Author: chicagoinquirer

by Andrian Sainz and Sophia Tareen MEMPHIS, Tenn.  — Armed federal agents patrolled Chicago’s downtown streets on Sunday and President Donald Trump called up 200 National Guard troops for deployment in Portland, Oregon, a move strongly opposed by the governor that immediately prompted a lawsuit saying Trump overstepped his authority. The latest examples of creeping federal law enforcement and military presence in U.S. cities occurred as Memphis prepares for the arrival of additional federal authorities, including immigration and drug enforcement agents, that Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says he expects will happen this week. In Chicago on Sunday, dozens of…

by Mark Anderson LAS VEGAS  — Josh Blackwell blocked a 54-year-old field-goal attempt by Daniel Carlson in the final minute to preserve a fourth-quarter rally led by Caleb Williams, and the Chicago Bears stunned the Las Vegas Raiders 25-24 on Sunday. After D’Andre Swift’s 2-yard touchdown run with 1:34 left put the Bears (2-2) in front, Geno Smith led the Raiders (1-3) into position for Carlson’s kick with 38 seconds left. Blackwell came in nearly untouched from the left side, dived and deflected the ball. He raced down the field in celebration as teammates chased him. The Bears became the…

by Jake Offenhartz and Anthony Izaguirre NEW YORK  — New York City Mayor Eric Adams ended his struggling reelection campaign Sunday, an acknowledgment that he was no longer a serious contender in the contest after a year of scandal and political turmoil. In a video released on social media, Adams spoke of his achievements as mayor, including a drop in violent crime. But he said “constant media speculation” about his future and a decision by the city’s campaign finance board to withhold public funding from his reelection effort made it impossible to stay in the race. “Despite all we’ve achieved,…

by Ritz Butt ISLAMABAD  — The Taliban on Sunday freed a U.S. citizen from an Afghan prison, weeks after they said they had reached an agreement with U.S. envoys on a prisoner exchange as part of an effort to normalize relations. The deputy spokesperson for the Taliban Foreign Ministry, Zia Ahmad Takal, identified the man as Amir Amiri. He did not say when Amiri was detained, why, or where. An official with knowledge of the release said Amiri had been detained in Afghanistan since December 2024 and was on his way back to the U.S. The official spoke on condition…

by Ken Maguire DUBLIN — Kenneth Gainwell ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns and the Pittsburgh Steelers held on to beat the Minnesota Vikings 24-21 on Sunday in Ireland’s first regular-season NFL game. DK Metcalf had five catches for 126 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown for the Steelers, who improved to 3-1 going into their bye week. The Steelers victory gave quarterback Aaron Rodgers his first international win and capped a Rooney family homecoming in front of a decidedly pro-Steelers crowd of 74,512 at Croke Park. Rodgers was 18 for 22 for 200 yards and the touchdown to Metcalf.…

by Fatima Hussein and Mary Clare Jalonick WASHINGTON  — Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Majority Leader John Thune are digging in ahead of this week’s deadline to keep the government open, showing little evidence of budging even as both sides have agreed to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. Republicans say Democrats need to help them pass a simple extension of government funding by Tuesday night to avoid a shutdown and they will not agree to negotiate until after it’s approved. Democrats say they want immediate talks on health care, and they are…

by Mark Sherman and Lindsay Whitehurst WASHINGTON  — President Donald Trump ‘s administration is asking the Supreme Court to uphold his birthright citizenship order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. The appeal, shared with The Associated Press on Saturday, sets in motion a process at the high court that could lead to a definitive ruling from the justices by early summer on whether the citizenship restrictions are constitutional. Lower-court judges have so far blocked them from taking effect anywhere. The Republican administration is not asking the court…

by Ken Moritsugu and Jamey Keaten SHANGHAI  — China has said it would no longer seek the special treatment given to developing countries in World Trade Organization agreements — a change long demanded by the United States. Commerce Ministry officials said Wednesday the move was an attempt to boost the global trading system at a time when it is under threat from tariff wars and protectionist moves by individual countries to restrict imports. It was not clear whether the announcement would lead to greater access for foreign goods to China’s vast market. The U.S. and many European countries have long…

by Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister NEW YORK — Lawyers for music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs urged a New York federal judge Monday to sentence him early next month to no more than 14 months in prison for his conviction on two prostitution-related charges, meaning he’d go free almost immediately if the judge agreed. The lawyers made their arguments in a written submission to Judge Arun Subramanian, who has already rejected a proposed $50 million bail package, signaling that he doesn’t believe the Grammy-winning artist is close to being released. “Mr. Combs’s celebrity status in the realms of music,…

by Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking WASHINGTON  — President Donald Trump will meet with the Democratic leaders in Congress this week ahead of a looming risk of a federal government shutdown. Trump has agreed to meet with Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who are insisting on talks as the Democrats work to preserve health care programs as part of any deal to fund the government ahead of next week’s Oct. 1 deadline. That’s according to two people familiar with the situation and granted anonymity because they are unauthorized to discuss it. The meeting is set for Thursday, one…