Pam Bondi Subpoenaed In Epstein Investigation By House Oversight Panel

Tyler Durden
Wed, 03/04/2026 – 18:30

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/pam-bondi-subpoenaed-epstein-investigation-house-oversight-panel 

Por ERIC OLSON Y TOM COYNE

Lou Holtz, el entrenador miembro del Salón de la Fama del fútbol americano universitario que condujo a Notre Dame al campeonato nacional de 1988 y ganó 249 partidos a lo largo de 33 temporadas en seis universidades, ha fallecido. Tenía 89 años.

Notre Dame informó el miércoles que Holtz murió en Orlando, Florida, rodeado de su familia. La portavoz Katy Lonergan señaló que la familia no proporcionó la causa de la muerte.

Holtz se convirtió en el primer entrenador —y hasta ahora el único— en llevar a seis equipos distintos a partidos de tazón universitario durante una carrera en la que acumuló un récord de 249-132-7. Aún ocupa el décimo lugar histórico en victorias entre los entrenadores de la Football Bowl Subdivision, y el octavo con 388 partidos dirigidos.

En Notre Dame, registró marca de 100-30-2 en 11 temporadas, con lo que tuvo tanto el tercer mayor total de triunfos en la historia de la universidad como el segundo número más elevado de derrotas.

Holtz ganó en cada liga —salvo por un breve paso por la NFL.

Y no solo ganaba partidos. El entrenador, de baja estatura, cautivó a los aficionados con su actitud a veces fogosa en la banda, su humor autocrítico y sus frases campechanas, todo mientras exigía excelencia, dentro y fuera del campo, a sus jugadores, mucho más corpulentos.

Holtz se convirtió en una figura tan popular que, tras dirigir su último partido —en 2004 con Carolina del Sur—, aprovechó ese impulso para iniciar una carrera en la radiodifusión y como conferencista motivacional.

___

El periodista deportivo de AP Michael Marot contribuyó a este despacho.

_____

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/muere-lou-holtz-figura-del-ftbol-americano-universitario-y-campen-con-notre-dame-en-1988/ 

As gray skies and cold temperatures linger over the northern Chicago suburbs, restaurants are giving diners a reason to get out of the house and into a booth to celebrate North Shore Restaurant Month.

Back again for the 21st year, participating restaurants are offering specials from March 1-31.

About 100 restaurants are participating in this year’s event, with dining promotions ranging from 15% off the total bill to a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of an entree.

Several fine-dining establishments, like Aboyer in Winnetka, Di Pescara in Northbrook, Jilly’s Cafe in Evanston, and Stefani Prime in Lincolnwood are also offering prix fixe menus that provide a three-course lunch for about $30, and dinner for $45 to around $60.

Gina Speckman, executive director for Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau, the event’s sponsor, said residents mark their calendars months in advance for the annual promotion.

“Because we’ve been doing it for now over 20 years, people expect it, they know about it and call us and email us to ask us about it,” Speckman said. “There’s not many alternative activities in the winter months and it’s a good time to help support the restaurants.”

Speckman said the Bureau used to put on restaurant month in February, but organizers moved it to March last year to avoid overlapping with Chicago’s Restaurant Week, which runs from the end of January to the first week of February.

About 21 restaurants in the North Shore also participate in Chicago’s Restaurant Week, so moving the timeframe helped local restaurants get the promotional benefits from both programs, Speckman said.

“Some people just use it to go to the restaurants that they love, that they go to anyways, but a lot of people use it to explore,” she said.

“People tend to go to restaurants that are nearby and in their city or village, but I think this program really gets people to think, ‘Oh, if I live in Evanston, I can go eat in Northbrook, or if I live in Glenview, I can go eat in Winnetka.’ They may not even think about it until they see that. And we have such a different array of restaurants.”

With cuisine ranging from sushi to tapas to vegetarian to the Skokie steakhouse staple Morton’s, restaurant goers have may  options.

Speckman said she prefers not to spotlight certain restaurants for fear of “leaving people out,” emphasizing the month is designed to uplift the entire North Shore community and give food lovers a taste of all that it has to offer.

