chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--City to build new $1.8M field for Hancock College Prep on Southwest Side

A new artificial turf field is set to be built on the Southwest Side to go along with a brand new school building for Hancock College Prep , one of Chicago Public Schools ’ 11 selective enrollment high schools .
Construction on the $ 1.8 million field is due to start next spring , with a fall 2021 completion targeted , a Chicago Park District official said Tuesday .
Costs will be evenly split between the Park District , CPS and City Council .
The Board of Education is expected to approve an agreement with the Park District at its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usage rights for 20 years .
The contract would see CPS pay up to The field will include space for football , soccer and softball games and will have a two-lane walking track surrounding it , as well as bleachers for spectators .
It ’ ll be built at Lawler Park with the boundaries of 63rd and 64th Streets on the north and south , and Leclaire and Latrobe Avenues on the east and west .
That ’ s a couple blocks away from the new three-story Hancock school building , which broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction at 5437 W. 64th Place .
While the school converted to selective enrollment in 2015 , stakeholders at Hancock had long raised concerns about poor infrastructure at the its current building at 4034 W. 56th St. , including leaky roofs , broken floors and poor heating , cooling and ventilation .
Hancock is predominantly Latino school that serves a little over 1,000 students .
Its new building , directly adjacent to Midway Airport , will be about three miles southwest of its current one , and will move the school from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Today , we broke ground on the new state of the art facility and doubled down on our commitment to students and families on the southwest side of Chicago , ” CPS CEO Janice Jackson wrote on Twitter in April 2019 at the ground breaking ceremony .

A new artificial turf field is set to be built on the Southwest Side to go along with a brand new school building for Hancock College Prep, one of Chicago Public Schools’ 11 selective enrollment high schools.
Construction on the $1.8 million field is due to start next spring, with a fall 2021 completion targeted, a Chicago Park District official said Tuesday. Costs will be evenly split between the Park District, CPS and City Council.
The Board of Education is expected to approve an agreement with the Park District at its monthly meeting Wednesday that gives CPS joint usage rights for 20 years. The contract would see CPS pay up to $500,000 for construction, use, maintenance and repair.
Lawler Park, located at 5210 W. 64th St., Tuesday Sept. 22, 2020. Lawler Park is slated to be turned into a artificial athletic field for Hancock College Prep. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The field, which will be open to the public, will include space for football, soccer and softball games and will have a two-lane walking track surrounding it, as well as bleachers for spectators. It’ll be built at Lawler Park with the boundaries of 63rd and 64th Streets on the north and south, and Leclaire and Latrobe Avenues on the east and west.
That’s a couple blocks away from the new three-story Hancock school building, which broke ground in April 2019 and is under construction at 5437 W. 64th Place.
The construction site for the new Hancock College Prep located at 5437 West 64th Place, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
While the school converted to selective enrollment in 2015, stakeholders at Hancock had long raised concerns about poor infrastructure at its current building at 4034 W. 56th St., including leaky roofs, broken floors and poor heating, cooling and ventilation.
Hancock is a predominantly Latino school that serves a little over 1,000 students. Its new building, also on track to open fall of 2021 directly adjacent to Midway Airport, will be about three miles southwest of its current location, and will move the school from the West Elsdon neighborhood to the Clearing community.
“Today, we broke ground on the new state of the art facility and doubled down on our commitment to students and families on the southwest side of Chicago,” CPS CEO Janice Jackson wrote on Twitter in April 2019 at the ground breaking ceremony.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--‘Windy City Rehab’ 2nd season: Here is a new map of every property featured

“ Windy City Rehab ” has started its second season featuring designer Alison Victoria as she rehabs and attempts to flip homes in Chicago .
In this new season , the show is focusing on tension between Victoria , whose real name is Alison Gramenos , and her partner , Donovan Eckhardt .
In the first episode , she is seen taking over the stalled construction on a home at 1636 N. Wood St. and selling it for nearly $ 2 million .
The show , which airs Tuesday nights on HG-TV , promises to go behind the scenes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including in Bridgeport .
The show makes reference to numerous problems that hit the partners in the past year , including stop-work orders from the city and licensing problems .
After the first season concluded early last year , Victoria and Eckhardt said they sold seven of the 11 homes they rehabbed .
By March of 2019 , however , public records only indicated four had closed .
By mid-September of this year , however , the records now show they ’ ve now sold 10 of the 11 homes .
The only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded is in Wicker Park at 1635 W. Pierce Ave .
Here is the map :

“Windy City Rehab” has started its second season featuring designer Alison Victoria as she rehabs and attempts to flip homes in Chicago.
In this new season, the show is focusing on tension between Victoria, whose real name is Alison Gramenos, and her partner, Donovan Eckhardt. In the first episode, she is seen taking over the stalled construction on a home at 1636 N. Wood St. and selling it for nearly $2 million.
The show, which airs Tuesday nights on HGTV, promises to go behind the scenes from Season One and feature additional properties, including in Bridgeport.
The show makes reference to numerous problems that hit the partners in the past year, including stop-work orders from the city and licensing problems.
Season One
After the first season concluded early last year, Victoria and Eckhardt said they sold seven of the 11 homes they rehabbed.
By March of 2019, however, public records only indicated four had closed. By mid-September of this year, however, the records now show they’ve now sold 10 of the 11 homes.
The only home that does not have a sale recorded is in Wicker Park at 1635 W. Pierce Ave.
Here is the map:


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--ENDORSEMENT: Danny K. Davis for Congress in 7th District

Two years ago , we endorsed Rep. Danny K. Davis for re-election with reluctance .
We wrote that he was not the force he had been in 1997 when he first entered Congress .
We wrote that the voters deserved better .
But he has fought the good fight over the years , we also wrote , for such laudable goals as universal health care , a “ living wage ” and services for ex-offenders .
And besides , we said , his Republican opponent , Craig Cameron , a construction project manager , was an insufficiently qualified political beginner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
Nothing has changed , including the name of Davis ’ Republican challenger — Craig Cameron .
Our endorsement goes to Davis , but we wish the voters of the 7th District had a better choice .
Tracy Jennings , an Independent , also is running .
To read more Sun-Times endorsements , please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements .
For more information about this race and others , including candidate questionnaires , go to our Illinois voting guide .
Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and , in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details , see our owner information page .

Two years ago, we endorsed Rep. Danny K. Davis for re-election with reluctance. We wrote that he was not the force he had been in 1997 when he first entered Congress. We wrote that the voters deserved better.
But he has fought the good fight over the years, we also wrote, for such laudable goals as universal health care, a “living wage” and services for ex-offenders. And besides, we said, his Republican opponent, Craig Cameron, a construction project manager, was an insufficiently qualified political beginner.
Well, so it goes again this year. Nothing has changed, including the name of Davis’ Republican challenger — Craig Cameron. Our endorsement goes to Davis, but we wish the voters of the 7th District had a better choice. Tracy Jennings, an Independent, also is running.
7th Congressional District map. Illustration by Caroline Hurley
To read more Sun-Times endorsements, please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements. For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--ENDORSEMENT: Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress in 8th District

Though first elected to Congress just four years ago , Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg has been among the more industrious members of the House , and he ’ s a cut above many other members of the Illinois delegation .
Should the chips fall right , he could make an excellent senator some day .
In the meantime , Krishnamoorthi has most recently been the scourge of the vaping industry .
He is primarily responsible for the passage of federal regulations that likely have played a part in a decreased use of e-cigarettes and related vaping products by young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bipartisan way to improve skills-based training for young people who are not college-bound , and on making college more affordable for those who are .
Krishnamoorthi is opposed by Libertarian candidate Preston Gabriel Nelson , who lists his occupation as inventor .
Two years ago , Nelson unsuccessfully ran for Congress in the 12th District , 300 miles south of Chicago .
According to the Illinois Board of Elections , he still lives 300 miles south of Chicago .
Our endorsement goes to Krishnamoorthi .
To read more Sun-Times endorsements , please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about this race and others , including candidate questionnaires , go to our Illinois voting guide .
Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and , in some cases , politically active investors ; for details , see our owner information page .

Though first elected to Congress just four years ago, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg has been among the more industrious members of the House, and he’s a cut above many other members of the Illinois delegation. Should the chips fall right, he could make an excellent senator some day.
In the meantime, Krishnamoorthi has most recently been the scourge of the vaping industry. He is primarily responsible for the passage of federal regulations that likely have played a part in a decreased use of e-cigarettes and related vaping products by young people. Elsewhere, he has worked in a bipartisan way to improve skills-based training for young people who are not college-bound, and on making college more affordable for those who are.
Krishnamoorthi is opposed by Libertarian candidate Preston Gabriel Nelson, who lists his occupation as inventor. Two years ago, Nelson unsuccessfully ran for Congress in the 12th District, 300 miles south of Chicago. According to the Illinois Board of Elections, he still lives 300 miles south of Chicago.
Our endorsement goes to Krishnamoorthi.
8th Congressional District map. Illustration by Caroline Hurley
To read more Sun-Times endorsements, please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements. For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--ENDORSEMENT: Janice D. Schakowsky for Congress in 9th District

Incumbent Jan Schakowsky , of Evanston , has always run a responsive constituent services office , but in these days @ @ @ @ @ says , she ’ s been getting calls from people “ weeping on the phone.
@ @ @ @ @ immigration status .
They worry about health care expenses .
Schakowsky has been a forceful @ @ @ @ @ of the Trump administration , as well as a leader in Congress on health care @ @ @ @ @ against women .
In the coming legislative session , she tells us , her top @ @ @ @ @ the ability of the Medicare program to negotiate drug prices and a public health insurance @ @ @ @ @ over Republican Sargis Sangari , CEO of the Near East Center for Strategic Engagement .
@ @ @ @ @ , please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements .
For more information about this race and others , @ @ @ @ @ to our Illinois voting guide .
Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded @ @ @ @ @ , politically active investors ; for details , see our owner information page .

