Midwest
Chicago Mayor touts his achievements leading 'greatest freaking city in the world’
Mayor Brandon Johnson penned an op-ed for the Chicago Sun Times on Wednesday touting his administration’s accomplishments.
“Chicago needed treatment, not trauma,” Johnson wrote, commemorating a full year since his inauguration in 2023. “That treatment would come by investing in people and in systems of care.”
Johnson, who has spoken about race before, proclaimed that under his leadership, “We reopened the Department of the Environment and have a Cabinet that is 43% Black and 60% women — demographics that are radically different from previous administrations.”
While he said that Chicago stands strong, he claimed “That strength, however, has been tested, as one year ago, we inherited a migrant crisis entering a reckless and wicked phase.”
Brandon Johnson, mayor of Chicago, during an inauguration ceremony at the Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago on May 15, 2023. (Jamie Kelter Davis/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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“We have cleared women and children from sleeping on airport and police district floors, returned Chicago Park District facilities to communities and cut our shelter population by 50%,” he said, touting his responses to the crisis. “Prior to taking office, we were told the city of Chicago cannot accept any more new arrivals. We responded by taking in more than 30,000.”
He described how drastically the migrant crisis has changed over the past 2 years.
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“Just prior to my administration, between Jan. 1, 2023, and May 12, 2023, there were 11 buses of new arrivals sent to the Chicagoland area,” he wrote. “Since May 12, 2023 — the Friday before my inauguration — there have been 800 buses sent to the Chicago area. Ninety-nine percent of the buses sent to our area since Jan.1, 2023, came after I took office. This is by design. You become a target when you commit to investing in people.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson gives an update on migrant issues at City Hall on Jan. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
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Johnson said he manages to respond to this crisis “while still making critical investments in affordable housing, mental health and public safety. We are investing more than $100 million into crime prevention and intervention, launching a comprehensive plan to address the root causes of violence in four of the most disinvested communities in our city.” He added, “We are reopening mental health clinics and increasing resources for victims and survivors of crime.”
“I look forward to another year of working with everyone to create safety, unity and prosperity in the greatest freaking city in the world,” he said as he concluded his piece. “Let us go forward, Chicago. Together.”
Over the past year, Republican governors like Texas’ Greg Abbott have sent buses of incoming asylum seekers to Democrat-controlled states and sanctuary cities in an effort to demonstrate the severity of the crisis border states are facing.
“He is attacking democratically-run cities, and particularly cities that are being led by Black leaders or leaders-of-color,” Johnson argued in a January interview. “This is unconscionable. I mean, it’s a very raggedy approach. And quite frankly, not only is it reckless and raggedy, but it is evil-spirited.”
While some Democratic leaders have responded to the unprecedented migrant crisis by calling on Biden to secure the border, Mayor Brandon Johnson sparked rage among Black Chicagoans for requesting an additional $70 million in taxpayers’ funds to be spent on tackling the city’s migrant crisis.
“We need that money in my neighborhood, we need that money on my block,” one Black woman wearing a red “Make America Great Again” cowboy hat declared at a City Council meeting amid an effort to recall the mayor. “So I’m asking ya’ll to use our tax money for our people, we need it.”
Chicago has made headline for street takeovers, where a mob of young people engaged in criminal activity ranging from vandalism to assault. While the mayor condemned such activity, he has also been criticized for defending the young people from criticism.
“In no way do I condone the destructive activity we saw in the Loop and lakefront this weekend. It is unacceptable and has no place in our city,” Johnson stated in a speech. “However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.”
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Midwest
Terrifying moment caught on camera as road collapse suddenly swallows vehicles at busy intersection
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Dramatic video showed the moment a road collapsed below two unsuspecting motorists near the University of Nebraska-Omaha Tuesday, sending their vehicles feet below ground.
Footage taken by university security cameras appeared to show the two vehicles rolling up to an intersection, side-by-side, before a car pulled up behind them, seemingly triggering the collapse.
Emergency crews responded to the incident at 67th and Pacific streets at about 3:30 p.m., local outlet WOWT reported.
The collapse appeared to be triggered by a pickup truck behind the two cars. (UNO Public Safety/TMX)
The vehicles’ occupants had escaped the hole by the time authorities arrived.
“This caught everybody by surprise,” University of Nebraska-Omaha Public Safety Lt. Dan Martin told the outlet.
Dust could be seen as the vehicles fell into the pavement. (UNO Public Safety/TMX)
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No injuries were reported, though WOWT reported a water main broke during the collapse.
It is unclear what led to the collapse.
The outlet reported a heavy-duty tow truck with a crane retrieved the cars a few hours later, and crews worked to pull concrete from the crater.
It is unclear what led to the road collapse. (UNO Public Safety/TMX)
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Martin warned the sinkhole could expand, though it appears no additional sinkholes had been spotted as of Wednesday night.
Officials told WOWT the street will remain closed for “several days,” and motorists should avoid the area.
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Detroit, MI
Michigan State Police sends message to drivers after trooper involved in hit and run:
“Slow down and move over” is the message that Michigan State Police is sending to drivers after one of its troopers in a parked patrol car was struck while investigating a crash this weekend. The driver of that vehicle fled the scene.