To see the full list of participating restaurants and discounts, visit visitchicagonorthshore.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/north-shore-restaurant-month-deals-march/ 

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans voted down an effort Wednesday to halt President Donald Trump’s war against Iran, demonstrating early support for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, failed on a 47-53 vote tally. The vote fell mostly along party lines, though Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted in favor and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted against.

The war powers resolution gave lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The vote forced them to take a stand on a war shaping the fate of U.S. military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.

Underscoring the gravity of the moment, Democratic senators filled the Senate chamber and sat at their desks as the voting got underway. Typically, senators step into the chamber to cast their vote, then leave.

“Today every senator — every single one — will pick a side,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote. “Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars in the Middle East or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?”

Sen. John Barrasso, second in Senate Republican leadership, said during the debate that GOP senators would send a message that Democrats are wrong for forcing a vote on the war powers resolution.

“Democrats would rather obstruct Donald Trump than obliterate Iran’s national nuclear program,” he added.

Trump administration scrambles for congressional support

After launching a surprise attack against Iran on Saturday, Trump has scrambled to win support for a conflict that Americans of all political persuasions were already wary of entering. Trump administration officials have been a frequent presence on Capitol Hill this week as they try to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the war could extend eight weeks, a longer time frame than has previously been floated by the Trump administration. He also acknowledged that Iran is still able to carry out missile attacks even as the U.S. tries to control the country’s airspace.

U.S. service members “remain in harm’s way, and we must be clear-eyed that the risk is still high,” Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at the same press conference.

Six U.S. military members were killed over the weekend in a drone strike in Kuwait.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa acknowledged the human costs of the war in her floor speech. One of the soldiers killed Sunday was from Iowa and a National Guard unit from her state was also attacked in Syria in December, resulting in the deaths of two other soldiers.

“But now is our opportunity to bring an end to the decades of chaos,” said Ernst, who herself served as an officer in the Iowa National Guard for two decades.

“The sooner the better,” she added.

Trump has also not ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops. He has said he is hoping to end the bombing campaign within a few weeks, but his goals for the war have shifted from regime change to stopping Iran from developing nuclear capabilities to crippling its navy and missile programs.

Lawmakers go on record

The votes in Congress this week represented potentially consequential markers of just where lawmakers stand on the war as they look ahead to midterm elections and the consequences of the conflict.

“Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end-run around the Constitution,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat leading the war powers resolution. “Everybody’s got to declare whether they’re for this war or against it.”

Republican leaders have successfully, though narrowly, defeated a series of war powers resolutions pertaining to several other conflicts that Trump has entered or threatened to enter. This one, however, was different.

Unlike Trump’s military campaigns against alleged drug boats or even Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the attack on Iran represents an open-ended conflict that is already ricocheting across the region.

Several senators who have voted for previous war powers resolutions noted that they opposed this one because it applied to a conflict that is already raging.

“Passing this resolution now would send the wrong message to Iran and to our troops,” said GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. “At this juncture, providing unequivocal support to our service members is critically important, as is ongoing consultation by the administration with Congress.”

Still, Republicans who are used to operating in a political party dominated by Trump and his promises of keeping the U.S. out of foreign entanglements, the moment represented a bit of whiplash.

“War is ugly, it always has been ugly, but we’re taking out a regime that has been trying to attack us for quite some time,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican.

House vote looms

On the other side of the Capitol, an intense debate over the war unfolded before a vote Thursday. The House first debated a resolution presented by GOP leadership affirming that Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism.

Rep. Brian Mast, the GOP chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, publicly thanked Trump for taking action against Iran, saying the president is using his own constitutional authority to defend the U.S. against the “imminent threat” of Iran.

Mast, an Army veteran who worked as a bomb disposal expert in Afghanistan, said the Democratic resolution was effectively asking “that the president do nothing.”

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs panel, said before the debate that the hardest votes he has taken in Congress have been to decide whether to send U.S. troops to war. “Our young men and women’s lives are on the line,” he said, his voice showing emotion as he emerged from a closed-door briefing late Tuesday with Trump officials.

