Chicago is home to a robust and diverse wine scene, yet the city is somehow behind the curve when it comes to glasses and bottles from Georgia, a nation at the crossroads of Asia and Europe that’s home to an 8,000-year-old winemaking tradition. If Tamta Sanodze, founder of Georgian restaurant Stumara in suburban Wheeling gets her way, that’s all about to change.
“[Georgia] is the birthplace of winemaking,” says Sanodze, a native Georgian who immigrated with her husband three years ago to the U.S. from the country’s capital city, Tbilisi. Georgian wines are fermented for months in a qvevri, a huge earthenware vessel buried deep underground. “We have a rare and special technology to make these wines, [so] the tannins and flavors are very special.”
Georgian wines aren’t novel anymore in places like Washington D.C.and New York, but have only recently begun to grab a foothold in a smattering of Chicago restaurants including Lakeview’s Chicago Diplomat Cafe and Mediterranean spot Oda in Andersonville.
Sanodze, who opened Stumara in April at 847 W. Dundee Road next door to her Georgian deli bakery Pirosmani, aims to bring an even higher local profile to Georgian viticulture with educational wine dinners, a menu of traditional dishes that pair well with the wines, and with an eventual second location in Downtown Chicago. “At Stumara, our guests are already asking for a location downtown where we can [share] a little bit more about our country, our history, our dishes, and wines.”
Stumara may also introduce Chicagoans to traditional staples like khinkali (massive, meaty Georgian soup dumplings), adjaruli khachapuri (bread boats stuffed with cheese and egg), and megruli kharcho — a savory beef cheek stew with rich spiced walnut sauce. Georgian cuisine has a well-earned reputation for meat-heavy dishes, but Sanodze also attends to vegetarians and vegans with options like nigvziani badrijani — fried eggplant stuffed with spicy garlic and walnut paste.
Tucked inside a suburban strip mall, Stumara seats around 50 in a space carefully designed to aid in Sanodze’s larger project — spreading the good word about Georgian history and culture. Its revered textile industry, for example, is represented in eye-catching pillows and upholstered furniture, and text from The Knight in the Panther’s Skin, the national epic poem of Georgia by medieval luminary Shota Rustaveli, decorates the walls in both Georgian and English.
“It’s a story about love and friendship,” Sanodze says of the poem, which scholars describe as a call to live each day with joy, courage, and perseverance. “It’s about the special moments and what’s important in life.”
Mexican voters are poised to elect their first female president, a cause of celebration for many that has also touched off a flurry of false and misogynist online claims, blurring the lines behind fact and fiction.
The two leading candidates, both women, have had to respond to demeaning attacks about their appearance, their credentials and their ability to lead the nation.
The candidate considered the favorite in Sunday’s contest, former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, has also faced slurs about her Jewish background as well as repeatedly debunked claims she was born in Hungary. This week, in an apparent bid to undermine her candidacy, a social media account impersonating a legitimate news outlet posted fake, AI-generated audio of Sheinbaum admitting that her campaign was failing in a key Mexican state.
AS IT HAPPENED
Catch the highlights from the AP’s coverage as Claudia Sheinbaum made history.
The wave of election misinformation facing voters in Mexico is the latest example of how the internet, social media and AI are fueling the spread of false, misleading or hateful content in democracies around the world, warping public discourse and potentially influencing election outcomes.
“We have a general atmosphere of disinformation here in Mexico, but it’s slightly different from what is happening in India, or the U.S.,” said Manuel Alejandro Guerrero, a professor and communications researcher at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.
Sheinbaum is a member of the Morena party, led by current President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. She faces opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez and Jorge Álvarez Máynez of the small Citizen Movement party.
Compared with election misinformation spread about male candidates, the attacks against Gálvez and Sheinbaum often take a particularly personal nature and focus on their gender, according to Maria Calderon, an attorney and researcher from Mexico who works with the Mexico Institute, a think tank based in Washington, D.C., that studies online politics.
“I was surprised by how cruel the comments could be,” said Calderon, whose analysis found that attacks on female candidates like Sheinbaum and Gálvez typically focus on their appearance, or their credentials, whereas misinformation about male candidates is more often about policy proposals.
“A lot of direct attacks on their weight, their height, how they dressed, the way they behave, the way they talk,” Calderon said.
She suggested that some of the sexism can be traced back to Mexico’s “machismo” culture and strong Catholic roots. Women only received the right to vote in Mexico in 1953.
Lopez Obrador has spread some of the false claims targeting Gálvez, as he did last year when he erroneously said she supported plans to end several popular social programs if elected. Despite her efforts to set the record straight, however, the narrative continues to dog her campaign, showing just how effective political misinformation can be even if debunked.
Con artists have also gotten in on the misinformation business in Mexico, using AI deepfake videos of Sheinbaum in an effort to peddle investment scams, for instance.
“You’ll see that it’s my voice, but it’s a fraud,” Sheinbaum said after one deepfake of her supposedly pitching an investment scam went viral.
As they have in other nations, the tech companies that operate most of the major social media platforms say they have rolled out a series of programs and policies designed to blunt the effect of misinformation ahead of the election.
Meta and other U.S.-based tech platforms have been criticized for focusing most of their efforts on misinformation in English while taking a “ cookie-cutter ” approach to the rest of the globe.
“We are focused on providing reliable election information while combating misinformation across languages,” according to a statement from Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, about its election plans.
ATLANTA (AP) — The judge overseeing the long-running racketeering and gang prosecution against rapper Young Thug and others has been removed from the case after two defendants sought his recusal, citing a meeting the judge held with prosecutors and a state witness.
Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville had put the case in Atlanta on hold two weeks ago to give another judge a chance to review the defendants’ motions for recusal. Judge Rachel Krause on Monday granted those motions and ordered the clerk of court to assign the case to a different judge.
While not faulting Glanville for holding the meeting and saying she has “no doubt that Judge Glanville can and would continue presiding fairly over this matter,” Krause wrote that “the ‘necessity of preserving the public’s confidence in the judicial system’ weighs in favor of excusing Judge Glanville” from the case.
Young Thug, a Grammy winner whose given name is Jeffery Williams, was charged two years ago in a sprawling indictment accusing him and more than two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgia’s anti-racketeering law. He also is charged with gang, drug and gun crimes and is standing trial with five of the others indicted with him.
Lawyers for Young Thug and co-defendant Deamonte Kendrick had filed motions seeking Glanville’s recusal. They said the judge held a meeting with prosecutors and prosecution witness Kenneth Copeland at which defendants and defense attorneys were not present. The defense attorneys argued the meeting was “improper” and that the judge and prosecutors had tried to pressure the witness to testify.
Glanville maintained that the meeting was proper and argued that no one gained a tactical advantage as a result.
The office of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, which is prosecuting the case, had argued there was no need for Glanville to be recused.
Brian Steel, a lawyer for Young Thug, said in an emailed statement that his client is innocent and sought to clear his name through a fair trial.
“Sadly, Judge Glanville and the prosecutors have run afoul of their duties under the law,” Steel said, adding that he is grateful for the recusal order and looks forward “to proceeding with a trial judge who will fairly and faithfully follow the law.”
Kendrick’s lawyer, Doug Weinstein, also applauded Monday’s ruling.
“While I respect Chief Judge Glanville and his service to this community and the country, he simply became biased over the course of this case,” he wrote in an email. He added that he looks forward to trying the case “before an unbiased judge,” but said the only just outcome at this point is “a mistrial and bond” for Kendrick, who has been jailed for more than two years.
A spokesperson for Willis’ office declined to comment. The Associated Press has also reached out to Glanville for comment.
