What to know about the ‘kraken’ COVID subvariant – Chicago Tribune

Good morning Chicago.

Medical experts say the new subvariant of COVID-19 dubbed “kraken” is the most contagious version of the virus to emerge since the pandemic began, and it is becoming the dominant strain in the United States.

As cases of this latest subvariant, known as XBB.1.5, rise in the Northeast section of the nation, local doctors are urging Chicago-area residents to get their booster shots and stock up on COVID tests. They are predicting that a wave will soon hit the Midwest.

While the “kraken” variant only accounts for about 7% of cases in Chicago, the city’s top physician forecast that its prevalence will likely increase here in the coming weeks.

Read the full story from Angie Leventis Lourgos from the Tribune.

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Roger Krahl, owner of R-Guns, at his store in Carpentersville on January 11, 2023. “There's not much left that's enough to sustain a business. I think the state has just put a lot of hard-working people out of business and on the unemployment line,” he said.

Roger Krahl, owner of R-Guns, at his store in Carpentersville on January 11, 2023. “There’s not much left that’s enough to sustain a business. I think the state has just put a lot of hard-working people out of business and on the unemployment line,” he said. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

The business landscape for gun dealers in Illinois changed with a stroke of the pen Tuesday night when Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, in one of the first acts of his second term, signed into law a law banning the sale of a wide range of semi-trucks. . -automatic firearms.

Unsurprisingly, business owners who sell weapons and ammunition that are now banned were angry.

President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before he and first lady Jill Biden board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on January 11, 2023.

President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before he and first lady Jill Biden board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on January 11, 2023. (Susan Walsh/AP)

House Republicans have opened their long-promised investigation into President Joe Biden and his family, wielding the power of their new majority to demand information from the Treasury Department and former Twitter executives while laying the groundwork for public hearings.

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The Republican-led committee sent a series of letters requesting financial information from the Treasury Department on financial transactions by members of the Biden family that were flagged as suspicious activity.

An electric vehicle is charged at an EVgo fast charging station.

An electric vehicle is charged at an EVgo fast charging station. (Paul Sancya/AP)

Aurora, Glencoe, Oak Park and Skokie are among the local communities selected to participate in a new program aimed at helping municipalities meet future electric vehicle usage needs.

Late last year, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus unveiled a list of 16 municipalities selected to participate in a new Electric Readiness program aimed at creating or improving policies and then installing the best methods for the safe electrification of regional transportation.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White and forward DeMar DeRozan embrace on court late in the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at the United Center in Chicago on January 7, 2023.

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White and forward DeMar DeRozan embrace on court late in the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at the United Center in Chicago on January 7, 2023. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

With 41 games under their belt going into Wednesday, the Chicago Bulls hovered just under .500 at 19-22 and 10th place in the Eastern Conference. But things have been looking up for the Bulls, who recently hit a hot streak when scoring improved behind All-Star Zach LaVine.

Here’s a look at where the Bulls are and where they could go in the second half of the season.

Jessie Buckley in a scene from "The Lost Daughter."

Jessie Buckley in a scene from “The Lost Daughter.” (Netflix/AP)

“’Talking Women’ is one of those collaborative, screen-splitting gems,” writes Michael Phillips.

“Now in theaters, director/adaptor Sarah Polley’s beautifully refined take on Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel was born from a mortifying real-life tale of ‘ghost rapes’ victimizing women in a community Bolivian Mennonite. The perpetrators of the serial sexual assaults were, in fact, the men, who preyed on the women and then blamed their memories on the influence of demonic spirits.”

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