At a news conference Wednesday, several Democratic members who are also veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars spoke about the heavy costs of those conflicts.

One of them was Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo. “I learned when I was fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, that when elites in Washington bang the war drums, pound their chest, talk about the costs of war and act tough, they’re not talking about them doing it, they’re not talking about their kids,” Crow said. “They’re talking about working class kids like us.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/senate-republicans-iran-war/ 

MESA, Ariz. — Kyle Wright can’t help but feel relieved.

He’s finally healthy after right shoulder surgery in 2023, which cost him the next season, and multiple injuries last year limited him to just eight starts in the minors. Wright’s daily routine is back to normal, and he feels closer to the version that produced a 21-win season in 2022 for the Atlanta Braves.

The 30-year-old right-hander was drawn to sign a minor-league contract with the Chicago Cubs because of their recent track record with helping pitchers’ development and his history with director of pitching Tyler Zombro. Wright has spent the first three weeks of camp working with the Cubs’ pitching coaches to get back to his old mechanics.

With all the injuries behind him, Wright is excited by how he has felt in bullpens and live batting practice.

“It’s weird because I’m when I’m throwing my lives, I’m getting frustrated with myself for not executing pitches instead of like, ‘man, this doesn’t feel great.’ It’s nice to be frustrated with yourself for not executing as opposed to, like, how’s my shoulder?” Wright said. “That little piece of it will kind of always be there because it’s tricky, shoulders have a lot of range of motion so you have to make sure they’re strong in different positions.

“But overall I think I’m starting to trust my shoulder, trust myself and just pitch. It’s been a crazy couple of years.”

Kyle Wright of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning on May 3, 2023, in Miami. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

It’s difficult to point to one specific issue within his delivery, Wright explained, because everything got so out of whack from a combination of factors: injury compensation, bad habits and trying whatever he could to throw the ball hard during his rehab process. A hamstring injury out of camp last year in the Kansas City Royals’ organization delayed him and then he experienced a setback with his surgically repaired shoulder. That resolved, but an oblique strain popped up in June after which his shoulder wasn’t bouncing back after throwing.

“Over time things progressed pretty significantly from what it used to be,” Wright said. “I always associated the way I used to throw is why I got hurt when the more I’ve done, and spun myself in circles, it’s not really true. It’s usually way more factors than just that. It took me a long time to realize that, but I think now I’m at the point where I trust my shoulder again.

“I’m actually able to get back into those positions that can allow me to perform at my best. I’m as close to pre-surgery as I’ve been in a long time.”

Wright’s non-roster status in camp and slower progression don’t change how valuable he could be for the Cubs as part of their starting pitching depth.

Wright has three opt-outs in his minor-league deal, including one at the end of spring training. But barring an opportunity to be added to another team’s big-league opening day roster, the expectation is Wright will begin the season at Triple-A Iowa and prepare to help the Cubs at some point this summer. Former Braves teammate Michael Soroka, who was limited by injury after the Cubs acquired him at the 2025 trade deadline, reached out to Wright in the offseason and strongly recommended the organization.

“I knew there was crazy competition in this locker room and maybe I could have signed somewhere else and had a better opportunity out of the gate, but for me it’s about how do we get back healthy and if I get back healthy then everything’s going to take care of itself,” Wright said. “Because I know that I’m capable, I’ve got to get there first. So I knew they weren’t going to rush me. They were going to put the best plan in place to get me back to my previous self.”

Wright and the Cubs believe that stellar 2022 performance, when he posted a 3.19 ERA in 30 starts for the Braves to finish 10th in National League Cy Young Award voting, wasn’t a one-off season.

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“He has a very successful major-league season under his belt and at a young age, so the pitch to Kyle coming here is let’s take the time to get you back to that pitcher because it’s not like it’s something you’ve never done,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s something you’ve already accomplished and that’s what we’re trying to do.

“We are taking this methodically to make sure that he’s in the best position, health-wise, to get back to that level.”

