Don’t rush, there’s time to get there! As the sensitive Moon struggles with confusing Jupiter, personal expansion might have an emotional learning curve. Extending our inner lives and broadening our horizons may seem overwhelming and yet unavoidable. On the bright side, Luna allies with dedicated Saturn for a soothing trine at 8:39 pm EST. Consistency should both bring emotional peace and provide us with the equilibrium that we need to level out and make progress that lasts. Slow and steady wins this race.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Doing everything at once, or taking it a step at a time? One is a clear winner today, as trying to do more than you reasonably can speedily become overwhelming, while breaking your tasks or responsibilities down into bite-sized chunks and spreading them out with breaks in between should get you to the end of your to-do list with no problems. Don’t look at it as one huge or insurmountable task — look at it as several very manageable ones!
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Being with someone every moment of every day will be stifling for both of you. This doesn’t mean that you should push away your loved ones, of course. It does mean trusting them to make their own decisions and spend time without you. You’re capable of loving and appreciating someone while giving them the freedom you would personally want. Give them the chance to miss you, let them know you care, and then embrace them when they’re back in your company.
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Who you are and who they are might not make sense together. No matter how much you enjoy someone’s hypothetical company, it’s possible that, in reality, they’re just not the right fit for you. Once you allow yourself to stop fighting the hints from the stars, they’ll be able to take you to someone who understands you better, regardless of your specific connection. You don’t have to take someone else’s misunderstanding of you as a challenge to prove yourself to them.
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Creative blocks could require some new input. You might be trying to make progress on a project — for work, school, or creative pleasure — but the inspirational juices just aren’t flowing for you. Instead of forcing yourself to sit there and stare at the lack of progress being made, take a break! Distract yourself by doing something else that you enjoy for a short while before going back to the project once more. Sometimes you just need to look at it with fresh eyes.
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Don’t give your feelings to those who won’t appreciate them. You might simply wish to share your authentic emotions with your peers, but being discerning when it comes to the people that you bare your inner workings to is important. The wrong people might shut you down — or completely misunderstand your intentions. Knowing that you’re giving your heart to someone who will treat it with respect is key to finding success at this time. Protect your heart by only showing it to worthy peers.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
How you approach others makes a difference. You may feel as though you need to approach people you are trying to motivate from a place of authority. Unfortunately, in doing so, you might accidentally alienate them by placing yourself above them. It’s important to approach your peers on an even playing field, acknowledging where you’re on the same page and playing for the same team, rather than seizing the lead position immediately. The best way to achieve your aims is by being humble.
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Moving too quickly could be a mistake. There may be someone that you want to get to know better in your midst, either as a friend or a professional contact, and your excitement could get the better of you. You might be tempted to try to spend all of your time together or act overly familiar with them sooner than you normally would, but this is not the right course of action if you want the connection to last. Take it slow.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Secrecy is practically your middle name, Scorpio. While being untraceable can be valuable, it can also inhibit your career or social growth. Ask yourself why you might be avoiding being perceived. An air of mystery can be intriguing at times, but if you want to be discovered by those who can help you further your goals, you have to put yourself out there in front of an audience. If you don’t occasionally let your light shine, then no one can appreciate its beauty.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Sometimes it’s the hidden progress that makes all the difference. You might feel like you’re spinning your wheels without making any headway, when the truth is that you’ve gone amazingly far. It can be startling to see just how much progress has been made, especially when most of it has occurred in slow increments. The little contributions that you’ve made to your progress are adding up, even when you’re not paying attention. Make sure your habits are taking you somewhere that you want to go.
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Your point of view on life means everything right now. Maybe your present situation seems unrelentingly negative, but if you look back to the past and remember how things were back then, you may realize that much has gotten better. Do your best to focus on the improvements you’ve made to your life, instead of getting tangled in any fresh problems. The universe is helping you look for the good, and you’ll have a much better time if you join it in joy.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
You might be biting off more than you can chew. When you initially agreed to everything that you have to do, it probably didn’t seem like that much, but now that you have to actually tackle your to-do list, it’s becoming more of an obstacle. You could even be working to pick up the slack multiple people today, but there’s only so much that you can do as one person! Don’t apologize for not being able to handle everyone else’s responsibilities.
