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This month, NASA aims to launch four astronauts around the far side of the moon. The Artemis II mission will be NASA’s first human mission to the moon in over 50 years. Bill Whitaker reports, Sunday.
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CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Saturday morning, directing Chicago police to investigate any alleged illegal activity by federal immigration agents.
During the signing, Johnson said the city must prepare for federal agents to potentially return to Chicago in the spring.
Under the “ICE On Notice” order, if CPD personnel observe or receive reports of alleged violations of state or local law by federal agents, they must:
CPD must also provide any evidence of alleged felony violations to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the order states. Additionally, CPD must share data on federal immigration officers’ alleged legal violations with the pubic.
Johnson’s office says his executive order makes Chicago “the first city in the nation to leverage local authority to pursue legal accountability for misconduct by federal immigration agents.”
“Nobody is above the law. There is no such thing as ‘absolute immunity’ in America,” Johnson said in a statement. “The lawlessness of Trump’s militarized immigration agents puts the lives and well-being of every Chicagoan in immediate danger. With today’s order, we are putting ICE on notice in our city. Chicago will not sit idly by while Trump floods federal agents into our communities and terrorizes our residents.”
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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We break down complex business news to help you understand how money moves in Chicago and how it affects you.
Community leaders and residents from South Chicago launched the South Chicago Quality of Life Plan on Saturday as projects like the state’s quantum campus start to take shape in the neighborhood.
The plan drew feedback from more than a thousand residents in the South Side neighborhood to identify key areas for growth over the next five to seven years. Among them are arts and culture; economic development; education; environment and infrastructure; health; housing and safety, according to leaders of the initiative.
Those who worked on the plan say it’s the culmination of community engagement that’s been ongoing since the summer of 2024 — and an update from South Chicago’s last quality of life plan, which was published in 2007.
“As you look at the last 20 years … the resilient nature of South Chicago is pretty impressive,” said Meghan Harte, senior executive director at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation Chicago. “We are going through other challenges, politically and socially, and yet they’re still growing. That’s why these plans are super important, because it does get everybody focused on momentum and opportunity.”
The plan was a collaboration between LISC Chicago and Claretian Associates, a South Chicago nonprofit focused on affordable housing and social services.
LISC Chicago has helped Chicago neighborhoods create 30 quality of life plans to date, according to Harte.
For South Chicago, the new quality of life plan comes at a pivotal time. The state’s quantum campus, called the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, broke ground in October 2025 and will be a multibillion-dollar development. Advocate Health Care is planning a new, 52-bed hospital to the north of the quantum park.
Though projects like the IQMP were “contributory” to the new quality of life plan, Claretian Associates CEO Angela Hurlock said efforts to produce a new quality of life plan predated them.
“When suddenly IQMP came on the scene, we were like, ‘This is great. We have an opportunity to help the community speak what it needs, so then these other partners can come to the table knowing what the community has said it’s needed,’” Hurlock said.
Harte said one of the goals of the quality of life plan was to create a community-led consensus on South Chicago’s future. The organizations drew feedback from focus groups, surveys, block club meetings and more to create the plan.
What they found is that while income and education levels have grown in South Chicago, the population has been declining for decades. Since 2000, the neighborhood’s population has decreased by 24%, according to the plan.
The organization also found connected concerns about neighborhood safety and the number of vacant lots, many of which Hurlock said stem from the closure of the U.S. Steel South Works steel mill that caused many workers and their families to leave the area.
“There’s a perception of unsafety,” Hurlock said of the vacant lots. “How do you fight perception? You plan around that.”
The plan identifies seven aforementioned pillars as areas that could help combat neighborhood concerns. Those pillars trickle down into other categories that neighbors raised concern over, such as safety, vacant lots, youth education and accessibility. Each pillar has its own specific goals designed “to guide change,” according to the plan, with steering committees for each pillar tasked with implementing them.
Some of those goals include building equitable access to jobs and training, increasing access to public transportation and creating more affordable housing.
Saturday marks the start of the plan’s next phase: Steering committees kick off, with residents able to join.
Alongside that will be an effort to fund the committees’ initiatives. LISC Chicago has leveraged more than $2 billion to date toward implementing quality of life plans, according to Harte.
Jaime Arteaga, a program officer at LISC Chicago, said work does not stop once the plan is launched. South Chicago neighbors have expressed a desire to grow their population while also improving the lives of longtime residents.
Hurlock said the organizations have spoken with local aldermen and hope to see other elected officials show their support for the plan.
“We are on the epicenter of birthing something amazing,” Hurlock said. “I’ve heard some folks at the table say it’s like a phoenix rising again, and this is our opportunity to behold that and see that.”
