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Rep. Kam Buckner: Soldier Field shuffle offers an opportunity to Chicago and the Bears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

When news broke of the Bears considering a new stadium on the land currently housing the south parking deck, it gave many Chicagoans hope that the team would remain nestled on the lakefront and that we would maintain our distinction of being the largest city in the country where every professional sports team plays its home games within the city limits.The possibility of the Bears building a stadium and remaining in Chicago signals that a reset between the Bears organization, by way of new President Kevin Warren, and Mayor Brandon Johnson is not empty rhetoric, but it is the true desire of both parties, which is good for Chicago.In Warren, the Bears have a proven transformational leader. He is the architect of one of the most monumental professional stadium deals in U.S. history, which allowed the state of Minnesota to pay off bonds 23 years before the final payment was due. Johnson has been clear-eyed and optimistic about the Bears’ situation, which has allowed the conversati...

5 things to watch in the Chicago Bears-Detroit Lions game — plus our Week 14 predictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

The Chicago Bears return from their bye week Sunday at Soldier Field in search of their first two-game winning streak since 2021. But the 4-8 Bears will have to pull off the upset against the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (9-3), who stormed back from a 17-point deficit to win the first meeting Nov. 19.With kickoff approaching, here’s our snapshot look at the game.Player in the spotlightLions quarterback Jared GoffGoff had an uncharacteristic stretch of turnovers with three interceptions against the Bears on Nov. 19 and three fumbles against the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 23.The Bears game was just the third time in his career he has thrown more than two picks and the first since 2019. His career high of four interceptions came against the Bears at Soldier Field in 2018 when he played for the Los Angeles Rams.Now Goff, who has thrown only five other interceptions this season, goes up against a Bears defense that totaled four more picks in Week 12 against Minnesota Vikings quar...

Man suspected of pointing gun at several people in parking lot arrested

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- A man suspected of driving erratically in a Vista movie theater parking lot and pointing a gun at several people was arrested Tuesday, authorities said.Authorities received a call about the suspect around 11 p.m. at 25 Main Street, Sgt. Michael Hanks with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a news release Friday.When deputies arrived at the scene, the suspect, who was driving in the parking lot behind the movie theater, got out of the vehicle and ran from law enforcement. San Diego police sergeant injured, suspect killed after shootout in 4S Ranch The suspect was later found and arrested about a mile away in the 800 block of Eucalyptus Ave, Hanks said. Authorities found a loaded ghost gun modified to shoot automatic gunfire, a high-capacity magazine and ammunition in his vehicle.Jeremy Fuerte, 26, was booked into Vista Detention Facility and faces multiple felony charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and illegally possessing a ghost gun.The...

US, South Korea and Japan urge stronger international push to curb North Korean nuclear program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The national security advisers of the United States, South Korea and Japan called on Saturday for a stronger international push to suppress North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and missiles and its military cooperation with other countries amid concerns about its alleged arms transfers to Russia.The meeting in Seoul came as tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accelerating the expansion of his nuclear and missile program and flaunting an escalatory nuclear doctrine that authorizes the preemptive use of nuclear weapons.The United States and its Asian allies have responded by increasing the visibility of their trilateral security cooperation in the region and strengthening their combined military exercises, which Kim condemns as invasion rehearsals.U.S. and Japanese officials said Saturday’s three-way talks would include discussions on North Korea’s recent launch of its first military rec...

Billionaire GOP donor endorses Haley, says Trump's time has 'come and gone'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

(The Hill) — Home Depot co-founder and billionaire Ken Langone put his support behind GOP hopeful Nikki Haley on Friday, calling her approach to the 2024 election "smart."“I think she’s just what we need right now. I think her approach is smart. I think she’s clarified herself on some issues which is very important," Langone, who is seen as a GOP mega donor, said in an interview with Fox News's Neil Cavuto. "And more importantly, I think the American people need this kind of leadership, statesman-like, elegant.""When you think of where we’ve been in the last six or seven or eight years, it’s not good, Neil. It’s not good at all,” he added. Nearly half of men think they can safely land a plane in an emergency, survey finds The backing from Langone, who endorsed former President Trump in his 2016 White House campaign, comes after Haley secured an endorsement from another top donor: the Koch-affiliated Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Action. The organization announced their support la...

3 seriously hurt after driver plows into Christmas parade crowd in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- The start of a Christmas Parade in south-central California was delayed Thursday after a driver slammed into the crowd along the route in downtown Bakersfield, seriously injuring three paradegoers.Police took the suspected driver, 72-year-old Alan Booth, into custody after officials said he reversed from an alley at high speed, slamming into people watching the parade and a parked food truck. Bakersfield police said they believe alcohol was a factor, and Booth faces felony charges for allegedly driving under the influence."You never heard the gas let up," Misti Cole, an owner of the damaged food truck, recalled, saying that she could smell alcohol on the driver once he was out of the truck.Emergency crews were called to the area of 21st and H streets at around 5:30 p.m. All three victims were men, ages 21, 42 and 77. Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry told Nexstar's KGET that they are in stable condition after being transported to a local hospital with...

'It's very touching': Cicero community donates essential items to families impacted by devastating fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

CICERO, Ill. — Angel Hernandez was hopeful that firefighters would be able to put out a fire that broke out in his apartment building in Cicero before it destroyed his unit. But the extra-alarm blaze eventually caused the building's roof to collapse."I was hoping for the firefighters to control it. Until the last minute I was keeping hope, but no, they didn't,' Hernandez said, who was among the 20 to 30 people displaced by the fire, which is believed to have broken out around 1:30 a.m. in the basement of the building in the 5000 block of 16th Street, according to police. Charges filed against man accused of burglarizing 8 Chicago businesses The families that occupied 17 units in the building share a similar story. The devastating fire reduced their homes to rubble and left them with nearly nothing. In an effort to help those families, local leaders spent the week collecting donations, and on Friday, tenants representing the 17 families were invited to pick up donations a...

Texas DT T'Vondre Sweat wins 2023 Outland Trophy for nation's top interior lineman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Longhorns defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat has been named the 2023 Outland Trophy winner as the nation's outstanding interior lineman.Sweat, a defensive tackle, was named the Big 12 Conference defensive player of the year with a career-high 42 tackles (17 solo), eight tackles for loss two sacks and four pass breakups to go with a blocked extra point that was returned for a defensive two-point conversion. And of course, who could forget about his 2-yard touchdown reception in the Big 12 title game against Oklahoma State?Texas defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat (93) celebrates a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against BYU in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Texas football knows value of win over Alabama Sweat joins three other Longhorns who have won the award, which can go to either an offensive or defensive interior lineman. Scott Appleton was the first Texas player to earn the honor in 1963, followed two ye...

Nine years into pro career, Wild’s Dakota Mermis seeing his best results

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

EDMONTON, Alberta — Nothing Dakota Mermis has earned in a nine-year professional hockey career has come easy, so the Minnesota Wild defenseman isn’t about to give up on the NHL now.Especially now.An undrafted player with more than 400 American Hockey League games under his belt, Mermis was back on the Wild blue line on Friday at Rogers Arena for the first time in nearly a month, replacing veteran Alex Goligoski against the Edmonton Oilers.It was his 14th game with Minnesota this season, already the most he has played with one NHL team.“All I ever wanted to do, since I was a little kid, I wanted to play in the NHL,” Mermis said this week. “So, when you get to do it, it makes it that much more special — especially given the long amounts of time I’ve spent in the American Hockey League.”That’s 430 games, to be exact — seven seasons in which Mermis has played at least 53 games, earning a combined 138 AHL points.“Make no mistake, that league’s a grind,” he said. “It can be a complete gri...

What are Missouri's and Illinois' Top 5 favorite Christmas movies?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS - There's a good chance you'll sit down to watch a Christmas movie with family members or friends sometime soon. Almost everyone has a favorite, but choosing what to watch within a close group isn't always an easy choice. If you live on either side of the St. Louis metro, in Missouri or Illinois, you're likely a fan of a holiday classic. Research teams from BetMissouri.com and IllinoisBet.com recently published lists naming the Top 5 favorite Christmas movies in both states. The most popular Christmas movies in Missouri and Illinois were based on Google Trends research, specifically search results for dozens of movies over the last three Christmas holidays. Interestingly enough, the research finds that Missouri and Illinois share their top choice in common. That would be Home Alone. The 1990 film stars Macaulay Culkin, and much of the filming took place in Chicago. According to BetMissouri.com, these were the Top 5 favorite Christmas films among Missouri residents:1. Home ...