
Afternoon Briefing: Marines moved into Los Angeles amid protests
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan arrived today at the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago for his historic sentencing in a long-running corruption case that shook the state's political world to the core.
Madigan, 83, who for years was widely hailed as the most powerful politician in the state, gave a slight smile as he strode past a horde of television news cameras with his lawyers and family members without comment. Carrying a briefcase and umbrella, he then headed to the 12th-floor courtroom of U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey.
The hearing is expected to last two hours or more. Check back at chicagotribune.com for updates.
Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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A lot of attention has been given to the Sox since the fandom of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, for the South Side baseball team was revealed. But religious women from local orders have frequented Sox games for decades. Read more here.
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An immigrant in Wisconsin has been released on bond after false accusation he threatened Trump
Crestwood fire officials suspect natural gas was cause of deadly house explosion
President Donald Trump's administration this week provided deportation officials with personal data — including the immigration status — on millions of Medicaid enrollees, a move that could make it easier to locate people as part of his sweeping immigration crackdown. Read more here.
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Air India survivor Vishwaskumar Ramesh recalls harrowing moment the plane went down
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Andrew Vaughn, the No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft, had been a prominent component of the Sox lineup since arriving in the majors in 2021. But he got off to a slow start this season and the Sox optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte on May 23. Read more here.
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As Chicago Bears separate for summer, Ben Johnson will stay dialed in — and connected with QB Caleb Williams
NASCAR's first Cup Series race outside the US hits travel snags to Mexico City
Juneteenth is more than just a holiday. It's a celebration of freedom, community and the rich tapestry of Black culture that continues to shape Chicago and the rest of the country. Read more here.
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John C. Reilly will bring his show 'Mister Romantic' to Steppenwolf this fall
Amy Morton is back on stage in 'You Will Get Sick' at Steppenwolf Theatre. What took her so long?
After a week of tense protests over the federal immigration raids, about 200 Marines have moved into Los Angeles and will protect federal property and personnel, a military commander said. Read more here.
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The Hill
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Trump signs legislation toughening fentanyl-related drug penalties
President Trump on Wednesday signed legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal fentanyl and toughening prison sentences for those who traffic the drug. Trump signed the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act at a White House ceremony, where he was joined by lawmakers and individuals whose family members have died from fentanyl overdoses. The president called the bill signing a 'historic step toward justice for every family touched by the fentanyl scourge as we sign the HALT Fentanyl Act into law.' 'We'll be getting the drug dealers, pushers, and peddlers off our street, and we will not rest until we have ended the drug overdose epidemic,' Trump said. 'And it's been getting a little bit better, but it's horrible.' The bill, which received bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, permanently categorizes all fentanyl-related substances, including copycat synthetic versions of the drug, under Schedule I in the Controlled Substances Act. That categorization gives law enforcement greater authority to crack down on the spread of the drug and carries stronger penalties for those convicted of possessing or distributing the drug. The White House has argued that the legislation will discourage cartels from creating new, synthetic fentanyl-like compounds to skirt the Controlled Substances Act. Other speakers at Wednesday's bill signing included Greg Swan, whose son died of a fentanyl overdose, and Anne Funder, who also spoke at last summer's Republican National Convention (RNC) about her son's fentanyl-related death. Trump has long railed against the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., using it as justification for imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. He has complained that neither Mexico nor Canada is doing enough to stop the drug from crossing the border, though significantly more fentanyl crosses into the U.S. through the southern border than through the northern border. The president has also hit China with tariffs over criticisms that the country is not taking enough action to stop fentanyl production. Trump on Wednesday also touted his administration's efforts to aggressively target drug cartels by designating them as foreign terrorist organizations.


The Hill
8 minutes ago
- The Hill
Pelosi: Republicans don't cross Trump ‘because everybody's afraid'
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Axios
8 minutes ago
- Axios
Weiser holds fundraising lead in Colorado governor's race
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