All District U-46 elementary schools will start at the same time and middle schools five minutes later than they do now when the next school year starts in August.

The changes were announced in a memo sent by U-46 Deputy Superintendent of Operations Kyle VonSchnase to staff, parents and community Monday and presented to the U-46 School Board at its Monday night meeting.

Adjustments are needed to ensure on-time bus arrivals and to reduce delays, VonSchnase said.

This academic year, the district extended the school day for elementary students by 20 minutes. Under the current schedule, half of the 38 elementary schools have classes from 7:50 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. and the other half are in school from 8:20 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

The 2026-27 school year will have all elementary schools starting classes at 7:55 a.m. and ending at 2:15 p.m. Middle school students will be in session from 9:05 a.m. to 3:41 p.m. — five minutes later than this year.

There will be no change for high school students, who start at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:55 p.m.

VonSchnase’s memo also included a reminder that the school calendar has been adjusted to accommodate the various construction projects going on throughout the district. The first day of school will be Thursday, Aug. 27, about two weeks later than normal.

Provided no emergency days are used, the last day of school will be Wednesday, June 9, 2027. This year classes will end Friday, May 29, one day later than scheduled because the district needed to use a snow day earlier in the year.

The memo also reminds families that early registration is now open and that registration as soon as possible will help the district plan for 2026-27 school year.

At Monday’s board meeting, Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Lela Majstorovic said that the district is seeing strong early engagement.

“Currently over 30% of our projected 884 known kindergarten students have already registered through early registration,” Majstorovic said. “We anticipate that number will continue to grow as we move toward districtwide registration opening.”

Registration begins Wednesday, April 1. All schools will hold events and provide scheduled appointments to offer assistance, she said.

Detailed bus route information will be available through the district’s online Infinite Campus Portal by Monday, Aug. 24. The transportation department is analyzing routes based on updated attendance boundaries and enrollment data, with a focus on efficiency, safety and reasonable ride times, VonSchnase’s memo said.

To register for the coming school year, parents and guardians should call 847-888-5000, Ext. 5715 (English) or Ext. 5016 (Spanish), or go online at u-46.org/registration. Instructional fees are not yet being collected.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/all-u-46-elementary-schools-to-start-at-755-a-m-when-new-year-begins-aug-27/ 

Por JAY COHEN

GLENDALE, Arizona, EE.UU. (AP) — La cantidad de dobles y triples en las Grandes Ligas ha mermado y el mánager Dave Roberts cree saber a dónde se fueron… al menos algunos.

Por encima de la cerca.

“Creo que los jugadores persiguen la velocidad de salida y el ángulo de lanzamiento, así que eso no se presta a pelotas que caen en los huecos o ajustadas a las líneas”, explicó el piloto de los Dodgers de Los Ángeles, reinante campeones de las mayores. “Así que creo que ese es el meollo del asunto para mí”.

Aunque los sencillos y los jonrones aumentaron en las Grandes Ligas el año pasado, la cantidad de dobles y triples siguió disminuyendo. Se conectaron 7.745 dobles en el 2025, por debajo de los 7.771 del 2024 y de los 8.254 de hace una década, en 2016, según Sportradar. Los triples se redujeron a 628, en comparación con 697 en 2024 y 873 en 2016.

En un esfuerzo por generar más acción en las bases, las Grandes Ligas cambiaron sus reglas antes de la campaña 2023 e hicieron las bases más grandes. Ese mismo año hubo un aumento de dobles, triples y robos, antes de que los dobles y triples retomaran su tendencia a la baja.

Probablemente eso significa menos de un momento particularmente emocionante en un juego de béisbol, cuando la multitud se inclina hacia adelante al unísono y vitorea con anticipación mientras un jugador corre hacia segunda o tercera observando la bola.

