Latest news with #NBCNightlyNews'
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Daywatch: Illinois' 9th Congressional District race heats up
Good morning, Chicago. The race to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky is getting more crowded. State Sen. Mike Simmons will launch his campaign Tuesday, he told the Tribune, joining recently announced state Rep. Hoan Huynh — who also planned a campaign kickoff event Tuesday evening — and some 10 other Democratic candidates vying for the seat. The latest campaign announcements come just ahead of the Cook County Democratic Party's planned slating meetings next week, when the party is expected to endorse candidates ahead of the 2026 primary. But the 9th District isn't the only congressional race to watch next year — at least three other seats could be open for the 2026 election. See what candidates have announced their campaigns in each district. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including: what to know about the flash floods in Texas, why adult education programs are in limbo and when 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas is bringing the national broadcast to Chicago. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History Flash floods in Texas killed more than 100 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend and left others still missing, including girls attending a summer camp. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions. Here's what to know about the deadly flooding, the colossal weather system that drove it in and around Kerr County and ongoing efforts to identify victims. As Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg expands his ravenous data centers, he's agreed to take over subsidies that Illinois ratepayers have been providing to a nuclear power station in central Illinois since 2017. The move could be the first step in a Silicon Valley bailout of nuclear power stations that supply half the electricity generated in Illinois. Adult education programs in Chicago and across the nation are in limbo after the Trump administration abruptly froze nearly $7 billion in already-approved federal education grants last week. State agencies were notified the night before funds were set to be disbursed July 1, with little explanation from the Education Department. It's the latest in President Donald Trump's sweeping offensive to cut back the federal government's role in education, leaving schools and nonprofits scrambling to stretch funding. An attorney for Illinois Senate President Don Harmon's political operation says state election authorities reached an 'absurd' conclusion earlier this year in issuing nearly $10 million in penalties against Harmon's campaign fund after determining he violated campaign fundraising limits. The Illinois-based American Academy of Pediatrics and five other prominent medical groups are suing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., over changes made to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women. Tom Llamas, the new 'NBC Nightly News' anchor, is headed to Chicago this week to participate in the annual National Association of Hispanic Journalists conference, which is taking place Wednesday through Saturday at the Hilton Chicago on South Michigan Avenue. While in town, Llamas is planning to anchor Thursday's 5:30 p.m. national newscast live from downtown Chicago. The Chicago Bears raised some eyebrows when they selected Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 draft pick in April. It wasn't that Loveland wasn't deserving of being a top-10 pick but more so the notion that the team had bigger needs at offensive tackle or on the defensive line. But the Bears are doing things differently under coach Ben Johnson. The tight end position is a priority. Here's what Bears fans need to know about Loveland ahead of his rookie season. It's a rare occasion when fans of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals agree on anything, writes Paul Sullivan. But the longtime rival fan bases found some common ground Sunday night at Wrigley Field when almost everyone in the crowd of 40,319 booed the performance of seventh-inning stretch singer Alex Cooper, a prominent podcaster. Mike Tyson's fame was, as writer Mark Kriegel puts it, 'a lethal dose of a peculiarly American disease, a form of insanity whose victims include Elvis, Marilyn and Tupac.' Those words come early in Kriegel's remarkable new book, 'Baddest Man: The Making of Mike Tyson,' writes Rick Kogan. The book moves from the boxer's birth in 1966 to 1988, what Kriegel calls 'the year of (Tyson's) first public crack-up.' Potential solutions to combat and mitigate climate change abound, but there's one thing that we can all do. We can support our local farmers. This year, Martin Sorge will be buying and baking with as many Michigan apricots as he can and toasting their appearance with a bottle of Stranger Wine Co.'s 2024 'Yeastie Boys' sparkling wine.