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
You’re following a road less traveled. You may have been trying to follow paths meant for others, which isn’t a bad start. Still, your unique journey will, one way or another, require you to carve out a niche for yourself. There’s no one size fits all method when it comes to this life, and you can make your mark with so much more impact than merely leaving your footsteps inside those of someone else. It might be difficult, but it will be worth it.
A new literacy program for children 5 years old and younger is coming to Kane and Kendall counties.
On Friday, the Fox Valley United Way opened sign-ups
for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Families in Kane County and Kendall County who enroll in the program will be mailed a free book monthly for their child from birth until the age of 5.
A $100,000 donation from the Follett Educational Foundation is partially funding the program in Kane and Kendall counties, according to a news release from the Fox Valley United Way. That money will pay for the Fox Valley United Way to enroll children, process sign-ups and coordinate the mailing of books.
There are roughly 20,000 children in the area who qualify for the program, according to Lisa Foydel, director of engagement for Fox Valley United Way. Since registration opened last Friday, the organization has seen nearly 1,000 sign-ups from Kane County and roughly 1,700 from Kendall County, Foydel said.
The program is part of a statewide partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library launched
by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2023, which allocated $1.6 million in the state’s 2024 budget for the program. Local partners provide the rest of the funding, and the Dollywood Foundation orders the books and coordinates the program’s logistics, Foydel said.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was founded in 1995 distributing books to children in Tennessee, according to its website. The program has since expanded
across the United States and to Canada, the UK, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
The Follett Educational Foundation was originally founded to provide college scholarships for children of employees of the Follett Corporation, according to the foundation’s website. Follett, currently based in Westchester, partners with colleges to provide course materials, merchandise, technology and other resources, according to its website. The Follett Educational Foundation has since divested from the Follett Corporation, but continues to offer scholarships and support literacy programs.
“Partnering with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide books to every child born in Aurora and nearby cities was a perfect opportunity for us to give back to the communities and team members who helped build the Follett businesses over the years and further our mission to deliver books to underserved communities,” Follett Educational Foundation President Britten Follett said in the news release.
The program is also being rolled out in nearby counties. Will County, for example, is launching
a local Imagination Library and fundraising to support the program through a reception and showing of Parton’s 1980 movie, “9 to 5,” beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St. in Joliet. Tickets are $20 and can be bought at the theater’s box office.
Registration will be ongoing, so that parents can sign up their newborn children, Foydel said. Fox Valley United Way is also accepting donations to fund the program into the future. The organization says they also plan to host events at libraries and other locations to inform families about the program.
WASHINGTON — Senators vetting the nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary received an affidavit Tuesday from a former sister-in-law alleging that the onetime Fox News host was abusive to his second wife, to the point where she feared for her safety. Hegseth denies the allegations.
The sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, was formerly married to the nominee’s brother, and in an affidavit obtained by The Associated Press she said she believes that Pete Hegseth is “unfit” to run the Defense Department based on what she witnessed and heard. She said she first relayed her allegations to the FBI in December but was concerned that the information was not shared with Congress as senators consider Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Pentagon.
The affidavit describes Hegseth’s treatment of his second wife, Samantha, and alleges repeat drunkenness and a domestic situation where Samantha Hegseth had a safe word to indicate if she was in danger at home. Danielle Hegseth said Samantha texted that safe word to her sometime in 2015 or 2016, which prompted her to call a third party for help.
“I have chosen to come forward publicly, at significant personal sacrifice, because I am deeply concerned by what Hegseth’s confirmation would mean for our military and our country,” she said.
An attorney for Pete Hegseth vehemently denied the allegations. Tim Parlatore said the affidavit was filled with “belated claims” by an ex-relative with “an axe to grind against the entire Hegseth family.”
“Sam has never alleged that there was any abuse, she signed court documents acknowledging that there was no abuse and recently reaffirmed the same during her FBI interview,” Parlatore said in a statement. “Belated claims by Danielle Dietrich, an anti-Trump far left Democrat who is divorced from Mr. Hegseth’s brother and never got along with the Hegseth family, do nothing to change that.”
The affidavit was filed in response to a request from Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said he was seeking her statement to gain “personal knowledge about Mr. Hegseth’s fitness to occupy this important position.”
In the affidavit, Danielle Hegseth says she believes Hegseth’s marriage to Samantha was abusive. She said Samantha in 2014 told her she once hid in her closet because she feared for her safety. She acknowledged she did “not personally witness physical or sexual abuse” by Pete Hegseth toward his wife.
