chicagosun-times--2020-10-06--Activists once again call for Mercy Hospital to remain open

For at least the third time in as many months , activists and health care professionals and labor groups called on elected officials to stop the planned closure of Mercy Hospital & Medical Center in Bronzeville .
About 40 supporters gathered Tuesday afternoon at Adams and LaSalle in the Loop , where speaker after speaker decried the decision to close the hospital during a global health crisis that has disproportionately affected communities of color in Chicago .
“ In the midst of this pandemic , as we move towards the winter , as people move into closer settings and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our patients are supposed to spike , we ’ re closing down a bedrock hospital in a Black community full of individuals that are at a higher risk , ” said Dr. Ezekiel Richardson of Northwestern Memorial Hospital .
“ In these settings , closing a hospital as a pandemic rages , as violence erupts , is unconscionable , ” he added .
Mercy , the city ’ s first hospital , announced last summer its plans to close in 2021 .
Mercy was set to merge with three other South Side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to a lack of state funding .
The hospital — which was the site of a deadly mass shooting in November 2018 — is located at 2525 S. Michigan Ave. and serves predominantly Black patients .
After several speakers addressed reporters , organizers and supporters stood in the intersection of Adams and LaSalle , temporarily blocking the scant vehicle traffic .
Asked why the rally and news conference were held downtown and not at the hospital , Jitu Brown , an organizer with the Black Leaders Building Together Coalition , said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out in front of the hospital .
We ’ re here in the financial district because we know that , often , these are the people that elected officials care about .
We want to be in a part of Chicago that ’ s privileged to say that they can ’ t ignore us .
They can not ignore the needs of people in our communities.
” Mercy and three other struggling South Side hospitals announced a $ 1.1 billion plan earlier this year to merge into a single health care system with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community health centers .
But the plan came apart in June after the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up a session without appropriating $ 520 million the hospitals were seeking to move the merger forward .
In late July , Mercy Hospital announced it would close sometime between Feb. 1 and May 31 , 2021 .
Hospital officials said they will focus on creating outpatient services that will include diagnostics and urgent care .

For at least the third time in as many months, activists and health care professionals and labor groups called on elected officials to stop the planned closure of Mercy Hospital & Medical Center in Bronzeville.
About 40 supporters gathered Tuesday afternoon at Adams and LaSalle in the Loop, where speaker after speaker decried the decision to close the hospital during a global health crisis that has disproportionately affected communities of color in Chicago.
“In the midst of this pandemic, as we move towards the winter, as people move into closer settings and have a higher chance of transmitting COVID, and our patients are supposed to spike, we’re closing down a bedrock hospital in a Black community full of individuals that are at a higher risk,” said Dr. Ezekiel Richardson of Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
“In these settings, closing a hospital as a pandemic rages, as violence erupts, is unconscionable,” he added.
Mercy, the city’s first hospital, announced last summer its plans to close in 2021. Mercy was set to merge with three other South Side hospitals, but that plan fell through due to a lack of state funding.
The hospital — which was the site of a deadly mass shooting in November 2018 — is located at 2525 S. Michigan Ave. and serves predominantly Black patients.
After several speakers addressed reporters, organizers and supporters stood in the intersection of Adams and LaSalle, temporarily blocking the scant vehicle traffic.
Asked why the rally and news conference were held downtown and not at the hospital, Jitu Brown, an organizer with the Black Leaders Building Together Coalition, said:
“We’ve done several actions out in front of the hospital. We’re here in the financial district because we know that, often, these are the people that elected officials care about. We want to be in a part of Chicago that’s privileged to say that they can’t ignore us. They can not ignore the needs of people in our communities.”
Mercy and three other struggling South Side hospitals announced a $1.1 billion plan earlier this year to merge into a single health care system with one new hospital and a network of community health centers.
But the plan came apart in June after the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up a session without appropriating $520 million the hospitals were seeking to move the merger forward.
In late July, Mercy Hospital announced it would close sometime between Feb. 1 and May 31, 2021. Hospital officials said they will focus on creating outpatient services that will include diagnostics and urgent care.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Dear Abby: My mom was tried for murder long ago — and I think she did it

DEAR ABBY : While researching my family , I discovered that my now-elderly mother was charged with the murder of a toddler 40 years ago , before I was born .
She was never convicted and never mentioned it .
However , after reading her testimony and things she ’ s said after the incident , I have no doubt she is guilty .
This has me reeling because she has always been a great and loving mother .
When she heard I was researching our family , she mentioned that I would find something unsavory and asked me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s in the past and she didn ’ t want it to tarnish my image of her .
I don ’ t know how to feel or what to do .
— SHOCKED IN THE WEST DEAR SHOCKED : If your mother was charged with murder , either the charges were dropped or she was found innocent by a jury .
You wrote that your mother was a great and loving mother .
For that you should feel grateful because not all children are so fortunate as you were .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take the opportunity to get her side of the story .
Unless you have all the facts , the last thing you should do is judge her .
DEAR ABBY : My sweet , introverted son has just started high school .
He ’ s a shy person who has a hard time making friends , and the few friends he had in middle school aren ’ t attending the same high school .
He has confided that he is terrified that he will be bullied and won ’ t know how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a phrase that repels bullies .
I told him I don ’ t know any and I would ask you .
— WORRIED MOM DEAR WORRIED MOM : Like your son , many students transitioning to high school are afraid of the unknown .
Why is he afraid of being bullied ?
Did it happen to him in middle school ?
If so , why ?
Many schools have antibullying policies in place , and students who are subjected to it should report it immediately .
While I know of no one-size-fits-all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do think that enrolling your son in martial arts classes would give him a sense of confidence that he is lacking now .
You should also encourage him to get involved with special interest groups at his new school , which might enable him to meet and interact with more kids and possibly make new friends .
DEAR ABBY : My husband insists that I go out in public without wearing any underwear .
He thinks it ’ s sexy .
I am uncomfortable doing this because it makes me feel dirty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unsanitary .
Your thoughts ?
— NOT MY THING IN VIRGINIA DEAR NOT : I ’ m glad you asked .
Dirty and trashy are separate issues from unsanitary .
You are a married adult woman , and wearing or not wearing anything under your dresses or skirts has no bearing on whether you are ( or aren ’ t ) a “ good ” girl .
I imagine some couples go out for a special night on the town “ commando ” because it ’ s exciting , their secret , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some people also feel more comfortable never wearing underwear .
If you have questions about whether the practice is unhealthy , discuss it with your physician or gynecologist .
Bottom line , you should not do anything you ’ re uncomfortable with .
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 .
Abby shares more than 100 of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abby ’ s Favorite Recipes ” and “ More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 16 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Cookbooklet Set , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: While researching my family, I discovered that my now-elderly mother was charged with the murder of a toddler 40 years ago, before I was born. She was never convicted and never mentioned it. However, after reading her testimony and things she’s said after the incident, I have no doubt she is guilty.
This has me reeling because she has always been a great and loving mother. When she heard I was researching our family, she mentioned that I would find something unsavory and asked me to please not look into it because it’s in the past and she didn’t want it to tarnish my image of her. I don’t know how to feel or what to do. — SHOCKED IN THE WEST
DEAR SHOCKED: If your mother was charged with murder, either the charges were dropped or she was found innocent by a jury. You wrote that your mother was a great and loving mother. For that you should feel grateful because not all children are so fortunate as you were. I think it’s time for you to take the opportunity to get her side of the story. Unless you have all the facts, the last thing you should do is judge her.
DEAR ABBY: My sweet, introverted son has just started high school. He’s a shy person who has a hard time making friends, and the few friends he had in middle school aren’t attending the same high school. He has confided that he is terrified that he will be bullied and won’t know how to respond. He asked me if there was a phrase that repels bullies. I told him I don’t know any and I would ask you. — WORRIED MOM
DEAR WORRIED MOM: Like your son, many students transitioning to high school are afraid of the unknown. Why is he afraid of being bullied? Did it happen to him in middle school? If so, why? Many schools have antibullying policies in place, and students who are subjected to it should report it immediately.
While I know of no one-size-fits-all phrase that will repel a bully, I do think that enrolling your son in martial arts classes would give him a sense of confidence that he is lacking now. You should also encourage him to get involved with special interest groups at his new school, which might enable him to meet and interact with more kids and possibly make new friends.
DEAR ABBY: My husband insists that I go out in public without wearing any underwear. He thinks it’s sexy. I am uncomfortable doing this because it makes me feel dirty and trashy. I also feel it is unsanitary. Your thoughts? — NOT MY THING IN VIRGINIA
DEAR NOT: I’m glad you asked. Dirty and trashy are separate issues from unsanitary. You are a married adult woman, and wearing or not wearing anything under your dresses or skirts has no bearing on whether you are (or aren’t) a “good” girl.
I imagine some couples go out for a special night on the town “commando” because it’s exciting, their secret, and maybe can lead to romance later. Some people also feel more comfortable never wearing underwear. If you have questions about whether the practice is unhealthy, discuss it with your physician or gynecologist.
Bottom line, you should not do anything you’re uncomfortable with.
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.
Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--‘The Right Stuff’: New series parties with the dashing men of Mercury Seven

