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Afternoon Briefing: Bears stadium development could hinge on TIF money

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

Good afternoon, Chicago.Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore is expected to face cross-examination in the “ComEd Four” bribery trial today after taking the witness stand earlier this week and flatly denying any participation in an alleged scheme to bribe then-House Speaker Michael Madigan.In her roughly six hours of direct testimony, which began Thursday, Pramaggiore said she had no idea the company she headed from 2012 to 2018 had been paying lobbying “subcontractors” out of her own budget — let alone that they were former elected officials and precinct captains with strong ties to Madigan, then the most powerful politician in the state.Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/breaking and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.Subscribe to more newsletters | COVID-19 tracker | Compare home values by ZIP code | Puzzles & Games | Daily horoscope | Ask AmyBears stad...

Royal Caribbean details nightlife options on massive Icon of the Seas

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

Richard Tribou | Orlando SentinelThe biggest cruise ship in the world is going to be serving up a few new drinks at a few new venues on board as Royal Caribbean released details on some of the bars coming to Icon of the Seas when it debuts out of Miami in January.The new class of ship that’s larger than the five Oasis-class vessels currently sailing will bring the line’s first dueling piano bar on board as well as a new jazz and blues club and champagne bar among more than 40 entertainment venues overall.The most iconic feature of Icon of the Seas is the glass-enclosed AquaDome, a new neighborhood that will have its own elevated, unique lounge called The Overlook featuring Overlook Pods, standalone seating nooks for more intimate groups. The lounge will offer prime viewing for the nighttime AquaTheater shows that are the central entertainment in the space.The AquaDome is also home to a new coffee concept called the Rye & Bean, which will also offer coffee-infused cocktails, and ...

‘One of the greatest’: Isaiah Wong makes ‘tough decision’ to leave Hurricanes for NBA

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

When Jim Larrañaga started recruiting Isaiah Wong, he saw a skinny guard getting recruited by some other major programs like UConn and Illinois, but the New Jersey native quickly rose up the Miami Hurricanes’ recruiting board thanks in large part to his personality.“He was like 6-2, 162 pounds, but he could score,” Larrañaga said. “In high school, he led his team in scoring. In AAU ball, he was a tremendous scorer, and we just felt he had a lot of potential. He’s a very good athlete and a hard worker. I love guys who really work hard, who are going to spend a lot of time in the gym, kind of like gym rats. And in Isaiah’s case, he was in the gym, working on his game and just kept getting better and better.”Four years later, Wong leaves Miami as one of the most decorated players in program history, departing UM to try his luck in the NBA draft.“It was a tough decision, coming back or going to the NBA,” Wong said. “B...

Knicks guard Derrick Rose starts a chess tournament in Vegas

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

Derrick Rose revealed his next move.The Knicks guard announced Tuesday that he’s starting a chess tournament called “Chesstival” with the inaugural competition this summer in Las Vegas.Celebrities and professional athletes will be among the competitors in the “high-stakes series chess tournament,” which will run the same weekend that the NBA’s Vegas Summer League opens July 7-8.“The game of chess is something I’ve been passionate about since high school,” Rose said in a press release. “Chess is undeniably competitive and strategic at its core, which are two characteristics I’ve carried throughout my career. I am thrilled to bring Chesstival to life at Resorts World Las Vegas and continue to grow interest in chess worldwide.”Rose, who fell out of the Knicks rotation early in the season and only played once since December, had previously listed founding a chess league as one of his post-retirements plans. Two othe...

Giants hosting Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker on pre-draft visit

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

The Giants’ pre-draft visit list hasn’t contained any surprises.Until now.Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker is visiting the Giants on Wednesday, according to NFL Network.Hooker, 25, tore the ACL in his left knee on Nov. 18 against South Carolina, so he might not be able to play at all as an NFL rookie.The Giants aren’t an obvious NFL Draft quarterback suitor, either.They just re-signed Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract extension, and they have veteran backup Tyrod Taylor under contract on a $6.9 million cap hit for 2023.But the 6-3, 217-pound Hooker is an intriguing talent that many believe could be drafted in the first round despite his injury.A team could trade up into the back of the first round to get Hooker on a contract that includes a fifth-year option, for example, to buy time in his development.The Giants hold the No. 25 overall pick and have gaping needs on their rebuilding roster at positions such as corner, interior offensive line and...

