chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--‘Sometimes Always Never’: Scrabble drives the script of a pleasant British dramedy

A couple of weeks ago , we had “ End of Sentence , ” with John Hawkes as a widower and Logan Lerman as his estranged son , who are forced to take a road trip due to circumstances beyond their control .
Now comes “ Sometimes Always Never , ” with Bill Nighy as a widower and Sam Riley as his estranged son , who are forced to take a road trip due to circumstances beyond their control .
The latter film plays in a lighter key , but like its predecessor , this is a subtly effective , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breezes by in approximately an hour and a half and leaves you smiling .
Also , if you happen to be into Scrabble , you ’ re gon na love this movie , as it ’ s the vehicle that keeps the story humming .
Bill Nighy does his Bill Nighy thing — putting a unique spin on every line without overplaying it , waving his hands about like a conductor , conveying so much with an arch of an eyebrow or a withering glance — as Alan , a dapper and sophisticated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the point of being somewhere on the spectrum , though he wouldn ’ t put it that way .
For years , Alan has been wandering about North Yorkshire , putting up flyers and asking the locals if they ’ ve seen his son Michael , who stormed out of the house after a bitter argument over a Scrabble game and hasn ’ t been seen since .
When out-of-town authorities discover a body that roughly matches the description of Michael , Alan and his resentful younger son Peter ( Sam Riley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which they constantly bicker and drive each other mad .
Once they ’ re back home , Alan essentially moves in with Peter and his family and becomes obsessed with playing Scrabble online , convinced one of his opponents is in fact Michael , communicating with him via wordplay .
Director Carl Hunter infuses “ Sometimes Always Never ” with creative visual touches , whether he ’ s using graphics to illustrate certain Scrabble words , or shooting a poignant scene through a patterned glass door , so we feel the emotions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement of his silhouette .
Even the ostensibly ordinary homes of Alan and Peter are marvels of production design , from the incongruously bright-colored walls to such inexplicable artwork as a framed portrait of a dog hanging on a wall for no given reason .
The mystery of Michael ’ s disappearance often takes a backseat to the primary story of the complicated relationship between Alan and Peter — and it provides an excuse for us to meet Margaret and Arthur , a long-married couple whose own son has been missing for years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed-off , nearly catatonic Arthur , who was once semi-famous as a singer who covered pop tunes such as Bonnie Tyler ’ s “ It ’ s a Heartache , ” and Jenny Agutter gives a nomination-worthy performance as the lonely and passionate Margaret , who finds a kindred spirit in Alan .
“ Sometimes Always Never ” is a reference to Alan ’ s code about wearing a three-button suit : Sometimes you button the top button , you always button the middle button , and you never button the bottom button @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ! )
It ’ s also an apt description of Alan himself .
Sometimes he ’ s infuriating .
He ’ s always interesting .
And he ’ s never anything but entertaining .

A couple of weeks ago, we had “End of Sentence,” with John Hawkes as a widower and Logan Lerman as his estranged son, who are forced to take a road trip due to circumstances beyond their control. Now comes “Sometimes Always Never,” with Bill Nighy as a widower and Sam Riley as his estranged son, who are forced to take a road trip due to circumstances beyond their control.
The latter film plays in a lighter key, but like its predecessor, this is a subtly effective, well-written, beautifully acted character piece that breezes by in approximately an hour and a half and leaves you smiling. Also, if you happen to be into Scrabble, you’re gonna love this movie, as it’s the vehicle that keeps the story humming.
‘Sometimes Always Never’
Untitled Blue Fox Entertainment presents a film directed by Carl Hunter and written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Rated PG-13 (for thematic elements and some sexual references). Running time: 91 minutes. Available for streaming starting Friday at musicboxtheatre.com.
Bill Nighy does his Bill Nighy thing — putting a unique spin on every line without overplaying it, waving his hands about like a conductor, conveying so much with an arch of an eyebrow or a withering glance — as Alan, a dapper and sophisticated tailor who is socially awkward and blunt to the point of being somewhere on the spectrum, though he wouldn’t put it that way. For years, Alan has been wandering about North Yorkshire, putting up flyers and asking the locals if they’ve seen his son Michael, who stormed out of the house after a bitter argument over a Scrabble game and hasn’t been seen since. When out-of-town authorities discover a body that roughly matches the description of Michael, Alan and his resentful younger son Peter (Sam Riley) take a road trip, during which they constantly bicker and drive each other mad.
Once they’re back home, Alan essentially moves in with Peter and his family and becomes obsessed with playing Scrabble online, convinced one of his opponents is in fact Michael, communicating with him via wordplay.
Director Carl Hunter infuses “Sometimes Always Never” with creative visual touches, whether he’s using graphics to illustrate certain Scrabble words, or shooting a poignant scene through a patterned glass door, so we feel the emotions of the character in question just through the movement of his silhouette. Even the ostensibly ordinary homes of Alan and Peter are marvels of production design, from the incongruously bright-colored walls to such inexplicable artwork as a framed portrait of a dog hanging on a wall for no given reason.
The mystery of Michael’s disappearance often takes a backseat to the primary story of the complicated relationship between Alan and Peter — and it provides an excuse for us to meet Margaret and Arthur, a long-married couple whose own son has been missing for years. Tim McInnerny is brilliant as the closed-off, nearly catatonic Arthur, who was once semi-famous as a singer who covered pop tunes such as Bonnie Tyler’s “It’s a Heartache,” and Jenny Agutter gives a nomination-worthy performance as the lonely and passionate Margaret, who finds a kindred spirit in Alan.
“Sometimes Always Never” is a reference to Alan’s code about wearing a three-button suit: Sometimes you button the top button, you always button the middle button, and you never button the bottom button. (Say that three times fast!) It’s also an apt description of Alan himself. Sometimes he’s infuriating. He’s always interesting. And he’s never anything but entertaining.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--Eisenhower to Kennedy ramp to close Thursday for 4 months

The Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction will move into another phase Thursday with the shutdown of the ramp connecting the inbound Eisenhower Expressway to the outbound Kennedy Expressway .
The ramp , which serves about 25,000 vehicles every day , will be widened to include two lanes and shoulders , the Illinois Department of Transportation said in a statement .
The construction begins at 8 p.m. Thursday and is expected to end sometime in October , IDOT said .
The closure was originally scheduled for June 1 but was postponed by 10 days .
“ With infrastructure improvements an essential service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction season on schedule as much as possible , ” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman .
“ The Jane Byrne is among our top priorities .
Although traffic volumes are down , please plan ahead and be patient driving through the work zone.
” To get to the outbound Kennedy , drivers on the inbound Eisenhower will have to first head south on the Dan Ryan before making a “ Texas U-turn ” at the Taylor Street interchange , IDOT said .
The far right lane on the Eisenhower will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
The other two right lanes will lead drivers to the outbound Dan Ryan , while the two left lanes will lead to Ida B .
Wells Drive .
Taylor Street has already been closed between Union Avenue and Ruble Street , and will remain that way until the construction is over , IDOT said , though pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the south sidewalk .
The inbound Dan Ryan will be inaccessible from Roosevelt Road as well .
The Jackson Boulevard bridge over the Kennedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street bridge will follow later this summer , IDOT said .
Both bridges will reopen in 2022 , when the Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction is expected to be completed .

The Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction will move into another phase Thursday with the shutdown of the ramp connecting the inbound Eisenhower Expressway to the outbound Kennedy Expressway.
The ramp, which serves about 25,000 vehicles every day, will be widened to include two lanes and shoulders, the Illinois Department of Transportation said in a statement.
The construction begins at 8 p.m. Thursday and is expected to end sometime in October, IDOT said. The closure was originally scheduled for June 1 but was postponed by 10 days.
“With infrastructure improvements an essential service, we are committed to keeping this construction season on schedule as much as possible,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “The Jane Byrne is among our top priorities. Although traffic volumes are down, please plan ahead and be patient driving through the work zone.”
To get to the outbound Kennedy, drivers on the inbound Eisenhower will have to first head south on the Dan Ryan before making a “Texas U-turn” at the Taylor Street interchange, IDOT said.
The far right lane on the Eisenhower will be reserved for the detour to the Kennedy, police said. The other two right lanes will lead drivers to the outbound Dan Ryan, while the two left lanes will lead to Ida B. Wells Drive.
Taylor Street has already been closed between Union Avenue and Ruble Street, and will remain that way until the construction is over, IDOT said, though pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the south sidewalk. The inbound Dan Ryan will be inaccessible from Roosevelt Road as well.
The Jackson Boulevard bridge over the Kennedy closed in March, and the Adams Street bridge will follow later this summer, IDOT said. Both bridges will reopen in 2022, when the Jane Byrne Interchange reconstruction is expected to be completed.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--8 shot, 2 fatally, Wednesday in Chicago

8 shot, 2 fatally, Wednesday in Chicago

Eight people were shot and two killed Wednesday in Chicago .
In the latest fatal shooting , a 27-year-old man was killed and two others were wounded in Lawndale on the West Side .
Officers responded to reports of shots fired about 10 p.m. in the 1900 block of South Trumbull Avenue and found the men with gunshot wounds , Chicago police said .
The 27-year-old man was shot in the head , back and leg , police said .
He was pronounced dead on the scene .
Another man , 31 , was shot in the lower back and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital , police said .
The third man , 27 , was shot in the wrist and is in good condition at Stroger Hospital .
Early Wednesday , a man was shot to death in Old Town on the North Side .
Officers found a 32-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds about 2:10 a.m. in the hallway of a building in the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue , police said .
He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital , where he died from his injuries .
While responding to the shooting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene and chased him onto the roof of a building in the 1400 block of North Cleveland Avenue , police said .
The officers found a gun and took the man into custody .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office has not released the details of either fatality .
In non-fatal shootings , a 21-year-old man was wounded in Jeffery Manor on the South Side .
He was standing outside a home about 9:18 p.m. in the 9700 block of South Merrion Avenue when someone shot him in the shoulder and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers he was unable to recall details about the incident .
The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition , police said .
A teenage boy was injured in a shooting in Lawndale on the West Side .
He was on the street about 6:11 p.m. on South Sawyer Avenue when he heard gunfire and felt pain , police said .
The 17-year-old was hit in the calf , hand and groin area .
The boy was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center in fair condition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man was wounded in a shooting in the Back of the Yards on the South Side .
The 21-year-old was on the sidewalk about 4:20 p.m. in the 4800 block of South Throop Street when someone fired shots from a dark-colored vehicle , according to police .
He was hit once in the thigh and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition .
The day ’ s first reported shooting left a woman wounded in Chatham on the South Side .
The woman , 28 , was driving about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Cottage Grove Avenue when a male on foot opened fire , striking her in the abdomen , police said .
The woman drove herself to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where she was in good condition , police said .
Nine people were shot , two fatally , Tuesday in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Eight people were shot and two killed Wednesday in Chicago.
In the latest fatal shooting, a 27-year-old man was killed and two others were wounded in Lawndale on the West Side.
Officers responded to reports of shots fired about 10 p.m. in the 1900 block of South Trumbull Avenue and found the men with gunshot wounds, Chicago police said.
The 27-year-old man was shot in the head, back and leg, police said. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the man as being Denzail Gresham. He lived in Lawndale.
Another man, 31, was shot in the lower back and is in critical condition at Mount Sinai Hospital, police said. The third man, 27, was shot in the wrist and is in good condition at Stroger Hospital.
Early Wednesday, a man was shot to death in Old Town on the North Side.
Officers found a 41-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds about 2:10 a.m. in the hallway of a building in the 1300 block of North Hudson Avenue, police said. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
While responding to the shooting, officers saw a man running from the scene and chased him onto the roof of a building in the 1400 block of North Cleveland Avenue, police said. The officers found a gun and took the man into custody.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the man as being Courtney Horton. He lived in Homan Square.
In non-fatal shootings, a 21-year-old man was wounded in Jeffery Manor on the South Side.
He was standing outside a home about 9:18 p.m. in the 9700 block of South Merrion Avenue when someone shot him in the shoulder and abdomen, police said. He told officers he was unable to recall details about the incident.
The man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition, police said.
A teenage boy was injured in a shooting in Lawndale on the West Side.
He was on the street about 6:11 p.m. on South Sawyer Avenue when he heard gunfire and felt pain, police said. The 17-year-old was hit in the calf, hand and groin area.
The boy was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center in fair condition, police said.
Hours earlier, a man was wounded in a shooting in the Back of the Yards on the South Side.
The 21-year-old was on the sidewalk about 4:20 p.m. in the 4800 block of South Throop Street when someone fired shots from a dark-colored vehicle, according to police. He was hit once in the thigh and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition.
The day’s first reported shooting left a woman wounded in Chatham on the South Side.
The woman, 28, was driving about 1:40 a.m. in the 7900 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue when a male on foot opened fire, striking her in the abdomen, police said.
The woman drove herself to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was in good condition, police said.
Nine people were shot, two fatally, Tuesday in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--Convenience store burglarized in Jefferson Park

A convenience store was burglarized Thursday in Jefferson Park on the Northwest Side .
About 1:20 a.m. , a male @ @ @ @ @ of a convenience store and stole a video slot machine , Chicago police said .
@ @ @ @ @ the middle of the street and fled .
A sunglasses rack was also taken from @ @ @ @ @ a nearby bush , police said .
Read more on crime , and track the @ @ @ @ @

A convenience store was burglarized Thursday in Jefferson Park on the Northwest Side.
About 1:20 a.m., a male broke the front glass door of a convenience store and stole a video slot machine, Chicago police said. He left the machine in the middle of the street and fled.
A sunglasses rack was also taken from the store and found in a nearby bush, police said.
Area Five detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--10-year-old boy, 2 sisters missing from South Shore located

Jah-Lill Sparks , a missing 10-year-old boy , and his sisters , Jal-Ilah , 13 , and Jakiahla , 6 @ @ @ @ @ going missing from South Shore , according to Chicago police .
Further details were not @ @ @ @ @

Jah-Lill Sparks, a missing 10-year-old boy, and his sisters, Jal-Ilah, 13, and Jakiahla, 6, have been located after going missing from South Shore, according to Chicago police.
Police cancelled the missing persons alert about 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Jakhiala Sparks Chicago Police Department
Further details were not immediately available Thursday morning.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--ComEd asks families to be safe with balloons during graduation celebrations

With graduation season among us and traditional parties being swapped for stay-at-home celebrations , ComEd is asking families to be mindful about how they use balloons .
The foil , or Mylar , balloons that are great for showy celebrations are also liable to start fires or power outages if they come into contact with power lines or electrical equipment , ComEd said .
Thousands of power outages are reported each year in northern Illinois due to these balloons , with the biggest spikes seen during graduation season .
“ ComEd extends a heartfelt congratulations to the class of 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goals at all levels , ” said Rich Negrin , vice president of external affairs at ComEd .
“ During this challenging time , we know that families are eager to celebrate their graduates .
ComEd supports those celebrations and encourages customers to be safe while transporting and displaying celebratory balloons.
” If celebrating with foil balloons , ComEd encourages residents to keep them inside or attach them to weights if they ’ re being hung outdoors .
Under no circumstances should one try to remove a balloon from a power line or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets tangled up , ComEd said .
If assistance is needed , residents are encouraged to call 1-800-334-7661 .

With graduation season among us and traditional parties being swapped for stay-at-home celebrations, ComEd is asking families to be mindful about how they use balloons.
The foil, or Mylar, balloons that are great for showy celebrations are also liable to start fires or power outages if they come into contact with power lines or electrical equipment, ComEd said. Thousands of power outages are reported each year in northern Illinois due to these balloons, with the biggest spikes seen during graduation season.
“ComEd extends a heartfelt congratulations to the class of 2020 who have persevered to achieve their educational goals at all levels,” said Rich Negrin, vice president of external affairs at ComEd. “During this challenging time, we know that families are eager to celebrate their graduates. ComEd supports those celebrations and encourages customers to be safe while transporting and displaying celebratory balloons.”
If celebrating with foil balloons, ComEd encourages residents to keep them inside or attach them to weights if they’re being hung outdoors.
Under no circumstances should one try to remove a balloon from a power line or other piece of electrical equipment if it gets tangled up, ComEd said. If assistance is needed, residents are encouraged to call 1-800-334-7661.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-10--Jefferson Davis statue torn down in Richmond, Virginia

RICHMOND , Va. — A statue of Jefferson Davis was torn down along Richmond , Virginia ’ s famed Monument Avenue on Wednesday night .
The statue of the president of the Confederacy was toppled shortly before 11 p.m. and is on the ground in the middle of an intersection , news outlets reported .
Richmond police were on the scene .
In Portsmouth , protesters beheaded and then pulled down four statues that were part of a Confederate monument on Wednesday , according to media outlets .
The Virginia-Pilot reports that efforts to tear one of the statues down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rope they were using snapped .
The crowd was frustrated by the Portsmouth City Council ’ s decision to put off moving the monument .
They switched to throwing bricks from the post that held the plaque they had pulled down as they initially worked to tumble the statue .
The Pilot reports that they then started to dismantle the monument one piece at a time as a marching band played in the streets and other protesters danced .
A flag tied to the monument was lit on fire , and the flames @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the statues .
A statue of Christopher Columbus in Richmond was torn down by protesters , set on fire and then submerged into a lake on Tuesday .
News outlets reported the figure was toppled less than two hours after protesters gathered in the city ’ s Byrd Park chanting for the statue to be taken down .

