Category: Chicago, Illinois Local News

“No puedo evitar verme reflejado en Alex Pretti”, dijo Scott Mechanic, enfermero de la unidad de cuidados intensivos (ICU) en el Centro Médico de la Universidad de Chicago, a una multitud de enfermeros, veteranos y miembros del sindicato el martes por la tarde.

Frente a un altar de fotos y flores que honra al enfermero asesinado, Alex Pretti, los oradores expresaron que pudo haber sido cualquiera de ellos el que fuera asesinado en su lugar.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Tras la muerte de Pretti, la administración de Trump ha enfrentado una creciente indignación mientras los manifestantes anti ICE en todo el país salen a las calles exigiendo justicia. En respuesta, Gregory Bovino, comandante de la Patrulla Fronteriza, abandonó Minneapolis el martes tras ser reemplazado por el “zar de la frontera” Tom Homan.

“Cualquiera que trabaje en el cuidado de la salud entiende de primera mano que los enfermeros deben ser expertos en la desescalada de situaciones potencialmente violentas. Esto es, lamentablemente, parte de nuestros trabajos en la primera línea como trabajadores de la salud”, dijo Nicolette Alberti, médica residente en el Hospital de la Universidad de Illinois.

Alberti destacó que los trabajadores de la salud son capacitados extensivamente para desescalar situaciones en un esfuerzo por protegerse a sí mismos y a sus pacientes.

“ICE no le dio a Alex ese lujo”, afirmó.

Los agentes federales, señaló, no están entrenados para desescalar. En su lugar, Alberti afirmó que están entrenados para aterrorizar comunidades y crear entornos laborales peligrosos.

“Esto no es menos que una crisis de salud pública”, dijo Alberti a la multitud mientras mencionaba los nombres de quienes fueron asesinados por agentes federales de inmigración en el último año.

Mechanic, quien dijo haber estado en la frontera sur, comentó que la violencia reciente ha ocurrido durante muchos años. Pero ahora, dijo, parece que la marea está cambiando.

“Este es un llamado a todos los trabajadores de la salud, a todos los miembros del sindicato, a todos los estadounidenses, a continuar con estos actos de valentía. A seguir confrontando a ICE, a enfrentar a la Patrulla Fronteriza siempre que se presenten”, destacó Mechanic. “No nos detendremos hasta que ICE sea abolido”.

Traducido con una herramienta de inteligencia artificial (AI) y editado por La Voz Chicago

Washington — Hundreds of American families and the children they’re in the process of adopting from abroad are in a wait-and-see mode after President Trump’s latest travel ban and visa freeze covering dozens of countries — unlike past travel bans — made no blanket exceptions for international adoption visas, advocacy groups and bipartisan lawmakers say.

The State Department circulated new guidance Wednesday saying children being adopted by U.S. citizens may qualify for an exception under the National Interest Exception on a “case-by-case” basis. The department “will consider such requests on a priority basis,” according to guidance obtained by CBS News.

The new guidance, adoption groups and families say, is a step in the right direction, but they’re also asking for adoptions to be exempt automatically. 

“Intercountry adoption remains a high priority for the administration, and adoption-related visas will continue to be processed as expeditiously as possible,” the not-yet-released State Department guidance reads. “Additionally, because overall visa volumes have decreased following the [visa freeze], many consular offices now have increased capacity to assist with adoption cases.”

Still, members of Congress from both parties who sit on the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Caucus and adoption nonprofit groups are urging the administration to make categorical exemptions for adoptions, rather than case-by-case allowances. 

Mr. Trump expanded his travel ban in December, barring or heavily restricting travel to the U.S. from 39 countries. A month later, the administration indefinitely froze immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Somalia, Yemen and Jamaica, because it said people from those countries are deemed likely to rely on public assistance.

Unlike past restrictions that have exempted visas for international adoptions so children can join their new families in the U.S., Mr. Trump’s superseding travel ban and visa freeze don’t grant exceptions for adoption-related visas — IR-3, IR-4, IH-3 and IH-4 visas. 

The National Council for Adoption estimates the latest restrictions are halting the cases of more than 1,000 children in over 40 countries.

Adoption advocacy groups like the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and the National Council for Adoption have been encouraging Americans to call their representatives and push for a solution, although the National Council for Adoption thanked the Trump administration for the updated guidance. 

The Trump administration didn’t offer an explanation for the lack of a categorical adoption exemption when the travel restrictions were issued. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Caucus — Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt and Democratic Rep. Danny Davis — wrote a letter last week to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Assistant Secretary of State Mora Namdar. They requested immediate guidance for families on how to move forward, as well as permanent visa exemptions for adoptions. 

“In June 2025, the administration placed travel restrictions on several countries with explicit exemptions for adoption visas,” the bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote in the letter. “On December 16, 2025, a new order was issued, superseding the previous directive and no longer including these exceptions for adoption visas. This has introduced uncertainty for children and American parents who have waited years for their adoptions to be completed and were preparing to bring their children home.” 

“These children have already waited a long time for a permanent, safe and loving family, and we are concerned about additional time they will be separated from the parents who have committed to love and care for them. We are hopeful — in line with the administration’s previous policy — you can move expeditiously to address this situation to ensure these children are united with their adoptive parents.” 

Kenton and Heidi Snyder of Illinois are one of the many sets of waiting parents. 

For six years, they worked and waited to bring the girl they were matched with in China back to the U.S. to join them and their three boys. But the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s subsequent decision to end adoption programs in 2024 meant they didn’t get to pick her up at the orphanage and bring her home. In 2024, they began the process to adopt a now-3-year-old girl from Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa, hoping that they could bring both girls to the U.S. They’ve named the 3-year-old girl Eden. 

After all the setbacks in the adoption process, Heidi Snyder thought acquiring a U.S. visa for her at the U.S. Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire would be the easy part. They were almost through all of the logistical and legal hurdles. But Côte d’Ivoire is one of the 75 countries affected by the visa suspensions the president announced earlier this month. 

“We heard about it but we both kind of blew it off and said, ‘Well that won’t apply to adoptions,’” Heidi Snyder said. “We just couldn’t believe that it would.”

It did. 

“That brought a whole tornado of emotions,” she added. “But I think all along we’ve been hopeful that maybe this was just kind of an oversight, because the administration has always been very supportive of foster care and adoption.”

The Snyders said Wednesday’s guidance was encouraging. 

“I think we can speak for all of the families that have been waiting with bated breath that we are just really grateful that they have responded quickly and that it’s apparent that they recognize the importance of adoption to American families,” Heidi Snyder said. “And we look forward to getting all the details.”

Kenton Snyder is optimistic, but cautious, after nearly seven years of waiting. He said it was a “huge relief” to receive positive news. 

“But also just being maybe a little bit hesitant,” he said. “Not wanting to speculate too much on what it is and what it is not.”

“I think if there is one thing that we could ask for, we would love for there to be a categorical exemption listed on the proclamation so that there is no doubt,” Heidi Snyder said. “The adoption visas should not be included or bundled with all of these other visa bans or pauses. And we respect the administration’s desire for national security and all those things, but it doesn’t apply to adoptions.”

Citing extreme winter weather conditions, the American Red Cross has warned of a severe national blood shortage.

More than 400 blood drives nationally were affected by severe weather, causing thousands of blood donations to go uncollected, the organization said Jan. 20.

In the last month, the Red Cross said it has seen a 35% decrease in blood supply. As a result, the organization, which is responsible for supplying about 40% of the nation’s blood supply, is urging people to donate blood to ensure that patients don’t experience delays in receiving lifesaving care.

Nationally, blood donation shortages are most severe for platelets and types O, A negative and B negative blood.

“We’ve seen cancellations of blood drives, appointments have gone unfilled. Just since the course of the stretch of bad weather, we’ve seen a loss of almost 14,000 units across the country,” said Connie Esparza, communications director of the American Red Cross Illinois region.

In Illinois, Esparza said the organization is experiencing hundreds of uncollected units of blood.

The blood shortage issue, Esparza said, is not new, as the demand from hospitals for blood continues to exceed the available supply.

“Couple that with severe weather, then, you know, we’re seeing the situation worsen,” Esparza said.