Wright is still relying on the same pitch mix, and he is excited to be able to throw his curveball again. The pitch developed into his most effective weapon and became an indicator that his shoulder was injured. He realized something was wrong during the 2023 season when he couldn’t get his curveball’s pitch shape to move the correct way. That has no longer been an issue with his shoulder healthy, allowing him to get the movements he wants on his curveball and the rest of his repertoire.

“In this game, you realize you can’t take anything for granted,” Wright said. “You can pitch really well and then you can get your butt kicked, get injured. There’s just so many different things that can happen. So definitely getting a lot of perspective on the game and trying to go out there, enjoy doing what I do. Figuring out how to get back to who I was, which I know I definitely can. I know it’s in there. There’s days where I’m like, yep, that’s it, and there’s times where I’m still one or two small little things away from getting back to who I can be.”

The Cubs are being deliberate with Wright’s build-up. He’s thrown three live BPs and pitched in a simulated game on Wednesday. They haven’t determined yet whether Wright will pitch in another sim game or make his first Cactus League appearance. He wants to make sure to get as many game reps as possible before camp breaks to increase intensity and volume.

Wright is willing to fill any role the Cubs need, even as a multi-inning reliever. He expects to build up as a starter and can adjust from there. Wright just wants to get back to the big leagues.

“If there’s an opportunity that arises in one way or another, sign me up,” Wright said. “Whatever’s needed, I’m here.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/chicago-cubs-kyle-wright-injury-recovery/ 

MESA, Ariz. — Kyle Wright can’t help but feel relieved.

He’s finally healthy after right shoulder surgery in 2023, which cost him the next season, and multiple injuries last year limited him to just eight starts in the minors. Wright’s daily routine is back to normal, and he feels closer to the version that produced a 21-win season in 2022 for the Atlanta Braves.

The 30-year-old right-hander was drawn to sign a minor-league contract with the Chicago Cubs because of their recent track record with helping pitchers’ development and his history with director of pitching Tyler Zombro. Wright has spent the first three weeks of camp working with the Cubs’ pitching coaches to get back to his old mechanics.

With all the injuries behind him, Wright is excited by how he has felt in bullpens and live batting practice.

“It’s weird because I’m when I’m throwing my lives, I’m getting frustrated with myself for not executing pitches instead of like, ‘man, this doesn’t feel great.’ It’s nice to be frustrated with yourself for not executing as opposed to, like, how’s my shoulder?” Wright said. “That little piece of it will kind of always be there because it’s tricky, shoulders have a lot of range of motion so you have to make sure they’re strong in different positions.

“But overall I think I’m starting to trust my shoulder, trust myself and just pitch. It’s been a crazy couple of years.”

Kyle Wright of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning on May 3, 2023, in Miami. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

It’s difficult to point to one specific issue within his delivery, Wright explained, because everything got so out of whack from a combination of factors: injury compensation, bad habits and trying whatever he could to throw the ball hard during his rehab process. A hamstring injury out of camp last year in the Kansas City Royals’ organization delayed him and then he experienced a setback with his surgically repaired shoulder. That resolved, but an oblique strain popped up in June after which his shoulder wasn’t bouncing back after throwing.

“Over time things progressed pretty significantly from what it used to be,” Wright said. “I always associated the way I used to throw is why I got hurt when the more I’ve done, and spun myself in circles, it’s not really true. It’s usually way more factors than just that. It took me a long time to realize that, but I think now I’m at the point where I trust my shoulder again.

“I’m actually able to get back into those positions that can allow me to perform at my best. I’m as close to pre-surgery as I’ve been in a long time.”

Wright’s non-roster status in camp and slower progression don’t change how valuable he could be for the Cubs as part of their starting pitching depth.

Wright has three opt-outs in his minor-league deal, including one at the end of spring training. But barring an opportunity to be added to another team’s big-league opening day roster, the expectation is Wright will begin the season at Triple-A Iowa and prepare to help the Cubs at some point this summer. Former Braves teammate Michael Soroka, who was limited by injury after the Cubs acquired him at the 2025 trade deadline, reached out to Wright in the offseason and strongly recommended the organization.