Krause wrote in her order that she “agrees generally” with Glanville’s assessment of the propriety of the meeting, that nothing about the meeting or what was discussed was inherently improper. She did write that the meeting “could have — and perhaps should have” been held in open court.
But when Glanville denied Kendrick’s recusal motion in court, he “provided context, questioned the veracity of allegations, and otherwise explained his decisions and actions and argued why those actions were proper.” Quoting case law, Krause wrote that when a judge discloses information relevant to his potential recusal, he must do so “in a way that is as objective, dispassionate, and non-argumentative as possible, so that the judge is not reasonably perceived as a hostile witness or advocate.”
Young Thug has been wildly successful since he began rapping as a teenager and he serves as CEO of his own record label, Young Stoner Life, or YSL. Artists on his label are considered part of the “Slime Family,” and a compilation album, “Slime Language 2,” rose to No. 1 on the charts in April 2021.
But prosecutors say YSL also stands for Young Slime Life, which they allege is an Atlanta-based violent street gang affiliated with the national Bloods gang and founded by Young Thug and two others in 2012. Prosecutors say people named in the indictment are responsible for violent crimes — including killings, shootings and carjackings — to collect money for the gang, burnish its reputation and expand its power and territory.
Steel acknowledged during his opening statement that his client’s songs mention violent acts, including killings, but he said those are just artistic expressions drawn from his rough childhood and not a chronicle of his own activities.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican National Convention starts Monday in Milwaukee, two days after Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt, with the violent scene at his campaign rally horrifying the country and amplifying already intense political divisions.
Trump and his advisers are pledging resilience in the face of the attack, with plans going forward for the event to showcase the former president and his platform as his party formally chooses him to be its nominee.
It was not immediately clear if and how Saturday’s attack would alter the four-day event, which normally has a celebratory atmosphere. Republican officials have said they want to defy the threat Trump has faced and stick to their plans and their schedule. But at the very least, the event is expected to include a heightened focus on security and a grim recognition of how stunningly close the presumptive Republican nominee came to losing his life.
AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports on the opening day of the Republican National Convention, just days after an apparent assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
The shooting has drawn bipartisan condemnation and bipartisan calls for unity. But it has also led to some Republicans blaming President Joe Biden, pointing to his words casting Trump as a threat to democracy. Some have demanded that prosecutors now drop the criminal cases Trump faces, including one in which he’s been convicted. Two other cases are pending and one was dismissed by a judge Monday.
As elected officials, politicians and a few regular Americans address the conference, the question is which tone will prevail in the aftermath of the attack: Will it make speeches even more fiery or will calls for calm prevail?
A show of GOP unity
Even before the attempt on Trump’s life Saturday, Republicans were largely firmly aligned with him and planned to show party unity at the convention. But that message is expected to be even more pronounced as the former president and GOP officials look to project resolve, with Trump saying Sunday that “it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win.”
The show of unity is a departure from the party’s recent history. In 2016, the first time Republicans formally crowned Trump as their nominee, the opening day of their convention was marked by angry dissent from anti-Trump delegates on the floor of the event. After his turbulent presidency concluded with an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, his political standing seemed weaker than ever when he launched his third White House campaign in 2022. But Trump flattened a field of GOP challengers and his legal problems have galvanized his supporters.
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Trump has still not named a running mate, and an announcement could come as soon as Monday. His top three contenders, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, are scheduled to speak to Republican delegates at some point this week, according to event organizers. And per tradition, the person Trump selects as his vice-presidential running mate is expected to give an address Wednesday night.
Trump has compared his search for a new vice president to his former reality TV show, “The Apprentice,” leading to speculation that the showman might opt for an onstage reveal of his pick at the convention. He could also make the announcement on social media, as he did in 2016 when he selected Mike Pence to be his running mate.
Greater focus on Harris as questions surround Biden
Before the shooting, the 2024 race was rocked by upheaval among Democrats after Biden’s shaky debate performance last month led members of his party to start staging a public intervention calling for him to bow out as their nominee and raising the real possibility that Trump may be running against someone else.
Republicans have long sought to paint Biden as incompetent, but since Biden’s campaign has become seriously questioned, Trump and the GOP have stepped up their criticisms of Vice President Kamala Harris. That’s expected to continue as the convention kicks off, with more references to “the Biden-Harris administration.”
Economic policies to get spotlight
The theme for Monday’s program is “Make America Wealthy Once Again,” according to Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee. Focusing on economics not only makes sense because it can be a key issue for swing voters, but it’s an area where Trump might have an edge over Biden when it comes to voter views on job creation and cost of living.
Look for Republicans to focus on Trump’s proposals to impose higher tariffs on foreign-made goods along with extending the tax cuts he signed into law in 2017, which expire next year. Biden wants to extend the middle-class tax cuts while raising taxes on highly profitable companies and the richest Americans.
Expect Republicans to also focus on inflation, even though the worst price spike in four decades is steadily fading, according to a new report from the Labor Department. Biden claims Trump’s tariffs would only aggravate the problem.
Appeal beyond the base to moderates
As Trump tries to win over undecided and middle-of-the-road voters, one of the key questions is to what degree he’ll feature some of the far-right characters in his orbit, his lies about his loss in the 2020 election, his calls for retribution against his opponents and his embrace of those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Key messages of Trump’s third campaign for the White House have included venting his grievances from the past election and decrying his legal problems. He has said that if he’s elected president, he expects to pardon many of those arrested or convicted for their roles in the violent siege on the Capitol and has even played a song at his rallies that he recorded with some of the jailed defendants.
Though candidates typically try to moderate their message as they move into the general election, Trump has rarely been typical — or moderate — and some of the messages he’s featured in his campaign could be jarring to the voters he’s looking to sway.
Biden gets back to counterprogramming
Biden is getting his own slice of the prime-time spotlight Monday when he appears in an interview on NBC with Lester Holt as he continues to try to reassure members of his party about his candidacy.
He canceled a planned Monday trip to Texas and his reelection campaign temporarily suspended its television ads after Saturday’s shooting. But the pause in Democratic counterprograming to the Republican convention won’t last.
After the NBC interview, he’ll fly later Monday to Nevada, where he will address the NAACP convention in Las Vegas on Tuesday and do an interview with the BET network.
The president has made decrying Trump as a threat to democracy and the nation’s founding values a centerpiece of his campaign. He had to soften that message in the shooting’s immediate aftermath, but plans to use the trip to highlight what his campaign calls stark contrasts between himself and Trump.
In addition to hoping to defuse some of the GOP criticism coming from Milwaukee, the campaign hopes the trip could help Biden reclaim standing with some Democrats who are still skeptical he’s up to the rigors of the campaign.
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Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon Prime Day is here, and experts are reminding consumers to be wary of scams.
Deceptions such as phony emails from people impersonating online retailers like Amazon are nothing new. But phishing attempts increase amid the heavy spending seen during significant sales events, whether it’s Black Friday or Prime Day, according to the Better Business Bureau.
“This is a huge moment on the retail calendar,” Josh Planos, vice president of communications and public relations at the Better Business Bureau, previously told The Associated Press. “And because of that, it represents an enormous opportunity for a scammer, con artist or even just an unethical business or organization to capitalize on the moment and separate folks from their hard-earned money.”
Prime Day, a two-day discount event for Amazon Prime members, kicks off on Tuesday and runs through Wednesday. In updated guidance published last week, the Better Business Bureau reminded consumers to watch out for lookalike websites, too-good-to-be-true social media ads, and unsolicited emails or calls during sales events this month.
Consumers might need to be more vigilant this year than ever before. In June, the Better Business Bureau published a report that said it received a record number of phishing reports in 2023. Reports are also trending up so far this year, the organization said.