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Grady Demond Wilson, an actor best known for his role as Lamont Sanford on the sitcom “Sanford and Son,” has died at age 79, according to reports. According to TMZ and BET, Wilson was pronounced dead on Friday morning at his home in Palm Springs, California. Wilson died from complications related […]
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Game Time: Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Location: Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
TV: FDSSUN, CHSN
Spread: Heat -5
Total: 238.5 points
Bulls fans, we need to talk about what’s happening here because it’s absolutely ridiculous.
We’re playing the Miami Heat for the THIRD TIME in FOUR DAYS. Three games against the same team in less than a week. That’s not normal. That hasn’t happened in the NBA since 1972.
And we’ve already lost the first two games. We’re down 0-2 in this bizarre mini-series, and if we lose tonight, we get swept by the same team three times in four days.
That would be… humiliating.
Here’s the backstory: We were supposed to play Miami on January 8, but the court conditions weren’t safe (thanks, NBA operations). The league postponed it and rescheduled for January 29.
The problem? We were already scheduled to play Miami on January 29 AND January 31. So instead of canceling one game, the NBA just said “you know what, play all three games in four days.”
So we played Wednesday. We played Thursday. And now we’re playing Saturday.
Same opponent. Three times. Four days.
And we’re 0-2. We lost Wednesday. We lost 116-113 on Thursday despite being in the game until the end.
Now we’re in Miami, exhausted, and trying to avoid the sweep.
Bulls: 23-25 (8-14 on the road, on a 3-game losing streak)
Heat: 26-23 (15-8 at home)
We’re two games under .500 and falling fast. Three straight losses, all to the same team. We can’t win on the road (8-14), and now we’re in Miami where the Heat are 15-8.
Miami is three games over .500 and playing solid basketball despite a brutal schedule. They’re on their fourth game in five days, coming off a Western road trip, and they’re still winning.
That’s the difference between a well-coached, disciplined team and… us.
Zero and two. We couldn’t beat them Wednesday. We couldn’t beat them Thursday. Why would Saturday be different?
Miami has our number right now. They know our plays, they know our tendencies, and they’re executing better than we are.
8-14 away from the United Center. We can’t win consistently on the road, and Miami is 15-8 at home.
Playing in Miami in January is never easy. The crowd is into it, the Heat feed off that energy, and we wilt.
Jimmy Butler is doing Jimmy Butler things—scoring, defending, controlling the game. Bam Adebayo is dominating both ends.
DeMar and Zach are trying, but they’re not matching Miami’s intensity. That’s the problem.
Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin have outplayed our bench all series. We’re not getting enough from Ayo Dosunmu and Andre Drummond.
When bench depth matters in back-to-back-to-back games, Miami has the advantage.
All three losses to the same team. We’re in our heads now. We’re pressing. We’re making mistakes late in games.
Miami is confident. We’re not. That matters.
Let me find some reasons to believe we don’t get embarrassed:
They’re playing their FOURTH game in FIVE days. They just got back from a Western road trip. Their legs have to be heavy.
If there’s ever a time to catch Miami vulnerable, it’s when they’re exhausted and playing the third game against us in four days.
We average 17.6 fast break points per game. If we can push tempo and force Miami to run when they’re tired, we might steal this game.
Coby White needs to attack in transition relentlessly. Make them defend in the open court when their legs are gone.
We’re 23-25 and spiraling. If we get swept by the same team three times in four days, the season might be over emotionally.
Desperation can fuel great performances. Maybe tonight is the night our guys finally show up.
They’ve been okay but not great in the first two games. Both are capable of 30+ point nights. If both go off tonight, we can win.
Miami has already won twice. Maybe they come out flat, thinking they’ve already proven they’re better. If we jump out early and punch them in the mouth, maybe we steal this one.
But let’s be real—they’re not overlooking us.
Jimmy has been better. He’s scoring, defending, and controlling the game. DeMar has been good but not great.
If DeMar can’t outplay Jimmy tonight, we lose again.
Edge: Jimmy in this series.
Bam’s mobility and defense vs Vooch’s scoring and rebounding. Bam has been dominant on both ends all series.
Vooch needs a huge game—25+ points, 14+ rebounds. Otherwise, we’re toast.
Edge: Bam so far.
Battle of streaky guards who can swing momentum. Herro has been better this series.
Coby needs to get hot from three and push pace in transition. If he can get 22-24 points, we’ve got a shot.
Edge: Herro in this series.
I want to believe we can avoid the sweep. I want to think our guys will show pride and fight.
But Miami has beaten us twice already. They’re at home. They’re better coached. And we’re on a three-game losing streak.
