Political News and Views

Thanksgiving road trips in full swing

Thanksgiving road trips in full swing

The last-minute Thanksgiving travelers are packing their cars and carry-on bags to hit the nation’s highways and airports. Holiday travelers were experiencing few canceled flights early on Wednesday, and the weather could determine whether that good luck holds up. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 2.9 million people on Wednesday and surpass 3 million…

EV automaker Rivian receiving a loan from the federal government

EV automaker Rivian receiving a loan from the federal government

President Joe Biden’s administration announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Energy will make a $6.6 billion loan to Rivian Automotive to build a factory in Georgia that had stalled as the startup electric vehicle maker struggled to become profitable. It’s unclear whether the administration can complete the loan before Donald Trump becomes president again…

Thanksgiving travel in full swing across the U.S.

Thanksgiving travel in full swing across the U.S.

Just as there are good odds the turkey will taste dry, airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end in another record day for air travel in the United States. The people responsible for keeping security lines, boarding areas and jetliners moving — from the U.S.…

A Chicago based airline  among the most profitable in the U.S.

A Chicago based airline among the most profitable in the U.S.

Chicago based United Airlines and Delta have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer…

New Children’s Garden at Garfield Park Conservatory To Break Ground

New Children’s Garden at Garfield Park Conservatory To Break Ground

The project to renovate the children’s garden at the Garfield Park Conservatory is back on track and expected to break ground Friday morning. The new Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden, first announced in 2021, will cost $10 million to complete. The Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, the partner organization for the conservatory, mounted a yearslong fundraising…

Christkindlmarket Opens This Weekend

Christkindlmarket Opens This Weekend

The annual Christkindlmarket opens today for the holiday season. The 28th annual Christmas event, bringing food, music and gifts in a German style market bazaar opens at Daley Plaza and it’s third year at RiverEdge Park in Aurora. Visitors can enjoy food stalls, with pretzels, schnitzel, strudel and plenty of sweet treats. Soft drinks and…

Wisconsin Man In Europe After Faking His Own Death

Wisconsin Man In Europe After Faking His Own Death

A Wisconsin man thought to have drowned is alive in Eastern Europe. Ryan Borgwardt, a husband and father of three who authorities said faked his own death in Green Lake, Wisconsin lake and fled the country, is speaking to police but he will not divulge his location. The mysterious case began on the night of…

Actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court

Actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction on charges that he staged a racist and homophobic attack against himself in downtown Chicago in 2019 and lied to police. The state’s highest court ruled that a special prosecutor should not have been allowed to intervene after the Cook County state’s attorney initially…

Magnificent Mile Lights Parade This Weekend

Magnificent Mile Lights Parade This Weekend

The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and Parade will return for the 33rd year this Saturday. This year’s holiday event will feature a new Chicago River lighting spectacle and the tallest balloon to ever come down the Mag Mile the weekend before Thanksgiving. The parade will travel south on North Michigan Avenue from Oak Street…

Unique Gift Idea, State Park Ornament

Unique Gift Idea, State Park Ornament

(SPRINGFIELD) —  The Illinois Conservation Foundation has introduced its 2024 state park series ornament, showcasing the Devil’s Standtable formation at Giant City State Park. Giant City, with its dramatic sandstone formations and rich history, is a treasured southern Illinois destination and a natural choice for this year’s commemorative piece. “Featuring Devil’s Standtable is a tribute…

Semi Tanker Rolls Over, Injures Driver

Semi Tanker Rolls Over, Injures Driver

A semi truck driver was seriously hurt after a tanker truck he was driving, rolled over Thursday morning. The accident happened around 3:30 a.m. on the ramp from northbound Mannheim Road to the inbound Eisenhower Expressway in Westchester, which closed that ramp before the morning rush hour. It took crews took two hours to get…

Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic Returns This Season

Brookfield Zoo Holiday Magic Returns This Season

Brookfield Zoo Chicago will be presenting their popular Holiday Magic once again this year. Celebrating its 43rd year, Holiday Magic returns with giant illuminated animals, a dazzling tunnel show and more than two million lights. Holiday Magic will feature favorite features and new additions: Immersive displays like Candy Cane Lane and Sparkling Coast Nightly holiday-themed…

Child Injured, Man Killed in Wednesday Morning Shooting

Child Injured, Man Killed in Wednesday Morning Shooting

A 6-month-old boy was grazed in the cheek by gunfire that also killed a man as they drove Wednesday morning in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood, officials said. Around 10:45 a.m., a 35-year-old man and the boy were northbound in the 2400 block of South Oakley Avenue when a blue vehicle approached and someone inside…

CTA Holiday Train Schedule

CTA Holiday Train Schedule

(CHICAGO) — The CTA Holiday Train begins making the rounds next week. The train, decorated with holiday scenes, lights, Santa and his reindeer, will make its first stop on the Orange and Green Lines beginning Nov 29. Holiday buses will begin their rounds November 26 with the interior of the vehicles featuring the artwork of…

Cook County Forest Preserves Adds New Parcel on South Side

Cook County Forest Preserves Adds New Parcel on South Side

The Cook County Forest Preserves has just added a new 68-acre parcel of land in south suburban Lynwood. The land, purchased from the nonprofit Conservation Fund, lies along Deer Creek and was once farmland at Glenwood-Dyer Rd. and Ridge Rd. As a preserve, it will protect the floodplain and its ecosystem from development and holds…

Fire Breaks Out On Roof of Loop Highrise

Fire Breaks Out On Roof of Loop Highrise

A fire broke out atop a downtown high rise on Tuesday night. Video showed up on social media, after the fire was spotted on a roof of the Joffrey Tower around 8:30 p.m. The building is located at State and Randolph Streets. Firefighters put the fire out and no injuries were reported. There’s no word…

Chicago Bulls Legend, Bob Love Passes Away

Chicago Bulls Legend, Bob Love Passes Away

Chicago Bulls legend Bob Love has died at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer He spent nine seasons with the team, from 1968 to 1976, and was a three-time NBA All-Star. Modern day, Love is the Bulls’ third leading scorer all-time, trailing only franchise greats Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in…

Child Kidnapping Suspect Thwarted at Union Station

Child Kidnapping Suspect Thwarted at Union Station

A man who was arrested at Union Station with toys and zip ties over the weekend allegedly planned to travel to Florida to kidnap a child, authorities say. Devontay Shields was taken into custody at the station on Saturday November 16, on suspicion of attempted kidnapping, according to an affidavit filed Monday federal court. The…

CTA and Metra Holiday Trains To Add Cheer
Chicago Transit Authority

CTA and Metra Holiday Trains To Add Cheer

Metra has added an extra holiday-themed train to its schedule this season in response to popular demand. The extra train will depart from University Park Station at 4 p.m. Nov. 30 and then stop at the North Pole winter wonderland at Millennium Station, which will feature holiday treats and activities. Tickets for the previously scheduled…

Streeterville Migrant Shelter Closing Today

Streeterville Migrant Shelter Closing Today

A migrant shelter at 162 E. Ohio St. will be closing Friday, after more than two years of operating. The shelter used to be the Inn of Chicago Hotel and was the largest shelter in the city, housing 1500 migrants. All current residents were moved to other locations as the city of Chicago continues to…