“I believe what Samantha told me because what she told me is consistent with what I personally observed of Hegseth’s erratic and aggressive behavior over many years,” she said.
Neither Samantha Hegseth nor an attorney who represented her in divorce proceedings immediately responded to requests for comment.
In a statement to NBC News, which first reported
on the affidavit, Samantha Hegseth said there “was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you, I have let you know that I am not speaking and will not speak on my marriage to Pete. Please respect this decision.”
Samantha Hegseth and Pete Hegseth both signed a Minnesota court document in 2021 during their divorce saying neither claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.
The sworn statement arrived just one day after Hegseth’s nomination was advanced out of the Senate Armed Services Committee despite initial skepticism from many Republicans. A final vote confirming him as defense secretary could come this week.
Questions were raised before Hegseth’s hearing last week about the scope of the FBI background check, which some said failed to include interviews with those who had raised allegations against him. Democrats pushed for a deeper FBI review that could be more broadly shared with senators.
During the hearing, Hegseth did not directly answer yes or no on questions about his drinking, instead saying the issue was part of an orchestrated smear campaign against him.
At the time, it was left to the Trump transition team to decide how much more information to pursue and share on Hegseth.
The information in the affidavit was not relayed to the leaders of the Armed Services Committee when FBI officials briefed them earlier this month on the results of Hegseth’s background check, according to a person familiar with the contents of the briefing who was granted anonymity to discuss it.
“As I have said for months, the reports of Mr. Hegseth’s history of alleged sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and public misconduct necessitate an exhaustive background investigation,” Reed said in a statement Tuesday. “I have been concerned that the background check process has been inadequate, and this affidavit confirms my fears.”
Hegseth was grilled by senators during his hearing about his behavior, including excessive drinking, extramarital affairs and allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied.
Hegseth has promised not to drink on the job
and has denied a 2017 sex assault allegation but acknowledged paying the woman a settlement. He was going through a divorce at the time after having a child with a Fox News producer who became his current wife, according to court records and his social media posts.
In the affidavit, Danielle Hegseth also alleges that Pete Hegseth, while under the influence of alcohol and both were leaving a bar, repeatedly shouted “no means yes!”
“I took this to mean that, in his opinion, nonconsensual sex is ok,” Danielle Hegseth said in the affidavit.
In a letter to Hegseth
last week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, another Democrat on the panel, asked that he answer several questions about his previous conduct.
The Massachusetts Democrat said she was “deeply concerned by the many ways in which your past behavior and rhetoric indicates that you are unfit to lead the Department of Defense.”
AP reporters Eric Tucker and Lolita C. Baldor contributed from Washington.
WASHINGTON — Officers enforcing immigration laws will now be able to arrest migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches after the Trump administration threw out policies limiting where those arrests could happen.
The move reverses guidance that for over a decade has restricted two key federal immigration agencies — Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection — from carrying out immigration enforcement in sensitive locations.
“This action empowers the brave men and women in CBP and ICE to enforce our immigration laws and catch criminal aliens — including murders and rapists — who have illegally come into our country. Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Tuesday.
The ICE guidance dates back to 2011. Customs and Border Protection issued similar guidance in 2013.
The team announced interviews with 17 candidates
over a period of 12 days — from Mike Vrabel to Eddie George. And that did not include college coaches Matt Campbell
and Marcus Freeman
, with whom the Bears also reportedly had interest in meeting. It also didn’t include the rumored call they made to inquire about a potential trade for Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
In the end, the Bears wound up hooking the biggest fish in this hiring cycle, reeling in Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The news of Johnson’s arrival
was greeted with an explosion of excitement from many Bears fans — plus a bit of understandable wait-and-see skepticism from others.
In the meantime, Tribune Bears writers Dan Wiederer and Colleen Kane analyze the hiring by weighing in on four key topics in true-or-false format.
True or false? The Bears’ union with Ben Johnson is without question — as many around the league have said — a home run hire.
Dan Wiederer: False. Maybe I’m getting too caught up in semantics here and not leaning into the significance of the Bears doing what it took to hire the top coaching candidate on the market. Because, trust me, I believe this is a fantastic hire at an important time for the organization. As I laid out Monday
, the Bears made the biggest splash possible by uniting second-year quarterback Caleb Williams with an offensive mastermind and proven play caller who has a chance to lift the team to new heights.
