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[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rosemary Regina Sobol"
] | 2016-08-30T20:49:07 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-man-convicted-of-fatally-shooting-ex-wife-given-90-year-sentence-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5e8b9/turbine/ct-man-convicted-of-fatally-shooting-ex-wife-given-90-year-sentence-20160830 | en | null | 90 years for man convicted of fatally shooting ex-wife at UIC Medical Center | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A West Side man was sentenced to 90 years in prison Tuesday for ambushing his ex-wife and shooting her to death as she left her job at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center on Thanksgiving Day in 2011.
Earl Roberts, 52, was convicted of murder in the death of Angela Bonds, 48, who was killed as she finished her shift on Nov. 24, 2011, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
She had been walking to a parking garage with two men, one of them her fiancé, prosecutors said. Roberts, who worked at the hospital as a housekeeper, had been married to Bonds but the two had been separated for several years and eventually divorced.
Wearing a hoodie over his head, Roberts followed Bonds and the two men in their cars, prosecutors said. As they entered the parking garage, Roberts pulled out a .357-caliber revolver and began firing.
The first bullet shattered a glass window and the second struck Bonds in the back, and she fell onto the concrete floor. Roberts stood over his ex-wife and fired a bullet into her head, according to prosecutors.
Bonds, of the 3400 block of South Harlem Avenue in Riverside, was pronounced dead on the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
The fiance hid in bushes as Roberts fled and the hospital complex was placed under lock-down. SWAT teams combed the area and the lock-down was lifted after a search came up empty, police and hospital officials said.
The next morning, a university police officer saw Roberts get into the passenger side of a van. Police followed the van and curbed it near 14th and Damen, but Roberts took off his jacket and fled on foot, tossing a gun over a fence, police said.
Roberts was finally arrested about seven hours after the attack at 13th Street and Hoyne Avenue, about a half-mile from the shooting. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-man-convicted-of-fatally-shooting-ex-wife-given-90-year-sentence-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/0f4c96ff661a1ea98d68f7139ce3ec4b23869f74305a1ffff4a4a0032f86df92.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Irv Leavitt"
] | 2016-08-26T13:23:27 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fnorthbrook%2Fnews%2Fct-nbs-saf-t-gard-tl-0901-20160825-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bf12fc/turbine/ct-nbs-saf-t-gard-tl-0901-20160825 | en | null | High voltage: Northbrook's Saf-T-Gard turns 80 | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Members of the family that runs Northbrook-based Saf-T-Gard International say they know that almost every one of the firm's more than 10,000 safety-related products can be purchased somewhere else, sometimes at lower prices.
So in addition to selling the stuff, they're in the business of making sure that it actually works.
As the company marks its 80th year, company vice president Loren Rivkin said, that one-quarter to one-third of its trade is dedicated to testing equipment used by people that have to handle or come in proximity with high voltages. Many of the gloves, sleeves and mats that must protect against 15,000 volts of electricity or more must be tested every six months, according to federal regulations.
Twenty-five of 65 Saf-T-Gard employees now work at the testing lab, said Loren's father, CEO Richard Rivkin, 68. It was one of the busiest such labs in the nation among those not owned by a big company like Commonwealth Edison, which tests its own equipment in Maywood, he said.
A pair of $150 gloves designed to withstand 20,000 volts costs about $7 to test in Northbrook, he said. But the key to its profit generation is "being able to provide the testing service gives us a niche for opening up everything else in the catalog."
The business was founded in Chicago in 1936 by Leo and Lillian Rivkin as Latex Glove Manufacturing Company, exploiting a new technology pioneered in the children's balloon business. Cotton gloves, fitted onto wooden hands, were dipped into liquid latex to make them waterproof.
Over the years, the company moved from the control of the founders to their son Norman Rivkin, and, in 1994, to Richard Rivkin. Two major events appear to have changed the direction of the company.
The first was a 1942 fire at the small company's then-headquarters at 213 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, which, Loren Rivkin said, started in a paint factory two floors above. The factory's equipment plunged through the floor and flattened the latex operation.
The business was already challenged by short latex supplies due to World War II production, and then, with all the equipment destroyed, war contracts were unlikely, Richard Rivkin said. So the company started concentrating on distributing other manufacturers' products instead of making their own.
The other big change came in the 1970s, when General Motors was squeezing the company on the price of leather-palmed gloves so hard that the margin was shrinking to pennies, Richard Rivkin said. So the company stopped selling to GM and began diversifying, selling and buying overseas.
Richard Rivkin had visited China to set up deals, including glove manufacturing, shortly after Nixon opened up the country to travel in 1972, his son said. In the early 1980s, the company got into the testing business.
The company moved from Chicago to a 48,000-square-foot Northbrook building in 1979, and to its present 80,000-square-foot building at 205 Huehl Road in 1986. Richard Rivkin became well known in town, serving as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and head of the Northbrook Rotary Club. He is now district governor for much of Rotary's northeastern Illinois region.
With the move to the suburbs came the name change to Saf-T-Gard, which gave birth to a succession of similarly-named products: Enviro-Gard protective garments, Prima-Gard gloves, Visi-Gard safety glasses.
Despite its basis in technology oriented products, the company didn't get into social media until 2015, and its customers' ordering habits remain somewhat old fashioned.
The majority of orders are by fax, phone and email, and not via the company website, Loren Rivkin said.
Such purchasing methods may be suited to customers' styles.
"I'm in the kind of business where you may need something right away," said Steve Young, safety director of Arlington Heights' Riddiford Roofing. "On a job, we may need something odd, or weird, and we get it."
Riddiford's purchases include leather gloves and Kevlar gloves, so workers don't cut their hands, and fall protection equipment, such as harnesses and ropes. Young said the prices are competitive.
He said that typical employees have been with the company for more than 10 years. He and his father understand that their first interest is providing for their own families, and that's fine, as long as they remember one thing.
"We're doing what we're doing so that everybody who uses our services gets back home safely to their own families," he said.
ileavitt@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @IrvLeavitt | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/northbrook/news/ct-nbs-saf-t-gard-tl-0901-20160825-story.html | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/5e6e4e6ae4e31945dc5b80608dad03356980516a291a92b18d74e5d36ec72d59.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Dawn Rhodes"
] | 2016-08-30T22:48:54 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-amusement-tax-ordinance-amendment-met-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c605ce/turbine/ct-amusement-tax-ordinance-amendment-met-20160830 | en | null | Commissioner seeks to exempt clubs featuring DJs from amusement tax law | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A Cook County board member wants to change the amusement tax ordinance in response to a court case in which the county is seeking $400,000 in unpaid taxes from two West Town venues.
Commissioner John Fritchey on Tuesday filed his amendment of the 19-year-old law.
The county collects 3 percent of ticket prices for live performances of music, theater, sports and other entertainment. Cook County is asserting that Evil Olive and Beauty Bar, both in Noble Square, have ducked paying their share for years, while the owners argue their venues are too small to be taxed under the ordinance.
The move comes about a week after a court hearing in which an administrative law judge suggested she did not think DJ-produced music, which both businesses feature, qualified as a live musical performance as defined by the law. Under Fritchey's proposed changes, shows featuring DJs would be explicitly exempted from the tax.
"I don't believe that government should be playing culture police and deciding what constitutes 'music,'" Fritchey said in a statement. "Going after small businesses who have in good faith complied with what should be a common sense reading of the law is just plain wrong, and to have it happen in a city that has given the music industry some of its most famous DJs and rappers just adds insult to injury."
Fritchey said his changes are designed to more closely match how the city of Chicago charges its amusement tax and eliminate intergovernmental confusion. He also said he sent a letter to Board President Toni Preckwinkle asking that the county revenue department suspend efforts to collect back taxes from other businesses so long as they have complied with city policy.
Cook County spokesman Frank Shuftan said officials had not yet reviewed the ordinance and could not immediately comment.
In an interview with the Tribune this week, Cook County chief financial officer Ivan Samstein said the county does not use musical genre as a barometer for who should pay the tax. Authorities do differentiate, however, between a DJ producing original songs versus simply playing prerecorded music.
"If a DJ is creating a new, original composition in the way they put sounds together, then that is also tax-exempt," Samstein said.
The proposed changes seem to mirror that distinction. Under Fritchey's amendment, DJ music would count as a live musical performance if the DJ was mixing their original work or used prerecorded music they compiled themselves. The condition also requires that the performer is paid a fee "substantially higher" than someone who simply plays recordings.
Fritchey lists several other scenarios in which a DJ also could be considered exempt from an amusement tax, including if the performer is featured in advertisements from the venue or if the DJ is represented by a manager or an agent.
Beauty Bar seeks to avoid Cook County amusement tax Cook County is seeking to collect $200,000 in accrued amusement taxes from Beauty Bar in the Noble Square neighborhood of Chicago. Cook County is seeking to collect $200,000 in accrued amusement taxes from Beauty Bar in the Noble Square neighborhood of Chicago. See more videos
Samstein would not comment on the cases against Evil Olive and Beauty Bar, but said court disputes typically arise only when businesses repeatedly ignore requests from county auditors to determine whether their entertainment is taxable.
"If you fail to comply, I have no way of knowing what's going on there," Samstein said. "It's ultimately a question of fairness. Why should one bar or venue have to pay a tax and another one feels they are exempt and doesn't have to cooperate in the process?"
Fritchey plans to formally introduce his proposal Sept. 14 at the next county board meeting.
drhodes@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @rhodes_dawn | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-amusement-tax-ordinance-amendment-met-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/5aba5b08995e780fd3224cdfb3a404bf12e648e0dfdf828bca250070ae483c2c.json |
[
"Associated Press",
"Tribune News Services"
] | 2016-08-27T06:48:08 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fct-north-korea-un-missile-tests-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c11d8e/turbine/ct-north-korea-un-missile-tests-20160826 | en | null | North Korea says United Nations condemnation of missile tests 'provocation' | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | North Korea on Saturday expressed anger at United Nations Security Council discussions over a statement denouncing the country's latest submarine-launched missile test.
North Korean Foreign Ministry official Jon Min Dok told Associated Press Television News in an interview that the U.S.-led discussions at the U.N. were a "terrible provocation" and that the country is developing nuclear weapons because of "outrageous nuclear intimidation" by the United States.
Jon spoke just before the Security Council concluded the discussions with a statement strongly condemning all four North Korean ballistic missile launches in July and August, calling them "grave violations" of a ban on all ballistic missile activity.
The statement came after North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its eastern coast on Wednesday. South Korean defense officials said the missile was tracked flying about 500 kilometers (310 miles), the longest distance achieved by the North for such a weapon.
Jon said that the latest submarine-launched missile didn't cause any harm to the security of neighboring countries. He said it showed North Korea's "great power and inexhaustible strength in the face of the trials of history and the challenges of our enemies."
"The best way for the U.S. to escape a deadly strike from us is by refraining from insulting our dignity and threatening our security, by exercising prudence and self-control," Jon said.
North Korea already has a variety of land-based missiles that can hit South Korea and Japan, including U.S. military bases in those countries. Its development of reliable submarine-launched missiles would add a weapon that is harder to detect before launch.
Wednesday's launch was the latest in a series of missile, rocket and other weapon tests this year by North Korea, which is openly pushing to acquire a wider range of nuclear weapons, including those capable of striking targets as far away as mainland United States.
Associated Press | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-north-korea-un-missile-tests-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/a6f0925c69bfac7414c540a70619307766a4754d97c14a50687465f6cd2ac2f1.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Kathy Routliffe"
] | 2016-08-30T20:52:24 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fwilmette%2Fnews%2Fct-wml-vanbergen-house-tour-tl-0901-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5d543/turbine/ct-wml-vanbergen-house-tour-tl-0901-20160830 | en | null | Renewed Van Bergen house opens to stream of visitors, fans | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling living room windows and the steady stream of visitors coming through the front door of 2771 Crawford Ave., Evanston, on Aug. 28 made it warm, occasionally uncomfortably so.
No one touring Chris Enck's restored John Van Bergen house seemed to mind, though – the house was too interesting to let a little heat bother them.
Many who visited knew the story of how Enck, a Winnetka resident who is also a restoration architect and fan of Prairie School luminary John S. Van Bergen, rescued the modest Van Bergen-designed two-story frame and stucco building from demolition in 2014.
Enck's audacious plan – to cut the 1,588-square-foot house into three sections, then put it back together in a new home – garnered lots of attention in October 2014 and March 2015, as the pieces moved in two agonizingly slow flatbed trailer treks from Wilmette to Evanston.
Now, more than a year after its Crawford Avenue arrival, Enck was showing the house off, whole and largely as it looked when it was built in 1928.
The open house was more than a real estate showing, since 2771 Crawford hadn't yet been listed for sale; it was more than a chance for Enck to recoup some of the hundreds of thousands of dollars it took for him to move the house and make it livable, even welcoming, for a new family, he said.
"I wanted to show that people can care for homes like this, that what I did, other people can do," he said.
He made few changes to the house beyond modernizing the tiny kitchen, updating plumbing and wiring, pulling up carpet to show the original hardwood floors, and putting the house on a much deeper foundation.
"The goal was to try to keep these front rooms as unchanged as possible," he said, gesturing to the cathedral height living room, and the study and dining room to each side of it.
The house still features small but light-filled bedrooms on the second floor, a second floor bathroom with its own tiny staircase, a balcony around the living room, and the broad, clean horizontal lines of Prairie School design.
Enck, looking happily dazed, stood in one corner during the tour and answered questions. Many of them had been about how he dissected and reconnected the building, he said, but people also talked to him about the house's history and its Wilmette-to-Evanston journey.
Some visitors, like Highland Park resident Lisa Temkin, were fans of Van Bergen, who lived in Highland Park. Temkin, who owns a Van Bergen house, helped organize the city's John Van Bergen month in 2012; on Sunday she helped Enck prepare for a reception later that day for other Van Bergen fans and home owners, to be held in the house after the general tour.
"Van Bergen's style is very organic, with natural use of materials and the way his homes fit into the landscape," she said. "To him, the hearth was the center of the home, which is why you won't ever see a chimney on one side of his houses – the hearth is always in the center.
"You didn't have to be rich to own a Van Bergen. He designed beautiful, small homes," she said. Van Bergen's fans are extremely dedicated, she said: "It's sort of like being a junkie."
Other Sunday visitors had personal ties to the house. Linda McGuire of Wilmette remembered visiting previous owners as a young girl, but recalled that "it was much darker" in its original tree-shaded Isabella Street location.
Wilmette resident Charlotte Adelman also remembered visiting after her late sister and brother-in-law Lois and Art Solomon bought the house in 1986.
"I've always been impressed with how the light flows in, and the presence of this front room," she said. Adelman said she was also happy that Enck had seeded the front lawn with native wild flowers, "which is very much in the nature of this house."
Adelman's niece Elizabeth Hubbard – who was a college student when her parents, the Solomons, bought the house - visited, too. She said Monday she'd grown up a block from the house in Wilmette, babysat for its then-owners as a teen, and later watched her parents jump at the chance to own what they called their dream house when it went on sale. After they moved in, she read books in the balcony, and years later watched her own children put on plays for their grandparents in that same balcony.
"When my mom died, I'm sure she hoped someone would buy it," Hubbard said. "It was sad when we learned that a developer had bought the property."
In 2014 and 2015, she watched the house move down Green Bay Road to its current location – and now, she said, she lives within a stone's throw of it.
"It's following me around," Hubbard joked, before saying she was surprised at how many people were interested in the house.
"It was great to visit," she said. "I expected to be sad walking through it, and instead I was really happy."
kroutliffe@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @pioneer_kathy | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/wilmette/news/ct-wml-vanbergen-house-tour-tl-0901-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/6691e20bf84b16c7071a06262cb8298ae412748b05a026a336f32db9f20d89b6.json |
[
"Associated Press",
"Tribune News Services"
] | 2016-08-29T00:48:24 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fct-tropical-depression-north-carolina-20160828-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c368d2/turbine/ct-tropical-depression-north-carolina-20160828 | en | null | Tropical depression could bring heavy rain to North Carolina; other system forms near Florida | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Forecasters say another tropical depression has formed in the Florida Straits and is expected to produce some rain over the southern half of the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday that the depression is located 60 miles (100 kph) south of Key West and is moving west at about 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds were clocking at 35 mph (55 kph), with higher gusts.
The depression is expected to produce 1 to 4 inches of rain through Wednesday.
It is expected to head into the Gulf of Mexico overnight.
Forecasters said earlier in the day that a tropical depression has formed in the Atlantic west of Bermuda, bringing the possibility of heavy rain to the coast of North Carolina early this week.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the depression is located about 355 mph (570 kph) southeast of Cape Hatteras and is moving west at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds were clocking at 35 mph (55 kph), with higher gusts.
The storm's center is expected to pass offshore of the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Tuesday.
Separately, Hurricane Gaston is gathering strength as it moves northwestward in the Atlantic, but forecasters say it poses no threat to land. The center saysGaston reformed as a hurricane Saturday night.
On Sunday, Gaston was clocking maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) winds. The storm was located about 580 miles (935 kilometers) east of Bermuda. Gaston was moving northwest at about 5 mph (7 kph).
Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 25 miles (35 kilometers) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 kilometers).
Forecasters say Gaston could strengthen in the next day but poses no threat to land.
Associated Press | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-tropical-depression-north-carolina-20160828-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/845ff3c03363a22d3c9a94a400c50940989a3fe8e95a10b26a3c86e3faa68923.json |
[
"Associated Press",
"Tribune News Services"
] | 2016-08-28T14:48:27 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fct-italy-earthquake-20160828-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c2de98/turbine/ct-italy-earthquake-20160828 | en | null | Italy to see if building negligence raised earthquake death toll; 291 dead | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Bulldozers with huge claws and other heavy equipment rolled through Italy's quake-devastated town of Amatrice on Sunday, pulling down dangerously overhanging ledges and clearing rubble as investigators tried to figure out if negligence in enforcing building codes added to the quake's high death toll.
Investigations will focus on a number of structures, including an elementary school in Amatrice that crumbled when the quake hit Wednesday. The school was renovated in 2012 to resist earthquakes at a cost of $785,000.
Questions also surround a bell tower in Accumoli that collapsed, killing a family of four sleeping in a neighboring house, including a baby of 8 months and a 7-year-old boy. That bell tower also had been recently restored with special funds allocated after Italy's last major earthquake in L'Aquila in 2009.
The quake early Wednesday killed 291 people and injured hundreds as it flattened three medieval towns in central Italy. Giuseppe Saieva, the prosecutor in the regional capital of Rieti, said the high human death toll "cannot only be considered the work of fate."
He said for now, police investigators remained focused on recovery efforts but once that emergency phase has passed, they will concentrate on the investigations.
Italy's state museums, meanwhile, embarked on a fundraising campaign, donating their proceeds Sunday to relief and reconstruction efforts in the earthquake zone.
Wednesday's 6.2-magnitude quake destroyed not only private homes but also churches and other centuries-old cultural treasures. The idea is to use art for art — harnessing the nation's rich artistic heritage to help recover and restore other objects of beauty in the hard-hit towns.
Caption Italy earthquake: Evening drone footage shows devastation in Amatrice Italy earthquake: Evening drone footage shows Amatrice devastated from an earthquake that hit the town. Aug. 25, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade) Italy earthquake: Evening drone footage shows Amatrice devastated from an earthquake that hit the town. Aug. 25, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade) Caption Italy earthquake: Evening drone footage shows devastation in Amatrice Italy earthquake: Evening drone footage shows Amatrice devastated from an earthquake that hit the town. Aug. 25, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade) Italy earthquake: Evening drone footage shows Amatrice devastated from an earthquake that hit the town. Aug. 25, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade) Caption Italy earthquake: Fire crews working in the city of Pescara Del Tronto Italy earthquake: Fire crews working in the city of Pescara Del Tronto. Aug. 25, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade) Italy earthquake: Fire crews working in the city of Pescara Del Tronto. Aug. 25, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade) Caption Italy earthquake: Drone footage depicts devastation in Amatrice Aerial drone footage shows the town of Amatrice devastated after a powerful earthquake struck Italy at 3:36 a.m. Aug. 24, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade) Aerial drone footage shows the town of Amatrice devastated after a powerful earthquake struck Italy at 3:36 a.m. Aug. 24, 2016. (Italian Fire Brigade)
Culture Minster Dario Franceschini had appealed to Italians to "go to museum in a sign of solidarity with people affected by the earthquake." On Twitter, the appeal came along with the hashtag #museums4italy.
It's one of several efforts that have sprung up to help the towns rebuild — restaurants in Italy and elsewhere are also serving up pasta Amatriciana, the region's most famous dish, in another fundraising effort.
Amatrice bore the brunt of destruction with 230 fatalities and a town turned to rubble. Eleven others died in nearby Accumoli and 50 more in Arquata del Tronto, 10 miles north of Amatrice.
Overnight was relatively calm, the first since the quake struck without strong aftershocks. In all, the region has seen 1,820 aftershocks, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
Italy earthquake Roberto Salomone / EPA Rescue workers dig through the rubble Aug. 27, 2016, in the earthquake-stricken town of Amatrice, Italy, three days after the devastating quake. Rescue workers dig through the rubble Aug. 27, 2016, in the earthquake-stricken town of Amatrice, Italy, three days after the devastating quake. (Roberto Salomone / EPA) (Roberto Salomone / EPA)
On Saturday, mourners prayed, hugged, wept and even applauded as coffins carrying earthquake victims passed by at a state funeral in the town of Ascoli Piceno.
The caskets of 35 people had been brought to a community gym — one of the few structures in the area still intact. The local bishop, Giovanni D'Ercole, celebrated Mass beneath a crucifix he had retrieved from one of the damaged churches.
Emotions that had been dammed up for days broke in a crescendo of grief. One young man wept over a little girl's white coffin. Another woman gently stroked another small casket. Many mourners were recovering from injuries themselves, some wrapped in bandages.
"It is a great tragedy. There are no words to describe it," said Gina Razzetti, a resident at the funeral. "Each one of us has our pain inside. We are thinking about the families who lost relatives, who lost their homes, who lost everything."
As all of Italy observed a day of national mourning, Bishop D'Ercole urged residents to rebuild their communities.
Italy earthquake Gregorio Borgia / AP A damaged crucifix is seen inside a church following an earthquake in Accumuli, Italy, on Aug. 26, 2016. A damaged crucifix is seen inside a church following an earthquake in Accumuli, Italy, on Aug. 26, 2016. (Gregorio Borgia / AP) (Gregorio Borgia / AP)
"Don't be afraid to cry out your suffering — I have seen a lot of this — but please do not lose courage," D'Ercole said. "Only together can we rebuild our houses and our churches."
Nobody has been found alive in the ruins since Wednesday, and hopes have vanished of finding any more survivors. The number still missing is uncertain, due to the many visitors seeking a last taste of summer in the Apennine mountains.
President Sergio Mattarella arrived by helicopter Saturday to view the damage in Amatrice and thanked rescue workers who have been toiling around the clock.
Saturday's funeral involved most of the dead from Arquata del Tronto. Many of the dead from Amatrice, however, are still awaiting identification in a refrigerated morgue in an airport hangar in Rieti, the provincial capital 40 miles away.
On Tuesday, a memorial service — without the bodies — will be held for the dead of Amatrice on the battered town's outskirts.
Hundreds of people have also been left homeless by the quake, with many spending their nights in tent cities and a gym in Amatrice. Longer-term housing needs for earthquake survivors will be another key challenge for Italian authorities.
Associated Press | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-italy-earthquake-20160828-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/1cee900c51941055077f877f19fa0742d2704b747b5a6093d8f34ca419d12d46.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rosemary Regina Sobol"
] | 2016-08-30T22:49:01 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-authorities-seeking-identity-of-remains-found-11-years-ago-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5ef3a/turbine/ct-authorities-seeking-identity-of-remains-found-11-years-ago-20160830 | en | null | Authorities seek help identifying body of young woman found 11 years ago | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Authorities are hoping someone will recognize a sketch of young woman whose skeletal remains were discovered 11 years ago on the Far South Side after she was strangled.
On April 28, 2005, the remains of a white female between the ages of 13 and 18 were found near the Metra tracks at 13060 S. Indiana Ave. in the Eden Green neighborhood, according to a community alert issued by Area South detectives.
The cause of her death was strangulation, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office, which ruled her death a homicide.
Police released a photo of the woman based on a facial reconstruction done by the FBI. It is posted on the Cook County medical examiner’s website, the alert said.
Anyone with information can contact detectives at 312-747-8271. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-authorities-seeking-identity-of-remains-found-11-years-ago-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/faf529f7bb9cfedc894cc01efe17e5d787d5bd18913b7c55b72f85e291149cfd.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rick Kambic"
] | 2016-08-26T13:22:27 | null | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fmundelein%2Fnews%2Fct-mun-panera-bread-redevelopment-efforts-tl-0818-20160815-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57b2683c/turbine/ct-mun-panera-bread-redevelopment-efforts-tl-0818-20160815 | en | null | Panera Bread plans to open in Mundelein shopping center | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Mundelein's wait for a Panera Bread might soon be over, as company and village officials announced plans for a new restaurant at the developing intersection of Townline Road and Route 45.
The proposed 4,156-square-foot restaurant would open in spring 2017 and include a drive-thru and outdoor patio seating, according to the village's announcement.
"There's been a demand for a Panera Bread in Mundelein since before I started working here and I was hired about 10 years ago," said Amanda Orenchuk, Mundelein's director of community development.
The existing structure at 1575 Lake St. was previously a Pizza Hut until it relocated into a smaller carryout storefront near Lake Street and Diamond Lake Road in 2012, Orenchuk said.
Panera Bread plans to demolish the empty Pizza Hut building, Orenchuk said. Construction plans for the new restaurant comply with zoning regulations and won't need a lengthy special hearing.
"Panera Bread has identified Mundelein as a place to grow their market presence," Orenchuk said. "The demographics of the community, traffic counts, and the rejuvenation of the Townline Square Shopping Center make this Mundelein property an attractive place to open a new bakery and cafe."
This project comes just one year after Panera Bread took over the formerTilted Kilt restaurant near Milwaukee Avenue and Townline Road in Vernon Hills and built a similar restaurant with a drive-thru.
O'Reilly Auto Parts Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press O'Reilly Auto Parts opened in the Townline Square Shopping Center in April. O'Reilly Auto Parts opened in the Townline Square Shopping Center in April. (Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press)
"They're running a very successful business, I can't see them making this kind of investment if they didn't think it was sustainable," Orenchuk said. "Plus, they've had a cafe about a mile north on Milwaukee Avenue near Condell in Libertyville and were still successful enough to expand the Vernon Hills location."
About 28,000 cars travel north on Route 45 into the Townline Road intersection per day, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation, while about 29,000 cars travel west on Townline Road into Route 45.
"It's definitely a high-visibility spot and it compliments the other activities and stores in that shopping center," Orenchuk said.
Jewel-Osco and Burlington Coat Factory are the two major stores in the Townline Square Shopping Center.
While announcing plans to open a store in place of the vacant Dominick's location across town, officials from Jewel-Osco also talked about their ongoing multimillion dollar renovation at the original store in the Townline Commons Shopping Center.
Aside from that work, an indoor swimming school and a fitness center joined the plaza in 2015, and O'Reilly Auto Parts demolished a building along Route 45 and constructed a new freestanding store, which is adjacent to the empty Pizza Hut.
Orenchuk said the construction of O'Reilly Auto Parts was delayed after crews discovered parts of an underground tank from the original farm or prior business. The 7,400-square-foot auto store opened in April.
"Those types of fast casual restaurants cater to convenience, especially parents out running errands," Orenchuk said. "Everything in that shopping center is an activity based store, except Arby's. A good mix will have businesses feeding off each other."
Some development is occurring across the street, too.
La Vina, a Latino church currently located off Seymour Avenue, received permits in May to fill the 32,000-square-foot former Party Fantasy building.
Speedway signed a sales tax rebate agreement with Mundelein in March as part of its $4.2 million renovation project, which includes a "made-to-cook kitchen" known as Speedy Cafe and a larger retail sales floor.
The project involve Speedway buying 1.3 acres of land from the neighboring Oak Creek Shopping Plaza, and Orenchuk said that transaction has gone much slower than expected.
One project not making progress at that intersection is the long talked about Wal-Mart, which would replace most of the Oak Creek Shopping Plaza. After more than a year in court, a judge in March made a foreclosure ruling against the owner, who then filed bankruptcy a day before the May 17 auction.
"Not everything happens at once, and not everything is within our control," Orenchuk said. "We're making a lot of progress, though."
rkambic@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @Rick_Kambic | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/mundelein/news/ct-mun-panera-bread-redevelopment-efforts-tl-0818-20160815-story.html | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/9f0b85d10361e969116f3c1fb816aad8c774631652c2a1b515e8c44e7c18db12.json |
[
"Associated Press",
"Tribune News Services"
] | 2016-08-28T02:48:18 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fct-max-ritvo-poet-cancer-dies-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c230b2/turbine/ct-max-ritvo-poet-cancer-dies-20160827 | en | null | Max Ritvo, poet who chronicled cancer battle, dies at 25 | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Max Ritvo, a poet who chronicled his long battle with cancer in works that were both humorous and searing, has died. He was 25.
Ritvo died Tuesday morning at his home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles, his mother, Ariella Ritvo-Slifka, said Friday.
Ritvo was diagnosed at 16 with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare cancer that affects bones and soft tissue in children and young adults.
Treatment brought about a remission that permitted Ritvo to finish high school and attend Yale University, where he performed in an improv comedy group. His teachers included Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Louise Gluck.
Ritvo's cancer returned in his senior year, but he completed Yale and this year earned a master's degree from Columbia University.
Ritvo's battle with the disease informed his works. A June poem in The New Yorker discussed an experiment where cells from his tumors were used in cancer drug treatment experiments with mice.
"I want my mice to be just like me," Ritvo wrote. "I don't have any children. I named them all Max. First they were Max 1, Max 2, but now they're all just Max. No playing favorites."
Photo gallery: Newsmakers and celebrities who died in 2016.
Ritvo's first book of poetry, "Four Reincarnations," is scheduled to be published this fall.
In radio and podcast interviews, Ritvo spoke about his suffering. But he rejected any idea that he was a victim of the disease — especially a heroic one.
At their wedding last summer, Ritvo and his wife, Victoria, banned words such as "inspirational" from the speeches, his mother said.
"He was about love and compassion, human and animal rights and about writing and sharing himself with the world," she said. "He didn't want people to see him as an invalid."
Ritvo saw humor not as a coping mechanism but as an intrinsic part of dealing with his illness.
"You know, we imagine in our hysteria that it's disrespectful for the sadness. But when you laugh at something horrible, you're just illuminating a different side of it that was already there and it's not a deflection, it makes it deeper and makes it realer," he said last month in the WNYC Studios podcast "Only Human."
Ritvo also inspired people with his attitude, his wife said.
"Max said 'I love you' to everyone. He hugged everyone. He just wanted there to be more love and laughter," she said.
Ritvo was writing until just days before his death and had told his family that the end would be near when he was no longer able to write.
The day before his death, he told his mother and wife: "I can't write anymore, I can't speak, I can't breathe...I'm not me...You guys have to be OK with me going," his mother said.
Earlier this month, Ritvo tweeted a link to poem called "The Final Voicemails," which he said was "about goin a bit loopy under quarantine and what Death is."
Its final lines: "Red as earth, red as a dying berry, red as your lips, red as the last thing I saw — and whatever next thing I will see."
Associated Press | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-max-ritvo-poet-cancer-dies-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/269381445f8cad4c920a067c875e7e89b894e788e2c8bfc76c8cc2b7d8c5a97c.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rich Campbell"
] | 2016-08-29T00:48:30 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2Fbears%2Fct-three-phase-review-bears-spt-0829-20160828-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c369af/turbine/ct-three-phase-review-bears-spt-0829-20160828 | en | null | Bears make too many mistakes in another ugly exhibition loss | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | In losing all three of their exhibition games, the Bears have insisted that their mistakes are correctable. Coaches and players see a path forward through all the miscues and injuries. They say they have time to get there before the Sept. 11 opener against the Texans in Houston.
"It was good and bad, like anything else," quarterback Jay Cutler said after losing 23-7 to the Chiefs on Saturday. "There are some things we can correct — and have to correct."
At least Cutler's last point is undeniable.
The first-string offense didn't cross midfield on its own in five drives against the Chiefs' top defense. And on the series they began in Chiefs territory after a squib kick, a false start penalty promptly put the Bears back on the wrong side of the 50.
The first-string offense struggled at all positions. Cutler misfired. Alshon Jeffery dropped a big completion and jumped offside. The reshuffled offensive line was bullied by the powerful Chiefs front.
On defense, the outlook wasn't as bleak. It's clear the front seven has improved from last year. Players get off blocks and tackle better — important steps toward restoring the defense's reputation.
As the Bears head toward Week 1, they hope an influx of several rested players, including tight end Zach Miller and rookie linebacker Leonard Floyd, will point the season in the right direction.
But first, here's our three-phase review of Saturday's ugly exhibition loss.
Photos from the game on Aug. 27, 2016, at Soldier Field.
Offense
Reason for optimism: Finding one required some digging after the first string was shut out on six series, but Jeremy Langford showed for the second straight game he's a solid fit for the Bears' zone running scheme. When the offensive line opens cutback lanes for him, he exploits them.
On his 10-yard run on the Bears' fourth play from scrimmage, Langford's track to the right got inside linebacker Derrick Johnson to overpursue, setting up left guard Cody Whitehair to block him. Langford exploded through the hole, wasting little movement. On a 5-yard gain on the second series, Langford pressed his cutback well, recognizing a lane on the backside. He also gained some important yards after contact, stiff-arming Johnson to get 9 after being hit behind the line of scrimmage on a third-and-3.
Reason for concern: Hey, Kyle Long, how's that shoulder feeling?
The biggest takeaway from Saturday is the Bears need Long to be healthy. Yes, the Chiefs have an imposing defensive line, and it wasn't all bad for the Bears O-line. But the Chiefs pushed around the entire Bears front and prevented the offense from functioning with any consistency.
Fill-in center Cornelius Edison was too slow getting to blocks on the second level on multiple plays. He was overpowered at times and was on the ground too often. Other times he held his own. Struggles are to be expected from a first-year player from an FCS school in his first start.
Veteran right guard Ted Larsen, meanwhile, had a hard time with defensive ends Jaye Howard and rookie Chris Jones. Speed, power, hand fighting — it didn't matter — Larsen lost too often. To be fair, he has moved positions quite a bit during the preseason. But if the Bears don't clean that up, their offense won't go anywhere.
Worth discussing: Kevin White finished the preseason with 12 receiving yards on three catches and eight targets. He had a couple of drops. And the improvement he needs as a route-runner was clear when he didn't flatten an out pattern downfield near the sideline on a third-down incompletion from Cutler.
White will enter the regular season without having proved he can consistently get open, catch the ball or be the big-play threat the Bears need him to be. Remember, evaluators recognized how raw he was coming out of West Virginia. After he missed his rookie year, it stands to reason that his development will take time. Those growing pains, though, could be hard to swallow in regular season action.
"We can't have repeat mistakes," Cutler said when discussing the unrefined route White ran on the failed third down. "He's a good kid. He's going to do well."
Defense
Reason for optimism: Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith completed a whopping 20 first-half passes for 181 yards against the Bears' top defense (or most of it, anyway). But a lot of that success through the air came against off coverage. The pass defense actually held up fairly well on the rare instances when cornerbacks pressed receivers at the line of scrimmage.
Tracy Porter helped force a low throw by Smith late in the second quarter by pressing Chris Conley at the line. Jacoby Glenn batted down a third-and-6 pass intended for Conley after staying locked up with him for most of the pattern. And rookie Deiondre' Hall mirrored Jeremy Maclin so well near the goal line that Smith had no window in which to fit a potential touchdown throw.
Why defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had his corners play off so much in the first half is a mystery to the public, but teams like to practice different tactics in exhibition games. At least there's evidence to suggest the defense would be stingier if he opted to be more aggressive in the regular season.
Reason for concern: The first-string defense surrendered six third-down conversions on 10 attempts by the Chiefs' top offense. The reasons for that varied, leaving no quick fix.
On Smith's 17-yard scramble on third-and-14, outside linebacker Lamarr Houston looped inside on his rush, and Smith captured the edge around Cornelius Washington. Soft coverage yielded some easy third-down completions. Smith made a couple of accurate third-down throws to beat solid coverage.
The Bears sporadically pressured Smith but rarely with a basic four-man rush. When the Bears were effective rushing four, it usually involved bringing an inside linebacker or some type of game up front. They'd improve on third down by winning more one-on-one matchups, and that would be more likely if Pernell McPhee (left knee) and Floyd (hamstring) were at full strength.
Worth discussing: Second-year safety Harold Jones-Quartey is fun to watch. Not only is he a human missile with little regard for his well-being, but he also was consistently around the ball or in good position.
He sprinted up from his position to run receiver Albert Wilson out of bounds for only 1 yard on an end-around. He opened his hips and dropped with a tight end in the deep middle to contribute to Akiem Hicks' sack. He also helped cornerback Demontre Hurst tackle tight end Ross Travis at the 1-yard line on a third-down slant. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-three-phase-review-bears-spt-0829-20160828-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/8751412a10710edcaf1038cba839e52707d44c14f0417fb7b833690527f13c76.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Nereida Moreno",
"Jeremy Gorner",
"Annie Sweeney"
] | 2016-08-27T20:48:07 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fct-rhymefest-robbery-report-met-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c1ef0a/turbine/ct-rhymefest-robbery-report-met-20160827 | en | null | Rhymefest tweets about being robbed in Chicago, criticizes police treatment | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Chicago rapper and songwriter Rhymefest took to Twitter to say he was robbed Saturday morning while sitting in a parked car near the city's Bronzeville neighborhood.
The Grammy and Oscar winner, whose real name is Che Smith, said an unknown man jumped into his vehicle near the 4300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue just after 7:30 a.m., pointed a gun at him and demanded his wallet. Chicago police confirm the robbery report.
"They put a gun to my head. They demanded that I give them my wallet. I gave them my wallet. They told me they were going to shoot me," he tells officers in a video that he also posted on Twitter.
Rhymefest, 39, a onetime South Side aldermanic candidate, gave the suspect his wallet and drove to the Grand Crossing District station at 7040 S. Cottage Grove, which he describes as the closest station to his home, to report the robbery.
The suspect fled the scene on foot, according to Chicago police.
Rhymefest was not hurt during the incident but told officers later that he was "in shock" after having someone point a gun at him, according to the video. The video, where he can be only heard, not seen, shows things got heated between him and a police officer who asks him to stop filming inside the station.
"I don't feel comfortable because I feel like I'm being treated ... when the camera goes off, you all start telling me to get out, I can't make a report," Rhymefest can be heard saying in the video.
Accompanying the video posted on Twitter is his commentary on trying to report the crime: Chicago police treated him "disgustingly," he wrote.
Chicago police confirm they've seen the video and have reached out to Rhymefest.
"We are disappointed with what we've seen and how Mr. Smith was treated, and the chief of patrol called him personally to apologize on behalf of the department," said Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi. "And Superintendent Johnson has directed the chief of patrol to ensure this matter is addressed today with the district."
Rhymefest did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In a series of tweets, he encouraged the suspect to come forward.
"Give me faith that it's our desperation & not our hearts (that are) dark. The man who robbed me I want to reach out to me If I know him tell him," he wrote on Twitter.