“Supongo que podrías decir que sí, que se pierde algo, pero creo que también se gana en otras cosas”, explicó Andrew Benintendi, el jardinero de los Medias Blancas de Chicago. “A la gente le gustan los jonrones y más oportunidades de robo de base”.

La caída de los dobles y triples puede atribuirse a diversos factores, empezando por el posicionamiento defensivo.

Aunque el paquete de reglas de 2023 incluyó limitaciones a los cambios defensivos en el infield, no existen restricciones similares para los jardineros. Y a menudo juegan más profundos para protegerse de los batazos de extra base, ayudados por tarjetas que guardan en los bolsillos traseros y que detallan las tendencias de un bateador.

“Cuando yo jugaba, era como que querías jugar corto para quitar los sencillos, pero hoy en día juegas para evitar el daño, y por eso los jardines juegan considerablemente más profundos de lo que solían”, señaló Roberts.

Nolan Arenado lo recuerda como si hubiera sido ayer. El ocho veces All-Star jugaba para San Luis el 23 de mayo de 2022, cuando registró la mayor velocidad de salida de su carrera: una línea de 111,4 mph en un lanzamiento 1-1 de José Berríos, el derecho puertorriqueño de Toronto, en la parte baja de la segunda entrada. La pelota pasó por encima de la cabeza del campocorto Bo Bichette antes de que el jardinero central Bradley Zimmer la cortara.

“Sí. Sencillo. Y sabes, hace unos años eso probablemente habría sido un doble automático”, indicó Arenado, quien fue traspasado a Arizona en enero. “Así que esa fue la primera vez que realmente me di cuenta. La alineación defensiva lo cambia todo. Sabes que de verdad tienes que pegar una pelota al hueco o tienes que pegarla pegada a la línea para conseguir dobles”.

Las dimensiones de los estadios también han influido. Los Mets de Nueva York han hecho múltiples cambios al Citi Field desde que abrió en 2009, acercando las cercas para hacer el parque más favorable a los bateadores. Los Tigres de Detroit modificaron los jardines en Comerica Park antes de la temporada de 2023, bajando las paredes y acercándolas en algunas zonas. Los Reales de Kansas City hicieron algunos ajustes en el estadio Kauffman este año.

Citi Field y el Yankee Stadium son dos de los parques menos favorables de las Grandes Ligas en lo que respecta a dobles y triples, según la tabla de factores de parque de Statcast. Globe Life Field, que abrió en 2020, también figura entre los 10 peores en cada categoría al combinar los tres años anteriores.

Son 325 pies por la línea del jardín derecho en el Great American Ball Park de Cincinnati. El “porche corto” del jardín derecho en el Yankee Stadium está a 314 pies del home. El Tropicana Field de Tampa Bay, que reabre esta temporada, tiene 315 pies por la línea del jardín izquierdo y 322 hacia el derecho.

Los jardineros de las Grandes Ligas también son más atléticos que antes, lo que reduce las pelotas que antes rodaban hasta la pared, lo que derivaba en bases extra.

“Ahora, si eres un negativo a la defensiva, tienes que batear a un nivel ridículamente alto para siquiera ser un jugador titular”, explicó Nico Hoerner, segunda base de los Cachorros de Chicago. “Así que, en este punto, simplemente no hay muchos jugadores que sean negativos a la defensiva”.

___

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/dobles-y-triples-bajan-en-mlb-la-culpa-es-de-los-jardineros-y-mejores-bateadores/ 

A series of snowstorms in January and February prompted the Portage City Council to replenish the street department’s coffers.

Storms always seemed to come on holidays and weekends, Mayor Bonta said, instead of when snowplow drivers were already on the clock.

The council voted Tuesday to shift $350,000 from local income tax money set aside last year. It puts a big dent in the $1.2 the city had saved.

“It wasn’t money that was appropriated for this year’s budget, so it was kind of like an unofficial savings account,” Bonta said.

