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A new report from Cushman & Wakefield shows that law firms have stayed busy when it comes to office leasing activity in downtown Chicago.
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Alex Zorn
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Category: Chicago, Illinois Local News
Chicago, Illinois Local News | ReportWire publishes the latest breaking U.S. and world news, trending topics and developing stories from around globe.
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Illinois plans to demolish, rebuild 2 prisons including Stateville Correctional Center
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Illinois plans to spend between $805 million and $935 million over the next three to five years to demolish and rebuild two prisons.
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Wendell Hutson
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Ferris Wheel in celebration of Brookfield Zoo’s 90th anniversary now open
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BROOKFIELD, Ill. — One of the Chicago area’s most popular zoos has unveiled a name change, a new logo, and now a towering 110-foot attraction.
Starting Friday, in celebration of the zoo’s 90th anniversary, a 130-foot Anniversary Ferris Wheel will be available for guests to ride to give them a unique bird’s eye view of the park’s gardens, animal habitats and the Chicago skyline.
READ MORE: Brookfield Zoo announces name change, new logo
The Ferris Wheel will feature 24 gondolas that will seat up to six people, as well as multi-colored LED lights that will illuminate during evening hours.
The ride will cost an extra $8 per person and $6 for zoo members.
SEE ALSO: Brookfield Zoo announces new attractions this spring
The Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Anniversary Ferris Wheel is located just east of the zoo’s newly landscaped Roosevelt Fountain.
It runs through Dec. 31, 2024.
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Alonzo Small
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‘The Bear’ Could Be Filming Seasons 3 and 4 Back to Back in Chicago
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As Chicagoans attempt to track The Bear with Season 3 production underway in various locations around town, including Randolph Restaurant Row, reports have emerged that the show has already been green-lit for Season 4.
There’s speculation that Seasons 3 and 4 are being filmed back to back with episodes for Season 4 already in production. Some have also called Season 4 the show’s final season. In the wonderful world of television, nothing is ever a certainty and FX hasn’t confirmed any of this.
Show creator Christopher Storer, a Park Ridge native, reportedly has a long list of projects necessitating an endgame to Carmy, Sydney, and Richie’s antics. Similarly, actors Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are entertaining more opportunities. It’s come a long way since the 2022 James Beard Awards in Chicago where White attended and was easily approachable. His stock, along with his co-stars’, has soared since then.
Season 3 should debut in June on Hulu.
Atelier and Christian Hunter Make Moves
Back in January, Christian Hunter, the chef at Michelin-starred Atelier in Lincoln Square, posted a diner menu on Instagram (since deleted), and that prompted folks to think that the James Beard-nominated chef was on the cusp of opening a second restaurant. Hunter would tell Eater in January that this was a dream, to open a diner that would pay homage to his mother’s (Angela Laverne) Cincinnati roots. Yes, that meant chili loaded with noodles and cheese. He also mentioned Coney Dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, and veggie options. Fine dining was great, but Hunter wanted to open a more affordable restaurant and was working with Atelier founder Tim Lacey on fleshing out the concept. In late February, Atelier announced that Hunter was now a co-owner and that they had promoted Bradyn Kawcak from chef de cuisine to executive chef to give Hunter room to pursue new projects as a bonafide restaurant group. Kawcak had worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago like Band of Bohemia, Entente, and Elizabeth. As far as the diner is concerned, Lacey and Hunter are searching for spaces with hopes of opening something by the end of the year.
River North nightclub owner faces felony drug charges
The 43-year-old owner of Spybar, a River North nightclub, has been arrested and faces felony drug trafficking charges for allegedly attempting to smuggle 14 pounds worth of ketamine and about 5.8 grams of ecstasy through O’Hare International Airport.
Cook County prosecutors claim Dino Gardiakos tried to bring the illegal drugs through airport security as he arrived from London with the intent to sell them. Gardiakos had already been placed on probation for felony drug charges. He now faces a battery of charges including trafficking of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. He’s been released on pre-trial conditions after appearing in court on Thursday.
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Ashok Selvam
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Chicago police to announce charges in Edgewater stabbing that killed boy, injured mother
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CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago police will announce charges Friday in the murder of an 11-year-old boy in an attack that also injured his pregnant mother, CPD said.
