Angie Leventis Lourgos

A path to sainthood: Famed evangelist, TV host Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be the first beatified Illinois native With a captivating voice and piercing eyes that seemed to penetrate the camera, the Illinois-born bishop explained the paradox of human suffering to millions of viewers on one episode of his acclai…

Famed evangelist, TV host Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be the first beatified Illinois native. @angieleventis.bsky.social with the story of his path to sainthood www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/15/p...

Pope Leo XIV’s historic rise forges special Vatican connections for Chicago Seven months into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV’s Chicago roots have helped frame both his spirituality and priorities.

Pope Leo XIV’s historic rise forges special Vatican connections for Chicago. Really an exceptional read from @angieleventis.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/25/p...

As ICE detains longtime Chicago street vendors with no criminal history, neighbors rally with emergency funds As longtime vendors quietly disappear from the corners they’ve held for years, community organizations and neighbors are scrambling to support those taken, their families and those still working on…

As ICE detains longtime Chicago street vendors with no criminal history, neighbors rally with emergency funds by @zareensyed.bsky.social @lauranrodriguez.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/25/c...

Pritzker Ramps Up Accountability Panel Focused on Alleged ICE Abuses The commission is tasked with producing a public record of alleged abuses perpetrated by federal agents during “Operation Midway Blitz.” It will also examine the impact of such conduct on Illinois res...

The Illinois Accountability Commission is continuing to ramp up even as the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign in the Chicago region winds down, at least for now.

Senators Launch Inquiry After a White House Official Intervened on Behalf of Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation In letters to the White House and DHS, Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Gary Peters called the intervention a “brazen interference with a federal investigation.”

NEW: After ProPublica reported that the White House intervened on behalf of Andrew Tate, two senators say the behavior “raises grave questions regarding the independence and impartiality of federal law enforcement operations.

By Avi Asher-Schapiro and @robert-faturechi.bsky.social

Her dad was taken by immigration agents. Now a 12-year-old girl fears she’s lost her only living parent. The separation illustrates a tragic consequence of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown: children left behind after a parent is detained or deported.

Here’s what happened when the federal government ripped a 12-year old girl from her only living parent. An important story from @angieleventis.bsky.social and Laura Turbay @chicagotribune.com www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/22/c...

Local Ukrainians oppose Putin’s demands as US-led peace talks stall. ‘Donbas is Ukraine. Free us all.’ Vladmir Putin wants Ukraine to give up the Donbas region in exchange for peace. Chicago-area Ukrainians say it would be like the United States handing over Alaska.

Local Ukrainians oppose Putin's demands as US-led peace talks stall. 'Donbas is Ukraine. Free us all.' www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/01/c...

Massive Illinois salmonella outbreak 40 years ago highlights risks of raw milk as nation debates unpasteurized dairy Influencers and politicians are pushing the consumption of raw milk. And some — wrongly — point to a salmonella outbreak in Illinois to defend their position.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/31/i...

This makes me sad. But best of luck to @mrmichaelphillips.bsky.social, who has done so much for the Chicago Tribune, his colleagues and culture in the Chicago area.

La Grange drops honorary street designation after namesake’s daughter alleges he sexually abused her as a child. This is a fascinating story, the family is also divided. Reporting by @angieleventis.bsky.social t.co/O2jgrez4pQ

Former local writer fatally shot after Schaumburg wedding remembered as ‘defender of those who had no voice’ Christine S. Moyer, 45, of Galena, Ohio was a longtime public relations official for Abbott and a former reporter for the Aurora Beacon-News, Elgin Courier-News and other newspapers.

Former local writer fatally shot after Schaumburg wedding remembered as 'defender of those who had no voice' www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/02/l...

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Mother Cabrini’s Chicago milestones on her path to sainthood The first American canonized by the Roman Catholic Church — just like the first American chosen as pope — once walked among the people of Chicago.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Mother Cabrini's Chicago milestones on her path to sainthood www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/10/v...

In Illinois, Democrats tout pro-labor bona fides, but sometimes push back when their staffs seek unions Advocates say the hesitation of bosses to recognize unions is the unwillingness of even self-professed pro-labor employers to give up control over their staff.

Really interesting, smart story by Trib's @taliasoglin.bsky.social www.chicagotribune.com/2025/04/16/i...

Turkey detains 2 prominent journalists in morning raids Turkish police detained two prominent opposition journalists in early morning raids on Thursday in Istanbul as part of an investigation into alleged threats and blackmail, according to a court document seen by Reuters.

"Timur Soykan and Murat Agirel are both known for investigative reporting and a critical stance toward government policies and institutions."
www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Trump administration accidentally tells some Ukrainians to leave country Some Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion received an urgent email saying their provisional legal status in the U.S. would terminate in seven days. It was an error.

