Hello, Chicago.
For the past three decades, a majestic arch above West 26th Street has served as the gateway to Little Village, Chicago’s largest and most recognized Mexican immigrant community.
“Bienvenidos A Little Village,” reads a banner just below a large mechanical clock that, ironically, hasn’t kept time for as long as most people can remember.
But yesterday, just after 10 a.m., Mayor Brandon Johnson, city officials and the Little Village Chamber of Commerce celebrated its restoration and reinforced the importance of the presence of Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans here.
Read the full article by Laura Rodríguez Presa of the Tribune.
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Francine weakens as it moves inland from the Gulf Coast after hurricane’s winds cause power outages
Francine slammed into the Louisiana coast Wednesday night with 100 mph (155 kph) winds in coastal Terrebonne Parish, battering a fragile coastal region that has not fully recovered from a series of devastating hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. It then moved rapidly toward New Orleans, pounding the city with torrential rains.
Court finds Trump Tower violated environmental laws, threatened Chicago River fish
After years of litigation, a Cook County judge has found that operations at Trump Tower violate federal and state environmental laws designed to protect fish in the Chicago River, the Illinois attorney general’s office announced Wednesday.
A 2018 lawsuit filed by then-Attorney General Lisa Madigan alleged that the intake structure of Trump Tower’s cooling system siphoned water from the river with such force that it sucked in fish and trapped them against its grates, killing thousands of aquatic organisms.
Johnson exempts police, firefighters from citywide hiring freeze after backlash
Johnson’s budget spokeswoman LaKesha Gage Woodard told the Tribune in a phone call that public safety positions are in fact exempt from the hiring freeze enacted Monday, but maintained that was always the plan.
Man convicted of killing Chicago police officer Ella French and injuring her partner sentenced to life in prison
A judge has sentenced a man to life in prison for shooting and killing Chicago police officer Ella French and wounding her partner, marking an emotional end to the case months after jurors watched harrowing body camera footage throughout a weeks-long trial.
Emonte Morgan, 23, was convicted in March of killing French, seriously wounding Officer Carlos Yanez Jr. and shooting Officer Joshua Blas during an Aug. 7, 2021, traffic stop on the South Side. Life in prison was the statutory minimum in the case, prosecutors told Judge Ursula Walowski, who added an additional 57 years on other counts.
Indiana judge rules against abortion providers fighting near-total ban
An Indiana County judge ruled Wednesday against abortion providers seeking to expand access to the procedure under the near-total ban passed by state lawmakers after the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal protections in 2022.
Indiana became the first state to adopt stricter restrictions after the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal abortion protections by overturning Roe v. Wade.
Chronicle: The Chicago Bears were simply below average on offense in the opening game. The most remarkable thing? They failed to distinguish themselves.
If the Bears can achieve the type of success they’re aiming for this season, they’ll be able to look back on a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans and attribute it to a number of factors, the most important being an improved team, writes Brad Biggs.
Column: WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert Betrayed Players by Confusing Rivalry with Racism
It was an easy question, writes Julia Poe. During a lengthy interview on CNBC, host Tyler Mathisen asked Engelbert to address the “menacing turn” that WNBA fandom has taken while seeding racism and misogyny into everyday sports conversations.
Engelbert had an easy opportunity to address the racial abuse suffered by players like Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, who has been a constant target since joining the league — primarily because of her perceived long-standing rivalry with Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.
Instead, the commissioner ignored the whole matter.
‘Speak No Evil’ Review: Invited to the Countryside? Have Some Reservations
Director James Watkins’ rather successful remake of “Speak No Evil,” which reminds us to trust our suspicions about who invites us to spend a weekend in the countryside, is based on the 2022 Danish thriller released in the United States (now streaming on Shudder) under the same title. It’s well-acted and carefully paced to shiver the terror, and James McAvoy once again sets off into the city of “Split” with a seething malice, writes Tribune film critic Michael Phillips.
‘How to Die Alone’ Review: 35-Year-Old Airport Worker Gets Out of a Rut
In Hulu’s new comedy “How to Die Alone,” creator and star Natasha Rothwell plays a 35-year-old woman working a dead-end job at an airport. She’s at a dead end, but when an accident briefly lands her in the hospital, she’s inspired to make progressive changes in her life, both professionally and personally.
Rothwell is best known for her supporting roles on “Insecure” and “The White Lotus.” She definitely has the talent to carry a series, and Tribune TV and film critic Nina Metz hopes she gets more opportunities in the future.
Review: Is This Real Art? ‘Augmented Chicago’ Joins New Artwork in Millennium Park
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Millennium Park has revamped its public art offerings, writes Lori Waxman. The plaza surrounding Anish Kapoor’s iconic Cloud Gate has been renovated, Jaume Plensa’s iconic Crown Fountain has received its seasonal cleaning, and works by local and international artists have been temporarily installed throughout.
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