When the 2026 budget was adopted, Bonta and Clerk-Treasurer Liz Modesto warned about the tight budget not leaving much wiggle room. “The MVH (motor vehicle highway) budget has been drained by the storms so far,” Bonta said.

Shifting that $350,000 to the street department should be enough to get by until June, when the next property tax revenue arrives.

Modesto recently submitted the city’s annual financial report. The city didn’t carry over as much money as anticipated, but she’s optimistic.

“With the changes in public works, we hope to have a bright future.”

Those changes include amending the contract for unionized laborers to have them all under the public works umbrella, with some assigned to the street department and some to the parks department.

Tracie Marshall, previously the utilities superintendent, becomes the general superintendent of public works.

Councilwoman Gina Giese-Hurst, D-1, whose husband is a city employee, abstained from that vote.

“We’re essentially making history to create a new city department,” Bonta said.

That’s just one of the historic moves to reshape city government this year. The council also voted to eliminate the Port Authority, which has overseen the Sammie L. Maletta Public Marina.

“It sounds dramatic, dissolving a government entity,” Bonta said, but the Port Authority’s duties can be shifted to other entities. The Stormwater Board can deal with clearing snags in Burns Waterway, and the park department can maintain and operate the marina.

Councilman Ferdinand Alvarez, D-At-large, has been the council’s liaison to the Port Authority for several years. “I’ve learned more about fish cleaning stations and more so than I can ever hope to know,” he said.

Alvarez sees a greater financial benefit in having the park department control it. The Park Board can issue bonds, something that was impractical for the Port Authority.

“I think the functionality of the Port Authority will be better maintained by the park department,” Alvarez said. He complimented acting park superintendent Barb Lusco, who has long served as the marina’s harbormaster.

The council also approved a resolution voicing concerns about NIPSCO’s transparency regarding utility bills.

“This is a nonbinding resolution. It doesn’t have the weight of law,” Bonta said.

Among the long string of whereases, the resolution says, “Greater billing transparency – through mandatory, detailed line-item breakdowns of delivery charge components, including separate identification of major tracking mechanisms – would enhance public accountability, empower informed consumer decision-making and advocacy, foster trust in regulated utilities and align with broader statewide efforts to address utility affordability and consumer protection.”

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which sets NIPSCO’s rates, has announced it plans to investigate high utility bills from NIPSCO and other regulated utilities.

“I think this is an excellent idea,” Councilman Bob Parnell, R-2, said of the city’s resolution, with residents’ budgets deeply impacted by sharp bill increases.

“I know people that their NIPSCO bills have gone from $200 a month to $700 or $800,” he said. “I think NIPSCO ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

Councilwoman Penny Ambler, R-4, a NIPSCO employee, abstained from both the discussion and the vote.

Modesto thanked the Lake County Council, which approved the resolution last month, for forwarding it. She pledged to share it with other local governments in Porter and Lake counties and likely elsewhere in Indiana.

Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/storms-drain-portages-highway-dollars-council-passes-nipsco-resolution/ 

White House Crypto Advisor Counters Jamie Dimon’s Stablecoin Yield Logic

Tyler Durden
Thu, 03/05/2026 – 14:10

https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/white-house-crypto-advisor-counters-jamie-dimons-stablecoin-yield-logic 

The Naperville City Council wants to know its energy source options and the deadlines it’s facing as it works to lock in the city’s future electricity supply.

While the current contract with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency doesn’t expire until 2035, council members Tuesday directed staff to give them a timetable and options as they decide on how they will proceed. They also plan to have a discussion in which they set long-term energy goals.

“We cannot afford to drift through this process,” said Mayor Scott Wehrli, emphasizing the need for “a clear road map that identifies the drop-dead dates for evaluating IMEA, advancing alternatives, reviewing transmission and capacity risks, and understanding when delays start to cost us leverage, options and ultimately money.”

The call for a timeline comes after the council halted contract extension negotiations last month with IMEA, causing some Naperville residents and council members to wonder where the city goes from here.

