Category: News
Adrenaline on ice: ‘Hidden gem’ racing circuit carved into region lake
In the dead of winter, dozens of all-terrain vehicles and motorbikes converge in the region to test their speed and agility on more than two miles of zigzagging, looping track.
What makes this circuit unlike any other in the area? This arena melts away come spring.
Feb. 1 brought just the right deep-freeze conditions to herald in the season’s first Moto On Ice races on Cedar Lake’s east side. Since 2011, Moto On Ice has held races every Sunday afternoon from January to March along the Cedar Lake Town Grounds lakefront – as long as conditions produce safe ice.
Mark Miller of Dyer rode his 2024 Raptor 700 R, an all-terrain vehicle, out on the lake for his first ice race.
“It’s an adrenaline rush,” Miller said. “There’s always risk with everything you do, right? This is pretty low risk for what the reward is. If you like going fast and having a good time, this is a good place to start.”
Miller modified his ATV with studded tires, insulated handle grips and more to handle the ice and cold. Many of the competitors race ATVs and motorbikes in the summer and outfit their vehicles for ice sports in the winter.
A Motorbike racer drives on the two-mile track on the ice Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Anna Ortiz/for Post-Tribune)
“If you don’t see it in person, you won’t believe what this actually is,” said Moto On Ice President Tim Jenkins of Crown Point. “I mean, I can describe it to you all day long and the thought process is going to be, ‘Wait a minute, you’re riding a dirt bike on a lake?’ Yeah.”
Josh Govert, Moto On Ice’s risk management and safety lead, said plow teams cleared a quarter-mile oval track and 2-mile winding road course 150 feet from the shoreline.
“The road course constantly changes, Govert said. “Every year we design a new one. This one has a lot of zigzags. If you ask me, it kind of looks like a rooster from above.”
In the winter, Govert comes out to the lake to drill holes in the ice to measure the thickness. He said the races only happen if the inspection shows “safe ice” and favorable weather conditions. With shifting weather patterns, some milder winters have prevented races altogether.
A volunteer flashes a green flag to start the final race for Moto On Ice’s first event of the season Feb. 1, 2026. (Anna Ortiz/for Post-Tribune)
The current arena’s lake depth is mainly around 6 feet; however, closer to the middle of the lake, the depth gets to be around 13 feet, Govert said. The thickness of the ice can reach up to 20 inches in some areas.
“As far as I know, we’re the only club around for ice racing, unless you go about five hours north,” Govert said. “I believe we’re the only one in Indiana. We’ve had people come from California and Ohio. We have people that come down from all over. A lot of pride goes into what we do.”
Govert said Moto On Ice is an American Motorcyclist Association-sanctioned event that attracts AMA Hall of Fame racers, like Jeff Fredette, to compete. Despite this, Govert said Moto On Ice holds a hidden gem status, meaning that it’s something many people are still unaware of.
“It’s a unique event, and we’ve had races basically every week since 2011,” Govert said. “Every week that we race, I can’t tell you how many people that live in this town or around it say, ‘We didn’t even know this was going on. We had no idea.’ Every race day, I hear that at least 10 times, and I work the gate. There’s so many people that don’t know that it’s in their own backyard.”
Cedar Lake itself presents ideal conditions for ice racing. One will never find ice racing on a body of water such as Lake Michigan because of shelf ice, wind erosion and other dangerous conditions.
The first races were held on the south end of Cedar Lake; however, when John Lotton purchased the South Shore Golf Club, he withdrew Moto On Ice’s permission to use his property’s lakefront, organizers said. The races moved to their current location in front of The Museum at Lassen’s Resort and The Lighthouse Restaurant in 2021.
Dustin Boyd, of Crown Point, raced both circuits on his Yamaha Raptor. Boyd has been racing for 12 years on motorcycles and ATVs.
“We had some really fast guys out here today, so we had our fair share of back-and-forth competitiveness, but overall, you know, what was really outstanding is just how many people came out to watch,” Boyd said. “So I hope we get to race again next weekend, or the weekend after, and the ice stays with us. And I hope even more people come out and watch this.”
