philwin online casino

Eastman Kodak Co. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors despite daily gains

Off with the pixies: Musk’s X defectors discover their utopia

AR Rahman slams 'calumny, imaginative' rumours about his divorce with Saira Banu, issues notice, warns legal actionHistorian and author Dr Clare Wright’s award-winning work is about righting the wrongs of Australian history. Across three books she takes a historical artefact and uses it to understand the voices that are too often missing from the historical record: the Eureka flag, the suffragette banner, and now the Bark Petitions. This week, Michael sits down with Clare for a conversation about her new book . , Clare Wright, 2014 , Clare Wright, 2018 , Clare Wright, 2024 , Helen Garner, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Stay in touch with on and Clare WrightPep Guardiola: It’s my responsibility to solve Manchester City’s poor run

Adam and Tayah Aveling's romance has been nothing short of a fairytale since they first set eyes on each othe r at the altar – an unusual start to a love story, indeed. "Sometimes I still need to pinch myself about how we actually met," chuckles 28 year old Tayah during OK!'s exclusive photoshoot . The couple, who became fan favourites after meeting on Married at First Sight UK in 2021, have gone from strangers to one of the show's most celebrated couples. They've had quite the journey; after welcoming their daughter Beau in October 2022, they renewed their vows in December. And now, they're buzzing with more thrilling news : they're expecting baby number two. Adam, 29, grins with anticipation, secretly hoping for a son this time around. When we visit them at their Doncaster home – the same place Adam introduced Tayah to during their MAFS homestay week – Tayah shares that her second pregnancy has been challenging so far. "I was so tired and felt really sick. I was never physically sick when I was having Beau, but it’s a constant feeling this time around," she reveals, with her due date set for April 2025. "I’m starting to feel better now, though." In this intimate interview, the beloved duo share insights into their post-MAFS life, festive season plans, and how they're preparing for the adventure of parenting two little ones. Hi Adam and Tayah! Congratulations – can you remember when you found out you were expecting? Tayah: Thank you. I took a test a few weeks after I first had a feeling I was pregnant – and it was positive right away. Adam: You actually did one about a month before then, because you had a gut feeling. But it was too early to tell and it came up ‘not pregnant’. Tayah: That’s right, so, yeah, I technically took two tests! We got the positive result when we were visiting my parents and I had to tell my mum right away – she actually took me to buy the test [laughs]. It was a mix of emotions for us, obviously excited but nervous, too. Were you trying for a baby? Adam: We were sort of... trying but not trying – if that makes sense. This year has been a busy one and we weren’t sure if we wanted to move house first and then have a second baby, or vice versa. We put our house on the market at the start of the year, but things fell through, so we decided to stay here and try for a second baby. Throughout our whole relationship we’ve sort of winged things and then deal with what comes next. How has the pregnancy been so far? Tayah: The first trimester was really hard and, while I’m still not feeling 100%, I’m definitely a lot better than I was. I couldn’t keep anything down and I’m still struggling with my sense of smell. Everything is heightened to extremes and even the smallest smell is making me feel very sick. I usually love perfume but I just can’t wear mine at the minute, which is annoying. I’m hoping it goes back to normal when the baby is here. Tayah, have you found it difficult being pregnant and also running around after a little one? Tayah: Not having the energy or being able to do what I usually do with Beau has been really hard. There’s been times where all I’ve wanted to do is just lay on the sofa and not move. Adam has really been helping me out though, he’s taken on the roles of both mum and dad, to be honest. I love that we’ve really worked together as a team. Now you’re feeling better, are you hoping to be more active? Tayah: Absolutely. Before I got pregnant, I was doing a lot of Pilates and it’s something that I can keep doing even now. During my first trimester, I didn’t do much exercise because of my symptoms but I feel well enough now to get back into it. I didn’t really keep active when I was pregnant with Beau, but it’s something I’d like to do this time around. Even just to get out