The University of Chicago Medical Center, which uses the American Red Cross as its main blood supplier, was informed last week of the blood shortage. As the Chicago area was hit with subzero temperatures by the end of last week, Dr. Rahaf Alkhateb, the associate director of the UChicago Medicine Blood Donation Center, said the center experienced issues with shipment.

UChicago said its not facing a shortage at the moment, because of the in-house support from the UChicago Medicine Blood Donation Center. But the medical center still urges individuals to get out and donate blood if they are able, Alkhateb said.

“I don’t know how we are going to be affected. Let’s hope we are not, but there is no guarantee,” Alkhateb said. “We are doing our best to maintain a blood supply for our patients.”

Alkhateb said many donors come in when their family members need of blood donations. Only after this experience, she said, do people understand the importance of donating blood for patients.

“People don’t need to wait until a close one needs blood; they can just donate and make sure all patients all around the country are getting the support they need,” she said.

University of Illinois Health said it has experienced a minimal impact to its blood inventory throughout the shortage. Dr. Sally Ann Campbell-Lee, interim department head, said in a statement that UI Health is lower than their target for blood types A and O. Campbell-Lee urged people to donate blood to save multiple lives.

Northwestern Medicine said its blood supplies also have not been impacted.

Dr. Glenn Ramsey, head of Northwestern Medicine’s blood bank, stressed that blood care is critical for the whole health care system.

“There is no substitute for red cells, platelets and plasma,” he said. “These are coming from the arms of very nice people who come in to donate.”

Versiti Blood Center of Illinois, an operator of blood drives in the area, said it suffered a blood supply shortage in January. With 13 donation centers in Illinois and several others across the region, the center services 65 hospitals nationally. Versiti blood drives can be found by ZIP code at versiti.org/blood-donation-locations/illinois or by calling 800-786-4483.

Across Illinois, the American Red Cross has seven donation centers. Two of these locations are in the Chicago area. Blood drives can be found by ZIP code at redcrossblood.org or by calling 800-RED-CROSS.

A massive winter storm moving across the eastern United States has been linked to multiple deaths, widespread power outages, and extensive travel disruptions, as officials warn conditions will persist into the start of the week.

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people were found dead outdoors after temperatures plunged to as low as 9 degrees Fahrenheit on Jan. 24. Authorities are still investigating the causes of death. Mamdani urged residents to remain indoors and avoid travel as New York state continues under a state of emergency.

In Louisiana, two men died of hypothermia in Caddo Parish, according to the state health department. Across the country, snow, ice, and strong winds have rendered roads impassable in many areas, leaving hundreds of thousands of Americans without electricity.

As of 10 p.m. ET Sunday, PowerOutage.com reported more than 879,000 people remained without power nationwide, down from a peak exceeding 1 million earlier in the day.

The storm also caused widespread air travel disruptions. More than 11,400 flights were canceled, stranding travelers across the United States and abroad. Flight tracker FlyAware reported that Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, and all three major New York-area airports—LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, and John F. Kennedy—were among the hardest hit.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines each canceled more than 1,200 flights on Sunday. Delta announced it would operate a reduced schedule due to freezing temperatures. The storm system dumped snow and coated power lines with ice from the Southern Rocky Mountains through New England.

Tennessee’s power grid sustained the most severe damage, with more than 336,000 outages reported. Nashville was the hardest-hit city both in the state and nationwide, where more than 200,000 residents woke up without power amid ice-covered roads, sidewalks, and vehicles.

“The combination of freezing rain and ice has hit our community hard today,” Nashville Electric Service wrote on X Sunday. “Weighted down by ice, trees are snapping and taking down power lines across the area.”

By 2:45 p.m. ET, Mississippi reported more than 174,000 outages, while Louisiana recorded nearly 150,000. In Texas, transportation officials urged residents to stay off the roads as crews worked to clear snow.

“An ode to travelers: STAY HOME! And if you can’t, STAY BACK!” the Texas Department of Transportation wrote in an X post Sunday morning.

Although power restoration efforts began in Texas, tens of thousands of residents remained without electricity. Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Alabama also reported tens of thousands of outages Sunday afternoon.

President Donald Trump approved federal emergency disaster declarations Saturday for South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia.

