chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--Dear Abby: Is it bad that I don’t miss my mom after cutting her out of my life?

DEAR ABBY : I got divorced a year ago .
Before it became final , there were many court appearances .
My husband told my mother we were divorcing because I was unfaithful , which is true .
What he didn ’ t say was I felt neglected , abandoned and unwanted , all things he knew because I had discussed them with him and he ignored me .
Either way , she is MY MOTHER , not his , and she showed up with him to a couple of court dates to vouch for him to have custody of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortified and angry .
It happened with no warning .
Mother and I had not severed contact .
As a matter of fact , she had recently spent a week with me and our kids in our home .
Our relationship had never been great , but now it ’ s over .
It has been a year since we last spoke , and I feel no remorse , no sadness , no regrets , only anger that she turned against her own daughter .
Regardless of what I did , I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would never betray my children , no matter what they did .
I was awarded full physical and legal custody of both of them , by the way .
Is there something wrong with me for not feeling sad or missing her and being so angry after an entire year has passed ?
— NUMB IN NEW JERSEY DEAR NUMB : Wrong ?
In your words , your relationship with your mother had never been great .
That she appeared in court as a surprise witness for your husband must have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother has not tried to apologize for what she did .
If that ’ s true , there is nothing wrong with your justifiable anger unless it ’ s eating at you and negatively affecting your quality of life .
If that is what ’ s happening , talking with a licensed psychotherapist will help you straighten out your thinking .
DEAR ABBY : In 2014 , my family found out that my father was having an affair .
He had been with his wife for 24 years .
We all bit our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in with him and then moved her family into their small , one-bedroom house as well .
Since he got involved with Jasmine , he has started smoking again and lost a lot of weight .
We hardly see or talk to him these days .
Everything he does she must approve .
We know he isn ’ t happy , but he won ’ t admit it to any of us .
( We heard it from a couple of his close friends . )
My wedding is coming up in 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somehow prevent him from going .
How can we all approach this subject with him without upsetting him ?
If he isn ’ t there to walk me down the aisle , it will be a sad day .
— LOST IN COLORADO DEAR LOST : I don ’ t think that at this point you ( all ) should approach your father about this .
Instead , try befriending Jasmine , which will enable you to keep a closer eye on him and his health .
If you can manage that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your dad from walking you down the aisle .
In the meantime , cross your fingers and hope your dad comes to his senses and finds the courage to move the woman and her family out of his home and out of your lives .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 . )

DEAR ABBY: I got divorced a year ago. Before it became final, there were many court appearances. My husband told my mother we were divorcing because I was unfaithful, which is true. What he didn’t say was I felt neglected, abandoned and unwanted, all things he knew because I had discussed them with him and he ignored me.
Either way, she is MY MOTHER, not his, and she showed up with him to a couple of court dates to vouch for him to have custody of our kids! I was sad, mortified and angry. It happened with no warning. Mother and I had not severed contact. As a matter of fact, she had recently spent a week with me and our kids in our home.
Our relationship had never been great, but now it’s over. It has been a year since we last spoke, and I feel no remorse, no sadness, no regrets, only anger that she turned against her own daughter. Regardless of what I did, I am her child. As a mother, I would never betray my children, no matter what they did. I was awarded full physical and legal custody of both of them, by the way. Is there something wrong with me for not feeling sad or missing her and being so angry after an entire year has passed? — NUMB IN NEW JERSEY
DEAR NUMB: Wrong? In your words, your relationship with your mother had never been great. That she appeared in court as a surprise witness for your husband must have been a terrible shock. I assume your mother has not tried to apologize for what she did. If that’s true, there is nothing wrong with your justifiable anger unless it’s eating at you and negatively affecting your quality of life. If that is what’s happening, talking with a licensed psychotherapist will help you straighten out your thinking.
DEAR ABBY: In 2014, my family found out that my father was having an affair. He had been with his wife for 24 years. We all bit our tongues as he moved “Jasmine” in with him and then moved her family into their small, one-bedroom house as well.
Since he got involved with Jasmine, he has started smoking again and lost a lot of weight. We hardly see or talk to him these days. Everything he does she must approve. We know he isn’t happy, but he won’t admit it to any of us. (We heard it from a couple of his close friends.)
My wedding is coming up in 2021. My fear is that Jasmine will somehow prevent him from going. How can we all approach this subject with him without upsetting him? If he isn’t there to walk me down the aisle, it will be a sad day. — LOST IN COLORADO
DEAR LOST: I don’t think that at this point you (all) should approach your father about this. Instead, try befriending Jasmine, which will enable you to keep a closer eye on him and his health. If you can manage that, she may be less likely to prevent your dad from walking you down the aisle. In the meantime, cross your fingers and hope your dad comes to his senses and finds the courage to move the woman and her family out of his home and out of your lives.
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--2020-12-05--11 shot in Chicago so far this weekend

11 shot in Chicago so far this weekend

Eleven people have been injured in shootings across Chicago so far this weekend .
Three men and one teenage girl were wounded in a shooting Friday night in West Garfield Park .
The group was standing outside a residential building about 10:50 p.m. in the 4400 block of West Adams Street when someone fired shots from the street , striking all four people , according to Chicago police .
A 17-year-old girl suffered gunshot wounds to the leg and elbow , while a man , 40 , was struck once in the leg and another man , 53 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Both men and the teenage girl were taken to Stroger Hospital where they were all listed in fair condition .
The fourth victim , a 55-year-old man , was shot in the face and arm and attempted to drive himself to the hospital , police said .
He stopped his vehicle in the 3300 block of West Congress Parkway where fire officials responded and transported him to Stroger Hospital in serious condition , police said .
Saturday morning , a 24-year-old woman was shot while driving in Heart of Chicago on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. , she was driving in the 1900 block of South Oakley Avenue when a man on foot fired shots , striking her in the arm , police said .
She brought herself to Mount Sinai Hospital where she was listed in fair condition , police said .
About 2:35 a.m. , a 27-year-old man walked into Jackson Park Hospital , 7531 S. Stoney Island Ave. , with a gunshot wound to the leg but would not provide police with any information on the attack .
Earlier , a man was critically wounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood .
About 2:10 a.m. , the 41-year-old was shot in the leg and chest during an argument with a man outside in the 7700 block of South Luella Avenue , police said .
He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition , police said .
At least 4 other people have been wounded in citywide shootings since 5 p.m. Friday .
Last weekend , 29 people were shot , 8 fatally , in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides @

Five people were killed and 34 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago this weekend.
The latest fatal attack left a man dead Sunday evening in Austin on the West Side.
About 9:14 p.m., 34-year-old Elbert Craig was in the 4900 block of West Hubbard Street when three people approached him and one of them opened fire, Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. Craig was struck multiple times in the back and pronounced dead at the scene.
Hours earlier, a man was found shot to death in Cragin on the Northwest Side.
Officers responded about 5:10 p.m. to the 5100 block of West Melrose Street and found 18-year-old Roderick James Jr. unresponsive in a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds, officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sunday morning, a man was killed during an attempted robbery in Ukrainian Village.
About 4:30 a.m., a 28-year-old man was walking in the 1200 block of West Fry Street when another man approached him on foot, showed a handgun and demanded his belongings, Chicago police said.
The man then shot the 28-year-old in the leg, according to police. The 28-year-old ran from the scene but told officers that as he was running he heard multiple gunshots.
When officers arrived on the scene they found the would-be robber unresponsive in the alley with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The medical examiner’s office identified him as 27-year-old Adan Delgado.
About an hour earlier, a man was killed and a woman injured in a shooting in West Town.
Tevin Winford, 28, was walking about 3:15 a.m. in the 1900 block of West Grand Avenue when someone inside a passing vehicle fired shots, striking him in the head, officials said. He was pronounced dead on the scene, according to police.
A 24-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was transported to Stroger Hospital in fair condition, police said.
Saturday afternoon, a 53-year-old man was fatally shot in Logan Square on the Northwest Side.
Enrique Sanchez was in a vehicle about 1:05 p.m. in the 3100 block of North Sawyer Avenue when a light-colored vehicle pulled up and someone inside opened fire, officials said. Sanchez was shot in the back and head, and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
In non-fatal shootings, three men and one teenage girl were wounded Friday night in West Garfield Park.
The group was standing outside a residential building about 10:50 p.m. in the 4400 block of West Adams Street when someone fired shots from the street, striking all four people, according to police.
A 17-year-old girl suffered gunshot wounds to the leg and elbow, while a man, 40, was struck once in the leg and another man, 53, was shot twice in his leg, police said.
Both men and the teenage girl were taken to Stroger Hospital where they were all listed in fair condition.
The fourth victim, a 55-year-old man, was shot in the face and arm and attempted to drive himself to the hospital, police said. He stopped his vehicle in the 3300 block of West Congress Parkway, where fire officials responded and transported him to Stroger Hospital in serious condition.
At least 28 other people were wounded in citywide shootings between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
Last weekend, 29 people were shot, 8 fatally, in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--Time to blow up the Bears: Why their next rebuild can’t wait

Share All sharing options for : Time to blow up the Bears : Why their next rebuild can ’ t wait Many important choices await George McCaskey and the Bears next month , including what to do with a general manager who has delivered a sub-.500 record over six seasons , a coach who hasn ’ t been the offensive mastermind they hired him to be and a flawed , overpriced roster .
But all of those upcoming decisions trace back to one essential question : Do the Bears truly aspire to greatness ?
And if so , how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get there ?
While it surely wouldn ’ t go over well in Chicago , the organization could try to patch this flat tire of a team rather than replace it .
The Bears could keep Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy , let them look for quick , cheap fixes to their many personnel problems and see if they can squeeze a playoff run out of mostly the same team in 2021 .
That ’ s what the Bears tried this year , of course , after going 8-8 .
The result is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an offensive line , still don ’ t have a quarterback and still aren ’ t good .
They go into their home game against the Lions on Sunday at 5-6 , and the playoffs are unlikely .
But making or missing the playoffs is arbitrary .
Getting there doesn ’ t inherently signify that a team is good .
And that should never be the benchmark for an organization .
Aim higher .
Why bother competing if the modest accomplishment of winning 10 games and being a footnote to someone else ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not good enough for the city , which has seen the Bears produce five contenders in the 28 seasons since they fired Mike Ditka .
Building an elite team will require nearly a total demolition .
That might mean being flat-out dreadful next season rather than hanging around .500 and hoping to slip into a wild-card spot .
But if the reconstruction is done correctly — McCaskey ’ s top task this offseason is to find the right architect — it ’ ll be worth it , even if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Bears must wash away the mediocrity that wafts around them like that stench cloud that accompanied Pig-Pen in the Peanuts comics .
The longer they put off this difficult work , the longer their wait to become relevant again .
This is the time to blow it up .
The rebuild , especially on offense , can not be left in Pace ’ s hands .
He has to go .
The Bears ’ top priority is identifying the right general manager to oversee construction of a championship contender , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bowl offense .
Whatever the ramifications of that hire , whether it means Nagy stays or goes , so be it .
Nagy is at his lowest this week , so it ’ s bad timing to make this argument , but he has the potential to be a great head coach .
He has great leadership qualities and an unshakeable personality .
And his imaginative offense might be fantastic with the right players .
But for the Bears to do this right , they can ’ t saddle the new general manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choose .
That almost always results in a wasted season .
It would sting to see Nagy go on to great success elsewhere , but the Bears will have to live with that possibility .
The ideal power structure is a team president , general manager and head coach all working in sync .
Those hires need to be made from the top down , so it starts with shifting Ted Phillips into a new role or gently guiding him toward retirement , then replacing him with a football-minded president to fill the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many candidates for all three of those jobs that it ’ s not worth listing them all , and the point isn ’ t to hire a hot name like Eric Bieniemy or Robert Saleh .
What matters most is compatibility and a unified vision of what the Bears want to become , from the front office down to the practice squad .
Assemble the right trio at the top .
Then let them take a wrecking ball to this roster .
Pace ’ s biggest failure , the one that will always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drafting Mitch Trubisky No .
2 overall instead of Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes .
The latter two have triple-digit career passer ratings and a combined 201 touchdown passes .
Trubisky , with 57 touchdowns , sits with an 85.5 rating and will head to free agency after the Bears declined his fifth-year option .
But Trubisky isn ’ t Pace ’ s only quarterback mistake .
He paid Mike Glennon $ 18.5 million for four starts .
He traded a fourth-round pick for Nick Foles and committed to three years , $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his successor .
And , against his own wise words , he has not drafted a single quarterback other than Trubisky .
Nagy tends to spin the conversation about quarterback ineptitude to the broader failure of the offense , and while he ’ s correct that quarterback isn ’ t the Bears ’ only problem , it is their biggest one .
They will never be elite until they solve that , and the way to do so is through the draft .
Unfortunately for the Bears , they ’ re on track @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t high enough to take a top prospect .
If they opt for a teardown anyway , they might be better off waiting until 2022 to draft their next franchise quarterback .
The quick fix is to trade for the Jets ’ Sam Darnold , who is assumed to be available because they ’ ll want to use the No .
1 overall pick on Clemson ’ s Trevor Lawrence , then draft an offensive tackle with their first-round pick .
If Pace and Nagy somehow keep their jobs , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a bad idea .
Darnold , the No .
3 pick in 2018 , hasn ’ t proven to be conclusively good .
That might be because he landed with arguably the most dysfunctional team in the league , but the point is that he ’ d be a gamble for the Bears or anybody else .
The Dolphins had to trade a second- and fifth-round pick for Josh Rosen , so it ’ ll take more than that to get Darnold .
The Bears can ’ t keep mortgaging their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re in their current dismal situation is because they haven ’ t had a first-round pick the last two years , and during that time they ’ ve had a total of three picks in the top 120 .
And that plan would still hinge largely on them having an elite defense , which is difficult to forecast .
While this defense is still very good , it ’ s not the overwhelming force that it was when it covered for a pedestrian offense in 2018 .
Defensive touchdowns and scores that came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22.4 to 26.3 points per game that season .
So the smart move is to use the 2021 first-round pick on an offensive tackle and look for an intriguing , developmental quarterback later , then draft the next great hope in 2022 .
Better to take time and get it right than to act impatiently and regret it .
Everything must go Dealing with the rest of the roster will be painful .
It ’ ll hurt , for example , to let wide receiver Allen Robinson walk in free agency or trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bears gave up to get him .
That path is rife with emotional landmines .
But if emotions are put aside , it ’ s a straightforward task : Anyone who won ’ t be a good value three years from now needs to go .
That ’ s an oversimplification , but it ’ s essentially the principle that should guide the Bears .
Here ’ s who they should absolutely keep or extend : linebacker Roquan Smith , safety Eddie Jackson , interior offensive lineman Cody Whitehair and talented rookies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mooney .
Everyone else is available , including Mack .
Rebuilding requires draft picks and salary-cap space .
The Bears don ’ t have much of either right now , and the new general manager will need both .
Pace ’ s desperation left them with five picks in the upcoming draft ( they ’ re missing their original fourth- and seventh-rounders ) and , according to OverTheCap , a mere $ 655,428 in space going into next season as the cap drops to $ 176 million because of pandemic-related revenue losses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ d be making to clear space anyway , like cutting offensive tackle Bobby Massie and tight end Jimmy Graham , but it ’ ll take more than that .
They ’ ll almost certainly have to say goodbye to Robinson rather than use the franchise tag ( it ’ d be 9.1 % of their total salary cap ) or commit to a long-term deal near his likely asking price of $ 20 million per season .
It ’ s a shame because he ’ s one of the best receivers in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but that contract doesn ’ t work during a rebuild .
Obviously those moves would send a lot of talent out the door and it ’ ll be hard watching those players leave , but it ’ s unavoidable .
That ’ s emblematic of what this entire process will feel like .
It ’ ll be something to endure , not enjoy .
But has anyone enjoyed the last two seasons ?
If the Bears aren ’ t able to grit their teeth through a proper rebuild , they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team that continues to drift through mediocrity until it finally crashes anyway .

Many important choices await George McCaskey and the Bears next month, including what to do with a general manager who has delivered a sub-.500 record over six seasons, a coach who hasn’t been the offensive mastermind they hired him to be and a flawed, overpriced roster.
But all of those upcoming decisions trace back to one essential question: Do the Bears truly aspire to greatness? And if so, how much pain are they willing to endure to get there?
While it surely wouldn’t go over well in Chicago, the organization could try to patch this flat tire of a team rather than replace it. The Bears could keep Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy, let them look for quick, cheap fixes to their many personnel problems and see if they can squeeze a playoff run out of mostly the same team in 2021.
Bad idea.
That’s what the Bears tried this year, of course, after going 8-8. The result is that they still don’t have an offensive line, still don’t have a quarterback and still aren’t good. They go into their home game against the Lions on Sunday at 5-6, and the playoffs are unlikely.
But making or missing the playoffs is arbitrary. Getting there doesn’t inherently signify that a team is good. And that should never be the benchmark for an organization. Aim higher.
Why bother competing if the modest accomplishment of winning 10 games and being a footnote to someone else’s championship run is good enough? It’s not good enough for the city, which has seen the Bears produce five contenders in the 28 seasons since they fired Mike Ditka.
Building an elite team will require nearly a total demolition. That might mean being flat-out dreadful next season rather than hanging around .500 and hoping to slip into a wild-card spot. But if the reconstruction is done correctly — McCaskey’s top task this offseason is to find the right architect — it’ll be worth it, even if it takes two seasons to see the results.
The Bears must wash away the mediocrity that wafts around them like that stench cloud that accompanied Pig-Pen in the Peanuts comics. The longer they put off this difficult work, the longer their wait to become relevant again. This is the time to blow it up.
Start at the top
The rebuild, especially on offense, cannot be left in Pace’s hands. He has to go.
The Bears’ top priority is identifying the right general manager to oversee construction of a championship contender, not a Super Bowl defense and a toilet bowl offense. Whatever the ramifications of that hire, whether it means Nagy stays or goes, so be it.
Nagy is at his lowest this week, so it’s bad timing to make this argument, but he has the potential to be a great head coach. He has great leadership qualities and an unshakeable personality. And his imaginative offense might be fantastic with the right players.
But for the Bears to do this right, they can’t saddle the new general manager with a coach he didn’t choose. That almost always results in a wasted season. It would sting to see Nagy go on to great success elsewhere, but the Bears will have to live with that possibility.
The ideal power structure is a team president, general manager and head coach all working in sync. Those hires need to be made from the top down, so it starts with shifting Ted Phillips into a new role or gently guiding him toward retirement, then replacing him with a football-minded president to fill the other two jobs.
There are so many candidates for all three of those jobs that it’s not worth listing them all, and the point isn’t to hire a hot name like Eric Bieniemy or Robert Saleh. What matters most is compatibility and a unified vision of what the Bears want to become, from the front office down to the practice squad.
Assemble the right trio at the top. Then let them take a wrecking ball to this roster.
Long-term thinking at quarterback
Pace’s biggest failure, the one that will always haunt him and the Bears, was drafting Mitch Trubisky No. 2 overall instead of Deshaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes.
The latter two have triple-digit career passer ratings and a combined 201 touchdown passes. Trubisky, with 57 touchdowns, sits with an 85.5 rating and will head to free agency after the Bears declined his fifth-year option.
But Trubisky isn’t Pace’s only quarterback mistake. He paid Mike Glennon $18.5 million for four starts. He traded a fourth-round pick for Nick Foles and committed to three years, $24 million — a lovely gift for his successor. And, against his own wise words, he has not drafted a single quarterback other than Trubisky.
Nagy tends to spin the conversation about quarterback ineptitude to the broader failure of the offense, and while he’s correct that quarterback isn’t the Bears’ only problem, it is their biggest one. They will never be elite until they solve that, and the way to do so is through the draft.
Unfortunately for the Bears, they’re on track to pick 16th next year, which isn’t high enough to take a top prospect. If they opt for a teardown anyway, they might be better off waiting until 2022 to draft their next franchise quarterback.
The quick fix is to trade for the Jets’ Sam Darnold, who is assumed to be available because they’ll want to use the No. 1 overall pick on Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, then draft an offensive tackle with their first-round pick.
If Pace and Nagy somehow keep their jobs, they’ll probably try that.
It’s a bad idea. Darnold, the No. 3 pick in 2018, hasn’t proven to be conclusively good. That might be because he landed with arguably the most dysfunctional team in the league, but the point is that he’d be a gamble for the Bears or anybody else. The Dolphins had to trade a second- and fifth-round pick for Josh Rosen, so it’ll take more than that to get Darnold.
The Bears can’t keep mortgaging their future. Part of why they’re in their current dismal situation is because they haven’t had a first-round pick the last two years, and during that time they’ve had a total of three picks in the top 120.
And that plan would still hinge largely on them having an elite defense, which is difficult to forecast. While this defense is still very good, it’s not the overwhelming force that it was when it covered for a pedestrian offense in 2018. Defensive touchdowns and scores that came on short fields bumped the Bears from 22.4 to 26.3 points per game that season.
So the smart move is to use the 2021 first-round pick on an offensive tackle and look for an intriguing, developmental quarterback later, then draft the next great hope in 2022. Better to take time and get it right than to act impatiently and regret it.
Everything must go
Dealing with the rest of the roster will be painful. It’ll hurt, for example, to let wide receiver Allen Robinson walk in free agency or trade superstar Khalil Mack for less than what the Bears gave up to get him. That path is rife with emotional landmines.
But if emotions are put aside, it’s a straightforward task: Anyone who won’t be a good value three years from now needs to go. That’s an oversimplification, but it’s essentially the principle that should guide the Bears.
Here’s who they should absolutely keep or extend: linebacker Roquan Smith, safety Eddie Jackson, interior offensive lineman Cody Whitehair and talented rookies Jaylon Johnson, Cole Kmet and Darnell Mooney.
Everyone else is available, including Mack.
Rebuilding requires draft picks and salary-cap space. The Bears don’t have much of either right now, and the new general manager will need both.
Pace’s desperation left them with five picks in the upcoming draft (they’re missing their original fourth- and seventh-rounders) and, according to OverTheCap, a mere $655,428 in space going into next season as the cap drops to $176 million because of pandemic-related revenue losses.
There are some obvious moves they’d be making to clear space anyway, like cutting offensive tackle Bobby Massie and tight end Jimmy Graham, but it’ll take more than that.
They’ll almost certainly have to say goodbye to Robinson rather than use the franchise tag (it’d be 9.1% of their total salary cap) or commit to a long-term deal near his likely asking price of $20 million per season. It’s a shame because he’s one of the best receivers in the NFL and he’s only 27, but that contract doesn’t work during a rebuild.
Obviously those moves would send a lot of talent out the door and it’ll be hard watching those players leave, but it’s unavoidable.
That’s emblematic of what this entire process will feel like. It’ll be something to endure, not enjoy. But has anyone enjoyed the last two seasons? If the Bears aren’t able to grit their teeth through a proper rebuild, they’ll be stuck with something worse: A team that continues to drift through mediocrity until it finally crashes anyway.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--Telling the silent stories of murdered women

Standing in front of my class of budding young journalists at Roosevelt University on a cold winter ’ s January morning at the beginning of the year , I somewhat nervously announced the theme of the semester ’ s project : Unforgotten — The Untold Story of Murdered Chicago Women .
Women whose faces remind me of my Black mother , sisters , wife , cousins , aunts , daughters , granddaughters … At least 51 of them , dating back to 2001 .
Mostly African-American .
Mostly strangled , their cases filled with sordid details : partially disrobed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left in alleys , abandoned buildings and vacant lots , set on fire .
Mostly , their murders remain unsolved , their cases believed to be the work of at least one serial killer , according to the Murder Accountability Project based in Alexandria , Virginia .
A former daily newspaperman , I am now a professor charged with teaching Convergence , Roosevelt ’ s capstone undergraduate journalism course .
Charged with exposing them to the kind of social justice issues that provide an opportunity to hone their craft and to also “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why I became a journalist 31 years ago .
To shine the light on society ’ s darkest corners .
To be a voice for the voiceless .
To seek truth .
And in so doing , maybe do some good .
But as I unveiled the project , I honestly wasn ’ t sure how the class of juniors and seniors would react .
Was it too violent ?
Too gory ?
Too heavy ?
It was none of these in my eyes .
As a former crime reporter , murder was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of Chicago ’ s most violent summers and horrific homicides .
I ’ m a seasoned vet .
Battle-hardened .
And yet , I remain forever sensitized to the stories of murder victims , to the untold stories of those who dwell beyond the city ’ s Gold Coast on the Cold Coast , and whose lives and deaths barely make even the daily police blotter .
Their stories matter — stories from the other side of the tracks .
The kinds of stories I ’ ve witnessed editors over my career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The kinds of stories that reflect badly on hand-wringing city officials and chiefs of police , who often fail to take responsibility for or deal with issues that plague Black and brown neighborhoods .
The case of the murdered Chicago women was glaring .
And the absence of public outcry over their mostly unsolved murder cases — let alone the possible link to a serial killer — was reason enough to pursue the story .
My hope was that our project might humanize the women , beyond the “ prostitute ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them had been clustered .
Raise public awareness … I shouldn ’ t have been worried .
My class took to the story like bees to honey , researching and trying to locate the next of kin , though most often running into dead ends .
They kept at it , seeking to cover stories on related themes , ultimately locating some of the victims ’ families .
Then COVID-19 hit , our move to remote classes last spring , and the ensuing year of the pandemic .
Still , they persevered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Convergence class picked up where the previous class had left off , pursuing our Unforgotten project with no less passion , embracing the subject and seeing the humanity in women murdered and discarded so inhumanely .
Nearly a year after we started , I am happy to report that — through the difficulties of reporting in a pandemic and other myriad associated travails — our work is mostly done .
It will be published online before year ’ s end .
( Stay tuned . )
If our work makes some small difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then our labor will not have been in vain .
And as their professor , honestly , I could not be prouder .

Standing in front of my class of budding young journalists at Roosevelt University on a cold winter’s January morning at the beginning of the year, I somewhat nervously announced the theme of the semester’s project:
Unforgotten — The Untold Story of Murdered Chicago Women. Women whose faces remind me of my Black mother, sisters, wife, cousins, aunts, daughters, granddaughters …
At least 51 of them, dating back to 2001. Mostly African-American. Mostly strangled, their cases filled with sordid details: partially disrobed, dismembered, thrown in the trash, left in alleys, abandoned buildings and vacant lots, set on fire.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
Mostly, their murders remain unsolved, their cases believed to be the work of at least one serial killer, according to the Murder Accountability Project based in Alexandria, Virginia.
A former daily newspaperman, I am now a professor charged with teaching Convergence, Roosevelt’s capstone undergraduate journalism course. Charged with exposing them to the kind of social justice issues that provide an opportunity to hone their craft and to also “make a difference.”
That’s why I became a journalist 31 years ago. To shine the light on society’s darkest corners. To be a voice for the voiceless. To seek truth. And in so doing, maybe do some good.
But as I unveiled the project, I honestly wasn’t sure how the class of juniors and seniors would react.
Was it too violent? Too gory? Too heavy?
Too Black?
It was none of these in my eyes. As a former crime reporter, murder was the case I often covered, chronicling some of Chicago’s most violent summers and horrific homicides.
I’m a seasoned vet. Battle-hardened. And yet, I remain forever sensitized to the stories of murder victims, to the untold stories of those who dwell beyond the city’s Gold Coast on the Cold Coast, and whose lives and deaths barely make even the daily police blotter.
Their stories matter — stories from the other side of the tracks. The kinds of stories I’ve witnessed editors over my career too often take a pass on. The kinds of stories that reflect badly on hand-wringing city officials and chiefs of police, who often fail to take responsibility for or deal with issues that plague Black and brown neighborhoods.
The case of the murdered Chicago women was glaring. And the absence of public outcry over their mostly unsolved murder cases — let alone the possible link to a serial killer — was reason enough to pursue the story.
My hope was that our project might humanize the women, beyond the “prostitute” and “drug addict” tag under which all of them had been clustered. Raise public awareness …
I shouldn’t have been worried. My class took to the story like bees to honey, researching and trying to locate the next of kin, though most often running into dead ends. They kept at it, seeking to cover stories on related themes, ultimately locating some of the victims’ families.
Then COVID-19 hit, our move to remote classes last spring, and the ensuing year of the pandemic. Still, they persevered.
In the fall, a new Convergence class picked up where the previous class had left off, pursuing our Unforgotten project with no less passion, embracing the subject and seeing the humanity in women murdered and discarded so inhumanely.
Nearly a year after we started, I am happy to report that — through the difficulties of reporting in a pandemic and other myriad associated travails — our work is mostly done. It will be published online before year’s end. (Stay tuned.)
If our work makes some small difference, perhaps brings even one family solace, then our labor will not have been in vain.
And as their professor, honestly, I could not be prouder.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com
Email John Fountain at Author@johnwfountain.com


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--3 men, 1 teenage girl injured in West Garfield Park shooting

Three men and one teenage girl were injured in a shooting Friday night in West Garfield Park .
The group @ @ @ @ @ building about 10:50 p.m. in the 4400 block of West Adams Street when someone fired @ @ @ @ @ striking all four people , according to Chicago police .
A 17-year-old girl suffered gunshot @ @ @ @ @ elbow , while a man , 40 , was struck once in the leg and @ @ @ @ @ was shot twice in his leg , police said .
All three were taken to @ @ @ @ @ listed in fair condition .
A 55-year-old man was shot in the face and arm @ @ @ @ @ to the hospital , police said .
He stopped his car in the 3300 block @ @ @ @ @ fire officials responded and transported him to Stroger Hospital in serious condition , police said @ @ @ @ @ custody as Area Four detectives investigate .

