Category: News
Oswego East’s Riley Doggett embraces Aurora University’s dogged, fast-lane style. ‘The best part of our game.’
Pedal to the metal and full speed ahead.
Call junior guard Riley Doggett a firm believer in the up-tempo style employed by Aurora University coach Ryan Rebsom.
Considering the obstacles she dealt with in a roller coaster four-year varsity career at Oswego East, Doggett probably deserves the ride in the Spartans’ fast lane that she’s enjoying in college.
“Our ball movement is the best part of our game,” said Doggett, who came off the bench in every game as a freshman and has started since the beginning of her sophomore year. “The way we trust each other, the way we share it.
“If there’s an open shot, we’re yelling at each other if we don’t shoot it. We want everybody to get their shots up, everybody to play their game and nobody shy away. Everybody has the green light.”
Ready, set, go.
Aurora University’s Riley Doggett (21) powers to the basket against Dominican’s Kennedy Yost (35) during a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game in Aurora on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Sean King / Beacon-News)
Doggett nearly doubled her 8.1-point scoring average Wednesday night with 15 as the host Spartans rolled to a 94-59 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win over Dominican.
Sophomore guard Krystyna Manzanarez, the reigning NACC and region freshman of the year, scored 22 points to lead AU (16-3, 10-2), which jumped out with a 34-point first quarter.
Senior forward Kylie Fischbach matched Doggett’s 15 points and senior guard Jennifer Heinberg added 12 for the Spartans. Junior guard Lia Saunders, a Hampshire graduate, had 19 points to pace Dominican (8-10, 3-8).
It’s been a fun ride at AU for Doggett, though. Her sophomore season at Oswego East was reduced to 13 games during the pandemic and her senior season was wiped out by a torn ACL in her left knee.
Aurora University’s Riley Doggett (21) pulls down a contested rebound against Dominican during a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game in Aurora on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Sean King / Beacon-News)
“We take a lot of pride in playing fast,” Rebsom said. “We’re top five in the nation in steals, top five in the nation in scoring out of 432 Division III teams. Our biggest focus to do that is to create more possessions, so we play a ton of full-court pressure and we recruit shooters.”
The Spartans made 16 of 32 shots from beyond the 3-point line and outscored Dominican 21-0 on fast-break points.
“We’ve made 19 3-pointers in a game twice this year, 18 once and 16 twice,” Rebsom said. “My biggest thing is, if you go 0-for-10, I want to see you go 0-for-20. They know they have a green light.
“That’s how we play, and it’s fun. When we get cooking like that first quarter, we’re pretty good.”
Aurora University’s Riley Doggett (21) shoots the ball in the post against Dominican’s Kennedy Yost (35) during a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game in Aurora on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Sean King / Beacon-News)
With seven conference games remaining, AU is in third place in the 14-team league. The top eight make the conference playoffs, with the better seeds hosting throughout and the winner qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.
“My first year we got to the semifinals, which was the first time in like 15 years, so that was a huge step,” Doggett said. “We lost in the first round last year, but this year we’re taking it all the way.
“I feel confident. It’s a fantastic team and I love the energy. There’s nothing bad I can say about this team.”
Rebsom would like to land more players like Doggett.
“A lot of kids want to leave the area, but we’re getting better traction with that with some success,” he said. “I was there recruiting her when she hurt her knee. You’d never guess in a thousand years she went through an ACL.
Aurora University’s Riley Doggett (21) shoots the ball in the post against Dominican’s Kennedy Yost (35) during a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game in Aurora on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Sean King / Beacon-News)
“Our strength and conditioning program is good, but she takes it to another level. She guards the other team’s best player unless it’s their primary ball-handler. She’s such a good athlete and defender.”
Doggett confirmed the mental battles in her 11-month recovery were just as difficult as the physical comeback.
“It was the end of my world for a whole year,” Doggett said. “Going through it was tough because we had a really good team that year. Sitting on the sideline with the coaches and getting their perspective was a silver lining, learning a new perspective of basketball.
“The best part was coach Rebsom. He was super supportive and helped me through it all. From day one, he’s been the most supportive and I’m truly grateful for that.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/29/riley-doggett-oswego-east-au-basketball/
Líder alemán destaca a Europa como “alternativa al imperialismo y la autocracia”
Por GEIR MOULSON
BERLÍN (AP) — El canciller alemán Friedrich Merz elogió el jueves a la Unión Europea como una “alternativa al imperialismo y la autocracia” que puede forjar acuerdos con socios afines en un mundo de creciente rivalidad entre grandes potencias.
