Afternoon Briefing: Key witness in Madigan probe appears in court

Good afternoon, Chicago.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said that any decision on a resolution promoting a cease-fire in Gaza would have to come from the City Council.

He recently said city officials “hear the concerns of our local Aurora community members,” but pointed out that “any action taken at a municipal level is purely symbolic and will not influence global political decisions.”

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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Judge tells key witness in Madigan probe he handed ‘beautiful piece of ammunition’ to defense team by lying on gun application

Former ComEd executive Fidel Marquez, a key witness in the upcoming racketeering trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, says he was just trying to buy a handgun last month to shoot rattlesnakes threatening his home in the Arizona desert when he inadvertently lied about his criminal status on federal paperwork. Read more here.

More top news stories:

• Will County health officials report positive measles case at ER in Joliet hospital, the second one in the county

• Gary officials, police tout substantial drug busts in Gary, Merrillville

Justice Department can reopen Realtors case, court rules

A federal appeals court on Friday rejected a bid by the Chicago-based National Association of Realtors to enforce a 2020 settlement with the Trump administration to close the antitrust case. Read more here.

More top business stories:

• McDonald’s buys its Israeli restaurants from franchisee who sparked costly boycotts

• Northwest Indiana attorneys advise interested students about legal careers

Chicago baseball report: Cubs hitters avoid early tinkering — and Martín Maldonado’s impact on the White Sox pitching staff

Close games have been the early trend for the Sox. Four of their first five were decided by one run for the first time since 1992. Read more here.

More top sports stories:

• Can the Los Angeles Dodgers keep their bats blazing on the road? Up first: Chicago Cubs.

• DeMar DeRozan responds to backlash after receiving medal in front of ‘Solidarity with Israel’ banner: ‘I’ve never gotten involved with the politics side of things’

Review: In thrilling Shostakovich, CSO music director designate Klaus Mäkelä shows 2027 can’t come soon enough

If Thursday’s CSO concert alone foretells Mäkelä’s future with the institution, the orchestra made the right choice. Read more here.

More top Eat. Watch. Do. stories:

• Brett Gelman spoke in Glencoe about his book — as well as about all the protesters that have shut down his book tour

• Tim Robinson’s ‘I Think You Should Leave’ tour is guests, unaired sketches and the occasional awkward moment — just like the show

• What to do around Chicago: Greektown parade, Righteous Brothers and a dance premiere set to Gershwin

An earthquake centered between NYC and Philadelphia rattles much of the Northeast

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a quake at 10:23 a.m. with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8, centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. Read more here.

More top stories from around the world:

• Survivors of Taiwan’s historic quake recall harrowing moments of tremors, being trapped under rocks

• Biden is touring collapsed Baltimore bridge where recovery effort has political overtones