chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Examining Bears GM Ryan Pace’s 6 biggest mistakes

Bears chairman George McCaskey will spend the final month of a lost season weighing Ryan Pace ’ s performance and deciding if the general manager needs to be fired .
In six seasons , Pace has his hits — he signed Akiem Hicks and Allen Robinson , and drafted Eddie Jackson and Tarik Cohen in the fourth round .
It ’ s the misses , though , that are dragging him down .
With Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson — a shining example of Pace ’ s biggest mistake — coming to town , here ’ s a look at Pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bears GM : 1 .
April 27 , 2017 : Traded four picks to move up and draft QB Mitch Trubisky No .
2 overall The minute Pace gave the 49ers the Bears ’ third pick , plus a third- and fourth-rounder in 2017 and a third-rounder in 2018 , to move up one spot , he knew his career forever would be tied to Trubisky ’ s success .
He was right .
Pace took Trubisky eight spots ahead of Patrick Mahomes , the 2018 NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Texans drafted Watson , who since has reached the Pro Bowl twice and cemented himself as one of the league ’ s best young quarterbacks .
During the lead-up to the draft , Pace said “ you want to see a guy who has elevated a program ” when evaluating future franchise quarterbacks .
He instead took Trubisky , who went 8-5 as a starter at North Carolina .
The Bears coveted Trubisky ’ s accuracy and were concerned that Watson could be susceptible to serious injury .
Watson tore his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mahomes and Watson have become the embodiment of young quarterbacks .
Trubisky , by contrast , saw his fifth-year option declined and will be a free agent after the season .
The Bears cut first-round pick Leonard Floyd , who struggled to rush the quarterback , and signed the 30-year-old Quinn to a monster contract — with $ 30 million guaranteed — to provide a threat opposite Khalil Mack .
Floyd has seven sacks with the Rams , as many as he had in his last two Bears years combined .
Quinn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the Falcons via coin flip , had a sack on his first snap of the season .
He has none since .
The Bears are stuck with him next year .
They ’ d have to take a $ 23.9 million dead cap hit if they cut him , versus a $ 14.7 million cap hit were he to stay .
They ’ ll likely cut him after 2021 , when he will have made $ 30 million .
OvertheCap.com ranks his contract the second-worst in the NFL .
The first pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He took White , a physical specimen who ran a limited route tree with the Mountaineers , three spots ahead of Todd Gurley .
Perhaps it wasn ’ t Pace ’ s fault that White ’ s body conspired against him .
White first began limping in rookie-year OTAs , was shut down that June with a stress fracture in his left shin and was booked for surgery during training camp .
During that ordeal , new coach John Fox lied about the injury when pressed by reporters , starting his Bears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovered .
White didn ’ t play as a rookie and finished his next two seasons on injured reserve because of a broken fibula/severely sprained ankle in 2016 and a broken shoulder blade in 2017 .
Finally healthy in 2018 , he made the game-day roster only nine times .
He finished his Bears career with 25 catches — and made $ 16.4 million .
Pace made Glennon the world ’ s most expensive Trojan horse , but Glennon was the last to know it .
He was at a team-sponsored draft watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Bears ’ presumptive quarterback of the future , when Pace shocked the league and traded up to draft Trubisky .
Publicly , the team prepped Glennon to start throughout 2017 — “ This is my year , ” Glennon repeated — but the Bears pulled the plug after a 1-3 start that ended with Butterfinger mocking him on Twitter for fumbling a snap at Lambeau Field .
Trubisky replaced Glennon in Week 5 , and Glennon never saw the field for the Bears again .
He left at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million — or $ 483,370.97 for each completion .
The contract didn ’ t cripple the Bears long-term , but it proved to be the first of three brutal quarterback evaluations by Pace .
Pace got rid of franchise stalwart Robbie Gould , believing he was in decline .
He was wrong .
More damning , Pace never replaced him .
After using three kickers over the next two seasons , Pace gave Cody Parkey a four-year , $ 15 million deal , with $ 9 million guaranteed , in March 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most soul-crushing years in Bears history .
During the regular season , he missed seven field-goal attempts and three extra points .
He hit the uprights four times in one game against the Lions — twice on extra points and twice on field goals — prompting a WGN traffic helicopter to film him practicing at Soldier Field the next week .
Then came the ultimate kick in the pants : Parkey double-doinked a 43-yard field-goal attempt that would have won the Bears ’ wild-card playoff game against the Eagles .
Parkey infuriated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ Today ” show later that week without their advance knowledge , and they soon decided to cut him .
The Bears paid Parkey $ 3.5 million last year even though he wasn ’ t on the team .
He accounted for $ 4.125 million in dead cap money in 2019 and $ 1.125 million this year .
In part to recoup draft capital he ’ d given up for Trubisky the day before , Pace traded back in the second round to take Division II Ashland tight end Adam Shaheen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ matchup nightmare ; instead , he caught 33 passes in three years before the Bears traded him to the Dolphins in July .
The Cardinals , who traded up with the Bears , drafted Budda Baker and have since made him the NFL ’ s highest-paid safety .
Still needing a pass-catching weapon in 2018 , Pace gave Trey Burton a four-year , $ 32 million deal .
The $ 18 million guaranteed at signing was the fourth-highest amount ever for a tight end .
After a standout first season , Burton woke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the wild-card playoff game .
Surgery didn ’ t fix the problem during the offseason , and he was hampered in five starts for the Bears last year .
In the spring , Pace paid Burton to go away .
He signed with the Colts , where he has three receiving touchdowns and two rushing scores this year .
Still chasing a pass-catching tight end , Pace agreed to add Jimmy Graham to a two-year , $ 16 million deal in March .
OvertheCap.com considers the Graham deal — which will amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Bears likely cut him after the season — to be the 11th-worst in the NFL .

Bears chairman George McCaskey will spend the final month of a lost season weighing Ryan Pace’s performance and deciding if the general manager needs to be fired.
In six seasons, Pace has his hits — he signed Akiem Hicks and Allen Robinson, and drafted Eddie Jackson and Tarik Cohen in the fourth round. It’s the misses, though, that are dragging him down.
With Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson — a shining example of Pace’s biggest mistake — coming to town, here’s a look at Pace’s six most glaring errors as Bears GM:
1. April 27, 2017: Traded four picks to move up and draft QB Mitch Trubisky No. 2 overall
The minute Pace gave the 49ers the Bears’ third pick, plus a third- and fourth-rounder in 2017 and a third-rounder in 2018, to move up one spot, he knew his career forever would be tied to Trubisky’s success.
He was right.
Pace took Trubisky eight spots ahead of Patrick Mahomes, the 2018 NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion. Two spots after the Chiefs took Mahomes, the Texans drafted Watson, who since has reached the Pro Bowl twice and cemented himself as one of the league’s best young quarterbacks.
During the lead-up to the draft, Pace said “you want to see a guy who has elevated a program” when evaluating future franchise quarterbacks. He instead took Trubisky, who went 8-5 as a starter at North Carolina. The Bears coveted Trubisky’s accuracy and were concerned that Watson could be susceptible to serious injury. Watson tore his knee two months into his rookie year.
Mahomes and Watson have become the embodiment of young quarterbacks. Trubisky, by contrast, saw his fifth-year option declined and will be a free agent after the season.
2. March 18, 2020: signed OLB Robert Quinn to a five-year, $70 million deal
The Bears cut first-round pick Leonard Floyd, who struggled to rush the quarterback, and signed the 30-year-old Quinn to a monster contract — with $30 million guaranteed — to provide a threat opposite Khalil Mack.
Floyd has seven sacks with the Rams, as many as he had in his last two Bears years combined. Quinn, who said he picked the Bears over the Falcons via coin flip, had a sack on his first snap of the season. He has none since.
The Bears are stuck with him next year. They’d have to take a $23.9 million dead cap hit if they cut him, versus a $14.7 million cap hit were he to stay. They’ll likely cut him after 2021, when he will have made $30 million.
OvertheCap.com ranks his contract the second-worst in the NFL.
3. April 30, 2015: Drafted West Virginia WR Kevin White No. 7 overall
The first pick Pace ever made was among his worst. He took White, a physical specimen who ran a limited route tree with the Mountaineers, three spots ahead of Todd Gurley.
Perhaps it wasn’t Pace’s fault that White’s body conspired against him. White first began limping in rookie-year OTAs, was shut down that June with a stress fracture in his left shin and was booked for surgery during training camp. During that ordeal, new coach John Fox lied about the injury when pressed by reporters, starting his Bears stint with distrust from which he never recovered.
White didn’t play as a rookie and finished his next two seasons on injured reserve because of a broken fibula/severely sprained ankle in 2016 and a broken shoulder blade in 2017. Finally healthy in 2018, he made the game-day roster only nine times. He finished his Bears career with 25 catches — and made $16.4 million.
4. March 10, 2017: Signed QB Mike Glennon to a three-year, $45 million deal
Pace made Glennon the world’s most expensive Trojan horse, but Glennon was the last to know it. He was at a team-sponsored draft watch party downtown, schmoozing with season-ticket holders as the Bears’ presumptive quarterback of the future, when Pace shocked the league and traded up to draft Trubisky.
Publicly, the team prepped Glennon to start throughout 2017 — “This is my year,” Glennon repeated — but the Bears pulled the plug after a 1-3 start that ended with Butterfinger mocking him on Twitter for fumbling a snap at Lambeau Field.
Trubisky replaced Glennon in Week 5, and Glennon never saw the field for the Bears again. He left at the end of the year, having made $18.5 million — or $483,370.97 for each completion.
The contract didn’t cripple the Bears long-term, but it proved to be the first of three brutal quarterback evaluations by Pace.
5. Sept. 4, 2016: Cut K Robbie Gould
Pace got rid of franchise stalwart Robbie Gould, believing he was in decline. He was wrong. More damning, Pace never replaced him. After using three kickers over the next two seasons, Pace gave Cody Parkey a four-year, $15 million deal, with $9 million guaranteed, in March 2018.
Parkey went on to have one of the most soul-crushing years in Bears history.
During the regular season, he missed seven field-goal attempts and three extra points. He hit the uprights four times in one game against the Lions — twice on extra points and twice on field goals — prompting a WGN traffic helicopter to film him practicing at Soldier Field the next week.
Then came the ultimate kick in the pants: Parkey double-doinked a 43-yard field-goal attempt that would have won the Bears’ wild-card playoff game against the Eagles.
Parkey infuriated the Bears by appearing on NBC’s “Today” show later that week without their advance knowledge, and they soon decided to cut him.
The Bears paid Parkey $3.5 million last year even though he wasn’t on the team. He accounted for $4.125 million in dead cap money in 2019 and $1.125 million this year.
6. April 28, 2017: Drafted TE Adam Shaheen in Round 2
In part to recoup draft capital he’d given up for Trubisky the day before, Pace traded back in the second round to take Division II Ashland tight end Adam Shaheen.
Pace tried to sell Shaheen as a matchup nightmare; instead, he caught 33 passes in three years before the Bears traded him to the Dolphins in July. The Cardinals, who traded up with the Bears, drafted Budda Baker and have since made him the NFL’s highest-paid safety.
Still needing a pass-catching weapon in 2018, Pace gave Trey Burton a four-year, $32 million deal. The $18 million guaranteed at signing was the fourth-highest amount ever for a tight end. After a standout first season, Burton woke up with a groin injury the day before the wild-card playoff game. Surgery didn’t fix the problem during the offseason, and he was hampered in five starts for the Bears last year.
In the spring, Pace paid Burton to go away. He signed with the Colts, where he has three receiving touchdowns and two rushing scores this year. Still chasing a pass-catching tight end, Pace agreed to add Jimmy Graham to a two-year, $16 million deal in March.
OvertheCap.com considers the Graham deal — which will amount to one-year at $9 million when the Bears likely cut him after the season — to be the 11th-worst in the NFL.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Mayor Lightfoot promised environmental justice, but the city’s actions say the opposite

