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Chicago raises hotel tourist tax to 19% to boost tourism marketing funds

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March 19, 2026
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The Chicago City Council has agreed to raise its tourist tax in an effort to grow traveler marketing programs.
The vote on Ordinance 2026-0022544 will raise the tax on hotel rooms within that district to 19% from the rate of 17.5% — which includes a combined city, county and state tax, according to the Chicago Sun Times.
The increase will be applied to hotel stays at properties in the downtown and surrounding areas that contain over 100 rooms.
LAS VEGAS TOURISM PLUMMETS AS OFFICIALS CONSIDER $6M PLAN TO WIN BACK CANADIAN VISITORS
The increase will apply to room rates at hotels with 100 or more rooms that agree to opt in.
The city council also passed the formation of the Tourism Improvement District (TID) — which will fund Choose Chicago, the city’s official destination marketing organization.

Chicago is raising tourist taxes on downtown hotel bookings to 19% to boost tourism marketing efforts. (iStock)
Revenue will be used for city marketing campaigns and to cover bid fees for conventions and major events.
Chicago is already targeting the Democratic National Convention, which requires a $1 million bid.
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The Windy City previously hosted the DNC in August 2024.
Earlier this month, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) advanced bids from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver and Philadelphia.

The City Council also passed the formation of the Tourism Improvement District. (Robert Knopes/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Its advisory board is considering several factors, the DNC said — including a “commitment to selecting a city that shares Democratic values.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a press release after the City Council’s vote, praising the decision.
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“Chicago is a premier city for tourism, business travelers, conventions and large-scale events,” said Johnson.
“My administration will continue our collaboration with Choose Chicago, as we continue to build up Chicago’s tourism and hospitality industry while leveraging economic growth and development to continue building safe and affordable communities across our city,” he added.

Chicago is already targeting the Democratic National Convention, which requires a $1 million bid. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Choose Chicago president and CEO Kristen Reynolds said in a press release that this marks a “transformative moment” for the city.
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“With the TID in place, we now have the enhanced resources to match the ambition and vibrancy of our city,” said Reynolds.
She added, “This investment will allow us to amplify our marketing efforts, attract more conventions and events and ultimately deliver significant benefits to Chicago’s economy and communities.”
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Guy Chipparoni, chair of the Choose Chicago board of directors, said in a statement, “It sends a message to our competing cities that when it comes to attracting visitors, Chicago means business.”
Reacting on social media to the news about the tax hike, one person wrote, “19% tax on a hotel room, making it the highest in the nation. Vacations can get pricey, especially for a family. How would this help tourism?”
Another X user wrote, “Democrats in Chicago will even dream up a breath tax. It’s not far away.”

Ashley J. DiMella is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.

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Kouri Richins juror says panel went from sympathy to guilty verdict: report

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March 19, 2026
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A juror in the murder trial of Utah children’s book author Kouri Richins is speaking out for the first time, describing how the panel went from early sympathy to a unanimous guilty verdict in the fentanyl poisoning death of her husband.
Richins, 35, now faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison after the jury found her guilty on all counts. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 13 at 9:30 a.m. MST.
In an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” juror Laura said her initial impression of Richins shifted dramatically as the trial unfolded.
“The first thing we hear is these terrible things about her … and she’s just sitting there like all by herself,” Laura said. “At first, I was thinking … that Kouri was definitely feeling trapped.”
UTAH CHILDREN’S AUTHOR KOURI RICHINS SAYS STATE THREATENED WITNESSES AHEAD OF TRIAL IN HUSBAND’S POISONING

Body camera video is displayed on a screen during the murder trial of Kouri Richins during her murder trial at the Summit County Courthouse, in Park City, Utah, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (Spenser Heaps/AP Photo, Pool)
That changed once prosecutors presented forensic evidence.
“I was blown out of the water,” she said, pointing to cellphone data that helped jurors track movements tied to alleged drug purchases.
“We all led to the same conclusion, that she was guilty.”
SUSPECTED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN’S LAWYER POUNCES ON WITNESS FLIP IN UTAH POISON MOM CASE
Rather than taking an immediate vote, jurors held a roundtable discussion to talk through the evidence and their reactions.
“People were really sad, because they did not want to find her guilty… and it was really heartbreaking,” Laura said.
Laura also described Richins as largely emotionless during the trial, saying she appeared “like a statue” and showed little reaction — even when the verdict was read.
UTAH MOM IN UPSCALE SKI COMMUNITY KILLED HUSBAND TO FUND ROMANCE AND LAVISH LIFESTYLE, DA SAYS

Kouri Richins, a Utah mother accused of fatally poisoning her husband, looks on during her murder trial at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (Spenser Heaps/AP Photo, Pool)
As Richins awaits sentencing, growing attention is also focusing on her mother, Lisa Darden, amid new court filings and past allegations referenced by investigators.
Defense attorneys have made multiple attempts to have counsel appointed for Darden — an unusual move that suggests she could face potential legal exposure if called to testify.
Richins’ former attorney, Skye Lazaro, told Fox News Digital the defense initially filed a motion requesting the court appoint counsel for Darden, but the state objected. Both the defense request and the prosecution’s objection remain sealed by the court.
CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR KOURI RICHINS SAYS SCANDAL AND NOTORIETY POISONED HER MURDER TRIAL

Kouri Richins, left, a Utah mother of three who authorities say fatally poisoned her husband, Eric Richins, then wrote a children’s book about grieving, stands with her attorney Skye Lazaro during a status hearing Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)
According to Lazaro, the defense renewed that effort in December, and portions of the filing were made public.
“It is my understanding from what was made public they asked for her to be appointed counsel to protect her constitutional rights,” Lazaro said, adding that the defense also sought court-appointed attorneys for several other potential witnesses.
The filings suggest Darden could be a key witness, though the exact scope of her potential testimony remains unclear.
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Kathy Nester, the defense attorney for Kouri Richins, shows the jury an image of a pill bottle while delivering her opening statement in Richins’ murder trial at the Summit County Courthouse in Park City, Utah, Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (Spenser Heaps/AP Photo, Pool)
Defense attorneys Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
But this isn’t the first time Darden has drawn scrutiny.
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In a May 2023 search warrant affidavit, a Summit County Sheriff’s Office detective wrote that Darden may have been “involved in planning and orchestrating Eric’s death,” citing her proximity to a separate, earlier death.
According to the affidavit, Darden was living with a romantic partner in 2006 when the woman died unexpectedly. An autopsy determined the cause of death was oxycodone toxicity.
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Kouri Richins was found guilty of poisoning her husband to death. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool/ Facebook)
The detective noted Darden had recently been named the beneficiary of her partner’s estate and wrote that, based on his training and experience, the circumstances would “likely rule out the possibility of an accidental overdose.”
The affidavit further stated that, given Darden’s “proximity to her partner’s suspicious overdose death” and her close relationship with her daughter, “it is possible she was involved in planning and orchestrating Eric’s death.”
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Lazaro pushed back on that characterization, telling Fox News Digital previously that the earlier death was consistent with the broader opioid crisis.
“[She] was one of the millions that suffered from, and ultimately succumbed to, opioid addiction,” Lazaro said. “It is tragic, and unfortunately, quite common.”
Darden could not immediately be reached for comment.
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Prosecutors alleged Richins killed her husband in March 2022 by lacing a drink with fentanyl in a bid to collect millions in life insurance and gain control of the couple’s finances.
The case drew national attention in part because Richins later authored a children’s book about grief titled “Are You With Me?” for her three sons.
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A medical examiner found Eric Richins had more than five times the lethal amount of fentanyl in his system.
Richins denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

Stepheny Price is a Writer at Fox News with a focus on West Coast and Midwest news, missing persons, national and international crime stories, homicide cases, and border security.

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Weather: The weather took a sudden turn, the cold increased due to snowfall on the mountains; Alert of rain with strong wind for next 48 hours – India Weather Updates Western Disturbance Rain Snowfall Up Punjab Haryana Forecast Imd Alert

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March 19, 2026
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Due to western disturbance, the weather in North India has taken a sudden turn. Severe cold with rain and snowfall has been recorded in the mountains and plains of North India including Delhi-NCR. The effect of change in weather was clearly felt. The temperature has dropped.

Delhi-NCR remained cloudy since morning and by evening there was light to moderate rain at many places along with thunder and lightning. There has been fresh snowfall in the high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, due to which the cold has increased further. Its effect is visible in the plains also.

Alert of rain and hailstorm with thunder in the next 48 hours
According to the Meteorological Department, during the next 24 to 48 hours, a strong western disturbance will be active over the mountains, due to which the weather will be bad in the higher reaches of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. During this time, winds will blow at a speed of 30 to 50 kilometers per hour and there will be rain and snowfall along with thunder. Here, due to the effect of disturbance, the movement of clouds continues across North India.

On March 20, there is a danger of lightning due to strong dust storm, rain and hailstorm in some parts of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. There is a possibility of widespread damage to the Rabi crop due to bad weather. On Friday, an alert of thunderstorm and heavy rain has been issued at many places in the northeastern states of Odisha, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. According to the department, due to the active western disturbance, rain and strong winds will continue in many parts of North-West and Central India.

Cold returns in Jammu, mercury drops by 3 to 5 degrees in Rajasthan
The weather has completely changed in Jammu and Kashmir. The effect of strong western disturbance has intensified, due to which rain and snowfall continues in most parts of the valley. The cold phase has returned due to falling temperature. On the other hand, in Rajasthan, there is a possibility of thunderstorm and rain in some parts of Jaipur, Bharatpur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Udaipur, Shekhawati and Kota divisions in the next 2 days. Due to the effect of changed weather in the state, the maximum temperature has dropped by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.

Rain and snowfall will continue in Uttarakhand and Himachal
For the time being, rain and snowfall will continue in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Heavy rain and snowfall is expected at some places in Lahaul-Spiti, Kukumseri, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Chamba and Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.

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Due to this reason the release date of Salman Khan’s ‘Mathrubhoomi’ postponed; This actor was going to become a villain, died in the middle of shooting – Prashant Tamang Death Delays Salman Khan Starrer Maatrubhumi Release He Was Playing Villan In Movie

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March 19, 2026
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Salman Khan’s ‘Battle of Galwan’, which has now been renamed ‘Mathrubhoomi’, was earlier scheduled to release in April. But now such information is coming out that due to some changes in the script, the release of the film has been postponed. One of the main reasons for the delay in release is being said to be the untimely demise of actor-singer Prashant Tamang.

Prashant Tamang’s demise became a big reason
A source associated with the film told India Today that ‘Indian Idol 3’ winner Prashant Tamang was going to play the main villain in ‘Mathrubhoomi’. He had also shot many important scenes.

However, at the time of his death in January, some important scenes were still to be shot. The team had some fixed schedules in which Prashant had to shoot some very important scenes. But due to his demise, the film team is now facing problems.

Although the makers had earlier considered re-shooting Prashant’s scenes, it does not seem possible at the moment. The source said that close-up shots could be taken, but he was also a part of many action scenes. This would not only be economically impractical, but would also be a major challenge from a systemic point of view.
The film may be released on Independence Day
Apart from this, Salman Khan’s availability for dates and the continuity of his look are also increasing the challenges. Due to this the situation is becoming even more difficult for the team. At one point, he was even considering hiring another actor to play Prashant’s role or superimposing Prashant’s face in the remaining scenes through artificial intelligence and VFX.

However, for this, the consent of his family will be necessary. The source said that a decision will be taken by the end of this month as the shooting of the film is completed and post-production has started. At present, the team has not decided on the release date. But considering the theme of the film, it can be targeted to release it on Independence Day.

Government to fund clear-up of illegal tips in north of England | UK News

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March 19, 2026
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The government has said it will directly fund the clear-up of 48,000 tonnes of waste at illegal tips in the north of England, following criticism of a north-south divide on tackling waste crime.
Sky News had highlighted how locals in Bickershaw, near Wigan – whose homes have been infested with rats because of the waste – said they felt abandoned by the Environment Agency.

That followed the government setting aside £9m for clearing up a similar-sized waste site in Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
The decision to clear waste from sites in Wigan, Sheffield and Lancashire is part of a major raft of measures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency.
It describes the plans as its “toughest ever crackdown” on waste criminals.

“Waste criminals have been damaging our communities, countryside, environment and economy for too long. This action plan sends a clear message: dump illegally and you will face the full consequences,” said Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds.
The 10-point plan unveiled by the Environment Agency includes plans for faster intelligence handling, a more consistent and quicker response to dumping reports, and naming and shaming operators involved.
Sky News was given exclusive access to a new drone squad – part of the latest measures – which are equipped with lasers, thermal imaging and cameras to help gather evidence and spot illegal waste dumps.
James Burton is one of the 33 new pilots. He said: “It can be used very effectively for evidence gathering, the photographs we can take from the sky, it paints the picture of the significant level of impact this has had on the countryside and it enables us to better sell the story to a jury and the judge.”

Family ‘torn apart’ by huge waste dump – with rats ‘everywhere’

Steve Molyneux, the Environment Agency director of environment and business, said the agency is committed to tackling organised criminals behind waste crime.
He said: “My message to the criminals is we’ll be working with our partners at the police, HMRC and local authorities and we’ll all be bearing down and coming after you.”

Waste criminals face major crackdown

He also said officials want to get to sites sooner, before dumping gets out of hand: “As soon as we’re in there, we can use things like restriction orders to stop activity virtually immediately on site, so the more we can work with people to get that early detection the more we can work on prevention.”
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Analysis

Dan Whitehead

West of England and Wales correspondent
@danwnews

Make no mistake – this is the government’s big attempt to try and get ahead of news agenda that is increasingly dominated by the latest mega dump and the lives blighted by it.

Its plans contain a quick solution: in an attempt to quash north/south divide accusations, throw millions of pounds to clear three sites in the north of England, which is of course welcome.

Around £20m is already being spent at the dumps in south at Hoad’s Wood, Kent and Kidlington, Oxfordshire.

But that doesn’t solve the problem – the fact that it is simply so profitable for criminals to either dump inconspicuously or to buy up cheap land and slowly fill it up with tens of thousand of tonnes of waste; a far cheaper option than paying landfill tax.

To tackle this, the EA’s 10-point master plan. The key points are faster intervention – getting to sites before they become mega-dumps. Urging the public to report anything suspicious, to be their eyes and ears on the ground.

But this will be frustrating to many locals who say they repeatedly alerted authorities about dumping no to avail – the dump then becomes so big it costs millions to sort, with the culprits long gone.

I pressed the EA on whether there’d been any failures in its handling of the situation so far – they admitted there are “challenges” but insist the 10-point plan is the solution.

There’s a new unit to pull together intelligence gathering, suspending and revoking permits of those caught, and plans to force fly-tippers to clean-up dumping hot spots, unpaid, for 20 hours.

But they will have a fight on their hands. A senior waste executive told me the organised gangs behind waste crime think the plans are “hilarious”, describing it as the “easiest fraud opportunity ever”.

Earlier this week, DEFRA announced plans to create so-called “clean-up squads” – with fly-tippers given conditional cautions by local authorities, making them clear up waste unpaid for up to 20 hours.
It also revealed that EA officers will be given new police-style plans to intervene earlier and seized assets and search premises without a warrant.
Reacting to the announcements, Baroness Sheehan, Chair of the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee said she welcomed the measures but that the devil is in the detail: “As our initial inquiry found, the Environment Agency has had sufficient powers in the past to stop the illegal dumping of waste across the country but has failed to use them.

Image: Some people’s homes have been infested by rats

“The apparent additional enforcement powers and budget afforded to them today means it is time for them to step up to the plate.
“The Committee looks forward to questioning Philip Duffy, the chief executive of the Environment Agency, next week about how he plans to deliver effective regulation and enforcement.”

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