RICHMOND, Va. — A statue of Jefferson Davis was torn down along Richmond, Virginia’s famed Monument Avenue on Wednesday night.
The statue of the president of the Confederacy was toppled shortly before 11 p.m. and is on the ground in the middle of an intersection, news outlets reported.
Richmond police were on the scene.
In Portsmouth, protesters beheaded and then pulled down four statues that were part of a Confederate monument on Wednesday, according to media outlets.
The Virginia-Pilot reports that efforts to tear one of the statues down began around 8:20 p.m., but the rope they were using snapped.
The crowd was frustrated by the Portsmouth City Council’s decision to put off moving the monument. They switched to throwing bricks from the post that held the plaque they had pulled down as they initially worked to tumble the statue.
The Pilot reports that they then started to dismantle the monument one piece at a time as a marching band played in the streets and other protesters danced.
A flag tied to the monument was lit on fire, and the flames burned briefly at the base of one of the statues.
A statue of Christopher Columbus in Richmond was torn down by protesters, set on fire and then submerged into a lake on Tuesday. News outlets reported the figure was toppled less than two hours after protesters gathered in the city’s Byrd Park chanting for the statue to be taken down.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--South Side mall workers where police are accused of lounging on the job question ‘sense of respect f

South Side mall workers where police are accused of lounging on the job question ‘sense of respect for the community’

Standing outside their barbershop in a South Side plaza Thursday , LaShawn Patton and Derrick Noel said they watched a video where Chicago police officers appear to be sleeping and eating popcorn while chaos erupted around them .
“ That ’ s just proof of what most of us seen anyways , ” Patton said , referencing the police response — or lack of it , many Chicago residents have said — while civil unrest erupted throughout the city following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Their barbershop , Hair Experts , is a short walk from U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is now at the center of a controversial video showing several Chicago police officers that appear to be resting amid the chaos of people breaking into businesses and destroying many .
The office is in the middle of the plaza , which has two entrances .
“ You put on that badge and say you ’ re for the people , then be for the people , ” Noel said about the officers in the video .
By Thursday , many businesses in the shopping plaza in Fuller Park , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up or closed .
“ Black Lives Matter ” was spray-painted on one business .
Noel and Patton said they were hoping business would pick up , though many customers are still scared to return .
During the days of unrest , they lost 15-years worth of equipment after their windows were smashed .
Like other workers in the plaza , Noel and Patton expressed frustration that more wasn ’ t done to stop the looting , especially because they can see a police station from their parking lot .
The men said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just like anyone else would be if they were caught sleeping during work hours .
“ You ’ re supposed to wear a badge with a sense of respect for the community , ” said Patton , who said his father was a former police detective .
Quella Whitehead , manager of a Boost Mobile store at the mall , is just starting to reopen her business after it was vandalized .
She hadn ’ t watched the video released by Rush , but she said hearing about it left her puzzled .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have deterred some of the destruction .
“ Maybe they were scared as well , ” Whitehead said .
During the hours of looting , Whitehead did see some officers at the mall , but they didn ’ t get out of their cars .
When she tried to file a police report for stolen merchandise , an officer never came out .
She , instead , went to a nearby police station .
“ You don ’ t have words for it , ” Whitehead said , throwing up her hands in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Plano Vision Center , said she saw two officers the night most of the looting took place who told her they were there to protect firefighters who had been dispatched to the shopping center .
Like Whitehead , Johnson-Brown hadn ’ t seen the video .
“ It ’ s terrible , ” she said about the news .
“ Why would you be sleeping ?
” Johnson-Brown said anyone would get in trouble for sleeping on the job .
She thinks police had a hard time keeping up with the amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I pray they figure out a system so everyone is equally safe , ” Johnson-Brown said .
Elvia Malagón ’ s reporting on social justice and income inequality is made possible by a grant from the Chicago Community Trust .

Standing outside their barbershop in a South Side plaza Thursday, LaShawn Patton and Derrick Noel said they watched a video where Chicago police officers appear to be sleeping and eating popcorn while chaos erupted around them.
“That’s just proof of what most of us seen anyways,” Patton said, referencing the police response — or lack of it, many Chicago residents have said — while civil unrest erupted throughout the city following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Their barbershop, Hair Experts, is a short walk from U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush’s campaign office, which is now at the center of a controversial video showing several Chicago police officers that appear to be resting amid the chaos of people breaking into businesses and destroying many. The office is in the middle of the plaza, which has two entrances.
“You put on that badge and say you’re for the people, then be for the people,” Noel said about the officers in the video.
By Thursday, many businesses in the shopping plaza in Fuller Park, at 5401 S. Wentworth Ave., remained boarded up or closed. “Black Lives Matter” was spray-painted on one business. Noel and Patton said they were hoping business would pick up, though many customers are still scared to return. During the days of unrest, they lost 15-years worth of equipment after their windows were smashed.
Businesses remain boarded up Thursday due to damage from looters at 5401 S Wentworth Ave, in Fuller Park. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Like other workers in the plaza, Noel and Patton expressed frustration that more wasn’t done to stop the looting, especially because they can see a police station from their parking lot. The men said they think the officers should be fired just like anyone else would be if they were caught sleeping during work hours.
“You’re supposed to wear a badge with a sense of respect for the community,” said Patton, who said his father was a former police detective.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
Quella Whitehead, manager of a Boost Mobile store at the mall, is just starting to reopen her business after it was vandalized.
She hadn’t watched the video released by Rush, but she said hearing about it left her puzzled. She thinks the officers’ presence could have deterred some of the destruction.
“Maybe they were scared as well,” Whitehead said. During the hours of looting, Whitehead did see some officers at the mall, but they didn’t get out of their cars. When she tried to file a police report for stolen merchandise, an officer never came out. She, instead, went to a nearby police station.
“You don’t have words for it,” Whitehead said, throwing up her hands in the air.
Boost Mobile manager Quella Whitehead said she’s upset police didn’t do anything to prevent looters from breaking in and is perplexed by allegations that Chicago police were nearby but may not have intervened. “You don’t have words for it,” Whitehead said. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Dr. Stephanie Johnson-Brown, of Plano Vision Center, said she saw two officers the night most of the looting took place who told her they were there to protect firefighters who had been dispatched to the shopping center. Like Whitehead, Johnson-Brown hadn’t seen the video.
“It’s terrible,” she said about the news. “Why would you be sleeping?”
Johnson-Brown said anyone would get in trouble for sleeping on the job. She thinks police had a hard time keeping up with the amount of activity that happened during those days.
“I pray they figure out a system so everyone is equally safe,” Johnson-Brown said.
Elvia Malagón’s reporting on social justice and income inequality is made possible by a grant from the Chicago Community Trust.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--Illinois officials announce 91 more COVID-19 deaths as state total nears 6,200 (LIVE UPDATES)