Final Score: Heat 121, Bulls 115
We lose by 6, which means we don’t cover the +5. We keep it competitive for three quarters, but Miami pulls away late again.
We get swept in the most embarrassing way possible—three games in four days to the same team.
Avoid: Everything
We’re 0-2 in this series. Miami owns us right now. I don’t trust us to do anything.
If Forced: Bulls +5 ✓
Five points is a lot, and Miami has to be exhausted. Maybe we keep it close.
Lean: Over 238.5
Both teams can score. This should go over even if we lose.
Player Prop: DeMar DeRozan Over 25.5 Points
DeMar is going to try to will us to a win. He’ll get his points.
For the Bulls to win:
What seals the sweep:
Getting swept by the same team three times in four days would be one of the most embarrassing things to happen to this franchise in years.
We’re already 23-25 and barely clinging to playoff hopes. If we can’t beat Miami even once in three tries, what does that say about this team?
Miami is better than us. That’s clear. But we should be able to win ONE game out of three.
The problem is we’re on the road, where we’re terrible. Miami is at home, where they’re good. And we’ve already lost twice to them this week.
Can we avoid the sweep? Maybe. If DeMar and Zach both go nuclear, if Vooch dominates, if Miami is exhausted, we have a chance.
Will we avoid the sweep? Probably not.
Heat 121, Bulls 115. We get swept. The season continues to spiral. And we desperately need the All-Star break.
Go Bulls. Please, PLEASE don’t get swept. Show some pride.
The series so far:
Why this is happening:
Bulls’ struggles:
Heat’s advantages:
Key stat: This hasn’t happened since 1972 (3 games vs same team in 4 days)
Final picks:
Bottom line: We’re probably getting swept. Show some pride and avoid total humiliation.
Go Bulls. Win one game. Just one. Please!
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As members of the Hinsdale Historical Society capped a year in which they celebrated the organization’s 50th anniversary, they received some good news in the form of a grant from Landmarks Illinois, which will help their efforts to preserve the R. Harold Zook Home and Studio.
“The society’s board of trustees is immensely grateful to Landmarks Illinois for its continued support of the society’s preservation work and for its countless preservation advocacy work not just here in Hinsdale but throughout Illinois,” said Alexis Braden, historical society president.
The grant, awarded in December, was for $2,500 from the Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II Preservation Fund for Illinois, which provides money “to preserve or protect significant structures and sites in Illinois that are under threat of demolition, in imminent deterioration, in need of stabilization, in need of structural or reuse evaluation or in need of evaluation for landmark eligibility,” according to Landmarks Illinois.
The money will be used to help the society’s efforts to get a National Register of Historic Places nomination and a building assessment of the home and studio of Zook, a renowned Chicago architect who lived in Hinsdale from 1889 to 1949 and was a force behind many notable structures there.
“R. Harold Zook is to Hinsdale what Frank Lloyd Wright is to Oak Park. Zook designed 80 homes and 12 municipal and commercial structures in Hinsdale alone during his time as an architect, and all are architecturally significant,” Braden said, calling him “one of the most prolific residential architects in the western suburbs.”
He also contributed to the village as a member of the Architectural Committee of the Hinsdale Plan Commission from 1932-49 and was “responsible for the village master plan in 1932 — adopting the Georgian style for our municipal and commercial buildings,” Braden said.
Zook also designed the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge and St. Charles City Hall, and in 1924 finished his home and studio on Oak Street in Hinsdale, she said.
That campus, now ensconced in Hinsdale’s Katherine Legge Memorial Park, consists of “a signature English Cotswold cottage-style residence, his architecture studio and a garden wall,” she said.
Suzanne Germann, director of reinvestment for Landmarks Illinois, said Zook had a very distinct style.
“It’s often called whimsical. It’s an English cottage style — textured masonry, roofs are very characteristic of him, bringing nature into his design,” she explained. “But he’s also influenced a lot of architects coming up after him, in Hinsdale specifically, and what’s been designed there as a nod to his work and the influence he’s had as a community. This was his home — he designed it for himself.”
Germann called the money a “seed grant” because of its small size. But it could lead to more resources down the road.
“Putting a building on the National Register puts them in a place to leverage other funding,” she said. “It also will help to spell out needs and wants, so when they go to other funders, they’ll have that in their pocket.”
A building assessment looks at overall condition and will help the historical society prioritize what needs to happen right away and in three years, she said, as the historical society wants to adapt the building so it can be turned into a community gathering house.
“I don’t know their plan specifically, but reusing the building and allowing them to reuse the interior, we always want to see that,” Germann said. “We want to see historic buildings in use and this is bringing the community in. It’s not for one owner. They are really trying to use it for community space. The best way to preserve (buildings) is to use them.”
