Author: chicagoinquirer

by Seung Min Kim and Josh Boak VALHALLA, N.Y.  — President Joe Biden on Wednesday blasted Republican-demanded spending cuts as “devastating,” making his case in a campaign-style speech to voters as lawmakers met in Washington on raising the government’s borrowing limit to avoid a potentially catastrophic U.S. default. The president is showing an increased willingness to discuss possible budget restraints, yet he insisted anew that any talks on that should occur without the risk of the federal government being unable to pay its bills. As he spoke, negotiators from the White House and Congress met for two hours privately at…

by Jill Colvin During a tense CNN town hall Wednesday, former President Donald Trump dug in on his lies about the 2020 election, downplayed the violence on Jan. 6, 2021, and repeatedly insulted a woman in response to a civil jury’s finding this week that he was liable of sexually assaulting her. During the contentious back-and-forth in early-voting New Hampshire — where moderator Kaitlan Collins sometimes struggled to fact-check his misstatements in real time — Trump continued to insist the election had been “rigged,” even though state and federal election officials, his own campaign and White House aides, and numerous courts have…

by Emeka ObasiLAGOD, NIGERIA – Gbubemi Amas Amanoritsewor ! The name  with tall credentials that connected events and people and even when not duly recognised by Nigeria,  ventured abroad to excel. A true global citizen, he rests at Oystermouth  Cemetery, beneath the sands of  Swansea, Wales.I call him  Amas Grill,  the title of his album released in 1981. As a student of the University of Benin, I could listen to the track, Ereyon,  all day long. Chris Okotie and Jide Obi were doing their thing as  undergraduates of the  University of Nigeria Nsukka ( UNN ).Amas was on a higher…

STOCKHOLM  — Tens of thousands of fans descended upon the Swedish capital of Stockholm to celebrate the opening show of Beyoncé’s new world tour on Wednesday. “Renaissance” is the superstar’s first solo tour since 2016 and shares the namesake of her 2022 dance-centric album, the success of which landed Beyoncé at the top of the Grammythrone as the ceremony’s most decorated artist in history. Fans who had complained in recent months about the lack of music videos for “Renaissance” hits were in for a treat Wednesday as video projections and animations took center stage. The rapid succession of costume changes and decor…

by John O’Connor SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  — Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday signed a law providing full disability benefits to Chicago police officers and firefighters struck by COVID-19 before vaccines were available, presiding over an emotional statehouse ceremony which marked the end of a financial struggle for responders including the brother of Comptroller Susana Mendoza. The Act-of-Duty law, HB3162, ensures disability benefits of 75% of salary plus health insurance for anyone unable to work after contracting the coronavirus from March 9, 2020, when the flare-up intensified in Illinois, until June 30, 2021. The law grants them the presumption that they picked up…

4 teens charged with murder in slaying of Chicago police officer who was returning home from work by Agency reports CHICAGO  — Four teenagers have been charged in the fatal shooting of a Chicago police officer who was slain last weekend as she was heading home from work, authorities said Wednesday. Nineteen-year-olds Joseph Brooks and Trevell Breeland, Jakwon Buchanan, 18, and a 16-year-old boy face charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery in Saturday’s killing of Officer Aréanah Preston, 24. The Chicago Police Department said Preston was fatally shot about 1:40 a.m. Saturday during a robbery spree. All four were also charged…

by Agency reports CHICAGO  — Former defender Oguchi Onyewu was hired Wednesday by the U.S. Soccer Federation as vice president of sporting, a newly created role the governing body said is not a replacement for departed men’s general manager Brian McBride. The USSF said Onyewu will report to Matt Crocker, who starts as sporting director on Aug. 2, and will assist in the hiring of a men’s national team coach. Onyewu will work with men’s and women’s national teams at all levels and will help manage relationships with clubs and leagues. Gregg Berhalter, whose contract expired Dec. 31, remains a candidate…

by Gene Chamberlain LAKE FOREST, Ill.  — The Chicago Bears entered the NFL draft looking to help quarterback Justin Fields while bolstering one of the league’s worst defenses. GM Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus felt they accomplished both to varying degrees with their 10 total picks. And they started Saturday’s final rounds by giving their third-year quarterback more explosive assets. The initial help for Fields came on Thursday night with first-round tackle Darnell Wright, but continued on the final day Saturday when the Bears picked Texas running back Roschon Johnson and Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott in the fourth…

by Larry Neumeister, Jennifer Peltz and Michael R. Sisak NEW YORK — A jury found Donald Trump liable Tuesday for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million in a judgment that could haunt the former president as he campaigns to regain the White House. The verdict was split: Jurors rejected Carroll’s claim that she was raped, finding Trump responsible for a lesser degree of sexual abuse. The judgment adds to Trump’s legal woes and offers vindication to Carroll, whose allegations had been mocked and dismissed by Trump for years. She nodded as the verdict…

by Zeke Miller, Seung Min Kim, Josh Bak and Lisa Mascaro WASHINGTON  — President Joe Biden and congressional leaders confronted each other on the debt limit impasse Tuesday, ending their meeting with no breakthrough but agreeing to meet again this week to try to avert the looming risk of an unprecedented government default. Speaking at the White House, Biden described the talks as “productive” even though House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said after the high-stakes Oval Office meeting that he “didn’t see any new movement” toward resolving the stalemate. Lawmakers and their staffs were to continue discussions as soon as Tuesday…