Incumbent Jan Schakowsky, of Evanston, has always run a responsive constituent services office, but in these days of Donald Trump, she says, she’s been getting calls from people “weeping on the phone.” They worry about their immigration status. They worry about health care expenses.
Schakowsky has been a forceful critic of the worst policies of the Trump administration, as well as a leader in Congress on health care reform and in addressing violence against women. In the coming legislative session, she tells us, her top agenda will include pushing for the ability of the Medicare program to negotiate drug prices and a public health insurance option. Schakowsky is endorsed over Republican Sargis Sangari, CEO of the Near East Center for Strategic Engagement.
9th Congressional District map. Illustration by Caroline Hurley
To read more Sun-Times endorsements, please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements. For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--ENDORSEMENT: Brad Schneider for Congress in 10th District

One of the more heartbreaking examples of what can happen when government makes bad decisions was the economic damage visited upon north suburban Zion when a nuclear power plant was decommissioned two decades ago — without a federal plan for removing the spent nuclear fuel .
Zion was left holding the bag .
Since 2017 , Rep. Brad Schneider and Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Illinois , have pushed a bipartisan bill to create economic impact grants — up to $ 15 for every kilogram of spent nuclear fuel — for Zion and other towns in the same straits .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been sensitive to the particular needs of his district , even as he ’ s been a predictable Democratic vote on national issues .
We endorse Schneider with the hope that he ’ ll continue to zero in on his district ’ s local needs .
Getting that STRANDED Act regarding nuclear waste passed would be an excellent start .
Schneider , who lives in Deerfield , is opposed by Republican Valerie Ramirez Mukherjee , a businesswoman who moved to the northern suburbs from California a few years ago .
To read more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For more information about this race and others , including candidate questionnaires , go to our Illinois voting guide .
Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and , in some cases , politically active investors ; for details , see our owner information page .

One of the more heartbreaking examples of what can happen when government makes bad decisions was the economic damage visited upon north suburban Zion when a nuclear power plant was decommissioned two decades ago — without a federal plan for removing the spent nuclear fuel. Zion was left holding the bag.
Since 2017, Rep. Brad Schneider and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, have pushed a bipartisan bill to create economic impact grants — up to $15 for every kilogram of spent nuclear fuel — for Zion and other towns in the same straits.
As a member of Congress, Schneider has been sensitive to the particular needs of his district, even as he’s been a predictable Democratic vote on national issues. We endorse Schneider with the hope that he’ll continue to zero in on his district’s local needs. Getting that STRANDED Act regarding nuclear waste passed would be an excellent start.
Schneider, who lives in Deerfield, is opposed by Republican Valerie Ramirez Mukherjee, a businesswoman who moved to the northern suburbs from California a few years ago.
10th Congressional District map. Illustration by Caroline Hurley
To read more Sun-Times endorsements, please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements. For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--ENDORSEMENT: Bill Foster for Congress in 11th District

At a time when the discipline of science is being trashed by those who would rather ignore crises such as climate change and COVID-19 , it ’ s nice to have an actual scientist — a nuclear physicist , no less — in Congress .
In January , Rep. Bill Foster rose to a particularly strategic position from which to serve the cause of scientific integrity , being named chairman of the House Science , Space and Technology Committee ’ s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight .
The subcommittee is empowered to investigate and oversee all matters — such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal research .
This comes at a time when the Trump administration has attempted to gut federal scientific research , most notably with respect to the environment and guns .
We endorse Foster , who has served in Congress since 2008 .
He is opposed by Republican Rick Laib , a sergeant with the Will County Sheriff ’ s Police and strong supporter of President Trump .
To read more Sun-Times endorsements , please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements .
For more information about this race and others , including candidate questionnaires , go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is owned by a group of civic-minded and , in some cases , politically active investors ; for details , see our owner information page .

At a time when the discipline of science is being trashed by those who would rather ignore crises such as climate change and COVID-19, it’s nice to have an actual scientist — a nuclear physicist, no less — in Congress.
In January, Rep. Bill Foster rose to a particularly strategic position from which to serve the cause of scientific integrity, being named chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. The subcommittee is empowered to investigate and oversee all matters — such as environmental and energy issues — concerning non-defense federal research.
This comes at a time when the Trump administration has attempted to gut federal scientific research, most notably with respect to the environment and guns.
We endorse Foster, who has served in Congress since 2008. He is opposed by Republican Rick Laib, a sergeant with the Will County Sheriff’s Police and strong supporter of President Trump.
11th Congressional District map. Illustration by Caroline Hurley
To read more Sun-Times endorsements, please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements. For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--ENDORSEMENT: Lauren Underwood for Congress in 14th District

Before Lauren Underwood of Naperville was elected to Congress in 2018 , she was a nurse .
In the two years since then , she has put that expertise to good use as a lawmaker , drafting bills — and getting a couple signed into law — to make health care less expensive and better .
Specifically , Underwood sponsored the Lower Insulin Costs Now Act , signed by the president last December , which made lower-cost , generic insulin available more quickly .
She also was the lead sponsor of a bill to fund the increased use of electronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security , making it easier for DHS doctors to care for migrants in custody .
Our endorsement goes to Underwood , a Democrat .
For a freshman legislator , she has been measurably effective , demonstrating a practical streak .
Those two pieces of legislation had to get through a Republican-controlled Senate .
Electoral victories in 2018 by Underwood and another Illinois Democrat , Sean Casten , in swing congressional districts were key to the Democrats gaining control of the House .
For that reason alone we might now favor Underwood ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential check on President Donald Trump and the Senate .
But Underwood has earned , on her own merits , a return trip to Washington .
Underwood has been a knowledgeable defender of the Affordable Care Act , which could come under even greater Republican attack in the coming year if the Supreme Court shifts further to the right .
And we support her more immediate efforts to pass legislation to require health insurance plans to cover common medications , devices and screenings used to treat common chronic illnesses without charging a copayment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed by state Sen. Jim Oberweis , chairman of Oberweis Dairy , whom we twice have endorsed in state races .
Oberweis , of Sugar Grove , has been a creative Republican in the Democrat-controlled state Senate , working on non-ideological issues such as ending a ban on Sunday auto sales .
At heart , though , we ’ d say Oberweis is an apologist for Trump — and Capitol Hill has no shortage of Republican apologists for Trump .
To read more Sun-Times endorsements , please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements .
For more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including candidate questionnaires , go to our Illinois voting guide .
Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and , in some cases , politically active investors ; for details , see our owner information page .

Before Lauren Underwood of Naperville was elected to Congress in 2018, she was a nurse. In the two years since then, she has put that expertise to good use as a lawmaker, drafting bills — and getting a couple signed into law — to make health care less expensive and better.
Specifically, Underwood sponsored the Lower Insulin Costs Now Act, signed by the president last December, which made lower-cost, generic insulin available more quickly. She also was the lead sponsor of a bill to fund the increased use of electronic health records across the Department of Homeland Security, making it easier for DHS doctors to care for migrants in custody.
Our endorsement goes to Underwood, a Democrat. For a freshman legislator, she has been measurably effective, demonstrating a practical streak. Those two pieces of legislation had to get through a Republican-controlled Senate.
Electoral victories in 2018 by Underwood and another Illinois Democrat, Sean Casten, in swing congressional districts were key to the Democrats gaining control of the House. For that reason alone we might now favor Underwood’s re-election; the House has been an essential check on President Donald Trump and the Senate. But Underwood has earned, on her own merits, a return trip to Washington.
Underwood has been a knowledgeable defender of the Affordable Care Act, which could come under even greater Republican attack in the coming year if the Supreme Court shifts further to the right. And we support her more immediate efforts to pass legislation to require health insurance plans to cover common medications, devices and screenings used to treat common chronic illnesses without charging a copayment, coinsurance or deductible.
Underwood is opposed by state Sen. Jim Oberweis, chairman of Oberweis Dairy, whom we twice have endorsed in state races. Oberweis, of Sugar Grove, has been a creative Republican in the Democrat-controlled state Senate, working on non-ideological issues such as ending a ban on Sunday auto sales.
At heart, though, we’d say Oberweis is an apologist for Trump — and Capitol Hill has no shortage of Republican apologists for Trump.
We strongly urge a vote for Lauren Underwood.
14th Congressional District map. Illustration by Caroline Hurley
To read more Sun-Times endorsements, please go to suntimes.com/political-endorsements. For more information about this race and others, including candidate questionnaires, go to our Illinois voting guide. Our newspaper is owned by a group of civic-minded and, in some cases, politically active investors; for details, see our owner information page.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--20 neglected dogs found at south suburban home

Twenty neglected dogs were found at a south suburban home Monday in an unincorporated area near Thornton Township .
Authorities @ @ @ @ @ for reports of a neglected dog in the 15000 block of Hastings Drive , the @ @ @ @ @ office said .
When officers arrived , they found six caged dogs in a “ @ @ @ @ @ ” One of the dogs was dead , the sheriff ’ s office said .
@ @ @ @ @ the locked garage , but the homeowner wasn ’ t home , the sheriff ’ @ @ @ @ @ served a search warrant and rescued 14 more dogs which were also neglected .
The @ @ @ @ @ old and two to three-years-old , the sheriff ’ s office said .
They were @ @ @ @ @ and Control .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides @

Twenty neglected dogs were found at a south suburban home Monday in an unincorporated area near Thornton Township.
Authorities were called about 9:30 a.m. for reports of a neglected dog in the 15000 block of Hastings Drive, the Cook County sheriff’s office said. When officers arrived, they found six caged dogs in a “very emaciated and malnourished condition.”
One of the dogs was dead, the sheriff’s office said.
Caged dogs were found in the backyard of a home Sept. 21, 2020, in an unincorporated area near Thornton Township. Cook County sheriff’s office
Officers heard more barking inside the locked garage, but the homeowner wasn’t home, the sheriff’s office said. Authorities served a search warrant and rescued 14 more dogs which were also neglected.
The dogs were between four weeks old and two to three-years-old, the sheriff’s office said. They were taken to Chicago Animal Care and Control.
An investigation is ongoing.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--Dear Abby: Should grandma tell girl, 7, that her playmate is transgender?

DEAR ABBY : My 7-year-old granddaughter , “ Leyla , ” has a playmate who is a transgender girl .
My fear is that she may find out the truth and feel betrayed by her playmate as well as me .
Should I explain it to her ?
It doesn ’ t matter to me that her friend is transgender because I have always believed that a person ’ s most important trait is having good morals .
I ’ m an upfront and honest person .
However , with respect to this subject , I feel that if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though I ’ m somehow betraying my granddaughter .
Leyla is very accepting of all people , and I don ’ t believe it would change her relationship with the child as long as I explain everything to her about people who are trans .
Any advice would be appreciated .
— PROGRESSIVE GRAN IN ARIZONA DEAR GRAN : Do Leyla ’ s parents know about the friendship ?
Assuming they do , have a chat with them , as well as the playmate ’ s parents , to make sure you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do not think you should “ out ” Leyla ’ s playmate to her .
But I DO think it is time you start talking to your granddaughter about gender and what makes a girl a girl and what makes a boy a boy .
At some point , her friend may feel comfortable enough about the friendship — and herself — to tell Leyla herself .
When that happens , be prepared to answer any questions your granddaughter may have .
PFLAG , an organization I have mentioned before in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ issues and will be helpful to you if you reach out .
Its website is pflag.org .
DEAR ABBY : My worst fear has come true .
My daughter just became engaged to someone we do not approve of .
They have been together for three years , and it has been three years of drama — from not working because they have to be together 24/7 to domestic violence .
Must I attend the wedding ?
Should I help her plan it ?
She is my first born and I adore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making a huge mistake .
— RELUCTANT IN OHIO DEAR RELUCTANT : I am going to assume that you have expressed your feelings and concerns to your daughter .
If that ’ s the case , then you must accept that she is an adult and capable of making her own decisions .
Should you help plan the wedding ?
Yes , as long as you are not paying for it .
Should you attend even though you don ’ t approve of her choice of husband ?
Absolutely !
If he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to need family around her so she doesn ’ t become isolated and totally under his control .
Her life could depend on it .
DEAR ABBY : Sadly , my son passed away ( suicide ) , leaving his two younger sisters .
I am often asked how many children I have , and I ’ m never sure how to respond .
I feel it would be disrespectful to my son ’ s memory if I don ’ t include him .
However , if I do , it invariably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to answer .
Any insight would be greatly appreciated .
Thank you .
— REMEMBERING HIM DEAR REMEMBERING : I am sorry for your loss .
While a question about children is a way people often use to establish a common bond , it can be an emotionally loaded one .
Consider offering this response : “ I have three children .
One of them is in heaven.
” If you are pressed further , it would not be impolite to respond that the subject is painful and you would rather not discuss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
What teens need to know about sex , drugs , AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “ What Every Teen Should Know.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Teen Booklet , P.O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: My 7-year-old granddaughter, “Leyla,” has a playmate who is a transgender girl. My fear is that she may find out the truth and feel betrayed by her playmate as well as me. Should I explain it to her?
It doesn’t matter to me that her friend is transgender because I have always believed that a person’s most important trait is having good morals. I’m an upfront and honest person. However, with respect to this subject, I feel that if I remain silent, it’s as though I’m somehow betraying my granddaughter.
Leyla is very accepting of all people, and I don’t believe it would change her relationship with the child as long as I explain everything to her about people who are trans. Any advice would be appreciated. — PROGRESSIVE GRAN IN ARIZONA
DEAR GRAN: Do Leyla’s parents know about the friendship? Assuming they do, have a chat with them, as well as the playmate’s parents, to make sure you’re all on the same page. I do not think you should “out” Leyla’s playmate to her. But I DO think it is time you start talking to your granddaughter about gender and what makes a girl a girl and what makes a boy a boy.
At some point, her friend may feel comfortable enough about the friendship — and herself — to tell Leyla herself. When that happens, be prepared to answer any questions your granddaughter may have. PFLAG, an organization I have mentioned before in my column, is an excellent resource for LGBTQ issues and will be helpful to you if you reach out. Its website is pflag.org.
DEAR ABBY: My worst fear has come true. My daughter just became engaged to someone we do not approve of. They have been together for three years, and it has been three years of drama — from not working because they have to be together 24/7 to domestic violence. Must I attend the wedding? Should I help her plan it? She is my first born and I adore her, but I feel she is making a huge mistake. — RELUCTANT IN OHIO
DEAR RELUCTANT: I am going to assume that you have expressed your feelings and concerns to your daughter. If that’s the case, then you must accept that she is an adult and capable of making her own decisions.
Should you help plan the wedding? Yes, as long as you are not paying for it. Should you attend even though you don’t approve of her choice of husband? Absolutely! If he’s a violent abuser, she is going to need family around her so she doesn’t become isolated and totally under his control. Her life could depend on it.
DEAR ABBY: Sadly, my son passed away (suicide), leaving his two younger sisters. I am often asked how many children I have, and I’m never sure how to respond. I feel it would be disrespectful to my son’s memory if I don’t include him. However, if I do, it invariably leads to more questions than I care to answer. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. — REMEMBERING HIM
DEAR REMEMBERING: I am sorry for your loss. While a question about children is a way people often use to establish a common bond, it can be an emotionally loaded one. Consider offering this response: “I have three children. One of them is in heaven.” If you are pressed further, it would not be impolite to respond that the subject is painful and you would rather not discuss it.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--In debate over where cops should patrol in Chicago, ‘no one wants to lose’

As about 1,000 cops have been posted this year on new citywide teams to combat gun crime , looting and rioting , Chicago Police officials are trying to figure out the best way to staff the city ’ s 22 police districts that aldermen say are being drained of manpower .
On Monday , police Supt .
David Brown announced he was adding 200 officers to a 300-officer community-safety team created in July .
In addition , nearly 270 cops are on a critical-response team focused on downtown crime and crowd control across the city and about 250 cops are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s being extended into November .
The police force currently employs about 13,000 officers .
Criminologists say it ’ s a smart move for Brown to deploy citywide units to fight crime in a year when murder is up sharply .
But some aldermen say they ’ re hearing complaints that citizens aren ’ t having their calls answered on time in their police districts as more cops move onto those citywide units .
And some of those same aldermen are looking forward to the results of a new study that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district officers in a more scientific way .
“ There will be winners and there will be losers .
And no one wants to lose , ” says Ald .
Jason Ervin ( 28th ) chairman of the City Council ’ s Black Caucus .
“ So over the years , the best thing has been just to leave it alone and to create these units where you can drop somebody in for a period of time to tamp down what was happening .
That ’ s robbing Peter to pay Paul .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s best interest to make these changes , the political will has not been there to make it happen , ” Ervin said .
A realignment of manpower to put more cops where calls for service are the highest has been talked about for decades .
Chicago mayors have hired consultants to make recommendations but those studies were shelved .
The current battle over how to best allocate police manpower is taking place as the city — like others across the country — is facing calls to cut the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services .
The University of Chicago Crime Lab is now studying how the police department can more efficiently deploy cops in the city ’ s 22 districts .
The study is expected to be done by the end of the year , sources said .
“ It ’ s about time that a better public safety model is created , particularly in North Lawndale , where I have folks leaving in droves because they don ’ t feel safe to come outside of their homes , ” said Ald .
Michael Scott Jr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lori Lightfoot ’ s closest City Council allies .
Asked about the study , a spokeswoman for the police department released this brief statement : “ CPD is continually monitoring and recalibrating resources based on operational needs.
” The latest study of police manpower in Chicago was completed in 2017 .
Alexander Weiss , former director of the Center for Public Safety at Northwestern University , and Paul Evans , former commissioner of the Boston Police Department , recommended changes in how cops are allocated in Chicago ’ s police districts but their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The city paid about $ 150,000 for their study , which concentrated on citizens ’ calls for service in beats , which are the subdivisions of the city ’ s 22 police districts .
In a nutshell , the study found that more squad cars should be added to beats where the number of those calls is the highest .
The current system doesn ’ t allow for that flexibility .
“ If 50 % of the calls came in the afternoon shift , 50 % of your officers would work on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview .
“ Some of the beats have twice as many calls as others , ” he noted .
The Weiss study pointed out that officers were spending a lot of time responding to some types of calls that didn ’ t have a lot to do with public safety .
For instance , security alarms are false most of the time but comprise a big share of cops ’ time .
The Chicago Sun-Times obtained a draft of Weiss ’ study , which recommended staffing numbers for each district .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending 40 % of their time on calls for service and 60 % on “ other activity ” like community outreach , or whether they were splitting their time evenly between those things .
There were huge differences in the number of calls for service each district and each beat handled .
The Chicago Lawn District on the Southwest Side handled three times as many calls as the Lincoln District on the North Side .
And one beat in the Near North District responded to four times as many calls for service as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new U. of C. study is being conducted free of charge to the city , officials said .
Sources said the new study will look at more factors than calls for service , and will include other data like the population density of a particular police district .
Far South Side Ald .
Anthony Beale ( 9th ) , former chairman of the Council ’ s public safety committee , has been pushing for changes in how beats are staffed since he was first elected in 1999 .
Beale said it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have the political will to confront the controversial issue .
“ Everybody knows that beat realignment is the one sure way to put resources where they ’ re needed , ” he said .
“ If we ’ re finally going to start looking to solve our problems on a permanent basis , we have to do something different .
Creating these [ specialized ] units is nothing but old ideas with new names on them .
But they ’ re the same old tactics , ” Beale said .
But Northwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Lightfoot ’ s City Council floor leader , isn ’ t happy about revisiting how cops are deployed in beats .
“ I ’ m a little concerned about any type of realignment , given the fact that , in the 16th District , part of the ward that I represent , we ’ re at 17 murders in one year .
Historically , we have seen anywhere from zero to five .
So we are up 300 % , ” Villegas said .
“ There ’ s no way that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources coming from my area going anywhere .
”