Chicago Tribune
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
New ‘NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas brings national broadcast to Chicago
When former Chicago anchor Lester Holt ended his run as anchor of 'NBC Nightly News' on May 30 after 10 years in that role, he left some pretty big shoes to fill. His successor, Tom Llamas, who last month became just the fourth anchor of the network's signature weeknight newscast in 40 years, has hit the ground running. In addition to the nightly 30-minute TV broadcast, Llamas is also doing double duty as host of a one-hour primetime newscast on the NBC News Now streaming network. The shows, which run back-to-back, bridge the gap between traditional broadcast and streaming TV, and firmly establish Llamas as the new face of NBC News. 'My life has definitely changed,' Llamas, 46, told the Tribune. 'It's a great responsibility, but it's one I have been dreaming about and thinking about for a very long time.' Born and raised in Miami to Cuban parents, Llamas is headed to Chicago this week to participate in the annual National Association of Hispanic Journalists conference, which is taking place Wednesday through Saturday at the Hilton Chicago on South Michigan Avenue. While in town, Llamas is planning to anchor Thursday's 5:30 p.m. national newscast live from outside NBC Tower at Cityfront Plaza in the Streeterville neighborhood. The scheduled remote will mark the second time in his nascent role as the top NBC anchor that Llamas has taken the New York-based newscast on the road, after hosting earlier this week from the flood zone in Texas. Llamas, who reported from Rome following the April death of Pope Francis, is hoping the Chicago newscast will include a segment on his papal successor, Pope Leo XIV, who grew up in south suburban Dolton as Robert Francis Prevost. 'I was there in the Vatican, and then Pope Leo emerges, the first American pope, and it's incredible,' Llamas said. 'It's a huge story. So I think we're going to be covering that as well.' Since Llamas took the helm June 2, 'NBC Nightly News' has gained traction in the ratings, averaging more than 5.6 million total viewers last month, besting the 'CBS Evening News,' which averaged 3.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen data supplied by NBC. 'ABC World News Tonight' remained the top-rated evening newscast in June with nearly 7.2 million viewers, but NBC was the only network to gain ground in the key 25- to 54-year-old demo, closing the gap with ABC, according to Nielsen. In Chicago, 'NBC Nightly News' was up 29% year-over-year in June among adults 25-to-54, according to Nielsen data supplied by NBC 5 Chicago. Llamas has been in broadcast journalism for 25 years, starting as an NBC News overnight production assistant. A former anchor at WNBC-TV in New York, he joined ABC News as a correspondent in 2014, and became weekend anchor for 'World News Tonight' the following year. In 2021, he rejoined NBC as senior national correspondent and anchor of 'Top Story' on NBC News Now. In March, NBC named Llamas to replace Holt, who previously announced he would step down after 10 years as the network's top anchor. Llamas credits Holt and other mentors, as well as fortuitous timing, for his elevation to anchor and managing editor of 'NBC Nightly News.' Unlike his predecessor, whose broadcast résumé included a 14-year run in Chicago as a local TV news anchor, Llamas has spent most of his career in New York, where he lives in the suburbs with his wife and three kids. But Llamas professes an 'obsession' with Chicago cuisine, which he plans to tie into his visit — whether on the air or behind the scenes. 'I don't know if we'll be doing a story, but I know I'm going to be eating,' Llamas said. 'So I'm going to be grabbing some beef sandwiches and some deep dish.'
Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Miami bar that threw a watch party for hometown hero Tom Llamas makes the news
You know what they say. You can take the guy out of Miami ... While Tom Llamas was prepping for his prime-time debut taking over 'NBC Nightly News' on Monday, some folks from his hometown were ready to cheer him on from afar. Hours before the 6:30 p.m. newscast, a sign outside Duffy's Tavern beckoned, 'Tom Llamas, live tonight, NBC-6.' The iconic establishment near Coral Gables is right around where the 45 year old journalist grew up and attended Belen Jesuit Prepatory School. His parents still are customers, said owner Wayne Russell. 'Hometown boy done good,' said Russell, who added that once he put up the sign, 'everything went bananas.' Bananas meaning: Llamas shared a picture of the billboard his parents sent him on his Instagram and Al Roker mentioned it during his chat with his NBC colleague on the 'Today' show. 'There's one local bar down in Miami,' Roker asked. 'They're holding a watch party?!' 'This is funny .... We had nothing to do with this,' Llamas answered, adding he would be live at 30 Rock and the event was being held for his family who was unable to travel up north. 'I didn't know you can watch a newscast at a bar but they're gonna try and that means a lot to me.' 'Every time you say a certain word, you take a shot!' Roker joked to laughs. 'I'm excited for that,' said Llamas. 'Just seeing this in my hometown is great.' Russell said about 70 people turned out for the watch party, including lots of 'Belen people.' 'NBC Nightly News' also shared a snippet of the party showing the crowd watching Llamas' intro, which is drowned out by cheers and clapping. 'Everyone had their hands in the air when Tom came on,' he said. 'It was like a football game. He definitely has a lot of fans.' Last March, NBC announced that Llamas, who started out as an intern at Telemundo 51 at age 15, would be taking over for Lester Holt. 'It's an honor,' he told the Miami Herald last month. 'There's a lot of pressure, but I do think pressure is a privilege.'
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It's an honor': Miami's own Tom Llamas on taking over a national nightly newscast
Tom Llamas is more than ready for his closeup. When the Miami native takes over 'NBC Nightly News' Monday evening, he brings 30 years of experience to the anchor desk. Did we mention he's only 45? A good chunk of that experience came from logging many hours at local TV stations, where he started at the tender age of 15. First job: Interning for Telemundo 51 in Hialeah. 'I walked in with a blue blazer and they told me to take that off immediately,' Llamas told the Miami Herald while in town in early May for a promo tour. Duties ranged from the mundane, like answering calls on the assignment desk, to the terrifying, like going out to cover crime scenes. 'I saw my first dead body when I was 16,' he stated calmly. 'It was a really serious job for a teenager, but I loved it. It put me on a path to where I am at today.' About that path, it's pretty stratospheric, and not lost on him. Llamas is just the fourth lead anchor in the last 40 years of 'Nightly News,' and the first Latino. His Cuban immigrant parents — constantly consuming newspapers and TV to know what was happening on the island — get a hat tip for that one. 'I remember waking up in the morning smelling Cuban coffee and my dad reading the Miami Herald cover to cover,' recalled the fellow news junkie. 'My mom was the same way.' Llamas landed the Telemundo gig soon after a serendipitous career day at Belen Jesuit Prep when local anchor Louis Aguirre, then with Channel 10, returned to his alma mater. The starstruck freshman told Aguirre he had an interest in current events and writing; Aguirre recommended going into broadcasting. 'Because he took the time out to speak to us, it changed my life,' Llamas said. Aguirre didn't realize the impact he'd had on Llamas until the fall of 2015 when the two men reconnected at the GOP debate in Simi Valley, California. At the time, Llamas was with 'ABC World News Tonight' and Aguirre with 'The Insider.' 'He came up to me and said, 'You may not know this, but you made such an impression on me,'' Aguirre told the Miami Herald. 'He'd already hit it big in New York, so I thought that was so generous and gracious to tell me that anecdote. It's a testament to what kind of person he is, not to mention a hell of a journalist.' Now with WLPG Local 10, Aguirre thinks it's a bonus that they're both graduates of Belen's 'hallowed halls.' Founded in 1800s Havana, the all boys school was re-established in Miami in 1961 after Castro (an alumnus) confiscated the property and expelled the Jesuits. 'I'm proud to be an alum,' said Llamas. 'It has such a rich history. It has grown to this incredible institution that is educating young men and has never lost its focus or its roots. It also teaches every student the importance of being Hispanic and why you need to love this country.' Llamas, who now resides in Westchester County with his wife and three kids, will always have a soft spot for his hometown. When he was born his family was living in Little Havana, then moved for a brief, 'freezing' three-year stint to Flint, Mich., for his father's pediatric dentist residency. They then returned to South Florida and lived in the Coral Gables area. 'It was a great life. Little League... roasting pigs in the backyard, a very typical life in Miami. An amazing experience. You could play sports year round. You could be at the beach year round,' said the avid fisherman. 'I am 305 through and through. It's in my DNA.' The 305's weather isn't too shabby either: 'Right when February rolls around and there's still snow on the ground in New York and you don't see the sun, I'm going, 'What is going on here? How did I leave!?'' Favorite old-school (and now defunct) hangouts included the Bakery Centre (the site of Shops at Sunset Place); Specs records store; the original CocoWalk; and — going way back to the archives — Whirlyball. 'It was like this concept of bumper cars and wiffle ball and jai alai,' Llamas explained. 'It sounds like a Miami fever dream.' These days, you'll catch the media superstar with his wife and three kids at iconic spots like Versailles ('a classic'), Pinecrest Bakery ('the best pastelitos'), Joe's Stone Crab (for the colossals) and Faena (their kids love the 'blinged out fossil.') As for local sports? Llamas is still all about the U, aka the University of Miami's Hurricanes, which won five national championships in the 1980s and '90s. 'Some of my best memories with my dad are going to the Orange Bowl and watching them just dominate,' he said, adding he still catches Marlins and Dolphins games every now and again. 'Those were great teams and great years for a very long time.' Shortly after graduating from Loyola University in New Orleans, Llamas began cutting his teeth with the NBC family in various behind the scenes roles. His first on-air position was at NBC 6 South Florida, with his folks cheering him on from their living room a few miles away. 'I was really green when I started and made a lot of mistakes, especially when I was live,' Llamas admitted, laughing. 'I called my mom and I'd say, 'How'd I do?' And she'd say, 'You did great.' I knew I was terrible!' Llamas got better, way better. He went on to win multiple awards, including an Emmy for his report on human smuggling while embedded at sea with the U.S. Coast Guard. Among the vastly fascinating stories in his highlight reel, some stick out more than others, namely natural disasters. He's covered all the big storms, from Katrina and Irene to Sandy, and lived through Andrew as a kid. 'Hurricanes remind us we're not in control,' he said. 'When you have no power and you have no food and you're just trying to get by, and you're trying to help each other out, it's hard, even in a modern world.' In 2014, Llamas was hired as a correspondent at 'ABC Nightly News,' where he eventually moved onto the weekend anchor desk filling in for David Muir. A few years in, he went viral when President Donald Trump singled him out during a press conference for questioning donations to veteran groups. OK, that snippet won't go in the highlight reel, though he did eventually score an exclusive sitdown with the first lady in in Nairobi, Kenya. Without discussing politics in general, Llamas will allow that the country is divided, a topic he hopes to eventually delve into in the future. 'We're at a time right now ... I mean, people are split up, and that's OK. It's happened throughout history, right? I don't think this is unique, but I do want to remind our viewers that we're all Americans, and there's certain things we can all agree on.' Since rejoining NBC network in 2021, Llamas has reported across the globe on major breaking news, including the New Orleans terror attack, the war in Ukraine, the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse as well as the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Lester Holt's reins were handed down in March, while the 66-year-old TV vet pivots his focus to 'Dateline.' 'Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity,' said Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News' executive vice president, in a release at the time. For Llamas, it's literally a dream come true, but not without challenges. 'It's an honor; there's a lot of pressure, but I do think pressure is a privilege,' he said, adding he'll look to Holt, who is both a friend and mentor, for guidance. 'His brand is the most trusted journalist in America,' he continued. 'I want to make sure once I take that seat the viewers know that I'm working for them. I work for NBC, but I really work for them. It's a public service.' When that camera goes on at 6:30 p.m. Monday how does one prepare for that full circle moment? What would the kid walking into the newsroom in Hialeah say? 'Everything that brought me here — I'm going to use,' he said, getting emotional. 'You don't get to the top of the mountain by stumbling. There's a reason why you're there. I've worked really hard.'
USA Today
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tom Llamas on taking over 'NBC Nightly News' from 'Iron Pants' Lester Holt
Tom Llamas on taking over 'NBC Nightly News' from 'Iron Pants' Lester Holt Show Caption Hide Caption 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas explains why he left ABC News Tom Llamas, the new anchor of "NBC Nightly News," explains to USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa how he became interested in the news. NEW YORK - Tom Llamas, the veteran journalist who takes the helm of NBC Nightly News from Lester Holt on June 2, is breaking down a typical weekday and how it'll change with his new gig. Llamas lives just north of Manhattan in Westchester County, New York, with his wife Jennifer and their three children, ages 12, 9 and 7. "I get up at 6:30 in the morning because I want to be there for breakfast (with my kids)," Llamas, 45, tells USA TODAY. "But I've got to have my energy levels peaking at 6:30 (p.m.) now. I'm going to figure it out; a lot of Cuban coffee." Llamas admits that he already drank a lot of coffee with his previous schedule, which includes traveling the globe to cover breaking news for NBC in addition to anchoring "Top Story with Tom Llamas," an evening news program that streams on NBC News Now. (The show recently earned an Emmy nomination.) Llamas also served as the main substitute anchor for Holt on "Nightly News." In addition to his new duties as the anchor and managing editor of "Nightly News," Llamas will continue to host "Top Story." "People are working feverishly at 30 Rock because the moment 'Nightly News' ends in the same studio, they're going to hit a button and the entire studio's going to change," Llamas reveals, as Studio 1A will transform from the "Nightly News" set to "Top Story." In all, he'll be anchoring 90 minutes of live television, five nights a week. "The graphics are all going to change, and 'Top Story's' going to start within seconds." Who is new 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Tom Llamas? Llamas was born in Miami to Cuban refugee parents and traces his interest in news to his childhood. "At the dinner table, we were always talking politics, international affairs, even when we were little," he recalls. "Our parents wanted us to understand what had happened in Cuba, so I was always interested in current events." His career started at 15 when he landed an internship with Telemundo, now owned by NBCUniversal. Llamas graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans and later completed a program at the University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies. Since 2000, he has spent the majority of his time with NBC News and its local affiliates, save for a seven-year stretch from 2014 to 2021 at ABC News. During Llamas' time at ABC, he worked as chief national affairs correspondent and as the weekend anchor on "World News Tonight," while also handling substitute anchor duties for David Muir on weekdays. When the world shut down following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Llamas' priorities shifted; he was looking to travel less. A homecoming to NBC News was "always in the back of my mind," he says. NBC News hired him as a senior national correspondent and the "Top Story" anchor. "The team welcomed me with open arms," he says. "People like Savannah (Guthrie) and Hoda (Kotb) were the first people I told and they were so nice. And I've known Lester since I was 21." Holt, 66, has anchored "Nightly News" since 2015, when he replaced Brian Williams, who was suspended for falsely claiming that he had been in a helicopter hit by enemy fire during the Iraq War. A subsequent investigation found that he had made other inaccurate statements about his experiences covering events, and he lost the job. Llamas is the fourth person in the last 40 years to anchor "Nightly News," joining Holt, Williams and Tom Brokaw, who anchored from 1983 to 2004. Both Llamas and his wife worked for Holt as production assistants straight out of college. Tom Llamas continues a trend in changing faces at NBC, network news Holt will stay with NBC as anchor of "Dateline" newsmagazine. But his departure from the anchor chair at "Nightly News" marks the second major change to NBC News' talent lineup this year. Kotb left her post as co-anchor of "Today" in January. All of this comes as Comcast, NBCUniversal's parent company, prepares to spin off MSNBC, CNBC, E! and Syfy into a new company called Versant. Meanwhile, Norah O'Donnell departed the "CBS Evening News" in January, and was unsuccessfully replaced by co-anchors Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson. Muir, who took over "World News Tonight" in 2014, is the longest tenured of the network evening news anchors. "There's still close to 20 million Americans that watch the evening news every single night," Llamas remarks of the current landscape. "It's a lot more competitive than people know. We compete for everything in network news, like whether it be bookings on guests, on politicians, live-shot locations, who has the best story, who has the most compelling elements, the video. All of our journalists, besides getting the story right, they're also making sure that they've beaten the competition." Llamas' goal with "Nightly News" is to "modernize the storytelling little by little," employing more user-generated content. He'll judge the program's success on gaining viewers' trust, although he wants "Nightly News" to be No. 1 in the ratings; ABC has led for nearly a decade, with CBS a distant third. However, his conversations with Holt on the anchor role have focused less on ratings and more on their personal lives. "(Holt) did this job while being a father and a husband," Llamas says. "He had two sons and he came up in local news, cable and the network. He was always a hard worker. I mean, his nickname is 'Iron Pants.' So I've asked him about that and the tough calls he had to make." The work-life balance, while now on a more national level, isn't new to Llamas or his family. He says his kids are excited for him and he credits his wife with being the "rock" of their family. How will Tom Llamas cover the Trump administration? Llamas is aware that President Trump is a news consumer. And while the current president has probably seen some of Llamas' work on NBC, the anchor is also aware of his new platform. "You've got to be tough but fair," Llamas says. "If you're tough on the Republicans, you've got to be tough on the Democrats, and you've got to be fair about it. I think NBC has always done that. And then you've got to report the news without fear or favor. "I work for NBC News, but I really work for the viewers. And so when I do have the opportunity to interview the president" – he has not thus far – "I know I'm not asking questions for me or for NBC, I'm asking questions for the people at home. (The challenge) comes with the territory. I've had conversations with Lester about this as well. But I know what I've signed up for, and I'm looking forward to it."
