Miguel Coss-Morales, 17, of Calumet City, died Sunday after a car he was driving crashed into a tree in unincorporated Thornton Township, according to the Cook County sheriff’s police.

Police said officers responded to 183rd Street and a frontage road along Illinois Route 394, outside Lansing, at about 7:15 p.m. Sunday, finding a Toyota Camry had struck a tree in a wooded area.

The driver, Coss-Morales, was immediately taken to UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

A GoFundMe organized by Coss-Morales’ family to pay for funeral costs had gathered more than $10,000 as of Thursday morning.

“As we are going through the terrible loss of our son Miguel, who was involved in an accident and lost his life, we are living in a very difficult situation,” the description of the fundraiser said in Spanish. “But with each little bit of help, we can bury and say goodbye to this great person who accompanied us for the 17 years of life he had.”

Coss-Morales’ family did not respond to requests for comment.

Police said Tuesday the crash investigation is ongoing.

elewis@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/calumet-city-teen-dies-car-crash/ 

Beijing’s Big Short: Meet The Chinese “Anti Hunt Brother” Billionaire Betting Against Silver Bulls

Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/05/2026 – 13:20

https://www.zerohedge.com/precious-metals/beijings-big-short-meet-chinese-anti-hunt-brother-billionaire-betting-against 

The Naperville District 203 School Board will vote later this month on a proposed 2027-28 school calendar, which calls for classes to start Aug. 12 and end May 22 and includes five emergency days if needed.

A committee of district and school administrators, teachers, union representatives, parents and guardians helped devise the calendar, which will be presented for board approval on Feb. 17.

At least one board member said she cannot support the proposal.

Holly Blastic said the start date is too early for families, who might have to forgo August vacations and family time, and ending May 22 isn’t realistic for families who rely on child care because many park district programs and summer camps don’t begin until June.

“This is just not an acceptable calendar to me,” said Blastic, adding she doesn’t believe it reflects what families need.

If school started on Aug. 18 and the first semester ended closer to Christmas, they could “get an entire week of summer back for our families,” she said.

Patrick Nolten, assistant superintendent for assessment and accountability, said the calendar is set with several parameters in mind, including starting as late as possible in August but still ending the semester before winter break so high school students can wrap up their final exams.

The district also wants to ensure each semester is as balanced as possible, he said. District policy states that there should be no more than eight days difference in school attendance days between first and second semester.

By having balanced semesters, students who are enrolled in semester-long courses are ensured to get the same experience regardless off when they take the class, Superintendent Dan Bridges said.

The calendar also sets Nov. 24-26 as Thanksgiving break, Dec. 20-Jan. 4 as winter break and March 27-31 as spring break.

Parent-teacher conferences are proposed for Oct. 7-8 and March 9-10. Students would not attend school on those days.

Election Day on March 21, 2028, would be an e-learning day for students.

Graduation dates are still to be determined.

Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/naperville-district-203-school-calendar/ 

Chicago Bulls legend and six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen has hired Sotheby’s auction house to sell a selection of his personal memorabilia, including the jersey he wore during the championship-clinching game of the 1998 NBA Finals.

Dubbed “The Scottie Pippen Collection,” the auction is set to begin in March and will feature items he personally wore during his 17-year NBA career.

The collection is expected to be worth more than $6 million, with items ranging from $30,000 to over $1 million.

Pippen told Bloomberg in an interview that he started collecting his uniforms when he was a young kid.

“Eventually great things were happening,” Pippen said. “Whether it was winning a championship, being a part of an all star-team or being a part of the Dream Team, I realized that I was collecting a lot of valuable items.”

The most expensive item is expected to be a pair of Air Jordan VII sneakers worn by Michael Jordan during the 1992 “Dream Team” Olympics Gold medal game. According to Pippen, after the game, while they were in the locker room collecting their gear, he simply asked Jordan for his shoes.

“I asked him to sign them,” Pippen recalled, adding that he believed teammate Charles Barkley then said, “well, give me that jersey.”

The shoes are estimated to be worth between $1.5 and $2.5 million. Pippen mentioned that he has only ever kept two items collected from fellow players: the shoes from Jordan and a jersey from Larry Bird, both from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The Bird jersey is also set to be included in the collection.

Pippen said that the timing was right to consolidate his collection and let go of the items.

“I felt like I had spent the time with it,” Pippen said. “I was kind of over it. For me I’ve seen enough of 33.”