Health officials on Thursday announced 91 more people have died in Illinois of COVID-19 , as another 766 tested positive for the coronavirus .
That marks a full week with fewer than 100 deaths reported per day by the Illinois Department of Public Health as the state appears to be emerging from the worst of the pandemic .
Last month saw 16 days with more than 100 coronavirus deaths each , including the state ’ s worst daily report of 192 deaths on May 13 .
But the latest daily toll of 91 is still almost on par with May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths per day .
In June , two daily death counts have surpassed 100 so far , most recently on June 4 , but an additional five days have seen at least 70 deaths .
Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here .
7:03 p.m. Woman has coronavirus-related double lung transplant at Northwestern Memorial Hospital — first surgery of its kind in U.S .
The coronavirus patient was so sick , so deeply sedated that she could not speak , could not squeeze a hand or even flutter her eyelids — let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she endured last week .
So doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital took the unusual step of asking the young woman ’ s family if she would — were she conscious — agree to a last-ditch double lung transplant to save her life .
This week , as the 20-something woman is slowly emerging from the fog of sedation , she let doctors know they ’ d done the right thing .
“ Doctor , thank you for not giving up on me , ” the woman told one of her surgeons , Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman ’ s name has not been released , 5 p.m. McCormick Place , Park District fieldhouses could be alternative sites for CPS classes , alderman says The chairman of the City Council ’ s Education Committee on Thursday said McCormick Place , Navy Pier , Park District fieldhouses and public libraries could be used as alternative sites to safely reopen Chicago Public Schools this fall .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is determined to reopen the Chicago Public Schools on time this fall but do it safely , perhaps by using staggered schedules to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of students in classrooms at any given time .
She has promised to be creative in crafting plans in concert with neighborhood leaders , perhaps by using community centers as alternate learning sites .
Now , Lightfoot ’ s hand-picked Education Committee chairman is being really creative — by suggesting the massive McCormick Place complex .
McCormick Place can ’ t host conventions until there ’ s a vaccine for the coronavirus , or a “ highly effective treatment widely available ” or the elimination of any new cases over a sustained period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall reporter Fran Spielman here .
4:05 p.m. MacArthur Foundation , 4 other groups pledge $ 1.7 billion to support nonprofits battered by the coronavirus Five philanthropic organizations , including the Chicago-based John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation , say they plan to donate $ 1.7 billion over the next three years to help nonprofit organizations around the globe that have been crippled by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic .
In the United States alone , nonprofits employ about 10 % of the private workforce , and in a recent survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they expect to see a 20 % drop in revenue in the coming year , according to the MacArthur Foundation .
“ At this moment of massive disruption , we see opportunity , ” MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey said in a statement .
“ The pandemic is wreaking tragedy across the world and , in particular , in African American communities .
In the face of an extraordinary social and economic crisis , our city , country , and global communities require a transformation .
Our response to the pandemic will focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a more just , equitable , and resilient world.
” The money is expected to fund efforts that would tackle topics such as racial equity , social justice and climate change .
2:31 p.m. Gambling regulators turn another page in epic sports book tome , handing licenses to 7 casinos amid pandemic The Illinois Gaming Board granted master sports wagering licenses to seven casinos Thursday , marking a sizable one-time jackpot for the cash-strapped state — but still leaving bettors stuck on the sidelines in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ while remaining shut down indefinitely due to COVID-19 , there ’ s still nowhere for Illinois gamblers to wager on NASCAR , pro golf or other sports that have returned to the playing field .
That ’ s because even with the long-coveted licenses in hand , Gaming Board rules require the casinos to separately request approval to begin taking bets online or through mobile applications , the betting platforms that account for the bulk of the handle in other states that offer it .
But awarding the licenses injects a cool $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fees , which vary for each casino based on a percentage of its gross revenue from last year , capped at $ 10 million .
Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here .
2:05 p.m. More than 3,000 COVID-19 interviews a day planned as county seeks to ‘ quickly ramp up ’ contact tracing program Cook County health officials hope to reach out to more than 3,000 people a day to alert them that they could have been exposed to the coronavirus under a $ 40 million dollar expansion of the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county ’ s Public Health Department plans to wind up with 400 contact tracers total — a dramatic increase from the 25 they already have for the program .
The $ 40 million investment , which comes from coronavirus relief funding , is a crucial step as the county begins to reopen , Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said .
“ For Cook County to reopen it is critical that we quickly ramp up our contact tracing capabilities , ” Preckwinkle said at a Thursday morning news conference .
“ The program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic by identifying new cases quickly and helping residents who ’ ve been exposed to someone carrying the disease.
” Read the full story from Rachel Hinton here .
12:24 p.m. Face masks at the gym : To wear or not to wear ?
Here ’ s a conundrum : The same thing that makes going to a fitness center safer from COVID-19 , also makes the exercise experience decidedly worse .
As gyms open across the country , we need to talk about masks .
States including Florida , Texas , Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio are welcoming gym-goers back .
Many fitness studios and gym chains are encouraging patrons to wear masks while they workout .
The face coverings are among a slew of precautions — including temperature checks , smaller class sizes , sanitization stations and socially-distanced machines — aimed at minimizing potential exposure of the novel coronavirus that ’ s infected nearly 2 million Americans .
But do people need to wear material that covers their nose and mouth , when they want to breathe heavily out of their nose and mouth ?
11 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could cause 100K more deaths by September There are 2 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States .
Of those cases , roughly 113,000 of them have been deadly .
When America grieved for the 100,000 who died , USA TODAY ’ s Editorial Board called it an American tragedy .
That was two weeks ago .
On Wednesday , we wrote about the alarming spread of COVID-19 in Arizona and other states , with health officials increasingly worried about the number of cases requiring hospitalizations .
Now health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infections .
“ There is a new wave coming in parts of the country , ” said Eric Toner , a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security , told Bloomberg .
“ It ’ s small and it ’ s distant so far , but it ’ s coming.
” A Harvard researcher told CNN that as many as 100,000 additional U.S. deaths could come by September .
9:24 a.m. Convention planners squint to see an industry rebound Everything about McCormick Place is designed for crowds .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question that preoccupies those in the meetings business , which has been at a standstill since March .
An early and sudden victim of attempts to control the spread of COVID-19 , the convention shutdown took with it jobs in hotels , restaurants , the construction trades and contractors that make up the economic gears .
The effect has been profound in cities around the U.S. , but nowhere is it more noticeable than in Chicago , where McCormick Place has the title of largest convention complex in the U.S .
The distinction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Under state orders responding to the pandemic , McCormick Place and smaller halls aren ’ t like a shop that can reopen at limited capacity .
They can come back only when the state reaches a full reopening that requires , according to its guidelines , “ a vaccine or highly effective treatment widely available or the elimination of any new cases over a sustained period.
” “ I think people will be up for going to events again once we get past this , whatever ‘ this ’ is , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association for Manufacturing Technology , which has pulled the plug on McCormick Place ’ s biggest event of the year , the International Manufacturing Technology Show .
It became the 97th event to withdraw from McCormick Place so far this year .
Scheduled for Sept. 14-19 , it was to have filled every corner of McCormick Place ’ s 2.6 million square feet , even the little-used Lakeside Center .
It ’ s a biennial affair and when another one comes around in 2022 , “ I ’ m sure the world will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eelman said .
Read the full story from David Roeder here .
Surgeons in Chicago have given a new set of lungs to a young woman with severe lung damage from the coronavirus .
Only a few other COVID-19 survivors , in China and Europe , have received lung transplants .
The patient , who is her 20s , was on a ventilator and heart-lung machine for almost two months before her operation last Friday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital .
The 10-hour procedure was challenging because the virus had left her lungs full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chest wall , Dr. Ankit Bharat , who performed the operation , said Wednesday .
Doctors have kept her on both machines while her body heals but say her chances for a normal life are good .
• The Cook County Medical Examiner ’ s Office ruled Wednesday that a Chicago infant ’ s death in March was caused by COVID-19 — marking a rare death of a baby from the deadly virus .
• Health officials on Wednesday announced an additional 78 people have died of COVID-19 in Illinois and another 625 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Days of Our Lives ” star Judi Evans has been diagnosed with COVID-19 , and nearly lost her legs due to related blood clots , her publicist says .
• Another employee at the Cook County Circuit Court clerk ’ s office has tested positive for COVID-19 , bringing the overall total to 25 , and three workers have received positive antibody test results .
• Two more detainees and an employee at Cook County Juvenile detention center tested positive for COVID-19 .
• Federal health authorities have received reports of nearly 26,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
7:43 a.m .
The NFL can guard against COVID-19 all it wants , but players still have to tackle each other The NFL really has this pandemic thing figured out , doesn ’ t it ?
The latest science-driven protocols will be in place when players return to team facilities in the coming weeks .
Testing for COVID-19 will be a regular occurrence .
Proper social distancing will be observed .
Masks will be mandatory at team meetings .
Locker rooms will be cleansed and disinfected so often you might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect that from a league that prides itself on military-like precision .
But there ’ s one little thing that keeps tugging at the sleeve : Eventually , the players are going to have to touch each other .
Touching is sort of a necessity when it comes to huddling and blocking and — this is a biggie — hitting , which is the whole point of football .
Touching goes against the concept of keeping 6 feet away from the person closest to you .
Tackling sneers at social distancing and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a defenseless receiver if it could .
And what ’ s gang tackling but a renunciation of everything we ’ ve learned about keeping the coronavirus at bay ?
A football game is a buffet table of germs .
This virus will be on the menu .
There are too many people involved in the NFL for it not to be .
Read the full commentary from sports columnist Rick Morrissey here .

