Chicago Tribune - 03.11.2026 — 2026-11-05

[ELECTION 2026] First Black Illinoisan to vote has a museum

Project XV in El Paso is built on the legacy of David Strother

By Darcel Rockett

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

A web search of voting rights museums in the United States yields two locations, with one in Illinois: the Project XV Museum, roughly 90 miles southwest of Chicago in a town called El Paso.

It's built on the legacy of David Strother, the first Black man and Illinoisan to cast a vote in the U.S. after the 15th Amendment was passed in 1869, granting U.S. citizens, regardless of race, color or "previous servitude," the right to vote.

Strother was born free in Missouri in 1843 to parents who had purchased their freedom from enslavement a few years before. After his father's death, Strother, whose mother, Leah, taught him and his two siblings to read and write, settled in Illinois with them.

Before Strother became a voting pioneer, he worked on Mississippi River steamboats and cooked for the 17th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. Afterward, he set up shop in El Paso, a rural town where the Illinois Central and Toledo, Peoria, and Western railroad lines converged.

On April 4, 1870, David Strother presented himself to the election board and, despite some pushback, cast his vote, making him among the first Black people to do so in the country. His brother Charles became the second Black man to vote in Illinois, later that same day. These historic actions are why the museum exists.

A computerized interaction of Strother on video relays his story, as he welcomes visitors to the museum with, “I hope the story of my historic vote inspires you to make your voice heard too.”

"I was impressed," said Peoria mom Yolanda Lowry, She took her three children to the museum for the first time this summer after finding it on social media. The kids weren't bored, she said. "It was very developed ... put together very nicely. It was really interesting

See MUSEUM on Page A5

Sev Stohler, center, talks with Evynne Stitely, right, while waiting in a long line to vote on the last day of early voting at Welles Park in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood on Monday. ARMANDO L. SANCHEZ/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

[The stage is set] Unusually warm weather, strong early vote and federal poll monitors mark the scene as midterm Election Day arrives

By Rick Pearson and A.D. Quig

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Illinois' fall voting season comes to an end with Election Day on Tuesday, the final day for voters to cast a ballot after weeks of early in-person and mail voting in races from U.S. senator and governor down to county officers and judgeships.

Weatherwise, Election Day will be a “meteorological standout,” said retired WGN meteorologist Tom Skilling, with unseasonably warm temperatures and a forecast high of 74 degrees. It could be the warmest Nov. 3 in nearly four decades and more akin to late September, the product of a storm system pushing southwest winds that could gust above 30 mph, he said.

Scattered rain is possible in the late morning and early afternoon, with the chances increasing as the day proceeds, he said.

INSIDE

“Bottom line, weather’s not going to be an issue,” Skilling said. “The unusual late season warmth would seem to support folks who might be impacted by inclement weather instead getting out and voting.”

Polls across the state will open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Any voter who is standing in line will be allowed to enter their polling place and cast their ballot.

Even though the polls close on Tuesday evening, local election authorities can count mailed-in ballots postmarked by 7 p.m. Tuesday that arrive within the following 14 days. The law allowing the late counts in states was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June

Republicans and Democrats made their final pitch to voters Monday, while President Donald Trump opted to forgo the campaign trail and instead focused on his renovations at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Nation & World

despite opposition from Republicans and President Donald Trump.

On the ballot are races for U.S. Senate, governor and other statewide offices. In addition, so are all 118 seats in the Illinois House, 39 seats in the 59-member state Senate and all 17 of Illinois' seats in the U.S. House. Locally, races for county clerk, sheriff and treasurer throughout Illinois, as well as Cook County assessor, are on the ballot, along with judicial candidates and judges seeking retention.

In Chicago, the election marks the first time that voters will elect all 21 members of the Chicago Board of Education, including its president.

On Monday, Gov. JB Pritzker, who is seeking to become the first Democrat elected governor of Illinois three times, joined Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, and local Democrats on a final-day barnstorming tour outside the Chicago area, visiting Collinsville, Springfield, Bloomington, Rock Island and Rockford.

Republican governor candidate Darren Bailey, a downstate farmer and former lawmaker seeking to avenge his loss to Pritzker four

See ELECTION on Page A5

Ex-Chicago FBI boss sues Patel, US attorney

DePodesta says he was scapegoated for failed Midway Blitz cases

By Jason Meisner

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Four months after being forced into retirement, ex-Chicago FBI boss Douglas DePodesta is suing U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros and top officials in the Department of Justice, claiming he was scapegoated for the failed “Broadview Six” case and other controversial Operation Midway Blitz prosecutions.

The explosive 38-page lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Monday is virtually an unheard of turn of events for federal law enforcement in Chicago, where multiple agencies typically act in cohesion and with mutual respect.

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Chicago Bureau Doug DePodesta stands in his office at the FBI Chicago Division headquarters on May 29, 2025. EILEEN T. MESLAR/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

It also brings a new level of pressure on Boutros, who has been under fire since May, when allegations of prosecutorial misconduct forced him to drop all charges alleging a group of immigration protesters impeded an agent's vehicle outside the Broadview ICE facility in September 2025.

In another extraordinary development later Monday, a federal judge ordered Boutros to testify

See LAWSUIT on Page A2

Dismissal in Hunter Biden case cites ‘weaponization’

Judge tosses charges against ex-agents in FBI's laptop inquiry require the dismissal of the case.

By Eric Tucker

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Monday dismissed a criminal complaint against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about Hunter Biden, citing what he said was “weaponization” of President Donald Trump’s Justice Department just before the midterm elections.

In a scathing, hourlong ruling read from the bench, U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui said the investigation that produced the charges against Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides was rushed, conducted at the behest of Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel, and dogged by “critical mistakes” that

"I am deeply troubled by what has happened here in this case," Faruqui said. "What has transpired here cannot be described as anything other than weaponization."

The ruling may not bring a permanent end to the matter because the Justice Department still has the option of pursuing an indictment, even though it has struggled during the Trump administration to persuade grand juries in the nation's capital to return indictments in politically charged prosecutions like this one.

In the meantime, it amounts to a resounding rebuke of a department the judge said could have sought an indictment at any time but instead opted for transparently political purposes to file a criminal complaint in the immediate run-up to Tuesday's midterm

See BIDEN on Page A5

Meter money for pensions

Chicago aldermen voted Monday to spend a \$75 million parking meter windfall on an extra payment to Chicago's public pensions. Chicagoland, Page 3

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179th year No. 307 © Chicago Tribune

Boutros ordered to testify about ‘Broadview Six’ case

Federal judge orders

US attorney to go

under oath about

alleged misconduct

By Jason Meisner

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

A federal judge on Monday ordered embattled U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros and several underlings to testify under oath later this month about alleged misconduct in the failed “Broadview Six” case against a group of Operation Midway Blitz protesters.

Boutros, who is Chicago's top federal law enforcement officer, must appear for live testimony Nov. 16, said U.S. District Judge April Perry. The judge also ordered three assistant prosecutors, William Hogan, Matthew Skiba and Andres Almendarez, to appear on the same date.

The judge's order marks a rapid escalation of the long-simmering case and sets the stage for a virtually unprecedented hearing, with the U.S. attorney himself being questioned under penalty of perjury.

Perry said Boutros also will have to answer questions about his statements to her on May 21, the day he announced he was dropping all charges against the Broadview defendants, and his office's “repeated failures” to correct Perry’s misconception that the transcript redactions

Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, holds a news conference at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on July 2.

TERRENCE ANTONIO JAMES/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

were minor and appeared to be only about technical issues.

It has since been revealed Boutros' office redacted large swaths of the transcripts indicating serious misconduct by the lead prosecutor, then-Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg, including improperly "vouching" for the strength of the case before the grand jury. That Oct. 9 session ended with a rare "no bill" vote from the grand jury declining to approve the felony indictment.

Perry did not specifically request testimony from Mecklenburg, who has since retired under protest and alleged in court that Boutros threw her under the bus to protect himself. But it was clear from Perry's order that she'd like to hear from anyone who will help her get to the bottom of what happened.

"The Court will also accept testimony from any former or current employee of the U.S. Attorney's Office or federal law enforcement agency who has first-hand knowledge about the above events and who wants to ensure a full and accurate record is presented," Perry wrote.

In one remarkable section of her seven-page order, Perry all but accused Boutros of misleading her when he claimed he had not known about Mecklenburg's vouching until months later, when it has since been revealed that he was emailed an expedited transcript of the grand jury proceedings five days after it happened.

“(Boutros’) statements are hard to credit,” Perry wrote. “Grand jury ‘no bills’ are exceedingly rare. To anyone who has been a federal prosecutor, a no bill would be an immediate red flag that something has gone very wrong in the grand jury.”

Perry noted that under federal court rules, Boutros would have had to personally OK a second attempt at an indictment.

"The idea that USA Boutros would have made such a significant decision without reviewing the best evidence available to him about what went wrong in the grand jury is nearly unfathomable," Perry said.

The judge also blasted the Department of Justice for what appeared to her to be a last-minute attempt to “inject unnecessary delay into these proceedings” by having Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward intervene on Friday — the day that the U.S. attorney’s office had been scheduled to hand over discovery materials to her.

Instead, Woodward filed a defiant brief declaring the government “has not agreed to cooperate” with any investigation into wrongdoing and asking Perry to provide justification for it. Woodward argued the Justice Department did not construe her minute order “as a directive creating any obligation to produce any information” because it used terms like “ask” and “request.”

Perry was obviously not pleased with what she called the “professed confusion.”

"To be clear: the factual basis for the Court's inquiry is not a mystery to anyone who has had any involvement with this case or even conducted a cursory review of the docket," the judge wrote in her order.

In apparent response to claims she'd been vague, Perry went so far as to define "must" when it came to her order that Boutros "must appear to testify."

"The Court uses ‘must’ in a legal sense, which is to say it is mandatory," Perry wrote in a footnote.

In her order, Perry also said that by inserting himself into the case, Woodward has strengthened the argument that the Attorney General's office is compromised and cannot supervise an investigation of any special counsel into potential contempt charges.

Perry also is not letting the government off the hook on providing the promised discovery, ordering it produced by 5 p.m. Thursday.

The order marked yet another dramatic twist in the long-running legal drama of the Broadview Six, which stemmed from the charging of six protesters during Operation Midway Blitz a year ago.

The case collapsed in May amid allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, and Perry has since begun an inquiry that could lead to sanctions or even appointment of special counsel to investigate criminal contempt charges.

Perry had ordered the U.S. attorney's office to turn over her discovery requests by Friday, including written communications with anyone outside the office regarding "investigatory or charging decisions" as well as an email sent to Boutros attaching an expedited transcript of grand jury proceedings.

Instead, the two assistant U.S. attorneys who had been handling the case for Boutros' office since the summer, Nathaniel Whalen and Diane MacArthur, both filed motions earlier Friday seeking to withdraw.

Perry granted those motions on Monday.

The developments came on the same day that ex-Chicago FBI boss Douglas DePo-desta filed a bombshell lawsuit against Boutros and top officials in the Department of Justice, claiming he was scapegoated by Boutros for the failed Broadview Six case.

In the suit, DePodesta alleged he and Boutros met personally with now-Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel and others at the Chicago FBI headquarters on Oct. 7, 2025, just two days before Boutros' office first took the case to the grand jury.

DePodesta's lawsuit clearly caught the attention of Perry, who referenced it in her order when she discussed how the U.S. attorney's office has been "cagey" about its communications with officials in Washington.

Specifically, she noted Hogan's “inflammatory” claim in a court filing that any allegation of DOJ interference was “the product of fevered paranoia and delusional speculation.”

If DePodesta's lawsuit is accurate, Perry wrote, any meeting he had with Boutros and Blanche “would have been covered by the discovery request and directly contradicts AUSA Hogan's assertions to the Court.”

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

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LAWSUIT from Page A1

under oath on Nov. 16 about his knowledge of the case.

In an interview Monday with the Tribune, DePodesta said bringing the lawsuit was “not an easy decision” given the vindictiveness of the Trump administration, but that transparency was of the utmost importance.

"The American people need to know what is happening in their government," DePodesta said. "Let there be no question, my resignation was by no way voluntary. I was told that I needed to leave the FBI or they were going to fire me."

In addition to Boutros, the lawsuit names as defendants Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, the FBI and the DOJ. It includes counts of violation of due process, the First Amendment, and defamation, and seeks DePodes-ta's reinstatement, back pay, attorneys fees, and unspecified compensatory damages.

The suit was assigned to U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly.

Representatives for Boutros and the Department of Justice did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

DePodesta, who was a longtime special agent for the Chicago FBI, and Boutros, a former assistant U.S. attorney, have known each other for years. They began their roles at the top of their respective agencies just months apart and presented a united front when the Trump administration's stepped-up deportation campaign known as Midway Blitz began last fall.

In his interview with the Tribune, DePodesta said that regardless of a person's opinions about immigration, the FBI under his command set out to do its job to enforce the law in accordance with the Department of Justice's priorities, setting up a command post to review arrests and conferring often with the U.S. attorney's office about potential investigations. He said he feels his agency was able to "do a really good job" despite the circumstances.

Behind the scenes however, Boutros began unlawfully pushing the FBI to open investigations in Midway Blitz cases even when DePodesta and others — including Boutros' own prosecutors — pushed back and said the evidence wasn't there, according to DePodesta's lawsuit.

When Boutros sent emails demanding that DePodesta open FBI investigations “into individuals with political views or affiliations in opposition to the Trump administration,” DePodesta would always ask for justification “in accordance with DOJ regulations and DePodesta’s ethical and professional obligations,”

the lawsuit stated.

If DePodesta declined to open an investigation, he was met with “hostility” from Boutros, the suit alleged.

Then came the Broadview Six. While Boutros has tried to paint Washington's involvement in the case as minimal, DePodesta alleged in the lawsuit that he and Boutros met personally with Blanche, Patel and others at the Chicago FBI headquarters on Oct. 7, 2025, just two days before Boutros' office first took the case to the grand jury.

“During this meeting, Defendant Boutros discussed the Broadview Six investigation with his superiors in the Department of Justice and other law enforcement officers,” DePodesta alleged in the suit.

DePodesta said in the suit he had “no role” in the decision to pursue a felony indictment in the Broadview case. But after the charges unraveled in May, Boutros began a campaign within the Department of Justice to blame DePodesta for the debacle “to deflect from his own malfeasance,” the lawsuit alleged.

“Knowing that the case was dismissed because of improprieties by those under Boutros’ supervision, and Boutros himself, before the grand jury and the district court, and despite knowing that DePodesta had nothing to do with those grand jury or court proceedings, Boutros repeatedly complained to his superiors in Washington that DePodesta was responsible for the disintegration of the Broadview Six case,” the suit alleged.

Among the ways Boutros allegedly badmouthed DePodesta was to falsely tell bosses in Washington that the Broadview case collapsed because DePodesta had been colluding with his sister-in-law, Nancy, a defense attorney who represented one of the six defendants, according to the suit.

The suit alleged that in early June, days after Boutros had been forced to drop the Broadview case in court, DePodesta received a call from FBI Deputy Director Christopher Raia, who told him that Boutros told his superiors that DePodesta and his sister-in-law had “conspired to destroy” the case.

Raia said Boutros “created a stir with his allegations,” which had been communicated to the top of the FBI chain of command, including Patel.

DePodesta said he explained to Raia why Boutros' allegations were "absurd," outlining the real reasons why the prosecution had failed and stressing he and his sister-in-law were "professionals who held their ethical obligations and professional integrity in the highest regard."

The lawsuit alleged that both Raia and another top

FBI official, Associate Deputy Director Chad Yarbrough, told DePodesta they agreed with him that Boutros' claims "could not be true."

In a statement, Nancy DePodesta said it's “both heartbreaking and shameful” that her brother-in-law was forced out based on “what appear to be utterly false rumors” allegedly spread by Boutros. “There is no one at the FBI who took their oath of office and their ethical and moral responsibilities more seriously than Doug,” she wrote.

A month after the call with Raia, however, DePodesta received an “apologetic” call from Yarbrough, who said Boutros had continued his campaign against DePodesta and that the FBI director was now insisting that DePodesta be terminated, according to the suit. Yarbrough said Patel had ordered the change regardless of the truth of the allegations because he “did not want the controversy,” the suit alleged.

"In a vain attempt to salvage his own reputation, Defendant Boutros pressured and convinced Defendants Patel, FBI, Blanche, and DOJ to sacrifice an outstanding public servant," the suit stated.

DePodesta told the Tribune he got the phone call from Yarbrough on a Wednesday, while he was at an off-site conference with colleagues. Two days later, he'd boxed up everything in his office and left the FBI headquarters on West Roosevelt Road for the last time.

"It was horrible," DePo-desta said of the day he said goodbye. "These are people I'd grown up with since I started my career ... went to their weddings, saw their kids grow up."

He said for months after taking over as leader of Chicago's FBI, he'd been trying to shield his staff from all the turmoil coming out of Washington. His ouster was "a realization to many of them that Chicago wasn't immune to the silliness," he said.

Originally from Detroit, DePodesta, 55, joined the FBI in 2002 and had served as special agent in charge in Chicago for just under two years. He officially retired July 6, two years shy of the FBI's mandatory retirement age of 57. In a farewell note to colleagues, DePodesta was clear that some type of conflict induced his departure, though he offered no specifics at the time.

"I've never backed down from a fight, as long as it meant our personnel could continue serving the FBI's mission," DePodesta wrote in the message. "Unfortunately, that has proved unpopular over time and my departure is a consequence of that."

The day before news broke that DePodesta was being forced out, Boutros was in Washington, D.C., standing before reporters with Blanche and Patel to announce charges against three reputed Tren de Aragua gang members accused in a kidnapping and murder plot in Chicago.

The next day, Boutros held a news conference back in Chicago about an unrelated anti-violence initiative and was asked about news reports that he'd played a role in DePodesta's abrupt exit. Boutros said he was caught off guard by the development. In fact, he said he was supposed to have lunch with DePodesta later that week.

“Doug and I are supposed to get together for a lunch on July 7,” Boutros told reporters. “News of his departure was news to me.... I’ll find out if he’s canceling or not, but I hope he doesn’t.”

The lunch did not happen. "I did not have lunch with Andrew Boutros, nor would I ever have lunch with Andrew Boutros," DePodesta said Monday.

The lawsuit, meanwhile, landed at a time where the Trump administration has increasingly been under fire for what appeared to be politically motivated firings and prosecutions.

On Friday — the deadline to turn over materials requested by U.S. District Judge April Perry in her ongoing inquiry into potential sanctions — the controversial No. 3 attorney in the U.S. Justice Department instead filed a defiant brief declaring the government “has not agreed to cooperate” with any investigation into wrongdoing.

And just minutes before DePodesta's suit was filed, a federal magistrate judge in Washington threw out charges against two former FBI intelligence officials accused of lying to Congress about Hunter Biden, citing what he said was “weaponization” of Trump’s Justice Department just before the midterm elections.

The Chicago attorney who represents DePodesta, Ronald Safer, also represented one of the charged FBI agents in Washington, Bradley Benavides. Safer said in a written statement Monday that he was “proud” to represent DePodesta in his effort to seek “accountability, the correction of the record, and restoration of his professional reputation.”

In the four months since his departure, DePodesta said he's taken "a bunch of time off" and done a lot of introspection. He recently took a job as director of business development for a construction technology company. But he's longing to get back to what he loves best.

"I've learned a lot about myself, who I was and what was important to me," DePo-desta said. "After 33 years in law enforcement, it is who I am. It is what I am."

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

Chicagoland

PAGE 3 | SECTION A | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 | CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

A nearly 50-foot Norway spruce from the yard of Amanda Clark is moved to a flatbed truck on Monday in Campton Hills. The tree will head to Millennium Park where it will be decorated and serve as Chicago's 113th official Christmas tree. The annual tree lighting ceremony is Nov. 20. STACEY WESCOTT/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Campton Hills spruce picked as Chicago's Christmas tree

By Lila Hempel-Edgers

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Cranes in Campton Hills hoisted a nearly 50-foot Norway spruce Monday morning bound for Millennium Park, where it will take the stage as Chicago's 113th official Christmas tree.

Mandy Clark and her family donated the tree, which is expected to arrive in Chicago on Wednesday, ahead of the city's annual tree-lighting ceremony on Nov. 20, officials said. It will be decorated before the ceremony and remain on display through early January, when it will be taken down and turned into wood chips for city parks.

The ceremony marks the “official start of the Chicago holiday season,” according to the city, and has become a “cherished” holiday tradition.

Last year, officials selected a 68-foot Norway spruce from Glenview weighing roughly 12,000 pounds. It was the largest ever displayed by the city, Jim Williams, who oversees transportation for the ceremony, told the Tribune.

But it wasn't the tallest, he said. That distinction belongs to a 71-foot white fir.

Chicago has selected a single official Christmas tree through contests or nominations since 2009, though the tradition dates back more than a century.

The city's first official tree, a 35-foot Douglas spruce, was erected atop 40-foot poles in Grant Park and illuminated with 600 multicolored lights in 1913.

The free ceremony in Millennium Park will feature a fireworks display, according to the city's website. The event will be livestreamed for those who can't attend in person.

NITA's new \$5 billion transit budget reflects revenue influx

New agency

in charge of

spending across

the region

By Marni Pyke and Talia Soglin

DAILY HERALD

Freed of a cash crunch, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority's 2027 preliminary budget shows a significant boost in spending as the super agency powers up to deliver more bus and rail service for riders.

NITA, which replaced the Regional Transportation Authority on Sept. 1, is proposing a \$5.04 billion operating budget compared with \$4.35 billion initially approved for 2026, before new transit dollars started trickling in, a nearly 16% increase.

It's a switch from past practices where Metra, Pace and the CTA separately prepared budgets. This year, NITA officials are in charge of coordinating one regional fiscal plan.

Highlights include a transit ambassador program, expanding Metra weekend train service and more Pace express buses.

The new responsibilities are reflected in a \$401 million operating budget for NITA itself, a spike from the former RTA's 2026 \$48.8 million allocation.

However, about 50% of that amount will be channeled to the agencies or to implement NITA reforms.

The CTA is projected to receive \$2.5 billion compared with \$2.23 billion initially budgeted this year.

For suburban commuters, Metra is set to receive \$1.23 billion for operations, representing a \$59 million increase over 2026. Meanwhile, Pace's allocation will rise to \$381.7 million, up roughly \$9 million from current levels.

The separate five-year, \$9.73 billion 2027 capital budget allocates \$6.39 billion to the CTA, \$2.16 billion to Metra and \$412 million to

Pace.

The regional budget plan reflects NITA's mandate to better coordinate transit service between the three transit agencies.

Riders now will be able to transfer between Pace buses and CTA trains and buses for free, documents showed.

NITA also plans to spend \$5 million to study transit connection hubs — places where riders can transfer between transit services. The study will “identify where improvements are most needed and where new hubs could better connect the region,” officials said.

More than \$7 million is set aside for new signage on one Metra line that will provide “better information” on service connections, and \$4 million is reserved for digital signs at CTA bus stops that would provide real-time Metra and Pace information at transfer locations.

Here are some other budget highlights:

CTA

Six CTA bus routes would get new 24/7 service under the proposal, including the No. 12 Roosevelt, No. 35 31st/35th, No. 47 47th, No. 72 North, No. 85 Central and No. 155 Devon routes.

The CTA also plans to expand some bus routes so that they connect with rail stations. For example, the agency wants to extend the No. 54 Cicero bus to the Midway Orange Line station and the No. 90 Harlem bus to the Forest Park Blue Line station.

The budget proposal does not appear to include funding earmarked to run the CTA's Orange Line 24 hours a day, an idea first announced by acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen last year.

NITA and the CTA did not comment on 24/7 Orange Line service.

