Waching daily Jan 30 2019

US NEWS | Ald. Daniel Solis stepping down as City Council and apos . s Zoning Committee chairman C

Ald. will step down from his post as the powerful chairman of the City Council Zoning Committee, according to Mayor , amid reports Solis wore a wire and recorded conversations with a City Council colleague while cooperating with a federal investigation.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Emanuel praised Solis for making the right decision in relinquishing his chairmanship. Alderman Danny Solis has recognized that he cannot effectively preside over the matters before the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards, and he has communicated with my office his intent to resign as Chairman, Emanuel said in a statement. I commend him for making the right decision for the City Council and the City of Chicago.

After his 22 years in office, voters in Pilsen and Chinatown could possibly face transformative changes in their neighborhoods with Ald. Danny Solis 25th deciding not to run. For the first time in decades, ward residents say the opportunity is wide open to ensure local changes at the very root.

Solis, who is not running for re election, has not been accused of wrongdoing and has not stepped down as alderman of the 25th Ward.

The Sun Times reported that Solis secretly recorded conversations with Ald. , as part of a federal investigation with which he was cooperating after federal authorities allegedly tapped one of Solis phones.

The paper also reported the FBI secretly recorded House Speaker Michael Madigan during a meeting with a developer that Solis had set up.

Federal authorities charged Burke earlier this month with attempted extortion for allegedly pressuring restaurant executives looking to renovate a Burger King in his ward to steer work toward his law firm in exchange for help with a permit. Given those allegations, several aldermen have said all recent decisions Solis made in the committee should be reviewed.

Under City Council rules, Zoning Committee Vice Chairman Ald. , 46th, will take over running the committee, which oversees proposed zoning changes property owners want to undertake. When a new mayor takes over in May, the committee chairmanships are likely to get reorganized and handed out to political allies of the new administration.

Speaker on Tuesday said that he is not under federal investigation to my knowledge, releasing the statement after a report that he was secretly recorded by the while trying to solicit business for his law firm from a developer.

The on Tuesday...

Cappleman, whos locked in his own tough re election fight, now will be tasked with trying to shepherd through the committee the zoning changes needed for the massive Lincoln Yards development along the North Branch of the Chicago River. Emanuel wants to get the approvals for the project in place before he leaves office, but critics want it slowed down, saying it includes too many housing units and not enough parkland.

Burke, free on a dollar 10,000 unsecured bond, has yet to enter a plea, but his attorney, Charles Sklarsky, has said the allegations were meritless.

Madigan faces no charges, and he released a statement saying, To my knowledge, I am not under investigation by the office of the U.S. attorney, and I have not been contacted by the U.S. attorney relative to Dan Solis.

Ald. Daniel Solis will step down from his post as the powerful chairman of the City Council Zoning Committee, according to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, amid reports Solis wore a wire and recorded conversations with a City Council colleague while cooperating with a federal investigation.

In a statement released...

For more infomation >> US NEWS | Ald. Daniel Solis stepping down as City Council and apos . s Zoning Committee chairman C - Duration: 2:34.

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Liverpool news: David Seaman sends Jurgen Klopp Man Utd warning over Premier League title - Duration: 2:20.

 That is the opinion of former Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman. Liverpool are currently four points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the top of the table

 City suffered a shock defeat away at Newcastle on Tuesday and Liverpool have their game in hand at home to Leicester this evening [Wednesday]

 A victory would extend the Reds' lead to seven points with 14 games remaining. Seaman admits Liverpool are overwhelming favourites to win their first ever Premier League title

 However, he has warned Jurgen Klopp's side larger gaps have been pulled back in the past

 Seaman's Arsenal side trailed Manchester United by 11 points back in the 1997/98 campaign

 But the Gunners fought back and finished one point clear of United at the top. "Yeah, it certainly looks like that [it's Liverpool's time]," Seaman said on talkSPORT

 "With City having four defeats now, you can sometimes just get by by having five defeats

 "They struggled last night but before that you wouldn't believe they'd get beat at Newcastle

 "Liverpool have got a great chance tonight. "But it's tricky, I remember us chasing Man United down when they were 11 points clear and winning it

 "So it's not over but the way that Liverpool are playing if they go seven points clear and then go to the weekend and build on that, it's looking like Liverpool's

" Virgil van Dijk is a doubt for the visit of Leicester due to illness.

For more infomation >> Liverpool news: David Seaman sends Jurgen Klopp Man Utd warning over Premier League title - Duration: 2:20.

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Local 4 News Morning A Block - Duration: 8:15.

For more infomation >> Local 4 News Morning A Block - Duration: 8:15.