Despite repeated declarations of a commitment to environmental justice , recent actions by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other Chicago officials cast doubt on the strength of that pledge .
Just over two months ago , the city released its Healthy Chicago 2025 public health agenda .
It explicitly prioritizes communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution , and it aims to increase the buffers between where people live and where manufacturing and industry are located .
Weeks earlier , the Chicago Department of Public Health issued an air quality report that found communities on the south and west sides are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pollution .
The report reiterated the city ’ s commitment to advancing environmental justice and addressing the city ’ s most pressing environmental challenges .
With these two reports and public commitments in mind , consider these recent actions .
• City officials are pushing forward with plans to allow the General Iron metal shredding facility to move from Lincoln Park to the Southeast Side .
The Lincoln Park site had two explosions in May and was cited 11 times in the past year for pollution and nuisance law violations .
• Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park asphalt plant with no community input .
The facility has been inspected more than 50 times due to odorous emissions and received three violation notices .
The pollution has been cited by city officials as justification for denying an affordable housing development in this low-income neighborhood .
• After failing to prevent a disastrous implosion of a power plant smokestack that covered Little Village in dust , the city not only approved but subsidized the building of a 1 million-square-foot retail logistics center that will bring with it traffic and more air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a daily basis .
Community objections were roundly dismissed .
• Even though the mayor publicly committed during her campaign to get a clean , all-electric Chicago Transit Authority ( CTA ) bus fleet by 2030 , CTA was allowed to issue an RFP to purchase up to 600 additional diesel buses over the next several years .
It is well-established that electric buses will dramatically reduce pollution and save lives .
The first 100 diesel buses are expected to be purchased in the next few months , delaying investment in clean buses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitment to health equity and environmental justice are admirable , actions speak louder than words .
The city ’ s most recent actions tell a tale of maintaining the status quo and are cause for great concern .
In choosing to vote “ no ” on the waiver Joe Biden is seeking for his defense secretary pick , Gen. Lloyd Austin , I have newfound respect for Sen. Tammy Duckworth .
Two years ago , her “ no ” vote on the waiver President Trump sought , and eventually won , for Gen. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time around , it is clear her aim is protecting the law for the purpose it was written .
This process of skirting the law to install a hand-picked Cabinet member who does not meet the proper requirements is inherently flawed by the hyper-partisan atmosphere that surrounds our federal government .
If Biden succeeds , the country will have two defense secretaries in a row who did not meet the requirement of being seven years out of the military .
That continues a dangerous precedent started by Trump .
Austin may be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems determined to have a very diverse Cabinet .
But Duckworth is very clear on her reason : Civilian control of the military is essential .
It ’ s too bad the majority of our House members will likely choose party over policy , just like two years ago .

Despite repeated declarations of a commitment to environmental justice, recent actions by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other Chicago officials cast doubt on the strength of that pledge.
Just over two months ago, the city released its Healthy Chicago 2025 public health agenda. It explicitly prioritizes communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution, and it aims to increase the buffers between where people live and where manufacturing and industry are located.
Weeks earlier, the Chicago Department of Public Health issued an air quality report that found communities on the south and west sides are the most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. The report reiterated the city’s commitment to advancing environmental justice and addressing the city’s most pressing environmental challenges.
With these two reports and public commitments in mind, consider these recent actions.
City officials are pushing forward with plans to allow the General Iron metal shredding facility to move from Lincoln Park to the Southeast Side. The Lincoln Park site had two explosions in May and was cited 11 times in the past year for pollution and nuisance law violations.
Officials have allowed the operation of a McKinley Park asphalt plant with no community input. The facility has been inspected more than 50 times due to odorous emissions and received three violation notices. The pollution has been cited by city officials as justification for denying an affordable housing development in this low-income neighborhood.
After failing to prevent a disastrous implosion of a power plant smokestack that covered Little Village in dust, the city not only approved but subsidized the building of a 1 million-square-foot retail logistics center that will bring with it traffic and more air pollution from hundreds of diesel trucks on a daily basis. Community objections were roundly dismissed.
Even though the mayor publicly committed during her campaign to get a clean, all-electric Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus fleet by 2030, CTA was allowed to issue an RFP to purchase up to 600 additional diesel buses over the next several years. It is well-established that electric buses will dramatically reduce pollution and save lives. The first 100 diesel buses are expected to be purchased in the next few months, delaying investment in clean buses.
While the city’s stated commitment to health equity and environmental justice are admirable, actions speak louder than words.
The city’s most recent actions tell a tale of maintaining the status quo and are cause for great concern.
Erica Salem, MPH, senior director of strategy, programs and policy
Respiratory Health Association
SEND LETTERS TO: letters@suntimes.com. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes. Letters should be 350 words or less.
Duckworth’s vote
In choosing to vote “no” on the waiver Joe Biden is seeking for his defense secretary pick, Gen. Lloyd Austin, I have newfound respect for Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
Two years ago, her “no” vote on the waiver President Trump sought, and eventually won, for Gen. James Mattis seemed partisan politics. This time around, it is clear her aim is protecting the law for the purpose it was written.
This process of skirting the law to install a hand-picked Cabinet member who does not meet the proper requirements is inherently flawed by the hyper-partisan atmosphere that surrounds our federal government. If Biden succeeds, the country will have two defense secretaries in a row who did not meet the requirement of being seven years out of the military. That continues a dangerous precedent started by Trump.
Austin may be a fine man and soldier, and Biden seems determined to have a very diverse Cabinet. But Duckworth is very clear on her reason: Civilian control of the military is essential. It’s too bad the majority of our House members will likely choose party over policy, just like two years ago.
Scot Sinclair, Third Lake


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--1 man in custody after shots fired at Chicago police

One man was taken into custody after shots were fired at Chicago police Friday in Park Manor on the South @ @ @ @ @ , officers saw a black Infiniti SUV traveling without headlights on in the 6700 block @ @ @ @ @ began following the vehicle as it started moving at a high speed , Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ then threw a trash can in front of the officer 's vehicle , police said @ @ @ @ @ out to move it , someone fired about 4 to 6 shots in their direction @ @ @ @ @ Officers then continued to follow the black SUV until it crashed into a utility pole @ @ @ @ @ South Cottage Grove Avenue .
After a brief foot chase , the driver — and @ @ @ @ @ — was placed into custody , according to police .
A weapon was recovered from @ @ @ @ @ transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center for observation , police said .
No @ @ @ @ @ in the incident and no additional injuries were reported , police said .

One man was taken into custody after shots were fired at Chicago police Friday in Park Manor on the South Side.
About 11:35 p.m., officers saw a black Infiniti SUV traveling without headlights on in the 6700 block of South Rhodes Avenue and began following the vehicle as it started moving at a high speed, Chicago police said.
An unknown male then threw a trash can in front of the officer's vehicle, police said, and when officers got out to move it, someone fired about 4 to 6 shots in their direction, according to police.
No officers fired shots back, police said.
Officers then continued to follow the black SUV until it crashed into a utility pole in the 7600 Block of South Cottage Grove Avenue.
After a brief foot chase, the driver — and sole occupant of the vehicle — was placed into custody, according to police.
A weapon was recovered from the man and he was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center for observation, police said.
No officers were shot or injured in the incident and no additional injuries were reported, police said.
Area One detectives are investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Man, 71, missing from suburban Countryside

A 71-year-old man has been reported missing from suburban Countryside .
Hardy Lutcher was last seen Friday about 9:40 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ in Countryside , according to a missing person advisory from Illinois State police .
Lutcher @ @ @ @ @ him in danger , police said .
He is 6-foot-2 and was last seen wearing @ @ @ @ @ blue jeans , police said .
Police asked anyone with information to call the Countryside @ @ @ @ @ 911 .