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More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

©2026 Bloomberg L.P.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/scottie-pippen-auction/ 

The Quad County Urban League will host its annual Black History Month Pancake Breakfast on Saturday in Aurora to raise scholarship funds for college-bound Black high school students in Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties, event organizers said.

The event, which is open to the public, is set for 9 to 11 a.m. at Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave. in Aurora. It will celebrate Black History Month, while raising scholarship dollars, according to a press release about the breakfast.

The pancake breakfast will include programming that highlights student achievement and cultural pride, and will feature student presentations on contemporary issues in the Black community and Black history trivia games, the release stated.

“This pancake breakfast is more than a meal,” said Theodia Gillespie, president and CEO of the Quad County Urban League in the release. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate Black history, uplift our students and invest in their future.”

Tickets, which will be available for purchase at the door, are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 years old and younger, the release said.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/black-history-month-pancake-breakfast-set-for-saturday-in-aurora/ 

General Motors Co. is strategizing for an inevitable economic downturn by paring down dealer inventory and maintaining a cash safety net, Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson said Wednesday.

Jacobson’s comments to a panel of auto insiders at the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank’s Detroit branch provide insight into industry leaders’ expectations for the broader economy, as well as reassurance that the Detroit company is taking steps to remain resilient in tougher times.

“We’re going to see a weak economy at some point. I hope it’s not this year, hope it’s not the year after that. But it’s coming,” Jacobson said. “We can’t dodge economic cycles, but what we can do is try to minimize the self-imposed cyclicality that we’ve seen in the industry.”

Part of GM’s plan hinges on controlling the number of vehicles its dealers have on hand.

In the past, Jacobson said automakers typically ensured that dealers had four-to-six months worth of models on their lots. But that creates problems, he said, when sudden shocks to the economy dry up demand, forcing automakers to offer steep discounts.

The ebb and flow of ramped-up production followed by discounts during low-demand periods “really hampered and hindered the business,” Jacobson said.

“Because we were chasing demand with lower prices at the same time we needed that cash flow to be able to invest in the future,” he said.

Jacobson said GM ended 2025 with an average 48-day supply at its dealers and aims to keep supply around 50 to 60 days.

“When the inevitable downturn or recession or weakness might hit, we’re going to be able to respond much, much faster because we’re going to be focused on the business forward, rather than trying to undo some of the inventory that we had built up over time,” Jacobson said.

The second part of GM’s plan centers on what’s called free cash flow, meaning taking in more money than the company is spending at any given time. Jacobson said GM historically has had about $3 billion in excess cash flow. Now, free cash flow is closer to $10 billion, he said.

“That’s important because that’s our cushion,” Jacobson said. “That’s our safety blanket so we can absorb short-term shocks to demand.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/gm-economic-downturn/ 

Will County hosts 10th annual Presidents Day Kids’ Fair

The 10th annual Presidents Day Kids’ Fair, sponsored by Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Feb. 16, at Troy Middle School, 5800 W. Theodore St., Plainfield.

Educational activities, live performances by local youth organizations, crafts, storytelling and games will be part of the event, officials said. More than 50 vendors will be in attendance to share information about local resource providers.

This year’s fair will also feature special appearances by local mascots and characters between 10 a.m. and noon, who will be available for photos. Animated TV character Bluey will appear between 10 and 11 a.m.

Admission is free. No registration is required.

‘Hard Water’ ice fishing tournament set for Saturday

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County’s annual Hard Water Classic ice fishing tournament will be held from noon to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Silver Lake in Blackwell Forest Preserve near Butterfield and Winfield roads in Warrenville.

Check-in starts at 11 a.m., and fishing begins at noon.

Participants must bring their own gear and bait and follow all fishing regulations. Those 16 and older who are not legally disabled must have an Illinois fishing license, a district news release said.

Advanced registration is $20 and day-of registration is $25.

Proceeds support ranger-led recreation programs and outdoor experiences for special needs groups, youth groups, Scouts and community resource centers in DuPage County, the release said.

“Changing winter conditions have made safe ice increasingly rare in DuPage County so it’s especially meaningful to offer this chance for people to connect with nature, enjoy friendly competition and support local recreation programs,” said Adam Carlson, ranger operations assistant manager for the forest preserve district.

The tournament is open to all ages, and there will be door prizes and awards. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

To register, go to www.dupageforest.org. For more information, call 630-933-7248.

State of the Naperville Park District podcast available

Naperville Park District officials discuss last year’s highlights and what is planned for this year during the 2026 State of the Naperville Park District podcast, which is available Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud and napervilleparks.org/podcast.

A full-length video version is also on the park district’s YouTube page.

The podcast includes Director of Marketing and Communications Sameera Luthman, Executive Director Brad Wilson and park board President Leslie Ruffing who give updates on the district’s strategic plan, community partnerships and the upcoming referendum vote, the release said.

This is the ninth year the district has offered the State of the Naperville Park District as a podcast series.

KidsMatter celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026

As nonprofit organization KidsMatter celebrates its 25th anniversary, the Naperville nonprofit invites the public to learn more about the program through stories about the organization’s people, programs and partnerships it will share monthly.

Residents can keep up-to-date with the organization through its social media pages or by subscribing to its monthly newsletter at www.kidsmatter2us.org, a KidsMatter news release said. Anniversary stories will be posted on the website, where there is information about the organzation, community resources and strategies to promote youth mental health.

KidsMatter’s mission is to help children say no to destructive choices while helping them realize their purpose and value. The nonprofit group serves 45,000 kids.

“KidsMatter grew out of the Naperville community’s commitment to youth and families, and the strength of that commitment remains what drives us forward,” CEO and executive director Nina Menis said in the news release. “We’re excited to continue offering proactive solutions and proven strategies to help every young person reach their fullest potential.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/naperville-kids-fair-ice-fishing-kidsmatter/ 

Changes are coming to how elementary school parents register their children for East Aurora School District 131’s dual language program, officials said at the district’s school board meeting on Monday.

The district will be transitioning the program from an opt-out model — in which students are automatically part of the dual language program unless their parents elect for them not to participate — to an opt-in model which parents can select while registering their children for school, starting this coming school year.

Currently, all families with incoming students in the district are automatically enrolled in the dual language program, and are placed in either English-dominant or Spanish-dominant classrooms based on a series of criteria, per the district’s website, unless parents opt-out of the program.

The change will make it so parents, at the time of registration, are given the choice to opt-in for their children to participate in the program, rather than be automatically enrolled.

At Monday’s meeting, East Aurora School District 131 Superintendent Bob Halverson said the district is “absolutely committed” to providing students the opportunity to become bilingual in English and Spanish, but is also committed to “honoring family choice.”

He said the district sought community feedback on the program via in-person community meetings, at which some expressed an interest in the dual language program being made an opt-in program. The district also held elementary school staff meetings as it considered the change.

In 2020, the district moved to a fully dual language model for elementary students, meaning all students learned in both English and Spanish, according to East Aurora Executive Director of Language Acquisition and Early Learning Rita Guzman, unless their parents opted out.

But the program presented challenges for students moving into the district and created additional staffing needs, Guzman said, and students whose families opted out created difficulties with transportation.

Now, families will “have choice” related to their preferred form of language instruction, said Ami Angel, the district’s Associate Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessments. Families will now elect to have their children participate in the dual language program or elect not to participate during the registration process.

“Choice does not mean families are left to figure this out on their own, though,” Engel said at Monday’s meeting. “We are here to walk beside them, provide guidance and support all throughout the process.”

Registration for next school year opened on Feb. 1, per the district.

At the meeting, Guzman said that March 25 is the registration deadline for guaranteed program placement. Program decisions will be made in April, she said, and parents will then be informed of their children’s placements. Families who register after March 25 are not guaranteed their chosen program, the district’s spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

Asked by school board Vice President Saul Olivas what options parents have in terms of how the program is executed, Engel explained that parents can select either the dual language option or a general English program, which is English-only instruction with a teacher who has an English as a Second Language endorsement.

Within the dual language option, Engel said, native English speakers and English learners and native Spanish speakers who are “higher performing in terms of English language proficiency” would participate in a “two-way dual model,” or instruction that is taught by one teacher in English 50% of the time, and 50% of the time in Spanish by another teacher, with the teachers switching classes throughout the day.

Students who have a lower level of English proficiency will participate in a “one-way dual model,” according to Engel, in which one teacher provides instruction in English and Spanish, switching between content depending on the day. Instruction would start at 80% Spanish and 20% English in kindergarten, and move towards a 50/50 split.

The district will make a recommendation for which of these options is appropriate for each student based on their English proficiency scores, Engel said.

Halverson emphasized the March 25 registration deadline at the meeting, and noted that there is a recorded video in English and Spanish embedded into the registration link, so that parents can learn more about the offerings before registering their students.

Parents can register their children at: https://www.d131.org/register/.

mmorrow@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/east-aurora-elementary-dual-language-program/ 

A federal judge on Thursday set a May trial date in the politically charged “Broadview Six” case accusing a group of Democrats and other protesters of conspiring to impede immigration agents at the ICE facility that became a lightning rod for opponents of Operation Midway Blitz.

During a brief status hearing, U.S. District Judge April Perry set jury selection for May 26 — the day after Memorial Day — and said she’d block off about a week for testimony and arguments.

If the trial date holds, it will come well after the March 17 Democratic primary in Illinois, where one of the defendants, Katherine “Kat” Abughazaleh, is running is running for the 9th Congressional District seat.

Judge Perry agreed with parties from both sides that a questionnaire should be sent out to potential jurors beforehand, given all the sensitive issues surrounding the allegations and immigration policy more broadly.

“It would be kind of nice to have a pre-screened pool coming in that Tuesday,” Perry said. She said it would also be helpful to find out how jury selection was handled for the recent murder-for-hire trial of Juan Espinoza Martinez, who was acquitted on charges of putting a hit on Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino.

“The issues would be similar (to that case) in terms of finding the right jurors,” Perry said.

Also Thursday, the parties finally reached an agreement on a protective order over the evidence produced in discovery that will allow most of it to be made public by the defense.

Prosecutors had raised issues over the personal identifying information of law enforcement being publicly released, as well as the potential tainting of the jury pool should videos and other evidence be blasted out in the media ahead of the trial.

“I would like to try the case in the courtroom, and not in the media,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg told the judge last week.

Defense attorneys, meanwhile, argued that given recent events, including the shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, it was relevant to the public how federal law enforcement officers are behaving and interacting with the public.

Perry said Thursday that members of the jury pool will likely already have very strong opinions about the issues in the case, regardless of what evidence makes it into the public realm ahead of time. She also noted attorneys from both sides “are already on notice” that they cannot make efforts to taint the jury pool.

“I’m not worried about tainting the jury pool any more than they might already be tainted,” the judge said.

Among the evidence being turned over to the defense: body-worn camera footage from the federal agents as well as Broadview police at the scene on the days surrounding the incident, as well as law enforcement reports and interviews after the fact.

The Broadview Six indictment is the last remaining high-profile criminal case stemming from Operation Midway Blitz last fall, and one that has drawn national attention.

Among those charged are four Democrats: Abughazaleh, 26,  former Cook County Board candidate Catherine “Cat” Sharp, 29; 45th Ward Democratic committeeman Michael Rabbit, 62; and Oak Park Trustee Brian Straw, 38.

Also charged were Andre Martin, 27, originally of Providence, Rhode Island, who is Abughazaleh’s deputy campaign manager, and Joselyn Walsh, 31, a garden store worker and singer who has no personal connection to the other defendants.

All six have pleaded not guilty to an indictment alleging they conspired to block a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent from entering ICE’s processing facility in west suburban Broadview on Sept. 26, during one of a string of protests that occurred outside the two-story building during Operation Midway Blitz.

According to the 11-page indictment, the group surrounded an ICE vehicle outside the Broadview facility during a Sept. 26 protest and “banged aggressively” on the vehicle’s side and back windows, hood and doors before they “crowded together in the front and side of the Government Vehicle and pushed against the vehicle to hinder and impede its movement.”

Prosecutors allege the protesters scratched the vehicle’s body, broke a side mirror and a rear windshield wiper, and etched the word “PIG” into the paint.

The indictment includes the conspiracy count, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in federal prison, as well as several other counts of impeding a federal officer, each punishable by up to one year in federal prison.

The charges have been met by accusations that the Department of Justice under Republican President Donald Trump was prosecuting free speech and trying to punish political opponents.

Abughazaleh’s attorney, Josh Herman, has blasted the indictment as a politically motivated farce that attempts to turn “a protest into a criminal conspiracy.”

Defense attorneys are expected to file motions in advance of the trial seeking to get the conspiracy charge thrown out.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/05/trial-set-broadview-six/