Merz subrayó el valor continuo de una OTAN en la que Europa intensificará sus esfuerzos de defensa, y afirmó que siempre buscará la cooperación con Estados Unidos, pero no como un “subordinado”. También se unió a otros líderes europeos para rechazar la afirmación del mandatario norteamericano Donald Trump de que las tropas de países de la OTAN que no son Estados Unidos no lucharon tanto en Afganistán.
Merz habló ante el parlamento alemán sobre política exterior una semana después de que Trump retirara una amenaza de nuevos aranceles contra Alemania y otros siete países europeos por negarse a apoyar sus ambiciones de poseer Groenlandia.
“Estamos viendo cada vez más claramente en las últimas semanas que se está comenzando a formar un mundo de grandes potencias”, declaró Merz. “Un viento fuerte sopla en este mundo, y lo sentiremos en el futuro previsible”.
Pero eso también abre oportunidades para Europa, dijo, ya que las democracias con mercados abiertos y en crecimiento “buscan lo que tenemos para ofrecerles, a saber, asociaciones basadas en el respeto mutuo, la confianza y la fiabilidad”.
“No debemos subestimar cuán atractivo puede ser este modelo europeo para nuevos socios y nuevas alianzas”, expresó Merz. “También somos una alternativa normativa al imperialismo y la autocracia en el mundo”.
Enfatizó el valor de la unidad en la a veces conflictiva UE de 27 naciones, diciendo que el bloque había demostrado la semana pasada que podía actuar rápidamente. “Acordamos que no nos intimidarían nuevamente con amenazas de aranceles”, afirmó.
Sin embargo, indicó que Europa también necesita “aprender el lenguaje de la política de poder” para afirmarse en un mundo cambiante, por ejemplo, asumiendo una mayor responsabilidad por su seguridad, esforzándose por una mayor “independencia tecnológica” y aumentando su crecimiento económico.
Merz es un firme defensor de que la UE haga más acuerdos comerciales, incluyendo uno con el bloque sudamericano Mercosur y otro alcanzado esta semana con India.
Mientras busca nuevas alianzas, “también está claro para nosotros y para mí que no deberíamos poner en peligro descuidadamente las alianzas existentes”, señaló Merz, agregando que “la confianza transatlántica es un valor en sí mismo incluso hoy”.
Afirmó que los europeos quieren preservar la OTAN y hacerla más fuerte, y “siempre extenderemos la mano de la cooperación a los Estados Unidos de América”.
“Al mismo tiempo, la base de este principio rector sigue siendo… como democracias, somos socios y aliados y no subordinados”, añadió.
Merz señaló que 59 soldados alemanes murieron en Afganistán durante el despliegue de casi 20 años allá y más de 100 resultaron heridos.
No hizo referencia directa a una entrevista la semana pasada en que Trump dijo que no estaba seguro de que las otras 31 naciones de la OTAN estuvieran allí para apoyar a Estados Unidos si y cuando se les solicitara y que las tropas de esos países se mantuvieron “un poco alejadas de las líneas del frente” en Afganistán.
Merz manifestó que “no permitiremos que este despliegue, que también realizamos en interés de nuestro aliado, los Estados Unidos de América, sea menospreciado y denigrado hoy”.
___________________________________
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Waukegan D60 honors Middle School Principal of the Year: ‘We need you here’
Nelson Campos awoke Tuesday thinking he would spend the day working with students, teachers and staff at Miguel Juarez Middle School before going to the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education meeting to be honored as the Lake County Middle School Principal of the Year.
However, as he started the day walking the school with Area Superintendent Shanele Andrews, Campos got a surprise upon entering the gym to applause from students, teachers, staff, district administrators, Board of Education members, family and an official from the Illinois Principals Association (IPA).
Kim Zinman, a field service specialist for the IPA, was holding a microphone ready to talk to the shocked Miguel Juarez principal and other members of the group. Some knew what she was going to say.
“Mr. Campos, of all the school principals in the state of Illinois, is now the Middle School Principal of the Year,” Zinman said.
After being handed the microphone, Campos gave credit for the awards to the entire Miguel Juarez community, as he did later in the day in an interview, and was feted for it by Superintendent Theresa Plascencia and board members as well.
“We have an amazing group of staff, which is teachers, teacher assistants. paraprofessionals, everyone,” Campos said. “It is an honor to be here. This award is not because of me. It is because of all of them,” he added, referring to the school community. “We recognize them and include them.”