Meanwhile, in a report released this month, the Israel-founded cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies said more than 1,230 new websites that associated themselves with Amazon popped up in June. The vast majority of them were malicious or appeared suspicious, according to Check Point.
Scott Knapp, director of worldwide buyer risk prevention at Amazon, identifies two areas that the company has seen hoaxes around come Prime Day in recent years: Prime membership and order confirmations.
Last year, for example, more than two-third of scams reported by Amazon customers claimed to be related to order or account issues, Knapp wrote in an emailed statement. People reported getting unsolicited calls or emails saying there was something wrong with their Prime membership and seeking bank account or other payment information to reinstate the accounts, Knapp explained.
Urging consumers to confirm an order they didn’t place is also a common tactic at this time of year, he added. Scammers might pick something expensive, like a smartphone, to get attention — and again ask for payment information or send a malicious link. They might also try to lure in consumers with promises of a giveaway, or by using language that creates a false sense of urgency.
Amazon is attempting “to ensure scammers are not using our brand to take advantage of people who trust us,” Knapp wrote, adding that customers can confirm their purchases and verify messages from the company on its app or website.
Additional scams are probably out there, but it’s hard to know what form they might take before this year’s Prime Day begins. Still, experts note that the same shopping scams tend to resurface year after year.
“Typically, the bones remain the same,” Planos said, pointing to fake delivery scams, email phishing and other repeated methods. “It’s always a ploy to separate consumers from (their) personal and payment information.”
But online hoaxes are also constantly evolving to become more sophisticated, Planos and others warn. That means images might look more legitimate, text messages may sound more convincing and fake websites that look very similar to real shopping destinations.
Amazon’s Knapp has said that with artificial intelligence “starting to leak in,” the scams targeting e-commerce shoppers follow the same approach but with a machine populating an email or text instead of a person.
According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing about $10 billion to fraud in 2023, a 14% jump from 2022. Online shopping scams were the second most-reported form of fraud, following impostor scams, the FTC said.
Both the FTC and Better Business Bureau provide consumers with tips to avoid scams year-round. Guidance includes blocking unwanted messages, not giving financial information to unsolicited callers and checking links before clicking — secure websites, for example, will have “HTTPS” in the URL, Planos notes, never “HTTP.”
Scammers will often pressure you to act immediately, experts say. It’s important to pause and trust your gut. Experts also urge consumers to report scams to regulators.
Beyond scams that impersonate companies or retailers, it’s also important to be cautious of counterfeit products and fake reviews on the sites of trusted retailers. Just because you’re shopping on Amazon, for example, doesn’t mean you’re buying from Amazon. The online shopping giant, like eBay, Walmart and others, has vast third-party marketplaces.
The quality and look of counterfeit products has significantly increased over recent years, Planos notes, making the activity difficult to police. A good rule of thumb is looking at the price tag — if the product is being sold for less than 75% of its year-round market rate, “that’s a pretty big red flag,” he says.
Sketchy sellers can show up on different platforms, including sites like Amazon, “all the time” Planos said, urging consumers to check out companies on the Better Business Bureau’s website. Like other scams, counterfeit products may increase around high spending periods.
Amid increasing pressure to tackle counterfeit products, Amazon has reported getting rid of millions of phony products in recent years. The company said it also blocked billions of bad listings from making it on to its site. In 2023, Amazon said more than 7 million counterfeit items were “identified, seized and appropriately disposed of.” The online retailer has also filed multiple lawsuits against fake review brokers.
Amazon notes customers can also report fake reviews and other scams on its website. If a shopper purchases a counterfeit item detected by the company, Amazon has said it will “proactively contact” the customer and provide a refund.
An ecosystem of laboratories in hundreds of secret workshops is leveraging innovation to create a robot army that Ukraine hopes will kill Russian troops and save its own wounded soldiers and civilians.
Defense startups across Ukraine — about 250 according to industry estimates — are creating the killing machines at secret locations that typically look like rural car repair shops.
Employees at a startup run by entrepreneur Andrii Denysenko can put together an unmanned ground vehicle called the Odyssey in four days at a shed used by the company. Its most important feature is the price tag: $35,000, or roughly 10% of the cost of an imported model.
Denysenko asked that The Associated Press not publish details of the location to protect the infrastructure and the people working there.
The site is partitioned into small rooms for welding and body work. That includes making fiberglass cargo beds, spray-painting the vehicles gun-green and fitting basic electronics, battery-powered engines, off-the-shelf cameras and thermal sensors.
The military is assessing dozens of new unmanned air, ground and marine vehicles produced by the no-frills startup sector, whose production methods are far removed from giant Western defense companies’.
A fourth branch of Ukraine’s military — the Unmanned Systems Forces — joined the army, navy and air force in May.
Engineers take inspiration from articles in defense magazines or online videos to produce cut-price platforms. Weapons or smart components can be added later.
“We are fighting a huge country, and they don’t have any resource limits. We understand that we cannot spend a lot of human lives,” said Denysenko, who heads the defense startup UkrPrototyp. “War is mathematics.”
One of its drones, the car-sized Odyssey, spun on its axis and kicked up dust as it rumbled forward in a cornfield in the north of the country last month.
The 800-kilogram (1,750-pound) prototype that looks like a small, turretless tank with its wheels on tracks can travel up to 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) on one charge of a battery the size of a small beer cooler.
The prototype acts as a rescue-and-supply platform but can be modified to carry a remotely operated heavy machine gun or sling mine-clearing charges.
“Squads of robots … will become logistics devices, tow trucks, minelayers and deminers, as well as self-destructive robots,” a government fundraising page said after the launch of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces. “The first robots are already proving their effectiveness on the battlefield.”
Mykhailo Fedorov, the deputy prime minister for digital transformation, is encouraging citizens to take free online courses and assemble aerial drones at home. He wants Ukrainians to make a million of flying machines a year.
“There will be more of them soon,” the fundraising page said. “Many more.”
Denysenko’s company is working on projects including a motorized exoskeleton that would boost a soldier’s strength and carrier vehicles to transport a soldier’s equipment and even help them up an incline. “We will do everything to make unmanned technologies develop even faster. (Russia’s) murderers use their soldiers as cannon fodder, while we lose our best people,” Fedorov wrote in an online post.
Ukraine has semi-autonomous attack drones and counter-drone weapons endowed with AI and the combination of low-cost weapons and artificial intelligence tools is worrying many experts who say low-cost drones will enable their proliferation.
Technology leaders to the United Nations and the Vatican worry that the use of drones and AI in weapons could reduce the barrier to killing and dramatically escalate conflicts.
Human Rights Watch and other international rights groups are calling for a ban on weapons that exclude human decision making, a concern echoed by the U.N. General Assembly, Elon Musk and the founders of the Google-owned, London-based startup DeepMind.
“Cheaper drones will enable their proliferation,” said Toby Walsh, professor of artificial intelligence at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. “Their autonomy is also only likely to increase.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal appeals court panel ruled 2-1 on Friday that Tennessee does not unconstitutionally discriminate against transgender people by not allowing them to change the sex designation on their birth certificates.
“There is no fundamental right to a birth certificate recording gender identity instead of biological sex,” 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jeffrey Sutton wrote for the majority in the decision upholding a 2023 district court ruling. The plaintiffs could not show that Tennessee’s policy was created out of animus against transgender people as it has been in place for more than half a century and “long predates medical diagnoses of gender dysphoria,” Sutton wrote.
