Good afternoon, Chicago.
Farmers who use sewage sludge as fertilizer and their neighbors face higher risks of cancer and other diseases, according to a new federal analysis that pins the blame on toxic forever chemicals.
The findings are particularly relevant for northeast Illinois, where more than 777,000 tons of sludge from Chicago and Cook County have been spread on farmland during the past eight years — in many cases near residential areas. Only the Greater Los Angeles area distributed more sludge to farmers during the same period.
Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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‘So you elected to put a knife into his back?’: Madigan grilled over comments about Cullerton
Former House Speaker Michael Madigan was grilled at his corruption trial on Tuesday about a comment caught on federal wiretaps, when Madigan said he “put a knife” into then-Senate President John Cullerton during a meeting with Gov.-elect JB Pritzker.
In the November 2018 conversation, Madigan’s longtime confidant and co-defendant Michael McClain, asked the speaker how his meeting with Pritzker had gone. “I think it went pretty well… I put the knife into Cullerton three or four times,” Madigan replied. Read more here.
More top news stories:
- Federal charges filed against men in connection with Harvey postal robbery
- Stevenson High School District 125 school board appoints new superintendent
Capital One accused of cheating customers out of $2 billion
Banks are generally permitted to pay as little in interest as their customers will permit, but Capital One went too far, according to the lawsuit filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, by deliberately confusing its customers about its products. This comes as the bank is trying to complete a deal to acquire the credit-card issuer Discover. Read more here.
More top business stories:
- Adam Jahns, who oversaw expansion of Cragin Federal Bank, dies at 96
- Purdue study looks at Northwest Indiana sites for nuclear power
What has happened this MLB offseason? A look at the major moves made in the AL and NL Central.
The Chicago White Sox have a new manager, a slightly tweaked new name for their ballpark and changes to their rotation with Garrett Crochet traded to Boston.
The Chicago Cubs will have a different look in their outfield after acquiring Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros and sending Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees.
That’s just some of the maneuvering this offseason. Read more here.
More top sports stories:
- Tom Clements stepping down as Green Bay Packers QBs coach after working with Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love
- Chicago Bears coaching search tracker: Mike McCarthy is leaving Dallas Cowboys and can interview with any team
Column: The SoCal fires are yet another devastating hit to Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes workers
Often as viewers, we watch TV and film and don’t think too deeply about the thousands of people who are employed behind the scenes who help bring these projects to life. But they are as vital to the process as the household names who get most of the publicity. How does Hollywood, now dominated by media companies with a single-minded focus on Wall Street, recover after so much destruction? Read more here.
More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:
- Review: In ‘Hitt Records’ at Black Ensemble Theater, connections in a Chicago record shop
- Chicago chefs and restaurateurs on 2025 dining trends: Deep dives into ethnic cooking, small vintage cakes and QR codes
Michelle Obama will skip Donald Trump inauguration, but ex-Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush will be there
Former first lady Michelle Obama will skip the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, the second time in two weeks that she is not attending a gathering of former U.S. leaders and their spouses, but former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will be there. Read more here.
More top stories from around the world:
