The Secret Chicago Cheesecake Factory – Chicago Tribune

Good morning, Chicago.

Have you seen the photos of former President Donald Trump’s arrest? Highly detailed, sensational images have flooded Twitter and other platforms in recent days amid the news Trump is facing possible criminal cases.

But the visual is far from real. The images – and the many variations that littered social media – were created using increasingly sophisticated and widely available image generators based on artificial intelligence.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.

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Amid heightened concerns about extremism and hate crimes across the U.S., Illinois officials said they have allocated $20 million in grants to synagogues, mosques and other religious and cultural institutions “considered to be at high risk of a terrorist attack.”

Grants also received by reproductive health centers should be used for “target strengthening activities”, which include active shooter training, the purchase and installation of security equipment and the hiring of security guards, according to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office.

One of Michael Madigan’s top former lieutenants told a federal jury on Thursday last minute arm twisting organized by the powerful House Speaker in 2016, played a role in overturning a no-to-yes vote on the Commonwealth’s flagship Edison bill.

Will Cousineau, a lobbyist and longtime political director at Madigan’s Democratic headquarters, became the first person to testify in the ComEd Four lawsuit that Madigan’s behind-the-scenes efforts changed the outcome of a bill the utility giant was desperate to pass.

New dinosaurs by the dozen fill two large shipping containers that are ready to go from Niger to the coast of Africa and then travel by ship across the Atlantic, destined for the fossil laboratory at the University of Chicago, where the process of cleaning and recomposing the bones will reveal a menagerie of new species in the coming years.

The fossils were collected during an expedition in the fall of 2022 and will later return to Niger, home to Africa’s richest fossil beds.

With Opening Day just six days away, the Cubs and White Sox have some important decisions on the list do before the Cactus League games are over.

Manager David Ross said they are being careful with Brendan Hughes to avoid putting him on the injury list. He is the only left-hander who was virtually guaranteed a spot in the bullpen. The Cubs added some veteran lefties in the offseason, and while some of those may be available, it won’t help now if Hughes goes to Illinois.

You can celebrate National Cheesesteak Day today with a favorite sandwich brought from Philadelphia. Or maybe with cheese on Italian beef. Yes, cheese on beef. Purists may ask, since when in Chicago do Italian beef sandwiches have cheese? Portillo’s offers mozzarella, cheddar, American and even cheese sauce. In Buon, where they created a a plant-based, beef-free Italian sandwichyou can get vegan cheese.

In a city with strict food rules, like no ketchup on hot dogs, food critic Louise Chu it was so interesting to find out how we basically agreed to cheese on beef without raising our fists in outrage.