“I also want to note that while council voted to pause negotiations with IMEA, that vote did not pause the markets, regulatory change or the timeline that we are up against. The clock is still moving,” Wehrli said.

IMEA, the joint action agency that currently provides the city with its electricity, had requested the city extend its contract to 2055, something to which 29 of its 32 member municipalities have already agreed. Among the reasons some are opposed to continuing with IMEA is its reliance on coal-generated power.

Contract renewal discussions have been ongoing for nearly two years, and in August the council voted to negotiate independently with IMEA on a number of provisions for a potential future contract rather than proceed with the extension set forward by IMEA.

Those negotiations were paused last month, although the council could decide to resume them should it so desire.

At Tuesday’s meeting, council members were supportive of receiving a timeline that includes critical decision dates. Several emphasized that they want to better understand the city’s options for electricity sources outside of IMEA.

“For me, specifically, I want to see non-IMEA options,” Councilwoman Supna Jain said. “I think we know IMEA and we’ve kind of discussed that and gotten to a point where there wasn’t a meeting of minds, despite a lot of resources and time being dedicated to it.”

On top of that, the council agreed that more clearly defined goals and a broader vision for the city’s electricity future should be considered as part of the process.

“To my knowledge, no one’s ever said, ‘Hey, the city’s goal is to cut carbon emissions by 10% or 15%, or the city’s goal is to make sure prices don’t go up by more than 5%. These aren’t super hard concepts, but right now … (we) don’t even know what we want,” Councilman Ian Holzhauer said.

Assessing electricity options without clearly defined goals, he said, was like “going to a car dealer and saying, ‘I have no idea what type of car I want. You tell me what are the three best options for me and I’ll consider that.’”

City staff will return to future council meetings with a timeline and electricity options for Naperville beyond 2035. A workshop outside of regular council meetings will also be held to determine the city’s electricity goals.

cstein@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/naperville-electricity-deadlines-goals-council-imea/ 

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — El presidente Donald Trump informó que está reemplazando a su cuestionada secretaria de Seguridad Nacional, Kristi Noem, y que nominará en su lugar al senador republicano de Oklahoma Markwayne Mullin.

Trump hizo el anuncio en redes sociales el jueves, dos días después que Noem enfrentara un duro interrogatorio en el Capitolio por parte de miembros del Partido Republicano, así como de demócratas.

Trump señala que designará a Noem como “Enviada Especial para The Shield of the Americas”, una nueva iniciativa de seguridad que, afirmó, se centrará en el hemisferio occidental.

Noem es la primera secretaria del gabinete en dejar el cargo durante el segundo mandato de Trump. La salida de Noem pone fin a un periodo turbulento al frente de tácticas de control migratorio que han sido recibidas con protestas y demandas.

___

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/trump-anuncia-que-reemplazar-a-noem-al-frente-de-seguridad-nacional-por-senador-mullin/ 

Resident Dana Triber said she and her husband built their dream home in Hobart, but may have to move out of town if plans for a future data center go forward.

Health concerns for Triber, who has multiple sclerosis, are at the top of her list.

Triber told the Hobart Board of Works on Wednesday she is opposed to a data center planned by Amazon for several reasons, including the possibility of contamination of wells, the increased traffic the project will bring and concerns about her health and well-being.

“We will have to leave Hobart…I feel we hit the unlucky lottery,” Triber said.

Triber was one of 15 residents who filed a notice of appeal in regard to a fill permit approved Feb. 5 by the Hobart Plan Commission.

That number includes residents Susan and Vance Thompson, who were the first to file a notice of appeal on Feb. 13.

The other filings, by 14 of the residents, were approved at a special Hobart Plan Commission meeting held on Feb. 26 and forwarded to the public board of works meeting on Wednesday.