But the term “home run” gives me pause. It indicates undeniable success. And more than seven months before Johnson’s first regular-season game as a head coach at any level, that kind of declaration feels premature. For backup I’ll lean on former Bears great Olin Kreutz, who posted the following question
on social media Monday: “Did we win the offseason again?” To which follower @BrianZisook promptly responded
: “Three peat.”
Indeed, Chicago has spent way too much time in recent years celebrating trades and draft picks and hirings and signings and far too little time enjoying actual victories. There have been only 15 of those in the first three seasons of general manager Ryan Poles’ tenure.
So let’s reframe that declaration about Johnson’s arrival at Halas Hall. It’s a strong move by the Bears. It’s a gamble worth taking. It’s a move in which, if all goes according to both parties’ vision, a bright future of sustainable success will open in Chicago.
But maybe we learn from this organization’s history of unfulfilled promises and wait for at least one run to cross the plate before we ignite the “home run” fireworks.
Colleen Kane: It’s OK for Bears fans to get excited about the possibilities Johnson brings to Chicago after he helped the Lions offense become one of the NFL’s best over the last three seasons. It’s OK to dream about what he can do to ignite Williams’ growth.
And it’s OK to celebrate that the Bears made the obvious move for once in hiring Johnson. Given their recent track record, it was easy to worry that they might not do enough to woo Johnson
or pick some offbeat candidate instead of one of the two most logical answers — Johnson or Mike McCarthy.
But, yes, you’re right to suggest caution with that optimism. Johnson comes with positive reviews and results from his time with the Lions. But there are unknowns about how Johnson will handle the move from coordinator to head coach, how he will handle a market like Chicago, how he will fit with Poles as they build the roster. It’s all projection at this point.
Given the unmet expectations from 2024 — and other recent seasons before that — the wait-and-see approach is almost always more advisable than making grand declarations about the Bears’ future.
True or false? The Bears offense should expect similar results from Johnson’s play calling as the Lions received.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, left, talks with quarterback Jared Goff during an NFC divisional playoff game against the Buccaneers on Jan. 21, 2024, in Detroit. (Paul Sancya/AP)
Kane: False. At least not immediately. A lot still has to unfold for the Bears in the months ahead — in roster building, in quarterback development — for Johnson to get the offense humming.
In his three seasons as Lions coordinator, Johnson used creativity and detailed coaching to run a top-five offense in yards and points per game. I’m not saying he can’t get the Bears to a similar level. But every team is a different animal.
The Bears have some good players alongside Williams, including wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. But they don’t have an offensive line that is equal to that of the Lions. They don’t have a one-two running back punch like David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. And while Williams has shown great promise, he’s a developing quarterback with a lot to learn.
Johnson has a different task — and a different style of quarterback — in working with Williams than he did with Jared Goff, who was entering his seventh NFL season when Johnson took over as coordinator.
So it’s reasonable to expect a growth period as Johnson and the Bears get on the same page. But should the offense be better than in 2024? No doubt. That won’t be hard to do.
Wiederer: Improvement should be the unwavering goal for the Bears offense in 2025. No questions asked. But enjoying similar results as the Lions right away? That’s a big ask.
The Lions offense scored 68 regular-season touchdowns this season. The Bears had 33.
The Lions averaged 33.2 points per game. The Bears scored 30 or more only twice.
Goff threw for 4,629 yards and 37 touchdowns. Both totals would be single-season franchise records in Chicago — by a wide margin.
Johnson’s magic touch — his creativity combined with his demand for detail-oriented precision — should get the Bears offense moving in the right direction quickly. And it would be both a surprise and a significant disappointment if Williams didn’t take a big jump forward.
But you bring up the biggest and best warning for Bears fans getting out over their skis with their expectations for next season. The Lions had a much stronger and more reliable offensive line than the Bears have.
Four of Detroit’s five starters are former first-round picks. The only one who wasn’t is left guard Graham Glasgow, a Round 3 selection. The Lions offensive line also is blessed with experience. Only right tackle Penei Sewell is still on his rookie contract. And he’s the best of the bunch.
Building the line must be a priority and ultimately will be the key to unlocking an offensive world the Bears never have visited. But that process won’t be complete overnight.
True or false? Johnson has something to prove in how he handles his introductory news conference at Halas Hall.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson addresses the media at the team’s training facility Jan. 11, 2024, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Wiederer: True. As I’ve said for weeks now, presence matters. Wednesday’s event will be Johnson’s first chance to showcase his ability to command a room, to articulate a vision, to demonstrate a combination of charisma and authority that must translate to his leadership of the team.