The crews .
The crafts .
The clashes .
The controversies .
The Corvettes .
The cocktails .
The coolness of it all .
More than a half-century after humans began orbiting the Earth and eyeing the moon , the stories of the astronauts and their families and colleagues have continued to attract Hollywood , from the feature film “ First Man ” ( 2018 ) to the recent Netflix docuseries “ Challenger ” to the Apple TV+ series “ For All Mankind , ” which reimagines the outcome of the space race and other historical events of the 1960s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series “ The Right Stuff , ” which is based on Tom Wolfe ’ s iconic 1979 book of the same name and chronicles the nascent years of the newly created NASA program and the best-of-the-best test pilots who made up the original Mercury Seven .
And while it would be next to impossible to duplicate the shining brilliance of Philip Kaufman ’ s 1983 theatrical adaptation of the same material ( IMHO the best astronaut movie ever made ) , show creator Mark Lafferty has delivered a visually striking , well-acted period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The Flyboys Edition.
” In the opening sequence set in 1961 , Mercury astronauts John Glenn ( a solid Patrick J. Adams ) and Alan Shepard ( Jake McDorman , the standout of the series ) engage in a competitive predawn and then get ready for the day as we catch a brief glimpse of the Freedom 7 capsule on the morning of America ’ s first human spaceflight .
They sit down for a breakfast of steak and eggs — but when Glenn tries to talk about the importance of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they ’ re going to say in public , Shepard cuts him off and says , “ You ’ re a great pilot , John … but you went behind my back and I know all about it .
Now we ’ re going to go out there and turn on the wattage for the cameras … but right now , we don ’ t have to sit here and pretend we ’ re best buddies.
” The rivalry and stark contrasts between Glenn and Shepard are established , and become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thereafter , we get a title card saying “ TWO YEARS EARLIER , 1959 , ” as we ’ re introduced to the seven men — all cocky , hotshot pilots from various branches of the Armed Forces , each convinced HE ’ S the most qualified to be the first American in space — who were chosen from hundreds of top candidates to become the Mercury 7 crew .
In addition to Glenn and Shepard , there ’ s the Don Draper-esque , womanizing married playboy Gordon “ Gordo ” Cooper ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rough-edged Gus Grissom ( Michael Trotter ) , who has a running feud with Cooper dating back to their Air Force days ; the jokester Wally Schirra ( Aaron Staton , who actually was in “ Mad Men ” as Ken Cosgrove ) , along with Scott Carpenter ( James Lafferty ) and Deke Slayton ( Micah Stock ) , two fine pilots and astronauts mostly relegated to the background in this version of the story .
We also meet the wives , who were turned into props by Life Magazine and had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smile every day .
Nora Zahetner is Glenn ’ s shy , almost reclusive wife Annie , who dreaded the spotlight mostly because of her pronounced stutter ; Eloise Mumford is Trudy Cooper , who had left Gordo over his drinking and philandering but reluctantly agreed to a reconciliation effort after Gordo told her he ’ d be on the outside looking in if the NASA PR machine learned they were estranged , and Shannon Lucio as Louise Shepard , who seems oblivious to her husband ’ s numerous one-night stands .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but serve as a tone-changing counterpoint to the jazzed-up , revved-up , souped-up scenes of the dashing flyboys in their AO pilot sunglasses and their flashy convertibles , who seem to spend as much time partying as they do training .
( With the notable exception of the righteous and judgmental Glenn , who rarely joins the group and spends his free time angling to become THE public face of the Mercury program and working every room like the politician he would eventually become .
Shepard et al .
are hounds in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unabashed glory hound . )
This is Nat Geo ’ s first original scripted series for Disney+ and it ’ s a successful launch , pardon the pun .
It ’ s about the technologically amazing and bold and sometimes recklessly rushed American effort to win the space race , the behind-the-scenes creation of heroes who more than lived up to the hype , and the flawed but incredibly brave and talented men who lived up to the term “ astronaut , ” which is derived from the Greek words for “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The crews. The crafts. The clashes. The controversies. The Corvettes. The cocktails.
The coolness of it all.
More than a half-century after humans began orbiting the Earth and eyeing the moon, the stories of the astronauts and their families and colleagues have continued to attract Hollywood, from the feature film “First Man” (2018) to the recent Netflix docuseries “Challenger” to the Apple TV+ series “For All Mankind,” which reimagines the outcome of the space race and other historical events of the 1960s.
‘The Right Stuff’
Untitled An eight-episode series premiering with two episodes Friday on Disney+.
Now comes the new Disney+ drama series “The Right Stuff,” which is based on Tom Wolfe’s iconic 1979 book of the same name and chronicles the nascent years of the newly created NASA program and the best-of-the-best test pilots who made up the original Mercury Seven. And while it would be next to impossible to duplicate the shining brilliance of Philip Kaufman’s 1983 theatrical adaptation of the same material (IMHO the best astronaut movie ever made), show creator Mark Lafferty has delivered a visually striking, well-acted period piece that plays like “Mad Men: The Flyboys Edition.”
In the opening sequence set in 1961, Mercury astronauts John Glenn (a solid Patrick J. Adams) and Alan Shepard (Jake McDorman, the standout of the series) engage in a competitive predawn run and then get ready for the day as we catch a brief glimpse of the Freedom 7 capsule on the morning of America’s first human spaceflight. They sit down for a breakfast of steak and eggs — but when Glenn tries to talk about the importance of the day and how they should think about what they’re going to say in public, Shepard cuts him off and says, “You’re a great pilot, John … but you went behind my back and I know all about it. Now we’re going to go out there and turn on the wattage for the cameras … but right now, we don’t have to sit here and pretend we’re best buddies.” The rivalry and stark contrasts between Glenn and Shepard are established, and become a running theme of the series.
Shortly thereafter, we get a title card saying “TWO YEARS EARLIER, 1959,” as we’re introduced to the seven men — all cocky, hotshot pilots from various branches of the Armed Forces, each convinced HE’S the most qualified to be the first American in space — who were chosen from hundreds of top candidates to become the Mercury 7 crew. In addition to Glenn and Shepard, there’s the Don Draper-esque, womanizing married playboy Gordon “Gordo” Cooper (Colin O’Donoghue); the rough-edged Gus Grissom (Michael Trotter), who has a running feud with Cooper dating back to their Air Force days; the jokester Wally Schirra (Aaron Staton, who actually was in “Mad Men” as Ken Cosgrove), along with Scott Carpenter (James Lafferty) and Deke Slayton (Micah Stock), two fine pilots and astronauts mostly relegated to the background in this version of the story.
We also meet the wives, who were turned into props by Life Magazine and had to put on a brave face and smile every day. Nora Zehetner is Glenn’s shy, almost reclusive wife Annie, who dreaded the spotlight mostly because of her pronounced stutter; Eloise Mumford is Trudy Cooper, who had left Gordo over his drinking and philandering but reluctantly agreed to a reconciliation effort after Gordo told her he’d be on the outside looking in if the NASA PR machine learned they were estranged, and Shannon Lucio as Louise Shepard, who seems oblivious to her husband’s numerous one-night stands.
As his wife Louise (Shannon Lucio) listens in, Alan Shepard (Jake McDorman) learns he’s been selected to join Project Mercury. National Geographic
The domestic scenes often delve into soapy melodrama but serve as a tone-changing counterpoint to the jazzed-up, revved-up, souped-up scenes of the dashing flyboys in their AO pilot sunglasses and their flashy convertibles, who seem to spend as much time partying as they do training. (With the notable exception of the righteous and judgmental Glenn, who rarely joins the group and spends his free time angling to become THE public face of the Mercury program and working every room like the politician he would eventually become. Shepard et al. are hounds in their pursuit of women, while Glenn is an unabashed glory hound.)
This is Nat Geo’s first original scripted series for Disney+ and it’s a successful launch, pardon the pun. It’s about the technologically amazing and bold and sometimes recklessly rushed American effort to win the space race, the behind-the-scenes creation of heroes who more than lived up to the hype, and the flawed but incredibly brave and talented men who lived up to the term “astronaut,” which is derived from the Greek words for “star” and “sailor.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Black homeowner, 2 appraisals, $62,000 difference