He noted that “States’ practices are all over the map.” Some allow changes to the birth certificate with medical evidence of surgery. Others require lesser medical evidence. Only 11 states currently allow a change to a birth certificate based solely on a person’s declaration of their gender identity, which is what the plaintiffs are seeking in Tennessee.
Tennessee birth certificates reflect the sex assigned at birth, and that information is used for statistical and epidemiological activities that inform the provision of health services throughout the country, Sutton wrote. “How, it’s worth asking, could a government keep uniform records of any sort if the disparate views of its citizens about shifting norms in society controlled the government’s choices of language and of what information to collect?”
The plaintiffs — four transgender women born in Tennessee — argued in court filings that sex is properly determined not by external genitalia but by gender identity, which they define in their brief as “a person’s core internal sense of their own gender.” The lawsuit, first filed in federal court in Nashville in 2019, claims Tennessee’s prohibition serves no legitimate government interest while it subjects transgender people to discrimination, harassment and even violence when they have to produce a birth certificate for identification that clashes with their gender identity.
In a dissenting opinion, Judge Helene White agreed with the plaintiffs, represented by Lambda Legal.
“Forcing a transgender individual to use a birth certificate indicating sex assigned at birth causes others to question whether the individual is indeed the person stated on the birth certificate,” she wrote. “This inconsistency also invites harm and discrimination.”
Lambda Legal did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment on Friday.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement that the question of changing the sex designation on a birth certificate should be left to the states.
“While other states have taken different approaches, for decades Tennessee has consistently recognized that a birth certificate records a biological fact of a child being male or female and has never addressed gender identity,” he said.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi should work quickly to fulfill the court-ordered redrawing of some legislative districts to ensure more equitable representation for Black residents, attorneys for voting rights groups said in a new court filing Friday.
The attorneys also said it’s important to hold special elections in the reconfigured state House and Senate districts on Nov. 5 — the same day as the general election for federal offices and some state judicial posts.
Having special legislative elections in 2025 “would burden election administrators and voters and would likely lead to low turnout if not outright confusion,” wrote the attorneys for the Mississippi NAACP and several Black residents in a lawsuit challenging the composition of state House and Senate districts drawn in 2022.
Attorneys for the all Republican state Board of Election Commissioners said in court papers filed Wednesday that redrawing some legislative districts in time for this November’s election is impossible because of tight deadlines to prepare ballots.
Three federal judges on July 2 ordered Mississippi legislators to reconfigure some districts, finding that the current ones dilute the power of Black voters in three parts of the state. The judges said they want new districts to be drawn before the next regular legislative session begins in January.
Mississippi held state House and Senate elections in 2023. Redrawing some districts would create the need for special elections to fill seats for the rest of the four-year term.
The judges ordered legislators to draw majority-Black Senate districts in and around DeSoto County in the northwestern corner of the state and in and around Hattiesburg in the south, and a new majority-Black House district in Chickasaw and Monroe counties in the northeastern part of the state.
The order does not create additional districts. Rather, it requires legislators to adjust the boundaries of existing ones. Multiple districts could be affected.
Legislative and congressional districts are updated after each census to reflect population changes from the previous decade. Mississippi’s population is about 59% white and 38% Black.
In the legislative redistricting plan adopted in 2022 and used in the 2023 elections, 15 of the 52 Senate districts and 42 of the 122 House districts are majority-Black. Those are 29% of Senate districts and 34% of House districts.
Historical voting patterns in Mississippi show that districts with higher populations of white residents tend to lean toward Republicans and that districts with higher populations of Black residents tend to lean toward Democrats.
Lawsuits in several states have challenged the composition of congressional or state legislative districts drawn after the 2020 census.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A New Mexico judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in a sudden move Friday.
Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case based on the misconduct of police and prosecutors over the withholding of evidence from the defense. She said the case cannot be filed again.
Baldwin, the lead actor and co-producer of the film “Rust,” was pointing a gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal on the set outside Santa Fe in October 2021 when the gun went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza. Baldwin has said he pulled back the hammer — but not the trigger — and the gun fired.
He and other producers still face civil lawsuits from Hutchins’ parents and sister, which white collar defense attorney Mark Sedlander told The Associated Press are more common for workplace accidents like the fatal shooting.
“By civil law standards, it is common for someone like Mr. Baldwin to be held responsible for what happened, but it is relatively unusual in the criminal context,” Sedlander said in an interview before the case was dismissed.
Whether “Rust” will be released is still unclear. The plot follows Baldwin as a Western outlaw who works to break his grandson out of prison after he is convicted of an accidental murder. Filming wrapped in 2023, and producers have said finishing the film was meant to honor Hutchins’ artistic vision and generate money for her young son.
The career of the “30 Rock” star and frequent “Saturday Night Live” host — who has been a household name for more than three decades — had been put into doubt, and he could have gotten 18 months in prison if convicted.
In June, amid the looming trial, Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria, announced they would appear in a reality series about their large family. He shares seven young kids with Hilaria and one adult daughter, Ireland Baldwin, with his ex-wife, Kim Basinger.
The TLC series, tentatively titled “The Baldwins,” is set to release in 2025.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A police station in New Orleans’ French Quarter will be designated a vocational technical school in a move that will instantly outlaw gun possession in the surrounding area — including a stretch of bar-lined Bourbon Street — as a new Louisiana law eliminating the need for concealed carry firearm permits takes effect.
Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick announced the measure at a Monday news conference at the 8th District police station on the Quarter’s Royal Street. However, the move may face legal challenges. The state attorney general raised doubts about the plan.
State law forbids carrying concealed weapons within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of such a facility, Kirkpatrick said. That radius from the station will cover a large section of the Quarter, including several blocks of Bourbon Street.
Kirkpatrick said the station includes a classroom and is used for training. She described the station as a “satellite” of the city’s police academy.
“I wouldn’t call it a work-around,” District Attorney Jason Williams told reporters gathered in the lobby of the two-story, 19th century building. “It’s using laws that have always been on the books to deal with a real and current threat to public safety.”
Designating the 8th District station a school is just one way of giving police officers more leeway to stop and search people suspected of illegally carrying a weapon in the Quarter, Kirkpatrick said.
She also listed other facets of state law that could allow the arrest of someone carrying a weapon in the tourist district. They include bans on carrying a gun in a bar or by anyone with a blood alcohol level of .05%. That’s less than the .08% considered proof of intoxication in drunk-driving cases.
State lawmakers earlier this year passed legislation to make Louisiana one of the latest states to do away with a permit requirement for carrying a concealed handgun. Past efforts to do so were vetoed by former Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. But the new Republican governor, Jeff Landry, supported and signed the new law.
Twenty-eight other states have similar laws, according to the National Council of State Legislatures.
Lawmakers rejected repeated pleas from police and city officials to exempt New Orleans entirely or to carve out the French Quarter and other areas well-known for alcohol-fueled revelry. Their refusal set city officials to work finding ways to deal with a possible proliferation of guns in high-traffic areas, said City Council President Helena Moreno.
“Ultimately what we realized was, ‘You know what? What we need is a school,’” Moreno said.
Late Monday, Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill issued an emailed statement critical of the plan.
“I’m working hard to help keep New Orleans safe, but the City cannot avoid state law by unilaterally designating police stations ‘vo-tech locations’ — that’s just not how our community college and vocational-technical system is set up,” Murrill said.
Murrill also criticized city officials’ announcement that the law, which takes effect Thursday, won’t be enforced in New Orleans until Aug. 1, when an existing city firearms ordinance expires. “As to the delay, state law preempts municipal ordinances which conflict so the ordinance yields to state law,” Murrill said.
As The Associated Press’ music writer, Maria Sherman has seen more than 40 concerts during the first half of 2024. Here are some picks for the best shows … so far, excluding any one-off performances that cannot be repeated, and where you too can catch these artists.
Bad Bunny, “The Most Wanted Tour”
March 14, Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena
Bad Bunny’s show begins with a symphony, transitioning into the unmistakable strings of his monster hit, “Monaco.” “The Most Wanted Tour” highlights El Conejo Malo’s fifth solo album “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana” (“Nobody Knows What Will Happen Tomorrow”) and his past reggaetón hits, too.
HIGHLIGHT: There is one moment that can only be described as equine.
OPENER: When you’re one of the biggest artists on the planet, do you really need an opener? Bad Bunny didn’t.
SEE IT YOURSELF: This particular run of shows has come to an end, but here’s a reminder to catch him next time he’s in town.
Bad Bunny performs during “The Most Wanted Tour” at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on May 15, 2024. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP, File)
Olivia Rodrigo, “GUTS World Tour”
April 5, New York’s Madison Square Garden
Rodrigo’s spirited punky-pop warms an arena, as does her irreverent charms and Disney-informed dancing. If women performing their rage has fallen out of vogue, Rodrigo has brought it back, full force.
HIGHLIGHT: For the fans of her big-hearted ballads — in one moment, she’s lifted into the air and circles the arena in a purple crescent moon to slow things down.
OPENER: The Breeders — fronted by the Pixies’ Kim Deal — legends of ’90s college radio and indie rock. There’s something completist about hearing an arena discover “Cannonball” for the first time, a song that no doubt inspired Rodrigo’s music.
SEE IT YOURSELF: Rodrigo heads back to the U.S. this month with a new opener, the U.K. hyperpop producer PinkPantheress, before the Breeders return for two final nights in Los Angeles.
Brutalismus 3000, “AMERIKATRÄUME”
April 11, New York’s Knockdown Center
Every generation gets the Crystal Castles it deserves. Or in less niche language: This Berlin duo brings humor to their music, which veers from hyperactive techno to German Neue Deutsche Welle in their acquired-taste electronica. The shows are sweaty, and no matter your age, you will be the oldest person in attendance.
HIGHLIGHT: The duo samples Dido’s soft-pop hit “White Flag,” while waving a white flag. It works.
OPENER: The techno-punk LustSickPuppy, whose abrasive rave music is presented as a kind of nightmarish clown show.
SEE IT YOURSELF: Brutalismus will be hitting a few festivals in Europe this summer and fall.
Nicki Minaj, “Pink Friday 2 World Tour”
May 1, New York’s Barclays Center
She will run on club time, and she will not disappoint. Nicki Minaj’s “Pink Friday 2” is almost a retrospective of her chart-toppers, shifting alter-egos with incredible ease.
HIGHLIGHT: At this particular show, Minaj brought out Cyndi Lauper to duet “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” after 1 a.m.
OPENER: Monica has joined Minaj for this tour, and in Brooklyn, Pepa of Salt-N-Pepa opened the show.
SEE IT YOURSELF: Minaj is hitting the European festival circuit this summer, then heading back to the U.S. in September.
Nicki Minaj performs during the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
Sum 41, “Tour of the Setting Sum”
May 6, New York’s Brooklyn Paramount
Canadian pop-punk band Sum 41 has called it quits — and they’re going out in a blaze of glory, a farewell tour that has the immediacy of their youth.
HIGHLIGHT: Sum 41 does not want to exit quietly — they prove their endurance with an explosive set, fireworks and mosh pits and all. There’s also a giant, blow-up skull.
OPENER: The Interrupters, a ska-punk band that revitalized the genre, are worth arriving early for. At future dates, Sum 41 will be joined by Gob, Pup, Neck Deep and the Bronx.
SEE IT YOURSELF: Sum 41 is zigzagging across Europe and North America through early 2025.
Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 performs during Sonic Temple Art and Music Festival on Friday, May 17, 2024, at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
Megan Thee Stallion, “Hot Girl Summer Tour”
May 21, Madison Square Garden
Not every artist can sell out Madison Square Garden on her first tour, but Megan Thee Stallion is not every artist. On her stage, Megan is an athlete and a dancer who delivers her fierce bars with an incredible crispness.
HIGHLIGHT: “WAP” is a can’t miss moment, of course — particularly if Cardi B makes a surprise appearance, like she did at MSG.
OPENER: Tennessee rapper GloRilla, who was most recently featured on the great, braggy “Accent” from the headliner’s third album, “Megan.”
SEE IT YOURSELF: Europe will get to catch her in July, before she heads back home for a few festivals.
Megan Thee Stallion performs during the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Manchester, Tenn. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
The Rolling Stones, “Stones Tour ’24 Hackney Diamonds”
May 23, East Rutherford, New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium
The Rolling Stones ran through 60 years of hits across two hours, including cuts from their first album of new material in nearly two decades, “Hackney Diamonds.”
HIGHLIGHT: When it comes to The Rolling Stones, the entire show is the highlight — but for this audience, it was likely the rollicking rendition of “Wild Horses.”
OPENER: The soulful Jon Batiste, an award-show staple for a reason.
SEE IT YOURSELF: The Stones’ North American tour continues through July.
Ronnie Wood, from left, Mick Jagger, Steve Jordan, and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform during the “Hackney Diamonds” tour at Soldier Field on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Chicago. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP, File)
George Strait
June 8, MetLife Stadium
They call him the King of Country for a reason. Live, George Strait can transform his one-off stadium shows into a honky-tonk; he performs with a big band and a lot of heart.
HIGHLIGHT: The closest a person can get to levitation is singing along to “Amarillo by Morning” in a stadium of tens of thousands.
OPENER: Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town, with Stapleton joining Strait for a new song called “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame.”
SEE IT YOURSELF: Strait has a two more stadium dates in July — in Detroit and Chicago — and another in December, in Las Vegas.
George Strait performs at the iHeartCountry Festival on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)
SEE IT YOURSELF: Many of these artists will be hitting festivals in North American and Europe this summer. In fact, if you want to catch SZA, Sexyy Red and Chappell Roan in one go, consider Lollapalooza in August. Pluma is currently on his “Éxodo Tour” across North America, running through October.
Chappell Roan performs during the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Manchester, Tenn. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Sexyy Red performs during the Governors Ball Music Festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
CLAMM
Feb. 18, Melbourne, Australia’s Northcote Social Club
In the search for thrilling, cathartic underground music — particularly of the indie variety — look no further than the rich scene of Melbourne, Australia. CLAMM, the punk trio, brings a controlled aggression to their live show. It is ferocious noise punk that hits like inhaling hand sanitizer — stinging alert their audience with clever agitation.
HIGHLIGHT: Later this month, CLAMM will release a new record, “Disembodiment.” Live, they’ve begun performing the chant-along opening cut, “Change Enough.”
OPENER: At this particular show, the Aussie indie band Scott and Charlene’s Wedding and the rapper Mulalo. A genre-diverse club show is a life-affirming club show.
SEE IT YOURSELF: CLAMM are headed to Europe for a series of dates this July, and back to Australia in August.
NEW YORK (AP) — A Delta flight from Detroit to Amsterdam was diverted to New York’s Kennedy Airport on Wednesday after passengers were served spoiled food, airline officials said.
The redeye flight took off from Detroit around 11 p.m. Tuesday and landed in New York at 4 a.m. “after reports that a portion of the Main Cabin in-flight meal service were spoiled,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, said 14 of the plane’s 277 passengers as well as 10 crew members were treated by medical personnel when the flight landed. None of them required hospitalization.
It was not clear how many people in total ate the spoiled food.
Delta said it would investigate the incident.
“This is not the service Delta is known for and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels,” the Delta spokesperson said.
The Port Authority said passengers were being provided with hotel rooms and that all would be rebooked to continue to their destinations.
Jackie Jecmenek, right, talks with city worker Bobby Head as she stands in front of her neighbor’s home after Beryl passed, July 8, 2024, in Bay City, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A vehicle is stranded in high waters on a flooded highway in Houston, July 8, 2024, after Beryl came ashore. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Boarded-up windows lined suburbs. Cars were stranded on flooded highways. Residents stayed put inside homes and hotels with no power.
A hotel guest navigates the halls after power was lost due to Hurricane Beryl, July 8, 2024, in Bay City, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
After the worst of the storm passed, many residents worked to clear roads from tree branches and other debris.
A motorcyclist manuevers a street flooded by heavy rains from Hurricane Beryl, in Tulum, Mexico, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Mexico
Before it reached Texas, Beryl caused havoc in Tulum, Mexico, where tens of thousands were without power as it swept through the region as a Category 2 hurricane.
People walk past a souvenir shop’s storefront boarded up preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Beryl, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Wind and rain whipped the seaside city through Friday. Residents sheltered in schools and hotels, and officials patrolled beaches to evacuate residents and tourists alike.
People line up to receive food at an army-provided soup kitchen for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl in Tulum, Mexico, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Those displaced were able to find some respite — and food — at shelters, with the army organizing soup kitchens. Others risked traveling through heavily flooded streets.
People stand on a rock during the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Tulum, Mexico, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Caribbean
But Beryl’s heaviest destruction was in the Caribbean, where entire towns — and even whole islands — were left decimated. The Category 5 storm ripped roofs off of homes and destroyed and tangled up boats on shorelines. Waves full of debris crashed onto the sand.
Evacuees from Union Island arrive in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucanus Ollivierre)
In Jamaica’s capital, Kingston, an arena was converted into a shelter with row upon row of thin beds and blankets.
People sit on cots in the National Arena that has been transformed into a shelter in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, in Kingston, Jamaica, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Collin Reid)
The destruction Beryl left behind will need months, and in some cases years, of rebuilding and recovery.
Boats damaged by Hurricane Beryl wade in the water at the Bridgetown Fisheries, Barbados, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
A man looks out of the window of his home, which was destroyed by Hurricane Beryl in Clifton, Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Lucanus Ollivierre)
A house sits roofless after being damaged by Hurricane Beryl in Portland Cottage, Clarendon, Jamaica, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Hudson)
Donna Charles, a hotel cook, watches as Hurricane Beryl passes through Bridgetown, Barbados, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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HONOLULU (AP) — A tour company helicopter crashed off the Hawaiian island of Kauai, police said, killing one person and leaving two missing in the latest in a series of crashes to plague the industry in recent years.
A hiker on the Kalalau trail reported seeing the helicopter crash into the water about a quarter of a mile (0.4 kilometers) off the Na Pali Coast on Thursday afternoon and contacted the fire department, officials said.
The Robinson R44 helicopter was part of Ali’i Kauai Air Tours & Charters, authorities said.
The company bills itself as the only Hawaiian-family-owned and -operated air tour company on Kauai, and its website said it has more than three decades of flying experience. It offers private tours by plane or helicopter.
“Preliminary information indicates that the pilot on board was a local resident, and the two passengers on board are believed to be visitors from the mainland,” Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck said at a news conference Friday. Authorities did not provide their identities.
Kauai lifeguards on personal watercraft recovered one body from the water Thursday. They also saw what appeared to be an oil slick on the water, along with some small pieces of floating debris, Kauai Fire Chief Michael Gibson said.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Kauai crews continued searching Friday for the two people in the water.
The weather at the time was normal for this time of year with winds of about 15 mph to 25 mph, light clouds and scattered showers, Gibson said: “We do not believe the weather was a concern.”
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. Once the aircraft is recovered, an NTSB investigator will begin documenting the scene and examining the aircraft, the agency said Friday. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.
Last year the Federal Aviation Administration established a new process for air tour operators in Hawaii to be approved to fly at lower altitudes following other fatal crashes.
Tour operators can fly at 1,500 feet (460 meters) unless they have authorization to go lower. The FAA said it would review each operator’s safety plan before issuing permission.
The move came after three deadly crashes in 2019, including one that killed a pilot and six passengers on the Na Pali Coast. The NTSB blamed the crash on the pilot’s decision to continue flying in bad weather.
Three people died when a tour helicopter crashed in a Honolulu suburb, and 11 were killed when their skydiving plane went down after takeoff on Oahu’s North Shore. Federal investigators blamed that crash on the pilot’s aggressive takeoff.
Another helicopter crashed into a remote Big Island lava field during a sunset tour in June 2022, injuring the six people on board.
Ladd Sanger, a Texas-based aviation attorney and helicopter pilot, has handled air tour crash litigation in Hawaii and has flown a helicopter over Kauai.
The latest crash shows it’s not prudent to be flying single-engine helicopters over Hawaii, including off Kauai’s rugged coastline, he said.
“If there is an engine problem on Kauai, it is very likely going to be a terrible outcome,” he said. “It is a really rough island, and there are so few places to land a helicopter.”
A Robinson R44 is also more susceptible to Hawaii’s often-changing climates, he said.
“Kauai is gorgeous, and there is no way to see the beauty of Kauai but from a helicopter,” he said. “But it needs to be the right helicopter.”
Not many Hawaii tour companies operate twin-engine turbine helicopters because they’re more expensive, Sanger said.
“Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those affected,” David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, said in a statement. “Safety is our highest priority, and we are cooperating fully with all investigating authorities to understand the circumstances surrounding this event.”
Robinson helicopters, including the R44 model, “have a proven track record of safe operation across diverse and challenging environments, from the mountainous terrain of Switzerland to the tropical climate of Hawaii,” the company said. “Robinson helicopters have been operating safely in Hawaii since the 1980s, with some operators flying up to 16,000 flight hours a year without incident.”
While the federal government generally controls air safety measures, Hawaii lawmakers have tried to indirectly make helicopter tours safer, said state Rep. Nadine Nakamura, whose Kauai district includes the Na Pali Coast.
But a bill last session attempting to increase aircraft liability insurance didn’t make it to the governor’s desk, she said.
She noted that past crashes have been due to a variety of issues including weather and mechanical problems.
“And that’s what visitors have to weigh — that there have been crashes in the past,” she said. “People have to balance their desire to see remote and exotic places, from a vantage point that is quite stunning, to the risks involved.”
BOSTON (AP) — Subway riders in Boston are playing their own game of “Where’s Waldo?” But instead of searching for a cartoon character with a red and white striped top, they’re on the lookout for subway trains with googly eye decals attached to the front.
The head of transit service said the whimsical decals are attached to a handful of trains and meant to bring a smile to riders’ faces.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng said a small group of what he described as transit enthusiasts approached the agency with the unusual request to install the eyes on trains. The group even dropped off a package of plastic googly eyes at the MBTA’s headquarters in Boston.
“When I saw it it made me laugh,” Eng said. “I thought we could do something like that to have some fun.”
The MBTA, which oversees the nation’s oldest subway system as well as commuter rail, bus and ferry service, has come under intense scrutiny in recent years for a series of safety issues that led to a federal review and orders to fix the problem.
It has also been plagued by slow zones, the delayed delivery of new vehicles and understaffing, although T officials say the slow zones are gradually being lifted.
Instead of plastic googly eyes, which Eng feared could come loose and fly off, injuring riders, the MBTA went with decals, giving a jaunty facial expression to the trains.
The agency has affixed them to just five trains — four on the MBTA’s Green Line and one commuter rail line.
“When we chatted about it, it would be like finding Waldo,” he said. “It gave us all a chance to have a laugh and for the people who use our service to have some fun.”
Last year, Beaumont Bar & Grill ended a 44-year run in Lincoln Park perhaps fortifying that changes have arrived in the area surrounding Halsted and Armitage. Beaumont held a 4 a.m. liquor license, and though that space looked innocent enough when the sun was out with sports on screens and passable bar food, the moon produced a rowdier crowd with bouncers charging covers and the kind of dance floor, full of recent college grads. With patrons waiting in line along Halsted, this scene was one Chicagoans could expect near Rush and Division.
As Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises opened two more restaurants in recent months, now there are whispers that a Small Cheval will soon find a new home near the intersection. Bar owners already faced a boom in families in the neighborhood in the early ‘00s with new community members pushing for earlier last calls and more of a suburban vibe. The neighborhood survived those overtures and evolved, and it’s happening again with new restaurants like John’s Food & Wine opening down the street.
Which brings Lincoln Park to the presence and the demise of Beaumont. It’s been purchased by a familiar name and they hope to unveil a new restaurant early next year at 2020 N. Halsted Street. Paul Abu-Taleb’s team is behind Pilsen Yards, a low-key bar that serves food along 18th Street in Pilsen. They also operate a bar inside the bar — a fancy cocktails lounge called the Alderman.
Abu-Taleb spoke about the cavernous space’s history in Lincoln Park: “The last time this building changed hands was 60 years ago,” he says.
The two-story structure was built in 1890. Structurally, it’s in fine shape, he says, but to revamp and gut the interiors. The team doesn’t have many details to share. They’re not even sure of the name — Abu-Taleb says they’re leaning toward keeping Beaumont. But other than the name, the new project will be different. There will also be private event space and no late-night liquor license.
“This is a casual, full-restaurant concept,” Abu-Taleb says. “For us, it’s a very long-term investment; we’ve always looked for neighborhood locations to do neighborhood concepts in.”
An outdoor patio in the back is also being planned, perhaps with some of the elements, like heated floors, seen at Pilsen Yards. Maybe it’s more of a beer garden. Abu-Taleb wants to inject some fun into his venues and bring a different spirit compared to his family’s pizzerias. Yes, Pizza Capri at Halsted and Willow — next to Boka and Alinea — is from the Abu-Talebs. They also have a Hyde Park location (Paul’s father, Anan Abu-Taleb, was the mayor of suburban Oak Park from 2013 to 2021).
Plenty of details are still being worked out in the coming months, so stay tuned for details.
Beaumont project, 2020 N Halsted Street, scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2025.
The owners of Replay Lincoln Park are continuing to serve up ‘90s pop-culture nostalgia with the arrival of a New York-style pizza shop inside the former Broken English Taco Pub in Lincoln Park.
Seemingly a call out to the space’s former life 14 years ago as Hoagie Hut, hospitality veteran Mark Kwiatkowski has opened the Slice Hut at Neon Gardens inside the sprawling unique corner space at Lincoln and Sheffield. The Hut, which opened in early June at 2580 N. Lincoln Avenue, represents the first phase of a two-part opening featuring gelato, Sicilian slices, and whole pies.
The Slice Hut is open in Lincoln Park.
The space went through extensive remodeling in 2015 — melding a few neighboring buildings into a single complex. Kwiatkowski says he’s long wished for a New York-style specialist in the neighborhood. He also understands the power of a nostalgic reference — he’s deployed a team of artists while producing a lengthy list of unofficial pop-up events, tapping into a potent cast of characters synonymous with pizza parties. “We started thinking about pizza — what’s the pop-culture reference?” he says. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles partnered with Pizza Hut in the ‘90s for a promotional deal, and the Slice Hut lends itself perfectly to a retro Pizza Hut-inspired design.”
The 16-seat space evokes a time capsule of the chain in its heyday, from its exposed brick walls and Coca-Cola clock to Pizza Hut’s signature red-and-white checkerboard tablecloths. Pizza options include chicken bacon ranch (Italian pico), Buffalo chicken with blue cheese sauce, and macaroni and cheese, alongside pizza pinwheels that resemble cinnamon buns, salads, sandwiches, and gelato from Vero Coffee & Gelato in suburban Elmwood Park. There’s a loading zone outside for takeout customers and a walk-up window for those who want to grab a quick slice from the sidewalk.
Pies are available whole or by-the-slice.
The Slice Hut’s design pays tribute to a certain infamous pizza chain.
Not content to open just one new business, the team is preparing to launch adjoining spot Neon Gardens, a full-service restaurant and bar that takes the chaotic aesthetic of four famous, ninjutsu-trained reptiles to new heights. It will open Friday, July 19 with a 50-seat bar area bears a gallery wall of works from Renaissance painters (say, Michelangelo) that the squad altered with spray paint and illustrations, and a sunny atrium (which also seats 50) designed to resemble an overgrown Roman statuary garden laden with graffiti, as if “some street artist came in and had all this great canvas to play with,” Kwiatkowski says.
It also houses a game room, which embraces the neon-lit, underground energy of the Turtles’ sewer lair complete with slimy green substances oozing down the walls and more than a dozen games including darts, shuffleboard, and arcade games. Patrons can also expect an array of TVs hooked up to multi-game consoles with hits like Super Smash Bros. that will rotate based on popularity. The venue is topped off with a patio where the team can host pop-ups, kicking off later this summer with a Portofino-themed event with Aperol spritzes, salumi, and TikTok-friendly visuals like a Vespa and classic Italian films on a projection screen.
The atrium’s design bears a whiff of late-stage capitalism.
During the day, Neon Gardens is a family-friendly affair, but after 9 p.m., staff will dim the lights, turn up the music, and transform the space into a 21-and-up venue. Kwiatkowski hopes it will attract a lively crowd and help boost the neighborhood’s energy overall. “Lincoln Park is coming back — it sleepy for so many years,” he says. “but now, with some of the young people who are maybe a little tired of River North or West Loop, it’s got some energy and excitement again.”
Behold the Slice Hut and Neon Gardens in the photographs below.
Tourists rarely make it out of Downtown Chicago to explore what the city’s neighborhoods have to offer, and locals looking to play tourist can gain a new perspective by spending the weekend there. For all the big chains and kitschy tours, there are world-class attractions, bars, and restaurants you can enjoy by just hopping on the El. For some inspiration, check out Eater Chicago’s ideal itinerary for a staycation weekend in Downtown Chicago.
Where to Stay
There is no shortage of great hotels downtown, which means you have plenty of options based on your budget and priorities. If you want to break up the day with a bit of lounging, the Viceroy Chicago on the Gold Coast features a rooftop pool with a view of a sliver of Lake Michigan through the skyscrapers. The InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile puts you in the heart of the action, while Virgin Hotels Chicago has quirky charms and a free happy hour if you sign up for their loyalty program. If you’re looking to splurge, the St. Regis Chicago Hotel has amazing waterfront views, two excellent restaurants, nightly champagne sabering, and the city’s only Forbes 5-star spa.
Other reservations
Many restaurants on this list can book up well in advance for peak weekend times, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid having to wait for a walk-in spot. Some museums and other experiences can also sell out, so keep that in mind if there’s anything you definitely don’t want to miss.