The grant is just one way the historical society is raising money for the property. It’s already officially begun its Zook Legacy Campaign, a multimillion-dollar fundraising initiative hoped to enable them to transform the Zook Home and Studio into the “Zook Commons, a vibrant community gathering place with a museum, cafe and numerous multipurpose areas at Katherine Legge Memorial Park,” Braden said.
“It will be a place where neighbors connect and groups can gather and learn. Zook Commons will serve Hinsdale neighbors and all patrons. We are fortunate to have nationally recognized and award-winning architect Michael Abraham as a society trustee. He is utilizing his immense talents to reimagine the interior spaces to transform the home for its many public uses.”
The society envisions public events featuring speakers and workshops that focus on wellness and community for people of all ages.
“Programming will cater to outdoor and recreation enthusiasts, writers, artists and even animal lovers — especially dog lovers,” Braden said. “Our patrons will also be able to gather in the cafe, where they can purchase premade pastries, sandwiches and coffee/teas while enjoying a warm atmosphere. The cafe will be dog-friendly with treats to welcome the park’s many four-legged friends.”
This isn’t the first time the historical society has earned a grant from the nonprofit organization. Back in 2005, the Zook Home and Studio was placed on Landmarks Illinois’ “Ten Most Endangered Historic Places List,” and after the structures were moved to the park, it received the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Advocacy, said Katie Crotty, historical society treasurer.
Moving the building to its home at Katherine Legge Memorial Park was a huge project. “During the move, the society was fortunate to see so many volunteers, architects and buildings come together to make this project a reality. We could not have done this without the significant donations from members of the community as well,” Crotty said.
“However, with 20 years down, the Zook Home and Studio is in dire need of updates or we fear they will be forever lost,” she added. “Over the past two decades, the society has worked tirelessly to maintain the buildings and to protect them from the elements. Even though the buildings have served as a mainstay and an exterior backdrop for countless photography shoots and picnics, the Hinsdale Historical Society’s goal is to open its doors and welcome people inside.”
Germann said Landmarks Illinois’ previous interaction with the historical society helped its grant application stand out.
“The Hinsdale Historical Society has been around for a long time and is a successful organization. I’ve been with Landmarks Illinois since 2004, so I remember Zook House and how much work the historical society did 20 years ago to save it,” she said. “They are still coming back to it 20 years later. As a historical society as a whole, they are very active in their community in telling their story, being involved and supporting historic buildings in their community, so overall it’s a successful organization.”
It’s the overall story of the group, which was founded in 1975 and now has nearly 200 members, along with their efforts 20 years ago that led to the grant.
“When a developer wanted to demolish it, the society and city stepped in to save it,” Germann said. “I called them the trifecta. They received a grant to film the move of the house and they won an award for advocacy, so they went through all our programs and achieved it all. They went through successfully and quickly, so that’s why I remember it. They were very involved.”
All Landmarks Illinois grants require a match and “buy-in” from the recipients. “Our grants are small — our heritage fund only gives up to $5,000 — so coming up with a $5 million project is hard for us” to help with, Germann said, so having an itemized budget is helpful.
As an example, she said Unity Temple in Oak Park underwent a $10 million or $15 million rehab, and her organization provided a grant to restore the sanctuary’s lighting — a $10,000 project. “Our board members were able to point to those light fixtures and say, ‘We did that.’”
The historical society’s multiyear Zook fundraising campaign is off to a good start, but they’re looking for more donors. “Every dollar counts,” Braden said.
But, she said, the society’s 50th anniversary boosted their confidence in the support of their neighbors. Braden called it “a testament that the community recognizes our work as a nonprofit to bring history to life.”
Melinda Moore is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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CHICAGO (WLS) — Two Chicago police officers involved in a deadly shooting in 2024 were found to have acted reasonably, according to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.
Chicago police officials said Watson was stabbing another man before officers ordered him to drop his weapon.
COPA says officers shot Tracey Watson after he refused to drop a knife.
COPA also says the officers’ reports matched up with video from the shooting.
However, COPA did recommend reprimanding the officers for not turning on their body cameras earlier.
READ MORE | Family claims man fatally shot by Chicago police in South Austin was defending himself from attack
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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Lemon said federal officers arrested him “for something I’ve been doing for the last 30 years, and that is covering the news.”
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Ryan Mancini
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Jayden Dozie was one of the most productive freshmen in the Chicago area last season at Maine East. This season, the talented 5-11 guard has been more careful about his shot selection.
‘‘I took really crazy shots last year,’’ Dozie said. ‘‘This year is about playing as a team and taking better shots.’’