Smith's full set of tweets are embedded below
nmoreno@chicagotribune.com
jgorner@chicagotribune.com
asweeney@chicagotribune.com | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-rhymefest-robbery-report-met-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/7c2917c0dbedff74a9384684fa00d0ce9eaec6e63e0bd0a41a4f9f9fe1195c02.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"George Houde",
"Duaa Eldeib"
] | 2016-08-26T13:24:35 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fschaumburg-hoffman-estates%2Fnews%2Fct-mother-killed-disabled-daughter-free-met-20160825-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bf29c9/turbine/ct-mother-killed-disabled-daughter-free-met-20160825 | en | null | Woman who killed disabled daughter to be freed, despite 4-year sentence | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Bonnie Liltz, the Schaumburg woman who killed her severely disabled daughter, could walk free this week after appeal judges on Thursday granted her bond and suspended her prison sentence.
Liltz pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of her daughter Courtney, 28, admitting that in 2015 she administered a fatal dose of medication to Courtney through her feeding tube. Liltz was sentenced to four years of incarceration, despite pleas from her attorney that she was in poor health and would likely die in prison.
Liltz, 56, has said it was because of those serious health problems that she killed her daughter. She said she was afraid she would die and fretted over what would happen to Courtney, who needed round-the-clock care. After Liltz placed crushed-up medication into her daughter's feeding tube, she took some of the medication herself and washed it down with wine, in a suicide attempt.
Many legal experts had anticipated that Liltz would receive probation, given her health problems, and even prosecutors recommended probation. Some groups that advocate for the disabled, however, said that such a sentence would have suggested the courts place lesser value on the life of a disabled person.
Jeffrey Urdangen, director of the Center for Criminal Defense at Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law Bluhm Legal Clinic, said it is rare for a defendant to be granted bond while awaiting a ruling on an appeal of her sentence.
"The appellate court obviously has some concerns about the sentence that was imposed," Urdangen said.
Liltz's bond was set at $5,000, court records show. She is expected to be released from the downstate Logan Correctional Center in the coming days as the appellate court considers the appeal of her sentence.
The move by appellate judges in Chicago to set bond for Liltz was based on her health and not on whether she is guilty, said her attorney, Thomas Glasgow, who added that he's never seen it happen in his 20 years of practicing law. Liltz had been placed in Cook County Jail's medical ward and also spent time at Stroger Hospital before she was transferred to prison after her sentencing.
Mother and daughter Family photo An undated photo, provided by attorney Thomas Glasglow, of Bonnie Liltz with her daughter, Courtney. An undated photo, provided by attorney Thomas Glasglow, of Bonnie Liltz with her daughter, Courtney. (Family photo)
"While the circuit court did not agree with us and imposed a sentence of four years, the appellate court ended up granting mercy and giving her the ability to get the treatment that she needs," Glasgow said.
In a lengthy court motion filed last week, Glasgow included medical records and details of Liltz's deteriorating health. An ovarian cancer survivor, Liltz has had her "intestines destroyed by radiation" and since her incarceration has suffered two infections and become dehydrated on several occasions, Glasgow said.
"When I visited her, she was gray. She was ashen. She had dropped to 84 pounds," Glasgow said. "The Illinois Department of Corrections simply does not have the medical facilities to handle the complex gastroenterology issues and oncology issues that she has."
Liltz was initially charged with first-degree murder, but prosecutors had agreed to lower the charge in exchange for her guilty plea.
Liltz adopted Courtney when she was 5, and those who knew the mother and daughter have called Liltz a dedicated and conscientious caregiver to Courtney, who had cerebral palsy. But family and friends said Liltz became increasingly desperate as her own health problems worsened that she would at some point become unable to care for Courtney. Having had to place her in a care facility once during a hospitalization, Liltz was unhappy with the care Courtney received there.
Prosecutors did not oppose the request to stay Liltz's sentence and to set bond pending her appeal.
George Houde is a freelance reporter.
deldeib@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @deldeib | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/schaumburg-hoffman-estates/news/ct-mother-killed-disabled-daughter-free-met-20160825-story.html | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/8ffd304154cd5fcf8447228688006cdd65767f6623dc86b584c2d9c94b5c83c0.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Chicago Tribune Staff"
] | 2016-08-27T22:48:04 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-cops-man-who-reported-being-wounded-near-navy-pier-shot-himself-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c1faa0/turbine/ct-cops-man-who-reported-being-wounded-near-navy-pier-shot-himself-20160827 | en | null | Cops: Man who reported being wounded near Navy Pier shot himself | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A 22-year-old man who reported being shot early Saturday morning, shot himself in the leg, a police spokesman said.
At 2:20 a.m., a 22-year-old man reported he was shot during an attempted robbery near Navy Pier downtown. He was in the 600 block of East Illinois Street when someone approached him, pulled out a gun and announced a robbery.
When he didn't comply, the would-be robber shot him in the leg and fled, the victim said. The man went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and his condition was stabilized, police said earlier Saturday.
However, about 3 p.m., Anthony Guglielmi, the communications director for the Chicago Police Department posted on Twitter: "After review of physical evidence & surveillance, CPD determined victim who said he was shot / robbed near Navy Pier actually shot himself."
There was no immediate information available about whether the man was in police custody or if he would be charged in the incident. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-cops-man-who-reported-being-wounded-near-navy-pier-shot-himself-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/7c9a607b678029128e61b555e7abb20ee6cc40a174edf02f9b5647e1fbe4145b.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Donna Vickroy"
] | 2016-08-26T20:48:08 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fdaily-southtown%2Fnews%2Fct-sta-rabies-influx-st-0828-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0935c/turbine/ct-sta-rabies-influx-st-0828-20160826 | en | null | Don't let fear of rabies make you batty | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Despite their pop culture dark side and recent headlines linking them to rabies, bats are helpful creatures.
In fact, the next time a mosquito buzzes in your ear, you might thank a bat for having such a voracious appetite for those pesky buggers.
Still, rabies being the deadly virus that it is, and bats being its primary carrier in this country, each year thousands of bats that are confiscated in homes or other places "out of their natural element," are tested for rabies. And, this year, like every year, a number of those scooped up bats have tested positive — six so far in Will County; 17 in Cook; and 44 statewide, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Recently, a bat that was found inside Palos Hospital tested positive for rabies. Another that was found in the Crete Public Library this summer also tested positive. Just to prove that bats do not discriminate, it should be noted that bats found to be positive for rabies have been found in homes in far out suburbs as well as city apartments. Among the locations this year: Flossmoor, Morgan Park, Braidwood, Joliet and Beverly.
Though most human-bat encounters do not involve actual contact, in July a woman in Crete was bitten by a rabid bat.
That's reason enough to take a few minutes to learn more about these flying creatures and about the rare but deadly rabies virus.
There are more than 1,000 species of bats in the world. The kind flying around these parts is predominantly the little brown bat, which typically grows to be about 4 inches. They are a vital part of the ecosystem, animal experts say.
Though most bats do not have rabies, whenever the creatures are confiscated inside homes or other buildings or they are found walking or flitting about on the ground during the day, seemingly unafraid of people, they are grabbed and tested for rabies.
Melaney Arnold, spokesperson for the IDPH, said, "This appears to be a pretty typical year for rabid bat numbers."
The IDPH tests bats for rabies if a person has been exposed — for example, if someone is bitten or if they wake up in a room with a bat, she said.
Though human-bat encounters are rare, there is ongoing concern about it because bats can and do carry rabies.
It is estimated that up to 5 percent of the bat population carries the virus, said Dr. Stephen Sokalski, infectious disease doctor at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
Sokalski said he believes the bat population has remained steady, maybe even decreasing a bit because of a nasal virus among the animals.
Still, he said: "Bats are very possibly the most common animal to have rabies. Occasionally you'll get a dog, raccoon or skunk, but mostly it's bats."
Bats spread rabies from one generation to another, Sokalski said. They don't pick it up outside, they transfer it among themselves.
Dr. Stephen Sokalski ZBIGNIEW BZDAK / CHICAGO TRIBUNE Dr. Stephen Sokalski, infectious disease doctor at Advocate Christ Medical Center, says "Bats re possibly the most common animal to have rabies." (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune) Dr. Stephen Sokalski, infectious disease doctor at Advocate Christ Medical Center, says "Bats re possibly the most common animal to have rabies." (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune) (ZBIGNIEW BZDAK / CHICAGO TRIBUNE)
The virus can be transmitted to other animals, humans included, through a bite, he said.
"There were some rare cases where people were hiking in caves and thought they may have inhaled the virus that way," Sokalski said. "But most of the time it's in the saliva of the bat or skunk or raccoon or dog. That's how it's transmitted to humans."
Not out to get you
Mindy Pomykala, animal placement coordinator with Will County Animal Control, said: "All bats around here are insect eaters. They are very good for the environment when they're outside minding their own business, flying around dusk to dawn eating mosquitoes and other insects."
Also, Pomykala said, "Keep in mind, brown bats are not aggressive."
But they are small enough to squeeze into an opening the size of a quarter.
"They're almost mouse size," she said.
"Once in awhile they'll end up in houses. They can be drawn to outside lights at night," she said. They follow the bugs.
The best way to protect yourself is to protect your pets, she said. If a rabid bat bites an unvaccinated dog, that dog can get rabies.
"We actually had that scenario a year or two ago. A puppy that was too young to get the rabies vaccine came in contact with a rabid bat and (the puppy) had to be euthanized," she said.
"It's very important to keep pets vaccinated. People with cats sometimes say, 'My cat never leaves the house.' Well, bats get in the house," she said.
Besides, it's state law that they be vaccinated, she added.
Protect yourself
Donna Alexander, administrator of the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control department, said that rabies is probably one of the oldest known viruses. Dr. Jonas Salk was the one who came up with all the information on it, she said.
"Unfortunately, because it does exist in wildlife it is not a virus we can eradicate, like polio. So you have to be ever vigilant," she said.
Although any warm-blooded mammal, including skunks and foxes, can get rabies, bats are the most prominent reservoir in wildlife, Alexander said.
This area typically sees a surge in the bat population during the summer because that's when there is a surge in the mosquito population.
"I don't think there is cause for concern," she said. "However, the concern should be for pet owners to make sure dogs, cats and ferrets are vaccinated."
While the East Coast has had a surge in raccoon rabies in recent years, Alexander said she was concerned earlier this year about the possibility of a spike in skunk rabies because of an increase in Missouri.
"I went on the news (then) to remind people to vaccinate animals and keep them on leashes so they can't run into those wild animals. Because if skunk rabies comes here it can infect dogs and cats allowed to wander," she said.
Skunk rabies is a different variant of the virus from fox or raccoon rabies, she said. All variants are equally dangerous and can be fatal.
Rare but scary
Sokalski has never seen a case of rabies in all his years as a doctor, but he has worked in labs that test for it.
After he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, he landed a summer job with the State of Illinois' Division of Labs.
"My job was to do rabies testing. That was in 1965. In those days, people would send in animals and I would have to go down to the basement lab and open their skulls and take out the piece of the brain that we were testing for rabies, and make slides out of it and then read the slides in the afternoon," he said.
"But I have not seen an actual case of rabies," he said.
That's how rare it is.
Still, because it's out there, Sokalski walked through a hypothetical scenario. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-rabies-influx-st-0828-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/0ea308e060de48e60286ab77c4a5c9f1584cc9131c0e74de70fb1e9d8d22f5dc.json |
[
"Washington Post",
"David Kohn"
] | 2016-08-29T20:48:59 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fct-mlb-science-bat-meets-ball-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c48578/turbine/ct-mlb-science-bat-meets-ball-20160829 | en | null | Scientists examine what happens in the brain when a bat tries to meet a ball | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Here's the windup and the pitch.
And in less time than it takes to read this, the batter swings.
That five-ounce white ball leaves the pitcher's hand like a lightning bolt, often swerving as it comes. In Major League Baseball, a pitch takes less than half a second to reach home plate, but by then it's much too late to react. A good batter, though, can hit even the fastest pitch, sometimes even knocking it out of the park.
How do the muscles and the nerves and the brain manage to work together to get this accomplished, in next to no time? As Yogi Berra said (or is said to have said, anyway), you can't think and hit at the same time.
At the highest levels, hitting a baseball is a seemingly impossible task. Once it leaves the pitcher's hand, the ball, typically traveling 85 to 95 mph, takes 400 to 500 milliseconds to reach home. But hitters have much less time than that to decide what to do.
Information about the pitch - its speed, trajectory and location - takes about 100 milliseconds, or a tenth of a second, to go from eye to brain. It takes another 150 milliseconds for the batter to start a swing and get the bat over the plate.
This leaves 150 to 250 milliseconds - a quarter of a second at most - for the hitter to decide whether to complete the swing and, if he opts to do so, where to place the bat.
Hitters somehow manage to succeed at this deeply complex task, generally getting a hit about a quarter of the time. But exactly how they do it remains a mystery. Being quick or strong is no guarantee of success: There are many examples of athletically gifted players who didn't make it because they couldn't hit well enough.
Now, two neuroscientists have focused on an understudied aspect of hitting: the brain. They have developed a way to measure brain activity just before and during the act of hitting, and they think their approach can help unravel the neural processes that underlie the skill - and perhaps help hitters improve.
The pair, Jason Sherwin and Jordan Muraskin, are currently working with two major league teams, gathering data about how players' brains respond to pitches. "Often, people talk about hitting a baseball as 'reflex' or 'instinct,' " Muraskin says. "What we're seeing is that it's the brain being able to perceive and act in a more efficient way. That's what allows you to be a good hitter. Hitting is in large part a brain skill."
The project began five years ago, when Sherwin and Muraskin were working in the Columbia University lab of neuroscientist Paul Sajda; Muraskin was pursuing his PhD, while Sherwin was a postdoctoral research scientist. Sherwin and Sajda were studying how musicians' brains react to music and how this response differs from that of non-musicians. Muraskin, a New York Yankees fan, asked Sherwin, who roots for the Chicago Cubs, whether the musician work would translate to baseball, especially to hitting.
They decided to pursue this question, and have since published five studies on hitting and the brain. Their work, which evaluated players from Columbia, has identified a specific neural pattern for expert hitters. In 2014, Sherwin and Muraskin, who are in their early 30s, started a company, deCervo, to offer their expertise to college and professional teams and players. (The name is a modified version of "de cerveau," which means "of the brain" in French.) Sajda - who likes the New York Mets - is also involved in the company as an adviser.
Brent Walker, the associate athletics director for championship performance at Columbia, worked closely with the researchers when they studied the school's players. "They're definitely on to something," says Walker, a former collegiate pitcher who has a PhD in sports psychology. "I definitely think this could be really useful to players."
Arizona State sports science researcher Robert Gray, who focuses on decision-making and the brain, tends to be skeptical of claims that brain training can improve athletic performance; there is a lot of "pseudoscience" in this domain, he says. But Gray says Muraskin and Sherwin are doing solid research. "This is really well-designed and rigorous work," he says. "They're using a good approach."
Their work involves several brain imaging technologies, including real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For the professional teams, they are using electroencephalograms (EEGs), which gauge electrical activity at spots throughout the brain. While wearing fitted caps embedded with sensors, players watch simulated pitches on a laptop and "swing" at the ball via a button or remote control. The sensors take measurements 500 times a second, giving the researchers precise data on how and when the brain reacts to each pitch. "We get very good information on the sequence of brain events," Muraskin says. "We can see when and where the brain makes a decision."
Many scientists focus on how the brain makes quick decisions, but only two or three groups have looked into this question from the perspective of baseball. Muraskin and Sherwin say they are the only ones to combine EEGs and MRIs with pitching simulation, an approach that they think provides the most specific data on how batters think.
Sherwin and Muraskin think they've identified a pattern of brain activation in professional hitters. One key area is the fusiform gyrus, a small spot at the bottom of the brain that is crucial for object recognition. For baseball players, this region is much more active during hitting. Recent data also suggests that in experts the fusiform gyrus may be more connected to the motor cortex, which controls movement. Sajda says this has important implications because the increased connection could indicate that experts' brains are more efficient at transforming data about the pitch into movement.
The expert hitters also tend to use their frontal cortex - a part of the brain that is generally in charge of deliberate decision-making - less than nonexperts do when hitting. (When we decide to order a baked potato rather than french fries, it's a good bet that our frontal cortex is deeply involved. However, this part of the brain tends to make decisions more slowly and meticulously; it is not adept at split-second choices.)
This diminished frontal participation is crucial, they say. "Players seem to make the decision in their motor cortex rather than their frontal cortex," Sajda says. "Their brains recognize and act on pitches more efficiently."
Another key area that appears to be more energized among expert hitters is the supplementary motor area (SMA), a small region at the top of the brain. It is involved in the coordination of sequences of preplanned movements such as hitting. In expert hitters, this area is especially active as the pitcher winds up and as the pitch approaches the plate. In essence, the researchers say, experts are better at preparing to swing. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-mlb-science-bat-meets-ball-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/9c882fa240f1e31daf25dc2362f72c7eb8a0f54c48076e4c469ba2d0c7732244.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Natalie Hayes"
] | 2016-08-26T13:21:01 | null | 2016-08-08T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flincolnwood%2Fnews%2Fct-lwr-proesel-pool-update-tl-0811-20160808-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57a8f856/turbine/ct-lwr-proesel-pool-update-tl-0811-20160808 | en | null | A dry, hot summer has boosted revenue at Lincolnwood aquatic center | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | The hot, mostly dry summer this year has made for a busy season at Lincolnwood's only public pool, where dreary weather last year resulted in a drop in revenue for the Lincolnwood Parks and Recreation Department.
After disappointing pool pass sales during the 2015 summer season, coupled with lower-than-usual concession sales and other revenue declines, the Proesel Park Aquatic Center saw revenue drop nearly $33,000 from the previous year. But the 2016 season is looking up, according to Laura McCarty, parks and recreation director for Lincolnwood.
The parks department declined to provide monthly attendance numbers for June and July at its three pools housed within the aquatic center, but McCarty said roughly 22 percent more people have been using the pools compared to last summer.
"I'd love to attribute this year's numbers to being about more than the weather, but it accounts for about 90 percent of how well we do," she said. "If we start out with a cold and rainy June then people just don't come out to buy passes, but the weather started out strong and has been mostly perfect since."
By mid-August of last year, aquatic center staff started tracking how many days they closed the pool early because of poor weather or low attendance. Out of 25 days recorded between Aug. 14 and Sept. 5, the facility closed early on 13 days, according to the parks department.
Proesel Park Family Aquatic Center in Lincolnwood Kevin Tanaka / Pioneer Press Kids played in the wading pool at the Proesel Park Family Aquatic Center in Lincolnwood Aug. 6. Kids played in the wading pool at the Proesel Park Family Aquatic Center in Lincolnwood Aug. 6. (Kevin Tanaka / Pioneer Press)
By contrast, the warmer summer weather this year is likely to help bring an aquatic center stuck in a two-year rut, underscored by a 50-percent drop in pool visitors between 2013 and 2015.
Attendance was cut in half from about 62,200 total visitors in 2013 to just 30,760 in 2015, according to a report from the parks department.
Although Lincolnwood residents pay about a third of what non-resident pool passes cost, most pool users who visit the center come from outside of Lincolnwood. Last year, 465 passes were sold to residents, while 611 out-of-towners bought passes, parks department figures show.
Sales of non-resident pool passes are up 15 percent from last year, according to McCarty, who said that 2015 was the second year in a row where Lincolnwood did not sell out of its non-resident passes. Those passes raked in $342,620 last year for the center — about $29,000 less than the previous year.
Lincolnwood residents have also bought more passes — about 13 percent more than last year, according to McCarty.
While the popularity of the aquatic center is certainly at the mercy of Mother Nature, the length of the pool season this year is being limited for the first time by staffing needs.
With Labor Day weekend just a month away, the college and high school students who work as lifeguards, concession cashiers and fill other temporary staffing needs are heading back to school soon, leaving the pool with a shortage of workers.
As a result, the pool this year will shorten its hours of operation from 4 to 9 p.m. on weekdays, instead of opening at 10 a.m. In past years, McCarty said the end-of-summer staffing shortage was addressed by closing one or two of the pools during the day.
"We'd only be opening the pools we had enough staff for, so it was misleading because the public never knew which pools would be open," McCarty said. "Half of our lifeguards are high school or college kids, and we can't operate without having an adequate number of lifeguards."
Signs notifying pool guests of the shorter hours, which start Aug. 15, will be posted this week. The signs will serve as a hard reminder for summer-lovers that the end of pool season is near.
"We'll probably get some negative feedback, but it's not uncommon for public pools to open late at the end of the summer," she said.
Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lincolnwood/news/ct-lwr-proesel-pool-update-tl-0811-20160808-story.html | en | 2016-08-08T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/0ba66e5fe534b7618189903b451eb4b11b1d20ba3a2aad067f196315e278a7ec.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Elvia Malagon",
"Deanese Williams-Harris",
"Megan Crepeau"
] | 2016-08-26T13:20:29 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-2-men-wounded-in-little-village-shooting-20160825-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c01831/turbine/ct-2-men-wounded-in-little-village-shooting-20160825 | en | null | 1 dead, 10 wounded in separate shootings | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A man was killed and at least 10 other people have been wounded since Thursday morning in city shootings, police said.
An elderly man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head at 9:15 a.m. in a home in the 6000 block of West Diversey Avenue in the city's Belmont Central neighborhood, said Officer Jose Estrada, a Chicago police spokesman.
An elderly woman also was found in the home with a gunshot wound to the head, Estrada said. She was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she was listed in critical condition.
Detectives were investigating the shooting as a possible attempted murder-suicide, according to a police source.
Nonfatal shootings:
About 12:50 a.m. Friday, a 22-year-old man was shot in the ankle during an incident in West Englewood. Police said he had approached a woman in the 7100 block of South Paulina Street and fired shots at her; in exchange, a group of men nearby fired back at him. As he started to flee the scene, he was shot in the ankle. It was not immediately clear whether he was shot by the men returning fire or he had accidentally shot himself, according to a police spokeswoman. He went to Holy Cross Hospital in good condition.
About 9:50 p.m. Thursday, a 21-year-old man was critically wounded in Jefferson Park. He was in the 5800 block of West Giddings Street when he was shot in the head. Police said the wound may have been accidentally self-inflicted. He went to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition.
About 9:30 p.m., a 35-year-old man was shot in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. He was in the 2900 block of West Walton Street when he was shot in the abdomen. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, and his condition was stabilized.
About 6:45 p.m., a 29-year-old man was shot in Princeton Park. He was in the 9200 block of South Perry Avenue when a vehicle pulled up, someone exited and fired shots. He was shot in the chest and back. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, and his condition was stabilized.
About 4:50 p.m., three people were shot in the 6500 block of South Maplewood Avenue in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. A dark vehicle pulled up, and someone fired shots. An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg, and taken to Holy Cross Hospital. A 49-year-old woman also was shot in the leg and taken to Stroger Hospital. A third victim, an 18-year-old man, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center. All their conditions were stabilized, police said.
About 9:40 a.m. in the Little Village neighborhood, two men were wounded in a shooting in the 2200 block of South Sacramento Avenue. The men, 19 and 34, were on the sidewalk when the younger man was shot in the buttocks and the older man was grazed in the arm. An acquaintance took them to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were listed in good condition. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-2-men-wounded-in-little-village-shooting-20160825-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/e0db5b124dff4028fe4873a7f3e1e76a9cce3a77ef3bede752dc7d8d3db849c3.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Emily K. Coleman"
] | 2016-08-26T13:24:23 | null | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flake-county-news-sun%2Fnews%2Fct-lns-lake-county-coroner-supreme-court-st-0825-20160824-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57be3243/turbine/ct-lns-lake-county-coroner-supreme-court-st-0825-20160824 | en | null | Lake County coroner appeals to Illinois Supreme Court to get on ballot | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd has taken his fight to be allowed on the November ballot to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Rudd filed an emergency motion with the state's highest court Tuesday, less than a week after a Lake County judge sided with the local electoral board, which ruled Rudd was ineligible to run as an independent.
Rudd, of Lake Forest, initially attempted to run as a Democrat, but withdrew from the primary in December 2015 after a petition controversy. He filed to run as an independent June 27.
Rudd had to collect more than 10,000 signatures to file as an independent and received 14,000.
Neither the Lake County judge nor the board considered Rudd's arguments that the 2012 state law blocking his ability to appear on the ballot violated his First and 14th Amendment rights. Rudd argued the law denied him the ability to disaffiliate from a political party and treated independent candidates different than other parties.
Rudd had argued that while state law is clear that someone who lost in the primary cannot run as an independent or for another party in the general election, it does not specifically address a candidate who voluntarily withdrew before the primary election.
The Republican Party "fear me because of my honesty and my ability to run this office professionally," Rudd said earlier this month.
Rudd is asking the Illinois Supreme Court to consider those arguments, in part because another circuit court in Effingham County found the statute unconstitutional. Rudd has asked the case be taken immediately instead of first being required to be heard by an appellate court.
Lake County's deadline to certify and start printing the ballots is Sept. 1, according to an attorney for the Lake County Clerk's Office.
Rudd's effort to run as an independent candidate has been challenged by Democratic candidate Michael P. Donnenwirth, a former coroner's office employee fired by Rudd last fall after an incident at the Genesee Theatre where Donnenwirth allegedly sold beer without a license, was drunk and used "offensive language," according to Rudd, Genesee Theatre management and documents released to the News-Sun in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
Keith Turner, a Waukegan activist who previously lost a state representative campaign, is listed with Donnenwirth on the complaint that brought Rudd's independent bid before the electoral board.
Rudd has drawn the ire of some Lake County sheriff's officials since taking office in 2013, including during the investigation into the death of Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz by saying early in the process that the death might have been suicide.
He has also criticized the investigation of Melissa Calusinski, a day care employee convicted in 2011 of murdering a child. Calusinski is now seeking a new trial after Rudd changed the cause of death from homicide to undetermined based on what he has described as evidence not aired at trial.
emcoleman@tribpub.com
Twitter @mekcoleman | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lake-county-coroner-supreme-court-st-0825-20160824-story.html | en | 2016-08-24T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/2e97affb589758913d6296eba4eb67eb622eb4b4fe95b24a206d89464f93aca7.json |
[
"Associated Press",
"Tribune News Services"
] | 2016-08-26T18:50:45 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fbreaking%2Fct-judge-appeal-oscar-pistorius-sentence-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0810f/turbine/ct-judge-appeal-oscar-pistorius-sentence-20160826 | en | null | South African judge denies appeal for harsher Pistorius sentence | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A South African judge on Friday dismissed an appeal by prosecutors for a harsher sentence against Oscar Pistorius who was found guilty of murder for killing his girlfriend in 2013.
Judge Thokozile Masipa said the state's appeal to extend the six-year sentence against the 29-year-old double amputee Olympic sprinter had a limited prospect of success.
"I am not persuaded that there are reasonable prospects of success for an appeal," she said in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.
Pistorius shot Reeva Steenkamp, 29, in the early hours of February 14. He claimed he thought she was an intruder. The state charged that he shot her in anger after an argument. Pistorius was found guilty of murder and sentenced by Masipa to six years in prison.
The sentence was "shockingly light" and that the judge should have used 15-year minimum as starting point as Steenkamp had suffered a "horrendous death," said prosecutor Gerrie Nel.
Pistorius never offered an acceptable explanation for having fired four shots through the toilet door, he said.
The fact that Pistorius fired four shots using hollow point bullets that are designed to inflict maximum damage meant the possibility of death was more likely and should have been an aggravating factor, said Nel.
The state may appeal Masipa's decision at the Supreme Court of Appeals in the city of Bloemfontein, but is yet to indicate whether it will do so.
Associated Press | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-judge-appeal-oscar-pistorius-sentence-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/216daeb5793f49ff0f43219f33a96305177237d6eae1b54541e1149a08b7cabc.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Pat Lenhoff"
] | 2016-08-26T13:25:33 | null | 2016-06-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fvernon-hills%2Fnews%2Fct-vhr-lenhoff-colmn-tl-0707-20160630-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-577685a3/turbine/ct-vhr-lenhoff-colmn-tl-0707-20160630 | en | null | Lenhoff: Potential Woodman's store might change the grocery shopping game | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Early in my marriage, when grocery shopping for my very own household was new and exciting, I was a proud Dominick's girl.
Most of us were either in the Dominick's camp or the Jewel brigade. There were other options for food shopping, mostly smaller local stores with a few other chains thrown in. But make no mistake, the battle line for the majority of us young wives and mothers was drawn between those two behemoths in the Chicago area. A visit to any of them on a busy Friday or weekend would serve as confirmation of such.
Then a horrible thing happened. Safeway, based out of California and without a clue about how the Chicago market operated, took over Dominick's and in short order ruined one of the best grocery chains around. I know that sounds harsh. I guess you can tell I still hold a grudge.
Oh, they promised that shoppers wouldn't notice anything different after they took over, but I knew the handwriting was on the wall the first Friday I went in to do my weekly shopping after the sale of the chain. Grocery shopping changed forever for me on that day.
These days, grocery shopping has been taken to an entirely new level and it is definitely not your mother's shopping ritual anymore.
Big box retailers have expanded into the grocery business with their superstore concepts. Drug stores now carry food selections, including refrigerated perishables. Warehouse clubs have improved from the early prototype to become destination shopping on weekends. Those stores always seem to draw a crowd, whether there are holidays coming up or it's just a normal weekend.
But there's now buzz for a potential new grocery option, one that just might be the most massive grocery store yet.
Woodman's Food Market, based in Wisconsin, has plans to open a new location in Buffalo Grove. With stores that have more than 250,000 square feet of produce, snacks, dairy, meat and more, it's almost as if the very name is said in hushed whispers, such is the reverence to their proficiency and success.
I have always wanted to visit their location in Kenosha, but so far have not. Pretty soon, if they are granted the necessary approvals to set up shop, I'll be able to make the easy drive to Buffalo Grove and enjoy all that the massive store has to offer. The plans call for the new store to be located at the corner of Milwaukee Avenue and Deerfield Parkway. Lucky town, landing such a big game changer.
I remember shopping at one of our prestige local chains a few years ago. The store was known for superb customer service and gourmet items. I began chatting with one of the employees who quietly told me that he couldn't really afford to shop regularly in the store he worked at, but instead shopped at Woodman's. He added that the meats were as good or better.
I'm not sure I believed him, but I'll be finding out for myself if the Buffalo Grove store is approved and opens.
The grocery game has changed for good, so bring it on!
viewfromvh@yahoo.com
Pat Lenhoff is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/vernon-hills/news/ct-vhr-lenhoff-colmn-tl-0707-20160630-story.html | en | 2016-06-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/048d74195b07a9f7ad964e50289c50b8d0517d58cd76454ffffe5d0b313a64bf.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Tribune News Services"
] | 2016-08-27T04:47:57 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fpolitics%2Fct-donald-trump-ceo-stephen-bannon-scrutiny-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c103e1/turbine/ct-donald-trump-ceo-stephen-bannon-scrutiny-20160826 | en | null | Trump campaign CEO under new scrutiny over anti-Semitic remarks, domestic violence case | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | An ex-wife of Donald Trump's new campaign CEO, Stephen Bannon, said Bannon made anti-Semitic remarks when the two battled over sending their daughters to private school nearly a decade ago, according to court papers reviewed Friday by The Associated Press.
That revelation came a day after reports emerged that domestic violence charges were filed 20 years ago against Bannon following an altercation with his then-wife, Mary Louise Piccard.
In a sworn court declaration following their divorce, Piccard said her ex-husband had objected to sending their twin daughters to an elite Los Angeles academy because he "didn't want the girls going to school with Jews."
"He said he doesn't like Jews and that he doesn't like the way they raise their kids to be 'whiney brats,'" Piccard said in a 2007 court filing.
Police records and court papers show Bannon, the former head of Breitbart News, faced a domestic violence charge in 1996 following an altercation with Piccard. The charges were dropped when she didn't show up in court.
The allegations against Bannon brought fresh scrutiny on Friday to how well Trump vets his most senior employees and advisers - another distraction from the themes the GOP nominee wants to emphasize less than 11 weeks from the election.
In the domestic violence case, Bannon was charged with trying to prevent or dissuade the victim or a witness of a crime from reporting it; inflicting injury on a cohabitant or other closely associated person; and battery, according to court records in Southern California, where Bannon lived at the time.
Bannon was never convicted. The case was dismissed that August, the records show.
According to a police report that was posted online by Politico, Bannon's then-wife said an argument escalated into a physical confrontation in which Bannon grabbed her wrist and at her neck. As she tried to call 911, he grabbed the telephone and threw it, she alleged. She also said there were past instances of disputes that became physical.
Piccard, who had twins with Bannon, filed for divorce in January 1997, court records show. Piccard could not be reached for comment Friday.
Bannon spokeswoman Alexandra Preate said of the 1996 incident and subsequent case: "Mr. Bannon found out via U.S. mail. The attorney handled it. He was never involved and it was dropped. He has a great relationship with his ex-wife and his twins."
Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, said in an interview with ABC News Friday that she did not know whether Trump was aware of the case.
"I don't know what he was aware of with respect to a 20-year-old claim where the charges were dropped," Conway said. "So that's all I know about is what I read."
Records show Bannon changed his voter registration address in Florida this week as reporters were preparing a story about how he was registered at an address where he did not live. A spokeswoman provided a statement from someone who said Bannon had lived there but did not respond to a question about why he changed his registration to the new address.
The new details about Bannon's personal life could complicate Trump's recent attempts to improve his standing among moderate voters, minorities and women.
"It just undermines any effort they are pursuing to try and soften him up when he surrounds himself with people like that," said Katie Packer, a Republican strategist who vigorously opposes Trump.
Packer, who served as deputy campaign manager to Republican nominee Mitt Romney in 2012, said Bannon would have never passed the vetting process Romney's team used when they made hiring decisions.
On Thursday, Bannon's registration information was changed from an address in Miami-Dade County to Sarasota County, according to Carolina Lopez, the deputy supervisor of elections in Miami-Dade. On Friday morning, the Guardian newspaper reported that Bannon had been registered to vote at an address in Miami-Dade where he did not reside, putting him at odds with state election laws.
The address where Bannon is now registered in Sarasota County is also associated with venture capitalist Andrew Badolato, who, according to his website, has worked as an associate producer on films produced and directed by Bannon.
Badolato has also written for Breitbart News, the right-leaning website Bannon heads. Bannon is on leave from Breitbart as he works for Trump. Badolato gave Trump a $142 donation in April, campaign finance records show.
Badolato did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
Preate referred to a statement issued by A.J. Delgado, a conservative commentator supporting Trump.
"I have known Steve for several years and he was most definitely, without a doubt, living in the house in question," Delgado said. "I personally visited Steve there on various occasions throughout a long period of time starting in 2013. All his belongings, including boxes of documents even, were there and his vehicles."
But the Miami-Dade property owner, Luis Guevara, told the Guardian that "nobody lives there." The report said Bannon formerly rented the house for use by Diane Clohesy, one of his ex-wives. Clohesy could not be reached for comment Friday.
Trump has been an outspoken critic of voter fraud, which studies have shown is very rare. He recently encouraged supporters in Pennsylvania to watch for signs of irregularities on Election Day.
Bannon, who recently joined Trump's team in a leadership shake-up, was charged in 1996 with three counts stemming from a dispute with Piccard. The case, first reported by the New York Post, was dismissed in court, records show.
The disclosures come as Trump has fallen well behind Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in polls. He is trying to make up ground among women and minorities, who strongly favor Clinton.
Associated Press and the Washington Post contributed | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-donald-trump-ceo-stephen-bannon-scrutiny-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/42f6c868c4e7caa0a2ebb7c6c0b80aa1382448d07335ae5271e0271d366f7018.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Heidi Stevens"
] | 2016-08-29T18:48:59 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Flifestyles%2Fstevens%2Fct-mom-vacation-note-facebook-balancing-0829-20160829-column.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c46859/turbine/ct-mom-vacation-note-facebook-balancing-0829-20160829 | en | null | Mom's viral Facebook note to husband strikes a funny bone - and a nerve | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | She wasn't being serious, people.
Meghan Oeser, an Oak Forest mom of six, typed out a profanity-laced missive to her beloved husband, Kevin, before heading to a 48-hour getaway with her girlfriends. It contained helpful pointers, such as, "Dinner will suck" and "Breakfast will be such a (expletive) show that you'll forget to eat and begin to experience the caffeine shakes."
She posted it on Facebook, where it quickly went viral, racking up more than 150,000 likes and another 100,000-plus shares in a matter of days.
RELATED: TRENDING LIFE & STYLE NEWS THIS HOUR
The Note became A Thing. Us Weekly wrote about it. Parents magazine wrote about it.
And, on cue, the hate mail started rolling in.
"Tons of nasty comments," Oeser, 37, told me. "'What kind of father doesn't know his own kids?' "Why is she even having kids?' 'What kind of father needs a letter?'"
Now, I ask you. Does this read like an actual set of instructions?
"Quinn, Harper and Bailey will go down seamlessly. Just wait. As they lie in their beds, they'll then realize that their tiny mouths are on (expletive) fire, and they'll act as if they've just walked 800 (expletive) miles through the Sahara. They will come down, one by one, every (expletive) 5 minutes, for water. Don't let ANYONE use Quinn's pink Elsa cup. If she sees this, she will lose her holy (expletive)."
Or this?
"If you cannot find a nightgown for Penny, keep (expletive) looking. She'll ask for her Minnie Mouse nightgown, but once you put it on, she'll scream in agony because the sleeves are CLEARLY ripping her (expletive) arms off. Just find her Elsa one. Chances are, it's dirty as (expletive), but so what — so is she. I can't remember the last time I put soap to that one."
Remember "Go the (Expletive) to Sleep," the Adam Mansbach book that shot to the top of Amazon before it was even published? This is the Facebook version.
"The whole thing started as me telling him how to turn on the diffuser," Oeser said. "Then I thought, 'I might as well tell him about the sippy cups.' Then I started drinking wine, and it started getting funny."
Had she decided to leave her husband, an electrician, an actual, earnest, detailed to-do list?
"He would never follow it," she said. "He would be like, 'You want me to find specific pajamas? She'll sleep in a T-shirt.' I give in to them. He doesn't."
Many, many people made time to tell the Oesers that their children are ill-behaved heathens. (Helpful information that every parent likes to hear from strangers.)
"When we're out in public, we're like the von Trapps," Oeser said. "They're really freaking good. At home? They're wretched to me."
Which she readily, hilariously admits.
As for Kevin, he penned a rebuttal to Meghan, which includes a list of things strangers have told him to do in the last few days.
"Take a parenting class. Walk into oncoming traffic. Go back in time and not be born. Beat my kids."
"So many people said we need to start beating them," Oeser told me.
Lovely.
Despite the blowback, Oeser is glad she posted the note, and the attention inspired her to start a blog, where she plans to recount her adventures raising kids ages 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 15.
