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The Cubs lose their season opener in Japan

The Cubs lose their season opener in Japan

Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a little extra zip on his fastball. Shohei Ohtani even admitted to some nerves. There was little doubt this was no ordinary baseball game. But the Japanese players who were playing in front of their home country at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday night handled any jitters they had quite well, delivering…

Is your NCAA March Madness bracket ready to go?

Is your NCAA March Madness bracket ready to go?

As March Madness takes over this week, how many people are filling out NCAA brackets — and why? A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows what share of Americans typically take a shot at bracket predictions and their motivation for joining in the madness. The University of Illinois men’s…

Illinois among several Democratic states suing the Trump administration over layoffs at the Department of Education

Illinois among several Democratic states suing the Trump administration over layoffs at the Department of Education

A coalition of Democratic-led states is challenging the Trump administration’s sweeping layoffs across the Education Department, saying it amounts to an illegal dismantling of an agency created by Congress. In a federal lawsuit filed Thursday in Massachusetts, 20 states and Washington, D.C., say the layoffs are so severe that the department “can no longer function,…

What do Passover and Easter have to do with the price of eggs?

What do Passover and Easter have to do with the price of eggs?

— Egg prices again reached a record high in February, as the bird flu continues to run rampant and Easter and Passover approach. The latest monthly Consumer Price Index showed a dozen Grade A eggs cost an average of $5.90 in U.S. cities in February, up 10.4% from a year ago. That eclipsed January’s record-high…

Deerfield based Walgreens sold to private equity firm

Deerfield based Walgreens sold to private equity firm

Walgreens Boots Alliance says it has agreed to be acquired by the private equity firm Sycamore Partners as the struggling retailer looks to turn itself around after years of losing money. Walgreens said Thursday that Sycamore will pay $11.45 per share, giving the deal an equity value just under $10 billion. Shareholders could eventually receive…

The sell off continues on Wall Street

The sell off continues on Wall Street

Wall Street’s sell-off kicked back into gear on Thursday, and a U.S. stock market rattled by the whiplash created by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and uncertainty about the economy fell sharply. The S&P 500 tumbled 1.8% to resume its slide after a mini-recovery from the prior day clawed back some of its sharp drop over…

Mayor Johnson testifies on Capitol Hill

Mayor Johnson testifies on Capitol Hill

Democratic mayors of four major cities said Wednesday that Congress and the Trump administration are exaggerating crime committed by immigrants and attacking so-called sanctuary cities simply to score political points, as Republicans hammered the policies for shielding criminals and discouraging cooperation with federal officials. The comments came in a hearing before the House Committee on…

Jury selection underway in the trial of the alleged Highland Park shooter

Jury selection underway in the trial of the alleged Highland Park shooter

The man accused of opening fire on a suburban Chicago Independence Day parade, killing seven people, is about to stand trial, nearly three years after the attack. Jury selection started Monday after several delays. Part of the reason is the erratic behavior of the defendant, Robert Crimo III, which has raised questions about what to…

New York suing the largest distributors of e-cigarettes which includes an Illinois company

New York suing the largest distributors of e-cigarettes which includes an Illinois company

New York on Thursday sued some of the country’s biggest distributors of electronic cigarettes, accusing the companies of violating state laws that prohibit the sale of vaping flavors and designs that appeal to children. Attorney General Letitia James announced the lawsuit targeting middlemen that distribute fruit- and candy-flavored e-cigarettes like Puff Bar and Elf Bar…

Governor Pritzker expected to propose a ban on cell phones in classrooms during his State Budget address

Governor Pritzker expected to propose a ban on cell phones in classrooms during his State Budget address

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is aiming to improve student achievement, social interaction and the mental health of public school students by proposing a statewide ban on cellphones in classrooms, an idea that is rapidly gaining traction nationally regardless of political persuasion. The Democrat’s top education aide, Martin Torres, said Pritzker is expected to endorse “screen-free…