"Chicago Tribune" Reader

"Chicago Tribune" Reader

Brazil protesters, police clash near soccer match

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:11 PM PDT

Demonstrators march toward the Mineirao stadium where a Confederations Cup semifinal soccer match will be played between Brazil and Uruguay in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The wave of protests that hit Brazil on June 17 began as opposition to transportation fare hikes, then expanded to a list of causes including anger at high taxes, poor services and high World Cup spending, before coalescing around the issue of rampant government corruption. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Brazilian protesters and police clashed Wednesday near a stadium hosting a Confederations Cup soccer match, as thousands of demonstrators trying to march on the site were met by tear gas and rubber bullets.

Torrential rains spur flood warnings in Midwest

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 04:53 PM PDT

Downpours cause flooding and damage in Chicago areaBy Mary Wisniewski CHICAGO (Reuters) - Torrential rains slammed Illinois and other Midwest states on Wednesday, triggering flash flood warnings and causing flight cancellations, commuter train delays and road closings. Up to 5 inches of rain fell in some places and the National Weather Service warned residents in the region to brace for more downpours and possibly severe thunderstorms Wednesday night. The weather service issued multiple flash flood and flood warnings for counties in northern Illinois, northwestern Indiana and southeastern Wisconsin. ...

Kevin Rudd sworn in as Australian prime minister

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 05:04 PM PDT

Kevin Rudd speaks to the media following a leadership ballot for the Labor Party at parliament in Canberra, Australia, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was ousted as Labor Party leader by her predecessor, Rudd, in a vote of party lawmakers hoping to avoid a huge defeat in upcoming elections. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as Australian prime minister, three years and three days after he was ousted from the same job in an internal government showdown.

Federer, Sharapova lose on wild day at Wimbledon

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 04:25 PM PDT

Roger Federer of Switzerland waves to the crowd as he walks off the court after his defeat to Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine in their Men's second round singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)LONDON (AP) — As tumultuous a day as professional tennis has produced in its nearly half-century history ended in the most unforeseeable, unexplainable way of all: A second-round loss by Roger Federer at the All England Club.

Tunney issues Wrigley demands

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 05:06 PM PDT

On the eve of the first City Hall hearing on the plan to rehab Wrigley Field, Ald. Tom Tunney spelled out his list of demands. One demand: cut nearly in half the size of a left-field video scoreboard.

Texas carries out its 500th execution since 1982

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 05:05 PM PDT

Pat Hartwell places signs as she joins demonstrators in protesting the execution of Kimberly McCarthy on Wednesday, June 26, 2013 outside the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Huntsville Unit, where the death chamber is located, in Huntsville, Texas. If McCarthy is put to death as planned, she would become the 500th person executed in Texas since the state resumed carrying out the death penalty in 1982. The 52-year-old also would be the first woman executed in the U.S. since 2010. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Texas marked a solemn moment in criminal justice Wednesday evening, executing its 500th inmate since it resumed carrying out capital punishment in 1982.

Recollections from hundreds of executions in Texas

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 04:47 PM PDT

In this photo taken June 12, 2013, Associated Press reporter Michael Graczyk leaves the Huntsville Unit after witnessing the execution of confessed killer Elroy Chester in Huntsville, Texas. Chester was convicted of the 1988 the fatal shooting of Port Arthur firefighter Willie Ryman III. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — About once every three weeks, I watch someone die.

Egypt president defends 1st year in speech

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 04:44 PM PDT

Egyptian protesters chant against the Muslim Brotherhood and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi during a protest in front of the Ministry of Defense, in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. In abstract terms, protests planned for Sunday, June 30, 2013 aiming to force out Egypt's Islamist president violate a basic principle of democracy: If an election has been held, all must respect the results, otherwise it's political chaos. Supporters of President Mohammed Morsi have been angrily making that argument for days. Those behind the protests insist he lost the legitimacy of that election victory by power grabs and missteps. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's Islamist president told his opponents to use elections not protests to try to change the government and said the military should focus on its role as the nation's defenders in a nationally televised address on Wednesday, days before the opposition plans massive street rallies aimed at removing him from office.

After abortion setback, Texas GOP set to try again

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 04:16 PM PDT

Members of the gallery cheer and chant as the Texas Senate tries to bring an abortion bill to a vote as time expires, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Amid the deafening roar of abortion rights supporters, Texas Republicans huddled around the Senate podium to pass new abortion restrictions, but whether the vote was cast before or after midnight is in dispute. If signed into law, the measures would close almost every abortion clinic in Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — After a one-woman filibuster and a raucous crowd helped derail a GOP-led effort to restrict Texas abortions, Gov. Rick Perry announced Wednesday that he's calling lawmakers back next week to try again.