“I knew there was crazy competition in this locker room and maybe I could have signed somewhere else and had a better opportunity out of the gate, but for me it’s about how do we get back healthy and if I get back healthy then everything’s going to take care of itself,” Wright said. “Because I know that I’m capable, I’ve got to get there first. So I knew they weren’t going to rush me. They were going to put the best plan in place to get me back to my previous self.”

Wright and the Cubs believe that stellar 2022 performance, when he posted a 3.19 ERA in 30 starts for the Braves to finish 10th in National League Cy Young Award voting, wasn’t a one-off season.

Related Articles

“He has a very successful major-league season under his belt and at a young age, so the pitch to Kyle coming here is let’s take the time to get you back to that pitcher because it’s not like it’s something you’ve never done,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s something you’ve already accomplished and that’s what we’re trying to do.

“We are taking this methodically to make sure that he’s in the best position, health-wise, to get back to that level.”

Wright is still relying on the same pitch mix, and he is excited to be able to throw his curveball again. The pitch developed into his most effective weapon and became an indicator that his shoulder was injured. He realized something was wrong during the 2023 season when he couldn’t get his curveball’s pitch shape to move the correct way. That has no longer been an issue with his shoulder healthy, allowing him to get the movements he wants on his curveball and the rest of his repertoire.

“In this game, you realize you can’t take anything for granted,” Wright said. “You can pitch really well and then you can get your butt kicked, get injured. There’s just so many different things that can happen. So definitely getting a lot of perspective on the game and trying to go out there, enjoy doing what I do. Figuring out how to get back to who I was, which I know I definitely can. I know it’s in there. There’s days where I’m like, yep, that’s it, and there’s times where I’m still one or two small little things away from getting back to who I can be.”

The Cubs are being deliberate with Wright’s build-up. He’s thrown three live BPs and pitched in a simulated game on Wednesday. They haven’t determined yet whether Wright will pitch in another sim game or make his first Cactus League appearance. He wants to make sure to get as many game reps as possible before camp breaks to increase intensity and volume.

Wright is willing to fill any role the Cubs need, even as a multi-inning reliever. He expects to build up as a starter and can adjust from there. Wright just wants to get back to the big leagues.

“If there’s an opportunity that arises in one way or another, sign me up,” Wright said. “Whatever’s needed, I’m here.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/chicago-cubs-kyle-wright-injury-recovery/ 

INDIANAPOLIS — Shay Ciezki had 22 points and seven assists, Nevaeh Caffey scored nine of her 13 in the fourth quarter and No. 13 seed Indiana overcame a 20-point deficit to beat Nebraska 72-69 on Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Indiana (18-14) has won four in a row and is 7-2 after an 0-10 start in Big Ten play.

No. 12 seed Nebraska (18-12) has lost seven of nine and may have seen its NCAA Tournament bubble burst.

Amiah Hargrove led the Cornhuskers with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, and Britt Prince had 20 points and eight assists. Logan Nissley scored 12 and Jessica Petrie added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Ciezki had her 21st game this season with at least 20 points and passed Mackenzie Holmes (692 points, 2022-23) for second on Indiana’s single-season scoring list with 694.

Former Illinois Ms. Basketball Lenee Beaumont of Benet made two 3s in an 8-0 spurt that gave Indiana a 68-67 lead — its first of the game — with 1:06 left. Prince missed a pull-up jumper before Ciezki darted to the rim for a layup with 32 seconds to go. Hargrove had an offensive rebound and putback that made it a one-point game with 17 seconds remaining before Caffey made two free throws to cap the scoring.

Prince and Nissley missed potential tying 3-pointers in the closing seconds.

Beaumont scored 11 of her 14 in the second half, and Edessa Noyan had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana, which trailed 45-25 late in the second quarter.

Then-No. 25 Nebraska beat the Hoosiers 78-73 at home Jan. 8 to snap an eight-game skid in the series, which Indiana leads 14-7.

Indiana moves on to play 11th-ranked and fifth-seeded Ohio State in the second round Thursday.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/big-ten-womens-basketball-tournament-first-round/ 

INDIANAPOLIS — Shay Ciezki had 22 points and seven assists, Nevaeh Caffey scored nine of her 13 in the fourth quarter and No. 13 seed Indiana overcame a 20-point deficit to beat Nebraska 72-69 on Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Indiana (18-14) has won four in a row and is 7-2 after an 0-10 start in Big Ten play.