A 71-year-old man has been reported missing from suburban Countryside.
Hardy Lutcher was last seen Friday about 9:40 p.m. at 6101 South LaGrange Road in Countryside, according to a missing person advisory from Illinois State police.
Lutcher has a condition that places him in danger, police said.
He is 6-foot-2 and was last seen wearing a brown leather jacket and blue jeans, police said.
Police asked anyone with information to call the Countryside Police Department at 708-473-0273 or 911.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Missing teen frequents Heart of Chicago: police

An endangered 16-year-old girl has been reported missing in Chicago .
Nizah Westbrooks , who is 5-foot-5 , was last @ @ @ @ @ and light blue jeans , according to a missing person alert from Chicago police .
@ @ @ @ @ block of South Damen Avenue in the Heart of Chicago on the Near West Side @ @ @ @ @ asked anyone with information to call Area One SVU detectives at 312-747-8380 or 911 .

An endangered 16-year-old girl has been reported missing in Chicago.
Nizah Westbrooks, who is 5-foot-5, was last seen wearing a blue jacket and light blue jeans, according to a missing person alert from Chicago police.
Westbrooks often frequents the 5500 block of South Damen Avenue in the Heart of Chicago on the Near West Side, police said.
Police asked anyone with information to call Area One SVU detectives at 312-747-8380 or 911.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Chicago Episcopal Diocese elects first Black woman as bishop

A Washington D.C. priest made history in Chicago Saturday , becoming the first Black person and the first woman ever elected bishop of the city ’ s local arm of the Episcopal Church .
The Rev .
Canon Paula E. Clark was unanimously selected among four candidates on the fourth ballot of a virtual convention to take the helm of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago , church leaders said .
“ We Episcopalians are strong people who can model for the rest of this country and the world what it looks like to walk the way of love , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to a new day and a new way of being.
” Clark will be consecrated April 24 , succeeding Bishop Jeffrey D. Lee , who is retiring Dec. 31 .
She comes to Chicago from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington , where she serves as canon to the ordinary and chief of staff to the bishop .
Clark received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and a master ’ s degree in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley .
Before studying at the Virginia Theological Seminary , she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayor .
Clark , who has focused on clergy development and multicultural and justice issues , describes herself as “ the proud matriarch of [ a ] blended family of five adult children and seven grandchildren.
” The Chicago Episcopal Diocese includes 122 congregations with a total of more than 31,000 members across northern , central and southwestern Illinois .

A Washington D.C. priest made history in Chicago Saturday, becoming the first Black person and the first woman ever elected bishop of the city’s local arm of the Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Canon Paula E. Clark was unanimously selected among four candidates on the fourth ballot of a virtual convention to take the helm of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, church leaders said.
“We Episcopalians are strong people who can model for the rest of this country and the world what it looks like to walk the way of love,” Clark said. “God is calling us to a new day and a new way of being.”
Clark will be consecrated April 24, succeeding Bishop Jeffrey D. Lee, who is retiring Dec. 31.
She comes to Chicago from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, where she serves as canon to the ordinary and chief of staff to the bishop.
Clark received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley. Before studying at the Virginia Theological Seminary, she was a public information officer for the Washington mayor.
Clark, who has focused on clergy development and multicultural and justice issues, describes herself as “the proud matriarch of [a] blended family of five adult children and seven grandchildren.”
The Chicago Episcopal Diocese includes 122 congregations with a total of more than 31,000 members across northern, central and southwestern Illinois.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--1 wounded in I-290 shooting on West Side

A person was shot Saturday on the Eisenhower Expressway on the West Side .
They were eastbound about 1 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ Avenue when someone fired shots from another vehicle , according to preliminary information from Illinois @ @ @ @ @ drove off the road and crashed into a median after being shot , state police @ @ @ @ @ to a hospital with serious injuries .
Read more on crime , and track the @ @ @ @ @

A person was shot Saturday on the Eisenhower Expressway on the West Side.
They were eastbound about 1 p.m. on Interstate 290 at Central Avenue when someone fired shots from another vehicle, according to preliminary information from Illinois State Police.
The person drove off the road and crashed into a median after being shot, state police said. They were taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
Illinois State Police are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--This You Gotta See: Big games galore in college football and NFL (and Bears-Texans, too)

Move on .
Move in .
Move whatever your mamas gave you to make it happen .
While many of us sit and stew over Sunday ’ s Bears-Texans happenings at Soldier Field — hey , isn ’ t that Deshaun Watson ?
— another local station will be offering Vikings at Buccaneers .
To the rest of the country , the Bears and Texans are falling in a forest with no one around to hear them .
The Vikings and Bucs , on the other hand , are knees-deep in wild-card relevance .
Also Sunday : Packers at Lions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Green Bay still have a shot — and a good one — at home-field advantage in the NFC .
So do the one-loss Steelers in the AFC .
The Bills , no slouches , are 9-3 division leaders .
Monday brings Ravens at Browns — the first team desperate for a win at 7-5 , the latter one maneuvering at 9-3 for a playoff game at home .
The 7-5 Raiders , not dead yet , host the Chargers on Thursday .
Saturday brings another Packers game , and don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Super Bowl possibility ?
The stakes are even higher at the college level .
Next up : conference title games , with the order of the four-team playoff in the balance .
In the Big Ten , Ohio State needs a win — a convincing one — against Northwestern .
In the ACC , Notre Dame will try to beat Clemson for a second time — what a feat that would be — with both teams still very much alive for the final four .
Same goes for Alabama ( of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleep on the Gators ) in the SEC .
The No .
1 Zags and No .
3 Hawkeyes move the ball so well , it ’ s beautiful to watch .
Is it crazy to think Hawkeyes big man Luke Garza might lock up national player of the year honors in December ?
Will we make it to 12:01 before the complaining about Mitch Trubisky , Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace starts ?
Both these teams would be in if the playoffs started today .
The 6-6 Vikes might want to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has won this event in eight of the last 12 years .
This time , a cavalcade of Americans are in the hunt .
Maybe , just maybe , the Lions will party like it ’ s 2017 or 2018 .
They swept the Packers both those years , if you can believe it .
The teams ’ first preseason meeting was ugly for the Bulls — but not for rookie Patrick Williams , who shined .
We ’ ll take more of that , please .
Is Pittsburgh really the team to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those snickers , Kansas City .
Man , the Browns sure have come a long way since being routed 38-6 in Baltimore in the season opener .
Pretty soon , stadium security might even start recognizing Baker Mayfield when he shows up at the gates .
It ’ s the Big Ten opener at State Farm Center in Champaign .
Close your eyes and you ’ ll almost hear the Orange Krush .
Will Coby White begin to look more comfortable running the point ?
Will Lauri Markkanen be aggressive at the offensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistakenly pop into the wrong team ’ s huddle during a timeout ?
There ’ s no love lost whenever San Diego and Oakland — sorry , Los Angeles and Las Vegas — clash on the ol ’ gridiron .
What a thrill to have Kevin Durant back in action .
Get used to it , sports fans : The Nets totally are a thing again .
It has been almost 10 weeks since the Lakers hoisted the championship trophy .
How did we survive that long without hearing LeBron James ’ name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wildcats have to do is bottle up Justin Fields — the Big Ten ’ s best quarterback since Drew Brees — and the rest of the Buckeyes ’ blue-chip brigade .
Easy-peasy , right ?
Beat a team the caliber of Clemson twice — this time with superstar QB Trevor Lawrence playing — and the Irish will lock into a top-two playoff seed .
Lose a close one ?
Fingers crossed for that fourth and final spot .
To the winner goes a playoff spot .
To the loser — if it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Roll Tide .
Just give Aaron Rodgers the MVP award already .
We hear those snickers again , Kansas City .
Come on , you know you haven ’ t had your fill of guys beating the hell out of each other .
Stream this super-middleweight title unification fight and appreciate the greatness of 53-1-2 Alvarez , the No .
1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet .

It’s moving week in football, pro and college.
Move on. Move in. Move whatever your mamas gave you to make it happen.
While many of us sit and stew over Sunday’s Texans-Bears happenings at Soldier Field — hey, isn’t that Deshaun Watson? — another local station will be offering Vikings at Buccaneers. To the rest of the country, the Bears and Texans are falling in a forest with no one around to hear them. The Vikings and Bucs, on the other hand, are knees-deep in wild-card relevance.
Also Sunday: Packers at Lions and Steelers at Bills. Our friends in Green Bay still have a shot — and a good one — at home-field advantage in the NFC. So do the one-loss Steelers in the AFC. The Bills, no slouches, are 9-3 division leaders.
Monday brings Ravens at Browns — the first team desperate for a win at 7-5, the latter one maneuvering at 9-3 for a playoff game at home. The 7-5 Raiders, not dead yet, host the Chargers on Thursday. Saturday brings another Packers game, and don’t we just love to watch them bask in Super Bowl possibility?
The stakes are even higher at the college level. Next up: conference title games, with the order of the four-team playoff in the balance. In the Big Ten, Ohio State needs a win — a convincing one — against Northwestern. In the ACC, Notre Dame will try to beat Clemson for a second time — what a feat that would be — with both teams still very much alive for the final four. Same goes for Alabama, of course, in the SEC.
Grab your popcorn, people. Here’s what’s happening:
SUN 13
Texans at Bears (noon, Ch. 2)
Will we make it to 12:01 before the complaining about Mitch Trubisky, Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace starts?
Vikings at Buccaneers (noon, Fox-32)
Both these teams would be in if the playoffs started today. The 6-6 Vikes might want to not lose, though.
U.S. Women’s Open, final round (1 p.m., Ch. 5)
A South Korean has won this event eight of the last 12 years. This time, a cavalcade of Americans is in the hunt.
Packers at Lions (3:25 p.m., Fox-32)
Maybe, just maybe, the Lions will party like it’s 2017 or 2018. They swept the Packers both those years, if you can believe it.
Rockets at Bulls (7 p.m., NBCSCH)
The teams’ first preseason meeting was ugly for the Bulls — but not for rookie Patrick Williams, who shined. We’ll take more of that, please.
Steelers at Bills (7:20 p.m., Ch. 5)
Is Pittsburgh really the team to beat in the NFL? We hear those snickers, Kansas City.
MON 14
Ravens at Browns (7:15 p.m., ESPN)
Man, the Browns sure have come a long way since being routed 38-6 in Baltimore in the season opener. Pretty soon, stadium security might even start recognizing Baker Mayfield when he shows up at the gates.
TUE 15
Minnesota at Illinois (6 p.m., ESPN2)
It’s the Big Ten opener at State Farm Center in Champaign. Close your eyes, and you’ll almost hear the Orange Krush.
WED 16
Bulls at Thunder (7 p.m., NBCSCH)
Will Coby White begin to look more comfortable running the point? Will Lauri Markkanen be aggressive at the offensive end? Will ex-OKC coach Billy Donovan mistakenly pop into the wrong team’s huddle during a timeout?
THU 17
Chargers at Raiders (7:20 p.m., Fox-32, NFL Network)
There’s no love lost whenever San Diego and Oakland — sorry, Los Angeles and Las Vegas — clash on the ol’ gridiron.
FRI 18
Nets at Celtics (7 p.m., ESPN2)
What a thrill to have Kevin Durant back in action. Get used to it, sports fans: The Nets totally are a thing again.
Lakers at Suns (9:30 p.m., ESPN)
It has been almost 10 weeks since the Lakers hoisted the championship trophy. How did we survive that long without hearing LeBron James’ name 800 times a day?
SAT 19
Ohio State’s Fields is one of the greats. Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
Big Ten championship: Northwestern vs. Ohio State (11 a.m., Fox-32)
All the Wildcats have to do is bottle up Justin Fields — the Big Ten’s best quarterback since Drew Brees — and the rest of the Buckeyes’ blue-chip brigade. Easy-peasy, right?
ACC championship: Clemson vs. Notre Dame (3 p.m., Ch. 7)
Beat a team the caliber of Clemson twice — this time with superstar QB Trevor Lawrence playing — and the Irish will lock into a top-two playoff seed. Lose a close one? Fingers crossed for that fourth and final spot.
SEC championship: Alabama vs. Florida (7 p.m., Ch. 2)
Alabama is No. 1 with a win and probably still in the playoff with a loss. Roll Tide.
Panthers at Packers (7:15 p.m., NFL Network)
Just give Aaron Rodgers the MVP award already. We hear those snickers again, Kansas City.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Callum Smith (10 p.m., DAZN)
Come on, you know you haven’t had your fill of guys beating the hell out of each other. Stream this super-middleweight title unification fight and appreciate the greatness of 53-1-2 Alvarez, the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Public health officials announced 8,737 new COVID-19 cases, 127 deaths (LIVE UPDATES)

127 more Illinois coronavirus deaths as state prepares to receive first vaccine doses As the state prepares to receive its first shipment of coronavirus vaccine doses from the federal government , Illinois public health officials on Saturday announced COVID-19 has killed an additional 127 residents and spread to 8,737 more .
Both figures are well below the state ’ s average daily tallies over the last two weeks , which have marked Illinois ’ deadliest period of the entire pandemic .
About 9,200 people have tested positive each day during that stretch , with the virus claiming an average of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases were diagnosed among a record-high 126,888 tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Health , meaning only about 6.9 % of the latest tests came back positive .
That ’ s the lowest one-day proportion of positive tests the state has reported since Oct. 27 , before Illinois ’ autumn resurgence hit a peak in mid-November .
3:59 p.m. Tree sales soar ahead of coronavirus Christmas : ‘ We didn ’ t really see it coming ’ Buying a real Christmas tree is part of the Barnett family ’ s holiday tradition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find the largest evergreen he can from a lot near his Lincoln Park home , he said .
But his plan hit a snag earlier this month when the lot shut down for the season after it sold its entire inventory just weeks after opening .
“ I was totally surprised , ” Barnett said .
“ It was our tradition just to walk over , but they sold out of their trees two weeks prior to us traditionally getting it.
” Shannon Carey ran into a similar issue .
As Carey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find a real tree , they noticed many lots were already empty .
“ I was surprised at how much the demand had surged.
” Carey said .
“ I had no idea.
” Merchants say Chicagoans are flocking to Christmas tree lots at unprecedented rates this year amid a holiday season like no other .
Unable to travel or see extended family as COVID-19 cases continue to rise , many are turning to real Christmas trees to make their holiday season bright , resulting in many places selling out earlier than they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s reflective of a national trend as Christmas tree sales were up nearly 30 % nationwide through the first week of December , according to a CNBC report .
3:32 p.m. Charley Pride , first Black member of Country Music Hall of Fame , dies at 86 NEW YORK — Charley Pride , country music ’ s first Black star whose rich baritone on such hits as “ Kiss an Angel Good Morning ” helped sell millions of records and helped make him the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 86 .
Pride died Saturday in Dallas of complications from Covid-19 , according to Jeremy Westby of the public relations firm 2911 Media .
Pride released dozens of albums and sold more than 25 million records during a career that began in the mid-1960s .
Hits besides “ Kiss an Angel Good Morning ” in 1971 included “ Is Anybody Goin ’ to San Antone , ” “ Burgers and Fries , ” “ Mountain of Love , ” and “ Someone Loves You Honey.
” He had three Grammy Awards , more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1969 and 1984 , won the Country Music Association ’ s Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year awards in 1972 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000 .
The Smithsonian in Washington acquired memorabilia from Pride , including a pair of boots and one of his guitars , for the the National Museum of African American History and Culture .
2:38 p.m. Florida ’ s Keyontae Johnson in critical but stable condition after collapsing on court TALLAHASSEE , Fla. — Florida coach Mike White declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to get to the hospital to be near Keyontae Johnson ’ s side as quickly as possible .
No one could blame him .
Johnson , the Southeastern Conference ’ s preseason player of the year , collapsed coming out of a timeout against rival Florida State and needed emergency medical attention Saturday .
Johnson was taken off the floor on a stretcher and rushed to Tallahassee Memorial for evaluation .
The team said he was in critical but stable condition and later said he would remain in the hospital overnight .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bro , ” teammate Tre Mann tweeted long after the game ended .
“ God got you.
” Johnson had just dunked in transition before he crumpled to the floor as the team broke its huddle .
Several Gators were in tears and a couple buried their faces in towels as White gathered them in prayer .
Officials sent both teams to the locker room to regroup , and the game continued a few minutes later .
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said administrators gave the Gators the option of continuing and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — The U.S. gave the final go-ahead Friday to the nation ’ s first COVID-19 vaccine , marking what could be the beginning of the end of an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans , according to a person familiar with the decision but not authorized to discuss it publicly .
Shots for health workers and nursing home residents are expected to begin in the coming days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of what promises to be a strongly protective vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and its German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rationed as the U.S. joins Britain and several other countries in scrambling to vaccinate as many people as possible ahead of a long , grim winter .
It will take months of work to tamp down the coronavirus that has surged to catastrophic levels in recent weeks and already claimed 1.5 million lives globally .
11:41 a.m. COVID-19 vaccine shipments set to arrive in states on Monday WASHINGTON — The nation ’ s first COVID-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning , U.S. officials said Saturday , after the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans .
Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer ’ s vaccine to nearly 150 locations , said Army Gen. Gustave F. Perna of Operation Warp Speed , the Trump administration ’ s vaccine development program .
Another 450 sites will get the vaccine Tuesday and Wednesday .
The locations include hospitals and other sites able to meet the ultra-cold storage requirements for the vaccine .
Within three weeks , vaccines should be delivered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at a news conference .
The vaccine was timed to arrive Monday morning so that health workers would be available to receive the shots and begin giving them , Perna said .
It was unclear who would receive the first dose of the vaccine , though health workers and nursing home residents were the priority .
Perna said that decision would be determined by health authorities .
The announcement kicks off a massive logistical operation involving the federal and state governments , private companies and health care workers to quickly distribute limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s hospitals will have to postpone elective surgeries starting in the coming week under an order the state ’ s governor said is needed to free up hospital capacity amid steep recent increases in serious COVID-19 illnesses .
An initial shipment of 55,000 doses of the first coronavirus vaccine is expected to arrive at Indiana hospitals shortly as front-line health care workers start to receive shots .
Gov .
Eric Holcomb said that hospitals were being directed to postpone all non-urgent in-patient surgeries starting Wednesday and continuing through Jan. 3 .
Holcomb said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus as the number of Indiana counties with the highest risk level of coronavirus spread more than doubled in the state health department ’ s weekly update .
The tracking map labels 36 of the state ’ s 92 counties the most dangerous red category , up from 16 a week ago .
All other counties are in the next riskiest orange rating .
The state halted elective medical procedures for most of April , but Holcomb lifted that restriction as concerns eased about availability of equipment and protective gear .
Still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than quadruple the number of COVID-19 patients than they were in September , with health officials worried about hospitals being overwhelmed .
“ Our nurses and our doctors understandably are overwhelmed and beyond exhausted ... to go into one of the toughest environments that anyone in our state ’ s history has had to face on a day-in , day-out basis , ” Holcomb said .
• COVID-19 ’ s rampage through vulnerable Illinois communities continued unabated Friday as public health officials announced 190 more people have died of the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ succumbed to the virus over the last month alone , a toll greater than in the previous four months combined .
• Among the latest victims were 101 Chicago-area residents , including a Cook County man in his 30s and two women in their 40s .
• Maria Lopez , the wife of Guadalupe Lopez , a beloved 911 dispatcher who died from complications of COVID-19 last month , died of complications from COVID-19 on Friday .
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold , Illinois nursing home residents were already vulnerable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranked 50th in the nation for direct care nursing hours per resident per day and were the second worst in the nation for long-stay residents receiving inappropriate use of antipsychotic medication , according to a 2018 AARP report .
More than eight in 10 voters in Illinois back in 2019 said that action should be taken to increase the quality of care in Illinois nursing homes , according to an AARP survey .
Then COVID-19 arrived , making the already tragic circumstances for Illinois ’ nursing home residents devastatingly worse .