Christina Jordan was in the process of purchasing a new condo in Chicago ’ s Woodlawn neighborhood when the coronavirus pandemic upended daily life , making her question if it was the right time to move .
Jordan , 37 , dropped her plans but decided to refinance her Oakland condo , which is west of Oakwood Beach , after hearing it was a good time to get a lower interest rate .
The process required a home appraisal , but she was surprised when it valued her home at $ 278,000 — $ 1,000 less than she paid for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After posting on social media about her experience , she started to hear from Black colleagues and friends — some working in high-level positions — who faced similar obstacles in getting their home valued correctly .
“ That there are multiple people who have been going through the same experience and started coming out of the woodwork based on the posting was really jarring and frustrating , ” Jordan said .
“ I was angry.
” Jordan decided to get a second appraisal ; this time , she didn ’ t disclose her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 62,000 higher than the first .
Experts say home appraisals add to the inequities Black homeowners face compared to their white counterparts .
Despite housing reforms , inequities for homeowners in communities of color have increased since the 1980s , said Junia Howell , an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh , co-author of a recent study about the issue .
Among the study ’ s findings : from 1980 to 2015 , homeowners in white neighborhoods have gained wealth at twice the rate of homeowners in Black and Latino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial makeup of a neighborhood plays more of a role in home appraisals now than it did in 1980 .
Sarah Brune , the public policy and innovation strategist from Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago , said they ’ ve heard stories from homeowners who think their home appraisal was influenced by the person doing the appraisal not being familiar with the area .
Richard Townsell , the executive director of the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation , has tried to brainstorm ways appraisals can change since it has become a barrier for communities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s floated : value the property based on what it would cost to rebuild it if destroyed .
Another idea : use comparable sales from similar properties in different neighborhoods and not just the surrounding neighborhood .
“ If you are only going to look at Black and Brown communities , and you can ’ t look at Logan Square or TriTaylor , then we will always be behind , ” Townsell said .
While redlining — a discriminatory practice once used to mark communities of color as economic risks to home lenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done to adjust or reset the values of the homes in the communities that had been redlined , Howell said .
Jordan thinks her home appraisal from May was skewed by her race and her neighborhood .
The appraisal was part of a refinance through Chase , and she told the bank about problems she had with the report .
But Chase , which hires contractors to do home appraisals , found the appraisal needed no revisions , according to a voicemail from the bank left for Jordan that she shared with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the refinance process with Wintrust Bank , and underwent a second appraisal in June .
Wintrust used a different appraiser .
This time , Jordan didn ’ t disclose her race on forms , she said .
In the neighborhood where Jordan lives , about 87 % of the residents are Black , and the median value of owner-occupied units is $ 304,300 , according to an analysis of census data from the Census Reporter .
The two appraisals of Jordan ’ s home show how comparable sales can vary , skewing how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first appraisal , three comparable sales used to determine her home value ranged from $ 277,040 to $ 278,600 .
One of the comparable sales was from a condo located in her building .
The second appraisal looked at homes that had sold for much more in Jordan ’ s neighborhood .
Three of the homes the report looked at ranged from $ 336,000 to $ 363,500 .
Andre Lanier , a Chicago-based appraiser for 18 years , said the appraisal process is always an opinion , which is why some homeowners might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lanier did not appraise Jordan ’ s home .
He stresses the need for workers in his industry to have “ geographic competence.
” Block-by-block knowledge of Chicago is important , he said , because of how neighborhoods within neighborhoods can differ .
“ What happens sometimes is that when you are not geographically competent , the [ comparable sales ] might look like a comparable [ sale ] , ” Lanier said .
“ If you don ’ t know the areas , if you haven ’ t lived in them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buyers , how do you really know from an objective standpoint what buyers find as appealing ?
” He said in Oakland , and the greater Bronzeville area , the market has been stable and homes should be appreciating year after year .
Jordan had other issues with her first appraisal .
It stated she didn ’ t have an oven , though it was visible in photos included in the report .
It also listed her property at 1,577 square feet , a detail Jordan disputes .
The second appraisal , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 62,000 more than the first appraisal — reported her square footage as 1,709 .
She was able to cut her interest rate and reduce the years tied to the loan .
In a statement , Chase stood by the appraisal of Jordan ’ s home , saying a second analysis was done and “ found no discrepancies.
” Myra Winding-Hermann is a friend of Jordan and lives in the same neighborhood , less than a half-mile away .
She and her husband , Jonathan Hermann , purchased their condo in 2017 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lower their interest rate .
As part of the process , her home was appraised for $ 475,000 — which was a $ 6,000 increase from when the couple purchased the condo for $ 469,000 , Winding-Hermann said .
She , too , thinks her home wasn ’ t valued correctly and thinks the appraiser overlooked recent upgrades .
She heard stories of nearby homes selling for more .
She didn ’ t realize there was an issue around home values until she started opening up to others about her own experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not me , it ’ s a systemic problem that needs to be addressed , ” Winding-Hermann said .
Howell said legislative reforms should address the inequities in home values , and she is in support of reparations to deal with the historical wealth gaps .
She also says the country should rethink how individuals build wealth .
“ We can not continue allowing property to appreciate in some and not in other [ communities ] , exasperating the wealth gaps , the racial gaps , ” Howell said .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accumulate wealth in our property in itself becomes problematic.
” Winding-Hermann thinks her home value was skewed by her race .
If she were to do the process again , she would take down her photos and consider letting her husband , who is white , be home alone for the appraisal .
She doesn ’ t want to do that , but absent of reform , she thinks that ’ s what it would take to get a better appraisal .
“ I hate to play the race card , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s real and it ’ s valid.
” Elvia Malagón ’ s reporting on social justice and income inequality is made possible by a grant from the Chicago Community Trust .

Christina Jordan was in the process of purchasing a new condo in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood when the coronavirus pandemic upended daily life, making her question if it was the right time to move.
Jordan, 37, dropped her plans but decided to refinance her Oakland condo, which is west of Oakwood Beach, after hearing it was a good time to get a lower interest rate. The process required a home appraisal, but she was surprised when it valued her home at $278,000 — $1,000 less than she paid for her three-bedroom condo six years earlier.
After posting on social media about her experience, she started to hear from Black colleagues and friends — some working in high-level positions — who faced similar obstacles in getting their home valued correctly.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
“That there are multiple people who have been going through the same experience and started coming out of the woodwork based on the posting was really jarring and frustrating,” Jordan said.
Jordan decided to get a second appraisal; this time, she didn’t disclose her race on forms. It was $62,000 higher than the first.
Experts say home appraisals add to the inequities Black homeowners face compared to their white counterparts. Despite housing reforms, inequities for homeowners in communities of color have increased since the 1980s, said Junia Howell, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Pittsburgh, co-author of a recent study about the issue.
Among the study’s findings: from 1980 to 2015, homeowners in white neighborhoods have gained wealth at twice the rate of homeowners in Black and Latino communities. The study also found the racial makeup of a neighborhood plays more of a role in home appraisals now than it did in 1980.
Sarah Brune, the public policy and innovation strategist from Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, said they’ve heard stories from homeowners who think their home appraisal was influenced by the person doing the appraisal not being familiar with the area.
Richard Townsell, the executive director of the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, has tried to brainstorm ways appraisals can change since it has become a barrier for communities of color. One idea he’s floated: value the property based on what it would cost to rebuild it if destroyed. Another idea: use comparable sales from similar properties in different neighborhoods and not just the surrounding neighborhood.
“If you are only going to look at Black and Brown communities, and you can’t look at Logan Square or TriTaylor, then we will always be behind,” Townsell said.
While redlining — a discriminatory practice once used to mark communities of color as economic risks to home lenders — was made illegal, little was done to adjust or reset the values of the homes in the communities that had been redlined, Howell said.
Jordan thinks her home appraisal from May was skewed by her race and her neighborhood. The appraisal was part of a refinance through Chase, and she told the bank about problems she had with the report. But Chase, which hires contractors to do home appraisals, found the appraisal needed no revisions, according to a voicemail from the bank left for Jordan that she shared with the Sun-Times.
She then started working through the refinance process with Wintrust Bank, and underwent a second appraisal in June. Wintrust used a different appraiser. This time, Jordan didn’t disclose her race on forms, she said.
In the neighborhood where Jordan lives, about 87% of the residents are Black, and the median value of owner-occupied units is $304,300, according to an analysis of census data from the Census Reporter.
The two appraisals of Jordan’s home show how comparable sales can vary, skewing how a home is valued. In the first appraisal, three comparable sales used to determine her home value ranged from $277,040 to $278,600. One of the comparable sales was from a condo located in her building.
The second appraisal looked at homes that had sold for much more in Jordan’s neighborhood. Three of the homes the report looked at ranged from $336,000 to $363,500.
Andre Lanier, a Chicago-based appraiser for 18 years, said the appraisal process is always an opinion, which is why some homeowners might not be happy with the outcome. Lanier did not appraise Jordan’s home.
He stresses the need for workers in his industry to have “geographic competence.” Block-by-block knowledge of Chicago is important, he said, because of how neighborhoods within neighborhoods can differ.
“What happens sometimes is that when you are not geographically competent, the [comparable sales] might look like a comparable [sale],” Lanier said. “If you don’t know the areas, if you haven’t lived in them, walked into those streets, worked with buyers, how do you really know from an objective standpoint what buyers find as appealing?”
He said in Oakland, and the greater Bronzeville area, the market has been stable and homes should be appreciating year after year.
Christina Jordan posted her experience receiving a low home appraisal on social media and found many Black associates had faced similar obstacles in getting their home valued correctly. “That there are multiple people who have been going through the same experience and started coming out of the woodwork based on the posting was really jarring and frustrating,” Jordan said. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The first appraisal compared her condo to other homes that didn’t have similar upgrades, Jordan said. The report also stated she didn’t have an oven, though it was visible in photos included in the report. In fact, her kitchen was custom designed by De Giulio Kitchen and the stove and oven cost about $8,000, she said. In late summer, another unit in her building that didn’t have finishes like her condo sold for $330,000, according to a Redfin listing.
The report also listed her property at 1,577 square feet, a detail Jordan disputes.
The second appraisal, which valued her home at $340,000 — $62,000 more than the first appraisal — reported her square footage as 1,709. She was able to cut her interest rate and reduce the years tied to the loan.
In a statement, Chase stood by the appraisal of Jordan’s home, saying a second analysis was done and “found no discrepancies.”
Myra Winding-Hermann is a friend of Jordan and lives in the same neighborhood, less than a half-mile away. She and her husband, Jonathan Hermann, purchased their condo in 2017 and decided to refinance in 2019 to try to lower their interest rate.
As part of the process, her home was appraised for $475,000 — which was a $6,000 increase from when the couple purchased the condo for $469,000, Winding-Hermann said. She, too, thinks her home wasn’t valued correctly and thinks the appraiser overlooked recent upgrades.
Myra Winding-Hermann believes her home value was skewed by her race. If she were to do the process again, she said she would take down her photos and consider letting her husband, Jonathan Hermann, be home alone for the appraisal. “I hate to play the race card,” she said. “But it’s real and it’s valid.” Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
She heard stories of nearby homes selling for more. She didn’t realize there was an issue around home values until she started opening up to others about her own experience.
“Then you realize it’s not me, it’s a systemic problem that needs to be addressed,” Winding-Hermann said.
Howell said legislative reforms should address the inequities in home values, and she is in support of reparations to deal with the historical wealth gaps. She also says the country should rethink how individuals build wealth.
“We cannot continue allowing property to appreciate in some and not in other [communities], exasperating the wealth gaps, the racial gaps,” Howell said. “The very notion that we should be able to accumulate wealth in our property in itself becomes problematic.”
Winding-Hermann thinks her home value was skewed by her race. If she were to do the process again, she would take down her photos and consider letting her husband, who is white, be home alone for the appraisal. She doesn’t want to do that, but absent of reform, she thinks that’s what it would take to get a better appraisal.
“I hate to play the race card,” she said. “But it’s real and it’s valid.”
Elvia Malagón’s reporting on social justice and income inequality is made possible by a grant from the Chicago Community Trust.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--9 shot, 2 killed Tuesday in Chicago

