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Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin speaks at an election night party in Chantilly, Va., early Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, after he defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe. | Andrew Harnik/AP

Tuesday’s elections were the first major tests of voter sentiment since President Joe Biden took office and suggested growing frustration.

RICHMOND, Va. — Republican Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia governor’s race early Wednesday, tapping into culture war fights over schools and race to unite former President Donald Trump’s most fervent supporters with enough suburban voters to become the first GOP candidate to win statewide office in a dozen years.

The 54-year-old Youngkin’s defeat of Democrat Terry McAuliffe marked a sharp turnabout in a state that had shifted to the left over the past decade and which President Joe Biden captured by 10 points in 2020. And as the party felt the sting from that loss, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey was virtually deadlocked in his bid to win reelection in a state Biden won by 15 points.

The elections were the first major tests of voter sentiment since Biden took office and suggested growing frustration. They also underscored that, with Trump out of office, Democrats can’t center their messages on opposition to him. The results ultimately pointed to a potentially painful year ahead for Democrats as they try to maintain thin majorities in Congress.

And they put a new focus on congressional Democrats’ inability so far to pass Biden’s massive domestic policy legislation, though it’s unclear whether the defeat will be enough to jolt them into action.

The mood among Republicans was celebratory.

“This is the spirit of Virginia coming together like never before,” Youngkin told cheering supporters in a hotel ballroom in Chantilly, about 25 miles west of Washington. AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” blared from speakers as the race was called after midnight.

Youngkin promised to lead not just from the state capital but with “a vision where Virginians’ power, the power that has historically resided in the marble halls in Richmond is spread out, spread out into the kitchen tables that are held together with the bond and the spirit of liberty and freedom.”

A political neophyte, Youngkin was able to take advantage of apparent apathy among core Democratic voters fatigued by years of elections that were seen as must-wins, as well as growing frustrations with Biden and the economy. He successfully portrayed McAuliffe, a former Virginia governor, Democratic National Committee chairman and close friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, as part of an elite class of politicians. He also seized on a late-stage stumble by McAuliffe, who during a debate performance suggested parents should have a minimal role in shaping school curriculums.

Perhaps most significantly, Youngkin prevailed in a task that has stumped scores of Republicans before him: attracting Trump’s base while also appealing to suburban voters who were repelled by the former president’s divisive behavior.

During the campaign, Youngkin stated his support for “election integrity,” a nod at Trump’s lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, while also focusing on education and business-friendly policies. He never campaigned in person with Trump, successfully challenging McAuliffe’s effort to cast him as a clone of the former president.

That approach could provide a model for Republicans competing in future races that feature significant numbers of Democratic or independent voters.

Elsewhere in the country Tuesday, mayoral contests helped shape the leadership of some of the nation’s largest cities. Democratic former police captain Eric Adams won in New York, and Boston voters elected City Councilor Michelle Wu, the city’s first female and Asian American mayor. Cincinnati is getting its first Asian American mayor, Aftab Pureval.

Minneapolis voters rejected a ballot initiative that sought to overhaul policing in their city, where George Floyd was killed by a white police officer on Memorial Day 2020, sparking the largest wave of protests against racial injustice in generations. The initiative would have replaced the police force with a Department of Public Safety charged with undertaking “a comprehensive public health” approach to policing.

Stefan Jeremiah/AP
Jack Ciattarelli, Republican candidate for New Jersey governor, speaks at his election night party in Bridgewater, N.J., early Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.

In the New Jersey governor’s race, incumbent Gov. Murphy was trying to become the first Democrat reelected to the office in 44 years. But Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli posted a surprisingly strong showing, campaigning on issues including taxes and opposition to pandemic mask and vaccination mandates. The race was too early to call with votes still being tallied.

But no other contest in this off-year election season received the level of national attention — and money — as the governor’s race in Virginia, a state with broad swaths of college-educated suburban voters who are increasingly influential in swaying control of Congress and the White House.

A former co-CEO at the Carlyle Group with a lanky, 6’6″ build that once made him a reserve forward on Rice University’s basketball team, Youngkin poured vast amounts of his personal fortune into a campaign that spent more than $59 million. Favoring fleece vests, Youngkin sought to cut the image of a genial suburban dad.

Youngkin ran confidently on a conservative platform. He opposed a major clean energy mandate the state passed two years ago and objected to abortion in most circumstances.

He also opposed mask and vaccine mandates, promised to expand Virginia’s limited charter schools and ban critical race theory, an academic framework that centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nation’s institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people. In recent months, it has become a catch-all political buzzword for any teaching in schools about race and American history.

McAuliffe tried to energize the Democratic base by highlighting abortion, denouncing a new Texas law that largely banned the procedure and warning that Youngkin would seek to implement similar restrictions.

Youngkin didn’t discuss abortion much publicly, and a liberal activist caught him on tape saying the issue couldn’t help him during the campaign. He said an election win would allow the party to “start going on offense” on the issue.

While McAuliffe pulled on the star power of a host of national Democrats, including former President Barack Obama and ex-Georgia governor candidate Stacey Abrams, Youngkin largely campaigned on his own, focusing on issues he said were important to Virginians.

Youngkin also proved perhaps most successful in deflecting McAuliffe’s efforts to tie him to Trump and the former president’s divisive political style.

Polls showed the race tightening after McAuliffe said during a late September debate that he didn’t think “parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” That prompted Youngkin to run hundreds of TV ads on the statement and to focus on his own pledges to make school curricula less “un-American” and to overhaul policies on transgender students and school bathrooms.

The race took an especially bitter turn last week, when Youngkin ran an ad featuring a mother and GOP activist who eight years ago led an effort to ban “Beloved,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Black Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, from classrooms.

McAuliffe accused Youngkin of uncorking a “racist dog whistle,” but Youngkin said Virginia parents knew what was really at stake — and so did families across the country. That was a nod to how tapping into parental activism could work for the GOP next year and in future election cycles.

“America is watching Virginia,” Youngkin said as part of his closing argument. “And America needs us to vote for them too.”

Associated Press writers Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, Hank Kurz in Richmond, Alexandra Jaffe in McLean and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

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Niquita Booker, 27, is accused of walking up to Kailah Bledsoe, 22, and shooting her in the face in the 7600 block of South Morgan Street on Sunday.

Murder charges have been filed in the weekend shooting death of a woman in Gresham on the South Side.

Niquita Booker, 27, is accused of walking up to Kailah Bledsoe, 22, and shooting her in the face in the 7600 block of South Morgan Street on Sunday, according to Chicago Police.

Booker also fired at a 49-year-old man but did not hit him, police said.

Booker was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder and attempted murder. She was due in court Wednesday.

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Winter is here (again)! But don’t worry, we know what will cure the cold-weather blues — the best takeout in Chicago to warm your heart and soul! So, get your phone ready, bundle under a warm blanket, and let Chicago’s best restaurants bring your favorite meals home to you without having to change out of your slippers. Treat yourself to a hearty meal!

2542 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Wishing it was still summer and not a cold Chicago night? Be swept away to the warm Grecian beaches without leaving your couch by ordering from Andros Taverna’s takeout and delivery options.

Indulge in the Lemon Garlic Chicken made with Half Green Circle Chicken cooked with the Andros classic seasonings and topped with vibrant mountain herbs. Also, you can pair your meal with the popular Lemon Potatoes sliced accordion style and cooked in Lemon Juice, Garlic, Iliada Olive Oil and topped with Mediterranean Oregano.

Pickup is available from Toast here and Delivery options are available through GrubHub with this link.

817 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607

Roll the Credits! Sit back and relax while watching one of your favorite Old Hollywood movies during this chilly season, and let BLVD Steakhouse bring some main courses right to your doorstep. Order the BLVD Steak Frites which is a 10-oz Prime NY Strip that is sure to have you feeling like a celebrity.

Enjoy this meal with a bottle of wine by choosing a classic red or white, like the Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé or the Varichon et Clerc, “Privilège”, Blanc de Blanc. Dine like a movie star with a meal fit for one by ordering BLVD Steakhouse through DoorDash here.

500 N Clark St #465, Chicago, IL 60654

Looking to add a little spice to a gloomy, cold afternoon? Jaleo makes it really easy to get your tastebuds heating up without having to put on a coat and enjoy delivery and pickup options right at your fingertips.

Try the Patatas Bravas which are Fried Potatoes with a Spicy Tomato Sauce and Aioli, which is sure to get your mouth dancing with a little heat. Meanwhile, traditional Spanish tapas are an absolute must from Jaleo. So, try ordering the Gambas al Ajillo which is a Classic Tapa made with Shrimp and sauntéed with Garlic.

The flavors of Spain come right to your front door by checking out the to-go menu here and ordering pickup or delivery through Uber Eats.

1542 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Not much beats Asian takeout in the winter, especially after a long day at work. Urbanbelly is offering all your favorites available for delivery, which come hot and ready to warm you up after a long day.

Start off your meal with Coconut Curry Pho made with Rice Noodle, Ground Lemongrass Chicken, Cilantro, Bean Sprouts in a Young Coconut Broth. After that soup has warmed you up, try the creative Korean BBQ Beef Dumplings which is Seared Beef Dumpling topped with a BBQ Soy Sauce.

Of course, no Asian takeout meal is complete without an order of Hot Chicken Bao Buns with Cabbage, Pickle and a Lemongrass Fire Sauce. Both Delivery and Pickup options are available on urbanbelly’s website or by clicking the link here.

340 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

If you are looking for a nice meal that reminds you of home, Nonnina’s got you covered.

Nonnina To-Go has pickup options so you can have all your home cooked Italian favorites made from the heart, without having to turn on your stove. Try the Chicken and Spinach Pizza if you are looking for something new — made with local Mozzarella, Marinated Chicken, Olive Oil, Roasted Garlic, Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes, Artichokes and a Lemon Zest topping.

Nonnina’s popular subs and paninis are also available for pickup, like the classic Eggplant Parmigiana Sub with Breaded Eggplant deep fried with a Tomato Basil Sauce, Mozzarella and Parmesan. The Panini and Subs are available in both 6 and 12-inch options. Order your Italian favorites on Toast here.

205 N Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60607

PB&J’s in the West Loop has got your happy hour bites covered. Enjoy all your favorite finger foods right to your kitchen table this winter season, like the Country Chicken Sandwich with Crispy Cornflake-Crusted Fried Chicken, Creamy Slaw, Chipotle Aioli, Kosher Pickles on a Brioche Bun.

Also, be sure to order some shared plates perfect for you and all your roommates like the Gooey Wisconsin Cheese Curds, or the Chipotle Beef Sliders which is 3 House-Ground Beef Sliders with American Cheese, Caramelized Onion and a Chipotle Aioli. PB&J is available for pickup through Toast here or for delivery through DoorDash. All you need to do is grab your happy hour drink of choice, and PB&J has got the rest covered.

2075 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Craving some classic American food from your favorite neighborhood spot, but want to eat at home instead? Gemini is here for you.

Get all your favorite dishes from the essential neighborhood hangout, like the G Burger made with Monterray Jack Cheese, Pancetta Crisp, Shaved Onion, Shredded Lettuce, the Classic Gemini Aioli on a Brioche bun and Served with French Fries. If you are looking for something a little healthier, try the Vegan Veggie Bowl of Fregola (pasta), Piperade, Asparagus, Mushroom Medley, Blistered Cherry Tomatoes, Roasted Corn and a Petit Salad that is sure to be guilt-free.

Gemini is available for Pickup through Toast here or for delivery through DoorDash. Don’t worry — your neighborhood favorite will be waiting for you to stop in when the warmer weather arrives, but for now they will come to you.

1200 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Are the gusty Chicago winds stopping you from enjoying Taco Tuesday? Not at Old Puebla Cantina, where delivery and pickup are available every night of the week.

Old Puebla has everything you need to make every Tuesday night a fiesta without stepping outside this winter. Order from one of their many Taco Platters such as the Crispy Shrimp with Pacifico Butter, Chipotle Mayo, Mango-Fresno Salsa in a Flour Tortilla, or try the Al Pastor which is Grilled Pork, Charred Pineapple, Pickled Red Onion in a Flour Tortilla. Also, remember to add a drink to your order from their extensive cocktail list of the Classic Margherita or the Sonoran Sun, a Passionfruit and Raspberry Margarita.

Old Pueblo Cantina is available for Pickup through Toast here or for delivery through DoorDash.

400 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Time to go burger mode. The Smith is the place to satisfy all of your burger cravings. With such an extensive menu, everyone in the family will find something they love like the famous Smith Burger made with Bacon Shallot Jam, American Cheese, Crispy Onions, House Pickles, TSB Sauce on a Potato Bun paired with a side of Fries.

Looking for something more adventurous, try the Butternut Squash Schnitzel with Braised Red Cabbage, Cremini Mushrooms, Melted Leeks in a Dijon Beurre Blanc. The Smith is available for both Pickup and Delivery through their website. Put the grill away and have all your favorites delivered right to your door.

145 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602

The Dearborn has made it easier than ever to order your Tavern-style favorites delivered right to you or for pickup at their restaurant. Try the adventurous pizzas such as Prosciutto and Fried Egg with a Truffle Bianca Sauce, Saba, Arugula, Fontina and Chili Flakes for some spice.

Another popular pizza available to-go is the Baby Kale and Wild Mushroom Pizza with a Medley of Foraged Mushrooms, Petite Kale, a Homemade Pomodoro Sauce finished with Fontina and Mozzarella cheese. Not craving pizza tonight? Try the Midwest Fried Chicken which is Buttermilk-Marinated Chicken, Maple Mustard Glaze with a Housemade Hot Sauce and served with Dill Pickles.

The Dearborn is available for pickup at GrubHub, Ritual, Tock and Open Table and available for delivery on GrubHub and Tock.

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The Atlanta Braves have won the World Series for the first time since 1995. They defeated the Houston Astros in six games to end a very good playoff tournament. It was an outstanding performance from the team that had the worst record of any team that made it to the postseason. They proved that sometimes […] Chicago Cubs: Jorge Soler wins the World Series MVP – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

AP

The chef with a dizzying number of books, restaurants and TV shows was home in Cornwall, England, did a series of lives on Instagram cooking meals in 10 minutes or less. The fast-moving endeavor culminated in “Ramsay in 10,” his latest cookbook.

NEW YORK — How did Gordon Ramsay spend his pandemic lockdown? Getting frenetic in a kitchen, of course.

The chef with a dizzying number of books, restaurants and TV shows was home in Cornwall, England, with mouths to feed last year when he did a series of lives on Instagram cooking meals in 10 minutes or less. The fast-moving endeavor he began on YouTube the year before culminated in “Ramsay in 10,” his latest cookbook filled with recipes made against the clock.

“There’s so much fun to be had in cooking food that doesn’t need to take 60 or 70 minutes at a time,” he told The Associated Press in a recent interview on Zoom from Los Angeles. “‘Ramsay in 10’ was a bit of a miracle because it’s the first time in 20 years anyone’s ever said to me, ‘Stop. Time out.'”

The world is used to seeing a sped-up — and sometimes terrifying — Ramsay, saving failing restaurants, judging chefs competing for prize money, scaling Sicilian cliffs in search of the perfect octopus. But it’s not used to seeing him run around his own kitchen surrounded by his wife, Tana Ramsay, and their kids, ranging from 2 to 23.

AP

The Instagram lives tickled thousands of fans with the rare treat of seeing Ramsay cook in real time.

“No passports. No flights. No schedule,” he said of the shutdown. “You’re not filming. You’re staying home and you’re cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you told me that two years ago, I’d never have believed you. We had to get super creative and go quick and easy and uncomplicated.”

He had the pandemic’s strains on families top of mind.

“Every doctor and nurse was on their knees, and every hospital was bursting with anxiety and pressure,” Ramsay said. “And so what I wanted to do was to take that pressure off.”

Among his 100 recipes made in a flash: a humble omelet elevated with mozzarella and shiitake mushrooms, and another with fish sauce and shrimp. There’s a one-pan pumpkin pasta with amaretti biscuits and lemon thyme, and a quick smoked haddock kedgeree using pre-cooked rice.

Ramsay filled his book — his 31st — with shortcuts and tips on how to stock a pantry and fridge for home cooks on the go. He calls these recipes fast food at its finest — not quicker than a frozen meal tossed into a microwave but faster than a takeout delivery. And he gives home cooks grace on the clock, acknowledging his status as a seasoned pro.

