams would like to have that one back.
“It’s something we’re going to continue to work on,” Johnson said. “That stuff doesn’t just happen overnight. That’s a work in progress. And that’s been the case everywhere I’ve been, so I’m not concerned about that at all.”
Per NFL Pro, Williams is 12-for-41 on throws that travel 20 or more yards beyond the line of scrimmage. He’s throwing it deep on 12.6% of his pass attempts this season.
4. The Bears have 3 of the NFL’s top 4 interception leaders.
Bears safety Kevin Byard III intercepts the ball in the second quarter against the Vikings on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The takeaways just keep coming for the Bears defense. As a team, they lead the NFL with 22 takeaways, including a league-leading 15 interceptions. Their plus-16 turnover margin is tops in the league too.
In Sunday’s win, it was safety Kevin Byard III and cornerback Nahshon Wright who came down with interceptions thrown by Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Entering “Monday Night Football,” the Bears had three of the league’s top four in interceptions playing for their defense.
Byard stands alone atop the NFL with five interceptions through Week 11. Wright and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds both have four, tied with Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd.
“They do a great job with their ball skills, being able to make those into interceptions,” Johnson said. “The length of those guys certainly helps, between (Wright) and Tremaine in particular. They’re really long-limbed and that gives them a natural advantage there. And (Byard’s) got some of the best instincts I’ve been around at that safety position.”
For Byard, this is the fourth time in 10 NFL seasons that he has totaled at least five interceptions. He has two other seasons with four, although this is the first time since 2022 that he has multiple interceptions. Last year, his first with the Bears, he had only one. Byard has 34 career interceptions.
Wright, who wasn’t even supposed to be a starter for this team, had only one career interception before this season. Sunday’s pick came just days after his college coach was shot and killed in California.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/17/ben-johnson-chicago-bears-playoffs/