Sitting with his family, Miguel Juarez Middle School Principal Nelson Campos holds his Principal of the Year award while Board of Education members offer their comments. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
Campos was honored by both Lake County and the state on Tuesday at the District 60 Board of Education meeting in the Education Service Center in Waukegan after a vetting by county and state school officials.
Before the meeting, Campos said the entire staff at Miguel Juarez was responsible for the two awards. The teamwork and collaboration are what produces an outstanding place of learning for sixth, seventh and eighth-grade students. His definition of staff is broad and inclusive.
“This could not be done without the staff,” Campos said. “The staff is the teachers, paraprofessionals, assistants, support staff, custodians, cafeteria workers, and last but not least, my students.”
Tom Cardamone, the principal at Stanton School in Fox Lake and an IPA leader, said Lake County is its own region. There are 20 other regions throughout the state, and 17 had middle school principals contending for the statewide award.
Stanton School Principal Tom Cardamone, left, hands Miguel Juarez Middle School Principal Nelson Campos his Principal of the Year award on Tuesday in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
Cardamone said there are five leadership traits evaluated for the award. They include shaping the school’s culture for physical and emotional well-being for safety, promoting equity for students and staff, involving students and staff in decision-making, providing opportunities to make them leaders and leading learning and instruction for success in a global society.
“Nelson was quickly approved and (this) highlighted how his commitment to the community has greatly impacted student performance, climate and culture, and collaborative practice,” Cardamone said.
Erica Berger, the director of engagement and growth in Diamond Lake School District 76, said once the county sends its winner to the state IPA, officials there do their own independent evaluation to determine the statewide winner.
The county IPA announced Campos was the county Middle School Principal of the Year late last year. District 60 officials decided to hold an award presentation ceremony at the January board meeting. The state decision was released on Tuesday.
Growing up and educated in Belize, Campos said he became a civil engineer. He decided to come to the United States and settled in Waukegan in 2006. He had family there and there were a lot of people from Belize. He took a job as a math teacher at what is today John Lewis Middle School.
After three years, Campos became the assistant principal at Lewis before taking a similar position at the Chicago High School for the Arts in 2014. He, his wife and their two sons all remained in Waukegan.
While Campos was still teaching in Chicago, Plascencia said she met him at a Little Fort Elementary School picnic. He told her he was an educator in Chicago. She had different ideas.
“Well, we can’t have that,” Plascencia said, telling the story at the meeting. “We need you here in Waukegan. I worked aggressively to get him to come back to Waukegan to serve the students, and I know I did not make the wrong decision that day.”
Plascencia praised Campos’ “consistency and heart for children.” She said she understands the challenges of serving as a principal and praised his inclusive and collaborative approach to the job.
“As a leader, I know it gets tough and lonely,” Plascencia said. “I know there are times there are trials and tribulations, but where you are is where you are supposed to be.”
Also receiving an award from the Lake County IPA was Sheonta Myers, Waukegan High School assistant principal at the Washington and AOEC campuses. She earned the Reaching Out and Building Bridges award.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/29/lake-county-principal-of-the-year/
Worldcoin Spikes 40% As OpenAI Reportedly Plans Biometric X Rival
Worldcoin Spikes 40% As OpenAI Reportedly Plans Biometric X Rival
Authored by Brian Quarmby via Cointelegraph,
OpenAI-linked token Worldcoin spiked 40% on Wednesday following a report that the artificial intelligence firm is working on a bot-free social media platform that requires “proof of personhood.”
According to a Tuesday Forbes report citing sources familiar with the matter, OpenAI is aiming to develop a “humans-only platform” as a point of difference from other social media services on the market.
Still in its early stages, sources state that a small team of around 10 people is building the platform to compete with X, and that it has reportedly been in development since early 2025, according to tech news outlet The Verge.
Forbes’ sources claimed that any “proof of personhood” would likely be verified via Apple’s Face ID or the World Orb eyeball scanner, which has also been utilized as part of World, the blockchain and crypto project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
The report coincided with a 40% price pump for Worldcoin to $0.63; however, the price has since pulled back to $0.54 at the time of writing, according to CoinGecko data.
Amid a broader crypto downturn in the latter half of 2025, WLD has had a grim price performance, down almost 70% over the past 12 months.
The World Orb, which has seen criticism over its implications for personal data privacy, scans a person’s face and their iris to verify that they are a unique human. It is a key part of onboarding genuine users to the WorldCoin ecosystem and helps establish a World ID.