His old creative aggressiveness, however, came in handy Friday in Skokie. With the shot clock winding down and the Blue Demons trailing Niles North by two points in the final seconds, Dozie found a way to win the game.
He made a move to the center of the court, dodged a defender and launched a long three-pointer that went in to put Maine East ahead. The Vikings had a chance to take the lead but missed a shot on their final possession before the Blue Demons’ Andrew Merz made a free throw to seal a 65-63 victory.
‘‘That was one of the crazy shots I would have taken last year, even if I didn’t have to,’’ Dozie said. ‘‘I was just thinking about my teammates.’’
Maine East (16-6, 4-3 CSL North) trailed by seven with four minutes left. Dozie, who finished with 20 points, made a three-pointer with 2:21 to play that put the Blue Demons ahead 59-58. It was their first lead since the second quarter.
‘‘It feels so good,’’ Maine East senior guard Brandon Schreiber said. ‘‘I’ve been playing Niles North for four years and never won. They’ve won those 30 straight conference games. Credit to Niles North. They are a great program, but it feels good to be on top.’’
Schreiber scored 16 points. He has led the Blue Demons in scoring the last two seasons.
‘‘I really love my backcourt,’’ Maine East coach Sergio Muro said. ‘‘Brandon has really taken [Dozie] under his wing, and [Dozie] has bought in. They share the ball well and play with a lot of passion.’’
Sophomore Albert Cooper added 11 points and four rebounds and junior Kaiden Wade six points and six rebounds for the Blue Demons.
Dozie was very efficient, shooting 8-for-11 overall and 2-for-3 from three-point range.
‘‘I’ve just been helping [Dozie] mature,’’ Schreiber said. ‘‘He’s a great basketball player. It’s just about not doing stupid things and keeping your head straight.’’
After the handshake line, Dozie went straight into the stands to find his parents for a hug.
‘‘I wouldn’t be here without my family,’’ Dozie said. ‘‘All the workouts they put me in, I just wanted to thank them.’’
Senior Rayne Punzal led Niles North (18-6, 7-1) with 14 points and five rebounds. Junior Collin Tobin added 12 points and Osman Khan 11 points and six rebounds. The Vikings outrebounded Maine East 40-27 but didn’t make a field goal in the last four minutes.
Niles North’s last conference loss was to Deerfield on Jan. 27, 2023.
‘‘They don’t get enough credit for what they have done in our conference,’’ Muro said. ‘‘They have dominated.’’
Muro’s young team celebrated the victory wildly. It was a big moment for the team.
‘‘You would think this could really change things for us, but we coach high school basketball,’’ Muro said. ‘‘This thing can go either way at any given second. I’ve learned a lot the last three years. It’s a long season with a physical and mental grind. We are going to try to finish the race and play our best basketball in February.’’
What a finish. Spectacular game from one of the best sophomores in the state. Jayden Dozie beats the shot clock and hits the game-winner.
Maine East came from behind to knock off Niles North 65-63 in Skokie. Dozie scored 20, was 8-11 shooting. pic.twitter.com/rQpDcvEqkj
— Michael O’Brien (@michaelsobrien) January 31, 2026
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“If they’re masked and they’re trying to hide their identity, then someone hasn’t communicated with us.”
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Ryan Mancini
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The Justice Department on Friday released many more files related to its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, including a gushing exchange between Melania Trump and Epstein’s now-imprisoned sidekick, Ghislaine Maxwell.
“Dear G! How are you?” Melania began one apparent email to Maxwell, dated October 2002. “Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great in the picture.”
New York magazine ran a story about Epstein that month in which Donald Trump indicated he knew about his former pal’s penchant for young girls.
“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Trump boasted. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
The correspondence between Melania Trump and Maxwell took place more than two years before the current first lady became Trump’s third wife.
In her email, Melania expressed excitement about visiting Maxwell in Palm Beach and tried to make arrangements to meet up with her as soon as she was back in New York City. Trump and Epstein owned property in both cities.
According to the Daily Beast, which first reported on the email exchange, Maxwell responded by referring to Melania as “Sweet pea,” and sharing that a change in plans would have her back in New York for only a short time.
“I leave again on Fri so I still do not think I have time to see you sadly,” Maxwell wrote. “I will try and call though.”
The emails appear to be the first written communications between Maxwell and the future first lady, who was then still known as Melania Knauss. However, the pair were known to spend together alongside Trump and Epstein, and were photographed with the men around that same time.
Trump biographer Michael Wolff alleged in 2024 that Trump and Melania first had sex on Epstein’s private plane. The author claims Melania responded by threatening a lawsuit meant to harass and intimidate him.