The first few installments involve essential oils, back-to-school celebrating and a fair amount of swearing. If you prefer your parenting picture-perfect, I suggest you visit elsewhere.
hstevens@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @heidistevens13
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Caption Tour a two-story penthouse in Aqua Tower, on the market for $5.95M Aqua Tower, 225 N. Columbus Dr., No. 8004. Two-floor penthouse on the market for $5.95M Aqua Tower, 225 N. Columbus Dr., No. 8004. Two-floor penthouse on the market for $5.95M Caption Tour a two-story penthouse in Aqua Tower, on the market for $5.95M Aqua Tower, 225 N. Columbus Dr., No. 8004. Two-floor penthouse on the market for $5.95M Aqua Tower, 225 N. Columbus Dr., No. 8004. Two-floor penthouse on the market for $5.95M Caption A look at Jackson Park's Wooded Island, The Garden of the Phoenix A look at Jackson Park's Wooded Island, The Garden of the Phoenix. (Roger Morales / Chicago Tribune) A look at Jackson Park's Wooded Island, The Garden of the Phoenix. (Roger Morales / Chicago Tribune) Caption One Step Summer Camp for children with cancer At One Step Summer Camp, children with cancer are given a chance to experience a week or two of fun with other kids facing similar challenges. Read the full story. At One Step Summer Camp, children with cancer are given a chance to experience a week or two of fun with other kids facing similar challenges. Read the full story. Caption Feral cats keeping the rats away Some Chicago residents have discovered the benefits of taking in feral cats to quell the rat problem that plagues their homes and yards. April 8, 2016. (Alexis Myers / Chicago Tribune) Some Chicago residents have discovered the benefits of taking in feral cats to quell the rat problem that plagues their homes and yards. April 8, 2016. (Alexis Myers / Chicago Tribune) Caption Paul McGee shows how to make The Normans cocktail with single malt scotch Paul McGee offers variations of the normans cocktail for the perfect January drink. This variations main base is single malt scotch. (Roger Morales/Chicago Tribune) Paul McGee offers variations of the normans cocktail for the perfect January drink. This variations main base is single malt scotch. (Roger Morales/Chicago Tribune)
Aug. 26 is National Dog Day, a time to celebrate humans' best friend. Here are the top dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-mom-vacation-note-facebook-balancing-0829-20160829-column.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/1f3c6ca759bacc80d52fdf6817129f0d5d15ad4d5344f4954c4000510809d617.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Dahleen Glanton"
] | 2016-08-29T22:48:55 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fcolumnists%2Fct-kaepernick-national-athem-glanton-20160829-column.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4ac78/turbine/ct-kaepernick-national-athem-glanton-20160829 | en | null | U.S. flag represents Kaepernick's right not to stand for national anthem | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Friday night a football player refused to stand for the national anthem.
In a statement against racial oppression, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick simply remained in his seat while others stood with their right hand over their heart. And in the process, he showed the world what it means to be an American.
There is no clearer emblem of liberty and justice than the American flag. It symbolizes our country's commitment to human rights, equality and the pursuit of each individual's idea of happiness.
Kaepernick, a biracial man who was raised by white adoptive parents, does not believe those basic rights are afforded to African-Americans and other minorities. He felt compelled to make his feelings known.
"I am not going to stand up and show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," he told NFL Media following the exhibition football game. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
Obviously, not everyone agrees with Kaepernick's assessment. But the American flag represents his right to speak out against any injustice he perceives.
He didn't lead an anti-flag protest down the street. He didn't set a flag on fire on the lawn of the San Francisco Police Department, though doing so would have been completely within his rights.
He didn't disrupt the national anthem with shouts of "Black Lives Matter." In fact, he didn't say a word.
By remaining quietly in his seat at the exhibition football game, Kaepernick exercised one of the greatest gifts America guarantees its citizens under the Constitution — the freedom of speech.
Like many minorities, Kaepernick sees America as an imperfect nation, one that oppresses some groups while encouraging others to soar. He doesn't believe that Americans can afford to stand by and watch quietly as authorities trample on the civil rights of citizens. To do so is hypocritical.
On Twitter, he has documented a string of events that are emblematic of the social and racial divide in America. He doesn't like it when politicians try to turn their own citizens into the enemy, when a police officer shoots and kills a black man sitting innocently in his car or when students are silenced while trying to take a stand.
It is clear where he stands.
Take, for example, that profanity-laced email defending racial profiling that Maine Gov. Paul LePage left for a state lawmaker.
"You shoot at the enemy. You try to identify the enemy. And the enemy right now, the overwhelming majority right now coming in, are people of color or people of Hispanic origin," the Republican governor said.
He tweeted about the incident in Buckeye, Ariz., where school administrators refused to allow 10th-grader Mariah Havard to take her class picture wearing a "Black Lives Matter" T-shirt.
There are links to police shootings in Milwaukee, Chicago and Wisconsin, among other cities.
Some might look at Kaepernick's social media posts and accuse him of being obsessed with race. But to others, it simply shows that he's aware.
Denver Broncos v San Francisco 49ers Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium on August 17, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium on August 17, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images) (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
As someone in the public eye, he has chosen to use his platform as a voice for those who otherwise would be unheard, even if it means losing his own prestige and wealth. Not everyone has the guts to do that.
In exercising his free speech rights, Kaepernick was not disrespecting our military, as some have argued. If anything, he was recognizing the heroic contributions of our armed forces, whose job is to ensure that Americans always have the right to disagree with their government. And the right to stand or sit during "The Star-Spangled Banner."
In some ways, Kaepernick is like a modern-day Muhammad Ali, who refused to fight in the Vietnam War, not only because it was a violation of his Muslim religion but because he did not believe America had always stood up for him.
"Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?" Ali asked.
Many Americans scorned Ali for taking such a stance. His heavyweight boxing title was stripped from him.
It took years for people to realize that Ali did nothing wrong, though some never did.
Kaepernick faces a similar challenge in defending his patriotism. Some see his protest as an extension of Black Lives Matter, a movement that is feared and misunderstood.
But like Ali, Kaepernick doesn't seem to care what others think. So, under the banner of our flag, he took a stand against injustice.
Because to him, that is what it means to be an American.
dglanton@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @dahleeng | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-kaepernick-national-athem-glanton-20160829-column.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/4e6a8c0fc1a3db236651cba5a7f4140bedf283ba97b1d1de0615d0702d69b91a.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Paul Sullivan"
] | 2016-08-27T14:48:03 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fcolumnists%2Fct-clayton-kershaw-return-sullivan-baseball-spt-0828-20160827-column.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c193d7/turbine/ct-clayton-kershaw-return-sullivan-baseball-spt-0828-20160827 | en | null | Clayton Kershaw could be the Dodgers' postseason wild card | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | The pitcher no one wants to face in the National League playoffs hasn't pitched since June 26 and has no return date on his schedule.
But Clayton Kershaw may loom large this October, giving Dodgers fans reason to believe in a team that somehow has managed to hang tough, despite the major loss of its ace.
Kershaw threw 60 pitches in a bullpen session Friday, hoping to return in September for the Dodgers' stretch run.
"He's the equalizer for anyone," Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said.
The first-place Dodgers had a slim two-game lead over the Giants in the National League West on Friday, and winning the division would be crucial if Kershaw returns strong. Because the division series is five games, Kershaw potentially could start Games 1 and 5, or even Game 4 on short rest.
Barring a miracle, the Cubs would play them in the first round only if the Dodgers make it as a wild-card team and win the one-game playoff.
Otherwise, the Dodgers probably would have to beat the Nationals, and the Cubs would have to beat the wild-card winner for the two to meet again.
Kershaw was seemingly on his way to the Cy Young Award when he went on the disabled list with a back injury. He was 11-2 with a 1.79 ERA and an astonishing 16-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio (145-9). The all-time record belongs to the Twins' Phil Hughes at 11.6-to-1 in 2014.
Last year Kershaw struck out a league-leading 301 batters in 2322/3 innings with a 2.13 ERA but still finished a distant third in Cy Young voting behind Jake Arrieta and Zack Greinke.
Nevertheless, he still is regarded as the best pitcher in baseball.
One saving grace for the Dodgers' potential playoff opponents is he hasn't been as dominant in the postseason with a 2-6 record and 4.59 ERA in 13 games, including 10 starts.
The Dodgers made a controversial move Thursday when they traded Kershaw's good friend and favorite catcher, A.J. Ellis, to the Phillies in a deal that brought in Carlos Ruiz.
Neither Kershaw nor Ellis was ashamed to admit they wept after hearing the news.
"It was just a really abrupt ending," Kershaw told reporters Friday. "A.J. kind of described it as a car wreck."
This Dodgers season looked like a car wreck in the making when Kershaw went down, one of a major-league-record 27 players who have landed on their disabled list.
But first-year manager Dave Roberts has deftly handled the clubhouse, which dramatically improved with the demotion of self-centered outfielder Yasiel Puig to the minors.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon lauded Roberts for the job he has done and said he wished the Cubs could have faced Kershaw during this weekend's series at Dodger Stadium.
"Of course I always want us to play the other guys' best team," Maddon said Friday. "We're missing people, they're missing people. At the end of the day, you always like your best group against their best group and let's go.
"You can talk about lamenting what they're missing, and we could do the same thing in return. But that's part of the Major League Baseball season. Depth is so important, the fact that you're able to fight through those moments."
Up and up: Of the four National League teams that went into the season in total rebuild mode — the Reds, Brewers, Phillies and Braves — the one that seems to be the closest to winning is Philadelphia.
They were 10 games below .500 after Friday's loss to the Mets after going 63-99 last year. The starting pitching of Jeremy Hellickson, rookie Jerad Eickhoff and Vince Velasquez has kept them in most games.
"Hellickson has been our bright spot, as well as Eickhoff, and Velasquez has a lot of potential," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "But the fans are all in on it at this point. Fortunately, we've won enough games to keep everybody interested."
The big move was trading ace Cole Hamels to the Rangers last summer in a multiplayer deal that netted several prospects. The White Sox are contemplating a rebuild, and certainly ace Chris Sale could bring back a boatload of talent in return.
"I'd trade anybody for the right deal," Mackanin said. "If you get a handful of top-notch prospects, it very well might be in the best interests to do that. It's a very tough call to make. At this level, unfortunately, you have to make decisions quick, and you have to be right."
Mackanin said the Sox can pull off a rebuild if fans buy into their plan and they make the right moves.
"If you're straightforward with the fans, tell them exactly that there is a plan in place, that it's going to take time, to be patient …" he said. "If you have enough guys who are worth watching, and seeing them develop during the course of a losing season, then they get it. If you're a complete dud, then it's tough."
The Phillies led the majors in attendance in 2012, averaging a little more than 44,000 per game. On Friday they were 22nd at 24,870.
"Attendance is decent, not like the days we were selling out," Mackanin said. "We show enough to (provide) some hope. You can't hang on to the older guys forever. We learned that lesson. The party lasted a little too long."
Tebow time: Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow will work out for major-league teams Tuesday in Los Angeles. Someone is likely to sign the 29-year-old, if only because of the publicity the team will receive.
Gary Sheffield tweeted that Tebow, who played first base and right field in high school, is "a Natural" after watching him, and former Cubs and White Sox reliever David Aardsma was impressed after pitching to Tebow in Arizona.
"It's going to be interesting," Maddon said. "I saw his swing on the video. It's a decent hack. At 29 years old, that's not easy to pull off, but good for him. If he wants to give it a run, go for it."
psullivan@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @PWSullivan | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-clayton-kershaw-return-sullivan-baseball-spt-0828-20160827-column.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/72f273106892df08501a99428157d8cff91745feee0af2956c8990f799c9f35c.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Emily Coleman"
] | 2016-08-27T02:48:05 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flake-county-news-sun%2Fcrime%2Fct-lns-waukegan-home-invasion-disabled-victim-st-0827-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0eaa8/turbine/ct-lns-waukegan-home-invasion-disabled-victim-st-0827-20160826 | en | null | Police: Disabled man injured in Waukegan home invasion | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A Waukegan man has been charged with entering the home of a disabled man Thursday, injuring him and taking his property, police said.
The incident was one of two robberies the Waukegan Police Department say Timothy J. Brown, 48, of the 600 block of Lenox Avenue, committed, according to a news release.
Police say Brown used physical force to rob a woman over the age of 60 while she was outside in the 900 block of Washington Park Wednesday.
The home invasion happened the following day in the 1300 block of North Avenue, according to the release.
Cmdr. Joe Florip said as far as he was aware, neither victim was hospitalized.
Brown was arrested by the North Chicago Police Department Friday and turned over to the Waukegan Police Department, according to the release. He has been charged in both instances and has a bond hearing scheduled for Saturday.
emcoleman@tribpub.com
Twitter @mekcoleman | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/crime/ct-lns-waukegan-home-invasion-disabled-victim-st-0827-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/c5115dc03cc4fa0ff7e9b9a6e5bba28b1eb6d85d2d0a484b44ee0295ffc5cad7.json |
[
"Associated Press",
"Rick Maese"
] | 2016-08-29T16:48:49 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fbreaking%2Fct-john-skipper-espn-turbulent-times-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4559a/turbine/ct-john-skipper-espn-turbulent-times-20160829 | en | null | John Skipper is steering ESPN through turbulent times | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | John Skipper, president of ESPN, must steer the sports cabvle giant through what may be the most challenging period it has seen since it was launched 37 years ago next week.
John Skipper, president of ESPN, must steer the sports cabvle giant through what may be the most challenging period it has seen since it was launched 37 years ago next week. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-john-skipper-espn-turbulent-times-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/69250235f51c9060bb88a291aca793ec0fff3bad5c9759e000473b88dd8463a3.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune"
] | 2016-08-26T16:49:12 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Flifestyles%2Fpets%2Fct-top-dog-breeds-national-dog-day-20160824-photogallery.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c06290/turbine/ct-top-dog-breeds-national-dog-day-20160824 | en | null | America's top 20 dog breeds | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Aug. 26 is National Dog Day, a time to celebrate humans' best friend. Here are the top dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/pets/ct-top-dog-breeds-national-dog-day-20160824-photogallery.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/fb2c47968b6f332ce5dc10280ff53948adad5c5bc0c590e840f59cb4b02ce691.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Michael Osipoff"
] | 2016-08-30T20:52:09 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fpost-tribune%2Fsports%2Fct-ptb-girls-soccer-notes-st-0831-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5e190/turbine/ct-ptb-girls-soccer-notes-st-0831-20160830 | en | null | Girls soccer notes: Anika Berg adapts as central defender for Lake Central | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | During an exchange at practice with Lake Central coach Shawn Thomas, sophomore Anika Berg managed a faint smile.
"That's the same smile I got when I told her she was playing center back," Thomas quipped.
Though Berg has mostly warmed up to the position, her initial reaction was indeed chillier.
"Not so thrilled," she said. "I was, like, 'Why me?' I wasn't, 'Yay!' At first, I told him I hated it. But it's all right now."
The Indians graduated central defender Rachel Inglese, a four-year starter. She was the Duneland Athletic Conference MVP, instrumental in Lake Central allowing just one goal in going 7-0 in the DAC.
Thomas put considerable thought into determining a successor for his defense-first system. He received input from people such as Jereme Rainwater, a good friend who is Lake Central's boys coach.
"Over the winter, I was trying to decide and I came up with Anika," Thomas said. "She's a really competitive, athletic girl, and she doesn't know how to lose. That's the same mentality Rachel had, and it's a must-have for a center back.
"Being a defensive player, especially running the show, wasn't her first choice. But coach Rainwater and I told her that if we're asking you to play center back, it means we think an awful lot of you. She was hesitant, but she wanted to help her team."
Thomas has liked what he's seen.
"Having three years left with Anika, we can really establish something in the back," he said. "I have high hopes for her, and she's lived up to them so far."
Berg made a significant impact as a freshman. She played a variety of positions, including forward, before landing at left defender. Five senior starters made her transition smoother, it wasn't easy.
"It was terrifying at first," Berg said. "But they were so nice. They helped me, and Shawn helped me, and hopefully I got it down."
The next step for Berg, who also has more license to attack with her club team, involves continuing to grow into her role as a central defender for the Indians.
"I haven't done amazing because it's all still new to me," she said. "I have to talk and direct everything on the field — I talk a lot, just not like that. And headers, that's another thing that Rachel was amazing on. But I'm adjusting and working on those things."
Comeback trail: Munster forward Cami Kekelik continues to make progress after tearing her ACL and meniscus in March. The senior remains on target to return in late September, ahead of the start of the postseason.
Kekelik led the Mustangs with 16 goals and added six assists last season, when they won their first sectional since 2012 and first regional since 2009.
She has increased to jogging up to three miles a day and already has been working on some soccer skills, according to coach Valerie Pflum.
"She's coming along a lot faster than usual with an ACL," Pflum said.
Bigger picture: Last season, Kankakee Valley won its first sectional since 2009 before losing a 1-0 overtime decision to Munster in a regional final. But the Kougars graduated five senior starters, so there has been a learning curve this year.
"We're still looking at different spots with different players," KV coach Audrey Johnson said. "We're still finding that spot for each person and moving things around and changing things.
"We're working towards the postseason — that's where it really counts. The season's awesome and it's great and we want to win, but our focus is always on that postseason and finding the things that work for us."
The Kougars went 3-3 in the Northwest Crossroads Conference last season before making their postseason run.
mosipoff@post-trib.com
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff
Top 10
With last week's rankings in parentheses
1. Munster (1)
2. Crown Point (3)
3. Valparaiso (5)
4. Lake Central (2)
5. Andrean (6)
6. Chesterton (4)
7. Kankakee Valley (7)
8. Highland (9)
9. Griffith (8)
10. Wheeler (10)
Player of the Week: Marquette's Stacey Barron, a junior, became the Blazers' career leader in goals, passing 2007 graduate Megan Ohms. She had a goal, tying the record of 39, and an assist in Marquette's 5-0 win Aug. 22 against Boone Grove. She also had two goals and an assist in Thursday's 7-2 win against Covenant Christian. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-girls-soccer-notes-st-0831-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/ea4ee7714e3b1134b2ac759cd0564497851d7e4ba9edbc93e1dc6a3ab832fb20.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Karie Angell Luc"
] | 2016-08-26T13:23:41 | null | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fnorthbrook%2Fnews%2Fct-nbs-northbrook-baby-reunion-tl-0811-20160811-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57a8e3a5/turbine/ct-nbs-northbrook-baby-reunion-tl-0811-20160811 | en | null | Northbrook paramedics reunited with baby they delivered at gas station | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | It's not every day you hear of parents whose two children were born on Mother's Day and Father's Day.
Such is the case for the Schneider family of Libertyville. Kristin Schneider's first child, Taylor Schneider, 2, arrived on Mother's Day in 2014. Her second child, Abigail Schneider, was born last Father's Day, delivered by Northbrook first responders at a Northbrook gas station.
"It was the best Father's Day gift I could get," said Chris Schneider, the children's father.
"Everyone knew what to do and I'm blessed that they're well trained," he said. "I was confident in my wife and I was confident in these guys."
Kristin Schneider, a Glenbrook North High School biology teacher, her husband and two children visited the Northbrook Fire Department Aug. 6 to thank the fire personnel who responded to the "woman in labor" call June 19 at the Northbrook Marathon, 812 Waukegan Road.
The parents were on their way to Evanston Hospital. The 911 call came at 5:12 p.m. and Abigail arrived shortly after.
"When I heard the sirens, I felt so much relief and I knew I was going to be in good hands," Kristin Schneider said.
"They were so professional and were so kind," she said. "It couldn't have gone any smoother all things considered."
The baby had the umbilical cord around her neck.
"Paramedics used quick judgment and took decisive actions to correct a nuchal cord complication," Northbrook Fire Chief Jose Torres said.
The baby was not harmed and is doing very well.
"It was a good outcome," Torres said, adding a recognition award for six personnel was recently approved after a mandatory review process.
Personnel to be recognized include Lt. Joel Eaton, firefighter/paramedic Jack Geiger, Craig Skala and Mark Thompson, fire engineer Tom Schaul, and district chief Daniel Quinn.
"They were able to reassure the patient throughout the delivery process and still had the situational awareness to offer the father an opportunity to cut the umbilical cord," wrote Eaton in his July 21 award nomination email to Torres.
Eaton noted the call was also a high point for first responders.
"A lot of calls that we respond to are the worst moments in a person's life and so it's really positive to go on a call that most would describe as the best moment in their life," Eaton said.
Geiger said he was a bit player, but that it was a group effort.
"I think everyone involved is a parent so we've all been involved in our children's births," Geiger said. "We view this as clinical but it's still a very intense moment."
A pink stork decal, a second one for that particular ambulance, was affixed Aug. 6 in honor of the birth. Kristin Schneider said the family was at Libertyville Days the day before. Evanston Hospital became Sunday's urgent destination.
"We're thinking about another one," Chris Schneider said, about having a third child.
Could Labor Day be the mother of all holidays?
The Schneiders and those present on Aug. 6 shared a laugh about suggested future birthdays.
But as far as the gas station goes, that's feasibly on Kristin Schneider's way to work.
"The place is going to get my business now to relive the memory!" she said with a smile.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance photographer and reporter for Pioneer Press. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/northbrook/news/ct-nbs-northbrook-baby-reunion-tl-0811-20160811-story.html | en | 2016-08-11T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/b46ef4458adff27f6bcb80c95e189c80dbf41b86eded7953a9bd676892365045.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Christopher Borrelli"
] | 2016-08-29T18:48:53 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fentertainment%2Fbeingthere%2Fct-movies-on-the-roof-ent-0830-20160829-column.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c48186/turbine/ct-movies-on-the-roof-ent-0830-20160829 | en | null | This couple creates the perfect summer movie rooftop experience for their friends | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Here is a man who would not take it anymore.
A man who stood up when others sat down. A man who was tired of the careless and disengaged, the bureaucrats who didn't know how to show a movie outdoors. Thomas Rammer would be surprised to hear himself described that way. He is a pleasant sort, a Chicago patent attorney with red hair and, hanging around his neck, the curlicue symbol Prince once named himself. He comes off like a jaunty Disney pirate. But when pushed too far, look out: Seven years ago, Rammer and his wife, Laura Lanford , a manager of software engineers, found themselves flummoxed when the city stopped showing movies in the Petrillo Music Shell at Grant Park. They had bought a condo in the Moser Building on Printers Row partly because it allowed them an easy walk to movies in Grant Park. Never mind that they had already been chafing at Movies in the Park, the forgettable family flotsam that seemed to clutter its summer schedule, the indifferent pre-movie music playing on a sad loop. Outrage is too strong a word for what they felt. Disappointment, though, is spot-on.
Rammer felt he could do better.
After all, we have been watching movies outdoors for 100 years; the centennial of the first outdoor screening is in December, and that theater, in western Australia, still shows movies. During that century, moviegoers in the great outdoors have delighted and suffered. Pro: New Jersey gave us the first drive-in theater in 1933 and the joy of watching film on the hood of a car in our pajamas. Con: The sound came from tinny speakers clamped to our car windows. Pro: As drive-ins declined in the 1980s and their parking lots became flea markets, communities took up the slack and started the summer tradition of showing movies in parks, on beaches — Austin, Texas, recently showed "Jaws" to an audience tucked inside inner tubes on a river. Con: Comfort was negligible and park districts are not movie exhibitors. (As The Onion recently noted: "Outdoor Movie Guest Excited to Watch Barely Audible 'Back to the Future' While Sitting On Tree Root.")
Movies on the roof Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune People gather for an evening of "movies on the roof" hosted by couple Laura Lanford and Thomas Rammer on the roof of their apartment building Tuesday, August 9, 2016, in Chicago. People gather for an evening of "movies on the roof" hosted by couple Laura Lanford and Thomas Rammer on the roof of their apartment building Tuesday, August 9, 2016, in Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
On the street in front of Rammer and Lanford's condo, downtown rattles and distracts, a college student drops his bike with a crash and a delivery man holding cold food shouts an address into a phone. It's chaos down there. But up on the roof of the Moser, most Tuesday nights in July and August: A postcard of South Loop gentrification, a gaggle of hipster professionals, wine bottles scattered about, a grill smelling of sausages, Buster Keaton racing for a train in the 1926 classic "The General," flawless digital projection, great sound.
They call it Movies on the Roof.
Via email, Rammer and Lanford invite a few hundred friends and friends of friends; between 40 and 80 show up any given week, carrying food to grill and drinks. Then Rammer and Lanford provide more drinks — sometimes cocktails, sometimes five gallons of home-brewed beer inspired by the evening's movie (for "Star Wars," light- and dark-side ales). They show cartoons and news reels. During the early mingling part of the evening, Tom plays music from the film's release year. The deck is long, the chairs comfortable, and the movie competes with the view, of the hotels along Michigan Avenue, of Willis Tower at their backs, the yellow lights of the condos in the Transportation Building to the west. And the feature is always an undisputed, AFI-stamped American classic "Strangers on a Train" and "Dumbo" and "Network" and "The Thin Man" and such. They have done this annually since 2010.
On a recent Tuesday, while the audience was arriving, Rammer zeroed in on a slight crackle in one of the speakers. He tinkered with it until it sounded perfect. Lanford hunched beside the projector and fitted a black curtain around the electronics, so no stray lights distracted from the screen. A neighbor wrapped the rooftop exit sign in a scrim. A friend approached Lanford and asked: Did she want a sign downstairs that told people in the building to take the elevator to the roof?
MOST READ ENTERTAINMENT NEWS THIS HOUR
"We don't want randos," she said.
"We don't want randos," the friend repeated.
Rammer and Lanford met cute, in an elevator. Laura invited him dancing. They went dancing, on the spot. That was 13 years ago. She didn't own a TV or watch black-and-white movies. He didn't have much experience watching movies outdoors. But they bonded over movies. And when they started the series, they didn't ask permission, and so between the large audiences and vibrant sound, they have weathered a few neighborly complaints. Yet, with each new season, Movies on the Roof has only grown more elaborate. They sweat the details. On rainy nights, everyone huddles in their apartment. And though they have never charged admission, they ask now for a charity donation (which, on "Rosemary's Baby" night, went to Planned Parenthood). As for the randos: Every summer dozens of strangers ask to attend, and each receives a polite decline. It is a private festival, intended as a frictionless personal alternative to Movies in the Park. Luz Avila, a nurse from Pilsen and rooftop regular, said: "I came one night for the Hitchcock. The full moon rose above the screen. I was sold." A couple watches the trains rumble below. The man is in a bow tie. The woman, in a summer dress, is a friend of Laura's. She went to see "Lawrence of Arabia" at Belmont Harbor the night before, she said. But she was discouraged by the lack of enthusiasm from the audience, by the less-than-magical screening. She would rather be here, she says.
Light is fading, the movie is ready. Laura runs to Tom. He holds her by the shoulders. "Tom, I have a great disappointment in life," she says. His face crinkles.
"Those weren't cheesy brats we got," she says. "Just regular brats."
cborrelli@chicagotribune.com
MORE FROM CHRISTOPHER BORRELLI:
Kanye pop-up store in Northbrook draws plenty of fans
Windy City Physics Slam and the art of explaining a scientific theory
A tent city grows in Homan Square
Check out the latest movie reviews from Michael Phillips and the Chicago Tribune. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/beingthere/ct-movies-on-the-roof-ent-0830-20160829-column.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/fe2fdcb0bc0d3ccde8a04135b3947719e74a21652a989b409b3ebe63585895fb.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Kate Thayer"
] | 2016-08-26T13:23:24 | null | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-dresser-safety-tipovers-met-20160809-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57aa403a/turbine/ct-dresser-safety-tipovers-met-20160809 | en | null | Safety groups, grieving mom call for stricter furniture safety standards | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Consumer safety advocates are calling for stricter and enforceable standards for furniture after a report shows current criteria do not keep children safe from dresser tip-overs.
The 21-page report released Tuesday by nonprofit safety groups Kids in Danger and Shane's Foundation — named for a Barrington Hills boy who died in 2011 after a dresser-tipping accident — details the findings after tests on 19 different dressers.
Nine of the 19 passed performance tests based on current safety standards developed by ASTM International, but just two passed more rigorous tests developed by Kids in Danger, which Executive Director Nancy Cowles says are more representative of real-life situations. Of the 19 tested, four have been recalled since the groups began work on their report about a year ago.
ASTM has developed voluntary industry standards for dressers and chests marketed to children, but there is non-compliance across the industry, and standards are too lax, Cowles said during a press conference Tuesday in Northbrook to reveal the report, funded by a federal grant. And though children continue to be injured and killed from tipped dressers, the standards and testing have remain unchanged and voluntary, unlike standards for cribs or other baby products, she said.
"You would think there'd be a mandated standard," said Lisa Siefert, who started Shane's Foundation after she found her 2-year-old son Shane under his dresser after a nap. She called the report "a significant step proving the current safety standard is inadequate. It indicates the dire need for change. Our babies can be safe."
Besides the safety tests, the groups also analyzed data from incidents reported between Jan. 1, 2010 and Oct. 14, 2015 to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. The findings showed 2-year-olds are the most likely to be involved in a tip-over accident, especially fatal ones, and 77 percent of reported tip-overs involve children between 2 and 5.
IKEA chests and dressers recalled CPSC The Consumer Product Safety Commission shows one configuration of the IKEA chest of drawers called MALM, which have been recalled by the company in cooperation with the CPSC after reports of at least six deaths of young children in tip accidents. The Consumer Product Safety Commission shows one configuration of the IKEA chest of drawers called MALM, which have been recalled by the company in cooperation with the CPSC after reports of at least six deaths of young children in tip accidents. (CPSC) (CPSC)
"Years of ... voluntary industry standards resulted in no significant improvements," Cowles said. "The data still shows injuries and deaths. Our organizations hope this new information will provide the necessary impetus to design, test and sell safer furniture."
The report calls on the ASTM to develop stricter standards, and for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make them mandatory. Cowles and others also said testing of products should evolve to simulate more real-life scenarios, including using carpet, commonly found in children's bedrooms.
The groups also promoted the Consumer Product Safety Commission's #AnchorIt campaign, which urges parents to attach furniture and TVs to the wall with widely sold safety kits.
In addition to using the industry standards to test the furniture, the stricter Kids in Danger criteria tested dressers when they were full of clothes, placed on carpeting or had TVs on top of them, as well as other variations of weight and drawer placement. Children being killed or injured by flat-screen TVs has also emerged as a bigger safety risk since flat-screen TVs, which are easier to tip over, replaced older, bulkier sets.
However, in the testing, the groups also found that TVs do not make the dressers fall. Dressers are not more likely to tip if they have a television on top, Cowles said.
"That's what we often hear in the furniture meetings, that who really needs to address this issue is the television makers," Cowles said. "However, it is the dresser that is tipping."
Most of serious injuries and deaths do involve a TV, Cowles added, but often it's the dresser that's the culprit, being the object that tips over.
During Tuesday's press conferences, organizers demonstrated by hanging a 50-pound weight on the bottom drawer of different dressers. Two dressers that passed even the stricter tests did not tip or move from the weight. Another dresser — one by Ikea that has since been recalled after children died in accidents — toppled to the ground.
Cowles explained that the design of some dressers — with wider bases or interlocking drawers that only allow one to open at a time — make the furniture safer. However, she said all dressers should be anchored to the wall with safety kits, regardless of design.
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a North Shore Democrat, also reiterated her support of the issue at Tuesday's event, and said she introduced legislation earlier this year, dubbed the STURDY Act, that would mandate such standards for dressers and other storage units.
Elliot Kaye, chairman of the consumer product safety commission — the body that could mandate and enforce standards in the furniture industry — released a statement Tuesday, calling furniture tip-overs a "solvable problem." He said designing more stable furniture and consumer outreach programs like #AnchorIt are part of the solution.
"We're examining the results of this important and timely study closely and will incorporate its findings as appropriate into our enforcement and standards work around this ongoing and unacceptable hazard," the statement in part read. "In the interim, I reiterate that anyone producing or selling furniture not compliant with the current voluntary standard should prepare to work with us regarding a recall modeled on similar recent furniture recalls."
Len Morrissey, a director in ASTM's standards development division, said a committee is already re-examining standards for dressers. He said suggestions highlighted in the report "seem like all very well-reasoned things," and some are already included in discussions for possible revisions. Members of the committee, which are open to anyone in the public to join, include representatives of manufacturers, consumer advocacy groups and engineers.
He also pointed out there have been updates to the standards, including a 2009 requirement that calls for manufacturers to include a wall restraint with furniture.
kthayer@chicagotribune.com
Twitter: @knthayer | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-dresser-safety-tipovers-met-20160809-story.html | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/3fddbaf472ce19f80390b83a1f7cb07df80748120acd9850fc5139e7b75ab538.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rick Kambic"
] | 2016-08-29T22:52:12 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fmundelein%2Fnews%2Fct-mun-overdose-awareness-way-out-tl-0901-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4a655/turbine/ct-mun-overdose-awareness-way-out-tl-0901-20160829 | en | null | Mundelein rally draws those touched by drug abuse | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Anthony Koch said he had an unusual feeling when walking in the front door of Mundelein's police department on June 2 when he asked for help under the A Way Out program.
"Guys like me usually come in the back way. But this time, there were no handcuffs or interrogation rooms," Koch said. "They treated me like a regular civilian who was in need of help. And I was in need of help. I had no where else to go."
As a free man walking with his sponsor, Koch attended an Aug. 28 overdose awareness event at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Mundelein.
Koch said he couldn't get into a treatment programs on his own, but Gateway Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center in Lake Villa accepted him within 12 hours after entering the police station.
Francisco Franco Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press Francisco Franco of Mundelein leads an Aug. 28 overdose awareness event at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Mundelein. Franco's grandson, Gabriel, died of an overdose in 2013. Francisco Franco of Mundelein leads an Aug. 28 overdose awareness event at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Mundelein. Franco's grandson, Gabriel, died of an overdose in 2013. (Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press)
A Way Out was created under the Lake County Opioid Initiative, and seven Lake County police departments are participating. The program went live on June 1 with Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim and Mundelein Police Chief Eric Guenther vowing not to arrest anyone who shows up.
Officials insisted that treatment and preventative measures were much more effective than filling the prisons.
"I was homeless for nine months in 2009, roaming Chicago's West Side chasing my next high and did some really bad stuff to get it," Koch said. "I want a family. I want a rewarding job. I want to surround myself with things I actually bought and worked hard to get."
Guenther confirmed that Koch was the first person to ask for help. He said 26 people in total have come forward between June 1 and Aug. 26 and more than half of those people came to Mundelein's police station.
One individual had multiple warrants for his arrest, Guenther said, but the judge let the man go to treatment instead.
The Aug. 28 overdose awareness event was organized by Mundelein resident Francisco Franco, whose grandson Gabriel died in 2013 from a drug overdose. Koch said he was friends with Gabriel, and it was the Franco family that promised he would not be arrested.
"Let's educate and medicate, not incarcerate," Francisco Franco told a crowd of more than 100 people.
Eric Guenther Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press Mundelein Police Chief Eric Guenther speaks during an Aug. 28 overdose awareness event at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Mundelein. Mundelein Police Chief Eric Guenther speaks during an Aug. 28 overdose awareness event at New Hope Christian Fellowship in Mundelein. (Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press)
Franco praised the program, but also called for more education in all levels of school. He said most opioids are addictive after just one try and children should be told repeatedly to never try.
Waiving a prescription pill bottle, Franco said experimenting with leftovers is one of the most common gateway drugs. He called for parents to be better about throwing out unused pills.
"This is an illness, not a moral flaw," Franco said. "Anyone in any community, any race and any social class can fall victim to this sickness, and we need to talk about it in order to stop it."
Other groups, like Live4Lali and the Mundelein STAND-UP Taskforce, were on hand with booths to disseminate information and offer help to both addicts who may want help and family and friends who may need support.
When Guenther took to the podium, he referenced numerous media reports where law enforcement is portrayed in a bad light. He said he wants and needs the community to trust Mundelein police for prevention efforts to be successful.
"As much as you may see to the contrary in the news media, we are here to help our community," Guenther said. "You can come to us for help. You should have faith in us when you see us talking to your children."
rkambic@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @Rick_Kambic | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/mundelein/news/ct-mun-overdose-awareness-way-out-tl-0901-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/6d74ee8bd7787ae7926372bf49db8b57a8a4c1dc708995dd052fec9d7916654a.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Tony Briscoe"
] | 2016-08-26T13:24:22 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flake-county-news-sun%2Fnews%2Fct-fox-lake-police-shooting-wife-pension-met-20160825-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bf4761/turbine/ct-fox-lake-police-shooting-wife-pension-met-20160825 | en | null | Pension decision in Gliniewicz case will have to wait, Fox Lake panel rules | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | The wife of shamed Fox Lake police Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz will have to wait until criminal charges against her are resolved before she learns whether she will receive her late husband's pension.
The Fox Lake Police Pension Board unanimously voted Thursday to postpone hearings on Melodie Gliniewicz's application for her husband's pension until after the conclusion of her criminal proceedings.
Melodie Gliniewicz, accused of helping her husband embezzle thousands of dollars from the village's youth policing program, is facing felony charges in Lake County.
Fearing criminal charges himself, Joseph Gliniewicz shot himself on Sept. 1 in a "carefully staged suicide" that he staged as a homicide, authorities say.
Yvette Heintzelman, an attorney representing the village, said that after speaking with the Lake County state's attorney's office, she believes that depositions from witnesses in the pension case could undermine the subsequent criminal proceedings.
"There's ample evidence in respect to misconduct," Heintzelman said. "We ask for due process so that at some point in time that the pension board can hear all of the evidence."
Brian Smith, a lawyer representing Melodie Gliniewicz in the pension case, blasted the village for attempting to "sensationalize (pension) proceedings" and essentially presuming his client is guilty of the criminal charges against her.
"What they are saying is … 'If she is doing nothing wrong, what does she have to hide?'" Smith said. "That should be offensive to anyone."
Smith continued by stressing that a guilty verdict against Melodie Gliniewicz wouldn't have any bearing on her pension application.
"They ignore of course the criminal charges against Melodie Gliniewicz are not relevant," Smith said, citing state law. "The person who is entitled to the pension, in this case Joe Gliniewicz, would have to have a felony conviction."
A jury trial for Melodie Gliniewicz is scheduled for Nov. 14, but Smith said he didn't expect the trial to begin until next spring at the earliest, due in part to the voluminous amount of records that both sides need to review.
"They say wait until the trial is over," Smith said. "When? Don't they have some obligation … to tell us when this will be resolved?"
Smith added, "The point of any proceeding is to find the truth. Witnesses at some point are going to have to answer questions whether it's here or the criminal trial. What harm is there in doing that now. They ask, what does Melodie Gliniewicz have to hide. What do these witnesses have to hide?"
Village manager Anne Marrin said she was "very pleased" with the outcome with the proceedings, which she asserted the pension board should have all evidence for, especially given that it could cost the village about $1.5 million over 20 years.
Melodie Gliniewicz's pension application has sparked proposed reforms in the state pension statute. State Sen. Pamela Althoff, R-McHenry, , introduced a bill intended to strip survivor benefits from those who are convicted of felonies in connection with the pensioner's employment.
The legislation specifically mentions police officers, firefighters, judges and teachers as employees who would be included within the scope of the bill.
tbriscoe@tribpub.com
Twitter: @_tonybriscoe | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-fox-lake-police-shooting-wife-pension-met-20160825-story.html | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/e2716d4d1847e69587545425c84a0186141789a368537758fa8a550e1a709a05.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Nancy Coltun Webster"
] | 2016-08-26T13:22:45 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fpost-tribune%2Fnews%2Fct-ptb-purdue-northwest-welcome-st-0826-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0163e/turbine/ct-ptb-purdue-northwest-welcome-st-0826-20160826 | en | null | Purdue Northwest welcomes students | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Students were introduced this week to the new Purdue Northwest – the result of the merger of Purdue Calumet in Hammond and Purdue North Central in Westville – by sombrero-wearing classmates touting a study cruise to Mexico and lots of other possibilities for clubs and classes.
Junior John Calvillo held up a round orange sign reading "CRUISE" about HTM 385.
"Almost every spring we offer HTM 385," said Wendy Kasche, visiting professor in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the White Lodging School of Hospitality, Tourism & Management in the College of Business. The three-credit course offers a semester of instruction about the cruise industry followed by a five-day cruise from New Orleans with stops in Cozumel and the Yucatan. Students interview cruise staff members from all areas of the ship, write travel blogs and reflection papers, she said..
The annual welcome event was significant for the combined campuses in Hammond.
