NEW YORK — James Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who starred in coming-of-age dramas at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in “Dawson’s Creek” and in later years mocking his own hunky persona, has died. He was 48.

A statement posted on the actor’s official Instagram page Wednesday said Van Der Beek died earlier in the day. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” the statement said.

Van Der Beek revealed in 2024 that he was being treated for colorectal cancer.

Van Der Beek made a surprise video appearance in September at a “Dawson’s Creek” reunion charity event in New York City after previously dropping out due to illness.

He appeared projected onstage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre during a live reading of the show’s pilot episode to benefit F Cancer and Van Der Beek. Lin-Manuel Miranda subbed for him on stage. “Thank you to every single person here,” Van Der Beek said.

Forever tied to ‘Dawson’s Creek’

A one-time theater kid, Van Der Beek would star in the movie “Varsity Blues” and on TV in “CSI: Cyber” as FBI Special Agent Elijah Mundo, but was forever connected to “Dawson’s Creek,” which ran from 1998 to 2003 on The WB.

The series followed a high school group of friends as they learned about falling in love, creating real friendships and finding their footing in life. Van Der Beek, than 20, played 15-year-old Dawson Leery, who aspired to be a director of Steven Spielberg quality.

“Dawson’s Creek,” with the moody theme song Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want To Wait,” helped define The WB as a haven for teens and young adults who related to its hyper-articulate dialogue and frank talk about sexuality. And it made household names of Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams.

The show caused a stir when one of the teens embarked on a racy affair with a teacher 20 years his senior and when Holmes’ character climbs through Dawson’s bedroom window and they curl up together. Racier shows like “Euphoria” and “Sex Education” owe a debt to “Dawson’s Creek.”

Van Der Beek sometimes struggled to get out from under the shadow of the show but eventually leaned into lampooning himself, like on Funny Or Die videos and on Kesha’s “Blow” music video, which included his laser gun battle with the pop star in a nightclub and dead unicorns.

“It’s tough to compete with something that was the cultural phenomenon that ‘Dawson’s Creek’ was,” he told Vulture in 2013. “It ran for so long. That’s a lot of hours playing one character in front of people. So it’s natural that they associate you with that.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/james-van-der-beek-dawsons-creek-died/ 

Gary is “open for business,” Mayor Eddie Melton said Tuesday night, as he encouraged local business leaders to continue investing in the city.

“I’m not blind that there’s a stigma to Gary,” Melton said. “We have yet to shake that. Even if the numbers reflect progress, the message people speak is still lingering.”

From left, Dan Vicari, Executive Director, Gary/Chicago International Airport; Mike Gaudreau, VP of Casino Operations, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana; Gary Mayor Eddie Melton; and Hard Rock Casino VP Legal and General Counsel Carol Tan-Helton listen to Daniel Killeen, General Manager of U.S. Steel Gary Works, during a discussion bringing together city leadership and key industry partners for an open conversation on Gary’s economic future, industrial growth, and strategic partnerships on Feb. 10, 2026. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune)

Melton and the Gary Chamber of Commerce hosted a fireside chat at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana Tuesday night. The event featured a networking hour for attendees and a panel discussion with representatives from U.S. Steel, Hard Rock and the Gary/Chicago International Airport.

Representatives included U.S. Steel Gary Works General Manager Daniel Killeen, Hard Rock Vice President Legal and General Counsel Carol Tan-Helton, Hard Rock Vice President of Casino Operations Mike Gaudreau, and Gary/Chicago International Airport Executive Director Dan Vicari.

The mayor used Tuesday to highlight economic success since his administration took over, including a U.S. Steel deal that plans to bring billions of dollars to Gary and winning a bid for the Lake County Convention Center.

“This year alone, we’re going to spend $900 million, investing in the facility here,” Killeen said. “We’re on a path to spend $3.1 billion. … We want to make sure that facility is viable and it’s part of the city here.”

Gary Mayor Eddie Melton (center) moderates a discussion with, from left, Dan Vicari, Executive Director, Gary/Chicago International Airport; Mike Gaudreau, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana’s VP of Casino Operations; Hard Rock Casino’s VP Legal and General Counsel Carol Tan-Helton; and Daniel M. Killeen, General Manager of U.S. Steel Gary Works, on Gary’s economic future, industrial growth and strategic partnerships at the Hard Rock Casino on Feb. 10, 2026. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune)

The city’s recent success makes Melton optimistic that more will come, including potentially the new home for the Chicago Bears.

“I’m trying to show you that we’re doing the practical things to make this city grow again, and it’s happening in real time,” Melton said. “I really think we can make this happen.”