Holding a trophy on his 250 CC Quad ATV, Zack Tricka, 11, fist bumps his dad, Jim Tricka, after the races Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (Anna Ortiz/for Post-Tribune)
Holding a trophy on his 250 CC Quad ATV, Zack Tricka, 11, fist bumped his dad, Jim Tricka, after the races. He competed in the children’s division for the first time and won first place.
“It wasn’t very stressful, it was actually pretty fun,” Zack Tricka said. “It gets people out of the house and have some fun for a little bit in the winter.”
“I think the best thing that I see is that there’s a lot of families,” Jim Tricka said. “It’s very family-friendly. This particular event here is run by a great group of guys and gals. It’s good, clean fun, and for the most part, it’s pretty safe, too. They take a lot of precautions. It is an AMA-sanctioned event, so they have to meet certain criteria and rules. The ice has to be a certain thickness, and so there’s a lot of safety precautions that are put in place.”
Jenkins said Moto On Ice has been creating new learning opportunities to get new people into the sport. The group is currently waiving fees for children who participate in introductory classes at the race, where they can learn how to ride a motorbike with training wheels.
“We’ve had like 5- and 6-year-olds out there,” Jenkins said. “You know, all the way up until guys that are pushing their 70’s. We want everybody to be able to come out and be able to try and race.”
Since 2011, Moto On Ice has held races every Sunday afternoon from January to March along the Cedar Lake Town Grounds lakefront. Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, was the first race of this year’s season. (Anna Ortiz/for Post-Tribune)
Racer and Moto On Ice Treasurer Tim Farrell, of Chicago, said the group donates to other nonprofits, like Cedar Lake’s Boys & Girls Club. One of their most recent donations went to pay for local students’ overdrawn lunch accounts.
“I come from the motorcycle community, and one big thing you’ll find in common is that we work with a lot of charities,” Farrell said. “We are a nonprofit organization, ourselves. If there’s money left over after paying for the event, we donate it. Motorcyclists in general are a very giving group, and we all care about the community.”
Organizers also said they are in need of volunteers and those interested can reach out through Facebook Messenger to the Moto on Ice – Cedar Lake page.
The next race is planned to begin at noon Sunday, Feb. 8, on the lakefront of 7408 Constitution Ave. in Cedar Lake. It is $5 at the gate for spectators and $30 for those racing. Gates open at 8 a.m. and practice starts at 10 a.m. Following Sunday races will be held at the same location and time, depending on weather conditions.
Anna Ortiz is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/racing-circuit-carved-into-region-lake/
White House Says Trump Has No Plans To Deploy ICE At Polls, Won’t Rule Out Federal Presence
White House Says Trump Has No Plans To Deploy ICE At Polls, Won’t Rule Out Federal Presence
Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times,
The White House said on Feb. 5 that President Donald Trump has not discussed any “formal plans” to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at polling locations during November’s midterm elections, while declining to guarantee that federal agents would not be present near voting sites.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made the remarks during a press briefing in response to a question referencing a comment from former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
A reporter asked Leavitt for comment on Bannon’s recent remark that ICE agents would “surround the polls come November,” and whether the president was considering such action. Bannon made the remarks during an episode of his “War Room” podcast released Feb. 3.
“That’s not something I’ve ever heard the president consider. No,” Leavitt replied.
Pressed on whether she can “guarantee to the American public” that ICE will not have any presence near polling locations in the November mid-term election, the press secretary declined to offer such blanket assurances.
“I can’t guarantee that an ICE agent won’t be around a polling location in November. I mean, that’s frankly a very silly hypothetical question,” Leavitt said. “But what I can tell you is I haven’t heard the president discuss any formal plans to put ICE outside of polling locations. It’s a disingenuous question.”
Earlier this week, Trump suggested that Republicans should assert greater control over elections in areas the president has claimed are affected by fraud.
Speaking on Feb. 2, Trump said Republicans should “nationalize” and “take over” voting in at least 15 unspecified locations, repeating claims that U.S. elections suffer from widespread illegal voting.
Trump has long argued that noncitizens vote illegally in U.S. elections.
A 2014 academic study found evidence of noncitizen participation—“less than fifteen percent, but significantly greater than zero” in the 2008 presidential election and “more than three percent” in 2010. By contrast, a research review by the Brennan Center for Justice found that verified cases are “vanishingly rare.”
