CHICAGO (WLS) — A tragic incident unfolded in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on Friday afternoon when a woman was fatally shot following a confrontation that quickly escalated into a deadly altercation.

The Chicago Police reported that around 3:30 p.m., near the intersection of Chicago and Homan avenues, a traffic-related skirmish turned violent. As tensions flared in the street, gunfire erupted, marking a grim turn of events.

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During the altercation, authorities suggest that a 27-year-old woman brandished a gun and shot a 36-year-old woman multiple times in the chest. The victim was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital but tragically succumbed to her injuries.

Witness Dave Sartore described the chaotic scene, noting his initial confusion. “I didn’t assume it was shots until I got, maybe, like, real close, like, right here, and I’m seeing someone not moving, laying in the streets,” he recalled.

The aftermath was a chilling scene, with crime tape cordoning off the area and evidence markers scattered across the roadway, stark reminders of the violence that struck the neighborhood in the light of day.

Sartore also described the aftermath. “Just screaming, crying, and hugging a dead body.”

Another witness, José Ramos, said the encounter appeared to begin as a road rage incident. “I heard people arguing. So, I turn around and I seen two girls and they were just about to get physical. And then, one girl was screaming and another guy. Then, the guy got in and then I heard another lady’s voice. Next thing you know, it’s pow, pow, pow, pow.”

Investigators focused on two vehicles stopped in the middle of the street as part of their response.

Sartore said the location and timing made the violence particularly striking. “But, right there in the middle of the street in the middle of the day, yeah, that is very strange.”

Ramos voiced frustration over the incident. “We need to change this, man. You know, this is too bad.”

Police said the alleged shooter was taken into custody at the scene, where officers also recovered a firearm. Charges were pending as of Friday evening.

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SAN DIEGO –– Petco Park played host to a thrilling clash between two standout Dodgers pitchers on Friday night.

On one side stood Walker Buehler, a seasoned veteran.

Opposing him was Roki Sasaki, the rising star.

The Padres secured a decisive 7-1 victory, with a stark contrast evident in the pitchers’ performances.

Sasaki struggled in what has been an inconsistent sophomore year, allowing five walks and conceding a three-run home run in a less than stellar outing that lasted just over four innings. Meanwhile, Buehler reclaimed his former dominance, adeptly navigating 5 ⅓ innings while allowing just one run, leading the Padres to triumph in the opening game of this crucial mid-season rivalry.

That Buehler was ready for the moment was no surprise.

Before the game, manager Dave Roberts was only half-joking when he said the former Dodgers ace would “love nothing more than to shove it up our you-know-what.”

Sasaki’s struggles, however, represented a more foreboding development in a campaign suddenly headed back in the wrong direction.

He lacked command from the start, walking three of his first five hitters while grinding through long, foul-ball-extended at-bats. Then, after getting Ty France to an 0-2 count with two aboard in the second inning, he threw a low slider that France launched to left for a no-doubt three-run blast.

The Dodgers would trail the rest of the way, failing to solve Buehler before squandering a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity after he exited in the top of the sixth. The Padres didn’t even have to go to lockdown closer Mason Miller, either, not after their offense tagged Dodgers reliever Jonathan Hernández with four runs in the eighth to pull away.

For Buehler –– now on his third organization since getting the last out of the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series title –– the outing continued his recent turnaround, giving him a 3.81 ERA this season and a 1.71 mark since the start of June.

For Sasaki –– who has now allowed 13 runs in 14 innings over his last three starts –– the dud continued his recent regression, leaving him on Friday to be outshined by his current club’s former star.

What it means

The Dodgers’ division lead isn’t in danger. But, as they begin a seven-games-in-10-days stretch against the second-place Padres, it is worth monitoring.

With what remains the winningest record in the majors at 52-30, the Dodgers are still eight games up in the National League West on the Padres, who are 42-38. But the Padres have now won four games in a row, coming off an impressive sweep of the Braves, and are 11-7 since a woeful 1-10 rut over late May and early June.

Who’s hot

The Dodgers did lead briefly on Friday, courtesy of the hottest recent hitter in the lineup.

In the top of the second, Mookie Betts tagged Buehler with a solo home run on an elevated first-pitch fastball, continuing a torrid two-week stretch in which he has hit .375 with four home runs.

Nevertheless, even Betts eventually went quiet on a lackluster night from the Dodgers’ offense, hitting into two double-plays later in the game –– including one to end a two-on, one-out chance in the eighth.

Who’s not

Three weeks ago, Sasaki seemed to be on the ascent. He pitched seven shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in a June 5 masterpiece against the Angels. He had a 1.49 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only five walks over an extended four-start stretch. And, most importantly, he was finally pairing triple-digit fastball velocities with an expanded arsenal and consistent command.

Alas, he has wasted no time squandering all that momentum.

Though he still averaged nearly 98 mph with his fastball, and topped out at 100 mph yet again, he reverted back to the wild command that dogged him earlier this season, issuing six free bases when accounting for a hit batter in the fourth.

As a result, Sasaki’s season ERA is back up to 4.88, the highest it has been in a month.

And it’s fair to wonder if his uptick in form earlier this year –– which included another seven-inning gem against the Angels –– was more the result of poor opposition and good batted-ball luck than a true turning point in his ongoing development.

Up next

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-5, 2.65 ERA) will take the mound Saturday opposite Padres right-hander Randy Vásquez (6-5, 4.17 ERA).

On Friday, an astonishing scene unfolded in Beijing as a small aircraft tragically collided with the city’s tallest skyscraper, the 108-story CITIC Tower. The incident led to a swift and substantial response from emergency services, with police, fire, and EMS teams descending upon the site to manage the situation. This event prompted an immediate reaction from Chinese authorities, who moved to restrict the dissemination of information, according to The Associated Press.

Images and videos circulating on social media depict the dramatic moment when the plane smashed into the CITIC Tower, leaving a gaping hole in its structure before plummeting to the ground. The skyscraper, an iconic symbol of Beijing’s business district, quickly became the focal point of both local and international attention.

First responders worked diligently at the scene, enforcing strict measures to keep bystanders at bay and prevent the area from becoming overcrowded. Witnesses who had gathered nearby were asked to refrain from capturing the chaotic aftermath on their phones, as officials sought to maintain order and safety.

Inside the CITIC Tower, individuals reported that the violent impact of the crash triggered the building’s fire alarms. Employees and visitors alike were left scrambling for safety, further emphasizing the gravity of the incident in one of Beijing’s most prominent areas.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated the aircraft was a Sunward SA 60L Aurora, which took off about 30 miles east of the city and crashed shortly before 6 p.m. local time. 

ADS-B data for the flight only includes a partial flight path and stops prior to the crash, according to air traffic data.

The AP reported that photos and videos of the incident escaped the country’s “great firewall” and were circulated on social media platform X, though Chinese censors have removed content about the crash from the country’s restricted internet. 

No information has been released by government officials or state-run media, as of Friday afternoon.

The cause of the crash, identity of the pilot, and the number of casualties remain unclear.

The White House did not immediately respond to News Media’s request for comment.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 

A recent study indicates that an overload of a crucial mineral, which sustains both blood and brain health, might contribute to the onset of conditions like Parkinson’s disease and dementia. 

Iron plays a pivotal role as it aids in the formation of hemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to essential bodily tissues. 

Without the body’s natural ability to manufacture iron, this mineral must be sourced externally from various foods, including animal proteins such as lean red meat, clams, and oysters, as well as plant-based options like spinach, lentils, tofu, and white beans. 

Iron deficiency impacts approximately one in seven individuals in the U.S., translating to around 36 million people. This deficiency has been associated with developmental challenges and cognitive impairment, as iron is crucial for energy production and neurotransmitter function. 

However, research conducted by the Salk Institute in California reveals that surplus iron can gradually build up within neurons. Although this excess may not pose immediate concerns, it could lead to the degeneration of nerve cells in older adults. 

They believe this is because excess iron lowers cells’ defenses, which makes them more vulnerable to stressors. 

Cell death in areas of the brain responsible for memories and cognitive function, such as the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, can lead to dementia, which affects about 7 million Americans. 

And striking 1 million Americans, Parkinson’s disease is caused by the loss of neurons responsible for producing dopamine, which coordinates movement, so the death of these cells could contribute to the disease.

The researchers noted that evaluating iron levels could be a key tool in preventing neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s. 

‘Resilience has become a huge topic of discussion when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, trying to make the brain more resilient in the face of stressors that contribute to neurodegeneration,’ Dr Pam Maher, senior and co-corresponding study author and research professor at the Salk Institute, said. 

‘Our study reveals that cells lose resilience when iron hits a certain level, making neurons more susceptible to stressors that damage or even kill them.’

The findings come as both dementia and Parkinson’s disease are on the rise in the US. 

Experts estimate dementia diagnoses are expected to double by 2050.  

The Parkinson’s Foundation estimates 1.2million Americans will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s by 2030, and 90,000 are struck by the disease every year. 

This is an increase from the previously estimated rate of 60,000 a decade ago, the foundation estimates. 

Recent research suggests environmental exposures like pollution and pesticides, along with growing rates of chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes, may be to blame, but scientists are still unraveling the causes.

The new study, published in the journal Cell Death Discovery, used human neural cells from the nervous system cancer neuroblastoma to compare the effects of acute and chronic iron exposure. Acute exposure lasted between six and eight hours, while chronic was about nine days. 

Chronic exposure was meant to mimic slow accumulation that would be seen during aging. 

Using the cell models, the researchers coined the new pathway chronoferroptosis. Ferroptosis is a well-studied phenomenon in which cell death is caused by a process called lipid peroxidation. 

This occurs when harmful molecules called free radicals steal electrons from the lipids in cell membranes, resulting in cell damage.

In chronoferroptosis, however, that pathway doesn’t end in cell death. 

Instead, neurons chronically exposed to iron saw long-term functional changes rather than immediate death. Acutely exposed neurons could handle the stress, but those with chronic exposure became vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases. 

‘We think these coordinated alterations in iron-handling and antioxidant defense proteins make chronically exposed neurons vulnerable to neurodegenerative pathology,’ Dr Nawab John Dar, co-corresponding study author and postdoctoral researcher in Maher’s lab, said. 

‘Entering this state of chronoferroptosis may set neurons up for age-related failure.’

Dar noted that by using the progressive model, the team found it’s ‘not the amount of iron that seals the fate of these cells, it’s the amount of time they spend under stress.’ 

‘It’s one of the most important minerals in the body,’ he added. ‘So, it isn’t the iron itself that is a problem with age. It is this accumulation of iron over time that is the problem.’ 

The researchers were able to treat the iron toxicity with Ferrostatin-1, a synthetic antioxidant that inhibits chronoferroptosis and blocks cell stress and death. 

There were several limitations to the research, including not specifying an exact amount of iron that leads to chronoferroptosis and looking at cell models rather than humans. 

During a conversation with Bill Maher on Friday, Vice President JD Vance expressed that “America triumphs” in the situation even if Iran opts out of an agreement to conclude the conflict.

Vance remarked on “Real Time with Bill Maher” that, “Even without a finalized deal, Iran’s nuclear capabilities remain dismantled, and they emerge considerably weaker as a nation.”

He emphasized, “Therefore, I believe America’s victory is assured in any outcome.”

Vance highlighted that President Trump challenged US negotiators to do what no one had managed in 47 years of dealing with Iran: extend an offer for them to fundamentally alter their interactions with Western countries.

The vice president further stated, “Should they be open to change, we are equally prepared to adapt,” adding, “If they resist change, we still hold a decisive advantage.”

“I think it’s a good place for us to be.”