Hellen Obiri, Evans Chebet leave Boston in search of Olympic glory

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

Hellen Obiri of Kenya came to Boston reluctant to run the world’s oldest marathon.She leaves Boston with ambitions of running 26.2 miles through the streets of Paris in search of gold.Obiri underwent this change of heart on Monday when she surged to the lead at Kenmore Square and went on to win the women’s professional race in the 127th running of the BAA Boston Marathon.Obiri crossed the finish line at Copley Square with a winning time of 2:21:38 in her Boston debut. Obiri withstood a late challenge by Ethiopian Amane Beriso, who entered the race with the fastest marathon time in the field.Obiri is now committed to full-time marathon training and hopes to represent her homeland in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.“Actually, to make the Kenya team you have to run so well,” said Obiri during Tuesday morning’s gathering of champions at the Fairmont Hotel.“If I get the chance, I would focus on that because the gold medal is the only thing missing in my career. It is the one thing...

Judge says Fox, Dominion have ‘resolved their case’ over airing of false election claims

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Judge says Fox, Dominion have ‘resolved their case’ over airing of false election claims.Follow the full story here …

Howie Carr: Marathon monsters ‘Speedbump’ and ‘Joker’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

Did I miss something on Marathon Monday?It seems that it was the tenth anniversary of something… a tragedy, it appears. But it was left unclear what exactly happened. Across all state-run media, there were vague references to an event at the Boston Marathon in 2013 during which, as Ilhan Omar might put it, “Some people did something.”There were passing mentions of how “bombs went off.”Or “when the bombing happened.”The event was reported as if it were a natural calamity, like a hurricane or tornado or blizzard — an “act of God” as the insurance companies might put it.But here’s a list of some of the words that somehow didn’t get quite the attention they might have:“Terrorists… aliens… Muslims… welfare….anti-American….”Are state-run media now afraid to utter the T word – Tsarnaev?Are we not to even consider why the Marathon was bombed – because of the nation’s suicidal immigration policies since 1965, welcoming with open arms millions of Third World savages who at best wish us ...

Erykah Badu heading to San Diego on US tour

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Erykah Badu will be making a stop in San Diego as part of her 25-city U.S. tour.The "Queen of Neo-Soul" will perform at Pechanga Arena on June 15 as part of her Unfollow Me Tour, it was announced Monday.The 25-city U.S. tour will kick off in San Antonio on June 11 and close out with a July 23 performance at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Badu's hometown.Tickets for the Unfollow Me Tour go on sale on April 20 at 2:22 p.m. local time. Tickets for the San Diego show can be purchased here.You can find a full list of shows and dates on the tour's website.Badu's San Diego show announcement joins several other big acts that are scheduled to perform at Pechanga Arena in 2023, including Depeche Mode, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Blink-182 and Jo Koy.Joining Badu on tour will be rapper and actor yasiin bey. More special guests are expected to be announced for the tour at a later date.

Here’s what the looming public-service strike would look like for hybrid workers

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:52:16 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s federal public servants will need to show up at the picket line for four hours each day if they go on strike — even if their union has been trying to negotiate permanent work-from-home arrangements with the government. The Public Service Alliance of Canada says that if it doesn’t reach a deal with the federal government by 9 p.m. EDT tonight, some 155,000 workers across the country are prepared to strike as of Wednesday. Many of those employees work in an office only two or three days a week, but the union’s president, Chris Aylward, says they will have to scan a barcode at a picketing location every day in order to receive strike pay.For members who choose not to show up, there will be consequences, he said in an interview.“If you do not participate in a picket line, then you are not participating in a strike, and there are provisions in the constitution for discipline and members can have their membership suspended,” Aylward said.He ...