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…

by Wanjohi Kabukuru NAIROBI, Kenya  — With the prospect of a sixth consecutive failed rainy season in the east and Horn of Africa, Kenya’s president is hoping the heavens will finally open with the help of a national day of mass prayer on Tuesday. William Ruto announced the plans for the country’s first ever day of prayer on Sunday at a service in the drought-stricken city of Nakuru, some 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the capital Nairobi. It follows a joint call by the country’s spiritual leaders to dedicate an entire day to prayer to ease drought conditions in the…

by Christopher Wills CHICAGO – Early in Barack Obama’s political career in Illinois, Jesse Jackson helped slap him down. Even  now, Jackson’s son is a more vocal Obama advocate than his internationally known father. Obama and the elder Jackson have much in common: The two black men emerged from Chicago’s decayed South Side as champions of poor people. Both have a gift for rhetoric. Both have run to be the nation’s first black president. There are long-standing friendships between some members of their families. Yet the two are not close. Twenty years older, Jackson, the trailblazer, was never Obama’s mentor.…