9 shot, 2 killed Tuesday in Chicago

Two people were killed and seven more were injured Tuesday in shootings across Chicago .
The latest fatal attack left a man dead and a woman wounded on the South Side .
They were sitting in a vehicle about 2 p.m. in the 1400 block of East 79th Street when a white SUV pulled up and two males fired shots , Chicago police said .
The man , 25 , was struck multiple times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead , police said .
The 26-year-old woman was shot in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Early Tuesday morning , a 41-year-old woman was stabbed and shot to death in Norwood Park on the Northwest Side , according to Chicago police .
About 12:30 a.m. , officers responded to calls for help at a home in the 5100 block of North Newland Avenue and found the woman with multiple stab wounds and a gunshot to her mouth area , police said .
She was rushed to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge , where she was pronounced dead .
The day ’ s latest reported non-fatal shooting happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A male was walking about 10:30 p.m. in the 9600 block of South Jeffery Avenue when he heard shots and felt a pain , Chicago police said .
He was struck in the lower back and dropped off at South Shore Hospital in good condition .
Tuesday afternoon , a person was shot in Bronzeville on the South Side .
The male was walking about 5:20 p.m. in the 600 block of East 47th Street when he was shot in the hand , Chicago police said .
He showed up hours later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in good condition .
About half an hour earlier , a man was shot near Jackson Park on the South Side .
He was in a vehicle at a traffic light about 4:50 p.m. in the 1600 block of East 67th Street when another vehicle pulled up and someone inside opened fire , Chicago police said .
The 21-year-old was struck in the leg and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition .
A person was wounded in a shooting earlier in the afternoon in Cragin on the Northwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male suffered a gunshot wound to the arm in the 5500 block of West School Street , Chicago police said .
He was taken to Community First Medical Center in an unknown condition .
A 29-year-old woman showed up at a West Side hospital Tuesday morning with a gunshot wound to her leg .
The woman appeared at Loretto Hospital about 6:05 a.m. after having been shot in the shin , police said .
She was in good condition , but told officers she didn ’ t know where she was shot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot at a party in Washington Park .
The male was shot in the groin about 12:50 a.m. at a party in the 5500 block of South Michigan Avenue , police said .
He was dropped off at the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition .
Eight people were shot Monday in Chicago , two of them fatally .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Two people were killed and seven more were injured Tuesday in shootings across Chicago.
The latest fatal attack left a man dead and a woman wounded on the South Side.
They were sitting in a vehicle about 2 p.m. in the 1400 block of East 79th Street when a white SUV pulled up and two males fired shots, Chicago police said.
The man, 25, was struck multiple times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said. The 26-year-old woman was shot in the leg and stabilized at the same hospital.
Early Tuesday morning, a 41-year-old woman was stabbed and shot to death in Norwood Park on the Northwest Side, according to Chicago police.
About 12:30 a.m., officers responded to calls for help at a home in the 5100 block of North Newland Avenue and found the woman with multiple stab wounds and a gunshot to her mouth area, police said. She was rushed to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she was pronounced dead.
The day’s latest reported non-fatal shooting happened in Jeffery Manor on the South Side.
A male was walking about 10:30 p.m. in the 9600 block of South Jeffery Avenue when he heard shots and felt a pain, Chicago police said. He was struck in the lower back and dropped off at South Shore Hospital in good condition.
Tuesday afternoon, a person was shot in Bronzeville on the South Side.
The male was walking about 5:20 p.m. in the 600 block of East 47th Street when he was shot in the hand, Chicago police said. He showed up hours later at the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
About half an hour earlier, a man was shot near Jackson Park on the South Side.
He was in a vehicle at a traffic light about 4:50 p.m. in the 1600 block of East 67th Street when another vehicle pulled up and someone inside opened fire, Chicago police said. The 21-year-old was struck in the leg and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition.
A person was wounded in a shooting earlier in the afternoon in Cragin on the Northwest Side.
About 1:30 p.m., a male suffered a gunshot wound to the arm in the 5500 block of West School Street, Chicago police said. He was taken to Community First Medical Center in an unknown condition.
A 29-year-old woman showed up at a West Side hospital Tuesday morning with a gunshot wound to her leg.
The woman appeared at Loretto Hospital about 6:05 a.m. after having been shot in the shin, police said. She was in good condition, but told officers she didn’t know where she was shot.
Earlier in the morning, a person was shot at a party in Washington Park.
The male was shot in the groin about 12:50 a.m. at a party in the 5500 block of South Michigan Avenue, police said. He was dropped off at the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
Eight people were shot Monday in Chicago, two of them fatally.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Man killed in Grand Crossing shooting: police

A man was shot to death Wednesday in Grand Crossing on the South Side .
Officers responding to calls of @ @ @ @ @ 30-year-old with a gunshot wound to his chest about 1:20 a.m. in the 1400 block @ @ @ @ @ Chicago police said .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , @ @ @ @ @ Cook County medical examiner ’ s office has not released details about the death .
@ @ @ @ @ and track the city ’ s homicides .

A man was shot to death Wednesday in Grand Crossing on the South Side.
Officers responding to calls of a person shot found the 30-year-old with a gunshot wound to his chest about 1:20 a.m. in the 1400 block of East 67th Place, Chicago police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as being Demarlon Simpkins. He lived in Englewood.
Area One detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Walk in new park: Dodgers open NLDS with 5-1 win over Padres