Those 14 appeals were filed by: Barbara Koteles, Albina Venegas-Roman, Matt Turner, Dana Triber, Kermit Deel, Maria and Tony McWhorter, Elizabeth and Dominic Gagliardi, Eric Morris/Morris Law Group on behalf of Stone Meadow LLC, Ginger Mikolics/Stone Meadow LLC, Angelits Soriano, Joseph Conn, Jennifer McQuade, Sally and Dick Pavel and Erin Yanz.

The fill permit request approved was for 605 acres eyed by Amazon for a future data center referred to as Hobart Tech Park.

Hobart City Attorney Heather McCarthy, at the end of the meeting on Wednesday, said a decision on all 15 appeals, including that of the Thompsons, would be determined and read at the next board of works meeting.

Those residents who can not attend the meeting will be transmitted the findings, McCarthy said.

Susan Thompson, who came before the board of works on Feb. 18, didn’t mince words when she spoke of her opposition to the proposed data center.

“I think we are being thrown to the wolves, over money,” Thompson said at the earlier meeting.

Thompson, who lives in the 5500 block of East 73rd Avenue, south of the proposed data center, echoed the concerns heard Wednesday, including property values, safety, the status of underground wells and noise pollution.

Elizabeth Gagliardi, who lives in the 6700 block of Lincolnway, was concerned for fellow farmers in the area.

She and her husband, Dominic Gagliardi, operate the Excelsior Equestrian Center in Hobart.

Both she and her husband filed the appeal because of concerns about the possibility of dwindling water supplies.

Gagliardi said city officials have told them that they can tie into city water instead of wells, but the expense would force them and other farms in the area to go out of business.

“Our paradise is 1 1/2 miles away,” Gagliardi said.

Dozens of residents spoke at the packed Hobart High School auditorium on Feb. 5, where the plan commission meeting was held and the fill permit request was approved.

The overwhelming majority at that meeting voiced their disapproval to the plan commission, citing similar concerns to those of Susan Thompson and those who spoke at Wednesday’s board of works meeting.

The plan commission at its Feb. 5 meeting voted 5-3 to approve the fill permit request from Todd Huntington of Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, who spoke briefly before the vote to answer commission questions.

Those voting against the proposal were members Stuart Allen, Lloyd Emig and Matthew SeDoris.

Those voting for the proposal were Dan Schultz, Mark Kara, Maria Galka, David Vinzant and city engineer and member Alex Metz.

The approval on Feb. 5 of the fill permit allows the moving of dirt only on the property located south of 61st Avenue, east of Colorado Street and north of 69th Avenue, said Maria Galka, who chairs the plan commission and who sits on the board of works.

The next step in the process will include the presentation of a site plan, which will include environmental impact and the presentation of other pertinent studies, plan commission member and City Councilman Mark Kara said after the Feb. 5 meeting.

Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun has called the $47 million upfront cash payment Hobart received late in January “record-breaking.”

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/hobart-data-center-concerns-fill-board-of-works-meeting/ 

Por LISA MASCARO y KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — El presidente de la Cámara de Representantes Mike Johnson y el liderazgo del Partido Republicano pidieron al representante Tony Gonzales abandonar su campaña para la reelección, después de que admitiera haber tenido una aventura con una exasistente posteriormente se suicidó.

El liderazgo republicano anunció su decisión el jueves, un día después de que Gonzales, republicano por Texas, reconociera una relación que ha afectado al mundo político en su estado natal y en Washington, y después de que el Comité de Ética de la Cámara anunciara una investigación sobre su conducta.

“Lo hemos alentado a abordar directamente estas acusaciones tan graves con sus electores y sus colegas”, declararon en un comunicado Johnson, el líder de la mayoría Steve Scalise, el director de disciplina Tom Emmer y la presidenta de la Conferencia Republicana, Lisa McClain.

“Mientras tanto, el liderazgo ha pedido al congresista Gonzales que se retire de su contienda por la reelección”.