Some Ukrainians who fled the Russian invasion received an urgent email saying their provisional legal status in the United States would terminate in seven days, frightening immigrants and advocates across the country.

It was an error.

Elon Musk and Gov. JB Pritzker among billionaires spending in pivotal Wisconsin Supreme Court race Abortion is among the key issues in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race that becomes the most expensive state judicial race in the nation.

In the first big race since Trump won in Nov, the Wisco Sup Ct election on April 1 has drawn support from billionaires on both sides — Elon Musk to @jbpritzker.bsky.social. Abortion a key issue. By @petrellareports.bsky.social and @angieleventis.bsky.social: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/23/w...

Deported family of U.S. citizen girl recovering from brain surgery alleges civil rights abuses Attorneys are requesting a probe into abuses they say the family faced in U.S. detention and urging immigration authorities to grant humanitarian parole to the undocumented parents.

www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/...

Great work on a horrifying story by @peternickeas.bsky.social

Chaos and confusion as the statistics arm of the Education Department is reduced to a skeletal staff of 3 Acting stats chief booted after only 15 days in the job; fate of the Nation’s Report Card unclear

🆕@jillbarshay.bsky.social of @hechingerreport.org has new details about cuts to the dept of edu.

"President Donald Trump promises he’ll make American schools great again. He has fired nearly everyone who might objectively measure whether he succeeds."

hechingerreport.org/proof-points...

Kennedy downplays immunity from vaccination as measles outbreak grows | CNN Cases in the ongoing measles outbreak have risen to 258 across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, and state health departments are urging more people to get the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.

Good grief.
www.cnn.com/2025/03/12/h...

Document prepared for Kremlin outlines hardline negotiating stance The document, written in February by an Moscow-based think tank close to Russia’s Federal Security Service or FSB, lays out Russia’s maximalist demands

Exclusive: Russia should work to weaken the U.S. negotiating position on Ukraine by helping stoke tensions between the Trump administration and other countries while pushing ahead with Moscow’s efforts to dismantle the Ukrainian state, according to a document prepared for the Kremlin.

World Health Organization warns of possible tuberculosis surge because of USAID cuts Slashing tuberculosis aid could endanger millions of lives abroad, health authorities say, with potential consequences for the U.S., where TB cases have also been rising.

"...because of the U.S. funding cuts, drug supply chains in other countries are 'breaking down,' laboratory services are 'severely disrupted' and surveillance systems are 'collapsing,' making it difficult to identify, monitor and treat tuberculosis cases."
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Analysis | The Trump team’s slippery justification for deporting Mahmoud Khalil This could be a seminal free speech case, if only the administration would say precisely what it’s about.

Analysis by Aaron Blake: The Trump administration’s apparent attempt to deport pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil could be one of the most important free speech cases in recent American history.

If only we knew precisely what it was about.

Love reading the Sun-Times and working in a city with robust news competition. Hope management is listening....

Five years ago, COVID gripped the world in fear. Now local scientists, doctors warn Trump’s policies are weakening public health. As the COVID pandemic’s five-year anniversary approaches, local scientists and doctors warn Trump administration policies are weakening public health.

Five years ago, COVID gripped the world in fear. Now local scientists, doctors warn Trump’s policies are weakening public health. Good work from @angieleventis.bsky.social and Lisa Schencker
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/09/f...

Study Abroad Funding Is Paused, Leaving Some Students Stranded The Trump administration stopped State Department funding for scholarships like the Fulbright. Weeks later, it is still unclear when it may resume.

I have no idea what I would have done if this had happened while I was on my Fulbright. I was 22, had no savings, was on the other side of the world, with a visa that IIRC didn't allow local paid work. I think my credit card limit was $800.

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/07/u...

Texas cities run short of MMR vaccine as measles outbreak drives demand Pharmacies are struggling with supplies as fatal outbreak expands and health secretary sows disinformation

NEW: As measles cases rise in Texas, pharmacies in some cities are running out of MMR vaccines. The surge in demand comes even as RFK Jr. and the CDC frame vaccination as a "personal" choice — my latest: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Poland seeks access to nuclear arms and looks to build half-million-man army Already a major spender within NATO, Warsaw has massive military plans as fears grow about the reliability of the U.S. as an ally against Russia.

"Poland's dramatic military expansion comes as fears grow across Europe that...Trump is aligning with the Kremlin and turning his back on America's traditional western alliances — a geopolitical shift that Warsaw regards as a potentially existential threat."
www.politico.eu/article/dona...

Prosecutors Drop Case Against Stanford Student Journalist Dilan Gohill was arrested while covering protests on campus last summer.

"I’m glad they finally realized that journalism is not a crime."
www.cjr.org/news/dilan-g...