Thursday marked a full week with fewer than 100 deaths reported per day by the Illinois Department of Public Health as the state appears to be emerging from the worst of the pandemic.
But the fight against the novel coronavirus isn’t over yet. Here’s what else happened in Chicago and around the state.
News
9 p.m. 91 more Illinois coronavirus deaths
Simple Laboratories phlebotomists draw blood for coronavirus antibody testing and collect nasopharyngeal swab samples to test for COVID-19 at the lab’s drive-thru testing site in the parking lot of St. Rosalie Catholic Parish in Harwood Heights Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
Health officials on Thursday announced 91 more people have died in Illinois of COVID-19, as another 766 tested positive for the coronavirus.
That marks a full week with fewer than 100 deaths reported per day by the Illinois Department of Public Health as the state appears to be emerging from the worst of the pandemic.
Last month saw 16 days with more than 100 coronavirus deaths each, including the state’s worst daily report of 192 deaths on May 13.
But the latest daily toll of 91 is still almost on par with May’s average of just below 100 deaths per day.
In June, two daily death counts have surpassed 100 so far, most recently on June 4, but an additional five days have seen at least 70 deaths.
Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here.
7:03 p.m. Woman has coronavirus-related double lung transplant at Northwestern Memorial Hospital — first surgery of its kind in U.S.
The coronavirus patient was so sick, so deeply sedated that she could not speak, could not squeeze a hand or even flutter her eyelids — let alone give permission for the 10-hour surgery she endured last week.
So doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital took the unusual step of asking the young woman’s family if she would — were she conscious — agree to a last-ditch double lung transplant to save her life.
This week, as the 20-something woman is slowly emerging from the fog of sedation, she let doctors know they’d done the right thing.
“Doctor, thank you for not giving up on me,” the woman told one of her surgeons, Dr. Ankit Bharat, on Wednesday. The woman’s name has not been released,
Read the full report here.
5 p.m. McCormick Place, Park District fieldhouses could be alternative sites for CPS classes, alderman says
The chairman of the City Council’s Education Committee on Thursday said McCormick Place, Navy Pier, Park District fieldhouses and public libraries could be used as alternative sites to safely reopen Chicago Public Schools this fall.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is determined to reopen the Chicago Public Schools on time this fall but do it safely, perhaps by using staggered schedules to maintain social distance and limit the number of students in classrooms at any given time.
She has promised to be creative in crafting plans in concert with neighborhood leaders, perhaps by using community centers as alternate learning sites.
Now, Lightfoot’s hand-picked Education Committee chairman is being really creative — by suggesting the massive McCormick Place complex.
McCormick Place can’t host conventions until there’s a vaccine for the coronavirus, or a “highly effective treatment widely available” or the elimination of any new cases over a sustained period.
Read the full story from City Hall reporter Fran Spielman here.
4:05 p.m. MacArthur Foundation, 4 other groups pledge $1.7 billion to support nonprofits battered by the coronavirus
Five philanthropic organizations, including the Chicago-based John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, say they plan to donate $1.7 billion over the next three years to help nonprofit organizations around the globe that have been crippled by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
In the United States alone, nonprofits employ about 10% of the private workforce, and in a recent survey, 73% of those organizations said they expect to see a 20% drop in revenue in the coming year, according to the MacArthur Foundation.
“At this moment of massive disruption, we see opportunity,” MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey said in a statement. “The pandemic is wreaking tragedy across the world and, in particular, in African American communities. In the face of an extraordinary social and economic crisis, our city, country, and global communities require a transformation. Our response to the pandemic will focus on supporting the reinvention of systems that create a more just, equitable, and resilient world.”
The money is expected to fund efforts that would tackle topics such as racial equity, social justice and climate change.
Read the full story from Stefano Esposito.
2:31 p.m. Gambling regulators turn another page in epic sports book tome, handing licenses to 7 casinos amid pandemic
The Illinois Gaming Board granted master sports wagering licenses to seven casinos Thursday, marking a sizable one-time jackpot for the cash-strapped state — but still leaving bettors stuck on the sidelines in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
With the casinos approved to open sportsbooks while remaining shut down indefinitely due to COVID-19, there’s still nowhere for Illinois gamblers to wager on NASCAR, pro golf or other sports that have returned to the playing field.
That’s because even with the long-coveted licenses in hand, Gaming Board rules require the casinos to separately request approval to begin taking bets online or through mobile applications, the betting platforms that account for the bulk of the handle in other states that offer it.
But awarding the licenses injects a cool $40 million-plus into state coffers through one-time fees, which vary for each casino based on a percentage of its gross revenue from last year, capped at $10 million.
Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here.
2:05 p.m. More than 3,000 COVID-19 interviews a day planned as county seeks to ‘quickly ramp up’ contact tracing program
Cook County health officials hope to reach out to more than 3,000 people a day to alert them that they could have been exposed to the coronavirus under a $40 million dollar expansion of the county’s contact tracing program.
The county’s Public Health Department plans to wind up with 400 contact tracers total — a dramatic increase from the 25 they already have for the program.
The $40 million investment, which comes from coronavirus relief funding, is a crucial step as the county begins to reopen, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said.
“For Cook County to reopen it is critical that we quickly ramp up our contact tracing capabilities,” Preckwinkle said at a Thursday morning news conference. “The program will help us continue to mitigate the pandemic by identifying new cases quickly and helping residents who’ve been exposed to someone carrying the disease.”
Read the full story from Rachel Hinton here.
12:24 p.m. Face masks at the gym: To wear or not to wear?
Here’s a conundrum: The same thing that makes going to a fitness center safer from COVID-19, also makes the exercise experience decidedly worse.
As gyms open across the country, we need to talk about masks.
States including Florida, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Arizona, Indiana and Ohio are welcoming gym-goers back. Many fitness studios and gym chains are encouraging patrons to wear masks while they workout.
The face coverings are among a slew of precautions — including temperature checks, smaller class sizes, sanitization stations and socially-distanced machines — aimed at minimizing potential exposure of the novel coronavirus that’s infected nearly 2 million Americans.
But do people need to wear material that covers their nose and mouth, when they want to breathe heavily out of their nose and mouth?
Read the full story here.
11 a.m. Officials worry second wave of COVID-19 infections could cause 100K more deaths by September
There are 2 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States.
Of those cases, roughly 113,000 of them have been deadly. When America grieved for the 100,000 who died, USA TODAY’s Editorial Board called it an American tragedy.
That was two weeks ago.
On Wednesday, we wrote about the alarming spread of COVID-19 in Arizona and other states, with health officials increasingly worried about the number of cases requiring hospitalizations.
Now health officials are warning of a potential second round of infections. “There is a new wave coming in parts of the country,” said Eric Toner, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Bloomberg. “It’s small and it’s distant so far, but it’s coming.”
A Harvard researcher told CNN that as many as 100,000 additional U.S. deaths could come by September.
Read the full story here.
9:24 a.m. Convention planners squint to see an industry rebound
Everything about McCormick Place is designed for crowds. When the people will be back is the question that preoccupies those in the meetings business, which has been at a standstill since March.
An early and sudden victim of attempts to control the spread of COVID-19, the convention shutdown took with it jobs in hotels, restaurants, the construction trades and contractors that make up the economic gears. The effect has been profound in cities around the U.S., but nowhere is it more noticeable than in Chicago, where McCormick Place has the title of largest convention complex in the U.S.
The distinction seems more like a burden now. Under state orders responding to the pandemic, McCormick Place and smaller halls aren’t like a shop that can reopen at limited capacity. They can come back only when the state reaches a full reopening that requires, according to its guidelines, “a vaccine or highly effective treatment widely available or the elimination of any new cases over a sustained period.”
“I think people will be up for going to events again once we get past this, whatever ‘this’ is,” said Peter Eelman, vice president of the Association for Manufacturing Technology, which has pulled the plug on McCormick Place’s biggest event of the year, the International Manufacturing Technology Show. It became the 97th event to withdraw from McCormick Place so far this year.
Scheduled for Sept. 14-19, it was to have filled every corner of McCormick Place’s 2.6 million square feet, even the little-used Lakeside Center. It’s a biennial affair and when another one comes around in 2022, “I’m sure the world will look quite a bit different,” Eelman said.
Read the full story from David Roeder here.
7:49 a.m. Coronavirus survivor in Chicago receives double lung transplant
Surgeons in Chicago have given a new set of lungs to a young woman with severe lung damage from the coronavirus.
Only a few other COVID-19 survivors, in China and Europe, have received lung transplants.
The patient, who is her 20s, was on a ventilator and heart-lung machine for almost two months before her operation last Friday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The 10-hour procedure was challenging because the virus had left her lungs full of holes and almost fused to the chest wall, Dr. Ankit Bharat, who performed the operation, said Wednesday.
Doctors have kept her on both machines while her body heals but say her chances for a normal life are good.
Read the full report here.
New cases
Analysis & Commentary
7:43 a.m. The NFL can guard against COVID-19 all it wants, but players still have to tackle each other
The NFL really has this pandemic thing figured out, doesn’t it?
The latest science-driven protocols will be in place when players return to team facilities in the coming weeks. Testing for COVID-19 will be a regular occurrence. Proper social distancing will be observed. Masks will be mandatory at team meetings. Locker rooms will be cleansed and disinfected so often you might mistake them for operating rooms.
We expect that from a league that prides itself on military-like precision.
But there’s one little thing that keeps tugging at the sleeve: Eventually, the players are going to have to touch each other. Touching is sort of a necessity when it comes to huddling and blocking and — this is a biggie — hitting, which is the whole point of football.
Touching goes against the concept of keeping 6 feet away from the person closest to you. Tackling sneers at social distancing and, further, would blow it up like a defenseless receiver if it could. And what’s gang tackling but a renunciation of everything we’ve learned about keeping the coronavirus at bay?
A football game is a buffet table of germs. This virus will be on the menu. There are too many people involved in the NFL for it not to be.
Read the full commentary from sports columnist Rick Morrissey here.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--Blackhawks notes: De Haan expected back for playoffs; Mitchell will be “big part” of 2020-21 team

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman , during a Thursday Zoom call with reporters , provided updates on injured players and recent signings .
In the biggest news of the interview , defenseman Calvin de Haan — out since Dec. 10 after undergoing shoulder surgery — is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp on July 10 .
“ Calvin is probably the furthest along of all [ our Injured Reserve players ] , ” Bowman said .
“ It was originally a four-to-six month recovery , so we ’ re pretty much in that timeframe right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready.
” Defenseman Adam Boqvist and forward Drake Caggiula — who both suffered minor injuries in early March just before the season paused — are also fine , as anticipated .
The availabilities of forwards Andrew Shaw ( concussion ) and Zack Smith ( back surgery ) and defenseman Brent Seabrook ( shoulder and hip surgeries ) are less clear .
“ We ’ re still determining their status for when we ’ re going to resume playing , ” Bowman said .
“ Some of that will depend upon when the games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look when they get back on the ice.
” The Hawks signed three new players — top prospect Ian Mitchell , 2019 draft pick Michal Teply and undrafted European import Matej Chalupa — during their coronavirus media lockdown .
Bowman finally commented on all three Thursday .
Mitchell , after three years at the University of Denver , likely won ’ t be eligible for this summer ’ s playoffs .
If he is , though , it sounds like the Hawks will eagerly deploy him .
And if not , he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this team next season.
” Teply , just a fourth-round selection last June , took “ big steps forward ” in his first year in Canadian juniors .
While he ’ s eligible to return to his Winnipeg junior team for 2020-21 , Bowman said he ’ ll get a chance to prove he ’ s NHL- or AHL-ready in training camp this fall .
Chalupa , a Czech league star at age 21 this past season , was discovered by the Hawks during one of Bowman ’ s European scouting trips in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good puck pursuit , so he ’ s what you ’ d call a busy or active player , ” Bowman said .
“ A little bit of a later bloomer , so he ’ s just starting to see some of his best hockey right now , and it ’ s time to get him over to North America .
I liked the potential , and we ’ ll see how quickly he adapts.
” He ’ ll probably need some time with the IceHogs at first , and he projects as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, during a Zoom call with reporters Thursday, shared updates on injured Hawks players and recent signings.
Injuries
The biggest news was that defenseman Calvin de Haan — out since Dec. 10 after undergoing shoulder surgery — is expected to be healthy for the start of training camp on July 10.
“Calvin is probably the furthest along of all [our players on injured reserve],” Bowman said. “It was originally a four- to six-month recovery, so we’re pretty much in that timeframe right now. . . . I would expect him to be ready.”
Defenseman Adam Boqvist and forward Drake Caggiula — who both suffered minor injuries in early March just before the season paused — are also fine, as anticipated. Forwards Andrew Shaw (concussion) and Zack Smith (back surgery) and defenseman Brent Seabrook (shoulder, hip surgeries) are less certain.
“We’re still determining their status for when we’re going to resume playing,” Bowman said. “Some of that will depend upon when the games start and once we see how they look when they get back on the ice.”
Signings
The Hawks signed three new players during their coronavirus media lockdown: top prospect Ian Mitchell, 2019 draft pick Michal Teply and undrafted European import Matej Chalupa. Bowman finally commented on all three Thursday.
Mitchell, after three years at the University of Denver, likely won’t be eligible for this summer’s playoffs. But if he is, it sounds as though the Hawks will eagerly deploy him. If not, he’ll be “a big part of this team next season,” Bowman said.
Teply, a fourth-round selection last June, took “big steps forward” in his first year in Canadian juniors, Bowman said. While he’s eligible to return to his Winnipeg junior team for 2020-21, Bowman said he’ll get a chance to prove he’s NHL- or AHL-ready in training camp this fall.
Chalupa, a Czech league star at age 21 this past season, was discovered by the Hawks during one of Bowman’s European scouting trips in January.
“He’s got good puck pursuit, so he’s what you’d call a busy or active player,” Bowman said. “A little bit of a later bloomer, so he’s just starting to see some of his best hockey right now, and it’s time to get him over to North America. I liked the potential, and we’ll see how quickly he adapts.”
Chalupa will probably need some time in Rockford at first. He projects as a bottom-six forward at the NHL level.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--Recreational pot sales topped $44 million in May, most since weed was legalized in Illinois

Illinois dispensaries unloaded over $ 44 million in recreational weed in May , marking the most successful month of sales since the drug was fully legalized at the start of the year .
Despite facing strict social distancing guidelines aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 , pot shops tallied $ 44.3 million in total sales last month , according to figures released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation .
Illinois residents bought up over $ 34 million in recreational pot products , while out-of-staters purchased the rest .
The previous monthly high was recorded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreational cannabis was sold as pot users flooded dispensaries to get their first taste of legal weed in Illinois .
Andy Seeger , a pot industry analyst at the Loop-based Brightfield Group , said the demand for legal pot has remained strong even as much of the economy has come to a halt .
For consumers , pot , like alcohol , appears to be “ one of the last purchases to cut if necessary ” but is “ quickly picked back up upon employment.
” He said sales could be higher if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand for medical cannabis .
With the issuance of new recreational licenses delayed in the wake of the pandemic , Seeger said there aren ’ t currently enough cultivation centers and dispensaries for recreational sales to grow significantly higher .
Meanwhile , a handful of weed stores were forced to temporarily close after being targeted in a wave of looting that gripped the city when a protest over the officer-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis devolved into chaos on May 30 .
Two dispensaries in Chicago , The Herbal Care Center on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Chicago , will likely remain closed for weeks after being hit particularly hard .
On Thursday , NuMed in West Town also remained closed due to the “ ongoing protests ” in the area , according to a phone recording .
Dispensary 33 in Uptown and Cresco Labs ’ new Sunnyside dispensary in River North were also targeted late last month , but nothing was reported stolen and the stores have since reopened .
Given the limited number of retail options across the state , Seeger noted that stores shutting down temporarily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” further .

Illinois dispensaries unloaded over $44 million in recreational weed in May, marking the most successful month of sales since the drug was fully legalized at the start of the year.
Despite facing strict social distancing guidelines aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19, pot shops tallied $44.3 million in total sales last month, according to figures released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Illinois residents bought up over $34 million in recreational pot products, while out-of-staters purchased the rest.
The previous monthly high was recorded in January, when $39.2 million in recreational cannabis was sold as pot users flooded dispensaries to get their first taste of legal weed in Illinois.
Andy Seeger, a pot industry analyst at the Loop-based Brightfield Group, said the demand for legal pot has remained strong even as much of the economy has come to a halt. For consumers, pot, like alcohol, appears to be “one of the last purchases to cut if necessary” but is “quickly picked back up upon employment.”
He said sales could be higher if not for supply limitations and a growing demand for medical cannabis. With the issuance of new recreational licenses delayed in the wake of the pandemic, Seeger said there aren’t currently enough cultivation centers and dispensaries for recreational sales to grow significantly higher.
Meanwhile, a handful of weed stores were forced to temporarily close after being targeted in a wave of looting that gripped the city when a protest over the officer-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis devolved into chaos on May 30.
Two dispensaries in Chicago, The Herbal Care Center on the Near West Side and Mission in South Chicago, will likely remain closed for weeks after being hit particularly hard. On Thursday, NuMed in West Town also remained closed due to the “ongoing protests” in the area, according to a phone recording.
Dispensary 33 in Uptown and Cresco Labs’ new Sunnyside dispensary in River North were also targeted late last month, but nothing was reported stolen and the stores have since reopened.
Given the limited number of retail options across the state, Seeger noted that stores shutting down temporarily for repairs will inevitably “constrain sales” further.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--2 teens among 3 charged with murder in Carpentersville shooting

Three people , including two teenage boys , are facing murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a man Monday in downstate Carpentersville .
Joel Leitner , 22 , Phillip Walker and Devon Coleman , both 17 , are each charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted armed robbery , the Kane County state ’ s attorney ’ s office said in a statement .
The teens are being prosecuted as adults , the state ’ s attorney ’ s office said .
The trio was in vehicle about 9 p.m. at 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , walked up to the vehicle and someone inside opened fire , striking him in the chest , prosecutors said .
Durr ran before collapsing near a dumpster , and the trio stepped out of the car and went through his clothes .
Walker , of Carpentersville , Coleman , of East Dundee , and Leitner , of Tennessee , were taken into custody a short time later , prosecutors said .
Durr later died at a hospital .
Coleman and Walker are each being held at the Kane County Jail on $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was set at $ 750,000 , the state ’ s attorney ’ s office said .
They ’ re due back in court June 19 .

Three people, including two teenage boys, are facing murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of a man Monday in downstate Carpentersville.
Joel Leitner, 22, Phillip Walker and Devon Coleman, both 17, are each charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted armed robbery, the Kane County state’s attorney’s office said in a statement.
The teens are being prosecuted as adults, the state’s attorney’s office said.
The trio was in vehicle about 9 p.m. at 9 Oxford Drive when Jordan Durr, 27, walked up to the vehicle and someone inside opened fire, striking him in the chest, prosecutors said. Durr ran before collapsing near a dumpster, and the trio stepped out of the car and went through his clothes.
Walker, of Carpentersville, Coleman, of East Dundee, and Leitner, of Tennessee, were taken into custody a short time later, prosecutors said. Durr later died at a hospital.
Coleman and Walker are each being held at the Kane County Jail on $500,000 bail while Leitner’s bail was set at $750,000, the state’s attorney’s office said. They’re due back in court June 19.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--Blackhawks players share mixed reactions to NHL’s announced July 10 training camp start date

On the surface , the NHL locomotive continues to chug slowly back toward normalcy .
That train reached a new station Thursday : the announcement of a tentative date , July 10 , for the 24 playoff-bound teams to start training camps .
And in Chicago , the Blackhawks became the final team to move out of their pandemic media lockdown , making general manager Stan Bowman , coach Jeremy Colliton and three players ( Patrick Kane , Alex DeBrincat and Connor Murphy ) available for interviews Thursday for the first time in three months .
But despite the aura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league overall , those players — Kane in particular — shared mixed reactions to the July 10 date announcement .
“ The NHL is putting out these dates and whatnot , and as players , we ’ re taking a step back and saying , ‘ Why are these dates being put out when we haven ’ t really agreed to anything yet ?
’ ” Kane said .
“ We just want to be cautious.
” To clarify , both league officials and the NHL Players ’ Association did agree on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s announcement included the caveat that camps will begin that day only if “ medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.
” It ’ s that overall agreement that still poses a number of obstacles .
Kane mentioned the format of this autumn ’ s offseason ( and offseasons to come ) , the start date of the 2020-21 season and the safety precautions and quarantine rules during the upcoming playoffs as especially pressing challenges .
“ I want to play hockey , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the players and everyone involved , ” Kane said on Zoom from his Chicago home .
“ It ’ s uncharted territory with a situation like this — guys come from Canada , Europe ; what if someone gets sick ?
[ We ] just want to keep our eye on the ball and make sure we get a fair deal .
Then we ’ d be ecstatic to come back.
” The travel logistics question is one that is already at the forefront .
With practice facilities around the league opening up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Hawks opened Fifth-Third Arena on Wednesday , and Kane , DeBrincat , Alex Nylander and Malcolm Subban were among those who immediately took advantage — many players are starting to migrate back to their club ’ s cities .
Bowman said “ five to seven ” Hawks stayed in Chicago throughout the pandemic , and he ’ s starting to talk to the roughly 15 others to plan out their returns .
Fortunately , though , the NHL and NHLPA ’ s negotiations aren ’ t struggling much with the salary issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the MLB ’ s resumption movement .
And equally encouragingly , both Bowman and Kane said they haven ’ t talked to any players — on the Hawks or elsewhere — who aren ’ t on board with returning to play when safe .
DeBrincat and Murphy , at least speaking for themselves , both sounded genuinely excited for July 10 .
“ We ’ re still agreeing on some stuff , but if we do get that chance to come back , everyone ’ s excited to play hockey again , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get back on the ice these past few days has been really fun for me.
” “ Even from just a training aspect , to know your timeline of how to ramp up things and how to gauge your training sessions with the strength coach or even on the ice , it ’ s nice to know , ” Murphy added .
The league ’ s official timeline doesn ’ t yet extend past that mid-summer date , but it ’ s expected that training camps would last about three weeks , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matchup — taking place in early August .
Kane , DeBrincat and Murphy said they plan to approach camp , assuming it happens , roughly the same as they do normal ones in September .
And now their coach can formulate a plan for it , too .
“ It ’ s something to really work toward : a hard date , ” Colliton said .
“ You can start to work backwards as far as the preparation we ’ ll want to do .
”