Meanwhile, an emotional vigil took place Thursday outside the Edgewater apartment where this incident happened.
Jayden Perkins, 11, and his 33-year-old pregnant mother were attacked in the 5900-block of North Ravenswood Avenue on Wednesday morning. Jayden’s friends and other members of the community came together to honor him.
“Jayden was a bright light,” parent Armensue Vodak said. “Jayden was fantastic and there’s no way to describe his exuberance.”
READ MORE: Boy killed; pregnant mother stabbed, critically injured in Edgewater, authorities say
“He’s the kindest, trustworthy friend you could probably ever ask for,” friend Nate Vodak said.
Jayden attended 6th grade at Peirce Elementary School, his classmates creating a growing memorial for him there too.
Police said they have one person in custody. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx will speak at a press conference Friday morning to announce charges.
Court records also show a prior home invasion conviction and violations of past orders of protection.
The 33-year-old pregnant mother still being treated at Saint Francis Hospital and remains in critical condition.
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Jessica D’Onofrio
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‘Best player to play at Northwestern’: How Boo Buie helped redefine Northwestern basketball
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Sometimes, on-court performance alone isn’t enough to lift a downtrodden program. The sheer dominance of a player’s skill set can be enough to instill confidence, but it isn’t enough to change a program long-term.
Northwestern guard Boo Buie joined a Wildcats team that finished 13-19, 4-16 in the Big Ten. As he enters the Big Ten tournament — with a likely NCAA Tournament berth on the horizon —he’ll be leaving a program he had a heavy hand in turning around — the Wildcats are on pace to make back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and tied the single-season conference wins record.
“Boo has had a major impact on the program, and I think he is the best player to ever play at Northwestern,” former Northwestern forward Pete Nance told the Sun-Times. “It’s not only points, it’s the accomplishments, tournament appearances.”
When Buie broke the Northwestern scoring record in the Feb. 23 win against Michigan, Nance tweeted that Northwestern should “Get zero in the rafters!”
Former Wildcats forward Billy McKinney was the first athlete in school history to have their jersey retired. Teammates know McKinney’s impact on the program but believe that Buie should be held in a similar regard.
“I love Billy, he has done so much for the program,” former Northwestern guard Chase Audige told the Sun-Times. “But in terms of just Northwestern history in basketball, I think he and Boo are two guys that definitely need to be up there.”
After Buie broke the scoring record against Michigan, all his teammates and coaches donned his trademark headband.
“Forget about the records — he’s given us a cool factor,” Collins said postgame after the 76-62 Michigan win.
Buie’s game is thrilling to watch. He plays with a certain flair and self-assurance. His 31-point performance in the Wildcats’ upset of then-No. 1 Purdue illustrates the hope he brings to Northwestern.
For Buie, finding a place on the court wasn’t always easy, let alone helping transform a program that had made the NCAA Tournament once in its history when he arrived and hadn’t won the Big Ten since 1933.
“When I was younger, I had a tough time figuring out how to bring the swag to the team without doing too much or making anyone feel uncomfortable,” Buie said.
But he found his confidence through playing outside on New York courts. Buie learned the art of trash-talking by competing with players and older brothers [Taran and Battle]. He became fearless. Audige said he remembers getting heated at Buie because both were passionate about winning.
“There were times during games where me and him were yelling at each other because we’re just so competitive,” Audige said. Those are the teams that win, those that aren’t afraid of conflict,” Buie said.
He emulated the buoyant celebrations he observed on television and the video game NBA 2K and then unleashed it on the court.
“You can tell everybody on the team looks to Boo for everything,” Audige said. “Whether it’s confidence, poise, or if somebody’s feeling anxious, they look at Boo and they feel calmer and more confident themselves.”
Audige said that he’s seen the most growth in Buie’s leadership. Buie can lead because he didn’t leave, though Audige said he and Buie had chances to transfer.
Buie stayed because when he committed to Northwestern, he wanted to “come change the program.” With the all-time scoring record, the first unanimous first-team All-Big Ten team member in Northwestern history, countless big-time shots, and presumably back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, he’ll be on the short list of the best Wildcats ever.
“For Collins to have him at the head of the snake, it’s everything for that program,” Nance said. “It’s going to set a precedent for how the program should be moving forward.”