Wolff, who said Epstein was a secret source for his reporting, filed a suit of his own and hopes to formally question Melania.
Friday’s long overdue document dump is said to contain more than 3 million pages pertaining to the Epstein investigation. Reporters from many media outlets spent the afternoon feverishly examining the files.
The White House has not commented on the newly released emails between Melania and Maxwell. Neither of the Trumps have been accused of illegal activity involving Epstein or his associates.
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Brian Niemietz
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Catherine O’Hara, the Emmy-winning actor known for her comedic roles in “Home Alone” and “Schitt’s Creek”, died at 71 in Los Angeles after a brief illness.
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OSWEGO, Ill. (WLS) — Two people were found dead after firefighters battled a large fire after a house explosion Thursday evening in Oswego.
A suspected gas leak and home explosion in Oswego caused the massive fire that rattled neighboring homes, officials said.
Oswego fire officials said Friday morning two people were found dead.
Chopper 7 was over the scene of the explosion that happened around 5 p.m. in the 200-block of on Fox Chase Drive, where a home appeared to be mostly destroyed, directly across from Fox Chase Elementary School.
Video from cross the street shows an Oswego house explosion.
SEE ALSO | Aurora man charged with stabbing ex-wife to death, home invasion in Oswego, police say
Neighbors said right before the fire broke out, they heard what sounded like a loud boom. Then they felt their homes shake before seeing a large plume of smoke and fire.
“It was a two-story house, currently all that is standing is the front portion of the garage,” Oswego Fire Chief Joshua Flanders said.
Multiple fire crews battling the flames in the frigid cold into the evening hours.
“We’re bringing in heavy equipment to pull pieces of the house apart so that we can finish extinguishing the fire,” Flanders said. “When we arrived, we found a two-story house that was fully involved in fire and large portions of it collapsed.”
Oswego’s fire chief says fire investigators from Oswego, neighboring communities, the state fire marshal’s office and ATF will be assisting in the investigation.
The chief said Nicor shut off the gas to the home.
While there was minor damage to the two neighboring homes, fire officials say there is no danger to other homes in the area.
No further information was available.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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Christian Piekos
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The owner of Avondale restaurant Warlord is being temporarily released from electronic monitoring for a business trip abroad, as co-owners condemn the allegations against him, according to Cook County court records and the eatery.
Trevor B. Fleming, 41, was charged with nonconsensual dissemination of a sexual image, a felony, records show. He was arrested Jan. 17.
A Cook County judge Thursday allowed him to be released from electronic monitoring starting Jan. 31 until he returns Feb. 16 from Japan for “business travel” related to his work as a chef, according to court documents.
In their first public comment about the case, co-owners of Warlord 3198 N. Milwaukee Ave., released a scathing statement Thursday.
“We find the allegations against our co-owner to be reprehensible; that type of behavior and any individuals who perpetrate it have no place at Warlord,” Emily Kraszyk and John Lupton, chefs and co-owners of Warlord, said in the written statement. “Warlord was built on the foundations of family and friendship — a destination for our community. The trust of that community has been broken, and we will do everything in our power to earn it back as we
coordinate with legal counsel on an appropriate path forward.”
During a Monday hearing in domestic violence court, a judge approved an order of protection for a woman. It was the second order of protection Fleming has been served involving former female co-workers in about a year, who have accused him of emotional, verbal and physical abuse, court records show.
Fleming is due back in court Feb. 18.
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Washington — The Senate agreed Thursday to move forward with a government funding package while negotiations continue over reforms to immigration enforcement in the wake of last weekend’s fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis, a Senate Democratic source told CBS News — though the deal hit a snag as at least one Republican senator pushed back.
Under the deal, lawmakers plan to remove a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security from a broader package of six spending bills covering other parts of the government, including the Pentagon, the State Department and a litany of other agencies. Funding for DHS would then be extended at current levels for two weeks, the source said.
Funding is set to lapse at 12 a.m. Saturday for the parts of the government funded by the six appropriations bills. With the agreement, senators were hopeful they could move quickly to pass the funding measures ahead of the deadline.
The House — which must approve the changes to the package — isn’t set to return to Washington until Monday, meaning a lapse in funding is likely to occur. But because most of the government remains closed over the weekend, a short-term funding lapse could have minimal effects — and the Office of Management and Budget may opt not to order a partial government shutdown at all.
President Trump quickly announced his support for the agreement and called on lawmakers to pass it.
“Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
But the deal faced new uncertainty late Thursday as Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told reporters he was opposed to the agreement. After leaving a meeting in Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office, Graham pointed to heated criticism of federal immigration agents as Democrats push for changes to enforcement practices, saying: “I’ve never been more offended than I am right now of what’s being said about these folks.”
