Politics Washington

Obama tapping Michael Froman for U.S. Trade Representative spot today

By Lynn Sweet

WASHINGTON–President Barack Obama will tap Michael Froman to be the new United States Trade Representative on Thursday morning, at a White House event where he will also announce his nomination of Chicago’s Penny Pritzker to be the next Commerce Secretary. From an the Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics.

My story on Penny Pritzker is HERE.

Coronavirus

Aiming to predict COVID, future pandemics better, CDC opens infectious diseases forecasting center

Politics

Unmasked transit: Pritzker ends mask mandates in public transportation, airports

Springfield

A state budget with ‘firm fiscal foundation’ that shows ‘tremendous progress?’ Or a ‘cynical’ election-year ploy to buy votes?

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Republicans Jesse Sullivan, Darren Bailey, and Gary Rabine prepare for a debate at WGN’s studios on Tuesday.

Politics

GOP gubernatorial debates: Bailey calls Chicago ‘a crime-ridden, corrupt, dysfunctional hellhole’

It was a bleak picture painted by the half of the GOP primary field — venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan, businessman Gary Rabine and state Sen. Darren Dailey — who squared off during a live debate hosted by WGN-TV.

By Mitchell Armentrout

Chicago Sky and WNBA

Sky close championship ring and banner ceremony with 95-90 win over Fever

Candace Parker led the way with 16 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and three steals.

By Annie Costabile

Republican candidates for governor, from left, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and attorney Max Solomon at the NBC 5 Telemundo Chicago Forum on Tuesday.

Elections

GOP gubernatorial debates: Irvin more elusive than lesser known rivals Schimpf and Solomon

During a rapid-fire “yes or no,” segment, Max Solomon and Paul Schimpf agreed that the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 were not an “insurrection.” But Richard Irvin touted his credentials as a lawyer and said, “I don’t think it’s a ‘yes or no’ question.”

By Tina Sfondeles

Cubs

Cubs’ Frank Schwindel achieves career first as Schwisdom keeps powering offense

The Cubs’ power-hitting duo of Patrick Wisdom and Frank Schwindel have combined for eight home runs in the past five games.

By Maddie Lee

White Sox

In the rush to take sides after the Tim Anderson-Josh Donaldson flap, much is lost

If only so many weren’t too lazy and incurious — and triggered by discussions of race — to click on an easy-to-find three-year-old story so that they might gain an actual understanding of the context.

By Steve Greenberg