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Kyle Williams
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Paul Lisnek on Bring Chicago Home, Bears stadium and more
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WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Evening News to discuss several big stories from the week.
The topics include Bring Chicago Home, the Bears stadium, Ed Burke’s law license, Trump’s cases and more.
Tune in on Sundays for WGN-TV Political Report with Paul Lisnek.
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Paul M. Lisnek
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Senate Majority Leader calls for new elections in Israel, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an obstacle to peace
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WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday called on Israel to hold new elections, saying he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “lost his way” and is an obstacle to peace in the region amid a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Schumer, the first Jewish majority leader in the Senate and the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., strongly criticized Netanyahu in a 40-minute speech Thursday morning on the Senate floor. Schumer said the prime minister has put himself in a coalition of far-right extremists and “as a result, he has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows.”
“Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,” Schumer said.
The high-level warning comes as an increasing number of Democrats have pushed back against Israel and as President Joe Biden has stepped up public pressure on Netanyahu’s government, arguing that he needs to pay more attention to the civilian death toll in Gaza amid the Israeli bombardment. The U.S. this month began airdrops of badly needed humanitarian aid and announced it will establish a temporary pier to get more assistance into Gaza via sea.
Schumer has so far positioned himself as a strong ally of the Israeli government, visiting the country just days after the brutal Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and giving a lengthy speech on the Senate floor in December decrying ”brazen and widespread antisemitism the likes of which we haven’t seen in generations in this country, if ever.”
But he said on the Senate floor Thursday that the ”Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.”
Schumer says Netanyahu, who has long opposed Palestinian statehood, is one of several obstacles in the way of the two-state solution pushed by the United States. Netanyahu “has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel,” Schumer said.
The majority leader is also blaming right-wing Israelis, Hamas and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Until they are all removed from the equation, Schumer said, “there will never be peace in Israel and Gaza and the West Bank.”
The United States cannot dictate the outcome of an election in Israel, Schumer said, but “a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel, at a time when so many Israelis have lost their confidence in the vision and direction of their government.”
At the White House, national security spokesman John Kirby declined to weigh in on Schumer’s remarks, saying the White House is most focused on getting a temporary cease-fire in place.
“We know Leader Schumer feels strongly about this and we’ll certainly let him speak to it and to his comments,” Kirby said. “We’re going to stay focused on making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself while doing everything that they can to avoid civilian casualties.”
Israeli ambassador Michael Herzog called the speech “counterproductive to our common goals.”
“Israel is a sovereign democracy,” Herzog posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It is unhelpful, all the more so as Israel is at war against the genocidal terror organization Hamas, to comment on the domestic political scene of a democratic ally.”
The speech also drew a swift reprisal from Republicans. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor immediately after Schumer’s speech that “Israel deserves an ally that acts like one” and that foreign observers “ought to refrain from weighing in.”
The Democratic Party has an anti-Israel problem, McConnell said. “Either we respect their decisions or we disrespect their democracy,” he said.
And at a House GOP retreat in West Virginia, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called Schumer’s speech “inappropriate.”
“It’s just plain wrong for an American leader to play such a divisive role in Israeli politics while our closest ally in the region is in an existential battle for its very survival,” the Republican speaker said.
Netanyahu has long had a cozy relationship with Republicans in the United States, most notably speaking at a joint session of Congress in 2015 at the invitation of GOP lawmakers to try to torpedo former President Barack Obama’s nuclear negotiations with Iran. The move infuriated Obama administration officials, who saw it as an end run around Obama’s presidential authority and unacceptably deep interference in U.S. politics and foreign policy.
Just this week, Netanyahu was invited to speak to Republican senators at a party retreat. But Herzog took his place due to last minute scheduling issues, according to a person familiar with the closed-door meeting.
It is unclear how Schumer’s unusually direct call will be received in Israel, where the next parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 2026. Many Israelis hold Netanyahu responsible for failing to stop the Oct. 7 cross-border raid by Hamas, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and his popularity appears to have taken a hit as a result.
Protesters in Israel calling for early elections have charged that Netanyahu is making decisions based on keeping his right-wing coalition intact rather than Israel’s interests at a time of war. And they say he is endangering Israel’s strategic alliance with the United States by rejecting U.S. proposals for a post-war vision for Gaza in order to appease the far-right members of his government.
