Category: News
Sheriff says ‘we do in fact have a crime scene’ in search for mom of ‘Today’ host Savannah Guthrie
TUCSON, Ariz. — An Arizona sheriff said Monday that “we do in fact have a crime scene” as authorities search for the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, who was reported missing over the weekend.
Speaking during a news conference, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said there are signs at the home indicating Nancy Guthrie did not leave on her own.
“I need this community to step up and start giving us some calls,” Nanos said.
Asked to explain why investigators believe it’s a crime scene, Nanos said Guthrie has limited mobility and said there were other things indicated she didn’t leave on her own.
Nanos said at a news conference Sunday night that Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. Saturday at her home in the Tucson area. Her family reported her missing around noon Sunday. Nancy Guthrie has some physical ailments, but no cognitive issues, he said.
Searchers were using drones and search dogs to look for Nancy Guthrie, Nanos said. Search and rescue teams were supported by volunteers and Border Patrol and the homicide team was also involved, he said. It is not standard for the homicide team to get involved in such cases, Nanos said.
“This one stood out because of what was described to us at the scene and what we located just looking at the scene,” Nanos said. He was not ruling out foul play.
Savannah Guthrie issued a statement on Monday, NBC’s “Today” show reported.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” she said. “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear Nancy.”
“Today” opened Monday’s show with the disappearance of the co-anchor’s mother, but Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor’s desk. Nanos said during the Monday news conference that Savannah Guthrie is in Arizona.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/02/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-search/
Steve Reaven’s high school boys basketball rankings and player of the week for Lake County
Stevenson jumps to No. 2 behind player of the week Rocco Pagliocca.
TOP 10
With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses.
1. Warren 21-2 (1)
Avonn King is back after missing time due to an injury and gives the North Suburban Conference leader a boost inside.
2. Stevenson 17-6 (4)
Aidan Albrecht and Quinton Frakes combine for 13 points and 16 rebounds in the Patriots’ NSC win over Waukegan.
3. Waukegan 17-7 (2)
Simereon Carter scores a career-high 37 points against Stevenson and adds 20 points in the Bulldogs’ win over Glenbard West.
4. Deerfield 16-8 (5)
Back in the starting lineup, Tommy Donahue scores in double figures in the Warriors’ wins over Maine South and Lake Forest.
5. Wauconda 18-6 (3)
Austin Carlsen averages 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 assists in the Northern Lake County Conference leader’s wins over Lakes and Antioch.
6. Grayslake Central 17-7 (6)
Solid off the bench all season, Owen Perz hits three 3-pointers in the Rams’ NLCC win over Round Lake.
7. Libertyville 13-7 (8)
Bryce Wegrzyn and the Wildcats are allowing just 34.5 points per game during a four-game win streak.
8. Lakes 12-9 (7)
Carter Martin ties his career high with 24 points on 5-of-9 3-point shooting in the Eagles’ NLCC win over Grayslake North.
9. Vernon Hills 18-7 (9)
Jeremy Zamost averages 23 points in three wins, a stretch that includes 33 points and 10 assists in the Cougars’ victory over Grayslake North.
10. Grant 10-10 (10)
Jayden Smith records a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ NLCC win over North Chicago.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior guard Rocco Pagliocca scores a career-high 41 points — making 11 of 17 shots, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, and 14 of 16 free throws — during Stevenson’s 77-75 North Suburban Conference win over Waukegan on Friday.
The Grammys had lots of Mars, Carpenter soaring and a near-naked Bieber. Here are some key moments.
He was the only one sitting when it was over, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
Bad Bunny had made history by winning album of the year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” the first time a Spanish-language album took home the Recording Academy’s top prize.
Next stop: Super Bowl.
The Grammys bring more celebrity pushback to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown
While that emotional win for the Puerto Rican superstar is hard to top, there were some other great moments from the 3 1/2-hour telecast, like when Cher nearly forgot to announce the winner of record of the year.
Justin Bieber stripped his set down, while Lady Gaga added some manic energy and Ozzy Osbourne was honored with a heavy metal classic complete with exploding fire.
Here are some of the night’s notable moments:
Bruno and Rosé kicked it off, Lady Gaga kept it up
A pair of high energy performances by Bruno Mars and Rosé to start the show and one by Lady Gaga halfway through kept hearts pumping.
Mars and Rosé — from the K-pop group Blackpink — performed “APT.,” one the biggest hits of the year, a song inspired by a South Korean drinking game.
She wore a white tank top, black slacks and a tie, while he matched the color scheme in a dark suit, tie and with his guitar slung with a checkerboard strap. There was plenty of jumping, shredding and smoke — a raucous opening.
Lady Gaga later took it to the weird, singing “Abracadabra” in a feather-festooned costume from inside a basket-like headpiece. She used a gnarly cane, played some synths, twitched and nailed a more rock-funk version of her song.
Lady Gaga would take home the trophy for best pop vocal album. Mars would return to the stage for his latest single, “I Just Might.”
Sabrina Carpenter nails her Grammys moment
Sabrina Carpenter turned the Grammys into a busy airport during her performance of “Manchild” — and it soared.