Transit operations staffing, a category that includes bus and train operators, is projected to increase by 109 positions on the CTA. The agency also hopes to add an 18-member “power cleaning crew” to its ranks.

SUBURBAN UPGRADES

Metra projects will include new railcars, station upgrades at downtown and suburban locations including Deerfield, and track improvements.

Pace projects involve bus purchases, an electric bus garage in Waukegan, and creation of the Pulse Cermak/22nd Street Line between Cicero and Yorktown Center in Lombard.

In approving the 2025 NITA Act to rescue Metra, Pace and the CTA from a massive shortfall, the General Assembly raised the regional sales tax and diverted a portion of the state sales tax on motor fuel revenues to fund transit.

Originally, it was estimated \$1.2 billion in operating funding would be generated for transit but the latest revenue projections set the tally at \$1.3 billion.

The law required \$46.9 million in savings in 2027; NITA is promising \$60 million, which will include reductions in head count and increasing the number of part-time bus drivers.

At the same time, NITA planners anticipate adding 439 new jobs.

SECURITY, SLOW ZONES

About \$144 million is set aside for security initiatives on the CTA, including increases in the number of Chicago police officers and privately contracted K-9 security guards on the system. About 180 Chicago police officers will patrol the system each day in 2027, up from on average 150 this year, according to the budget.

K-9 staffing will increase by on average 10 guards per day, according to the budget.

The new budget also sets aside \$10 million to help address the slow zones — sections of aging track that force trains to slow to a crawl — that have plagued the Forest Park branch of the Blue Line for years.

There will be a number of public hearings before the budget is voted on by the NITA board. For information, go to nita.illinois.gov.

Aldermen put \$75M in parking meter proceeds to pensions

By Jake Sheridan

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

In an early rebuke of Mayor Brandon Johnson's 2027 budget proposal, Chicago aldermen voted Monday to spend a \$75 million parking meter windfall on an extra payment to Chicago's public pensions.

Aldermen voted 44-6 to break from Johnson's plan for the money, a one-time payment City Council members won in negotiations for the sale of the city's parking meter system from one owner to another this summer.

The move, passed by a veto-proof majority, creates a \$75 million hole in Johnson's spending plan as City Hall crafts the city's 2027 budget, a political hot potato that both Johnson allies and his City Council opponents blamed the other side for during a heated floor debate.

With no easy answers to fill the budget gap in reach, whoever blinks first will likely have to propose some combination of new taxes, fees and government service cuts — a potentially toxic move in an election year, even if a necessary one.

Johnson's floor leader, Ald. Jason Ervin, warned that by putting the money toward a second extra pension payment this year, aldermen will force themselves to later make cuts to libraries, violence intervention, tree-trimming and rat abatement.

"This doesn't happen in a vacuum," Ervin, 28th, said. "So let's talk about the chopping block, because that's what we really need to understand."

He argued the city is already doing enough to stabilize its pensions by meeting all of its legally required obligations and routinely making large supplemental payments. Then he used one of his trademark lines to paint the vote as an effort by aldermen representing wealthy neighborhoods to act at the expense of poor neighborhoods: “Everybody wants to get to heaven, but nobody wants to die.”

"There's some communities that are living in heaven, but they're also advocating for stripping the resources on the communities that are teetering on the fringes," Ervin said.

Johnson's opponents, confident they had enough support to win, said little ahead of the vote, but made it clear they believe the mayor and his allies bear the responsibility of figuring out what comes next in the budget.

Finance Committee Chair Ald. Pat Dowell said the vote was a responsible “line in the sand” for Chicago’s financial future. She predicted the move would save the taxpayers “conservatively over \$213 million over time.”

“For those worried about the hole that this creates in the budget, I stand ready to work with my colleagues to vet and implement any proposal the mayor puts forth to adjust his budget in response,” Dowell, 3rd, said. “When you have a lot of debt, sometimes you have to eat beans while you’re paying off the debt.”

Johnson shared plans last month to count the \$75 million toward the city's \$363 million advance pension payment. The city has made the supplemental payment for four straight years, part of an effort sparked by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot to stabilize the city's woefully under-

funded public pensions.

But key City Council leaders immediately argued Johnson's plan did not go far enough. The \$75 million, a lump-sum transfer fee secured by aldermen in negotiations with investment firm Stonepeak Partners as it purchased the city's parking meter system, had been clearly meant to pay for yet another early pension payment, on top of the \$363 million advance payment, they said.

Aldermen scheduled Monday's special City Council meeting last week just as budget hearings began. After their decisive vote scuttled Johnson's initial spending plan, the mayor and aldermen must now figure out how to make the city's budget pencil out.

And with sharp disagreement brewing over Johnson's plans to raise over \$100 million with a corporate head tax, borrow \$480 million to settle police-related lawsuits and spike personal property lease taxes by \$234 million, the new hole aldermen created Monday belies a far more profound gap.

For years, Chicago mayors clearly controlled the budget crafting process. But after aldermen last year seized the process from Johnson and passed a final budget he did not support, the question of who will first propose a solution hovers over City Hall.

Johnson did not take questions immediately after the vote Monday, but said last week he believes his council opponents should shoulder the responsibility of filling the fiscal hole their vote creates.

Chicago Tribune's Alice Yin contributed.

Mental health care works when you make the call.

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ELECTION

from Page A1

Angelica Vigil, 25, center, receives a sticker after voting on the last day of early voting at Welles Park in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on Monday in Chicago. ARMANDO L. SANCHEZ/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

years ago, campaigned in Chicago where he made one last appeal for votes at a news conference.

Don Tracy, the former state Republican chair who is seeking the U.S. Senate seat, spent election eve in the suburbs. He stopped at the Wheaton Metra station, and he knocked on doors and walked the Riverwalk in Naperville before heading to a meet-and-greet in Joliet.

Going into the final day before Election Day, more than 1.6 million Illinois voters had already cast early ballots across the state. Nearly 900,000 had voted early in person, and nearly 700,000 mail ballots had been returned, according to Illinois State Board of Elections figures.

After the final campaign weekend, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said nearly 300,000 early votes had been cast as of Monday – more than 180,000 in person and more than 100,000 by mail.

On the eve of Election Day, early voting in the city looked likely to outpace the 297,759 early ballots cast four years ago. In that election, nearly 180,000 people voted early in person and more than 118,000 cast ballots through the mail.

Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, whose office administers elections in the Cook County suburbs, said Monday there has been "tremendous voter engagement in early voting and vote by mail," with totals exceeding those from four years ago.

As of midday Monday, more than 250,000 suburban Cook County residents had voted early, a 31% increase over the same point in the 2022 election. Mail voting also was strong, with nearly 107,000 mail ballots returned to the clerk's office, and about 11,000 ballots more were in the U.S. Postal Service pipeline. Gordon said she expects mail voting to exceed the

122,600 ballots cast by mail in 2022.

The final day of voting comes amid efforts by the Trump administration to seek federal involvement in ballot counting in other states as part of the president's continued efforts to inject uncertainty in the minds of voters over the legitimacy of the voting process.

Comments from members of the administration also raised the possibility of federal intervention in the election, including possible immigration enforcement activity in or around polling places despite legal prohibitions.

The Justice Department has already said it was sending out about 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states. It is the largest-ever mobilization of the agency's lawyers to watch polling places for possible civil rights violations, such as intimidation and racial discrimination. The department did not respond to questions about how many monitors are being assigned to Illinois.

Officials said the monitors have been instructed not to interfere with voting. Still, there are fears that the monitors may use their roles to collect and present evidence for dubious post-election challenges to the legitimacy of the results.

The Illinois attorney general's office took note of the Justice Department's plans in a statement late last week, noting federal poll monitors are not new and have traditionally been deployed to ensure compliance with federal voting laws. The office said it has been in contact with the department and has no reason to believe the federal monitors will be engaged in anything beyond their traditional role.

Still, teams of assistant attorneys general and investigators from the attorney general's office will be watching the polls and the monitors. They will be joined by hundreds of poll monitors from a coalition of voting rights groups, including the League of Women Voters of Illinois, Common Cause Illinois and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

The coalition said it has conducted training and that many of its poll watchers have been accredited by their local election authorities in identifying and reporting suspected cases of voter intimidation, electioneering or election interference.

Gordon said Cook County election officials “have no information that federal officers will be visiting any of our polling places.” She said election judges are prepared to respond “if any situation arises.”

“We want every voter to know that their right to vote is protected, and our job is to make sure they have the opportunity to exercise that right,” she said.

Chicago Tribune's Dan Petrella, Olivia Olander and Jeremy Gorner contributed.

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ELECTION

from Page A1

Angelica Vigil, 25, center, receives a sticker after voting on the last day of early voting at Welles Park in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on Monday in Chicago. ARMANDO L. SANCHEZ/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

years ago, campaigned in Chicago where he made one last appeal for votes at a news conference.

Don Tracy, the former state Republican chair who is seeking the U.S. Senate seat, spent election eve in the suburbs. He stopped at the Wheaton Metra station, and he knocked on doors and walked the Riverwalk in Naperville before heading to a meet-and-greet in Joliet.

Going into the final day before Election Day, more than 1.6 million Illinois voters had already cast early ballots across the state. Nearly 900,000 had voted early in person, and nearly 700,000 mail ballots had been returned, according to Illinois State Board of Elections figures.

After the final campaign weekend, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said nearly 300,000 early votes had been cast as of Monday – more than 180,000 in person and more than 100,000 by mail.

On the eve of Election Day, early voting in the city looked likely to outpace the 297,759 early ballots cast four years ago. In that election, nearly 180,000 people voted early in person and more than 118,000 cast ballots through the mail.

Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, whose office administers elections in the Cook County suburbs, said Monday there has been "tremendous voter engagement in early voting and vote by mail," with totals exceeding those from four years ago.

As of midday Monday, more than 250,000 suburban Cook County residents had voted early, a 31% increase over the same point in the 2022 election. Mail voting also was strong, with nearly 107,000 mail ballots returned to the clerk's office, and about 11,000 ballots more were in the U.S. Postal Service pipeline. Gordon said she expects mail voting to exceed the

122,600 ballots cast by mail in 2022.

The final day of voting comes amid efforts by the Trump administration to seek federal involvement in ballot counting in other states as part of the president's continued efforts to inject uncertainty in the minds of voters over the legitimacy of the voting process.

Comments from members of the administration also raised the possibility of federal intervention in the election, including possible immigration enforcement activity in or around polling places despite legal prohibitions.

The Justice Department has already said it was sending out about 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states. It is the largest-ever mobilization of the agency's lawyers to watch polling places for possible civil rights violations, such as intimidation and racial discrimination. The department did not respond to questions about how many monitors are being assigned to Illinois.

Officials said the monitors have been instructed not to interfere with voting. Still, there are fears that the monitors may use their roles to collect and present evidence for dubious post-election challenges to the legitimacy of the results.

The Illinois attorney general's office took note of the Justice Department's plans in a statement late last week, noting federal poll monitors are not new and have traditionally been deployed to ensure compliance with federal voting laws. The office said it has been in contact with the department and has no reason to believe the federal monitors will be engaged in anything beyond their traditional role.

Still, teams of assistant attorneys general and investigators from the attorney general's office will be watching the polls and the monitors. They will be joined by hundreds of poll monitors from a coalition of voting rights groups, including the League of Women Voters of Illinois, Common Cause Illinois and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.

The coalition said it has conducted training and that many of its poll watchers have been accredited by their local election authorities in identifying and reporting suspected cases of voter intimidation, electioneering or election interference.

Gordon said Cook County election officials “have no information that federal officers will be visiting any of our polling places.” She said election judges are prepared to respond “if any situation arises.”

“We want every voter to know that their right to vote is protected, and our job is to make sure they have the opportunity to exercise that right,” she said.

Chicago Tribune's Dan Petrella, Olivia Olander and Jeremy Gorner contributed.

MUSEUM

from Page A1

... definitely hands-on."

Maybe that's because youth were the impetus behind the Project XV Museum and helped make it.

What was once a burned-out, abandoned structure that sat ignored for decades is now adorned with red, white and blue bunting, vote signage and art. It sits amid a quaint facade of El Paso businesses and eateries that resemble a bed-and-breakfast brochure.

In its heyday, the 1874 building housed not just the Strother Brothers' Barber Shop, but El Paso's first library room, telephone company, bank, City Hall and an opera house. Across the street from multiple train lines, the area saw Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln come through.

El Paso natives and museum board members Barb Lancaster, John Denham and Brian Ulrich, Project XV's curator, had known of Strother's history, unlike other board members.

Lancaster reached out to the building's new owner, Tabitha Arnold-Nowark, to share Strother's history. Unaware of Strother's history, though, Michael Melick, El Paso high school history teacher and current board president, took students to the local cemetery to do a report on one of the deceased. Someone picked David Strother. Melick and students were surprised to learn about Strother's story.

Melick brought the students to see the remains of the barber shop while Arnold-Nowark reconstructed what is now the Legacy Building. Melick queried the youth: 'If you were Tabitha, what could you do with this space?' Responses included 'a museum about David Strother' and 'a museum about voting rights.' Arnold-Nowark jumped on the idea. While the museum is spread across two floors, it shares a roof with an event space (complete with a ballroom, speakeasy-style bar and lounge, and Airbnb lodging).

Ali Scheer walks through the Project XV Museum on Aug. 15, in downstate El Paso, roughly 90 miles southwest of Chicago. The museum celebrates David Strother 1843-1905, the first Black man to vote after the 15th Amendment was ratified.

STACEY WESCOTT/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

"It was a kid's idea," Lancaster said. Local students gave their time to paint and clean the restoration project as it grew — students like summer intern Harrison Sepich, 19, an El Paso resident and Illinois State University political science major.

"One of my friends was like, 'We're gonna help out at this place.' We were getting rid of dirt and bricks," Sepich said.

Denham, a history teacher at Pekin Community High School, said the place is a labor of love.

Visitors can see the sole visage, a curio card of Strother, found by Denham on eBay, sitting alongside his obituary in the town newspaper, encased in glass.

"His obituary is so large ... we take that as a sign that he was really well respected in the community," said Ulrich. "He was held in such high esteem that it's (his obituary) as big as one for a senator, mayor or governor. Newspapers said it was one of the largest funerals ever in El Paso."

Nikita Richards-Calahan, museum board vice president, choked back tears when walking through Strother's restored barbershop.

"This space is crucial to African American history. David was in a special position ... an influencer of his time because this (shop) was where, if you stumbled upon an abolitionist, you could give him information about how to advocate on our behalf," Richards-Calahan said. "Many of us were not able to read. David was in a position to begin communication and advocacy in his own way."

For Richards-Calahan, Strother was a communication conduit for the Black community through his shop. It's a familiar path that continues today insofar as information still spreads through Black barber shops and beauty salons in a way that creates community.

Venturing to the lower level of the museum, visitors come across a classroom where groups discuss suffrage history and do art projects at work stations. The area doubles as a space for archiving —something Ulrich's wife, Courtney, a board member, does. The couple was trained in artifact preservation by the Illinois State Archives. Courtney used her training to pore through fire detritus from the building's attic. She's already used her new skills to restore some documents from the 1800s.

While board members continually search for more Strother artifacts, the nonprofit organization already has myriad items that center the democratic action that is voting — everything from an Illinois voting handbook from 1941, to parlor vases once owned by women's suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony, to antique ballot boxes.

The exhibits illuminate the history and challenges Americans of different backgrounds have overcome in exercising their right to vote.

There is one on voting in the Jim Crow South, complete with an interactive literacy test — once used to keep Black folks from voting. Another details the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prevented Chinese immigrants from voting by barring them from U.S. citizenship.

The restored barbershop makes visitors slow down to take in the vintage details, from photos to tools of the barbering trade. Lancaster sourced the materials from Theo A. Kochs Co. of Chicago.

While visitors can follow Strother's trajectory as a historical figure inside the museum, outside the museum's confines, Strother's legacy continues to manifest in a variety of ways.

Since 2023, April 4 has been designated David Strother Day in Illinois. The museum board is currently raising funds for headstones to mark the graves of Strother's family members.

Voters can check their registration status and find their polling sites on-site now, but Ulrich envisions the museum as a polling site for election days in the future.

“This is the start,” Brian Ulrich said. “Unless you were a white, land-owning male, you had to fight for your rights to vote. We want to tell these stories.”

This museum's stories begin from an Indigenous standpoint, one of colonizers grabbing already occupied land, and continue to enslaver ships landing on North American shores. Richards-Calahan says the Project XV Museum starts with their right to humanity.

"People probably expect to start a museum about voting history with the country's founding documents. But, we wanted them to walk in the territory of people who've had to fight for their right to vote first, because that's really where the story begins," Brian Ulrich said.

Having given tours to both Democrats and Republicans, Ulrich said both parties had good things to say about the experience. “There’s a Venn diagram of Republicans and Democrats who share values that they saw represented and things that they like,” he said. “That’s encouraging for the idea of ‘Can we all ever get back together and find common ground as Americans?’ It seems like a yes.”

Lowry, the Peoria mom, said she would go back for another visit.

“This would be a good trip for the younger kids ... your third through fifth graders,” she said. “It (the museum) had depth to it that I wasn’t expecting ... they can learn from it. It’s worth a follow-up.”

BIDEN

from Page A1

voting.

"I will not bury my head in the sand and pretend that I cannot read a calendar," Faruqui said, alluding to the proximity of the charges to the elections, which will determine control of Congress for the last two years of the Republican president's second term.

Prosecutors had accused the two former FBI officials of falsely downplaying to Congress their knowledge of investigations into President Joe Biden's son and of a laptop the younger Biden dropped off at a computer repair shop in Delaware in 2019.

But Faruqui said the Justice Department had failed to establish in its complaint that any statements made during 2023 testimony were intentionally false and had affected lawmakers' investigation of Hunter Biden or that the former officials had any motive to deceive.

“Without motive, without direct evidence, I have nothing” to go on, Faruqui said to establish probable cause needed to affirm the complaint.

Lawyers for Floris, who after the ruling hugged supporters outside the courtroom, said the “so-called prosecution was nothing more than a politically motivated smear campaign aimed at scoring political points before the midterm elections."

"The charges brought under the clearly discredited authority of the Department of Justice should never have been brought in the first place," the attorneys said in a statement.

The dismissal followed a dramatic three-day hearing last week in which an FBI agent who had been assigned to investigate the case conceded that the inquiry had been regarded around his office as something of a “witch hunt” and that he himself had regarded it as a “huge distraction” from his ordinary case work.

The agent, Bryan Witt, said the investigation had been opened one day after a prime-time election security speech from Trump in which he rehashed longstanding grievances over his 2020 loss to Joe Biden, a Democrat. He said the investigation was assigned to his Kansas City, Missouri, office and that Patel, a close Trump ally, demanded and received constant updates — something Witt said was unusual.

Recounting the pressure to deliver that Witt said he operated under, Faruqui faulted the Trump administration for a rushed investigation that undermined the results.

"The rush to charge led to critical mistakes," he said. Among the errors the magistrate cited was that the complaint said that the two officials had provided sworn testimony to the Republican-led House Judiciary

Committee when they were not under oath.

The judge's concerns about the case were apparent almost immediately, when he raised questions about why the Justice Department had charged the case through a criminal complaint — which is more typically done when investigators have a pressing need to take a defendant into custody — as opposed to an indictment that requires a grand jury's approval.

Last week, the Justice Department failed to secure a grand jury indictment against Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House staffer who provided dramatic but disputed testimony against Trump before a House committee investigating the

Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection.

Then, at a preliminary hearing last week, Faruqui criticized the Justice Department for filing overnight an amended complaint with an additional criminal charge straight to the docket instead of first clearing the new charge with the court — something he said he had never seen before.

The case centers on a laptop that the Justice Department says Hunter Biden abandoned at a Wilmington, Delaware, computer repair shop in 2019. The laptop's existence was publicly disclosed in October 2020 with a New York Post story that reported on some of the laptop's contents.

[EDITORIALS] Today it's up to the voters. At last

Whatever the results, you'll be grateful to be free of the attack ads

Election official Joanna Dadajewska, center, helps a voter submit her ballot on Monday, the day before Election Day, at the Chicago Public Library in Lincoln Park. EILEEN T. MESLAR/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

BILL BRAMHALL

We imagine many voters casting their ballots today are breathing a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in their necks and shoulders loosen as they feed their ballot into the scanner and wave goodbye to the friendly election judge at the exit.

It's over. Thank goodness. It's been a long, nasty election season.

For months now, so much vitriol crept into our TVs, interrupting the Bears or your favorite college football team with a special message from a super PAC or a partisan looking to score points by smearing their opponents. Our mailboxes were littered with so much campaign literature it's become tempting to use it as fuel for the first bonfire of the year.

Not even our phones are safe; groups lobbying for tax hike referendums and politicians trashing the other side's many evils tapped into an oversaturated texting market that has contributed to frustration among the electorate.

The negativity of political ads has been a talking point at dinner tables and newsrooms alike, taking a toll on hope and optimism, which is already shaken by the cost of living. Voters get the sense that politicians aren't running for something, they're running against something.

It's easy to let all of this make you cynical, even to the point of skipping voting altogether. Don't. Staying home only cedes more influence to the political insiders and operatives ginning up all of this toxicity in the first place.

Most of us are used to hearing the tired cliché that this is the biggest election of our lifetimes. We won't get into where 2026 stands in the annals of American political history, but we will say this is a big one. In many parts of the country the sense is that democracy itself is on the ballot.

Consider Alaska. Voters trying to decide on the best candidate for U.S. Senate might be finding the choice more difficult because there are two Dan Sullivans running for that seat against Democrat Mary Peltola. Funny coincidence? Not so, as an explosive story from The New York Times reported.

Republican Dan S. Sullivan is a longtime U.S. senator. Running against him, in addition to Peltola, is one Dan J. Sullivan Jr., who appears to have been aided by an underhanded Democratic effort to sabotage the Republican incumbent, according to the Times, though the candidate himself denies being recruited.

Voters deserve more than political gamesmanship and low cunning. But them's the breaks, unfortunately, and now it is incumbent upon Alaskans to do their homework to ensure they vote for the candidate they actually intend to support.

Alaska isn't the only place where we observe people treating the electoral process as something to manipulate rather than protect.

In California, a federal judge last week temporarily ordered the Trump administration to stop threatening election officials with prosecution and demanding that certain ballots be set aside.

"One of the hallmarks of a fair election is the freedom to exercise the right to vote free from threat, fear, or intimidation," Judge Trina Thompson wrote in her ruling.

Correct. Investigating justified suspicion about noncitizen voting is a legitimate governmental responsibility. But the judge took issue with the administration's broad efforts to pressure election officials into setting aside ballots from thousands of allegedly ineligible voters, including through threats of criminal prosecution.

Then there are the wild cards.

Our neighbors in Michigan were thrown for a loop this weekend when U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens came out in support of Republican Mike Rogers instead of her fellow Democrat, Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated Stevens in the hotly contested primary. Stevens had endorsed El-Sayed after her primary loss, but tensions flared over a controversial advertisement from an outside political group linking grocery prices to U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza. Stevens condemned the ad as antisemitic and demanded that El-Sayed disavow it. He said his campaign had nothing to do with the ad and disagreed with its contents. Still, the dispute unraveled their uneasy alliance.

“I do not belong in Abdul’s campaign,” she said in a post on X.

"I do not stand with Hasan Piker, who gets trafficked on our college campuses."

“What our students see, what our children see and who we are as Michiganders is not hate and is not what we are getting out from (the) Democratic nominee right now,” she added.

In response, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries shared that the Democrats will consider “next steps” for Stevens when Congress reconvenes. Other high-profile Democrats also spoke out against Stevens.

"If you're not on board and supporting Democrats taking over the United States Senate, you should just be quiet," Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday in response to the drama in Michigan. We're not so sure most folks would agree with that strongly worded opinion. Indeed, Michigan voters simply should decide for themselves what to take into account, including Stevens' about-face.