Worldcoin’s World Orb. Source: Cointelegraph
Details are sparse on how the reported social media platform could be integrated with OpenAI’s suite of products or potentially with WLD. It is believed, however, that OpenAI’s ChatGPT will be integrated to help users create content such as videos or photos.
Altman has previously criticized bot activity on X and other social media platforms. Back in September, he said the current social media experience in general felt “fake” due to the sheer number of bot-like posts and comments.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/29/2026 – 12:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/worldcoin-spikes-40-openai-reportedly-plans-biometric-x-rival
Elgin News Digest: Two exhibits opening in February at Gail Borden library; Ness hold virtual town hall meeting for constituents Tuesday
Two exhibits opening in February at Gail Borden library
Exhibits focusing on Elgin’s ties to the country’s 250th anniversary and Black History Month will open in February at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin.
Designed to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, “250 Years of Elgin” will highlight pivotal moments that helped shape the city, according to the library’s website.
On loan from the Elgin History Museum, one of the only known remaining milk wagons from the Elgin Sanitary Milk Co. (later known as Ludwig Dairy) will be on display. Such milk wagons were used from the late 1800s through the 1960s, the library said.
The exhibit is the first in what will be a series of Elgin 250 activities being coordinated by the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Enhancing Elgin committee. Partners include the city of Elgin, School District U-46, Elgin Community College, Side Street Studio Arts, Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin and Explore Elgin Area.
Back for Black History Month is Project 2-3-1, an exhibit also on loan from the Elgin History Museum. It’s based on a video documentary that tells the history of African Americans in Elgin, starting from when enslaved people arrived by boxcars during the Civil War to present-day residents and their accomplishments.
For more information, go to www.gailborden.info/250 and www.elginil250.com.
Ness hold virtual town hall meeting for constituents Tuesday
State Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-Carpentersville, will host a virtual town hall Tuesday, Feb. 3, to discuss recent General Assembly action following the completion of the first week of the spring legislative session.
Ness will speak at 6 p.m. on Zoom and then take questions from the audience. Register by going to us06web.zoom.us/…/register/mmd5ndjUROeMbrtoz9O0Nw or emailing info@repsnessil66.com, a news release on the event said.
“I’m looking forward to this Zoom meeting to touch on our top needs and values that will continue to guide my work down in Springfield, especially as we get closer to the governor’s budget address in a few short weeks,” Ness said in the release.
Senior stroll to be held at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve
A presentation and walk for people 50 and older will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Feb. 5, starting at the Creek Bend Nature Center in the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles.
The program will explore the preserve and provide information about the natural and cultural history surrounding the area, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County said in a social media post.
Participants should dress for the weather. The walk will last about an hour and be followed by refreshments. No registration is required.
For more information, call 630-444-3190.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/29/elgin-library-milk-wagon-ness-meeting/
Hinsdale police arrest four men after Hinsdale boutique burglary, vehicle case
One of four suspects in Tuesday’s early-morning Hinsdale burglary at Kelsey Resale Boutique, 49 S. Washington St., will remain in pre-trial custody, while three other suspects were released, following an appearance in front of Dupage County Judge Joshua Dieden, according to the office of DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.
Monroe Shivers, 33, of the first block of West 109th Place, Chicago, appeared in First Appearance Court Wednesday, charged with one count burglary, a class 2 felony; one count of theft $10,000-$100,000, a class 2 felony; one count of retail theft, a class 3 felony; and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding, a class 4 felony, Berlin’s office said.
Shivers’ co-defendants, Cortney Shivers, 32, of the 6500 block of South Oakley Avenue, Chicago; Ronnie Hardy, 27, of the 500 block of South Maine, Chicago; and Jeremiah Brown, 20, of the 6500 block of South Oakley, Chicago, all appeared in court Wednesday, each charged with one count of burglary, one count of theft $10,000-$100,000, one count of retail theft and one count of resisting a police officer, a class A misdemeanor. As the charges against Cortney Shivers, Hardy and Brown are non-detainable, all three defendants were released pending trial, Berlin’s office said.
Hinsdale police officers were dispatched at 3:36 a.m. Tuesday for a report of suspicious vehicles in the first block of South Washington Street. While en route officers learned that the suspect vehicles reportedly went to the Kelsey Resale Boutique, 49 South Washington Street, Berlin’s office said.
Upon their arrival at the store, officers reportedly saw two vehicles, a Nissan Altima and a grey SUV, flee the area. Officers pursued the Nissan, reportedly driven by Monroe Shivers northbound on Washington Street to Hinsdale Avenue, where Shivers reportedly failed to stop at a stop sign.