Johnson, republicano por Luisiana, ha estado bajo una enorme presión de sus propios legisladores para que tome medidas, y varios republicanos ya han pedido que Gonzales se haga a un lado. La representante Anna Paulina Luna, republicana por Florida, ha presentado dos resoluciones para castigar a Gonzales. La primera busca retirarlo de sus asignaciones en los comités de Asignaciones y de Seguridad Nacional mientras que la segunda busca censurarlo.

Los líderes republicanos, sin embargo, no pidieron la renuncia de Gonzales, en momentos en que se aferran a una estrecha mayoría en la Cámara.

Su decisión se produjo después de que Gonzales, durante una aparición en el “Joe Pags Show”, fue preguntado si había tenido una relación con la asesora, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles.

Santos-Aviles, de 35 años, murió después de prenderse fuego en el patio trasero de su casa en Uvalde, Texas. Las autoridades determinaron que se suicidó.

“Cometí un error y tuve un lapsus de juicio, y hubo una falta de fe, y asumo toda la responsabilidad por esas acciones”, expresó Gonzales.

El congresista, que ahora está en su tercer mandato, hasta ahora se ha negado a renunciar pese a las acusaciones, y recientemente les comentó a reporteros que habrá oportunidades para que salgan a la luz todos los detalles y los hechos.

Gonzales, padre de seis hijos, ganó por primera vez su escaño en 2020 tras retirarse de una carrera de 20 años en la Marina que incluyó tiempo en Irak y Afganistán. Se vio obligado a ir a una segunda vuelta en mayo contra Brandon Herrera, un fabricante de armas e influencer de derechos de las armas en YouTube que perdió por poco ante Gonzales en las primarias de 2024 el martes.

En su entrevista, transmitida el miércoles, Gonzales afirmó que no había hablado con Santos-Aviles desde junio de 2024 y que ella murió en septiembre de 2025.

“No tuve absolutamente nada que ver con su trágico fallecimiento y, de hecho, me sorprendió tanto como a todos los demás”, sostuvo Gonzales.

Añadió que se reconcilió con su esposa, Angel, y que le ha pedido a Dios que lo perdone. También dijo que esperaba con interés la investigación del Comité de Ética.

Johnson y el liderazgo republicano instaron a ese comité a “actuar con celeridad”.

Según las normas de ética de la Cámara, los legisladores no pueden mantener una relación sexual con ningún empleado de esa instancia que esté bajo su supervisión.

___________________________________

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/republicanos-piden-a-legislador-de-texas-abandonar-campaa-tras-admitir-amoro-con-exasistente/ 

Magic is enjoying quite the renaissance in Chicago. Alongside the city’s existing emporia aplenty, “The Hand & The Eye,” a plush and huge multi-stage venue in the former Lowry’s Prime Rib building at 100 E. Ontario St., newly styled as both a magic theater and a private club, is expected to announce its opening plans next week for this spring.

Meanwhile, downtown, the great solo Chicago magician Dennis Watkins is continuing to operate his intimate basement Loop venue, The Magic Parlour. Watkins takes occasional breaks from the stage and curates a series of guests; his current visitor, a performer from Minnesota who bills himself as a “stand-up magician,” is well worth seeing.

Derek Hughes is one of Eugene Burger’s former students. The late guru, who lived quietly on Dearborn Street in Chicago, had little public profile but a slew of devotees like Hughes, who credited him with refining their acts and would journey to Chicago to sit at his knee — metaphorically, at least.

I met Burger once (he was in failing health) and he was, indeed, an inspiring teacher whose former students tend to incorporate a lot of personal storytelling into their acts, reflecting Burger’s mantra that while there are only so many magic tricks in the repertoire they can be framed and reframed in a million different ways, just as long as the magician focuses on his or her relationship with the audience and is willing to be vulnerable and honest, as paradoxical as that may sound. Actors long have been taught the importance of emotional engagement with an audience; Burger argued it was imperative that good magicians learned the same. Over time, reviewing magic, you come to see who did and did not listen.