No. 12 seed Nebraska (18-12) has lost seven of nine and may have seen its NCAA Tournament bubble burst.

Amiah Hargrove led the Cornhuskers with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, and Britt Prince had 20 points and eight assists. Logan Nissley scored 12 and Jessica Petrie added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Ciezki had her 21st game this season with at least 20 points and passed Mackenzie Holmes (692 points, 2022-23) for second on Indiana’s single-season scoring list with 694.

Former Illinois Ms. Basketball Lenee Beaumont of Benet made two 3s in an 8-0 spurt that gave Indiana a 68-67 lead — its first of the game — with 1:06 left. Prince missed a pull-up jumper before Ciezki darted to the rim for a layup with 32 seconds to go. Hargrove had an offensive rebound and putback that made it a one-point game with 17 seconds remaining before Caffey made two free throws to cap the scoring.

Prince and Nissley missed potential tying 3-pointers in the closing seconds.

Beaumont scored 11 of her 14 in the second half, and Edessa Noyan had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana, which trailed 45-25 late in the second quarter.

Then-No. 25 Nebraska beat the Hoosiers 78-73 at home Jan. 8 to snap an eight-game skid in the series, which Indiana leads 14-7.

Indiana moves on to play 11th-ranked and fifth-seeded Ohio State in the second round Thursday.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/big-ten-womens-basketball-tournament-first-round/ 

Sen. Blumenthal ‘Fearful’ Trump Will Put Troops In Iran As Congressional Votes Loom

Tyler Durden
Wed, 03/04/2026 – 18:05

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/sen-blumenthal-fearful-trump-will-put-troops-iran-congressional-votes-loom 

The Park Ridge Committee of the Whole of the City Council passed the first reading of a plastic bag ban for large retail stores at the March 2 meeting.

The first vote on the ban passed without objection from anyone on the board or from anyone in the community. If it passes the next reading, it will become law, though it will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2027. The ban will affect any store over 7,500 square feet, which is approximately nine stores in the city, mostly grocery stores. This will not affect any pre-checkout bags, meaning bags picked up in the produce aisle. Stores may also still offer single-use recyclable paper bags.

The ban has been in the works for a while.

The idea began in 2024 within the sustainability commission. This kicked off city staff researching the possibility and a discussion in August. Other suburban communities have either banned single-use plastic bags or taxed them due to their environmental impact, and the city leaders felt a tax or a fee on the bags would be too difficult to impose and collect and an outright ban would not cause an undue burden. Throughout the discussion, no representative from any grocery store complained about the proposal or even met with city officials, despite their efforts, and a handful of people from the public spoke in support of a ban on plastic bags.

Drew Awsumb, the community preservation and development director, noted the idea isn’t new to the major grocers and they have already complied with other bans in nearby suburbs. The Park Ridge ban, he said, won’t be a shock.

“They’re aware the city is discussing this,” he said at the March 2 meeting. He doubted anyone from the stores would comment on the change in law, should it pass. He added that by setting the implementation for Jan. 1, everyone would have a chance to prepare for the change, and he noted some stores could discontinue plastic bags sooner.

“They’ll probably make their own decisions on their stock and when to shift over,” he said.

Alderperson John Moran said he spoke off-the-record with a manager at an unnamed grocery store and said there is some worry the baggers will have to be let go. He explained the manager told him the store hires “special needs people” to bag groceries, and they’re used to plastic bags and it’s unclear whether they’ll be able to switch to paper or to reusable customer bags.

“There’s a real concern that some of those individuals might need to be trained more or might need to be shifted to other roles in the organization, which is unfortunate in my mind,” Moran said. Still, he said he supported the ban.

“I’ll be a yes, but I really hope there aren’t any other unintended consequences that come along with it,” he said.

The city council will vote on it again at the next meeting.

Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/park-ridge-closer-to-bag-ban/