“The way I used to write cookbooks was thinking I’m going to be judged by every chef on the planet. The recipes were laden with 152 ingredients. Cooking at home is completely different, and I’ve learned that so much more,” Ramsay said.

His “Ramsay in 10” is out Nov. 2 from Hachette Book Group.

At home, it’s usually Tana who does the cooking.

“She is an amazing home cook,” he said. “That’s the first time I’ve properly cooked at home. It’s like running a restaurant where no one went home.”

The 54-year-old Ramsay seems ever-present on streaming and TV networks in the U.K. and U.S. With his own production company, the shows keep coming. There’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” “MasterChef” and “MasterChef Jr.,” “Kitchen Nightmares” and “The F Word,” to name a few. His latest, “Next Level Chef,” is set to premiere on Fox in January with line cooks, home chefs, social media stars and food truck owners competing to be crowned culinary king or queen.

Among his reasons for taking to television as long ago as 1997 was to promote his restaurants. With seven Michelin stars, Ramsay now has 50 restaurants scattered around the world. And he’s thankful all survived the pandemic. His latest is due to open at the end of the year in Edinburgh.

Another thing that keeps him on screens, he said, is his lust for discovering new talent. The money ain’t bad, either. His net worth has been estimated at roughly $220 million.

Ramsay started out modestly after moving from Scotland to Stratford-upon-Avon as a boy. He washed dishes in restaurants and watched his mom toil as a restaurant cook, with a second job as a nurse. He likens the restaurant world to high-pressure competitive sport, which he caught a taste of as a teenage footballer in England before injuries took him off the pitch for good.

“So at the age of 18, when you’re down on your knees, mum always taught me from a very early age, never get bitter, just get even. Dust yourself off and pull yourself together,” he said. “So the escape in food was meant to plop myself in an area where nobody knew who I was.”

He went to France for three years to study the cuisine there, and a career was born.

To relax, Ramsay works out. He swims, jogs, rides bikes and hikes with 2-year-old Oscar on his back. Being fit serves him well in his fast-paced life on TV and at the top of a restaurant empire, he said.

“I think chefs have some of the most unethical eating habits on the planet because we don’t sit down and eat properly,” he said.

“My mum was the early influencer in terms of food. We got taught not just to respect food, but not waste it. She always said eat with your belly, not your eyes.”

AP
This image released by Hachette Book Group shows a recipe for mozzarella and basil omelette with asparagus and shiitake mushrooms from Gordon Ramsay’s new book “Ramsay in 10: Delicious Recipes Made in a Flash.”Read More

An off-duty Chicago police officer was shot and killed inside his Northwest Side home, authorities said. | Sun-Times file

The shooting occurred Tuesday evening in the 8500 block of West Winona Street.

An off-duty Chicago police officer was fatally shot inside a home near O’Hare Airport on Tuesday evening, apparently by another off-duty officer who also lived there, according to Chicago police.

The shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. in the 8500 block of West Winona Street, police said in a brief statement. The off-duty officer, 44, suffered a single gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at Lutheran General Hospital, it said.

His name has not been released.

The statement said the shooting involved two off-duty Chicago police officers who lived in the home and that it was being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

No charges were announced, but the officer involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days, police said. The department released no other details.

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The NFL trade deadline expired and the Chicago Bears let it pass by like Deebo Samuel running away from practically every Bears defender–they did nothing. The Bears are still making every effort towards a playoff push. It seems delusional especially amid a three-game losing streak, a 3-5 record and an offense that makes scoring points seem […] The Chicago Bears’ 2021 NFL trade deadline was an embarrassment – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

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An off-duty Chicago police officer was shot and taken to the hospital in “very critical condition,” according to the fire department. | Sun-Times file

The shooting occurred Tuesday evening in the 8500 block of West Winona Street.

An off-duty Chicago police officer was fatally shot inside a home near O’Hare Airport on Tuesday evening, apparently by other off-duty officer who also lived there, according to Chicago police.

The shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. in the 8500 block of West Winona Street, police said in a brief statement. The off-duty officer, 44, suffered a single gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at Lutheran General Hospital, it said.

His name has not been released.

The statement said the shooting involved two off-duty Chicago police officers who lived in the home and that it was being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

No charges were announced, but the officer involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days, police said. The department released no other details.

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