CHICAGO >> An investment group led by a former Chicago alderman and a coalition of labor unions are the new owners of the Chicago Sun-Times, it was announced Thursday in an unusual deal that revived questions about media ownership and influence over coverage.
ST Acquisition Holdings LLC, which includes former City Council member Edwin Eisendrath and representatives from the Chicago Federation of Labor, billed itself as a “unique alliance” to preserve a newspaper that has faced financial troubles over the years.
CFL President Jorge Ramirez will serve as chairman of the newspaper.
Eisendrath, who left the City Council in 1993 when he was appointed to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development post, submitted a bid last month after Sun-Times owner Wrapports LLC announced it would enter into discussions with Tronc Inc., which owns the rival Chicago Tribune, to acquire the paper.
Las Vegas getting new casino on Strip
Las Vegas will be getting its first new casino on the Strip in nearly a decade. And the only casino currently operating in New York City, at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, is getting an upgrade to include a 400-room hotel with a celebrity-chef restaurant.
They’re both part of the huge U.S. expansion plans of the Genting Group, a Malaysian conglomerate that’s seeking to move beyond its Asian roots — not just in New York and Las Vegas, but in Miami and suburban Massachusetts as well. Genting said the cost of the project near New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is $400 million.
In 2020, Genting plans to open the 3,000-room centerpiece of its U.S. strategy on the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip, where construction on the $4 billion project has recently started, said Edward Farrell, president of Genting Americas. The Strip hasn’t seen a major hotel opening since 2009.
ON THE MOVE
Anthology Marketing Group has announced the following new hire and promotions:
Sierra Mendiola joins as media coordinator in its advertising group. She was previously with iHeartMedia. Stephanie Maris was promoted to account executive in its advertising group from assistant account executive in its public relations group. Her experience includes working as an account manager for Sinclair Communications in Hong Kong. Michelle Hee was promoted to senior account executive in its public relations group from account coordinator. Her client accounts include the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau and ‘Iolani School. Leilani Diga was promoted to assistant account executive in its public relations group from account coordinator. Her client accounts include the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.