Latest
Nurses look through a window as they check on a man with COVID-19 and on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit at Roseland Community Hospital on the Far South Side, Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 8, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
As the state prepares to receive its first shipment of coronavirus vaccine doses from the federal government, Illinois public health officials on Saturday announced COVID-19 has killed an additional 127 residents and spread to 8,737 more.
Both figures are well below the state’s average daily tallies over the last two weeks, which have marked Illinois’ deadliest period of the entire pandemic. About 9,200 people have tested positive each day during that stretch, with the virus claiming an average of 147 lives every day.
The new cases were diagnosed among a record-high 126,888 tests submitted to the Illinois Department of Health, meaning only about 6.9% of the latest tests came back positive. That’s the lowest one-day proportion of positive tests the state has reported since Oct. 27, before Illinois’ autumn resurgence hit a peak in mid-November.
Read the full story here.
News
3:59 p.m. Tree sales soar ahead of coronavirus Christmas: ‘We didn’t really see it coming’
Buying a real Christmas tree is part of the Barnett family’s holiday tradition. Each year, Troy Barnett tries to find the largest evergreen he can from a lot near his Lincoln Park home, he said.
But his plan hit a snag earlier this month when the lot shut down for the season after it sold its entire inventory just weeks after opening.
“I was totally surprised,” Barnett said. “It was our tradition just to walk over, but they sold out of their trees two weeks prior to us traditionally getting it.”
Shannon Carey ran into a similar issue. As Carey and his girlfriend looked around online to find a real tree, they noticed many lots were already empty.
“I was surprised at how much the demand had surged.” Carey said. “I had no idea.”
Merchants say Chicagoans are flocking to Christmas tree lots at unprecedented rates this year amid a holiday season like no other. Unable to travel or see extended family as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, many are turning to real Christmas trees to make their holiday season bright, resulting in many places selling out earlier than they have in the past.
It’s reflective of a national trend as Christmas tree sales were up nearly 30% nationwide through the first week of December, according to a CNBC report.
Read the full story here.
3:32 p.m. Charley Pride, first Black member of Country Music Hall of Fame, dies at 86
NEW YORK — Charley Pride, country music’s first Black star whose rich baritone on such hits as “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” helped sell millions of records and helped make him the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, has died. He was 86.
Pride died Saturday in Dallas of complications from Covid-19, according to Jeremy Westby of the public relations firm 2911 Media.
Pride released dozens of albums and sold more than 25 million records during a career that began in the mid-1960s. Hits besides “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” in 1971 included “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” “Burgers and Fries,” “Mountain of Love,” and “Someone Loves You Honey.”
He had three Grammy Awards, more than 30 No. 1 hits between 1969 and 1984, won the Country Music Association’s Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year awards in 1972 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
The Smithsonian in Washington acquired memorabilia from Pride, including a pair of boots and one of his guitars, for the the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Read the full story here.
2:38 p.m. Florida’s Keyontae Johnson in critical but stable condition after collapsing on court
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida coach Mike White declined to do any postgame media interviews. He wanted to get to the hospital to be near Keyontae Johnson’s side as quickly as possible.
No one could blame him.
Johnson, the Southeastern Conference’s preseason player of the year, collapsed coming out of a timeout against rival Florida State and needed emergency medical attention Saturday. Johnson was taken off the floor on a stretcher and rushed to Tallahassee Memorial for evaluation. The team said he was in critical but stable condition and later said he would remain in the hospital overnight.
“I know you’re fighting bro,” teammate Tre Mann tweeted long after the game ended. “God got you.”
Johnson had just dunked in transition before he crumpled to the floor as the team broke its huddle. Several Gators were in tears and a couple buried their faces in towels as White gathered them in prayer.
Officials sent both teams to the locker room to regroup, and the game continued a few minutes later. Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said administrators gave the Gators the option of continuing and said they ultimately decided to play.
Read the full story here.
1:16 p.m. FDA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
WASHINGTON — The U.S. gave the final go-ahead Friday to the nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine, marking what could be the beginning of the end of an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans, according to a person familiar with the decision but not authorized to discuss it publicly.
Shots for health workers and nursing home residents are expected to begin in the coming days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an emergency rollout of what promises to be a strongly protective vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech.
Initial doses are scarce and rationed as the U.S. joins Britain and several other countries in scrambling to vaccinate as many people as possible ahead of a long, grim winter. It will take months of work to tamp down the coronavirus that has surged to catastrophic levels in recent weeks and already claimed 1.5 million lives globally.
Read the full story here.
11:41 a.m. COVID-19 vaccine shipments set to arrive in states on Monday
WASHINGTON — The nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning, U.S. officials said Saturday, after the government gave the final go-ahead to the shots needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans.
Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer’s vaccine to nearly 150 locations, said Army Gen. Gustave F. Perna of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine development program. Another 450 sites will get the vaccine Tuesday and Wednesday.
The locations include hospitals and other sites able to meet the ultra-cold storage requirements for the vaccine. Within three weeks, vaccines should be delivered to local pharmacies and other locations, Perna said at a news conference.
The vaccine was timed to arrive Monday morning so that health workers would be available to receive the shots and begin giving them, Perna said.
It was unclear who would receive the first dose of the vaccine, though health workers and nursing home residents were the priority. Perna said that decision would be determined by health authorities.
The announcement kicks off a massive logistical operation involving the federal and state governments, private companies and health care workers to quickly distribute limited vaccine supplies throughout the U.S.
Read the full story here.
9:12 a.m. Indiana reinstating surgery limits amid COVID-19 surge
Indiana’s hospitals will have to postpone elective surgeries starting in the coming week under an order the state’s governor said is needed to free up hospital capacity amid steep recent increases in serious COVID-19 illnesses.
An initial shipment of 55,000 doses of the first coronavirus vaccine is expected to arrive at Indiana hospitals shortly as front-line health care workers start to receive shots.
CORONAVIRUS LIMITS
Gov. Eric Holcomb said that hospitals were being directed to postpone all non-urgent in-patient surgeries starting Wednesday and continuing through Jan. 3.
Holcomb said Indiana is “on fire” with coronavirus as the number of Indiana counties with the highest risk level of coronavirus spread more than doubled in the state health department’s weekly update. The tracking map labels 36 of the state’s 92 counties the most dangerous red category, up from 16 a week ago. All other counties are in the next riskiest orange rating.
The state halted elective medical procedures for most of April, but Holcomb lifted that restriction as concerns eased about availability of equipment and protective gear. Still, Indiana’s hospitals are currently treating more than quadruple the number of COVID-19 patients than they were in September, with health officials worried about hospitals being overwhelmed.
“Our nurses and our doctors understandably are overwhelmed and beyond exhausted ... to go into one of the toughest environments that anyone in our state’s history has had to face on a day-in, day-out basis,” Holcomb said.
Read the full story here.
New Cases
Analysis & Commentary
9:14 p.m. Legislative panel should approve nursing home safety rules
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Illinois nursing home residents were already vulnerable, suffering and alone.
Illinois nursing homes ranked 50th in the nation for direct care nursing hours per resident per day and were the second worst in the nation for long-stay residents receiving inappropriate use of antipsychotic medication, according to a 2018 AARP report.
More than eight in 10 voters in Illinois back in 2019 said that action should be taken to increase the quality of care in Illinois nursing homes, according to an AARP survey.
Then COVID-19 arrived, making the already tragic circumstances for Illinois’ nursing home residents devastatingly worse.
Read the full column here.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Too early for Bulls coach Billy Donovan to question roster toughness

The Bulls ’ roster has seen some changes in the last three seasons .
Not a ton , but some .
Former coach Fred Hoiberg often talked about how the core needed to handle in-game adversity better .
Former coach Jim Boylen flat-out called the makeup of the team soft multiple times .
Even former vice president of basketball operations John Paxson demanded more from the group in terms of toughness .
But while new coach Billy Donovan wasn ’ t exactly thrilled with what he saw in the Bulls ’ 125-104 loss to the Rockets in their preseason debut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on passing judgment .
After all , just four contact practices , two non-contact practices and one bad debut against the Rockets in , questioning the Bulls ’ heart wouldn ’ t do anyone any good .
‘ ‘ I think it ’ s too early for me to say that right now because these guys have been really , really good workers , ’ ’ Donovan said when he was asked Saturday whether the team played too soft against the Rockets .
‘ ‘ They ’ ve tried to come every day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re trying to work extremely hard .
‘ ‘ But I ’ ve always said this : The minute the ball gets thrown up in the air , it ’ s about how you handle adversity .
And I think adversity is one of the greatest teaching tools that we have because , generally , you improve and get better when things are hard.
’ ’ That ’ s basically the opposite of what the Bulls did against the Rockets .
After the Rockets scored 37 points in the first quarter , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second before retreating throughout the second half .
By the time the smoke had cleared , the Rockets had made 24 three-pointers and seemed to feel comfortable getting wherever they wanted to on the court .
‘ ‘ When adversity hit [ Friday ] night , we did not respond well enough as a group in trying to solve and fix the things that were in front of us at that moment in time , ’ ’ Donovan said .
‘ ‘ They were just all figuring out what they have to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .
‘ ‘ So being with these guys for six practices and one preseason game , I don ’ t think it ’ s fair to pass judgment on what these guys are or are not competitively.
’ ’ What ’ s nice is that the Bulls will get a rematch against the Rockets on Sunday .
Defensive schemes will be added , the offense now has a feel for the Rockets ’ switching defense and there ’ s some early pride on the line .
‘ ‘ Clearly , the competitiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ the Rockets ] going on a run , having the group together step up and try to shut that down , is going to be an identity that you have to build , ‘ ‘ Donovan said .
‘ ‘ And if you can ’ t handle adversity in this league , it ’ s really , really tough over a 48-minute period just to expect every minute of every game to go your way .
It ’ s really how you respond when things aren ’ t going your way.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many instances last season when the Bulls didn ’ t handle adversity well , but he was confident that was in the past .
‘ ‘ I think [ we ’ re ] just kind of looking for identity defensively as of right now , ’ ’ Satoransky said .
‘ ‘ It ’ s a totally different defense than we played last year , so obviously there will be some habits of last year ’ s defense we have to get rid of to succeed in this kind of scheme .
‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job .
But I think we can be solid .
’ ’

The Bulls’ roster has seen some changes in the last three seasons. Not a ton, but some.
Unfortunately, its reputation hasn’t.
Former coach Fred Hoiberg often talked about how the core needed to handle in-game adversity better. Former coach Jim Boylen flat-out called the makeup of the team soft multiple times. Even former vice president of basketball operations John Paxson demanded more from the group in terms of toughness.
But while new coach Billy Donovan wasn’t exactly thrilled with what he saw in the Bulls’ 125-104 loss to the Rockets in their preseason debut Friday, he’s holding out on passing judgment.
After all, just four contact practices, two non-contact practices and one bad debut against the Rockets in, questioning the Bulls’ heart wouldn’t do anyone any good.
‘‘I think it’s too early for me to say that right now because these guys have been really, really good workers,’’ Donovan said when he was asked Saturday whether the team played too soft against the Rockets. ‘‘They’ve tried to come every day with energy and enthusiasm. They’re trying to work extremely hard.
‘‘But I’ve always said this: The minute the ball gets thrown up in the air, it’s about how you handle adversity. And I think adversity is one of the greatest teaching tools that we have because, generally, you improve and get better when things are hard.’’
That’s basically the opposite of what the Bulls did against the Rockets. After the Rockets scored 37 points in the first quarter, the Bulls briefly showed some fight in the second before retreating throughout the second half.
By the time the smoke had cleared, the Rockets had made 24 three-pointers and seemed to feel comfortable getting wherever they wanted to on the court.
‘‘When adversity hit [Friday] night, we did not respond well enough as a group in trying to solve and fix the things that were in front of us at that moment in time,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘They were just all figuring out what they have to do instead of solving it together as a group.
‘‘So being with these guys for six practices and one preseason game, I don’t think it’s fair to pass judgment on what these guys are or are not competitively.’’
What’s nice is that the Bulls will get a rematch against the Rockets on Sunday. Defensive schemes will be added, the offense now has a feel for the Rockets’ switching defense and there’s some early pride on the line.
‘‘Clearly, the competitiveness and dealing with adversity, dealing with [the Rockets] going on a run, having the group together step up and try to shut that down, is going to be an identity that you have to build,‘‘ Donovan said. ‘‘And if you can’t handle adversity in this league, it’s really, really tough over a 48-minute period just to expect every minute of every game to go your way. It’s really how you respond when things aren’t going your way.’’
Veteran guard Tomas Satoransky saw too many instances last season when the Bulls didn’t handle adversity well, but he was confident that was in the past.
‘‘I think [we’re] just kind of looking for identity defensively as of right now,’’ Satoransky said. ‘‘It’s a totally different defense than we played last year, so obviously there will be some habits of last year’s defense we have to get rid of to succeed in this kind of scheme.
‘‘We have to do a better job. But I think we can be solid.’’


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Tree sales soar ahead of coronavirus Christmas: ‘We didn’t really see it coming’

Buying a real Christmas tree is part of the Barnett family ’ s holiday tradition .
Each year , Troy Barnett tries to find the largest evergreen he can from a lot near his Lincoln Park home , he said .
But his plan hit a snag earlier this month when the lot shut down for the season after it sold its entire inventory just weeks after opening .
“ I was totally surprised , ” Barnett said .
“ It was our tradition just to walk over , but they sold out of their trees two weeks prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran into a similar issue .
As Carey and his girlfriend looked around online to find a real tree , they noticed many lots were already empty .
“ I was surprised at how much the demand had surged.
” Carey said .
“ I had no idea.
” Merchants say Chicagoans are flocking to Christmas tree lots at unprecedented rates this year amid a holiday season like no other .
Unable to travel or see extended family as COVID-19 cases continue to rise , many are turning to real Christmas trees to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in many places selling out earlier than they have in the past .
It ’ s reflective of a national trend as Christmas tree sales were up nearly 30 % nationwide through the first week of December , according to a CNBC report .
Ivy Speck , who ’ s been selling North Carolina Frasier Firs in Lake View for 32 years , said she ’ s never experienced a soar in demand quite like this year .
“ We didn ’ t really see it coming , ” said Speck , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dec. 5 .
“ We had no idea .
And because our trees are so premium and come from North Carolina , we had no way of getting any more.
” Rob Svendsen is also reaping the benefits in the increased interest in purchasing real Christmas trees this season .
“ It ’ s been my best year , ” said Svendsen , who calls himself “ the Lorax of Christmas trees.
” Svendsen started with more than 700 trees across three locations .
With Christmas still two weeks away , he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his Lincoln Park location at 503 N. Clark St. “ I ’ ll probably sell out in the next week or so , ” he said .
Svendsen sold three trees , including a prized 12-foot fir , in a span of just 30 minutes Saturday afternoon .
The mammoth tree went to Barnett and his 14-year-old son William , who carted it home on the roof of their Jeep .
Meanwhile , Carey purchased a 5-foot tree from Svendsen , which he plans to decorate with his girlfriend this weekend .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit of normalcy after such a challenging year .
“ There are some things that happen every year and I feel like that kind of stability , it just kind of grounds you , to say , ‘ Yes , I have these constants in my life.
’ And I think that does a lot , ” he said .
“ It ’ s nice to feel that from time to time.
” Both Svendsen and Speck said they ’ ve had a lot of first-time buyers this year .
Speck speculated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact many people are staying home this year after nixing holiday travel plans .
Svendsen thinks people are turning to real trees for the scent and aura they bring to a room .
“ I think people really want to have something different in their home this year for holidays , ” he said .
“ They just want to add another layer or another aspect of coziness and comfort .
So it ’ s definitely a different feel this year and I hope it translates to next year as well .
@

Buying a real Christmas tree is part of the Barnett family’s holiday tradition. Each year, Troy Barnett tries to find the largest evergreen he can from a lot near his Lincoln Park home, he said.
But his plan hit a snag earlier this month when the lot shut down for the season after it sold its entire inventory just weeks after opening.
“I was totally surprised,” Barnett said. “It was our tradition just to walk over, but they sold out of their trees two weeks prior to us traditionally getting it.”
Shannon Carey ran into a similar issue. As Carey and his girlfriend looked around online to find a real tree, they noticed many lots were already empty.
“I was surprised at how much the demand had surged.” Carey said. “I had no idea.”
Merchants say Chicagoans are flocking to Christmas tree lots at unprecedented rates this year amid a holiday season like no other. Unable to travel or see extended family as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, many are turning to real Christmas trees to make their holiday season bright, resulting in many places selling out earlier than they have in the past.
It’s reflective of a national trend as Christmas tree sales were up nearly 30% nationwide through the first week of December, according to a CNBC report.
Rob Svendsen, owner of Svendsen’s Christmas Trees, carries a tree for a customer in Lincoln Park Saturday afternoon. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Ivy Speck, who’s been selling North Carolina Frasier Firs in Lake View for 32 years, said she’s never experienced a soar in demand quite like this year.
“We didn’t really see it coming,” said Speck, who sold her last tree the afternoon of Dec. 5. “We had no idea. And because our trees are so premium and come from North Carolina, we had no way of getting any more.”
Rob Svendsen is also reaping the benefits in the increased interest in purchasing real Christmas trees this season.
“It’s been my best year,” said Svendsen, who calls himself “the Lorax of Christmas trees.”
Svendsen started with more than 700 trees across three locations. With Christmas still two weeks away, he’s down to fewer than 100 at his Lincoln Park location at 2530 N. Clark St.
“I’ll probably sell out in the next week or so,” he said.
Svendsen sold three trees, including a prized 12-foot fir, in a span of just 30 minutes Saturday afternoon. The mammoth tree went to Barnett and his 14-year-old son William, who carted it home on the roof of their Jeep.
Troy Barnett and his son William pose for a picture after buying a tree at Svendsen’s Christmas Trees in Lincoln Park. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Meanwhile, Carey purchased a 5-foot tree from Svendsen, which he plans to decorate with his girlfriend this weekend. He said it’s nice to have a bit of normalcy after such a challenging year.
“There are some things that happen every year and I feel like that kind of stability, it just kind of grounds you, to say, ‘Yes, I have these constants in my life.’ And I think that does a lot,” he said. “It’s nice to feel that from time to time.”
Both Svendsen and Speck said they’ve had a lot of first-time buyers this year. Speck speculated that’s in part due to the fact many people are staying home this year after nixing holiday travel plans. Svendsen thinks people are turning to real trees for the scent and aura they bring to a room.
“I think people really want to have something different in their home this year for holidays,” he said. “They just want to add another layer or another aspect of coziness and comfort. So it’s definitely a different feel this year and I hope it translates to next year as well.”


