Afternoon Briefing: Supreme Court has tough questions over bribery prosecutions

Afternoon Briefing: Supreme Court has tough questions over bribery prosecutions

Good afternoon, Chicago.

A government attorney faced tough questioning today from U.S. Supreme Court justices over concerns that the federal bribery statute often used to prosecute public officials, including a former Indiana mayor, is vague and potentially criminalizes innocuous gift-giving by people from all walks of life.

The oral arguments came in a case involving James Snyder, the former mayor of Portage, Indiana, who was convicted of taking a $13,000 “consulting” fee from a garbage truck contractor that had recently won two lucrative contracts with the town.

Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

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Travelers carry their baggage as they walk toward Terminal 1 at O’Hare International Airport after protesters shut down I-190 heading into the airport on April 15, 2024, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Protesters blocked highway entering O’Hare airport

Protesters gathered with signs in support of Palestinians as part of a multicity “economic blockade” opposing the war in Gaza. Read more here.

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Oberweis Dairy files for bankruptcy

The family-owned dairy, which has dozens of ice cream stores and shelf space in grocery stores across the Midwest, owes more than $4 million to its 20 largest unsecured creditors, according to the bankruptcy filing Friday in Chicago. Read more here.

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Bears CEO Kevin Warren purchased a $1.75M Streeterville condo last summer
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The Cubs’ Michael Busch follows through on a solo home run against the Mariners during the 9th inning on April 12, 2024, in Seattle. (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

Michael Busch’s hot start shows why the Chicago Cubs are so high on the slugger: ‘That’s raw power’

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Money Man kicks off his Purple Heart Tour in Chicago, ‘one of my biggest fan bases’

He said he chose to kick his tour off in the Windy City because this is where he’s earned the most support in his career since 2016. Read more here.

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Review: ‘Lempicka’ struggles to make a painter’s life work as a Broadway musical
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Former President Donald Trump leaves Manhattan criminal court on Feb. 15, 2024, in New York. (Mary Altaffer/AP)

Donald Trump’s history-making hush-money trial begins with challenge of picking a jury

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More top stories from around the world:

Israeli military renews warnings to Palestinians not to return to war-torn northern Gaza
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