ARLINGTON , Texas — It was a walk in the new park for the Los Angeles Dodgers to start the NL Division Series .
The Dodgers had already drawn nine walks before Mookie Betts got their first hit with one out in the sixth inning , and they went ahead to stay on Corey Seager ’ s sacrifice fly right after that in a 5-1 win over the NL West rival San Diego Padres in the opener of the best-of-five series Tuesday night .
Mike Clevinger made it only two pitches into the second inning in his postseason debut for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their heavily worked bullpen couldn ’ t keep putting up zeros — or keeping runners off base , even when not giving up hits .
Game 2 of the series , which is being played in the new Texas Rangers ’ ballpark , is Wednesday night .
When Chris Taylor , the No .
9 batter in the Los Angeles order , walked with one out in the sixth in a 1-1 game , it was the ninth walk through 27 batters and the Padres were already on their sixth pitcher .
Betts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break up the no-hitter , sending Taylor to third and setting up Seager ’ s sac fly .
Los Angeles added three more runs after that , on RBI singles by Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger .
Another run scored on a wild pitch .
The Dodgers also got their 10th walk , matching Atlanta in 1997 for the most in a nine-inning NLDS game .
Dustin May ( 1-0 ) , the 23-year-old Dodgers right-hander who grew up about 30 miles away in Justin , Texas , struck out three over two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Garrett Richards ( 0-1 ) , the sixth of nine Padres pitchers , was gone after giving up the hit to Betts .
And so was manager Jayce Tingler , who was ejected by plate umpire Lance Barrett when making yet another pitching change .
With injured starters Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet out for the first round , the Padres became the first team to use at least eight pitchers in three consecutive playoff games .
Nine relievers combined on a four-hit shutout in the Game 3 clincher over the St. Louis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a nine-inning game is a postseason record , and the Padres have now done it three times in four games .
Clevinger had left his last regular-season start Sept. 23 after one inning because of an elbow impingement , but was added to the Padres ’ 28-player NLDS roster earlier Tuesday , when he was named the starter for Game 1 .
The herky-jerky right-hander , acquired from Cleveland in a nine-player trade Aug. 31 , walked two and threw a wild pitch in a scoreless first .
Tingler and a trainer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Bellinger to start the second , and the pitcher left after a brief conversation .
It was only his second start start since a two-hit shutout in a seven-inning complete game Sept. 13 .
Buehler struck out eight , but the right-hander who has dealt with blisters all year needed a season-high 95 pitches to get through four innings .
He walked four and allowed only two singles .
That included Austin Nola ’ s two-out RBI single in the fourth that drove home Wil Myers , who walked before stealing second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Padres began their record streak of grand slams in four consecutive games , Buehler walked the bases loaded with one out in the second inning .
Buehler got out of the jam with strikeouts of Jurickson Profar and leadoff hitter Trent Grisham , but finished that inning already with 53 pitches and more balls than strikes ( 27-26 ) .
The Padres had lost five in a row when they got to Texas on Aug. 17 , but hit grand slams in four consecutive games against the Rangers — two at the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then the next two games played in San Diego .
That was also the start of a seven-game winning streak that pushed the Padres into second place in the NL West for the rest of the season .
Padres rookie left-hander Ryan Weathers made his major league debut , throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings .
The 20-year-old Weathers became the second pitcher in two days to make his MLB debut in a playoff game , following Tampa Bay reliever Shane McClanahan on Monday night against the New York Yankees .
Weathers was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draft .
He was the fifth player in big league history to debut in a playoff game .
Dodgers pitchers had thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings until San Diego got on the board in the fourth .
Los Angeles has only three longer streaks in the postseason , the record being 21 in a row in 2016 .
… Padres pitchers made it to 13 in a row , with all but one of those innings by a reliever , before the Dodgers ’ unearned run in the fifth .
Padres : While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right biceps tightness ) was left off the NLDS roster .
Lamet , who left his last regular-season start Sept. 25 , has been playing catch , but hasn ’ t yet thrown a bullpen .
Dodgers : INF Edwin Rios was left off the NLDS roster because of a groin issue .
Manager Dave Roberts said Rios tweaked his groin after making a play to his right and making a throw to first during a workout Sunday .
Clayton Kershaw , who still lives in nearby Dallas where the three-time NL Cy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an MLB game in Arlington for the first time in his 13 big league seasons with the Dodgers .
The Padres hadn ’ t announced a starter for Game 2 .

ARLINGTON, Texas — It was a walk in the new park for the Los Angeles Dodgers to start the NL Division Series.
The Dodgers had already drawn nine walks before Mookie Betts got their first hit with one out in the sixth inning, and they went ahead to stay on Corey Seager’s sacrifice fly right after that in a 5-1 win over the NL West rival San Diego Padres in the opener of the best-of-five series Tuesday night.
Mike Clevinger made it only two pitches into the second inning in his postseason debut for the Padres before leaving hurt, and their heavily worked bullpen couldn’t keep putting up zeros — or keeping runners off base, even when not giving up hits.
Game 2 of the series, which is being played in the new Texas Rangers’ ballpark, is Wednesday night.
When Chris Taylor, the No. 9 batter in the Los Angeles order, walked with one out in the sixth in a 1-1 game, it was the ninth walk through 27 batters and the Padres were already on their sixth pitcher. Betts then doubled into the left-field corner to break up the no-hitter, sending Taylor to third and setting up Seager’s sac fly.
Los Angeles added three more runs after that, on RBI singles by Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger. Another run scored on a wild pitch. The Dodgers also got their 10th walk, matching Atlanta in 1997 for the most in a nine-inning NLDS game.
Dustin May (1-0), the 23-year-old Dodgers right-hander who grew up about 30 miles away in Justin, Texas, struck out three over two perfect innings in relief of Walker Buehler.
Garrett Richards (0-1), the sixth of nine Padres pitchers, was gone after giving up the hit to Betts. And so was manager Jayce Tingler, who was ejected by plate umpire Lance Barrett when making yet another pitching change.
With injured starters Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet out for the first round, the Padres became the first team to use at least eight pitchers in three consecutive playoff games. Nine relievers combined on a four-hit shutout in the Game 3 clincher over the St. Louis Cardinals last Friday.
The nine pitchers in a nine-inning game is a postseason record, and the Padres have now done it three times in four games.
Clevinger had left his last regular-season start Sept. 23 after one inning because of an elbow impingement, but was added to the Padres’ 28-player NLDS roster earlier Tuesday, when he was named the starter for Game 1. The herky-jerky right-hander, acquired from Cleveland in a nine-player trade Aug. 31, walked two and threw a wild pitch in a scoreless first.
Tingler and a trainer visited the mound after Clevinger went 2-0 on Bellinger to start the second, and the pitcher left after a brief conversation. It was only his second start start since a two-hit shutout in a seven-inning complete game Sept. 13.
Buehler struck out eight, but the right-hander who has dealt with blisters all year needed a season-high 95 pitches to get through four innings. He walked four and allowed only two singles.
That included Austin Nola’s two-out RBI single in the fourth that drove home Wil Myers, who walked before stealing second base.
In the stadium where the Padres began their record streak of grand slams in four consecutive games, Buehler walked the bases loaded with one out in the second inning. Buehler got out of the jam with strikeouts of Jurickson Profar and leadoff hitter Trent Grisham, but finished that inning already with 53 pitches and more balls than strikes (27-26).
The Padres had lost five in a row when they got to Texas on Aug. 17, but hit grand slams in four consecutive games against the Rangers — two at the new stadium when the roof was closed, and then the next two games played in San Diego. That was also the start of a seven-game winning streak that pushed the Padres into second place in the NL West for the rest of the season.
ROOKIE DEBUT
Padres rookie left-hander Ryan Weathers made his major league debut, throwing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. The 20-year-old Weathers became the second pitcher in two days to make his MLB debut in a playoff game, following Tampa Bay reliever Shane McClanahan on Monday night against the New York Yankees. Weathers was the seventh pick in the 2018 amateur draft. He was the fifth player in big league history to debut in a playoff game.
SCORELESS STREAKS
Dodgers pitchers had thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings until San Diego got on the board in the fourth. Los Angeles has only three longer streaks in the postseason, the record being 21 in a row in 2016. … Padres pitchers made it to 13 in a row, with all but one of those innings by a reliever, before the Dodgers’ unearned run in the fifth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: While Clevinger was back briefly, Lamet (right biceps tightness) was left off the NLDS roster. Lamet, who left his last regular-season start Sept. 25, has been playing catch, but hasn’t yet thrown a bullpen.
Dodgers: INF Edwin Rios was left off the NLDS roster because of a groin issue. Manager Dave Roberts said Rios tweaked his groin after making a play to his right and making a throw to first during a workout Sunday.
UP NEXT
Clayton Kershaw, who still lives in nearby Dallas where the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner grew up, pitches an MLB game in Arlington for the first time in his 13 big league seasons with the Dodgers. The Padres hadn’t announced a starter for Game 2.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-06--Horoscope for Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020

Horoscope for Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020

Avoid shopping or important decisions after 8:30 p.m. Chicago time .
The Moon is in Gemini .
In discussions about wills , inheritances , insurance issues or shared property , don ’ t be too quick to react .
Take it easy because today , Mercury is opposite unpredictable Uranus , which encourages snap judgments and rash decisions .
Think carefully about whatever you ’ re doing .
( For your own good . )
In discussions with partners , close friends or the general public , hold your horses !
Don ’ t jump to conclusions .
You might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before you make a definitive answer .
You might feel rebellious !
It ’ s a tricky day .
At work or when doing any task that you set for yourself , you might do things too quickly .
You might be haphazard , which will encourage mistakes or overlooking something important .
It ’ s hard to be detail-oriented .
That ’ s because people ( including you ) are impatient today .
Be aware of this .
Be patient when dealing with kids .
Likewise , be patient in social situations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situations because people are ready to go off half-cocked .
Guard against doing this !
Think before you speak or act to avoid regrets .
In family discussions , be patient with others .
Be careful that you don ’ t jump to conclusions or act too quickly .
If you are tackling home repairs , slow down and be careful .
Double check everything because it ’ s easy to overlook details today .
“ Measure twice — cut once.
” This is an accident-prone day for you simply because you might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not have to happen ; however , everyone ( including you ) is inclined to act too quickly today .
It ’ s easy to overlook details and be impulsive .
That ’ s why this is an accident-prone day .
Do not be too hasty today , especially dealing with financial negotiations or handling cash .
Count your change .
Double check invoices , bills and receipts .
People are inclined to be slapdash today , and an error on someone else ’ s part ( or perhaps even your own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be alert .
Today Mercury is in your sign opposing unpredictable Uranus .
This makes you think and speak fast !
However , your mind might feel scattered or nervous .
Yes , you ’ re interested in new kinds of experiences , but you are also impatient .
“ Next ?
” Slow down and be careful .
You might feel vaguely nervous or unsettled today .
In fact , many people will feel this way .
It ’ s a passing influence but it ’ s there and it can distract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is why you might make a mistake or not notice something important .
Slow down and be vigilant .
Caution against being too blunt when you ’ re talking to friends today or members of a group , because you might shock someone .
This is because you are inclined to speak off the top of your mind — without censoring yourself .
( Something you usually do ! )
Although you might have flashes of brilliance , and you are eager to learn new things and meet new people today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and overlook important details .
Therefore , whatever you do — force yourself to double check things and be aware .
Be smart !
If Your Birthday Is Today Cellist/composer Yo-Yo Ma ( 1955 ) shares your birthday today .
Although you are fun-loving , you have a lot of discipline .
It ’ s your turn for a fun-loving year ahead !
You will be more popular and will enjoy warm friendships .
You will also be more grateful for your life and will appreciate the everyday happiness and beauty around you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an important choice .
Choose wisely .