Bramhall'26

NYDN

Closer to home, Illinois voters are choosing a new U.S. senator to replace the retiring Dick Durbin, while a slew of open congressional seats led to the most crowded March primaries we've seen in years. The stakes are substantial, even in districts where the general election outcome appears all but certain. And then there's Illinois' 4th Congressional District, where residents have seen their own version of political gamesmanship.

As we've written previously, retiring U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García effectively cleared the path for his chief of staff, Patty García, to secure the Democratic nomination without a competitive primary. We found Patty García to be a genuine, likable person with an impressive story of individual achievement. She told us she wishes she didn't have to carry what she described as a “scarlet letter” because of the circumstances surrounding her nomination. We wish the same, not least because Chuy García's last-minute retirement announcement denied Democratic voters a meaningful primary. It saddens us when the political class does not respect voters.

And don't forget the races for the Illinois General Assembly. Democrats have long enjoyed supermajorities in both chambers, leaving Republicans with relatively little leverage to challenge the majority's agenda. We've argued that Springfield would benefit from more political balance, more vigorous debate and greater accountability.

If you live in Chicago, you've got to do your civic duty, if for no other reason than this is your first shot at voting for a fully elected Chicago Board of Education. The battle for these seats is in many ways a continuation of the 2023 mayoral election, when the Chicago Teachers Union helped propel one of its own to the Fifth Floor. Now the CTU is fighting for influence over the school board, with Common Ground Collective, funded in large part by billionaire Michael Sacks, serving as a counterweight to the union's efforts.

But amid the political maneuvering, the candidates themselves have plenty of ideas — good and bad alike — and if you're still uncertain about whom to back, we've got plenty to offer in our endorsements.

If you're not in Chicago, but live in a suburb facing school district referendums, don't overlook issues farther down the ballot. Doing so would mean missing out on the chance to weigh in on whether your property taxes should go up to fund more school district spending.

Once the results are in, there will be plenty to parse and likely much change with which to reckon. For now, we can breathe a sigh of relief.

That is, until we turn our attention to the February mayoral elections in Chicago and Evanston.

ON THIS DAY 26 YEARS AGO NAPSTER DEAL SOUNDS SWEET FOR ALL

A deal between besieged Napster and one of its besiegers may rescue not only the music-sharing Web site, but the recording industry as well. Standing in the way of the pact's success are fans who want the tunes without paying the piper.

means without royalties for artists or profits for record companies.

Napster is the Internet service that allows its users to exchange computer files of recorded music. About 38 million users have shared songs without cost, which also

Copyright law allows artists to protect and earn a living from their creations....

But ever since the rise of MP3 software—which allows the recording and sharing of music files, and makes Napster possible—the industry has been in a genuine tizzy. Of course it has. Look at the size of the audience gained by Napster, a Web site that is less than two years old.

The industry's first reaction was to try to stomp out the intruders. ... Those legal actions, however, ignored the fans' message: They like acquiring music in a fast, easy—and cheap—way.

Tuesday's deal between Napster and Bertelsmann, the giant German music company, responds to the message. Bertelsmann, one of five firms that sued Napster, will pay the Web site to develop software that will allow it to charge for use of the site. That fee, possibly as low as \$5 a month, will be used to pay royalties and bring profit to the two companies.

The deal hasn't yet been approved by the other record firms that are suing Napster. ... But the deal is a good sign.

Though even newer file-sharing software programs may be more difficult for the music companies to corral, the Napster deal sets a model for cooperation.

Head-knocker fans have been shouting, “The music should be free, man,” ever since they trashed the fences at the first Woodstock. But cooler heads know things of value come for a price.

\- Tribune editorial board, Nov. 3, 2000

The Latino swing vote in 2026 and beyond

By Oswaldo Alvarez

SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

Sofia Paloma, a volunteer canvasser with the election outreach organization Mano A Mano, passes information through the door to a man in North Chicago on Oct. 24. Mano A Mano works to encourage people to vote, regardless of their political allegiance. ARTHUR MAIORELLA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Across the country, political analysts are increasingly describing Latinos as America's new swing vote. Much of the attention has focused on changing political preferences and which party will receive the Latino vote. But this discussion overlooks important changes taking place in Latino communities, particularly their growing economic influence.

In Chicago, the evidence is clear.

The recently released “Latino Chicago and the Future of the City” report, produced by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute in partnership with the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation, documents significant economic changes across Latino communities here at home in Chicago. They are a reflection of us on a national level and what it will mean for the future of politics in Chicago, Illinois and our nation.

Nearly one-third of Latino households now earn \$100,000 or more annually, up from approximately one-fifth a decade earlier. The share of Latino adults with a bachelor's degree or higher has also increased from 12.6% to 20.4%. These changes point to a growing Latino middle class, even as many families continue to face challenges related to housing costs, wages and economic opportunity.

In 2024,16 primarily Latino commercial corridors generated approximately \$1.76 billion in taxable sales. These commercial districts support jobs, businesses and neighborhood economies throughout Chicago.

Yet how often are these contributions central to discussions about Chicago's economic development? As the city and region develop strategies for growth and investment, are Latino communities receiving the attention their economic contributions warrant?

Chicago's economic changes are occurring alongside a major demographic shift. In 1950, the city had approximately 3.1 million white residents and an estimated 53,500 Latinos. By 2020, its non-Hispanic white population stood at approximately 864,000, while its Latino population had grown to more than 819,000.

Between 2000 and the American Community Survey's 2019 to 2023 period, Chicago lost more than 188,000 residents, while its Latino population increased by more than 48,000, reaching approximately 802,000, or nearly $30\%$ of the city.

Chicago's Latino population is also younger than its Black and white populations. Nearly $54\%$ of Latinos are younger than 35, compared with $46\%$ of Black residents and $45.4\%$ of white residents. More than one-quarter of Latino Chicagoans are younger than 18, compared with $21.6\%$ of Black residents and $12.5\%$ of white residents.

These differences matter politically. As younger Latinos enter the workforce, establish households and become eligible to vote, they will account for a growing share of Chicago's electorate.

Economic differences in Latino communities also complicate assumptions about their political preferences. A small business owner, a union worker, a young professional and a family struggling to afford housing may share cultural or community ties, but their economic circumstances and policy priorities can differ considerably. Latino voters cannot be understood as a single political constituency.

The 2024 presidential election brought these differences into sharper focus. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately $48\%$ of Latino voters supported the current president. But that figure represents Latinos who voted, not the entire eligible Latino electorate.

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, only 50.6% of eligible Latino citizens voted in 2024, compared with 59.6% of Black citizens and 70.5% of non-Hispanic white citizens. Nearly half of eligible Latino voters did not participate.

Chicago's experience is particularly revealing. A 2023 analysis by researchers at the UIC Great Cities Institute found that only 20.5% of registered Latino voters participated in the city's mayoral runoff election, compared with 29% of registered Black voters and 61.1% of registered white voters. Nearly 4 out of 5 registered Latino voters did not cast a ballot.

These numbers raise an important question: What does it mean when a community represents nearly $30\%$ of Chicago's population, generates substantial economic activity and yet has such comparatively low electoral participation?

These changes extend beyond Chicago. More than 2 million Latinos live across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties, with nearly 1.25 million residing outside the city. The Latino electorate is growing and changing throughout metropolitan Chicago, not just within city limits.

For the Illinois Legislative

Latino Caucus Foundation, these findings underscore the importance of understanding Latino communities beyond population numbers or voting preferences. Their economic circumstances are changing, their contributions are substantial and their priorities cannot be reduced to a single political identity.

Latinos are increasingly described as swing voters, but that label tells only part of the story. Chicago's Latino communities have become a larger and more economically diverse part of the region, even as electoral participation remains comparatively low. The question is not simply which way Latinos will vote, but whether Chicago's economic and political institutions are keeping pace with the communities helping shape its future.

Oswaldo Alvarez is executive director of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation.

Scholarly organization's Israel perspective fails commitment to inclusion

By Nancy Koppelman

SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

The Israeli flag flies along a seaside promenade as pedestrians pass by Oct. 25 in Tel Aviv, Israel. DAVID GOLDMAN/AP

The American Studies Association (ASA) recently held its annual conference at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel. The ASA's mission and history statement claims a commitment "to the study and teaching of U.S. history and culture from multiple perspectives." But the conference program reflected only one perspective about Israel.

The sessions included 23 that reference Palestine with titles such as “Dezionizing the U.S. University,” “Zionism Is Racism: Introducing the Critical Zionism Studies Syllabus,” “Against Zionist and White Nationalist Attacks on the Academy,” and “Resisting Zionism: Anticolonial Feminist Pedagogy and Practice.” These sessions raise important questions. How does this academic association reconcile its commitment to “multiple perspectives” with programming that presented only one political perspective on a complex topic of importance to most American Jews? And for scholars with significant ties to Israel, what was it like to be at a professional conference that only portrayed such ties as corrupt?

According to Pew Research Center reporting in 2020, for about 80% of American Jews, "caring about Israel is an essential or important part of what being Jewish means to them." Where was that perspective at the ASA conference?

This blatant bias in the substance of American studies scholarship was set in motion over a decade ago. In 2013, the ASA was one of the first major American scholarly associations to endorse an academic boycott of Israel. Supporters claimed solidarity with Palestinians and insisted that the target was institutions, not individuals. And indeed, at the annual meeting immediately following the vote, my proposal for a session challenging the boycott was accepted. The session was well attended by members on both sides of the issue.

This year's program renewed and amplified those concerns. The implications of the boycott vote now extend far beyond academic relationships between institutions. Sessions on reshaping universities and introducing anti-Zionist syllabi reveal ambitions to carry the boycott into curricula and campus life in ways that have a direct impact on individuals. How will American studies students learn the whole story of Israel, which includes its importance to American Jews? What we are seeing is a blatant effort to keep knowledge about Israel, a bona fide country, away from people.

Criticism of Israel's leadership, policies and politicians is certainly legitimate. In fact, many Israelis are deeply critical of their government. But Zionism, broadly understood as the reconstitution of a thriving Jewish society in the Jews' ancestral homeland, is integral to the identities of most Jews around the world. Blanket condemnation ignores Israel's established legitimacy on the world stage: its admission to the United Nations in 1949 and recognition, at present, by 164 of the world's 195 countries. Programming that repeatedly presents Zionism — which usually means "Israel" — as something universities must work to eradicate leaves little room for inquiry that challenges those premises. It also leaves little room for reality. In many ways, the ideology of Zionism itself has run its course. There is a country now.

An academic climate that fosters inquiry and inclusion is still possible. At that conference after the boycott, I spoke with a graduate school acquaintance who had voted for it. We had a serious, honest conversation over lunch and parted on friendly terms, agreeing to disagree. Two years ago, I gave a talk about antisemitism at the university where that colleague now holds a leadership position. To my surprise, they introduced me by recalling our conversation and explaining that, after years of reflection, they had concluded that their vote had been wrong.

The Academic Engagement Network and the Anti-Defamation League recently called on

ASA leadership to affirm that Jewish and Zionist scholars belong in the organization. ASA leadership should create meaningful opportunities for “multiple perspectives” about Israel to be taken seriously, and ensure a welcoming professional climate for all American studies scholars.

If the ASA favors conformity rather than diverse independent thinking, it fails by any standard of academic reliability. In fact, it is no longer a scholarly organization at all.

Nancy Koppelman is a professor at The Evergreen State College, adviser to the Academic Engagement Network and a Jewish studies educator.

OPINION

What Trump should do now that his Brazilian ally has been defeated

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addresses supporters during a victory rally after winning a fourth term in the presidential runoff in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Oct. 25. NATACHA PISARENKO/AP

What Trump should do now that his Brazilian ally has been defeated

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addresses supporters during a victory rally after winning a fourth term in the presidential runoff in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Oct. 25. NATACHA PISARENKO/AP

Daniel DePetris

On Oct. 25, President Donald Trump saw his string of consecutive election victories in Latin America broken. After what looked to be a resounding win for Trump's ally, far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, in the first round of voting for Brazilian president, incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made a stunning comeback to win his fourth term in office. Lula, who has been a mainstay of Brazilian politics since the 1980s, won by more than 3 percentage points.

But the drama didn't end there. Bolsonaro suddenly found himself exposed to ongoing criminal investigations that were dogging him throughout the campaign. Rather than fight the charges, he fled to the United States with his family. Trump granted the Bolsonaro family a visa to stay on U.S. soil, and one of Trump's aides reportedly helped charter the jet that took the Brazilian politician to Miami. If this sounds familiar, that's because it is. In January 2023, Jair Bolsonaro, Flávio's father, absconded to Florida after getting bested by Lula months earlier. He later returned, was arrested and eventually convicted for trying to prevent Lula from entering office.

Flávio Bolsonaro's own self-imposed exile comes at a tricky time for relations between the United States and Brazil, the Western Hemisphere's two largest economies. Part of the trouble comes down to personality. Washington and Brasília are led by two men who are strong-headed ideological opposites, have an altogether different conception of what a healthy bilateral relationship looks like and spent the last two years taking shots at the other. That dynamic might get worse before it gets better. When asked what he thought about the Brazilian presidential election, Trump called it "rigged" and "a great embarrassment to the people of Brazil."

Bolsonaro's escape to Miami is not going to help dampen the animosity. Indeed, it may just create more problems.

From the moment Trump was inaugurated for his second term, he viewed Lula's Brazil as an impediment to his regional agenda. That agenda included restricting illegal immigration to the United States to the lowest level possible, embarking on a regionwide military campaign against cartels and drug trafficking networks, minimizing China's power in the Western Hemisphere and building a network of far-right governments throughout Latin America.

Up until Lula's reelection last month, Trump was getting most of what he wanted. His far-right allies, from Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia to Nasry Asfura in Honduras, were gaining political power and proving to be eager partners in Trump's war on drugs. Some, such as Ecuador's Daniel Noboa, even agreed to bring U.S. troops into the country and authorized joint military operations with Washington against traffickers.

But Lula's agenda simply didn't square with any of that. The Brazilian perceived Trump's labeling of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations as a prelude to U.S. military interventionism. He refused to outsource Brazil's foreign policy to the Trump administration. And whereas Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarded China as an intrusive non-hemispheric power that needed to be tamed (or, better yet, expelled), Lula saw the Asian economic powerhouse as a key pole in his wider doctrine of multi-alignment, in which Brazil established positive relations with all the world's major powers in order to give itself maximum flexibility.

It didn't take long for Trump and Lula to clash. In the summer of 2025, the Trump administration slapped $50\%$ tariffs on Brazilian products entering the U.S. market, arguing that the measure was an appropriate response to the Brazilian government's unfair trade practices and what it termed "persecution" of Jair Bolsonaro for an attempted coup (many of those tariffs were rescinded by Trump months later after it became clear they were contributing to high grocery prices in the United States). U.S. sanctions were levied on individual Brazilian judges responsible for Bolsonaro's legal case, and their U.S. visas were stripped too.

Later on, as the South American country's presidential campaign began, Trump met with Flávio Bolsonaro and shortly thereafter labeled two of Brazil's largest criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations. Lula's team branded this specific decision as one more example of U.S. meddling in Brazil's internal affairs and an acceleration of Trump's bid to make Lula's administration look soft on crime, one of the biggest issues on the minds of Brazilian voters.

None of it worked. Lula is now preparing for a fourth term. Jair Bolsonaro is trapped at home, the subject of a 27-year sentence after being convicted on coup charges. And his oldest son is trying to pick up the pieces in Miami.

The question now is whether Trump will continue to sulk about Brazil's election results or try to find a way forward. If he wants to be a statesman, he should opt for the latter. Brazil is too important a country for the United States to alienate, particularly when

the country has found a way to neutralize U.S. tariffs by engaging in more business with Beijing.

There are several straightforward but helpful things Trump can do to smooth the waters. None of it will cost the United States anything. First, the Trump administration should issue an official congratulatory message to Lula for his victory and state that while the United States thinks Brazil's election wasn't run smoothly, it will accept the results. Second, the State Department should say that it will reinstate the visa it pulled from Brazil's ambassador in Washington if Brasília allows its own ambassador to start working. Finally, Trump should tell Flávio Bolsonaro that he's welcome in the United States so long as he doesn't use those privileges to undermine U.S. policy in Brazil. Trump should also be prepared to enforce that directive if the Bolsonaros violate it.

The U.S.-Brazil relationship shouldn't be held captive to ego.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Tribune.

Voice of the People

Cook County budget priorities

Everyday people are facing rising costs for basic necessities and have to make difficult decisions on where to spend their limited money. Cook County, with a projected \$550.7 million budget gap, faces a similar struggle. With President Donald Trump limiting access to benefits such as healthcare, housing and food assistance, the county should prioritize funding programs in these areas and others that contribute to community wellness and safety, such as violence prevention, behavioral health and community investments. This is not only the moral thing to do; it's also a smart investment strategy.

Cook County state's attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke speaks to Cook County commissioners during her 2026 budget hearing in the Cook County Board room in the County Building on Thursday. EILEEN T. MESLAR/TRIBUNE

Consider the county's strategy in crime reduction. Choosing a preventive approach over a reactive one that relied on the criminal legal system, the county implemented reforms redefining approaches to public safety, including investing in community-based violence prevention and intervention. This paid off: Pretrial jailing has decreased by nearly $40\%$ since 2013, and crime rates continue to fall.

Despite these reductions, the state's attorney's budget has increased by $75\%$ in the past 10 years. Continuing to increase this budget does not make fiscal sense. It is also contrary to the county's best interests, as State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke's policies threaten to reverse the gains made from the county's commitments to holistic and restorative approaches to gun violence and community safety.

Burke lowered the \$1,000 threshold for felony retail theft charges to \$300, exposing more of the county's poor to felony convictions and their lifelong adverse effects. Felony retail theft filings almost tripled, jail admissions increased by 71% and prison admissions more than doubled.

For many gun charges and felony domestic violence cases, Burke has taken away discretion from prosecutors, forcing them to file detention requests regardless of the facts of a case, characteristics of the accused or wishes of a survivor. This is particularly troubling considering she is also allowing police — who have a history of misconduct and targeting Black and brown people in traffic stops — to directly file charges in many gun cases.

Burke's policy changes have caused pretrial jailing to increase, even when people do not pose a safety risk, costing the county hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pretrial jailing disrupts families, destabilizes communities and increases the likelihood of recidivism, all of which clearly compromise — rather than protect — public safety.

The Cook County Board should not fund these harmful policies. Instead, it must focus on essential health and human services that result in significantly better public safety outcomes.

— Cathryn Crawford, senior policy adviser, Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice, Chicago

Gov. JB Pritzker's record

Regarding Dan Petrella's article "Happy warrior' seeks 3rd term" (Oct. 30): Is it wise for Gov. JB Pritzker to run for a third term "on his record"?

Illinois has more than \$200 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, with Illinois taxpayers potentially on the hook for the liabilities. WalletHub recently ranked Illinois the state with the highest state and local tax rates in the nation. Last year, the Illinois Policy Institute reported that only two other states were pushing more of their residents to other places in the country.

Pritzker can run on his record, while Illinois runs on empty.

— Terry Takash, Western Springs

Better uses for the money

I realize it is naive to think so, but can you imagine all of the good that could be accomplished with the monies that politicians spend each cycle on slur campaigns, annoying robocalls and attack ads? — Jim Galin, Hinsdale

Maybe reduce the taxes

Regarding the editorial “Illinois Lockbox was always lousy idea. 10 years later, it’s hitting Cook County’s budget” (Oct. 30): If the Illinois Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment is overfunded by fuel taxes and driver’s license facilities fees, why aren’t the taxes and fees being reduced?

Juan Chapa, Lisle

Unions rule over politicians

The Tribune Editorial Board argues, justifiably and convincingly, that “the days of extraordinary public-sector union wage hikes must end” (Oct. 27).

Surely, the editorial board understands the fundamental problem that virtually ensures its wish will never come true: To wit, the unions representing public employees are negotiating with the very people they put in office. This is true in much of the country, but perhaps nowhere as much as it is in Chicago and Cook County. The politicians know who put them in office and most assuredly don't want to risk that the gravy train of public union money and manpower will start heading in another direction.

We can dream all we want about “the people” having the power to determine who their public officials will be, but with an increasingly distracted electorate taking its cue from expensive and ubiquitous advertising, it is the public employee unions that really decide which pols hold office, certainly in Chicago and Cook County. Therefore, when it comes time to negotiate union contracts, self-interested politicians — is there any other kind? — are going to do what their public union sugar daddies demand.

\- Mark M. Quinn, Naperville

Encouraging misconceptions

Shame on the Tribune Editorial Board for running such an inflammatory cartoon in the Oct. 26 edition, implying that Socialism (with a capital S) is being promoted in the United States by some candidates. There are already too many misconceptions surrounding Socialism and social democracy. Fear tactics are being used in this current campaign season to lead voters to believe that democratic socialist candidates are advocating Socialism in this country, scaring Americans into thinking that democratic socialists want to turn our country into a country like China or North Korea. But that is absolutely not the case.

Democratic socialists are advocating for regulated capitalism, more worker participation and a living wage, a robust welfare system, universal healthcare and high-quality public schools, among other things. Basically, an equitable society where everyone has access to opportunities and quality of life. Not a society where the wealthy have everything and the poor and the middle class struggle.

It is shameful that the Tribune Editorial Board has chosen to promote this false and dangerous notion.

— Judy Weik, Oak Park

Democrats and affordability

Affordability is on the mind of most voters, and the Democrats are trying their best to convince those voters that the problem is President Donald Trump and the Republicans. But what solutions are they offering? Capitalizing to Iran? How will that lower prices?

The Democrats are the party of higher taxes and restrictions on businesses, both of which will make “affordability” worse than it is now. Voters may be unhappy with Trump, but giving power to the Democrats is like jumping out of the frying pan and right into the fire.

— David Howard, Rockford

Huerta's life-changing example

In 1969, when I was 16 years old, I visited the United Farm Workers' Boycott House in San Francisco. I was meeting with boycott organizers to launch activities at my high school. As I toured the offices, I met Dolores Huerta. Even though she was small and slight, her image looms large in my mind because that night changed my life's trajectory. Our high school group collected support for the grape and lettuce boycott campaigns. We stood up to right-wing bullies and harassment. We were inspired by Huerta's example.

Later, I dedicated myself to the goals of organizing and teaching workers about their rights, labor history and socialism. I joined with rank-and-file efforts with the Bay Area Teamsters Union, the Oil Workers Union and the Seattle College American Federation of Teachers. It's been a life well lived. I look forward to doing more.

Thank you to Huerta.

— John Martinez, Chicago

For online-exclusive letters, go to www.chicagotribune.com/letters. Email your letter submissions, 400 words or less, to letters@chicago tribune.com. Include your full name, address and phone number.

Violence prevention leader fatally shot outside office

By Caroline Kubzansky

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

The leader of a South Side violence prevention organization was killed outside his south suburban office late Saturday, according to a Chicago alderman and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Andre Thomas, who led the Englewood-based Integrity & Fidelity NFP, was shot to death around 9:30 p.m. on the 400 block of West 14th Street, per the medical examiner's office. He was 57. An autopsy conducted Sunday ruled his death a homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds.

Chicago Heights police said no one was in custody in connection with Thomas' killing as of Monday morning and that the homicide investigation was continuing.

Police representatives said their officers had responded to a gunshot detection alert and found a man, later identified as Thomas, with multiple gunshot wounds, according to an Oct. 31 news release. The department asked both the Illinois State Police and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force to join the investigation, the release said. Integrity & Fidelity staff didn't immediately return requests for comment.

Thomas is at least the fourth violence prevention worker to be shot in the last month, a few weeks after two staff members and a “peacekeeper” with New Life Centers were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Little Village, where the organization is based.

Ald. David Moore, 17th, called Thomas' death an “unimaginable loss” in a social media post. Moore's ward, which covers Englewood, West Englewood, Auburn Gresham, West Chatham and Chicago Lawn, is a main focus area for Integrity and Fidelity, which hires people with longstanding connections to street violence to try and diffuse conflicts before they escalate into shootings. Moore said that Thomas' relationships ran deep, and he was able to leverage that history to “prevent things things that never came out in the media."

Chicago Ald. David Moore, 17th, called the killing of Andre Thomas, right, an “unimaginable loss” in a social media post early Monday morning. Thomas was the CEO and executive director of the violence prevention organization Integrity & Fidelity NFP, which worked extensively in Moore’s ward. DAVID MOORE

In a June 2025 interview, Thomas said people in his line of work were always “going to be in competition with ourselves.” At the time, the Englewood (7th) police district was seeing a steep drop in shootings and murders, mirroring a citywide decline.

"If we got (the homicide rate) down to 10, we'd (be) trying to end next year with five," he said. "And the same way you get to accept credit when it's good, you have to accept (blame) when it's bad."

CPD data shows that the homicide rate in the Englewood district, while still lower than it was emerging from the pandemic, has nearly doubled from 2025 levels, with 39 people killed in the area through Oct. 25. By the same point in 2025, 20 people had been killed.

Moore said that Thomas' death meant that "we're missing a strong piece" in the area's public safety ecosystem.

"He was respected out there," Moore said. "He was able to touch a lot of these shooters, prevent things."

Chicago Tribune Death Notices

Chicago Tribune extends our condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have passed.

Death Notices

chicagotribune.com/deathnotice

Frawley, Thomas Patrick Tom

Thomas P. "Tom" Frawley, 60, of Hallandale Beach, Florida, passed away at home on October 16, 2026. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 11, 1966.

Tom was a character in the best sense of the word, and anyone who knew him knew he had a really big heart. He was always willing to help anyone who needed it, and he gave generously to many charities throughout his life.

Tom is survived by his fiancée, Donna Adams; his brother, Robert Frawley Jr.; and his sisters, Amy Nunn (Larry Bell), Laura Gatz (Dan), and Mary Klockner (Steve). He will also be deeply missed by many nieces and nephews, including: Jason Frawley (Kelle Caponi) and children Jessa, Averie, and Kyler; Krystal Frawley and children Julian, Lucas, and Andrew; Emily Burkes (Kelly) and children Jillian and Sean; Erin Ritter (Nick) and children Evelyn and Norah; Amanda Mistretta (Anthony) and children Phineas and Sterling and Matthew and Madeline Klockner.

Grady, III, Leonard W.

With gratitude for a life so vividly lived, Leonard W. Grady, Ill., aka "Pogo," died on November 2, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. Born on October 7, 1952, he brought his own unmistakable spirit to every chapter of his life. Charming, funny, irreverent, and always the life of the party, Leonard will be deeply missed by those who knew him well. He will be remembered with affection and a smile.

Leonard enjoyed his career in administration at the Chicago Board of Education. He found lasting pleasure in writing poetry and in listening to jazz, R&B, and pop music of the 70s. He was an ardent Bears and Bulls fan. These interests reflected a life filled with creativity, joy, and personality. He grew up attending Eighth Church of Christ, Scientist, an important part of his life and community.

Leonard was preceded in death by his father, Leonard W. Grady, Jr.; his mother, Mary E. Grady; and his sister, Mary E. Grady. He is remembered by his brother, Graham Grady; his nieces, Mary Grady (Blake Wasz) and Elizabeth Grady (Jeremiah Sheehy); and his cousins, Diane Renfroe (Michael Smith), Stephen Renfroe (Cheryl Burruss), Jane Westby, Pete Grady (Natalie), and Robert Grady.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 8, at 11:00 a.m. at the Chicago Club, 81 E Van Buren, Chicago, with a repast to follow. Zoom participation is available: Call 312-836-4036.

In Leonard's memory, gifts may be made to Lions Club International Foundation.

'Shining star': Carol Stream teen killed in mass shooting

Giana Dettloff, 19, of Carol Stream was one of nine people shot in the backyard of a home near the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University, where she was visiting a close friend, authorities said Sunday.

By Steve Zalusky and Susan Sarkauskas

DAILY HERALD

A recent Glenbard North High School graduate and North Central College student killed in a mass shooting early Sunday at a Halloween party in downstate Bloomington was remembered Monday for a contagious smile, her genuine kindness and an ability to light up a room.

Several of the other shooting victims hail from the suburbs, police said, including an 18-year-old Carol Stream woman who was hospitalized but upgraded from critical condition to stable Monday; another 18-year-old woman from Carol Stream who suffered a leg injury and was in stable condition Monday; a 19-year-old woman from Woodridge, also hospitalized and upgraded Monday from critical to stable; and a 19-year-old Hoffman Estates woman who was treated and released from a hospital Sunday.

Death Notices

Dettloff family spokesman Robert Vrankovich recalled Giana as a positive person who would bring others together.

“She was a woman who would walk in the room, always smiling, always positive, and literally was the shining star of the room,” he said.

Mary and other family members who preceded him in death. Jim was born on May 18, 1936, to the late Cecilie (Voel) and James Charles Koller in Chicago; however, Cecilie passed away shortly after Jim's birth. Jim was raised by his father, a Chicago Firefighter, and his loving stepmother Esther (Björn), on Chicago's southside, near West Englewood. Jim attended William Rainey Harper High School in Chicago, IL, graduating in 1954. While in high school Jim worked as a golf caddie at The Beverly Country Club in Chicago. As a caddie, Jim was awarded by the Western Golf Association a scholarship from the Evans Scholar Foundation enabling Jim to pursue a college education. In 1958, Jim graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. To follow onto a 1963 interview with Jim for the Purdue Engineer, variety was the spice of his life. In 1958, Jim joined Standard Oil of Indiana (later Amoco) where he worked on reactor design, development problems and technical research. Throughout Jim's career with Amoco, Jim lead refining technology, operations and safety, from the refinery in Whiting, IN, Mandan, ND, to the Amoco Research Center in Naperville to corporate leadership roles at the Amoco Building (Aon Center). Jim was very fond of his Amoco days where he met his wife of 53 years, the late Mary Jo (Greenock), in an Amoco carpool, made many friends, traveled globally and especially enjoyed the corporate planning retreats at the Red Crown Lodge in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. In 1999, after 41 years and his deep involvement with the Amoco/British Petroleum (BP) merger, Jim retired to his home in Naperville to enjoy family, hobbies and achieve his hole-in-one. Whether that travel was for work or for pleasure, Jim was "in." As a young man, Jim traveled with friends to ski the Alps and visit the Caribbean. As a family, they traveled the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Europe. After retirement, Jim and Mary visited Scotland and Ireland, New Zealand, Alaska, the Panama Canal and more, and were "snowbirds" on the Gulf Coast of Florida where he and Mary enjoyed many rounds of golf. Jim most enjoyed the serenity of his 40 acres "up north" where he would drive the 1923 Ford Model T up and down Old Route B, visit lifelong friends at the dairy farm and enjoy favorite meals at supper clubs in Iron Mountain, MI and across the Upper Peninsula. The throttle of a race car was equivalent to Jim's pulse. From "Carburetion Day," to qualifying, to race day, Jim was all about the Indianapolis 500, having attended $60+$ races with his father, wife Mary and son Jim. In fact, Jim and his father were at the INDY 500 the weekend that son Jim was born! For Jim's 80th birthday, Jim joined the 200MPH Club with legendary driver Mario Andretti taking him around his beloved Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Jim was a devoted family man for Mary, Jim, and his parents. From working on science fair projects with Jim, to facilitating in later years, all of Mary's care for her heart, and kidney transplant, Jim was the engineer for his family. Jim was a fantastic husband to Mary and father to Jim, and truly a most interesting person to know. He is deeply missed by his family and many friends. Jim leaves behind his son Jim and daughter-in-law, Jayme (Richrath), and his "grandpoodles," Lucy and Bonnie. While Jim loved his Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers, his whole life embodied a quote by the great coach Vince Lombardi, "...I firmly believe that any man's finest hours – his greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear – is that moment when he has worked his heart out in good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious." A visitation will be held on Friday, November 6, 2026, 4:00-8:00 PM at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL 60540. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 10:30 AM in the funeral home, followed by entombment at Naperville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's memory may be made to support the Evans Scholars Foundation at 2501 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview, IL 60026-8022, or online at www.wgaesf.org/memorialgifts For more information, please visit www.friedrich-jones.com or call (630) 355-0213.

Leonard Grady leaves behind the echo of laughter, the pleasure of good music, and the delight of a personality that filled a room. His life is remembered with love, gratitude, and celebration.

Glenbard North High School Principal John Mensik called the Class of 2026 graduate a wonderful student as well as an amazing person.

“She had a contagious smile, brightened up every classroom that she was in,” he said.

Koller, Jr., James C. "Jim"

McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder said the preliminary cause of Dettloff's death

She was a cheerleader, involved in several clubs and a member of the PE peer leader program, which pairs general education students with students with special needs or disabilities.

McKee, Kathleen M.

“She was a role model on the cheerleading team,” Mensik said. “She was genuinely kind and had a way of making everyone she encountered feel important.

"I was looking forward to seeing the great things that she would accomplish in her life," he added.

“Please know that we mourn with you and are here to support you,” he wrote. “Our hearts are also with those injured in the shooting and their loved ones.”

Dettloff continued cheerleading while attending classes at North Central in Naperville. College President Abiódún Gòkè-Pariolá issued a statement to the campus community Monday, saying no words can ease the pain of their loss.

was multiple gunshot wounds in the chest and pelvic region.

Giana Dettloff, shown here graduating from Glenbard North High School earlier this year, was killed early Sunday in a mass shooting at a Halloween party in downstate Bloomington.

GLENBARD NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

James C. "Jim" Koller, Jr., 90, peacefully passed away on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Endeavor Hospital (formerly Edward-Elmhurst Hospital) in Naperville. Jim's loving son, also Jim, steadfastly managed his care, insisting that he receive the best care and was with Dad as he rejoined his beloved wife

Kathleen Mary "Kitty" McKee (nee Kirk), 86, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Born on the Boulevard, Kitty was a proud "Vis" Girl and Loyola University graduate who studied abroad in Rome. She began her career as a teacher before serving for decades as a Chicago Public Schools librarian. Kitty married her soul mate, Dave McKee, in 1968. Together they raised four sons in their beloved Beverly home, which became the unofficial headquarters of the Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band. For more than 50 years, Kitty welcomed countless pipers and drummers to her dining room table and front porch. Kitty loved reading, dogs, BBC mysteries, white wine, bakeries, desserts (especially her award-winning trifle), traveling, Lake Namakagon, her Croatian heritage and, above all, family. A devoted grandmother, loyal friend and faithful Catholic, Kitty never missed a celebration, a chance to gather with friends or an opportunity to show someone she cared. To know Kitty was to adore her. Preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Mary (Japuntich) Kirk, and husband David, Kitty is survived by sons David Jr. (Karen), Daniel (Katie), Matthew (Sue) and Luke (Julie); grandchildren Grace, David III, Martin, Luke II, Hugh, Molly, Moira, Sean, Matthew Jr., Timothy, Sadie Bea and Kevin McKee; and brothers Jim and Frank (Karen) Kirk. Visitation: Thursday, November 5, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Curley Funeral Home, 6116 W. 111th St., Chicago Ridge. Funeral Friday, November 6, 2026, 9:00 a.m. from Curley Funeral Home to Christ the King Church, 9235 S. Hamilton Ave., Chicago, with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Interment: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christ the King-Gleason Fund or Miracles in Progress (miraclesinprogress.org).

Bloomington police Chief Jamal Simington said during a news conference Monday morning that he spent an hour Sunday with Dettloff's parents, who described her as "full of life, a sweet girl with a very bright future, and an athlete."

According to Simington, a police officer was near the scene of the shooting in the 100 block of East Division Street when he heard 10 shots fired at about 1:21 a.m. Sunday. The officer arrived at the scene about a minute later and found a young man suffering from a gunshot wound to his arm, the chief said.

"I witnessed the heartbreak of her parents and other family members when they learned that their daughter had been murdered," he said. "I felt their pain."

Ibarra, Calixto Reyna Tito

The officer proceeded to a shared backyard between homes in the residential neighborhood and discovered additional gunshot victims, Simington said. The victims ranged in age from 16 to 22 years old, and seven of them were female, he added.

Hickey), Leticia (Rick Zambuto), Susan (Mario Guerrero ), and Maria (Patrick Kenny). Grandfather of Jacqueline (Eemahn Haralelli) Patrick (Austin) and John Hickey, Rick (Nicole) and Daniel Zambuto, Nicholas, Joseph (Christine) and Madeline Guerrero, and Eleanor Kenny. Great Grandfather of Charlotte, Alana, Lucy, Cameron, Andres, Katherine, Olivia, and Alea. Favorite uncle of countless nephews and nieces.

Calixto "Tito" Reyna Ibarra 94. Native of Tampico and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Son of the late Pedro Reyna and Gumercinda Ibarra. Beloved husband of the late Bertha Beatriz Cuello Reyna. Brother of the late Sabino, Martin, Maria. Survived by his sisters Celia and Ernestina. Dear father of Bea (Pat

Police have general descriptions of the suspect, or suspects, and detectives are “working diligently” to solve the case, Simington said. No one was in custody as of Monday afternoon.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 3, from 3-8PM and Wednesday, November 4, from 9AM until time of funeral prayers, 9:30AM, at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago. There will be a procession to St. Mary of the Woods Church for a 10AM Funeral Mass. Interment will be at the chapel of All Saints Catholic Cemetery. For info, please call 773-736-3833 or visit www.smithcorcoran.com.

Naperville Sun's Carolyn Stein contributed.

Simington noted that the mass shooting near Illinois Wesleyan was one of several incidents of gunfire near college campuses or at college events over Halloween weekend.

Tito came from a large family. After losing his mother to illness at 7 because penicillin wasn't available, he was sent to live with an aunt and uncle. Tito was restless and had bigger dreams beyond Mexico. He was just 13 when he set out on his journey. He thumbed rides, hopped trucks and trains, and walked north to get closer to his dream. Still a boy, he encountered extreme hardships but Tito's strong will would not allow him to be deterred. In Corpus Christi he met the Sanchez', a large Tejano family, who could use two extra hands for crop picking. They became his surrogate family, as they followed the crops and seasons throughout the US. With friends, he eventually found his way to Chicago because that was where the jobs were. He worked two and three jobs for years to get established in his new world. Eventually he married his grammar school sweetheart in Mexico and brought his new wife to Chicago. They arrived at Union Station in January 1957, and were blessed with four girls. Only Catholic schools were considered for their education and were possible because of his multiple jobs. Home ownership followed, his daughters went to college and his American dream was realized. One of their proudest moments is when they became U.S. citizens. After the bitter strike and closing of Schwinn Bicycles, where he worked for over 30 years, Calixto found employment at Norwegian American Hospital, as a proud member of Local 399 Operating Engineers. His retirement years were blessed with grandchildren, great grandchildren, family vacations, school drop-offs and pickups, tamale parties, homemade pizzas, and barbecues. He loved watching all futbol (soccer) and cheering for El Tri, Chivas, boxing, his great and grandchildren, and helping people, especially immigrants. He never forgot his Mexican roots and how he achieved the American dream. His family is his greatest legacy.

"These events devastate families, harm communities and have no place in a civilized society," he said.

Smith-Corcoran

Funeral Homes · Crematory · Funeral Planning

Others occurred at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana; the University of Delaware; the University of Colorado in Boulder; and at the Magic City Classic football game between Alabama A&M and Alabama State in Birmingham.

Senescu, Maureen

Maureen Senescu, 84, adored daughter of the late Louis and the late Phyllis Senescu; much loved sister of Stuart (Marlene Rubin) Senescu; cherished Auntie Mo of Reid Robert (Alisha Louie) and Dr. Carly

Beth Senescu (Rick Grobart); proud great-aunt of Jane Senescu. Maureen was born Jan 5, 1942, and that may have kept her dad, out of war, although he worked in a war factory as a second job during the war. Maureen attended the University of Illinois, but it wasn't for her and she went to what was then called 'secretarial' school. She had a career as an executive secretary with one of the magazines published by McGraw Hill, the publisher of Business Week. She moved to assisted living at the Weinberg/Gidwitz facility and enjoyed it very much. Her nephew and niece were very important to her and her to them. They called her often and when her grandniece was born, she always wanted to know 'what is Jane doing?' The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone at Weinberg/Gidwitz, Glenview Terrace and Residential Hospice for their care and dedication to Maureen. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jewish United Fund, www.juf.org. Chapel service Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 10:00 AM at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Interment following at Shalom Memorial Park. For information, including a link to view the service online, shiva, and to leave condolences, www.shalommemorial.org or (847) 255-3520

SHALOM MEMORIAL

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Mercer County, IL Land Auction Tuesday, November 24, 2026 at 10:00A.M. 462 Acres± (8 Tracts) These tracts represent outstanding Class A, nearly 100% tillable farmland, as well as a home acreage and bin site. For info, contact managers: Isaac Taber 309-335-8081 & Dan Sullivan 319-795-1833. Sullivan Auctioneers • www.SullivanAuctioneers.com • IL Lic. #444000566 844-847-2161

[Legal Notice] CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY Advertisement for Bids

Sealed bids will be received for the following by Chicago Transit Authority through Electronic Submission to the Bid Office's E-Procurement Platform no later than 2:00 P.M. on Monday, November 23, 2026 to the link below:

https://transitchicago.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities

ReqNo:C26R103317777R

Rebid of Invitation for Bids (IFB) (NON-NEGOTIABLE) to Furnish and Deliver Twelve (12) Miles of 288 Ribbon Fiber Optic Cable.

PROPOSAL GUARANTEE:NONE

Questions regarding this Bid must be submitted via Bonfire no later than 4:30 p.m. (1) Thursday, November 12, 2026. Questions will not be accepted after this date and time.

For additional information, please contact Michelle Beckwith, Procurement Administrator, Mbeckwith@transitchicago.com

Any contract resulting from this advertisement will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

The contractor will be required to furnish certified copies of any and all Insurance Policies required in relation to this contract prior to CTA's execution.

Chicago Transit Authority hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this information which will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

PLEASE NOTE: The right is reserved to accept any bid or any part or parts thereof or to reject any and all bids.

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY

By: Ellen G. McCormack

Vice President

Purchasing & Supply Chain

November 3, 2026

11/3/2026 179152

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY Request for Proposals NOTICE OF TIME EXTENSION

NOTICE OF TIME EXTENSION

Notice is hereby given that the opening date heretofore advertised as Thursday, November 5, 2026 has been extended to Friday, November 13, 2026 no later than 3:30 P.M. for the following items:

Req.: C26F103384111,

Request for Proposals (RFP) for Construction Services for Red Line Extension (RLE) - 120th Yard, Shop, and Substation.

PROPOSAL GUARANTEE: NONE

For additional information, please contact Courtney Cannon, Sr. Procurement Coordinator, ccannon@transitchicago.com.

Any contract resulting from this solicitation is subject to a financial assistance between the Chicago Transit Authority, the United States Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The contractor will be required to furnish certified copies of any and all Insurance Policies required in relation to this contract prior to CTA's execution.

Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations and Affirmative Action requirements of the Federal Transit Administration and the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

Contractor will be required to certify that their firm is not on the Comptroller General's list of ineligible contractors.

Chicago Transit Authority hereby gives notice that it will affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to the Pursittlement. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit responses to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award.

PLEASE NOTE: The right is reserved to accept any proposal or to reject any and all proposals.

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY

By: Ellen G. McCormack

Vice President

Purchasing & Supply Chain

November 3, 2026

11/3/2026 179242

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENT NOVEMBER 3, 2026 CITY OF CHICAGO

DEPARTMENT OF PROCUREMENT SERVICES

The Bidder must complete and submit an Electronic Bid prior to the bid due date. An electronic bid must be submitted through the City of Chicago's website at www.cityofc.chicago.org/eprocurement, on or before the due date and time stated below. The City's system will not accept electronic bids after the due date and time. Bidders must register for a log-in account to submit an electronic bid. Please allow up to three business days for creation of your log-in account. Paper bids will not be accepted. All Bids will be opened and publicly read aloud for the following:

DESCRIPTION: AUBURN GRESHAM CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS Section 1: 79th Street, Sangamon Street to Fielding Avenue and Halsted Street, 78th Street to 80th Street (SBI -1)

DEPARTMENT: Chicago Department of Transportation

TYPE: Construction

ELECTRONIC BID DOCUMENTS CAN BE DOWNLOADED AND RESPONDED TO FROM THIS URL ADDRESS: www.cityofchicago.org/eprocurement

SPECIFICATION NO: 1269498B

RFQ NO: 78391

BID OPENING DATE: November 17, 2026

TIME: 11:00 a.m., Central Time

PRE-BID CONFERENCE: No Pre-Bid Conference

CONTACT: Sadi Sandoval,

Senior Procurement Specialist.

Email: sadi.sandoval@cityofchicago.org

Bid Bond:

Bids requiring a bid deposit must be accompanied by a Bid Bond, provided by a surety company authorized to do business in the United States, and made payable to the City of Chicago. A scanned copy of the bid bond must be attached to the online bid submission, with the original bond to be received by DPS within 3 business days of the bid opening. This is required of all bidders, not just the apparent low bidder.

Any late Bids received after announced date and time, for the opening of Bids, will not be accepted.

11/3/2026 178776

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS

COUNTY OF COOK

In the matter of the revision of the assessment of Real Property for 2026:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the provisions of Section 14-35 of the Illinois Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/14-35) that the Assessor of Cook County will sit for the purpose of reviewing the proposed 2026 assessment of Real Property located in the following township(s) or taxing district(s) in Cook County.

Bid Bond:

Bids requiring a bid deposit must be accompanied by a Bid Bond, provided by a surety company authorized to do business in the United States, and made payable to the City of Chicago. A scanned copy of the bid bond must be attached to the online bid submission, with the original bond to be received by DPS within 3 business days of the bid opening. This is required of all bidders, not just the apparent low bidder.

Any late Bids received after announced date and time, for the opening of Bids, will not be accepted.

11/3/2026 178776

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS

COUNTY OF COOK

In the matter of the revision of the assessment of Real Property for 2026:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the provisions of Section 14-35 of the Illinois Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/14-35) that the Assessor of Cook County will sit for the purpose of reviewing the proposed 2026 assessment of Real Property located in the following township(s) or taxing district(s) in Cook County.

SOUTH CHICAGO

Identified also as Area(s) 16,17 under the Permanent Real Estate Index Numbering System of Cook County.

The last date within which applications for revisions of assessment (Real Estate Assessed Valuation Appeals) may be filed for consideration at such sitting is December 15, 2026.

Such sitting will be held at the office of the Assessor of Cook County, Room 301, in the County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602, and will continue thereafter from day to day as necessary until all such revisions in said township(s) or taxing district(s) have been completed.

Done by the Assessor of Cook County this 3rd day of November, 2026.

FRITZ KAEGI

ASSESSOR OF COOK COUNTY

Nov. 3, 2026 179250

TIME FOR SOME NEW WHEELS?

Senior Civil Engineer (Promotional)

Application Filing Period: October 23, 2026 through November 6, 2026. Examination Date: December 3, 2026 through December 5, 2026. Location: MWRD Main Office Building Annex, 111 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL. Scope of Examination: Knowledge of Senior Civil Engineer practices. Nature of Position and Duties: Performs supervisory, professional civil engineering work in the design, maintenance and construction of facilities necessary to collect, treat and discharge wastewater. Salary: \$119,030.60 per year

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Assistant Master Mechanic (Promotional)

Application Filing Period: October 30, 2026 through November 13, 2026. Examination Date: December 10, 2026 through December 12, 2026. Location: MWRD Main Office Building Annex, 111 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL. Scope of Examination: Knowledge of Assistant Master Mechanic practices. Nature of Position and Duties: Under direction, assists in the coordination and direction of the repair, maintenance and installation of mechanical systems and equipment and in the repair and alterations of structures at treatment plants, pumping stations and related facilities.

Salary: \$119,030-60 per year.

Applications can be submitted online only at www.districtjobs.org.

Salary: \$119,030.60 per year

Additional information may be found at www.districtjobs.org or call 312-751-5100.

Mailed, Emailed, Hand delivered or Faxed Applications Will Not Be Accepted. Resumes Will Not Be Accepted In Place of Application Forms. An Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/D 10/23-11/6/2026 169692

Take Notice

TO: COOK COUNTY CLERK; 4325 S HALSTED ST LLC; PERSONS OR TENANTS IN ACTUAL OCCUPANCY OR POSSESSION OF SAID PROPERTY, UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS OR PARTIES INTERESTED IN SAID PROPERTY. TAX DEED NO. 2026COTD002652 FILED: 9/10/2024. TAKE NOTICE County of Cook Date Premises Sold or Forfeited: 12/12/2024 Certificate No.: 22-0004878 and 22-0004883 Sold or Forfeited for General Taxes of (year): 2022 Sold for Special Assessments of (Municipality) and special assessment number: N/A Warrant No.: N/A Installment No.: N/A THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES Property Address (as identified on the most recent tax bill, if available): 4323 S HALSTED ST, CHICAGO, IL 60609 Legal Description or Property Index No.: 20-04-300-010-0000 and 20-04-300-041-0000 This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on 2/11/2027. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming. This notice is also to advise you that the petition has been filed for the tax deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before 2/11/2027. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this County in Chicago, Illinois, on 2/24/2027 in Room 1704 of the Richard J. Daley Center at 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois at 9:30 a.m. You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY Redemption can be made at any time on or before 2/11/2027 by applying to the County Clerk of Cook County, Illinois, at the Office of the County Clerk in Chicago, Illinois for FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE COUNTY CLERK ADDRESS: 118 N Clark Street, Room 434, Chicago, Illinois 60602 TELEPHONE AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS: (312) 603-5645-tax redemption@cookcountyil.gov FUND-PALITY 2023, LLC Purchaser or Assignee Dated: September 14, 2026 11/2, 11/3, 11/4/2026 166137

TO: COOK COUNTY CLERK; SPIROS J. ZOUGRAS A/K/A SPIRO J. ZOUGRAS; POOR BOY SANDWICHES; PERSONS OR TENANTS IN ACTUAL OCCUPANCY OR POSSESSION OF SAID PROPERTY; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS OR PARTIES INTERESTED IN SAID PROPERTY. TAX DEED NO. 2026COTD002652 FILED: 9/10/2026 TAKE NOTICE County of Cook Date Premises Sold or Forfeited: 12/11/2024 Certificate No.: 22-0001768 Sold or Forfeited for General Taxes of (year): 2022 Sold for Special Assessments of (Municipality) and special assessment number: N/A Warrant No.: N/A Installment No.: N/A THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES Property Address (as identified on the most recent tax bill, if available): 101 ROOSEVELT RD, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Legal Description or Property Index No.: 15-14-331-038-0000 This notice has to advise you that a petition has been filed for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on 2/11/2027. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming. This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a tax deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before 2/11/2027. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this County in Chicago, Illinois, on 2/24/2027 in Room 1704 of the Richard J. Daley Center at 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois at 9:30 a.m. You May be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY Redemption can be made at any time on or before 2/11/2027 by applying to the County Clerk of Cook County, Illinois, at the Office of the County Clerk in Chicago, Illinois. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE COUNTY CLERK ADDRESS: 118 N Clark Street, Room 434, Chicago, Illinois 60602 TELEPHONE AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS: (312) 603-5645-tax redemption@cookcountyil.gov FUND-PALITY 2023, LLC Purchaser or Assignee Dated: September 14, 2026 11/2, I/3, I/4/2026 166131

TO: COOK COUNTY CLERK; TITANR LLC; WICKER PARK DENTAL GROUP; DR. BRANDON SIAJ; PERSONS OR TENANTS IN ACTUAL OCCUPANCY OR POSSESSION OF SAID PROPERTY; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS OR PARTIES INTERESTED IN SAID PROPERTY. TAX DEED NO.: 2026COTD002650 FILED: 9/10/2026 TAKE NOTICE County of Cook Date Premises Sold or Forfeited: 12/13/2024 Certificate No.: 22-0007917 Sold or Forfeited for General Taxes of (year); 2025 Sold Special Assessments of (Municipality) and Special assessment number: N/A Warrant No.: N/A Installment No.: N/A THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES Property Address (as identified on the most recent tax bill, if available): 1121 N WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60622 C/K/A 1121 N WESTERN AVE, UNIT 15, CHICAGO, IL 60622 Legal Description or Property Index No.: 17-06-304-050-0000 This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on 2/11/2027. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming. This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a tax deed which will transfer title and that right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before 2/11/2027. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this County In Chicago, Illinois, on 2/24/2027 in Room 1704 of the Richard J. Daley Center at 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois at 9:30 a.m. You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY Redemption can be made at any time on or before 2/11/2027 by applying to the County Clerk of Cook County, Illinois, at the Office of the County Clerk in Chicago, Illinois. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE COUNTY CLERK ADDRESS: 118 N Clark Street, Room 434, Chicago, Illinois 60602 TELEPHONE AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS: (312) 603-5645 - tax redemption@cookcounty.gov FUND PALLEY 2023, LLC Purchaser or Assignee Dated: September 14, 2026 11/2, 11/3, 11/4/2026 166142

Take Notice

TO: COOK COUNTY CLERK; ADVANCED JAF HOLDING LLC; PRESENCE PHYSICIANS IMMEDIATE CARE LLC; PERSONS OR TENANTS IN ACTUAL OCCUPANCY OR POSSESSION OF SAID PROPERTY; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS OR PARTIES INTERESTED IN SAID PROPERTY TAX DEED NO. 2026COTD002653 FILED: 9/10/2026 TAKE NOTICE County of Cook Date Premises Sold or Forfeited: 12/12/2024 Certificate No.: 22-0004626 and 22-0008140 Sold or Forfeited for General Taxes of (year): 2022 Sold for Special Assessments of (Municipality) and special assessment number: N/A Warrant No.: N/A Installment No.: N/A THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES Property Address (as identified on the most recent tax bill, if available): 5300 S LONG AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60638 Legal Description or Property Index No.: 19-09-317-027-0000 and 19-09-317-028-0000 This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on 2/11/2027. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming. This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a tax deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before 2/11/2027. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this County in Chicago, Illinois, on 2/24/2027 in Room 1704 of the Richard J. Daley Center at 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois at 9:30 a.m. You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at 9:30 a.m. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY Redemption can be made at any time on or before 2/11/2027 by applying to the County Clerk of Cook County, Illinois, at the Office of the County Clerk in Chicago, Illinois. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE COUNTY CLERK ADDRESS: 118 N. Clark Street, Room 434, Chicago, Illinois 66062 TELEPHONE AND/OR EMAIL ADDRESS: (312) 603-5645 - tax redemption@cookcountyil.gov FUND PALITY 2023, LLC Purchaser or

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CHICAGO ACCUWEATHER

Meteorologists Larry Mowry, Cheryl Scott, Jaisol Martinez, Tracy Butler and Greg Dutra

AccuWeather

Outlook: A thick cloud cover, breezy and warmer with a shower in places. Periods of rain tonight. | Tuesday | Day | | | | | A couple of showers,mainly later | Winds: S 10-20 mphPOP: 85% | Wednesday | Day | | | | Night | A morning shower or two; cloudy, cooler | Winds: S 10-20 mphPOP: 55% | Thursday | Day | | | | Night | Cloudy with a couple of showers | Winds: ENE 8-16 mphPOP: 85% | Friday | Day | | | | | A couple of showers possible | Winds: SSE 8-16 mphPOP: 30% | Saturday | Day | | | | | Sun followed by increasing clouds | Winds: SE 4-8 mphPOP: 15% | Sunday | Day | | | | Night38° | Mostly cloudy with a little rain | Winds: SE 6-12 mphPOP: 55% |

[Chicago forecast] Tuesday Conditions

8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 p.m. | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | RealFeel Temperature® | 61° | 64° | 64° | 68° | 66° | 65° | 65° |

Tuesday Activities

Outdoor Activities Index | 7 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 1 | Fishing Index | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 2 | The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. 0-2 Low, 3-5 Moderate, 6-7 High, 8-10 Very High, 11+ Extreme. The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature is an exclusive index of effective temperature based on eight weather factors. Outdoor Activities and Fishing Indexes: 0-2: Poor; 3-4: Fair; 5-6: Good; 7-8: Very Good; 9-10: Excellent.

[Chicago almanac] Monday temperatures | Average | Record | Monday high: 60° | 55° | 78° (1974) | Monday low: 56° | 39° | 14° (1951) | Local temperatures | through 6 p.m. Monday | Average | Location | High | Low | High | Low | Aurora | $59^{\circ}$ | $53^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $34^{\circ}$ | Gary | $61^{\circ}$ | $57^{\circ}$ | $56^{\circ}$ | $39^{\circ}$ | Kankakee | $60^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $57^{\circ}$ | $37^{\circ}$ | Lansing | $59^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $56^{\circ}$ | $38^{\circ}$ | Midway | $60^{\circ}$ | $56^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $40^{\circ}$ | Romeoville | $60^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $56^{\circ}$ | $37^{\circ}$ | Valparaiso | $59^{\circ}$ | $54^{\circ}$ | $57^{\circ}$ | $39^{\circ}$ | Waukegan | $61^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $54^{\circ}$ | $37^{\circ}$ | Monday Precipitation | 2026 | 2025 | Normal | Monday* | Trace | 0.09" | 0.09" | Month to date | 0.07" | 0.11" | 0.18" | Year to date | 37.35" | 25.62" | 33.51" | Monday* | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.0" | Month to date | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.0" | Season to date | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.2" | \*24-hour period ending 4 p.m. Monday

[Chicago almanac] Monday temperatures | Average | Record | Monday high: 60° | 55° | 78° (1974) | Monday low: 56° | 39° | 14° (1951) | Local temperatures | through 6 p.m. Monday | Average | Location | High | Low | High | Low | Aurora | $59^{\circ}$ | $53^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $34^{\circ}$ | Gary | $61^{\circ}$ | $57^{\circ}$ | $56^{\circ}$ | $39^{\circ}$ | Kankakee | $60^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $57^{\circ}$ | $37^{\circ}$ | Lansing | $59^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $56^{\circ}$ | $38^{\circ}$ | Midway | $60^{\circ}$ | $56^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $40^{\circ}$ | Romeoville | $60^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $56^{\circ}$ | $37^{\circ}$ | Valparaiso | $59^{\circ}$ | $54^{\circ}$ | $57^{\circ}$ | $39^{\circ}$ | Waukegan | $61^{\circ}$ | $55^{\circ}$ | $54^{\circ}$ | $37^{\circ}$ | Monday Precipitation | 2026 | 2025 | Normal | Monday* | Trace | 0.09" | 0.09" | Month to date | 0.07" | 0.11" | 0.18" | Year to date | 37.35" | 25.62" | 33.51" | Monday* | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.0" | Month to date | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.0" | Season to date | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.2" | \*24-hour period ending 4 p.m. Monday

Air Quality Index | Good | Tuesday’s forecast | Good | Primary pollutant | ParticulatesSource: AirNow.gov |

Cosmos

Sun and moon | Tue. | Wed. | Sunrise | 6:25 a.m. | 6:26 a.m. | Sunset | 4:42 p.m. | 4:41 p.m. | Moonrise | 12:21 a.m. | 1:32 a.m. | Moonset | 1:59 p.m. | 2:21 p.m. | New

First

Full

Last

Nov 17

Nov 24

Nov 9

Dec 1

Tuesday's Planet Watch | Rise | Set | Mercury | 6:39 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | Venus | 5:12 a.m. | 3:38 p.m. | Mars | 11:26 p.m. | 1:35 p.m. | Jupiter | 11:53 p.m. | 1:43 p.m. | Saturn | 3:31 p.m. | 3:45 a.m. | Best viewing times today: Venus: 5:55 a.m. Mars: 5:55 a.m. Jupiter: 5:55 a.m. Saturn: 9:40 p.m. Mercury: not visible

Cosmos

Sun and moon | Tue. | Wed. | Sunrise | 6:25 a.m. | 6:26 a.m. | Sunset | 4:42 p.m. | 4:41 p.m. | Moonrise | 12:21 a.m. | 1:32 a.m. | Moonset | 1:59 p.m. | 2:21 p.m. | New

First

Full

Last

Nov 17

Nov 24

Nov 9

Dec 1

Tuesday's Planet Watch | Rise | Set | Mercury | 6:39 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | Venus | 5:12 a.m. | 3:38 p.m. | Mars | 11:26 p.m. | 1:35 p.m. | Jupiter | 11:53 p.m. | 1:43 p.m. | Saturn | 3:31 p.m. | 3:45 a.m. | Best viewing times today: Venus: 5:55 a.m. Mars: 5:55 a.m. Jupiter: 5:55 a.m. Saturn: 9:40 p.m. Mercury: not visible

National cities

Shown are areas of precipitation and high temperatures for the day.

AccuWeather

Get the AccuWeather app

Shown is Tuesday's weather. Temperatures are Tuesday's highs and Tuesday night's lows with high and low RealFeel Temperatures shown below.

Lake Michigan

Tuesday | 8 a.m. | 10 a.m. | Noon | 2 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 6 p.m. | 8 p.m. | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 3 |

[National forecast] Wednesday

Wind from the south at 10-20 knots. Seas 4-8 feet. Visibility less than 2 miles at times in showers. Water temperature: 54.

Wind from the south-southwest at 10-20 knots. Seas 3-5 feet. Visibility under 3 miles in morning showers. Water temperature: 53.

Boating Index: 0-2: Poor; 3-4: Fair; 5-6: Good; 7-8: Very Good; 9-10: Excellent. | Tue. | Wed. | City | Hi/Lo/W | Hi/Lo/W | Abilene | 71/48/s | 74/54/s | Albany, NY | 66/48/pc | 71/56/s | Albuquerque | 61/41/s | 65/39/s | Amarillo | 58/41/pc | 66/45/s | Anchorage | 39/33/r | 42/31/sh | Asheville | 67/56/pc | 64/59/r | Aspen | 49/24/s | 48/24/sh | Atlanta | 73/65/pc | 72/64/t | Atlantic City | 65/54/pc | 69/61/pc | Austin | 79/52/t | 78/52/s | Baltimore | 73/50/s | 74/60/pc | Billings | 55/32/s | 54/33/pc | Birmingham | 77/67/c | 75/60/t | Bismarck | 50/30/r | 54/31/pc | Boise | 59/38/pc | 57/39/pc | Boston | 70/55/pc | 72/57/s | Brownsville | 92/73/t | 82/73/sh | Buffalo | 72/57/pc | 74/61/pc | Burlington, VT | 61/55/c | 72/58/c | Charleston, SC | 79/65/pc | 80/66/pc | Charleston, WV | 78/58/s | 75/61/r | Charlotte | 76/57/pc | 76/65/c | Chattanooga | 75/66/pc | 71/63/r | Cheyenne | 51/29/s | 54/33/pc | Cincinnati | 77/61/pc | 67/51/r | Cleveland | 76/61/pc | 71/55/r | Colorado Spgs | 55/32/s | 55/36/pc | Columbia, MO | 70/51/r | 59/44/c | Columbia, SC | 79/59/pc | 80/64/c | Columbus, OH | 75/61/pc | 67/56/r | Concord | 69/44/pc | 73/48/s | Corpus Christi | 87/61/t | 80/64/s | Dallas | 74/53/r | 74/53/pc | Daytona Beach | 82/72/sh | 82/67/pc | Denver | 56/34/s | 58/37/s | Duluth | 59/49/r | 51/42/r | El Paso | 70/46/s | 77/49/s |

Weather history | Tue. | Wed. | City | Hi/Lo/W | Hi/Lo/W | Fairbanks | 27/15/s | 30/13/pc | Fargo | 48/40/r | 46/34/r | Flagstaff | 57/31/s | 55/25/s | Fort Myers | 86/72/sh | 87/72/sh | Fort Smith | 73/53/t | 71/48/pc | Fresno | 70/50/pc | 66/50/s | Grand Junction | 54/37/s | 49/37/sh | Great Falls | 58/30/pc | 51/32/pc | Harrisburg | 71/50/s | 72/60/pc | Hartford | 71/50/pc | 74/56/pc | Helena, MT | 49/28/pc | 48/28/pc | Honolulu | 85/75/r | 85/74/sh | Houston | 82/57/t | 78/54/s | Int'l Falls | 53/44/r | 49/36/r | Jackson, MS | 81/67/t | 76/53/t | Jacksonville | 82/68/sh | 82/66/pc | Juneau | 45/42/r | 45/42/r | Kansas City | 67/49/sh | 58/42/pc | Las Vegas | 68/51/s | 71/53/s | Lexington | 77/62/pc | 66/53/r | Lincoln | 56/45/sh | 58/42/pc | Little Rock | 72/55/t | 71/49/pc | Los Angeles | 76/56/s | 78/58/s | Louisville | 77/63/c | 71/53/r | Macon | 79/65/pc | 79/66/t | Memphis | 76/60/t | 69/50/t | Miami | 86/76/sh | 85/74/c | Minneapolis | 59/51/r | 53/47/r | Mobile | 79/69/c | 81/66/t | Montgomery | 79/68/c | 79/66/t | Nashville | 77/64/pc | 73/54/r | New Orleans | 82/70/c | 79/63/t | New York City | 69/56/pc | 71/59/pc | Norfolk | 72/58/s | 76/63/pc | Oklahoma City | 62/45/c | 68/49/pc | Omaha | 58/46/sh | 55/44/pc | Orlando | 83/71/sh | 86/70/c |

[World cities] Weather Trivia™

A hurricane reached New York City on Nov. 3, 1861. Flooding from torrential rain lasting for 20 hours brought out thousands of rats. Residents of the city chased the rodents with their hunting dogs.

Q: What solar blemishes are believed to cause weather cycles? | Tue. | Wed. | City | Hi/Lo/W | Hi/Lo/W | Palm Beach | 84/77/sh | 85/73/pc | Palm Springs | 81/60/s | 83/61/s | Philadelphia | 71/52/pc | 74/59/pc | Phoenix | 78/57/s | 79/58/s | Pittsburgh | 74/52/s | 73/58/pc | Portland, ME | 62/47/c | 70/49/pc | Portland, OR | 60/40/pc | 58/47/pc | Providence | 71/54/pc | 72/57/pc | Raleigh | 77/53/s | 79/63/pc | Rapid City | 54/32/pc | 57/35/pc | Reno | 60/34/pc | 58/33/pc | Richmond | 75/50/s | 76/61/s | Rochester | 73/55/pc | 76/61/pc | Sacramento | 59/48/sh | 69/45/s | St. Louis | 73/56/t | 63/49/c | Salem, OR | 59/36/pc | 58/45/pc | Salt Lake City | 55/40/s | 52/39/sh | San Antonio | 79/56/t | 78/57/s | San Diego | 75/63/s | 75/58/s | San Francisco | 66/53/sh | 66/54/pc | San Juan | 91/78/r | 91/79/r | Santa Fe | 56/33/s | 59/35/s | Savannah | 80/66/pc | 81/65/c | Seattle | 58/42/pc | 56/49/pc | Shreveport | 74/54/t | 73/50/c | Sioux Falls | 52/42/r | 47/39/r | Spokane | 48/33/pc | 50/37/pc | Syracuse | 67/51/pc | 75/59/c | Tallahassee | 83/68/sh | 79/68/t | Tampa | 86/73/sh | 85/72/sh | Topeka | 63/47/sh | 62/40/pc | Tucson | 77/53/s | 77/54/s | Tulsa | 67/48/c | 68/49/pc | Washington, DC | 73/54/s | 74/62/pc | Wichita | 59/45/c | 64/45/pc | Wilkes-Barre | 67/48/pc | 71/58/pc | Yuma | 79/58/s | 79/58/s | Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice. POP: Probability of Precipitation.

Forecasts and graphics, except for the WLS-TV/ABC7 Chicago content, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2026

A

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Chicago, IL 60601 | Tue. | Wed. | City | Hi/Lo/W | Hi/Lo/W | Acapulco | 89/76/pc | 88/76/pc | Algiers | 76/58/pc | 71/55/sh | Amsterdam | 52/41/pc | 50/39/pc | Ankara | 64/46/pc | 60/45/sh | Athens | 72/54/s | 70/55/pc | Auckland | 71/60/pc | 72/62/pc | Baghdad | 90/69/pc | 91/67/sh | Bangkok | 94/79/r | 93/80/r | Barbados | 87/79/t | 87/79/sh | Barcelona | 59/49/sh | 63/49/r | Beijing | 66/37/s | 57/39/c | Beirut | 80/67/pc | 78/66/pc | Berlin | 50/39/c | 50/34/pc | Bermuda | 77/70/r | 77/72/c | Bogota | 67/47/r | 66/48/r | Brussels | 49/34/pc | 49/35/s | Bucharest | 48/46/r | 50/40/c | Budapest | 50/40/c | 52/31/pc | Buenos Aires | 69/63/t | 77/58/s | Cairo | 84/67/pc | 88/67/pc | Cancun | 89/70/pc | 89/70/sh | Caracas | 93/80/t | 93/78/r | Casablanca | 80/60/sh | 74/58/sh | Copenhagen | 47/38/s | 50/38/s | Dublin | 53/46/pc | 54/46/pc | Edmonton | 45/24/pc | 47/26/s | Frankfurt | 49/39/pc | 52/38/c | Geneva | 47/37/pc | 49/38/pc | Guadalajara | 87/56/pc | 86/55/pc | Havana | 89/70/sh | 87/71/r | Helsinki | 45/29/pc | 46/40/c | Hong Kong | 84/79/pc | 84/79/t | Istanbul | 67/57/sh | 61/53/r | Jerusalem | 76/58/s | 73/57/s | Johannesburg | 80/59/t | 83/61/t | Kabul | 62/48/c | 64/47/pc | Kingston | 87/79/t | 87/78/sh |

Regional cities | Tue. | Wed. | City | Hi/Lo/W | Hi/Lo/W | Illinois | Carbondale | 75/58/t | 67/44/c | Champaign | 74/59/c | 61/48/c | Decatur | 73/58/sh | 62/46/c | Moline | 69/55/r | 58/47/c | Peoria | 70/56/sh | 60/47/c | Quincy | 70/52/r | 58/46/c | Rockford | 70/58/r | 60/48/sh | Springfield | 72/57/sh | 60/48/c | Sterling | 69/55/r | 57/48/sh | Indiana | Bloomington | 74/61/c | 68/49/r | Evansville | 76/61/c | 67/46/c | Fort Wayne | 74/62/pc | 67/49/r | Indianapolis | 74/60/c | 68/48/r | Lafayette | 75/62/c | 67/50/r | South Bend | 73/63/c | 67/51/r | Wisconsin | Green Bay | 67/60/r | 64/51/sh | Kenosha | 70/61/r | 63/50/sh | La Crosse | 66/54/r | 57/48/sh | Madison | 68/57/r | 59/47/sh | Milwaukee | 69/60/r | 64/51/sh | Wausau | 65/57/r | 61/48/r | Michigan | Detroit | 74/62/c | 67/52/r | Grand Rapids | 72/64/c | 66/52/r | Marquette | 63/56/r | 60/48/r | Sault Ste. Marie | 61/58/r | 62/51/r | Traverse City | 69/62/c | 67/53/r | Iowa | Ames | 64/47/t | 50/47/c | Cedar Rapids | 67/50/r | 53/47/c | Des Moines | 66/47/t | 51/45/c | Dubuque | 67/53/r | 54/46/sh | Tue. | Wed. | City | Hi/Lo/W | Hi/Lo/W | Kyiv | 47/38/c | 43/33/pc | Lima | 82/73/c | 81/73/sh | Lisbon | 73/49/pc | 70/48/s | London | 54/46/pc | 53/47/pc | Madrid | 59/34/s | 59/37/s | Manila | 94/79/pc | 92/77/pc | Mexico City | 81/50/s | 80/51/pc | Monterrey | 85/58/pc | 80/61/pc | Montreal | 57/53/sh | 68/53/c | Moscow | 36/34/c | 37/30/sn | Munich | 43/37/c | 43/33/c | Nairobi | 81/62/t | 82/63/pc | Nassau | 84/79/t | 85/78/t | New Delhi | 84/65/pc | 86/65/pc | Oslo | 48/33/c | 47/34/pc | Ottawa | 58/54/sh | 70/53/c | Panama City | 87/75/r | 86/75/r | Paris | 52/37/pc | 50/34/c | Prague | 43/32/c | 45/30/pc | Rio de Janeiro | 87/74/s | 87/76/s | Riyadh | 96/69/s | 95/69/s | Rome | 68/50/s | 67/50/pc | Santiago | 65/49/r | 77/51/s | Seoul | 65/44/pc | 66/48/c | Singapore | 92/79/t | 91/79/t | Sofia | 45/41/r | 48/41/r | Stockholm | 44/33/pc | 46/35/s | Sydney | 76/64/sh | 75/63/sh | Taipei | 81/72/pc | 88/72/s | Tehran | 68/55/pc | 71/59/pc | Tokyo | 66/56/pc | 61/56/pc | Toronto | 71/56/c | 69/58/c | Trinidad | 88/79/sh | 89/78/t | Vancouver | 52/40/pc | 55/47/pc | Vienna | 46/38/c | 47/31/c | Warsaw | 48/38/c | 47/31/c | Winnipeg | 48/32/r | 50/34/pc |

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PAGE 1 | SECTION B | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026 | CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM

UI Health workers deliver strike notice

Employees could begin action as soon as Nov. 10 as raise issue persists

By Lisa Schencker CHICAGO TRIBUNE

About 200 advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants and midwives at UI Health could strike as early as next week, saying they were left out of raises given to other workers.

The providers, represented by SEIU Local 73, delivered a 10-day strike notice to the health system Friday. That means they could strike Nov. 10, though they have not yet set a date, in hopes of first resolving the dispute through mediation, according to the union.

The union contends that University of Illinois workers were given 2% raises in August but the advanced practice providers were not. The union and the university have been battling for more than a year over whether the union should be allowed to bargain on behalf of the workers.

"This is a serious step, and it is not one our members take lightly," said Dian Palmer, president of Local 73, of the strike notice in a news release. "Our invitation to mediate stands.

We would much rather settle this at the table than on a picket line, and we are ready to meet whenever the University is.”

UI Health did not immediately provide comment Monday.

The providers work at University of Illinois Hospital and some of the health system's clinics.

The workers won certification of their union in 2025 from the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.

The University of Illinois board of trustees has been challenging that certification. Earlier this year, the 4th District Appellate Court in Springfield agreed to put a hold on bargaining while the university's underlying appeal of the union's certification proceeds.

The union appealed that stay on bargaining to the Illinois Supreme Court, but the appeal was denied, according to the union.

A customer examines salad and lettuce displayed on the shelf of a Manhattan grocery store on Aug. 13 in New York City. SPENCER PLATT/TNS

Half of Americans' spending goes toward housing, food

Percentage reached its highest level in 15 years in '25 amid rising costs

By Julia Fanzeres

Housing and food made up nearly half of U.S. households' spending in 2025, the most in 15 years amid rising rents, homeowner costs and beef prices.

On average, American families spent \$1,988 more on the two categories combined than in 2024, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. And that was before the Iran war sent some grocery prices and utility costs surging this year.

At the same time, average pretax income rose 6.4% to \$110,847 in 2025, outpacing both inflation and expenditures, the annual Consumer Expenditure Survey shows.

The figures help explain the tension between improving household finances and downbeat views of the economy, and why affordability is a central issue in the upcoming midterm elections. While Americans had more money coming in, more of what they spent went to necessities.

Food and housing – which includes rent, utilities and household furniture – were the only two major spending categories to post statistically significant increases last year, according to the BLS.

Housing remained the largest household expense, accounting for 33.9% of total expenditures. Excluding a jump in 2020 after COVID-19 hit, that share was the highest since 2010.

The share of spending Americans dedicate to food, meanwhile, has been rising since 2020 and at 13% is now the highest since 2011. The dollar value of the food budget — up 4.6% to \$10,633 in 2025 — outpaced the increase in total spending.

Americans spent \$1,579 on meat, poultry, fish and eggs last year. That's 11.7% more than in 2024 and twice as much as in 2010.

Those products accounted for about 24% of grocery spending in 2025, up from 19% in 2023. Over those two years, protein accounted for about 95% of the increase in average food-at-home spending.

Lawsuit: Tech company stole, resold Tribune's content

Brave allegedly offered copied stories to AI giants, used its browser to display paywalled material

By Molly Crane-Newman

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

The Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, and affiliated newspapers filed federal lawsuits in Manhattan Monday accusing the technology company Brave Software of using high-tech scraping tools to illegally plunder their websites for exclusive news stories to resell to A.I. giants, including Anthropic and Perplexity.

A Manhattan Federal Court complaint, filed by affiliated Tribune Publishing newspapers the Daily News and the Orlando Sentinel, says Brave acts as “the supplier, dealer, and distributor of stolen copyrighted content" and provides a back door circumventing paywalls to its own users as well as prominent generative A.I. companies to help build their businesses.

“Brave acts both like a burglar that misappropriates the content of publishers, and an AI ‘fence’ that sells stolen content to third parties,” the lawsuit alleges. “And the third parties are serving as the knowing receivers of that stolen content, which they have used to build their trillion dollar businesses.”

The suit alleges that the company sells copies of the publishers' content to third parties for training their A.I. models and products and informing responses to users, in addition to providing free access to paywalled content through its own browser.

The lawsuit says Brave crawled and copied content from more than 30 billion webpages in its index without identifying itself or providing the website owners with any mechanism to block its crawler, according to The News's complaint.

In addition to selling stolen stories to other companies, Brave also has a web browser that provides paywalled copyrighted content to its users, according to the suits. Paywalls provide a critical source of revenue to news organizations as they seek to compete in an evolving news environment by producing quality, original content, noted Frank Pine, executive editor

The Brave Software browser logo appears on a smartphone.

JAQUE SILVA/AP

Healthcare experts foresee less coverage, higher prices

ACA open enrollment begins with several changes for '27

By Fatima Hussein

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON – People heading into the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period with plans to sign up for insurance should expect a variety of changes in 2027, including higher premiums and fewer coverage options.

The sign-up window for the marketplace, also known as Obamacare, started Sunday in most states and runs through Jan. 15.

Big changes to the exchange include expiring financial assistance, rising rates, potential delays in working with a broker, new restrictions on immigrants and stricter enrollment checks.

Financial help, including premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, is now restricted for many groups of people who were previously eligible.

Across the board, healthcare experts predict less coverage and higher prices, with the average price of health insurance purchased through the marketplaces expected to rise by 13% in 2027, according to analysis of new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid agency data by the healthcare research nonprofit KFF.

The people who will be most affected by the new increases are those who do not qualify for a subsidy.

A CMS fact sheet about open enrollment that was distributed Friday says “Americans using HealthCare.gov will have robust access to low-cost plans.”

The price of ACA insurance has skyrocketed for many people during Trump's second term after Republicans opposed extending COVID-era subsidies that had helped offset the costs of health insurance for most enrollees during Democratic President Joe Biden's administration.

That resulted in 1.2 million fewer people signing up for coverage in the healthcare insurance exchanges.

As of February, roughly 19.2 million people in the United States were actively enrolled in ACA marketplace health plans, according to the Department of Health and Human Services website.

The number of enrollees grew during the pandemic, when enhanced subsidies became available through the American Rescue Plan Act and Inflation Reduction Act, both signed into law by Biden.

New regulations starting in 2027 will also limit tax credits for certain lawfully present immigrants, which could result in an additional 1 million uninsured individuals over time.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been removing ACA enrollees from the program as part of the ongoing campaign against what it characterizes as waste, fraud and abuse.

In September, Vice President JD Vance and other officials in the Republican administration announced plans to remove 760,000 ACA enrollees from public healthcare exchanges, alleging the individuals were fraudulently enrolled in the program or simply did not exist.

Vance said the discovery and canceled subsidy payments for hundreds of thousands of people from the exchanges, part of an administration-wide crackdown on fraud, would result in \$2.2 billion in cost savings.

Robot-dog walkers wanted

Bay Area startup looks to boost tech's ability to autonomously navigate urban environment

In this image take from video, a resident walks a robot dog in San Francisco. A start-up recently posted a job opportunity to take the robot dogs around the city. ADAM MCCUE

By Kashmir Hill

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Earlier this month, a San Francisco startup posted a strange job opportunity. It was hiring people to walk robot dogs. No experience necessary. Obviously.

Walking a robot dog paid around the same hourly rate as that for the flesh-and-blood variety, but the robot dog required more time wandering the city's sidewalks to do its business. Four to six hours of perambulation were required, said the ad.

So much for robots making our lives easier.

On the positive side, there was no need to clean up after the robot, or to pretend you did not see the deposit it left behind on someone's yard.

On the negative side, the robots could prove as stubborn as their living counterparts. Just as a normal dog might suddenly plop down and refuse to budge in the middle of a busy street, the robot dogs, too, might give up midwalk — because their equipment overheated. Robot dog walkers would then need to carry the mechanical quadrupeds back to the startup's office. Applicants, the ad warned, must be comfortable “safely handling equipment weighing about 33 pounds.”

The ad, which has since been deleted, offered \$20 an hour and was posted to the Facebook group “Bay Area Jobs” by the startup, called Dimensional, which is based, appropriately, in a San Francisco neighborhood called Dogpatch. It spurred only a couple of comments, none of which acknowledged its strangeness. “My son is interested,” one mother wrote. “Can start right away.” (Her son did not ultimately follow through, she said.)

Dimensional is building an open-source operating system for robots, said its founder, Stash Pomichter. Pomichter, 26, wants to embed artificial intelligence agents in robots so that consumers can command them to do work in the real world, the same way people are giving commands to services like Meta's Muse to do tasks for them online.

People, Pomichter fervently believes, should be able to command robots to pick up heavy boxes and lug things around. "It's honestly barbaric that humans are still doing these physical tasks," he said in an interview.

But before we can have robodog save us the trouble and indignity of carrying the groceries, Dimensional needs to improve the robots' ability to autonomously navigate an urban environment. Thus the need for robot dog walkers, who are creating what Pomichter called “ground truth” by controlling and steering RoboFido, while its cameras and sensors record the walk.

Dimensional is not a hardware company. It purchased more than 100 robot dogs and 50 humanoid robots from manufacturers in the United States, China and Germany, Pomichter said, and is developing operating systems that can integrate with AI agents so the machines can act more independently. The \$2,000 “dogs” it sent out with human walkers last month are from a Chinese company called Unitree and come ready to be controlled with a hand-held remote or mobile app.

Dimensional compared how the robot dogs performed when walking around under human control with how they did when controlled by an AI agent, and found the latter lacking.

“What we determined from our dog-walking experiment was that agents are still very bad at controlling hardware,” Pomichter said. “And humans are still needed in the loop.”

The aim is to enable robots to work in factories, in data centers, on construction sites and as security guards.

Farmers promised \$15B to offset US policy costs

ASSOCIATED PRESS

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — President Donald Trump's administration has made \$15 billion worth of promises to agriculture producers in the last few weeks before the midterm elections, initiatives intended to help offset higher costs for diesel and fertilizer that farmers have endured largely due to his tariffs and the war in Iran.

Whether that will motivate more voters to turn out in agricultural states where traditionally Republican seats are now seen as competitive is unclear. It may explain his increased attention on rural areas, including visits Sunday to Iowa and Kansas, two days before the election.

Besides the more than \$15 billion worth of payments and initiatives announced by Trump's Department of Agriculture, the agency plans \$13.8 billion in safety-net program payments for eligible producers for the 2025 crop year, offsetting shortfalls for farmers who grow key crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat and rice.

Of the \$15 billion, more than half will go toward an \$8 billion one-time payment plan for farmers buffeted by soaring diesel prices. The USDA said it will release more details about the payments this month. It is not clear when the payments will go to farmers, who rely on diesel for trucks, tractors and combines.

At least \$5 billion was announced in guaranteed loans for ranchers and fishermen. An additional \$1.8 billion in payments is for producers and landowners who participated in conservation programs, \$573 million will go toward fertilizer manufacturing projects and \$57 million is for expanding meat processors.

Last week, the agency said it would purchase up to \$472.5 million in agricultural commodities to support producers and give to charitable programs.

The money will primarily come from the USDA and doesn't need immediate congressional approval.

Increased costs for fertilizer and fuel have made it difficult for many farmers to turn a profit. Last year, tariffs drove up expenses for other equipment that farmers use, and the trade war with China resulted in a near boycott of U.S. agricultural goods.

European food stores' fridges hit in cyberattack

ASSOCIATED PRESS

STOCKHOLM — Supermarkets in Sweden, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland and Estonia were hit Monday by problems with freezers and fridges that apparently were caused by cyberattacks, forcing some to dispose of ruined food.

The problems follow a case last month in which attackers remotely took control of refrigeration systems in hundreds of supermarkets and independent stores across France, sending temperatures soaring.

Gustaf Nilsson, a spokesperson for Sweden's ICA Group supermarket chain, told the TT news agency that "a limited number" of stores were affected overnight by an incident that affected refrigeration and freezing systems. He declined to give a specific number.

An ICA Kvantum store in Sjöbo, southern Sweden, said its fridges and freezers had been hacked and set to about 120 degrees. In a Facebook post, it said staffers were discarding affected products.

The Coop chain said six of its stores in central Sweden had problems with fridges and freezers, TT reported.

The Delhaize chain said an “IT incident” had affected refrigeration systems in several dozen of its stores, mostly in Belgium but also a few in neighboring Luxembourg.

Carrefour said a cyberattack targeting refrigeration systems had affected 15 of its more than 700 stores in Belgium, describing the impact as “extremely limited.”

In Estonia, refrigeration technology company Kitman Coldtech said attackers had accessed a computer controlling a client's refrigeration system and raised the temperature to about 120 degrees, public broadcaster ERR reported.

In Ireland, 13 SuperValu stores were affected, The Irish Times reported.

[Business briefs] MIDTERM SPENDING SURGES, BUT ADS IN SPANISH DECLINE

WASHINGTON – The U.S. midterm elections are on track to be the most expensive ever, with ad spending set to top \$11 billion, but the share being directed toward Spanish-language advertisements is shrinking dramatically, even with Latino voters seen by both parties as a critical swing group.

In competitive Senate races, the number of Spanish-language political ads has tumbled 81% from the previous midterm elections in 2022, according to an analysis of AdImpact data through Oct. 24. Total spending on Spanish-language advertising fell 38% from \$9.4 million to \$5.8 million, while English-language spending more than doubled.

Spanish-language ads have fallen to just about 1.3% of the total number of unique political creatives running in House, Senate and governor races, down from about 5.1% in the 2022 midterms. — Bloomberg News

CHINA FACTORY ORDERS DROP AS EXPORT ACTIVITY WEAKENS

BEIJING – China's factory activity shrank in October as new export orders softened, reversing the previous month's rebound. The world's second-biggest economy has been facing pressure from trading partners to rebalance trade as its trade surplus with many countries balloons.

Data released Saturday showed that China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index fell to 49.3 in October, compared with 50.1 in September and 49.8 in August.

The PMI is based on a monthly survey of companies and measured from 0 to 100. Readings below 50 indicate contraction while readings above 50 reflect expansion.

Several key subindexes were also in contraction territory in October, including new export orders, which fell to 48.7 from 50.0 in September. — Associated Press

GENERIC VERSION OF SHOT TO PREVENT HIV APPROVED BY FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic version of the world's only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV, officials said Monday — a big step toward making the drug available inexpensively and more quickly in 120 low- and middle-income countries.

The medication, called lenacapavir, is expected to cost \$40 a year per person in the countries where it will be available, the same price as daily preventive pills available now.

But the shots are much more convenient than the pills because they're needed much less frequently, and they nearly eliminated new infections in two groundbreaking studies of people at high risk.

According to the World Health Organization, 41 million people worldwide were living with HIV and 570,000 died from HIV-related causes last year. — Associated Press

Working Lunch newsletter: Get the latest business news headlines, delivered to your inbox midday weekdays. Go to chicagotribune.com/workinglunch

Who's Who in Local Business: Have a promotion or hire you'd like to tell the world about? Go to placeanad.chicagotribune.com/whos-who | HIGH | DOW | 52,424.91 | DOW Trans. | 20,799.67 | DOW Util. | 1,120.87 | NYSE Comp. | 24,516.63 | NASDAQ | 25,799.46 | S&P 500 | 7,662.23 | S&P 400 | 3,725.05 | DOW Total | 75,541.14 | Russell 2000 | 2,846.03 |

New international airport opens as Greenland eyes tourism growth

By James Brooks

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ILULISSAT, Greenland — Greenland has opened a new international airport, seeking to lure visitors from around the world as the Arctic island looks toward eventual independence from Denmark.

Thursday's inaugural international flight between Copenhagen, Denmark, and Ilulissat, Greenland, was part of the island government's efforts to grow its tourism industry to boost and diversify an economy still reliant on fishing.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described the new airport as “one of the biggest investments” in the island’s history. Nielsen was one of 169 passengers on Thursday’s 4.5-hour flight on an Airbus A330neo. An Associated Press journalist also took the flight, operated by government-owned Air Greenland, as part of a trip organized by tourism agency Visit Greenland, for this story.

“If Greenland wants to be independent, we need to have a strong foundation, both economically and in terms of industry and business,” Nielsen told the AP before the plane departed.

The strategic island, home to roughly 56,000 people, has been a focus of President Donald Trump since his first term, when he initially expressed his desire to acquire Greenland. His repeated threats to seize the territory from Denmark, a NATO ally, during his second term prompted months of tensions with other NATO allies. In September, Trump signed an agreement with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland to strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

"There's no doubt that it has been a shadow over the entire Kingdom of Denmark, but especially Greenland," said Danish Finance Minister Peter Hummelgaard, who also took the inaugural flight. "The opening of this new international airport marks, I think, hope and optimism."

Ilulissat, known as the "City of Icebergs," sits along the island's western coast and is home to some 5,000 people. Greenland's third-largest city is also one of the island's most-visited destinations. More than 342 miles north of the capital, Nuuk, its tourism offerings range from sled dog tours to icefjord cruises in picturesque Disko Bay, known for its towering icebergs.

Previously, travelers reaching Ilulissat had to arrive by cruise ship, take a small plane from Iceland or fly to one of Greenland's international hubs and connect to smaller aircraft. There are no road connections from other big towns.

BRAVE from Page B1

at Tribune Publishing and MediaNews Group.

The suits add to a growing pile of cases playing out across the country brought by news organizations and various owners of copyrighted content against tech giants alleging the wholesale theft of content used to train A.I. models. The News, The Times and other papers that filed suit Monday are also suing OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging similar conduct.

In one example detailed in the new lawsuit, a user prompted Brave's A.I. feature known as “Ask Brave” to show them articles published that day in The News. The chatbot provided the titles of 35 articles that appeared in The News that day behind a paywall and asked, “would you like me to pull up the full text of any of these articles? If so, just tell me which one(s) and I'll fetch the complete version."

The suit lays out several other examples of Brave's A.I. bot regurgitating stories in response to user queries.

In one, a user prompted “Ask Brave” to share information about what was going on in Orlando politics. “Ask Brave” responded by identifying several news stories on the topic, citing a piece on the governor’s race in the Orlando Sentinel. After further prompting, the bot reproduced verbatim and closely paraphrased text from the newspaper’s coverage of the race.

“AI giants are now desperate to avoid getting caught red-handed stealing news from publishers, so Brave Software is selling them a back door to the journalism they know they have no right to. Buying stolen goods secondhand doesn’t make them legitimate. Brave must be held responsible for laundering pirated reporting for the AI industry,” said Steven Lieberman, an attorney representing The News and its sister papers with Tribune Publishing in the suit.

The suit lists five legal claims, alleging that Brave has committed direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright infringement.

In a statement, Pine said the software company had made “a mockery of our intellectual property laws.”

“Brave, purportedly on behalf of its users but also on behalf of other more well-known AI companies, pillages the internet and resells its ill-gotten gains to anyone who will buy,” Pine said. “Then, proudly touting how it protects the privacy — read that as piracy — of its customers, it attempts to delete evidence of its misdeeds under its ‘Zero Data Retention’ policy.”

Brave Software, Inc., did not respond to a request for comment. The News also reached out to Anthropic and other A.I. companies accused of buying stolen content from Brave. Those companies are not named as defendants in Monday's lawsuits.

Companies ordered to share how personal data informs prices, pay

Delta, with one of its jets seen Oct. 5 in Dallas, is among the companies subject to the FTC order. LM OTERO/AP

By Dee-Ann Durbin

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has announced that it is ordering Delta Air Lines, Walmart and other companies to provide detailed information on how they use consumers' data when they're setting prices.

The commission said it is also studying how ride-sharing and delivery companies like Uber use independent drivers' personal data when setting compensation rates.

“We intend to scrutinize the opaque methodology that some companies in these industries may be using to determine how much consumers pay or how much gig workers are paid for the same product or service,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said Wednesday in a statement.

Orders were also issued to United, JetBlue, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Target, the FTC said.

Each company must share details that will allow the commission to assess whether pricing for tickets, rides, food delivery or other products and services varies from one person to the next based on factors like participation in loyalty programs or analysis of personal data, the agency said.

The FTC said it is also examining whether companies compensate workers based on personal data like their phone usage or their history of accepting rides or deliveries. If the companies fail to turn over data, the FTC said it could compel compliance in federal court.

Delta said in response that it has “zero tolerance for discriminatory or predatory pricing” and fully complies with pricing and advertising laws.

"There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal data," the company said in a statement.

JetBlue said it doesn't use personal information or web-browsing history to set individual prices.

“Fares are determined by demand and seat availability, and all customers have access to the same fares,” the company said.

Instacart said compensation for its shoppers is based solely on job-related criteria, including the distance traveled, the items and expected shopping time. The grocery delivery company said it also doesn't use consumers' personal information to set prices. Prices on Instacart's website are set by the retailers the company serves.

"We appreciate the FTC's focus on this practice. We are committed to transparency and improving affordability for customers," a spokesperson for Instacart said Wednesday. "We will continue engaging with policymakers and regulators to ensure they understand how pricing on our platform works."

Walmart's CEO said in a statement in September that the retailer doesn't use personal information like income, shopping history or a customer's willingness to pay to set prices, and it won't be doing so in the future either. Target also said in a recent post on its website that it doesn't use personal information to raise prices for customers "based on who they are, where they live or when they shop."

The FTC's actions reflect customers' concerns about pricing technology and the use of artificial intelligence to collect vast amounts of data. Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing-related bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In August, the FTC announced a proposed policy that would require businesses to “clearly and conspicuously disclose” if they are engaging in personalized pricing and share the types of data they’re using to set those prices. The agency has extended the comment period on that until Nov. 21.

In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the FTC found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers' locations, browsing histories and other factors, including how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts.

But Ferguson, who assumed the chairmanship of the FTC when President Donald Trump took office, has said that report was rushed and should have asked the companies directly for data instead of focusing on third-party intermediaries.

Market Roundup

DOW 51,983.98

213.67 0.41%

NASDAQ 25,164.32

-272.68 -1.07%

StocksRecap | NYSE | NASD | Vol. (in mil.) | 4984 | 4589 | Pvs. Volume | 5479 | 4271 | Advanced | 1646 | 1630 | Declined | 957 | 1817 | New Highs | 55 | 145 | New Lows | 60 | 335 | LOCAL STOCKS

S&P 500 7,541.40

-38.67 -0.51%

EURO 1.1190

0.0004 0.04%

CRUDE OIL 96.46

-7.66 -7.36%

GOLD 3,956.90

71.20 1.83%

Commodities

Crude Oil fell 7.36% to \$96.46, and Unleaded Gas dropped 8.12% to \$2.90. Silver rose 3.31% to \$50.72, while Orange Juice decreased 10.85% to \$1.15.

Companies ordered to share how personal data informs prices, pay

Delta, with one of its jets seen Oct. 5 in Dallas, is among the companies subject to the FTC order. LM OTERO/AP

By Dee-Ann Durbin

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has announced that it is ordering Delta Air Lines, Walmart and other companies to provide detailed information on how they use consumers' data when they're setting prices.

The commission said it is also studying how ride-sharing and delivery companies like Uber use independent drivers' personal data when setting compensation rates.

“We intend to scrutinize the opaque methodology that some companies in these industries may be using to determine how much consumers pay or how much gig workers are paid for the same product or service,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said Wednesday in a statement.

Orders were also issued to United, JetBlue, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Target, the FTC said.

Each company must share details that will allow the commission to assess whether pricing for tickets, rides, food delivery or other products and services varies from one person to the next based on factors like participation in loyalty programs or analysis of personal data, the agency said.

The FTC said it is also examining whether companies compensate workers based on personal data like their phone usage or their history of accepting rides or deliveries. If the companies fail to turn over data, the FTC said it could compel compliance in federal court.

Delta said in response that it has “zero tolerance for discriminatory or predatory pricing” and fully complies with pricing and advertising laws.

"There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal data," the company said in a statement.

JetBlue said it doesn't use personal information or web-browsing history to set individual prices.

“Fares are determined by demand and seat availability, and all customers have access to the same fares,” the company said.

Instacart said compensation for its shoppers is based solely on job-related criteria, including the distance traveled, the items and expected shopping time. The grocery delivery company said it also doesn't use consumers' personal information to set prices. Prices on Instacart's website are set by the retailers the company serves.

"We appreciate the FTC's focus on this practice. We are committed to transparency and improving affordability for customers," a spokesperson for Instacart said Wednesday. "We will continue engaging with policymakers and regulators to ensure they understand how pricing on our platform works."

Walmart's CEO said in a statement in September that the retailer doesn't use personal information like income, shopping history or a customer's willingness to pay to set prices, and it won't be doing so in the future either. Target also said in a recent post on its website that it doesn't use personal information to raise prices for customers "based on who they are, where they live or when they shop."

The FTC's actions reflect customers' concerns about pricing technology and the use of artificial intelligence to collect vast amounts of data. Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing-related bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In August, the FTC announced a proposed policy that would require businesses to “clearly and conspicuously disclose” if they are engaging in personalized pricing and share the types of data they’re using to set those prices. The agency has extended the comment period on that until Nov. 21.

In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the FTC found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers' locations, browsing histories and other factors, including how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts.

But Ferguson, who assumed the chairmanship of the FTC when President Donald Trump took office, has said that report was rushed and should have asked the companies directly for data instead of focusing on third-party intermediaries.

Market Roundup

DOW 51,983.98

213.67 0.41%

NASDAQ 25,164.32

-272.68 -1.07%

StocksRecap | NYSE | NASD | Vol. (in mil.) | 4984 | 4589 | Pvs. Volume | 5479 | 4271 | Advanced | 1646 | 1630 | Declined | 957 | 1817 | New Highs | 55 | 145 | New Lows | 60 | 335 | LOCAL STOCKS

S&P 500 7,541.40

-38.67 -0.51%

EURO 1.1190

0.0004 0.04%

CRUDE OIL 96.46

-7.66 -7.36%

GOLD 3,956.90

71.20 1.83%

Commodities

Crude Oil fell 7.36% to \$96.46, and Unleaded Gas dropped 8.12% to \$2.90. Silver rose 3.31% to \$50.72, while Orange Juice decreased 10.85% to \$1.15.

Companies ordered to share how personal data informs prices, pay

Delta, with one of its jets seen Oct. 5 in Dallas, is among the companies subject to the FTC order. LM OTERO/AP

By Dee-Ann Durbin

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has announced that it is ordering Delta Air Lines, Walmart and other companies to provide detailed information on how they use consumers' data when they're setting prices.

The commission said it is also studying how ride-sharing and delivery companies like Uber use independent drivers' personal data when setting compensation rates.

“We intend to scrutinize the opaque methodology that some companies in these industries may be using to determine how much consumers pay or how much gig workers are paid for the same product or service,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said Wednesday in a statement.

Orders were also issued to United, JetBlue, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Target, the FTC said.

Each company must share details that will allow the commission to assess whether pricing for tickets, rides, food delivery or other products and services varies from one person to the next based on factors like participation in loyalty programs or analysis of personal data, the agency said.

The FTC said it is also examining whether companies compensate workers based on personal data like their phone usage or their history of accepting rides or deliveries. If the companies fail to turn over data, the FTC said it could compel compliance in federal court.

Delta said in response that it has “zero tolerance for discriminatory or predatory pricing” and fully complies with pricing and advertising laws.

"There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal data," the company said in a statement.

JetBlue said it doesn't use personal information or web-browsing history to set individual prices.

“Fares are determined by demand and seat availability, and all customers have access to the same fares,” the company said.

Instacart said compensation for its shoppers is based solely on job-related criteria, including the distance traveled, the items and expected shopping time. The grocery delivery company said it also doesn't use consumers' personal information to set prices. Prices on Instacart's website are set by the retailers the company serves.

"We appreciate the FTC's focus on this practice. We are committed to transparency and improving affordability for customers," a spokesperson for Instacart said Wednesday. "We will continue engaging with policymakers and regulators to ensure they understand how pricing on our platform works."

Walmart's CEO said in a statement in September that the retailer doesn't use personal information like income, shopping history or a customer's willingness to pay to set prices, and it won't be doing so in the future either. Target also said in a recent post on its website that it doesn't use personal information to raise prices for customers "based on who they are, where they live or when they shop."

The FTC's actions reflect customers' concerns about pricing technology and the use of artificial intelligence to collect vast amounts of data. Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing-related bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In August, the FTC announced a proposed policy that would require businesses to “clearly and conspicuously disclose” if they are engaging in personalized pricing and share the types of data they’re using to set those prices. The agency has extended the comment period on that until Nov. 21.

In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the FTC found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers' locations, browsing histories and other factors, including how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts.

But Ferguson, who assumed the chairmanship of the FTC when President Donald Trump took office, has said that report was rushed and should have asked the companies directly for data instead of focusing on third-party intermediaries.

Market Roundup

DOW 51,983.98

213.67 0.41%

NASDAQ 25,164.32

-272.68 -1.07%

StocksRecap | NYSE | NASD | Vol. (in mil.) | 4984 | 4589 | Pvs. Volume | 5479 | 4271 | Advanced | 1646 | 1630 | Declined | 957 | 1817 | New Highs | 55 | 145 | New Lows | 60 | 335 | LOCAL STOCKS

S&P 500 7,541.40

-38.67 -0.51%

EURO 1.1190

0.0004 0.04%

CRUDE OIL 96.46

-7.66 -7.36%

GOLD 3,956.90

71.20 1.83%

Commodities

Crude Oil fell 7.36% to \$96.46, and Unleaded Gas dropped 8.12% to \$2.90. Silver rose 3.31% to \$50.72, while Orange Juice decreased 10.85% to \$1.15.

Companies ordered to share how personal data informs prices, pay

Delta, with one of its jets seen Oct. 5 in Dallas, is among the companies subject to the FTC order. LM OTERO/AP

By Dee-Ann Durbin

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has announced that it is ordering Delta Air Lines, Walmart and other companies to provide detailed information on how they use consumers' data when they're setting prices.

The commission said it is also studying how ride-sharing and delivery companies like Uber use independent drivers' personal data when setting compensation rates.

“We intend to scrutinize the opaque methodology that some companies in these industries may be using to determine how much consumers pay or how much gig workers are paid for the same product or service,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said Wednesday in a statement.

Orders were also issued to United, JetBlue, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Target, the FTC said.

Each company must share details that will allow the commission to assess whether pricing for tickets, rides, food delivery or other products and services varies from one person to the next based on factors like participation in loyalty programs or analysis of personal data, the agency said.

The FTC said it is also examining whether companies compensate workers based on personal data like their phone usage or their history of accepting rides or deliveries. If the companies fail to turn over data, the FTC said it could compel compliance in federal court.

Delta said in response that it has “zero tolerance for discriminatory or predatory pricing” and fully complies with pricing and advertising laws.

"There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal data," the company said in a statement.

JetBlue said it doesn't use personal information or web-browsing history to set individual prices.

“Fares are determined by demand and seat availability, and all customers have access to the same fares,” the company said.

Instacart said compensation for its shoppers is based solely on job-related criteria, including the distance traveled, the items and expected shopping time. The grocery delivery company said it also doesn't use consumers' personal information to set prices. Prices on Instacart's website are set by the retailers the company serves.

"We appreciate the FTC's focus on this practice. We are committed to transparency and improving affordability for customers," a spokesperson for Instacart said Wednesday. "We will continue engaging with policymakers and regulators to ensure they understand how pricing on our platform works."

Walmart's CEO said in a statement in September that the retailer doesn't use personal information like income, shopping history or a customer's willingness to pay to set prices, and it won't be doing so in the future either. Target also said in a recent post on its website that it doesn't use personal information to raise prices for customers "based on who they are, where they live or when they shop."

The FTC's actions reflect customers' concerns about pricing technology and the use of artificial intelligence to collect vast amounts of data. Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing-related bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In August, the FTC announced a proposed policy that would require businesses to “clearly and conspicuously disclose” if they are engaging in personalized pricing and share the types of data they’re using to set those prices. The agency has extended the comment period on that until Nov. 21.

In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the FTC found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers' locations, browsing histories and other factors, including how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts.

But Ferguson, who assumed the chairmanship of the FTC when President Donald Trump took office, has said that report was rushed and should have asked the companies directly for data instead of focusing on third-party intermediaries.

Market Roundup

DOW 51,983.98

213.67 0.41%

NASDAQ 25,164.32

-272.68 -1.07%

StocksRecap | NYSE | NASD | Vol. (in mil.) | 4984 | 4589 | Pvs. Volume | 5479 | 4271 | Advanced | 1646 | 1630 | Declined | 957 | 1817 | New Highs | 55 | 145 | New Lows | 60 | 335 | LOCAL STOCKS

S&P 500 7,541.40

-38.67 -0.51%

EURO 1.1190

0.0004 0.04%

CRUDE OIL 96.46

-7.66 -7.36%

GOLD 3,956.90

71.20 1.83%

Commodities

Crude Oil fell 7.36% to \$96.46, and Unleaded Gas dropped 8.12% to \$2.90. Silver rose 3.31% to \$50.72, while Orange Juice decreased 10.85% to \$1.15.

Companies ordered to share how personal data informs prices, pay

Delta, with one of its jets seen Oct. 5 in Dallas, is among the companies subject to the FTC order. LM OTERO/AP

By Dee-Ann Durbin

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has announced that it is ordering Delta Air Lines, Walmart and other companies to provide detailed information on how they use consumers' data when they're setting prices.

The commission said it is also studying how ride-sharing and delivery companies like Uber use independent drivers' personal data when setting compensation rates.

“We intend to scrutinize the opaque methodology that some companies in these industries may be using to determine how much consumers pay or how much gig workers are paid for the same product or service,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said Wednesday in a statement.

Orders were also issued to United, JetBlue, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Target, the FTC said.

Each company must share details that will allow the commission to assess whether pricing for tickets, rides, food delivery or other products and services varies from one person to the next based on factors like participation in loyalty programs or analysis of personal data, the agency said.

The FTC said it is also examining whether companies compensate workers based on personal data like their phone usage or their history of accepting rides or deliveries. If the companies fail to turn over data, the FTC said it could compel compliance in federal court.

Delta said in response that it has “zero tolerance for discriminatory or predatory pricing” and fully complies with pricing and advertising laws.

"There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal data," the company said in a statement.

JetBlue said it doesn't use personal information or web-browsing history to set individual prices.

“Fares are determined by demand and seat availability, and all customers have access to the same fares,” the company said.

Instacart said compensation for its shoppers is based solely on job-related criteria, including the distance traveled, the items and expected shopping time. The grocery delivery company said it also doesn't use consumers' personal information to set prices. Prices on Instacart's website are set by the retailers the company serves.

"We appreciate the FTC's focus on this practice. We are committed to transparency and improving affordability for customers," a spokesperson for Instacart said Wednesday. "We will continue engaging with policymakers and regulators to ensure they understand how pricing on our platform works."

Walmart's CEO said in a statement in September that the retailer doesn't use personal information like income, shopping history or a customer's willingness to pay to set prices, and it won't be doing so in the future either. Target also said in a recent post on its website that it doesn't use personal information to raise prices for customers "based on who they are, where they live or when they shop."

The FTC's actions reflect customers' concerns about pricing technology and the use of artificial intelligence to collect vast amounts of data. Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing-related bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In August, the FTC announced a proposed policy that would require businesses to “clearly and conspicuously disclose” if they are engaging in personalized pricing and share the types of data they’re using to set those prices. The agency has extended the comment period on that until Nov. 21.

In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the FTC found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers' locations, browsing histories and other factors, including how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts.

But Ferguson, who assumed the chairmanship of the FTC when President Donald Trump took office, has said that report was rushed and should have asked the companies directly for data instead of focusing on third-party intermediaries.

Market Roundup

DOW 51,983.98

213.67 0.41%

NASDAQ 25,164.32

-272.68 -1.07%

StocksRecap | NYSE | NASD | Vol. (in mil.) | 4984 | 4589 | Pvs. Volume | 5479 | 4271 | Advanced | 1646 | 1630 | Declined | 957 | 1817 | New Highs | 55 | 145 | New Lows | 60 | 335 | LOCAL STOCKS

S&P 500 7,541.40

-38.67 -0.51%

EURO 1.1190

0.0004 0.04%

CRUDE OIL 96.46

-7.66 -7.36%

GOLD 3,956.90

71.20 1.83%

Commodities

Crude Oil fell 7.36% to \$96.46, and Unleaded Gas dropped 8.12% to \$2.90. Silver rose 3.31% to \$50.72, while Orange Juice decreased 10.85% to \$1.15.

Companies ordered to share how personal data informs prices, pay

Delta, with one of its jets seen Oct. 5 in Dallas, is among the companies subject to the FTC order. LM OTERO/AP

By Dee-Ann Durbin

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has announced that it is ordering Delta Air Lines, Walmart and other companies to provide detailed information on how they use consumers' data when they're setting prices.

The commission said it is also studying how ride-sharing and delivery companies like Uber use independent drivers' personal data when setting compensation rates.

“We intend to scrutinize the opaque methodology that some companies in these industries may be using to determine how much consumers pay or how much gig workers are paid for the same product or service,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said Wednesday in a statement.

Orders were also issued to United, JetBlue, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Target, the FTC said.

Each company must share details that will allow the commission to assess whether pricing for tickets, rides, food delivery or other products and services varies from one person to the next based on factors like participation in loyalty programs or analysis of personal data, the agency said.

The FTC said it is also examining whether companies compensate workers based on personal data like their phone usage or their history of accepting rides or deliveries. If the companies fail to turn over data, the FTC said it could compel compliance in federal court.

Delta said in response that it has “zero tolerance for discriminatory or predatory pricing” and fully complies with pricing and advertising laws.

"There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal data," the company said in a statement.

JetBlue said it doesn't use personal information or web-browsing history to set individual prices.

“Fares are determined by demand and seat availability, and all customers have access to the same fares,” the company said.

Instacart said compensation for its shoppers is based solely on job-related criteria, including the distance traveled, the items and expected shopping time. The grocery delivery company said it also doesn't use consumers' personal information to set prices. Prices on Instacart's website are set by the retailers the company serves.

"We appreciate the FTC's focus on this practice. We are committed to transparency and improving affordability for customers," a spokesperson for Instacart said Wednesday. "We will continue engaging with policymakers and regulators to ensure they understand how pricing on our platform works."

Walmart's CEO said in a statement in September that the retailer doesn't use personal information like income, shopping history or a customer's willingness to pay to set prices, and it won't be doing so in the future either. Target also said in a recent post on its website that it doesn't use personal information to raise prices for customers "based on who they are, where they live or when they shop."

The FTC's actions reflect customers' concerns about pricing technology and the use of artificial intelligence to collect vast amounts of data. Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing-related bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In August, the FTC announced a proposed policy that would require businesses to “clearly and conspicuously disclose” if they are engaging in personalized pricing and share the types of data they’re using to set those prices. The agency has extended the comment period on that until Nov. 21.

In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the FTC found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers' locations, browsing histories and other factors, including how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts.

But Ferguson, who assumed the chairmanship of the FTC when President Donald Trump took office, has said that report was rushed and should have asked the companies directly for data instead of focusing on third-party intermediaries.

Market Roundup

DOW 51,983.98

213.67 0.41%

NASDAQ 25,164.32

-272.68 -1.07%

StocksRecap | NYSE | NASD | Vol. (in mil.) | 4984 | 4589 | Pvs. Volume | 5479 | 4271 | Advanced | 1646 | 1630 | Declined | 957 | 1817 | New Highs | 55 | 145 | New Lows | 60 | 335 | LOCAL STOCKS

S&P 500 7,541.40

-38.67 -0.51%

EURO 1.1190

0.0004 0.04%

CRUDE OIL 96.46

-7.66 -7.36%

GOLD 3,956.90

71.20 1.83%

Commodities

Crude Oil fell 7.36% to \$96.46, and Unleaded Gas dropped 8.12% to \$2.90. Silver rose 3.31% to \$50.72, while Orange Juice decreased 10.85% to \$1.15.

Companies ordered to share how personal data informs prices, pay

Delta, with one of its jets seen Oct. 5 in Dallas, is among the companies subject to the FTC order. LM OTERO/AP

By Dee-Ann Durbin

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has announced that it is ordering Delta Air Lines, Walmart and other companies to provide detailed information on how they use consumers' data when they're setting prices.

The commission said it is also studying how ride-sharing and delivery companies like Uber use independent drivers' personal data when setting compensation rates.

“We intend to scrutinize the opaque methodology that some companies in these industries may be using to determine how much consumers pay or how much gig workers are paid for the same product or service,” FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said Wednesday in a statement.

Orders were also issued to United, JetBlue, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Target, the FTC said.

Each company must share details that will allow the commission to assess whether pricing for tickets, rides, food delivery or other products and services varies from one person to the next based on factors like participation in loyalty programs or analysis of personal data, the agency said.

The FTC said it is also examining whether companies compensate workers based on personal data like their phone usage or their history of accepting rides or deliveries. If the companies fail to turn over data, the FTC said it could compel compliance in federal court.

Delta said in response that it has “zero tolerance for discriminatory or predatory pricing” and fully complies with pricing and advertising laws.

"There is no fare product Delta has ever used, is testing or plans to use that targets customers with individualized offers based on personal data," the company said in a statement.

JetBlue said it doesn't use personal information or web-browsing history to set individual prices.

“Fares are determined by demand and seat availability, and all customers have access to the same fares,” the company said.

Instacart said compensation for its shoppers is based solely on job-related criteria, including the distance traveled, the items and expected shopping time. The grocery delivery company said it also doesn't use consumers' personal information to set prices. Prices on Instacart's website are set by the retailers the company serves.

"We appreciate the FTC's focus on this practice. We are committed to transparency and improving affordability for customers," a spokesperson for Instacart said Wednesday. "We will continue engaging with policymakers and regulators to ensure they understand how pricing on our platform works."

Walmart's CEO said in a statement in September that the retailer doesn't use personal information like income, shopping history or a customer's willingness to pay to set prices, and it won't be doing so in the future either. Target also said in a recent post on its website that it doesn't use personal information to raise prices for customers "based on who they are, where they live or when they shop."

The FTC's actions reflect customers' concerns about pricing technology and the use of artificial intelligence to collect vast amounts of data. Legislators in at least 30 states have considered pricing-related bills this year, including measures addressing algorithmic and personalized pricing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In August, the FTC announced a proposed policy that would require businesses to “clearly and conspicuously disclose” if they are engaging in personalized pricing and share the types of data they’re using to set those prices. The agency has extended the comment period on that until Nov. 21.

In a preliminary report filed in January 2025, the FTC found that grocers, clothing companies and others were using third-party companies to help them individualize online prices based on shoppers' locations, browsing histories and other factors, including how long they left items in their virtual shopping carts.

But Ferguson, who assumed the chairmanship of the FTC when President Donald Trump took office, has said that report was rushed and should have asked the companies directly for data instead of focusing on third-party intermediaries.

Market Roundup

DOW 51,983.98

213.67 0.41%

NASDAQ 25,164.32

-272.68 -1.07%

StocksRecap | NYSE | NASD | Vol. (in mil.) | 4984 | 4589 | Pvs. Volume | 5479 | 4271 | Advanced | 1646 | 1630 | Declined | 957 | 1817 | New Highs | 55 | 145 | New Lows | 60 | 335 | LOCAL STOCKS

S&P 500 7,541.40

-38.67 -0.51%

EURO 1.1190

0.0004 0.04%

CRUDE OIL 96.46

-7.66 -7.36%

GOLD 3,956.90

71.20 1.83%

Commodities

Crude Oil fell 7.36% to \$96.46, and Unleaded Gas dropped 8.12% to \$2.90. Silver rose 3.31% to \$50.72, while Orange Juice decreased 10.85% to \$1.15.

Foreign Exchange

South African Rand rose most at 0.15%, while Swedish Krona fell most at -0.20%. Norwegian Krone increased 0.11%, and Euro gained 0.04%.

Interestrates

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 4.92%. Yields affect interest rates on mortgages and other consumer loans. | PRIME RATE | FED FUNDS | YEST | 7.00 | 3.88 | 6 MO AGO | 6.75 | 3.63 | 1 YR AGO | 6.75 | 3.63 |

6-MO T-BILLS 4.29

0.04 0.94%

30-YR T-BONDS 5.29

-0.02 -0.36% | FUELS | CLOSE | PVS. | CHG | %YTD | Crude Oil (bbl) | 96.46 | 104.12 | -7.66 | +68.0 | Heating Oil (gal) | 4.68 | 4.59 | +0.09 | +108.3 | Natural Gas (mm btu) | 2.86 | 2.90 | -0.04 | -22.5 | Unleaded Gas (gal) | 2.90 | 3.16 | -0.26 | +69.1 | METALS | CLOSE | PVS. | CHG | %YTD | Aluminum (ton) | 3,314.75 | 3,310.50 | +4.25 | +14.1 | Copper (lb) | 6.54 | 6.46 | +0.09 | +16.2 | Gold (oz) | 3,956.90 | 3,885.70 | +71.20 | -8.5 | Platinum (oz) | 1,459.00 | 1,438.00 | +21.00 | -28.3 | Silver (oz) | 50.72 | 49.10 | +1.62 | -27.7 | AGRICULTURE | CLOSE | PVS. | CHG | %YTD | Lumber (1,000 bd ft) | 525.50 | 521.50 | +4.00 | -17.6 | Cattle (lb) | 2.20 | 2.21 | -0.01 | -5.2 | Coffee (lb) | 2.87 | 2.85 | +0.02 | -15.7 | Corn (bu) | 4.48 | 4.48 | +0.00 | +1.8 | Cotton (lb) | 77.83 | 78.50 | -0.67 | +20.7 | Orange Juice (lb) | 1.15 | 1.29 | -0.14 | -36.4 | Soybeans (bu) | 12.05 | 12.22 | -0.17 | +16.9 | Wheat (bu) | 6.07 | 6.04 | +0.03 | +19.6 | MAJORS | CLOSE | CHG | %CHG | 6MO AGO | 1YR AGO | British Pound (GBP/USD) | 1.3405 | -.0002 | -.01% | 1.3577 | 1.3154 | Canadian Dollar | 1.3982 | -.0002 | -.01% | 1.3595 | 1.4050 | Euro (EUR/USD) | 1.1190 | +.0004 | +.04% | 1.1726 | 1.1597 | Japanese Yen | 157.902 | -.0400 | -.02% | 157.06 | 153.98 | Mexican Peso | 18.5710 | +.0106 | +.06% | 17.442 | 18.547 | EUROPE/AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST | Israeli Shekel | 3.1393 | +.0000 | +.00% | 2.9425 | 3.2526 | Norwegian Krone | 9.2927 | +.0105 | +.11% | 9.2941 | 10.119 | South African Rand | 16.6177 | +.0248 | +.15% | 16.625 | 17.117 | Swedish Krona | 9.7557 | -.0194 | -.20% | 9.2091 | 9.2251 | Swiss Franc | .8189 | +.0003 | +.03% | .7820 | .8049 | ASIA/PACIFIC | Australian Dollar | 1.4278 | -.0012 | -.08% | 1.3877 | 1.5279 | Chinese Yuan | 6.6480 | +.0000 | +.00% | 6.8275 | 7.1169 | Hong Kong Dollar | 7.8469 | +.0002 | +.00% | 7.8350 | 7.7739 | Indian Rupee | 94.6761 | +.0122 | +.01% | 94.775 | 88.785 | Singapore Dollar | 1.2787 | +.0003 | +.02% | 1.2721 | 1.2988 | South Korean Won | 1345.27 | +.0800 | +.01% | 1470.3 | 1427.7 | Taiwan Dollar | 32.5896 | -.0164 | -.05% | 31.554 | 30.781 | TREASURIES | LAST | PVS | NET CHG | WK | MO | QTR | 1YR AGO | 3-month T-bill | 4.13 | 4.08 | +0.05 | ▼ | ▲ | ▲ | 3.69 | 6-month T-bill | 4.29 | 4.25 | +0.04 | ▼ | — | ▲ | 3.71 | 1-year T-bill | 4.38 | 4.36 | +0.02 | ▼ | ▼ | ▲ | 3.73 | 2-year T-note | 4.60 | 4.59 | +0.01 | ▼ | ▼ | ▲ | 3.87 | 5-year T-note | 4.70 | 4.71 | -0.01 | ▼ | ▼ | ▲ | 3.99 | 10-year T-note | 4.92 | 4.93 | -0.01 | ▼ | ▼ | ▲ | 4.35 | 30-year T-bond | 5.29 | 5.31 | -0.02 | ▼ | ▼ | ▲ | 4.94 | CONSUMER RATES | NAT'L AVG | WK AGO | 6MO AGO | 1YR AGO | 72 month new car loan | 5.74 | 5.74 | 6.17 | 6.56 | Money Market Account | 0.47▲ | 0.46 | 0.41 | 0.44 | 1 year cd | 2.07▼ | 2.14 | 1.92 | 1.94 | $30K Home equity loan | 6.92▲ | 6.92 | 7.26 | 8.09 | 30 year fixed mortgage | 7.33▼ | 7.40 | 6.44 | 6.25 | 15 year fixed mortgage | 6.77▼ | 6.82 | 5.81 | 5.63 | NAME | CLOSE | CHG | %CHG | YTD CHG | LO | HI | DIV | ANI Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 70.67 | -1.33 | -1.8% | -8.27 | 69.58 | 95.57 | ... | AbbVie Inc. | 288.84 | -6.05 | -2.1% | +60.35 | 190.75 | 298.74 | 6.92 | Abbott Laboratories | 110.16 | +3.96 | +3.7% | -15.13 | 81.97 | 132.02 | 2.52 | Acco Brands Corp. | 5.46 | -0.04 | -0.7% | +1.73 | 2.81 | 5.84 | 0.30 | Allstate Corp., The | 263.99 | +4.12 | +1.6% | +55.84 | 188.15 | 277.22 | 4.32 | AptarGroup Inc. | 143.86 | +6.66 | +4.9% | +21.90 | 108.29 | 146.91 | 2.00 | Archer Daniels Midland Cc | 75.77 | -1.14 | -1.5% | +18.28 | 55.58 | 88.75 | 2.08 | Baxter International Inc. | 24.22 | +1.22 | +5.3% | +5.11 | 15.73 | 30.00 | 0.04 | Boeing Co. | 175.40 | +3.85 | +2.2% | -41.72 | 165.01 | 254.35 | ... | Brunswick Corp. | 79.05 | +3.71 | +4.9% | +4.81 | 59.06 | 90.25 | 1.76 | CDW | 150.59 | -3.20 | -2.1% | +14.39 | 97.12 | 166.15 | 2.52 | CF Industries Holdings Inc | 120.33 | -2.97 | -2.4% | +42.99 | 75.42 | 141.96 | 2.40 | CME Group Inc. | 306.24 | +3.10 | +1.0% | +33.16 | 218.31 | 329.16 | 5.20 | CNA Financial Corp. | 47.92 | -0.76 | -1.6% | +18 | 41.53 | 55.71 | 1.92 | Century Aluminum | 33.53 | -0.17 | -0.5% | -5.65 | 25.40 | 70.43 | ... | Chicago Rivet & Machine ( | 10.30 | -1.00 | -8.8% | -3.61 | 8.50 | 15.00 | 0.12 | ConAgra Brands Inc. | 14.79 | +22 | +1.5% | -2.52 | 12.53 | 20.32 | 0.70 | Deere & Co. | 667.60 | -7.88 | -1.2% | +202.03 | 454.50 | 721.22 | 6.48 | Distribution Solutions Grp | 35.00 | +02 | +0.1% | +7.61 | 19.02 | 35.30 | ... | Dover Corp. | 215.91 | +8.17 | +3.9% | +20.67 | 176.40 | 237.54 | 2.10 | Enova International Inc. | 173.94 | -0.15 | -0.1% | +16.74 | 118.31 | 267.45 | ... | Equity Lifestyle Propert. In | 60.45 | +1.42 | +2.4% | -0.16 | 57.46 | 69.00 | 2.17 | Exelon Corp. | 46.45 | +29 | +0.6% | +2.86 | 39.73 | 50.65 | 1.68 | Federal Signal Corp. | 117.01 | +4.34 | +3.9% | +8.42 | 101.18 | 134.51 | 0.60 | First Indust.Realty Trust In | 54.80 | +39 | +0.7% | -2.47 | 54.16 | 69.88 | 2.00 | First Mid Bancshares Inc. | 51.47 | +1.07 | +2.1% | +12.47 | 34.16 | 53.36 | 1.04 | Fortune Brands Innovator | 46.57 | +1.82 | +4.1% | -3.45 | 32.34 | 64.84 | 1.04 | FreightCar America Inc. | 4.12 | -0.05 | -1.2% | -6.95 | 3.85 | 14.90 | ... | Fuel Technologies Inc. | 1.42 | -0.02 | -1.7% | -0.14 | 1.17 | 2.68 | ... | GATX Corp. | 188.68 | +7.54 | +4.2% | +19.08 | 150.42 | 205.56 | 2.64 | Gallagher & Co., Arthur J. | 278.89 | +2.82 | +1.0% | +20.10 | 190.75 | 281.53 | 2.80 | Grainger Inc., W.W. | 1377.66 | +18.49 | +1.4% | +368.61 | 906.52 | 1419.91 | 9.96 | Groupon Inc. | 15.58 | -0.17 | -1.1% | -2.03 | 9.17 | 29.90 | ... | Hub Group Inc. | 27.38 | +67 | +2.5% | -15.23 | 24.98 | 53.26 | 0.50 | Huron Consulting Group Ir | 195.00 | +57 | +0.3% | +22.09 | 84.88 | 203.37 | ... | Hyatt Hotels Corp. | 185.96 | +5.39 | +3.0% | +25.64 | 134.18 | 206.86 | 0.60 | IDEX Corp. | 236.52 | +2.68 | +1.1% | +58.58 | 160.60 | 243.80 | 2.92 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | 290.05 | +11.50 | +4.1% | +43.75 | 238.82 | 303.16 | 6.88 | Ingredion Inc. | 98.93 | +1.96 | +2.0% | -11.33 | 93.30 | 123.49 | 3.32 | JBT Marel Corp. | 114.78 | +5.61 | +5.1% | -35.89 | 102.97 | 170.19 | 0.40 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 340.58 | +3.54 | +1.0% | +18.36 | 279.10 | 366.50 | 6.60 | John B. Sanfilippo & Son I | 53.87 | -0.03 | -0.1% | -16.73 | 50.73 | 92.08 | ... | Jones Lang Lasalle Inc. | 379.29 | +19.50 | +5.4% | +42.82 | 259.83 | 393.84 | ... | Kemper Corp. | 35.08 | +1.86 | +5.6% | -5.46 | 22.69 | 44.92 | 1.28 | Knowles Corp. | 32.87 | .00 | 0.0% | +11.44 | 20.57 | 42.93 | ... | Kraft Heinz | 24.93 | +.59 | +2.4% | +.68 | 21.04 | 28.09 | 1.60 | LKQ Corp. | 19.93 | +1.37 | +7.4% | -10.27 | 16.85 | 37.13 | 1.20 | Lifeway Foods Inc. | 22.28 | -0.66 | -2.9% | -1.96 | 17.31 | 32.71 | ... | Littelfuse Inc. | 394.54 | +1.46 | +0.4% | +141.62 | 233.36 | 500.57 | 3.20 | MYR Group Inc. (Del.) | 278.24 | -4.38 | -1.6% | +59.74 | 199.30 | 503.56 | ... | McDonald's Corp. | 265.64 | +7.52 | +2.9% | -39.99 | 229.20 | 341.75 | 7.72 | Methode Electronics Inc. | 15.16 | +.44 | +3.0% | +8.52 | 4.88 | 20.38 | 0.20 | Middleby Corp | 123.47 | +4.52 | +3.8% | +3.87 | 89.15 | 148.20 | ... | Mondelez International Inc | 66.38 | +1.44 | +2.2% | +12.55 | 51.20 | 66.65 | 2.08 | Morningstar Inc. | 238.95 | +12.54 | +5.6% | +21.64 | 141.49 | 240.54 | 2.00 | Motorola Solutions Inc. | 487.31 | -4.22 | -0.9% | +103.99 | 359.36 | 499.00 | 4.84 | NISOURCE Inc. | 44.86 | +.29 | +0.7% | +3.10 | 38.42 | 49.21 | 1.20 | Northern Trust Corp. | 170.68 | +1.50 | +0.9% | +34.09 | 121.53 | 193.89 | 3.52 | Oil-Dri Corp. of America | 69.62 | -1.83 | -2.6% | +20.68 | 45.61 | 107.00 | 0.90 | Old Republic Intl Corp. | 38.93 | +.41 | +1.1% | -6.71 | 36.65 | 46.76 | 1.26 | Old Second Bancorp Inc. | 25.07 | +.77 | +3.2% | +5.57 | 17.61 | 26.06 | 0.32 | OneSpan Inc. | 25.55 | -0.11 | -0.4% | +12.71 | 10.07 | 27.45 | 0.52 | Packaging Corp. of Americ | 258.64 | +1.82 | +0.7% | +52.41 | 191.50 | 260.13 | 6.00 | Paylocity Holding Corp. | 174.09 | +3.18 | +1.9% | +21.59 | 93.27 | 178.53 | ... | Portillo's Inc. | 5.18 | +.31 | +6.4% | +.64 | 3.29 | 6.69 | ... | Richardson Electronics Ltd | 19.50 | -0.24 | -1.2% | +8.62 | 9.37 | 23.15 | 0.24 | Ryan Specialty Holdings Ir | 45.48 | +1.64 | +3.7% | -6.15 | 29.28 | 58.94 | 0.52 | Stepan Co. | 70.30 | +.69 | +1.0% | +22.94 | 41.82 | 72.67 | 1.62 | Suncoke Energy Inc. | 11.19 | -0.14 | -1.2% | +3.99 | 5.52 | 11.60 | 0.48 | Telephone & Data Systems | 36.10 | +1.80 | +5.2% | -4.90 | 30.71 | 49.12 | 0.16 | Titan International Inc. | 4.97 | +.32 | +6.9% | -2.86 | 4.58 | 11.70 | ... | Tootsie Roll Industries Inc. | 38.21 | +1.35 | +3.7% | +1.58 | 33.94 | 45.06 | 0.36 | TransUnion | 79.23 | +2.44 | +3.2% | -6.52 | 60.96 | 89.12 | 0.54 | US Foods Holding Corp. | 105.80 | +2.19 | +2.1% | +30.48 | 69.88 | 111.42 | ... | Ulta Beauty Inc. | 637.57 | -2.86 | -0.4% | +32.56 | 443.60 | 714.97 | ... | United Airlines | 109.24 | +5.00 | +4.8% | -2.58 | 84.64 | 138.77 | ... | Ventas Inc. | 86.72 | +1.92 | +2.3% | +9.34 | 72.66 | 101.60 | 2.08 | Wintrust Financial Corp. | 157.42 | +5.02 | +3.3% | +17.60 | 122.00 | 167.22 | 2.20 | Yunhong Green CTI Ltd. | 3.78 | +.41 | +12.2% | +.14 | 2.38 | 5.75 | ... | Zebra Technologies Corp. | 361.13 | -0.13 | -0.0% | +118.31 | 199.05 | 392.78 | ... |

Day of reflection on eve of election

President Donald Trump speaks Monday at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. MARK SCHIEFELBEIN/AP

DC pool renovation fills Trump's closing message to voters

By Michelle L. Price and Seung Min Kim

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — As Republicans and Democrats were making their final pitch to voters on the eve of Election Day, President Donald Trump opted to forgo the campaign trail and instead focused on his renovations at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, drawing attention to an expensive, problem-plagued repair job in a place far away from most of the people his party wants to persuade.

It was an unusual closing argument for Republicans to keep control of Congress. But it conforms with the way the president has devoted considerable time, attention and money in his second term on beautifying his Washington surroundings.

Trump, wearing a white “USA” hat, even seemed to admit that he had spent much of his time focused on improving the capital city.

"We have a lot of great things planned for Washington, and I could get into the nation, but for that, you don't have enough time," Trump said.

Instead of focusing on issues voters have said they're worried about, Trump dedicated a large portion of his remarks to his D.C. makeover and the pool, announcing its official re-opening, joking that he wanted to name it after himself, and repeating his false claims that the repair work he ordered was vandalized.

After he finished his remarks on Monday, Trump stood silently while triumphant music played, and he held up a poster with an image of the previously algae-clogged pool. It was his last public appearance before Election Day.

Democrats, for their part, were spending the last 24 hours before Election Day making their case in areas where Republicans have long dominated, while trying to contain the fallout from a messy intraparty split in Michigan. Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed was brushing aside concerns that his prospects could be hurt after his former primary opponent threw her support behind his Republican opponent Mike Rogers.

In addition to giving the speech on Monday afternoon, Trump also was scheduled to participate in nine tele-rallies for Republicans, where he uses brief remarks on a mass phone call to plead for voters' support.

Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, hit the campaign trail with more traditional stops in New York and Ohio, where Republicans were fighting for House and Senate seats.

The reflecting pool, a long, narrow basin at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, is one of Washington's most iconic sites. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously gave his “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the memorial in 1963, looking out over the pool.

But this summer it became a focus of Trump's attention, with the president frequently speaking about his plans for the shallow pool on social media, at the White House and beyond. He displayed posters about the project in the Oval Office and even had his motorcade drive him over the resurfaced pool before it was refilled.

The pool was soon clogged with algae blooms, and its “American-flag blue” liner began peeling and floating up in chunks. The Justice Department charged former Olympian David Hearn with intentionally damaging the reflecting pool but then dropped the case this summer after determining he was not responsible.

But the president continues to repeat false claims that vandalism — rather than shoddy workmanship — was to blame for a new blue surface peeling away.

On the platform where he spoke Monday, signs were hanging that said “Restoring Our Capitol” and “The Reflecting Pool.” A poster perched on a display board showed the reflecting pool under the words, “Back, and more beautiful than ever!”

He waxed on about the particular color blue he selected to have the bottom of the pool painted, the kinds of grass and types of columns he had selected for repairs around Washington, and held up a series of blown-up images of rusted pipes taken during the renovation process.

He then started repeating some of his midterm elections pitch, defending his record and attacking Democratic nominees, before eventually turning back to the pool.

The president's message in the closing days of the midterm campaign was similarly detached from voters' concerns about the high cost of living. He's called affordability a "hoax" while boasting to audiences far from the nation's capital about his renovations of the reflecting pool and the White House, along with repeatedly praising the physiques of the GOP's nominees.

Democrats in Michigan — a key state in their efforts to try to retake the Senate

— were trying to keep their coalition together after a shock on Sunday when Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens announced she would back the GOP candidate instead of her party's nominee, appearing at a church service with Republican Mike Rogers.

Stevens — who lost in the primary to El-Sayed — is a staunch supporter of Israel, while El-Sayed is a fierce critic of the U.S. ally. He has also been criticized for past remarks regarding a Michigan synagogue attack and for appearances with controversial streamer Hasan Piker.

El-Sayed, who campaigned on Monday with fellow Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell and Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, told supporters worried that Stevens' endorsement could hurt him that "If we're nervous about where we're going to go from here, go vote."

Iran says strait to reopen in 2 days if demands met

Offer follows week of negotiations to avoid escalation of conflict

By Erika Solomon and Sanam Mahoozi

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Iran is prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in two days if the United States agrees to a set of demands, its Foreign Ministry said Monday, after a week of intensified negotiations to avert a return to war.

But those demands, which include the Trump administration lifting sanctions on Iran and releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, appear difficult for Washington to accept.

The Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, made the comments hours after President Donald Trump had said at a campaign rally that he might eventually decide to give Iran "the hammer" if the two sides could not reach a deal to end the war.

Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil and gas shipping in the Persian Gulf, after U.S. and Israeli forces attacked the country in February. That move roiled energy markets and continues to shake the global economy.

U.S. and Israeli military officials have been drawing up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after this week's U.S. midterm elections. Iranian leaders have warned that, if the country were attacked again, its forces would expand their range of targets, and they are now publicly considering a withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which prohibits the development of a nuclear weapon.

Propelled by increasingly bellicose rhetoric from both Iran and the United States, Qatari mediators have been pushing to broker a last-ditch deal between the two countries.

In recent days, Iranian officials have signaled that those negotiations have made some progress, though Baghaei stressed that they were not at a point at which Iranian negotiators were prepared to hold direct talks with their U.S. counterparts.

"If Iran's legitimate demands are accepted and implemented, it would be possible to put the entire plan into operation within two days, restore security to the Strait of Hormuz and initiate the negotiation process," Baghaei told reporters Monday. "The realization of this depends entirely on Washington's will and decision."

A member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard demonstrates aiming a rifle at the opening of a military training center for civilian volunteers on Monday in Tehran, Iran. VAHID SALEMI/AP

The global benchmark oil price, apparently responding to potential progress in the talks, declined about 8% Monday to about \$104 a barrel.

Still, conditions around the Strait of Hormuz remain dangerous. More than 35 ships were attacked in October, more than in any other month since the war began.

In September, Iran proposed a phased deal to reopen the strait, in which the warring countries would take turns to make concessions, culminating in Iran ensuring safe passage through the strait, while Washington would lift a naval blockade on Iran's ports.

After that initial phase, Iran proposed that the two sides could begin negotiating a comprehensive peace deal that would restart talks over its nuclear enrichment program. U.S. officials rejected this proposal, saying Iran should commit to nuclear concessions earlier.

Qatari mediators have managed to revive negotiations over the past few weeks, initially accelerating the implementation of the initial phase to five days and more recently condensing that to two days, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told broadcaster Al Jazeera on Saturday.

Araghchi made no mention of nuclear concessions. In a televised interview Saturday, one of the officials overseeing the talks, Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's national security adviser, said nuclear negotiations could begin only after Washington had met Iranian conditions.

Alongside the demands related to sanctions and frozen assets, Araghchi said in his interview that the U.S. would also have to recognize a deal between Oman and Iran for administering passage through the strait in the future.

At the same time, Rezaei said a recent letter sent to him about negotiations from Vice President JD Vance had shown a changed tone toward Iran, which the Iranian official called a “good sign.”

Even as Gulf leaders pin their hopes on a diplomatic solution, they are “braced for the worst,” said Anwar

Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, at the Manama Dialogue security conference over the weekend.

On Sunday, Trump told journalists that he had a “good talk” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend, which included a discussion of the war.

Later Sunday, he told a campaign rally in Iowa: "The only reason we're not finished with Iran is I want to be nice — I want to try and save all those lives if I can. But at some point we're going to have to give them the hammer."

Supreme Court rejects Trump's bid to sideline thousands of Calif. ballots

By Lindsay Whitehurst

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a push for California to set aside thousands of mail ballots from people President Donald Trump's administration claims are noncitizens, a decision that was part of a flurry of voting-related litigation comes on the eve of the pivotal midterm elections.

The high court refused to intervene in a case involving 20,000 people the

Republican administration flagged as likely noncitizens on the largely Democratic state's voter rolls.

In California, the Trump administration had asked the high court to set aside the challenged ballots until the voters' citizenship status could be verified. But officials there said that the list appeared to be filled with errors and that setting the ballots aside could effectively disenfranchise legal voters.

The high court did not detail its reasoning, as is common in emergency decisions.

The justices previously rejected Trump's push to restrict mail ballots around the country in September, even though the justices have sided with his administration in a series of other emergency docket appeals.

A district court judge previously denied the Justice Department's request and warned that the demand could disenfranchise citizens in Tuesday's midterm elections to determine control of

Congress.

Also on Monday in Washington, another federal judge ruled against the administration's efforts to make last-minute demands of California election officials, finding they violated the U.S. Constitution.

"The Executive Branch has likely violated the Constitution's Elections Clause, which commits authority over election rules to the states and Congress alone," wrote Chief Judge James Boasberg.

The administration, for its part, said segregating the ballots was a modest request that would eventually allow legal votes to still be counted.

The administration has faced a remarkable string of losses in court in its push, as well as criticism for waiting until a few weeks before the election to make its demands of California election officials with a list that even the Department of Justice admits is not entirely reliable.

Voting has been underway in California since early October. All of the state's roughly 23 million registered voters are mailed a ballot. Hundreds of thousands of ballots have already been processed.

California election officials have said that finding and setting aside the challenged ballots now would be logistically impossible.

Lower courts have sided with the state, with a district judge warning that segregating ballots would “wreak havoc” on the midterm elections and erode trust in the democratic process.

Viciousness marks GOP's final attacks