“As severe weather crosses the Volunteer State this weekend, we are grateful for the Trump administration’s efforts to protect and support Tennesseans,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) wrote in an X post on Jan. 24.

The National Weather Service warned that hazardous conditions would continue through Monday.

“Up to eighteen inches will fall over New England, and 0.50 inches of freezing rain over parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio/Tennessee Valleys,” the agency said in an advisory.

The NWS also cautioned that states along the Eastern Gulf Coast could face severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and tornadoes.

An outside investigation into the former head of the Cook County juvenile detention center determined he maintained legal residency in Illinois despite owning property and voting in Michigan, according to a report newly released by the Cook County chief judge’s office.

According to the report, attorneys at the law firm Zuber Lawler reviewed bank statements, utility bills and other records showing Leonard Dixon leased an apartment in Chicago during his decade-long tenure as superintendent. They also determined he had government-issued identification cards including a Chicago CityKey ID and a state Firearm Owner’s Identification card, using the same address.

An Injustice Watch investigation last year found property records that raised questions about whether Dixon lived in Cook County, as required by his employment contract. His boss, then-Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, hired the law firm to investigate Dixon’s residency after Injustice Watch began asking questions about it.

On the day Injustice Watch published its investigation, Evans’ office issued a statement saying only that the law firm had found Dixon “resides in Illinois.” Evans declined to release the full report, citing attorney-client privilege.

Dixon stepped down in December. After taking over as chief judge last month, Charles Beach, whose surprise victory ended Evans’ 24-year tenure at the top of the court, authorized the report’s release.

Advocates say the delayed release of the report highlights the lack of transparency in the court system, which, unlike most other public agencies, is not subject to the state’s Freedom of Information Act. That leaves decisions about disclosure of information at the whim of the chief judge, said Elizabeth Monkus, a senior attorney with the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts.

“These are our courts. This is a branch of our government,” Monkus said. “It should not be permitted, particularly in this day and age, to operate in secrecy.”

Lawyers examined voter registration and Michigan tax exemption

Injustice Watch previously found records showing Dixon had been registered to vote in Michigan since 1995, and has voted absentee consistently since 2012.

According to the report, when Dixon was questioned about his Michigan voter registration, he said “he never thought he would be [in Chicago] this long.” The attorneys noted that Dixon had voted only in presidential elections, not in local races, suggesting “limited civic engagement” there.

Injustice Watch also found records showing Dixon and his wife have owned a house in Woodhaven, Mich., for which they have received a property tax break reserved for a homeowner’s principal residence for the past 30 years. Dixon previously ran the juvenile detention center in Detroit.

The report confirms Dixon owned property in Michigan and Florida. But Dixon’s wife told the law firm that the couple considers Chicago their primary residence while traveling to Michigan on the weekends.

Michigan law requires homeowners claiming a principal residence to “dwell either permanently or continuously at a property and use the property as his or her principal residence,” according to guidelines published by the state treasury department.

In a follow-up report from Zuber Lawler responding to Injustice Watch’s reporting about the exemption, attorneys pointed out that a person could face legal consequences if they claimed a Michigan homestead exemption while primarily residing in Illinois. The report noted Illinois employers are not obligated to report discrepancies in homestead tax exemptions by their employees.

Records show the exemption saved Dixon and his wife more than $13,000 in property taxes since 2015. Dixon declined to comment for this story, but he previously told Injustice Watch he lived in Chicago.

Injustice Watch also interviewed nine current and former employees of the detention center who all said Dixon was rarely seen at the facility.

However, the attorneys said interviews with Dixon’s executive assistant and deputy superintendent suggested Dixon maintained a regular presence at the facility.

Assistant Superintendent William Steward, who has since replaced Dixon as acting superintendent, told the attorneys he saw Dixon in person three to four times a week, including occasionally on weekends. He described Dixon as being present “almost every day.”

Zuber Lawler concluded Dixon maintained “legal domicile in Illinois,” but recommended he update his voter registration “to ensure consistency across all legal documents and eliminate this potential source of challenge.”

Beach has announced he is putting off a search for a permanent replacement for Dixon until he hires a director of juvenile services, a newly created position that will supervise the juvenile detention center superintendent and the chief juvenile probation officer.