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President Trump says the ISIS caliphate is almost destroyed - Duration: 6:06.

For more infomation >> President Trump says the ISIS caliphate is almost destroyed - Duration: 6:06.

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Silvia Wollny: ENDLICH! Neues Update von Harald! , Erfreuliche News nach der Krebserkrankung: - Duration: 10:19.

For more infomation >> Silvia Wollny: ENDLICH! Neues Update von Harald! , Erfreuliche News nach der Krebserkrankung: - Duration: 10:19.

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US NEWS | Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti skips presidential race to finish the job at home Los An - Duration: 5:37.

US NEWS | Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti skips presidential race to finish the job at home Los An

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Tuesday that he will not run for president, declining to take a long shot gamble that Democrats would pick a little known local official to challenge President Trump.

After nearly two years of flirting with the idea that he could leap from City Hall to the worlds most powerful job, the mild mannered mayor reached a decision in keeping with his reputation for avoiding political risk. He also passed up a chance to run for governor last year when the odds seemed stacked against him.

At a City Hall news conference, Garcetti said he decided over the last couple of weeks to stay put as mayor because he realized that this is what I am meant to do and this is where I want to be.

It may be out of vogue today, but I kind of believe that whenever possible, you should finish the job that you set out to do, he said.

Garcettis announcement came after settlement of a teachers strike that upended the daily life of hundreds of thousands of people for more than a week. The mayor of L.A. has no authority over public education, but Garcetti in facilitating contract settlement talks at City Hall.

Garcetti said the strike resolution was a kick in the pants that helped convince him stick around.

What we have right here in Los Angeles sets the pace for the nation, he said, drawing a contrast with the partisan combat that blocks action in Washington.

Garcettis decision also followed disclosure of a seeking email and other records that involve two of his appointees as part of an FBI investigation of possible bribery, extortion and money laundering at City Hall.

Authorities have not charged anyone with a crime, and no one has accused Garcetti of wrongdoing. But the mere existence of the investigation marked a serious setback for a mayor with little name recognition beyond Southern California.

Had he run for president, Garcetti and of California would have been competing to raise money from many of the same donors, especially in Hollywood.

Harris has emerged as a top contender for the party nomination, but Garcetti said her well received campaign rollout had no impact on his decision, which he finalized Tuesday morning.

Garcetti heaped praise on Harris and two of her Democratic rivals, former U.S. Housing Secretary Julian Castro and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind. He called Buttigieg a big sleeper who is going to surprise people.

He also expressed confidence that Democrats will choose a strong nominee to challenge President Trump.

When I looked at this, I didnt have a burning desire that I had to be president at all costs, Garcetti said. Thats not been a lifelong dream. This was a moment which I saw somebody who I felt was destroying this country.

I didnt have a burning desire that I had to be president at all costs.

On a personal note, Garcetti said he decided he did not want to spend long stretches of time away from the two things he loved most, his family and his hometown.

Theres some sadness about this moment, but not much, said Garcetti, whose wife, Amy Wakeland, and 7 year old daughter Maya did not attend the event.

Still, Garcetti, who has been a leader on climate change in the U.S. Conference of Mayors, plans to keep traveling the country to advance urban causes.

Those of you who know me well know that I love this job, he said. Its tough, tough work.

The mayors options for advancing to higher office are limited.

Under term limits, Garcetti, 47, must step down as mayor at the end of 2022. If newly elected Gov. Gavin Newsom, a fellow Democrat, runs for a second term, Garcetti could effectively be blocked from seeking that job until 2026.

Another path might open for Garcetti to capture one of Californias two seats in the U.S. Senate, but he faces obstacles.

If Harris falters in her campaign for president, she will be up for reelection to the Senate in 2022, and it could be tough to unseat her in a primary.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, another Democrat, was reelected in November, and her term wont expire until 2024. If Feinstein, 85, leaves office early, the governor would name a successor. Other Democrats, such as Secretary of State Alex Padilla, would probably vie for that appointment too.

Historically, L.A. mayors stumble when they seek higher office. Antonio Villaraigosa, Richard Riordan and Tom Bradley each ran for governor and lost.

Theres just something about being mayor of a megalopolis that dominates a state that is a turn off to voters elsewhere in the state, said Democratic consultant Garry South of Los Angeles, who described Garcetti as bright, engaging and talented.

It doesnt mean that history is determinative, South said. But I think a mayor of L.A., no matter how good they are, just starts out with one strike against them in running for higher office.

The last mayor of Los Angeles to run for president was Sam Yorty in 1972. He failed to win a single delegate in his quest for the Democratic nomination to run against President Nixon.