Voting booths are set up at a polling place in Newtown, Pa., on April 23, 2024. Matt Rourke/AP Photo
Federal law prohibits the president from deploying military troops at locations holding general or special elections “unless such force be necessary to repel armed enemies of the United States,” according to 18 U.S. Code § 592, and bars any sort of interference in elections by armed forces. ICE agents are civilian law-enforcement officers and are not covered by the same prohibitions that apply to the armed forces, although other laws still limit intimidation or interference at polling places.
Lawmakers from the Democratic Party and some voting-rights groups have said that any visible presence of federal immigration enforcement near polling locations—especially in communities of color—could intimidate lawful voters and deter turnout.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), for instance, said in November 2025 that any deployment of federal immigration agents in or around polling places on Election Day would amount to “illegal voter intimidation” and an attempt to “suppress voting.”
Trump administration officials have rejected such characterizations, saying federal involvement is aimed at protecting election integrity rather than suppressing turnout.
“Interference in U.S. elections is a threat to our republic and a national security threat,” National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said in a recent letter to Congress.
She said the administration is committed to ensuring that “neither foreign nor domestic powers undermine the American people’s right to determine who our elected leaders are.”
Democrats in Virginia have advanced legislation that would bar federal immigration enforcement activity near polling places.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he is not in favor of federalizing elections and that he believes Trump’s remarks were limited to expressing support for the SAVE Act.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) noted that administering elections has historically been the responsibility of the states.
The SAVE Act, which Trump and congressional Republicans have cited as a priority, would impose nationwide requirements for voter identification and proof of citizenship, steps supporters describe as critical election-integrity safeguards.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 02/06/2026 – 13:40
Neuqua Valley teacher nominated for LifeChanger award
Rob Kos, a special education teacher at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, was anonymously nominated for a LifeChanger of the Year award, citing his selflessness and dedication to helping struggling students.
National Life Group sponsors the LifeChanger of the Year award, an annual program that recognizes kindergarten through high school educators. The group has awarded more than $720,000 to schools and employees and recognized more than 7,800 people since 2011, its website said.
Nominees can be teachers, principals, administrators, nurses, bus drivers, cooks, librarians, coaches and other school workers who make a difference. Winners will be surprised at their schools in the spring.
Kos is known for humility and kindness, the nomination noted.
In one instance, he took extra time helping a visibly frustrated student who was trying to complete a math worksheet, according to the nominee. He saw the student struggling, sat next to them and remained by their side even after the class bell rang, the nomination said.
Kos was also cited for greeting others with a smile, a friendly hello and a genuine inquiry about their day, the nomination said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/kos-neuqua-teacher-nominee-lifechanger-award/
Vonn prueba su rodilla izquierda lesionada en entrenamiento olímpico y celebra tras buena carrera
Por ANDREW DAMPF
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italia (AP) — Una semana después de romperse el ligamento cruzado anterior en su rodilla izquierda, Lindsey Vonn comenzó su búsqueda del oro olímpico a los 41 años con una agresiva y exitosa carrera de entrenamiento de descenso el viernes, dos días antes de la carrera.
Vonn se ajustó a su línea a mitad de camino pero lideró en los puntos de control finales, luego se levantó de su posición agachada antes de la meta y se ubicó en el puesto 11 mientras los esquiadores realizaban sus primeros giros oficiales en el recorrido de Olympia delle Tofane antes de la gran carrera.
“Fue inteligente. No lo dio todo. Cometió un error en la parte inferior, pero el resto parecía simplemente buen esquí, sin gran riesgo. Y para mí, parecía simétrico”, dijo Aksel Lund Svindal, un ex campeón olímpico de descenso de Noruega y ahora uno de los entrenadores personales de Vonn.
En la meta, Vonn intercambió choques de puños y un abrazo con su compañera de equipo Breezy Johnson, quien bajó inmediatamente antes que ella y se ubicó en sexto lugar, después de un retraso de casi una hora debido a la niebla.
Vonn dio una respuesta afirmativa a The Associated Press cuando se le preguntó si la carrera fue bien. No se detuvo para hablar más con los periodistas, y se fue para continuar con la rehabilitación de su rodilla.
Vonn está esquiando en los Juegos de Milán-Cortina con un gran aparato ortopédico cubriendo su rodilla. Ha sido clara desde su accidente la semana pasada en Suiza que seguiría adelante a pesar de una lesión que muchos atletas considerarían el fin de la temporada o incluso de su carrera.
