chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--67 shot, 13 fatally, over Fourth of July weekend in Chicago so far

Thirteen people have been killed and at least 54 others injured in shootings across Chicago so far over the Fourth of July weekend .
Nine of the weekend ’ s victims were minors , and two of the children died from their injuries .
A 14-year-old boy was among four people killed in a shooting that wounded four others Saturday night in Englewood on the South Side .
They were at a large gathering in the street about 11:35 p.m. in the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street when four males walked up and started shooting , according to Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the back and pronounced dead at Comer Children ’ s Hospital .
Three other male victims were pronounced dead , two at the scene and one at the University of Chicago Medical Center , police said .
Their ages were not immediately known .
An 11-year-old boy with a graze wound to the ankle and a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the abdomen were both taken to Comer in fair condition , police said .
A 35-year-old man shot in the hip , leg , arm and wrist was taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stroger Hospital in critical condition , police said .
A 29-year-old man shot in the foot was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in fair condition .
Earlier that evening , a 7-year-old girl was killed at a Fourth of July party in Austin on the West Side .
The girl was playing on a sidewalk about 7 p.m. in the 100 block of North Latrobe when three men got out of a white car and shot more than 20 rounds in the direction of the people holding the party , a group which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The girl , identified by family as Natalie Wallace , was struck in the forehead , and a 32-year-old man was injured .
“ Tonight , a 7-year-old girl in Austin joined a list of teenagers and children whose hopes and dreams were ended by the barrel of a gun , ” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement on Twitter .
“ We can not grow numb to this .
We are making progress in slowing shootings , but we have to do better , every single one of us.
” Early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to death in Gresham on the South Side .
The 21-year-old was standing on the sidewalk about 2:15 a.m. in the 8600 block of South Vincennes Avenue when he was shot in the head , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
About an hour before that , a woman was killed and five men were injured when someone fired into a crowd that was setting off fireworks in Lawndale on the West Side .
The group was lighting fireworks on the sidewalk at 1:14 a.m. in the 1500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white vehicle approached and someone inside started shooting , according to police .
A 20-year-old woman was hit in the head and abdomen and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where she was pronounced dead .
A 30-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder and knee , a 27-year-old man was hit in the abdomen and a 28-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder and leg , police said .
All three were taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition .
A 44-year-old man shot twice in the hip and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were both taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
Less than an hour earlier , a man was killed and another was injured in Riverdale on the Far South Side .
They were in a parking lot when they got into an argument with the male suspect about 12:35 a.m. in the 1000 block of East 132nd Street , according to police .
The suspect left the parking lot and walked to a home before firing at the men through the door .
A 24-year-old man was hit in the left side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical Center in Oak Lawn , where he was pronounced dead , police said .
The other man , 20 , was shot in the leg and taken to Christ Medical Center in fair condition .
A man was killed and three others were injured late Saturday night in South Chicago .
They were standing on the sidewalk at 11:09 p.m. in the 8300 block of South Kingston Avenue when they heard gunshots and realized they were hit , according to police .
A 39-year-old man was hit in the head and taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where he was pronounced dead .
A 26-year-old man was shot in the shoulder and went to South Shore Hospital on his own in fair condition , according to police .
Another man , 60 , was hit in the right leg and went to the same hospital in good condition .
A fourth man , 19 , was shot in the leg and went to the University of Chicago Medical Center on his own in good condition .
Another man was killed and two people were hurt in a shooting earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were standing on the sidewalk about 9:43 p.m. in the 2700 block of East 75th Street when someone in a blue SUV fired shots , police said .
One man , 33 , was shot several times in the chest , police said .
A friend drove him to Jackson Park Hospital , where he died .
Another man , 44 , was hit in the thigh and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition , police said .
A 27-year-old woman was grazed on the ankle and declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31-year-old man was gunned down in Englewood on the South Side .
About 7:15 a.m. he was sitting in the driver ’ s seat of a parked vehicle in the 6400 block of South Hoyne Avenue , when someone inside a dark-colored SUV began firing shots in his direction , police said .
He was struck in the chest , neck , right arm and rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead , police said .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office has not released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple hours before that , a shooting left a woman dead and two men injured near 31st Street Beach on the South Side .
They were walking about 5:20 a.m. in the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive when a group of about six males approached , according to police .
Three or four members of the group distracted the 34-year-old woman while two other suspects pulled out guns and started shooting at her and the two men she was with .
The woman was hit in the head and pronounced dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot in the right leg , thigh and torso , police said .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , but his condition was not immediately known .
The other man , 32 , was grazed on his left leg and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition .
Hours earlier , one man was killed and another was critically hurt in Englewood on the South Side .
A 20-year-old man was in a business about 1:55 a.m. in the 6600 block of South Halsted Street when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police .
He was hit several times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he died a short time later .
The other man , 49 , was in a vehicle nearby when he was hit in the left thigh , police said .
He was taken to the same hospital in critical condition .
A man and a teenage boy were injured in a shooting early Sunday in University Village .
The 17-year-old boy and 19-year-old man were sitting on a porch with a group of people at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Hastings Street when someone fired shots from a gray or silver vehicle , according to police .
The 17-year-old was shot in the hand while the 19-year-old was hit in the arm .
Someone drove them both to Stroger Hospital , where they were listed in fair condition .
Less than an hour before that , a 17-year-old girl was wounded on the Near West Side .
She was riding in a vehicle about 1 a.m. in the 2600 block of West 15th Street when two males fired shots , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left shoulder and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
About two minutes earlier , a 10-year-old girl and a 48-year-old woman were shot in West Rogers Park on the North Side .
They were standing in the hallway of an apartment building at 12:58 a.m. in the 7400 block of North Artesian Avenue when a male fired shots through a door , according to police .
The child was grazed on her right hand and taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in good condition .
The woman was shot in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital in serious condition .
On Saturday night , a 15-year-old boy was one of three people injured in a Little Village drive-by .
Someone in a passing vehicle opened fire at two men about 10:25 p.m. as they stood in an alley in the 2800 block of South Keeler Avenue , police said .
One man , 23 , was struck in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition .
A 27-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to the same hospital in fair condition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 3000 block of South Tripp Avenue and was hit in the knee by a stray bullet , police said .
He was taken to Stroger Hospital in fair condition .
Police said the boy doesn ’ t know the men and was not with them when they were shot .
On Friday evening , three more people — including another 15-year-old boy — were injured in a shooting in South Chicago .
They were standing on a sidewalk about 8:52 p.m. in the 8900 block of South Exchange Avenue when shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teen was struck in the arm and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition .
A man , 18 , was shot in the legs while a 23-year-old woman was struck in the arm and torso .
They were taken to the same hospital in fair condition .
At least 24 other people have been wounded in citywide shootings since 5 p.m. Friday .
Last weekend , 65 people were shot across the city , 18 of them fatally .
Read more on crime , and track the city @ @ @ @

