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Willis Tower turns 50: 'It's the most Chicago thing you can think of'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

CHICAGO — One of Chicago’s most beloved buildings – the Willis Tower – its golden anniversary on Thursday. “We are 50 years old,” said Lydia Jordan-Parnell, a Willis Tower spokesperson. “Fifty years ago, the last beam was set on May 3, 1973.”Previously known and still referred to often by local residents as the Sears Tower, a celebratory open house was held on Thursday that featured live music, photo-ops, and giveaways. It is the rare tall building that actually seems to scrape the sky, according to Barbara Hickey, the director of operations and construction of Willis Tower. “Nothing brings you not just the view, but the interaction with the clouds and the city the way the 90th-floor roof will,” she said.  To Chicagoans, and to much of the architecture world, the Willis Tower is more than a building, it is a symbol of Chicago, a marvel of modern architecture – and perhaps the most stunning expression of Daniel Burnham’s lasting edict“Make No Little Plans.”“It’s the most ‘Chicago’ th...

Mayor's office says Johnson wasn't aware e-signature would be used for $10 million ShotSpotter contract extension

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

CHICAGO — On the campaign trail, then-candidate Brandon Johnson vowed to terminate the city's contract with Shot Spotter, the electronic alert system that detects gunshots.But the mayor's electronic signature still ended up on a $10 million contract extension, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Confidential document reveals key human role in ShotSpotter tech All indications are the city is legally bound to honor the $10 million contract. Back in March, then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot approved the ShotSpotter extension into early 2024.It was a contract Johnson pledged to terminate."ShotSpotter has been a failure," Johnson said in March. "And these tools have been proven not to work. We can find a whole lot of things to spend $10 million on."The ShotSpotter gunshot detection system was launched in Chicago in 2019.As a candidate, Johnson pointed to studies questioning the technology's effectiveness. But, as the Chicago Sun-Times reported, it was an apparent signature snafu that caught the...

Chicago businessman convicted of bribing two state lawmakers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a Chicago businessman of bribing two state lawmakers.The verdict was read Thursday in a courtroom downtown. Illinois Gaming Board gives pre-approval for temporary Chicago casino at Medinah Temple James Weiss, 44, was found guilty on all counts, which include charges of bribery, wire fraud, mail fraud and lying to the FBI.The jury, which was made up of seven women and five men, started deliberating around 10:20 a.m. Wednesday.The case went on for almost two weeks.Weiss, who pleaded not guilty, has been convicted of wanting the Illinois Gambling Expansion Bill to include the legalization of sweepstakes machines to benefit his gaming company.He and his team of attorneys opted not to make any comments as they left the courtroom on Thursday.He is also the son-in-law of Joseph Berrios, the former assessor and chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party.The sweepstakes machines are gaming machines that accept cash and provide a voucher, which can b...

Destination Illinois: Illinois Shakespeare Festival

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) -- Some of America’s best up-and-coming actors comes to Central Illinois every summer for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival at Bloomington’s historic Ewing Mansion.The festival began in 1978, with an Illinois State University production of “Twelfth Night.” Now, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival is a professional repertory theater known for attracting actors from across the country.“This time last year, we had over 800 submissions for our acting company. And that’s pretty typical’, we look primarily for people and actors that can handle the language. Shakespeare's language is all important.” John Stark of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival said. Destination Illinois: Floatzilla Supported by the ISU foundation and the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival has three productions this year-the farcical “Comedy of Errors," the magical “The tempest,” and the contemporary “The Book of Will. "Before productions, there’s entertainment, a...

Taxi driver sentenced to 25 years for sexual assault of passenger

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- A taxicab driver who sexually assaulted a female passenger in Naperville was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday.According to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, on July 9, 2017, the victim left a Naperville establishment with a friend in a taxicab. After the taxicab driver dropped off the other individual, he drove away and then sexually assaulted the victim partially ripping off some of her clothing and leaving bruising and marks on her body.A short time later, the taxicab driver pulled his taxicab over and assaulted the victim a second time. After the victim was able to free herself from the taxicab, she ran away, called a friend and hid in some bushes while she waited for her friend to arrive. Volunteer says migrants served moldy food at city shelter The victim then went to the Naperville Police Department and reported the assault. An investigation into the matter led authorities to Sandeep Arora, 49, formerly of Naperville as the man who sexu...