The trouble that mayors face in seeking bigger jobs is not unique to Los Angeles. No mayor has ever vaulted straight to the presidency without serving in higher office.

Theres just no evidence that you can run credibly for president as a sitting mayor, South said.

Garcetti, who served 12 years on the City Council, including six as council president, as mayor in 2017 with 81 percent of the vote in a race with token opposition. He campaigned on raising the minimum wage, cutting business taxes and backing ballot measures to expand public transit and house the homeless.

The on Garcettis watch would have posed a huge challenge in a presidential race. Tent encampments have sprouted across freeway overpasses and underpasses and along sidewalks, alleys, beaches and river banks.

Garcetti won passage of a ballot measure to build new housing for the homeless, but it will take years for it to have any visible impact. He has also launched a program to build shelters in neighborhoods across the city.

My work is right before me, Garcetti said on Tuesday. Who knows what the future is?

Times reporter Mark Z. Barabak contributed to this story.

For more infomation >> US NEWS | Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti skips presidential race to finish the job at home Los An - Duration: 5:37.

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Local 4 News Morning A Block - Duration: 10:05.

For more infomation >> Local 4 News Morning A Block - Duration: 10:05.

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US NEWS | How to Avoid Frostbite and Hypothermia in Extreme Cold Weather The New York Times - Duration: 1:00.

US NEWS | How to Avoid Frostbite and Hypothermia in Extreme Cold Weather The New York Times

Heres how to stay safe as a polar vortex puts the Midwest into this week: Do. Not. Go. Outside.

Experts warn that even a short time in the blistering cold can be extremely dangerous, with the risk of hypothermia and frostbite increasing every minute.

Of course, many of us have no choice: We have to go to work, take care of others, clear snow, get supplies. If youll be outside for any amount of time, you should dress warmly and cover any exposed skin.

Heres what can happen if you dont.

[Read more about .]

was expected to be the worst on Wednesday, when actual temperatures could be in the minus double digits, with wind chill as low as minus 50 or 60, forecasters say. Wind aside, the high temperature in Chicago was expected to be minus 15, the low minus 26, .

In such extreme cold, exposed skin can develop frostbite in as little as five minutes, said George T. Chiampas, an emergency medicine doctor and professor at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

The bodys first reaction to extreme cold is to restrict blood and oxygen flow from its extremities, in order to preserve major organs, Dr. Chiampas said. The first signs of frostbite including tingling or pain in the affected areas. If you think you have frostbite, you should immediately go inside and check yourself for any discoloration or other clear sign of frostbite. Fingers, toes and the face are most often affected.

People with frostbite sometimes dont realize what is happening, because their fingers or other parts of their bodies go numb as it sets in. And if they are also experiencing hypothermia, which can be deadly, their judgment could be seriously impaired. More on that below.

Signs of frostbite include skin that has blistered or become discolored, or that feels unusually firm or waxy. It can result in permanent damage and amputation, and can be more dangerous the longer it goes without treatment.

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Chiampas said his department had treated 15 patients with weather related complaints in the previous 36 hours, including one who had a finger amputated because of frostbite — a much higher number than is typical for this time of year. The hospital, which is operating a warming center, has prepared for a spike in such patients over the next two days.

These are absolutely dangerous environments, Dr. Chiampas said. If people listen to this really, really important message, hopefully we can avoid some really unfortunate and sad outcomes.

If you think you have frostbite, avoid using a heating pad or hot water, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns: If the affected area is numb, you could get burned. Until you can see a doctor, immerse the area in warm water, change into dry warm clothes, and use blankets and body heat, such as tucking fingers into armpits.

The C.D.C. warns against walking on frostbitten feet or toes or massaging affected areas, which can increase damage.

When the body is exposed to the cold for prolonged periods, it begins to lose heat faster than it can produce it, according to the C.D.C. Wet conditions are especially dangerous, even in relatively warmer temperatures. A low body temperature renders major organs incapable of functioning properly, and can be deadly. Seniors and others with poor circulation are particularly vulnerable.

In the early stages of hypothermia, people often become disoriented or drowsy. Their judgment may be compromised. Fumbling and slurred speech are telltale signs. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, according to , because a person may not know that its happening and wont be able to do anything about it.

The agency advises taking the persons temperature if you notice any of those symptoms. A temperature below 95 indicates an emergency, requiring immediate medical attention.

Until you can get medical assistance, get the person inside, remove wet clothing, and gently warm the body, . Warm beverages are good. Alcohol is not, as it causes the body to lose heat more rapidly.

In cases of severe hypothermia, the victim may be unconscious — and may seem not even to have a pulse, or to be breathing. But some hypothermia victims who appear dead can be resuscitated, the C.D.C. says. Call 911 and administer CPR if possible.

[ for a look at what you need to know to begin your day.]

Extreme cold can play a role in many other health issues — the most obvious, of course, being the danger of falls, car accidents and other ice related injuries. The unanimous advice: Exercise extreme caution.

But it that cause heart attacks and strokes, and blood pressure tends to rise with exposure to cold. Researchers have found that blood becomes more concentrated and thicker in the cold, as blood flow to the skin is reduced to conserve body heat.

Extreme cold can also . No, its not technically a part of the body, but what if you need it to call for help?

Most manufacturers recommend using cellphones in temperatures ranging from 32 to 95. Otherwise, the batterys ability to power the device is compromised, and it may shut down. Keeping the phone close to your body, say in a pants pocket, should keep it warm if youre outside. And it should work fine once its back in normal temperatures.

For more infomation >> US NEWS | How to Avoid Frostbite and Hypothermia in Extreme Cold Weather The New York Times - Duration: 1:00.

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News of the Weird - Duration: 2:21.

For more infomation >> News of the Weird - Duration: 2:21.

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US NEWS | Opinion The Medicare for All trap The New York Times - Duration: 3:21.

US NEWS | Opinion The Medicare for All trap The New York Times

Most issues will strongly favor the Democrats in 2020. Taking away peoples health insurance is an exception.

Opinion Columnist

This article is part of David Leonhardts newsletter. You can to receive it each weekday.

A couple of weeks ago, one of the countrys most respected health care pollsters — Kaiser Family Foundation — conducted a survey on Medicare for All. And looked great for advocates of the idea, like Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris.

Some 56 percent of respondents said they favored a national plan called Medicare for All in which all Americans would get their insurance through a single government plan. A large majority of Democrats backed the idea. Almost a quarter of Republicans did, too.

The polls details, however, were a lot of less positive about Medicare for All. In fact, they showed why single payer health care may turn out to be one of the few problematic issues for Democrats heading into 2020 — if the party isnt careful. Harris has this week, saying on Monday night that she supported the most aggressive version of Medicare for All before , via aides, late yesterday.

When Kaiser pollsters were putting together their survey, they understood that not all Americans thought of Medicare for All as meaning the same thing. So the poll asked people whether they believed that they would be allowed to keep their private insurance plan under such a system. Almost 60 percent of respondents said yes. In reality, , in an analysis of the poll, the whole point of Medicare for All would be to wipe away current insurance arrangements and replace them with a new public plan.

Not only that, but when the pollsters described a version of Medicare for All in which private insurance was wiped away, support plummeted. The idea flipped from being popular to unpopular: 37 percent of respondents favored it, and 58 percent opposed it.

This same hostility to change helped sink Bill and Hillary Clintons health care plan in the 1990s. It also became the mainline of Republican attack against Barack Obamas health care law — and one reason that law remained unpopular until President Trump started attacking it . Many Americans are happy with their current insurance, polls show. Even among those who arent, many worry about being forced into a new plan. Loss aversion is a hell of a drug, notes , a University of Michigan political scientist.

I understand the arguments in favor of mandatory Medicare for All. It could reduce bureaucratic waste and insurance company profit skimming. It could help the United States lower its world leading medical costs. And Im thrilled to see presidential candidates willing to offer .

But I think this particular plan is an unforced error. It comes with huge political vulnerabilities — and a less problematic, but still bold, alternative exists: that allows people to buy in voluntarily. That plan could also be called Medicare for All. And if it proved to be as popular as Democrats expect, advocating for the mandatory version would become much easier. Until then, as Nyhan says, the mandatory approach splits Ds and unites Rs. Thats the opposite of smart politics.

The next Democratic president will need to prioritize among several big issues. Id much prefer a winnable health care fight that also leaves room for action on climate, taxes, civil rights and other issues to an all consuming uphill battle.

Elsewhere …

Watch Harris explain her position during . CNNs Jake Tapper said to her: I believe it will totally eliminate private insurance. So for people out there who like their insurance, they dont get to keep it? Harriss answer: Well, listen, the idea is that everyone gets access to medical care. And you dont have to go through the process of going through an insurance company, having them give you approval, going through the paperwork, all of the delay that may require. ... Lets eliminate all of that. Lets move on. On Tuesday, her aides said she was .

of The Washington Examiner tweeted: Gallup poll finds that 70 percent of those with private insurance rate their coverage as excellent or good; 85 percent say the same about the actual health care that they receive.

