Good afternoon, Chicago.
A former top aide to ex-Speaker Michael Madigan continued his testimony today as a government witness against his old boss — but for much of his cross-examination sounded a lot like a defense witness, bolstering their portrayal of Madigan’s operation as hardworking, constituent-focused and straightforward.
Thomas Cullen, who worked for the speaker’s office in the 1990s and maintained close ties with Madigan staffers after becoming a lobbyist, began his cross-examination from Madigan’s attorneys by confirming that Madigan’s office followed rigorous rules separating political work from government work. And he testified that he did political work out of a love of the game – not because of political pressure from the speaker.
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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Lake Michigan experiences warmest November in 30 years as climate change heats up the Great Lakes
Lake Michigan surface temperatures peaked at over 6 degrees above normal last month, the warmest they have been in November since 1995 when recordkeeping began at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In the first two weeks of December, daily lake temperatures hovered 2 to 4 degrees above the historical average. Read more here.
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Their subtly sweet yet complex flavor stands on its own, and chestnuts fit snugly into sweet and savory dishes. Read more here.
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Death toll in Gaza Strip from Israel-Hamas war tops 45,000, Palestinians say
The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 14-month war between Israel and Hamas militants has topped 45,000 people, Palestinian health officials said Monday, with 52 dead arriving at hospitals across the bombed-out strip over the past 24 hours. Read more here.
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