Fifteen people were killed and 64 others wounded in shootings across Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend.
Eleven of the weekend’s victims were minors, and two of the children died from their injuries.
A 14-year-old boy was among four people killed in a shooting that wounded four others Saturday night in Englewood on the South Side.
They were at a large gathering in the street about 11:35 p.m. in the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street when four males walked up and started shooting, according to Chicago police. The 14-year-old boy was hit in the back and pronounced dead at Comer Children’s Hospital.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the boy as Vernado Jones. He lived in West Lawn.
Three other male victims were pronounced dead, two at the scene and one at the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said. Their ages were not immediately known.
An 11-year-old boy with a graze wound to the ankle and a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the abdomen were both taken to Comer in fair condition, police said.
A 35-year-old man shot in the hip, leg, arm and wrist was taken to St. Bernard Hospital and transferred to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, police said. A 29-year-old man shot in the foot was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in fair condition.
Earlier that evening, a 7-year-old girl was killed at a Fourth of July party in Austin on the West Side.
The girl was playing on a sidewalk about 7 p.m. in the 100 block of North Latrobe when three men got out of a white car and shot more than 20 rounds in the direction of the people holding the party, a group which included many children, police said.
The girl, identified by family and the Cook County medical examiner’s office as Natalia Wallace, was struck in the forehead, and a 32-year-old man was injured.
“Tonight, a 7-year-old girl in Austin joined a list of teenagers and children whose hopes and dreams were ended by the barrel of a gun,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement on Twitter. “We cannot grow numb to this. We are making progress in slowing shootings, but we have to do better, every single one of us.”
Monday morning
The latest fatal attack left a 39-year-old man dead in Lawndale on the West Side. Sterling R. Pledge Jr. was found unresponsive about 2:27 a.m. in the 900 block of South Independence Boulevard, authorities said. He had a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead on the scene.
Sunday
A 26-year-old man was shot dead Sunday afternoon on the Near North Side. Kenric D. Campbell was shot about 12:45 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Kingsbury Street, authorities said. Campbell, who lived on the Near West Side, was rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he died.
Early that morning, a man was shot to death in Gresham on the South Side. The 21-year-old was standing on the sidewalk about 2:15 a.m. in the 8600 block of South Vincennes Avenue when he was shot in the head, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
About an hour before that, a woman was killed and five men were injured when someone fired into a crowd that was setting off fireworks in Lawndale on the West Side. The group was lighting fireworks on the sidewalk at 1:14 a.m. in the 1500 block of South Millard Avenue when a white vehicle approached and someone inside started shooting, according to police. A 20-year-old woman was hit in the head and abdomen and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A 30-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder and knee, a 27-year-old man was hit in the abdomen and a 28-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder and leg, police said. All three were taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition.
A 44-year-old man shot twice in the hip and a 30-year-old man shot in the right leg were both taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
Less than an hour earlier, a man was killed and another was injured in Riverdale on the Far South Side.
They were in a parking lot when they got into an argument with the male suspect about 12:35 a.m. in the 1000 block of East 132nd Street, according to police. The suspect left the parking lot and walked to a home before firing at the men through the door.
David Scott, 24, was hit in the left side of his torso and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead, officials said. The other man, 20, was shot in the leg and taken to Christ Medical Center in fair condition.
Saturday
A man was killed and three others were injured late Saturday night in South Chicago. They were standing on the sidewalk at 11:09 p.m. in the 8300 block of South Kingston Avenue when they heard gunshots and realized they were hit, according to police.
Cartrell Tate, 39, was hit in the head and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.
A 26-year-old man was shot in the shoulder and went to South Shore Hospital on his own in fair condition, according to police. Another man, 60, was hit in the right leg and went to the same hospital in good condition. A fourth man, 19, was shot in the leg and went to the University of Chicago Medical Center on his own in good condition.
Another man was killed and two people were hurt in a shooting earlier that evening in South Shore. They were standing on the sidewalk about 9:43 p.m. in the 2700 block of East 75th Street when someone in a blue SUV fired shots, police said. Tyrone Long, 33, was shot several times in the chest, authorities said. A friend drove him to Jackson Park Hospital, where he died.
A 44-year-old man was hit in the thigh and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition, police said. A 27-year-old woman was grazed on the ankle and declined medical treatment.
Saturday morning, a 30-year-old man was gunned down in Englewood on the South Side. About 7:15 a.m., Michael P. Means was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle in the 6400 block of South Hoyne Avenue, when someone inside a dark-colored SUV began firing shots in his direction, authorities said. Means, who lived in Roseland, was struck in the chest, neck, right arm and rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
A couple hours before that, a shooting left a woman dead and two men injured near 31st Street Beach on the South Side. They were walking about 5:20 a.m. in the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive when a group of about six males approached, authorities said. Three or four members of the group distracted 34-year-old Quentella Smith while two other suspects pulled out guns and started shooting at her and the two men she was with. Smith was hit in the head and pronounced dead at the scene.
A 26-year-old man was shot in the right leg, thigh and torso, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, but his condition was not immediately known. The other man, 32, was grazed on his left leg and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition.
Hours earlier, one man was killed and another was critically hurt in Englewood on the South Side. A 20-year-old man was in a business about 1:55 a.m. in the 6600 block of South Halsted Street when someone fired multiple gunshots, according to police. He was hit several times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died a short time later. The other man, 49, was in a vehicle nearby when he was hit in the left thigh, police said. He was taken to the same hospital in critical condition.
Minors wounded
A 15-year-old boy shot Sunday evening was the latest minor to be injured by gun violence in Chicago. He was walking about 10:45 p.m. in the 2900 block of South Federal Street when two males approached him, police said. One of them fired shots before they both fled. The boy was hit in the hand and taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in fair condition.
Hours earlier, a 16-year-old boy was shot Little Village. He was outside about 6 p.m. in the 3100 block of South Karlov Avenue when someone in a gray vehicle pulled up and opened fire, police said. The boy was shot in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.
A 16-year-old girl was among a group of people who were shot Sunday in Fifth City on the West Side. About 2:30 p.m., she was standing in an alley in the 3700 block of West Jackson Boulevard with three other people when they heard shots, police said. The girl was struck in the side and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition. A 19-year-old man was struck in the thigh and taken to the same hospital in good condition.
A 55-year-old man and a 35-year-old man were each struck in the buttocks, police said. The older man was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in good condition and the younger man refused treatment.
A man and a teenage boy were injured in a shooting early Sunday in University Village. The 17-year-old boy and 19-year-old man were sitting on a porch with a group of people at 1:37 a.m. in the 1200 block of West Hastings Street when someone fired shots from a gray or silver vehicle, according to police. The 17-year-old was shot in the hand while the 19-year-old was hit in the arm. Someone drove them both to Stroger Hospital, where they were listed in fair condition.
Less than an hour before that, a 17-year-old girl was wounded on the Near West Side. She was riding in a vehicle about 1 a.m. in the 2600 block of West 15th Street when two males fired shots, according to police. She was hit in the left shoulder and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
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About two minutes earlier, a 10-year-old girl and a 48-year-old woman were shot in West Rogers Park on the North Side. They were standing in the hallway of an apartment building at 12:58 a.m. in the 7400 block of North Artesian Avenue when a male fired shots through a door, according to police. The child was grazed on her right hand and taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in good condition. The woman was shot in both legs and taken to the same hospital in serious condition.
On Saturday night, a 15-year-old boy was one of three people injured in a Little Village drive-by. Someone in a passing vehicle opened fire at two men about 10:25 p.m. as they stood in an alley in the 2800 block of South Keeler Avenue, police said. One man, 23, was struck in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition. A 27-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to the same hospital in fair condition.
The 15-year-old boy was in an alley in the 3000 block of South Tripp Avenue and was hit in the knee by a stray bullet, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in fair condition. Police said the boy doesn’t know the men and was not with them when they were shot.
On Friday evening, three more people — including another 15-year-old boy — were injured in a shooting in South Chicago. They were standing on a sidewalk about 8:52 p.m. in the 8900 block of South Exchange Avenue when shots rang out, police said. The teen was struck in the arm and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition. A man, 18, was shot in the legs while a 23-year-old woman was struck in the arm and torso. They were taken to the same hospital in fair condition.
At least 28 other people have been wounded in citywide shootings between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
Last weekend, 65 people were shot across the city, 18 of them fatally.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--Girl, 17, shot on Near West Side

Girl, 17, shot on Near West Side

A teenage girl was injured in a shooting Sunday on the Near West Side .
The 17-year-old was riding in @ @ @ @ @ in the 2600 block of West 15th Street when two males fired shots , according @ @ @ @ @ was hit in the left shoulder and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition , @ @ @ @ @ is in custody as Area Three detectives investigate .
Read more on crime , and @ @ @ @ @ homicides .

A teenage girl was injured in a shooting Sunday on the Near West Side.
The 17-year-old was riding in a vehicle about 1 a.m. in the 2600 block of West 15th Street when two males fired shots, according to Chicago police.
She was hit in the left shoulder and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, police said.
No one is in custody as Area Three detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--3 shot in Lawndale

3 shot in Lawndale

Three people were wounded in a shooting Sunday in Lawndale on the West Side .
They were sitting outside about @ @ @ @ @ block of South Lawndale Avenue when they heard gunfire and felt pain , Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ and 23-year-old woman were both shot in the leg , police said .
A 24-year-old @ @ @ @ @ back .
They all went to Mount Sinai Hospital on their own in fair condition @ @ @ @ @ 10 minutes before that , six people were shot , one of them fatally , @ @ @ @ @ the 1500 block of South Millard Avenue .
No one is in custody as Area @ @ @ @ @ more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Three people were wounded in a shooting Sunday in Lawndale on the West Side.
They were sitting outside about 1:23 a.m. in the 1400 block of South Lawndale Avenue when they heard gunfire and felt pain, Chicago police said.
A 21-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were both shot in the leg, police said. A 24-year-old man was hit in the back.
They all went to Mount Sinai Hospital on their own in fair condition, police said.
About 10 minutes before that, six people were shot, one of them fatally, about a block away in the 1500 block of South Millard Avenue.
No one is in custody as Area Four detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--Man, teen boy shot in University Village

A man and a teenage boy were wounded in a shooting Sunday in University Village on the Near West Side @ @ @ @ @ 19-year-old man were sitting on a porch with a group of people at 1:37 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ West Hastings Street when someone fired shots from a gray or silver vehicle , according @ @ @ @ @ 17-year-old was shot in the hand while the 19-year-old was hit in the arm , @ @ @ @ @ them both to Stroger Hospital , where they were listed in fair condition .
No @ @ @ @ @ Area Three detectives investigate .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ @ @ @

A man and a teenage boy were wounded in a shooting Sunday in University Village on the Near West Side.
The 17-year-old boy and 19-year-old man were sitting on a porch with a group of people at 1:37 a.m. in the 1200 block of West Hastings Street when someone fired shots from a gray or silver vehicle, according to Chicago police.
The 17-year-old was shot in the hand while the 19-year-old was hit in the arm, police said. Someone drove them both to Stroger Hospital, where they were listed in fair condition.
No one is in custody as Area Three detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--Woman, 10-year-old girl shot in West Rogers Park

A 10-year-old girl and a woman were wounded in a shooting Sunday in West Rogers Park on the Northwest Side @ @ @ @ @ the hallway of an apartment building at 12:58 a.m. in the 7400 block of North @ @ @ @ @ fired shots through a door , according to Chicago police .
The child was grazed @ @ @ @ @ taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in good condition , police said .
A @ @ @ @ @ both legs and taken to the same hospital in serious condition .
No one is @ @ @ @ @ detectives investigate .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides @

A 10-year-old girl and a woman were wounded in a shooting Sunday in West Rogers Park on the Northwest Side.
They were standing in the hallway of an apartment building at 12:58 a.m. in the 7400 block of North Artesian Avenue when a male fired shots through a door, according to Chicago police.
The child was grazed on her right hand and taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in good condition, police said. A 48-year-old woman was shot in both legs and taken to the same hospital in serious condition.
No one is in custody as Area Three detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--2 kids slain among 75 shot in July 4 weekend gun violence; 3rd weekend straight of children dying