"It is a historic week. It is the first week of the first academic year of Purdue Northwest," said Wes Lukoshus, assistant vice chancellor, media relations and communications.. "We have five academic colleges that lead to a degree and any of these are part of the Honors College. Two comprehensive campuses and one extraordinary university — that's the way we like to describe it."
Both campuses will have a new Center for Career Management through the College of Business, said Joelynn Marconi, career counselor. "Students can come to see us and we work with them one-on-one at Westville and Hammond," to identify skills and talents, consider internships and plot job strategies.
Kristen Campbell, a senior in her last semester, was enjoying the event while many of her friends were volunteering at tables.
"I'm able to socialize with them and meet the new people," said Campbell. "It's a call-out opportunity," meaning most of the organizations offer sign up lists where students can leave a phone number or email. "You don't have to join right away. They are all flexible and will work with you."
A number of fraternities and sororities were offering volunteer opportunities with such organizations as Big Sisters and Habitat for Humanity. The National Society of Leadership and Success, represented by political science major Kristen Powers, was seeking new members.
"We are open to all majors," she said, with applicants needing to have completed two semesters and achieved a gradepoint average of 3.0 or higher.
Out in the courtyard, a tall fluffy lion posed for pictures with students and faculty. A name hasn't been selected yet for the new mascot.
The Western and English equine teams were represented by senior biology major Kim Moreland.
"Members do not need to have a horse or experience," she said. "If people don't want to ride, they can learn about horses. Our competitive team takes lessons and competes in Indiana and Wisconsin."
At another table, Michael J. Hines, coordinator for the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, explained about visitation tours around the country and a summer internship where faculty members are paired with students for research projects.
Bruno Hnatusko, a freshman in the honors college for computer science, paused for a moment amidst the hubbub.
"I like the spirit," Hnatusko said.
Nancy Coltun Webster is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-purdue-northwest-welcome-st-0826-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/d94ad4aa7ac3e8f4a4203687caff917a64b20d435699cfc594d9d73298526813.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Phil Thompson"
] | 2016-08-29T22:48:49 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2Fbears%2Fct-bears-super-bowl-odds-slipping-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4b0bc/turbine/ct-bears-super-bowl-odds-slipping-20160829 | en | null | Bears' Super Bowl odds slipping | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | The saying goes you can't put too much stock in preseason games, but that hasn't stopped the Bears' stock from tumbling this preseason.
On Monday, Westgate Superbook lay the Bears' odds to win Super Bowl 51 at 80-1, down from 60-1 on Aug. 1. The Bears opened the year at 40-1 in Westgate's futures on Jan. 10.
Breaking down the Bears' loss to the Chiefs The Tribune's Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs analyze the Bears after their loss to the Chiefs. The Tribune's Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs analyze the Bears after their loss to the Chiefs. See more videos
The sports book set the Bears' chances of winning the NFC at 40-1 after opening at 20-1.
The Bears have lost all three preseason games so far by a total scoring differential of minus-39. The offense ranks last in the league in points per game (9.7) and the defense is fourth worst in time of possession (35:06).
plthompson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @_phil_thompson | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-bears-super-bowl-odds-slipping-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/93a90d9a7ca7c76fa835aa0ccd868bf57ce6cdac4606dfcb969b786aef1e2d36.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Natalie Hayes"
] | 2016-08-26T13:21:17 | null | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flincolnwood%2Fnews%2Fct-lwr-lincolnwood-police-officer-tl-0804-20160801-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-579fa208/turbine/ct-lwr-lincolnwood-police-officer-tl-0804-20160801 | en | null | Lincolnwood celebrates Police Officer of the Year | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A Lincolnwood police detective led a crackdown on vehicle burglaries last summer when he contributed to the arrest of five offenders who police connected to 23 vehicle burglaries that were reported in July and August.
The detective, Eric Gronlund, was honored as Police Officer of the Year during the July 19 Village Board meeting, where his family and colleagues gathered at Village Hall to celebrate the young officer's achievement.
Every year, an awards committee comprised of police department employees selects a police officer for the honor, which is earned by scoring high on officer evaluations and demonstrating characteristics like teamwork, perseverance and initiative, according to Officer Randy Rathmell, chair of the awards committee.
"We look at the quality and the quantity of those skills," Rathmell said. "Gronlund was selected because he sets himself apart in teamwork, communication and his willingness to do the job."
Last year, Gronlund led the police department in arrests with 21, and made 90 traffic stops that resulted in 127 citations, according to Lincolnwood Police Chief Bob LaMantia.
One of those arrests happened the night of July 10, when a juvenile-aged offender was caught in the 6600 block of Trumbull Avenue as he tried to enter a home. A neighbor who saw him trying to get in called police and the boy was found hiding in nearby bushes. He allegedly admitted to stealing personal belongings from eight unlocked vehicles that night before he approached the house, police said.
A few weeks later on Aug. 5, four individuals dressed in black were arrested at Kevdale and Jarvis avenues. They later told police they drove to the area in a stolen vehicle to burglarize cars. The police investigation, led by Gronlund, cleared 15 vehicle burglaries in Lincolnwood, according to LaMantia.
Steve Lasker / Handout Lincolnwood police detective Eric Gronlund, Lincolnwood’s Police Officer of the Year, thanked his family and colleagues when he received his award at Village Hall July 19. Lincolnwood police detective Eric Gronlund, Lincolnwood’s Police Officer of the Year, thanked his family and colleagues when he received his award at Village Hall July 19. (Steve Lasker / Handout)
Gronlund started last year as a patrol officer – a position he had worked in since he joined the police department in 2013. He was promoted to the criminal investigations unit in June, a new role that allowed him to get more involved in interviewing suspects and calling in suggested charges to the state's attorney's office.
After Cary Kalant from the Lincolnwood American Legion Post 1226 presented Gronlund with the award, he thanked his colleagues for their support.
"I'm very honored to accept the award, but this is a team sport and it's not one person who gets everything done," he said. "I hope I can continue to provide the community with the best service I can and to do my part alongside my colleagues."
Gronlund's honor signified a moment of positivity amidst a volatile period for police in the U.S., who have faced increasingly negative attitudes in a new atmosphere of anti-police sentiment.
"These are very difficult times, as the world has become so troublingly violent that it's time to express words to thank every man and woman who serves in public safety," Lincolnwood Mayor Jerry Turry said.
Addressing the large group of police officers who had gathered at Village Hall to support Gronlund, Turry said, "We want you to know how much we care, as you work to make us all safe. When you're out there we think about you and your safety."
Natalie Hayes is a freelancer. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lincolnwood/news/ct-lwr-lincolnwood-police-officer-tl-0804-20160801-story.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/ae551dda56b806184abd003529d5a5aec17ec7429e7573c35266dd0bc42e4cbd.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Mary Wisniewski"
] | 2016-08-30T04:48:41 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-union-station-transit-center-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4f151/turbine/ct-union-station-transit-center-20160829 | en | null | Union Station Transit Center for CTA buses to open Sunday | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A transit center near Union Station that is designed to help commuters make connections between trains and buses while easing traffic problems on Canal Street is set to open Sunday, city officials said.
The $41.5 million Union Station Transit Center was built on what had been a surface parking lot on Jackson Boulevard between Canal and Clinton streets. It will provide boarding for six CTA bus routes — the No. 1 Bronzeville/Union Station, the No. 121 Union/Streeterville Express, the No. 151 Sheridan, the No. 28 Stony Island, the No. 124 Navy Pier and the No. 156 LaSalle.
The center will provide an off-street staging area for buses that have long contributed to traffic congestion on busy Canal while picking up and letting off passengers. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin plan to formally announce the opening Tuesday afternoon, city officials said Monday.
"The opening of this transit center is another step in our plan to make Union Station a true transit hub for the city of Chicago," Emanuel said in a statement. "By making it easier to move from a bus to a train and improving nearby traffic flows, we are making the neighborhood more attractive to residents, visitors and businesses."
City officials said the center will provide bus tracking information, Ventra payment machines, weather protection for riders waiting for their buses and elevator access to an underground pedway connection to Union Station.
The center should help motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians in the area by reducing traffic snarls, city officials said.
The six routes intended for the center typically carry the most Union Station CTA commuters — about 3,400 daily, according to agency spokeswoman Tammy Chase. The terminal will have three bays to accommodate up to nine buses at a time, and buses will have a dedicated traffic light to exit the terminal.
The Chicago Department of Transportation is finishing other traffic improvements for the area, such as striping and pavement markings, as part of the Loop Link project, city officials said.
The east side of Canal between Jackson and Adams Street is now reserved for bus and wheelchair vehicle pickup and drop-off only, while the west side is for all other traffic, including taxi and passenger car pickup and drop-off, city officials said.
A pedestrian "refuge island" and midblock crossing also have been added on Canal.
A bus lane that went against the northbound flow of traffic on the west side of Canal was eliminated in January when construction began on the Adams Street bridge.
Connecting commuter trains with an off-street bus center and improved traffic flow on Canal were two goals of the 2012 Chicago Union Station Master Plan.
Amtrak, which owns the station, is looking for a developer to oversee the full implementation of the plan, including redeveloping the station and nearby land.
The opening of the transit center had originally been planned for this past spring, but was delayed due to underground utility issues, city officials said.
mwisniewski@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @marywizchicago | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-union-station-transit-center-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/2b25c79f03bba6d7dccc8202a2f1123251a5d421000617f62d47857976c94ff2.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Logan Malloy"
] | 2016-08-29T06:48:21 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fdaily-southtown%2Fsports%2Fct-sta-football-brother-rice-marist-st-0829-20160828-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c3a448/turbine/ct-sta-football-brother-rice-marist-st-0829-20160828 | en | null | Ricky Smalling and Dino Borelli connect as Brother Rice romps over Marist | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | As one of the premier wide receivers in the state, Brother Rice senior Ricky Smalling doesn't expect to see much single coverage this season.
"Not a lot, but we'll take advantage of it," Smalling said.
That's exactly what Smalling, an Illinois recruit, and Crusaders quarterback Dino Borrelli did Sunday against rival Marist in the biggest play of the season opener at Soldier Field.
With 1-on-1 coverage on Smalling, Borrelli stood tall in the pocket, took a hit and delivered a beautiful 39-yard strike for a touchdown. That play in the third quarter turned the tide for Brother Rice as the Crusaders broke away from a 14-7 lead in defeating Marist 31-7.
"It's awesome when you get smacked and still throw a touchdown," said Borrelli, who was making the first varsity start of his career.
Smalling finished with 110 yards and two TDs on five catches. He took the second play from scrimmage 56 yards for a score to give Brother Rice an early lead.
"(Smalling) just makes everything so much easier for me, especially for my first year," Borrelli said.
Borrelli finished 11-for-21 for 185 yards and two TDs. He also ran for a score after an interception from Aarion Lacy, giving the Crusaders a commanding 28-7 lead less than three minutes after Smalling's second TD grab.
"Dino's different," Smalling said. "He's one of my closest friends, so we just have that connection. He's very open to things. So if I say I see this, he'll trust me and we'll go right to it."
Marist kept it close in the first half thanks to TJ Ivy's 57-yard TD reception from quarterback Morgan Taylor. The RedHawks trailed 14-7 at halftime, but couldn't find much rhythm on offense.
"When you look at this game, there were a lot of opportunities out there," Marist coach Pat Dunne said. "This hurts all of us, but it's Week 1 of the season. We've been in this position before."
Dunne is hoping for a similar trajectory to last season when Marist started slow but peaked at the right time to finish as the Class 8A state runner-up.
But for now, Brother Rice has bragging rights against its neighborhood rival. The Crusaders' defensive line, led by Shelby Benn with a sack, had plenty to say about that.
"This was beautiful," Benn said. "This is a moment you're going to remember for the rest of your life. Not playing (Marist) last year, it had a bigger feeling to it. It was like Michigan playing Michigan State, one of those rivalries you just want to win."
Mount Carmel 49, Taft 7: Dan Trudeau went 3-for-4 for 112 yards and two TDs as Mount Carmel routed Taft at Soldier Field. Jake Moriarty added 83 yards on nine carries for the Caravan.
St. Patrick 47, St. Rita 44: Jake Zylman passed for 206 yards and four touchdowns — three to Tim Zaleski — but the Mustangs' second-half rally fell short. Zylman also rushed 10 times for 83 yards and Shaun Rule had 18 carries for 89 yards and a TD for St. Rita, which trailed 33-14 at halftime.
Mike Clark contributed to this story. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sports/ct-sta-football-brother-rice-marist-st-0829-20160828-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/f51d5a567b7534b4d8896110bfb13a0d10c83a6d52af488fb9517fab9ad16a29.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Christin Nance Lazerus"
] | 2016-08-30T20:52:06 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fpost-tribune%2Fnews%2Fct-ptb-school-district-audits-st-0827-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56f02a81/turbine/chi-default-open-graph-ct-logo/1200/1200x650 | en | null | School audits show problems with student counts, fed programs | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Recent state audits of three local schools districts show issues with reporting accurate student enrollment, purchasing items without bidding, and problematic administration of federal programs.
State auditors recently released both a financial report and supplemental compliance report for Lake Ridge Schools, Merrillville Community School Corp. and the Metropolitan School District of Boone Township, which covers the two-year period from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2015.
Lake Ridge
Four Average Daily Membership counts between September 2013 to February 2015 either overstated student population by as many as six students or a undercounted by as much as five students, the audit showed. ADM counts determine how much funding a district receives from the state.
Lake Ridge responded to auditors saying that they had checked their count several times and didn't think there was sufficient evidence of the mistaken counts by the Indiana Department of Education. The district said it has changed software vendors to secure the accuracy of its count.
The report noted that the board was not reimbursing Superintendent Sharon Johnson-Shirley according to language in her contract, which stipulated that she would receive an annual $6,000 payment plus gasoline used for education-related travel outside of Lake County. Instead, they were paying her a school board-approved mileage reimbursement rate.
The district said that the board would clarify the language in the Johnson-Shirley's contract.
In terms of federal program compliance, auditors noticed lack of effective internal controls, including segregation of duties, cash management and verification of eligibility, which could put the district at risk of noncompliance with several programs including the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program.
"The School Corporation had not designed or implemented adequate policies and procedures to ensure that the School Lunch fund monthly cash balances were limited to the average expenditures for three months," the audit stated. "There was no oversight, review, or monitoring of the cash balances."
Merrillville
Auditors found that Merrillville Community Schools purchased thousands of dollars in laptops and band equipment without issuing an invitation for bids. In May 2015, the district spent $275,493 on laptops and charging carts. The district said that the purchase was made from a vendor because the price per laptop and cart was less than state procurement rates, but the district did not provide the proper documentation for using a special purchasing method.
A similar situation occurred in June 2013 when the district bought $53,153 of band equipment, the audit showed.
In its reply, the district said it is reviewing procedures to make sure proper documentation is on file for special purchasing methods.
The district received $3,997,899 in delinquent property tax payments and placed them in its levy excess fund, but auditors said the funds don't meet the definition of "levy excess" and should have gone into appropriate district funds — i.e. debt service, capital projects, transportation.
The district replied to the state's findings, saying the money has now been deposited into the appropriate funds and future funds won't go into excess levy without approval from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.
Auditors noticed similar issues as Lake Ridge in Merrillville's lack of internal controls in its administration of federal programs, such as the School Lunch Program and Title I.
For example, funds from the School Lunch Fund were used to pay a percentage of an administrative corporation employee's salary for fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, but the employee did not maintain personnel activity reports. As a result, $54,329 of the employee's salary was charged to the federal program without proper supporting documentation. Auditors considered the amount a questioned cost.
The school district indicated that it instituted a time card system in May 2016 to maintain proper records.
Boone Township/Hebron
Auditors noticed several errors on the district's federal program expenditures report.
Some federal grants were not listed, overstated and understated by thousands of dollars, including as much as $224,283 for a Department of Agriculture program. The audit said that only one person prepared the report without any oversight or review, which may have been a contributing factor. The district said it was the first time compiling such a report, so it had no guidance on pulling the accurate data.
The audit found that corporation receipts weren't always recorded in the accounting system when they were collected.
In child nutrition federal programs, the auditors found that the district did not comply with procedures for procurement, program income and verification of free and reduced lunch applications
In the district's reply, administrators said they are splitting some duties by Food Service employees and putting in additional oversight, including requiring monthly meal and revenue reports from food service provider Chartwells.
Errors in the district's 2014-2015 annual financial report resulted in capital assets being overstated in a 2014-2015 annual financial report. The district's capital assets had not been updated since June 30, 2013.
The audit also noted that the school corporation paid credit card late fees in many cases, even though state accounting guidelines state that any interest or penalty incurred due to late filing should be the responsibility of that officer or employee.
cnance@post-trib.com | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-school-district-audits-st-0827-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/bde1ee766cbc7a6d4bb65cda3aea09dfd885e600b1d97aa617e351f5001663e7.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Frank S. Abderholden"
] | 2016-08-26T13:19:47 | null | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flake-county-news-sun%2Fnews%2Fct-lns-motorcycle-crash-investigation-ongoing-st-0817-20160816-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57b365b0/turbine/ct-lns-motorcycle-crash-investigation-ongoing-st-0817-20160816 | en | null | Wildwood man identified as victim in fatal motorcycle crash | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | The investigation into a fatal crash at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Casey Road in Libertyville last Friday continues as officials confirm the motorcyclist was a Wildwood resident.
Paul M. Zwiener, 57, of the 17000 block of Blackhawk Drive in Wildwood, was identified as the driver of the motorcycle, which collided with a box truck at the intersection at 11:20 a.m., said Christopher Covelli, spokesman for the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Covelli said Tuesday that no charges have been filed, and the investigation is still ongoing by Lake County Sheriff's Technical Crash Investigations Unit.
The preliminary evidence suggests the motorcycle was traveling northbound on Milwaukee Avenue and attempted a left turn onto Casey Road when it collided with a box truck traveling south on Milwaukee Avenue, he said. Zwiener was not wearing a helmet and was thrown from his motorcycle. He was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he died shortly after his arrival from his injuries, said Covelli.
fabderholden@tribpub.com
Twitter @abderholden | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-motorcycle-crash-investigation-ongoing-st-0817-20160816-story.html | en | 2016-08-16T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/ccb35f7513809ad2c4534ee2e8fefe3910023dfc016ce02cc4f6770bfdd926dc.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Dara Doyle",
"Stephanie Bodoni"
] | 2016-08-30T12:48:57 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fbusiness%2Fct-europe-apple-tax-bill-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c567a8/turbine/ct-europe-apple-tax-bill-20160830 | en | null | Apple ordered to pay up to $14.5 billion in EU tax crackdown | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Apple was ordered to repay a record 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) plus interest after the European Commission said Ireland illegally slashed the iPhone maker's tax bill.
The world's richest company benefited from a "selective tax treatment" in Ireland that gave it a "significant advantage over other businesses," the European Union regulator said Tuesday in its largest tax penalty in a three-year crackdown on sweetheart fiscal deals granted by EU nations.
Apple and the Irish government have both vowed to fight the decision, which also risks stoking a fight with the U.S.
"Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to Apple, which enabled it to pay substantially less tax than other businesses over many years," EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in an emailed statement. "This selective treatment allowed Apple to pay an effective corporate tax rate of 1 percent on its European profits in 2003 down to 0.005 percent in 2014."
Apple was one of the first companies caught up in the EU's backlash against corporate tax-avoidance. The EU, like other global regulators, has targeted firms that sidestep taxes by moving around profits and costs to wherever they are taxed most advantageously -- exploiting loopholes or special deals granted by friendly governments.
"I disagree profoundly with the commission's decision," said Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan. Ireland's tax system is founded on the strict application of the law "without exception," he said.
The commission left him with "no choice" but to move toward an appeal before the EU courts. "This is necessary to defend the integrity of our tax system; to provide tax certainty to business; and to challenge the encroachment of EU state-aid rules into the sovereign member state competence of taxation," he said.
Appeals at EU courts can take years to finalize, meaning that the final amount Apple may have to pay won't be known until then. The money can be held in escrow pending a ruling.
Apple depositary receipts in Germany fell 1.40 euros, or 1.5 percent, to 93.99 euros ($105.01) in Frankfurt after closing at $106.82 Monday in Nasdaq trading.
Ireland now has to recover unpaid taxes of up to 13 billion euros, plus interest, the EU said. The probe focused on two so-called tax rulings Apple was granted in Ireland in 1991 and 2007, which "have substantially and artificially lowered the tax paid by Apple in Ireland."
Predictions varied wildly about how much Apple could have been forced to repay. In a worst-case scenario, Apple could have faced a $19 billion bill, according to JPMorgan Chase analyst Rod Hall.
As of last month, Apple had $232 billion in cash, with about $214 billion of that being held overseas.
Low corporate taxes are the cornerstone of Irish economic policy, with the 12.5 percent rate the lowest in Western Europe and a draw for Alphabet Inc.'s Google and Facebook Inc. to Dublin. More than 700 U.S. companies have units there, which employ 140,000 people, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland.
"This is a significant ruling that could cause multinationals to revisit the tax implications of their current structure," said Matt Larson, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. "It's strange to think that Ireland would not want to collect more taxes from Apple, but Ireland's primary concern here is protecting domestic investment and jobs."
U.S. senators criticized Apple three years ago for moving tens of billions of dollars to Irish subsidiaries that paid virtually no taxes. EU competition regulators joined the fray shortly after.
Still, Tuesday's EU decision is set to heighten tensions between Europe and the U.S. over taxation policies, with the U.S. having already complained that Europe is unfairly targeting American companies and threatening global tax reforms.
The U.S. Treasury Department has pushed back hard against the state aid probes, most recently with an unusual white paper that said the Brussels-based commission had overextended its legal authority and threatened global tax reforms.
In preliminary findings in 2014, European competition authorities said Apple's tax arrangements were improperly designed to give the company a financial boost in return for creating jobs in Ireland.
The investigation by the commission's antitrust agency centers on two tax rulings that Ireland gave Apple -- the first in 1991, long before the iPhone, and another in 2007. The EU said Tuesday it can order the repayment of illegal state aid for a ten-year period preceding its first request for information in 2013.
The Apple case may set a new standard for collections among a recent group of European investigations into so-called "state aid" provisions to corporations.
The commission in January ordered Belgium to recover about 700 million euros in what it called illegal tax breaks from at least 35 companies, including Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and BP. Last year, Starbucks was ordered to pay 30 million euros in back taxes to the Dutch government. The EU also has open state-aid investigations into Luxembourg's tax agreements with Amazon.com and McDonald's.
Rather than issue fines for illegal state subsidies, the EU can order nations to claw back aid, such as unpaid taxes, from the recipients.
That means nations deemed to have granted illegal tax breaks can end up with massive, unwanted tax windfalls if court appeals ultimately fail.
Commission-ordered repayments could wind up costing American taxpayers under U.S. tax law, while benefiting EU taxpayers, the U.S. has said. That's because multinational corporations with large foreign operations, like Apple, are allowed to claim a credit against their U.S. tax bills for any foreign taxes paid. The offset reduces such companies' U.S. tax payments.
Depending on how any order is worded, U.S. companies that are forced to make additional payments in Europe might be able to credit them against their U.S. tax bills. Treasury's white paper last week called that potential outcome "deeply troubling, as it would effectively constitute a transfer of revenue to the EU from the U.S. government and its taxpayers."
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew first raised formal objections to the European state-aid probes in a February letter to top EC and EU officials that emphasized what he called unfair targeting of U.S. companies -- a charge that European regulators deny. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-europe-apple-tax-bill-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/2a7135f6a8fbd659fff593630d2c4900fc83899133afe5654f3fc7b970c55775.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Emily K. Coleman"
] | 2016-08-31T02:49:17 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flake-county-news-sun%2Fnews%2Fct-waukegan-body-cameras-st-0831-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c63dbb/turbine/ct-waukegan-body-cameras-st-0831-20160830 | en | null | Police body cameras go departmentwide in Waukegan | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Waukegan Mayor Wayne Motley said Tuesday he thinks body cameras — which Waukegan police officers started wearing two weeks ago — will be a "game-changer."
Some officers, however, said they are less convinced, expecting their use and impact to be more in line with dashboard cameras.
Police Chief Wayne Walles said the goal is for the cameras to make the department more efficient in the collection of evidence and to enhance the department's relationship with the public.
"I think what it's going to say is, 'Yeah, I'm with you, and we're accountable, and here's what happened,'" he said.
Waukegan is among a growing number of police departments across the country equipping officers with body cameras. The changes come as police departments are under closer scrutiny in the wake of police officer-involved shootings and other complaints about officer behavior.
Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune Detail photos of the Motorola SI500 body camera used by Waukegan police officers in Waukegan. All Waukegan police officers are required to wear a body camera and activate it for all calls involving the public. The camera records video and audio and has a 30 second buffer. Officers are also able to shoot high quality photos for evidence. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Detail photos of the Motorola SI500 body camera used by Waukegan police officers in Waukegan. All Waukegan police officers are required to wear a body camera and activate it for all calls involving the public. The camera records video and audio and has a 30 second buffer. Officers are also able to shoot high quality photos for evidence. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
In Waukegan, officials have reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice and enacted several reforms in the wake of a 2015 Chicago Tribune investigation that found no city agency in Illinois, other than in Chicago, has as many known wrongful convictions as Waukegan.
The city also has routinely paid hefty sums to settle abuse claims — many of them from Latino and African-American plaintiffs — against a department that is about 75 percent white..
The implementation of the body cameras departmentwide was recommended by Citizens for Progress Committee, an informal panel of local African-American leaders established by Motley to provide input on race relations in the city.
The group also pushed for Waukegan to reach out to the U.S. Department of Justice to mediate an agreement between the city and groups such as the NAACP and the Latino Advisory Committee. That agreement, which is still in the works, also recommends the use of body cameras.
Community activist Chris "Brotha" Blanks, who heads Lake County's Black Abolition Movement for the Mind, said he sees the cameras as a positive for the public and the officers. Blanks has been a vocal critic of the police department, its use of force and its decision to keep officers on the force after controversial incidents such as the shooting of 17-year-old Jeffrey Lewis in 2008.
He said he came to the conclusion the cameras were necessary despite privacy concerns because of the number of complaints he was receiving about the department.
"The reality of that (is) we are being recorded every day when we have the red light cameras," Blanks said. "We have the surveillance cameras on poles. … That's something that is happening every day now. When we look at the use of deadly force across the country, the good outweighs the bad."
Walles said the cameras haven't changed how officers respond to calls. But he expects them to give the department the ability to answer questions people have and expedite responses to resident complaints.
"I thought (the program) was important, because the body camera gives a true depiction of the event or incident as it occurs," Motley said. "There's no more he said/she said. You have photographic evidence of what transpired. I think it will benefit both parties — the policemen as well as the citizens."
The Waukegan Police Department chose a Motorola device after looking at a number of different products in November, reaching a 10-year agreement with Motorola in late December, Waukegan Police Sgt. Dave Debaufer said.
Because Waukegan agreed to serve as a pilot department for Motorola, the city was able to negotiate a 50 percent discount for the cameras, which retail for $899 each, he said.
The contract with Motorola, for about $75,000 a year, also includes storing all the videos, still photographs and other data generated by the cameras, said Ali Kapadia, division vice president for a multistate region that includes Illinois.
The department is one of several police agencies across the world — including in Hong Kong, Colorado, California and Illinois — serving as a pilot, said Ron Toth, a senior project manager with Motorola who has been working with Waukegan for six months.
When the devices arrived in April, the department picked about a half-dozen officers, chosen for their understanding of technology and their ability to provide usable feedback, to pilot the devices, Debaufer said. The program was expanded to more than 20 officers in June.
Every Waukegan officer was equipped with a device in mid-August, a process that went more smoothly than Debaufer expected. He said he thinks the slow implementation helped because officers were able to see them in action before they were required to use them, and they knew what was coming.
Supervisors will be reviewing the videos as part of their normal duties in approving reports, Walles said. That process will help ensure officers are using the cameras appropriately.
Walles expects the officers to quickly adapt to turning on the cameras as part of a dispatched call, he said, but thinks it will take longer for them to get used to turning the devices on when they see and respond to something while on patrol.
The officers will also be able to use the cameras to take still photos of evidence, something that used to require another officer to go to the scene, Walles said. He expects that to help the department become more efficient.
Because of the videos, officers no longer have to file written reports for domestic disturbances in which no one was hurt, Debaufer said.
Also, the high quality of the videos makes them usable in court, Motley said. A former police officer himself, Motley thinks having more video evidence is important.
What made the rollout of the body cameras in Waukegan somewhat unusual is the level of involvement by Motorola staff, said Toth, who rode along with officers on their shifts and worked with city officials as they developed their internal policies.
Department feedback led Motorola to develop a system that assigned an incident identification number to videos, so that they could be easily found and attached to case files, Toth said.
Most of the changes were minor, said Patrol Officer Joshua Tran, who was one of the first officers equipped with a camera. The devices had more flashing lights and made more noise — for example, to indicate volume changes — when Tran and his fellow officers first tried them out.
The cameras are more like smartphones than traditional cameras, with five microphones, a covert mode for nighttime use, and a screen so the public can see what the cameras see, Debaufer said.
The screens were one of the features that led Waukegan to choose this particular Motorola device, Debaufer said. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-waukegan-body-cameras-st-0831-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/1cb714d42ea4f3f0ccd2574aefaef02431a78104864b78a38d3d8199a9ff6b50.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rick Kambic"
] | 2016-08-26T13:25:35 | null | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fvernon-hills%2Fnews%2Fct-vhr-hawthorn-mobile-trailors-facility-tl-0818-20160815-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57b21533/turbine/ct-vhr-hawthorn-mobile-trailors-facility-tl-0818-20160815 | en | null | Vernon Hills school district aims to have mobile classrooms installed by first day | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Vernon Hills trustees have approved permits for a doublewide trailer outside Elementary School South as officials from Hawthorn School District 73 look toward more permanent solutions for their ongoing enrollment crunch.
The District 73 Board of Education voted to lease two trailers to accommodate additional students at South instead of changing school boundaries following a contentious Aug. 1 special meeting.
Superintendent Nick Brown told Vernon Hills officials on Aug. 9 that he was able to find a doublewide trailer that can fit behind the school instead of having one trailer on each side of the building.
"I don't know how many board members have been in these type of facilities, but I have been in several of them and they're quite nice, to be honest," said Village Trustee Barbara Williams, who noted that her daughter is a school principal.
The mobile classroom plan was approved 4-0 and trustees set a two-year limit. Village Trustee Thom Koch abstained from the zoning vote because he's employed by District 73, while Mayor Roger Byrne and Trustee James Schultz were absent.
"They're very nicely put together; they're warm in the winter and air conditioned in the summer," Williams said. "I do not have an objection to these, especially with this being tucked away in the back. That's a good place for it."
Village Trustee Cindy Hebda asked when District 73 will have a permanent plan, and Brown said a contractor will give the board of education a set of options in about six weeks.
"I can understand your space shortage, but I hope you can come up with some good plans for what to do next," Williams said. "I know it's hard, I realize that."
In a later interview, Brown said the trailer is scheduled for delivery on Aug. 18 and he thinks it will be installed and ready by Aug. 24, which is the first day of school.
Meanwhile, a number of permanent solutions to deal with overcrowding are being discussed.
Those options included repurposing the district's administration center, using the Larry Laschen Community Center and investing in new construction at the Sullivan Community Center and additions at various schools.
"All of the campuses have the potential for some form of addition, it's just figuring out which ones work best and planning everything appropriately," Brown told Pioneer Press.
Questions were raised as to how an addition could be built at Elementary School South if trailers were on the property. Brown said the incoming trailer will be parked on buildable land, but he said construction at other schools and revisions to school boundaries can be tiered to avoid conflict.
The district's 12,000-square-foot administrative center, which is located next to Elementary School North, is already in the mix, Brown said. He noted that bathroom locations are important when looking at existing buildings, due to costs associated utility work.
"We think this building was previously a daycare or early childhood center," Brown said. "I don't know if it was part of the school district or something independent that we bought, but I've been told it did have small children in it at one point."
Between six and eight classrooms and one or two conference rooms could fit in the building, Brown said.
However, Brown said converting the administrative center would likely be done to bring preschool and early childhood classes back to Vernon Hills, which doesn't impact the district's current dilemma of primary schools being at capacity.
Hawthorn 73 is currently sending those students to Lincoln School in Mundelein, with preschool and early childhood students from Mundelein School District 75 and Fremont School District 79. All three districts are splitting the expense.
As for the Laschen Center, officials from the Vernon Hills Park District during a meeting last summer said they intend to leave the building and move into an addition being constructed onto the Sullivan Center.
The Laschen Center was originally built in the 1950s as part of the Tally Ho Country Club and was purchased by the Village of Vernon Hills in the late 1970s and used as village hall until the new village hall was built in 2001, according to news reports. The park district has rented the building for $1 per year since 2002.
Brown said he toured the Laschen Center, but any use would likely be for school district employees only. He said the rooms are not big enough for classes, and the school board doesn't want students changing buildings unless it is a permanent move.
"I don't know if we can fit a school on that property. It's not very big," Brown said. "Everything is on the table and we're looking at all possibilities, but my suspicion is if that building were available then our possible interest would be limited to an office use."
During the design phase and permit process, park officials mentioned the possibility that District 73 would lease some of the park district's land and build a new set of classrooms.
However, later in the process park officials said District 73 might need some of the neighboring land which is owned by the village and in between the Sullivan Center and Aspen Drive Library.
Village Manager John Kalmar during that Aug. 9 meeting confirmed that he is still in talks with District 73, the park district and Cook Memorial Library District, which is also planning for an expansion.
"This is going to be an interesting opportunity to see three or four governmental agencies working together for the benefit of the kids and the young adults in the community, plus the library goers and alike," Kalmar said. "Stay tuned."
rkambic@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @Rick_Kambic | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/vernon-hills/news/ct-vhr-hawthorn-mobile-trailors-facility-tl-0818-20160815-story.html | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/7bbc119c67f4dbc5cd15f3222a2d0f7d1994777d9dde009a74b4b0002d737cde.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Dan Shalin"
] | 2016-08-27T08:47:55 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fpark-ridge%2Fsports%2Fct-prh-maine-south-montini-tl-0826-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c12bb5/turbine/ct-prh-maine-south-montini-tl-0826-20160827 | en | null | Fotis Kokosioulis, Nick Leongas help Maine South roll past Montini | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Some in the media have predicted the Maine South football team will suffer a drop-off this season.
But the Hawks' opening-night 44-13 win over defending Class 6A state champion Montini suggests otherwise.
The Hawks (1-0), playing at home on Friday, Aug. 26, in Park Ridge, were led by junior running back Fotis Kokosioulis (20 carries, 183 yards, 2 TDs), new starting quarterback Nick Leongas (15-for-24, 278 yards passing, 3 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD) and a defense that gave up just one score. However, Maine South's success came against a Montini team that was at less than full strength.
"We executed pretty well. I'm happy with the execution," Maine South coach Dave Inserra said. "Fotis (Kokosioulis) is as good as advertised. Nick (Leongas) was a nice one-two punch with him. On defense, besides one long run, we played well, got our hands on the ball a little and got a few sacks."
The game started a bit shaky for Leongas, who not only fumbled his first carry, but saw it picked up and returned for a 60-yard touchdown by Montini senior defensive back Brendan Rauen.
But Leongas quickly settled down, hitting senior receiver Luke Hinkamp (35-yard TD) and junior receiver Cam Stacy (15-yard TD) for a pair of first-quarter scores to give the Hawks a 13-7 lead.
Leongas' passing helped set up the rushing game, and Kokosioulis added touchdown runs of 28 yards and 13 yards as Maine South took 27-13 advantage into halftime.
Montini (0-1) got its only offensive touchdown in the second quarter when senior running back Will Smith Jr. scored on a 69-yard run.
The Broncos were without top running back Prince Walker, a senior, who was nursing a quad strain. Meanwhile, top receiver Mitch West (Purdue recruit) was limited to defensive back duties because of a broken right hand.
In the third quarter, Maine South extended its lead to 35-13 with a Leongas' 24-yard touchdown pass to senior Matt Holbrook. Leongas, a senior, added a 5-yard run late in the quarter and senior Sean McNulty kicked a 42-yard field goal.
McNulty, playing right offensive tackle, and senior Matt Jarvis, a Michigan State-commit lining up at left guard, anchored the Hawks' impressive offensive line.
"(Maine South) had better execution up front than we did. We just couldn't seem to get anything going and we couldn't stop them," Montini coach Chris Andriano said. "Their quarterback (Leongas) was the difference. He made a lot of plays and showed what he was made of. We couldn't stop him in the first half."
Andriano said he hopes Walker and West will be back on offense when the Broncos host Lake Zurich on Friday, Sept. 2.
Maine South's daunting early-season schedule continues on Saturday, Sept. 3, when it travels to play defending Class 8A state champion Loyola.
It will be another statement game for the Hawks, who, according to Leongas, are out to prove they are as good as Maine South teams of the recent past. The Chicago Tribune did not rank the Hawks, who won the Class 8A state title in 2008, 2009 and 2010, in its preseason top-20 poll.
"When we saw our preseason rankings and how people were underestimating us, it certainly hit us right in the heart," Leongas said. "I really think this team is special."
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @danshalin | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/park-ridge/sports/ct-prh-maine-south-montini-tl-0826-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/3d19ede3eadaff8888ef40524c30bb84e6b9136f9db80297141bd12ab2946fc9.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rosemary Regina Sobol"
] | 2016-08-29T22:48:56 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-istate-police-charges-filed-after-2-men-shot-by-state-trooper-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c49ebd/turbine/ct-istate-police-charges-filed-after-2-men-shot-by-state-trooper-20160829 | en | null | Charges filed after 2 men shot by state trooper | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Charges have been filed against one of two men shot by an Illinois state trooper after one of them pulled a gun while in the backseat of a cab on the South Side last week, authorities said.
Jonathan McIntosh, 25, was charged with aggravated assault to a police officer and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, according to a statement from Illinois State Police.
McIntosh remains at Stroger Hospital in police custody. He was ordered held on $450,000 bail.
State troopers made a traffic stop near 77th Street and Vincennes Avenue in the Gresham neighborhood about 8:30 p.m. Thursday when a Norshore Cab driver pulled up and said his passengers were refusing to pay their fare, authorities said.
As troopers spoke to the two men in the back seat, they saw what appeared to be a gun in the pocket of one of them, according to a statement from state police. The man, allegedly McIntosh, pulled the gun out and refused to drop it after being ordered to put it down, the statement said.
One of the troopers fired, and both men were hit, state police said. The man with the gun was shot twice in the lower torso, and the other person, a 23-year-old man, was hit in the toe, according to the statement.
McIntosh was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition has stabilized, and a 23-year-old man was brought to St. Bernard Hospital, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
The 23-year-old was released from the hospital and taken into custody but faces no charges, according to state police.
A trooper was hospitalized for a "minor issue," according to the Fire Department, though state police said no troopers were injured.
A gun was recovered from the scene, state police said | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-istate-police-charges-filed-after-2-men-shot-by-state-trooper-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/178dc0adb44b3f9362267e77afd58cbd657e2fef992fd3302969068650568e76.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rick Armstrong"
] | 2016-08-28T10:48:09 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Faurora-beacon-news%2Fsports%2Fct-abn-football-elgin-east-aurora-st-0829-20160828-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c28f38/turbine/ct-abn-football-elgin-east-aurora-st-0829-20160828 | en | null | Nasir Phillips, East Aurora blow big lead but bounce back to beat Elgin | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Thanks to Nasir Phillips, then it was wild times Saturday, with one of the unlikeliest finishes in East Aurora football history.