Friday Evening
Happy Hour and Dinner
Bar Tre Dita inside the St. Regis Chicago.Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
Check into your hotel and start relaxing with a drink and a snack without walking back out the door. That can mean rooftop drinks at Cerise or Pandan, ceviches and sake cocktails at Richard Sandoval’s new Nikkei spot Casa Chi, or a negroni and some fluffy focaccia brushed with rosemary and sea salt at Bar Tre Dita. After that, venture out for some dinner at one of celebrity chef Carlos Gaytán’s two downtown restaurants. Tzuco on the Gold Coast features a gorgeous covered patio and an open kitchen cooking up Mexican fare with French techniques, including whole red snapper and cochinita pibil. Ummo in River North offers fluffy housemade ricotta tortellini in lamb ragu, perfectly cooked New York strip, and creative desserts. Both serve excellent cocktails with or without spirits, so you can decide to keep the buzz going or slow down to make it easier to wake up early the next morning. Another option is Kyuramen, a Japanese chain that specializes in ramen and omurice — fluffy omelets beneath a bed for fried rice.
Saturday
Coffee and Pastries
Start the day with a snack and a bit of caffeine to get you going. If you’re at the Viceroy, head downstairs to Somerset for La Colombe nitro coffee and fresh-baked kouign-amann or a croissant filled with gooey, warm chocolate and do some people-watching from the sidewalk. Otherwise head to one of several downtown locations of Paris Baguette, which offers traditional French pastries as well as Asian-inspired snacks like choux cream bread and mochi doughnuts. A new contender is Tary Bakery a coffee shop serving Kazakh cuisine and pastries.
A Stroll Through the Park
Once you’ve gotten a bit of energy, it’s time to visit Chicago’s backyard: Millennium Park. Go early to avoid the rush to take a picture of your many reflections in Cloud Gate aka The Bean and stop to smell the flowers in Lurie Garden. The park hosts free workout classes on the Great Lawn most Saturdays during the summer, so bring a mat and workout clothes for Pilates, yoga, or cardio kickboxing. You’ll be rewarded with loose muscles and a coupon for a free mimosa with an entree if you stop for brunch at Double Clutch Brewery. If you’re not up for that, take the extra time to stroll around Maggie Daley Park and then head to The Berghoff. A true Chicago institution, the Loop restaurant has been serving bratwurst, schnitzel, and Bavarian pretzels for more than 125 years, though they recently added a craft brewery where you can try beers inspired by the Art Institute of Chicago to prepare you for your next stop.
Museum Visit
Located right next to Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago offers free guided tours of the galleries (with your discounted Chicago resident admission ticket) or you can wander on your own browsing masterpieces from Vincent van Gogh, Diego Rivera, Edward Hopper and Georgia O’Keeffe and sculptures from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. If art’s not your favorite subject, walk down to the Museum Campus to visit the Field Museum. It’s home to a massive collection of fossils, including the largest dinosaur ever discovered, plus regularly changing scientific exhibits. Both museums can take you all day to explore, so if you’re looking for a shorter outing, swing by the Shedd Aquarium to see sea life from the Great Lakes and around the world including sharks, sea horses, and otters.
Take a Break Before Dinner
Kindling recently added a patio.Chris Peters/Eater Chicago
Give your feet a rest by heading back to your hotel for a nap or a soak – the St. Regis and InterContinental both have indoor pools. If the weather’s nice and you want to stay out, head to The Northman Beer & Cider Garden on the Chicago Riverwalk and order something refreshing to sip while watching the boats pass by and maybe petting some of the pups that frequent the spot.
Do an early dinner to make time for some entertainment. Avec, which had a cameo in The Bear, serves Mediterranean-inspired small plates like chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates and hummus with a hearth-baked pita. Kindling within the Willis Tower offers live-fire dishes from James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer — you can come early for happy hour at the bar to snack on oysters and Nashville hot chicken tenders.
See a Show or Make Your Own
Browse Broadway in Chicago to see what’s playing in the Chicago Theatre District and catch a musical like Six or The Book of Mormon. The Goodman Theatre hosts a mix of big productions and more eclectic entertainment including long-form improv, spoken word, and magic shows. You can also watch movies from around the world at the Gene Siskel Film Center. If you’re looking for something more active (or to keep the fun going after the show) head to Brando’s Speakeasy for some raucous karaoke.
Grab a Nightcap
Have a drink back at your hotel or one of downtown’s many excellent cocktail bars. The Berkshire Room has an extensive menu organized by flavor, spirit, and glassware and you can just give your preference for all three to the bartender and have them whip up something special. Escape to the tropics at Three Dots and a Dash, a speakeasy hidden in an alley serving strong sippers in funky glassware. Arbella boasts Saturday DJ sets, an extensive old fashioned selection, and a drink menu packed with unusual ingredients including peanut butter and jalapeno-poblano pesto.
Sunday
Boozy or booze-free brunch
Alpana is a sanctuary for Gold Coast hustle and bustle.Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
Check out and stow your bags to spend the day doing some more eating and exploring. Start with a leisurely meal at Planta Queen, which offers bottomless brunch cocktails plus Asian-inspired vegan fare like scallion pancakes, bang bang broccoli, and sesame peanut noodles. Opt for a Vietnamese iced coffee or oat milk matcha if you had enough to drink the night before. Those who want to start the day with some real meat and eggs can head to Alpana for bottomless mimosas, crab cake benedict, and steak & eggs.
Hit the water
A Chicago River cruise is one of the city’s top tourist attractions for a reason — it’s a laidback way to enjoy the views and learn a little about Chicago and its dramatic skyline. The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s 90-minute cruise is packed with information, though the 45-minute cruise from Wendella is far from remedial. No matter how long you’ve lived here, chances are you’ll pick up something new. If you’ve already taken the tour with visiting friends and family, opt for a more active outing with Urban Kayaks. Depending on your skill level and how long you want to paddle you can take an intro lesson along the Chicago Riverwalk, get a two-hour history tour, or spend up to four hours exploring.
Play with Your Food
Chicago has plenty of interactive museums and exhibits, but the best of these is the Museum of Ice Cream because it offers as many frozen treats as you want. Board the bright pink version of the El, play mini golf, and try an ice cream version of a Chicago hot dog that’s not as gross as it sounds. You can also just head for the equally Instagram-famous BomboBar for gelato and Italian doughnuts.
One Last Big Dinner
Venture to West Loop for sushi at Tamu.Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago
The West Loop is jam-packed with top-tier restaurants for you to finish out your weekend even if you didn’t plan ahead far enough to book one of its acclaimed tasting menus. Chef Paul Virant’s Gaijin specializes in okonomiyaki, savory Japanese pancakes served sizzling on tabletop griddles, as well as kakigori cocktails. Tamu, the new spot from chef BK Park (Mako), offers reasonably priced omakase and walk-in seating for hand rolls and kaisendon. Stephanie Izard’s Girl & The Goat helped establish the neighborhood’s Restaurant Row, while Proxi offers a la carte dishes or a four-course menu spotlighting global street food from tamales to kabobs to Thai curry. Toast to a great trip with a drink at CH Distillery (makers of Jeppson’s Malört) and then head back to your hotel to pick up your bags and go home. You can always come back downtown for more.
Me just ranting. Well my day has been a complete **** show. A ******* tourists rat bastard dog just killed 7 of my lambs and tore off the faces of three ewes. And now I have to get more ******* paperwork and legal **** to get compensation from the owner for the cost of the dead lambs. **** MY LIFE.
Sean and Amanda recap the third installment of the Quiet Place franchise—the Lupita Nyong’o–starring A Quiet Place: Day One—which surprised both of them with its scale and quality (1:00). Then, they are joined by Chris Ryan to discuss Kevin Costner’s gigantic gamble Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1 (25:00). The trio dig into its weirdness, its Western tropes and subversions, and whether it stands even the slightest chance of not bombing.
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