Democrats ... will have to navigate a tricky gap between what voters think of when they hear Medicare for All, and what politicians mean when they say it, of BuzzFeed News wrote, in a reported piece from Nebraska last year. Pressed on the details of Medicare for All, many voters in Omaha expressed skepticism — or outright distaste — about the single payer plan that Sanders has championed.

In Jacobin, recently offered a more favorable view of mandatory Medicare, arguing that the transition wouldnt be as disruptive as some Americans fear. It will certainly face complications, but the Medicare bureaucracy will be able to sort these out as they come, he wrote.

of Vox have analyzed the various versions of Medicare for All, as well as other Democratic health care plans.

Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand and Julian Castro — three other presidential candidates — also support the Sanders version of Medicare for All that Harris backs. But they have generally not been as clear about ending private insurance as Harris was on Monday. When Gillibrand was asked about that part of the plan on a recent episode of , she sidestepped the question.

My view is that the best answer is a version of: Im for Medicare for All. If you want Medicare, you can have it, regardless of your age. If youd rather keep your private plan, you can do that, too. This approach will give us universal coverage, lower costs and consumer choice. Oh, and Im in favor of tax increases on the wealthy and corporations to help pay for it. Theyre right now.

The Axe Files

Newsletter readers know that Im a fan of David Axelrods podcast, The Axe Files, in which he asks guests to tell their life stories and eventually wends around to current events. I sat down with Axelrod in Chicago last week to tape an episode and had a great time talking about politics, economics and my wayward adolescent years. The conversation is available on , , and .

If you are not a subscriber to this newsletter, you can . You can also join me on and .

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on , and .

For more infomation >> US NEWS | Opinion The Medicare for All trap The New York Times - Duration: 3:21.

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US NEWS | Ald. Daniel Solis stepping down as City Council and apos . s Zoning Committee chairman C - Duration: 2:34.

US NEWS | Ald. Daniel Solis stepping down as City Council and apos . s Zoning Committee chairman C

Ald. will step down from his post as the powerful chairman of the City Council Zoning Committee, according to Mayor , amid reports Solis wore a wire and recorded conversations with a City Council colleague while cooperating with a federal investigation.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Emanuel praised Solis for making the right decision in relinquishing his chairmanship. Alderman Danny Solis has recognized that he cannot effectively preside over the matters before the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards, and he has communicated with my office his intent to resign as Chairman, Emanuel said in a statement. I commend him for making the right decision for the City Council and the City of Chicago.

After his 22 years in office, voters in Pilsen and Chinatown could possibly face transformative changes in their neighborhoods with Ald. Danny Solis 25th deciding not to run. For the first time in decades, ward residents say the opportunity is wide open to ensure local changes at the very root.

Solis, who is not running for re election, has not been accused of wrongdoing and has not stepped down as alderman of the 25th Ward.

The Sun Times reported that Solis secretly recorded conversations with Ald. , as part of a federal investigation with which he was cooperating after federal authorities allegedly tapped one of Solis phones.

The paper also reported the FBI secretly recorded House Speaker Michael Madigan during a meeting with a developer that Solis had set up.

Federal authorities charged Burke earlier this month with attempted extortion for allegedly pressuring restaurant executives looking to renovate a Burger King in his ward to steer work toward his law firm in exchange for help with a permit. Given those allegations, several aldermen have said all recent decisions Solis made in the committee should be reviewed.

Under City Council rules, Zoning Committee Vice Chairman Ald. , 46th, will take over running the committee, which oversees proposed zoning changes property owners want to undertake. When a new mayor takes over in May, the committee chairmanships are likely to get reorganized and handed out to political allies of the new administration.

Speaker on Tuesday said that he is not under federal investigation to my knowledge, releasing the statement after a report that he was secretly recorded by the while trying to solicit business for his law firm from a developer.

The on Tuesday...

Cappleman, whos locked in his own tough re election fight, now will be tasked with trying to shepherd through the committee the zoning changes needed for the massive Lincoln Yards development along the North Branch of the Chicago River. Emanuel wants to get the approvals for the project in place before he leaves office, but critics want it slowed down, saying it includes too many housing units and not enough parkland.

Burke, free on a dollar 10,000 unsecured bond, has yet to enter a plea, but his attorney, Charles Sklarsky, has said the allegations were meritless.

Madigan faces no charges, and he released a statement saying, To my knowledge, I am not under investigation by the office of the U.S. attorney, and I have not been contacted by the U.S. attorney relative to Dan Solis.

Ald. Daniel Solis will step down from his post as the powerful chairman of the City Council Zoning Committee, according to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, amid reports Solis wore a wire and recorded conversations with a City Council colleague while cooperating with a federal investigation.

In a statement released...