As they tried to stop the vehicle, an individual later identified as Hardy jumped out, officials said. Police said the officer continued to pursue the vehicle until it stopped near the Hinsdale train depot, when two people, later identified as Cortney Shivers and Monroe Shivers, exited and fled on foot, Berlin’s office said. All three defendants were taken into custody following a brief foot pursuit.
Officers were dispatched at 10:32 a.m. to West Second Street for a report of a suspicious person, later identified as Brown, who was taken into custody.
Police believe Monroe Shivers, Cortney Shivers, Hardy, Brown and several unidentified individuals, all wearing masks and gloves, kicked in the door to Kelsey Resale Boutique, and grabbed various items including luxury designer purses, jewelry, wallets, handbags, shoes and sunglasses, and then fled the store in the Nissan and grey SUV, Berlin’s office said.
“I commend the Hinsdale Police Department for their truly outstanding work in the identification and apprehension of the defendants in this case,” Berlin said in a statement. “The allegations that even though this crime occurred in the dead of night, officers were on site within minutes, safely detained three of three of the four defendants as they fled and had the fourth defendant in custody in a matter of hours, illustrates the Hinsdale Police Department’s commitment to public safety and the rule of law.”
Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King gave kudos to a citizen for calling the police about the incident
“The Hinsdale Police Department is diligently working to identify and arrest the other offenders in this case,” he said.
The next court appearance for all four defendants is scheduled for Feb. 23, in front of Judge Mia McPherson.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/29/hinsdale-botique-burglary-arrests/
Hinsdale police arrest four men after Hinsdale boutique burglary, vehicle case
One of four suspects in Tuesday’s early-morning Hinsdale burglary at Kelsey Resale Boutique, 49 S. Washington St., will remain in pre-trial custody, while three other suspects were released, following an appearance in front of Dupage County Judge Joshua Dieden, according to the office of DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin.
Monroe Shivers, 33, of the first block of West 109th Place, Chicago, appeared in First Appearance Court Wednesday, charged with one count burglary, a class 2 felony; one count of theft $10,000-$100,000, a class 2 felony; one count of retail theft, a class 3 felony; and one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding, a class 4 felony, Berlin’s office said.
Shivers’ co-defendants, Cortney Shivers, 32, of the 6500 block of South Oakley Avenue, Chicago; Ronnie Hardy, 27, of the 500 block of South Maine, Chicago; and Jeremiah Brown, 20, of the 6500 block of South Oakley, Chicago, all appeared in court Wednesday, each charged with one count of burglary, one count of theft $10,000-$100,000, one count of retail theft and one count of resisting a police officer, a class A misdemeanor. As the charges against Cortney Shivers, Hardy and Brown are non-detainable, all three defendants were released pending trial, Berlin’s office said.
Hinsdale police officers were dispatched at 3:36 a.m. Tuesday for a report of suspicious vehicles in the first block of South Washington Street. While en route officers learned that the suspect vehicles reportedly went to the Kelsey Resale Boutique, 49 South Washington Street, Berlin’s office said.
Upon their arrival at the store, officers reportedly saw two vehicles, a Nissan Altima and a grey SUV, flee the area. Officers pursued the Nissan, reportedly driven by Monroe Shivers northbound on Washington Street to Hinsdale Avenue, where Shivers reportedly failed to stop at a stop sign.
As they tried to stop the vehicle, an individual later identified as Hardy jumped out, officials said. Police said the officer continued to pursue the vehicle until it stopped near the Hinsdale train depot, when two people, later identified as Cortney Shivers and Monroe Shivers, exited and fled on foot, Berlin’s office said. All three defendants were taken into custody following a brief foot pursuit.
Officers were dispatched at 10:32 a.m. to West Second Street for a report of a suspicious person, later identified as Brown, who was taken into custody.
Police believe Monroe Shivers, Cortney Shivers, Hardy, Brown and several unidentified individuals, all wearing masks and gloves, kicked in the door to Kelsey Resale Boutique, and grabbed various items including luxury designer purses, jewelry, wallets, handbags, shoes and sunglasses, and then fled the store in the Nissan and grey SUV, Berlin’s office said.
“I commend the Hinsdale Police Department for their truly outstanding work in the identification and apprehension of the defendants in this case,” Berlin said in a statement. “The allegations that even though this crime occurred in the dead of night, officers were on site within minutes, safely detained three of three of the four defendants as they fled and had the fourth defendant in custody in a matter of hours, illustrates the Hinsdale Police Department’s commitment to public safety and the rule of law.”
Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King gave kudos to a citizen for calling the police about the incident
“The Hinsdale Police Department is diligently working to identify and arrest the other offenders in this case,” he said.
The next court appearance for all four defendants is scheduled for Feb. 23, in front of Judge Mia McPherson.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/29/hinsdale-botique-burglary-arrests/
Chesterton taproom owner works toward positive outcome from Minneapolis tragedy
Joe Juarez was trying to find a positive way to respond to the tragic death of Alex Pretti during a confrontation with federal immigration agents in Minnesota this past weekend.
As the owner of the (219) Taproom in Chesterton, which specializes in craft beer and pub food, Juarez regularly runs charitable benefits for the local community. On the first and third Thursdays of every month, he donates all tips to charity.
So he decided that this Wednesday and Thursday, he would donate all tips and match them to create a scholarship fund for local nursing students, in the name of Pretti, who had been an intensive care unit nurse with the Veterans Administration. He will coordinate the donation with a local school.
“No politics. Just doing our part to honor his parents’ wishes and to keep his name alive,” Juarez put out in a message on social media.
Juarez was overwhelmed and a bit puzzled by some of the responses. Most of the messages were positive, but some were angry.
Paulene Poparad, who visited the taproom with her husband and daughter Wednesday, has been around the Duneland, spending 35 years as a reporter when the former Chesterton Tribune was a daily newspaper. She said she was surprised by the harsh tone of some comments on the town’s Facebook page.
“Chesterton is not like that,” Poparad said.
Joe Juarez, proprietor of (219) Taproom, held a fundraiser for nursing scholarships Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, after the recent shooting death by federal agents of Alex Pretti, a registered nurse, in Minneapolis. (Jim Woods/for Post-Tribune)
A number of commenters questioned honoring Pretti, and some vowed never to set foot in the establishment. Juarez said one comment, which he thought had a threatening tone, accused him of “virtue signaling.”
“I don’t even know what virtue signaling means,” Juarez said. “I saw a guy die trying to help somebody. I cried when I told my wife, this is what we should do. I don’t think like that. All I wanted to do is do some good.”
Since he opened his establishment 6 1/2 years ago, Juarez said he has run scores of benefits. “Nursing scholarships, that’s it. I never said we were against anything, I never said we were for anything.”
The doors opened at 4 p.m. Wednesday and within an hour, as people ended their work day, it became hard to find a seat. Some, like the Poparads, were coming to the place for the first time because they wanted to show their support.
Some are distressed about the incident and the direction of the country.
Mike and Paula Deiotte, who are both 68 and Chesterton residents, believe the country is going backwards.
Mike and Paula Deiotte, Chesterton residents, said they are concerned about the direction of the country during a fundraiser for nursing scholarships Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at (219) Taproom. (Jim Woods/for Post-Tribune)
“We’ll make it. I don’t know about our kids and grandkids,” said Mike Deiotte, a retired steelworker.
They see the enforcement effort against immigrants as being unfair.
“How do we have a president who has 34 felony count convictions, and they are rounding up people that have less than a traffic violation?” Paula Deiotte said.
The Deiottes decided they had to come to the taproom Wednesday night to show their support for Joe and Teresa Juarez.
“This whole mess that is going on, they decided to step up and do something positive,” Paula Deiotte said.
When Elyse Stuart, a retired nurse from Chesterton, learned about the benefit, she decided to come to the taproom to order a pizza.
Stuart liked the idea of giving scholarship money so that people could pursue a career in nursing. “That’s what matters,” she said.
Cary Knauff, a Valparaiso resident who teaches German at Chesterton High School, enjoys going to the taproom on occasion to unwind after work.
Cary Knauff stopped off at (219) Taproom after work Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Jim Woods/for Post-Tribune)
“It feels like it’s hard to talk about politics in this country right now because everybody is on one side or the other. But anytime you have Americans working for the government who are shooting other Americans on the street that don’t appear to be breaking the law, that doesn’t sit well with me,” Knauff said.
Knauff said he had to come Wednesday night when he learned of the benefit for a nursing scholarship. He said his son, after graduating from high school this year, plans to start his studies in nursing at Ivy Tech.
“The fact they are looking at what’s going on in our country and trying to make something positive happen locally for kids going into nursing, like Alex Pretti was, I thought was pretty special.”
The Rev. Greg Arthur, pastor of the Duneland Community Church, wasn’t even drinking beer but came out to order food.