Phillips ripped the ball out of the hands of an Elgin running back at the East Aurora 4-yard line and ran 96 yards for a touchdown with 21.2 seconds to play.
Combined with Andre Pearson's conversion run, it lifted the Tomcats to an improbable 26-22 victory.
East Aurora and Elgin, two programs that have struggled in recent years, may not have had great expectations entering the season opener. But they provided great drama and entertainment.
"There's always a chance," Phillips said. "I just ripped it out of his hands and then hoped I could hang onto it."
When Phillips spun away from Elgin's Raymone Bridges, there was nothing but open field down the sideline at Aurora Christian, where the Tomcats are playing their home games this season while their football stadium is replaced.
"All I was thinking is, 'I gotta go, I gotta go'" said Phillips, who gave the Tomcats an 18-0 lead with an 89-yard TD run late in the third quarter.
Elgin then switched quarterbacks, going with junior Trevon Morris. He teamed with his brother, senior speedster Shareick, to spark a 22-point turnaround in the fourth quarter.
The Maroons appeared to have the game in hand after stopping East Aurora at the 50 with 1:43 left, before another long Elgin run put the ball at the Tomcat 8.
"We lost focus and needed to regain focus," said Phillips, who plays linebacker and running back, only leaving the field to catch an occasional breather. "We worked too hard not to get this win."
After a scoreless first quarter, East Aurora took a 6-0 lead when junior quarterback Ziare Williams capped a 60-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run early in the second quarter.
Williams then completed a 50-yard TD pass to Derrick Harden early in the third.
"It was his first varsity game and Ziare managed it well," East Aurora coach Kurt Becker said. "He had junior jitters. I think he can attack the edge better, but he's very smart, very dedicated. I wish I had a whole team like him."
Even after Phillips' heroics, though, East Aurora fans couldn't relax. Shareick Morris ran the ensuing kick to the Tomcat 31, and Trevon Morris got one more shot at the end zone.
But his pass was tipped by Davonta Faulkner and intercepted by Michael Lawrence Jr.
"A year ago, that would not happen," Becker said of the wild finish. "It's a crazy game. But special players make special plays."
rarmstrong@tribpub.com
Twitter @RickArmstrong28 | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/sports/ct-abn-football-elgin-east-aurora-st-0829-20160828-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/5262a38a66c10108616d25ed7fbf6097a5735f8a7d1f000bfab93bce4e7ed575.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Karen Medina"
] | 2016-08-26T13:25:15 | null | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fskokie%2Fnews%2Fct-skr-shout-out-tl-0825-20160818-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57b5fd3b/turbine/ct-skr-shout-out-tl-0825-20160818 | en | null | Shout Out: Joel Rubin, Turning Point board of directors | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Joel Rubin, a Skokie resident, has been appointed to the board of directors at Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center. He, along with other new members Scott Holtz and Randall Roberts, will serve a three-year term. According to its website, Turning Point is an outpatient mental health center that was established in 1969.
Q. What brought you to the organization?
A: The important work that Turning Point has been doing for close to five decades. I was honored to be asked by Brian Clarke, vice president and secretary of Turning Point's Board of Directors and one of my longest and closest friends.
Q. What is the most exciting part of being in the organization?
A: To be part of providing a vital need in our community and developing policies and strategies in a very challenging funding environment.
Q What is the biggest challenge the organization is facing?
A: The fiscal uncertainty in the state of Illinois and how to continue to provide exemplary behavioral health care to those in need in Skokie and other residents throughout Metropolitan Chicago.
Q How long have you lived in Skokie?
A: My wife and I have lived in Skokie since 1988. Our children all grew up in Skokie.
Q What experiences can you bring while participating on the board?
A: I have served as executive director of the National Association of Social Workers Illinois for the past 17 years, the largest professional organization of social workers in the state of Illinois. ... Social workers are the largest provider of mental health services in the country. I am very familiar with their challenges and their significant work serving those with mental illness.
Q What are your goals that you would like to accomplish with this organization?
A: I look forward to sharing my knowledge with working with volunteer leadership to help support and strengthen Turning Point.
Q Can you share any advice for people who want to be leaders in their communities, school or in business organizations?
A: Find and make the time to give back. I am big proponent of Harvard sociologist and writer Robert Putnam, who stresses the importance of community and civic engagement and its important role in American democracy.
Q What skills do you feel will help you the most on the board?
A: My familiarity with the many legislative and policy challenges the human service sector faces in our state and my understanding of the importance of maintaining a strong mental health provider workforce.
Q Are there any leaders living or deceased that you admire?
A: David Ben Gurion, the state of Israel's first prime minister and founding father. Whitney Young, social worker and U.S. civil rights leader. Abner Mikva, who recently passed away, former U.S. congressman, state legislator, federal judge, White House counsel to President Bill Clinton. Working for his campaign, as a high school senior at Niles West in 1976, and later interning at his Chicago congressional office, had a lasting impression on me.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago. Check out more online at ChicagoTribune.com/ShoutOut.
Karen Medina is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/skokie/news/ct-skr-shout-out-tl-0825-20160818-story.html | en | 2016-08-18T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/fbd96afbf56c005f43cafa79fc675c6f88e465d43c68d7af9608b316682675c1.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Tribune News Services"
] | 2016-08-28T18:48:25 | null | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fpolitics%2Fct-donald-trump-campaign-20160828-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c32137/turbine/ct-donald-trump-campaign-20160828 | en | null | Trump stand-ins struggle to speak for and defend nominee | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Donald Trump isn't making it easy for top supporters and advisers, from his running mate on down, to defend him or explain some campaign positions.
Across the Sunday news shows, a parade of Trump stand-ins, led by vice presidential nominee Mike Pence, couldn't say whether Trump was sticking with or changing a central promise to boot the roughly 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally, with the help of a "deportation force."
And they didn't bother defending his response Saturday to the killing of a mother as she walked her baby on a Chicago street.
Pence and other Trump surrogates insisted the GOP presidential nominee has been "absolutely consistent" on his immigration policy and in coming weeks will outline more details that line up with his principles of tightening U.S. laws in a "humane" way.
Asked whether the "deportation force" proposal Trump laid out in November is still in place, Pence replied: "Well, what you heard him describe there, in his usual plainspoken, American way, was a mechanism, not a policy."
The Indiana governor said the main tenets of Trump's immigration plan will include building a wall along the southern U.S. border and making Mexico pay for it, no path to legalization or citizenship for people here illegally and stronger border enforcement. Pence also did not answer whether the campaign believes, as Trump has said, that children born to people who are in the U.S. illegally are not U.S. citizens.
"The whole question of anchor babies, as it's known, the whole question of citizenship, of natural-born Americans is a subject for the future," Pence said.
Native-born children of immigrants, even those living illegally in the U.S., have been automatically considered American citizens since the adoption of the 14th Amendment in 1868.
Trump has focused lately on deporting people who are in the U.S. illegally and who have committed crimes. But who Trump considers a criminal remained unclear Sunday.
"Those are the things that Donald Trump is going to answer. And this is not a simple question," said Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman who's had a difficult relationship with Trump.
Pressed on the question, Priebus replied: "I just don't speak for Donald Trump."
Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, said the candidate has said that people who want to be in the U.S. legally must apply through legal means.
"We all learned in kindergarten to stand in line and wait our turn, and he is not talking about a deportation force," she said. "But he is talking about being fair and humane, but also being fair to the American workers competing for jobs."
Other Trump stand-ins, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, spoke similarly, a striking indication that even they don't know the answer to such a critical question just as Trump has promised to streamline the campaign for the grueling final stretch.
Recent polls indicate Clinton is ahead in some of the most competitive and pivotal states. The first presidential debate is set for Sept. 26.
Trump in recent days has suggested he might be "softening" on the deportation force and that he might be open to allowing at least some immigrants in the country illegally to stay, as long as they pay taxes.
But by Thursday, he was ruling out any kind of legal status — "unless they leave the country and come back," he told CNN.
His surrogates on Sunday refused to comment on Trump's reaction to the fatal shooting of NBA star Dwyane Wade's cousin Friday, as she pushed her baby in a stroller in Chicago.
Trump's first tweet about the shooting ended this way: "Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!"
A few hours later, he followed up with a tweet offering condolences to Wade and his family. "They are in my thoughts and prayers."
Asked whether the initial tweet was presidential or appropriate, GOP officials and campaign advisers instead talked about reducing crime or said they were pleased Trump followed up with a tweet of condolence and empathy.
Christie said the media "focus on process ... instead of the message." He said the killing of someone pushing a stroller "is unacceptable in an American city" and that "the level of violence in Chicago is unacceptable."
Pence appeared on CNN's "State of the Union," Priebus was on NBC's "Meet the Press," Christie was interviewed on ABC's "This Week" and Conway was on Fox and CBS' "Face the Nation."
Associated Press | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-donald-trump-campaign-20160828-story.html | en | 2016-08-28T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/1610e91644ae05b2a2baf2ca43589b21f74854815f5ec8595af1975d9518ca04.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Irv Leavitt"
] | 2016-08-26T13:23:40 | null | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fnorthbrook%2Fnews%2Fct-nbs-hope-union-church-tl-0825-20160822-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bb423f/turbine/ct-nbs-hope-union-church-tl-0825-20160822 | en | null | Historical society raises $113,000 toward restoring Northbrook's oldest church | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Fundraising for Northbrook's oldest church building has reached the point where all of the costs of getting it ready for public use have been covered, said Northbrook Historical Society President Judy Hughes.
More than $113,000 has been raised, she said, since the society bought the building at 1812 Chapel Court from Northbrook's Christian Science congregation for $10 in the spring of 2015. That will cover getting the church, built in 1892, ready for use by the society and people and groups that want to rent the sanctuary. But she said fundraising will continue until $200,000 has come in, to create a maintenance account to cover future work such as the inevitable replacement of the building's roof.
Hughes said the biggest donation was $50,000 from the Buehler Family Foundation, which will pay for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance work, including a restroom rehab and a ramp for the front door.
The society also allocated a $25,000 bequest from the estate of longtime leader Don Hintz, which has been waiting for the right project since his death in February 2013, Hughes said.
She said the society board, and the Hintz family, agreed on the bequest, noting the building was once home to the congregation now known as the Village Presbyterian Church.
"Don grew up in that church. He was married there, and that's where his children were baptized," Hughes said. "We could not think of a better way to use his money than to put it into that church. At the time of his death, he was the longest standing member of the congregation," which now meets at 1300 Shermer Road.
Other donations included $14,000 from the Northbrook Civic Foundation, $2,500 from Northbrook Rotary, and $750 from the Northbrook Woman's Club, Hughes said.
The society had hoped to get the church ready for small weddings, perhaps a small congregation, and to house the archives of the society by the summer, but preparations for construction work have been slower than she expected. The ramp was a case in point, she said.
Until recently, there were no bidders from concrete companies.
"It was too small a job for the big guys, and too big a job for the little guys," she said.
Hughes said she's also waiting for a Northbrook Zoning Board of Appeals decision that would let the society take the two old air conditioning units off their precarious platform between two sloped roofs, and replace them with new ones on the ground.
The church has welcomed several denominations over its 124-year history, starting with the German Evangelical Church, which moved there from its original location near the Northwest corner of Dundee and Sanders roads, Northbrook historian Ron Schinleber said.
"It is the original (surviving) church within the village limits," he said "Hope Union is kind of the grass roots church for the original German founders of the community."
Hope Union Church, the building's original name, has been restored by the historical society in its new name, Hope Union Heritage Center.
Schinleber's grandmother was Viola Kiest Wessling, of the pioneering Northbrook Kiest family, which donated the land for the church by cutting it out of its farm.
"My grandparents on both sides were members of the church in the early 1900s, and my parents (Leroy Schinleber and Virginia Wessling) got married in the church in 1946," he said.
The church's location on the corner of Church Street and Chapel Court now seems a quiet oasis hidden from nearby downtown Northbrook, but at one point, it was on one of the most important streets in the village. Until Meadow Road was extended in 1958, Church Street was the busiest north-south street in downtown Northbrook, Hughes said.
That was especially true on Sundays, when it was the last leg of the route to both the old church and St. Norbert Parish Church. In order to provide parking for the old church, which had no parking lot and still doesn't, the street was for years rendered one-way on Sundays to allow storage of cars along one curb.
The fundraising for the church is complicated by the relatively small number of people, 315, who have purchased memberships in the society, Hughes said.
"When you think of the number of households in our community, that's a very small number," she said.
There are 13,434 households in Northbrook, according to the village's chamber of commerce.
Historical society memberships start at $15 for individuals.
"Membership is the lifeblood of the organization We'd love more and more people in the community to recognize the value to the community by becoming members," she said.
ileavitt@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @IrvLeavitt | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/northbrook/news/ct-nbs-hope-union-church-tl-0825-20160822-story.html | en | 2016-08-22T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/70bec4ec0a3130e57200f04f2c39979c574f6a35808d11d560efd1728e7bddb6.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune"
] | 2016-08-30T06:48:46 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fcubs%2Fct-cubs-vs-pirates-photos-spt-20160829-photogallery.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c51a02/turbine/ct-cubs-vs-pirates-photos-spt-20160829 | en | null | Cubs 8, Pirates 7 (13 innings) | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Cubs 8, Pirates 7 (13 innings)
Nuccio DiNuzzo / Chicago Tribune
Cubs catcher Miguel Montero connects for an RBI single that scored third baseman Kris Bryant to win the game during the 13th inning. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-vs-pirates-photos-spt-20160829-photogallery.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/b7c2b6309561a20514cccab6825c605218ba85595f9ea1299d13af66acafd413.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Phil Thompson"
] | 2016-08-29T18:49:01 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fchicagoinc%2Fct-kyle-long-national-anthem-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4650f/turbine/ct-kyle-long-national-anthem-20160829 | en | null | Kyle Long stands for national anthem but supports bringing racism to light | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick raised the issue of whether it's appropriate to sit during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, and many players, coaches and fans have either praised his stance or villified him as unpatriotic.
Bears tackle Kyle Long seems to express support for both sides.
"I will always stand for the national anthem," Long tweeted. "I will also acknowledge the fact that racism is real. People deal with it every day. It's wrong."
Former Bear and current Dolphins tackle Jermon Bushrod retweeted Long's comment. Long has previously expressed admiration for Blackhawks tenor Jim Cornelison's famed rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and in 2012 tweeted, "National Anthem gives me chills everytime #USA."
Long, who has been sidelined by a lingering shoulder injury, was not available for comment, according to a Bears spokesman.
On Friday, Kaepernick sat during the anthem before the 49ers-Packers exhibition game, and the quarterback later defended his decision as a means of protesting systemic racism against people of color.
"This country stands for freedom, liberty, justice for all — and it's not happening for all right now," Kaepernick told reporters.
In recent months, Kaepernick has frequently posted social media messages about Freddie Gray, Sandra Bland and other African-Americans who have died or been injured during encounters with police. He also has retweeted links from Black Lives Matters supporters such as New York Daily News columnist Shaun King.
Other figures in the NFL world voiced their approval or disapproval of Kaepernick's approach to activism. Bills coach Rex Ryan said observing the anthem is "a way of showing respect for the men and women who have served our country and are currently serving our country and that’s kind of how I look at it."
Broncos tackle Russell Okung referenced two other athletes who were controversial activists for their times: "There may have been another way for @Kaepernick7 to express his views. Bill Russell and Ali were two people largely misunderstood too." | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chicagoinc/ct-kyle-long-national-anthem-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/f4538c9a84e79176616dd3088a189d9cf689035249c1527751bbd0b48c4d7656.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Nick Swedberg"
] | 2016-08-26T13:24:27 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-i-57-chase-suspect-hit-0826-20160825-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bf2e82/turbine/ct-i-57-chase-suspect-hit-0826-20160825 | en | null | Man being chased by cops is injured trying to hop onto truck on I-57: state police | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A man who ran onto Interstate 57 while being pursued by Chicago police was seriously injured Thursday morning when he fell under a semitruck that he attempted to hitch a ride on, according to the Illinois State Police.
The man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was listed in serious condition Thursday afternoon, according to police. His injuries are not life-threatening, police said.
Police confirmed that officers were in pursuit of the man on foot about 8:30 a.m. in connection with a retail theft when he jumped onto the interstate near 119th Street. They could not confirm where the retail theft happened.
No charges had been filed in connection with the incident as of Thursday afternoon, according to police.
State police said the man tried to stop a car and the truck after he ran onto I-57.
The car drove around the man, but the man jumped onto the truck and told the driver he had been robbed, according to state police.
According to state police, the truck driver pulled to the shoulder and told the man to get off of the truck. The fleeing man tried to jump back onto the truck, fell and was caught underneath the rear axle, state police said.
The investigation is ongoing, according to Chicago police.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-i-57-chase-suspect-hit-0826-20160825-story.html | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/30fc4eeb868bbfbc3c9d55b8768a7304458498e177e0bc944ee4738b93e70d74.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"James D. Wolf Jr."
] | 2016-08-26T16:50:31 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fpost-tribune%2Fnews%2Fct-ptb-valparaiso-parks-plan-st-0829-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56f02a81/turbine/chi-default-open-graph-ct-logo/1200/1200x650 | en | null | Valpo parks get ideas for 5-year plan | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Valparaiso's population is aging and diversifying, and residents are interested in maintaining neighborhood parks as much as new parks, according to studies for a new five-year plan..
The Valparaiso Parks and Recreation Department's consultants presented the findings at a recent park board meeting. A formal report is expected in the fall.
Senior Project Manager Austin Hochstettler of PROS Consulting of Indianapolis and Gregg Calpino of Munster's SEH of Indiana suggested that the city consider all of Center Township to be part of the parks area. The median income is higher that way, and the final report will have strategies for including it, Hochstetler said.
People in focus groups want to see better connections on pathways and dedicated funding for the parks, and more outdoor recreational experiences, such as ziplines, adventure racing contests, canoeing and kayaking or tours, Hochstetler said. They'd also like an outdoor pool/aquatic center, an indoor track and a nature center with trails.
The eighth graders and senior citizens interviewed by the consultants liked the idea of more multi-generation experiences -- programs where the ages meet rather than segregating seniors in Banta Center.
A survey showed that with the aging population, there's an unmet need for adult programs, especially for fitness and wellness, Hochstetler said.
Calpino said research showed not just a need to fill gaps in the hiking and biking pathways, but to better identify trails.
Parks Director John Seibert said Valparaiso University seniors interviewed had no idea a biking and hiking pathway was within 400 feet of the school, and Calpino said the pathways that lead to Valparaiso Marketplace shopping center appeared to just suddenly end with no warning.
People using the pathways want to see connections to countywide trails, Calpino said.
Other survey results show the most visited park is downtown's Central Park with 74 percent of those interviewed or surveyed using it.
Old Fairground Park was second on the list with 63 percent using it.
James D. Wolf Jr. is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-valparaiso-parks-plan-st-0829-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/433cbe748d744466bb2fcdcc95508b34c001b93e2e18cf463b12fa47a0fc30b8.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Pat Disabato"
] | 2016-08-28T14:48:29 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fdaily-southtown%2Fsports%2Fct-sta-saturday-roundup-st-0828-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c23e29/turbine/ct-sta-saturday-roundup-st-0828-20160827 | en | null | Local roundup: Juan Green gives Bloom the spark to beat Andrew in football | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | With Bloom trailing Andrew after one quarter Saturday and the offense struggling to move the ball, junior quarterback Juan Green had a message for his teammates in the huddle.
"Let's do our thing," Green said. "Let's run the football like we know how. We're the wolves, they're the sheep. Let's leave everybody behind."
The Blazing Trojans responded by scoring five straight touchdowns to record a 33-12 win in Chicago Heights.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Green not only provided words of inspiration, he also physically led the charge by rushing for two touchdowns and passing for two TDs.
"Juan is very good, and he knows the game," Bloom coach Tony Palombi. "He comes to the sideline, and he'll say, 'I see this,' and we'll do it. Juan understands the game."
Andrew (0-1) couldn't have asked for a better start to Adam Lewandowski's first game as coach. The Thunderbolts drove 78 yards in 10 plays on the game's first possession, capped off on a 2-yard TD run by quarterback Ryan Summers (9-for-18, 102 yards) for a 6-0 lead.
It was all downhill from there, however. Green's 9-yard TD run at 11:54 of the second quarter gave Bloom (1-0) a 7-6 lead. The Blazing Trojans took control in the second half, scoring 20 points in the third quarter.
Green (13-for-24, 212 yards) hooked up with Princeton Nathan on a 49-yard TD pass to extend the Blazing Trojans lead to 13-6 with 6:53 left in the third. Nathan waved his hand in the air while running downfield to alert Green.
"I had to throw him the ball, he was open," Green said. "I just let it go."
On the ensuing kickoff, Bloom's Dequan Jones recovered a fumble at the Thunderbolts 30-yard line. Green eventually scored on a 7-yard run for a 19-6 lead.
The Blazing Trojans weren't finished. Green connected with Khristian Johnson on a 38-yard TD pass. Bloom, which limited Andrew's offense to 210 yards, closed the scoring as Angelo Sharp hit Camren Alexander on a 39-yard TD toss on a fake punt. Theo Rogers and Jones added interceptions for the Blazing Trojans.
"After they scored, we had to get focused," Jones said. "We did very good after that. We kept our head in the game."
Cole Griffin (19 carries, 66 yards) led the Thunderbolts. Summers added an 8-yard TD run in the fourth.
Lewandowski promised Andrew would get back to work to correct its mistakes.
"We'll get back after it," he said. "There are a lot of things we need to do a better job of. We can fix things."
Notre Dame 29, Thornton 13: Lamari Battle (15-for-22, 225 yards) threw an 85-yard TD pass to Taron Williams and also ran for a score for Thornton (0-1).
Girls volleyball
Metea Valley/Oswego East Kickoff Tournament: Sarah Nahas (40 assists over two matches) and Taylor Zurliene (17 kills) led Joliet Catholic (3-3), which lost to Metea Valley 24-26, 25-12, 25-13 in the Gold Bracket championship.
Plainfield North Crosstown Showdown: Molly Murrihy contributed 69 assists over three matches as Marist (6-1) finished third.
Friday's gamesFootball
Bulls Prep 28, Chicago Christian 26: John Griffin's 70-yard kickoff return for a TD led Chicago Christian (0-1).
Crete-Monee 42, T.F. South 7: Datuan Carter ran for two TDs and caught a pass for another to lead Crete (1-0). Isiah Rucker threw for 214 yards and two TDs. Earlier in the day, Crete's players attended the funeral of Warriors coach John Konecki's father, also named John. The elder Konecki died Tuesday.
De La Salle 26, Niles North 15: Dorian Woods (16-for-31, 203 yards) threw two TD passes to Eric Rooks to lead De La Salle (1-0).
Franklin (Wis.) 24, Joliet Catholic 14: Clay Briscoe caught a 10-yard TD pass from Patrick Roth, and Keenan Hailey added a 19-yard scoring run for JCA (0-1).
Hillcrest 32, Argo 0: Marus Garrett's 75-yard catch was among his three TDs for Hillcrest (1-0).
Leo 16, Ottawa 0: David Moore's fourth-quarter TD reception boosted Leo (1-0).
Lincoln-Way Central 24, Lake Central (Ind.) 21: Nico Muto's 5-yard TD run with 51 seconds remaining lifted Lincoln-Way Central (1-0).
Lincoln-Way East 49, Adams (Ind.) 12: Jake Arthur threw two TD passes, and Nigel Muhammad added a pair of scoring runs (12, 10 yards) for East (1-0).
Lincoln-Way West 30, Proviso West 8: Justin LaBuhn rushed for 166 yards and three TDs to power West (1-0).
Lockport 20, Downers Grove North 9: Ben Davis threw a pair of scoring passes for Lockport (1-0).
Marian Catholic 53, Urban Prep-Englewood 16: Christian Simmons (10 carries, 168 yards) scored on runs of 89 and 28 yards to lead Marian (1-0).
Pekin 27, Oak Forest 12: Dylan Henson threw a 46-yard TD pass to Mason Waitari for Oak Forest (0-1).
Reavis 51, Longwood 0: Devontta Wilson caught a 31-yard TD pass and also scored on a 40-yard run to boost Reavis (1-0).
St. Ignatius 12, Bremen 6 (2 OT): Jovari Brown (8 carries) ran for 128 yards and a TD for Bremen (0-1).
St. Laurence 31, Benet 21: Fayezon Smart (18 carries, 194 yards) scored the go-ahead TD on a 69-yard run for St. Laurence (1-0).
Shepard 38, T.F. North 18: Demetrius Harrison ran for 181 yards and a touchdown and also caught two scoring passes (53, 28) to lead Shepard (1-0).
Thornwood 60, Phoenix 0: Jabari Howard accounted for four TDs, two on punt returns, to pace Thornwood (1-0).
Freelance reporter Josh Krockey contributed.
pdisabato@tribpub.com
Twitter @disabato | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/sports/ct-sta-saturday-roundup-st-0828-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/0613634d6db02b8a0a82511e719065bd6e4352730af9a8885c8f337c71f7f4ca.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Lauren Zumbach"
] | 2016-08-29T22:48:57 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fbusiness%2Fct-united-kirby-president-0830-biz-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4ae88/turbine/ct-united-kirby-president-0830-biz-20160829 | en | null | United Airlines appoints American Airlines executive as president | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | United Airlines hired the No. 2 executive at its chief competitor American Airlines on Monday.
Scott Kirby, 49, president of American Airlines since its merger with US Airways in 2013, will fill a newly created role as president, responsible for United's operations, marketing, sales, alliances, network planning and revenue management, the Chicago-based airline said.
In a letter to employees, United CEO Oscar Munoz said adding the new position would let him "sharpen my own focus as CEO on the core mission of driving United's overall strategy, business innovation and financial performance."
Munoz, brought in as CEO last year to turn the airline around, has reached several new labor agreements with employee groups and improved the airline's on-time performance, but said earlier this year that United's financial performance still lags behind other major U.S. airlines.
A key measure of passenger revenue was down 6.6 percent in the second quarter of 2016 compared with the same period last year. Earlier this summer, Munoz announced a combination of cost cuts and new revenues totaling $3.1 billion between 2015 and 2018.
"Scott is a proven leader, whose deep airline experience and expertise will further accelerate our efforts to build the best airline in the industry," Munoz said in a news release. "Scott's appointment, along with other recent leadership announcements, is the culmination of the formation of my senior leadership team. This is just the latest step in our mission to be an agile and innovative industry leader."
Kirby's appointment follows two management changes earlier this month, when Munoz made former Allegiant Travel President Andrew Levy United's new chief financial officer and former Boston Consulting Group partner Julia Haywood the airline's chief commercial officer.
Texas-based American Airlines promoted its chief operating officer, Robert Isom, 52, to fill Kirby's spot, American said in a news release on Monday.
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @laurenzumbach | http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-united-kirby-president-0830-biz-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/c62a6f1d073b7d3870249e318ae6f72025c52910d7bf61a46991b9aeef794893.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Phil Rockrohr"
] | 2016-08-26T13:19:17 | null | 2016-08-08T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flake-zurich%2Fnews%2Fct-lzc-ash-borer-folo-tl-0811-20160808-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57a8be9f/turbine/ct-lzc-ash-borer-folo-tl-0811-20160808 | en | null | Lake Zurich to start replacing 3,300 trees infected by emerald ash borer | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Work to replace some 3,300 infected trees removed in Lake Zurich because of the emerald ash borer begins next month in the Cedar Creek subdivision.
Lake Zurich trustees approved earlier this month a $47,000 contract with Elk Grove Village-based Brancato Landscaping to perform the first phase of the multi-year replacement program.
Planting will begin in early to mid-September in Cedar Creek and carry over to a portion of Old Mill Grove this fall, Public Works Director Mike Brown said. Old Mill Grove will be completed next year, followed by Countryside West, he said.
Lake Zurich officials have said they spent about $1 million to remove infected ash trees on public rights of way, including those located on parkways in front of homes, municipal grounds, retention and detention basins, and parks.
Earlier in May the board approved a tree replacement program that will allow residents to pay some of the cost if they desire replacement trees larger than those selected by the village.
Property owners can "upgrade" from the standard tree of 1.5 inches in diameter to a larger tree of 2.5 inches in diameter, Brown said. Prices will vary depending on the price of the type of tree selected, he said.
For example, a resident could pay $150 to get a larger autumn blaze maple, Brown said. The village's cost to plant a smaller such tree is $200 each, he said.
The tree replacement schedule will prioritize neighborhoods where infested trees were first removed, Brown said. Trees will be planted in the same locations where workers removed the infected trees, he said.
Selection of species will be recommended by the village arborist and approved by Brown.
"A preference will be placed on species that enhance the overall diversity of the village's overall tree population," Brown said.
The species list will be reviewed and updated annually, based upon availability, expected costs and progress toward meeting diversity goals for the overall tree population, he said.
Brancato's work will include delivery, excavation, planting, backfilling, mulching, watering and removal of excess dirt, Brown sad. The trees are guaranteed for one year from the date of their final inspection and approval, he said.
Lake Zurich had planned to spread the tree replacement work over 10 years but in 2014, trustees agreed to finish it in three years at the request of the Lake Zurich Tree Commission.
"We had a change of direction because of the number of trees that (had) died over the past year," Village President Tom Poynton said.
Phil Rockrohr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-zurich/news/ct-lzc-ash-borer-folo-tl-0811-20160808-story.html | en | 2016-08-08T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/c1ee8be00313205687c7abfdb76b0c49f2758c06bf86e6447520b77c754acf52.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Dan Wiederer"
] | 2016-08-28T00:48:11 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2Fbears%2Fct-connor-shaw-hurt-bits-bears-spt-0828-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c217dd/turbine/ct-connor-shaw-hurt-bits-bears-spt-0828-20160827 | en | null | Connor Shaw suffers gruesome leg injury late in Bears' loss | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | For a Bears offense that had been listless most of Saturday, Connor Shaw offered a much-needed spark. The third-string quarterback led the team's only touchdown drive, finishing it with a 16-yard pass to Cameron Meredith in the fourth quarter.
Shaw had the Bears moving on the next series as well. But his day and, most likely his season, came to an abrupt end when he suffered a gruesome left leg injury with 2 minutes, 30 seconds left in the Bears' 23-7 loss. Shaw had just completed an 18-yard pass to Josh Bellamy to convert fourth-and-7 when Chiefs defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches landed on Shaw's planted left foot.
The 24-year-old quarterback went down in obvious agony, was carted off the field and later left Soldier Field in an ambulance. The injury, which coach John Fox identified as "very serious" and is presumed to be a broken leg, left many of Shaw's teammates with a pit in their stomachs.
Alshon Jeffery, who played with Shaw at South Carolina for three seasons, wished the quarterback well as he left the field.
"It's a tough break, man," Jeffery said. "He was having a hell of a camp. He was doing a hell of a job out there. … I told him 'Damn, I hate it for you. Just keep the faith. Just trust in the process with God.'"
Added backup quarterback Brian Hoyer: "It's especially (hard) with a guy like Connor, who always does the right thing. He brought some life out there. He's running around making plays and to see something like that, it's heartbreaking really."
Photos from the game on Aug. 27, 2016, at Soldier Field.
First things first: Saturday wasn't a banner day for the Bears' most recent first-round picks. Leonard Floyd dressed but didn't play, held out after missing chunks of practice time last week with a hamstring issue. Kyle Fuller remains out after arthroscopic knee surgery earlier in the month. And Kevin White caught only one of the four passes thrown his way for 3 yards.
White dropped one Jay Cutler pass on a bubble screen early in the third quarter. On the next snap, he was the target on a Cutler incompletion deep down the field. Cutler showed his agitation after the pass, gesturing to indicate White was not on the same page on the route.
"There are going to be growing pains," Cutler said. "That's just kind of how it is. We're working with him and he's doing everything he possibly can to work through it and be where he's supposed to be."
White's stats after three exhibitions: eight targets, three catches, 12 yards.
No satisfaction: The Bears were met with a smattering of boos as they left the field at halftime. And it's no wonder why. Down 13-0 and taking over possession at the Chiefs 47 with 6 seconds left in the second quarter, the offense bumbled to the break. First, Jeffery committed a false start penalty. Then, Cutler short-hopped a pass to uncovered receiver Marc Mariani near the sideline. Finally, in a Hail Mary situation, Cutler was sacked and stripped at his own 42 as time ran out.
"We need to prepare more, obviously," Cutler said. "I'm sure we'll have that (situation) in practice next week again."
The Bears' offensive output in the first half: five possessions, 18 total yards, two first downs, four punts.
dwiederer@tribpub.com
Twitter @danwiederer | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-connor-shaw-hurt-bits-bears-spt-0828-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/21b468eb35349298903e2c972ad5f20f557572aa3170ac81791a99a16d79b54a.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Lee V. Gaines"
] | 2016-08-26T13:21:43 | null | 2016-06-20T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fevanston%2Fnews%2Fct-mgc-morton-grove-muslim-center-event-tl-0623-20160620-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57681a23/turbine/ct-mgc-morton-grove-muslim-center-event-tl-0623-20160620 | en | null | At Morton Grove's Muslim Education Center, a message of 'pursuing peace' | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | In the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando that claimed the lives of 49 people and injured scores more, several Morton Grove religious leaders present at an interfaith panel Tuesday night cautioned the crowd gathered to resist falling prey to a growing sense of anxiety and fear.
Leaders from the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Baha'i faiths gathered together for an annual interfaith panel at the Muslim Education Center on Menard Avenue for a discussion dubbed "Social Justice: At the Heart of Religions." The event was a continuation of a tradition that began four years ago and which is held at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Each year, the panel focuses on a particular faith-based subject and takes turns interpreting the topic from the perspective of their respective religions before an audience of several hundred attendees. Dinner and prayer services followed the event.
The panel discussion focused primarily on how each faith defines social justice.
But Elizabeth Jones, pastor of St. Lukes Community Church and a guest on the panel, said she's noticed a "free floating anxiety" amongst some of the individuals she has spoken with in recent months, and that anxiety was made more prevalent and profound by the shootings.
She urged the crowd to resist a sense of fear and helplessness in the wake of the Orlando tragedy.
"I have hopeful news for us today. We are not helpless even though the events of last weekend did occur. We can do something. We can each of us do something in our corner of the world. We can pursue peace. That is what I've been going around and talking to different groups of people about: pursuing peace," Jones said.
The shooting presents an important opportunity to reflect on the uncertainty of life, said Dilnaz Waraich, vice president of the Winnetka Interfaith Council, in an interview during the panel event. She said appreciation for life and for one's neighbors is a good strategy to counter any sense of unhappiness and fear.
Morton Grove interfaith mosque Lee V. Gaines / Pioneer Press Pastor Elizabeth Jones of St. Luke's Community Church in Morton Grove addresses attendees at an interfaith panel sponsored by the Muslim Community Center on June 14. Moderator for the event, Donelle Bergeson, stands next to Jones with signs encouraging the audience to define what peace means to them. Pastor Elizabeth Jones of St. Luke's Community Church in Morton Grove addresses attendees at an interfaith panel sponsored by the Muslim Community Center on June 14. Moderator for the event, Donelle Bergeson, stands next to Jones with signs encouraging the audience to define what peace means to them. (Lee V. Gaines / Pioneer Press)
In acknowledgment of the tragedy, Donelle Bergeson, moderator for the event, said "on behalf of the Muslim Community Center, we would like to say, as a community, we are horrified and deeply saddened by the violence that lead to the deaths of innocent human beings."
"These could be people we know. It could be a family member or a friend, or a family member or a friend of someone you know, someone that died or was wounded," she said. Bergson led the attendees in a moment of silence to honor of those whose lives were lost.
Rabbi Samuel Gordon, of Sukkat Shalom, who represented the Jewish perspective on the panel, highlighted, however, the significance of interfaith events particularly in light of the shooting.
"What we are doing here this evening is even more vital and important," he said. "The ability for us to come together, particularly in times like these when there are those that would divide us or demonize others, the ability to come together at the local level and fight against that discrimination, particularly after Orlando this Sunday, is of great importance."
The issue of gun control was also touched on by an audience member and by Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, who attended the event and spoke following the panel discussion. Suffredin noted his involvement in the drafting of an assault weapons ban in the county. Unfortunately, he said, "we get no traction away from Cook County."
"I'm happy to join with you, and I look forward to meeting with you in these coming days as we try to remind everybody that there is still sanity and the gun violence in Orlando and everyday in the streets around us is insanity, and we will help bring peace," Suffredin said.
When asked by an audience member what their "personal prayer" was following news of the country's most recent mass shooting, Gordon, who spoke on behalf of the panel, continued to note the need for more gatherings of individuals from varied religious groups. He said people have a choice to come together or to perceive one another in terms of racial, religious and cultural differences.
"We need to continue doing these kinds of things. It's a hope we can continue to build together to fight against the demonization of other people," Gordon said. "Whether it's a question of Islam, or gays and lesbians in Orlando -- and it turns out the vast majority of whom were Puerto Rican and Latino -- we can all look at each other in terms of faiths and colors and see somebody not like ourselves or we can see someone like ourselves."
Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/news/ct-mgc-morton-grove-muslim-center-event-tl-0623-20160620-story.html | en | 2016-06-20T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/7e0cbeb7a0cee1d562d19d02ef0966d3ebac9582f06e51b62362e482aac1fcaf.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Ronnie Wachter"
] | 2016-08-26T20:46:04 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fbuffalo-grove%2Fnews%2Fct-bgc-video-gambling-tl-0901-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c09ec7/turbine/ct-bgc-video-gambling-tl-0901-20160826 | en | null | Pub 83 restaurant coming to Long Grove despite close video gaming vote | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Video gaming is expanding to restaurants outside of downtown Long Grove, even though a divided village board debated whether approving another business with the gambling devices was the appropriate move.
Long Grove trustees were deadlocked on business owner George Callas' proposed Pub 83 restaurant along Route 83 until Village President Angie Underwood voted in favor of it and broke a tie. On a 4-3 vote, Callas was granted a Class V liquor license, allowing him to add video gaming inside the new restaurant.
Before the vote Aug. 23, video gambling detractors on the Long Grove Village Board said the addition would alter the image of Long Grove and attract unwanted clientele.
"If we say 'Yes' here, it's going to be everywhere," said trustee Bill Jacob, who voted against the measure. "Right now, it's contained in the downtown."
Other board members, including Underwood, noted how the village should be supporting new business and pointed to how neighboring cities with video gaming haven't seen negative effects.
"Because this means that we are welcoming a new business to town, I would love to be approving one of these every week in Long Grove," Underwood said.
With the approval, Callas said he hopes to open Pub 83 later this fall, describing the restaurant as a "middle-class" place offering pizza and steaks.
He used to operate a restaurant called Gridley's Bar & Grille in the building at 4868 Route 83, but he closed it about five years ago mostly because northbound drivers on Route 83 had no left-hand turn access to his lot, he said. Callas corrected that issue by buying two adjacent acres located closer to a left turn lane along Route 83, he said.
Rather than reopen Gridley's, Callas said he wanted a new name, concept and entertainment options, including video gaming machines.
Long Grove officials have debated the merits of video gaming before. In spring 2014, they began a trial run with the machines and extended it several times.
In summer 2015, after a local election yielded a divided board, village officials surveyed residents on numerous prominent issues in the community.
Only 42 percent of all residents in Long Grove responded to the survey. But 53 percent of the respondents said they "strongly opposed" video gambling. By early December, village board members decided to make video gaming permanent in a vote that Underwood also had to break.
Regarding the latest video-gaming proposal, trustee Stan Borys cautioned the board to remain vigilant.
