Minneapolis ICE killing echoes Chicago shootings
Good morning, Chicago. ✶
???? Below: A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent gunned down a woman who the feds say tried to run them down with her vehicle during a Minneapolis deportation operation, but — as in Chicago incidents — that narrative is being challenged.
????️ Plus: U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley steps into the mayor's race; the oldest living Chicago Bear, 92, has Super Bowl dreams; and more news you need to know.
???? Keeping score: The Bulls fell to the Pistons, 108-93; the Blackhawks beat the Blues, 7-3.
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⏱️: A 9-minute read
TODAY’S WEATHER ????️
Mostly cloudy with rain expected and a high near 54.
TODAY’S TOP STORY ????
Minneapolis shooting echoes Chicago ICE shootings
By Cindy Hernandez, Violet Miller, Tina Sfondeles and AP
Fatal shooting: An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a Minneapolis driver Wednesday during the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown on a major American city — a shooting that federal officials said was an act of self-defense but that the mayor described as reckless and unnecessary. The victim was identified as Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother.
Key context: Wednesday’s deadly shooting follows similar incidents reported in the Chicago area during Operation Midway Blitz, the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation campaign. In one raid, a man was killed, and in another, a woman was injured. In both instances, the federal narrative did not match video and witness accounts from the scenes.
Pols react: Illinois Democrats are demanding a full investigation into ICE’s fatal shooting of Good in Minneapolis, with some calling it a "murder" and an "execution."
Protest in Little Village: More than 100 people gathered under the Little Village arch Wednesday night for a vigil in solidarity with Minneapolis. The group marched more than a mile, then rallied in front of a mural of the Virgin Mary before disbanding with calls for people to get involved with rapid response groups.
MORE ON IMMIGRATION ✶
Indictment cites shooting near Border Patrol agents, doesn’t charge gunman
By Jon Seidel and Tom Schuba
A federal grand jury stopped well short of charging Hector Gomez with any crime related to the November shooting, or even of putting the weapon in his hand when shots were fired.
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Feds won’t prove gang membership for man charged for bounty on Bovino
By Jon Seidel
Prosecutors told a judge Wednesday the crucial question regarding a Chicago man accused of offering $10,000 for the murder of U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino will be his "affinity" for the Latin Kings.
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Latinos see danger, strategy in Trump’s threats to Latin American countries
By David Struett and Violet Miller
President Donald Trump has taken aim at Cuba, Mexico and Colombia as possible future targets. Some Latino Chicagoans fear more military action in their home countries. Others see the president as putting pressure on corrupt leaders.
CITY HALL ????️
City Council committee advances revised teen curfew but mayor won’t say if he’ll veto it
By Fran Spielman
Committee's curfew: Defying Mayor Brandon Johnson, a City Council committee tried again Wednesday to strengthen a curfew ordinance to prevent so-called teen takeovers from turning violent. The revised measure would give Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling discretion to announce a curfew with 12 hours' notice anywhere in the city, for a four-hour duration. Johnson said he hadn't decided whether to veto the new version
Bracing for layoffs: Johnson also said he was already preparing City Hall for a potentially painful round of midyear layoffs if revenue falls short, infuriating the rebel bloc that muscled an alternative budget through the City Council after rejecting Johnson’s corporate head tax.
New contender: Portraying Chicago as a "city in crisis," U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley says he’s running for mayor and will stay in the race no matter who jumps in — so that he can make the tough choices he says Johnson has avoided.
MORE NEWS YOU NEED ????️
- Businesses get grants: Fifty-eight businesses or community organizations will share $33 million in development grants from the city, Mayor Johnson announced. Winners were selected through competitive application rounds.
- Father sues Roblox: A Cook County father filed a lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of his 9-year-old son, accusing the popular gaming platform Roblox of knowingly operating an unsafe environment that enabled the sexual exploitation of his child.
- New laws: Nearly 300 Illinois laws took effect Jan. 1, addressing squatters, drinking water, firefighters' gear, predatory towing, stadium funding, public official privacy, hotel soaps and more.
- Race heats up: Retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky has given a hefty endorsement to Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss in the crowded 9th Congressional District race to replace her.
- Student election judges: The Cook County Clerk’s Office and Chicago Bears this week launched Defenders of DA’Mocracy, a program to train 150 high school juniors and seniors to serve as election judges during their schools' early voting day on Feb. 26.
