Authorities have confirmed the presence of members of the dangerous Venezuelan gang the Tren de Aragua in the Chicago area.

This transnational criminal organization, which has managed to spread its terror very quickly throughout South America, is in the United States, according to intelligence reports from local agencies.

Since at least October 2023, intelligence divisions of the Cook County Sheriff's Office confirmed through internal emails obtained by Telemundo Chicago that members of the Aragua Train are in Chicago.

Garry McCarthy, police chief for suburban Willow Spring and former police superintendent for Chicago, calls the Aragua Train a criminal enterprise and confirms that it is operating in Chicago.

Through emails reported by Telemundo Chicago, officers alerted their internal units that “the gang has strong human trafficking operations in Latin America and that multiple agencies have confirmed its presence within the United States.”

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/members-of-feared-venezuelan-gang-tren-de-aragua-are-in-chicago-authorities-say/3338210/#:~:text=At%20least%20one%20member%20of,a%20dozen%20police%20officers%20participated.

Nearly a dozen mainstream media companies are gutting staff and scrambling to rescue their struggling businesses.

Why it matters: The media business is shrinking at the national, state and local levels — a scary, stark new reality for thousands of journalists.

The big picture: Media cuts were so severe last year that most industry observers weren't expecting such intense cutbacks in 2024. But an ongoing bloodbath is decimating news outlets nationwide.

It's also fueling a new round of conflict between unions and management as tensions run high.

Driving the news: Forbes' newsroom union began a three-day walkout Thursday arguing management was union busting. Its CEO announced layoffs later that afternoon hitting roughly 3% of the company.

Insider announced it was eliminating 8% of its workforce, months after a union strike over a contract impasse with management.

The New York Daily News editorial union walked off the job Thursday to protest "chronic cuts" by its owner, private equity firm Alden Capital.

Paramount CEO Bob Bakish warned employees Thursday that the company is planning a fresh round of layoffs.

The Los Angeles Times planned a one-day, multicity walkout in protest of plans for 115 job cuts. Two top editors resigned, less than two weeks after executive editor Kevin Merida stepped down.

Condé Nast saw hundreds of union workers walk off the job Tuesday to protest hundreds of previously announced layoffs impacting approximately 5% of staff, or roughly 300 people.

Sports Illustrated's newsroom was gutted by sweeping layoffs after its parent company, The Arena Group, failed to make a $3.75 million quarterly payment to the group from which it licenses the Sports Illustrated brand.

Several media companies are also trying to sell some of their most recognized brands in an effort to free up cash:

BuzzFeed is having conversations about selling two of its premier brands, Complex and Tasty.

Red Ventures is trying to dump CNET.

Paramount is having conversations with multiple potential buyers or merge partners, including Warner Bros. Discovery and Skydance Media.

https://www.axios.com/2024/01/26/media-layoffs-strikes-journalism-dying