Playing her sexpot, tongue-in-cheek best, the singer-songwriter wore white hot pants, a white neckerchief and a white captain’s hat emblazoned with SCA — presumably for Sabrina Carpenter Airlines — as she strutted across a stage filled with baggage carousels and dancers, even singing into an intercom at one point and using a pair of traffic wands used on runways.
“Hey Grammys, how ya doing? It’s your captain Sabrina speaking,” she said.
The dancers included an astronaut, a UPS worker, a firefighter and an ER doctor. Carpenter ended her overflowing set on a baggage cart and then went into a plane fuselage holding a live dove.
Among those shown grooving along was best new artist nominee Olivia Dean. It was the second straight Grammy appearance by Carpenter, a nominee for best new artist last year.
New artist block
Taking note of what worked last year, the Grammys once again leaned on the best new artist category to spark the crowd. They were clumped into a block and despite their various styles, it showed the future of music is in good hands.
The Los Angeles-based band the Marías started with some shimmery, bilingual dream-pop of “No One Noticed Me” before influencer-turned-pop-artist Addison Rae was shown on the back of a moving truck entering the Crypto.com Arena, jumping off to deliver a sweaty, sultry “Fame Is a Gun.”
That led to the six-piece girl group Katseye with their high-energy “Gnarly” as they danced into the arena with gymnastics and booty-shaking. They gave way to Leon Thomas’ guitar-driven “Mutt” and then Alex Warren took a microphone from a popcorn vendor and walked through the aisles for his “Ordinary,” shrugging off what seemed like earpiece difficulties, before being hoisted into the air on a platform.
The British powerhouse Lola Young took the baton, seated at a piano to sing “Messy,” before Olivia Dean, the old-soul British singer-songwriter, gave an exuberant version of her “Man I Need.” The moody pop star sombr ended the block by being lowered onto the stage in a spangly jumpsuit to sing “12 to 12.”
Chappell Roan, last year’s category winner, then anointed her successor — Dean.
The Bieb strips it down
Justin Bieber alone on the Grammy stage in just a pair of shimmering gray boxers shorts and gray socks gave a mesmerizing, somber performance of his “Yukon.”
A guitar slung across his back, the shirtless Bieber programed his song first and then sang along, eyes often closed, opposite a full-size mirror. It was a nod to the way Ed Sheeran has shown audiences how to make a hit song with just looped instruments and a voice.
“One wrong move, and we would have had to put the show on OnlyFans,” Noah later joked.
Bieber’s darkly, moody set didn’t feature any background graphics, musicians or stage decor, and he ended it simply by walking off the stage. It was a performance in stark contrast to the night’s highly produced sets, like the one Tyler, the Creator offered, performing with a sports car, gushing water and explosions.
Hailey Bieber, his wife, liked it, swaying and snapping her fingers.
Her husband, a one-time child star who was discovered on YouTube at the age of 12, returned to the Grammys this year at age 31 after a four-year absence as a new father.
A memorable in memoriam
Usually, in memoriam sections are staid affairs, with a harp and a sad song. Not this year.
Post Malone, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, Slash and Andrew Watt belted a rocking version of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” in honor of Ozzy Osbourne, compete with fire bursts and plenty of leather. Osbourne’s wife, Sharon, and kids Kelly and Jack, seemed deeply moved.
Ms. Lauryn Hill led the tributes to D’Angelo with versions of “Nothing Even Matters,” “Brown Sugar,” “Lady,” “Devils Pie,” “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” and ”Africa” with such singers as Raphael Saadiq, Jon Batiste and Anthony Hamilton.
Hill then pivoted to a tribute to Roberta Flack, with “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” “Compared to What,” “Closer I Get To You,” “Where Is the Love,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song” featuring John Legend, Chaka Khan, Leon Bridges and Wyclef Jean.
Add to that list a performance of “Trailblazer” by Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson — as well as pre-recorded tributes to Brian Wilson from Bruce Springsteen and one to Bob Weir from John Mayer — and it was a stacked, rollicking goodbye to some musical giants.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/02/grammys-mars-carpenter-bieber/
ICE Drops $70 Million On Massive Arizona Warehouse To Detain And Deport Illegals
ICE Drops $70 Million On Massive Arizona Warehouse To Detain And Deport Illegals
Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news,
Arizona is ground zero in the fight to reclaim U.S. borders, with ICE shelling out a whopping $70 million for a 418,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise—the size of seven football fields—to process and detain illegal aliens targeted for deportation. The acquisition under the Trump administration marks a long-overdue shift from the chaos of unchecked migration that flooded communities under previous Democrat-led policies.
The Department of Homeland Security snapped up the sprawling industrial site near Dysart and Cactus roads in a cash deal completed January 23, as property records confirm. ICE plans to convert it into a 1,500-bed processing center, part of a broader push to expand detention capacity amid renewed focus on mass deportations.
Local officials in Surprise distanced themselves, stating they “do not participate in ICE operations” but can’t block federal authority. Yet the move has ignited fury from Arizona Democrats, who see it as a direct threat to their sanctuary-state dreams.
ICE just purchased a massive 418,000 sq ft warehouse in Arizona and the Democrats are LOSING THEIR MINDS
Cry harder, Libs.