“Love Joe and T. If they are doing something, we’re always in,” Arthur said.
Rev. Greg Arthur, pastor of Duneland Community Church in Chesterton, attends a fundraiser for nursing scholarships Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at (219) Taproom in Chesterton. (Jim Woods/for Post-Tribune)
In today’s world, there is so much conflict and social media seems designed to create enemies, Arthur said.
“We have responsibilities for one another. We have an opportunity to build beautiful things. And all the antagonism and arguments that are taking place take us to this place where we start dehumanizing one another,” Arthur said.
Arthur said that Joe and Teresa Juarez found a way with their benefit to try to bring the community together.
“In the midst of all the ugliness and violence that’s taking place right now, it’s nice to find ways to remind us that we’re all part of the same community,” Arthur said.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
TechnoFEDalism
TechnoFEDalism
By Benjamin Picton, Senior Market Strategist at Rabobank
The US Federal Reserve’s rate setting committee left the Fed Funds rate unchanged at 3.50-3.75% with the Statement noting that “economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace…the unemployment rate has shown some signs of stabilization. Inflation remains somewhat elevated.” The decision was taken by a 10-2 vote, with Trump appointee Stephen Miran and Fed Chair hopeful Christopher Waller both dissenting in favor of a 25bp cut. The Bank of Canada, also meeting to set policy rates, similarly opted to keep rates unchanged at 2.25%. Our full review of the FOMC decision is available here, and the BOC decision here.
2 and 10-year Treasury yields were little changed on the day and equities were mixed. Fed-dated OIS saw the market-implied future path of the Fed Funds rate lift by 2-4bps over the remainder of the year. The S&P500 closed virtually flat after briefly hitting 7000 intraday and the NASDAQ eked out a 0.24% gain. The dollar found some support after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that the US was still committed to the strong dollar policy and was “absolutely not” intervening in currency markets to support the value of the Japanese Yen. USDJPY closed 0.79% higher on the day, but has resumed selling in early trade this morning.
In his press conference Powell reiterated that some recent data suggested that the labor market has stabilized, despite the very low rate of hiring in the USA. He also said that the outlook for economic activity had “clearly improved” since the last meeting, and that that would matter for labour demand and employment over time. Powell characterized the labor market as exhibiting weak demand but that this was offset by weak supply as labor force growth was constrained by lower immigration and labor force participation. This is a variation on the “no hire, no fire” meme.
When asked why he attended a Supreme Court hearing on Lisa Cook’s case and to respond to a comment by Scott Bessent that his attendance was “political” Powell declined to answer the latter and said that he believed that the court case was perhaps the most important in the Fed’s 113-year history. In that context, he said he believed it would be difficult to explain why he didn’t attend. Having clearly anticipated this line of questioning, he came armed with a precedent – pointing out that Paul Volcker similarly attended a Supreme Court hearing in 1985.
Powell also dead-batted questions about his January 11th press conference where he sensationally suggested that grand jury subpoenas issued by the Department of Justice were politically motivated, and also declined to answer questions on whether he would choose to remain a Fed Governor after his term as Chairman expires in May.
This was Powell at his most technocratic. With midterm elections looming later in the year, and the President poised to gain greater control of the FOMC from May onwards, Powell may have been keen to strike a blow for establishment views on formulaic policy making where monetary policy is adjusted according to a recipe (reaction function) with 2% inflation and maximum employment the desired outputs. Conversely, Miran’s decision to vote for a cut of only 25bp (after voting for 50 at the three previous meetings) might be interpreted as an attempt to lower the temperature between the White House and the central bank, before resuming hostilities later in the year when Powell is replaced as Chair.
Obviously, paint-by-numbers inflation targeting is the virtual antithesis of the administration’s view that monetary policy should work in concert with other tools to achieve the domestic and foreign policy goals of the United States. How can the US Dollar, capital markets or Fed swaplines be mobilized to support US interests if those tools are gatekept by independent technocrats pursuing a much narrower definition of the national interest? How can the flow of credit be effectively diverted to priority industries (semiconductors, energy, defence etc) while interest rates are set dispassionately and indiscriminately across the entire economy? As some administration figures may be happy to point out, that is not how things work in China.
Under such circumstances where the central bank cannot be brought to heel, it seems logical to expect increased subordination through fiscal dominance and other actions of the US Treasury to assert control over tools of monetary policy. Stablecoins is one such area that we have written about previously.