Chicago was left reeling over the Fourth of July weekend as citywide gun violence left multiple children killed for the third weekend in a row .
As of 7:30 p.m. Sunday , 75 people have been shot , 14 of them fatally , including two children shot dead Saturday night .
Eight other gunshot victims were minors .
Ten children under 18 have died in Chicago gun violence since June 20 , according to Chicago Sun-Times records .
The weekend is already more deadly than Independence Day weekend in 2019 , when five were killed and 65 others wounded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 87 wounded citywide in holiday weekend shootings .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot prepared for the historically violent weekend by deploying an extra 1,500 Chicago police officers — something the city did in 2019 — but the gun violence continued unabated .
On Saturday night , 7-year-old Natalia Wallace died after being shot while visiting her grandmother at a party in Austin .
She was outside where kids were riding on bicycles when three gunmen stepped out of a car and let off more than 20 shots in the 100 block of North Latrobe Avenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the scene of a gunshot to her head , officials said .
Police were reviewing video from the scene and have not announced an arrest .
Natalia was about to enter the 2nd grade at Crown Community Academy of Fine Arts in Little Village , according to a school official .
“ She was a really good kid — an angel , ” said the official , who asked not to be named .
“ She had a lot of family at the school .
Everyone in her class would ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wallace , the girl ’ s father , said at a news conference Sunday he ’ d hugged her goodbye just 10 minutes before the shooting occurred .
“ I just wanted her to have a chance at life , ” Wallace said .
“ Whatever she wanted to do , I was going to be there no matter what .
To see my daughter on the table with a gunshot wound to the forehead , that ’ ll change somebody ’ s life.
” He said he ’ d heard about other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but didn ’ t think about it until it was his own daughter killed .
He called for others in the community to take a more active , personal role in confronting the gun violence crisis .
“ We need help finding her killers , ” he said .
“ Kids can ’ t be out here playing without worrying about people shooting .
It hurts me that my youngest daughter is no longer here , that I will not be able to talk to her , hold her , tell her bedtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her killing , Lightfoot took to Twitter to say Natalia “ joined a list of teenagers and children whose hopes and dreams were ended by the barrel of a gun .
We can not grow numb to this .
We are making progress in slowing shootings , but we have to do better , every single one of us.
” Also Saturday night , 14-year-old Vernado Jones Jr. , died after being among eight people shot , three others fatally , in Englewood on the South Side , officials said .
Four gunmen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street and opened fire , police said .
Jones , of West Lawn , died at Comer Children ’ s Hospital , according to the medical examiner ’ s office .
The shooting also wounded two boys , 11 and 15 years old , police said .
Community activist Andrew Holmes announced Sunday a $ 2000 reward for “ information leading to the arrest and conviction ” in the case of Natalia Wallace .
“ Let ’ s stop pointing fingers and get these shooters off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference Sunday in Austin , “ because with the technology we have in this city , there ’ s enough cameras and enough citizens around here that ’ s seen something.
” Also Sunday , several community activists demanded federal funding to help with the “ out of control ” gun violence , while also accusing the mayor of turning her back on police .
In a news conference in Little Village , Raul Montes Jr. called the weekend gun violence a “ carbon copy ” of the last few weeks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into looting while “ giving a nod to Antifa , ” a far-left anti-fascist group .
Another activist , Jacqueline Baez of Belmont Cragin , said residents are scared to go outside and called for increased police funding .
“ Here we are again , another bloody weekend in Chicago .
Our innocent children are dying , ” Baez said .
Baez dismissed the calls of other activists to defund police departments , a refrain of nationwide protests since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
“ Defunding police is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We need police .
We need to feel safe in our communities ...
I don ’ t feel safe letting my kids play outside.
” Another activist , Frank Coconate , while acknowledging the extra officers over the holiday weekend , said it ’ s not just about having more police .
“ It ’ s about cooperation ; we need to build a bridge between community and police , ” Coconate said .
“ People in Pilsen and Little Village , there ’ s no bond with police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them , and that ’ s a huge problem .
Here they ’ re scared .
It ’ s good to have those [ extra cops ] , but let ’ s have those cops walk the streets and talk with people ...
There should be more invested in having Chicago police working with the community.
” Coconate said it ’ s up to the mayor — and for citizens to lay on the pressure — to stop the violence .
“ When you shoot children , we ’ ve lost it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bag now ...
This has been going on every weekend , and now what ’ s really rubbing me — it ’ s children ... That poor little girl playing on a holiday weekend dies .
That shouldn ’ t be happening .
We are , as citizens , are to blame .
We ’ re not working hard enough.
” The last three weekends in Chicago have been especially deadly for children .
Last week , 1-year-old Sincere A. Gaston was killed when someone opened fire on his mother ’ s car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Englewood .
Lina Nunez , 10 , was killed in Logan Square when a bullet came through her window and struck her .
Over Father ’ s Day weekend , Mekhi James , 3 years old , was fatally shot while riding in an SUV with his father in Austin when someone opened fire on them from another vehicle .
Amaria Jones , 13 , died after she was struck by a stray bullet in a shooting that also wounded two boys on the West Side .
They were among 104 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatally .

Chicago was left reeling over the Fourth of July weekend as citywide gun violence left multiple children killed for the third weekend in a row.
As of 5 a.m. Monday, 79 people were shot, 15 of them fatally, including two children shot dead Saturday night. Nine other gunshot victims over the weekend were minors.
Ten children under 18 have died in Chicago gun violence since June 20, according to Chicago Sun-Times records.
The weekend ended up being more deadly than Independence Day weekend in 2019, when five people were killed and 65 others wounded. In 2018, 14 people killed and 87 wounded citywide in holiday weekend shootings.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot prepared for the historically violent weekend by deploying an extra 1,500 Chicago police officers — something the city did in 2019 — but the gun violence continued unabated.
Two more children killed
On Saturday night, 7-year-old Natalia Wallace died after being shot while visiting her grandmother at a party in Austin.
She was outside where kids were riding on bicycles when three gunmen stepped out of a car and let off more than 20 shots in the 100 block of North Latrobe Avenue, Chicago police said.
Natalia died at the scene of a gunshot to her head, officials said. Police were reviewing video from the scene and have taken a person of interest in for questioning.
Chicago police investigate Saturday after a 7-year-old girl was fatally shot in the 100 block of North Latrobe Avenue while attending a Fourth of July party at her grandmother’s home. Tyler LaRiviere / Sun-Times
Natalia was about to enter the 2nd grade at Crown Community Academy of Fine Arts in Little Village, according to a school official.
“She was a really good kid — an angel,” said the official, who asked not to be named. “She had a lot of family at the school. Everyone in her class would’ve said she was their friend.”
Natalia Wallace Provided
Nathan Wallace, the girl’s father, said at a news conference Sunday he’d hugged her goodbye just 10 minutes before the shooting occurred.
“I just wanted her to have a chance at life,” Wallace said. “Whatever she wanted to do, I was going to be there no matter what. To see my daughter on the table with a gunshot wound to the forehead, that’ll change somebody’s life.”
He said he’d heard about other children being shot in recent weeks, but didn’t think about it until it was his own daughter killed. He called for others in the community to take a more active, personal role in confronting the gun violence crisis.
“We need help finding her killers,” he said. “Kids can’t be out here playing without worrying about people shooting. It hurts me that my youngest daughter is no longer here, that I will not be able to talk to her, hold her, tell her bedtime stories, anything.”
In response to her killing, Lightfoot took to Twitter to say Natalia “joined a list of teenagers and children whose hopes and dreams were ended by the barrel of a gun. We cannot grow numb to this. We are making progress in slowing shootings, but we have to do better, every single one of us.”
Vernado Jones Jr. Provided
Also Saturday night, 14-year-old Vernado Jones Jr., died after being among eight people shot, three others fatally, in Englewood on the South Side, officials said.
Four gunmen walked up to a large gathering in the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street and opened fire, police said. Jones, of West Lawn, died at Comer Children’s Hospital, according to the medical examiner’s office.
The shooting also wounded two boys, 11 and 15 years old, police said.
Activists demand ‘law and order’
Community activist Andrew Holmes announced Sunday a $2000 reward for “information leading to the arrest and conviction” in the case of Natalia Wallace.
“Let’s stop pointing fingers and get these shooters off the streets,” Holmes said at a news conference Sunday in Austin, “because with the technology we have in this city, there’s enough cameras and enough citizens around here that’s seen something.”
Also Sunday, several community activists demanded federal funding to help with the “out of control” gun violence, while also accusing the mayor of turning her back on police.
In a news conference in Little Village, Raul Montes Jr. called the weekend gun violence a “carbon copy” of the last few weeks and blamed Lightfoot for allowing protests to devolve into looting while “giving a nod to Antifa,” a far-left anti-fascist group.
Raul Montes Jr. speaks Sunday, July 5, 2020, at a news conference demanding federal funding in response to Chicago gun violence. David Struett / Sun-Times
Another activist, Jacqueline Baez of Belmont Cragin, said residents are scared to go outside and called for increased police funding.
“Here we are again, another bloody weekend in Chicago. Our innocent children are dying,” Baez said.
Baez dismissed the calls of other activists to defund police departments, a refrain of nationwide protests since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“Defunding police is the stupidest thing to say,” Baez said. “We need police. We need to feel safe in our communities ... I don’t feel safe letting my kids play outside.”
‘When you shoot children, we’ve lost it all’
Another activist, Frank Coconate, while acknowledging the extra officers over the holiday weekend, said it’s not just about having more police.
“It’s about cooperation; we need to build a bridge between community and police,” Coconate said.
“People in Pilsen and Little Village, there’s no bond with police. There’s a fear of talking with them, and that’s a huge problem. Here they’re scared. It’s good to have those [extra cops], but let’s have those cops walk the streets and talk with people ... There should be more invested in having Chicago police working with the community.”
Coconate said it’s up to the mayor — and for citizens to lay on the pressure — to stop the violence.
“When you shoot children, we’ve lost it all. And the mayor holds the bag now ... This has been going on every weekend, and now what’s really rubbing me — it’s children ... That poor little girl playing on a holiday weekend dies. That shouldn’t be happening. We are, as citizens, are to blame. We’re not working hard enough.”
Three weekends of gun violence
The last three weekends in Chicago have been especially deadly for children.
Last week, 1-year-old Sincere A. Gaston was killed when someone opened fire on his mother’s car as they drove home from a laundromat in Englewood. Lena Nunez, 10, was killed in Logan Square when a bullet came through her window and struck her.
Over Father’s Day weekend, Mekhi James, 3 years old, was fatally shot while riding in an SUV with his father in Austin when someone opened fire on them from another vehicle. Amaria Jones, 13, died after she was struck by a stray bullet in a shooting that also wounded two boys on the West Side. They were among 104 people shot that weekend, 15 of them fatally.
Contributing: Sam Kelly, Luke Wilusz, Sun-Times Wire


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--75 shot, 14 fatally, over Fourth of July weekend in Chicago so far

Fourteen people have been killed and 61 others wounded in shootings across Chicago so far over the Fourth of July weekend .
Ten of the weekend ’ s victims were minors , and two of the children died from their injuries .
A 14-year-old boy was among four people killed in a shooting that wounded four others Saturday night in Englewood on the South Side .
They were at a large gathering in the street about 11:35 p.m. in the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street when four males walked up and started shooting , according to Chicago police .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ back and pronounced dead at Comer Children ’ s Hospital .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office identified the boy as Vernado Jones .
He lived in West Lawn .
Three other male victims were pronounced dead , two at the scene and one at the University of Chicago Medical Center , police said .
Their ages were not immediately known .
An 11-year-old boy with a graze wound to the ankle and a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the abdomen were both taken to Comer in fair condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot in the hip , leg , arm and wrist was taken to St. Bernard Hospital and transferred to Stroger Hospital in critical condition , police said .
A 29-year-old man shot in the foot was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in fair condition .
Earlier that evening , a 7-year-old girl was killed at a Fourth of July party in Austin on the West Side .
The girl was playing on a sidewalk about 7 p.m. in the 100 block of North Latrobe when three men got out of a white car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the direction of the people holding the party , a group which included many children , police said .
The girl , identified by family and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office as Natalia Wallace , was struck in the forehead , and a 32-year-old man was injured .
“ Tonight , a 7-year-old girl in Austin joined a list of teenagers and children whose hopes and dreams were ended by the barrel of a gun , ” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement on Twitter .
“ We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are making progress in slowing shootings , but we have to do better , every single one of us.
” The weekend ’ s latest fatal attack left a 26-year-old man dead on the Near North Side .
He was shot about 12:45 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Kingsbury Street , Chicago police said .
He was rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center , where he died .
Early Sunday , a man was shot to death in Gresham on the South Side .
The 21-year-old was standing on the sidewalk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of South Vincennes Avenue when he was shot in the head , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
About an hour before that , a woman was killed and five men were injured when someone fired into a crowd that was setting off fireworks in Lawndale on the West Side .
The group was lighting fireworks on the sidewalk at 1:14 a.m. in the 1500 block of South Millard Avenue when a white vehicle approached and someone inside started shooting , according to police .
A 20-year-old woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where she was pronounced dead .
A 30-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder and knee , a 27-year-old man was hit in the abdomen and a 28-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder and leg , police said .
All three were taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition .
A 44-year-old man shot twice in the hip and a 30-year-old man shot in the right leg were both taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
Less than an hour earlier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured in Riverdale on the Far South Side .
They were in a parking lot when they got into an argument with the male suspect about 12:35 a.m. in the 1000 block of East 132nd Street , according to police .
The suspect left the parking lot and walked to a home before firing at the men through the door .
David Scott , 24 , was hit in the left side of his torso and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn , where he was pronounced dead , officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot in the leg and taken to Christ Medical Center in fair condition .
A man was killed and three others were injured late Saturday night in South Chicago .
They were standing on the sidewalk at 11:09 p.m. in the 8300 block of South Kingston Avenue when they heard gunshots and realized they were hit , according to police .
Cartrell Tate , 39 , was hit in the head and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead , authorities said .
A 26-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to South Shore Hospital on his own in fair condition , according to police .
Another man , 60 , was hit in the right leg and went to the same hospital in good condition .
A fourth man , 19 , was shot in the leg and went to the University of Chicago Medical Center on his own in good condition .
Another man was killed and two people were hurt in a shooting earlier that evening in South Shore .
They were standing on the sidewalk about 9:43 p.m. in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when someone in a blue SUV fired shots , police said .
Tyrone Long , 33 , was shot several times in the chest , authorities said .
A friend drove him to Jackson Park Hospital , where he died .
Another man , 44 , was hit in the thigh and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition , police said .
A 27-year-old woman was grazed on the ankle and declined medical treatment .
Saturday morning , a 30-year-old man was gunned down in Englewood on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael P. Means was sitting in the driver ’ s seat of a parked vehicle in the 6400 block of South Hoyne Avenue , when someone inside a dark-colored SUV began firing shots in his direction , authorities said .
Means , who lived in Roseland , was struck in the chest , neck , right arm and rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead .
A couple hours before that , a shooting left a woman dead and two men injured near 31st Street Beach on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 5:20 a.m. in the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive when a group of about six males approached , authorities said .
Three or four members of the group distracted 34-year-old Quentella Smith while two other suspects pulled out guns and started shooting at her and the two men she was with .
Smith was hit in the head and pronounced dead at the scene .
A 26-year-old man was shot in the right leg , thigh and torso , police said .
He was taken to the University of Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not immediately known .
The other man , 32 , was grazed on his left leg and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition .
Hours earlier , one man was killed and another was critically hurt in Englewood on the South Side .
A 20-year-old man was in a business about 1:55 a.m. in the 6600 block of South Halsted Street when someone fired multiple gunshots , according to police .
He was hit several times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he died a short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 49 , was in a vehicle nearby when he was hit in the left thigh , police said .
He was taken to the same hospital in critical condition .
A 16-year-old boy shot Sunday evening was the latest minor to be injured by gun violence in Chicago .
The boy was outside about 6 p.m. in the 3100 block of South Karlov Avenue when someone in a gray vehicle pulled up and opened fire , Chicago police said .
The boy was shot in the shoulder and taken to Mt .
Sinai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A 16-year-old girl was among a group of people who were shot Sunday in Fifth City on the West Side .
About 2:30 p.m. , she was standing in an alley in the 3700 block of West Jackson Boulevard with three other people when they heard shots , Chicago police said .
The girl was struck in the side and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition , police said .
A 19-year-old man was struck in the thigh and taken to the same hospital in good condition .
A 55-year-old man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the buttocks , police said .
The older man was taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital in good condition and the younger man refused treatment .
A man and a teenage boy were injured in a shooting early Sunday in University Village .
The 17-year-old boy and 19-year-old man were sitting on a porch with a group of people at 1:37 a.m. in the 1200 block of West Hastings Street when someone fired shots from a gray or silver vehicle , according to police .
The 17-year-old was shot in the hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arm .
Someone drove them both to Stroger Hospital , where they were listed in fair condition .
Less than an hour before that , a 17-year-old girl was wounded on the Near West Side .
She was riding in a vehicle about 1 a.m. in the 2600 block of West 15th Street when two males fired shots , according to police .
She was hit in the left shoulder and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
About two minutes earlier , a 10-year-old girl and a 48-year-old woman were shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Side .
They were standing in the hallway of an apartment building at 12:58 a.m. in the 7400 block of North Artesian Avenue when a male fired shots through a door , according to police .
The child was grazed on her right hand and taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in good condition .
The woman was shot in both legs and taken to the same hospital in serious condition .
On Saturday night , a 15-year-old boy was one of three people injured in a Little Village drive-by .
Someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two men about 10:25 p.m. as they stood in an alley in the 2800 block of South Keeler Avenue , police said .
One man , 23 , was struck in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition .
A 27-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to the same hospital in fair condition .
The 15-year-old boy was in an alley in the 3000 block of South Tripp Avenue and was hit in the knee by a stray bullet , police said .
He was taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police said the boy doesn ’ t know the men and was not with them when they were shot .
On Friday evening , three more people — including another 15-year-old boy — were injured in a shooting in South Chicago .
They were standing on a sidewalk about 8:52 p.m. in the 8900 block of South Exchange Avenue when shots rang out , police said .
The teen was struck in the arm and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition .
A man , 18 , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman was struck in the arm and torso .
They were taken to the same hospital in fair condition .
At least 26 other people have been wounded in citywide shootings since 5 p.m. Friday .
Last weekend , 65 people were shot across the city , 18 of them fatally .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--16-year-old boy shot in Little Village

16-year-old boy shot in Little Village

A teenage boy was shot Sunday in Little Village on the Southwest Side .
The boy , 16 , was @ @ @ @ @ the 3100 block of South Karlov Avenue when someone in a gray vehicle pulled up @ @ @ @ @ police said .
The boy was shot in the shoulder and taken to Mt .
@ @ @ @ @ condition was stabilized , police said .
On Saturday evening , a 15-year-old boy was @ @ @ @ @ in a shooting that wounded two other men in the same neighborhood .
The 16-year-old @ @ @ @ @ be shot in Chicago over a bloody Fourth of July weekend .
Read more on @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s homicides .

