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🌱 El Chapo Aide Pleads Guilty + Donut Collab From Two Chicago Brands

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Chicago.

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Good morning! Thanks for checking out Patch's five-minute guide to news and events in Chicago. In today's Daily:

  • ⚖️ An 'El Chapo' aide pleads guilty to drug charges in Chicago
  • 🍩 Two iconic Chicago brands have teamed up to create a new donut
  • 🏘️ The U.S. Soccer Federation is selling its South Loop mansions

🌬️ The weather:

Breezy in the afternoon. High: 36 Low: 30.

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) 'El Chapo' aide pleads guilty to drug charges in Chicago. Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, 51, known as "The Engineer" and considered one of the chief aides to convicted Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, pleaded guilty Friday to a federal drug charge in a Chicago courtroom. Sarabia faces a minimum of 10 years in prison—and a maximum of life—after admitting he distributed more than 150 kilograms of cocaine and more than 30 kilograms of heroin. Sarabia's sentencing is set for July 7. (FOX 32)

2) Soccer Federation lists adjoining South Loop mansions for a combined $4.2M. The two mansions—part of South Prairie Avenue's "millionaire's row"—were vacated last year when the U.S. Soccer Federation moved its headquarters to 303 E. Wacker Drive. The 14,734-square-foot William W. Kimball House is available for $2.3 million, and the 12,648-square-foot brown sandstone mansion next door is available for $1.9 million. Both mansions have made appearances in the 1996 Richard Gere film "Primal Fear." (Chicago Tribune)

3) Avalon Regal Theater: What's up with old movie palace with glorious past? Despite a history of nearly a century of cultural significance, the theater on 79th Street in Avalon Park has been mostly empty since 2003. Built in 1927, the theater was originally called the Avalon Theater. Inspired by something found at an antique store, Architect John Eberson designed the building to make people feel as though they were immersed in a magical place. The building was designated a Chicago landmark in 1992. (Chicago Sun-Times)

4) 5 people hospitalized after drug overdose at Lawlor's Pub in Mount Greenwood. Five victims, all adults, were in "stable" condition at area hospitals after overdosing on drugs at Lawlor's Pub. Shortly after 2 p.m. yesterday, a witness said patrons began falling, one by one. Several ambulances responded and victims were taken from the bar on stretchers. Scanner traffic indicated the hospitalizations were due to a possible fentanyl overdose. (Block Club Chicago)

5) Stan's Donuts and Morton Salt team up to create new donut. Two iconic Chicago brands have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind, limited edition donut: the Salted Caramel Old Fashioned Donut. The collaboration celebrates Morton's 175th anniversary and is available at all 15 Stan's Chicago-area locations through the end of the month. The donut features Stan's Old Fashioned recipe flavored with caramel, caramel glaze and Morton's Coarse Sea Salt to "achieve the perfect combination of sweet and savory." (NBC 5)

📌 Today in Chicago:

  • "Walk the Line" at West Belmont Library (1:00 PM)
  • Jet's Pizza Chicagoland Beats the Winter Blues with Free Slices on National Pie Day at Jet's Pizza (1:00 PM)
  • "Nope" at Edgewater Branch Library (2:00 PM)
  • Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks at United Center (7:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • Vintage Chicago: "1950s - Patrolman standing in deep snow and motions 'drive slowly' warnings to motorists." (Growing up in Chicago via Facebook)
  • Lin Brehmer: "WXRT host Lin Brehmer dies at 68. Lin Brehmer worked at WXRT for more than three decades. He loved the Cubs, the music, theater and food scenes and touched many Chicagoans, though they never met him." (Chicago Sun-Times)
  • CPS wants your feedback: Chicago Public Schools asking for public feedback on proposed 2023-2024 academic calendar." (ABC 7)
  • 5th International Puppet Theater Festival: "Chicago's International Puppet Theater Festival is now in full swing, drawing in thousands of puppetry fans each year." (WGN-TV)
  • Outside the Loop Radio: "Mike Stephen discusses the impact and significance of the Chicago Public Library over the last 150 years with library commissioner Chris Brown and then discovers the Secret History of local blues vocalist and drummer Ms. Johnnie Mae Dunson." (WGN Radio)

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Events:

  • DePaul's Master of Arts in Applied Professional Studies Information Session (January 25)
  • Business After Hours at PARennial Golf (January 26)
  • Block Cinema: ROSA BLANCA (1961) (January 26)
  • Block Cinema: ARAYA (1959) on 35mm (January 27)
  • "Proclaim Liberty!" | A Choral Festival Honoring the Ideals of MLK & Heralding Black History Month (January 29)
  • Creating Engaging Presentations (February 3)
  • Science, Art, and the Search for Meaning: Opening Conversation with Dario Robleto (February 4)
  • Come Celebrate Rescue Rides with Rescueber! (February 11)
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That's it for today!

— Nicole Cvetnic

About me: I'm a Midwesterner and very happy to call Chicagoland home. I love the outdoors—especially hiking—performing arts, photography, good food, travel and gardening. You can find me reading to my toddler, watching tv with my husband or cuddling with our rescue dog.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Daily? Contact me at chicago_il@patch.com

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