Good morning, Chicago. After passing a series of landmark environmental bills in Illinois over the last few years, advocates and legislators are hoping to use that momentum to push through a new law that would regulate the growing data center industry in the state, ensuring efficient energy and wate r use and protections for ratepayers from rising utility bills. “We cannot afford to be complacent now. As new industries emerge, we must continue strengthening regulations,” Lucy Contreras, Illinois state program director for GreenLatinos, said at a news conference. The growing use of artificial intelligence has drawn water-intensive data centers to regions where the resource is abundant, such as the Great Lakes, where experts say not all communities have the capacity to sustainably support the industry. The facilities also use massive amounts of energy that are driving electricity rates up for neighbors and nearby residents. Read the full story from the Tribune’s Adriana Pérez. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including a Chicago police workforce study calling for hundreds of cops and civilians to be hired, a conversation with the UIC professor who heads up sports sciences for US Figure Skating and what to do in Chicago for Valentine’s Day. Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles Games | Today in History Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AG Pam Bondi clashes with Democrats as she struggles to turn the page on Epstein files furor Attorney General Pam Bondi launched into a passionate defense of President Donald Trump yesterday as she tried to turn the page from relentless criticism of the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, repeatedly shouting at Democrats during a combative hearing in which she postured herself as the Republican president’s chief protector. Juan Espinoza Martinez with his three U.S.-born children. Espinoza Martinez is facing deportation despite a jury finding him not guilty of putting a bounty on Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino during Operation Midway Blitz. (Family photo) Immigration judge denies bond for Chicago man acquitted in Bovino murder-for-hire plot His wife, who met Juan Espinoza Martinez when they were in high school, said she found it “absurd” that the judge chose to favor the government’s claims that Espinoza Martinez was a gang member or that he tried to put a hit on a federal agent. “He was initially detained based on false information. Homeland Security is still labeling him as a high-ranking gang member, even though it has been proven that he has no gang ties,” Bianca Hernandez said. Mayor Brandon Johnson greets Hilario Dominguez, of Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, during a City Club of Chicago event at Maggiano's Banquets on Feb. 11, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune) Aldermen opposed to Mayor Brandon Johnson on budget announce ‘accountability commission’ Mayor Brandon Johnson’s fight with aldermen about the 2026 budget continued yesterday as a City Council majority said they are organizing themselves to monitor his administration’s execution of the spending plan that passed over his objections. Chicago Police Department recruits take the oath of office during a Chicago Police Department Graduation and Promotion Ceremony on July 22, 2025 at Navy Pier. The ceremony recognized graduates from three recruit classes as well as recently promoted captains, lieutenants, sergeants, detectives and field training officers. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune) Chicago police workforce study calls for hundreds of cops, civilians to be hired A long-awaited analysis of the Chicago Police Department’s staffing and deployment calls for the hiring of hundreds more officers while urging scores of other positions be shifted to civilians. Lorena Gualan makes Chicago dogs at Portillo’s on Sept. 24, 2024. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Portillo’s taps new CEO, an industry veteran who held executive roles at Outback Steakhouse and Ruby Tuesday  Industry veteran Brett Patterson, whose resume includes executive roles at Outback Steakhouse, Ruby Tuesday and Olive Garden, will take the reins of Portillo’s on Feb. 23, the company announced yesterday. Alysa Liu of Team United States competes in the Women's Short Program on day zero of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 06, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) A conversation with the UIC professor who heads up sports sciences for US Figure Skating Among TV viewers, figure skating is consistently one of the most anticipated events at the Winter Olympics. But for Lindsay Slater Hannigan, who is director of the human and sport performance laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago, it’s more than a spectator sport. She is the sports sciences manager for U.S. Figure Skating —  the national governing body for figure skating — and she is currently in Stamford, Connecticut, helping NBC produce its coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Dozens of baseballs fill a bin before being used for infield grounders during White Sox spring training, Feb. 10, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Column: Spring training renews optimism for the Cubs and White Sox — no matter where you’re watching Nothing brings joy to baseball fans like the start of spring training, when the possibilities are endless and opening day is suddenly within view, writes Paul Sullivan. The Cubs and White Sox are off and running, with differing expectations but the same basic plan of selling hope to fans starving for bigger and (relatively) better things in 2026. Erick Fedde, back with the Chicago White Sox, aims to return ‘brick by brick’ to his 2024 form ‘There’s unfinished business’: Chicago Cubs open camp with high expectations — and embrace the challenge Actor Bud Cort poses at the premiere of the film "Masterminds" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Sept. 26, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) ‘Harold and Maude’ star Bud Cort dies at 77 Bud Cort, who personified the role of Harold in the 1971 Hal Ashby classic “Harold and Maude,” died yesterday in Connecticut after a long illness. He was 77. His longtime friend Dorian Hannaway reported his death. Felipe Carrasco and Aurora Real de Asua in "Hedda Gabler" by Remy Bumppo Theatre Co. at Theater Wit. (Michael Brosilow) Review: Unhappy lust and uneasy friendship in Remy Bumppo’s ‘Hedda Gabler’ Shortly after Mrs. Hedda Tesman, née Hedda Gabler, returns from her honeymoon, she complains that every room in her new marital home “reeks of lavender and roses,” carrying an inescapable whiff of death, writes Emily McClanathan. In Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s new production of Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play, directed by Marti Lyons, the design team takes this line to heart. There will be a special Valentine's Day edition of the Navy Pier Fireworks on Saturday night, Feb. 14. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) What to do in Chicago for Valentine’s Day, from a Taylor Swift party to fireworks Here are our picks for events in and around Chicago this Valentine’s Day weekend. ...read more read less