A teenage boy was shot Sunday in Little Village on the Southwest Side.
The boy, 16, was outside about 6 p.m. in the 3100 block of South Karlov Avenue when someone in a gray vehicle pulled up and opened fire, Chicago police said.
The boy was shot in the shoulder and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.
On Saturday evening, a 15-year-old boy was struck by a stray bullet in a shooting that wounded two other men in the same neighborhood.
The 16-year-old is the tenth minor to be shot in Chicago over a bloody Fourth of July weekend.
Area Four detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--2 killed, 1 critical in East Garfield Park crash

A man and woman were killed and another woman was critically injured in a high-speed crash Friday in East Garfield @ @ @ @ @ .
The man was speeding west in a Jeep SUV at 9:53 p.m. when it @ @ @ @ @ the 3100 block of West Lake Street , according to Chicago police .
The Jeep @ @ @ @ @ before coming to a stop .
The driver , 24-year-old Kenny T. Partee of Lawndale @ @ @ @ @ the scene , police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
@ @ @ @ @ his death an accident .
Two women , 19 and 23 , were passengers in @ @ @ @ @ .
Both were taken to Stroger Hospital , where the 23-year-old , Jasmine Wilson of @ @ @ @ @ the next day .
The 19-year-old was in critical condition , police said .

A man and woman were killed and another woman was critically injured in a high-speed crash Friday in East Garfield Park on the West Side.
The man was speeding west in a Jeep SUV at 9:53 p.m. when it hit a parked vehicle in the 3100 block of West Lake Street, according to Chicago police. The Jeep then hit a metal pillar before coming to a stop.
The driver, 24-year-old Kenny T. Partee of Lawndale, was pronounced dead at the scene, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy conducted Saturday ruled his death an accident.
Two women, 19 and 23, were passengers in the Jeep, officials said. Both were taken to Stroger Hospital, where the 23-year-old, Jasmine Wilson of East Garfield Park, died the next day.
The 19-year-old was in critical condition, police said.
The police department’s Major Accidents Unit is investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--Surprise: Justice Kavanaugh sides with Gov. Pritzker over Illinois Republican organizations in COVID

Surprise: Justice Kavanaugh sides with Gov. Pritzker over Illinois Republican organizations in COVID-19 crowd restriction case

The Supreme Court always has a justice on duty for emergencies , and on Saturday — Independence Day — Justice Brett Kavanaugh , a Trump appointee , was on the job .
And on July 4 , Kavanaugh did something that might surprise you , given his conservative and GOP credentials , his days in the George W. Bush White House and the Democratic-led fight over his confirmation .
He denied an emergency bid by several allied Illinois Republican organizations to block Pritzker ’ s COVID-19 pandemic related ban on political events with more than 50 people .
The rush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injunction in this case was pegged — so went the argument — to the urgent need to clear the legal way for a July 4 picnic and fireworks to rally the Will County GOP faithful — at a farm , a place with plenty of room for people to spread out .
That picnic angle is now moot .
This case is an offshoot of a larger movement , spurred on by Trump , to challenge public health recommendations — even from his own administration medical experts — when it comes to preventing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insisted on large in-person events Friday , at Mount Rushmore , and Saturday at a July 4 celebration on the National Mall .
Trump also moved most of the August GOP nominating convention from North Carolina to Jacksonville , Florida , to avoid mask or social distancing mandates .
Let me back up a bit .
On Friday , July 2 , U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Ellis , a nominee of Democratic ex-President Barack Obama , handed a defeat to the Illinois Republican Party ; Will County Republican Central Committee ; Schaumburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Side GOP Club .
She denied their request for an emergency temporary order that would have allowed for a large gathering .
One of the GOP arguments was that large Black Lives Matter protests are taking place , so given the First Amendment , the party events should also be allowed .
Indeed , Pritzker was present at one march .
Without going down that comparative road , Ellis wrote in her opinion that the COVID-19 public health risks “ are too great ” for a large gathering .
The GOP organizations quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a three-judge panel on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals .
On July 3 , the judges - Diane Wood , tapped for the bench by Democratic ex-President Bill Clinton ; Joel Flaum , an appointee of former Republican President Gerald Ford ; and Amy Barrett , tapped by Trump ( and who is on Trump ’ s list of potential Supreme Court justices ) - signed an order denying the emergency challenge .
“ If 100 Democrats or 100 Republicans gather and ten get infected , those ten may go home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grocery-store worker , their postal carrier , or their grandmother—someone who had no interest in the earlier gathering .
Thus , the balance of harms in this instance strongly favors the governor , ” the three judges concluded .
The Illinois GOP organizations are represented in this fight by the Liberty Justice Center , the Loop law firm devoted to conservative and GOP causes .
The center was a key legal player in the landmark Illinois case over mandatory union fees paid by many state of Illinois workers — Mark Janus vs AFSCME @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court victory .
On July 4 the Liberty lawyers , Daniel Suhr and Jeffrey Schwab , filed an emergency application for an injunction with Kavanaugh .
They told Kavanaugh in their brief , the question is , “ Does the Governor of Illinois , who permits gatherings of 50 or more for religious speech or certain protestors ’ speech ( a Black Lives Matters reference ) violate the First Amendment by prohibiting such gatherings for political parties ’ speech ?
” These Republican groups told Kavanaugh they want to do lawful in-person events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fundraisers , etc.
, in the run-up to the November presidential election , and “ they would observe appropriate safety precautions.
” All we know from the file is that Kavanaugh — with no comment — denied the application from the Illinois GOP groups .
Kristen Williamson , a Liberty Justice Center spokeswoman , said the next step is to pursue a 7th Circuit appeal .
And in the meantime , Trump is headlining another big in-person rally , next Saturday at the Portsmouth , New Hampshire , airport .

The Supreme Court always has a justice on duty for emergencies, and on Saturday — Independence Day — Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, was on the job.
And on July 4, Kavanaugh did something that might surprise you, given his conservative and GOP credentials, his days in the George W. Bush White House and the Democratic-led fight over his confirmation.
Kavanaugh sided with Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
He denied an emergency bid by several allied Illinois Republican organizations to block Pritzker’s COVID-19 pandemic related ban on political events with more than 50 people.
The rush for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in this case was pegged — so went the argument — to the urgent need to clear the legal way for a July 4 picnic and fireworks to rally the Will County GOP faithful — at a farm, a place with plenty of room for people to spread out.
That picnic angle is now moot.
This case is an offshoot of a larger movement, spurred on by Trump, to challenge public health recommendations — even from his own administration medical experts — when it comes to preventing COVID-19 spread.
Downplaying dangers, Trump insisted on large in-person events Friday, at Mount Rushmore, and Saturday at a July 4 celebration on the National Mall. Trump also moved most of the August GOP nominating convention from North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida, to avoid mask or social distancing mandates.
Let me back up a bit.
On Friday, July 2, U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Ellis, a nominee of Democratic ex-President Barack Obama, handed a defeat to the Illinois Republican Party; Will County Republican Central Committee; Schaumburg Township Republican Organization, and the Northwest Side GOP Club. She denied their request for an emergency temporary order that would have allowed for a large gathering.
One of the GOP arguments was that large Black Lives Matter protests are taking place, so given the First Amendment, the party events should also be allowed. Indeed, Pritzker was present at one march. Without going down that comparative road, Ellis wrote in her opinion that the COVID-19 public health risks “are too great” for a large gathering.
The GOP organizations quickly appealed for a favorable emergency ruling from a three-judge panel on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
On July 3, the judges - Diane Wood, tapped for the bench by Democratic ex-President Bill Clinton; Joel Flaum, an appointee of former Republican President Gerald Ford; and Amy Barrett, tapped by Trump (and who is on Trump’s list of potential Supreme Court justices) - signed an order denying the emergency challenge.
“If 100 Democrats or 100 Republicans gather and ten get infected, those ten may go home and infect a local shopkeeper, a local grocery-store worker, their postal carrier, or their grandmother—someone who had no interest in the earlier gathering. Thus, the balance of harms in this instance strongly favors the governor,” the three judges concluded.
The Illinois GOP organizations are represented in this fight by the Liberty Justice Center, the Loop law firm devoted to conservative and GOP causes. The center was a key legal player in the landmark Illinois case over mandatory union fees paid by many state of Illinois workers — Mark Janus vs AFSCME Council 31 — winning a big Supreme Court victory.
On July 4 the Liberty lawyers, Daniel Suhr and Jeffrey Schwab, filed an emergency application for an injunction with Kavanaugh.
They told Kavanaugh in their brief, the question is, “Does the Governor of Illinois, who permits gatherings of 50 or more for religious speech or certain protestors’ speech (a Black Lives Matters reference) violate the First Amendment by prohibiting such gatherings for political parties’ speech?”
These Republican groups told Kavanaugh they want to do lawful in-person events with more than 50 people – rallies, fundraisers, etc., in the run-up to the November presidential election, and “they would observe appropriate safety precautions.”
All we know from the file is that Kavanaugh — with no comment — denied the application from the Illinois GOP groups. Kristen Williamson, a Liberty Justice Center spokeswoman, said the next step is to pursue a 7th Circuit appeal. And in the meantime, Trump is headlining another big in-person rally, next Saturday at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, airport.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--The Cubs need more than an Opening Day starter. They need an ace — and it has to be Yu

Yu Darvish was scheduled to throw two innings Saturday in the Cubs ’ first intrasquad scrimmage since they gathered at Wrigley Field to prepare for a strange , truncated , hope-it-goes-off-as-planned regular season .
Two innings ?
A four-time All-Star with a $ 126 million contract can do that with a fistful of hundreds tied behind his back .
As Darvish walked off the mound after his second inning , though , manager David Ross put up the stop sign .
OK , so Darvish ended up doing a little bit more than expected .
And as the rest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33-year-old right-hander did a little bit more than that .
His hair long and his beard scraggly , he stayed on the mound and worked on his pickoff move to first .
Huge news ?
Of course not .
But a good theme for Darvish in 2020 : Just do more .
The Cubs need an ace , and it has to be Yu .
It has to be the pitcher Cubs president Theo Epstein called ‘ ‘ elite ’ ’ and a ‘ ‘ top-of-the-rotation guy ’ ’ upon signing him before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the man with the highest base salary — $ 22 million , prorated to about $ 8.15 million — on the team in 2020 .
It can ’ t be Jon Lester because those days are behind him .
It better not be Kyle Hendricks , who has been everything the Cubs could have hoped for — and more — since joining them but wasn ’ t put on this earth to be a steal-your-lunch-money top dog .
It sure won ’ t be Jose Quintana , who has a hard enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be Yu .
We all know Darvish has struggled to make his mark in Chicago , going 7-11 with a 4.16 ERA in 39 starts with the Cubs .
No one knows it better than Darvish himself , who apparently is one of those out-of-touch dinosaurs who still believes in the value of the statistical ‘ ‘ W. ’ ’ So much so that he put a number on it last September in St. Louis as the season was ending .
‘ ‘ Next year , ’ ’ he said , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 15 wins.
’ ’ Well , lots of luck with that now .
In a 60-game season , he won ’ t even have 15 starts .
But just how good can Darvish be for 12 of them ?
Any chance he can be as electrifying as he was last September , when he struck out 46 batters and walked only four to cap a second-half turnaround ?
I ’ m reminded of something else he said during the conversation in which he mentioned winning 15 games in 2020 — something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ I ’ m a little worried about next season , ’ ’ he said , ‘ ‘ because if I lose this feeling in the first couple of months , it happens again.
’ ’ ‘ ‘ It ’ ’ being the sort of crisis of confidence — or crisis of comfort — that has plagued him for much of the time he has spent with the Cubs .
He didn ’ t just ‘ ‘ lose the feeling ’ ’ in the first couple of months of what should have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down like everybody else , with baseball buried deep in a cave for three-plus months .
The question , then , is : Will he find the feeling again before it ’ s too late ?
Darvish sparkled Saturday , inasmuch as one can sparkle in a practice game against teammates .
He hit 97 mph on the gun on multiple pitches and was so psyched that he tweeted delightedly about it afterward .
He threw a couple of nice ‘ ‘ Supremes , ’ ’ too , if you don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made up for a fastball-splitter mashup that gives him 10 , maybe 11 , pitches in his arsenal .
That ’ s according to Darvish and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy , by the way .
I don ’ t know about you , but I wouldn ’ t recognize a ‘ ‘ Supreme ’ ’ if it twisted me into the doughiest ballpark pretzel in the world .
But I do know what an ace looks like , and Darvish hasn ’ t really looked like one in a Cubs uniform yet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the guy he was last year , ’ ’ Ross said .
‘ ‘ Whatever the mentality he needs , he ’ s been doing it a long time and been a superstar for a really long time .
He seems to be in a good place .
The ball is coming out real good .
Talking to him , he seems at peace and comfortable in the environment .
He ’ s a guy that we ’ re going to lean on.
’ ’ That was separated by a minute or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ross made about offense being the Cubs ’ strong suit in 2020 .
And it might have to be .
An offense with Kris Bryant , Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez batting 1-2-3 would seem to have a chance to be special .
A pitching rotation with more question marks than answers — as of now , that is — might have to be carried .
But if Darvish shoulders more of the weight himself ?
If he does more — more 97s , more ‘ ‘ Supremes , ’ ’ more ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so on ?
That ’ s the best thing the Cubs could find out .
It is , after all , why he ’ s here .

Yu Darvish was scheduled to throw two innings Saturday in the Cubs’ first intrasquad scrimmage since they gathered at Wrigley Field to prepare for a strange, truncated, hope-it-goes-off-as-planned regular season.
Two innings? A four-time All-Star with a $126 million contract can do that with a fistful of hundreds tied behind his back.
As Darvish walked off the mound after his second inning, though, manager David Ross put up the stop sign.
‘‘One more hitter!’’ Ross yelled.
OK, so Darvish ended up doing a little bit more than expected. And as the rest of the team left the field, the 33-year-old right-hander did a little bit more than that. His hair long and his beard scraggly, he stayed on the mound and worked on his pickoff move to first.
Huge news? Of course not.
But a good theme for Darvish in 2020: Just do more.
The Cubs need an ace, and it has to be Yu. It has to be the pitcher Cubs president Theo Epstein called ‘‘elite’’ and a ‘‘top-of-the-rotation guy’’ upon signing him before the 2018 season. It has to be the man with the highest base salary — $22 million, prorated to about $8.15 million — on the team in 2020.
It can’t be Jon Lester because those days are behind him. It better not be Kyle Hendricks, who has been everything the Cubs could have hoped for — and more — since joining them but wasn’t put on this earth to be a steal-your-lunch-money top dog. It sure won’t be Jose Quintana, who has a hard enough time washing the dishes.
It has to be Yu.
We all know Darvish has struggled to make his mark in Chicago, going 7-11 with a 4.16 ERA in 39 starts with the Cubs. No one knows it better than Darvish himself, who apparently is one of those out-of-touch dinosaurs who still believes in the value of the statistical ‘‘W.’’ So much so that he put a number on it last September in St. Louis as the season was ending.
‘‘Next year,’’ he said, ‘‘I hope I can have at least 15 wins.’’
Well, lots of luck with that now. In a 60-game season, he won’t even have 15 starts.
But just how good can Darvish be for 12 of them? Any chance he can be as electrifying as he was last September, when he struck out 46 batters and walked only four to cap a second-half turnaround?
I’m reminded of something else he said during the conversation in which he mentioned winning 15 games in 2020 — something that perhaps should concern Cubs fans.
‘‘I’m a little worried about next season,’’ he said, ‘‘because if I lose this feeling in the first couple of months, it happens again.’’
‘‘It’’ being the sort of crisis of confidence — or crisis of comfort — that has plagued him for much of the time he has spent with the Cubs. He didn’t just ‘‘lose the feeling’’ in the first couple of months of what should have been a full 2020 campaign. He was shut down like everybody else, with baseball buried deep in a cave for three-plus months.
The question, then, is: Will he find the feeling again before it’s too late?
Darvish sparkled Saturday, inasmuch as one can sparkle in a practice game against teammates. He hit 97 mph on the gun on multiple pitches and was so psyched that he tweeted delightedly about it afterward. He threw a couple of nice ‘‘Supremes,’’ too, if you don’t mind accepting the term he recently made up for a fastball-splitter mashup that gives him 10, maybe 11, pitches in his arsenal.
That’s according to Darvish and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, by the way. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t recognize a ‘‘Supreme’’ if it twisted me into the doughiest ballpark pretzel in the world.
But I do know what an ace looks like, and Darvish hasn’t really looked like one in a Cubs uniform yet.
‘‘I just want him to be the guy he was last year,’’ Ross said. ‘‘Whatever the mentality he needs, he’s been doing it a long time and been a superstar for a really long time. He seems to be in a good place. The ball is coming out real good. Talking to him, he seems at peace and comfortable in the environment. He’s a guy that we’re going to lean on.’’
That was separated by a minute or two, though, from a comment Ross made about offense being the Cubs’ strong suit in 2020. And it might have to be. An offense with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez batting 1-2-3 would seem to have a chance to be special. A pitching rotation with more question marks than answers — as of now, that is — might have to be carried.
But if Darvish shoulders more of the weight himself? If he does more — more 97s, more ‘‘Supremes,’’ more ‘‘W’s’’ and so on?
That’s the best thing the Cubs could find out.
It is, after all, why he’s here.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-05--New John Lewis documentary hints at how we got here

Getting into “ good trouble ” is a guiding principle for John Lewis .
It ’ s not only OK , but necessary to enact and inspire meaningful change .
And it ’ s not just rhetoric , either .
The 80-year-old congressman has the receipts to prove it .
He has been arrested 45 times , five of which happened while he was a sitting representative .
In the new documentary “ John Lewis : Good Trouble , ” he couldn ’ t be prouder of that fact because it ’ s all been in service of his lifelong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicts that he ’ ll add to that tally .
It ’ s a principle that the country seems to have taken to heart in the past month in the aftermath of George Floyd ’ s death .
People have taken to the streets and to Twitter to call attention to injustices .
They have publicly called out employers for conscious and unconscious bias .
And not only are they being heard , but their concerns are being taken seriously and resulting in swift and unprecedented change .
Who better to check in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergoes this seismic shift ?
But of course , “ John Lewis : Good Trouble ” was filmed before the past month .
And thus , through no fault of its own , this historic moment makes Dawn Porter ’ s film feel both immensely timely and like a time capsule .
At the very least it probably could have used and benefited from a postscript about what is happening right now .
Porter uses a mass of incredible archival footage to flesh out the life of this “ boy from Troy ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called him ) , who “ read everything ” growing up , became a Freedom Rider , spoke at the March on Washington , crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge ( where his skull was fractured ) and went on to get elected to the House of Representatives , where he is currently serving his 17th term .
The film , which is largely celebratory , relies heavily on talking head interviews from his family , the late Elijah Cummings ( to whom the film is dedicated ) , Hillary Clinton and younger representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rashida Tlaib , and Ilhan Omar , who try to contextualize his importance .
But it stays oddly surface level , despite having what looks like a lot of access to him and his family as he goes about his business around D.C. attending speaking engagements .
It opens with Lewis watching protest footage from the 1960s , which is itself a powerful image , but doesn ’ t lead to anything else : reflection , introspection or even anecdotes .
The focus returns often to the 1965 Voting Rights Act , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision Shelby County v. Holder .
This remains a key topic going into the 2020 election and clearly seemed like the most important thing to focus on in depicting the John Lewis of now , before the pandemic and the protests .
Still , it is somewhat telling that one of the most memorable parts of the documentary comes not from Lewis but from Cummings , who said he was often mistaken for his peer .
“ I have gotten a lot of pictures with people thinking I ’ m John Lewis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to embarrass anyone by correcting them , he explained .
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the film is how prophetic it is .
Although it doesn ’ t offer any reflection on the current moment , it also won ’ t come as a surprise how we got here .
Georgia politician Stacey Abrams says that Lewis “ reminds us that our past is not past.
” Lewis ’ greatest fear , he says , is that he will wake up and democracy will be gone .
But , reassuringly , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As long as I have breath in my body , I will do what I can , ” he says .

Getting into “good trouble” is a guiding principle for John Lewis. It’s not only OK, but necessary to enact and inspire meaningful change. And it’s not just rhetoric, either. The 80-year-old congressman has the receipts to prove it. He has been arrested 45 times, five of which happened while he was a sitting representative. In the new documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” he couldn’t be prouder of that fact because it’s all been in service of his lifelong fight for civil rights. He even predicts that he’ll add to that tally.
It’s a principle that the country seems to have taken to heart in the past month in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. People have taken to the streets and to Twitter to call attention to injustices. They have publicly called out employers for conscious and unconscious bias. And not only are they being heard, but their concerns are being taken seriously and resulting in swift and unprecedented change.
‘John Lewis: Good Trouble’
Untitled Magnolia Pictures presents a documentary directed by Dawn Porter. Rated PG (for thematic material including some racial epithets/violence, and for smoking). Running time: 96 minutes. Now showing at the Music Box Theatre and the Charlestowne 18 in St. Charles, and on demand.
Who better to check in with than John Lewis as the country undergoes this seismic shift? But of course, “John Lewis: Good Trouble” was filmed before the past month. And thus, through no fault of its own, this historic moment makes Dawn Porter’s film feel both immensely timely and like a time capsule. At the very least it probably could have used and benefited from a postscript about what is happening right now.
Porter uses a mass of incredible archival footage to flesh out the life of this “boy from Troy” (which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called him), who “read everything” growing up, became a Freedom Rider, spoke at the March on Washington, crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge (where his skull was fractured) and went on to get elected to the House of Representatives, where he is currently serving his 17th term.
The film, which is largely celebratory, relies heavily on talking head interviews from his family, the late Elijah Cummings (to whom the film is dedicated), Hillary Clinton and younger representatives like Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar, who try to contextualize his importance.
But it stays oddly surface level, despite having what looks like a lot of access to him and his family as he goes about his business around D.C. attending speaking engagements. It opens with Lewis watching protest footage from the 1960s, which is itself a powerful image, but doesn’t lead to anything else: reflection, introspection or even anecdotes.
The focus returns often to the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which was weakened by the 2013 Supreme Court decision Shelby County v. Holder. This remains a key topic going into the 2020 election and clearly seemed like the most important thing to focus on in depicting the John Lewis of now, before the pandemic and the protests.
Still, it is somewhat telling that one of the most memorable parts of the documentary comes not from Lewis but from Cummings, who said he was often mistaken for his peer.
“I have gotten a lot of pictures with people thinking I’m John Lewis,” Cummings said. He never wanted to embarrass anyone by correcting them, he explained.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the film is how prophetic it is. Although it doesn’t offer any reflection on the current moment, it also won’t come as a surprise how we got here.
Georgia politician Stacey Abrams says that Lewis “reminds us that our past is not past.”
Lewis’ greatest fear, he says, is that he will wake up and democracy will be gone.
But, reassuringly, he’s not done yet.
“As long as I have breath in my body, I will do what I can,” he says.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Police seek person of interest in fatal Burnside shooting

Police are asking for the public ’ s help identifying a person of interest in a fatal shooting last week @ @ @ @ @ Side .
Investigators released surveillance images of a man who was seen walking with the @ @ @ @ @ shot multiple times about 3:16 p.m. July 2 in the 800 block of East 87th @ @ @ @ @ police .
The man is between 20 and 35 years old , standing 5-foot-8 to @ @ @ @ @ 190 pounds , police said .
Police also released photos of the vehicle from which @ @ @ @ @ The victim , who remains unidentified , was taken to the University of Chicago Medical @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
No arrests have been made .
An autopsy found he died @ @ @ @ @ ruled his death a homicide , according to the Cook County medical examiner ’ s @ @ @ @ @ is asked to call Area Two detectives at 312-747-8271 .
Read more on crime , @ @ @ @ @ s homicides .

Police are asking for the public’s help identifying a person of interest in a fatal shooting last week in Burnside on the South Side.
Investigators released surveillance images of a man who was seen walking with the victim shortly before he was shot multiple times about 3:16 p.m. July 2 in the 800 block of East 87th Place, according to Chicago police.
The man is between 20 and 35 years old, standing 5-foot-8 to 6-foot-2 and weighing 150 to 190 pounds, police said. Police also released photos of the vehicle from which the shots were fired.
The victim, who remains unidentified, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died, police said. No arrests have been made.
An autopsy found he died from his gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Two detectives at 312-747-8271.
Authorities are looking for a vehicle from which someone fatally shot a man July 2, 2020, in the 800 block of East 87th Place. Chicago police
Authorities are looking for a vehicle from which someone fatally shot a man July 2, 2020, in the 800 block of East 87th Place. Chicago police
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--Dear Abby: She was my husband’s mistress (I think) and unwelcome at my party

DEAR ABBY : My husband of nearly 22 years and I divorced last year after he told me he didn ’ t want to be married anymore and didn ’ t know if he ever loved me .
Since our split , he has bought a home with another woman — the same woman I suspected him of having an affair with , and the same woman he encouraged me to befriend during our marriage .
( I even took her on a trip to Europe . )
Our son is graduating from high school .
We are planning a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my son , and my ex wants to bring her .
My challenge is that I am with someone new as well , but he is someone who came into my life a couple of months after my ex and I separated .
I want him to be at the party , but I don ’ t want her there .
I feel our circumstances are quite different .
My son is my priority , so I am leaning toward asking my new significant other not to attend , and then asking that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m still hurt by their actions .
What is the protocol here , and what should I do ?
— PROUD MOM MOVING ON DEAR MOM : I understand your hurt feelings , but , as you wrote , the party is a celebration of your son ’ s achievement and nothing else .
If things turn out as it appears they will , your ex may marry this woman , and she would be to some extent in your life when your son marries , starts a family , etc .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of this is you have a new partner in your life who can help buffer you .
Fortunately , you will be social distancing , so you won ’ t have to spend much time in her space .
While you don ’ t have to welcome this woman with open arms , please observe the social niceties and devote the majority of your time to mingling with the other guests .
DEAR ABBY : I met a man many years ago .
Shortly afterward , my husband passed away .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this man came to my rescue .
He offered me a place to live , but I refused .
After a few months , I started receiving love letters from him .
I carefully answered them , telling him I had gotten involved with someone else , but if it didn ’ t work out , I might consider dating him .
After about a month , he began showing up at my house .
By then I was living with my new man , “ Roger.
” I explained I was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he still showed up at my house every couple of months .
I was with Roger for 11 years , but after a battle with heart problems , he died .
This man showed up while Roger was in a coma .
I told him with much anger several times to please stop coming to my house .
Two days after Roger ’ s death , he again showed up .
He asked if it was OK to take me on a date now , and I lost it .
I ordered him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and told him I would never date him .
He has started sending me love letters again .
I don ’ t answer them .
He still calls or sends angry letters and still comes by asking if I would like to go on a date .
Help !
— FED UP IN WASHINGTON DEAR FED UP : If you have a lawyer , have him/her write the man a formal letter telling him you have tried to politely discourage his attentions and that if he persists in harassing you , he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stalker .
Then follow through by filing a report with the authorities .
P.S .
If your home is not equipped with a security system , consider installing one .
He is creepy .
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 .
To order “ How to Write Letters for All Occasions , ” send your name and mailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Letter Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: My husband of nearly 22 years and I divorced last year after he told me he didn’t want to be married anymore and didn’t know if he ever loved me. Since our split, he has bought a home with another woman — the same woman I suspected him of having an affair with, and the same woman he encouraged me to befriend during our marriage. (I even took her on a trip to Europe.)
Our son is graduating from high school. We are planning a belated, socially distanced graduation party for my son, and my ex wants to bring her. My challenge is that I am with someone new as well, but he is someone who came into my life a couple of months after my ex and I separated. I want him to be at the party, but I don’t want her there. I feel our circumstances are quite different.
My son is my priority, so I am leaning toward asking my new significant other not to attend, and then asking that she not attend either. I’m still hurt by their actions. What is the protocol here, and what should I do? — PROUD MOM MOVING ON
DEAR MOM: I understand your hurt feelings, but, as you wrote, the party is a celebration of your son’s achievement and nothing else. If things turn out as it appears they will, your ex may marry this woman, and she would be to some extent in your life when your son marries, starts a family, etc. (Sorry!)
The saving grace through all of this is you have a new partner in your life who can help buffer you. Fortunately, you will be social distancing, so you won’t have to spend much time in her space. While you don’t have to welcome this woman with open arms, please observe the social niceties and devote the majority of your time to mingling with the other guests.
DEAR ABBY: I met a man many years ago. Shortly afterward, my husband passed away. I was in a tough spot, and this man came to my rescue. He offered me a place to live, but I refused. After a few months, I started receiving love letters from him. I carefully answered them, telling him I had gotten involved with someone else, but if it didn’t work out, I might consider dating him.
After about a month, he began showing up at my house. By then I was living with my new man, “Roger.” I explained I was in love and he should leave, but he still showed up at my house every couple of months.
I was with Roger for 11 years, but after a battle with heart problems, he died. This man showed up while Roger was in a coma. I told him with much anger several times to please stop coming to my house.
Two days after Roger’s death, he again showed up. He asked if it was OK to take me on a date now, and I lost it. I ordered him to never come to my door again and told him I would never date him. He has started sending me love letters again. I don’t answer them. He still calls or sends angry letters and still comes by asking if I would like to go on a date. Help! — FED UP IN WASHINGTON
DEAR FED UP: If you have a lawyer, have him/her write the man a formal letter telling him you have tried to politely discourage his attentions and that if he persists in harassing you, he will be reported to the police as a stalker. Then follow through by filing a report with the authorities.
P.S. If your home is not equipped with a security system, consider installing one. He is creepy.
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.
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.