While much of the NFL world waits to see how Johnson will handle the leap from offensive coordinator into the top chair of the coaching staff, the early prognostications are that he has the wiring and personality
to handle it with ease.
Johnson is known as an up-front communicator, a sharp teacher and an all-around engaging dude who can connect across many levels. His first meeting with the media will provide an opportunity to display little pieces of all of that.
Don’t forget, it was Bears President/CEO Kevin Warren who earlier this month acknowledged the unique demands of this job.
“This takes a certain kind of person,” Warren said. “I say this lovingly and with all respect, this is a phenomenal franchise. It’s a historical franchise in an incredible city. But because our fan base is so passionate, you have to be sturdy, you have to be disciplined, you have to be strong here in Chicago. You have to basically emulate what Chicago stands for.”
Your move, Ben.
Listen, I’m never one to crown or lampoon a coach based on his or her introductory news conference. But such proceedings aren’t meaningless either. So color me intrigued.
Kane: I was glad to hear Warren make that acknowledgement during his end-of-season remarks because we have seen more than one coach and quarterback in Chicago get swallowed up by the public-facing pressures.
One of former coach Matt Eberflus’ fatal flaws was that he couldn’t always own up to his mistakes publicly in the moment, and that contributed to a loss of faith in his leadership inside and outside the locker-room walls.
I don’t really buy into wins or losses in coaches’ introductory news conferences either. One emotion-filled day won’t make or doom a tenure. But the day-in and day-out handling of a team’s messaging to the city? That is important. And it can provide a window into a coach’s communication skills within the team.
Johnson has an opportunity to start that messaging correctly Wednesday. Let’s hear how he can sell the Bears future.
True or false? The Bears’ next order of business is addressing the offensive line.
Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones is carted off the field after suffering an injury in the second quarter against the Lions at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Kane: False. Before getting to player personnel, Poles needs to make sure Johnson has assembled a coaching staff that will maximize the roster the Bears have built.
The Bears need a strong defensive coordinator to take charge of a group that underperformed in some areas in 2024. Johnson needs an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach who will help challenge Williams, something the quarterback said he needs as he continues to develop. And Johnson needs an offensive line coach to help shape a struggling unit.
Hopefully he already has a good start on that list, and we’ve heard names such as former New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen as a possibility for defensive coordinator.
But after those names are in place, then Poles and Johnson absolutely need to figure out what to do about the offensive line. The only sure starter in place for 2025 is right tackle Darnell Wright. Left tackle Braxton Jones is recovering from ankle surgery. And the three interior linemen who started the most games — Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton and Matt Pryor — all face uncertain futures.
Fixing the O-line is the top priority for the roster this offseason, once the staff is in place.
Wiederer: Let’s circle back to the coaching staff for a minute. Head coaching hires always steal the headlines and create the biggest conversations. But often the hiring of coordinators and the assembly of a steady staff is just as important to getting a new program off the ground.
It will be fascinating to see how Johnson’s staff comes together over the next several weeks. And I found it notable when Poles acknowledged earlier this month his desire to pair a first-time head coach with someone who has been in that job previously — which is where Allen comes in.
Having a former head coach as an assistant can be invaluable in helping a new coach anticipate issues he might not otherwise have thought of or to offer aid in putting out fires that arise out of nowhere. Finding a group of assistants with a wide range of perspectives and experiences should be a priority for Johnson. Identifying coaches who can complement his strengths and mask his weaknesses also should be part of the formula.
A Lemont woman died early Tuesday when her car crossed the centerline and collided with a semi in Mundelein, authorities said.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified her as 24-year-old Hannah Lebert. She died from blunt force injuries, the coroner said.
Authorities said Lebert was driving south on U.S. Route 45 at around 1:05 a.m. Tuesday when her Acura crossed into the oncoming lanes and ran head-on into a northbound semi-trailer. The crash happened south of the intersection with University Drive, the coroner said.
Lebert had to be extricated and suffered severe injuries, authorities said. She was pronounced dead at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
Members of Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora got together recently to assemble cold weather care kits to be given to those in need in the area this winter.
The free family activity, which was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 15 at the church at 14 N. May St. in Aurora, was part of the semi-monthly Wednesday Night Gatherings program which church officials offer throughout the school year.