Hughes is a stand-up example of one who did. Regular magic devotees such as myself will have seen all of his tricks before, in the raw sense, but his show is highly engaging nonetheless because of his ability to live in the moment and react in a live way to what is going on in the room. That’s the key to this kind of interactive, will-you-please-join-me-on-stage magic and, for me at least, how the magician interacts with these volunteers, invariably a cross-section of the public and often feeling some anxiety as they approach, is always more interesting than the tricks themselves.

Time and again, when I saw his show on Sunday, the slightly off-beat Hughes not only put people at ease but involved them in his unfolding narrative. Magicians have an innate understanding of the importance of misdirection, of course, and Burger’s former students tend to focus on trying to get an audience to embrace his signature argument that “life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived.”

That’s a vital metamorphosis of the art in an age where the secret to every trick can be discerned with a few clicks toward the right TikToks with weasel-like dudes grinning as they take down yet another brick in the wall of necessary human aspiration.

But their import, not that they ever had anyone, was batted away for 75 minutes by the self-described former “theater kid” as he weaved his way through card tricks and mentalisms, all deftly performed and superbly executed with disarmingly modest wit to boot.

Unsurprisingly, the best stuff involved Hughes’ interactions with the several 12- or 13-year-olds who were there with family members celebrating their birthdays. Collectively, they offered a picture of surprise, delight and, because Hughes is that kind of magician, they all went back to their seats empowered, at least when it came to the magical but ever-necessary arts of relative thinking and the pros and cons of a life lived with belief.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

If you go

Derek Hughes performs through March 15 at The Magic Parlor, 50 W. Randolph St.; tickets $76-$106 at 312-443-3800 and www.themagicparlourchicago.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/review-derek-hughes-has-a-magical-touch-with-his-audience-at-the-magic-parlour/ 

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says he’s replacing his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and will nominate in her place Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin.

Trump made the announcement on social media on Thursday, two days after Noem faced a grilling on Capitol Hill from GOP members as well as Democrats.

Trump says he’ll make Nome a “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative that he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem declines to address Marimar Martinez, tells Senate panel she’s ‘not familiar’ with her shooting

Noem, took the stage to address a Department of Homeland Security event moments after Trump’s announcement but made no immediate mention of her ouster. Instead, she read from prepared remarks, including reinforcing Trump’s message from the State of the Union last month.

Noem is the first Cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term. Noem’s departure caps a tumultuous tenure overseeing immigration enforcement tactics that have been met with protests and lawsuits.

Noem’s tenure looked increasingly short-lived after hearings in Congress this week where she faced rare but blistering criticism from Republican lawmakers. One particular point of scrutiny was a $220 million ad campaign featuring Noem that encouraged people in the country illegally to leave voluntarily.

Noem told lawmakers that Trump was aware of the campaign in advance, but Trump disputed that in an interview Thursday with Reuters, saying he did not sign off on the ad campaign.

Noem has faced waves of criticism as she’s overseen Trump’s immigration crackdown, especially since the shooting deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration enforcement officers. The former South Dakota governor was also criticized over the way her department has spent billions of dollars allocated to it by Congress.

Frustrations over Noem’s execution of the Republican president’s hard-line immigration agenda — particularly her leadership after the shooting deaths of the two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis — as well as her handling of disaster response, paved the way for her downfall. She faced blistering criticism from Democrats, and some Republicans, in Congress hearings this week over those issues and others.

Aside from immigration, Noem also faced criticism — including from Republicans — over the pace of emergency funding approved through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and for the Trump administration’s response to disasters.

Mullin would need to be confirmed by the Senate, but under a federal law governing executive branch vacancies, he would be allowed to serve as an acting Homeland Security secretary as long as his nomination is formally pending.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/trump-replacing-kristi-noem/