Good morning, Chicago.
President Donald Trump began his promised flurry of executive action on Day 1.
With his first batch of memoranda and orders, Trump repealed dozens of former President Joe Biden’s actions and withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accords, among other actions. He also says he’s pardoned hundreds of people for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump, meanwhile, has additional executive orders awaiting his signature as he returns to the White House for the first time since his swearing-in earlier in the day. Those documents would end diversity, equity and inclusion funding, crack down on border crossings and ease regulations on oil and natural gas production.
Here’s a look at some of Trump’s initial actions and upcoming plans.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Hundreds brave frigid temperatures during march in Chicago on Inauguration Day
Championing a variety of causes including immigrant rights, support for Palestinians and protections for women’s reproductive and LGBTQIA rights, hundreds gathered in Federal Plaza in the Loop to rally, then set off to march to Trump Tower across the river.
Senate confirms Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving Trump the first member of his Cabinet
The Senate quickly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state Monday, voting unanimously to give President Donald Trump the first member of his new Cabinet on Inauguration Day.
Elon Musk ignites online speculation over the meaning of a hand gesture
Speaking at a celebratory rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington hours after Donald Trump was sworn in as president, Elon Musk thanked the crowd for choosing Trump during “a fork in the road of human civilization.”
The billionaire then grunted and placed his hand to his heart before extending his arm out above his head with his palm facing down. After he turned around, he repeated the motion to those behind him.
Photos: The inauguration of President Donald Trump
See photos from the official inaugural events surrounding Donald Trump’s second inauguration as president.
Illinois affected by a record number of billion-dollar climate disasters in 2024, mostly severe storms
California’s blazing wildfires and last year’s destructive hurricanes in the Southeast are frightening examples of the dramatic impacts of climate change. Illinoisans might feel relatively safe from these devastating events, but recently released data shows no region is truly immune to weather disasters.
Indiana would like to redraw border with Illinois
Indiana legislators would like to redraw the Indiana-Illinois border to absorb parts of Illinois.
Indiana House Bill 1008, authored by Speaker Todd Huston, would establish an Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission to research the possibility of adjusting the boundaries between the two states.
DCFS has made small steps in improving child placement but troubling issues persist
In a court hearing last spring, the new head of the Department of Children and Family Services promised improvements in placements for children in state care, who critics say are far too often kept in jails, psychiatric wards, offices or other inappropriate settings, by the end of 2024.
5 questions for the Chicago Bears as they prepare to hire Ben Johnson — including who might be on his staff
Ben Johnson was less than 48 hours removed from the Detroit Lions’ playoff loss to the Washington Commanders when the news broke.
The Lions offensive coordinator is finalizing a deal to become the 19th head coach in Bears history, sources told the Tribune on Monday, ending a whirlwind two-week stretch in which the Bears interviewed at least 17 coaches either in person or over video conference call.
Ohio State wins 1st national title since 2014, outlasting Notre Dame 34-23 in CFP championship game
Instead of crying over another collapse, Ohio State can celebrate another national title after holding off a Notre Dame comeback bid Monday night to walk away with a nailbiter of a 34-23 victory over the Fighting Irish.
On Muhammad Ali Day, Chicago Muslim Boxing Club shows more than just the way around the ring
At a quaint Northbrook gym on a Friday evening, children with hopes of one day becoming the next greatest worked their way around a boxing ring wearing gloves and practicing different moves with friends.
They were guided by the co-founders of the new Chicago Muslim Boxing Club, Zain Hussain and Saheed Lawal, for Muhammad Ali Day, an official holiday in Illinois since 2022.
Review: God is in the details for RE Dance’s ‘Glimpse Through the Walls’
RE Dance Group sometimes feels like the little company that could, writes Lauren Warnecke. They plod along, making one show a year in the times when co-founders Lucy Vurusic Riner and Michael Estanich can steal away from their full-time teaching jobs.
Column: The man who married a pony and other tales from the Jerry Springer show
Remember what TV Guide once called “the worst show in the history of television”? Can you hear that “Jer-rey! Jer-rey! Jer-rey!” that the audience enthusiastically shouted, over and over?
No? Of course you don’t, since Rick Kogan knows that few of you will admit to ever watching it — even though as many as eight million did so daily during its peak broadcast years. But Kogan says you should watch the new two-part episode of the Netflix documentary about it, titled “Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action.”
Restaurant review: Minyoli makes more than Taiwanese noodles in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood
Chef and owner Rich Wang opened his debut restaurant in Andersonville last May. Born in Taipei and raised in a juancun, or military dependents’ village, Wang immigrated to Chicago at age 16 with his family in 2000. He became an attorney, but resigned at age 29 to change his life’s work. Wang attended culinary school at Kendall College, and trained in Lanzhou, the city in China famous for its hand-pulled noodle schools. He worked at Boka and Fat Rice in Chicago, and spent three years in Macao at the Michelin two-starred Wing Lei Palace under chef Tam Kwok Fung.
It’s no wonder that Minyoli is more than a noodle shop, with Wang more than a first-time chef, writes Tribune food critic Louisa Kung Liu Chu.