Wesley United Methodist Church Children and Families Director Michelle Curiel said that the Gatherings events include a free dinner followed by a family activity, something that the Rev. Tammy Scott of Wesley United believes will be especially impactful this month as there are unique needs this time of year among the homeless and the needy.
“We’re putting together our cold weather care kits. This is our regular intergenerational activity with dinner served and it’s open to the community as well,” Scott said.
“The kits include lotion, hats, gloves, granola bars, hand warmers, Chapstick – a variety of things” that will be placed in gallon zipper bags, she said.
Curiel asked that members of the church and their friends donate the items which also included tissue packs, socks, travel-size lotion and deodorant, alcohol-free hand sanitizer, wet wipes, ibuprofen and applesauce packets.
“I feel that we got a lot of donations. The whole apron of our stage is full. I pretty much put out an ask with details about what people can bring, and everyone brings a lot which is a great problem to have,” Curiel said. “I think the personal connection people will have with those in need is good. I think a lot of families are looking for ways to be a part of helping with our shelters so it’s good for kids to see it takes many hands to lighten the load.”
Scott agreed the care kits program allows parents as well as kids to connect directly with those most in need.
“As both a pastor and a mom, it’s really important for me to give kids opportunities to recognize all of the things they have in life that not everyone has, and this is a small but simple way to be able to put a hands-on activity in front of all ages and make a direct impact,” she said. “The kids and their parents will take them in their cars and, when it’s safe, roll down the window and hand them to somebody who is holding a sign asking for assistance. We’re connecting by not only making the kits but directly handing them out.”
More than three dozen took part in packing 45 kits for those in need.
Claudia Smith of Aurora came with her daughter, Luli, to the event at Wesley United and said she has been a member of the church for 12 years.
Claudia Smith of Aurora and her daughter Luli were among those who came out to an event on Jan. 15 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora to pack cold weather care kits for those in need. (David Sharos / For The Beacon-News)
She noted that she and her family have done a number of service projects before for the church, including packing cold weather care kits.
“We’ve done a lot. My mom is coming too and she has donated plenty of items,” Smith said.
“My mom and I are from Bolivia and we’ve been in the Methodist church our whole lives so it’s just part of what we do,” Smith added. “That’s the mission, that’s the purpose. Why else would we be here? It’s a good life lesson. We care for the neighborhood, and they care for us.”
Tamara Daranuta of Aurora also came with her family and, like Smith, said she came out on a cold night to help those in need.
“We want to help our community and I’m happy that my kid gets involved so she can learn and be a good girl in the future,” she said.
Her daughter Laura said she knew about the packing of the kits and was ready to do her part.
“I’m happy to do this,” she said. “I feel good about it.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
A trial has been set for Willie Donald, a Gary man wrongfully convicted in a 1992 robbery and related homicide in the city’s Glen Park neighborhood.
Donald’s trial against the city of Gary, the estate of John E. Jelks, Jr., and former Gary Police Department Officer Bruce Outlaw has been set for Feb. 24 in Hammond’s U.S. District Court.
U.S. District Judge Philip Simon will oversee the trial. Simon said in a pre-trial conference Tuesday that the trial start date could change to the beginning of March to help prosecutors’ schedules.
Donald first filed a complaint on Jan. 24, 2017. His complaint had nine counts, which included issues with due process, conspiracy to deprive of Constitutional rights, failure to intervene, two counts of malicious prosecution, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, respondeat superior and indemnification.
The trial is expected to last no more than two weeks, Simon said Tuesday.
Defense attorney Michael Tolbert and Simon said Tuesday that Outlaw is in bankruptcy, which could stall litigation. Simon encouraged defense attorneys to make a filing of the bankruptcy to get the trial started.
“I want to get this case tried and off the docket,” Simon said.
Donald’s complaint claims that as a result of the wrongful conviction, he suffered a loss of liberty, loss of wages, attorney’s fees expended in defense of his wrongful prosecution and efforts to prove his innocence, physical injuries and emotional trauma.
In 1992, Donald was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of Bernard Jimenez. He was exonerated in January 2016, after spending nearly 24 years in prison for the crimes he didn’t commit.
Former Lake Superior Court Judge Richard W. Maroc asked why the state didn’t seek the death penalty, according to Post-Tribune archives.