Three men and one teenage girl were injured in a shooting Friday night in West Garfield Park.
The group was standing outside a residential building about 10:50 p.m. in the 4400 block of West Adams Street when someone fired shots from the street, striking all four people, according to Chicago police.
A 17-year-old girl suffered gunshot wounds to the leg and elbow, while a man, 40, was struck once in the leg and another man, 53, was shot twice in his leg, police said.
All three were taken to Stroger Hospital where they were listed in fair condition.
A 55-year-old man was shot in the face and arm and attempted to drive himself to the hospital, police said.
He stopped his car in the 3300 block of West Congress Parkway where fire officials responded and transported him to Stroger Hospital in serious condition, police said.
No one is in custody as Area Four detectives investigate.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-04--Former Chicago Fire Department official sentenced to 14 months in prison for hiding cash from feds

A former fire marshal with the Chicago Fire Department has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for making multiple small deposits totaling almost $ 350,000 in several banks to avoid federal reporting requirements .
Antuane King , 49 , was convicted in February on two counts of structuring a currency transaction ; each count is punishable by up to five years in prison .
Prosecutors said King made over 37 separate cash deposits just below $ 10,000 into eight different bank accounts to avoid having the banks file currency transaction reports .
He later used the money to buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Markham .
U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso said the offense was serious and King showed his actions were premeditated , since they went on for months .
“ Mr .
King has a lot to lose and I don ’ t know if it was greed , loyalty , fear or some combination of those that he decided to risk everything , ” Alonso said at the hearing Friday .
“ And that is what he did .
It was a calculated crime , it was a scheme that went on for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t impulsive .
It was deliberative.
” But Alonso ultimately determined 14 months was sufficient since it wasn ’ t a violent crime , King had no history of criminal behavior and had been a firefighter for almost two decades .
He believed the “ sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary.
” Banks and other financial institutions must report to the government any deposits more than $ 10,000 and by making multiple deposits just under that limit — called “ structuring ” — King evaded federal reporting requirements .
Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will give up two of the homes he purchased .
Federal prosecutors claim King stripped the residences of most fixtures , causing the homes to devalue , once he learned he would have to forfeit them .
In February , King was still on the Chicago Fire Department ’ s payroll making a $ 99,324 salary , but was off those books as of Friday , according to city records .
He was an employee of the Office of Fire Investigation .
Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bolster Sun-Times coverage of issues affecting Chicago ’ s South and West sides .

A former fire marshal with the Chicago Fire Department has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for making multiple small deposits totaling almost $350,000 in several banks to avoid federal reporting requirements.
Antuane King, 49, was convicted in February on two counts of structuring a currency transaction; each count is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Prosecutors said King made over 37 separate cash deposits just below $10,000 into eight different bank accounts to avoid having the banks file currency transaction reports. He later used the money to buy three homes in Homewood, Lynwood and Markham.
U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso said the offense was serious and King showed his actions were premeditated, since they went on for months.
“Mr. King has a lot to lose, and I don’t know if it was greed, loyalty, fear or some combination of those that he decided to risk everything,” Alonso said at a hearing Friday. “And that is what he did. It was a calculated crime, it was a scheme that went on for a number of months. It wasn’t impulsive. It was deliberative.”
But Alonso ultimately determined 14 months was sufficient since it wasn’t a violent crime, King had no history of criminal behavior and had been a firefighter for almost two decades. He believed the “sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary.”
Federal prosecutors had sought a two-year prison sentence.
Banks and other financial institutions must report to the government any deposits more than $10,000, and by making multiple deposits just under that limit — called “structuring” — King evaded federal reporting requirements.
Under terms of his sentence, King also will give up two of the homes he purchased. Prosecutors claim King stripped the residences of most fixtures, causing the homes to devalue, once he learned he would have to forfeit them.
In February, King was still on the Chicago Fire Department’s payroll making a $99,324 salary but was off those books as of Friday, according to city records. He was an employee of the Office of Fire Investigation.
CFD didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Manny Ramos is a corps member in Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that aims to bolster Sun-Times coverage of issues affecting Chicago’s South and West sides.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-04--Suburban hotel cited for hosting 150-person wedding reception

A north suburban hotel has been cited for hosting a large wedding reception Wednesday night with about 150 guests .
The Cook County Department of Public Health announced the citations Friday , a day after health officials announced they ’ d be investigating the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook , which issued a public apology for hosting the reception .
The citations include an order to disperse for non-compliance with the county mitigation order and a notice of non-compliance with state COVID-19 regulations .
“ The hotel , restaurant , bride , groom , caterer and guests were all reckless and irresponsible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ current COVID-19 Mitigation order and should not have taken place , ” said Rachel Rubin , a senior medical officer at the Cook County Department of Public Health .
“ I sincerely hope no one becomes sick or dies as a result of this event .
All who were in attendance should quarantine for a minimum of 10 days and get tested to keep from spreading COVID to the greater community.
” Health officials said the notices serve as a warning while their attorneys review evidence and determine next steps .
If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s on the Riverfront , are found guilty in court , they could face arrest or a fine of $ 1,000 per offense , health officials said .
“ While the event was booked prior to the implementation of the state ’ s latest mitigation measures , we sincerely regret allowing this gathering to proceed and our family apologizes to our guests , employees , and the Chicagoland community , ” general manager Holly Allgauer-Cir said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon .
“ The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , our hope to keep the hotel afloat and employees working should not outweigh health and safety.
” The wedding reception drew the ire of Gov .
J.B. Pritzker , who called it “ very irresponsible.
” The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association said the event was “ unacceptable and does not reflect the careful efforts the hotel industry as a whole has taken since the onset of the pandemic to protect guests , employees and our communities .
”

A north suburban hotel has been cited for hosting a large wedding reception Wednesday night with about 150 guests.
The Cook County Department of Public Health announced the citations Friday, a day after health officials announced they’d be investigating the Hilton Chicago/Northbrook, which issued a public apology for hosting the reception. The citations include an order to disperse for non-compliance with the county mitigation order and a notice of non-compliance with state COVID-19 regulations.
“The hotel, restaurant, bride, groom, caterer and guests were all reckless and irresponsible. This event was in violation of the current COVID-19 Mitigation order and should not have taken place,” said Rachel Rubin, a senior medical officer at the Cook County Department of Public Health. “I sincerely hope no one becomes sick or dies as a result of this event. All who were in attendance should quarantine for a minimum of 10 days and get tested to keep from spreading COVID to the greater community.”
Health officials said the notices serve as a warning while their attorneys review evidence and determine next steps. If the hotel and on-site restaurant, Allgauer’s on the Riverfront, are found guilty in court, they could face arrest or a fine of $1,000 per offense, health officials said.
“While the event was booked prior to the implementation of the state’s latest mitigation measures, we sincerely regret allowing this gathering to proceed and our family apologizes to our guests, employees, and the Chicagoland community,” general manager Holly Allgauer-Cir said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon. “The coronavirus pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the hospitality industry and our family-owned business. However, our hope to keep the hotel afloat and employees working should not outweigh health and safety.”
The wedding reception drew the ire of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who called it “very irresponsible.” The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association said the event was “unacceptable and does not reflect the careful efforts the hotel industry as a whole has taken since the onset of the pandemic to protect guests, employees and our communities.”


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--Chicago man charged with sex trafficking missing teen girl

A 14-year-old missing girl was found with a Chicago man who is now accused of forcing her to engage in @ @ @ @ @ 37 , is charged with felony trafficking of persons , promoting prostitution and involuntary servitude @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office said .
An investigation into the missing teen was opened on Nov. @ @ @ @ @ s office said .
On Tuesday , officers found the girl and Nealy in a @ @ @ @ @ block of South Cottage Grove Avenue .
Nealy allegedly told detectives that he rented motel @ @ @ @ @ engage in prostitution and provided transportation to calls , the sheriff ’ s office said @ @ @ @ @ Saturday where he was ordered held on $ 150,000 bail .
Read more on crime @ @ @ @ @ ’ s homicides .

A 14-year-old missing girl was found with a Chicago man who is now accused of forcing her to engage in prostitution.
Etheridge Nealy, 37, is charged with felony trafficking of persons, promoting prostitution and involuntary servitude, the Cook County sheriff’s office said.
An investigation into the missing teen was opened on Nov. 6, the sheriff’s office said. On Tuesday, officers found the girl and Nealy in a vehicle parked in the 8200 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue.
Nealy allegedly told detectives that he rented motel rooms for the girl to engage in prostitution and provided transportation to calls, the sheriff’s office said.
Nealy appeared in court Saturday where he was ordered held on $150,000 bail.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--David Lander, played ‘Squiggy’ on ‘Laverne & Shirley,’ dies at 73

LOS ANGELES — Actor David L. Lander , who played the character of Squiggy on the popular ABC comedy “ Laverne & Shirley , ” has died after a decades-long battle with multiple sclerosis , his wife said .
He was 73 .
Lander died Friday in Los Angeles , surrounded by his wife , daughter and son-in-law , Kathy Fields Lander said in an email Saturday to the Associated Press .
“ It was very peaceful , ” Lander said .
“ He had a tough battle with MS for 37 years and he persevered like no one I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me a great deal about the important things of life.
” Lander had a longtime comedic partnership with Michael McKean , whom he met at Carnegie Mellon University .
Together they created the characters of Lenny and Squiggy that they would play on the show , which ran from 1976 to 1983 .
Lenny and Squiggy — or Lenny Kosnowski and Andrew “ Squiggy ” Squiggman — were friends and upstairs neighbors of Laverne DeFazio ( Penny Marshall ) and Shirley Feeney ( Cindy Williams ) , bottle-cappers in 1950s Milwaukee , Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Lander on Saturday of the two actors in the early days .
Lander is survived by his wife and a daughter , Natalie Lander .

LOS ANGELES — Actor David L. Lander, who played the character of Squiggy on the popular ABC comedy “Laverne & Shirley,” has died after a decades-long battle with multiple sclerosis, his wife said. He was 73.
Lander died Friday in Los Angeles, surrounded by his wife, daughter and son-in-law, Kathy Fields Lander said in an email Saturday to the Associated Press.
“It was very peaceful,” Lander said. “He had a tough battle with MS for 37 years and he persevered like no one I have ever seen, and it taught me a great deal about the important things of life.”
Lander had a longtime comedic partnership with Michael McKean, whom he met at Carnegie Mellon University. Together they created the characters of Lenny and Squiggy that they would play on the show, which ran from 1976 to 1983. Lenny and Squiggy — or Lenny Kosnowski and Andrew “Squiggy” Squiggman — were friends and upstairs neighbors of Laverne DeFazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams), bottle-cappers in 1950s Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
McKean tweeted a photo in tribute to Lander on Saturday of the two actors in the early days.
Lander is survived by his wife and a daughter, Natalie Lander.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--Northwestern clinches Big Ten West without playing Saturday

Northwestern didn ’ t play Saturday , but it still clinched the Big Ten West and a spot in the conference championship game Dec. 19 in Indianapolis .
The Wildcats ( 5-1 ) needed three games to be played Saturday to ensure the Big Ten didn ’ t lower the number of games needed to be eligible for the title game .
Their game at Minnesota was canceled because of coronavirus cases in the Gophers ’ program .
Teams are required to play six games to qualify for the conference title game .
However , Stadium reported that Big Ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow Ohio State ( 5-0 ) in the title game as the East champ if its season finale against Michigan is canceled .
The Wolverines ’ game Saturday against Maryland was canceled because of a COVID-19 outbreak in their program .
The Buckeyes , who had two games canceled , figure to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff with a victory in the Big Ten title game .
Northwestern will make its second appearance in the game in three seasons .
It lost to Ohio State 45-24 in 2018 .

Northwestern didn’t play Saturday, but it still clinched the Big Ten West and a spot in the conference championship game Dec. 19 in Indianapolis.
The Wildcats (5-1) needed three games to be played Saturday to ensure the Big Ten didn’t lower the number of games needed to be eligible for the title game. Their game at Minnesota was canceled because of coronavirus cases in the Gophers’ program.
Teams are required to play six games to qualify for the conference title game. However, Stadium reported that Big Ten athletic directors likely will change the requirements to allow Ohio State (5-0) in the title game as the East champ if its season finale against Michigan is canceled.
The Wolverines’ game Saturday against Maryland was canceled because of a COVID-19 outbreak in their program. The Buckeyes, who had two games canceled, figure to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff with a victory in the Big Ten title game.
Northwestern will make its second appearance in the game in three seasons. It lost to Ohio State 45-24 in 2018.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--Ian Book leads No. 2 Notre Dame past Syracuse in home finale

SOUTH BEND , Ind .
— Ian Book threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores in his final home game at Notre Dame , leading the second-ranked Fighting Irish to a 45-21 victory against Syracuse on Saturday .
The fifth-year senior led the Irish to a victory as a starter for the 30th time , the most ever for a Notre Dame quarterback .
The Irish ( 10-0 , 9-0 ACC , CFP No .
2 ) ran their winning streak to 16 games , best on the country , and their home winning streak to 24 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 things consecutively — I have trouble doing two in a row.
, ” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly joked after his team provided him with his 102nd victory in South Bend , three behind all-time Irish leader Knute Rockne .
“ It was about finishing for our seniors with a win at home and getting Ian into the record books as the winningest quarterback at Notre Dame.
” Next up for the Irish , who are playing this season in a pandemic as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlotte , North Carolina .
It will be a rematch against No .
4 Clemson if the Tigers beat Virginia Tech later Saturday .
Book was 24 for 37 for 285 yards , with touchdown passes of 21 , 28 and 26 to Javon McKinley , who had seven receptions for 111 yards .
Book scored on runs of 28 and 17 yards and rushed for 53 yards while improving to 30-3 as a starter and passing Notre Dame greats Tom Clements , Ron Powlus and Brady Quinn for most victories as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards on 20 carries , giving him 1,011 for the season , and freshman Chris Tyree had a 94-yard TD run for Notre Dame ’ s final touchdown and finished with 109 rushing yards as Notre Dame totaled 283 on the ground and 568 total .
“ I think our guys got to measure themselves up against one of the better teams in the country … I was proud of the way they competed , ” said Syracuse coach Dino Babers , whose Orange ( 1-10 , 1-9 ) managed 414 yards on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming into the game , and took a 7-3 lead in the second quarter .
Notre Dame started its run thanks to a roughing the passer by Syracuse that Book later turned into a 28-yard TD run .
Linebacker Marist Liufau ’ s fumble recovery and return to the Syracuse 21 was followed by Book ’ s first TD pass to McKinley .
Then Book engineered a six-play , 68-yard scoring drive that took just 32 seconds , finishing it with a 28-yard TD pass to McKinley and the Irish were up 24-7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young team , which was a 33½-point underdog and with 71.6 percent of its roster either freshmen or sophomores , moved the ball on the Irish defense in closing out the season .
The Orange finished their final game of the season with 229 rushing yards against Notre Dame ’ s No .
4 rushing defense .
Freshman Sean Tucker rushed for 113 yards , including a 40-yard TD , and sophomore Cooper Lutz ripped off a 80-yard TD run late in the game .
“ Lutz was really good — I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and Sean ’ s been steady all year , ” Babers said .
“ I want them to understand that we didn ’ t finish this thing the way we wanted to from a won-loss record .
You ’ ve got to turn a negative into a positive.
” Notre Dame : Book ’ s string of pass attempts without an interception , dating back to the season opener against Duke , ended at 267 when Ja ’ Had Carter picked off an underthrown long pass early in the third quarter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ becoming only the second Irish player to move past 10,000 yards ( 10,008 ) in total offense .
Quinn , who played for Notre Dame from 2003-06 , is the leader with 11,944 .
“ He throws dimes , ” Williams said .
“ Every throw is a dime , so it ’ s just crazy to see what Ian ’ s doing .
I know he ’ s got a lot more left in him .
He hasn ’ t shown his best yet.
” Don ’ t expect Fighting Irish to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and CFP rankings come out Tuesday .
Notre Dame : The Irish have an extra week to rest up for the ACC title game after the conference adjusted the schedules earlier this week , canceling their last game .

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Ian Book’s final game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday was one for the record books — both for him and the second-ranked Fighting Irish.
“Bittersweet, definitely a little emotional but I just took it all in,” said the fifth-year senior quarterback after throwing three touchdown passes and running for two more as the Irish rolled to a 45-21 victory against Syracuse.
It was Book’s 30th victory as a starter, the most ever for a Notre Dame quarterback. The Irish (10-0, 9-0 ACC, CFP No. 2) ran their winning streak to 16 games, best in the country, and their home winning streak to 24.
“It’s hard doing any 24 things consecutively — I have trouble doing two in a row,” coach Brian Kelly joked after his team provided him with his 102nd victory in South Bend, three behind all-time Irish leader Knute Rockne. His last four Irish teams have won at least 10 games a season and are 43-6.
“It was about finishing for our seniors with a win at home and getting Ian into the record books as the winningest quarterback at Notre Dame,” added Kelly, who said it wasn’t Book’s best effort during his 30-3 run as a starter, leaving former Irish quarterbacks Tom Clements, Ron Powlus and Brady Quinn in his wake.
Book was 24 for 37 for 285 yards, with touchdown passes of 21, 28 and 26 to Javon McKinley, who had seven receptions for 111 yards. The Irish quarterback also scored on runs of 28 and 17 yards.
“It’s a dream come true to be able to attend Notre Dame and have a good career,” Book said. “To be able to never have lost at home (15-0 as a starter), it’s really a team award rather than an individual one. I want to win a national championship, and if you hear my name, that is what you think of.”
A national title, Notre Dame’s first since 1988, is perhaps three victories away. Next up for the Irish, who are playing this season in a pandemic as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, is the Dec. 19 league championship game in Charlotte, North Carolina. It will be a rematch against No. 4 Clemson if the Tigers beat Virginia Tech later Saturday.
No matter that outcome, the Irish hope to be one of four teams chosen to receive a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Kyren Williams added 110 yards on 20 carries, giving him 1,011 for the season, and freshman Chris Tyree had a 94-yard TD run for Notre Dame’s final touchdown and finished with 109 rushing yards as Notre Dame totaled 283 on the ground and 568 total.
“I think our guys got to measure themselves up against one of the better teams in the country … I was proud of the way they competed,” said Syracuse coach Dino Babers, whose Orange (1-10, 1-9) managed 414 yards on the Irish defense, ranked 10th nationally coming into the game, and took a 7-3 lead in the second quarter.
Notre Dame started its run thanks to a roughing the passer by Syracuse that Book later turned into a 28-yard TD run. Linebacker Marist Liufau’s fumble recovery and return to the Syracuse 21 was followed by Book’s first TD pass to McKinley.
Then Book engineered a six-play, 68-yard scoring drive that took just 32 seconds, finishing it with a 28-yard TD pass to McKinley and the Irish were up 24-7 at half.
THE TAKEAWAY
Syracuse: Babers’ young team, which was a 33½-point underdog and with 71.6 percent of its roster either freshmen or sophomores, moved the ball on the Irish defense in closing out the season. The Orange finished their final game of the season with 229 rushing yards against Notre Dame’s No. 4 rushing defense.
Freshman Sean Tucker rushed for 113 yards, including a 40-yard TD, and sophomore Cooper Lutz ripped off a 80-yard TD run late in the game.
“Lutz was really good — I didn’t know he was that fast — and Sean’s been steady all year,” Babers said. “I want them to understand that we didn’t finish this thing the way we wanted to from a won-loss record. You’ve got to turn a negative into a positive.”
Notre Dame: Book’s string of pass attempts without an interception, dating back to the season opener against Duke, ended at 267 when Ja’Had Carter picked off an underthrown long pass early in the third quarter.
Book finished with 348 total yards, becoming only the second Irish player to move past 10,000 yards (10,008) in total offense. Quinn, who played for Notre Dame from 2003-06, is the leader with 11,944.
“He throws dimes,” Williams said. “Every throw is a dime, so it’s just crazy to see what Ian’s doing. I know he’s got a lot more left in him. He hasn’t shown his best yet.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Don’t expect Fighting Irish to fall when AP announces its rankings Sunday and CFP rankings come out Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Syracuse: Season complete.
Notre Dame: The Irish have an extra week to rest up for the ACC title game after the conference adjusted the schedules earlier this week, canceling their last game.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--Illinois allows 35 straight points, falls to No. 24 Iowa

CHAMPAIGN — Spencer Petris threw three touchdown passes and No .
24 Iowa scored 35 unanswered points after trailing by two touchdowns early to beat Illinois 35-21 on Saturday .
Petris was 18 of 28 for 220 yards for Iowa ( 5-2 ) and Tyler Goodson had 19 rushes for 92 yards .
Brandon Peters started the 8-for-8 for 101 yards and two touchdowns for Illinois ( 2-4 ) , but went 2-for-10 for 15 yards before being pulled for backup Isaiah Williams midway through the fourth quarter .
Williams was 7 of 16 for 83 yards and a touchdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 22-yard pass from Petras to Sam LaPorta to cut the Illini lead to 14-7 .
It was the sophomore ’ s first career touchdown catch .
Duncan Keith added two field goals to cut the Illinois lead to 14-13 at the half .
Iowa : The Hawkeyes played like a different team in the second half , shutting down an Illinois offense that seemed unstoppable early .
Illinois : The hot start wasn ’ t enough to keep the Illini from losing to Iowa for the seventh straight time .
Illinois running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kickoff due to an unspecified injury .
A team official said it was not COVID-19-related .
Starting cornerback Nate Hobbs was injured in the first half and did not return for the Illini .
Iowa : Hosts No .
18 Wisconsin , which lost to No .
16 Northwestern last week and is facing a tough No .
10 Indiana team today .
Illinois : Travels to No .
16 Northwestern for another tough Big Ten game against a Top 25 team .

CHAMPAIGN — Brandon Peters started out red-hot for -Illinois, but Spencer Petras had an -answer.
Petras threw three touchdown passes, and No. 24 Iowa scored 35 consecutive points after trailing by two touchdowns early to beat the Illini 35-21 on Saturday.
Petras was 18-for-28 for 220 yards for Iowa (5-2), and Tyler Goodson had 19 rushes for 92 yards.
“We’d all feel really good had the first quarter maybe gone a little different,” Petras said of his team’s slow start. “We just have to try to get in rhythm faster.”
Peters completed his first eight passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns for Illinois (2-4) but went 2-for-10 for 15 yards before being pulled for backup Isaiah Williams midway through the fourth quarter. Williams was 7-for-16 for 83 yards and a touchdown.
“I felt like we needed to do something different at the end of the game,” Illinois coach Lovie Smith said. “Put Isaiah in, and he gave us a spark.”
Iowa’s comeback started with a 22-yard pass from Petras to Sam LaPorta to cut the Illini lead to 14-7. It was the sophomore’s first career touchdown catch. Keith Duncan added two field goals to cut the -Illinois lead to 14-13 at the half.
“That was huge,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “We were not even spinning the tires. Our tires weren’t moving. We were stuck. It was rough there for a while.”
The win over Illinois might move Iowa up a couple of notches in the polls. The Hawkeyes played like a different team in the second half, shutting down an Illinois offense that seemed unstoppable early.
Smith said despite the loss, he saw some progress: “We did some good things. We need to go out next week and play better against our rival,” No. 16 Northwestern, which clinched the Big Ten West title Saturday.
The hot start wasn’t enough to keep the Illini from losing to Iowa for the seventh consecutive time.
Illinois running back Mike Epstein was scratched shortly before kickoff due to an unspecified injury. A team official said it was not COVID-19-related. Starting cornerback Nate Hobbs was injured in the first half and did not return.
“Those defensive injuries hurt us,” Smith said. “We couldn’t stop them, and then we couldn’t score.”


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--This You Gotta See: Illinois reps the Big Ten in a marquee challenge at Duke

OK , so it turns out Duke has been pretty decent through the years in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge .
How does 19-2 overall sound ?
How about 9-0 at Cameron Indoor Stadium ?
Yeah , well , lots of luck to whoever gets the Blue Devils this year .
Uh-oh — that would be Illinois .
The most promising Illini team since early on in the Bruce Weber years will visit Durham , North Carolina , on Tuesday and try to be something more than a sacrificial lamb .
Actually , that ’ s selling the Illini short .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ good enough to beat anybody .
But Ayo Dosunmu couldn ’ t buy a bucket , Kofi Cockburn couldn ’ t stay out of foul trouble and not a whole lot else went right in the Illini ’ s first major test of the early season , an 82-69 loss to No .
2 Baylor .
This is a second high-profile shot to really arrive on the national scene .
Illinois hasn ’ t exactly held up its end of the bargain in this annual clash of conferences , compiling an 8-13 record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last three seasons .
Northwestern , which hosts Pittsburgh on Wednesday , actually has been better at 10-11 .
The Big Ten has moved on the ACC in a big way , though , since losing the first 10 challenges .
In 2009 , the Big Ten finally got on the board .
It was the start of a 6-2-3 stretch — good times the league would love to keep rolling .
It would help if the Illini , well , helped .
Knocking off Duke would be a heck of a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigger factor , the Bears ’ five-game winning streak against the Lions or their five-game losing streak against teams not named the Lions ?
Yes , Mitch Trubisky , we see you in the back of the room with your hand raised .
We don ’ t need to call on you to know your answer .
If Trubisky couldn ’ t outplay Aaron Rodgers , maybe Philly ’ s Carson Wentz can ?
But seriously , folks .
Insert Trubisky-Patrick Mahomes comparison here , right ?
Nah , that has gotten old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re going to need a drink before halftime , aren ’ t we ?
A Monday matinee five days after a Wednesday game for the Steelers ?
This is the weirdest unbeaten team in the NFL .
Also the only one , but who ’ s counting ?
Just imagine the home-field advantage the Niners will enjoy in — huh ?
— Glendale , Arizona .
These are interesting times .
Hawkeyes big man Luka Garza , still going strong in this , his 38th season of college basketball , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roy Williams will throw a bunch of athletes at him anyway .
We don ’ t know who ’ s going to play quarterback for either team in this matchup pushed back from last Thursday , but put it this way — we ’ re not expecting a masterpiece .
The Illini surely have daydreamed about playing in front of — and shushing — the Cameron Crazies .
At least having no fans in the stands will give them a head start on the shushing part .
Will Fire players Mauricio Pineda and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this international friendly ?
And is there any chance both of those names are spelled correctly ?
Chris Collins and the Wildcats sure could use a bounce-back season .
Wait , haven ’ t we been saying that for a few years now ?
Rams quarterback Jared Goff has had his share of struggles , but he has been great at times , too .
You might say he has a lot in common with the Bears ’ QBs , plus he ’ s great sometimes .
It ’ s the greatest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the greatest rivalry in college football .
Blink and the Buckeyes will be up two touchdowns .
This is it — one last chance for the Huskies to win their first game of the season .
Here ’ s looking at ’ em .
The Wildcats already know they ’ re bound for the Big Ten title game , but they ’ re looking at this as much more than a simple tuneup .
The Illini are almost kind of sneaky-good , people .
It ’ ll be the Columbus Crew-New England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner , for all the marbles .
Someday , we ’ ll have to do this thing over atr 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive .

OK, so it turns out Duke has been pretty decent through the years in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
How does 19-2 overall sound? How about 9-0 at Cameron Indoor Stadium?
Yeah, well, lots of luck to whoever gets the Blue Devils this year. Uh-oh — that would be Illinois. The most promising Illini team since early on in the Bruce Weber years will visit Durham, North Carolina, on Tuesday and try to be something more than a sacrificial lamb.
Actually, that’s selling the Illini short. Brad Underwood’s top-10 team is good enough to beat anybody. But Ayo Dosunmu couldn’t buy a bucket, Kofi Cockburn couldn’t stay out of foul trouble and not a whole lot else went right in the Illini’s first major test of the early season, an 82-69 loss to No. 2 Baylor. This is a second high-profile shot to really arrive on the national scene.
Illinois hasn’t exactly held up its end of the bargain in this annual clash of conferences, compiling an 8-13 record that includes defeats in each of the last three seasons. Northwestern, which hosts Pittsburgh on Wednesday, actually has been better at 10-11.
The Big Ten has moved on the ACC in a big way, though, since losing the first 10 challenges. In 2009, the Big Ten finally got on the board. It was the start of a 6-2-3 stretch — good times the league would love to keep rolling. It would help if the Illini, well, helped. Knocking off Duke would be a heck of a way to pitch in.
Here’s what’s happening:
SUN 6
Lions at Bears (noon, Fox-32)
Which is the bigger factor, the Bears’ five-game winning streak against the Lions or their five-game losing streak against teams not named the Lions? Yes, Mitch Trubisky, we see you in the back of the room with your hand raised. We don’t need to call on you to know your answer.
Eagles at Packers (3:25 p.m., Ch. 2)
If Trubisky couldn’t outplay Aaron Rodgers, maybe Philly’s Carson Wentz can? But seriously, folks.
Broncos at Chiefs (7:20 p.m., Ch. 5)
Insert Trubisky-Patrick Mahomes comparison here, right? Nah, that has gotten old. And sad. And deeply depressing. We’re going to need a drink before halftime, aren’t we?
MON 7
Washington at Steelers (4 p.m., Fox-32)
A Monday matinee five days after a Wednesday game for the Steelers? This is the weirdest unbeaten team in the NFL. Also the only one, but who’s counting?
Bills at 49ers (7:15 p.m., ESPN)
Just imagine the home-field advantage the Niners will enjoy in — huh? — Glendale, Arizona. These are interesting times.
TUE 8
ACC-Big Ten Challenge: North Carolina at Iowa (6:30 p.m., ESPN)
Hawkeyes big man Luka Garza, still going strong in this, his 38th season of college basketball, is basically unstoppable. Tar Heels coach Roy Williams will throw a bunch of athletes at him anyway.
Cowboys at Ravens (7:05 p.m., Fox-32, NFLN)
We don’t know who’s going to play quarterback for either team in this matchup pushed back from last Thursday, but put it this way — we’re not expecting a masterpiece.
ACC-Big Ten Challenge: Illinois at Duke (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
The Illini surely have daydreamed about playing in front of — and shushing — the Cameron Crazies. At least having no fans in the stands will give them a head start on the shushing part.
WED 2
USMNT vs. El Salvador (6:30 p.m., UniMas, ESPN network TBD)
Will Fire players Mauricio Pineda and Djordje Mihailovic see action for the Americans in this international friendly? And is there any chance both of those names are spelled correctly?
ACC-Big Ten Challenge: Pittsburgh at Northwestern (8:15 p.m., ESPNU)
Chris Collins and the Wildcats sure could use a bounce-back season. Wait, haven’t we been saying that for a few years now?
THU 10
Patriots at Rams (7:20 p.m., Fox-32, NFLN)
Rams quarterback Jared Goff has had his share of struggles, but he has been great at times, too. You might say he has a lot in common with the Bears’ QBs, plus he’s great sometimes.
SAT 12
Michigan at Ohio State (11 a.m., Fox-32)
It’s the greatest rivalry in college football at pretending to be the greatest rivalry in college football. Blink and the Buckeyes will be up two touchdowns.
Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan (11 a.m., ESPN3)
This is it — one last chance for the Huskies to win their first game of the season. Here’s looking at ’em.
Illinois at Northwestern (TBD)
The Wildcats already know they’re bound for the Big Ten title game, but they’re looking at this as much more than a simple tuneup. The Illini are almost kind of sneaky-good, people.
MLS Cup (7 p.m., Fox-32, UniMas)
It’ll be the Columbus Crew-New England Revolution winner against the Seattle Sounders-Minnesota United winner, for all the marbles. Someday, we’ll have to do this thing over atr 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--Rapper Jeremih leaves Chicago hospital after COVID-19 bout

Chicago R & B artist Jeremih is on the mend at home after a near-death scare with the coronavirus .
Jeremih left Northwestern Memorial Hospital this week after a three-week battle with COVID-19 , TMZ reported Saturday .
Last month , Jeremih ’ s condition appeared dire when reports surfaced that he was in the intensive care unit and on a ventilator after experiencing complications from symptoms of COVID-19 .
That news prompted several celebrities , including Chance the Rapper and 50 Cent , to rally around the 33-year-old singer .
Jeremih ’ s health took a turn for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moved to a regular hospital room .
Since returning home , Jeremih told TMZ he ’ s “ getting stronger ” and looking forward to hanging out with his sons .
He also thanked his family and friends who supported him and expressed appreciation for his fans who prayed for him .
“ I would also like to thank my family and friends for all their prayers and well wishes .
I ’ m overwhelmed with gratitude .
A special thanks to Chance The Rapper , 50 Cent and Diddy for their love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank all my fans and people around the world who prayed for me .
I ’ m getting stronger everyday , and look forward to spending time with my sons.
” Born Jeremy Felton , Jeremih grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended Morgan Park High School and Columbia College Chicago .
He burst onto the national music scene with his 2009 debut single , “ Birthday Sex , ” which peaked at No .
4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart .
He ’ s since recorded three more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mih-Ty , ” a collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ ign in 2018 .

Chicago R&B artist Jeremih is on the mend at home after a near-death scare with the coronavirus.
Jeremih left Northwestern Memorial Hospital this week after a three-week battle with COVID-19, TMZ reported Saturday.
Last month, Jeremih’s condition appeared dire when reports surfaced that he was in the intensive care unit and on a ventilator after experiencing complications from symptoms of COVID-19. That news prompted several celebrities, including Chance the Rapper and 50 Cent, to rally around the 33-year-old singer.
Jeremih’s health took a turn for the better two weeks ago and he was moved to a regular hospital room.
Since returning home, Jeremih told TMZ he’s “getting stronger” and looking forward to hanging out with his sons. He also thanked his family and friends who supported him and expressed appreciation for his fans who prayed for him.
Here’s what he told TMZ:
“I would also like to thank my family and friends for all their prayers and well wishes. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. A special thanks to Chance The Rapper, 50 Cent and Diddy for their love and support... I would like to thank all my fans and people around the world who prayed for me. I’m getting stronger everyday, and look forward to spending time with my sons.”
Born Jeremy Felton, Jeremih grew up on the South Side of Chicago and attended Morgan Park High School and Columbia College Chicago. He burst onto the national music scene with his 2009 debut single, “Birthday Sex,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He’s since recorded three more top-10 hits and most recently released “Mih-Ty,” a collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign in 2018.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--Ex-state Sen. Martin Sandoval, snared in political corruption investigation, dies of coronavirus: at

Ex-state Sen. Martin Sandoval, snared in political corruption investigation, dies of coronavirus: attorney

Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval , who became a crucial figure in a series of ongoing public corruption investigations early this year when he admitted he ’ d taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes , has died from COVID-19 , according to his defense attorney .
The Senate ’ s former transportation chair also agreed in January to “ cooperate in any matter in which he is called upon ” by federal prosecutors in Chicago .
Late last month , the feds told a judge Sandoval had “ provided valuable cooperation that is expected to last at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts say Sandoval ’ s death has the potential to complicate the feds ’ aggressive probe of Illinois politics .
Still , the implications of his death — caused by a pandemic that took hold only weeks after his guilty plea — may not be fully understood for some time .
Dylan Smith , the attorney who represented Sandoval in his federal criminal case , confirmed Sandoval ’ s death for the Chicago Sun-Times on Saturday .
Sandoval was 56 .
“ I was proud to have represented Martin Sandoval , ” Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone of considerable ability who had done a great deal of good in his life and someone who was working very hard to make amends for his mistakes and , in his own way , doing what he could through his cooperation with the government to contribute to their efforts to clean up things in Springfield .
“ And I know he was sincerely remorseful for having strayed from his own standards , and he was someone who loved his family tremendously , and right now they are in my thoughts and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the press and the larger public to respect their privacy as they mourn at this time.
” In pleading guilty in January , Sandoval admitted he took a “ protector fee ” from someone with an interest in the politically connected red-light camera company SafeSpeed , insisting he ’ d “ go balls to the walls for anything you ask me.
” But he also admitted he ’ d engaged in corrupt activity with other public officials and accepted over $ 250,000 “ in bribes as part of criminal activity that involved more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been charged with wrongdoing and has denounced “ a person who had an interest in the company , who was not authorized by the company to engage in any illegal behavior or make any commitments or contributions on behalf of the company or its executives.
” Former SafeSpeed partner Omar Maani has been charged with bribery conspiracy but entered into a so-called deferred-prosecution agreement with the feds .
In March , federal prosecutors filed an indictment against political operative William A .
Helm , alleging he had bribed Sandoval in 2018 .
Sandoval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the burgeoning investigation of ComEd , which was charged with bribery in July but also entered into a deferred-prosecution agreement .
A subpoena delivered to House Speaker Michael Madigan ’ s office that month also mentioned Sandoval .
Before his name emerged in the federal probe , Sandoval made national news in 2019 when social media posts showed a man at his political fundraiser pretending to shoot someone wearing a Donald Trump mask .
Former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Cramer told the Sun-Times the death of a crucial witness like Sandoval has the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the prosecutor as far as admissibility of evidence.
” For example , previous testimony would largely not be admissible if it was not subject to cross-examination , he said .
And recordings would need to be authenticated .
A witness like Sandoval can also serve as “ a guide to the evidence , ” explaining to jurors how something worked , said Cramer , now managing director in Chicago of Berkeley Research Group .
But he said prosecutors could still present a compelling case without such a witness .
Sandoval was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he was a classmate of Tony Munoz , his future colleague in the state Senate , and Victor Reyes , who became Mayor Richard M. Daley ’ s director of intergovernmental affairs .
Sandoval would later become an important ally of Munoz and Reyes in the Hispanic Democratic Organization , one of Daley ’ s key political support groups .
After the 2000 redistricting created two new Senate seats for Latinos — one on the Northwest Side and the other on the Southwest — Sandoval was elected from the Southwest Side district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sandoval also put his considerable political weight and intellect behind initiatives benefiting the Latino community , immigrants , low-income residents and other vulnerable populations , according to immigration advocate Joshua Hoyt .
“ He pushed a lot of things that weren ’ t flashy , but which made a difference , ” said Hoyt , who dealt with Sandoval in the mid-2000s when Hoyt was director of the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights .
Some of those unflashy things championed by the physically imposing and irreverently funny ex-state senator included naturalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ He was a big man and he had a big personality , and he would use it to push for what he wanted , ” Hoyt said .
“ He made some tragic mistakes , and some of those are the temptations of politics which have tripped up people all over the place .
.
.
People can make tragic mistakes and also contribute a lot of good in the world .
I think Marty contributed a lot of good in the world .
”

Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, who became a crucial figure in a series of ongoing public corruption investigations early this year when he admitted he’d taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, has died from COVID-19, according to his defense attorney.
The Senate’s former transportation chair also agreed in January to “cooperate in any matter in which he is called upon” by federal prosecutors in Chicago. Late last month, the feds told a judge Sandoval had “provided valuable cooperation that is expected to last at least several more months.”
Now, legal experts say Sandoval’s death has the potential to complicate the feds’ aggressive probe of Illinois politics.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
Still, the implications of his death — caused by a pandemic that took hold only weeks after his guilty plea — may not be fully understood for some time.
Dylan Smith, the attorney who represented Sandoval in his federal criminal case, confirmed Sandoval’s death for the Chicago Sun-Times. Sandoval, 56, died Saturday morning, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
“I was proud to have represented Martin Sandoval,” Smith told the Sun-Times. “He was someone of considerable ability who had done a great deal of good in his life and someone who was working very hard to make amends for his mistakes and, in his own way, doing what he could through his cooperation with the government to contribute to their efforts to clean up things in Springfield.
“And I know he was sincerely remorseful for having strayed from his own standards, and he was someone who loved his family tremendously, and right now they are in my thoughts and I would hope and ask the members of the press and the larger public to respect their privacy as they mourn at this time.”
In pleading guilty in January, Sandoval admitted he took a “protector fee” from someone with an interest in the politically connected red-light camera company SafeSpeed, insisting he’d “go balls to the walls for anything you ask me.” But he also admitted he’d engaged in corrupt activity with other public officials and accepted over $250,000 “in bribes as part of criminal activity that involved more than five participants.”
SafeSpeed has not been charged with wrongdoing and has denounced “a person who had an interest in the company, who was not authorized by the company to engage in any illegal behavior or make any commitments or contributions on behalf of the company or its executives.” Former SafeSpeed partner Omar Maani has been charged with bribery conspiracy but entered into a so-called deferred-prosecution agreement with the feds.
In March, federal prosecutors filed an indictment against political operative William A. Helm, alleging he had bribed Sandoval in 2018. Sandoval’s name has also surfaced amid the burgeoning investigation of ComEd, which was charged with bribery in July but also entered into a deferred-prosecution agreement. A subpoena delivered to House Speaker Michael Madigan’s office that month also mentioned Sandoval.
Before his name emerged in the federal probe, Sandoval made national news in 2019 when social media posts showed a man at his political fundraiser pretending to shoot someone wearing a Donald Trump mask.
Former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Cramer told the Sun-Times the death of a crucial witness like Sandoval has the potential to create “all sorts of problems for the prosecutor as far as admissibility of evidence.” For example, previous testimony would largely not be admissible if it was not subject to cross-examination, he said. And recordings would need to be authenticated.
A witness like Sandoval can also serve as “a guide to the evidence,” explaining to jurors how something worked, said Cramer, now managing director in Chicago of Berkeley Research Group. But he said prosecutors could still present a compelling case without such a witness.
Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval, pictured in Springfield in June 2019. AP Photos
Sandoval was a 1982 graduate of Quigley South seminary, where he was a classmate of Tony Munoz, his future colleague in the state Senate, and Victor Reyes, who became Mayor Richard M. Daley’s director of intergovernmental affairs. Sandoval would later become an important ally of Munoz and Reyes in the Hispanic Democratic Organization, one of Daley’s key political support groups.
After the 2000 redistricting created two new Senate seats for Latinos — one on the Northwest Side and the other on the Southwest — Sandoval was elected from the Southwest Side district in 2002.
Over the years, Sandoval also put his considerable political weight and intellect behind initiatives benefiting the Latino community, immigrants, low-income residents and other vulnerable populations, according to immigration advocate Joshua Hoyt.
“He pushed a lot of things that weren’t flashy, but which made a difference,” said Hoyt, who dealt with Sandoval in the mid-2000s when Hoyt was director of the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
Some of those unflashy things championed by the physically imposing and irreverently funny ex-state senator included naturalization and workplace protections for immigrants, Hoyt said.
“He was a big man and he had a big personality, and he would use it to push for what he wanted,” Hoyt said. “He made some tragic mistakes, and some of those are the temptations of politics which have tripped up people all over the place . . . People can make tragic mistakes and also contribute a lot of good in the world. I think Marty contributed a lot of good in the world.”
Contributing: Robert Herguth and Tim Novak


chicagosun-times--2020-12-05--17 years after leaving twin newborns for dead in Stickney trash — thinking ‘no one would ever have t

17 years after leaving twin newborns for dead in Stickney trash — thinking ‘no one would ever have to know’ — Michigan mother charged with murders: prosecutors

A discarded cigarette butt was the key to charging a 41-year-old Michigan woman Friday with the murders of her newborn twin sons , who were left for dead in a trash bin 17 years ago in southwest suburban Stickney Township .
Antoinette Briley , of Holland , Michigan , appeared in court Saturday , where her bail was set at $ 150,000 during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse .
She faces two count of first-degree murder .
The unidentified twins were found June 6 , 2003 , by a waste management employee emptying trash bins in an alley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Avenue in unincorporated Stickney Township , officials said .
Their deaths were ruled homicides after autopsies revealed the boys had been born alive and died of asphyxiation , officials said .
At a press conference in Maywood , Cook County sheriff ’ s office Chief of Public Safety Leo Schmitz lauded investigators ’ work , saying “ we never gave up.
” Ginny Georgantas , the lead detective on the case , said she asked to reopen the investigation in 2018 after genetic genealogy was used to identify serial murderer Joseph James DeAngelo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California .
That technique led authorities to identify Briley as the boys ’ potential birth mother , officials said .
Detectives went to Holland , Michigan , spotted her smoking a cigarette , and then retrieved the butt for a sample of her DNA — which ended up matching that of the twin boys , according to the sheriff ’ s office .
Officers learned that Briley was in Cook County Thursday and arrested her during an Oak Lawn traffic stop , officials said .
“ I ’ m happy that there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgantas said .
“ There was no one fighting for them .
Schmitz said the Cook County sheriff ’ s office and other police agencies in Illinois are using genetic genealogy to go back and give old cases another look .
“ Yes , we ’ re going backwards on cases now that we had DNA [ evidence for ] , ” Schmitz said .
“ There will be other cases , absolutely.
” Briley told detectives she knew she was pregnant that day back in 2003 , and that she had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she began to feel stomach pains , prosecutors said during her bail hearing Saturday afternoon .
Briley moved to the bathroom tub and gave birth to the babies , who were crying “ but not loud enough that the neighbors could hear , ” she allegedly told investigators .
After cleaning herself up , Briley placed the newborns into a duffel bag and got into a car to drive to a hospital , prosecutors said .
But she told detectives she changed her mind on the way , thinking that since no one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ no one would ever have to know , ” according to prosecutors .
So she took the babies out of the bag , left them in a trash can and drove back to her grandfather ’ s house , prosecutors said .
Briley allegedly told detectives “ she wishes she could take the whole day back ” and that she ’ d kept driving to the hospital instead .
Briley lives with her 12-year-old daughter and works full-time as an assembly worker in Michigan , her assistant public defender said in court @ @

A discarded cigarette butt was the key to charging a 41-year-old Michigan woman Friday with the murders of her newborn twin sons, who were left for dead in a trash bin 17 years ago in southwest suburban Stickney Township.
Antoinette Briley, of Holland, Michigan, appeared in court Saturday, where her bail was set at $150,000 during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse. She faces two count of first-degree murder.
The unidentified twins were found June 6, 2003, by a waste management employee emptying trash bins in an alley in the 4800 block of South Latrobe Avenue in unincorporated Stickney Township, officials said.
Their deaths were ruled homicides after autopsies revealed the boys had been born alive and died of asphyxiation, officials said.
At a press conference in Maywood, Cook County sheriff’s office Chief of Public Safety Leo Schmitz lauded investigators’ work, saying “we never gave up.”
Ginny Georgantas, the lead detective on the case, said she asked to reopen the investigation in 2018 after genetic genealogy was used to identify serial murderer Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. as the Golden State Killer in California.
That technique led authorities to identify Briley as the boys’ potential birth mother, officials said.
Antoinette Briley, 41 of Holland, Michigan, was charged Dec. 3, 2020, in the 2003 double murder of her infant twin sons. Cook County Sheriff’s police
Detectives went to Holland, Michigan, spotted her smoking a cigarette, and then retrieved the butt for a sample of her DNA — which ended up matching that of the twin boys, according to the sheriff’s office.
Officers learned that Briley was in Cook County Thursday and arrested her during an Oak Lawn traffic stop, officials said.
“I’m happy that there’s closure for the twins,” Georgantas said. “There was no one fighting for them.
“It’s kind of a surreal feeling,” she added.
Schmitz said the Cook County sheriff’s office and other police agencies in Illinois are using genetic genealogy to go back and give old cases another look.
“Yes, we’re going backwards on cases now that we had DNA [evidence for],” Schmitz said. “There will be other cases, absolutely.”
Briley told detectives she knew she was pregnant that day back in 2003, and that she had been at her grandfather’s house when she began to feel stomach pains, prosecutors said during her bail hearing Saturday afternoon.
Briley moved to the bathroom tub and gave birth to the babies, who were crying “but not loud enough that the neighbors could hear,” she allegedly told investigators.
After cleaning herself up, Briley placed the newborns into a duffel bag and got into a car to drive to a hospital, prosecutors said.
But she told detectives she changed her mind on the way, thinking that since no one knew she’d given birth, “no one would ever have to know,” according to prosecutors.
So she took the babies out of the bag, left them in a trash can and drove back to her grandfather’s house, prosecutors said.
Briley allegedly told detectives “she wishes she could take the whole day back” and that she’d kept driving to the hospital instead.
Briley lives with her 12-year-old daughter and works full-time as an assembly worker in Michigan, her assistant public defender said in court Saturday.
Briley is due back in court Tuesday.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-06--1 killed, 1 wounded in Ukrainian Village shooting, attempted robbery: police

One person was killed and another wounded in a shooting during an attempted robbery Sunday morning in Ukrainian Village , @ @ @ @ @ a.m. , a 28-year-old man was walking in the 1200 block of West Fry Street @ @ @ @ @ him on foot , showed a handgun and demanded his belongings , Chicago police said @ @ @ @ @ the 28-year-old in the leg , according to police .
The 28-year-old then ran from @ @ @ @ @ was running he heard multiple gunshots , police said .
When officers arrived on the @ @ @ @ @ male unresponsive in the alley with multiple gunshot wounds , police said .
The unknown @ @ @ @ @ Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead , according to police , while the 28-year-old @ @ @ @ @ in good condition .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office has not released @ @ @ @ @

A would-be robber was shot and killed Sunday morning after shooting another man in West Town.
About 4:30 a.m., a 28-year-old man was walking in the 1200 block of West Fry Street when a man came up on foot, showed a handgun and demanded his belongings, Chicago police said. The man then shot the 28-year-old in the leg.
The 28-year-old then ran from the scene, but as he was running he heard multiple gunshots, police said.
When officers arrived on the scene they found the man unresponsive in the alley with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. The man was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
He was identified as Adan Delgado, 27, who lived in West Town, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
The 28-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, police said.
Area Three detectives are investigating.