U.S. priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by those far-right members of his Cabinet, who share Netanyahu’s opposition to Palestinian statehood and other aims that successive U.S. administrations have seen as essential to resolving Palestinian-Israeli conflicts long-term.
In a hot-mic moment while speaking to lawmakers after his State of the Union address, Biden promised a “come to Jesus” moment with Netanyahu.
And Vice President Kamala Harris, Schumer and other lawmakers met last week in Washington with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s War Cabinet and a far more popular rival of Netanyahu — a visit that drew a rebuke from the Israeli prime minister.
Gantz joined Netanyahu’s government in the War Cabinet soon after the Hamas attacks. But he is expected to leave the government once the heaviest fighting subsides, signaling the period of national unity has ended. A return to mass demonstrations could ramp up pressure on Netanyahu’s deeply unpopular coalition to hold early elections.
Schumer said that as the highest ranking Jewish elected official in the United States, he feels an obligation to speak out. He said his last name derives from the Hebrew word Shomer, or “guardian.”
“I also feel very keenly my responsibility as Shomer Yisroel — a guardian of the People of Israel,” he said.
Schumer said that if Israel tightens its control over Gaza and the West Bank and creates a “de facto single state,” then there should be no reasonable expectation that Hamas and their allies will lay down arms. It could mean constant war, he said.
“As a democracy, Israel has the right to choose its own leaders, and we should let the chips fall where they may,” Schumer said. “But the important thing is that Israelis are given a choice.”
Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani, Amelia Thomson DeVeaux and Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Stephen Groves in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.
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Mary Clare Jalonick, Ellen Knickmeyer
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SpaceX Starship rocket launches successfully, but lost upon Earth re-entry
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SpaceX Starship rocket launches successfully, but lost upon Earth re-entry – CBS News
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Chicago Park District approves $4 million playground near Obama Presidential Center
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The Chicago Park District board approved a $4 million playground project this week that will be near the future Obama Presidential Center.
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Wendell Hutson
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Russ coming to Chicago this summer
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CHICAGO — A multiplatinum hip-hop artist will takeover a Chicago stage this summer for one night only.
Russ announced he will bring his “It was you all along” tour to the United Center in Chicago on Sunday, June 23.
The hip-hop artist from New Jersey made 11 self-released albums before producing his twelfth studio album “There’s Really A Wolf” in 2017 under Columbia Records. He has made the Billboard Hot 100 six times.
With over 15 million monthly listeners on Spotify Music, his hit songs “3:15 (Breathe),” “What They Want,” “Losin Control,” and “Psycho, Pt. 2” have a combined 1.9 billion streams.
Special guests 6LACK and Melii will join Russ on his North America tour.
United Center is located at 1901 W. Madison Street on Chicago’s Near West Side.
The event will begin at 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 23.
Tickets go on sale to general public at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 15. Click here for ticket information.
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Peter Curi
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A Beard Semifinalist Will Open a Halal Fried Chicken and Taco Restaurant in Portage Park
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The acclaimed chef behind Ina Mae Tavern in Wicker Park and Frontier in West Town is working on a new restaurant. Brian Jupiter is partnering with his chef de cuisine at Frontier, Azazi Morsi, on a project on the Northwest Side in Portage Park called Migos Fine Foods.
The restaurant will center around delivery and carryout with 12 seats at 5044 W. Montrose, near the Jefferson Park border. Jupiter says it’s convenient; he lives about 10 minutes away in Albany Park while the Algerian-born Morsi lives in Portage Park. The approach is fun, fast, and casual — affordable eats that customers can enjoy more than once a week. The restaurant should open in early April. They’ll also have a small patio.
The menu includes halal fried chicken and tacos. Renata Jupiter is handling the sweets with cakes and cookies from her business, Adry’s Pastries. Brian Jupiter describes the doughnuts as being similar to beignets, but a little longer. They’ll have various toppings. They aren’t serving alcohol, but Frontier mixologist Edgar Garcia is creating some agua frescas.
Brian Jupiter is a New Orleans native who’s been working in restaurants since he was a teen. He was also a semifinalist in 2019 for the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes.
Morsi and Jupiter plan on expanding their operations to catering in May. The restaurant is separate from Pioneer Tavern Group, Brian Jupiter’s partners at Frontier and Ina Mae (the group also runs Lottie’s Pub in Bucktown). The new restaurant won’t have an impact on Jupiter’s duties at those two other restaurants.