Graham’s opposition could prevent Senate leadership from quickly moving forward through unanimous consent.
“This is a bad deal,” Graham said.
Lawmakers left the Capitol without voting Thursday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters the bill was held up by Graham, saying of Senate Republicans: “They need to get their act together.”
Asked about Graham’s concerns, Thune said: “I hope we can get these issues resolved. Right now, we’ve got snags on both sides, but tomorrow’s another day.”
The original six-bill package was expected to easily pass the upper chamber before Customs and Border Protection agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in Minnesota last weekend. Democrats had since been unwilling to support the package if it included the Homeland Security bill, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, unless reforms to the agencies were made.
The deal came together after Democrats blocked the initial six-bill package from advancing Thursday morning, joined by a number of Republicans who bucked their leadership to air grievances with the package or the emerging deal with Democrats.
Among the final sticking points on Thursday was the length of a continuing resolution to keep DHS funded, multiple senators said. While Democrats sought a two-week extension, looking for a quick resolution, Republicans pushed for an extension up to six weeks. The extension is aimed at giving negotiators enough time to craft a new funding measure with Democrats’ reforms.
“The two-week CR probably means we’d need another two-week CR and maybe another two-week CR after that,” Thune said earlier Thursday, referring to a continuing resolution. “I don’t know why they’re doing it that way.”
The resolution to the impasse began to emerge after Schumer outlined Democrats’ demands for reforms to immigration enforcement Wednesday. Among the demands, according to Schumer: An end to roving patrols, changes to the rules governing the use of warrants to target migrants and for federal agents to take their masks off and wear body cameras. Democrats are also pushing for a uniform code of conduct and accountability to hold federal agents to the same use-of-force policies as state and local law enforcement.
While Thursday’s deal does not secure an agreement on the reforms themselves, it gives negotiators time to work toward a compromise on the issue.
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, told CBS News the bill to fund DHS for this fiscal year “will be considered at a separate occasion.”
“In the meantime, negotiations will start to change the way ICE is operating and the Department of Homeland Security is operating in Minnesota and across the country,” Durbin said on “The Takeout with Major Garrett.”
Graham told reporters Thursday he is open to reforms to ICE, but he’s worried agents are being “demonized” and “spat upon,” and he views the root problem as Democratic policies.
“Are they right to want to change some ICE procedures? Absolutely. But I’m not going to lead this debate for two weeks until I can explain to the American people what I think the problem is,” said Graham.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said “we’re trying to figure all that out” when asked about the lower chamber’s plans Thursday night.
The funding measures could face hurdles in the House, especially with Johnson’s razor-thin majority.
House Republicans were scheduled to hold a conference call at 11 a.m. Eastern Time Friday, two sources familiar with the planning told CBS News.
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Pope Leo has called on cardinals from around the world to amplify his message, and Chicago’s Archbishop Cupich is among them, urging Chicagoans to make their world bigger than themselves and to be a listening church.
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Dina Bair
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The three leading Democratic candidates vying for the March 17 primary nomination to the U.S. Senate agreed Thursday night the nation is facing a constitutional crisis and hurled invectives at President Donald Trump, with each arguing they would be best equipped to rein in his administration if elected to Washington.
But in an hour-long debate, small yet distinct differences emerged among U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg and Robin Kelly of Lynwood and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
Stratton repeated her lone call to “abolish” the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, while Krishnamoorthi called for ending “Trump’s ICE” and Kelly, who launched an effort to impeach U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, called for a complete overhaul of the department.
But Stratton and Kelly each vowed not to vote to confirm any new Trump appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court, while Krishnamoorthi said he would seek intensive vetting of nominees. Stratton also called for lifting the current $7.25 an hour federal minimum wage to $25 an hour, while Kelly said $17 an hour was more politically realistic in getting through Congress, and Krishnamoorthi agreed.
Krishanmoorthi was also the only one saying he supported term limits for members of Congress, while all three agreed there should be limits on the tenure of Supreme Court justices.
The debate, held at ABC-7’s Loop studios and cospsonored by the station, Univision Chicago and the League of Women Voters of Illinois and of Chicago, was the second such forum among the three in 72 hours, following an event at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics.
The latest debate lacked much of the aggressiveness Stratton had shown at the previous forum, possibly because the rules did not allow candidates to follow up on what others had said.
Stratton, the two-term running mate of Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and who is backed by the governor, called Trump a “wannabe dictator” who “leads with bigotry and hatred.”
“We have a president that is stomping on the Constitution, a president that doesn’t believe that he has to follow the rule of law. We have a president, and now a court system, oftentimes especially the Supreme Court, that is rubberstamping his authoritarian agenda,” Stratton said. She called for reforms at the nation’s highest court “because we don’t see the checks we need.”