Moon Alert
Avoid shopping or important decisions after 8:30 p.m. Chicago time. The Moon is in Gemini.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
In discussions about wills, inheritances, insurance issues or shared property, don’t be too quick to react. Take it easy because today, Mercury is opposite unpredictable Uranus, which encourages snap judgments and rash decisions. Think carefully about whatever you’re doing. (For your own good.)
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
In discussions with partners, close friends or the general public, hold your horses! Don’t jump to conclusions. You might not have all the information you need before you make a definitive answer. You might feel rebellious! It’s a tricky day.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
At work or when doing any task that you set for yourself, you might do things too quickly. You might be haphazard, which will encourage mistakes or overlooking something important. It’s hard to be detail-oriented. That’s because people (including you) are impatient today. Be aware of this.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Be patient when dealing with kids. Likewise, be patient in social situations or in sports events or sports practice situations because people are ready to go off half-cocked. Guard against doing this! Think before you speak or act to avoid regrets.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
In family discussions, be patient with others. Be careful that you don’t jump to conclusions or act too quickly. If you are tackling home repairs, slow down and be careful. Double check everything because it’s easy to overlook details today. “Measure twice — cut once.”
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
This is an accident-prone day for you simply because you might be distracted or impulsive. An accident does not have to happen; however, everyone (including you) is inclined to act too quickly today. It’s easy to overlook details and be impulsive. That’s why this is an accident-prone day.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Do not be too hasty today, especially dealing with financial negotiations or handling cash. Count your change. Double check invoices, bills and receipts. People are inclined to be slapdash today, and an error on someone else’s part (or perhaps even your own part) might cost you money. Be alert.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today Mercury is in your sign opposing unpredictable Uranus. This makes you think and speak fast! However, your mind might feel scattered or nervous. Yes, you’re interested in new kinds of experiences, but you are also impatient. “Next?” Slow down and be careful.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
You might feel vaguely nervous or unsettled today. In fact, many people will feel this way. It’s a passing influence but it’s there and it can distract you from any task you are doing. This is why you might make a mistake or not notice something important. Slow down and be vigilant.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Caution against being too blunt when you’re talking to friends today or members of a group, because you might shock someone. This is because you are inclined to speak off the top of your mind — without censoring yourself. (Something you usually do!)
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Although you might have flashes of brilliance, and you are eager to learn new things and meet new people today; nevertheless, you might be slapdash and overlook important details. Therefore, whatever you do — force yourself to double check things and be aware. Be smart!
If Your Birthday Is Today
Cellist/composer Yo-Yo Ma (1955) shares your birthday today. Although you are fun-loving, you have a lot of discipline. It’s your turn for a fun-loving year ahead! You will be more popular and will enjoy warm friendships. You will also be more grateful for your life and will appreciate the everyday happiness and beauty around you. This year is the time for an important choice. Choose wisely.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-06--Blackhawks’ prospect pool looks stronger after NHL Draft’s 1st round, but so do Central Division riv

Blackhawks’ prospect pool looks stronger after NHL Draft’s 1st round, but so do Central Division rivals

Forward Lukas Reichel , whom the Blackhawks selected with the 17th pick in Tuesday ’ s NHL Draft , will immediately become one of the top prospects in their pipeline .
But so will Marco Rossi with the Wild .
So will Cole Perfetti with the Jets .
So will Yaroslav Askarov with the Predators .
It ’ s easy to be overcome with optimism after the draft each year , and with good reason ; regardless of Stan Bowman ’ s shortcomings , the Hawks have drafted well in his tenure as general manager .
And the Reichel pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good chance of continuing that successful track record .
But only through careful grooming and development of Reichel will the Hawks eventually come out ahead of their competition .
Thanks to their thrilling series victory over the Oilers in the qualifying round of the playoffs , the Hawks ended up with a lower pick than three of their Central Division rivals despite finishing last in the regular-season standings .
The Wild , Jets and Predators owned picks No .
9 , No .
10 and No .
11 , and all three managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Wild ’ s new stud center , shredded Canadian juniors last season by scoring 120 points in 56 games .
His incredible stick-handling skills should be a problem for opponents in the years to come .
Perfetti was projected by many experts to go fourth overall to the Red Wings before he fell to the Jets .
Like Rossi , he ’ s an undersized but dynamic offensive player , and he ’ ll fit right in with the Jets ’ attacking style .
Askarov , the Predators ’ next star goaltender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is the most anticipated prospect at his position in years .
He might have gone 11th , but his hype might exceed that of everyone but winger Alexis Lafreniere , who predictably went first to the Rangers .
So , yes , Reichel has fantastic vision and an impressive hockey IQ .
Yes , Reichel ’ s strong two-way play and defensive awareness set him apart from many of the other forwards in the middle of the first round .
Yes , if all goes to plan , he should be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top six .
But virtually every team around the league is saying those same things about the prospects they added to their pipelines Tuesday .
The Hawks do at least benefit from the fact that none of the top five picks is in their division .
The Kings drafted center Quinton Byfield at No .
2 .
The Senators took center Tim Stuetzle at No .
3 and defenseman Jake Sanderson at No .
5 .
The Red Wings picked winger Lucas Raymond at No .
4 .
The Hawks will need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top-20 picks — Kirby Dach and Reichel up front , Adam Boqvist in the back — in order for these high-value selections to actually elevate them above the competition .
For the next few years , they ’ ll still have the old core of Patrick Kane , Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith to help usher in that generation .
But that luxury won ’ t last forever , and the Hawks will especially need to hit on their free-agency additions and later-round picks when that time comes .
They ’ ll also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18-year-old said bluntly Tuesday that his personal timeline to come to the NHL is two years .
The Hawks must make sure those two years are used effectively , no matter whether Reichel stays in Germany for both or comes to North America in 2021 .
Because there ’ s no doubt the Jets , Wild and Predators — not to mention the Avalanche , with one of the NHL ’ s best young cores , and the Stars and Blues , the last two Western Conference champions — will be doing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Forward Lukas Reichel, whom the Blackhawks selected with the 17th pick in Tuesday’s NHL Draft, will immediately become one of the top prospects in their pipeline.
But so will Marco Rossi with the Wild. So will Cole Perfetti with the Jets. So will Yaroslav Askarov with the Predators.
It’s easy to be overcome with optimism after the draft each year, and with good reason; regardless of Stan Bowman’s shortcomings, the Hawks have drafted well in his tenure as general manager. And the Reichel pick, by all accounts, has a good chance of continuing that successful track record.
But only through careful grooming and development of Reichel will the Hawks eventually come out ahead of their competition.
Thanks to their thrilling series victory over the Oilers in the qualifying round of the playoffs, the Hawks ended up with a lower pick than three of their Central Division rivals despite finishing last in the regular-season standings. The Wild, Jets and Predators owned picks No. 9, No. 10 and No. 11, and all three managed to land big steals.
Rossi, the Wild’s new stud center, shredded Canadian juniors last season by scoring 120 points in 56 games. His incredible stick-handling skills should be a problem for opponents in the years to come.
Perfetti was projected by many experts to go fourth overall to the Red Wings before he fell to the Jets. Like Rossi, he’s an undersized but dynamic offensive player, and he’ll fit right in with the Jets’ attacking style.
Askarov, the Predators’ next star goaltender in a lineage started by Pekka Rinne, is the most anticipated prospect at his position in years. He might have gone 11th, but his hype might exceed that of everyone but winger Alexis Lafreniere, who predictably went first to the Rangers.
So, yes, Reichel has fantastic vision and an impressive hockey IQ. Yes, Reichel’s strong two-way play and defensive awareness set him apart from many of the other forwards in the middle of the first round. Yes, if all goes to plan, he should be a solid part of the Hawks’ future top six.
But virtually every team around the league is saying those same things about the prospects they added to their pipelines Tuesday.
The Hawks do at least benefit from the fact that none of the top five picks is in their division. The Kings drafted center Quinton Byfield at No. 2. The Senators took center Tim Stuetzle at No. 3 and defenseman Jake Sanderson at No. 5. The Red Wings picked winger Lucas Raymond at No. 4.
The Hawks will need to build smartly around their future core of top-20 picks — Kirby Dach and Reichel up front, Adam Boqvist in the back — in order for these high-value selections to actually elevate them above the competition.
For the next few years, they’ll still have the old core of Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith to help usher in that generation. But that luxury won’t last forever, and the Hawks will especially need to hit on their free-agency additions and later-round picks when that time comes.
They’ll also need to develop Reichel wisely. The 18-year-old said bluntly Tuesday that his personal timeline to come to the NHL is two years. The Hawks must make sure those two years are used effectively, no matter whether Reichel stays in Germany for both or comes to North America in 2021.
Because there’s no doubt the Jets, Wild and Predators — not to mention the Avalanche, with one of the NHL’s best young cores, and the Stars and Blues, the last two Western Conference champions — will be doing the same with their equally talented future cornerstones.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-06--Eskimo Pie is rebranded Edy’s Pie; expected to arrive in stores in early 2021

Eskimo Pie , America ’ s first chocolate-covered ice cream bar , is the latest to get a new name and image .
More than three months after Dreyer ’ s Grand Ice Cream announced it would rebrand the ice cream that has featured an “ Eskimo ” character on the box , the company has revealed the new name will be Edy ’ s Pie .
In rapid succession back in mid-June , several companies announced they would retire racial imagery from their branding from Aunt Jemima to Mrs. Butterworth ’ s in the wake of renewed calls for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcements are a ripple effect from the Black Lives Matters protests over the police killing of George Floyd and other African Americans .
“ The name Edy ’ s Pie was chosen in honor of one of our company ’ s founders , candy maker Joseph Edy , as well as a form of tribute to the entrepreneurial origins of this treat , ” Elizabell Marquez , head of marketing for Dreyer ’ s , said in a statement to USA TODAY .
Last month , Cream of Wheat ’ s parent company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Black chef would come off boxes of the cereal .
Mars Inc. also announced its 70-year-old Uncle Ben ’ s rice brand will be renamed Ben ’ s Original and will drop the logo .
Marquez told USA TODAY in June that Dreyer ’ s has “ been reviewing our Eskimo Pie business for some time and will be changing the brand name and marketing.
” “ We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality , and recognize the term is derogatory , ” Marquez said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger review to ensure our company and brands reflect our people values.
” According to the Alaska Native Language Center , while the word ” Eskimo ” is commonly used in Alaska to refer to Inuit and Yupik people , it ’ s considered derogatory and was said to mean “ eater of raw meat.
” Marquez said in a statement Tuesday that the company paused production of the ice cream bar under the Eskimo Pie branding and packaging after announcing the decision to rebrand .
The new Edy ’ s Pie ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores in early 2021 , she said .

Eskimo Pie, America’s first chocolate-covered ice cream bar, is the latest to get a new name and image.
More than three months after Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream announced it would rebrand the ice cream that has featured an “Eskimo” character on the box, the company has revealed the new name will be Edy’s Pie.
In rapid succession back in mid-June, several companies announced they would retire racial imagery from their branding from Aunt Jemima to Mrs. Butterworth’s in the wake of renewed calls for racial equality.
Experts say the branding announcements are a ripple effect from the Black Lives Matters protests over the police killing of George Floyd and other African Americans.
“The name Edy’s Pie was chosen in honor of one of our company’s founders, candy maker Joseph Edy, as well as a form of tribute to the entrepreneurial origins of this treat,” Elizabell Marquez, head of marketing for Dreyer’s, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Last month, Cream of Wheat’s parent company, B&G Foods, said the Black chef would come off boxes of the cereal. Mars Inc. also announced its 70-year-old Uncle Ben’s rice brand will be renamed Ben’s Original and will drop the logo.
Marquez told USA TODAY in June that Dreyer’s has “been reviewing our Eskimo Pie business for some time and will be changing the brand name and marketing.”
“We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognize the term is derogatory,” Marquez said. “This move is part of a larger review to ensure our company and brands reflect our people values.”
According to the Alaska Native Language Center, while the word ”Eskimo” is commonly used in Alaska to refer to Inuit and Yupik people, it’s considered derogatory and was said to mean “eater of raw meat.”
Marquez said in a statement Tuesday that the company paused production of the ice cream bar under the Eskimo Pie branding and packaging after announcing the decision to rebrand.
The new Edy’s Pie ice cream bars are expected to be in stores in early 2021, she said.
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Chicagoan from Kamala Harris family’s hometown in India among many women of color hosting debate wat

Chicagoan from Kamala Harris family’s hometown in India among many women of color hosting debate watch parties

The inbox filled pretty quickly throughout the day , with invites to vice presidential debate watch parties being planned across Chicago on Wednesday night , hosted by women of color .
That ’ s a voter base heavily supporting U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris , the first Black American woman and first South Asian American ever to grace a major party ticket in our presidential elections .
A large segment of Black women of course have claimed the Democratic vice presidential nominee as their own .
But her mixed-race heritage offers binate benefit .
Harris enjoys strong support from a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly women , who claim similar ownership in her ascent to the national stage .
“ She checks a lot of boxes , ” said Bernadette Chopra , 60 , of Streeterville , who hails from the same neighborhood in the same town in India where Harris ’ late mother , Shyamala Gopalan Harris , grew up .
It ’ s where Harris herself spent a lot of time while growing up , returning with her mother and younger sister to visit family there every couple of years .
Harris ’ mother , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2009 , was born in the Besant Nagar area of Chennai , a city on the southeastern coast of India .
She immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s to attend a doctoral program at the University of California at Berkeley , where she met her husband , Donald Harris , who had emigrated from Jamaica .
“ My home is about 10 miles from the place that Kamala ’ s grandfather lived , where her mother grew up , so all the neighborhoods she has been talking about on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Chopra , who planned to watch the 8 p.m. debate at home , with husband Vivek Chopra , couchside .
Chopra ’ s son , Sid , and his wife , in Vernon Hills , and her daughter , Sonu Merfeld , and her husband , in Madison , Wisconsin , were going to be a group text away , as the family prepared to share commentary with one another , marking the highs and lows of the debate between Harris and Vice President Mike Pence .
“ Kamala was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
From the first time I met her five years ago , I saw in Kamala a woman who was fearless , powerful , ” said Chopra , a retired nonprofit executive who is currently active on the boards of several organizations , including the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois .
“ It was so exciting when she was announced as vice presidential nominee .
It ’ s inspiring to hear her describe our little town as a place that shaped her public service aspirations , through her experiences there with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To see a woman who identifies as Black but also has a strong lineage in her blood from an Indian mother and a Jamaican father , a heartbeat away from the presidency , is historic .
On so many levels , she represents everything about the pivotal moment we find ourselves in on race relations in this country right now.
” Harris frequently talks of receiving her political bent from her grandfather , P.V .
Gopalan , a civil servant in India , with whom she would walk and talk on the beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaks of our hometown , and her grandfather ’ s involvement in the freedom struggles in the ’ 60s there , it ’ s all so relatable for me .
It takes me back to India , ” said Chopra .
“ I always tell people , ‘ Do not underestimate women from the South of India , because we come from a certain strain .
I , too , grew up with a mother who was so politically charged , it seeped into me as well .
So when Kamala speaks about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her by her mother , it ’ s like she ’ s talking about my own mother , ” Chopra said .
Harris also was the first South Asian American to serve in the U.S. Senate when elected in 2016 .
She was the second African American woman — Chicago ’ s Carol Moseley Braun was the first .
Harris previously served as California ’ s attorney general — the first African-American and first woman to serve in that position when elected in 2010 .
“ I will be glued to the television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will ask the vice president some of these questions all Americans have right now about the current state of affairs regarding that COVID-19 ‘ superspreader ’ Supreme Court nomination event at the White House we ’ ve all been reading about the last week , ” said Chopra , who first met Harris at a 2015 fundraiser in Chicago , when Harris was running for the senate .
“ I would like to see her question the vice president about the White House coronavirus response , because he was heading the COVID-19 task @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation on that , ” Chopra said .
“ I have a lot of hope and faith in Sen. Harris and believe this is going to be her moment .
Remember , she ’ s a prosecutor at heart .
”