“¡Nada me hace más feliz! Nadie habría creído que estaría aquí. ¡Pero lo logré! Estoy aquí, estoy sonriendo y pase lo que pase, sé lo afortunada que soy. No voy a desperdiciar esta oportunidad. ¡Vamos a por ello!”, escribió Vonn en las redes sociales antes de su carrera.
Vonn también se mostró en desacuerdo con alguien que cuestionó los detalles de su lesión.
“Mi ligamento cruzado anterior estaba funcionando completamente hasta el viernes pasado. Solo porque te parezca imposible no significa que no lo sea. Y sí, mi ligamento cruzado anterior está 100% roto. No al 80% ni al 50%. Está 100% desaparecido”, escribió en una respuesta en X.
Vonn terminó 1.39 segundos detrás de su compañera de equipo estadounidense Jacqueline Wiles, quien registró el tiempo más rápido y también es una amenaza para medalla con dos resultados en el podio en Cortina.
Considerando su lesión y lo que mostró en el entrenamiento, ¿puede Vonn competir por una medalla?
“Creo que puede porque hoy había reservas. Has visto antes esta temporada que cuando esquía bien puede ganar y por lo que vi hoy creo que puede. Va a ser difícil, pero creo que podría lograrlo el domingo”, dijo Svindal.
A Vonn se le insertó un reemplazo parcial de titanio en su rodilla derecha en 2024 y luego regresó a las competencias de esquí la temporada pasada después de casi seis años de retiro. Se estrelló durante el último descenso de la Copa del Mundo antes de los Juegos Olímpicos en Crans-Montana el viernes pasado. Fue evacuada en helicóptero del recorrido solo para publicar en las redes sociales más tarde ese día: “Mi sueño olímpico no ha terminado”.
“Todos somos positivos, pero ella es increíble. Fue la primera en decir: ‘Esto está sucediendo, estamos compitiendo’”, comentó Svindal sobre la mentalidad de Vonn después de su accidente.
Con la sesión de entrenamiento de apertura del jueves cancelada debido a fuertes nevadas, quedaba una sesión, el sábado, antes de la carrera de descenso del domingo. Vonn aún no ha decidido si participará en el entrenamiento del sábado, dijo Svindal. Pero ahora que ha comenzado una sesión, no necesita otra para ser elegible para competir.
Vonn tiene el récord de 12 victorias en la Copa del Mundo en Cortina.
“Esto se sintió como el día de la carrera para mí porque es muy importante. Cómo se siente hoy es la confianza que le permitirá decidir cuán fuerte puede ir. Conoces su historia. Ha ido con todo en momentos en que la gente le ha dicho que probablemente ni siquiera debería estar en la salida, así que no tengo dudas de que irá con todo en la salida y atacará el domingo”, dijo Svindal.
Svindal dijo que estaba más nervioso que Vonn durante la sesión de entrenamiento.
“Porque esto es importante para todos, ¿verdad? Si esto funciona, es increíble. Si algo sucede, será malo”, dijo. “Pero ella ha estado muy comprometida desde el primer día, y está convencida de que esto funcionará”.
___
Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Investigan causa de caída de helicóptero durante persecución policial en Arizona
Por MEAD GRUVER
Policías en Arizona lamentaron el viernes la pérdida de un veterano de la Infantería de Marina y un paramédico de la patrulla, mientras las autoridades investigaban la causa de la caída de un helicóptero durante un tiroteo con un sospechoso de violencia doméstica.
La tripulación del helicóptero estaba desempeñando un papel común, ayudando a los policías en tierra, destacó el director del Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Arizona, el coronel Jeffrey Glover.
“Ellos tienen la capacidad de ser los ojos y oídos desde arriba”, afirmó. “Tienen un papel muy importante cuando están llevando a cabo sus misiones”.
La aeronave había sido inspeccionada por última vez el 29 de enero y la causa de su caída estaba “bajo investigación activa” por agencias, incluyendo la Junta Nacional de Seguridad en el Transporte, dijo Glover.
“En este momento, sería inapropiado e irresponsable especular”, expresó.
El agente Hunter R. Bennett, de 28 años, y el piloto Robert Skankey, de 61, fallecieron.