Michigan State Police tells CBS News Detroit that we’re two months into the year, and it has had six incidents across the state where patrol cars were struck by oncoming vehicles. One of those incidents occurred on Sunday evening.
“Could have been much more tragic,” said MSP Lieutenant Rene Gonzalez, First District public information officer.
Gonzalez says on Sunday, an MSP trooper was near M-10 and Schaefer Highway in Detroit, simply doing his job, when his patrol car was hit from behind.
“Trooper was out there, and he was investigating a crash when, at the time, a Jeep SUV drove into the rear of the parked vehicle,” Gonzalez said.
The impact slid the trooper’s car into a concrete wall. The 29-year-old Detroit woman driving the Jeep SUV struck the center median, got out of the vehicle, and ran away.
“Not sure why they did it. Maybe not paying attention if they were distracted. They’re attempting to locate her at this time,” said Lt. Gonzalez.
The trooper walked away with minor injuries. Gonzalez says this incident is an example of why Michigan’s Move Over Law was put in place many years ago. The law, which went into effect in 2019, requires drivers to move over into the next lane and reduce their speed by at least 10 mph when emergency or service vehicles — police, fire, rescue, ambulance and road service — have their lights activated.
Drivers who are not able to move over are still required to reduce their speed.
“Trying to do our jobs, however, people are not paying attention. The law is easy. It’s simple. You see us, you see our lights activated, you have to slow down ten miles below the posted speed limit, and then if able, move over to the next occupied available lane,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez says crashes like this can be deadly and often avoided.
“One life lost over something that was a totally preventable crash, it’s way too much. We’re asking that you slow down and move over when you see our lights. It’s a simple message that we’ve been pushing out for years,” he said.
Sunday’s crash remains under investigation. Michigan State Police detectives are still working to track down the 29-year-old suspect.
In the meantime, police are out enforcing the Move Over Law.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Celtics?
Porter has helped the Bucks stay afloat; what’s his Milwaukee future?
Kevin Porter Jr. has helped the Milwaukee Bucks stay afloat without an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo; what’s Porter Jr.’s future in Milwaukee?
The Milwaukee Bucks host the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum just over 24 hours after one of their most disappointing losses of the season, when they scored just eight fourth-quarter points and gave up a 39-point swing in the second half in a blowout loss at Chicago on March 1.
Boston comes into town as one of the league’s hottest teams having won eight of its last 10 and after beating Philadelphia on March 1. The Celtics (40-20) are currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and are looking to stay in front of New York.
The Bucks (26-33), meanwhile, had been winning games but have dropped two in a row and three of their last five. In those three losses, all to teams currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the team failed to score 100 points.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo began the day as questionable to play, and was upgraded to available after his pregame workout. It was the first time he had been listed as anything other than “out” since reinjuring his calf on Jan. 23. The game will mark the return of the former two-time MVP, who has missed the last 15 games with a strain of his soleus muscle in his right calf.
What is the Bucks record without Giannis?
11-17.
Milwaukee is 15-15 when Antetokounmpo plays any number of minutes. They are 1-2 when he has exited games early due to injury.
Is Jayson Tatum playing?
No.
Boston’s all-NBA wing is continuing to work his way back from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the playoffs in May. Tatum has been doing five-on-five work lately.
Boston Celtics injury report
- Jayson Tatum, out (Achilles)
- Jaylen Brown, out (illness)
- Neemias Queta, out (rest)
Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, questionable (right calf strain)
Bucks probable starters
- Guard: AJ Green, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr.
- Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Center: Myles Turner
What time is the Bucks game?
The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Wesley Matthews and Melanie Ricks on the call. The game was originally supposed to be a national broadcast on Peacock but was moved to NBA TV.
NBA playoff standings
The Bucks are currently out of the postseason picture entirely. Here are the play-in standings in the Eastern Conference heading into game play on March 2:
No. 7: Orlando (31-28): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. The Bucks host the Magic on March 8.
No. 8: Miami (32-29): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. Milwaukee travels to Miami on March 12.
No. 9: Atlanta (31-31): The Bucks lead the season series 1-0. The Bucks host the Hawks on March 4 and then travel to Atlanta on March 14.
No. 10: Charlotte (30-31): The Bucks own the tiebreaker over the Hornets having won the season series 3-1.
No. 11: Milwaukee (26-33): The Bucks have had better luck against the play-in teams to date, as they are just 5-13 against the top six seeds in the conference.
“We say we didn’t play ourselves out of it,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “Obviously I’m competitive. I think we should’ve had an even better record. But, not having your best player for that long and staying above .500 is huge for us. It’s funny, when he went out (Jan. 23) the talk around me was ‘being .500’ and I was like we can be better than that. We were. I’ll take it. But, never satisfied.”
The four teams in the play-in will face one another to determine the final two playoff teams (which will face the top two seeds). Teams that hold the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds only have to win one game to advance, teams that hold the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds must win twice to advance
Bucks vs. Celtics odds
Boston is a 7.5-point favorite over Milwaukee with the over/under set at 216.5 points, per BetMGM.
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