He said video gambling offers businesses a shortcut to attracting customers.
"There is an alternative to video gambling, and that's offer a quality product at a competitive price," Borys said. "To me, it looks like a cancer that metastasizes."
But after the meeting, Callas said the machines are needed to sustain business.
"Before the vote, I was worried," he said. "Without this, I wouldn't be able to launch."
Pub 83 will be the sixth Long Grove business with video gaming, according to Illinois Gaming Board records. Any business in Illinois that allows for video gambling can have up to five machines.
rwachter@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/buffalo-grove/news/ct-bgc-video-gambling-tl-0901-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/24a13b7ac8e16d8714d73331820350c6fdc4c64f8906ca8c3e384947eba5b5d5.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Shannon Ryan"
] | 2016-08-30T04:48:43 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Fct-julian-hylton-illinois-depth-chart-spt-0830-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c4d0b4/turbine/ct-julian-hylton-illinois-depth-chart-spt-0830-20160829 | en | null | Sophomores Julian Hylton, Tre Watson top Illinois depth chart for opener | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Depth-chart listings don't always equate to guaranteed spots, but the starters Illinois released Monday for Saturday's season opener against Murray State included a few surprises.
The biggest may have been sophomore Julian Hylton at strong safety. The Lincoln-Way North alumnus played mostly special teams last season under former coach Bill Cubit, recording seven tackles and a fumble recovery.
"You look at his athletic ability," coach Lovie Smith said at a news conference in Champaign. "He's as fast as anyone on the team. He can jump higher than anybody on the team. He's smart. He's a young player who just hasn't played a lot of football.
"We have that with a few of our players. But from the time we've been here, he's been competing and put himself in position to get playing time. What we're looking for in our safeties is a guy who can play man coverage. You have to have that skill set. He'll hit and (he has) some decent instincts."
Sophomore Tre Watson was listed as the starter at strong-side linebacker, with graduate transfer Hardy Nickerson in the middle and junior James Crawford on the weak side.
"(Watson has) played all three positions," Smith said. "He's smart. He's been an instinctive player, and he's gotten himself in position for playing time. ... It's time now to step up."
Extra points: Smith said the team has selected four captains for the season — two on offense and two on defense — but fans will have to wait until Tuesday to find out after Smith tells the players in person. He said the coaching staff will likely pick a weekly special teams captain. ... Unlike his NFL coaching days, Smith isn't required by the NCAA to reveal much about injuries. And he likes that. "One part of college football is you don't have to have an injury list you have to go over," said Smith, who did say the Illini didn't suffer any "serious" injuries in training camp.
sryan@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @sryantribune | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-julian-hylton-illinois-depth-chart-spt-0830-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/0aefbfcf460bbd1b1ed3ccea498636387e235d118a1d06608d3f100bd3126778.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Mark Gonzales"
] | 2016-08-27T06:48:07 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fcubs%2Fct-kris-bryant-cubs-dodgers-spt-0827-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c12e26/turbine/ct-kris-bryant-cubs-dodgers-spt-0827-20160826 | en | null | Kris Bryant ignites 'MVP' chants as Cubs beat Dodgers in 10 innings | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Cubs manager Joe Maddon hasn’t been shy about wanting to face the best opposing players.
Maddon might have been asking for too much Friday night when Los Angeles Dodgers standout second baseman Chase Utley made a diving stop in right field to rob Ben Zobrist of a game-tying hit in the fifth, or when Adrian Gonzalez ripped a home run in the seventh for a two-run cushion.
But Cubs slugger Kris Bryant took matters into his own hands after that.
Bryant ripped a home run to lead off the eighth inning and then clobbered a two-run homer over the center field fence in the 10th to vault the Cubs to a 6-4 comeback win for their fourth consecutive victory before a crowd of 48,609 fans at Dodger Stadium.
With the second home run, Bryant took over the National League home run lead with 35 and ignited chants of "MVP" from several thousand Cubs fans who watched their team maintain their 14-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.
Jason Heyward, who is in the midst of a miserable season, also helped fuel the comeback by leading off the ninth with a double and scoring the game-tying run on a wild pitch by Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.
Before the game, Maddon said he planned on taking mental notes during the course of the game in case the Cubs face the Dodgers in the playoffs. But he also didn’t want to get too consumed by what he sees during this three-game series.
"Last year we beat up on the Mets during the (regular) season and then we can’t touch them (in the NL Championship Series)," Maddon said. "(The playoffs) are such a different animal. The weather gets cold and people change.
"I’m not going to diminish the fact that I’ll be paying attention, but things change. Trends can be so trendy, to quote Yogi (Berra). I don’t get too far ahead because things can change quickly."
Kris Bryant on Cubs' comeback at Dodgers: 'We always believe we can win' Kris Bryant, who hit the game-winning home run in the 10th inning, discusses the Cubs' 6-4 victory over the Dodgers on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) Kris Bryant, who hit the game-winning home run in the 10th inning, discusses the Cubs' 6-4 victory over the Dodgers on Friday, Aug. 26, 2016. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) See more videos
Cubs left-hander Mike Montgomery provided support to Maddon’s case in a disappointing manner.
Montgomery, who pitched 4 1/3 innings of one-hit ball in his first start for the Cubs at Colorado on Aug. 20, walked four and hit a batter in five innings. Montgomery put the leadoff batter on base in each of the first four innings, and the leadoff batter went on to score in three of those innings.
Montgomery figured to be an ideal matchup against the Dodgers, who entered Friday’s game with a .222 batting average against left-handers.
Montgomery, who is taking the place of injured John Lackey, presents an interesting situation for the Cubs. Four of their starters are under contract or under team control for 2017, and the Cubs have an option on Jason Hammel.
Yet, Montgomery, 27, looks more comfortable and effective as a starter than as a reliever, and the Cubs need starting pitching depth.
"This guy has the ability to be a solid major-league starter, based on strength level, his delivery, his variety of pitches that he throws, his strike throwing ability, his deception and different things going on," Maddon said.
"He’s a guy you get a little bit patient with. Let him get his feet on the ground somewhere because he’s the kind of guy who can take off if he gets comfortable in his own environment."
As for the status of the rotation in 2017, "that’s not for me to answer," Maddon smiled. "That’s why I take the offseason off. That’s why I get in my RV and call once in a while to check in.
"Our job is to get the most out of all these guys. I’m just telling you what I’m seeing right now. This guy, to me, from my scout’s eye, has a bright future as a major league starter because of the reasons I just gave." | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kris-bryant-cubs-dodgers-spt-0827-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/3e58fe934865cf29b93830290eb85c7d00a2a8380a5d079d105962c149c285e1.json |
[
"Associated Press",
"Tribune News Services"
] | 2016-08-26T20:48:07 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fct-richard-branson-bike-crash-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c09126/turbine/ct-richard-branson-bike-crash-20160826 | en | null | Billionaire Richard Branson survives head-first bicycle crash on concrete road | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson said Friday he thought he was going to die after flying head first off his bicycle in the British Virgin Islands.
The Virgin Group boss hit a hump in the road on Virgin Gorda, one of the islands in the Caribbean, catapulting him into the road. The 66-year-old posted pictures of his bloodied face on social media on Friday, showing the gruesome injuries that included a cracked cheek, torn ligaments and severe cuts.
"My life was literally flashing before my eyes," he wrote. "I really thought I was going to die. I went flying head-first towards the concrete road, but fortunately my shoulder and cheek took the brunt of the impact, and I was wearing a helmet that saved my life."
Branson traveled to Miami to receive medical treatment. He said he was really lucky to have not suffered more serious injuries.
"My biggest hardship is having to drink tea out of a straw," he said.
Branson was training for September's Virgin Strive Challenge, an event in which participants hike, cycle, swim and run from the base of the Matterhorn in the Alps to the summit of Mount Etna in Sicily.
Branson still hopes to take part in the charity event.
"My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you're moving forward," he said.
Sir Richard Branson AP Sir Richard Branson after he was involved in an accident when he crashed his bicycle on Virgin Gorda, one of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Sir Richard Branson after he was involved in an accident when he crashed his bicycle on Virgin Gorda, one of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. (AP) (AP)
Associated Press | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-richard-branson-bike-crash-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/677d4f8a41c118a5574949be4e87cec1cd0bb909d249700c9a99cc3deec70ca9.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune"
] | 2016-08-30T10:48:48 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fcubs%2Fct-cubs-javier-baez-video-spt-20160829-premiumvideo.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c52407/turbine/ct-cubs-javier-baez-video-spt-20160829 | en | null | Cubs infielder Javier Baez on Monday's win | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | null | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-javier-baez-video-spt-20160829-premiumvideo.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/75d93d69c5a41c17efbfd99649b0432395092908d8447a1bc1e306a12497332d.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune"
] | 2016-08-27T20:48:04 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2Fbears%2Fct-bears-vs-chiefs-photos-spt-20160827-photogallery.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c1fb38/turbine/ct-bears-vs-chiefs-photos-spt-20160827 | en | null | Preseason Game 3: Chiefs 23, Bears 7 | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Preseason Game 3: Chiefs 23, Bears 7
John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune
Bears quarterback Connor Shaw is carted off the field after injuring his left leg in the second half. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-bears-vs-chiefs-photos-spt-20160827-photogallery.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/fdea8224d452a0c59408d3cf6c6fb573e003ca2dbd063d1a8dd8419949620a5f.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune"
] | 2016-08-26T16:49:00 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fclassified%2Fautomotive%2Fct-history-worlds-fastest-cars-under-200000-20160825-photogallery.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c049f1/turbine/ct-history-worlds-fastest-cars-under-200000-20160825 | en | null | Brief history of the world's fastest 'affordable' cars | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Riding in the world's fastest production cars can be like taking the vertical drop of a steep roller coaster and stretching it out horizontally: gut-dropping, breath-taking, nausea-inducing awesomeness.
Based on the news of the all-electric and totally gearless Tesla Model S P100D hitting 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds, we take a look over time at the world's fastest—and relatively affordable—production cars. Technically, "fastest" time implies top speed, while quickest implies acceleration, which is what we're going for. We're going to rely on Car and Driver's 60 years of 0-60 mph testing as our main source for consistency. Since there are varying definitions of production cars, including that they be street legal, unmodified and with production runs of at least 25 units, we're going to create a ceiling of under $200,000 to eliminate the sickest supercars that 99.9 percent of us will never drive, ride in, or possibly see in the wild.
One thing is certain: the electrification of powertrains has, umm, accelerated just how fast cars can go in the modern era.
Editor's note: For true affordability, consider the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, Mazda RX-7, or Subaru WRX-STI. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/ct-history-worlds-fastest-cars-under-200000-20160825-photogallery.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/61dcf86c0b14c7bd8a4b88717041ea98bd1799f73a006d34f140d0733606881b.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Natalie Hayes"
] | 2016-08-26T13:21:02 | null | 2016-07-21T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flincolnwood%2Fnews%2Fct-lwr-purple-hotel-tif-tl-0721-20160721-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-5791128f/turbine/ct-lwr-purple-hotel-tif-tl-0721-20160721 | en | null | Lincolnwood alters TIF district to entice new Purple Hotel developers | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Lincolnwood officials voted to amend the terms of the tax increment financing district that overlays the former Purple Hotel site in an effort to attract new developers to the property after recent plans to build a multi-million dollar retail center fell through.
In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the Lincolnwood Village Board amended the Touhy-Lincoln TIF agreement to redirect future funds from residential property taxes generated by future development in the area of Lincoln and Touhy avenues from local school districts toward a financial incentive package for a future developer of the site.
No developers have stepped in to redevelop the site since Skokie-based North Capital Group defaulted on its May deadline to come up with financing for the project, known as the Shoppes at Lincoln Pointe, according to the village.
But village officials said changing the terms of the TIF would free up property tax increment generated by any residential developments built within and surrounding the boundaries of the former Purple Hotel site by redirecting those dollars from a surplus fund for the local school districts into the pockets of potential developers.
"(The Shoppes at Lincoln Pointe) is dead and is no longer being pursued," village manager Tim Wiberg said during the board meeting. "We've had many meetings with (potential new) developers for the site and they all expect to need a residential (component) and they expect that an incentive be provided to them as part of the overall development plan."
The idea behind the adjustment in the terms of the TIF, village officials said, was to incentivize developers by promising tax increments from future residential properties built on the site.
When the original TIF district was agreed upon by the village and the affected taxing bodies that lie within the boundaries of the TIF (School districts Lincolnwood 74 and Niles Township 219) in 2014, the village agreed to declare as surplus any residential development that would potentially be built at the former Purple Hotel site.
Although the original redevelopment plans for the site did not include any residential properties, the village agreed to divert any surplus dollars from future residential uses built within the TIF to School Districts 74 and 219.
"While no development plan has yet to be submitted for this site, (the village) anticipates that future development proposals will include residential uses and a request for TIF incentives to finance the project," according to a memo from the village manager's office.
If residential dwellings eventually open on the former Purple Hotel property, according to officials, the school districts won't get the full pot of surplus dollars that was promised in the original TIF agreement from 2014.
Under the revised agreement—which has received the support of both districts—the village would instead reimburse both school districts for certain costs to cover students that eventually live within Touhy-Lincoln TIF area.
"It reduces the amount that would have otherwise been taken from the TIF (and allocated to the school districts)," village attorney Steve Elrod said. "If there are no funds available in the TIF then the districts don't get paid."
Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lincolnwood/news/ct-lwr-purple-hotel-tif-tl-0721-20160721-story.html | en | 2016-07-21T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/3f84a25e3b588331f4af0892a24fd18de1245587b2ab5cd97a00f617cebdc143.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune"
] | 2016-08-27T06:48:01 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Farlington-heights%2Fsports%2Fct-bcr-week-1-football-roundup-tl-0826-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c125f4/turbine/ct-bcr-week-1-football-roundup-tl-0826-20160827 | en | null | Pioneer Press football roundup: Barrington topples Glenbrook South in opener | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Barrington used four long touchdown plays to overwhelm Glenbrook South 41-15 on Friday, Aug. 26, in Barrington.
Broncos quarterback Ray Niro ran for an 83-yard score and threw a 62-yard touchdown pass, while linebacker David Lozzio had an 82-yard interception return. Running back Logan Moews added a 61-yard scoring run for Barrington (1-0).
"We came out hard and played aggressive after a spirited three weeks of practice," Barrington coach Joe Sanchez said.
The Titans (0-1) scored twice with a running clock in the fourth quarter. — Mark Perlman
Ridgewood 37, Solorio 34: In a nail-biting finish, the Ridgewood football team earned a season-opening win against Solorio in Norridge.
The Rebels scored the game-winning touchdown on a pass play with 17 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
"They fought hard, that was a good football team we beat," first-year Ridgewood coach Don Gelsomino said.
The Rebels, who led 18-14 at half, trailed 34-24 with 11 minutes to play. Ridgewood's winning drive started on its own 33 with Solorio leading 34-30.
Penalties had an impact on the nonconference matchup.
"A couple calls just didn't turn our way," Sun Warriors coach Matt Erlenbaugh said. "We got stupid penalties, and that's on us." — Brittany Kapa
IC Catholic 34, Bishop McNamara 0: The Knights made a statement in Week 1 with a shutout against the heavily favored Irish.
Northern Illinois recruit Jordan Rowell ran for more than 200 yards to pace IC Catholic (1-0). Bishop McNamara (0-1) is the defending Class 3A state champion and beat the Knights the previous two seasons by a combined score of 90-32. — Pioneer Press staff report
Prospect 20, Hinsdale South 16: Senior quarterback Andrew Shafis' 8-yard keeper with 3 minutes, 35 seconds remaining was the clincher in Prospect's season-opening home win against Hinsdale South in Mount Prospect.
The score capped an 11-play, 69-yard drive and answered Jacob Brocato's 22-yard field goal with just under nine minutes to go that put the Hornets (0-1) ahead 16-13. Prospect kicker Jack Pruban chipped in with 35- and 45-yard field goals.
"Once we got to the third and fourth quarter, our running game was able to wear them down," Shafis said.
Prospect (1-0) won its opener for the first time since 2012. — Steve Reaven
Highland Park 40, Hersey 18: Hungering for redemption from an opening-night loss to Hersey a year ago, Highland Park jumped to a 20-0 first-quarter lead en route to defeating the Huskies at Wolters Field in Highland Park.
"Our kids were hungry," Giants coach Joe Horeni said. "It's great to be 1-0, but we need to be 1-0 next week too."
Highland Park (1-0) intercepted two passes and scored after both turnovers by Hersey (0-1). DJ Penick rushed for four scores, and David Adelstein threw two touchdown passes to Noah Spitz.
"We lost the turnover battle 2-0," Hersey coach Joe Pardun said. "If you do that, you're not going to be on top too often." — Steve Sadin
De La Salle 26, Niles North 15: The Niles North football team struggled to take care of the ball in its season opener.
Vikings senior quarterback Andrew Francis lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions in a 26-15 nonconference loss to De La Salle in Skokie.
"It starts in practice," first-year Niles North coach Mike Garoppolo said. "Working on the right skills to make sure we're successful with ball security, limiting turnovers."
Aside from his turnovers, Francis threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Five of his nine completions went to senior receiver Jordan LaBelle, who finished with 123 yards and two scores.
De La Salle (1-0) beat Niles North with a balanced attack. Junior quarterback Dorian Woods finished with 203 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and senior running back Devin Michicich added 46 yards and two scores rushing. — Jakub Rudnik
Rolling Meadows 30, St. Viator 7: A 64-yard-touchdown drive, finished by a Nick Delporte 2-yard run, was all Rolling Meadows' defense needed against Saint Viator at Forest View Stadium.
Two fumble recoveries, a pair of interceptions, a punt block returned for a touchdown and a safety helped the Mustangs (1-0) set the table for their offense and stifled any momentum the Lions (0-1) tried to create.
"You're never sure what to expect until the game starts," Rolling Meadows coach Matt Mishler said. "(The defense) was an aggressive bunch, they were sound on assignments, and our offense was able to execute what the defense gave us."
Saint Viator's first-year coach Dave Archibald said he liked the focus and heart the Lions displayed, but a few mishaps proved costly.
"We need to eliminate some of those mistakes," he said. "But we had some plays that were there, that were close. We just need to finish the plays and stay the course on assignments." — Lee Bosch | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/arlington-heights/sports/ct-bcr-week-1-football-roundup-tl-0826-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/c5131ebb2e509a7705e8791825f073973c8b7536a899cebdce31b8f7a59e4b6d.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rick Kambic"
] | 2016-08-26T13:22:12 | null | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fmundelein%2Fnews%2Fct-mun-early-beach-closure-tl-0804-20160801-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-579fa60f/turbine/ct-mun-early-beach-closure-tl-0804-20160801 | en | null | Mundelein's Diamond Lake Beach to close as school begins | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Mundelein Park District's Aug. 6 cardboard regatta fundraiser is designed to be the final hurrah at the waterfront, as Diamond Lake Beach is scheduled to close the following day.
The beach's calendar shows one last 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. day on Sunday, Aug. 7. Aquatics Supervisor Mike Gerton said 55 of his 111 lifeguards are students at Mundelein High School and will soon be returning to school.
"High schools start so early these days, and Mundelein High School in particular starts on Aug. 9, which is even earlier than others," Gerton said. "We close the beach on Aug. 7 just to keep Barefoot Bay open."
Many of the remaining lifeguards attend nearby high schools, Gerton said. School calendars show Vernon Hills High School starts on Aug. 15 while Wauconda High School starts Aug. 17.
"We're going to get a lot of questions and feedback on why we're closed when it's so nice out, but we simply don't have enough staff," Gerton said. "The beach is a great asset and I encourage everyone to get out there while you can."
Barefoot Bay Aquatic Center, located along Midlothian Road near Winchester Road, will change hours and say open from noon to 6 p.m. Aug 8 through Aug. 14, according to its calendar. After that it will be open noon to 6 p.m. on weekends only until closing on Sept. 6.
Kevin Myers, superintendent of Mundelein High School District 120, said the school starts a week earlier because of the nontraditional block scheduling. He said the school tries to finish the compact terms before the extended winter and spring breaks.
rkambic@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @Rick_Kambic | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/mundelein/news/ct-mun-early-beach-closure-tl-0804-20160801-story.html | en | 2016-08-01T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/2071998c0f5f28805864d25ea3d7fbea006ed2a3cd315d4d8fb56abb344a6a4c.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Irv Leavitt"
] | 2016-08-26T13:24:11 | null | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fnorthbrook%2Fnews%2Fct-nbs-rattlesnake-found-tl-0811-20160809-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57aa237b/turbine/ct-nbs-rattlesnake-found-tl-0811-20160809 | en | null | Carcass of non-native rattlesnake found in Northbrook park | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A rattlesnake of a species that lives in the southwestern United States turned up dead in Northbrook Sunday, but it probably didn't get there all by itself, experts say.
A western diamondback rattlesnake, an albino, was found in Wood Oaks Green Park, and turned over to authorities, according to the village of Northbrook, which warned people to watch out for possible brethren of the snake, living or dead.
That's good advice, said 49-year Chicago Herpetologist Society member Dick Buchholz.
"Kids playing with rattlesnake carcasses, if they get into the mouth, can get envenomated," he said. "Dead rattlesnakes do kill a number of people."
Buchholz, of Naperville, doesn't think a rattlesnake indigenous to Arizona and New Mexico slithered to Northbrook, or smuggled itself into a train or plane, and neither does Illinois Department of Natural Resources Herpetologist Scott Ballard, who said he identified the snake for Northbrook.
That's not just because of the unlikeliness of such a trip, but because the snake was an albino, which is relatively rare in the wild, but prized for their glowing yellow skin among collectors.
"It's definitely a 'morph,'" said Ballard, referring to a product of the practice of breeding reptiles for collectible properties, especially color.
Ballard and Buchholz both think the snake was in someone's collection. It could have gotten loose and been killed by a person or animal, or died in captivity.
Buchholz said that the snake, at 3-foot-2-inches long, is "a youngster. And these snakes aren't king of the hill. Lots of things could get them.
"Or just as likely, it died, and the owner dumped it in the garbage, and some animal dragged it out."
Ballard agreed, and said from the photo he was sent, he couldn't tell how the snake departed this mortal coil.
Ballard, the author of the Herp Code, the state law governing reptiles and amphibians, said it's possible the owner of the snake violated the law. People need a DNR permit to keep poisonous snakes, alligators or crocodiles. The owner might not have one, though Ballard said that 99 percent of Illinois venomous reptile owners do.
But allowing a rattlesnake to wind up in a public park might also be a violation of the Dead Animal Disposal Act.
"We're actively investigating, and hopefully will find the owner of it," he said. "Until we get a chance to identify the individual, there is no proof or evidence that there are more out there."
The Chicago area's only indigenous rattlesnake, according to herpetologists, is the Eastern Massassauga, and those are rare on the North Shore now.
Northbrook spokeswoman Cheryl Fayne-Depersio said anyone who sees a strange snake should leave it alone, and call the police. The herpetologists say a similar snake to the dead one is likely to flee, if it's still among the living.
"Certainly, if you see a bright yellow snake out there, don't pick it up," Ballard said.
ileavitt@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @IrvLeavitt | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/northbrook/news/ct-nbs-rattlesnake-found-tl-0811-20160809-story.html | en | 2016-08-09T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/89fa9d5a6429400f5f63a592fc3b5fbcd4a09f3ece9a6ecc6e86225629aeeb4d.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Heidi Stevens"
] | 2016-08-26T16:49:16 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Flifestyles%2Fstevens%2Fct-10-year-old-daughter-wears-makeup-balancing-0828-20160826-column.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c04932/turbine/ct-10-year-old-daughter-wears-makeup-balancing-0828-20160826 | en | null | My 10-year-old wears makeup, and I'm (mostly) fine with it | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | My 10-year-old daughter has started wearing makeup. I think it's supposed to bother me.
It's familiar — the not-bothered feeling, followed by the supposed-to-be-bothered feeling. I felt it when she was 3 and strangers stopped to tell me she was wearing two different Crocs. I felt it when she didn't brush her hair for nine months. Felt it again when she paired a striped top with a floral skirt, leopard-print leggings, athletic socks and sandals for her second-grade school photo. ("Oh, wow," my neighbor said at the time.)
The less I sweat her appearance, I figure, the less she will. Enough people in her lifetime will make their love and acceptance conditional on what she looks like; I won't.
RELATED: TRENDING LIFE & STYLE NEWS THIS HOUR
This is the opposite. Suddenly she's quite interested in her appearance, and that will be met with a different sort of raised eyebrow.
Her friends aren't allowed to wear makeup, and I get that. I understand what makeup appears to signal: girls in a hurry to grow up, girls fussing over their looks instead of enjoying their hobbies, girls trying to be sexy.
"My mom told me red lipstick is for whores," a colleague told me.
"So did mine," another colleague chimed in.
I never want to say anything that implies my daughter's values are dictated by what she wears. She's the same strong, funny, brave, beautiful human whether she's wearing red lipstick or red soccer cleats. I truly don't care what she puts on her face.
But others do. And that's what I have to get my head around.
"Girls have to understand, from a very early age, that how they present themselves sends messages," clinical psychologist Roni Cohen-Sandler told me. "How she presents herself will elicit reactions, and they may be reactions she finds very unwelcome."
I don't love this reality, but it's reality.
For now, my daughter isn't interested in wearing makeup outside the house. She experiments with various looks in front of the mirror (something she's never witnessed me doing) and washes it off before heading to her various endeavors. But the day will come, probably soon, when she'll want to venture to school or elsewhere in makeup. Then what will I do?
I'm inclined to let her. Cohen-Sandler advises otherwise.
"If she's the only one in her class wearing makeup, that sends a very strong message," she said. "It's not the same as, 'She's just being herself and doesn't care what people think.' That's a wonderful attribute if we're talking about not having brand-name sneakers. Being different in this way is going to cause her to attract attention in ways that are not serving her well."
The attention of older boys. The judgment of her teachers. Pointed remarks from her peers.
It's not the makeup itself, she said. It's what it symbolizes.
"It signals that her sensibilities are changing from a girl's to a young woman's," she said.
I would love to live in a world where that's not scandalous. Where a girl turning 11 and liking different things than she liked when she was 8 or 9 or 10 is a normal, unremarkable progression — not a red flag.
But I also know that makeup is loaded. It's a means of transforming into a slightly different version of yourself. It's look-at-me. It's war paint. So I owe it to her to take this transition seriously.
"My advice is to create a template for everything she's going to be asking to do and experience between now and the time she leaves home," Cohen-Sandler said. "Ask her, 'So what's appealing to you about this?' Discuss the pros and cons and help her set parameters. 'I'm totally OK with you experimenting at home or wearing lip gloss to a slumber party, but when you start getting into eye shadow, I don't think that's appropriate.' Or whatever you decide."
The whatever-I-decide part is tough.
"Whatever you decide, remember your relationship with your daughter should be first and foremost in these conversations," Cohen-Sandler added. "You never want to denigrate her or make her feel bad about herself for wanting to explore."
That part is a given.
hstevens@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @heidistevens13
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Caption Tour a two-story penthouse in Aqua Tower, on the market for $5.95M Aqua Tower, 225 N. Columbus Dr., No. 8004. Two-floor penthouse on the market for $5.95M Aqua Tower, 225 N. Columbus Dr., No. 8004. Two-floor penthouse on the market for $5.95M Caption Tour a two-story penthouse in Aqua Tower, on the market for $5.95M Aqua Tower, 225 N. Columbus Dr., No. 8004. Two-floor penthouse on the market for $5.95M Aqua Tower, 225 N. Columbus Dr., No. 8004. Two-floor penthouse on the market for $5.95M Caption A look at Jackson Park's Wooded Island, The Garden of the Phoenix A look at Jackson Park's Wooded Island, The Garden of the Phoenix. (Roger Morales / Chicago Tribune) A look at Jackson Park's Wooded Island, The Garden of the Phoenix. (Roger Morales / Chicago Tribune) Caption One Step Summer Camp for children with cancer At One Step Summer Camp, children with cancer are given a chance to experience a week or two of fun with other kids facing similar challenges. Read the full story. At One Step Summer Camp, children with cancer are given a chance to experience a week or two of fun with other kids facing similar challenges. Read the full story. Caption Feral cats keeping the rats away Some Chicago residents have discovered the benefits of taking in feral cats to quell the rat problem that plagues their homes and yards. April 8, 2016. (Alexis Myers / Chicago Tribune) Some Chicago residents have discovered the benefits of taking in feral cats to quell the rat problem that plagues their homes and yards. April 8, 2016. (Alexis Myers / Chicago Tribune) Caption Paul McGee shows how to make The Normans cocktail with single malt scotch Paul McGee offers variations of the normans cocktail for the perfect January drink. This variations main base is single malt scotch. (Roger Morales/Chicago Tribune) Paul McGee offers variations of the normans cocktail for the perfect January drink. This variations main base is single malt scotch. (Roger Morales/Chicago Tribune)
Aug. 26 is National Dog Day, a time to celebrate humans' best friend. Here are the top dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-10-year-old-daughter-wears-makeup-balancing-0828-20160826-column.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/b776ba0809193124448f1367c2e969977193a4fb506f6a6820ed56a48d48f0a0.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rosemary Regina Sobol"
] | 2016-08-31T02:49:09 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-police-federal-agents-fire-shots-near-joliet-shopping-mall-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c62834/turbine/ct-police-federal-agents-fire-shots-near-joliet-shopping-mall-20160830 | en | null | Officials: Federal agents shoot suspect in parking lot of Joliet shopping mall | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Drug enforcement agents shot and critically wounded a suspect in a parking lot outside Macy's at the Louis Joliet Mall Tuesday evening, according to police and fire department officials.
DEA agents were investigating near the Louis Joliet Mall, 3340 Mall Loop Dr., and shots were fired, according to Joliet police.
A man about 30, a suspect, was shot multiple times in the extremities, and taken to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in critical condition, said Joliet Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Robert DiLorenzo and Fire Capt. Victor Stachelski.
“He was the person the police were dealing with,’’ Stachelski said.
Police earlier said no citizens were hurt.
The first alarm came in at 5:30 p.m. and the fire department sent an engine and an ambulance to the parking lot outside Macy’s, according to DiLorenzo and Stachelski.
The man was shot multiple times including in the legs, but the captain believes he will survive. Fire crews left the scene at 6:42 p.m.,
No police officers were hurt and there is no danger to the public at this time, police said.
The incident remains under investigation. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-police-federal-agents-fire-shots-near-joliet-shopping-mall-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/94c6c2b4904969218838c7c30162af841fdc3858767bb5e1772adb199fe903f8.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Morgan Greene"
] | 2016-08-29T10:48:24 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fentertainment%2Ftheater%2Fnews%2Fct-lin-manuel-miranda-coming-chicago-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c40e37/turbine/ct-lin-manuel-miranda-coming-chicago | en | null | Lin-Manuel Miranda is coming to Chicago | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Lin-Manuel Miranda will offer Chicagoans a chance to be in the room where it happens, to borrow a song from his Tony-winning musical, this September as part of a one-night-only event presented by the Chicago Humanities Festival and the Chicago Tribune.
The celebrated creator and original star of "Hamilton" (and subsequent MacArthur genius-grant recipient and Pulitzer Prize winner) will appear in conversation with Tribune theater critic Chris Jones at the Lyric Opera (20 N. Wacker Drive). Jones says the evening will cover Miranda’s theatrical upbringings, the path to his first Tony winner "In the Heights," and, of course, the process of creating "Hamilton," the remixed Founding Fathers musical about Alexander Hamilton — an immigrant who went on to become the nation’s first treasury secretary.
Scenes from the Broadway mega-hit musical "Hamilton."
The event is slated for 6 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets for the evening go on sale to CHF members and Chicago Tribune subscribers at 10 a.m. Wednesday, and will be available to the general public at 10 a.m. Sept. 6. Tickets can be purchased online at chf.to/CHFMiranda. Discounts will be available for students and theater industry professionals.
The Chicago Humanities Festival’s main fall festival is Oct. 29 to Nov. 12; more information at http://chicagohumanities.org.
"Hamilton" begins performances in Chicago Sept. 27 at The PrivateBank Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St. Keep track of all "Hamilton"-related news at chicagotribune.com/Hamilton.
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Check out the latest movie reviews from Michael Phillips and the Chicago Tribune. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/news/ct-lin-manuel-miranda-coming-chicago-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/6ba14ea79851bee2603ea5834e6acd4f5483a504550fd72e06c58932b32a62ed.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Rick Kambic"
] | 2016-08-26T13:20:00 | null | 2016-08-08T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flibertyville%2Fnews%2Fct-lbr-riverside-golf-repair-costs-tl-0811-20160808-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57a8b10e/turbine/ct-lbr-riverside-golf-repair-costs-tl-0811-20160808 | en | null | Libertyville officials not optimistic about Riverside Park golf course restoration | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Some Libertyville officials are dismissing the idea of a restored Riverside Park golf course after a new estimate says work on the nine-hole course could cost up to $475,000.
Libertyville signed a 10-year lease with a private company in 2013, but public documents show the village has since reclaimed rights to the course after rent had not been paid since September 2014.
The course has not been used or maintained since mid-2014, officials have said. Libertyville's Parks and Recreation Committee in July asked for estimates associated with making the course functional again.
Connie Kowal, director of parks and recreation, gave an update during the committee's Aug. 2 meeting and said resurfacing the tees and greens and repairing bunkers could cost between $280,000 and $300,000.
Those "rough numbers" came from the golf company that built Libertyville's driving range at the sports complex, according to Kowal. He said the request was clearly identified as an investigative tool and that any actual work would be publicly bid.
"The second thing we looked at was the irrigation system," Kowal said. "We turned that baby off when we thought they were going to install AstroTurf. Time was already going against it. The pump house was antiquated back then."
Village reports say the golf course is in a Des Plaines River flood plain, which has caused much of its struggles over the years. The evicted tenant was previously planning to install costly artificial turf to prevent diseased grass and improve the recovery time after floods.
Kowal said replacing the pump station would cost about $175,000.
"So half a million should do it," said Village Trustee Rich Moras, a member of the parks committee. "I think based on all our previous discussions, I don't see a tremendous impetus to refine these numbers."
Rich Moras Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press Libertyville Village Trustee Rich Moras during an Aug. 2 parks and recreation meeting, where he later said he would not be in favor of spending up to $475,000 to restore the golf course at Riverside Park. Libertyville Village Trustee Rich Moras during an Aug. 2 parks and recreation meeting, where he later said he would not be in favor of spending up to $475,000 to restore the golf course at Riverside Park. (Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press)
Village Trustee Todd Gaines chairs the committee and was absent on Aug. 2, so Moras said he didn't want to make any final decisions.
"Personally, as only one guy with a vote, yeah it's unlikely that I'd support spending that kind of money," Moras said after the meeting. "Not everything is meant to make money or break even for that matter, but this golf course never met expectations. I think it would be a different story if we were greatly subsidizing something that a lot of people used."
After hitting a high of 13,298 played golf rounds in 2003, the course counted 5,272 rounds in 2012, according to a parks report from that time. Prices were $10 for Libertyville residents and $13 for non-residents.
Mayor Terry Weppler, who is a non-voting member of the committee, also expressed doubt in the golf course's comeback. Weppler said he's not thrilled about spending so much money on a program that loses $80,000 per year and has a declining patronage.
Moras said if the committee agrees with his assessment they will then review options for the land and investigate future recreational ideas. He said building anything on the property would be highly unlikely due to the flooding issues.
The Parks and Recreation Committee is an advisory group, Moras noted, and the full seven-person Village Board could still choose different options, including reopening the golf course, if a majority of trustees wanted.
rkambic@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @Rick_Kambic | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/libertyville/news/ct-lbr-riverside-golf-repair-costs-tl-0811-20160808-story.html | en | 2016-08-08T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/b6b4854afb32c598a219e9938cbe95998097f42648e36686f81bb39cc9070869.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Lee V. Gaines"
] | 2016-08-26T13:21:58 | null | 2016-06-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fmorton-grove%2Fnews%2Fct-mgc-morton-grove-fourth-of-july-tl-0630-20160627-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57728fa6/turbine/ct-mgc-morton-grove-fourth-of-july-tl-0630-20160627 | en | null | Morton Grove readies for Fourth of July weekend | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | The annual Fourth of July parade and following fireworks display will top off a multi-day community festival held each year over Independence Day weekend.
The parade will kick off at 2:30 p.m. July 4 at Dempster Street and Central Avenue and then proceed west on Dempster to Ferris Avenue, said the village's parade coordinator, Terri Cousar. She said a reviewing stand will be stationed in front of the American Legion Center, 6140 Dempster St., where parade performers will showcase their talents.
The parade will last between 90 minutes and two hours, Cousar said, and feature an array of civic and local organizations in addition to marching bands, clowns and other performances.
Parking will be restricted to one side of the streets along the parade route north and south of Dempster between Lehigh and Mansfield Avenues. Additional restrictions will be in place in the area surrounding Niles West High School. The restrictions take affect at noon July 4 and last until midnight, with signs to go up alerting residents about the parking bans on July 3, according to the village website.
Cousar said residents are invited to attend the annual carnival hosted in the parking lot of the village's Civic Center, which is attached to the American Legion building. The event will feature music, a beer garden, carnival rides and games in addition to a fireworks display, according to the village website. Sponsors for the festivities include the village, the Morton Grove Park District and various local individuals and business, according to the website.
More detailed information about parking restrictions along the parade route can be found on the village website.
Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/morton-grove/news/ct-mgc-morton-grove-fourth-of-july-tl-0630-20160627-story.html | en | 2016-06-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/5afe93cd738000bc2df45f0cc8bbbdce0323c9a52d994c6167794e51b9dc405d.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Amy Lavalley"
] | 2016-08-30T18:52:10 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fpost-tribune%2Fnews%2Fct-ptb-rail-filing-confirmed-st-0831-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5d2ac/turbine/ct-ptb-rail-filing-confirmed-st-0831-20160830 | en | null | Alternate route plan extension requested for proposed freight line | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Great Lakes Basin Transportation is asking federal officials to push a deadline to file an alternate route for a proposed freight train line to Sept. 20.
An attorney with GLBT filed a letter with the federal Surface Transportation Board asking for the extension Monday, the deadline for GLBT to file an alternate route to the 278-mile one that cuts through southern Lake and Porter counties as it travels from Milton, Wis., into LaPorte County.
The letter was posted to the federal agency's website Tuesday morning.
The federal agency's Office of Environmental Analysis had asked GLBT to provide an alternative route in early July, and questioned GLBT then about why it hadn't offered any alternatives or explained why other routes had been rejected.
"GLBT's engineering drawings are to be finalized the week of August 29th, and thereafter presentation maps and a narrative will be developed to accompany those materials," said attorney Kathryn Kusske Floyd, with the Washington, D.C., law firm Venable. "Based on these tasks yet to be accomplished, we ask for an extension of our response to September 20, 2016."
Officials with the federal agency are considering the requested extension, said STB spokesman Dennis Watson.
The public comment period on GLBT's proposal closed July 15 and garnered more than 3,900 responses to the STB's website, but Watson said his agency will take public comment on a draft environmental impact statement, which is expected to be completed in the coming years. Those comments can include GLBT's alternate route.
GLBT's proposal, at $8 billion in private funds, would be the largest new rail line in recent times and is meant to provide a bypass for Chicago's congested rail yard and take trucks off the road. The route will have the capacity for up to 110 trains a day.
Two of the six Class I railroads expected to be served by the freight line have publicly stated they will not participate; the remaining four appear uncommitted to the project.
Several people, including a representative with the opposition group Residents Against the Invasion of Land by Eminent Domain, or RAILED, have submitted alternate routes for consideration to the STB.
"The STB original request was for us to evaluate all submissions, ours and others as well," said Frank Patton, GLBT's founder and managing partner.
During an Aug. 5 teleconference with STB officials, the minutes of which are posted on the federal agency's website for the proposal, GLBT indicated "that it will prepare a robust narrative" on how it screened route alternatives and variations.
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-rail-filing-confirmed-st-0831-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/803b7de14403c1d0dc53a93e52ac6dcdc7effa2748dadd433300848d0a6326e1.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Natalie Hayes"
] | 2016-08-26T13:21:07 | null | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flincolnwood%2Fnews%2Fct-lwr-senior-living-land-tl-0818-20160815-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56f02a81/turbine/chi-default-open-graph-ct-logo/1200/1200x650 | en | null | Construction underway on new senior living home in Lincolnwood | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Construction has begun on a senior living home in Lincolnwood that will provide care for varying needs, including a special unit for dementia patients.
Plans for the facility, previously approved by the village board, show 380 units ranging from studios to two bedrooms, along with an in-house station for emergency medical technicians. The center, which has been described by its developers as "upscale," will serve assisted living needs and memory care patients with medical care.
Entertainment also is expected to be a main attraction of the facility, which is expected to include a bistro, an indoor pool, patios, a theater and game rooms, according to plans submitted to the village.
The July groundbreaking of the facility follows Lincolnwood board members' approval last year of zoning relief for the 13-acre site at 3400 W. Pratt Avenue, an area of town zoned for industrial business use.
Dallas-based senior living facility developer South Bay Partners, the company developing the property, also endured a months-long process to get permission to use building materials that fall short of the village's fire code.
The company, which is currently building four other similar senior homes in Texas, bought the lot for roughly $6 million from Oak Brook-based CenterPoint Properties, according to Steven Kohn, senior vice president of commercial real estate brokerage firm Colliers International.
Kohn, who brokered the sale, said the property had been on the market for 15 years following the eventual relocation of technology services company Bell and Howell, which moved its headquarters to North Carolina after operating in Lincolnwood for several decades.
"The site was on the market for a long time because the village was very specific of what they wanted there," Kohn said. "It's filling a very important need for the community because memory loss is an unbelievably trying experience for people (with family members) who have these issues."
Adam Arnold, a representative of South Bay Partners, described the so-far unnamed senior housing facility as a "very vibrant place to live," and told the village board last year that the concept of the development is focused on dining and wellness.
Plans for the building show enough housing for 500 residents, including at least 250 independent living units, 90 assisted-living spaces and 44 memory-care units.
South Bay Partners is a full-service real estate development company that specializes solely on senior housing, according to the company's web site.
The company operates senior living facilities in several states, including Park at Golf Mill in Niles, Park at Vernon Hills and eight others in Illinois, according to information from its website.
Construction on the Lincolnwood facility is expected to be completed by the spring of 2018, according to Arnold. An official groundbreaking ceremony is planned for Sept. 13, he said.
Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lincolnwood/news/ct-lwr-senior-living-land-tl-0818-20160815-story.html | en | 2016-08-15T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/55aa56eaaa906da50934ad39fc36438443c5961f9871150568649c64e82217ad.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Myrna Petlicki"
] | 2016-08-30T16:46:44 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flake-zurich%2Flifestyles%2Fct-bcr-go-hank-williams-lovesick-blues-tl-0901-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5a7aa/turbine/ct-bcr-go-hank-williams-lovesick-blues-tl-0901-20160830 | en | null | Hank Williams tribute show 'Lovesick Blues' makes debut | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Ethan Kinsella is a longtime fan of the music of the late singer and songwriter Hank Williams.
"I discovered Hank's music when I left home," Kinsella said. "I had the privilege of studying overseas for a semester and I was looking for a piece of home. When you're homesick, you look for a means of expression and Hank Williams was able to tap into that for me."
Kinsella was drawn to Williams' music because he "put everything into it: heart and soul, longing, desire."
Kinsella will share that spirit when he performs, "Lovesick Blues: Remembering Hank Williams," Sept. 8 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights.
Audience members will hear such classic Williams tunes as "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry." Kinsella's personal favorite is, "You Win Again."
"We're going to be doing some other songs by country artists from that time to show Hank's influence on other artists," Kinsella said. These include songs associated with George Jones, Patsy Klein, Ray Price and others.
Kinsella will be accompanied by Connor Ostrow on fiddle, pedal steel player Brian Wilkie and bassist Marc Edelstein, who he credits with conceiving the show. "I've played gigs before with all of them," said Kinsella, who has toured with Americana, country and bluegrass bands.
The backup musicians have appeared in Chicago productions of "Hank Williams: Lost Highway," "Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash" and "Million Dollar Quartet."
For "Lovesick Blues," Kinsella said, "I'm the front man. I'm going to lead you through the story of Hank and sing all the songs."
In preparation for the role, Kinsella read, "Your Cheatin' Heart: A Biography of Hank Williams" by Chet Flippo. "It really gives an interesting look into Hank's life," Kinsella said. "When you learn more about Hank, you learn more about the old America as we knew it in the 1940s and '50s. You relearn the history and all the struggles people went through — the post World War II time and post Great Depression."
In the case of Hank Williams, who died at the age of 29, those struggles included severe back pain, alcoholism, prescription drug abuse and marital problems. He still managed to turn out an impressive song catalogue with many hits. The Alabama native was known for forming several Drifting Cowboys bands and appearing with the Louisiana Hayride and at the Grand Ole Opry.
The Metropolis performance is the world premiere of "Lovesick Blues." Following that performance, the show moves to Ocala, Fla.
Kinsella's performing background includes playing at what he described as "the honky tonks around Chicago. One of my favorite spots is a cozy place called Friendly Tap in Berwyn. I'm there once a month. We play some good old country music."
Artists Lounge Live presents, 'Lovesick Blues: Remembering Hank Williams'
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8
Where: Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights
Tickets: $45; $50 for stage tables
Information: (847) 577-2121; www.metropolisarts.com | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-zurich/lifestyles/ct-bcr-go-hank-williams-lovesick-blues-tl-0901-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/5b599f45fd4933939341fe7497f7c90981c599fd48ed8e4e86c0b9785c223574.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Michael Osipoff"
] | 2016-08-31T04:52:14 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fpost-tribune%2Fsports%2Fct-ptb-girls-soccer-griffith-andrean-st-0831-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56f02a81/turbine/chi-default-open-graph-ct-logo/1200/1200x650 | en | null | Danielle Tazic seals deal for Andrean with two goals in win over Griffith | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Dealing with a left calf problem, Danielle Tazic didn't start the first half or the second.
But the senior standout served as the closer for Andrean in Tuesday night's Northwest Crossroads Conference game against Griffith.
She scored the last two goals, including the go-ahead penalty kick, as the 59ers edged the Panthers by a 3-2 margin.
The PK was especially sweet for Tazic, who missed hers in Andrean's Aug. 23 win against Highland after the teams played to a 1-1 tie through regulation and overtime.
Against the Panthers (2-2, 1-1), Tazic was fouled in the penalty box with 15:30 left, and she converted decisively for the 59ers (4-0, 2-0).
"We really weren't sure who was going to take it," Tazic said. "This was redemption. I had my team supporting me to take the kick, and that's what made me able to make it.
"It felt phenomenal. It was amazing."
Tazic, who was icing her calf after the game, has been having trouble with a knot, and it tightened in pregame warmups. She tried to stretch, but was a late scratch from the starting lineup.
Tazic entered nine minutes into the game and six minutes into the second half. With the outcome hanging in the balance at 2-2, Andrean coach Jeff Clapman had little doubt Tazic would take and make the penalty kick.
"She's a tremendous player, but she's calm under pressure," he said. "When situations like that arise, she's willing to step up and she can just relax."
Andrean overcame a one-goal deficit two times against Griffith.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead with 24 minutes left in the first half when Michelle Beck's shot eluded goalkeeper Kate Mulshine. But the 59ers tied the score on Tessa Wojkovich's blast three minutes later.
Griffith went ahead again seven minutes into the second half, as Megan Miller made a nifty cutback move and drove the ball into the back of the net. But the 59ers answered again, this time 2 1/2 minutes later, when Tazic collected a rebound in the penalty box and fired a shot.
"We didn't get down on ourselves at all and that definitely showed," Tazic said. "Even when they scored when we were controlling the field, we kept up.
"That's going to happen, shots are going to fall in. But the way we stayed together as a team and kept pushing, that's what mattered."
Griffith coach Glenn Maglish liked the way his team competed.
"We're playing low on numbers this year, so it's hard to keep them charged up throughout the whole game," he said. "Whenever we play a very aggressive, very fast-paced game, the kids get tired fast.
"They (the 59ers) played an excellent game, very, very aggressive — I expected that to happen. I was hoping we'd have a little more juice in our system towards the end, but that's the way it happens."
Andrean, ranked No. 6 in the Class A state coaches poll, ended an eight-game losing streak to Griffith. The 59ers, who last season won their first sectional and regional titles since 2004, hadn't beaten the Panthers since 2007.
"My coaching memory is very short term," Clapman said. "I only see what's in front of me, I don't remember what's behind me.
"They're a tough side. They beat us last year, and they had every intention of coming here and beating us again. It took a good effort top to bottom to squeak this one out."
mosipoff@post-trib.com
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/sports/ct-ptb-girls-soccer-griffith-andrean-st-0831-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/420eeb4f4bbe02d7dbe4808617ba599bf9354052037e787c5761935b398c389f.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Paul Skrbina"
] | 2016-08-27T00:48:12 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fwhitesox%2Fct-white-sox-trade-dioner-navarro-blue-jays-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0d28f/turbine/ct-white-sox-trade-dioner-navarro-blue-jays-20160826 | en | null | White Sox trade Dioner Navarro to Blue Jays, activate Alex Avila from DL | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Dioner Navarro’s eyes were trained on his phone before the White Sox’s game Friday against the Mariners.
The catcher wasn’t in the lineup and was checking text messages at his locker stall a couple of hours before the team announced he had been traded to the Blue Jays for left-handed pitcher Colton Turner.
Rookie Omar Narvaez started at catcher for the White Sox and Chris Sale on the same day the fellow catcher Alex Avila returned from the disabled list.
Navarro was batting .210 with six home runs and 32 RBIs this season. He signed as a free agent in December.
Navarro played with the 193 games with the Blue Jays during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
He has thrown out 10 of 49 base-stealers this year. Navarro remained optimistic during the White Sox’s struggles this season.
“It’s been a really high and a really low roller coaster,” he said in early July. “We just got to even it up, and it’s going to be like that, it’s going to be like that throughout the whole season. … We’re not going to win every game, but the key is to win every series, and I think in the end we’re going to be in pretty good shape.”
Seattle Mariners v Chicago White Sox Jon Durr / Getty Images Dioner Navarro hits a sacrifice fly against the Mariners to score Jose Abreu during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Dioner Navarro hits a sacrifice fly against the Mariners to score Jose Abreu during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. (Jon Durr / Getty Images) (Jon Durr / Getty Images)
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said before the news of the trade came out that the team was willing to go with three catchers once Avila returned from the disabled list.
“We’re going to have to make a move at some point,” Ventura said. “Not necessarily today, but with him being back, everything looks good. He’s healthy. At some point we’re going to have to make a move to get him back on the roster.”
Avila hasn’t played since July 5 thanks to a strained right hamstring. He returned from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte on Friday. He was 7-for-11 with a home run and three RBIs during his time with that team.
He’s batting .236 with three home runs and six RBIs in 41 games for the Sox this season. He has thrown out six of 24 base-stealers.
Turner, 25, has gone 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 54 innings of relief with three minor-league teams this season. He will report to Double-A Birmingham.
pskrbina@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @ChiTribSkrbina | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-white-sox-trade-dioner-navarro-blue-jays-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/62309f36378369cb6a512163c30cca12312ca6a2cedc76c62270c2b2afb8c48e.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Pioneer Press"
] | 2016-08-26T13:25:21 | null | 2016-07-05T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fevanston%2Fcrime%2Fct-dfr-trend-chefsnight-tl-0715-20160705-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57802155/turbine/ct-dfr-trend-chefsnight-tl-0715-20160705 | en | null | Local eateries support Center for Enriched Living | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Event: Chefs Night 2016
Benefiting: Center for Enriched Living, Riverwoods, which provides opportunities for personal growth and social enrichment for nearly 450 youth and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities
Featured: Tastings donated by nearly 30 of the area's finest food and beverage establishments
Location: Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lincolnshire
Attended: 600
Date: May 2
Raised: $580,000
Website: centerforenrichedliving.org | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/crime/ct-dfr-trend-chefsnight-tl-0715-20160705-story.html | en | 2016-07-05T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/537bdf90078e6811e30be8a2f59f3131925996a495d20fbd91459cf85ee3d802.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"John Warner"
] | 2016-08-29T20:48:52 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Flifestyles%2Fbooks%2Fct-prj-colson-whitehead-biblioracle-20160826-column.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c459d4/turbine/ct-prj-colson-whitehead-biblioracle-20160826 | en | null | Could ‘Underground Railroad’ author be the best living American novelist? | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | When it comes to books and reading and writers and readers, I steadfastly refuse to declare something the "best."
"Best" is fun and provocative and can lead to spirited debate, but for me, "best" is a lie. When we read, we conjure a relationship between the reader and the text, and the quality and experience of that relationship is as variable as humans themselves.
But as I read Colson Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad," I couldn't help but think: This is the best living American novelist. You have no doubt been hearing a lot about "The Underground Railroad" (She Who Can Get People to Read — you may know her as Oprah — anointed it), and for good reason, but rather than heap more praise on the pile, I want to explain why you should not stop with "The Underground Railroad," and need to become a Whitehead completist.
RELATED: TRENDING LIFE & STYLE NEWS THIS HOUR
I fell for Whitehead as an author with his first novel, "The Intuitionist," published in 1999 when he was just shy of 30. It's the story of Lila Mae Watson, the first black, female elevator inspector in a city that must be New York, but is never named. Watson is of the "intuitionist" school, inspectors who ride the elevators and "intuit" the state of the machine. They're locked in an internecine battle with the "empiricist" inspectors, who use tools and instruments to measure the elevator's operations.
The novel combines elements of Pynchon, Ralph Ellison, and Patricia Highsmith. It is driven by the central mystery of an elevator accident, but layers in speculative fantasy and metaphysical explorations. It is a novel of race and labor and the way these things intersect in America, and it is challenging and brilliant.
His next two books, "John Henry Days," and "Apex Hides the Hurt," both concern out-of-towners thrust into somewhat strange situations, a journalist covering a festival in honor of the last "steel drivin' man" in the former, and a "nomenclature consultant" who is asked to weigh in on a town's desire to change its name in the latter. Both books examine American myths — industrialization and progress in "John Henry Days," and commercialism in "Apex Hides the Hurt." "Apex" especially feels like a dark comedy, and brings to mind Don DeLillo.
5. “The Underground Railroad (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel” by Colson Whitehead Doubleday 5. “The Underground Railroad (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel” by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday, $26.95). 5. “The Underground Railroad (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel” by Colson Whitehead (Doubleday, $26.95). (Doubleday) (Doubleday)
In all three of his early novels, Whitehead seeks a diagnosis for what ails our society, long on promise, but empty for so many.
"Sag Harbor" is a change of pace, a coming-of-age story featuring Benji Cooper, a "black boy with a beach house," in a place surrounded by wealthy whites. It is funny and intimate in ways the early books don't quite reach. "Zone One" is a zombie apocalypse novel mashing genre and literary fiction that is maybe not always successful, but is never uninteresting.
Perhaps that's a better word than "best" for Colson Whitehead as a novelist. He's the most interesting novelist writing today. His books all share telltale Whitehead writing DNA — most notably a both sensual and precise prose style, and an intimacy with characters — but each novel is also different from the last.
The novels are not "flawless" or "exquisite" abstractions that don't seem to mean anything, anyway. Even in my favorites ("The Intuitionist," "The Underground Railroad"), there are moves I question.
The effect of reading all of his novels is to experience a deep and dedicated artist trying to work stuff out. They are novels that ask questions of the world, and rather than providing simplistic or pat answers, require us to ask questions in return.
They are conversations of the best kind, surprising, free-ranging.
Once you're done with what's been Oprah-approved, go back to the start.
John Warner's latest book is "Tough Day for the Army." Follow him on Twitter @Biblioracle.
--
The Biblioracle offers his recommendation
1. "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle
2. "A Wind in the Door" by Madeline L'Engle
3. "A Swiftly Tilting Planet" by Madeline L'Engle
4. "Many Waters" by Madeline L'Engle
5. "An Acceptable Time" by Madeline L'Engle
— Bea P., Winnetka
As classic as it is, I think a lot of readers either don't know, or have forgotten that "A Wrinkle in Time" is part of a quintet. Unfortunately, this list doesn't give me a ton to go on. Perhaps the dreamlike quality of Haruki Murakami's "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" will be a good next read.
1. "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
2. "The Girls" by Emma Cline
3. "Look at Me" by Jennifer Egan
4. "The Sweet Hereafter" by Russell Banks
5. "Post Office" by Charles Bukowski
— Paul T., Seattle
Sadness runs through each of these books. The list makes me want to offer an antidote, but perhaps instead I should lean in with "The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides.
1. "Under the Volcano" by Malcolm Lowry
2. "The Mare" by Mary Gaitskill
3. "Cold Mountain" by Charles Frazier
4. "Let Me Be Frank With You" by Richard Ford
5. "Purity" by Jonathan Franzen
— Liam M., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Interesting mix. Not necessarily a thread I can pick up, which usually means I can recommend just about anything and be safe. Several of these books are "high density," somewhat demanding reads, so I'm leaning out this time with something quick, but by no means weightless, "Winter's Bone" by Daniel Woodrell.
--
Get a reading from the Biblioracle!
Send your last five books to printersrow@chicagotribune.com. Write "Biblioracle" in the subject line. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-prj-colson-whitehead-biblioracle-20160826-column.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/15deea3b40ff01ad1074148de4ed00d05963416dd3df6cafbd2cd792e7bb5606.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Chicago Tribune Staff"
] | 2016-08-26T13:20:48 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-shots-fired-on-i-57-in-matteson-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c00606/turbine/ct-shots-fired-on-i-57-in-matteson-20160826 | en | null | Shots fired on I-57 in Matteson | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A stretch of Interstate 57 in south suburban Matteson was closed for a few hours early Friday as police investigated gunshots fired on the expressway, state police said.
About 12:10 a.m., a woman called to say her vehicle had been shot as she was on the highway, according to state police. She was not reported injured, but her car had been shot.
The northbound lanes of the interstate were shut down between Route 30 and Vollmer Road, and state police recovered at least six shell casings from the scene. No description of the shooter was immediately available.
The road was reopened as of about 4 a.m.
WGN-TV contributed. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-shots-fired-on-i-57-in-matteson-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/fd4dc2910f98e97dee8afdbfe6dd8eca5ad9b34940ee32335fb4853bbd33ec43.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Erin Gallagher"
] | 2016-08-26T13:24:29 | null | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fct-sycamore-homicides-car-found-met-20160825-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57bf52db/turbine/ct-sycamore-homicides-car-found-met-20160825 | en | null | Police find vehicle linked to Sycamore slayings near Lincoln Park Zoo | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Chicago police recovered a stolen vehicle near Lincoln Park Zoo believed to be connected to a double homicide near Sycamore in DeKalb County, officials said Thursday.
DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott called it a "significant development" in solving the slayings of Patricia Wilson, 85, and her son, Robert Wilson, 64, who were found beaten to death Aug. 15 in their rural home. The white 2010 Chevrolet Impala was taken from the home and found Wednesday. Evidence from the car was sent to the state crime lab, according to a sheriff statement.
Private donations have increased the reward to $25,000 cash for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who committed these crimes, the statement said.
The car was found legally parked on the street near the zoo, and police believe it had possibly been there for several days, Scott said.
Investigators are checking cameras in the area that might reveal information about the car, he said.
Scott praised Chicago police for doing "an excellent job" of locating the car and working with investigators to take it to DeKalb County, where it was processed through the night Wednesday.
Investigators do not know if these crimes were committed by one person or more, Scott said. Last week, he told the Tribune they were following up on about 300 leads and now says they have "probably twice that many."
Scott would not comment on what type of evidence was found in the vehicle.
The DeKalb County coroner concluded the mother and son died of blunt-force trauma. Officials are not releasing details about how they died, or where they were found in their home.
Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 815-895-3272 or email crimestoppers@dekalbcounty.org.
Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-sycamore-homicides-car-found-met-20160825-story.html | en | 2016-08-25T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/3285e21bf18541a318e8cc1f1abd05b03da3fc3dcdba89562de40eac2c926a74.json |
[
"Washington Post",
"Marissa Payne"
] | 2016-08-28T08:48:08 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fweird%2Fct-canada-hockey-goalie-beer-robbery-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c26ba8/turbine/ct-canada-hockey-goalie-beer-robbery-20160827 | en | null | The most Canada thing ever: Robber disguises himself as hockey goalie to steal beer | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | How popular is hockey in Canada? So popular, it seems, that if you're planning to break into a convenience store to steal beer, you disguise yourself as a goalie.
Besides the skates, however, there's just one piece of the uniform this beer thief forgot.
"He was wearing everything but a mask," Russell police Cpl. Brett Church told the Winnipeg Free Press this week about the incident that occurred the morning of Aug. 15.
Church said the suspect was wearing a ski mask to obscure his face, so identifying the perpetrator might be difficult. The man's gait, however, might give some clues. Church said the no-good netminder held his hockey stick "in his weak hand. . . like he's walking in a goalie stance." Thus, Church said: "He must be a goalie."
The official news release about the crime, which was released this week with the surveillance footage, begs to differ, however.
"He may have been a defenseman or forward in disguise as he was wearing jersey #17 - a non-traditional number for goalies," it said (via the CBC).
Whatever position this robber might play, his love for hockey might explain why he had an accomplice. Just as you can't win a hockey game by yourself, it turns out you also can't steal three cases of Budweiser alone either. Perhaps to save the goalie's stick, the accomplice used a rock to break the glass so that the two could enter the store around 3:30 a.m.
The crime has proven so absurd that even the store's manager isn't all that upset about what happened.
"I just laughed out loud," Jean Betke told the Free Press when she saw the surveillance video.
Russell natives, including Jon Montgomery, who won a gold medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver in the men's skeleton event, are even proud of the incident. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/weird/ct-canada-hockey-goalie-beer-robbery-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/d8063aacf537d9e00f766f4bcee216e6fb05fdfcc73e6435d67500a920d412f0.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Ruth Ann Krause"
] | 2016-08-27T02:51:09 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fpost-tribune%2Fcrime%2Fct-ptb-day-murder-trial-4-st-0827-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0fd11/turbine/ct-ptb-day-murder-trial-4-st-0827-20160826 | en | null | Jurors deliberate 2012 Hammond murder case | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A Lake Superior Court jury deliberated more than nine hours Friday in deciding the fate of an Illinois man charged with murder in a 2012 Hammond shooting.
The eight-woman, four-man jury heard evidence in the weeklong trial of Stephen Michael Day, 41, of Burnham, Ill., who was charged with killing Thomas Thompson, 54, in the driveway of his Hammond residence.
After a few hours of deliberating, jurors asked to review a videotaped statement of Day speaking with Hammond police investigators. After watching the video in the courtroom, jurors then returned to the jury room to resume deliberations.
Thompson's homicide had gone cold until a jailhouse informant came forward 2 1/2 years after his killing.
Carmine Sansone, a Lake County Jail inmate with a lengthy criminal record, told police that Day had offered to split $5,000 in "hit" money to kill Thompson. Day told Sansone that Thompson had snitched on a gang member, authorities said.
Sansone, who knew Day from attending the same high school on Chicago's East Side, said Day drove him past Thompson's house. He later pointed the house out to police investigators as the blue house with a porch that had two sets of stairs. The evening Day and Sansone went by the house, Thompson had people over who had congregated on the picnic table in the driveway.
The credibility of Sansone and Eric Matheny, another inmate who testified against Day, were key points defense attorney John Maksimovich raised with jurors during his closing argument Friday. Maksimovich noted Sansone's admitted gang membership from ages 13 to 20, and the favorable plea agreements both he and Matheny received after they contacted police about Day's case. After speaking with police, both Sansone and Matheny had their bail reduced. After they posted bond, both men were charged with new offenses, Maksimovich said.
"They're two of the worst witnesses I've ever seen. They have horrible records," Maksimovich said.
Deputy prosecutor Eric Randall argued that the testimony of two men who witnessed the shooting from a nearby back yard meshed with information provided by Sansone and Matheny, who testified that Day confided in him about the shooting while they were in the Lake County Jail.
Randall recounted the testimony of Michael Escamilla and Christopher Lorenz, who were in Escamilla's fenced-in back yard near Thompson's residence at 7105 Oakdale Ave. Escamilla had been at Thompson's earlier that evening. Both men said they heard Thompson yelling profanities for a minute or two around 11 p.m. on June 27, 2012. The yelling stopped, then resumed a couple minutes later. One of the men stood on a table while the other looked through the fence gate to see a man in silhouette reach into a jacket or hooded sweatshirt, pull out a gun and fire one shot at Thompson, who stood a few feet away. Thompson fell onto the driveway, and a second shot rang out.
Matheny testified that while they were in the jail, Day told him he'd walked up to Thompson, who became agitated and began yelling. Day got a cigarette from Thompson, walked back to his car, and then returned to the driveway to shoot Thompson, Matheny testified.
Hammond police Sgt. Boyzie Coulter, who collected and documented evidence in the case, said Thompson had a fresh pack of cigarettes with one missing among the victim's personal effects.
Randall also argued that the gun used to kill Thompson was the same weapon Day had in his possession when he was arrested after a traffic stop five months after the killing. Indiana State Police forensic firearms examiner Melissa Oberg identified the bullet recovered during Thompson's testimony as being fired from the .357-Magnum revolver.
In a March 2015 interview with Hammond police at the Cook County Sheriff's Department in Markham, Ill., Day said he'd stolen the gun on Nov. 2, 2012, from a man who was trying to shoot him with it. Day said the man had pulled the long-barreled weapon out of his boot. Day was wearing a shoulder holster during the traffic stop.
Nine minutes later in the videotaped interview, Day mentioned that the man had set the holster on the table, which he also stole. When shown a photo of the victim, Day denied knowing him or killing him.
Randall asked jurors to consider whether it was merely coincidence that Burnham police who conducted the traffic stop also found a box of .357-caliber ammunition and two live rounds on the seat and floorboard of the pickup truck.
Ruth Ann Krause is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/crime/ct-ptb-day-murder-trial-4-st-0827-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/9280aa8ddaadb08cf5f02e0381617203c8bad168c5bdd2a0f969b5fa2b02ff0d.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Nick Swedberg"
] | 2016-08-31T00:48:57 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Fdaily-southtown%2Fcrime%2Fct-sta-killing-pregnant-girlfriend-sentence-st-0831-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c61234/turbine/ct-sta-killing-pregnant-girlfriend-sentence-st-0831-20160830 | en | null | Man sentenced to life in killing of ex-girlfriend, unborn child | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Rosie Newman's sleepless nights are filled with thoughts of how excited she felt anticipating the arrival of her first grandchild, an unborn child killed along with Newman's daughter just days before the expected due date.
"My life is reduced to memories of my daughter's life, instead of being filled by the love a grandchild provides," Newman wrote in a statement read inside a Cook County courtroom on Tuesday.
Newman's daughter, Rosemary, was likely only two weeks away from giving birth to a girl when the child's father and his girlfriend worked together to strangle the pregnant teenager with a cell phone cord in April 2011, prosecutors said.
Cook County Judge Brian Flaherty sentenced the unborn child's father, Deandre Minkens, to life in prison on Tuesday in his Markham courtroom. Flaherty called Minkins one of the most evil people he's dealt with in his long career, describing the 25-year-old as cold-hearted and a deceiver.
"I'm sure his own family doesn't have any idea what he is like," Flaherty told the court.
Minkens, along with his co-defendant and on-again, off-again girlfriend Shante Thomas, was convicted in June of the first-degree murder of 18-year-old Rosemary Newman and the intentional homicide of her unborn child, who was going to be named Navaeh, or "heaven" spelled backwards, according to family.
Thomas hid in the back of a white Saturn driven by Minkens and waited for her cue, a song with the lyric "I hate you," prosecutors said. After Minkens pushed "play," Thomas sprung from under the pile of clothes that concealed her and wrapped the cord around the neck of Newman, who was sitting in the front seat of the Saturn. Her half-naked body was found face-down in the mud at a wooded forest preserve near Calumet City.
Minkens had lured Newman to the Crestwood Applebee's with the possibility that the couple might reconcile, prosecutors said.
According to prosecutors, both charges of murder and unintentional homicide would have each carried a sentence of 20-60 years in prison. But the state successfully argued that the death of the unborn child constituted a second person, and that Illinois law states a person convicted of first-degree murder when more than one person is killed will face a life sentence.
Prosecutors plan to argue that Thomas also should receive a life sentence.
On Tuesday, witnesses for the state spent much of the afternoon testifying about Minkens' history of violence, and the violent behavior he has exhibited while in custody, including head-butting and injuring a guard, and starting a fight with another prisoner.
A Georgia police officer told the court via video conference about how Minkens, who had run off to that state as a teenager and got married, violently shook a baby there. Minkens received probation in connection with a related domestic abuse conviction.
Minkens' defense attorney argued that he was capable of rehabilitation, and even though it was a heinous act, a life sentence did not fit the crime. Minkens parents, Victor and Tonya Davis, testified that he was a rebellious as a child, but wanted so badly to become a father and husband.
"If my son did anything wrong, he did too much too fast," Tonya Davis said, adding that Minkens wanted a house and children when he was "too young."
Thomas is scheduled to return to court for her sentencing hearing on Oct. 17.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/crime/ct-sta-killing-pregnant-girlfriend-sentence-st-0831-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/8487d100b71b33561dd336f00bd21f50f6a974565d421fdea7110c6f851e184f.json |
[
"Associated Press",
"Tribune News Services"
] | 2016-08-26T14:50:12 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fpolitics%2Fct-chicago-gop-trump-donors-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c03f51/turbine/ct-chicago-gop-trump-donors-20160826 | en | null | Trump sends Chicago GOP donors spinning: 'Trying to make the best of a bad situation' | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Ron Gidwitz, Dan Webb and William Kunkler are veteran Republicans — and friends — from Chicago's political money circuit. They raised buckets of cash for Mitt Romney four years ago. This time, however, their party's nominee has sent them spinning off in three directions.
Gidwitz is hosting fundraisers for Donald Trump. Webb wrote a big check for Hillary Clinton. And Kunkler won't do anything for either candidate, saying he prefers not to enable "stupid behavior."
"Everyone is trying to make the best of a bad situation," Kunkler said.
Illinois is especially ripe for this hodgepodge of political feelings. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner pretends Trump doesn't exist, Republican Sen. Mark Kirk trashes him, and the state's top GOP donors, mostly moderate business leaders, squirm at his racially charged comments.
It's also a tale in miniature of the Republican fundraising scene across the country. Many top donors boycotted or sulked their way through the national convention last month. And nearly every day, it seems, a Republican endorses Clinton, some promising financial help. In a speech Thursday denouncing Trump as a bigot, Clinton said she is "honored" to have that kind of support.
While big crossover donors like Webb are rare so far, there's evidence that many Republicans are taking the Kunkler route of sitting on the sidelines, an Associated Press analysis of Federal Election Commission filings found.
Of the nearly 25,000 people who made the maximum contribution to GOP candidates other than Trump in the primary, about three dozen have since maxed out to Clinton. Trump has picked up only about 100 donors from that same universe.
WEBB'S CONVERSION
Dan Webb Carolyn Kaster / AP Dan Webb speaks outside federal court in Washington. Dan Webb speaks outside federal court in Washington. (Carolyn Kaster / AP) (Carolyn Kaster / AP)
Webb backed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a fellow former U.S. attorney, in the primaries. Even then, though, he was open enough to Clinton to write her campaign a $2,700 check in May 2015 when one of his clients requested it.
Still, Webb planned to back the GOP nominee. He thought he'd be OK with Trump, liking the New Yorker's not-so-conservative social positions and taking note when Christie endorsed him.
Then came the nominee's Memorial Day weekend assertion that a Mexican judge's heritage made him ineligible to handle a case involving Trump. Webb started thinking — about Trump's remarks on the appearance of various women, the pronouncement that foreign Muslims should be temporarily barred from entering the country.
Webb concluded that Trump failed the "grandkids" test: Could he explain to children why he supports the GOP nominee? The answer was no.
Webb shared his views with friend Lanny Davis, a longtime Clinton backer and Washington attorney, who put him in touch with J.B. Pritzker, one of the Democrat's top Chicago financiers.
Pritzker didn't need to give him the tough sell. In mid-June, Webb wrote a $75,000 check to Priorities USA, the pro-Clinton super political action committee that can accept unlimited donations.
Now Webb is helping to organize a fall "Lawyers for Hillary" fundraiser in Chicago and trying to win over other Republicans.
"My pitch is, 'You cannot sit on the sidelines,'" he said. "It has to be country over politics. We can stand up and just support her."
Still, he's not ready to turn in his GOP card. He said he hopes Trump will prompt the party to do some soul-searching that leads to a more inclusive posture.
"Sometimes you have to fail and destroy yourself before you can rebuild," he said.
GIDWITZ GOES TRUMP
Ron Gidwitz Seth perlman / AP Ron Gidwitz speaks in Springfield, Ill. Ron Gidwitz speaks in Springfield, Ill. (Seth perlman / AP) (Seth perlman / AP)
Webb hasn't seen Ron Gidwitz in a while, but he knows what his friend is up to: Raising money for Trump.
A supporter of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the primary, Gidwitz joined Trump's fundraising team after meeting with him about two months ago. Gidwitz said he found the nominee to be "personable, persuasive and quite engaged."
He's since hosted Trump at a July fundraiser and is organizing a September event.
Gidwitz said he is approaching his fundraising duties as a realist rather than a die-hard Trump backer.
"Do I agree with everything he has said? No," Gidwitz said. "But it's not a question of how I feel; it's how the donor might feel."
His pitch: Picture Clinton in the White House. Do you want her naming Supreme Court justices? Do you want her to win in a landslide that sweeps away the Republican Senate majority?
"Those are the touchstones for me," Gidwitz said.
Despite the efforts of Gidwitz and others who have organized more than 50 fundraisers with Trump, the confused universe of large Republican donors limits how much Trump can raise to compete with Clinton.
In June and July, after the two nominees became clear, Trump landed about 1,300 contributors who hit $2,700 or more, compared to 8,000 who did so for Clinton in those two months, the latest finance reports show. Donors can give a total of $5,400 to each candidate for the primary and general.
Trump is stronger with small contributors. People giving $200 or less made up well over half of his campaign's income last month.
KUNKLER FOR NO ONE
"Ron knows not to even ask me," Gidwitz's friend Kunkler said. "I think what I've said to him is, 'I respect your choice, but I sure have a hard time understanding your choice.'"
Like Gidwitz, Kunkler was a Jeb Bush fan. But Kunkler said he's ignoring this race.
At a bipartisan immigration reform panel earlier this month, Kunkler lashed out, saying he hopes Trump and his supporters are "humiliated" on Election Day.
"That may have been a little over the top," he said afterward. But he said he's distraught that Trump has taken over his party.
"I just want us to learn," he said. "I'd rather have us lose than have someone so bad that he keeps us out of the White House for three or four cycles."
Associated Press | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-chicago-gop-trump-donors-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/32e92237d57a78fe693c38d28e544f8b643b555fa628623f0d47ea8d2b8b403a.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Clifford Ward"
] | 2016-08-30T20:49:22 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-elmhurst-cat-stabbing-0831-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5ea39/turbine/ct-elmhurst-cat-stabbing-0831-20160830 | en | null | Woman can't withdraw guilty plea in stabbing death of cat, DuPage judge rules | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A woman who pleaded guilty last month to cruelty charges in the stabbing death of her daughter's cat can't withdraw her plea, a DuPage County judge ruled Tuesday.
Kelly Palermo had entered a guilty plea on July 26, on the same day she was scheduled to stand trial on aggravated animal cruelty charges. However, earlier this month she filed to withdraw her plea, saying her court-appointed attorney "forced" her to plead guilty.
But Judge Robert Miller, after hearing some testimony Tuesday morning, said Palermo had not presented a valid reason for withdrawing her plea, and he denied her motion.
"The defendant has to clear a high hurdle, rather than simply saying she changed her mind," Miller said.
In her motion, Palermo, who is out on bond, said her attorney told her she would lose at trial, get the maximum sentence of three years in prison, and would go to jail immediately if she did not plead guilty.
But the judge said that based on testimony, Palermo's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Michael Mara, had offered Palermo competent, professional advice.
Palermo, 51, of Chicago, allegedly held the cat down while her daughter, Samantha Palermo, 22, stabbed the animal to death on June 20, 2015, at the daughter's residence in Elmhurst.
According to police, Kelly Palermo's 14-year-old son was able to wrest the cat away, but the mother regained control of the animal and her daughter stabbed it again.
Police said that Kelly Palermo had become angry with the cat, which was named Zeppelin
Miller set Sept. 12 for Kelly Palermo's sentencing, and she could face up to three years in prison. Her daughter is awaiting trial. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-elmhurst-cat-stabbing-0831-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/c8076ba6c7348e22f53f3385ca0871940a69178dc4119a56d304b9bcc318fc65.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"John Byrne"
] | 2016-08-29T20:48:58 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fpolitics%2Fct-rahm-emanuel-dwyane-wade-donald-trump-violence-met-0830-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c48bd7/turbine/ct-rahm-emanuel-dwyane-wade-donald-trump-violence-met-0830-20160829 | en | null | Emanuel responds to Wade cousin shooting, says Trump 'not interested in Chicago' | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Another violent Chicago weekend led to another Monday where Mayor Rahm Emanuel had to account for the bloodshed, but this time with the backdrop of a brighter-than-usual national spotlight with NBA star Dwyane Wade's cousin among the victims and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump weighing in.
Following a weekend during which 67 people were shot and 11 of them died, Emanuel turned to well-established talking points about the need for tougher gun laws when discussing the killing of Wade's cousin, Nykea Aldridge. She was fatally shot Friday afternoon while pushing a baby stroller on the way to register her children for school in the Washington Park neighborhood. Two brothers with multiple arrests in their backgrounds have been held without bond on first-degree murder charges.
"We keep coming upon the same facts: repeat gun offenders who continually run in and out of the criminal justice system with no consequences, who are back on the streets wreaking havoc," Emanuel said Monday at an early childhood education event on the Northwest Side. "Now I would like to say, you have a mother who's trying to enroll her children at school. The family and those kids have rights too. The law has to change."
Trump tweeted about the shooting the morning after Aldridge's death: "Dwyane Wade's cousin was just shot and killed walking her baby in Chicago. Just what I have been saying. African-Americans will VOTE TRUMP!" Later, Trump tweeted his condolences to the Wade family.
Emanuel initially tried to brush off Trump's comments. "I'm looking for solutions, not trying to play it in an election game," he said.
But then the mayor added: "He's got an election, he's not interested in Chicago."
Crime increasingly has become a challenge in Emanuel's second term. This August is the most violent month in Chicago in 20 years — the 84 homicides are the most in a month since October 1996.
The city's public safety problems often become the focus when Emanuel is out in public on Mondays. The mayor is asked about the weekend's death toll, as well as his continuing attempts to restore the public's trust in the Police Department that was badly shaken by the release of video last November showing an officer fatally shooting teenager Laquan McDonald.
A midday prayer service was held for Nykea Aldridge on Aug. 28, 2016, at New Creation Church in Chicago. Aldridge, 32, was pushing a baby stroller in the 6300 block of South Calumet Avenue on Friday when she was shot in the head and arm. The mother of four was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune) (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
That trust deficit was at the forefront again Monday, after Chicago rapper Che "Rhymefest" Smith posted a video showing his interactions with police when he tried to report to them that he had been robbed at gunpoint.
The Grammy-winning rapper, who co-wrote Kanye West's breakout hit "Jesus Walks" and ran unsuccessfully for 20th Ward alderman in 2011, said on Twitter that he was treated "disgustingly" by police when he went in to the Grand Crossing District station Saturday to tell them about the robbery.
The video shows the exchange between the musician and police was tense; at one point, at least two officers ask him to stop filming inside the station.
On Monday, Emanuel said an officer would be disciplined in response to Smith's encounter.
"Had that officer acted appropriately, we'd be dealing right now with who did the mugging, which is what we should be doing," he said. "And (Smith's) relationship with the police, his feelings about the police would be different."
jebyrne@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @_johnbyrne | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-dwyane-wade-donald-trump-violence-met-0830-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/d1b7b57761be3d3546c04d3cee96b3ad3df04641f9d398b86525ed2f99934050.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Tony Briscoe",
"John Keilman"
] | 2016-08-26T13:20:19 | null | 2016-07-20T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fbreaking%2Fct-water-polo-sex-assault-espn-met-20160718-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-578e1b3f/turbine/ct-water-polo-sex-assault-espn-met-20160718 | en | null | Ex-high school water polo player: I was sexually assaulted during game | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A female college student who competed on a boys water polo team at a Chicago-area high school said in a nationally televised interview that she was sexually assaulted by an opposing player during a game last year.
In an interview with ESPN that aired over the weekend, Rebecca Dabrowski said a player from Libertyville High School assaulted her under the water while she was playing for McHenry West High School.
Dabrowski reported the alleged assault two days later to authorities in Buffalo Grove, where the match took place. Police investigated but declined to press charges after being "unable to determine if (the male player's) actions were intentional or if contact was accidental," according to a police report.
Dabrowski, on the sports network's "Outside the Lines" program, said a player who was guarding her during a game on May 14, 2015, "ripped my suit over and was touching me underneath the water. She described how the player held her bathing suit with one hand while touching her genitals with the other.
Dabrowski, now a student at Monmouth College, said she let out a yelp but continued playing, though she then fouled the player in question and served a time out. Footage said to be from the match appears to show Dabrowski later crying at the edge of the pool, and she said she told a coach that a player had touched her.
"I was angry because I couldn't think anyone could do that," Dabrowski said on the show. "He has a mom. He probably has a sister. ... How could he even try to do something like that?"
A man who identified himself as the father of the accused Libertyville player called the allegations against his son "frivolous at best."
"Police investigated and closed the case, so we view this as a closed matter. It was unsupportable at the time," he said.
The police investigation began two days after the game, when Dabrowski and her parents went to Buffalo Grove authorities and reported the allegations that the male player had reached into her bathing suit and touched her genitals and buttocks. According to the police report, released Tuesday, the victim "advised that no penetration took place." On the ESPN segment, she said the player penetrated her with his fingers.
The report indicates that Dabrowski reported the accusations to a coach almost immediately. Coaches from both teams spoke at halftime and the Libertyville coach, Ivan Munoz, benched the player for the remainder of the game.
The accused athlete later told police repeatedly during an interview that he did not recall any inappropriate contact with the female player and that, if any contact was made, it was accidental, according to the police report.
Munoz could not be reached for comment; he resigned at the end of the season for "unrelated reasons," according to a school spokeswoman.
An assistant coach for McHenry who was present at the game, Natalie Schawel, told the Tribune that opposing players sometimes appeared to be extra rough with Dabrowski, who was one of the rare girls playing on a boys water polo team.
But the physicality was always within the bounds of the rules, she said, and Dabrowski had never before complained about inappropriate touching during her years with the team.
"That was crossing the line," said Schawel, now teaching at Lake Forest Academy. "There's no doubt in my mind that crossed the line. I coached for four years, and there's no need for that to happen in a game."
Dabrowski has filed a complaint alleging violation of the Title IX law — the federal law that prohibits discrimination in schools based on one's sex —with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed it opened investigations of McHenry High School District 156; Community High School District 128, which includes Libertyville High School; and the Illinois High School Association in November 2015.
District 128 released a statement Tuesday saying it deferred its own investigaton into the matter until the police investigation was completed. By that time, it was mid-June, and the accused student had graduated and the district "no longer had jurisdiction over the student," the statement said.
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said the IHSA's role in the investigation was limited because it was handled by police.
"Despite our limited role, we feel confident that we handled things appropriately, and will await the results of the Title IX review to know what and how we could improve our response should an incident like this ever occur again in the future," Anderson said in a statement released Tuesday. "We have and will continue to comply with all requests related to the Title IX review."
On Monday, McHenry High School District 156 posted a statement on its website:
"In response to the story that aired on ESPN involving a McHenry graduate, we want to assure our community that the needs, safety and well being of our students and staff members is always our top priority. We investigate all allegations of misconduct and harassment in conjunction with law enforcement, other school districts, and all interested parties as appropriate."
The statement continued, "Becca Dabrowski ... made many positive contributions to our school community and athletic program. We stand with Becca and her family in support and wish her very best in all her future endeavors."
District 156 Athletic Director Barry Burmeister referred to the district's statement and did not respond to additional questions about the alleged incident or the Title IX complaint. McHenry West Principal Marsha Potthoff said Tuesday the district wouldn't be making additional comments beyond the statement.
According to the ESPN segment, Dabrowski was distraught over the alleged assault and started seeing a therapist. She said she became self-conscious about talking to males, even her father. She didn't want to go out and was self-conscious about how she dressed.
"It destroyed me because he was going to get away with it," Dabrowski told ESPN. "He wasn't going to learn his lesson. All I wanted was for him to go to counseling. I just want to make sure this wasn't going to happen to another woman."
A man who identified himself as Dabrowski's father said over the phone that the last few days had been a "hard time" for the family and that his daughter did not wish to comment immediately.
In the days before the "Outside the Lines" segment aired, several posts on what appears to be Dabrowski's Facebook page indicated she wanted to share her story to shed light on the issue. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-water-polo-sex-assault-espn-met-20160718-story.html | en | 2016-07-20T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/0d160ca23d5076d101b46b3148967525f544c05f07339bce183dcb0aad61e338.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Travis M. Andrews"
] | 2016-08-30T12:48:58 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fct-brock-turner-stanford-sex-assault-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c565c2/turbine/ct-brock-turner-stanford-sex-assault-20160830 | en | null | Brock Turner set to leave jail Friday after serving 3 months for sex assault | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | On Friday, Brock Turner, the Stanford swimmer who was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious classmate when he was 20 years old, is scheduled to be released from jail.
On that day, he'll have spent three months in a cell - only half of his already controversial 6-month sentence.
This isn't a surprise. Ever since Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky sentenced him, Turner was likely to spend three months in jail on the assumption of good behavior. Nor is it unusual, according to the Associated Press - Santa Clara County jail inmates serve half of their sentence if they maintain a clean disciplinary record.
At the time, the sentence requiring Turner to register as a sex offender and spend six months in jail caused outrage and led to heated national debate.
Some came to his defense, such as veteran judge Robert Foley who, recalling Persky's time as an attorney, called him "one of the best lawyers who ever appeared in my court."
Others, though, felt like the sentence was lenient and showed bias. In a statement, California assembly member Susan Eggman called the decision "baffling and repugnant."
Even Vice President Joe Biden addressed the sentence in an open letter to the rape victim which was posted on BuzzFeed, in which he wrote, "while the justice system has spoken in your particular case, the nation is not satisfied."
One reason Persky gave for the lenient sentence was that "a prison sentence would have a severe impact on [Turner]."
In the almost 90 days that Turner has spent in jail, his case has mostly receded from national headlines, but the legal and political aftermath continues.
Stanford law professor Michele Dauber certainly hasn't forgotten about it. She is the committee chair for Recall Judge Aaron Perksy, a campaign committee aimed at gathering enough signatures - around 80,000 - to have a recall vote that would remove him from the bench.
Dauber told The Washington Post that she, and the committee, believe Persky's sentencing was infected by bias in favor of white or privileged young men, which she called a "long standing pattern."
On Friday, as Turner is released, the "Recall Judge Aaron Perksy" campaign will hold a rally at 10 a.m. in front of the Santa Clara Hall of Justice, which is next door to the jail where Turner is held. At the rally, several rape victims along with Democratic California Reps. Jerry McNerney and Eric Swalwell along with other politicians will speak alongside Dauber.
Their goal, according to Dauber: "bringing forth the judge's records and publicizing it to voters" in preparation to gather signatures.
Dauber said Perksy's biased sentencing has a long history that she hopes voters will learn about.
"I think he clearly does not understand violence against women and sex crimes as serious crimes. He treats them like misdemeanors," Dauber said.
"He seems to have a particular area of bias for collegiate athletes. I think the way this bias operates is he sees these offenders as promising kids who got drunk and made a terrible mistake, rather than as serious felony offenders who are dangerous."
She said Turner is far from the only example, pointing to a 2015 case involving 21-year-old Ikaika Gunderson that in her opinion "might be worse."
In Feb. 2015, Gunderson confessed to police that he had choked and beat his ex-girlfriend. Three months later, he pleaded no contest to a felony count of domestic violence, which meant he faced up to four years in jail, BuzzFeed reported.
Normally, sentencing occurs within a month or two of the pleading, but Judge Persky delayed the sentencing for more than a year so Gunderson could attend the University of Hawaii, where he had planned to play football. He also said he would reduce the felony charge to a misdemeanor if Gunderson attended weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and completed a year-long domestic violence program.
In October - by which point, Gunderson had dropped out of the University of Hawaii, stopped attending AA meetings and wasn't participating in the domestic violence program - the young man was arrested again for domestic violence, this time in Washington state.
"There are so many problems with how this case was handled that I'm not even sure where to start," retired Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell told BuzzFeed. "The system is set up so that if someone has admitted a violent offense and is now a convicted felon, they should be closely monitored. You don't just cross your fingers and hope everything is going to be fine. That's not how the courts are supposed to work."
The BuzzFeed story appeared on Friday, Aug. 26.
Persky, meanwhile, has given up presiding over criminal cases.
On Thursday, the Santa Clara Superior Court released a statement that announced Judge Persky's voluntary reassignment to the civil division. "While I firmly believe in Judge Persky's ability to serve in his current assignment," presiding Judge Rise Jones Pichon said in a statement, "he has requested to be assigned to the civil division, in which he previously served. Judge Persky believes the change will aid the public and the court by reducing the distractions that threaten to interfere with his ability to effectively discharge the duties of his current criminal assignment."
The reassignment will go into effect on Sept. 6.
It is unclear if BuzzFeed reached out to Persky for its story, or if he was otherwise aware of the piece before it was published and whether it played a role in his reassignment.
Meanwhile, on Monday, a bill proposing mandatory minimum sentences for all instances of sexual assault - which was inspired by the Turner case, according to the Los Angeles Times - has unanimously passed the state assembly. It is now Gov. Jerry Brown's decision whether to sign it into law.
"I think we need to make a clear statement to say this [sentencing] is unacceptable," Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Campbell, one of the bill's authors, told the newspaper earlier this month.
Currently, anyone convicted of rape while using additional physical force must serve jail time, while the sentencing of those convicted of raping an unconscious person or one too intoxicated to give consent is left to the discretion of the judge.
"Simply put, the definition of forcible rape - whether they're unconscious or intoxicated versus being conscious - is absurd," Low said.
"If we let a rapist off with probation and little jail time, we re-victimize the victim, we dissuade other victims from coming forward and we send a message that sexual assault of an incapacitated victim is just no big deal," Assemblyman Bill Dodd, D-Napa, a co-author of the measure, said, according to the Times. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-brock-turner-stanford-sex-assault-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/594489dbb1d9147a2948b91fe47b57057d6c290523521983388455c87f879afb.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Gloria Casas"
] | 2016-08-31T02:49:13 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Felgin-courier-news%2Fnews%2Fct-ecn-kane-longmeadow-parkway-hearing-st-0831-20160830-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c6275f/turbine/ct-ecn-kane-longmeadow-parkway-hearing-st-0831-20160830 | en | null | Longmeadow Parkway Bridge hearing draws crowd, opposition | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Algonquin resident Lindsay Williams held up her smart phone with a map showing her house and the route Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor will take.
"My backyard is Longmeadow Parkway highway," Williams said.
She was among dozens of people who attended an open house and public hearing Tuesday on the proposed $115 million roadway and bridge project.
The Kane County Department of Transportation recently completed an Environmental Assessment reevaluation required by the Federal Highway Administration. Portions of the transportation department's original Environmental Assessment were outdated so a reevaluation was required. The reevaluation is available at www.co.kane.il.us/dot.
Tuesday's public hearing, held at the Holiday Inn Chicago on Airport Road in Elgin, featured aerial photos of the entire 5.6 miles of the project. Williams and her neighbor, Dave Bockman, examined the photos, looking for their homes.
Williams said the aerial photo did not show two schools, Westfield Community School on Sleepy Hollow Road in Algonquin and Liberty Elementary School on Miller Road in Carpentersville. Neighborhood children will have to cross Longmeadow Parkway to go to school, she said. It is a factor that has not been mentioned in any of the data the county has presented about the roadway, she said.
Longmeadow Parkway Bridge hearing draws crowd, opposition Gloria Casas / The Courier-News Jack Bavaro, of Citizens against Longmeadow Parkway & Toll, holds up a poster with information countering data presented by the Kane County Department of Transportation and its consultants at a public hearing Tuesday evening. Jack Bavaro, of Citizens against Longmeadow Parkway & Toll, holds up a poster with information countering data presented by the Kane County Department of Transportation and its consultants at a public hearing Tuesday evening. (Gloria Casas / The Courier-News) (Gloria Casas / The Courier-News)
Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor is a 5.6 mile roadway from Huntley and Boyer Roads to Algonquin Road with a bridge spanning the Fox River. The bridge would be a toll, either 50 cents or 75 cents, to help finance the project and would be eliminated when the debt is paid, according to officials.
The corridor is funded by $14.5 million in federal dollars, $39.4 million in state funding and about $61.1 million in county funds, officials said. Kane County Department of Transportation has invested $31.1 million and hopes to fund $30 with a bond issue, officials said.
Longmeadow Parkway has organized groups who oppose the project, including Stop Longmeadow, which had a tent outside the Elgin hotel providing additional information.
"We are informing the public," said Laura Brehmer, with Stop Longmeadow. "The public should hear all the information not just what one agency says."
At an open house prior to the public hearing, Kane County Department of Transportation officials presented a video providing information that has been available for years and updating other information.
Benefits of the corridor are signalized intersection improvements at Huntley and Boyer roads, Randall Road, Sleepy Hollow Road, Route 31, Bolz Road, Route 25 and Route 62, according to documents displayed at the public hearing. It will also help traffic congestion all along the route, officials have said.
Another benefit is the addition of 17.13 acres of wetlands created to mitigate wetland impacts and 11,530 high quality native trees will be planted to replace those being cut down. Officials said it is equal to two trees being planted for every one being cut down.
"Kane County says just because they post information on the web, it is fact. It is not. There is another side to the story," said Jack Bavaro, who works with Citizens Against Longmeadow Parkway & Toll.
"We feel they are completely ignoring us," he said.
A display featuring how traffic would be minimally impacted by Longmeadow Parkway surprised people who stopped by the tent, Brehmer said. Kane County Department of Transportation's updated Environmental Assessment section on traffic did not list the Route 31 bypass in Algonquin, known as the western bypass, nor did it mention the expansion of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, she said. Both projects help with traffic congestion and skews the transportation department's data, she said.
The open house was followed by the public hearing where residents, taxpayers and others gave statements to a court reporter to forward to the Federal Highway Administration as it considers giving the county permits for the next phase of the project.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-kane-longmeadow-parkway-hearing-st-0831-20160830-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/61c62b1bdb9458b6feb111fdedb50335ac085199cd392619b0a133a463981609.json |
[
"Washington Post",
"Mark Berman"
] | 2016-08-27T00:48:07 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fct-ruling-unc-north-carolina-bathroom-bill-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0c763/turbine/ct-ruling-unc-north-carolina-bathroom-bill-20160826 | en | null | Federal judge says UNC can't enforce restroom restrictions in state's 'bathroom bill' | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | A federal judge ruled Friday that the University of North Carolina system cannot enforce the part of the state's so-called "bathroom bill" that deals with which restrooms transgender people use, a controversial provision that prompted the Justice Department to sue the state.
Until a final decision is reached in the case, the schools -- which have said they are caught between conflicting state and federal mandates -- cannot enforce the language requiring the bathrooms, showers and other facilities people use must match the gender on their birth certificates, District Judge Thomas Schroeder wrote in an 83-page order issued Friday afternoon.
Schroeder said the plaintiffs, a group that includes the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina and transgender students and an employee of UNC, "are likely to succeed on their claim" that the bathroom provision violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination in education programs that get federal funding.
As a result, the order bars the school system from enforcing the bathroom provisions against the three individual transgender people that are part of the case.
Ultimately, Schroeder said that he had "no reason to believe that an injunction returning to the state of affairs as it existed before" the law was passed "would pose a privacy or safety risk for North Carolinians, transgender or otherwise."
He also wrote that they did not make "a clear showing" that they would succeed on their claim that the law violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process. As a result, Schroeder said he would hold off on ruling on their due process arguments at the moment.
The University of North Carolina did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
North Carolina's "bathroom bill" sparked an intense controversy this year, prompting boycotts and causing businesses like PayPal and Deutsche Bank to abandon plans to expand there.
Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican up for reelection, has defended the bill as a necessary protection and said it provided "common sense gender-specific restroom and locker facilities in government buildings and in our schools."
McCroy and Phil Berger, the Republican president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate, both of whom are listed on the case involving the University of North Carolina, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.
The Washington Post's Robert Barnes contributed to this report. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-ruling-unc-north-carolina-bathroom-bill-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/2fbdf44c1a104f13dccc8a317820abae8000914cf38559d42175dd44bf6972bb.json |
[
"Los Angeles Times",
"William Yardley"
] | 2016-08-28T06:48:09 | null | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fla-na-sej-north-dakota-pipeline-20160827-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c2624d/turbine/la-na-sej-north-dakota-pipeline-20160827 | en | null | With echoes of Wounded Knee, tribes mount prairie occupation to block North Dakota pipeline | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Long before Lewis and Clark paddled by, Native Americans built homes here at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers, using the thick earth to guard against brutal winters and hard summer heat. They were called the Mandan people.
Now, Native Americans are living here again. They sleep in teepees and nylon tents. They ride horses and drive quad cabs. They string banners between trees and, when they can get a signal, they post messages with hashtags such as #ReZpectOurWater, #NoDakotaAccess and #NODAPL. For weeks, they have been arriving from the scattered patches of the United States where the government put their ancestors to protest what they say is one indignity too many in a history that has included extermination and exploitation.
It is called the Dakota Access oil pipeline and it could carry more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil a day from the Bakken region of western North Dakota across South Dakota and Iowa to connect with an existing pipeline in Illinois.
Native Americans protest the Dakota Access oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in southern North Dakota James MacPherson Native Americans protest the Dakota Access oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in southern North Dakota Native Americans protest the Dakota Access oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in southern North Dakota (James MacPherson)
The 1,100-mile pipeline, which is estimated to cost $3.7 billion, is nearly halfway complete. But construction on a section that would sink beneath the Missouri River, just north of the reservation of the Standing Rock Sioux, has been halted under orders from the sheriff of Morton County, Kyle Kirchmeier. He said protesters, nearly 30 of whom have been arrested in recent weeks, were creating safety issues.
Yet the protesters say they are creating something very different – new resistance against what they say is a seemingly endless number of pipelines, export terminals and rail lines that would transport fossil fuels across or near tribal reservations, risking pollution to air, water and land.
“Every time there’s a project of this magnitude, so the nation can benefit, there’s a cost,” Dave Archambault, the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux, who was among those arrested, said in an interview. “That cost is born by tribal nations.”
Archambault and other native leaders have been caught off guard by the support they have received. What began with a handful of natives establishing a prayer camp along the river this spring has now drawn international environmental groups and prompted Hollywood celebrities, including Susan Sarandon and Shailene Woodley, to join them, whether here or in a protest last week in Washington, D.C., or on social media.
“Inspired by the Standing Rock Sioux’s efforts to halt the Dakota Access Pipeline,” Leonardo DiCaprio posted on Twitter this week.
Tech Big Crow, 18, cares for Blue, one of the horses he and others have brought to the protest site, at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers. William Yardley/LA Times Tech Big Crow, 18, cares for Blue, one of the horses he and others have brought to the protest site, at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers. Tech Big Crow, 18, cares for Blue, one of the horses he and others have brought to the protest site, at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers. (William Yardley/LA Times)
Lawyers from Earthjustice are representing the Standing Rock Sioux in a legal effort to stop construction of the pipeline. They claim that the Army Corps of Engineers violated the National Historic Preservation Act when it approved the project and that a more stringent environmental review should be done. They say the pipeline and its construction would damage ancestral sites of the Standing Rock Sioux and put the tribe’s water supply at risk.
On Thursday, nearly three dozen environmental groups wrote to President Obama, who visited the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in 2014 with Michelle Obama, saying the Corps approved the project using a fast-track process, known as permit 12, that was inadequate given its size and the many sensitive areas it would cross.
The Corps of Engineers argued in court in Washington this week that the Standing Rock Sioux and other parties had ample time to express concerns during a review process and that the pipeline was properly approved. Energy Transfer Partners, the Texas company building it, says the pipeline will increase the nation’s energy independence and that it is a safer means of transport than rail.
The judge over seeing the case, James A. Boasberg of United States District Court, said this week that he will rule no later than Sept. 9 on a request by the Standing Rock Sioux to stop construction and reconsider permits the project has received.
The pipeline has met resistance elsewhere along its route, including from farmers in Iowa concerned about soil damage and property owners whose land is being taken by eminent domain. But nothing compares to what has taken hold here between the rivers.
Nantinki Young, who goes by Tink, is a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe from South Dakota; she runs the cook shack here. Winona, who did not give her last name, is Penobscot. She left Maine on Monday and drove 2,100 miles to put together a recycling program for the hundreds of new residents of the protest camp.
And then there is Clyde Bellecourt. He is Ojibwe. He came from Minnesota, but may be better associated with Wounded Knee, S.D. Not the massacre in 1890, but the standoff in 1973, when the group he helped found, the American Indian Movement, suddenly became a household name, the image of Indian activism.
Clyde Bellecourt, 80, who helped found the American Indian Movement in the 1960s, said he sees “fresh energy” among younger Native Americans fighting to stop the Dakota Access pipeline. William Yardley/LA Times Clyde Bellecourt, 80, who helped found the American Indian Movement in the 1960s, said he sees “fresh energy” among younger Native Americans fighting to stop the Dakota Access pipeline. Clyde Bellecourt, 80, who helped found the American Indian Movement in the 1960s, said he sees “fresh energy” among younger Native Americans fighting to stop the Dakota Access pipeline. (William Yardley/LA Times)
He is 80 now. Sitting in a folding chair not far from the Buick where he keeps copies of a flyer promoting his new memoir, he likes what he sees.
“My life is almost over, but there’s fresh energy here,” he said. “Save the children – that’s what this is all about.”
Protesters have vowed to stay at least until Judge Boasberg rules and potentially much longer. Monitors from Amnesty International have arrived. An employee of the federal Indian Health Service established a first aid tent. Vans carpooled people to showers.
Members of the Standing Rock Sioux formed Spirit Resistance Radio, at 87.9 FM, to broadcast updates. An Art Market opened to sell handmade crafts. There was talk, lighthearted for now, about establishing a school that would teach children at the camp site in native languages.
The Morton County Sheriff’s office has blocked one of the main routes to the camp from Bismarck, the state capital, forcing some protesters to drive a lengthier route to the site. Law enforcement is planning to escort school buses that travel through the area, though protesters say they want nothing but peace and prayers.
People have been practicing nonviolent direct action tactics, preparing to try to stop construction should it start again. A lawyer from Colorado working pro bono asked protesters to fill out forms “if you think that you have a clean record and you want to be arrestable.”
Jasilyn Charger, 20, is among a group of young natives who ran together from North Dakota to Washington to protest the pipeline. She remembers the early days of the protest, when just a handful of people prayed by the river.
“When we started this, people thought we were crazy,” she said. “But look at where we are today.” | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-sej-north-dakota-pipeline-20160827-story.html | en | 2016-08-27T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/9d239852ed2e2fa0a11f5b47431250e7e0d8ef982a4354002b63ccdc2b674c92.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Colleen Kane"
] | 2016-08-30T06:48:45 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Fwhitesox%2Fct-white-sox-tigers-al-central-spt-0830-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c50486/turbine/ct-white-sox-tigers-al-central-spt-0830-20160829 | en | null | White Sox's AL Central problems continue as they fall late to Tigers | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Tyler Saladino provided a spark for the White Sox, but Tigers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia snuffed it out to hand the Sox yet another division loss.
The Sox took an early lead on Saladino's two-run single in the fourth and solo home run in the seventh before the Tigers surged back for a 4-3 victory Monday night at Comerica Park. Saltalamacchia's two-run homer to right in the eighth off reliever Nate Jones gave the Sox their 27th loss in their last 38 games against American League Central opponents.
Jones walked J.D. Martinez to open the inning before Saltalamacchia hit out a 97 mph fastball that was supposed to be down and away but ran over the middle of the plate.
Photos from the game on Aug. 29, 2016, at Comerica Park.
"Any time you get that reversal right there late in the game, it's always tough," manager Robin Ventura said. "Nate has been as consistent as anybody. It's a tough one, especially when you know he has his stuff. You tip your cap to them, really. Salty has gotten us a couple times late."
The Sox had won six of eight before Monday's series opener, but those were against teams outside of their division — the A's, Phillies and Mariners.
The Sox's inability to win in the AL Central has been a major issue, so an upcoming stretch of 21 straight division games presents a significant challenge, especially considering the Indians, Tigers and Royals are locked in the playoff hunt. The Tigers moved within one game of the second wild-card spot with the win.
"Usually when you have aspirations to get in the playoffs, your No. 1 priority is always taking care of the teams in your division," Sox catcher Alex Avila said. "That's the best way to go about it, and we haven't really done that too well this year."
The Sox needed struggling right-hander James Shields to regain form after he went 0-4 with a 13.95 ERA over his first five August starts.
Shields gave the Sox a shot, giving up two earned runs on six hits in six innings with three walks and six strikeouts.
The Tigers scored on Miguel Cabrera's sacrifice fly in the third, but Shields otherwise danced in and out of trouble to keep the Sox in it.
After his pickoff throw to second sailed into center field to allow Martinez to advance to third in the fourth, Shields stranded him. With the bases loaded and a full count in the fifth, Shields got Martinez to swing at a curveball for strike three.
But Shields couldn't halt the recent home-run surge against him, and Justin Upton's solo homer to open the sixth briefly tied the score at 2-2. It was the 12th homer he has allowed in his last five starts.
"As the game went on, I got a little more comfortable and made some pitches when I needed to," Shields said. "I was really happy with the way I was throwing (my curveball) for strikes, getting ahead of hitters right away, throwing it early in the count for strikes.
"It's a good team over there. You have to bear down in those situations."
The Sox left nine on base and went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Todd Frazier left runners on third in the fifth and seventh.
"It was a game with opportunities we didn't cash in on," Ventura said.
ckane@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @ChiTribKane | http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-white-sox-tigers-al-central-spt-0830-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/985dd5d6363a26bed740200394bfa5c78c21512fafacc2adfcedc3d9e760bc13.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Emily K. Coleman"
] | 2016-08-27T14:51:25 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fsuburbs%2Flake-county-news-sun%2Fnews%2Fct-lns-lake-county-coroner-objection-st-0826-20160826-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0ece7/turbine/ct-lns-lake-county-coroner-objection-st-0826-20160826 | en | null | Objectors to Lake County coroner's candidacy ask Illinois Supreme Court not to take case | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd's name not appearing on the November ballot is a situation of his own making, the Democratic candidate for the job argued in an objection filed with the Illinois Supreme Court.
The objection was filed Thursday in response to an emergency motion Rudd filed Tuesday requesting that the state's high court step in and hear his ballot-eligibility case now, before an appellate court has made a decision. There is a looming Sept. 1 deadline to certify and print the ballots.
Rudd, of Lake Forest, initially attempted to run as a Democrat, but he withdrew from the primary in December after a petition controversy. He filed to run as an independent June 27.
Rudd has argued the law denied him the ability to disaffiliate from a political party and treated independent candidates different than other parties. Rudd had argued that while state law is clear that someone who lost in the primary cannot run as an independent or for another party in the general election, it does not specifically address a candidate who voluntarily withdrew before the primary election.
Both a Lake County judge and the local electoral board found Rudd ineligible to appear on the ballot this fall because of a 2012 statute that prohibits candidates from running as an independent or for another party after already filing with one party, though neither entity looked at Rudd's arguments that the law violated his First Amendment and 14th Amendment rights.
No appellate court has ruled on those constitutional questions either, and so with no divide at the appellate level, the Illinois Supreme Court does not need to step in, Democratic candidate Michael P. Donnenwirth and Waukegan activist and former state House candidate Keith Turner said in their Thursday objection.
Rudd has pointed to another case in Effingham County where a judge found the 2012 law unconstitutional, but Donnenwirth and Turner argued that the facts of that case are different and the issue has not been appealed yet.
The appellate court is well positioned to consider the case because it has considered other election matters on an expedited basis and even heard another case that dealt with the same section of law, Donnenwirth and Turner said. Deadlines at the appellate level will have both side's arguments in and ready to be considered by Monday.
The objection also accused Rudd of leaving pertinent facts out of his petition to the state's highest court, in particular that it was Rudd falsely signing under oath dozens of petition sheets that he had not circulated himself that led to his decision to withdraw his name from the Democratic primary ballot for both the coroner and precinct committeeman positions.
Rudd has "declared, under oath, six different times that he is affiliated with the Democratic Party" over this election cycle, Donnenwirth and Turner said in the objection. The 2012 statute is specifically intended to prevent sworn members of one party from running under a different label.
Rudd had the option of running as a write-in candidate in the Democratic primary but instead chose to try and run as an independent, they said.
"His acts — not the clear law of Illinois, has charted his course," they said.
Rudd has drawn the ire of some Lake County sheriff's officials since taking office in 2013, including during the investigation into the death of Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz by saying early in the process that the death might have been a suicide.
He has also criticized the investigation of Melissa Calusinski, a day care employee convicted in 2011 of murdering a child. Calusinski is now seeking a new trial after Rudd changed the cause of death from homicide to undetermined based on what he has described as evidence not aired at trial.
The Republican Party "fear me because of my honesty and my ability to run this office professionally," Rudd said earlier this month.
emcoleman@tribpub.com
Twitter @mekcoleman | http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lake-county-coroner-objection-st-0826-20160826-story.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/7ead2b74d78d1b2868670819f77bd5b27dab5f6a8557d00b0e483e58f85869da.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune",
"Robert Channick"
] | 2016-08-30T22:48:55 | null | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fbusiness%2Fct-tribune-tower-deal-0831-biz-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c5fe01/turbine/ct-tribune-tower-deal-0831-biz-20160829 | en | null | Tribune Media inks deal to sell Tribune Tower to developer | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Los Angeles-based developer CIM Group has agreed to buy Tribune Tower for up to $240 million, marking the end of media ownership for the historic North Michigan Avenue building and the beginning of a new chapter, likely as part of a mixed-use redevelopment.
Chicago developer Golub & Co partnered with CIM to buy the tower and adjacent property from Tribune Media. The deal, announced by Tribune Media Tuesday, is expected to close by the end of September, the company said.
Chicago-based Tribune Media announced in October it hired real estate investment banker Eastdil Secured to explore an outright sale or partnership to redevelop the neo-Gothic tower, which sits on 3 acres. The building has 737,000 square feet of space, but the property is zoned for up to 2.4 million square feet.
Tribune Media unveiled conceptual plans last year to redevelop the parcel, adding several buildings to maximize the space with residential, retail and hotel components.
Built in 1925, Tribune Tower was designed by New York architects Raymond Hood and John Mead Howells, who won a contest held by Chicago Tribune co-publishers Robert R. McCormick and Joseph Patterson to create the newspaper's headquarters. It was named a Chicago landmark in 1989.
"Tribune Tower has been a unique part of Chicago's skyline since the 1920s," Tribune Media CEO Peter Liguori said in a news release. "It is a gem of architectural and structural accomplishment and a constant reminder of the important role that Tribune has played in the development of the city itself."
CIM's Chicago footprint has been growing since it acquired the Block 37 complex on State Street in 2012, completing the 34-story Marquee apartment tower at the north end of the retail center in May.
This month, CIM announced it was partnering with Chicago-based Murphy Development Group on a planned 46-story apartment tower at 1326 S. Michigan Avenue, buying the 0.6-acre site in the South Loop.
In June, CIM announced the purchase of 440 S. LaSalle St., a 39-story office building, for a reported $191 million. CIM is also building a 41-story residential tower at 1001 S. State St., in partnership with Golub.
The deal to sell Tribune Tower is the latest news in Tribune Media's ongoing efforts to sell its entire $1 billion real estate portfolio. This month, the company said the Times Mirror Square building and Olympic printing plant in Los Angeles were under contract with nonrefundable deposits, and the transactions were expected to close in the third quarter. Tribune Media also has sold six smaller properties for about $90 million this year.
"Monetizing the significant assets of Tribune Media's real estate portfolio is a strategic priority for the company and we are extremely pleased with the outcome of this sales process," Liguori said in the news release.
Tribune Media spun off its publishing division — including the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and other daily newspapers — in August 2014, retaining the broadcasting business and real estate portfolio.
As part of the sale and redevelopment, Tribune Media is planning to move out of its namesake building, but will remain in Chicago, Liguori said in a note to employees Tuesday.
"Although we are selling the Tower, the operational headquarters of Tribune Media will remain in the city," Liguori said. "As the buyer intends to repurpose the Tower, we will be transitioning our Chicago staff to new space over an extended period of months — likely in the second quarter of 2017."
Tronc, the Chicago-based newspaper chain formerly known as Tribune Publishing, is Tribune Media's largest tenant. The Chicago Tribune's lease at Tribune Tower runs through 2018.
The newspaper and its parent company have "no immediate plans to leave early," Tronc spokeswoman Dana Meyer said Tuesday.
"Tribune Tower is a prominent property with a rich history that has been a feature of the Chicago skyline for nearly a century. It's in an area that, today, is attracting new businesses and residents," Avi Shemesh, co-founder and principal of CIM, said in the news release. A spokeswoman declined further comment.
Tribune Media may sell more than just its real estate. In February, the company hired financial advisers to explore a possible "sale or separation of select lines of business" in a bid to enhance shareholder value. Tribune Media's assets include 42 TV stations, national cable channel WGN America and Gracenote, its entertainment metadata business.
rchannick@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @RobertChannick | http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-tribune-tower-deal-0831-biz-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-30T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/34f82786247079db6773dd9783cdb42bd0c1a1d6ea33987eb6725561373d4011.json |
[
"Tribune Content Agency",
"Daren Fonda",
"Kiplinger'S Personal Finance"
] | 2016-08-29T18:49:02 | null | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fbusiness%2Fsns-201608111330--tms--kplngmpctnkm-a20160829-20160829-story.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-56f02a81/turbine/chi-default-open-graph-ct-logo/1200/1200x650 | en | null | Investing: Investing in real estate can be easy | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | If you're a small-time landlord, a real estate investment can be a ton of work, with an uncertain payoff. But stick with real estate investment trusts and you're likely to be rewarded. Over the past 15 years, property-owning REITs have returned 11.3 percent annualized, nearly twice the 5.8 percent annualized gain of Standard & Poor's 500-stock index.
REITs (rhymes with treats) own everything from apartment buildings to offices, shopping malls and hotels. Regardless of what they hold, they're required to shell out at least 90 percent of taxable income to shareholders. That makes them dividend gravy trains. REIT stocks today yield 3.7 percent, on average, well above the 2.2 percent yield of the S&P 500.
Below are three REITs we like for their yields, growth prospects and reasonable valuations. Note that price-earnings ratios are based on estimated year-ahead funds from operations (FFO), a common REIT measure that represents net income plus depreciation expenses.
1. Gaming and Leisure Properties (symbol GLPI, $36, P/E 12, yield 6.7 percent)
With revenue flowing from 35 casino and hotel properties in 14 states, Gaming and Leisure should generate ample cash to fund its dividend and raise it as rental income climbs. Jeffrey Kolitch, manager of Baron Real Estate Fund, figures that within a year the firm will bump its annual payout from $2.24 per share to $2.40. At 12 times estimated FFO, the stock trades well below the average of 21 for all property-owning REITs.
2. Sovran Self Storage (SSS, $93, P/E 17, yield 4.1 percent)
Sales are strong for Sovran, a self-storage REIT that owns more than 550 properties under the Uncle Bob's brand. Sovran is also expanding with a $1.3 billion deal to acquire 84 properties from LifeStorage, whose buildings generate higher average rents per square foot than Sovran's. Sovran recently hiked its annual dividend rate by 11.8 percent, to $3.80 per share, and it ramped up its 2016 FFO forecast to as much as $5.55 per share. Although the stock isn't inexpensive at 17 times FFO, it has room to climb.
3. STAG Industrial (STAG, $25, P/E 16, yield 5.6 percent
STAG has been snapping up properties since going public in 2011, amassing 223 buildings with more than 40 million square feet of space. And STAG aims to keep up its growth, planning to buy or develop $1.7 billion worth of properties over the next few years. FFO per share in the first quarter rose by 11.4 percent from the same period a year earlier, and STAG generates plenty of cash to support its dividend. Trading about 13 percent below STAG's net asset value of $28.30 a share, the stock looks like a good value, says brokerage firm Baird.
(Daren Fonda is an associate editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on this and similar money topics, visit Kiplinger.com.)
(c) 2016 Kiplinger's Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. | http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-201608111330--tms--kplngmpctnkm-a20160829-20160829-story.html | en | 2016-08-29T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/37e7f5751d550e8a3fe11ae839626a5e17f803bd9af149a34d272fcb6ac2850d.json |
[
"Chicago Tribune"
] | 2016-08-26T22:47:54 | null | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | null | http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fnews%2Fmedia%2Fct-group-of-young-men-approach-police-officers-investigating-shooting-video-20160826-premiumvideo.html.json | http://www.trbimg.com/img-57c0a99a/turbine/ct-group-of-young-men-approach-police-officers-investigating-shooting-video-20160826 | en | null | Group of young men approach police officers investigating shooting | null | null | www.chicagotribune.com | Group of young men approach police officers investigating shooting
A group of young men approach police officers investigating a shooting in the 7100 block of South Paulina Street early on Aug. 26, 2016. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) | http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/media/ct-group-of-young-men-approach-police-officers-investigating-shooting-video-20160826-premiumvideo.html | en | 2016-08-26T00:00:00 | www.chicagotribune.com/bd3dea48286e6fc4660e438189544a593bc64c8c508034cb09ae76f29272b91c.json |
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