As about 1,000 cops have been posted this year on new citywide teams to combat gun crime, looting and rioting, Chicago Police officials are trying to figure out the best way to staff the city’s 22 police districts that aldermen say are being drained of manpower.
On Monday, police Supt. David Brown announced he was adding 200 officers to a 300-officer community-safety team created in July. In addition, nearly 270 cops are on a critical-response team focused on downtown crime and crowd control across the city and about 250 cops are on a summer mobile patrol that’s being extended into November. The police force currently employs about 13,000 officers.
Chicago Police Supt. David Brown announces the launch of the summer mobile patrol on July 10 in Woodlawn. Pat Nabong / Sun-Times
Criminologists say it’s a smart move for Brown to deploy citywide units to fight crime in a year when murder is up sharply. But some aldermen say they’re hearing complaints that citizens aren’t having their calls answered on time in their police districts as more cops move onto those citywide units.
And some of those same aldermen are looking forward to the results of a new study that’s supposed to help the police department allocate district officers in a more scientific way.
“There will be winners and there will be losers. And no one wants to lose,” says Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus. “So over the years, the best thing has been just to leave it alone and to create these units where you can drop somebody in for a period of time to tamp down what was happening. That’s robbing Peter to pay Paul.
“Even though it is probably in the city’s best interest to make these changes, the political will has not been there to make it happen,” Ervin said.
Manpower study underway
A realignment of manpower to put more cops where calls for service are the highest has been talked about for decades. Chicago mayors have hired consultants to make recommendations but those studies were shelved.
The current battle over how to best allocate police manpower is taking place as the city — like others across the country — is facing calls to cut the police budget and put the money in other services.
The University of Chicago Crime Lab is now studying how the police department can more efficiently deploy cops in the city’s 22 districts. The study is expected to be done by the end of the year, sources said.
“It’s about time that a better public safety model is created, particularly in North Lawndale, where I have folks leaving in droves because they don’t feel safe to come outside of their homes,” said Ald. Michael Scott Jr. (24th), one of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s closest City Council allies.
Asked about the study, a spokeswoman for the police department released this brief statement: “CPD is continually monitoring and recalibrating resources based on operational needs.”
The latest study of police manpower in Chicago was completed in 2017.
Alexander Weiss, former head of the Center for Public Safety at Northwestern University, who studied deployment of Chicago beat cops and recommended changes in 2017. Provided
Alexander Weiss, former director of the Center for Public Safety at Northwestern University, and Paul Evans, former commissioner of the Boston Police Department, recommended changes in how cops are allocated in Chicago’s police districts but their suggestions weren’t carried out.
The city paid about $150,000 for their study, which concentrated on citizens’ calls for service in beats, which are the subdivisions of the city’s 22 police districts.
In a nutshell, the study found that more squad cars should be added to beats where the number of those calls is the highest. The current system doesn’t allow for that flexibility.
“If 50% of the calls came in the afternoon shift, 50% of your officers would work on the afternoon shift,” Weiss said in an interview.
“Some of the beats have twice as many calls as others,” he noted.
The Weiss study pointed out that officers were spending a lot of time responding to some types of calls that didn’t have a lot to do with public safety. For instance, security alarms are false most of the time but comprise a big share of cops’ time.
The Chicago Sun-Times obtained a draft of Weiss’ study, which recommended staffing numbers for each district.
The levels were based on whether cops were spending 40% of their time on calls for service and 60% on “other activity” like community outreach, or whether they were splitting their time evenly between those things.
Big differences in calls for service
There were huge differences in the number of calls for service each district and each beat handled.
The Chicago Lawn District on the Southwest Side handled three times as many calls as the Lincoln District on the North Side.
And one beat in the Near North District responded to four times as many calls for service as another beat in the same district.
The new U. of C. study is being conducted free of charge to the city, officials said. Sources said the new study will look at more factors than calls for service, and will include other data like the population density of a particular police district.
Ald. Anthony Beale (9th). Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times
Far South Side Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), former chairman of the Council’s public safety committee, has been pushing for changes in how beats are staffed since he was first elected in 1999.
Beale said it’s more important than ever for Lightfoot to have the political will to confront the controversial issue.
“Everybody knows that beat realignment is the one sure way to put resources where they’re needed,” he said.
“If we’re finally going to start looking to solve our problems on a permanent basis, we have to do something different. Creating these [specialized] units is nothing but old ideas with new names on them. But they’re the same old tactics,” Beale said.
But Northwest Side Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), Lightfoot’s City Council floor leader, isn’t happy about revisiting how cops are deployed in beats.
“I’m a little concerned about any type of realignment, given the fact that, in the 16th District, part of the ward that I represent, we’re at 17 murders in one year. Historically, we have seen anywhere from zero to five. So we are up 300%,” Villegas said. “There’s no way that I’m going to advocate for resources coming from my area going anywhere.”


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--‘Misbehaviour’: Feminists crash the pageant in a cheeky British period piece

Just a couple of weeks after we saw Helen Reddy delivering an anthem for the equal rights movement in the early 1970s in “ I Am Woman , ” the cheeky British comedy/drama “ Misbehaviour ” tells the true story of how the creaky and sexist 1970 Miss World competition in London provided an unlikely platform for the nascent women ’ s liberation cause when a group of activists disrupted the live broadcast of the pageant .
Following the playbook of “ The Full Monty , ” “ Calendar Girls , ” “ Military Wives , ” et al.
, @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mix of farcical humor , dry wit and the obligatory dramatic moments when the light banter and sight gags give way to Poignant Confrontations reminding us there are serious undertones to this breezy romp .
Director Philippa Lowthorpe ( “ Three Girls , ” “ The Crown ” ) , working from a well-crafted screenplay by Gaby Chiappe and Rebecca Frayn , does a fine job of balancing the fact-based developments with imagined conversations and cinematic flourishes , all set against the background of hip and happening and restless 1970 London .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Keira Knightley wearing period-piece costumes , from “ Anna Karenina ” to “ The Aftermath , ” from “ King Arthur ” to “ A Dangerous Method , ” from “ Pride & Prejudice ” to “ Antonement ” and I ’ ll just stop there .
This time Knightley effortlessly slips into the role of Sally Alexander , a divorced mother and “ mature ” history student in London a half-century ago who joins a newly formed group of feminists , much to the consternation of her proper-Brit mother Evelyn ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give up this foolishness , realize women can never have an equal place at the table and concentrate on finding a man who will provide for Sally and her daughter .
( If you think we ’ re headed for a blowout scene where Sally lashes out at her “ small-minded ” mum and her mother gives her a few things to think about it : You ’ re not not right . )
The ubiquitous — and deservedly so — Jessie Buckley ( “ Chernobyl , ” “ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 of “ Fargo ” ) has the larger-than-life , showcase role as the acerbic , troublemaking , working-class Jo Robinson , who ’ s had it with polite group meetings and talk of quiet change and is all for causing a major disruption at the upcoming Miss World pageant at London ’ s Royal Albert Hall .
What better vehicle for the movement to drive home its points about women being treated as cattle , as second-class citizens , as objects to be ogled and belittled ?
On a parallel timeline , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pageant is immune to change and controversy .
Even as the comically out-of-touch pageant founders Eric and Julia Morley ( Rhys Ifans and Keeley Hawes ) run the “ girls ” through their paces and assign them chaperones and prattle on about how one contestant ’ s life will change forever when she is given the crown and the sash , there ’ s change within the pageant , as represented by Jennifer Hosten , aka Miss Grenada ( Gugu Mbatha-Raw ) , and Pearl Jansen aka Miss Africa South ( Loreece Harrison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ differing views about what the pageant means to them and to women of color .
As the pageant date nears and there ’ s talk of some kind of protest , who should arrive on the scene but the evening ’ s host : none other than the legendary entertainer Bob Hope , armed with a packet of corny , leering , cringe-worthy jokes — and zero tolerance for those women ’ s libbers .
Greg Kinnear , who has played real-life figures from the inventor of the intermittent wiper ( “ Flash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to football coach Dick Vermeil to actor Bob Crane and played them well , stumbles a bit here as Hope .
There ’ s a prosthetic nose but no other discernible effort to achieve physical resemblance , and his vocal mannerisms fall somewhere between halfhearted imitation and incomplete characterization .
The great Lesley Manville gets little screen time but still has a couple of choice moments as Hope ’ s weary wife Delores , who never tires of reminding him of that time he brought a Miss World back to California with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in “ Misbehaviour , ” with the protesters infiltrating the pageant ( they bought tickets ! )
, disrupting Hope during his sexist monologue by cranking football rattles , holding up signs saying , “ WE ’ RE NOT BEAUTIFUL , WE ’ RE NOT UGLY , WE ’ RE ANGRY ” and hurling packets of flour onto the stage , make for wonderful onscreen theatrics — and are faithful to real-life events .
And when Keira Knightley ’ s Sally and Gugu Mbatha-Raw ’ s Jennifer find themselves together in a dramatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit it out of the park as they realize they ’ re basically fighting for the same thing in very different ways .

Just a couple of weeks after we saw Helen Reddy delivering an anthem for the equal rights movement in the early 1970s in “I Am Woman,” the cheeky British comedy/drama “Misbehaviour” tells the true story of how the creaky and sexist 1970 Miss World competition in London provided an unlikely platform for the nascent women’s liberation cause when a group of activists disrupted the live broadcast of the pageant.
Following the playbook of “The Full Monty,” “Calendar Girls,” “Military Wives,” et al., “Misbehaviour” achieves just the right mix of farcical humor, dry wit and the obligatory dramatic moments when the light banter and sight gags give way to Poignant Confrontations reminding us there are serious undertones to this breezy romp. Director Philippa Lowthorpe (“Three Girls,” “The Crown”), working from a well-crafted screenplay by Gaby Chiappe and Rebecca Frayn, does a fine job of balancing the fact-based developments with imagined conversations and cinematic flourishes, all set against the background of hip and happening and restless 1970 London.
‘Misbehaviour’
Untitled Shout! Studios presents a film directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and written by Rebecca Frayn and Gaby Chiappe. No MPAA rating. Running time: 106 minutes. Opens Friday on demand.
You could publish an entire coffee table book of Keira Knightley wearing period-piece costumes, from “Anna Karenina” to “The Aftermath,” from “King Arthur” to “A Dangerous Method,” from “Pride & Prejudice” to “Antonement” and I’ll just stop there. This time Knightley effortlessly slips into the role of Sally Alexander, a divorced mother and “mature” history student in London a half-century ago who joins a newly formed group of feminists, much to the consternation of her proper-Brit mother Evelyn (Phyllis Logan), who urges Sally to give up this foolishness, realize women can never have an equal place at the table and concentrate on finding a man who will provide for Sally and her daughter. (If you think we’re headed for a blowout scene where Sally lashes out at her “small-minded” mum and her mother gives her a few things to think about it: You’re not not right.)
The ubiquitous — and deservedly so — Jessie Buckley (“Chernobyl,” “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” Season 4 of “Fargo”) has the larger-than-life, showcase role as the acerbic, troublemaking, working-class Jo Robinson, who’s had it with polite group meetings and talk of quiet change and is all for causing a major disruption at the upcoming Miss World pageant at London’s Royal Albert Hall. What better vehicle for the movement to drive home its points about women being treated as cattle, as second-class citizens, as objects to be ogled and belittled?
Keira Knightley stars as a mom new to the feminist cause in “Misbehaviour.” Shout! Studios
On a parallel timeline, we learn not even the Miss World Pageant is immune to change and controversy. Even as the comically out-of-touch pageant founders Eric and Julia Morley (Rhys Ifans and Keeley Hawes) run the “girls” through their paces and assign them chaperones and prattle on about how one contestant’s life will change forever when she is given the crown and the sash, there’s change within the pageant, as represented by Jennifer Hosten, aka Miss Grenada (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), and Pearl Jansen aka Miss Africa South (Loreece Harrison), two Black women who have differing views about what the pageant means to them and to women of color.
As the pageant date nears and there’s talk of some kind of protest, who should arrive on the scene but the evening’s host: none other than the legendary entertainer Bob Hope, armed with a packet of corny, leering, cringe-worthy jokes — and zero tolerance for those women’s libbers. Greg Kinnear, who has played real-life figures from the inventor of the intermittent wiper (“Flash of Genius”) to Joe Biden to football coach Dick Vermeil to actor Bob Crane and played them well, stumbles a bit here as Hope. There’s a prosthetic nose but no other discernible effort to achieve physical resemblance, and his vocal mannerisms fall somewhere between halfhearted imitation and incomplete characterization. The great Lesley Manville gets little screen time but still has a couple of choice moments as Hope’s weary wife Delores, who never tires of reminding him of that time he brought a Miss World back to California with him like a trophy.
The climactic events in “Misbehaviour,” with the protesters infiltrating the pageant (they bought tickets!), disrupting Hope during his sexist monologue by cranking football rattles, holding up signs saying, “WE’RE NOT BEAUTIFUL, WE’RE NOT UGLY, WE’RE ANGRY” and hurling packets of flour onto the stage, make for wonderful onscreen theatrics — and are faithful to real-life events. And when Keira Knightley’s Sally and Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Jennifer find themselves together in a dramatically convenient moment, these two wonderful actresses hit it out of the park as they realize they’re basically fighting for the same thing in very different ways.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--15 shot, 2 fatally, Tuesday in Chicago

15 shot, 2 fatally, Tuesday in Chicago

Fifteen people were shot , two fatally , Tuesday in Chicago .
The most recent reported fatal shooting killed a 64-year-old gas station owner who was struck by a stray bullet after gunmen opened fire in West Town , also wounding a 17-year-old boy .
Surveillance footage shows four males get out of a black Lexus about 10:35 a.m. in the 100 block of North Western Avenue and open fire , Chicago police said .
As the shooting unfolded , the 64-year-old BP gas station owner was unloading items from the trunk of a car , according to a police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot in the chest and taken to Stroger Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
His name has not been released by the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office .
The teen suffered two gunshot wounds to his left bicep and took himself to the same hospital , police said .
It ’ s unclear if he was the intended target .
A 31-year-old man was fatally shot in Homan Square on the West Side .
About 12:30 a.m. he was sitting in a parked vehicle in the 600 block of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot , police said .
The man was pronounced dead at the scene .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office identified him as being Darryl Barfield .
He lived in Homan Square .
In non-fatal shootings , two men were shot in Austin on the West Side .
They were shot while standing outside with a group about 10:10 p.m. in the 1700 block of North Mango Avenue , police said .
One man , 19 , was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood with gunshot wounds to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The other man , 30 , was struck in the leg and taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park .
Both men were in good condition , police said .
About thirty minutes prior a 17-year-old boy was wounded when he was shot in West Town .
He was walking on the sidewalk about 9:45 p.m. in the 1400 block of West Erie Street when someone in a black car fired shots , police said .
The boy was taken to St. Mary ’ s Hospital in good condition with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes before then an 18-year-old man was wounded in South Chicago .
He was walking on the sidewalk about 9:15 p.m. in the 7900 block of South Escanaba Avenue when he heard gunfire and felt pain , police said .
The man was hit in the armpit and was taken to South Shore Hospital in fair condition .
A 29-year-old man was shot in Lawndale on the West Side .
He was getting out of a vehicle about 8:50 p.m. in the 1500 block of South Spaulding Avenue when someone in another vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition , police said .
At the same time in South Chicago , a woman was shot .
The 31-year-old was shot in the hand about 8:50 p.m. during an argument in a home in the 9100 block of South Brandon Avenue , police said .
She was taken to Trinity Hospital in good condition , police said .
A man was wounded in a shooting in Englewood on the South Side .
About 7 p.m. , the 40-year-old was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he was shot in the hand , police said .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition , police said .
A 34-year-old woman was wounded when she was shot in Roseland on the South Side .
She was sitting on a porch about 4:33 p.m. in the 700 block of East 105th Street when she heard gunfire and felt pain , police said .
The woman was hit in the foot , and her condition was stabilized at Roseland Hospital .
The day ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Canaryville on the South Side .
Just after midnight he was walking in the 500 block of West 43rd Street , when someone approached him and fired shots , police said .
He was struck in the buttocks and taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition , police said .
Three other people were wounded in shootings across Chicago .
Fourteen people were shot , three of them fatally , Monday in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Fifteen people were shot, two fatally, Tuesday in Chicago.
The most recent reported fatal shooting killed a 64-year-old gas station owner who was struck by a stray bullet after gunmen opened fire in West Town, also wounding a 17-year-old boy.
Surveillance footage shows four males get out of a black Lexus about 10:35 a.m. in the 100 block of North Western Avenue and open fire, Chicago police said.
As the shooting unfolded, the 64-year-old BP gas station owner was unloading items from the trunk of a car, according to a police source.
Police said the man was shot in the chest and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
His name has not been released by the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
The teen suffered two gunshot wounds to his left bicep and took himself to the same hospital, police said. It’s unclear if he was the intended target.
A 31-year-old man was fatally shot in Homan Square on the West Side.
About 12:30 a.m. he was sitting in a parked vehicle in the 600 block of South Spaulding Avenue, when he was shot, police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as being Darryl Barfield. He lived in Homan Square.
In non-fatal shootings, two men were shot in Austin on the West Side.
They were shot while standing outside with a group about 10:10 p.m. in the 1700 block of North Mango Avenue, police said.
One man, 19, was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood with gunshot wounds to his arm and foot, police said. The other man, 30, was struck in the leg and taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park.
Both men were in good condition, police said.
About thirty minutes prior a 17-year-old boy was wounded when he was shot in West Town.
He was walking on the sidewalk about 9:45 p.m. in the 1400 block of West Erie Street when someone in a black car fired shots, police said. The boy was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the foot.
Thirty minutes before then an 18-year-old man was wounded in South Chicago.
He was walking on the sidewalk about 9:15 p.m. in the 7900 block of South Escanaba Avenue when he heard gunfire and felt pain, police said. The man was hit in the armpit and was taken to South Shore Hospital in fair condition.
A 29-year-old man was shot in Lawndale on the West Side.
He was getting out of a vehicle about 8:50 p.m. in the 1500 block of South Spaulding Avenue when someone in another vehicle shot him in the ankle, police said.
The man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition, police said.
At the same time in South Chicago, a woman was shot.
The 31-year-old was shot in the hand about 8:50 p.m. during an argument in a home in the 9100 block of South Brandon Avenue, police said.
She was taken to Trinity Hospital in good condition, police said.
A man was wounded in a shooting in Englewood on the South Side.
About 7 p.m., the 40-year-old was in the 1200 block of West 74th Street when he was shot in the hand, police said.
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition, police said.
A 34-year-old woman was wounded when she was shot in Roseland on the South Side.
She was sitting on a porch about 4:33 p.m. in the 700 block of East 105th Street when she heard gunfire and felt pain, police said. The woman was hit in the foot, and her condition was stabilized at Roseland Hospital.
The day’s first reported shooting wounded a 24-year-old man in Canaryville on the South Side.
Just after midnight he was walking in the 500 block of West 43rd Street, when someone approached him and fired shots, police said.
He was struck in the buttocks and taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, police said.
Three other people were wounded in shootings across Chicago.
Fourteen people were shot, three of them fatally, Monday in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--Person in custody after standoff with SWAT team in Montclare

A person is in custody following a standoff with police Wednesday in Montclare on the Northwest Side .
The male @ @ @ @ @ about 1:40 a.m. after police were called to the scene in the 2500 block of @ @ @ @ @ police said .
Authorities said he may have been armed .
SWAT units were sent @ @ @ @ @ male was taken into custody , police said .
Further details were not immediately available @ @ @ @ @ story .
Check back for updates .

A person is in custody following a standoff with police Wednesday in Montclare on the Northwest Side.
The male barricaded himself inside a home about 1:40 a.m. after police were called to the scene in the 2500 block of North Newcastle Avenue, Chicago police said. Authorities said he may have been armed.
SWAT units were sent to the scene and the male was taken into custody, police said.
Further details were not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--Teen rescued from Lisle house fire

Teen rescued from Lisle house fire

A teenage boy was rescued from a fire Tuesday at a home in west suburban Lisle .
A Lisle police @ @ @ @ @ barriers ” to rescue the 14-year-old about 11:30 p.m. during a fire at a multi-unit @ @ @ @ @ of Wayfair Avenue , according to Lisle Trustee Sara Sadat .
The boy and the @ @ @ @ @ the incident , Sadat said .
Their conditions were not immediately known .
Lisle police @ @ @ @ @ be reached for comment Wednesday morning .
Sadat said that no other injuries were reported @

(LISLE) A police officer pulled a teenage boy from a burning home Tuesday in west suburban Lisle.
The fire was first reported shortly before 10:15 p.m. at a multi-unit home in the 2700 block of Wayfaring Lane, according to a statement from the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District.
Before fire crews arrived, a Lisle police officer “broke through some barriers” to rescue the 14-year-old from one of the units, according to Lisle Trustee Sara Sadat.
Fire officials said the officer rescued the teen through a “small basement window.”
Lisle police said the boy and the officer were checked out for smoke inhalation at a hospital but are expected to recover.
The blaze was under control about 15 minutes after fire crews arrived at the scene, according to the fire department. No other injuries were reported, but the building was deemed uninhabitable by the Lisle Building Department.
The cause remains under investigation, fire officials said.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--Person found dead, burned near Fernwood home: police

A person was found dead and burned Tuesday by a home in Fernwood on the South Side .
About 8:35 @ @ @ @ @ male body badly burned next to a home in the 200 block of West 103rd @ @ @ @ @ .
The male remains unidentified .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office has @ @ @ @ @ death .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

A man was found dead and burned Tuesday by a home in Fernwood on the South Side.
About 8:35 p.m., officers found the body badly burned next to a home in the 200 block of West 103rd Street, Chicago police said.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the man as Earl Chauncy Miller, 74, of Chicago Heights.
Area Two detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--Pritzker readies Illinois National Guard ahead of possible announcement in fatal police shooting of

Pritzker readies Illinois National Guard ahead of possible announcement in fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker has put the Illinois National Guard in “ a state of readiness ” Tuesday ahead of a possible announcement of criminal charges in the death of Breonna Taylor , a Black woman who was shot to death in March by police officers in Louisville , Kentucky .
The decision was made after a Tuesday morning meeting between Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot , according to spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh .
“ As the Governor has always said , all of the state ’ s resources are available to municipalities if needed ; this includes additional Illinois State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Abudayyeh said .
“ The Governor is putting the Guard in a state of readiness to ensure they are available if municipalities request their assistance.
” Taylor , an emergency medical worker , was shot multiple times March 13 by officers who entered her home using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation .
The warrant used was connected to a suspect who did not live there , and no drugs were found inside .
The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisville ’ s Metro Council .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , when protesters took to the streets in cities across the country , including Chicago , to protest police brutality against Black people .
Her name , along with Floyd ’ s , figured largely in discussions about the issue over the summer .
Celebrities , athletes and activists , along with Taylor ’ s family , have for months pushed for Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to criminally charge the officers involved in the raid .
Louisville police said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an announcement from Cameron .
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer also declared a “ second state of emergency due to potential civil unrest ” on Tuesday , though it remains unknown whether Cameron , who is investigating the case , will charge the officers .

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has put the Illinois National Guard in “a state of readiness” Tuesday ahead of a possible announcement of criminal charges in the death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was shot to death in March by police officers in Louisville, Kentucky.
The decision was made after a Tuesday morning meeting between Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, according to spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh.
“As the Governor has always said, all of the state’s resources are available to municipalities if needed; this includes additional Illinois State Police troopers and the National Guard,” Abudayyeh said. “The Governor is putting the Guard in a state of readiness to ensure they are available if municipalities request their assistance.”
Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times March 13 by officers who entered her home using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant used was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside. The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisville’s Metro Council.
Her death gained renewed attention in May in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, when protesters took to the streets in cities across the country, including Chicago, to protest police brutality against Black people. Her name, along with Floyd’s, figured largely in discussions about the issue over the summer.
Celebrities, athletes and activists, along with Taylor’s family, have for months pushed for Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to criminally charge the officers involved in the raid.
Louisville police said in a news conference Tuesday that they were preparing for an announcement from Cameron.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer also declared a “second state of emergency due to potential civil unrest” on Tuesday, though it remains unknown whether Cameron, who is investigating the case, will charge the officers.
Contributing: Associated Press


chicagosun-times--2020-09-22--Teen shot in West Town

Teen shot in West Town

A 17-year-old boy was wounded when he was shot Tuesday in West Town .
He was walking on the sidewalk @ @ @ @ @ 1400 block of West Erie Street when someone in a black car fired shots , @ @ @ @ @ boy was taken to St. Mary ’ s Hospital in good condition with a gunshot @ @ @ @ @ No one is in custody as detectives investigate .
Read more on crime , and @ @ @ @ @ homicides .

A 17-year-old boy was wounded when he was shot Tuesday in West Town.
He was walking on the sidewalk about 9:45 p.m. in the 1400 block of West Erie Street when someone in a black car fired shots, Chicago police said. The boy was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the foot.
No one is in custody as detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--Thousands of CPS students still haven’t attended virtual classes this fall, officials say

Chicago Public Schools officials are still working to get thousands of students into online classes two weeks into the school year , a sign that obstacles to learning still exist for some and that many families may have transferred out of the district this fall .
The school system ’ s chief education officer , LaTanya McDade , said at Wednesday ’ s monthly Board of Education meeting that as many as 6,900 children were still missing from virtual classes in the 300,000-student district at the end of last week .
McDade said not all those students who haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and not contacted .
“ Some of those students have transferred outside of the district or transferred to charter as well , ” McDade said .
CPS spokeswoman Emily Bolton said later Wednesday the number of students marked “ did not arrive ” was actually 2,680 last Friday , and said the figure was typical and not due to the pandemic .
“ This is not a phenomenon of remote learning circumstances ; every year there is wide variation between the first and 20th day of school , which is why CPS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrollment after students have been in school for a couple of weeks , ” Bolton said in an emailed statement .
Board President Miguel del Valle asked McDade how the district would connect with those students who still hadn ’ t been reached .
Del Valle said it would be important to identify the exact reasons why students haven ’ t been reached .
McDade said CPS central office employees , bus aides and other workers have been calling families every day to find out where their children are , and what resources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Safe Passage Workers have handed out almost 60,000 flyers in various communities , and security guards have been trained and repurposed for home visits to check on families if they can ’ t be reached by phone .
McDade said CPS ’ decision to back off a policy that in typical years would almost immediately drop students who didn ’ t show up on the first day of school .
Students classified as “ Did Not Attend ” were instead dropped from enrollment two weeks into this school year .
Had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said about 49,000 students might have been dropped from CPS for not attending classes that first day .
CPS released data last week that showed about four of every five students logged on for the first week of school , a markedly higher rate than in the spring despite first-day attendance still dipping from previous years .
In all , 84.2 % of registered students attended remote classes the first day of school , down from an average first-day attendance of 94.3 % the previous four years .
Attendance district-wide rose the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % by the third day .

Chicago Public Schools officials are still working to get thousands of students into online classes two weeks into the school year, a sign that obstacles to learning still exist for some and that many families may have transferred out of the district this fall.
The school system’s chief education officer, LaTanya McDade, said at Wednesday’s monthly Board of Education meeting that as many as 6,900 children were still missing from virtual classes in the 300,000-student district at the end of last week.
McDade said not all those students who haven’t attended classes have been “lost” and not contacted.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
“Some of those students have transferred outside of the district or transferred to charter as well,” McDade said.
CPS spokeswoman Emily Bolton said later Wednesday the number of students marked “did not arrive” was actually 2,680 last Friday, and said the figure was typical and not due to the pandemic.
“This is not a phenomenon of remote learning circumstances; every year there is wide variation between the first and 20th day of school, which is why CPS and other large urban districts calculate final enrollment after students have been in school for a couple of weeks,” Bolton said in an emailed statement.
Board President Miguel del Valle asked McDade how the district would connect with those students who still hadn’t been reached. Del Valle said it would be important to identify the exact reasons why students haven’t been reached.
McDade said CPS central office employees, bus aides and other workers have been calling families every day to find out where their children are, and what resources they need to get back in school. Safe Passage Workers have handed out almost 60,000 flyers in various communities, and security guards have been trained and repurposed for home visits to check on families if they can’t be reached by phone.
McDade said CPS’ decision to back off a policy that in typical years would almost immediately drop students who didn’t show up on the first day of school. Students classified as “Did Not Attend” were instead dropped from enrollment two weeks into this school year.
Had the original policy been left intact, McDade said about 49,000 students might have been dropped from CPS for not attending classes that first day.
CPS released data last week that showed about four of every five students logged on for the first week of school, a markedly higher rate than in the spring despite first-day attendance still dipping from previous years.
In all, 84.2% of registered students attended remote classes the first day of school, down from an average first-day attendance of 94.3% the previous four years. Attendance district-wide rose the second day of school and then reached 90.2% by the third day.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--The Mix: Chicago Children’s Choir, South Side Film Fest and more things to do Sept. 24-30

The Chicago Children ’ s Choir presents “ Reverberation : A Celebration of Enduring Voices , ” a free virtual concert of songs and stories from its singers .
The song list features a varied mix from U2 ’ s “ One ” and Beyonce ’ s “ Bigger ” and “ The Lion King : The Gift , ” to “ Just a Dream , ” written by 11-year-old choir member Jamion Cotton with choir alum W. Mitchell Owens .
Also included is the debut of the music video for Common ’ s “ God Is Love !
, @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Streams at 8 p.m. Sept. 26 .
Visit ccchoir.org/reverberation .
The Chicago South Side Film Festival , which celebrates the work of South Side filmmakers , is rebooted as an online event Sept. 25-Oct. 4 .
The films include “ No Lye : An American Beauty Story , ” Bayer Mack ’ s documentary about the rise and fall of the Black-owned beauty business featuring companies with ties to the South Side , and Lora Branch ’ s “ 40th : The Story of Bishop Robert Williams and Robert Temple , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Chicago ’ s Black history including the funeral of Emmett Till .
Plus there are several short film showcases and free filmmaker Q & A ’ s and panel discussions .
Tickets : $ 8 .
Visit southsidefilmfest.org .
In creating its newest performance piece , “ With Rumi , ” Mandala South Asian Performing Arts finds inspiration in the writings of Rumi , the 13th century Persian poet and Sufi mystic .
The 60-minute performance combines Persian poetry , film , music , calligraphy and classical Indian Dance .
Through her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the story of two lovers unable to find “ oneness ” due to physical and emotional distance .
An original score by Sufi composer Niloufar Nourbaksh accompanies the dance and film and is performed live by Manou Magdalena Chakravorty on cello and Farzad Amoozegar on several Persian instruments .
In-person audiences will be limited ; a live stream also is available .
At 3 and 6 p.m. Sept. 26 , Mana Contemporary Chicago , 2233 S. Throop .
Tickets : $ 25 .
Visit withrumi.eventcombo.com .
If your dinners have been a tad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a visit to Lips Drag Palace when it reopens on Sept. 24 .
Each Wednesday through Sunday there ’ s a different theme for the drag queen show ranging from Twisted Broadway to the Dragalicious Gospel Brunch .
Doors open at 6 p.m. , seating begins at 7 p.m. Lips is located at 2229 S. Michigan .
Advance reservations suggested .
For more information , visit lipschicago.com .
“ Reeling : The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival ” celebrates its 38th season with a lineup featuring 30 features and 54 short films .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s love story “ Breaking Fast , ” which delves into Muslim-American culture as two men strive to advance their relationship amidst differences .
Among the documentaries offered is “ The Capote Tapes , ” a film built around never-before-seen interviews with Truman Capote ’ s friends .
Also streamed is a series of Q & As with filmmakers and actors .
Presented by Chicago Filmmakers , the festival streams Sept. 24-Oct. 4 with each film available for four days .
Tickets : $ 12 ; festival passes $ 50- $ 150 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not in the market to buy , it ’ s fun to peruse the items at Potter & Potter Auctions ’ Circus and Sideshow Memorabilia Sale .
In the more than 700 lots are sideshow banners , broadsides , circus- and carnival-related merchandise , unusual archives from people in the entertainment industry and a collection of Diane Arbus photographs including “ Group Portrait at Hubert ’ s Museum ” and “ Albino Sword Swallower and Her Sister.
” The online auction begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 26 from the company ’ s North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at potterauctions.com .
The Pygmalion Music Festival takes place every September in Champaign-Urbana , but this year , it ’ s a virtual affair as Pygmalion pivots to a diverse set of streamed discussions , interactions and activations to engage as many people as possible .
The lineup includes Ilana Glazer ( “ Broad City ” ) , NPR ’ s Ari Shapiro , inventor and YouTube star Simone Giertz , the cast of the film “ Napoleon Dynamite , ” a podcast from “ Yo , Is This Racist ?
” featuring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Terrance Hayes , Bernardine Evaristo and Kaveh Akbar and much more .
Among the activations are a virtual escape room , a virtual hackathon , a literary marathon and a charity poker tournament .
Pygmalion is free and streams Sept. 24-26 .
For more information , go to thisispygmalion.com .

Resilient voices
The Chicago Children’s Choir presents “Reverberation: A Celebration of Enduring Voices,” a free virtual concert of songs and stories from its singers. The song list features a varied mix from U2’s “One” and Beyonce’s “Bigger” and “The Lion King: The Gift,” to “Just a Dream,” written by 11-year-old choir member Jamion Cotton with choir alum W. Mitchell Owens. Also included is the debut of the music video for Common’s “God Is Love!,” recorded with the choir last winter. Streams at 8 p.m. Sept. 26. Visit ccchoir.org/reverberation.
“No Lye: An American Beauty Story” Block Starz Music Television
South Side cinema
The Chicago South Side Film Festival, which celebrates the work of South Side filmmakers, is rebooted as an online event Sept. 25-Oct. 4. The films include “No Lye: An American Beauty Story,” Bayer Mack’s documentary about the rise and fall of the Black-owned beauty business featuring companies with ties to the South Side, and Lora Branch’s “40th: The Story of Bishop Robert Williams and Robert Temple,” which explores the temple’s place in Chicago’s Black history including the funeral of Emmett Till. Plus there are several short film showcases and free filmmaker Q&A’s and panel discussions. Tickets: $8. Visit southsidefilmfest.org.
Dancer Veena Puthanpurayil of “With Rumi.” Tom Rossiter
Ruminating Rumi
In creating its newest performance piece, “With Rumi,” Mandala South Asian Performing Arts finds inspiration in the writings of Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet and Sufi mystic. The 60-minute performance combines Persian poetry, film, music, calligraphy and classical Indian Dance. Through her choreography, artistic director Pranita Nayar tells the story of two lovers unable to find “oneness” due to physical and emotional distance. An original score by Sufi composer Niloufar Nourbaksh accompanies the dance and film and is performed live by Manou Magdalena Chakravorty on cello and Farzad Amoozegar on several Persian instruments. In-person audiences will be limited; a live stream also is available. At 3 and 6 p.m. Sept. 26, Mana Contemporary Chicago, 2233 S. Throop. Tickets: $25. Visit withrumi.eventcombo.com.
Angie LeBare performs at Lips Drag Palace in Chicago. Lips Chicago
Diva dinner date
If your dinners have been a tad boring lately, jazz them up with a visit to Lips Drag Palace when it reopens on Sept. 24. Each Wednesday through Sunday there’s a different theme for the drag queen show ranging from Twisted Broadway to the Dragalicious Gospel Brunch. Doors open at 6 p.m., seating begins at 7 p.m. Lips is located at 2229 S. Michigan. Advance reservations suggested. For more information, visit lipschicago.com.
Haaz Sleiman (left) and Michael Cassidy in “Breaking Fast.” Vertical Entertainment
LGBTQ+ stories on film
“Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival” celebrates its 38th season with a lineup featuring 30 features and 54 short films. Opening the festival is Mike Mosallam’s love story “Breaking Fast,” which delves into Muslim-American culture as two men strive to advance their relationship amidst differences. Among the documentaries offered is “The Capote Tapes,” a film built around never-before-seen interviews with Truman Capote’s friends. Also streamed is a series of Q&As with filmmakers and actors. Presented by Chicago Filmmakers, the festival streams Sept. 24-Oct. 4 with each film available for four days. Tickets: $12; festival passes $50-$150. Visit reelingfilmfestival.org/2020/
A banner for sale at the circus memorabilia auction. Potter & Potter
Auction rarities
Even if you’re not in the market to buy, it’s fun to peruse the items at Potter & Potter Auctions’ Circus and Sideshow Memorabilia Sale. In the more than 700 lots are sideshow banners, broadsides, circus- and carnival-related merchandise, unusual archives from people in the entertainment industry and a collection of Diane Arbus photographs including “Group Portrait at Hubert’s Museum” and “Albino Sword Swallower and Her Sister.” The online auction begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 26 from the company’s North Side gallery. Items are on view at potterauctions.com.
Ilana Glazer Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
Engaging ideas
The Pygmalion Music Festival takes place every September in Champaign-Urbana, but this year, it’s a virtual affair as Pygmalion pivots to a diverse set of streamed discussions, interactions and activations to engage as many people as possible. The lineup includes Ilana Glazer (“Broad City”), NPR’s Ari Shapiro, inventor and YouTube star Simone Giertz , the cast of the film “Napoleon Dynamite,” a podcast from “Yo, Is This Racist?” featuring Tawny Newsome and Andrew Ti, authors Terrance Hayes, Bernardine Evaristo and Kaveh Akbar and much more. Among the activations are a virtual escape room, a virtual hackathon, a literary marathon and a charity poker tournament. Pygmalion is free and streams Sept. 24-26. For more information, go to thisispygmalion.com.
Mary Houlihan is a Chicago freelance writer.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--Green Line trains bypass 35th Street as protesters march at Chicago Police headquarters