the house and do something for me. Plus, fitness is a huge thing for my mental health. Are you finding out the gender? Do you have any predictions or hopes? Adam: We’re both too impatient to not find out [laughs]. Tayah: I think Adam would quite like a boy. Adam: I’ve always said I’d like one, but I wouldn’t complain if it was another girl because Beau is just incredible. Tayah: He’s a really good girl dad. I think there’s pros and cons to both, though. I have a sister and I know what it’s like to be able to share clothes and have that sisterly bond. But then, it’d be lovely to see Adam with a little boy – even if that would mean a new challenge and learning things all over again. Adam: As long as they’re happy and healthy, I guess that’s all that matters. What about a birth plan – do you have one in place? Tayah: So, with Beau, I kind of just went along with whatever the professionals recommended and I’m doing the same for this baby. I did want an epidural with Beau, but I was too far on to get one, so I’d say that’s probably the only thing I’d maybe ask for. I would like to have a natural birth but if it happens that I need a C-section, then it wouldn’t bother me. I just want whatever is the safest way to bring my baby into the world . I’m trying not to overthink too much because that’s when I’ll get stressed. Is Beau excited to be a big sister? Adam: I think so, yeah! When we first told her, she was only one, whereas now Beau is at an age where she sort of understands and is aware of what is going on. She’s getting more and more used to it, the more we talk about it. Tayah: She’ll point at my tummy and know a baby is inside it, it’s so sweet. And she loves babies, whenever there’s one on TV or she sees one in the street, she’ll try to give them her dummy. She’s a very caring little girl. We can’t wait to see her reaction when the baby is actually here. Are you excited for them to grow up close in age? Adam: Absolutely. I love hearing the stories from my mum and dad about the first time I met my brothers or they met me. I can’t wait for that moment – and also bringing the baby home for the first time. It’ll be so special. Tayah: And the good thing is, we know what we’re doing the second time round. I think we’ll feel more prepared and less anxious. I didn’t know what to expect with Beau – you can read all the books in the world but nothing actually prepares you until they’re here. That’s when you learn. Are you worried about the lack of sleep having two kids of similar ages? Tayah: I’d take newborn tired over pregnancy tired any day [laughs]. That is a whole other level, you just have absolutely no energy and your body is working overtime to obviously grow a child. Whereas, when you’re looking after a newborn, your adrenaline kicks in and you go into superpower mode. Adam: When you first have a baby, it feels like that’s the hardest stage, but it only gets harder. When they’re newborns, they just eat and sleep. What are you looking forward to the most? Tayah: Everything, really. With Beau, I felt like I couldn’t really soak anything in, I was so anxious all of the time. It’s been quite a process mentally and it’s really only in the last six months that I’ve felt better. I’m looking forward to being in a newborn bubble and just enjoying every minute. I said at the beginning of this pregnancy that I’m determined to enjoy it – until the sickness kicked in [laughs]. With Beau, I felt fine physically but struggled mentally, whereas now I am positive but feel horrific. You got married for a second time last Christmas – did it bring you closer together? And would you consider a third wedding? Adam: We’ve always been close, but our second wedding was more like a big family celebration. Tay and I already felt like we were married anyway, even if our scenario was a bit strange. Tayah: Yeah, the second wedding didn’t change too much. We felt like husband and wife when we left MAFS – but I wouldn’t say no to a third wedding [laughs]. I actually struggled a bit with our wedding last year, I still wasn’t mentally in the best place [after having Beau], I wish I could have just soaked up the moment. Speaking of MAFS, your life has really changed since being on the show... Tayah: It’s crazy, isn’t it? We were talking about it the other day, actually. How we both had a gut feeling that it would be a positive experience for us. But if someone told me when I was applying that I’d meet my legal husband and the father of my children, I wouldn’t have believed them. Did you tune into this year’s series? Tayah: We didn’t really follow it on TV, but I did see some bits on social media. It’s a big commitment to watch it every night [laughs]. I heard that it