Migos Fine Foods, 5044 W. Montrose, planned for an April 2 opening.
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Ashok Selvam
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Where to Eat in the West Loop
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The West Loop may be Chicago’s most polarizing dining neighborhood. Randolph Restaurant Row is still considered one of the city’s most prestigious strips with restaurants past and present like Red Light, Girl & the Goat, and Belly Q, but lately the young and too hip have targeted the dining district, peppering it with insults.
McDonald’s built its headquarters on Randolph Street and real estate developers fight for political influence. A group of restaurant owners are pushing for a privatized security force. So it’s not hard to see why these criticisms exist. But the neighborhood, which includes Greektown, is more than a branding showcase and developer’s playground. Come check out some of Eater’s favorites. And just remember: Restaurants do exist in places other than Randolph Street. Note: restaurants considered in Fulton Market were omitted.
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.
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Ashok Selvam
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Chicago weather: Potentially strong storms moving through area | Radar
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CHICAGO (WLS) — Storms are bringing heavy rain to parts of the Chicago area Thursday morning.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Starke County, Indiana until 11 a.m. EDT.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect until 10 a.m. for Grundy, Kankakee and LaSalle counties. A Flood Advisory is in effect for Cook and Will counties until 11 a.m.
The storms are bringing heavy rain, with even some small hail reported in Orland Park.
The storms have also led to ground stops at both O’Hare and Midway airports, which were subsequently lifted.
Most of the Chicago area is at a Level 1 risk for strong storms, with areas to the south at a higher Level 2 risk for severe weather.
Storms are expected to move out for late morning and early afternoon hours, before the chance of storms returns later in the afternoon.
North of I-80 could see isolated thunderstorm activity,, with the potential for severe storms south of I-80.
Saturday should be dry and sunny for Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Cook County Radar | DuPage County Radar | Will County Radar | Lake County Radar (IL) | Kane County Radar | Northwest Indiana Radar
Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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WLS
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SUV fatally rams woman during Grand Crossing hit and run
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A 30-year-old woman died Wednesday evening after an SUV intentionally ran into her as she left a Grand Crossing department store, police said.
Video surveillance showed the woman had just left Forman Mills, 122 W. 79th St., when she became embroiled in an argument with someone while walking to the parking lot, according to police.
The person she was arguing with then jumped into an Ford Flex SUV and ran over her before speeding away east, police said.
The woman, who suffered broken bones and skull fractures, was taken in critical condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 8:56 p.m., according to police.
The crash came on the heels of a violent 24-hours Tuesday into Wednesday that left nine people dead and several others wounded.
No arrests have been made and Area 2 detectives are investigating the crash as a homicide.
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Rosemary Sobol
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Most of the Chicago area in for another soaking rain; incredible warmth 12 years ago
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Wednesday’s severe weather produced scores of damaging large hail, from golf ball to as big as softball size hail across sections of the Midwest, including downstate Illinois
Wednesday map of severe weather reports and large hail reports:
Thursday’s Showers and thunderstorms in the Chicago area are expected to be heaviest/most widespread in the morning; more scattered rains likely in the afternoon and evening
Most of the Chicago area in line for another soaking rain, but the heaviest totals are likely to fall across the far southern suburbs
FORECAST TOTAL RAINFALL through 7PM Saturday:
It was another unseasonably mild day Wednesday for most of the Chicago area especially away from Lake Michigan
Area high temperatures and range from warmest to coolest
Impressive mild streak—92% of the days since late January have been above normal
March high temperature update
MAJOR WINTER STORM TARGETS THE ROCKIES
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Tom Valle
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A bill that could ban TikTok passed in the House. Here’s what to know about the legislation.
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WASHINGTON — TikTok once again finds itself in a precarious position as lawmakers in Washington move forward with a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on the platform.
The House on Wednesday passed legislation that would ban TikTok if its China-based owner ByteDance doesn’t sell its stakes in the popular social media platform within six months of the bill’s enactment.
Here’s what you need to know:
What’s in the House bill?
The legislation essentially gives ByteDance two options: sell TikTok or face a ban.
If ByteDance chooses to divest its stakes, TikTok would continue to operate in the U.S. if the President determines “through an inter-agency process” that the platform is “no longer being controlled by a foreign adversary.” The bill would also require ByteDance to give up control of TikTok’s well-known algorithm, which feeds users content based off their preferences.
Experts have said it will be challenging for ByteDance to sell TikTok in a few months.
If the company chooses not to sell, TikTok would be prohibited from app stores – such as those offered by Apple and Google – as well as web-hosting services until a divesture occurs, according to the bill.
Why are lawmakers concerned about TikTok?
Lawmakers from both parties – as well as law enforcement and intelligence officials – have long expressed concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over data on the 170 million Americans who use TikTok. The worry stems from a set of Chinese national security laws that compel organizations to assist with intelligence gathering – which ByteDance would likely be subject to – and other far-reaching ways the country’s authoritarian government exercises control.
TikTok has denied assertions that it could be used as a tool of the Chinese government. The company has said it has never shared U.S. user data with Chinese authorities and won’t do so if its asked. To date, U.S. government also has not provided any evidence that shows TikTok shared such information with Chinese authorities.
Apart from security concerns, some lawmakers, researchers and critics of TikTok posit the app suppresses content unfavorable to Beijing, which TikTok denies. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence also warned in a reportreleased Monday that the Chinese government has used TikTok to influence recent U.S. elections.
“TikTok accounts run by a PRC propaganda arm reportedly targeted candidates from both political parties during the U.S. midterm election cycle in 2022,” the report said.
Will TikTok shut down now?
No. The Senate would also need to pass the measure for it to become law. But it’s unclear what will happen in that chamber, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. Senate lawmakers have indicated this bill would undergo a thorough review.
President Joe Biden has said he will sign the bill if lawmakers pass it. If that happens, ByteDance would have 180 days to sell TikTok to a qualified buyer.
The proposal could also be challenged in the courts by TikTok, which has sued to counter other attempts to ban the platform both nationally and at the state level.
What happened to the previous attempts made to ban TikTok?
In 2020, former President Donald Trump attempted to ban the social media platform through an executive order. This was later blocked by the courts after TikTok sued.The Trump administration also brokered a deal in 2020 that would have had U.S. corporations Oracle and Walmart take a large stake in TikTok on national security grounds. But the sale never went through for a number of reasons, one being China, which imposed stricter export controls on its technology providers.
The Biden administration revoked Trump’s executive order but continued a review of the platform by the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., an intra-agency committee that reportedly threatened to ban TikTok last year if its Chinese owners don’t divest their stakes. The White House acknowledged last month that review remains ongoing.
Other efforts from federal lawmakers to enact nationwide bans were stalled last year amid lobbying from TikTok as well as influencers and small businesses who use the platform. The American Civil Liberties Union and some digital rights groups have opposed a TikTok ban on free speech grounds and argued the latest House bill would violate the rights of Americans who rely on the app for information, advocacy and entertainment.
How are TikTok content creators reacting to the latest bill?
If the House bill becomes law, it would be bad news for small businesses who rely on the platform for marketing or sell products on TikTok Shop — the company’s e-commerce arm. It would also impact the lives of social media influencers who have spent years cultivating their following on the platform, and rely on it to acquire brand deals or other types of income.
Many TikTok influencers were flown into into Washington this week by the company to participate in a lobbying blitz against the bill. Some said a ban on the app would disrupt their lives and businesses.
What about TikTok users?
TikTok sent a notification to some users last week urging them to call their representatives about the measure, which it characterized as a “TikTok shutdown.”
The company told users Congress was planning “total ban” on the platform that could “damage millions of businesses, destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country and deny artists an audience.”
On Thursday, many users responded by inundating congressional offices with calls, leading some to shut off their phones.
Can I access TikTok if it gets banned?
Experts say users can likely find ways to get around a ban.
App users can try to use virtual private networks, or VPNs, to disguise their location and bypass such restrictions, said Roger Entner, a telecom analyst and the founder of Recon Analytics. It will be challenging for the government to crack down on that behavior because there are many foreign VPN services that don’t need to abide by U.S. laws, Entner said.
But the use of VPNs also raises additional security questions, especially for users who go with a free or cheap VPN provider they haven’t carefully vetted.
AP journalist Matt O’Brien contributed to this report.