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Charley Pride, first Black member of Country Music Hall of Fame, dies at 86

NEW YORK — Charley Pride , country music ’ s first Black star whose rich baritone on such hits as “ Kiss an Angel Good Morning ” helped sell millions of records and helped make him the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame , has died .
He was 86 .
Pride died Saturday in Dallas of complications from Covid-19 , according to Jeremy Westby of the public relations firm 2911 Media .
Pride released dozens of albums and sold more than 25 million records during a career that began in the mid-1960s .
Hits besides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1971 included “ Is Anybody Goin ’ to San Antone , ” “ Burgers and Fries , ” “ Mountain of Love , ” and “ Someone Loves You Honey.
” He had three Grammy Awards , more than 30 No .
1 hits between 1969 and 1984 , won the Country Music Association ’ s Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year awards in 1972 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000 .
The Smithsonian in Washington acquired memorabilia from Pride , including a pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for the the National Museum of African American History and Culture .
Until the early 1990s , when Cleve Francis came along , Pride was the only Black country singer signed to a major label .
In 1993 , he joined the Grand Ole Opry cast in Nashville .
“ They used to ask me how it feels to be the ` first colored country singer , ’ ” he told The Dallas Morning News in 1992 .
“ Then it was ` first Negro country singer ; ’ then ` first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m the ` first African-American country singer.
’ That ’ s about the only thing that ’ s changed .
This country is so race-conscious , so ate-up with colors and pigments .
I call it ` skin hangups ’ — it ’ s a disease.
” Pride was raised in Sledge , Mississippi , the son of a sharecropper .
He had seven brothers and three sisters .
In 2008 while accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Mississippi Governor ’ s Awards for Excellence in the Arts , Pride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ My older sister one time said , ‘ Why are you singing THEIR music ?
’ ” Pride said .
“ But we all understand what the y ’ all-and-us-syndrome has been .
See , I never as an individual accepted that , and I truly believe that ’ s why I am where I am today.
” As a young man before launching his singing career , he was a pitcher and outfielder in the Negro American League with the Memphis Red Sox and in the Pioneer League in Montana .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of years , he ended up in Helena , Montana , where he worked in a zinc smelting plant by day and played country music in nightclubs at night .
After a tryout with the New York Mets , he visited Nashville and broke into country music when Chet Atkins , head of RCA Records , heard two of his demo tapes and signed him .
To ensure that Pride was judged on his music and not his race , his first few singles were sent to radio stations without a publicity photo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few country radio stations refused to play his music .
For the most part , though , Pride said he was well received .
Early in his career , he would put white audiences at ease when he joked about his “ permanent tan.
” “ Music is the greatest communicator on the planet Earth , ” he said in 1992 .
“ Once people heard the sincerity in my voice and heard me project and watched my delivery , it just dissipated any apprehension or bad feeling they might have had.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive songs instead of sad ones often associated with country music .
“ Music is a beautiful way of expressing oneself and I truly believe music should not be taken as a protest , ” he told The Associated Press in 1985 .
“ You can go too far in anything — singing , acting , whatever — and become politicized to the point you cease to be an entertainer.
” In 1994 , he wrote his autobiography , “ Pride : The Charley Pride Story , ” in which he disclosed he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surgery in 1997 to remove a tumor from his right vocal cord .
He received the Living Legend award from The Nashville Network/Music City News , recognizing 30 years of achievement , in 1997 .
“ I ’ d like to be remembered as a good person who tried to be a good entertainer and made people happy , was a good American who paid his taxes and made a good living , ” he said in 1985 .
“ I tried to do my best and contribute my part .
”

NEW YORK — Charley Pride, country music’s first Black star whose rich baritone on such hits as “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” helped sell millions of records and helped make him the first Black member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, has died. He was 86.
Pride died Saturday in Dallas of complications from COVID-19, according to Jeremy Westby of the public relations firm 2911 Media.
Pride released dozens of albums and sold more than 25 million records during a career that began in the mid-1960s. Hits besides “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” in 1971 included “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone,” “Burgers and Fries,” “Mountain of Love,” and “Someone Loves You Honey.”
He had three Grammy Awards, more than 30 No. 1 hits between 1969 and 1984, won the Country Music Association’s Top Male Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year awards in 1972 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.
The Smithsonian in Washington acquired memorabilia from Pride, including a pair of boots and one of his guitars, for the the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Until the early 1990s, when Cleve Francis came along, Pride was the only Black country singer signed to a major label.
In 1993, he joined the Grand Ole Opry cast in Nashville.
“They used to ask me how it feels to be the `first colored country singer,’” he told The Dallas Morning News in 1992. “Then it was `first Negro country singer;’ then `first black country singer.’ Now I’m the `first African-American country singer.’ That’s about the only thing that’s changed. This country is so race-conscious, so ate-up with colors and pigments. I call it `skin hangups’ — it’s a disease.”
Pride was raised in Sledge, Mississippi, the son of a sharecropper. He had seven brothers and three sisters.
In 2008 while accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Mississippi Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts, Pride said he never focused on race.
“My older sister one time said, ‘Why are you singing THEIR music?’” Pride said. “But we all understand what the y’all-and-us-syndrome has been. See, I never as an individual accepted that, and I truly believe that’s why I am where I am today.”
As a young man before launching his singing career, he was a pitcher and outfielder in the Negro American League with the Memphis Red Sox and in the Pioneer League in Montana.
After playing minor league baseball a couple of years, he ended up in Helena, Montana, where he worked in a zinc smelting plant by day and played country music in nightclubs at night.
After a tryout with the New York Mets, he visited Nashville and broke into country music when Chet Atkins, head of RCA Records, heard two of his demo tapes and signed him.
To ensure that Pride was judged on his music and not his race, his first few singles were sent to radio stations without a publicity photo. After his identity became known, a few country radio stations refused to play his music.
For the most part, though, Pride said he was well received. Early in his career, he would put white audiences at ease when he joked about his “permanent tan.”
“Music is the greatest communicator on the planet Earth,” he said in 1992. “Once people heard the sincerity in my voice and heard me project and watched my delivery, it just dissipated any apprehension or bad feeling they might have had.”
Throughout his career, he sang positive songs instead of sad ones often associated with country music.
“Music is a beautiful way of expressing oneself and I truly believe music should not be taken as a protest,” he told The Associated Press in 1985. “You can go too far in anything — singing, acting, whatever — and become politicized to the point you cease to be an entertainer.”
In 1994, he wrote his autobiography, “Pride: The Charley Pride Story,” in which he disclosed he was mildly manic depressive.
He had surgery in 1997 to remove a tumor from his right vocal cord.
He received the Living Legend award from The Nashville Network/Music City News, recognizing 30 years of achievement, in 1997.
“I’d like to be remembered as a good person who tried to be a good entertainer and made people happy, was a good American who paid his taxes and made a good living,” he said in 1985. “I tried to do my best and contribute my part.”


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Chicago cop stripped of police powers after off-duty shooting in Albany Park

A Chicago police officer has been stripped of police powers after shooting a man during an off-duty confrontation late Friday in the Albany Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side , officials said .
The officer wasn ’ t working when he heard gunshots “ and approached an occupied parked vehicle ” about 10:45 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Irving Park , according to a statement from Chicago police .
He then got into a “ confrontation ” with the people in the vehicle and fired his weapon , hitting a man in the hand , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital for treatment and later placed into custody “ pending further investigation , ” police said .
The officer was not injured , but taken to a hospital for observation .
The police department issued a statement Saturday afternoon announcing Supt .
David Brown had “ relieved ” the officer of police powers as the Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigates the incident .
That independent agency is responsible for probing the use of police force and potential misconduct .
Typically , officers who are involved in shootings are reassigned to administrative duty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in their initial statement , said was the plan in this case .
Police did not say what caused Brown to make the unusual decision to strip the officer of powers pending the COPA investigation .
“ Based upon early investigative results and after consulting with the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department ( CPD ) , COPA supports the Superintendent ’ s decision to relieve the involved officer of his police powers , ” a spokesman for the agency said .
Any potential video or other materials related to the shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COPA policy .
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call COPA at ( 312 ) 746-3609 .

A Chicago police officer has been stripped of police powers after shooting a man during an off-duty confrontation late Friday in the Albany Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side, officials said.
The officer wasn’t working when he heard gunshots “and approached an occupied parked vehicle” about 10:45 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Irving Park, according to a statement from Chicago police.
He then got into a “confrontation” with the people in the vehicle and fired his weapon, hitting a man in the hand, police said.
The wounded man was taken to Swedish Hospital for treatment and later placed into custody “pending further investigation,” police said. He was later released without charges.
The officer was not injured, but taken to a hospital for observation.
The police department issued a statement Saturday afternoon announcing Supt. David Brown had “relieved” the officer of police powers as the Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigates the incident. That independent agency is responsible for probing the use of police force and potential misconduct.
Typically, officers who are involved in shootings are reassigned to administrative duty for 30 days, which the department, in their initial statement, said was the plan in this case.
Police did not say what caused Brown to make the unusual decision to strip the officer of powers pending the COPA investigation.
“Based upon early investigative results and after consulting with the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD), COPA supports the Superintendent’s decision to relieve the involved officer of his police powers,” a spokesman for the agency said.
Any potential video or other materials related to the shooting will be released within 60 days under COPA policy.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call COPA at (312) 746-3609.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--White Sox make additions while keeping spending in check

For what , we ’ re not exactly sure .
It was an answer to a question about what ’ s next for the general manager as the White Sox ’ offseason heads into the holidays and into January .
The virtual winter meetings last week were comparatively quiet around baseball , although Hahn and his fellow Sox front officers traded for right-hander Lance Lynn and signed free agent right fielder Adam Eaton .
Lynn is a significant addition , albeit for one season .
Eaton , a Sox from 2014-16 , wasn ’ t George Springer , Joc Pederson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pricier possibilities fans were hoping for to man right field , but he should be better than 2020 bust Nomar Mazara .
Together , Lynn and Eaton add $ 15 million to a payroll that is slotting in the middle pack of baseball ’ s 30 teams .
What prevented the Sox from aiming higher and spend higher in right field ?
“ Because we try to look at the offseason or the roster building as a whole , ” Hahn said .
“ If we spend the entirety of what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obviously other needs aren ’ t addressed .
Adam not only addresses a lot of what we were trying to do with upgrading our production in right field but also allows us the flexibility to add over the course of the offseason.
” Those objecting to the Eaton signing – his numbers declined in 2020 – point to the Sox ’ major-market existence and mid-major check writing .
Those accepting it say OK then , give us Liam Hendriks to replace Alex Colome at closer and roll out the barrels of cash saved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Young winner Trevor Bauer to the rotation .
But no one expects the Sox to pursue Bauer .
And certainly not Springer .
“ It ’ s not entirely different from the Lynn acquisition , ” Hahn said of the Eaton signing .
“ Yes , we perhaps could have gone straight to the top of the free agent market .
However if we had done that , we would have wound up perhaps not being able to do other things important to rounding out a championship roster.
” Hahn has said through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be spent when it was time to win .
Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf ponied up for free agents Yasmani Grandal ( $ 73 million ) and Dallas Keuchel ( $ 55.5 million ) last offseason while paying Yoan Moncada ( $ 70 million ) and Luis Robert ( $ 50 million ) well before they hit free agency .
And Jose Abreu got a $ 50 million extension .
And then the pandemic slapped a $ 3 billion loss on the industry , per commissioner Rob Manfred , leaving uncertainty hanging over every team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this going for them : No bad contracts on the books and a cost-controlled roster of young , well-paid talent with Moncada , Tim Anderson , Robert , Jimenez , Aaron Bummer and possibly Giolito if he gets an extension .
On paper right now , the Sox might be the favorite in the AL Central , a young team with a blend of veterans on the cusp , managed by a proven winner in 76-year-old Tony La Russa .
La Russa hasn ’ t managed in nine years and his hire has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking was that Reinsdorf , badly wanting his close friend to succeed , would spend freely to ensure that it happens .
But as the Sox ’ total commitment of $ 15 million for Lynn and Eaton demonstrates , that hasn ’ t happened , not during a pandemic .
Not yet , anyway .
“ We ’ re proceeding fairly normally as if it were a normal offseason , ” Hahn said .
“ We have a sense of what ’ s available to us from a payroll standpoint and we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as many needs in a quality way as we can given that payroll amount .
That amount is obviously influenced by some uncertainty and hopefully over the course of the summer , things improve dramatically for everybody and it turns out to be there are potentially more resources along the way .
”

General manager Rick Hahn’s parting words on a Zoom call Thursday were: “Stay tuned. We’ll see.”
For what, we’re not exactly sure.
It was an answer to a question about what’s next for him as the White Sox’ offseason heads into the holidays and into January. The virtual winter meetings last week were comparatively quiet around baseball, although Hahn and his fellow Sox front officers traded for right-hander Lance Lynn and signed free-agent right fielder Adam Eaton.
Lynn is a significant addition, albeit for one season. Eaton, a Sox player from 2014 to 2016, wasn’t George Springer, Joc Pederson, Marcell Ozuna or Michael Brantley, the pricier possibilities fans were hoping for to man right field, but he should be better than 2020 bust Nomar Mazara. Together, Lynn and Eaton add $15 million to a payroll that is slotting in the middle pack of baseball’s 30 teams.
What prevented the Sox from aiming higher and spending higher in right field?
“Because we try to look at the offseason or the roster-building as a whole,” Hahn said.
“If we spend the entirety of what we have to spend on one position, obviously other needs aren’t addressed. Adam not only addresses a lot of what we were trying to do with upgrading our production in right field but also allows us the flexibility to add over the course of the offseason.”
Those objecting to the Eaton signing — his numbers declined in 2020 — point to the Sox’ major-market existence and mid-major check-writing. Those accepting it say OK then, give us Liam Hendriks to replace Alex Colome at closer and roll out the barrels of cash saved during the rebuilding years and add Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer to the rotation.
But no one expects the Sox to pursue Bauer. And certainly not Springer.
“[The Eaton signing is] not entirely different from the Lynn acquisition,” Hahn said. “Yes, we perhaps could have gone straight to the top of the free-agent market. However if we had done that, we would have wound up perhaps not being able to do other things important to rounding out a championship roster.”
Hahn has said through the rebuilding years that the money would be spent when it was time to win. Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf ponied up for free agents Yasmani Grandal ($73 million) and Dallas Keuchel ($55.5 million) last offseason while paying Yoan Moncada ($70 million) and Luis Robert ($50 million) well before they hit free agency. And Jose Abreu got a $50 million extension. And then the pandemic slapped a $3 billion loss on the industry, according to commissioner Rob Manfred, leaving uncertainty hanging over every team next season.
Reinsdorf and Hahn have this going for them: no bad contracts on the books and a cost-controlled roster of young, well-paid talent with Moncada, Tim Anderson, Robert, Eloy Jimenez, Aaron Bummer and possibly Lucas Giolito, if he gets an extension. On paper right now, the Sox might be the favorite in the American League Central, a young team with a blend of veterans on the cusp, managed by a proven winner in 76-year-old Tony La Russa.
La Russa hasn’t managed in nine years, and his hire has come under fire. One line of thinking was that Reinsdorf, badly wanting his close friend to succeed, would spend freely to ensure that it happens. But as the Sox’ total commitment of $15 million for Lynn and Eaton demonstrates, that hasn’t happened, not during a pandemic. Not yet, anyway.
“We’re proceeding fairly normally as if it were a normal offseason,” Hahn said. “We have a sense of what’s available to us from a payroll standpoint, and we’re going about trying to tick off as many needs in a quality way as we can given that payroll amount. That amount is obviously influenced by some uncertainty, and hopefully over the course of the summer, things improve dramatically for everybody, and it turns out that there are potentially more resources along the way.”


chicagosun-times--2020-12-12--Florida’s Keyontae Johnson in critical but stable condition after collapsing on court

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. — Florida coach Mike White declined to do any postgame media interviews .
He wanted to get to the hospital to be near Keyontae Johnson ’ s side as quickly as possible .
No one could blame him .
Johnson , the Southeastern Conference ’ s preseason player of the year , collapsed coming out of a timeout against rival Florida State and needed emergency medical attention Saturday .
Johnson was taken off the floor on a stretcher and rushed to Tallahassee Memorial for evaluation .
The team said he was in critical but stable condition and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital overnight .
“ I know you ’ re fighting bro , ” teammate Tre Mann tweeted long after the game ended .
“ God got you.
” Johnson had just dunked in transition before he crumpled to the floor as the team broke its huddle .
Several Gators were in tears and a couple buried their faces in towels as White gathered them in prayer .
Officials sent both teams to the locker room to regroup , and the game continued a few minutes later .
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continuing and said they ultimately decided to play .
Florida clearly wasn ’ t the same afterward , getting outscored 80-60 following Johnson ’ s sudden and disconcerting exit .
The 20th-ranked Seminoles won 83-71 , extending their winning streak in the series to seven and their winning streak at home to 26 .
“ Please keep praying for @ Keyontae and his family , ” White posted on Twitter .
“ We all love him.
” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl gathered his team together after practice , told them about Johnson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistant in prayer .
The team posted a video of it on social media .
Johnson , a 6-foot-5 junior from Norfolk , Virginia , averaged a team-high 14 points last season to go along with 7.1 rebounds .
He also led the Gators with 38 steals .
He scored five points in four minutes Saturday .
“ Those types of things can affect you in some adverse ways , ” Hamilton said .
“ We ’ re just all hopeful and praying that he ’ s OK .
If it affected our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can imagine what the situation was with his teammates.
” Like many of his Florida teammates , Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 during the summer .
Although the cause of Johnson ’ s ailment was not immediately known , the coronavirus can lead to myocarditis , a viral infection of the heart muscle .
At its most severe , myocarditis can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and has been a documented cause of death for young , otherwise healthy athletes .
The Southeastern Conference mandates strict protocols , including rigorous heart testing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play following positive COVID-19 tests .

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida coach Mike White declined to do any postgame media interviews. He wanted to get to the hospital to be near Keyontae Johnson’s side as quickly as possible.
No one could blame him.
Johnson, the Southeastern Conference’s preseason player of the year, collapsed coming out of a timeout against rival Florida State and needed emergency medical attention Saturday. Johnson was taken off the floor on a stretcher and rushed to Tallahassee Memorial for evaluation. The team said he was in critical but stable condition and later said he would remain in the hospital overnight.
“I know you’re fighting bro,” teammate Tre Mann tweeted long after the game ended. “God got you.”
Johnson had just dunked in transition before he crumpled to the floor as the team broke its huddle. Several Gators were in tears and a couple buried their faces in towels as White gathered them in prayer.
Officials sent both teams to the locker room to regroup, and the game continued a few minutes later. Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said administrators gave the Gators the option of continuing and said they ultimately decided to play.
Florida clearly wasn’t the same afterward, getting outscored 80-60 following Johnson’s sudden and disconcerting exit. The 20th-ranked Seminoles won 83-71, extending their winning streak in the series to seven and their winning streak at home to 26.
“Please keep praying for @Keyontae and his family,” White posted on Twitter. “We all love him.”
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl gathered his team together after practice, told them about Johnson’s situation and asked them join an assistant in prayer. The team posted a video of it on social media.
Johnson, a 6-foot-5 junior from Norfolk, Virginia, averaged a team-high 14 points last season to go along with 7.1 rebounds. He also led the Gators with 38 steals.
He scored five points in four minutes Saturday.
“Those types of things can affect you in some adverse ways,” Hamilton said. “We’re just all hopeful and praying that he’s OK. If it affected our players in an emotional way, I can imagine what the situation was with his teammates.”
Like many of his Florida teammates, Johnson tested positive for COVID-19 during the summer. Although the cause of Johnson’s ailment was not immediately known, the coronavirus can lead to myocarditis, a viral infection of the heart muscle. At its most severe, myocarditis can lead to sudden cardiac arrest and has been a documented cause of death for young, otherwise healthy athletes.
The Southeastern Conference mandates strict protocols, including rigorous heart testing, before players can be cleared to return to play following positive COVID-19 tests.