was, eh, firework season! Adam and I were saying that we’re glad we did it before sharing everything on social media was necessarily a thing. Everything I see on TikTok is just people speaking negatively about the cast. I do feel for them, I think that must be tough. We do open ourselves up to criticism, but I think there’s a fine line. What are your plans for Christmas? Tayah: We’re really looking forward to a relaxed Christmas – last year was a bit up in the air because we got married on 28 December. It was full focus on the wedding and, although we’ll be celebrating our first anniversary, this one we’ll be spending time with family. Shoot producer: Will Perry, photographer: David Cummings, photographer’s assistant: Julia Presern, stylist: Charlotte Burton, hair & make-up: Fiona Florczak, props stylist: Nicole Owen, video: Cheolan Jeong Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .New bridge over Buddha Dariya may calm choppy watersFidan: Transforming the Aegean into an economic prosperity zone – Addressing issues holistically

NEW YORK — Jeremiyah Love scored three touchdowns, tying a school record with his 11th straight game with a rushing TD, and No. 6 Notre Dame ended No. 18 Army's 13-game winning streak with a 49-14 victory on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. In a game scheduled as a 100th anniversary tribute to Notre Dame's “Four Horsemen,” Love put on a pretty good one-man show. The sophomore had TD runs of 68 and 14 yards, finishing with 130 yards on seven carries, and leaped over a defender at the goal line to finish a 6-yard scoring pass from Riley Leonard. Leonard threw for two TDs and Jadarian Price ran for two scores for the Irish (10-1), who won their ninth straight to improve their College Football Playoff chances. Notre Dame was No. 6 in those rankings this week and looks every bit like a national title contender, allowing 14 or fewer points in six straight games. Army quarterback Bryson Daily ran for 139 yards and both touchdowns, giving him 23 on the ground this season. The loss by the Black Knights (9-1) left No. 1 Oregon as the only unbeaten team in FBS. Army came in leading the nation with 334.9 yards rushing per game but managed only 207 against Notre Dame. Notre Dame beat Army for the 16th straight time in the first matchup where both teams were ranked since 1958, the Black Knights' last victory. This meeting was scheduled to honor the 100th anniversary of Notre Dame’s 1924 victory in New York at the Polo Grounds, when Grantland Rice began his story about the exploits of Harry Stuhldreher, Jim Crowley, Don Miller and Elmer Layden with one of the most famous openings in history, writing: “Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again.” That quote lined the wall above Monument Park in the stadium’s outfield, behind the end zone where Notre Dame took a 14-0 lead on TD passes by Leonard on its first two possessions. Army kept the ball for more than 7 1/2 minutes on its next drive while making it 14-7 on Daily’s 4-yard run early in the second quarter, but the Irish went up by two TDs again on Love's 14-yard run that tied Wayne Bullock's record of 11 straight games with a rushing TD in 1973-74. Notre Dame scored touchdowns on four of its six drives in the first half, then added another 10 seconds into the second half when Love went 68 yards on the first play to make it 35-7. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) leaps over Army cornerback Donavon Platt to score a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Yankee Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in New York. Credit: AP/Adam Hunger The takeaway Army: Saturday's game was a high-profile matchup, but the Black Knights' two most important games remain. Army will face No. 20 Tulane in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Dec. 6, and then has its annual matchup with Navy on Dec. 14. Notre Dame: With plenty of playmakers on offense and one of the nation's best defenses, the Irish haven't had anything resembling a close game in two months. Poll implications With the team right above them falling earlier Saturday when No. 5 Indiana lost 38-15 to second-ranked Ohio State, the Irish could be a top-five team in the next AP poll. Army hopes to stay above Tulane in the College Football Playoff rankings (the Black Knights at No. 19 are one spot ahead) in case they are needed as a tiebreaker to determine who is the host team in the AAC championship game. Up next Army: Hosts UTSA next Saturday. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Army at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in New York. Credit: AP/Adam Hunger Notre Dame: Visits Southern California next Saturday.

Photo: © Getty Images Max Verstappen is to be a father for the first time. The 27-year-old racing driver and his partner Kelly Piquet - who is the daughter of former Formula One star Nelson Piquet - have announced she is pregnant and the couple couldn't be happier about their "little miracle". Sharing a joint post on their Instagram accounts, Max and Kelly posed with their hands on her stomach, but with their faces out of shot. They captioned the image: "Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way. We couldn't be happier with our little miracle." Kelly later took to her Instagram Story to thank fans for their messages and to acknowledge those who found such announcements difficult. She wrote: "Cannot express how happy we are. Thank you for all the sweet warm messages. "I understand these announcements can be challenging for those longing for a child. "While such news is often a joyous occasion, it can also evoke feelings of sadness, frustration, or longing in those who are struggling with this. "If that's you, I'm sending all my love, my deepest hugs, and magic your way." The couple are believed to have been dating since October 2020 but only went public with their relationship on 1 January 2021. At the time, Max and Kelly shared photos of themselves in Brazil on their respective social media accounts. The Red Bull driver wrote: "Happy New Year everyone. Let's make 2021 a year to remember in many ways. Wishing you all success, love and happiness just as I found mine." And Kelly captioned her post: "Love is what makes the world go round. Happy new year and much love #2021.(sic)" The 35-year-old model previously dated another Formula One driver, Daniil Kyvat, and she has five-year-old daughter Penelope with him but they split months after the little girl was born.

This story is part of the November 24 edition of Sunday Life. See all 14 stories . Malabar Coast, Arabian Sea. There’s romance enough just in the names. I’m rattling along in a rickety local bus (no windows, driver perched on the springs of a seat that long ago lost its padding) towards Kochi in Kerala state, south-west India. The city, once known as Cochin, was a relatively sleepy place in the 1960s. Since then, the population has exploded from a manageable 250,000 to more than 31⁄2 million. What you’ll see today is a colonial-era district, Fort Kochi, surrounded by a vast Indian city of shopping malls, high-rise apartment blocks and motorways – pumping with life and energy 24/7. Traditional Kathakali dance on New Year carnival in Fort Kochi, Kerala, India. Credit: Getty Images Fort Kochi was a significant trading port long before the local raja (king) negotiated a deal with the Portuguese in 1500. He got the worst of the arrangement, slowly losing power to his erstwhile ally. The Portuguese built a fort, hence the name, and held on to the territory for the next 163 years before losing it in turn to the Dutch. The British wrested it away in 1795, holding on to the growing town until India gained its hard-won independence in 1947. It’s no surprise Kochi is a major tourist attraction. It’s small enough to navigate around easily and is packed with the magnificent architecture of three successive colonial influences alongside Indian, with the whole lot surrounded by sea. With an international airport well serviced by flights from Australia, Kochi is a great place to begin your Indian adventure, especially if you’re a first-time visitor to India. Kerala is considered a politically and socially progressive state relative to the rest of India. It’s also one of the wealthiest and this is evident in Kochi. It’s a city of fine restaurants, hipster cafes, boutiques packed with original designs and a surprisingly large number of art galleries, many housed in exquisite, well-maintained colonial buildings. The city is home to the government-supported Kochi-Muziris Biennale, which has had quite an impact on the art world since its inception in 2012. The sixth edition gets underway in December this year. Wander in the narrow, winding lanes edged by buildings in the Dutch and Portuguese styles housing shops, cafes and private homes. Drop in for coffee at Kashi Art Cafe. Stroll with the locals at sunset on Kochi Beach, dine at a waterfront restaurant watching the boats coming and going across the harbour. There’s a wide range of accommodation here, from luxury hotels to modest guesthouses. Take a state-of-the-art electric ferry to the wharf near the iconic Chinese fishing nets and next door to the gorgeous Brunton Boatyard Hotel, which began life as a British colonial shipyard on the waterfront. Stay here, or pop in for a drink or a meal on the promenade. Loading Nearby, tucked down a quiet, flower-filled lane, you’ll find SeaCoast Inn. This newly built, mid-range guesthouse is owned by Kochi local Shaan. The former IT executive has drawn on his own international travel experience to organise this attractive residence in a way that works for foreign visitors while still being essentially Indian. It’s pristine, well designed and full of lovely artisanal furnishings and fittings that reflect the Portuguese heritage of the area. Fort Kochi is not nearly as busy as many Asian cities with similar attractions. There’s still a homely feel to it, easygoing and genuine. My first day in Kochi, I lunch at Qissa cafe and find myself gravitating back there often during my stay. On one visit, as I step out into the street to take a phone call, I notice I’ve left my bag at my table. I’m about to double back when the waiter, a young man with the delicate beauty typical of the people of this region, his abundant black hair hauled into a topknot, makes me a sign: “No worries, I’ve got my eye on it, go do what you need to do.” Kochi is still that sort of place.