A series of robberies on Feb. 27, 1992, in Gary’s Glen Park neighborhood led to Jimenez’s death. Gary Police said Donald allegedly forced his way into the home of Rhonda Williams in the 4400 block of Connecticut Street, robbed her and threatened to kill her when she gave him only $50.
Police said Donald allegedly walked into Jimenez’s house and threatened him 30 minutes later, according to Post-Tribune archives. Jimenez, his fiancee and her three children were home, and the offender threatened to kill the children if he didn’t receive more money.
Jimenez was shot in the heart and back of the head.
The night of the robberies and murder, Donald shopped for a new car for his family, according to Post-Tribune archives. Two victims identified Donald as the offender, and he was convicted by a jury, despite no physical evidence.
Donald filed for an appeal in February 1997, according to online court records. A court heard his pleas in 2015, and his convictions were overturned.
ANKARA, Turkey — A fire raged through a 12-story hotel at a popular ski resort in northwestern Turkey early Tuesday during a school holiday, killing at least 76 people — at least two of them when they jumped from the building to escape the flames, officials said.
At least 51 people also were injured in the fire at the Grand Kartal hotel in Kartalkaya, in Bolu province’s Koroglu mountains, some 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Istanbul, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The fire occurred near the start of a two-week winter break for schools, when hotels in the region are packed.
“Our hearts are broken. We are in mourning, “ Yerlikaya told reporters outside the hotel. ”But you should know that whoever is responsible for causing this pain will not escape justice.”
Atakan Yelkovan, a hotel guest staying on the third floor, told the IHA news agency there was chaos on the upper floors as other guests tried to escape, including by trying to climb down from their rooms using sheets and blankets.
“People on the upper floors were screaming. They hung down sheets … Some tried to jump,” Yelkovan said.
Yerlikaya said 45 of the 76 people killed have been identified while efforts to identify the other victims were continuing.
“Forty-five bodies were delivered to their families. We could not (immediately) identify the others,” Yerlikaya said, adding that the emergency response teams would conduct a final search for victims on Wednesday.
Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said at least one of the injured was in serious condition, while 17 other people were treated and released.
The hotel had 238 registered guests, Yerlikaya said. The fire was reported at 3:27 a.m. and the fire department began to respond at 4:15 a.m., he told reporters.
The government appointed six prosecutors to lead an investigation into the blaze, which is believed to have started in the hotel’s restaurant section. Nine people have been detained as part of the investigation into the fire, Yerlikaya said. Earlier, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the hotel’s owner was among the people detained for questioning in the probe.
At least two of the victims died when they jumped from the building in panic, Gov. Abdulaziz Aydin told the state-run Anadolu Agency earlier. Those killed included Nedim Turkmen, a columnist for Sozcu newspaper, his wife and two children, the newspaper announced.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a day of national mourning to be observed on Wednesday. All flags at government buildings and Turkish diplomatic mission abroad would be lowered to half-staff, he said.
Necmi Kepcetutan, a ski instructor at the hotel, said he was asleep when the fire erupted and he rushed out of the building. He told NTV television that he then helped some 20 guests out of the hotel.
The hotel was engulfed in smoke, making it difficult for guests to locate the fire escape, he said.
“I cannot reach some of my students. I hope they are OK,” the ski instructor told the station.
Television images showed the roof and top floors of the hotel on fire.
Witnesses and reports suggested that the hotel’s fire detection system failed to operate.
“My wife smelled the burning. The alarm did not go off,” said Yelkovan, the guest interviewed by IHA. “We tried to go upstairs but couldn’t, there were flames. We went downstairs and came here (outside),” he said.
Yelkovan said it took about an hour for the firefighting teams to arrive.
NTV television suggested that the wooden cladding on the exterior of the hotel, in a chalet-style design, may have accelerated the spread of the fire.
Part of the 161-room hotel is on the side of a cliff, hampering efforts to combat the flames.
“Because the rear side is on a slope, intervention could only be made from the front and sides,” Yerlikaya confirmed.
Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy told reporters that the hotel underwent inspections in 2021 and 2024 and that “no negative situation regarding fire competence” was reported by the fire department.
Earlier, in an address in Ankara, Erdogan said: “Unfortunately, we received very sad news this morning from Bolu, Kartalkaya. Our brothers and sisters were killed and injured in a fire that broke out in a hotel.”
“All necessary steps will be taken to shed light on all aspects of the incident and to hold those responsible accountable,” he added.