For nationwide gay marriage, more battles ahead

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:12 PM PDT

A gay rights activist runs out of the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, as rulings were handed down that impact same-sex relationships. In two separate and significant victories for gay rights, the Supreme Court struck down a provision of a federal law denying federal benefits to married gay couples and cleared the way for the resumption of same-sex marriage in California. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)NEW YORK (AP) — Even as they celebrate a momentous legal victory, supporters of gay marriage already are anticipating a return trip to the Supreme Court in a few years, sensing that no other option but a broader court ruling will legalize same-sex unions in all 50 states.

Broad immigration bill cruising to Senate passage

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:50 PM PDT

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., updates reporters on the pace of the immigration reform bill following a Democratic strategy session, Tuesday, June 25, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON (AP) — Far-reaching immigration legislation cruised toward passage in the Senate as House Republicans pushed ahead Wednesday on a different approach that cracks down on millions living in the United States illegally rather than offering them a chance at citizenship.

SAfrica president cancels trip amid Mandela worry

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 02:39 PM PDT

Winnie Mandela, ex-wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, and her daughter Zindzi leave the Pretoria hospital where Nelson Mandela is being treatedJOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa's president visited a gravely ill Nelson Mandela in the hospital on Wednesday night, and canceled a visit planned for the next day to Mozambique, an indication of heightened concern over the deteriorating health of the man widely considered the father of the country.

Was first curveball thrown 2 million years ago?

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:20 PM PDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012 file photo made with a multiple exposure, Boston Red Sox's Jon Lester pitches in the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Boston. A new study suggests the ability to throw hard and accurately first appeared in a human ancestor 2 million years ago. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)NEW YORK (AP) — It's a big year for throwing. The greatest closer in baseball history, Mariano Rivera of the Yankees, is retiring. Aroldis Chapman, the overpowering Cincinnati Reds reliever, continues to fire fastballs beyond 100 mph.

Blackhawks parade set for Friday

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 02:55 PM PDT

The Blackhawks will parade down Washington Street through downtown Chicago beginning at 10:30 a.m. Friday on their way from their United Center home to Grant Park for the Stanley Cup victory rally.

The woman who took on DOMA

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:16 PM PDT

Plaintiff Edith Windsor,of New York, waves to supporters in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, March 27, 2013, after the court heard arguments on her Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) case. The U.S. Supreme Court, in the second day of gay marriage cases, turned Wednesday to a constitutional challenge to the federal law that prevents legally married gay Americans from collecting federal benefits generally available to straight married couples. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Edith Windsor sued to get taxes back when her partner died.

Supreme Court gives gay marriage historic boost

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 02:17 PM PDT

Michael Knaapen, left, and his husband John Becker, right, embrace outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, after the court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California by holding that defenders of California's gay marriage ban did not have the right to appeal lower court rulings striking down the ban. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)WASHINGTON (AP) — In a historic day for gay rights, the Supreme Court gave the nation's legally married gay couples equal federal footing with all other married Americans on Wednesday and also cleared the way for same-sex marriages to resume in California.

Texas gov. calls 2nd special session on abortion

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:09 PM PDT

Members of the gallery cheer and chant as the Texas Senate tries to bring an abortion bill to a vote as time expires, Wednesday, June 26, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Amid the deafening roar of abortion rights supporters, Texas Republicans huddled around the Senate podium to pass new abortion restrictions, but whether the vote was cast before or after midnight is in dispute. If signed into law, the measures would close almost every abortion clinic in Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday called a second special session of the Texas Legislature to pass widespread abortion restrictions across the nation's second-largest state, after the first attempt by Republicans died overnight following a marathon one-woman filibuster.

Slower US growth might lead Fed to delay tapering

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 02:03 PM PDT

FILE - In this March 1, 2013 file photo, a crane removes a container from a ship at the Port of Baltimore's Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore. The government issues its third and final estimate of economic growth in the January-March quarter, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy may not be strong enough for the Federal Reserve to slow its bond purchases later this year.

Emergency phone warnings triggered by storms

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 02:01 PM PDT

Many people in the Chicago area received alerts about potential flash floods this morning due to a year-old system administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

It's complicated: Lots to sort out on gay marriage

Posted: 26 Jun 2013 02:42 PM PDT

Renata Moreira, right, and partner Lori Bilella embrace at San Francisco's City Hall shortly before the U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The couple plans to marry. The justices issued two 5-4 rulings in their final session of the term. One decision wiped away part of a federal anti-gay marriage law that has kept legally married same-sex couples from receiving tax, health and pension benefits. The other was a technical legal ruling that said nothing at all about same-sex marriage, but left in place a trial court's declaration that California's Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)WASHINGTON (AP) — Two landmark Supreme Court rulings that bolster gay marriage rights don't remove all barriers to same-sex unions by a long shot. Where gay couples live still will have a lot to do with how they're treated.