Krishnamoorthi said Congress needs to ban mid-decade redistricting, which he called a “chaos” that was pushed by Trump in Republican-led states to try to ensure the GOP’s continued House majority after the 2026 election.
“We have to reform the pardon power because he’s decided to auction off pardons to the highest bidders,” Krishnamoorthi said. “In addition, we have to reform our tariff laws so that he can’t create tariff chaos and trade chaos. And then finally, we have to probably amend the Constitution and make it very clear that there is no third term for a president.”
Kelly said Republicans in Congress “have ceded their power” to Trump and need to “slow him down, cut him off, hold him accountable, hold the minions accountable, like I’m trying to hold Kristi Noem accountable.”
As was the case in their earlier debate, the aggressive tactics of federal agents carrying out Trump’s immigration enforcement were a major topic, though the administration has scaled back its confrontational operations in recent days amid negative political fallout following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis earlier this month.
After the earlier debate, Stratton told reporters that Customs and Border Patrol could carry out immigration activities if ICE were abolished, even though CBP agents were involved in Pretti’s death. Krishnamoorthi seized on that comment Thursday night.
“I think that would be a grave mistake,” Krishnamoorthi said. “CBP employs Greg Bovino (who was the agency’s ‘commander in charge’ and had overseen the agency’s immigration enforcement before being removed from Minneapolis). CBP is who actually shot and killed Alex Pretti. We need to abolish Trump’s ICE and revamp CBP and all of DHS.”
Speaking to reporters after the debate, Stratton sought to clarify her earlier comment suggesting Border Patrol would remain in place if ICE were abolished.
“When I talk about security at the border, I’m saying that there should be security at the border. … I’m not talking about CBP, I’m not talking about having agents storming and walking down Michigan Avenue like we have seen,” Stratton said. “I’m talking about border security.”
As for other responsibilities ICE currently handles, those could be delegated to other federal agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, for duties related to drug smuggling investigations, Stratton said.
Hours before the debate, Senate Democrats reached an agreement with the Trump administration and Republicans on a plan to forestall a long-term government shutdown by passing a two-week interim funding bill for Homeland Security. During that time, Democrats said they would negotiate on operational guardrails that immigration agents would have to follow.
“Noem has to be fired. If she’s not fired, then we have to impeach her,” Krishnamoorthi said of his proposal for a deal. “Masks have to come off. IDs have to go on. Body cameras have to go on. No more warrantless arrests. Third-party investigations must be mandatory for all use of force. And, no more roving gangs of ICE agents or CBP agents throughout our cities.”
Stratton said Senate Democrats should demand ICE and Border Patrol agents get out of American cities.
“We want to see not one single dime more of funding for ICE, and we need to make sure that we investigate and prosecute all of these agents for their crimes and make sure they’re held accountable,” she said.
Kelly said in addition to Noem’s departure, the entire Department of Homeland Security must be overhauled.
“Yes, dismantle ICE but also the Border Patrol, also the agency that looks over citizenship and asylum,” she said. “All of it needs to be dismantled and rebuilt so people are not terrorized by their own government agency. So, I do think we do need enforcement. There’s no question about that. But not the enforcement that we have now.”
After the debate, Kelly, who skipped taking questions from the press Monday night, told reporters Thursday that she hasn’t embraced either of the phrases — “abolish ICE” or “abolish Trump’s ICE” — that have come to highlight a subtle yet significant divide among Democrats, “because I’m real and realistic. I don’t just use a campaign slogan.”
The debate came as the Pew Research Center released nationwide survey results showing widespread disapproval of some tactics used by federal immigration agents.
The survey found 61% of Americans said it was unacceptable for agents to wear face coverings that hide their identities while working and 72% who said it’s wrong for agents to use a person’s appearance or the language they speak as a reason to check immigration status.
The survey of 8,512 U.S. adults, conducted Jan. 20-26, also found nearly three-quarters of Americans say ordinary people should be able to record video of immigration arrests and nearly six-in-10 said they supported the ability for people to share information about where enforcement actions are happening.
Leading up to the debate, the political action committee backing Stratton unveiled two new TV ads focusing on her vow to fight Trump and her call to abolish ICE. Stratton’s own campaign launched a similarly themed digital ad.
Krishnamoorthi, meanwhile, announced the endorsement of four downstate Democratic county chairs, joining a list of 15 others who previously backed his Senate bid. The campaign said it was a demonstration that Krishnamoorthi, who was raised in Peoria, is the “downstate candidate in this race.”
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Rick Pearson, Dan Petrella
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