Author: chicagoinquirer

By Michael Tarm CHICAGO — Singer R. Kelly told a federal judge Thursday that he won’t testify at his ongoing trial in Chicago on charges that accuse him of child pornography, enticement of minors for sex and fixing his 2008 state trial. The judge raised the issue minutes before attorneys for Kelly and two co-defendants began calling their first witnesses, endeavoring to counter two weeks of government testimony, including from four women who accused Kelly of sexual abuse. Addressing the Grammy Award-winner directly Thursday, Judge Harry Leinenweber asked if he had discussed with his lawyers whether to testify. Kelly, 55,…

COLUMBIA, S.C. A federal judge on Thursday ruled that constitutional protections don’t shield U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham from testifying before a special grand jury investigating possible illegal efforts to overturn then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May rejected Graham’s argument that all his calls with Georgia’s secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, were protected under the U.S. Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause, which shields members of Congress from questioning about official legislative acts. She did, however, agree with lawyers for the South Carolina Republican that legislative protection applies to parts of…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI investigation into top-secret government information discovered at Mar-a-Lago is zeroing in on the question of whether former President Donald Trump’s team criminally obstructed the probe. A new document alleges that government records had been concealed and removed and that law enforcement officials were misled about what was still there. The allegation does not necessarily mean that Trump or anyone else will ultimately face charges. But it could pose the most direct legal threat to Trump or those in his orbit, in part because the Justice Department has historically viewed obstruction as an aggravating factor that tilts in…

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams turned to Tiger Woods for his input before she made her recent comeback from a year-long injury absence. On Wednesday night, Woods sat courtside at the U.S. Open, throwing uppercuts in the stands to cheer Williams on to victory. “He’s one of the reasons I’m here,” Williams said after beating No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows in what could be the last tournament of her career. “One of the main reasons I’m still playing.” Woods was in Williams’ guest box at sold-out Arthur Ashe Stadium, two seats…

by Howard Fendrich NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams can call it “evolving” or “retiring” or whatever she wants. And she can be coy about whether or not this U.S. Open will actually mark the end of her playing days. Those 23 Grand Slam titles earned that right. If she keeps playing like this, who knows how long this farewell will last? No matter what happens once her trip to Flushing Meadows is over, here is what is important to know after Wednesday night: The 40-year-old Williams is still around, she’s still capable of terrific tennis, she’s still winning — and, like the adoring spectators whose…

CHICAGO (AP) — Candace Parker can appreciate that the Chicago Sky seem to dial up their best basketball whenever their backs are against the wall. That certainly was the case as Parker scored 22 points and the Sky evened the semifinal series with an 85-77 win over the Connecticut Sun in Game 2 of the WNBA playoffs on Wednesday night. But what the two-time WNBA champion really wants to see the Sky is begin to play better when coming off wins instead of defeats. “I think after a win is when we need to be even more focused,” Parker said.…

By Emeka Obasi Winning global 100 metres Hurdles gold puts Tobi Amusan high up before Glory Alozie who must be waving at the Ijebu girl for wiping her tears, from Sevilla in 1999 to Sydney 2000. Tobi became the first Nigerian world Athletics champion when she cruised to glory at the IAAF Championships which ended in Eugene, Oregon last month. She also set a world record in the process. And that was the very first time the University of Texas El Paso ( UTEP) student would win a world medal. Her best before the feat in the United States was…

The Church of Nigeria is an Evangelical Church. It upholds the authority of scripture and is unreservedly committed to mission and evangelism that results in conversion of people to the Lord, church planting and the caring ministry. In this Church, we teach about the total depravity of man and his absolute need for salvation through faith in Jesus the Christ. For us, therefore, adherence to scripture is not only paramount, it is also non-negotiable. In matters of faith and practice, scripture provides sufficient warrant for what is considered right and what is judged to be wrong. In recent times,…

The Trinity United Church, known for donning Africa attires and fabrics, is setting up computer centers and visiting orphanage homes in Africa in a renewed efforts to reconnect with the Black continent where their forefathers were forcefully evicted during the slave trade. A state of the earth computer center was built in Accra, Ghana and an orphanage home is being supported financially in Durban, South Africa to cater for children whose parents succumbed to the dreaded HIV/AIDS disease ravaging the country. “We are supporting causes and issues that are consistent with our theology Africa where our ancestors relocated here.…

It was a time of New Beginnings in 2003 and Behold His Holiness this year as Jesus House Chicago, (JHC) a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), prepares to host the second annual Preparing A People conference at 4332 North Kedzie, Chicago between November 7-21. In an interview with The Chicago Inquirer staff writer, Tyler Ayodeji, Pastor Bayo Adewole shares the vision behind the annual conference and why the community needs it. Excerpts: Inquirer: What is PAP and why is it needed at this point in time? Pastor Adewole: PAP is a wake-up call to the church.…