15 people, mostly seniors, killed in highway crash in Canada, official says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — A bus carrying seniors to a casino collided with a semi-trailer truck at a highway intersection in a rural part of the Canadian province of Manitoba Thursday, killing 15 people and injuring 10 more, police said.Rob Hill, Commanding Officer of the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the bus was carrying 25 people and authorities in Manitoba were deploying all their resources to the scene. Ten people were taken to hospitals.TV broadcasters aired images of what looked like a large van or bus smoldering in a ditch near a transport truck with a smashed engine on a road. The pavement was littered with debris — broken glass, a large bumper and what looked like a walking aid. Seven blue and yellow tarps were stretched out.RCMP Supt. Rob Lasson said “as of right now the drivers of both the bus and truck are alive and in hospital." He did not say if they were among the 10 listed as injured. The dead were mainly seniors.Lasson said the bus was heading south and there wo...

State boys lacrosse semifinal: Lakeville North 9, Shakopee 8 (OT)

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

On a team that has four players with at least 35 goals, Lakeville North did not think its opponent would be quite so focused in overtime on a single-digit goal scorer.As a result, Nathan Long scored the biggest of his eight tallies this season.The senior midfielder unleashed a shot into the net from low on the left side 2:26 into overtime and the Panthers beat Shakopee 9-8 Thursday afternoon in a state boys lacrosse semifinal.“No one on me, I released it, and ball went in,” a beaming Long said of his first goal in three games.Austin Winship, who recorded his sixth game of the season with at least four goals, was high on the left side with the ball, waiting to create space.“We have this play we’ve been practicing for the state tournament, and we kept doing it and Nathan wasn’t the guy we thought it’d be, but we know he’s really good and they’re not going to expect him to have the ball,” Winship said. “Great space for him to get a shot and he took it bar down.”By beating the team that...

Boys lacrosse semifinal: Lakeville North 9, Shakopee 8, OT

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

On a team that has four players with at least 35 goals, Lakeville North did not think its opponent would be quite so focused in overtime on a single-digit goal scorer.As a result, Nathan Long scored the biggest of his eight tallies this season.The senior midfielder unleashed a shot into the net from low on the left side 2:26 into overtime, and the Panthers beat Shakopee 9-8 Thursday afternoon in a boys lacrosse state tournament semifinal.“No one on me, I released it, and ball went in,” a beaming Long said of his first goal in three games.Austin Winship, who recorded his sixth game with at least four goals of the season, was high on the left side with the ball and waiting to create space.“We have this play we’ve been practicing for the state tournament, and we kept doing it and Nathan wasn’t the guy we thought it’d be, but we know he’s really good and they’re not going to expect him to have the ball,” Winship said. “Great space for him to get a shot, and he took it bar down.”By beati...

Judge chides county attorney’s office in child protection case over Madeline Kingsbury’s children

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

A district court judge has denied a motion to suspend reunification efforts of Adam Fravel, who is accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, and his children and admonished the Winona County Attorney’s Office for attempting to subvert his constitutional right to a fair trial.Fravel, 29, is facing second-degree murder charges in the death of Madeline Kingsbury, a Winona woman whose body was found earlier this month following a months-long search after she went missing in March. Fravel was arrested hours after the body was found.The county attorney’s office is prosecuting that criminal case and is handling the separate child in need of protection or services civil case. Phillip Prokopowicz, a former Dakota County prosecutor, is leading the prosecution team for Winona County against Fravel.Adam Taylor Fravel. (Winona County Sheriff’s Office)Attorneys for Fravel, the county and Kingsbury’s parents appeared before District Judge Mary Leahy on Wednesday morning to hear arg...

Girls lacrosse semifinals: Edina 10, Stillwater 7

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:45:30 GMT

Stillwater junior midfielder Maycie Neubauer said Edina goalie Uma Corniea is difficult to play against for a number of reasons.Obviously, Corniea’s vast skill set is one of them. Corniea, Minnesota’s all-time girls hockey wins leader in net who has committed to Princeton, is a difficult code to crack in the lacrosse net, as well.But perhaps just as impactful is who the goaltender is while she’s playing.“I love Uma. She is the happiest, friendliest goalie I have ever played against, which makes it hard,” Neubauer said. “I think her spirit is definitely what gets her. Her skills, obviously, too, but I just think how she goes about the game, lifts her teammates up and everything.”Corniea has been a stalwart for the Hornets all season, serving as a massive reason Edina (16-2) reached its first state tournament as the No. 2 seed. She also played a large role in ensuring the Hornets would play for a state title on Saturday.Corniea stumped the Pon...