NTV showed a smoke-blackened lobby, its glass entrance and windows smashed, its wooden reception desk charred and a chandelier crashed to the ground.
Aydin’s office said 30 fire trucks and 28 ambulances were sent to the site.
Other hotels at the resort were evacuated as a precaution and guests were placed in hotels around Bolu.
Meanwhile, a gas explosion at a hotel at another ski resort in central Turkey injured four people.
The explosion took place at the Yildiz Mountain Winter Sports Center in Sivas province. Two skiers and their instructor were slightly injured while another instructor received second-degree burns to the hands and face, the Sivas governor’s office said.
WASHINGTON — At the inaugural prayer service, the Right Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop of Washington, made a direct appeal to President Donald Trump to have mercy on the LGBTQ+ community and undocumented migrant workers.
Referencing Trump’s belief that he was saved by God from assassination, Budde said, “You have felt the providential hand of a loving God. In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”
The Trump administration has already issued executive orders rolling back transgender rights and toughening immigration policies.
When he returned to the White House, Trump was asked about the sermon.
“Not too exciting, was it?” the president said as he walked with staff toward the Oval Office. “I didn’t think it was a good service. They could do much better.”
The Washington National Cathedral service was largely focused on national unity. Trump and Vice President JD Vance were in attendance with their families, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
In her sermon, Budde said they gathered “to pray for unity as a people and a nation — not for agreement, political or otherwise — but for the kind of unity that fosters community across diversity and division.”
She added, “Unity is not partisan.”
Evangelicals were at the service but not on the program
More than a dozen religious leaders spoke during the interfaith service, including those from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
Notably absent from the invited clergy with speaking roles were conservative evangelicals, who are among President Trump’s strongest supporters.
Nonetheless, some of those evangelical supporters were in the pews.
In attendance were Robert Jeffress, a longtime Trump supporter and pastor of Dallas’ First Baptist Church; Paula White-Cain, a televangelist and key spiritual adviser during Trump’s first term; and Lorenzo Sewell, the pastor of Detroit’s 180 Church who gave a spirited benediction at Monday’s inauguration.
A new kind of inaugural prayer service
The Washington National Cathedral has hosted 10 official inaugural prayer services for presidents of both parties. The tradition dates back to 1933.
The latest service had a different emphasis than previous ones. Its focus was on the nation instead of the new administration — a plan made before Election Day.
“We are in a unique moment in our country’s history, and it is time to approach this differently,” said the Very Rev. Randy Hollerith, dean of the Episcopal cathedral, in an October statement.
“This will be a service for all Americans, for the well-being of our nation, for our democracy.”
The texts and songs revolved around themes of compassion and togetherness, including a reading from Deuteronomy 10:17-21, which speaks of taking care of orphans and widows and all who are in need.
Sermons at inaugural services have often been given by ministers aligned with the incoming administration. In 2021, the Rev. William Barber, a progressive civil rights leader, preached before President Joe Biden at the cathedral.
Budde, who gave this year’s sermon, has joined other cathedral leaders in criticizing Trump previously, rebuking his “racialized rhetoric” and blaming him for inciting violence on Jan. 6, 2021.
Budde was “ outraged ” in 2020 after Trump staged an appearance in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, which is near the White House. He held up a Bible after the area had been cleared of peaceful protesters.
Budde’s sermon directed at Trump on Tuesday provoked a lively reaction on social media. Austen Ivereigh, a biographer of Pope Francis, wrote
on X that the bishop “named the truth” when she spoke to Trump and Vance. “Their expressions of fury and discomfort suggest she nailed it.”
Jeffress
, in contrast, posted on X that Budde “insulted rather than encouraged our great president” and that “there was palpable disgust in the audience with her words.”
Music made for Trump
The one part of Tuesday’s service that seemed tailor-made for Trump was the inclusion of opera singer Christopher Macchio, who also sang the national anthem at the inauguration.
The tenor sang “Ave Maria,” a favorite song of Trump and one that Macchio sang at a Trump rally and the Republican National Convention.
Before the service began, Macchio performed hymns like “How Great Thou Art” and another Trump favorite, “Hallelujah,” written by Leonard Cohen.
As the prayer service neared its end, Trump joined others in singing “America the Beautiful.”
Trump also thanked many of the clergy who participated as they processed past him — except for Budde, whom he did not acknowledge.
Associated Press reporter Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.