CTA Green Line trains were bypassing 35th Street Wednesday during a nearby protest at the Chicago Police Department headquarters .
@ @ @ @ @ the 35th-Bronzeville-IIT station at 6:16 p.m. “ at the request of public safety officials , @ @ @ @ @ Transit Authority .
The bypasses happened during a protest at the nearby CPD headquarters at @ @ @ @ @ least four separate protests were formed just hours after a grand jury indicted one former @ @ @ @ @ neighboring apartments , but not in connection to Breonna Taylor ’ s death .
Other @ @ @ @ @ Sabina church , Millennium Park and Palmer Square .
The city on Wednesday positioned 300 @ @ @ @ @ plows and other large trucks , to deter rioting at commercial corridors and other locations @ @ @ @ @ a similar strategy during looting in May and August .

CTA Green Line trains bypassed 35th Street Wednesday during a nearby protest at the Chicago Police Department headquarters.
Green Line trains began bypassing the 35th-Bronzeville-IIT station at 6:16 p.m. “at the request of public safety officials,” and resumed normal service about 9 p.m., according to the Chicago Transit Authority.
Red Line trains briefly bypassed the Sox-35th station at 7 p.m.
The bypasses happened during a protest at the nearby CPD headquarters at 3510 S. Michigan Ave.
At least four separate protests were formed just hours after a grand jury indicted one former police officer for shooting into neighboring apartments, but not in connection to Breonna Taylor’s death.
Other protests were planned at St. Sabina church, Millennium Park and Palmer Square.
The city on Wednesday positioned 300 city vehicles, including snow plows and other large trucks, to deter rioting at commercial corridors and other locations. The city has used a similar strategy during looting in May and August.


chicagosun-times--2020-09-23--Gale Sayers, Brian Piccolo friendship lives on in ‘Brian’s Song’

When Chicago Bears teammates Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo became roommates in 1967 , the first time NFL players of different colors shared accommodations on the road , it hardly looked like a good fit .
Sayers , 24 at the time , was already an established star , a soft-spoken Black man who generally raised his voice only when matters of social justice were discussed .
Piccolo , the same age , was white , an inveterate talker and joker who was competing with Sayers for playing time in the backfield after being undrafted and clambering from the taxi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the enduring friendship that formed between the two became the subject of “ Brian ’ s Song , ” a 1971 made-for-TV movie that remains one of the most popular sports movies of all time .
It rarely resonated more than it did Wednesday , following the announcement of Sayers ’ death at age 77 .
“ It just amazes me , ” Joy Piccolo O ’ Connell said in an interview from her Wisconsin home .
“ It was 50 years ago.
” The two grew close in 1968 , when Piccolo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back from the first of several knee injuries that eventually shortened his career .
When Piccolo received a diagnosis of late-stage testicular cancer the following year , Sayers unfailingly remained by his side .
Piccolo lost his battle with the disease in 1970 , less than a month after Sayers received the league ’ s George S. Halas Courage Award and gave the speech that became the centerpiece of the film : “ He has the heart of a giant and that rare form of courage that allows him to kid himself and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at the awards dinner , a scene reprised in the ABC movie by actor Billy Dee Williams .
“ He has the mental attitude that makes me proud to have a friend who spells out the word ‘ courage ’ 24 hours a day , every day of his life .
You flatter me by giving me this award , but I tell you that I accept it for Brian Piccolo .
It is mine tonight , it is Brian Piccolo ’ s tomorrow .
… I love Brian Piccolo , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to love him too .
Tonight , when you hit your knees , ” Sayers concluded , “ please ask God to love him.
” Williams tweeted Wednesday that “ my heart is broken over the loss of my dear friend , Gale Sayers .
Portraying Gale in Brian ’ s Song was a true honor and one of the nightlights of my career .
He was an extraordinary human being with the the kindest heart.
” In 1967 , hotel-room assignments were generally done by position and running back was the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of different colors would be thrown together .
But then-general manager Ed McCaskey , a Halas family member who was running the club , gave the move his blessing — and with good reason .
As a senior at Wake Forest , in a 1963 game against Maryland , Piccolo walked to the Terrapins sideline and brought Maryland running back Darryl Hill — the only Black player in the league at the time — with him to the front of the student section .
Then he threw an arm across Hill ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joy Piccolo O ’ Connell , who has remarried , thinks the biggest obstacle to the friendship between Piccolo and Sayers had to more to do with personality than color .
“ Brian loved being with people , loved to talk and couldn ’ t do enough public speaking , ” she said , “ and Gale was so extremely quiet.
” Indeed , Sayers said in a 2001 interview that Piccolo ’ s constant joking put him off at first .
Piccolo , likewise , told biographer Jeannie Morris that he thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t see him speak to a soul the whole week we were together.
” From that rocky beginning , Sayers and Piccolo forged a bond strong enough to weather injury and illness and push back against the lazy assumption that men of different colors , from different backgrounds , couldn ’ t care about — and for — each other like brothers .
“ They showed the movie the other night , ” Piccolo O ’ Connell said , “ and we ’ ll get inquiries through the ( Piccolo ) foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she concluded “ how the story continues and continues .
”

When Chicago Bears teammates Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo became roommates in 1967, the first time NFL players of different colors shared accommodations on the road, it hardly looked like a good fit.
Sayers, 24 at the time, was already an established star, a soft-spoken Black man who generally raised his voice only when matters of social justice were discussed. Piccolo, the same age, was white, an inveterate talker and joker who was competing with Sayers for playing time in the backfield after being undrafted and clambering from the taxi squad onto the game-day roster.
But the enduring friendship that formed between the two became the subject of “Brian’s Song,” a 1971 made-for-TV movie that remains one of the most popular sports movies of all time. It rarely resonated more than it did Wednesday, following the announcement of Sayers’ death at age 77.
“It just amazes me,” Joy Piccolo O’Connell said in an interview from her Wisconsin home. “It was 50 years ago.”
The two grew close in 1968, when Piccolo unselfishly supported Sayers’ attempt to come back from the first of several knee injuries that eventually shortened his career. When Piccolo received a diagnosis of late-stage testicular cancer the following year, Sayers unfailingly remained by his side.
Piccolo lost his battle with the disease in 1970, less than a month after Sayers received the league’s George S. Halas Courage Award and gave the speech that became the centerpiece of the film:
“He has the heart of a giant and that rare form of courage that allows him to kid himself and his opponent — cancer,” Sayers said at the awards dinner, a scene reprised in the ABC movie by actor Billy Dee Williams.
This 1970 file photos shows Chicago Bears teammates and friends Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers. AP
“He has the mental attitude that makes me proud to have a friend who spells out the word ‘courage’ 24 hours a day, every day of his life. You flatter me by giving me this award, but I tell you that I accept it for Brian Piccolo. It is mine tonight, it is Brian Piccolo’s tomorrow. … I love Brian Piccolo, and I’d like all of you to love him too. Tonight, when you hit your knees,” Sayers concluded, “please ask God to love him.”
Williams tweeted Wednesday that “my heart is broken over the loss of my dear friend, Gale Sayers. Portraying Gale in Brian’s Song was a true honor and one of the nightlights of my career. He was an extraordinary human being with the the kindest heart.”
In 1967, hotel-room assignments were generally done by position and running back was the only slot on the Bears team where players of different colors would be thrown together. But then-general manager Ed McCaskey, a Halas family member who was running the club, gave the move his blessing — and with good reason.
As a senior at Wake Forest, in a 1963 game against Maryland, Piccolo walked to the Terrapins sideline and brought Maryland running back Darryl Hill — the only Black player in the league at the time — with him to the front of the student section. Then he threw an arm across Hill’s shoulders, silencing the crowd.
But Joy Piccolo O’Connell, who has remarried, thinks the biggest obstacle to the friendship between Piccolo and Sayers had to more to do with personality than color.
“Brian loved being with people, loved to talk and couldn’t do enough public speaking,” she said, “and Gale was so extremely quiet.”
Indeed, Sayers said in a 2001 interview that Piccolo’s constant joking put him off at first. Piccolo, likewise, told biographer Jeannie Morris that he thought Sayers was “arrogant … I didn’t see him speak to a soul the whole week we were together.”
From that rocky beginning, Sayers and Piccolo forged a bond strong enough to weather injury and illness and push back against the lazy assumption that men of different colors, from different backgrounds, couldn’t care about — and for — each other like brothers.
“They showed the movie the other night,” Piccolo O’Connell said, “and we’ll get inquiries through the (Piccolo) foundation …
“But it’s amazing,” she concluded “how the story continues and continues.”