The inbox filled pretty quickly Wednesday, with invites to vice presidential debate watch parties across Chicago, hosted by women of color.
That’s a voter base heavily supporting U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, the first Black American woman and first South Asian American ever to grace a major party ticket in our presidential elections.
A large segment of Black women, of course, have claimed the Democratic vice presidential nominee as their own. But her mixed-race heritage offers binate benefit.
Harris enjoys strong support from a large segment of the South Asian community — particularly women, who claim similar ownership in her ascent to the national stage.
“She checks a lot of boxes,” said Bernadette Chopra, 60, of Streeterville, who hails from the same neighborhood in the same town in India where Harris’ late mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, grew up. It’s where Harris herself spent a lot of time while growing up, returning with her mother and younger sister to visit family there every couple of years.
Harris’ mother, a renowned biologist who died of colon cancer in 2009, was born in the Besant Nagar area of Chennai, a city on the southeastern coast of India. She immigrated to the United States in the late 50s to attend a doctoral program at the University of California at Berkeley, where she met her husband, Donald Harris, who had emigrated from Jamaica.
“My home is about 10 miles from the place that Kamala’s grandfather lived, where her mother grew up, so all the neighborhoods she has been talking about on the campaign trail are around my home,” said Chopra, who watched the debate with husband Vivek Chopra.
The Chopras’ son, Sid, and his wife, in Vernon Hills, and their daughter, Sonu Merfeld, and her husband, in Madison, Wisconsin, were a group text away, as the family shared commentary on the highs and lows of the debate between Harris and Vice President Mike Pence.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, then running for the U.S. Senate in California, greets Bernadette Chopra at a June 2015 fundraiser in Chicago. Provided
“What really impacted me was the misogynist display on that national stage — the other side not wanting to play by the rules,” said Chopra, a retired nonprofit executive, active on the boards of several organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois.
“This brilliant, strong woman came prepared with facts and figures. In a debate, you only have to answer questions put to you by the moderator. Sen. Harris was subjected to questions from Vice President Pence in the most demeaning and insulting way, and not once did the moderator take charge and put an end to it. He got away with it,” Chopra said.
“As in the presidential debate, the moderator was so unfair, unable to rein in the other side, yet constantly apologizing to and thanking Vice President Pence, despite his behavior — and almost not giving Sen. Harris a chance to complete a sentence.”
Harris, the first South Asian American to serve in the U.S. Senate when elected in 2016, was raised by her mother after her parents divorced when she was 7.
She has frequently shared how she was shaped by those visits to her mother’s hometown, crediting much of her political bent to her grandfather, P.V. Gopalan, a civil servant in India, with whom she would walk and talk on the beach in Besant Nagar.
“Kamala was my first choice for the presidential ticket. From the first time I met her five years ago, I saw a woman who was fearless, powerful. It was so exciting when she was announced as vice presidential nominee,” said Chopra, who first met Harris at a 2015 fundraiser in Chicago, when Harris was running for the senate.
California Sen. Kamala Harris arrives on stage for the vice presidential debate in Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images)
“It’s inspiring to hear her describe our little town as a place that shaped her public service aspirations, through her experiences there with her grandfather. When she speaks of our hometown, and her grandfather’s involvement in the freedom struggles in the ’60s there, it’s all so relatable for me. It takes me back to India,” she said.
“I always tell people, ‘Do not underestimate women from the South of India, because we come from a certain strain. I, too, grew up with a mother who was so politically charged, it seeped into me as well. So when Kamala speaks about getting her civil rights commitment instilled in her by her mother, it’s like she’s talking about my own mother.”
Harris’ mixed-race heritage made her also the second African American woman to serve in the Senate — Chicago’s Carol Moseley Braun was the first. And previously, she was the first African-American and first woman to be elected California’s attorney general, in 2010.
“To see a woman who identifies as Black but also has a strong lineage in her blood from an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, a heartbeat away from the presidency, is historic. On so many levels, she represents everything about the pivotal moment we find ourselves in on race relations in this country right now,” said Chopra.
“And despite every obstacle that was put in front of her Wednesday night, and every obstacle that she had to knock down to be able to speak her piece, she still came across as a woman who is strong in what she believes in, and unrelenting in what she stood up for. She definitely owned the stage.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-07--Ex-top cop left pot shop applicant group shortly after partner exited firm that graded applications

Former Chicago Police Supt .
Terry Hillard departure from a group vying for five pot shop licenses came a week after his former business partner parted ways with the company contracted to grade dispensary applications , the Sun-Times has learned .
Hillard announced Monday that he had “ withdrawn association ” with the cannabis applicant group EHR Holdings .
Andrew Mack , a spokesman for the fledgling marijuana company , later told the Sun-Times that Hillard ’ s former partner Hamd Kamal left his job Sept. 29 as a risk consultant for KPMG , the global accounting firm given a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dispensary applications .
But Mack noted that Kamal wasn ’ t on any team tasked with grading the pot shop permits , adding that KPMG is a massive company .
“ I think that they conducted a review and said that there was no conflict , ” Mack said .
Russell Grote , a KPMG spokesman , confirmed that Kamal is no longer employed by the company but wouldn ’ t say whether he stepped down or was let go .
Grote issued a statement defending the work conducted by KPMG , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract to score other upcoming cannabis licenses .
“ KPMG conducted its work with integrity , leveraging technology , proven methodologies , a diverse and well-qualified team , and experienced oversight to quickly and effectively score applications with the criteria set by the state , ” Grote said .
After Hillard ’ s abrupt and unexplained departure , it ’ s unclear whether EHR can replace Hillard as a principal officer without losing its spots in the lottery .
Hillard helped EHR earn perfect applications scores through his status as a military veteran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was disproportionately impacted by the drug war , which helped cement the group ’ s status as a so-called social equity applicant .
That designation was created to bolster minority ownership in the state ’ s largely white weed industry .
Mack noted that Hillard and another partner in the group both qualified as veterans and social equity candidates .
He added that the other partner could potentially stand in as the sole majority owner now that he ’ s gone , which would allow the group to retain those critical application points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The state of Illinois remains in the scoring phase for awarding cannabis dispensary licenses , ” said Mack .
“ Therefore , we have a window of time to fix any deficiencies in our application and are weighing our options .
We are confident that we will be selected to move on to the lottery phase because of our strong qualifications.
” Facing a flood of lawsuits from jilted applicants , Pritzker announced last month that losing pot shop hopefuls were being given a second chance to fix their applications and challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have kept coming .
Three of the original finalists have filed suit challenging the governor ’ s move in the Illinois Supreme Court , while 10 applicant groups that were disqualified sued the state agency tasked with issuing the licenses on Monday .
The losing firms that filed the suit in Cook County court raised concerns about the scoring process and are seeking the opportunity to be included in the supplemental review .
They have asked for leave to subpoena KPMG “ and to require the company to provide documents and answers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement Wednesday .
“ Last month , [ the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation ] faced accusations that there were problems with IDFPR ’ s application process and that global giant KPMG made scoring errors when reviewing and scoring applications for dispensary licenses , ” the group said .
Grote declined to comment on the suit .
An IDFPR spokesman didn ’ t immediately respond to an inquiry .

Former Chicago Police Supt. Terry Hillard departure from a group vying for five pot shop licenses came a week after his former business partner parted ways with the company contracted to grade dispensary applications, the Sun-Times has learned.
Hillard announced Monday that he had “withdrawn association” with the cannabis applicant group EHR Holdings.
Andrew Mack, a spokesman for the fledgling marijuana company, later told the Sun-Times that Hillard’s former partner Hamd Kamal left his job Sept. 29 as a risk consultant for KPMG, the global accounting firm given a $4.2 million no-bid contract to score the dispensary applications. But Mack noted that Kamal wasn’t on any team tasked with grading the pot shop permits, adding that KPMG is a massive company.
“I think that they conducted a review and said that there was no conflict,” Mack said.
Russell Grote, a KPMG spokesman, confirmed that Kamal is no longer employed by the company but wouldn’t say whether he stepped down or was let go. Grote issued a statement defending the work conducted by KPMG, which was awarded another $2.5 million contract to score other upcoming cannabis licenses.
“KPMG conducted its work with integrity, leveraging technology, proven methodologies, a diverse and well-qualified team, and experienced oversight to quickly and effectively score applications with the criteria set by the state,” Grote said.
After Hillard’s abrupt and unexplained departure, it’s unclear whether EHR can replace Hillard as a principal officer without losing its spots in the lottery.
Hillard helped EHR earn perfect applications scores through his status as a military veteran and his address in an area that was disproportionately impacted by the drug war, which helped cement the group’s status as a so-called social equity applicant. That designation was created to bolster minority ownership in the state’s largely white weed industry.
Mack noted that Hillard and another partner in the group both qualified as veterans and social equity candidates. He added that the other partner could potentially stand in as the sole majority owner now that he’s gone, which would allow the group to retain those critical application points if state officials allow the move.
“The state of Illinois remains in the scoring phase for awarding cannabis dispensary licenses,” said Mack. “Therefore, we have a window of time to fix any deficiencies in our application and are weighing our options. We are confident that we will be selected to move on to the lottery phase because of our strong qualifications.”
Facing a flood of lawsuits from jilted applicants, Pritzker announced last month that losing pot shop hopefuls were being given a second chance to fix their applications and challenge their scores.
Nevertheless, the lawsuits have kept coming. Three of the original finalists have filed suit challenging the governor’s move in the Illinois Supreme Court, while 10 applicant groups that were disqualified sued the state agency tasked with issuing the licenses on Monday.
The losing firms that filed the suit in Cook County court raised concerns about the scoring process and are seeking the opportunity to be included in the supplemental review. They have asked for leave to subpoena KPMG “and to require the company to provide documents and answers to their questions,” according to a statement Wednesday.
“Last month, [the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation] faced accusations that there were problems with IDFPR’s application process and that global giant KPMG made scoring errors when reviewing and scoring applications for dispensary licenses,” the group said.
Grote declined to comment on the suit. An IDFPR spokesman didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry.