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Daywatch: Trump acknowledges defeat, 2 suburban men arrested following siege and Southport Lanes may survive pandemic

  • The billiards room is empty at Southport Lanes.

    John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune

    The billiards room is empty at Southport Lanes.

  • A Trump 2020 scarf lays on the ground outside of...

    Jason Andrew/The New York Times

    A Trump 2020 scarf lays on the ground outside of the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021, a remnant of the riot on Wednesday.

  • A mob supporting U.S. President Donald Trump breaks into the...

    Win McNamee/Getty Images

    A mob supporting U.S. President Donald Trump breaks into the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington.

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Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:

Good morning, Chicago. On Thursday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois since the beginning of the pandemic pushed past the 1 million mark — double the case tally of less than two months ago. The news came as officials recorded 8,757 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 177 additional fatalities.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the pro-Trump mob’s siege of the U.S. Capitol, members of the president’s administration are resigning as discussions of impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment grow. Here are the latest updates.

Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.

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A Trump 2020 scarf lays on the ground outside of the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021, a remnant of the riot on Wednesday.
A Trump 2020 scarf lays on the ground outside of the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021, a remnant of the riot on Wednesday.

Trump finally acknowledges his electoral defeat — amid growing talk of ouster from office

With 13 days left in his term, President Donald Trump finally bent to reality Thursday amid growing talk of trying to force him out early, acknowledging he’ll peacefully leave after Congress affirmed his defeat.

Trump led off a video from the White House by condemning the violence carried out in his name a day earlier at the Capitol. Then, for the first time on camera, he admitted his presidency would soon end — though he declined to mention President-elect Joe Biden by name or explicitly state he had lost.

Meanwhile, a police officer has died from injuries sustained during the storming of the Hill.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos becomes 2nd Cabinet secretary to resign after pro-Trump riot

Editorial: Invoke the 25th Amendment. Trump needs to go.

A mob supporting U.S. President Donald Trump breaks into the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington.
A mob supporting U.S. President Donald Trump breaks into the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington.

2 suburban men are arrested and Chicago real estate agent is fired following US Capitol siege

Two men from the Chicago suburbs were among dozens of people arrested Wednesday in Washington, D.C., after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, according to police records.

Chicago police union leader downplays Capitol riot in radio interview, drawing rebuke from mayor

Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., is seen during a group photo event with freshmen members on the House steps of the Capitol on Jan. 4, 2021.
Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., is seen during a group photo event with freshmen members on the House steps of the Capitol on Jan. 4, 2021.

Newly inaugurated Illinois GOP congresswoman claims she was attacking Democrats in citing Adolf Hitler

Newly inaugurated Downstate Illinois Congresswoman Mary Miller’s office is claiming she was referring to Democratic attempts to indoctrinate youth rather than her stated push to persuade younger people to the conservative cause when she cited Adolf Hitler in a speech earlier this week.

Preparations are underway as the main floor of the Bank of Springfield Center is transformed into the working space for the Illinois House of Representatives to hold a lame-duck legislative session session during the COVID-19 pandemic on Jan. 7, 2021.
Preparations are underway as the main floor of the Bank of Springfield Center is transformed into the working space for the Illinois House of Representatives to hold a lame-duck legislative session session during the COVID-19 pandemic on Jan. 7, 2021.

Black Caucus’ social justice agenda, Speaker Madigan’s future top items as Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield

The Illinois General Assembly returns to Springfield on Friday for a lame-duck session that gives embattled Speaker Michael Madigan a final opportunity to make his case to remain at the helm of the House, while the Black Caucus makes a push for its wide-ranging social justice agenda.

The billiards room is empty at Southport Lanes.
The billiards room is empty at Southport Lanes.

Lakeview’s iconic Southport Lanes may survive pandemic after all, but ‘we still have a long way to go’

Southport Lanes & Billiards, the century-old Lakeview institution that in September announced its permanent closure because of the coronavirus pandemic, may live to bowl another round. Here’s what we know.