- History museum shakeup: Donald E. Lassere, head of the Chicago History Museum, is departing his post after nearly five years, the museum announced.
- Must-see shows: From the Tony Award-winning "Stereophonic" musical and David Byrne’s theater experience to intimate classical music concerts and dance shows galore, we've got a list of must-see shows in Chicago this season.
DA BEARS ????
Oldest living Chicago Bear, 92, hopes team has Super Bowl in its future
By Mary Norkol
Big fan: Every Bears game day, 92-year-old former offensive lineman John Damore can be found in his bedroom recliner, unlit cigar in hand, eyes glued to the TV. He breaks into a wide, toothless smile after every touchdown. "I don’t miss a minute," he said. "I don’t miss a minute, and if it plays twice, I watch it twice."
Bears bonafides: Since walking off the field for the last time 67 years ago, Damore’s love has only deepened for his hometown team. He was born and raised in west suburban Riverside and remembers wearing Bears jerseys as young as 9 years old.
Ready for action: Believed to be the oldest living alum of the team, he’s ready to watch as quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson lead the team to their first playoff game of the season Saturday against longtime rival the Green Bay Packers.
From his POV: Damore spoke with the Sun-Times about the Bears-Packers rivalry, a potential stadium move to the suburbs or to Northwest Indiana, and his playoff projections.
FROM THE PRESS BOX ⛸️????????
- Skating’s next big star: You haven’t heard of Lorenzo Elano. He’s hoping to change that. Elano, who’s 18 and lives in West Ridge, is one of the country’s best figure skaters — and he's got his sights set on the Olympics.
- Remembering Bob Pulford: A Hockey Hall of Famer, Mr. Pulford spent 30 years as a Blackhawks coach, general manager and executive in a variety of roles. He died Monday at age 89.
- White out: Bulls guard Coby White was out Wednesday after two calf injuries, but coach Billy Donovan says he's on track to play Thursday against the Heat.
- High school boys basketball: McHenry coach Corky Card has a unique philosophy: Everyone on the team plays meaningful minutes.
CHICAGO MINI CROSSWORD ????
Today's clue: 1A: Faith whose oldest standing temple is in Wilmette, Illinois
BRIGHT ONE ????
Chicago coquito competition brings out creativity, tradition and cultural fusion
By Ambar Colón
Christmas may be over, but coquito, the traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink, keeps the party going well into January. Made with cream of coconut and Puerto Rican rum, the rich cocktail typically features spices like cinnamon, star anise, cloves and nutmeg.
Every family has a special recipe. Eric Roldán, owner of Marina's Bishop and Rum Bar, said his pistachio coquito, made with house-made pistachio cream, "is something that goes back to my family roots. But I'm still trying to elevate it and still make it personal."
For the third year, Tales of the Cocktail, a nonprofit based in New Orleans, and Bacardí are running a contest for best coquito in Chicago. Ten finalists will compete Jan. 19 at the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club in Wicker Park, and the winner will receive a trip to Puerto Rico and a tour of the Bacardí distillery.
We caught up with Roldán and the other 9 competitors, representing some of the city's most beloved bars and restaurants, to learn about the inspirations behind their creations.
YOUR DAILY QUESTION ☕️
Previously, we asked you to tell us about a hobby, new or old, that helps you beat the winter blues.
Here’s some of what you said, edited for clarity and length:
"Birding — it gets me outside." — John Heneghan
"Volunteering at the zoo." — Kate Niedner
"I paint one room ahead of spring." — Martin Urbanczyk
"I make handmade fishing lures. Satisfies being creative and dreaming of me or someone catching the big one." — Rick Mobley
"Gunpla. I enjoy building small plastic models from the Japanese anime show Mobile Suit Gundam." — Evan William
"Legos and playing Dungeons & Dragons at Uptown Taproom. One is meditative and centering. The other is to stay social and build up essential 'winter padding' with good beer." — Beaumont Sebos
"I took up candlemaking this winter! I have been pouring them in blue mason jars, buttery yellow egg cups, green glass drums that are vintage juice glasses ... anything interesting I can get my hands on. And I scent them with grapefruit and orange natural oils. It's a fresh 'wake up to your life' scent for a new year." — Cee Stiel
Thanks for reading the Sun-Times Morning Edition! Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.
Written and curated by: Matt Moore
Editor: Eydie Cubarrubia
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