On Tuesday, Portage officials proposed a Bears stadium on 300 acres of city-owned land on its north side, according to Post-Tribune archives. Mayor Austin Bonta told the Post-Tribune that the stadium could be financed privately, and the Bears and state of Indiana are aware of the proposal and funding.

In January, Gary announced that the city has three proposed locations for a Bears stadium, near Hard Rock Casino, Buffington Harbor and Miller Beach. Melton said Tuesday night that the location near Hard Rock is his preferred pick.

Gary Mayor Eddie Melton addresses the audience during a discussion bringing together city leadership and key industry partners for an open conversation on Gary’s economic future, industrial growth, and strategic partnerships at the Hard Rock Casino on Feb. 10, 2026. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune)

“I believe Gary is the best location,” Melton said. “If they want to make a very sound business decision, we can help you do that.”

Panelists believe the future looks promising for Gary, and Gaudreau said he’s biased when it comes to the entertainment district’s future. In four years, 10 million people have visited Hard Rock, he said.

“We’ve seen the business grow,” Gaudreau said. “We’ve been competitive with competitors across the border. … We’re the highest grossing casino in the state of Indiana, so obviously, in our eyes, that’s something we want to capitalize on.”

Beyond gaming, Hard Rock also helps drive tourism, small business growth and local spending. About 75,000 people attended concerts at the casino last year, Gaudreau said. The restaurants also made about $1.2 million, he added.

Hard Rock partners with the city’s school corporations, Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana University Northwest to help support the community, Tan-Helton said. The casino is also dedicated to supporting the local music industry by having free local entertainment in the casino on Friday and Saturday nights.

Killeen is optimistic about U.S. Steel’s presence in Gary, he said Tuesday night, and he thinks the future of the steel industry looks promising. The company plans to work with local schools to recruit workers, Killeen said, and he hopes that students can see the benefits of working for U.S. Steel once they graduate high school.

“The future and growth looks outstanding,” Killeen said. “As business entities in this community, when we’re expanding, it’s going to help the tax base.”

U.S. Steel has been part of Gary since 1905, Killeen said, and the company hopes that its history with the city will also help keep the workforce going for years to come.

“The best employees we have are here,” he said. “It was either mom worked (at U.S. Steel), or dad worked there. They understand the skills, and they understand what it takes to make steel, and it’s not an easy thing. … The workforce we have here is going to invest in this, and it’s a leapfrog that puts us ahead.”

The Gary airport has been focused on upgrades to its infrastructure, Vicari said, and he doesn’t expect that to stop in the future. As the city gets more logistics sites, such as the FedEx location coming to Buffington Harbor, he thinks the airport can help as well.

The airport can help show the benefits of working in Gary, Vicari added.

“We need to keep telling our story and showing the value of Gary,” Vicari said. “Not just with the airport, but Gary-wide, the value cannot be underestimated.”

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/gary-talks-future-at-fireside-chat-with-u-s-steel-hard-rock/ 

‘No Privacy’ CBDCs Will Come, Warns Billionaire Ray Dalio

Tyler Durden
Wed, 02/11/2026 – 14:40

https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/no-privacy-cbdcs-will-come-warns-billionaire-ray-dalio 

MILAN — Jordan Stolz pictured this moment most of his life, ever since he was 5 years old, learning to skate on a frozen pond in his Wisconsin backyard after falling in love with speedskating during the 2010 Winter Olympics — and hoping to one day step atop the podium himself.

So what was the little hassle of a 10-or-so-minute wait to make sure this first speedskating gold medal would be his Wednesday?

Stolz needed to hold off on celebrating until another competitor got the chance for a reskate, then soon enough was able to smile while leaning forward to receive his gold for winning the men’s 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Games in an Olympic-record time.

Now Stolz will hope to keep going and add to his collection of trophies as he entered three more events in Milan.

Photos: The best images from Day 5 of the 2026 Winter Olympics

Skating in the next-to-last pairing at Milano Speed Skating Stadium, a temporary facility constructed for these Olympics that has been producing fast times so far, Stolz finished in 1 minute, 6.28 seconds.

The 21-year-old didn’t threaten his world record of 1:05.37 but did better the Olympic standard of 1:07.18 that had stood since 2002 — before Stolz was born. All four long-track speedskating races in Milan have been won in the fastest times ever turned in at an Olympics.

Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands was a half-second slower than Stolz and took the silver medal. No one else came within a full second of Stolz’s time. Zhongyan Ning of China got the bronze.

Stolz’s medal was his first at this level: As a 17-year-old at the 2022 Beijing Games, Stolz came in 14th in the 1,000 and 13th in the 500.

It also was the first medal of any sort in the men’s 1,000 for the United States since the 2010 Vancouver Games. That’s when Chicago’s Shani Davis — a mentor to Stolz — won his second consecutive gold in that event and Chad Hedrick took the bronze. Dutch men had won the 1,000 at each of the last three Winter Games.

With Eric Heiden, the only speedskater to win five golds at one Olympics, sitting next to rapper Snoop Dogg in the stands, Stolz pulled ahead of de Boo by the time one full lap was done. Then de Boo moved in front. But Stolz took the lead at the final corner and crossed first with his hands on his knees.

He soon was celebrating with an understated pump of his right hand.

A full-on victory lap toting an American flag had to be put on hold for a bit, though: First, the day’s last heat needed to be held. And then there was a 10-minute delay before Joep Wennermars of the Netherlands was given the chance at a reskate because he had been bumped during his original heat.

But Wennermars didn’t come close to beating Stolz, who entered the day as a big favorite — and came through in the clutch.

Stolz not only holds the 1,000 world record he set in January 2024, but also is a two-time world champion at the distance. Plus, he went 5-for-5 on the World Cup circuit this season in the event, confirming his status as the man to beat at the Winter Games.

In a surprising scene at the U.S. Olympic trials at Milwaukee in January, Stolz fell to the ice a few strides into the 1,000, then popped back up and ended up with the third-best time.

No such issue when it mattered the most Wednesday.

This race was Stolz’s first of his four scheduled events in Milan — and it is not unrealistic to think he could leave Italy with four gold medals, given his track record and dominance of late. After two days off, he also is entered in the 500 meters on Saturday, the 1,500 on Feb. 19 and the mass start on Feb. 21, the final day of speedskating at these Olympics.

Stolz’s name is often mentioned alongside that of Heiden, the superstar who is the only speedskater to claim five long-track gold medals at a single Winter Games. Heiden won five individual events at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics: the 500, 1,000, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000.

Stolz says he’s flattered to hear about such comparisons but also is quick to note that what Heiden accomplished was remarkably different, given his participation at all five of those distances. Stolz might add the longer distances to his repertoire down the road; for now, he is the best there is in the sprints.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/olympics-speedskating-jordan-stolz-gold-medal/ 

A recently merged theologically progressive church in Oak Lawn will host one of its first community events Sunday — a prayer vigil to raise awareness of what it says are inhumane actions taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

New Hope United Church of Christ, which brought together the congregations of Pilgrim Faith United Church of Christ and Salem United Church of Christ last month, will light candles at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at 9717 South Kostner Ave., in honor of people killed during interactions with ICE or Border Patrol agents.

“I don’t think there’s enough outrage in this community about what’s happening,” the Rev. Daniel Sather, a pastor at the church, said Tuesday. “So I feel like this is an opportunity for us to say this is who we are, coming into our own identity as the prophetic voice in the community.”

Sather pointed to ICE’s shooting deaths of 37-year-old Renee Good and 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis as well as others who have died in federal custody.

“I think the church has a responsibility to respond to that,” Sather said. “Because it’s not Christlike, it isn’t who we are as Christians, and I don’t believe it’s what we are as the United States of America.”

He mentioned federal agents’ 64-day surge of immigration enforcement raids in and around Chicago that drove hundreds to protest outside a processing facility in west suburban Broadview.

Sather said the vigil was planned by the New Hope Peaceful Synergy Group, which was formed shortly before New Hope opened and aims to achieve balance between people’s work for justice and their personal and spiritual lives. Immanuel United Church of Christ in Evergreen Park and Peace Memorial United Church of Christ in Palos Park will also join the prayer vigil.

Sather said he hopes Sunday’s vigil shows community members that New Hope’s congregation is “not afraid to address issues, particularly when there is injustice and inhumanity.”

Sather encouraged attendees to dress for the weather, as the church plans to lead a candlelit walk through the New Hope neighborhood after honoring the victims of ICE.

The Rev. Daniel Sather serves Communion at New Hope United Church of Christ. The newly merged congregation will host a prayer vigil Feb. 15 in honor of people killed during interactions with ICE or Border Patrol agents. (Steve Hoerger)
New Hope United Church of Christ at 9717 South Kostner Ave. in Oak Lawn, the site of the former Salem United Church of Christ. (Steve Hoerger)

New Hope represents the shared values of the former Salem and Pilgrim Faith churches, which decided to merge as amid financial struggles driven by a gradual decline in attendance over the past few decades. Sather was formerly Pilgrim Faith’s pastor and plans to retire once New Hope is well established, leaving Salem’s former pastor, the Rev. Steve Hoerger, to take the reins.

The vision statement for New Hope United Church of Christ imagines “a faith community committed to living out the gospel through compassionate service, inclusive welcome and purposeful outreach.”

“Our mission is to share God’s love by embracing all people, regardless of race, background, gender identity or life’s circumstance, and by working together to meet the spiritual and practical needs of our neighbors,” according to the statement.

ostevens@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/prayer-vigil-ice-oak-lawn-church/ 

It’s safe to say that Southwest Airlines’ transition to assigned seating is off to a turbulent start.

Customers have taken to social media platforms for days to complain about things like lack of overhead bin space and not being allowed to switch seats, even when there are plenty open.

Southwest, Love Field Airport’s dominant carrier, began assigned seating on Jan. 27, ending its popular open seating policy. CEO Bob Jordan previously said that surveys conducted by Southwest showed customers and potential customers overwhelmingly wanted the option to pick their seat, similar to other major U.S. Airlines like Fort Worth-based American.

The monumental switch was first announced in 2024. Around the same time, Southwest’s management came under pressure following an activist takeover by Elliott Investment Management.

But now concerns have grown and even some of the airline’s most loyal customers are frustrated after the carrier rolled out a new boarding process to pair with the policy change.

There are reports that A-list Preferred customers, who are supposed to board in either groups one or two, are boarding in later groups, also leading to bin space troubles.

Some of Southwest’s A-listers openly raged on platforms such as X, with many complaints focused on those passengers being forced to place carry-on bags in compartments way to the back of the plane, a different experience from the prior boarding regime.

A frequent criticism is that non-preferred passengers were boarding ahead, and taking up available overhead space.

When reached by The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday, Southwest Airlines spokesperson Chris Perry acknowledged the company is aware of some of the complaints.

“Since launch, we’ve been closely monitoring input and real-world behaviors to validate our assumptions and identify where we can refine the experience,” Perry said in a statement. “Those insights are now informing a series of early adjustments designed to smooth operations and reduce friction as Customers adapt to the new boarding and seating process.”

Southwest employees who respond to customer messages on social media have also told customers it is reviewing the concerns.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/southwest-airlines-assigned-seating/ 

State Department Hones In On Left-Wing NGOs As Vectors Of Chinese Influence Operations

Tyler Durden
Wed, 02/11/2026 – 14:20

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/state-department-hones-left-wing-ngos-vectors-chinese-influence-operations 

The Chicago police officers involved in the March 2024 shooting of Dexter Reed were largely cleared of wrongdoing by investigators with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, city records show.

Five officers were involved in the traffic stop that preceded the shooting that left Reed dead and a Chicago Police Department officer wounded. COPA records show the five faced 15 different allegations of misconduct — civil rights violations, excessive force and a weapons discharge.

Of those, just one charge of excessive force was sustained, records show. Available information does not make clear which officer saw the sustained allegation.

An attorney for Reed’s family, as well as spokespersons for Mayor Brandon Johnson, didn’t respond to requests for comment. CPD declined to comment.

COPA’s investigation concluded in late 2025, according to an agency spokesperson, and investigators’ findings and any recommended discipline now sit with CPD, records show. The police department must next decide if it agrees with COPA’s conclusions before any potential discipline could be meted out. A Freedom of Information Act request to inspect the final COPA report was denied because the disciplinary case is still pending.

Reed, 26, was stopped by the five tactical team officers in the 3800 block of West Ferdinand shortly after 6 p.m. on March 21, 2024. Moments later, while still in the driver’s seat, Reed shot Officer Gregory Saint Louis in the wrist. The four other plainclothes officers — Thomas Spanos, Alexandra Giampapa, Victor Pacheco and Aubrey Webb — then opened fire.

The shooting was captured entirely on the officers’ body-worn cameras and quickly drew condemnation. Investigators later determined the four officers fired nearly 100 shots, including three that were fired as Reed — a former standout basketball player at Westinghouse College Prep high school — was lying motionless on the ground.

The officer who fired those shots, Spanos, fired his gun 50 times in 41 seconds.

Reed’s family later filed a federal lawsuit against the officers and the city. Last year, though, the City Council rejected a $1.25 million payment to settle the suit. Federal court records show the case remains pending, and an amended complaint was filed by Reed’s family in December.

COPA records show the five officers involved in the traffic stop and shooting were, for months, on the radar of misconduct investigators. CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling called for the officers to be suspended for their actions in other traffic stops in CPD’s Harrison (11th) District. City records show two of the officers, Giampapa and Saint Louis, no longer work for CPD.

Last weekend, CPD and COPA investigators opened a new inquiry into Spanos after he allegedly threatened a CPD detective while off-duty at a bar in the Norwood Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side. The confrontation was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, Spanos approached the detective inside Tommy’s on Higgins early Saturday and threatened him. By the time Jefferson Park (16th) District police arrived, Spanos and others had allegedly left the bar and were outside as a fight brewed. Spanos remained on active duty as of Wednesday, according to a CPD spokesperson. Spanos could not be reached for comment.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/officers-dexter-reed-shooting-cleared/ 

As competition for a new Chicago Bears stadium intensifies, suburban fans and leaders plan to rally Wednesday night to bring the team to Arlington Heights — with a new urgency to fight off a bid from Indiana.

The Indiana Senate recently passed a bill to create a northwest Indiana sports stadium authority to finance, build, and lease an arena.

But Rolling Meadows Mayor Lara Sanoica, who supports bringing the Bears to neighboring Arlington Heights, issued a statement that the proposed Indiana law would be a bad deal for workers.

“Indiana’s sales pitch is that you can build a world-class stadium by shortchanging the workers who build it,” Sanoica said. “Illinois doesn’t work that way. We know our families deserve better than a race to the bottom.”

The Indiana bill prohibits project labor agreements on the stadium project. Such agreements, Sanoica said, ensure that construction workers receive union-scale wages, retirement benefits and apprenticeships. The Indiana Senate also eliminated participation goals for minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

In contrast, the Illinois Mega Projects Bill that the Bears want requires a project labor agreement and a goal of awarding 20% of contracts to minority-owned businesses.

The Mega Projects bill would allow the Bears, or any other sponsor of a major development, to negotiate long-term property taxes with local taxing bodies.

It wouldn’t cost the state a dime. The Bears propose paying for their own $2 billion enclosed stadium. But team officials want the state to help pay for an estimated $855 million in infrastructure costs for things like new roads, rail access and water mains.

Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia said he thinks Illinois lawmakers are making progress to counter Indiana’s offer.

“This is no longer Arlington Heights versus Chicago,” he said. “This is about doing what we need to keep the Bears here in Illinois.”

Local school leaders, who would be most affected by any property tax deal, support the Illinois legislation. They would be able to broker their own deal, as they did in a short-term deal that sets the Bears tax at $3.6 million annually — more than the former Arlington International Racecourse site ever paid.

The team bought the 326-are site for $197 million in February of 2023. They announced plans for a $5 billion multi-use project to include hotels, restaurants, housing and parks.

When tax negotiations temporarily bogged down, the team shifted its focus to instead propose a new stadium on the lakefront in Chicago, to replace the team’s current home at Soldier Field. That would have cost some $2.5 billion in taxpayer funding, but state leaders said they wouldn’t do it, and the plan went nowhere.

After Illinois lawmakers failed to even consider the Mega Projects deal, the team surprised everyone by saying they were looking into possibly moving to northwest Indiana. Sites in Hammond, Gary and Portage have been proposed.

That got Illinois leaders’ attention. This week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said state officials have been meeting with the team and making progress. Pritzker repeatedly has said the state won’t pay for a stadium, but would be open to paying for infrastructure, as is commonly done with big projects.

State legislative leaders also expressed recent openness to the Mega Projects deal. But Chicago lawmakers have suggested that any deal would need some way to pay off the remaining debt of more than $500 million for the 2003 renovation of Soldier Field.

The Arlington Heights rally, sponsored by the non-profit suburban marketing group Chicago Northwest and a group of local residents and business leaders called Touchdown Arlington, is to feature local leaders calling for state lawmakers to pass the Mega Projects bill.

The Bears have said the project would create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic benefits. But economists warn that such projects typically are bad deals for taxpayers, because stadiums are closed most of the time, generate only temporary or part-time jobs, and largely take away spending from other types of entertainment.

The Republican-majority Indiana House is expected to take up the Bears legislation, and possibly make changes, before lawmakers aim to adjourn February 27. Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston is sponsoring the bill, calling it a huge economic opportunity, but wants a commitment from the Bears before finalizing the legislation.

Any new enclosed stadium would compete with the retractable-roofed Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for events like concerts, college playoffs and the Super Bowl. Any new taxes in northwest Indiana are not likely to be well-received by residents who are already protesting skyrocketing utility bills.

The Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly session ends May 31. A stadium would take about three years to build, and the Bears wanted to start construction last year.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/arlington-heights-indiana-chicago-bears-stadium/