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Associated Press
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New rules aim to prevent
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New rules aim to prevent “judge shopping” in major court cases – CBS News
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Forecast: Temperatures dip Thursday with showers and thunderstorms
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Thursday: Cloudy, noticeably cooler with showers and thunderstorms. The heaviest storms are capable of drenching downpours, gusty winds and hail. Winds: East/northwest 10-18 mph. High: 55/near 50 lakeshore, then readings fall into the 40s later in the afternoon.
Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog
Thursday night: Cloudy, breezy, colder. A lingering shower or perhaps a thunderstorm, mainly early. Some patchy fog possible. Low: 38.
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Demetrius Ivory
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An All-Day Filipino Restaurant Is Coming to Jefferson Park
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Chicago’s Northwest Side Filipino community is robust and isn’t about to be shut out of the city’s Filipino American restaurant boom. Seafood City isn’t enough. Kathy Vega Hardy is readying to open her first standalone restaurant in early April in Jefferson Park. In August, closed her popular Filipino food stall, A Taste of the Philippines, inside Chicago’s French Market as she prepared to launch an independent operation.
For this particular project at 5914 W. Lawrence Avenue, “independent” isn’t entirely accurate. Vega Hardy is partnering with another Filipino business, Crumbs and Cookies, a bakery that’s best known for sylvana, a cookie stuffed with flavored creams. Spouses Katrina and Mharloe Requiron founded their operation after the pandemic began in 2020. They’re splitting the space with Vega Hardy.
Twenty-eight seat A Taste of the Philippines will serve a few desserts, such as their signature ube doughnut and turon (a sweet lumpia with ube drizzle), but the two businesses believe they complement each other with Vega Hardy offering mostly savory items like lumpia and pancit. Without a permanent home, Vega Hardy has been using the space at Schoolhouse Kitchen in Portage Park to cook food for her catering business which also includes pop-up dinners.
Chicago’s food scene includes prime-time players like Bayan Ko and Boonies Filipino Restaurant, plus a little Michelin-starred success story called Kasama. Mano Modern Cafe opened last year in West Town. Vega Hardy says her food fills a specific niche.
“I wouldn’t call it upscale, but it’s not fast food either,” she says. “I feel I’m in the sweet middle ground.”
Vega Hardy’s story has been well told around Chicago. She’s a Manila native who lived in Denver where she started A Taste of the Philippines as a food truck in 2012. As is the case with many Asian families arriving in America, few recipes are actually written down. Immigrant food in the States often tastes different because of guesswork in reformulating a recipe (there’s also a difference in ingredients that leads to changes). Vega Hardy has worked toward preserving Filipino culture while putting her own spins on items. But, as chefs who cook international cuisines can attest, it’s sometimes exhausting trying to sell food to folks unfamiliar with other people’s cultures. Food can be educational (Vega Hardy also teaches at Schoolhouse Kitchen), but it can be daunting: “I really thought I was the only Filipino person there,” she says of her time in Denver.
When she moved to Chicago, she gained a following selling food at farmer’s markets before opening in the French Market in summer 2020. Even at the market, she sometimes got anxious having to explain her evolving menu to passersby who were strolling through the food hall browsing menu boards.
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The commute from the Northwest Side to the West Loop was brutal, especially with construction on the Kennedy Expressway. Vega Hardy won’t have to contend with that headache as she’s a Jefferson Park resident. She’ll also have more room to be creative and productive (on an average day of lumpia making she can roll about 150; the number will now increase at the restaurant). Vega Hardy touts a vegetarian adobo made with local vendor Four Star Mushrooms. Now, fans of that Kasama operation might be familiar with their dish which was featured in some cookbook and also in a Chicago-based TV show called The Bear. Adobo can be a personal thing that varies depending on family preferences. Vega Hardy’s is a little bit more saucy. She talks about how the gravy properly coats the rice.
A Taste of the Philippines will also serve breakfast with silog, sandwiches, and more. Longanisa — which will be used in a Scotch egg — will be made on premises. Imagine pan de sal with a fried egg and havarti cheese. The full espresso bar will have fun drinks with coffee from Veloria Coffee, another Filipino American business.
Check back for more updates in the coming weeks.
A Taste of the Philippines, 5914 W. Lawrence Avenue, opening in early April.
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Ashok Selvam
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