El sospechoso, cuya identidad no ha sido revelada, disparó a los elementos desde múltiples tejados en Flagstaff durante casi dos horas la noche del miércoles. Fue capturado minutos antes de la caída del helicóptero.
La confrontación comenzó cuando los policías respondieron a una llamada de violencia doméstica, indicó el jefe de policía de Flagstaff, Sean Connolly, el jueves.
Mientras los uniformados hablaban con la víctima en el patio delantero, el sospechoso les disparó desde la parte trasera de la residencia con un rifle semiautomático de largo alcance.
Se produjo un prolongado tiroteo, con el sospechoso “saltando de techo en techo” en el vecindario mientras disparaba. El jefe de policía describió el vecindario como “bajo asedio” mientras el sospechoso disparaba a los policías y a las casas.
El sospechoso fue llevado a un hospital con heridas de bala no mortales.
Connolly indicó que tres policías de Flagstaff y un empleado del Departamento de Seguridad Pública dispararon sus armas durante el altercado.
Skankey era un residente de larga data de Kingman, Arizona, dijeron funcionarios de la ciudad en un comunicado. Había sido contratado por el Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Arizona en mayo de 2021 y anteriormente sirvió en el Cuerpo de Marines. Estaba casado y tenía cuatro hijos, señaló Glover.
Bennett se graduó con honores de la Universidad Estatal de Arizona y fue el mejor graduado de su clase de la Academia Policial de Arizona en 2023. Se transfirió a una unidad de rescate aéreo en 2024 y meses después se casó con su novia de la escuela secundaria, dijeron las autoridades.
___________________________________
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Watch: Dr. Oz Unmasks Billions In Hospice Fraud Tied To Foreign Mafias And Welfare Scams
Watch: Dr. Oz Unmasks Billions In Hospice Fraud Tied To Foreign Mafias And Welfare Scams
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
Unchecked immigration policies have opened the floodgates for criminal networks to bleed taxpayers dry, while Democrat governors like Gavin Newsom turn a blind eye to the exploitation of vulnerable Americans.
The Trump administration is finally shining a light on the rampant fraud infesting America’s healthcare system, where foreign criminal elements exploit lax oversight to siphon billions from Medicare and Medicaid.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has been on the front lines exposing these schemes that harm seniors and drain resources meant for real patients.
The clip Gavin Newsom doesn’t want you to see!
Seniors and caretakers, please be careful! People, posing as salespeople, are targeting older Americans to trick them into signing up for Hospice without their knowledge. If they get you to sign, you will forfeit regular Medicare… pic.twitter.com/lafYH4ANvY
— DrOzCMS (@DrOzCMS) January 30, 2026
Recent reports reveal the backlash from officials, with Newsom filing a civil rights complaint against Dr. Oz, accusing him of baseless and racially charged claims that could deter participation in legitimate programs.
Gavin Newsom will do literally anything to avoid talking about the rampant Medicare fraud in his state. The problem isn’t isolated to California, though as far as our team can tell, it is the worst.
Every working American pays into Medicare, and I will not stand idly by while… https://t.co/2wxIBOkTzu
— DrOzCMS (@DrOzCMS) January 30, 2026
But as Oz’s investigations show, the real scandal is the unchecked abuse that’s ballooned under years of ‘progressive’ mismanagement.
In a stunning revelation, Dr. Oz highlighted the explosive growth in Minnesota’s autism care expenditures, pointing to potential fraud in a state long criticized for its loose immigration and welfare policies.
WOW 🚨 Dr Oz reveals Minnesota only spent $3 million dollars on Autism care in 2018, by 2024 that spending SKYROCKETED TO $400 MILLION
That’s a 13,233.33% in increase in spending in only 6 years
Minnesota Democrats need to go to prison pic.twitter.com/8Es7XUlcHU
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) February 6, 2026
Oz details how Minnesota spent just $3 million on autism care in 2018, only to see that figure balloon to $400 million by 2024—a staggering 13,233.33% increase in just six years.
The surge raises red flags about welfare abuse, especially in areas with high Somali populations, where similar fraud patterns have emerged in childcare and food programs—classic examples of how globalist policies prioritize outsiders over American families.