chicagosun-times--2020-07-06--79 shot, 15 fatally, over Fourth of July weekend in Chicago

Fifteen people were killed and 64 others wounded in shootings across Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend .
Eleven of the weekend ’ s victims were minors , and two of the children died from their injuries .
A 14-year-old boy was among four people killed in a shooting that wounded four others Saturday night in Englewood on the South Side .
They were at a large gathering in the street about 11:35 p.m. in the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street when four males walked up and started shooting , according to Chicago police .
The 14-year-old boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead at Comer Children ’ s Hospital .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office identified the boy as Vernado Jones .
He lived in West Lawn .
Three other male victims were pronounced dead , two at the scene and one at the University of Chicago Medical Center , police said .
Their ages were not immediately known .
An 11-year-old boy with a graze wound to the ankle and a 15-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the abdomen were both taken to Comer in fair condition , police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hip , leg , arm and wrist was taken to St. Bernard Hospital and transferred to Stroger Hospital in critical condition , police said .
A 29-year-old man shot in the foot was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in fair condition .
Earlier that evening , a 7-year-old girl was killed at a Fourth of July party in Austin on the West Side .
The girl was playing on a sidewalk about 7 p.m. in the 100 block of North Latrobe when three men got out of a white car and shot more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people holding the party , a group which included many children , police said .
The girl , identified by family and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office as Natalia Wallace , was struck in the forehead , and a 32-year-old man was injured .
“ Tonight , a 7-year-old girl in Austin joined a list of teenagers and children whose hopes and dreams were ended by the barrel of a gun , ” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement on Twitter .
“ We can not grow numb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in slowing shootings , but we have to do better , every single one of us.
” The latest fatal attack left a 39-year-old man dead in Lawndale on the West Side .
He was found unresponsive about 2:27 a.m. in the 900 block of South Independence Boulevard , police said .
He had a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead on the scene .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office hasn ’ t released details about his death .
A 26-year-old man was shot dead on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 12:45 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Kingsbury Street , police said .
He was rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center , where he died .
Early Sunday , a man was shot to death in Gresham on the South Side .
The 21-year-old was standing on the sidewalk about 2:15 a.m. in the 8600 block of South Vincennes Avenue when he was shot in the head , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
About an hour before that , a woman was killed and five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crowd that was setting off fireworks in Lawndale on the West Side .
The group was lighting fireworks on the sidewalk at 1:14 a.m. in the 1500 block of South Millard Avenue when a white vehicle approached and someone inside started shooting , according to police .
A 20-year-old woman was hit in the head and abdomen and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where she was pronounced dead .
A 30-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder and knee , a 27-year-old man was hit in the abdomen and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoulder and leg , police said .
All three were taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition .
A 44-year-old man shot twice in the hip and a 30-year-old man shot in the right leg were both taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
Less than an hour earlier , a man was killed and another was injured in Riverdale on the Far South Side .
They were in a parking lot when they got into an argument with the male suspect about 12:35 a.m. in the 1000 block of East 132nd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspect left the parking lot and walked to a home before firing at the men through the door .
David Scott , 24 , was hit in the left side of his torso and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn , where he was pronounced dead , officials said .
The other man , 20 , was shot in the leg and taken to Christ Medical Center in fair condition .
A man was killed and three others were injured late Saturday night in South Chicago .
They were standing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8300 block of South Kingston Avenue when they heard gunshots and realized they were hit , according to police .
Cartrell Tate , 39 , was hit in the head and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead , authorities said .
A 26-year-old man was shot in the shoulder and went to South Shore Hospital on his own in fair condition , according to police .
Another man , 60 , was hit in the right leg and went to the same hospital in good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was shot in the leg and went to the University of Chicago Medical Center on his own in good condition .
Another man was killed and two people were hurt in a shooting earlier that evening in South Shore .
They were standing on the sidewalk about 9:43 p.m. in the 2700 block of East 75th Street when someone in a blue SUV fired shots , police said .
Tyrone Long , 33 , was shot several times in the chest , authorities said .
A friend drove him to Jackson Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , 44 , was hit in the thigh and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition , police said .
A 27-year-old woman was grazed on the ankle and declined medical treatment .
Saturday morning , a 30-year-old man was gunned down in Englewood on the South Side .
About 7:15 a.m. , Michael P. Means was sitting in the driver ’ s seat of a parked vehicle in the 6400 block of South Hoyne Avenue , when someone inside a dark-colored SUV began firing shots in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who lived in Roseland , was struck in the chest , neck , right arm and rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead .
A couple hours before that , a shooting left a woman dead and two men injured near 31st Street Beach on the South Side .
They were walking about 5:20 a.m. in the 3100 block of South Lake Shore Drive when a group of about six males approached , authorities said .
Three or four members of the group distracted 34-year-old Quentella Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and started shooting at her and the two men she was with .
Smith was hit in the head and pronounced dead at the scene .
A 26-year-old man was shot in the right leg , thigh and torso , police said .
He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , but his condition was not immediately known .
The other man , 32 , was grazed on his left leg and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition .
Hours earlier , one man was killed and another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Side .
A 20-year-old man was in a business about 1:55 a.m. in the 6600 block of South Halsted Street when someone fired multiple gunshots , according to police .
He was hit several times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he died a short time later .
The other man , 49 , was in a vehicle nearby when he was hit in the left thigh , police said .
He was taken to the same hospital in critical condition .
A 15-year-old boy shot Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injured by gun violence in Chicago .
He was walking about 10:45 p.m. in the 2900 block of South Federal Street when two males approached him , police said .
One of them fired shots before they both fled .
The boy was hit in the hand and taken to Comer Children ’ s Hospital in fair condition .
He was outside about 6 p.m. in the 3100 block of South Karlov Avenue when someone in a gray vehicle pulled up and opened fire , police said .
The boy was shot in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sinai Hospital , where his condition was stabilized .
A 16-year-old girl was among a group of people who were shot Sunday in Fifth City on the West Side .
About 2:30 p.m. , she was standing in an alley in the 3700 block of West Jackson Boulevard with three other people when they heard shots , Chicago police said .
The girl was struck in the side and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition , police said .
A 19-year-old man was struck in the thigh and taken to the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man and a 35-year-old man were each struck in the buttocks , police said .
The older man was taken to Mt .
Sinai Hospital in good condition and the younger man refused treatment .
A man and a teenage boy were injured in a shooting early Sunday in University Village .
The 17-year-old boy and 19-year-old man were sitting on a porch with a group of people at 1:37 a.m. in the 1200 block of West Hastings Street when someone fired shots from a gray or silver vehicle , according to police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand while the 19-year-old was hit in the arm .
Someone drove them both to Stroger Hospital , where they were listed in fair condition .
Less than an hour before that , a 17-year-old girl was wounded on the Near West Side .
She was riding in a vehicle about 1 a.m. in the 2600 block of West 15th Street when two males fired shots , according to police .
She was hit in the left shoulder and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
About two minutes earlier , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot in West Rogers Park on the North Side .
They were standing in the hallway of an apartment building at 12:58 a.m. in the 7400 block of North Artesian Avenue when a male fired shots through a door , according to police .
The child was grazed on her right hand and taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in good condition .
The woman was shot in both legs and taken to the same hospital in serious condition .
On Saturday night , a 15-year-old boy was one of three people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Someone in a passing vehicle opened fire at two men about 10:25 p.m. as they stood in an alley in the 2800 block of South Keeler Avenue , police said .
One man , 23 , was struck in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition .
A 27-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to the same hospital in fair condition .
The 15-year-old boy was in an alley in the 3000 block of South Tripp Avenue and was hit in the knee by a stray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to Stroger Hospital in fair condition .
Police said the boy doesn ’ t know the men and was not with them when they were shot .
On Friday evening , three more people — including another 15-year-old boy — were injured in a shooting in South Chicago .
They were standing on a sidewalk about 8:52 p.m. in the 8900 block of South Exchange Avenue when shots rang out , police said .
The teen was struck in the arm and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was shot in the legs while a 23-year-old woman was struck in the arm and torso .
They were taken to the same hospital in fair condition .
At least 28 other people have been wounded in citywide shootings between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday .
Last weekend , 65 people were shot across the city , 18 of them fatally .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .