The Orland High School District 230 board spent more than an hour Thursday discussing a proposal to add Arabic as a world language in district classrooms, after stalling its vote on the curriculum in January.

Several board members maintained their position there are several barriers to installing the curriculum and said it is the board’s job to approve, not propose, curriculum.

The board did not take any action Thursday, instead discussing possible steps with Anita Huffman, assistant superintendent for instruction. Board President Lynn Zeder emphasized the board and administrative staff have made progress toward finding a way to add the language to its curriculum.

But Mohammed Jaber, along with several vocal audience members, expressed frustration progress hasn’t been made to add the language since it was proposed in 2023.

“I don’t know what progress has been made,” Jaber said. “It’s not like this is something that just came out of December or came out of last minute.”

Jaber said the idea was brought to the board in 2023 and to the public in 2024. He said in August that, as the first District 230 board member of Arab background, the curriculum is personal to him. He said the district’s Arab population is growing, at about 30% according to his analysis of graduation data.

Eight people, including District 230 alumni, parents and educators, spoke in support of the curriculum Thursday.

Supporters have said several students are interested in taking the language. Several parents have said Arabic language lessons are expensive and hard to coordinate with teachers halfway across the world and that students struggle to learn the language on top of school work and extracurriculars.

District 230 board member Tony Serratore disagrees with a proposal to add Arabic language to the curriclum during a board meeting Thursday. He said it is not the board’s job to “force the district to do something they’re not ready for.” (Addison Wright/Daily Southtown)

Several speakers Thursday said learning the language can lead to college credit and jobs. Others emphasized the language helps students of different cultural backgrounds better appreciate and understand each other.

Assma Daifallah and Waleed Atawneh both said Arabic is designated as a critical need language by the U.S. State Department and that it plays a vital role in diplomacy, global commerce, cybersecurity, health care and national security.

“What’s required now is, from our board, to empower the teachers, empower the administrators to update the curriculum which allows our District 230 graduates to complete in an emerging job market in the present time and also the projected future,” Atawneh said.

Huffman gave a presentation that demonstrated the long process needed to start the curriculum.

She said the district must look at post-secondary implications, staffing courses and sustainability, affect on existing languages offered and financial considerations.

Anita Huffman, District 230 assistant superintendent for instructional services, gives a presentation on the process for adding Arabic classes in schools at Thursday’s school board meeting. (Addison Wright/Daily Southtown)

Huffman said the district needs to make a decision whether to offer Arabic as a one- or two-year program versus a four-year program.

Huffman also said the district must decide whether to approve it as a heritage language curriculum, which she said would be for students who already have a background with the language, or as a secondary language curriculum, for students who have no prior knowledge of Arabic.

Huffman said adding a new language might draw students away from classes such as Spanish, German and French, decreasing enrollment numbers needed to sustain full-time teachers in those areas.

She said the district already reviewed the licensure requirements and Illinois Board of Education approved programs, examined university and community partnerships, looked at job postings and conducted curricular work in world language and social studies programs.

Huffman said it is in the administrative review stage, which is step three of 12. Through this review, she said the district found 50 educators statewide hold a world language Arabic endorsement certification but only seven of those certificate holders actually teach the language.

“The limited number of available positions remains an important factor for the success and sustainability of the program,” Huffman said.

In order to teach the course, educators must have the endorsement and pass the world language Arabic test.

awright@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/orland-district-230-disagrees-arabic-class/ 

Por EDWARD ACQUAH

ACRA, Ghana (AP) — Al menos 55 ghaneses han muerto combatiendo por Rusia en Ucrania, afirmó el viernes el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Ghana, una de las cifras de fallecidos más altas entre varios países africanos cuyos ciudadanos están luchando en la guerra.

El canciller Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa señaló que 272 ghaneses han sido atraídos a la batalla desde 2022, y que dos de ellos fueron capturados como prisioneros de guerra, al citar información de las autoridades ucranianas.

“Las autoridades ucranianas revelaron que, a partir de su recopilación de inteligencia creíble, han documentado a 1.780 africanos de 36 países que han sido atraídos por redes criminales de trata para unirse a la guerra contra Ucrania”, dijo Ablakwa, quien se encuentra de viaje en Ucrania.

Ghana se suma a una lista creciente de naciones africanas que han expresado preocupación por sus ciudadanos que combaten en la guerra, muchos reclutados mediante estrategias dudosas como empleos lucrativos o capacitación en habilidades.

Un informe de inteligencia de la semana pasada indicó que 1.000 kenianos fueron reclutados para combatir por Rusia tras ser engañados con falsas promesas de empleo. Decenas han sido hospitalizados o están desaparecidos, de acuerdo con el gobierno de Kenia.

Dos nigerianos murieron a finales del año pasado combatiendo por Rusia, aseveró este mes la agencia de inteligencia de Ucrania.

Un grupo de 11 ciudadanos sudafricanos que presuntamente fueron atraídos para combatir por Rusia llegó el miércoles al aeropuerto de Durbán.

En Sudáfrica, la policía investiga a Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, hija del expresidente sudafricano Jacob Zuma, por su presunta participación en atraer a más de una docena de hombres sudafricanos a Rusia.

“Como gobierno responsable, no podemos hacer la vista gorda ante estas desgarradoras estadísticas. Esta no es nuestra guerra y no podemos permitir que nuestros jóvenes se conviertan en escudos humanos para otros”, sostuvo Ablakwa .

El ministro indicó que el gobierno de Ghana intensificará la educación pública y trabajará para “rastrear y desmantelar todos los esquemas ilegales de reclutamiento en la web oscura” que operan en el país. Agregó que los dos ghaneses capturados habían advertido a los jóvenes que no se dejaran tentar por incentivos financieros para unirse al conflicto.

___

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/al-menos-55-ghaneses-murieron-combatiendo-por-rusia-en-ucrania-dice-canciller-de-ghana/ 

WASHINGTON — Scouting America will alter several policies at the urging of the Pentagon, including one targeting transgender youths, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday as he pushes a campaign against military support for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Some of the changes mirror what the organization suggested to the Pentagon in January, including discontinuing its Citizenship in Society merit badge, introducing a Military Service merit badge and waiving registration fees for the children of military personnel.

Under Hegseth, the Pentagon has taken aim at the military’s partnership with Scouting America, decrying its historic rebrand in 2024 from the Boy Scouts of America and other changes in recent years that he sees as part of “woke culture” efforts that he wants to root out.

Hegseth said in a video posted on X that Scouting America will require its members to use their “biological sex at birth and not gender identity.” He said applications will list only options for male and female and the one checked must match the applicant’s birth certificate. The group would clarify that youths of opposite genders assigned at birth cannot share bathrooms, tents or other similar spaces, he said.

Hegseth said the Pentagon will “vigorously review” the changes Scouting America has made in six months and cease its support of the organization if it fails to comply.

“We hope that doesn’t happen, but it could,” Hegseth said. “Ideally, I believe the Boy Scouts should go back to being the Boy Scouts as originally founded, a group that develops boys into men. Maybe someday.”

Scouts keep new name and female membership

In a statement Friday, Scouting America didn’t mention the policy change targeting transgender youths but noted its need to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting DEI programs.

The Irving, Texas-based organization also pointed out that it maintained its new name and “preserved our service to the more than 200,000 girls who participate in our programs.”

The organization began allowing gay youths in 2013, ended a blanket ban on gay adult leaders in 2015 and announced in 2017 that it would accept transgender students. It began accepting girls as Cub Scouts as of 2018 and into the flagship Boy Scout program, renamed Scouts BSA, in 2019.

Scouting America said the policy changes deepen the organization’s century-old partnership with the military, which has included Scouts meeting on or near military installations in the U.S. and abroad.

“Scouting America is one of the most reliable pipelines to the United States Armed Forces our country has ever known,” the organization added. “Scouts are significantly more likely to serve in uniform than the general population. Eagle Scouts are heavily represented in ROTC programs, service academies and military leadership tracks.”

Pentagon threatened to pull support

Hegseth’s other anti-DEI efforts have ranged from ending all military training at “woke” Harvard to claiming that the independent military newspaper Stars and Stripes will no longer include “woke distractions.” He rolled out the move with Scouting America on Friday as tensions have escalated with Iran and the Trump administration considers possible military action after massing the largest force of U.S. warships and aircraft in the Middle East in decades.

The Pentagon said earlier this month that it was reviewing its relationship with Scouting America, claiming it had “lost its way” in many ways and calling the organization’s DEI efforts “unacceptable.”

“Scouting America’s leadership has made decisions that run counter to the values of this administration,” the Feb. 6 statement said, ”including an embrace of DEl and other social justice, gender-fluid ideological stances.”

The Pentagon previously said it and Scouting America were nearing an agreement to continue their partnership if the organization “rapidly implements the common-sense, core value reforms.”

The U.S. military and the Boy Scouts have had longtime ties, including the military providing logistical support for the National Boy Scout Jamboree since its inception in 1937. The military also has maintained a strong relationship with the Eagle Scouts, whose members often enlist.

In a statement last year, Scouting America raised concerns following a report from NPR that the Pentagon planned to cut support for Scouting programs on military bases as well as for the National Jamboree and would eliminate increases in pay grade for Eagle Scouts who enlist.

The group told Hegseth last month that after hearing his suggestions, it had come up with a plan, which besides the badge changes included holding a ceremony to rededicate itself to leadership, duty to God, duty to country and service, as well as dissolving its DEI board committee.

Cultural forces and significant changes

Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America achieved a vaunted status in the U.S. over the decades, with pinewood derbies, the Scout Oath and Eagle Scouts becoming part of the lexicon.

Since then, the organization has faced controversies and significant changes.

Ruling in a 1992 lawsuit from an assistant scoutmaster expelled over his sexual orientation, the U.S. Supreme Court said the Scouts could maintain membership and leadership criteria that excluded gay people.

The ban ended in 2013. Two years later, the organization ended its blanket ban on gay adult leaders while allowing church-sponsored Scout units to maintain the exclusion for religious reasons. In 2017, the Boy Scouts announced that they would allow transgender children who identify as boys to enroll in their boys-only programs.

The Boy Scouts also faced a flood of sexual abuse claims and sought bankruptcy protection in 2020s. In 2023, a judge upheld the $2.4 billion bankruptcy plan allowing the organization to keep operating while compensating more than 80,000 men who filed claims saying they were sexually abused while in scouting.

Last year, Scouting America President and CEO Roger Krone acknowledged some backlash to the rebrand but described the overall response as a positive one that generated wider interest.

“The fact that we were going with a more kind of gender-neutral name, a lot of people kind of wanted to know more about it,” Krone said.

The organization said it saw a gain in membership of about 16,000 new scouts, less than 2% from the prior year. The organization said at the time that it had just over 1 million members.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/scouting-america-transgender-pentagon/ 

The Chicago Tribune has won the prestigious Toner Prize for local political reporting for its coverage of Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement mission in the Chicago area last fall.

Awarded by the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, the judges cited the newsroom’s in-depth reporting on the blitz, including a story examining the federal government’s raid on a South Shore apartment complex and another about the growing resistance that formed among local residents against the operation. The Tribune’s capstone piece, “64 Days in Chicago: The story of Operation Midway Blitz” also was included in the winning entry.

Reporters Andrew Carter, Gregory Royal Pratt, Laura Rodríguez Presa, Caroline Kubzansky and Jason Meisner will be honored for their work at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. later this month.

“Riveting narratives documenting the human impacts of federal immigration raids on local communities,” Toner judge Rick Rodriguez, former executive editor and senior vice president of The Sacramento Bee wrote. “Stories like these take extensive research and effort to gain the trust of people in the super-charged environment. The writing was clear and compelling.”

The judges also praised the Tribune photo staff for its work during the Midway Blitz.

“Spectacular work, beautifully written and reported — made all the more powerful by the photography,” wrote Maralee Schwartz, a former Washington Post political editor and reporter.

The same judging panel also named “Inside Illinois Senate President Don Harmon’s Campaign Contributions,” a series by Ray Long, Rick Pearson, Addison Wright, Dan Petrella and Jeremy Gorner, as a finalist in the local political reporting category.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/chicago-tribune-wins-toner-prize-immigration/ 

Back from the sick bay. Ugh.

Fevers, coughs, shakes, aches, pains and lots of time to ponder how awful life can be for people who are perpetually sick.

Healthy people are privileged people. And people who have good health care are privileged people. I’ve known that most of my life.

My mom was chronically ill. She had a host of lifelong conditions. And because of that, her opportunities to travel, dine out and even make plans early in the day were very limited. Organizing her doctors’ appointments and her meds were considerable undertakings.

Still, she was lucky in some regards. She had good health care. She had attentive doctors and good insurance — much better than what we have today. While she was never able to be 100%, she was able to be the best she could be because she had access to care.

To me, good health is more valuable than gold. Good health is the determiner of hope and personal freedom.

And good health care is the most valuable investment a society can make in itself, because good health care for all begets good health for all. It enables people to be their best.

Yet it seems many of our nation’s leaders don’t want decent health care for all. And they certainly don’t want to extend benefits to people who are not pulling their financial weight.

It’s confounding because these same leaders will give bundles of breaks to billionaires, people who already have billions of breaks, before they’ll give one dime to the person who could really benefit from that dime.

Health care should be a given, not a commodity. The opportunity to feel good, to be healthy, to work or play or pursue dreams should be a right.

If everyone had access to health care, all of us would benefit. And we could curb many contagious diseases before they become epidemics.

I have been lucky. Until a month ago, I have been in good health for most of this decade due to a combination of luck, determination and access to health care.

When COVID hit, I vowed to get as healthy as I could. I gave up soda. I cut way back on processed food. I doubled the size of my vegetable garden and freezer space. I went on daily walks. And I recently joined a gym.

I’ve always believed an ounce of prevention — even if it comes in the form of hard work or a modest investment — is preferable to a ton of painful and expensive recovery.

Still, it’s easy to take good health for granted because many illnesses creep up slowly. It’s easy to ignore symptoms, especially if you don’t have the financial means to address them. But good health requires diligence. It requires making good decisions, both on the individual level and at the national policy level.

And good health requires a health care system that serves and benefits all.

Every winter I am reminded of this. When colds, flu, COVID and RSV come barreling at us, I shore up my defenses. Clean, avoid, vaccinate and, if I get symptoms, see a doctor.

Nevertheless, respiratory illness came at me hard this season.

And what a miserable experience it was. A combo of bronchitis and sinus infection, with a coughing-induced cracked rib thrown in for bad measure.

If I didn’t have access to a doctor, things would have been worse. How much longer would it take to heal? How many more people — babies, grandmas, cancer patients — might I infect by letting my illness go untreated?

Too many people, particularly those in my age group, have been felled by a cold that morphed into pneumonia, or a UTI that landed them in the hospital, or a simple stumble on a floor mat that resulted in surgery and months of physical therapy.

“Golden-agers” have always been more fragile, but today the field of fragility has expanded to include everyone with an underlying condition, everyone who doesn’t take preventative measures and everyone who doesn’t have access to good care. The latter field is expanding rapidly.

Millions of people are expected to lose health insurance this year because of expired enhanced federal subsidies on the Affordable Care Act. The Urban Institute and The Commonwealth Fund estimate that 7.3 million people will leave the marketplace, with 5 million of them going uninsured.

Young adults are expected to be among the largest increase in the number of uninsured people, the groups state. This comes at a time when young people are seeing a spike in concerning illnesses, including cancers and diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that some six in 10 young American adults have one or more chronic conditions (cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2025/24_0539.htm).

We can do better. And if we did, we all might feel better.

I was sick for almost two weeks, but that was long enough for me to accumulate a mountain of perspective — and post-sickness chores.

I’m grateful it didn’t last longer. The older we get, the more precious our time becomes. Time spent mired in fever, or in quarantine, or in recovery is not free time. It is time away from loved ones and time that is determined by your sickness.

Thankfully, my sickness is over.

Excuse me while I put away the humidifier, pick up the 7,000 Kleenexes scattered across the bedroom floor, “burp” the airspace, clean the surfaces, do about eight loads of laundry and pause to express thanks for my access to health care.

Donna Vickroy is an award-winning reporter, editor and columnist who worked for the Daily Southtown for 38 years. She can be reached at donnavickroy4@gmail.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/vickroy-column-sick-health-care-everyone/ 

AI Takeover Complete: Data Center Construction Surpasses Office Construction For The First Time

Tyler Durden
Fri, 02/27/2026 – 13:45

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/ai-takeover-complete-data-center-construction-surpasses-office-construction-first-time 

Por SAM MEDNICK, SAM METZ y MATTHEW LEE

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — El presidente Donald Trump afirmó el viernes que “no está contento” con las conversaciones con Irán hasta ahora, pero que esperará a ver qué ocurre en otras rondas de negociaciones con el país de Oriente Medio sobre su programa nuclear.

“No estoy contento con el hecho de que no estén dispuestos a darnos lo que debemos tener. Eso no me entusiasma. Veremos qué pasa. Hablaremos más tarde”, declaró Trump a los periodistas el viernes al salir de la Casa Blanca. “No estamos exactamente contentos con la forma en que están negociando. No pueden tener armas nucleares”, agregó.

Las tensiones entre Estados Unidos e Irán se mantienen altas tras sus más recientes conversaciones nucleares y la concentración de fuerzas estadounidenses en la región.

El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, ha amenazado con una acción militar si Irán no acepta un acuerdo de gran alcance sobre su programa nuclear. Teherán insiste en que tiene derecho a enriquecer uranio con fines pacíficos y niega que busque construir un arma nuclear.

Trump fue interrogado sobre los riesgos de que Estados Unidos se involucre en un conflicto prolongado en Oriente Medio si lanza ataques contra Irán.

“Supongo que se podría decir que siempre hay un riesgo”, respondió. “Ya sabes, cuando hay guerra, existe el riesgo de cualquier cosa, buena o mala”.

La mañana del viernes, el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos anunció que el secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, hará un viaje rápido a Israel a comienzos de la próxima semana. La embajada de Estados Unidos en Israel instó previamente al personal que quisiera irse a que parta, sumándose a otros países que han alentado a la gente a abandonar la región y señalando que una acción militar de Estados Unidos podría ser inminente. El anuncio de la visita de Rubio podría indicar un plazo más largo para cualquier posible ataque.

En un informe confidencial del organismo de control nuclear de la ONU se confirmó que Irán no ha dado acceso a los inspectores a sitios nucleares sensibles desde que fueron fuertemente bombardeados durante la guerra de 12 días lanzada por Israel en junio. Como resultado, indicó que no podía confirmar las afirmaciones de Irán de que detuvo el enriquecimiento de uranio tras los ataques de Estados Unidos e Israel.

El informe fue distribuido a los países miembros y fue visto por The Associated Press.

Quienes quieran irse “deberán hacerlo HOY”

El Departamento de Estado señaló en un comunicado que Rubio visitará Israel el lunes y el martes para “analizar una serie de prioridades regionales, incluidas Irán, Líbano y los esfuerzos en curso para implementar el Plan de Paz de 20 Puntos del presidente Trump para Gaza”. No ofreció más detalles.

Desde hace tiempo, el primer ministro israelí, Benjamin Netanyahu, ha instado a Estados Unidos a emprender una acción más dura contra Irán, y ha advertido que Israel responderá a cualquier ataque iraní.

El anuncio de la visita de Rubio se produjo pocas horas después de que la embajada de Estados Unidos en Jerusalén implementara el estatus de “salida autorizada” para el personal no esencial y sus familiares, lo que significa que el personal elegible puede abandonar el país de manera voluntaria con gastos cubiertos por el gobierno.

En un correo electrónico, el embajador de Estados Unidos, Mike Huckabee, instó al personal que esté considerando irse a hacerlo rápidamente, aconsejándoles que se concentren primero en conseguir cualquier vuelo que salga de Israel y luego dirigirse a Washington.

“Quienes deseen acogerse a la SA deben hacerlo HOY”, escribió Huckabee, usando un acrónimo de “salida autorizada”.

“Aunque podría haber vuelos de salida en los próximos días, puede que no los haya”, añadió, en un correo electrónico cuyo contenido fue relatado a The Associated Press por una persona relacionada con la misión de Estados Unidos y que no estaba autorizada a compartir detalles.

El viernes, en una reunión abierta con el personal después de que se enviara el correo electrónico, Huckabee les dijo que estaba alentando a las aerolíneas a que siguieran dando servicio.

Vance se reunirá con el mediador

Irán y Estados Unidos se retiraron el jueves de otra ronda de negociaciones nucleares en Ginebra sin un acuerdo. Está previsto que la próxima semana se celebren conversaciones técnicas en Viena.

El vicepresidente de Estados Unidos, JD Vance, tenía previsto reunirse en las próximas horas del viernes en Washington con el ministro de Exteriores de Omán, Badr al-Busaidi, quien ha mediado las conversaciones, según una persona con conocimiento de la reunión que habló bajo condición de anonimato porque el encuentro es privado.

El jueves, al-Busaidi dijo que se había logrado un progreso significativo, aunque funcionarios de Irán y de Estados Unidos no han anunciado avances concretos.

El ministro de Exteriores iraní, Abbas Araghchi, dijo el jueves que “lo que debe ocurrir ha quedado claramente expuesto de nuestra parte”, sin ofrecer detalles. Irán ha exigido durante mucho tiempo un alivio de las duras sanciones internacionales a cambio de tomar medidas para limitar, pero no poner fin, a su programa nuclear.

Mientras tanto, el jefe de la ONU instó a Irán y a Estados Unidos “a centrarse en la vía diplomática” aun cuando aumentan las tensiones y la posibilidad de un ataque de Estados Unidos sigue siendo muy real.

“Vemos mensajes positivos que salen de las vías diplomáticas, lo cual seguimos alentando”, dijo el secretario general de la ONU, António Guterres, según su portavoz Stephane Dujarric. “También vemos movimientos militares muy preocupantes en toda la región, lo cual es extremadamente inquietante también”.

Suspenden vuelos mientras instan a la gente a irse

Estados Unidos ha reunido una enorme flota de aeronaves y buques de guerra en Oriente Medio. Uno de los portaaviones está ya en posición y otro va en camino hacia la región. Irán afirma que responderá a cualquier ofensiva de Estados Unidos atacando a las fuerzas estadounidenses en la región, lo que podría incluir a las estacionadas en bases estadounidenses situadas en países árabes aliados.

Aerolíneas como KLM, con sede en Holanda, ya han anunciado planes para suspender los vuelos desde el Aeropuerto Internacional Ben Gurion de Tel Aviv, y otras embajadas también han hecho planes para realizar salidas autorizadas desde Israel y países vecinos.

El Ministerio de Exteriores de Reino Unido dijo que “debido a la situación de seguridad, el personal de Reino Unido ha sido retirado temporalmente de Irán”. Indicó que la embajada operaba de forma remota.

En Israel, Reino Unido dijo el viernes que trasladó a parte del personal diplomático y a sus familias desde Tel Aviv a otro lugar no especificado dentro de Israel “como medida de precaución”. En una actualización de sus recomendaciones de viaje, el Ministerio de Exteriores añadió que la embajada del país en Tel Aviv opera con normalidad, pero que la situación “podría escalar rápidamente y plantea importantes riesgos”.

El primer ministro británico, Keir Starmer, dijo el jueves que Reino Unido estaba enfocado en “apoyar el proceso político” entre Washington y Teherán.

El miércoles, Australia “ordenó la salida de todos los dependientes de los funcionarios australianos destinados en Israel en respuesta al deterioro de la situación de seguridad en Oriente Medio”. China, India y varios países europeos con misiones en Irán han aconsejado a sus ciudadanos que eviten viajar al país.

El Ministerio de Exteriores de China también aconsejó a sus ciudadanos que ya están en Irán que se marchen, según un comunicado difundido por medios estatales chinos.

___

Metz informó desde Ramallah, Cisjordania, y Lee desde Washington. Seung Min Kim en Washington, Stephanie Liechtenstein en Viena, Farnoush Amiri en las Naciones Unidas, Kareem Chehayeb en Beirut y Pangiotis Pylas en Londres contribuyeron a este despacho.

___

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/trump-dice-que-no-est-contento-con-las-conversaciones-con-irn-pero-esperar-a-ver-qu-pasa/ 

Por RUTH ALONGA y JEAN-YVES KAMALE

GOMA, República Democrática del Congo (AP) — Los residentes de Uvira, en el este de la República Democrática del Congo, manifestaron su preocupación el viernes por la posibilidad de que los cuerpos en descomposición propaguen enfermedades, luego que las autoridades informaran que se hallaron 171 cadáveres en fosas comunes tras la retirada de los rebeldes del M23 de la ciudad.

El gobernador de la provincia de Kivu del Sur, Jean-Jacques Purusi, señaló el jueves que los cuerpos fueron encontrados en dos fosas comunes en las afueras de la principal ciudad y responsabilizó a los rebeldes por las muertes.

The Associated Press no pudo verificar de manera independiente las afirmaciones. Un portavoz del M23 no respondió a una solicitud de comentarios.

Purusi indicó que las víctimas serán enterradas sólo después que los médicos forenses completen los procedimientos requeridos y que, por lo pronto, no se debe alterar el lugar.

Flavien Kalenga Mutumishi, quien vive cerca de una de las fosas, contó el viernes que él y varios otros residentes descubrieron alrededor de una docena de cuerpos en descomposición tras la retirada de los rebeldes y alertaron a las autoridades.

Expresó preocupación por los posibles riesgos para la salud, al señalar que una de las fosas comunes está ubicada dentro de un recinto residencial.

“Encontramos cuerpos que habían sido enterrados de manera deficiente y parcial en fosas poco profundas. Esto representa un gran peligro para las comunidades cercanas”, dijo Mutumishi a la AP por teléfono.

Otro residente afirmó que habían alertado a las autoridades sobre cadáveres en descomposición en el mismo recinto.

“Por eso nos vimos obligados a llamar a trabajadores de salud para que realizaran el trabajo. Lamentablemente, tenían miedo porque no había ninguna cobertura sobre la fosa”, comentó el residente, que habló bajo condición de anonimato por temor a represalias.

Grupos de la sociedad civil y otros residentes señalaron que las autoridades habían restringido el acceso a las fosas comunes y prohibido a la gente tomar fotos.

Purusi informó que las autoridades judiciales habían abierto una investigación e instó a la Misión de Estabilización de la Organización de Naciones Unidas en la República Democrática del Congo, conocida como MONUSCO, y a organismos regionales a indagar también.

Una portavoz de MONUSCO, Ndeye Khady Lo, dijo que la misión no podía confirmar de manera independiente los reportes sobre fosas comunes, y citó la falta de información detallada y verificable sobre la ubicación, el número de víctimas y las circunstancias.

El gobernador y líderes de la sociedad civil en Uvira alegaron que el M23 mató a las personas porque se sospechaba que pertenecían al ejército congoleño o a una milicia progubernamental.

Tanto el ejército congoleño como el M23 han sido acusados por grupos de derechos humanos de ejecuciones extrajudiciales y otros abusos.

El M23 tomó el control de Uvira en diciembre tras una ofensiva rápida. Más de 1.500 personas murieron y unas 300.000 fueron desplazadas, según autoridades regionales.

El grupo rebelde se retiró posteriormente de la ciudad y describió la decisión como una “medida unilateral de fomento de la confianza” solicitada por Estados Unidos para facilitar un proceso de paz.

La República Democrática del Congo, Estados Unidos y expertos de la ONU acusan a Ruanda de respaldar al M23, que, según Naciones Unidas, ha pasado de tener cientos de miembros en 2021 a contar con alrededor de 6.500 combatientes.

Más de 100 grupos armados compiten por afianzarse en el este de la República Democrática del Congo, región rica en minerales, cerca de la frontera con Ruanda, y el más destacado es el M23. El conflicto ha generado una de las crisis humanitarias más importantes del mundo, con más de 7 millones de personas desplazadas, según la agencia de la ONU para los refugiados.

Pese a la firma de un acuerdo entre los gobiernos congoleño y ruandés, mediado por Estados Unidos, y a las negociaciones en curso entre los rebeldes y la República Democrática del Congo, los combates continúan en varios frentes del este del Congo, con numerosas víctimas civiles y militares.

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Kamale reportó desde Kinsasa, República Democrática del Congo. Janvier Barhahiga, en Bukavu, República Democrática del Congo, contribuyó a este despacho.

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

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/residentes-de-ciudad-de-este-del-congo-temen-enfermedades-tras-hallazgo-de-fosas-comunes/ 

Approximately 5,000 people were expected to attend the annual Northern Illinois Boat Show in Grayslake that started Thursday and runs through Sunday, with more than 40 exhibitors and manufacturers.

Chey Pribel, the director of marketing for the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center, said the annual boat show, “screams Lake County. There are so many boaters in this community. We love having the show.

“We think it’s important to the community, just knowing that boating is such a big part of life up here,” Pribel said.

For nearly two decades, the show has been produced by Warren Moulis and son Neil, both of Johnsburg.

Warren Moulis is co-owner of Munson Marine, Fox Lake Harbor, Chain O’Lakes Marina and Inland Harbor Marina of Antioch. His son is the general manager.

Their four properties have 450 boat slips combined with four gas docks, washrooms and showers, plus picnic spots for vacation getaways or weekend fun.

Center, Ted Dzierzbicki of Cary and of All Marine Services discusses the evolution of the pontoon boat with, from left to right, seated, Michael and Kriss Buzzell of Antioch in Expo Hall at the Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 opener of the Northern Illinois Boat Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

“The Chain O’Lakes is a great place to be, bring your family, many restaurants to stop at, swimming areas, sandbars, a fun place to be,” Warren Moulis said.

This year, he said, “a lot of pontoons” are for sale at the show, “because you can bring your family, friends, it’s not crowded on the boat. You can move around, anchor out, swim and have fun.

“It’s a healthy way to enjoy your family,” Moulis added. “We sell fun.”

When the show opened in the Expo Hall on Thursday, patrons Michael and Kriss Buzzell of Antioch strolled around the showroom floor. The couple looked mostly at pontoon boats.

People check out some of the watercraft parked outside of Expo Hall at the Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 opener of the Northern Illinois Boat Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

Michael Buzzell saw the value in pontoon boats early. In the 1980s, he said, “My first boat was $8,600 … and a 20-footer.

He said he brought the pontoon boat back and forth between the Chain O’Lakes and Delavan Lake, Wisconsin. Sixteen people could fit on it, he said.

“I come to the show because I’ve been a boater all my life,” he said.

In the showroom, Michael and Kriss Buzzell sat in the comfy chairs of a Landau Signature, a top-of-the-line pontoon boat valued at about $112,000.

The Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 opener of the Northern Illinois Boat Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

Ted Dzierzbicki of All Marine Services was impressed to hear about Michael Buzzell’s long career as a boat captain and the fact that Buzzell used pontoon boats before they became popular.

“He is a pioneer,” Dzierzbicki said. “Back then, pontoons were frowned on.”

For the 2026 season, Joseph S. Keller, the Fox Waterway Agency executive director, said he was encouraged to hear that the Chicago Boat Show in Rosemont earlier this year had high attendance and impressive sales.

“There are a lot of these local marinas and Chicago-area marinas that sell a lot of boats, so I think that was pleasant to hear,” Keller said. “Because these days, with the economy, you’re like, ‘Where’s it going? What’s happening?’ When you see they sold as many boats as they did, that to me is a great sign.

As an attendee arrives on the left shortly after the doors opened, having a conversation, from left to right, are Mike Wollenberg of Carol Stream, and Jeff Eaton of Hanover Park, both representing Fox Lake Harbor, at the Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 opener of the Northern Illinois Boat Show at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center. (Karie Angell Luc/Lake County News-Sun)

“I think some prices have come down from boats when they hit some highs during COVID,” he said. “That probably makes a difference.”

During the pandemic, Keller said people and boaters rediscovered their love for the waterways in Lake County along the Chain and on Lake Michigan as a local way to recreate amid the restrictions.

“And then the stock market (in 2026) has been strong … for a lot of folks,” he continued. “They want a boat. They want to be able to enjoy our waterway, which is important.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/northern-illinois-boat-show/ 

Senior point guard Eilish Raines views the game a little differently for Providence.

She unlocks every angle, every seam, every cut to the basket with a sureness and purpose.

“In my eyes, I see the whole court when I’m playing,” Raines said. “As soon as I see someone open or I see a good opportunity or get the ball to someone, I just get it there.

“Whatever it takes.”

Raines tallied seven assists without a turnover Thursday night, leading the Celtics to a 72-44 win over the host Hawks in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills.

Pepperdine-bound senior center Landrie Callahan totaled 38 points and 14 rebounds for Providence (31-4), which won its second sectional title in program history and first since 2020.

Providence’s Eilish Raines (2) passes the ball away from Hillcrest’s Davia Cobb (11) during the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

Junior forward Layken Callahan, Landrie’s sister, added 13 points and five rebounds for the Celtics, who play at 6:30 p.m. Monday against downstate Washington (32-2) in the Kankakee Supersectional.

Senior guard Da’Jha Johnson was spectacular in her final high school game, scoring 32 points for Hillcrest (27-8). Senior guard Davia Cobb also contributed seven points.

Without scoring a point, however, Raines impacted the game in a profound manner. Her best pass Thursday was a 45-foot dime that Landrie Callahan caught in stride for a 3-point play.

“She has almost eight assists like that every game,” Callahan said of Raines, who has recorded 157 assists on the season. “I’ve never played with a point guard like her.

Providence’s Eilish Raines (2) brings the ball up the court against Hillcrest during the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

“She’s amazing at getting me the ball every time. I’m open and she just knows how to get me the ball. She just draws people off me and makes the pass every time.”

Raines — whose American pronunciation “Eye-lush” of her Gaelic first name never felt so apropos — is the perfect orchestrator for the Celtics’ read-and-react motion offense.

“It’s like having an extended coach on the floor,” Providence coach Eileen Copenhaver said of Haines. “She controls the tempo. She understands me. Her eyes are just incredible.

“She’s anticipating and then reading the open holes.”

Providence’s Eilish Raines (2) looks to pass over Hillcrest’s Jenaria Thompson (15) during the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

Raines’ willingness to sacrifice scoring optimizes the Celtics’ size on the inside and shooting from the wing.

“I’ve always felt like scoring has never really been my thing,” she said. “I feel like there are better scorers out there. I learned to pass and I worked on getting better at finding girls who are open.

“Once I realized I was good at it, I just kept going with it.”

The 5-foot-9 Raines has nice size for a point guard that she combines with balance and an uncommon feel for the game. Perhaps her secret advantage is being left-handed.

She flings the ball with authority, power and precision from the top of the key or either wing.

“I grew up playing softball, so I’ve always had an arm,” Raines said. “I’ve always been able to throw the ball. When I started playing basketball and passing, I just realized I could do it.

“I kept doing it and I worked on it from there.”

Eilish Raines (2) holds the plaque after Providence beat the host Hawks in the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional championship game in Country Club Hills on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown).

Raines, though, gave up softball in middle school to focus exclusively on basketball. By the time she was in eighth grade, the sport consumed her.

She has been on varsity since her freshman year and a starter since her sophomore season, but astonishingly, never played point guard until now.

“I’ve definitely had to adjust each year,” she said. “I‘ve played post. I’ve played wherever my coaches needed me. We had a great guard last year in Molly Knight.

“Somebody had to step up when she left and I just said why not.”

Providence’s playoff run is the end of her basketball career for Raines, who plans on attending Kentucky as a student. She grew up competitive with three older brothers.

“I’ve scored in double figures back when I used to shoot more,” she said. “Now, I don’t shoot as much anymore. My assists, that’s what really gets me going.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/27/eilish-raines-providence-hillcrest-girls-basketball/