ICE is here to stay! pic.twitter.com/hKlZhcYscG
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 30, 2026
State Senator Analise Ortiz slammed the purchase as “abhorrent,” adding “It really should chill all of us because ICE is violating the US Constitution, which means none of us are safe, including United States citizens.”
The warehouse buy comes hot on the heels of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes’ inflammatory warnings to ICE agents, where she suggested citizens could legally shoot masked feds under the state’s Stand Your Ground law.
In a brazen display of anti-enforcement bias, Mayes told local media: “You have these masked Federal officers with very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks. And we have a stand your ground law that says that if you reasonably believe that your life is in danger, and you’re in your house or your car or on your property, that you can defend yourself with lethal force.”
She doubled down, questioning how people would know if masked intruders are legitimate officers: “But how do you know they’re a peace officer? It becomes, did they reasonably know that they were a peace officer?” Mayes even boasted of her own gun ownership, implying she’d react the same way.
Republicans blasted her comments as dangerously irresponsible, with calls for resignation pouring in. Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh demanded she retract and step down, while Congressman Abe Hamadeh accused her of justifying murder against federal agents. It’s classic leftist hypocrisy: championing gun rights only when it suits their agenda to sabotage border security.
Mayes also launched a webpage urging citizens to report and film alleged ICE misconduct, vowing to prosecute agents for “assault, murder, unlawful imprisonment” if they step out of line. She warned ICE to “keep your hands off of our tribal members,” positioning herself as a defender against federal overreach while ignoring the real victims—American communities ravaged by illegal immigration.
The new Arizona facility is just one piece of ICE’s aggressive warehouse-buying spree across the U.S., with the agency acquiring sites in at least eight states to ramp up detention networks. Recent purchases include a $102 million warehouse in Maryland and plans for an 8,500-bed mega-jail in El Paso, Texas, as part of a $45 billion effort to enforce immigration laws long ignored by deep-state bureaucrats.
While open-borders advocates howl in protest, this facility promises to bolster enforcement efforts, ensuring criminals and overstays are swiftly removed to protect American families and sovereignty.
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
Mon, 02/02/2026 – 11:25
Momentos clave de los Grammy: Mars, Carpenter y un Bieber casi desnudo
Por MARK KENNEDY
Él era el único sentado cuando todo terminó, frotándose los ojos con incredulidad.
Bad Bunny había hecho historia al ganar el álbum del año por “Debí tirar más fotos”, la primera vez que un álbum en español se lleva el premio más importante de la Academia de la Grabación.
Próxima parada: el Super Bowl.
Aunque esa victoria emocional para el mega astro puertorriqueño es difícil de superar, hubo otros grandes momentos en la gala de tres horas y media, como cuando Cher casi se olvida de anunciar al ganador de grabación del año.
Justin Bieber presentó su número musical casi al desnudo, mientras que Lady Gaga añadió algo de energía maníaca y Ozzy Osbourne fue homenajeado con un clásico del heavy metal completo con fuego explosivo.
A continuación, algunos de los momentos notables de la noche:
Bruno y Rosé lo iniciaron, Lady Gaga lo mantuvo
Un par de actuaciones de alta energía de Bruno Mars y Rosé para comenzar el espectáculo y una de Lady Gaga a mitad del mismo mantuvieron los corazones latiendo.
Mars y Rosé — del grupo de K-pop Blackpink — interpretaron “APT.”, uno de los mayores éxitos del año, una canción inspirada en un juego de beber surcoreano.
Ella llevaba una camiseta blanca, pantalones negros y una corbata, mientras que él combinaba el esquema de colores con un traje oscuro, corbata y su guitarra colgada con una correa de tablero de ajedrez. Hubo mucho salto, rasgueo y humo — una apertura ruidosa.
Más tarde, Lady Gaga llevó las cosas a lo extraño, cantando “Abracadabra” con un atuendo adornado con plumas desde dentro de un tocado en forma de canasta. Usó un bastón retorcido, tocó algunos sintetizadores, se movió espasmódicamente y logró una versión más rock-funk de su canción.
Lady Gaga se llevaría el trofeo al mejor álbum pop vocal. Mars regresó al escenario para interpretar su más reciente sencillo, “I Just Might”.
Sabrina Carpenter brilla en su momento en los Grammy
Sabrina Carpenter convirtió los Grammy en un aeropuerto concurrido durante su interpretación de “Manchild” — y despegó.
Interpretando su mejor papel de chica sensual, con un toque de humor, la cantante y compositora llevaba pantalones cortos blancos, un pañuelo blanco en el cuello y un sombrero de capitán blanco con las letras SCA — presumiblemente por Sabrina Carpenter Airlines — mientras desfilaba por un escenario lleno de cintas transportadoras de equipaje y bailarines, incluso cantó en un intercomunicador en un momento y usó un par de bastones de tráfico, utilizadas por los señaleros en las pistas.
“Hola Grammy, ¿cómo están? Habla su capitana Sabrina”, dijo.
Los bailarines incluían un astronauta, un trabajador de UPS, un bombero y un médico de urgencias. Carpenter terminó su desbordante set en un carrito de equipaje y luego entró en el fuselaje de un avión sosteniendo una paloma viva.
Entre los que se mostraron moviéndose al ritmo estaba la nominada a mejor artista nuevo Olivia Dean. Fue la segunda aparición consecutiva de Carpenter en los Grammy, nominada a mejor artista nuevo el año pasado.
Nuevos artistas unidos
Tomando nota de lo que funcionó el año pasado, los Grammy una vez más se apoyaron en la categoría de mejor nuevo artista para animar a la multitud. Fueron agrupados en un bloque y, a pesar de sus diversos estilos, se mostró que el futuro de la música está en buenas manos.
La banda con sede en Los Ángeles, The Marías, comenzó con un pop de ensueño bilingüe y brillante de “No One Noticed Me” antes de que la influencer convertida en artista pop Addison Rae fuera mostrada en la parte trasera de un camión en movimiento entrando al Crypto.com Arena, saltando para entregar un sudoroso y sensual “Fame Is a Gun”.
Eso llevó al grupo de chicas de seis integrantes Katseye con su enérgico “Gnarly” mientras bailaban en la arena con gimnasia y movimientos de cadera. Dieron paso a “Mutt” de Leon Thomas, impulsado por la guitarra, y luego Alex Warren tomó un micrófono de un vendedor de palomitas y caminó por los pasillos para su “Ordinary”, ignorando lo que parecían ser dificultades con el auricular, antes de ser elevado en el aire en una plataforma.
La poderosa británica Lola Young tomó el relevo, sentada al piano para cantar “Messy”, antes de que Olivia Dean, la cantante y compositora británica de alma antigua, ofreciera una versión exuberante de su “Man I Need.” El energético astro pop sombr terminó el bloque siendo bajado al escenario en un mono brillante para cantar “12 to 12”.
Chappell Roan, la ganadora de la categoría de mejor nuevo artista del año pasado, ungió después a su sucesora: Dean.
Bieb al casi desnudo
Justin Bieber solo en el escenario de los Grammy vestido sólo con unos pantalones cortos grises brillantes y calcetines grises ofreció una actuación hipnótica y sombría de su “Yukon”.
Con una guitarra colgada a su espalda, Bieber sin camisa programó su canción primero y luego cantó, a menudo con los ojos cerrados, frente a un espejo de tamaño completo. Fue un guiño a la forma en que Ed Sheeran ha mostrado al público cómo hacer una canción exitosa con solo instrumentos en bucle y una voz.
“Un movimiento en falso, y habríamos tenido que poner el espectáculo en OnlyFans,” bromeó Noah más tarde.
El set oscuro y melancólico de Bieber no presentó gráficos de fondo, músicos ni decorado en el escenario, y lo terminó simplemente caminando fuera del escenario. Fue una actuación en marcado contraste con los sets altamente producidos de la noche, como Tyler, the Creator, quien actuó con un auto deportivo, agua a raudales y explosiones.
Hailey Bieber, su esposa, lo disfrutó, balanceándose y chasqueando los dedos.
Justin, que fue un astro infantil descubierto en YouTube a los 12 años, regresó a los Grammy este año a los 31 y tras una ausencia de cuatro años como nuevo padre.
Un in memoriam memorable
Por lo general, las secciones in memoriam son asuntos sobrios, con un arpa y una canción triste. No este año.
Post Malone, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, Slash y Andrew Watt interpretaron una versión rockera de “War Pigs” de Black Sabbath en honor a Ozzy Osbourne, completa con ráfagas de fuego y mucho cuero. La esposa de Osbourne, Sharon, y sus hijos Kelly y Jack, parecían profundamente conmovidos.
Ms. Lauryn Hill lideró los tributos a D’Angelo con versiones de “Nothing Even Matters”, “Brown Sugar”, “Lady”, “Devils Pie”, “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” y “Africa” con cantantes como Raphael Saadiq, Jon Batiste y Anthony Hamilton.
Hill luego pasó a un tributo a Roberta Flack, con “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, “Compared to What”, “Closer I Get To You”, “Where Is the Love”, “Feel Like Makin’ Love” y “Killing Me Softly with His Song” con John Legend, Chaka Khan, Leon Bridges y Wyclef Jean.
Agregue a esa lista una actuación de “Trailblazer” por Reba McEntire, Brandy Clark y Lukas Nelson, así como tributos pregrabados a Brian Wilson de Bruce Springsteen y uno a Bob Weir de John Mayer, y fue una despedida a lo grande para gigantes musicales.
___
Para más cobertura de los premios Grammy de este año, visita: www.apnews.com/GrammyAwards
Column: Chicago White Sox drop the ball in latest snub of Frank Thomas — and the divorce might be permanent
The Chicago White Sox should have been celebrating a successful weekend of SoxFest Live and getting fans stoked about the upcoming “Meaningful Step Forward” campaign in 2026 on Sunday.
Instead, the Sox were fending off another controversy by not commenting on the dumbest mistake since waiting for the end of a 21-game losing streak in 2024 to decide that Pedro Grifol wasn’t the right guy to manage the team.
This one was a social media-related error that should’ve been easy to rectify. But nothing is easy for Sox upper management.
It started when the social media department posted on X to celebrate the start of Black History Month that included mentions of the first Negro League All-Star Game at old Comiskey Park, former vice president Ken Williams being one of only two Black general managers to build a World Series champion, and Minnie Miñoso breaking the color barrier on the South Side.
In celebration of Black History Month, we reflect upon momentous firsts for the White Sox organization. pic.twitter.com/kCW4WmtamQ
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 1, 2026
All in all, there were 16 different items listed on the post’s timeline, boasting of the Sox’s rich history of prominent Black players, managers and executives (or executive in this case). Williams even gets two mentions.
What the list did not highlight was the career of Frank Thomas, the two-time Sox MVP who should’ve won a third, but finished runner-up to a juiced-up Jason Giambi in 2000. Thomas is the greatest player in Sox history and holds most of their significant offensive records. His No. 35 was retired and he had a statue erected of him in the bleachers.
He’s a hard guy to miss.
But somehow the Sox did indeed miss him. He’s only mentioned at the end of an item on Dick Allen, the first Black Sox player to win an MVP in 1972. The Sox even inserted an item for Danny Goodwin, who was the first Black player selected No. 1 in the draft. But Goodwin didn’t even sign with the Sox and had an undistinguished seven-year career in which he batted .236 with 13 home runs.
Why would the Sox include Goodwin and not the Big Hurt? Is anyone paying attention?
Thomas wasn’t the only Black player slighted. Jermaine Dye, the 2005 World Series MVP, also went unmentioned, as did Tommie Agee, the 1966 American League Rookie of the Year, and Tim Anderson, who won a batting title and was one of eight players and coaches who took a knee during the national anthem before a 2020 game to protest racial injustice against Black Americans.
It’s not easy making these kinds of lists. But certainly someone in the organization should’ve looked at it before posting and told the social media department try again. They had months to figure it out.
Thomas, who quietly has been separated from the organization since ending his gig as a pre- and postgame analyst for Sox broadcasts in 2024, was obviously miffed Sunday when he saw the tweet. Thomas responded to the post: “I Guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable! Don’t worry I’m taking Receipts!”
I Guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable! Don’t worry I’m taking Receipts!
— Frank Thomas (@TheBigHurt_35) February 1, 2026
Someone replied to Thomas’ remark by writing he should not let the Sox’s X account get to him, suggesting it was probably written by “a young kid who doesn’t know much about Sox history.” Thomas responded with a profanity to indicate that theory was nonsense.
Naturally, many fans supported Thomas and agreed that downplaying his career was insulting and unnecessary.
I’ve known Thomas for over 35 years now, having covered him during most of his prime with the White Sox. He’s a proud man, a stubborn man and a sensitive man. Sometimes he goes overboard when he feels he’s been slighted, but he’s never been afraid to speak his mind.
Frank Thomas takes practice in the outfield ahead of a White Sox playoff game at Comiskey Park on Oct. 2, 2000. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune)
Thomas declined to add fuel to the fire when we spoke Sunday, saying the social media post speaks for itself. He confirmed that he no longer has a relationship with the organization and didn’t have any regrets. Right now, he’s focusing on his family and particularly the future of his son, Frankie Thomas III, a high school star at IMG Academy in Sarasota, Fla.
Frankie, a left-handed hitting first baseman and outfielder, is currently a junior and committed to Auburn, his dad’s alma mater. But Frankie figures to be a high draft pick in 2027, and several teams, including the Cubs, have already shown interest. Frankie is aiming high, saying he wants to be better than his dad.
Frank Thomas and I have a long and complicated relationship. We had some conflicts when I covered him as a beat writer for the Tribune, usually because he was in some sort of controversy that I had to report and write about.
I was gone by the time Thomas got into his well-chronicled fights with Williams near the end of his Sox playing days, when it looked like he would forever be separated from the organization. “He better stay out of White Sox business,” was Williams’ most memorable line about Thomas.
Fortunately, the Sox made amends with Thomas after his career ended and he was welcomed back, like most Hall of Famers are with their old teams.
But I’m afraid this separation is going to lead to a bitter divorce. It obviously began long before the post, which might have been the final straw for Thomas.
Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who turns 90 next month, is probably the only one who could step in and make things right. But he doesn’t seem interested, nor do the Sox, who could’ve simply apologized to Thomas on social media for the omission and ended it there. A Sox spokesman reached out to Thomas, sources said, but it didn’t help matters.
A statue of former White Sox Frank Thomas is unveiled by his family to honor him at U.S. Cellular Field on July 31, 2011. (José M. Osorio/ Chicago Tribune)
The Sox declined to comment Sunday when contacted by the Tribune, which is not surprising. With the start of spring training next week, they’d prefer to focus on the future — and Thomas is part of the past. I’m guessing they think the story will go away with the next news cycle, as it usually does.
The buck really stops at executive vice president Brooks Boyer, who is the ultimate boss of the social media department. Despite the team’s attendance woes, Boyer has managed to survive due to Reinsdorf’s well-known loyalty to his longtime employees. Loyalists Williams and former General Manager Rick Hahn were ultimately blamed for the Sox’s downfall in 2023 and let go, but Boyer and advisor Tony La Russa remain the last of the untouchables.
Boyer was last seen taking a victory lap at the mini-SoxFest, where he was interviewed in a fan video on X and talked about how the Bulls “keep losing games they should be winning.”
“I don’t know how they fix it,” Boyer said. “Let’s go. Figure it out.”
You’d think he’d worry more about the Sox’s problems, but whatever.
I don’t know how the Sox can mend their relationship with Thomas, but it’s up to Reinsdorf and Boyer to figure it out quickly.
If not, we’ll have to wait until Justin Ishbia takes over in three or more years for the best player in Sox history to feel welcome back at Sox Park.
Thomas deserves better.
So do Sox fans, who also have receipts.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/02/frank-thomas-chicago-white-sox-snub/
The ‘Full Of Wind’-y City: Chicago Mayor Johnson Puts “ICE On Notice”… Of Meaningless Gesture
The ‘Full Of Wind’-y City: Chicago Mayor Johnson Puts “ICE On Notice”… Of Meaningless Gesture
I have long been a critic of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has been a disaster for my home city.
From moronic proposed taxes to racist comments, Johnson has brought some of the greatest devastation to the city since the Great Fire.
Deeply unpopular, he often uses race-baiting commentary or gimmicks to distract voters. The latest is his chest-pounding press conference where he declared “we are putting ICE on notice in our city.”
The threat was that he was ordering the Chicago Police Department to move against ICE in the city.
However, even a cursory examination reveals that, as before, there is less than meets the eye in Johnson’s theatrics.
Democratic leaders have jumped the shark on ICE and are now trying to outdo each other with increasingly reckless rhetoric.
Gov. Tim Walz declared last week that this was now a “Fort Sumter” moment, alluding to a new civil war.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner promised to “hunt down” ICE officers like “Nazis.”
Rep. Eric Swalwell has promised, if elected governor, he will take away the driver’s licenses of ICE officers and bar them from employment in the state.
It is hard to see what else he can promise to take away other than cable and WiFi.
Johnson is not to be out-yelled on this or any other subject.
He signed an executive order Saturday laying the groundwork for the city to investigate and seek prosecution of federal law enforcement officers.
The order, titled “ICE On Notice,” directs members of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) to document alleged illegal activity by federal immigration agents and refer evidence of felony violations to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution.
He declared that “with today’s order, we are putting ICE on notice in our city. Chicago will not sit idly by while Trump floods federal agents into our communities and terrorizes our residents.”
While it is true that officers do not have absolute immunity, it is highly unlikely that they could be liable for the increased enforcement of immigration laws. Just a day ago, a federal judge and Biden appointee in Minnesota rejected Attorney General Keith Ellison’s demand that federal operations be enjoined in his state. He could not come up with a single claim that the expanded operations were unlawful to sustain the burden for an injunction.
A close examination of the Johnson order shows that it is little more than a directive to the CPD to document any alleged violations. While suggesting that CPD would arrest federal officers, it merely states that they should take statements and preserve any videotapes of alleged violations.
Johnson said the order makes Chicago the first city in the nation to pursue legal accountability for alleged misconduct by federal immigration agents.
That included the alleged game-changing order that police should file “incident reports.” Actual incident reports! ICE officers are presumably fleeing en masse at the very threat of such CPD reports.
The term “windy city” is not, as commonly believed, a reference to the wind off the lake. In the Nineteenth Century, it was a reference to how Chicago politicians were full of wind in their bragging and exaggerations. In that sense, Johnson is the very personification of the Windy City, but this order will not even rustle the leaves in Lincoln Park.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/02/2026 – 10:50
Ellie Nemeth’s athletic career at Kouts will be remembered. Competing in 4 sports, she’s a standout in each.
For Kouts junior Ellie Nemeth, it takes a village to let her do what she loves.
That’s because she loves basketball, volleyball, soccer and track.
“I really enjoy doing all of the sports, and I couldn’t imagine giving one of them up,” Nemeth said. “With the support around me in the community, I’m able to do it without having to give things up just to play one or the other.”
Kouts’ Ellie Nemeth shoots a free throw during a nonconference game against Hanover Central in Cedar Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Mandy Coppinger / Post-Tribune)
At a time when specializing in one sport has become common, Nemeth insists on being a multisport athlete. She doesn’t even play one varsity sport at a time. For part of the year, she plays two at once.
In the fall, Nemeth is a middle hitter for the girls volleyball team and a forward/midfielder for the girls soccer team, and she excelled in both sports last season. She was named All-Porter County Conference twice, and she also was named all-district and a Junior All-Star in volleyball.
Nemeth has shifted her focus to the basketball court, where the 5-foot-11 forward has helped the Fillies (18-4, 6-1 PCC) win their most games since 2021-22. As Kouts prepares to play top-ranked Marquette (20-3) in the first round of the Class 1A Morgan Township Sectional on Tuesday, Nemeth is averaging 8.9 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds and is also one of six players averaging more than one steal per game.
“She is so dedicated,” said Kouts junior Alyssa Twedt, who is Nemeth’s teammate in three sports. “She’s dedicated to her teammates and to the role she’s playing within the team. Her dedication is what allows her to have such a great work ethic. She’s always determined to do her best in everything she does.”
In track and field, Nemeth excels in the throwing events — particularly discus — and also competes in the 400-meter relay and high jump.
Nemeth’s schedule inspires Tim Schwartz, who coaches both the girls basketball team and the girls soccer team at Kouts. Schwartz said he’s a “big proponent and supporter of athletes not specializing in the early ages, even as they get into high school,” and even if it means additional coordination on his end in Nemeth’s case.
“Myself and coach (Matt) Bien on the volleyball side meet each summer to talk about schedules when we have shared athletes,” Schwartz said. “So we can, one, make sure they take advantage of both sports to the fullest, and, two, guard against burnout. We don’t want to burn out a special athlete like that who’s willing to do two sports in one season and help out both teams.
“Because there were nights when she’d have a conference soccer game, for example, and because volleyball started later with the varsity match, her parents could drive her somewhere so she could play volleyball, too, on the same night.”
Nemeth’s parents, Mary and Pete, are a big part of the support system that makes her four-sport commitment possible. So is Nemeth’s sister Kailynn, a Kouts sophomore who competes alongside her.
“My parents are really supportive,” Nemeth said. “They show up at everything. My mom always runs the clock, and my dad is always there cheering us on. And I get to play basketball and volleyball with my sister and do track with her, and I love doing sports with all of them around.”
Nemeth has no plans to give up any of her sports in high school. But she expects to pick one — or maybe two — in college.
“Honestly, I’m still deciding between volleyball, basketball or track,” Nemeth said. “I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be doing, what I would enjoy the most and what setting each sport would put me into.
“But I am considering, depending on where I go to college, doing at least two sports. So there are a lot of decisions to come.”
Kouts’ Ellie Nemeth, right, prepares to pass the ball during a nonconference game against Hanover Central in Cedar Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Mandy Coppinger / Post-Tribune)
Nemeth has plenty of time to decide. No matter what she chooses, Schwartz believes one thing is clear.
“I’ve had the privilege, when we have our Kouts Hall of Fame, of reading the bios from those recipients, and it’s amazing what they’ve accomplished in their athletic careers, and Ellie is right up there, I can imagine, just by all the achievements she’s had in all four sports,” Schwartz said.
“I’m not saying she’s a shoo-in. But, boy, a four-sport athlete who achieved at a high level in all four, that is certainly something the Hall of Fame committee will consider.”
Noah Poser is a freelance reporter.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/02/kouts-high-school-basketball-ellie-nemeth/
A guide to navigating the immediate aftermath of a car accident in Cicero
Content oversight provided by Studio 1847
Motor vehicle crashes are an unfortunate reality across Illinois, with the state recording an average of nearly 820 incidents per day in 2023. For residents of Cicero and the surrounding areas, the risk is particularly acute; Cook County accounted for more than half of all accidents in the state in 2023. High-traffic corridors like Cicero Avenue, which saw over 2,500 accidents in a single year, leading to hundreds of injuries, underscore the local dangers.
After a car accident, injuries, shock and unfamiliar procedures can quickly become overwhelming. This guide outlines the essential steps to take immediately following a collision in Cicero, providing a clear, chronological framework for securing the scene, documenting key information, and beginning the process of physical and financial recovery.
At the scene of the accident
The minutes after a collision matter. Focusing on safety, reporting and evidence preservation protects everyone involved and supports future insurance and legal claims.
Ensuring immediate safety
The first priority is to identify any immediate danger. If vehicles can be moved safely, steer them out of traffic to a shoulder or nearby parking area to reduce the risk of further collisions. If a vehicle cannot be moved, activate hazard lights, remain inside with the seatbelt fastened and wait for emergency services. Check on passengers and others involved for injuries, but do not move anyone who may have a neck or back injury.
Contacting emergency services and law enforcement
Calling 911 is an essential step, even if an accident appears minor. This single call summons both medical assistance for potential injuries and law enforcement to create an official record of the event. Recent incidents requiring emergency response at intersections like Sunnyside & Cicero and 55th & Cicero highlight how common these events are. An official police report is a critical document for any insurance claim or legal proceeding, providing an objective account of the crash. A copy of this report can later be obtained directly from the Cicero Police Department.
The critical exchange of information
While waiting for law enforcement, drivers should calmly and courteously exchange essential information. Photographing documents such as a driver’s license and insurance card can help ensure accuracy. From each driver, collect:
Full legal name and home address.
Phone number and email address.
Driver’s license number and state of issuance.
License plate number for all vehicles involved.
Make, model and color of each vehicle.
Name of their auto insurance company.
Auto insurance policy number.
Documenting the scene thoroughly
Before the scene is cleared, use a smartphone to document the incident. Take wide-angle photos of the scene, including road signs, traffic signals and weather conditions, along with close-up images of vehicle damage and visible injuries. Record brief written or voice notes on what occurred, statements made and witness contact information to preserve key details.
Post-crash procedures
In the hours and days after a car accident, the focus moves to health and formal reporting — steps that are essential to recovery and the protection of legal and financial interests.
Seeking medical evaluation
Seek medical evaluation even if injuries are not immediately apparent. Adrenaline can mask pain, and conditions such as concussions or internal injuries may emerge hours or days later. In Illinois, 8,846 of the 87,573 crash-related injuries reported in 2023 were classified as severe “A-Injuries,” many not obvious at the scene. Prompt medical care also creates a record linking injuries to the accident, which is essential for insurance and legal claims.
Navigating the insurance notification process and legal timelines
Report the accident promptly to your insurer, providing only basic facts. Avoid admitting fault, speculating, or giving a recorded statement without counsel, as these steps help protect your rights.
After a collision, victims are often overwhelmed and may not realize that insurance companies do not represent their interests, says Michael Agruss, a personal injury lawyer at 844SeeMike Personal Injury Lawyers. “Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim. Managing this deadline while recovering medically and communicating with insurance adjusters often requires careful guidance.” Securing professional advice early, especially from a Cicero car accident lawyer, ensures that your rights are protected from the very beginning.”
Understanding Cicero’s traffic landscape
Statewide data reflects constant roadway activity, with Illinois averaging roughly 820 crashes per day. Speed is a major contributing factor, accounting for more than one-third of all injury-related crashes. Locally, Cicero Avenue consistently ranks as a high-incident corridor, underscoring the heavy traffic pressure on major north–south routes. Rear-end collisions are also common, representing nearly a quarter of injury crashes statewide and frequently occurring in congested urban areas such as Cicero.
Common causes and accessing community resources
Beyond speeding, frequent causes of urban crashes include distracted driving, failure to yield at intersections and impaired driving. The Cicero Police Department is the primary source for official accident reports and incident information.
In the aftermath of a collision, local community organizations may also offer support resources to assist victims and their families during recovery.
Securing your recovery after a Cicero collision
The period following a car accident in Cicero can be disorienting, but a clear, informed response helps protect health and legal rights. Taking steps to ensure safety, document the scene, obtain medical care and seek appropriate guidance supports both recovery and any subsequent insurance or legal process.
On-Chain Activity Soars As Crypto Crumbles, ‘Mega-Whales’ Buying The Bitcoin Dip As Retail Runs For Exits
On-Chain Activity Soars As Crypto Crumbles, ‘Mega-Whales’ Buying The Bitcoin Dip As Retail Runs For Exits
Crypto prices are rebounding this morning, after further weakness over the weekend to its lowest since Trump’s election victory.
“From a technical perspective, the recent drawdown is bringing price closer to attractive levels,” said Joel Kruger, a markets strategist at LMAX Group.
Bitcoin is likely to find “strong support” should it drop to around $70,000, he said.
Other cryptocurrencies like Ether and Solana also staged modest rebounds after slipping earlier Monday.
“For crypto specifically, ETF flow stabilization is the key signal to monitor,” said Timothy Misir, head of research at digital asset analytics firm BRN.
“Without it, rallies are likely to fade.”
Interestingly, Goldman points out that in contrast to the declining price performance, on-chain activity painted a different picture, especially for the Ethereum and Solana networks.
Activity across the Bitcoin network was down over the month, suggested by decreased average daily transaction count (-14.9% MoM), average daily new addresses (-3.6% MoM) and average active addresses (-2.7% MoM) (Figure 2).
However, for Ethereum, average daily active addresses, new addresses, and transaction counts were up by +27.5%, +26.8% and +36.0% MoM respectively.
For Solana, average daily active addresses and transaction counts were up by +24.3% and +8.2% MoM respectively (Figure 10).
Looking at Ethereum specifically, we are seeing an ATH in daily new addresses.
On average, Jan saw 427k new addresses – if we compare this to the 2020 ‘DeFi summer’, the average daily new addresses back then were 162k.
In terms of activity, we have registered 1.2m daily active Ethereum addresses – another ATH from a 7-d moving avg basis
Separately for Ethereum, Goldman notes that the market cap is now below its realized market cap (which values each coin at the last time they moved on the network – representing the aggregate cost basis), signifying that most ETH holders are now sitting on a loss…
Meanwhile, as James Van Starten reports below for CoinDesk.com, very large investors, or whales, holding 10,000 bitcoin or more are currently the only ones that are buying the largest cryptocurrency as prices plummet.
All other holder groups are hitting the sell button, according to onchain data.
This divergence is highlighted by Glassnode’s Accumulation Trend Score by wallet cohort, which measures the relative behavior of different entity sizes based on both balance and the amount of bitcoin acquired over the past 15 days. Scores closer to 1 indicate buying, while values near 0 signal selling.
Bitcoin accumulation trend (Glassnode)
According to Glassnode data, the largest whales are in a “light accumulation” phase and have maintained a neutral-to-slightly-positive balance trend since bitcoin fell to $80,000 in late November. During this period, price has largely consolidated, trading within a $80,000 to $97,000 range through the end of January.
Bitcoin is now trading near $78,000, according to CoinDesk data.
In contrast, all smaller cohorts are net sellers, particularly retail holders with less than 10 BTC.
This group has been in persistent selling for over a month, reflecting continued downside and risk aversion among smaller participants.
At the same time, the number of unique entities holding at least 1,000 BTC has increased from 1,207 in October to 1,303.
Number of Entities with balance 1k BTC (Glassnode)
Since bitcoin’s October all-time high, growth in this cohort suggests that larger holders have been buying into the correction.
Whales holding at least 1,000 BTC are now back at December 2024 highs, reinforcing the view that large players are absorbing supply while smaller holders continue to exit.
Tyler Durden
Mon, 02/02/2026 – 10:35
https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/mega-whales-are-quietly-buying-bitcoin-dip-retail-traders-run-exits
