Author: chicagoinquirer

by Chinedu Asadu ABUJA, Nigeria  — No one in Godgift Inemesit’s family of eight is sure when they will eat each day — except for her three kids, two of whom have malaria. She can’t pay for the drugs they need or feed the rest of her family regularly. Like most Nigerians, the family’s savings are trapped in the bank. A changeover to redesigned currency has plunged Africa’s largest economy into crisis just ahead of a presidential election: There aren’t enough new banknotes in a country reliant on cash. For Inemesit, 28, the shortage of cash means even basics like…

by Jim Salter ST. LOUIS  — As he languished in a Missouri prison for nearly three decades, Lamar Johnson never stopped fighting to prove his innocence, even when it meant doing much of the legal work himself. This week a St. Louis judge overturned Johnson’s murder conviction and ordered him freed. Johnson closed his eyes and shook his head, overcome with emotion. Shouts of joy rang out from the packed courtroom, and several people — relatives, civil rights activists and others — stood to cheer. Johnson’s lawyers hugged each other and him. “I can’t say I knew it would happen,…

by Adrian Sainz and Jonathan Mattise MEMPHIS, Tenn.  — Five former Memphis police officers pleaded not guilty Friday to second-degree murder and other charges in the violent arrest and death of Tyre Nichols, with his mother saying afterward that none of them would look her in the eye in court. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith made their first court appearances with their lawyers before a judge in Shelby County Criminal Court. The officers were fired after an internal police investigation into the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died in a hospital…

by Tara Coop and Lolita C. Baldor WASHINGTON  — The U.S. has finished efforts to recover the remnants of the large balloon that was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, and analysis of the debris so far reinforces conclusions that it was a Chinese spy balloon, U.S. officials said Friday. Officials said the U.S. believes that Navy, Coast Guard and FBI personnel collected all of the balloon debris off the ocean floor, which included key equipment from the payload that could reveal what information it was able to monitor and collect. White House national security spokesman John Kirby…

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.  — The Chicago Bears on Wednesday bought the property that they’ve been sizing up for a new enclosed stadium in suburban Arlington Heights. The Bears announced that they paid $197.2 million for the 326-acre plot. The team cautioned, however, that the purchase doesn’t mean plans for a new stadium and an entertainment district will come to fruition. “There is still a tremendous amount of due diligence work to be done to determine if constructing an enclosed state-of-the-art stadium and multi-purpose entertainment district is feasible,” the Bears said in a statement. Soldier Field on Chicago’s lakefront has been…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  — Illinois’ governor on Wednesday plans to propose universal schooling for 3- and 4-year-olds, starting with $440 million to finance 5,000 additional seats this fall, more childcare opportunities and facility construction. Following a resounding re-election victory in November and amid hints of a bid for higher office, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker will outline his “Smart Start Illinois” program in his fifth annual State of the State and budget address before a joint session of the House and Senate at noon. But some state leaders are calling for a balanced, affordable budget because economists in some quarters are warning…

There is tension and bickering going on among the rank and file of the Ghanaian community in Chicago land. The chiefs of the various Ghanaian regions joined the fray in March when they stayed away from the 56th In- dependence anniversary dance of their homeland, Ghana. Shortly afterwards, Ghana National Council (GNC) President, John Henry Assabill took the immediate past GNC President, Reuben Hadzide to court for defamation of character. The Ghanaian Christian leaders intervened to no avail. The Chicago Inquirer Editor, Joseph Omoremi approached two of the Ghanaian regional chiefs, Kwame Ampofo, Toghe venya the First and Alhaji Naa…

by Hannah Eingerhut WASHINGTON  — While President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, are preparing for a possible rematch in 2024, a new poll finds a notable lack of enthusiasm within the parties for either man as his party’s leader and a clear opening for new standard-bearers. About a third of both Democrats and Republicans are unsure of who they want leading their party, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. No single Democrat captures significant support when asked who should be their party’s leader; instead, Democrats sprinkle their attention across more than…

by Tim Reynolds Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic are doing it. So are LeBron James, James Harden and LaMelo Ball. They are among the six players in the NBA averaging at least 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists per game this season. That’s two MVP front-runners, three current All-Stars and two other players who should have been, at minimum, under All-Star consideration this season. There’s one other member of the 15-6-7 club: Russell Westbrook. As the league gears up for it’s All-Star festivities this weekend, Westbrook is deciding whether he wants to play out this season in Utah —…

by Joey Cappelletti and Ken Kushmer EAST LANSING, Mich.  — A gunman opened fire Monday night at Michigan State University, killing three people and wounding five more, before fatally shooting himself miles away after an hours-long manhunt that forced frightened students to hide in the dark. Police announced the man’s death early Tuesday, four hours after shootings broke out at Berkey Hall, an academic building, and later nearby at the MSU Union, a popular hub to eat or study. “This truly has been a nightmare we’re living tonight,” said Chris Rozman, interim deputy chief of the campus police department. Hundreds…