Dr. Oz isn’t stopping at one state; he’s calling out the systematic exploitation that’s now infecting Nevada, courtesy of California’s overflow of criminal enterprises.
In a post on X, Oz declared, “Systematic hospice fraud in LA is spreading to Las Vegas. Seniors are harmed. Taxpayers are robbed. We are cracking down.”
Systematic hospice fraud in LA is spreading to Las Vegas. Seniors are harmed. Taxpayers are robbed. We are cracking down. pic.twitter.com/Og9EVSv7iV
— DrOzCMS (@DrOzCMS) February 5, 2026
This expansion underscores the dangers of sanctuary state policies that shield illegal operations, allowing fraudsters to hop borders and continue bilking the system while real hospice needs go unmet.
Fitness expert Jillian Michaels amplified Oz’s message, stressing the urgent need for safeguards against the loopholes letting criminals run rampant in Democrat strongholds.
Dr. Oz exposes alleged fraud in California’s hospice industry and its impact on patients. He highlights how loopholes and mismanagement allow exploitation to continue unchecked. @DrOz urges reforms to safeguard vulnerable individuals and restore trust in the system.#DrOz… pic.twitter.com/jyIPRlQzJU
— Jillian Michaels (@JillianMichaels) February 3, 2026
The heart of the scandal lies in Los Angeles, where Oz uncovered a web of fake hospices operated by foreign mafia groups, exploiting America’s generosity to the tune of billions.
🇺🇸Dr. Oz exposes $3.5 Billion Hospice Fraud Ring in Los Angeles Tied to Russian-Armenian Mafia
On the ground in Van Nuys, Los Angeles: in a single four-block radius, there are 42 hospices, many with Cyrillic signage, boarded up windows, and no visible patients or staff… pic.twitter.com/G6gEHX0XXm
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 28, 2026
As Mario Nawfal’s X post above notes, “On the ground in Van Nuys, Los Angeles: in a single four-block radius, there are 42 hospices, many with Cyrillic signage, boarded up windows, and no visible patients or staff. Fraudsters set up fake hospice addresses, bill Medicare for ‘services’ never provided to patients who often don’t exist or aren’t terminal. One operation stole $16 million; the ringleader served just two years. Estimated $3.5 billion in hospice and home care fraud in Los Angeles alone.”
Dr. Oz explained the mechanics of this taxpayer heist, directly challenging Governor Newsom to step up instead of shielding the status quo.
🚨 NEW: Dr. Oz Explains How the Hospice Fraud Scheme Works in California
“The home health care business is being decimated … because so much money is getting sucked to Los Angeles … Gov. Newsom, do your job … You know this is a real problem. People are dying. Act that way.” pic.twitter.com/KWjXMcGfzo
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) February 2, 2026
Oz stated, “The home health care business is being decimated … because so much money is getting sucked to Los Angeles … Gov. Newsom, do your job … You know this is a real problem. People are dying. Act that way.”
Under Democrat governance, these schemes flourish through ghost patients and sham companies, diverting billions while the deep state looks the other way—until the Trump team forces accountability. By rooting out these mafia-driven scams, the administration is reclaiming billions for genuine care.
Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 02/06/2026 – 13:00
Imagen racista enviada por Trump en redes sociales es borrada tras críticas. Casa Blanca ahora culpa a un subalterno
WASHINGTON (AP) — Imagen racista enviada por Trump en redes sociales es borrada tras críticas. Casa Blanca ahora culpa a un subalterno.
Kim Kardashian’s Skims opens store in Chicago’s Gold Coast retail district
Kim Kardashian’s clothing boutique Skims opened a two-level flagship store Friday at the corner of Rush and Oak streets in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, bolstering an already-strong retail district.
It’s part of a push by the reality TV star turned businesswoman to open locations in key global cities. Skims sells women’s and men’s loungewear, underwear and shapewear and already has flagship stores in Mexico City, Dubai, and on New York City’s Fifth Avenue and Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.
“I want the brand to be on the most important streets in the most important cities in the U.S. and overseas,” said Jens Grede, Skims’ CEO and co-founder with Kardashian. “And if you’re located on the corner of Oak and Rush, that’s the 50-yard line of commercial real estate. You have phenomenal global brands on every corner.”
The stretch of Rush Street between Delaware Place and Bellevue Place just west of the Magnificent Mile used to be one of Chicago’s busiest bar and nightclub districts. It now hosts fashion icons such as Prada and Hermes and luxury jeweler Cartier, which closed its North Michigan Avenue store and in early 2024 opened its present location on the southwest corner of Oak and Rush.
Kardashian’s store at 1000 N. Rush St. occupies a redesigned former bank building. Designed by Rafael de Cárdenas, it now includes sculptures, a curved staircase, freestanding displays and an illuminated ceiling.
“Skims replacing Oak Bank finally completes the street’s evolution to one of Chicago’s most dominant stretches of apparel brands, albeit just two blocks long,” said John Vance, principal at Stone Real Estate Corp.
It’s also a sign of the Gold Coast’s overall strength as a retail market, Vance said. Although the Magnificent Mile has recently shown signs of life, it still suffers from a high vacancy rate, but most Gold Coast retail spaces are filled. Its mix of luxury retailers and less expensive brands such as Lululemon and Skims, along with iconic restaurants such as Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, should continue attracting healthy levels of foot traffic, Vance said.
“It’s very hard to find space in the Gold Coast, and it’s never looked better,” Vance said. “There are some people who were upset that the northwest corner of Rush and Oak was taken by Skims rather than another luxury retailer, but one of the reasons the Gold Coast looks great is its diversity. Shoppers can go to Lululemon, Skims and Cartier, and then have a lovely lunch at Gibsons. That makes the Gold Coast a powerful experience.”
Grede said although Skims does much of its business online, it’s also opened many bricks-and-mortar locations across the U.S., and expects the flagship stores in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago to draw customers from wide regions, including the tourists who flock to these cities.
Downtown Chicago hotels saw a record-breaking summer tourist season in 2025, booking nearly 3.6 million room nights, a 4.3% gain over 2024 that topped the pre-COVID record of 2019, according to data from Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism arm.
“Tens of millions of people come to visit Chicago every year,” Grede said. “It’s how I want to build the company and the brand. At the end of the day, people love to shop in person. It’s a gratifying experience. Our goal is to meet the customer where they want to be.”
Retail sales are already strong in the Gold Coast, and a new store connected to Kardashian, who has more than 350 million followers on Instagram, should benefit the entire district, Vance said.
“No question she is amazing and is on quite a run,” Vance said. “She’s more than a celebrity and Skims is not just a celebrity-backed brand. She’s been in our culture for a long time and is definitely a draw.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/kim-kardashian-skims-chicago/
Ava Little listens to dad to make key plays in Mother McAuley’s win over Providence. ‘My biggest supporter.’
Mother McAuley’s Ava Little confirmed her father, Al, was tough on her growing up.
Tough love? He definitely provided it back then when he was teaching her how to play basketball. But he also offered some good old-fashioned love after one of her toughest moments this season.
“We played Kenwood and we were down by one with 10 seconds left,” Ava said. “I got fouled and I missed two free throws. After that game, he told me some stories about what had happened to him. That made me feel better.
“He’s my biggest supporter and he’s always there for me.”
Little hasn’t needed too much counseling from her father lately.
The sophomore forward has been a big spark for the Mighty Macs, including Thursday’s 65-55 win over Providence in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals at Loyola in Wilmette.
Mother McAuley’s Ava Little (23) converts a layup against Providence during a Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal at Loyola in Wilmette on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Talia Sprague / Daily Southtown)
Quinn Arundel led the Mighty Macs (22-5) with 28 points and added five steals. Taji Alexa tallied 14 points and eight rebounds. Little scored 11 points, including six in the final 2:47.
Little made two free throws with 40 seconds left, showing how far she has come since that Kenwood game.
“I go to work on my shooting during my study and lunch periods,” Ava said.
Despite being blanketed most of the night, Pepperdine-bound Landrie Callahan paced Providence (26-4) with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Kennady Kotowski sank four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to finish with 12 points.
Mother McAuley’s Ava Little (23) defends as Providence’s Eillish Raines (2) drives in a Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal at Loyola in Wilmette on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Talia Sprague / Daily Southtown)
This is the final year of the GCAC Tournament as the conference merges with the East Suburban Catholic. McAuley earned a spot in Saturday’s championship game against host Loyola (27-2).
Little has come up big the last three games for the Mighty Macs. She grabbed a rebound as the buzzer sounded in Friday’s 63-61 overtime win over archrival Marist. She hit a huge 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s quarterfinals, a 70-62 win over Aurora Central Catholic.
“Ava is someone who is extremely versatile,” McAuley coach Curtis Lewis said. “The best way I can describe her is that she just has no fear on the court.
“She has no fear and she can guard all five positions. A lot of times we are looking for a spark off the bench to get some energy and she does everything we ask her to do.”
Mother McAuley’s Quinn Arundel (1) drives past Providence’s Liv Anderson (10) in a Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal at Loyola in Wilmette on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Talia Sprague / Daily Southtown)
Arundel has also become a fan of Little.
“She has made a huge impact on our team,” Arundel said of Little. “She works really hard and she’s not scared to go up against a big post.
“She rebounds and she’s always on the floor getting the loose balls. She doesn’t play like a sophomore. She plays like she’s older than everyone else on the court.”
Coming off the bench isn’t easy, but Little agreed she will do what the team needs.
“They definitely use me a lot on the top of the press,” she said. “But I’ll do whatever he (Lewis) asks. It’s better to be a versatile player than to be able to do one specific thing and nothing else.”
Mother McAuley’s Ava Little (23) passes the ball past Providence’s Taylor Healy (21) during a Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal at Loyola in Wilmette on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (Talia Sprague / Daily Southtown)
A few hours before the game, both teams found out that they picked up the No. 1 seeds in their respective sectionals.
The Mighty Macs are the top seed in a Class 4A sectional they host, followed by Marist, Bloom and Homewood Flossmoor. Providence earned the top seed at the Class 3A Hillcrest Sectional.
No matter what happens in the postseason, however, Little has been pleased with playing on the varsity this winter.
“I love this season so much,” she said. “My teammates took me in and treated me like I was a part of the team and I thank them forever.
“They are all so nice and I love being around them.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/06/ava-little-providence-mother-mcauley-basketball/
Homebuilders Tumble On Report White House May Launch Antitrust Probe Into House Affordability
Homebuilders Tumble On Report White House May Launch Antitrust Probe Into House Affordability
Homebuilder stocks are tumbling after Bloomberg reported that Trump administration officials are exploring opening an antitrust investigation into US homebuilders as the White House focuses on tackling the country’s housing affordability crisis.
The Department of Justice could open the probe in the coming weeks Bloomberg reported, quoting people familiar with the discussions. It adds that so far no decision has been made and the administration may abandon the effort without launching an investigation.
One potential focus is on how information is shared through an industry trade group called Leading Builders of America, according to the people. Officials have grown concerned that the trade group – whose members include Lennar and DR Horton – could be used to restrict housing supply or coordinate pricing.
The administration’s interest in homebuilders comes during a period where the cost of buying a home is at its most expensive in decades, with the Covid-era housing boom and subsequent interest rate hikes weighing heavily on buyers. It’s also a precarious time for the builders themselves, with the inventory of unsold homes hovering at high levels.
President Donald Trump put the industry on alert in October, when he used a social media post to compare big homebuilders to OPEC, a cartel which control the oil market.
“It wasn’t right for them to do that but, in a different form, is being done again — This time by the Big Homebuilders of our Nation,” Trump wrote. “They’re my friends, and they’re very important to the SUCCESS of our Country, but now, they can get Financing, and they have to start building Homes.”
Builders have been seeking ways to work with the White House to improve housing affordability. One option being discussed is a massive program — dubbed “Trump Homes” — that would seek to add as many as 1 million units of new supply, Bloomberg previously reported.
Ironically, just a few days ago, we reported that the White House is working with some of the the same homebuilders (Lennar and Taylor Morrison) which Trump is now supposedly going after criminally, as the president is working on a massive rent-to-own program to build up to 1 million “Trump Homes” in a boost to affordability. As part of the program, and which would sell entry-level homes to Americans as part of a pathway-to-ownership program funded by private investors. The drawback of this program, we said, is that such a program would be complicated to implement, and may not gain enough support to move forward as it would require substantial capital commitment from the homebuilders.
Well, what better way to convince homebuilders it’s in their best interest to participate in the program than to threaten them with criminal charges on something totally separate…
Tyler Durden
Fri, 02/06/2026 – 12:43