None

Musk's millions for Trump make him biggest US political donorThe rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pick WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members. It's a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members. They're a key part of the Democratic base but are gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Trump chooses Bessent to be treasury secretary, Vought as budget chief, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent, 62, is founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. He previously had worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. Trump also said he would nominate Russell Vought, 48, to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position he held during Trump's first term. And Trump chose Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, as his labor secretary, and Scott Turner, a former football player who worked in Trump’s first administration, as his housing secretary. Afraid of losing the US-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has been taking a bashing for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America. Officials here are terrified that a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Justin Trudeau could simply expel their country from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Mexico's ruling Morena party is so afraid its has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones. And its legislators are consciously tweaking the wording of major laws to try to make them compatible with the trade pact's language. Mexico hopes the rules of the trade pact would prevent the U.S. or Canada from simply walking away. Australia withdraws a misinformation bill after critics compare it to censorship CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s government has withdrawn a bill that would give a media watchdog power to monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Sunday that the government was unable to drum up the support needed to pass the legislation. The opposition spokesman, David Coleman, said the bill “betrayed our democracy” and amounted to “censorship laws in Australia.” The bill would have granted the Australian Communications and Media Authority power over digital platforms by approving an enforceable code of conduct or standards for social media companies if self-regulation fell short. He'll be the last meatpacker in the Meatpacking District. Here's how NYC's gritty 'hood got chic NEW YORK (AP) — The last meatpackers in New York's Meatpacking District have agreed to end their leases early and make way for development on their city-owned lot. A third-generation meatpacker says he is ready to retire and he'll be proud to be there when the building closes. The closure date has not been set, but will mark the end of over a century of industrial life in the Meatpacking District. Starting in the 1970s, a new nightlife scene emerged as bars and nightclubs moved in. Today it's a hub for shopping, tourism, and recreation and only echoes of that grit remain. US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. What to know about Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen money manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction and deregulation, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent is a past supporter of Democrats who has become an enthusiastic supporter of Trump. He’s an advocate of cutting spending while extending the tax cuts approved by Congress in Trump’s first term. He has said tariffs imposed during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China.

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja In a move to enhance Nigeria’s educational and developmental landscape, President Bola Tinubu has appointed new chief executive officers for several key agencies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI), and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, he named Abdullahi Ribadu as Executive Secretary of the NUC. A distinguished academic, Ribadu is currently a visiting professor at the commission and has previously served as vice chancellor at both the Federal University of Technology in Yola and Sule Lamido University in Jigawa State. His expertise in veterinary reproduction is expected to bring a unique perspective to the NUC’s initiatives. He named Salisu Shehu as Executive Secretary at NERDC. Renowned for his work in educational and human psychology, Shehu played a crucial role in establishing the School of Continuing Education at Bayero University, Kano, and has served as Vice-Chancellor of Al-Istiqamah University in Kano. His appointment the Presidency said signals a commitment to advancing educational research and development in Nigeria. The President also appointed Jabiru Tsauri as the National Coordinator of NEPAD. Tsauri holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University and brings extensive experience in legislative affairs, global governance, and public service to this critical role. The President also approved the renewal of the appointment of Fatima Shinkafi as the executive secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI). She was first appointed into the job by President Muhammadu Buhari and is said to be one of the driving forces of the changes in the solid mineral sector. President Tinubu expressed confidence that these appointments will infuse fresh energy and commitment into their respective organizations, ultimately fulfilling the expectations of Nigerians for progress and development. The new appointees are expected to leverage their diverse expertise to drive initiatives that align with the administration’s vision for a prosperous Nigeria.CHICAGO – It was the last day of the General Assembly’s spring legislative session in 2018 when veteran Statehouse lobbyist Mike McClain realized his bill wasn’t going anywhere. McClain was officially retired but still took on “assignments” from his longtime friend Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. But one particular project he took on proved especially difficult. In the fall of 2017, he began working with then-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis on what was supposed to be a relatively simple legislative maneuver to transfer state-owned land to the city of Chicago. For years, the state had leased the land out to a company that operated it as a parking lot in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. Solis wanted the state to transfer the parcel to the city, which would then sell it to a real estate developer interested in building a mixed-use apartment complex. That sliver of Chinatown was in Solis’ 25th Ward. When Solis met with McClain about the proposal in late 2017, Solis agreed with McClain’s characterization that it was a “legacy” project after the alderman revealed he may not run for city council again in 2019 after two decades on the city council. McClain also recruited Nancy Kimme, a relatively new lobbyist, to work with then-Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration on the effort. Kimme spent years in GOP circles and served as chief of staff to the late Judy Baar Topinka when Topinka was both comptroller and state treasurer. McClain also involved Kimme to reduce the risk of upsetting the deal if Rauner – Madigan’s political nemesis – found out the speaker had any ties to the project. But the team of statehouse veterans couldn’t get the routine land transfer done, even after six months of work. They were confounded by how the deal had become such a boondoggle. Even six years later, Kimme still expressed a bit of that bewilderment Thursday as she testified about the yearlong effort in Madigan’s federal corruption trial. Kimme’s appearance on the witness stand came at the conclusion of the seventh week of testimony in the trial. McClain was indicted alongside Madigan in the case that extends to allegations of bribery involving McClain’s biggest client, electric utility Commonwealth Edison, and AT&T Illinois. Madigan and McClain are accused of running a “criminal enterprise” benefitting the speaker and his inner circle – the basis of racketeering charges against them. Kimme and McClain had relied on Solis’ assurances that state Rep. Theresa Mah, who represented Chinatown, supported the project. But when Kimme finally approached her in mid-May 2018, she said she was opposed. “She’s like, ‘This is a scam cooked up by Danny Solis. You know, people in my district don’t like him,’” Kimme told McClain, relaying the meeting in a May 16, 2018, phone call. “They’re trying to gentrify Chinatown and take away its identity and put some big high-rise up in the middle.” They’d also been unable to get state Sen. Marty Sandoval to “calm down” after he’d intervened, making his opposition known to the head of the Illinois Department of Transportation. They’d tried to placate him by dispatching state Sen. Tony Munoz to help their cause. They brought Munoz on board by combining another land transfer Munoz wanted into the same bill with the Chinatown transfer. But it hadn’t worked; in fact, the day before session ended, Kimme had gotten wind that Sandoval, who chaired the Senate’s Transportation Committee, had escalated his opposition to threatening IDOT Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “There’s something fishy here, don’t you think?” McClain asked Kimme as they puzzled over the events of the last several weeks. “I mean, Solis says Theresa Mah’s all in. Then you find out Theresa Mah’s not in. You know, Tony Munoz’s supposed to be in charge of Sandoval, and we find out, can’t do anything with Sandoval.” McClain was, as it turned out, at least half-correct in his suspicions, though he never imagined Solis had secretly been working as an FBI cooperator for nearly two years at that point. Solis, who chaired the city council’s influential Zoning Committee, had become friendly with Madigan the previous summer after the speaker called him out of the blue asking about a proposed apartment complex project in Chicago’s booming West Loop neighborhood. Both he and the FBI agent who’d been overseeing the feds’ still-unfolding corruption probe, which began in 2014, confirmed that it wasn’t until Madigan’s June 2017 call to Solis that the investigation shifted focus to the powerful speaker. Solis offered to introduce Madigan to the developers so the speaker’s law firm could pitch its property tax appeals services. After the alderman brought the developers to a meeting at Madigan’s law firm the next month, the two debriefed in the speaker’s private office. That’s when Solis brought up the Chinatown project. Prosecutors allege Madigan engaged in a bribe when he agreed to help Solis get the land transfer in exchange for the would-be developers engaging Madigan’s law firm. But in secretly recorded videos and wiretapped phone conversations shown to the jury while Solis was on the witness stand last week, McClain knew of Solis’ intent months before Madigan did. “So in the past I have been able to steer some work to Mike,” Solis said in his first meeting with McClain in November 2017. “And these guys will do the same thing.” It wasn’t until late March 2018 that Solis explicitly told Madigan the Chinatown developers would give him their property tax business. After a sit-down with another real estate developer Solis brought to Madigan’s office for a pitch meeting, Solis brought up the ongoing Chinatown project. He told the speaker, “they’ll work with you on property taxes.” In a follow-up call on the previous day’s meeting on March 27, 2018, Solis again mentioned the Chinatown project. “If you can take care of that matter in May, I’m confident they’ll appreciate it and sign you up after May,” Solis said. But there was no resolution to the issue in May. Just a few minutes after McClain hung up with Kimme on that last day of session, he spoke with Madigan and explained the “hurdle after hurdle” on the bill. In addition to unexpected opposition from Mah, McClain surmised that Sandoval’s interference had spooked Blankenhorn into an intractable position. “Yeah, sure, alright,” Madigan told McClain. “I mean, put the file in the drawer for a while.” The upcoming November 2018 election was likely to spell good news for the effort, Kimme explained, as it appeared that Rauner would lose. That meant the IDOT secretary he appointed would be out of a job – and out of their way. In a series of wiretapped calls made in the weeks leading up to the election and lawmakers’ fall veto session scheduled shortly thereafter, those involved strategized on how to get the bill passed before the end of the General Assembly’s adjournment in late November of that year. But despite last-minute negotiations on who could carry the legislation, the amendment to transfer the land to the city never passed even “after all of that,” Kimme testified Thursday. Business leaders in Chinatown – even those who initially supported the project – had registered their opposition with a petition drive in the fall of 2018. After they collected some 3,000 signatures, then-Secretary of State Jesse White threw his weight behind them, which Kimme testified sealed the deal on the bill’s death. Under questioning by Madigan attorney Tom Breen, Kimme said figuring out what she’d referred to in one wiretapped call as a “crazy parking lot disaster” had become “my Rubik’s cube.” “Did you find it undoable?” Breen asked. “I did,” Kimme replied. “And that was because of miscommunication and bad information and petty politics?” Breen asked. Prosecutors objected to Breen’s question, along with his insinuation a minute later that the situation was impossible as she’d been trying to follow “a script written by” the FBI. The comment harkened back to cross-examination of FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald last month when Madigan attorney Dan Collins accused the FBI of creating a trap just to see if the speaker would fall into it. “Just as you directed Solis to say false things to Madigan, the same is true of other folks,” Breen said to McDonald, citing the involvement of McClain and Kimme in the unsuccessful Chinatown land transfer. “So you know that after Danny Solis told false information to Nancy Kimme, she talked to Mike McClain about it.” “Yes,” McDonald replied. “That false information – it spreads, right?” Collins asked. “I don’t know,” McDonald said.