While rates and FX markets were focused on the Fed, gold and silver are again resetting all-time highs. Silver is up 1% at time of writing to $117.85/oz. Gold has busted through the $5500/oz level and has now risen more than $500/oz over the last four days. With Brent crude prices also up 0.56% to $68.78/bbl this morning, it would seem that geopolitics is again a major influence on these moves (along with the weaker dollar).
Donald Trump took to Truth Social overnight to warn Iran to “make a deal”. His post said that a “massive armada” led by the USS Abraham Lincoln was headed to the region – a fleet larger than the one deployed to the Caribbean to conduct operations again Venezuela – and that “the next attack will be far worse” than earlier US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Clearly, the Iran issue is not going away and the price action in energy and metals is telling us that this is a market that will continue to move on geopolitical stimuli. Technocratic approaches to trading it based on economic variables like GDP, employment and inflation are much more risk-laden than they used to be.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 01/29/2026 – 12:05
Condenan a 20 años a expolicía de Illinois por el asesinato de una mujer negra que llamó al 911
Por JOHN O’CONNOR
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, EE.UU. (AP) — Un expolicía de Illinois fue sentenciado el jueves a 20 años de prisión por asesinar a tiros a Sonya Massey, quien llamo al 911 para reportar un posible merodeador fuera de su casa en Springfield.
Sean Grayson, de 31 años, fue condenado en octubre. El agente, un hombre de raza blanca, recibió la máxima sentencia posible. Ha estado encarcelado desde que fue acusado por el asesinato.
Los familiares de Massey, que estaban sentados en la corte, recibieron la sentencia con un fuerte grito de alegría: ”¡Sí!” El juez los reprendió.
Grayson se disculpó durante la sentencia, diciendo que deseaba poder devolverle la vida a Massey y evitarle a su familia el dolor que causó.
“Cometí muchos errores esa noche. Hubo momentos en los que debería haber actuado, y no lo hice. Me congelé”, expresó. “Tomé decisiones terribles esa noche. Lo siento”.
Anteriormente, el juez escuchó a los padres y dos hijos de Massey, quienes instaron al juez a hacer justicia en nombre de Sonya.
“Actualmente, tengo miedo de llamar a la policía por temor a terminar como Sonya”, dijo su madre, Donna Massey.
En las primeras horas de la mañana del 6 de julio de 2024, Massey, quien lidiaba con problemas de salud mental, llamó a los servicios de emergencia porque temía que hubiera un merodeador fuera de su casa en Springfield.
Según las imágenes de la cámara corporal, Grayson y el agente Dawson Farley, quien no fue acusado, registraron el patio de Massey antes de encontrarse con ella en su puerta. Massey parecía confundida y repetidamente decía: “Por favor, Dios”.
Los agentes entraron a su casa, Grayson observó una olla en la estufa y le ordenó a Farley que la moviera. En cambio, Massey fue a la estufa, tomó la olla y se burló de Grayson por alejarse del “agua caliente y humeante”.
Desde ese momento, la interacción se intensificó rápidamente.
Massey dijo: “Te reprendo en el nombre de Jesús”.
Grayson sacó su arma y le gritó que soltara la olla. Ella la dejó y se agachó detrás de una encimera. Pero parecía que la recogía de nuevo.
Fue entonces cuando Grayson abrió fuego contra la madre soltera de 36 años, disparándole en la cara. Testificó que temía que Massey le arrojara el agua caliente.
Grayson fue acusado de tres cargos de asesinato en primer grado, lo que podría haberlo condenado a cadena perpetua, pero un jurado lo condenó por el cargo menor. Illinois permite una condena por asesinato en segundo grado si la evidencia muestra que el acusado honestamente pensó que estaba en peligro, aun si ese miedo era irrazonable.
La familia de Massey se indignó por la decisión del jurado.
“El sistema de justicia hizo exactamente lo que está diseñado para hacer hoy. No está hecho para nosotros”, dijo su prima Sontae Massey tras el veredicto.
El asesinato de Massey planteó nuevas preguntas sobre los tiroteos de la policía de Estados Unidos a personas negras en sus hogares. El abogado de derechos civiles Ben Crump negoció un acuerdo de 10 millones de dólares con el condado de Sangamon para los familiares de Massey.
El caso también generó una investigación del Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos que se resolvió cuando el condado acordó implementar más capacitación en desescalada, recopilar más datos sobre el uso de la fuerza, y obligó al sheriff que contrató a Grayson a retirarse. El caso también provocó un cambio en la ley de Illinois que exige una mayor transparencia sobre los antecedentes de los candidatos para trabajar en las fuerzas del orden.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