On the surface, the NHL locomotive continues to chug slowly back toward normalcy.
That train reached a new station Thursday — the announcement of a tentative date, July 10, for the 24 playoff teams to start their training camps.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, the Blackhawks became the final team to end their pandemic media lockdown, making general manager Stan Bowman, coach Jeremy Colliton and three players (Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat and Connor Murphy) available for interviews for the first time in three months.
But despite the aura of progress and optimism swelling around the league, those players — Kane in particular — shared mixed reactions to the July 10 date.
“The NHL is putting out these dates and whatnot, and as players, we’re taking a step back and saying, ‘Why are these dates being put out when we haven’t really agreed to anything yet?’ ” Kane said. “We just want to be cautious.”
To clarify, both league officials and the NHL Players’ Association did agree on the July 10 date. But Thursday’s announcement included the caveat that camps will begin that day only if “medical and safety conditions allow and the parties have reached an overall agreement on resuming play.”
Related NHL announces July 10 as target date for opening of training camps
It’s that overall agreement that still poses a number of obstacles. Kane mentioned as especially pressing challenges the format of the offseason this fall (and offseasons to come), the start date of the 2020-21 season and the safety precautions and quarantine rules during the upcoming playoffs.
“I want to play hockey, but you want it to be fair for the players and everyone involved,” he said on Zoom from his Chicago home. “It’s uncharted territory with a situation like this. Guys come from Canada, Europe. What if someone gets sick? [We] just want to keep our eye on the ball and make sure we get a fair deal. Then we’d be ecstatic to come back.”
Questions about travel logistics are already at the forefront. With practice facilities around the league opening up for training sessions with up to six people this week — the Hawks opened Fifth Third Arena on Wednesday, and Kane, DeBrincat, Alex Nylander and Malcolm Subban were among those who immediately took advantage — many players are starting to migrate back to their teams’ cities.
Connor Murphy was among the Blackhawks who joined a Zoom call with media Thursday. Ben Pope/Sun-Times
Bowman said “five to seven” Hawks stayed in Chicago throughout the pandemic, and he’s starting to talk to the roughly 15 others to plan out their returns.
Fortunately, negotiations between the NHL and NHLPA aren’t hampered much by salary issues, which have publicly and messily plagued Major League Baseball’s attempts to resume play.
Equally encouraging, both Bowman and Kane said they haven’t talked to any players — on the Hawks or elsewhere — who aren’t on board with returning to play when it’s safe.
DeBrincat and Murphy, at least speaking for themselves, both sounded excited for July 10.
“We’re still agreeing on some stuff, but if we do get that chance to come back, everyone’s excited to play hockey again,” DeBrincat said. “To finally get back on the ice these past few days has been really fun for me.”
Added Murphy: “Even from just a training aspect, to know your timeline of how to ramp up things and how to gauge your training sessions with the strength coach or even on the ice, it’s nice to know.”
The league’s official timeline doesn’t yet extend past July 10, but it’s expected that training camps would last about three weeks, with qualifying-round series — including Hawks-Oilers — taking place in early August.
Kane, DeBrincat and Murphy said they plan to approach camp, assuming it happens, roughly the same as they do normal training camps in September.
And now their coach can formulate a plan for it, too.
“It’s something to really work toward: a hard date,” Colliton said. “You can start to work backwards as far as the preparation we’ll want to do.”


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--Bears’ Eddie Jackson itching to practice, feel out new teammates

Bears safety Eddie Jackson flew to the Chicago area Wednesday on a commercial flight , wearing a facemask at the airline ’ s suggestion .
His custom-made mask — with his Alabama and Bears colors and numbers , made by a friend ’ s mom — sat around his neck Thursday as he drove down the street during a video chat .
“ It ’ s totally different , man — waking up , going into stores , restaurants , different places , malls , just having to put on a facemask , ” he said .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something you get adjusted to it .
“ Man , I ’ m just ready to get back .
I don ’ t care if they tell us to wear a facemask in [ Halas Hall ] .
They just need to let us back in the building.
” Jackson has been eager to take the practice field since minutes after the Bears season finale , when he began touting 2020 as the team ’ s year .
“ You know , I really miss football — and it ’ s , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can say it enough , ” he said .
“ I ’ d give up anything right now just to go sit in a meeting room right now , just to watch film with my teammates .
“ It ’ s crazy because … you get a break , you want a break and then , ‘ Alright , you ’ re by the field , you start missing football .
Now its just , ‘ We went this long ?
’ I feel like this is the longest I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presents a practical challenge for the defensive backfield , the only area of the Bears ’ defense tasked with incorporating new starters .
When Jackson was asked how the defense could maintain the momentum of the last two years , he used one word : “ Chemistry.
” But how does a team develop chemistry when no one can be in the same room together until at least late July ?
“ We need to get better in the defensive backs room , ” he said .
“ All of that really starts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part because they signed Jackson to a monster extension in January — he ’ ll make $ 58.4 million over four years — the Bears retooled their defensive backfield on the cheap .
They signed Tashaun Gipson to a veteran minimum deal — he figures to start over Deon Bush and replace Ha Ha Clintox-Dix , who joined the Cowboys .
After cutting cornerback Prince Amukamara to create salary cap space , the Bears drafted Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second round .
He ’ s the favorite beat out former Steelers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tre Roberson and third-year player Kevin Toliver .
Slot cornerback Buster Skrine is an old friend of Gipson ’ s from their days playing on the Browns .
Wednesday , he described Gipson as an instinctive competitor and said , later , that everyone knows the Bears are auditioning No .
2 cornerbacks .
“ Coming to training camp , it ’ s going to be interesting , ” Skrine said .
“ I ’ m excited to see how the battles go.
” There ’ s an added level of comfort , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coordinator Chuck Pagano ’ s scheme .
Pagano has been teaching players what happens at other positions , so they know the job of the man next to them .
“ I feel like this Year 2 is going to be amazing for our defense — just being here already understanding guys ’ positions and where your help is , that helps you play more freely , ” Jackson said .
“ That ’ s probably the biggest thing.
” Jackson can ’ t wait to see it in action .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ we ’ re going to pick up right where we left off at , but … better .
We ’ re going to get better at a lot of different things .
”

Bears safety Eddie Jackson traveled to the Chicago area Wednesday on a commercial flight. His custom face mask — made by a friend’s mom, with his Alabama and Bears colors and numbers — hung around his neck Thursday as he rode down the street during a video chat.
“It’s totally different, man — waking up, going into stores, restaurants, different places, malls, just having to put on a face mask,” he said of life during a pandemic. “It’s different, but it’s something you get adjusted to it.
“Man, I’m just ready to get back. I don’t care if they tell us to wear a face mask in [Halas Hall]. They just need to let us back in the building.”
Jackson has been eager to take the practice field since minutes after last year’s season finale, when he began touting 2020 as the Bears’ year.
“You know, I really miss football, and it’s like, I don’t know if I can say it enough,” he said. “I’d give up anything right now just to go sit in a meeting room right now, just to watch film with my teammates.
“It’s crazy because . . . you get a break, you want a break, and then, all right, you’re by the field, you start missing football. Now it’s just, ‘We went this long?’ I feel like this is the longest I’ve ever went without having football.”
The hiatus has presented a particular challenge for the defensive backfield, the only area of the Bears’ defense tasked with incorporating new starters. Asked how the defense could maintain the momentum of the last two years, Jackson replied with one word: “Chemistry.” But how does a team develop chemistry when no one can be in the same room together until at least late July?
“We need to get better in the defensive backs room,” Jackson said. “All of that really starts with building relationships with guys.”
In part because they signed Jackson to a monster extension in January — he’ll make $58.4 million over four years — the Bears retooled their defensive backfield on the cheap. They signed Tashaun Gipson to a veteran minimum deal; he figures to start over Deon Bush and replace Ha Ha Clintox-Dix, who joined the Cowboys. After cutting cornerback Prince Amukamara to create salary-cap space, the Bears drafted Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson in the second round in April. He’s favored to beat out former Steelers first-round pick Artie Burns, ex-CFL star Tre Roberson and third-year player Kevin Toliver.
Slot cornerback Buster Skrine is an old friend of Gipson from their days playing on the Browns. On Wednesday, Skrine described Gipson as an instinctive competitor and said later that everyone knows the Bears are auditioning No. 2 cornerbacks.
“Coming to training camp, it’s going to be interesting,” Skrine said. “I’m excited to see how the battles go.”
Jackson said there’s an added level of comfort as the defense enters Year 2 of coordinator Chuck Pagano’s scheme. Pagano has been teaching players what happens at other positions, so each knows the job of the man next to him.
“I feel like this Year 2 is going to be amazing for our defense,” Jackson said. “Just being here already understanding guys’ positions and where your help is, that helps you play more freely. That’s probably the biggest thing.”
He can’t wait to see it in action.
“For us,” Jackson said, “we’re going to pick up right where we left off at, but . . . better. We’re going to get better at a lot of different things.”


chicagosun-times--2020-06-11--When the mayor and City Council talk, let’s hear it all — even the parts that make us blush

During a conference call between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the City Council , the mayor and an alderman really got into it , swearing at each other .
This has got to stop .
It is illegal for the mayor and the Council to hold non-public meetings .
If the mayor and an alderman want to throw obscenities at each other , in keeping with a long Chicago tradition , everybody should be able to listen in .
The taxpayers of Chicago pay for the entertainment .
When Mayor Richard J. Daley screamed at Ald .
Leon Despres , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in the early 1960s , he did his screaming at public meetings .
He would even turn off Despres ’ microphone so as not to be interrupted .
Then he ’ d invite the rest of the aldermen to scream at Despres .
When Mayor Harold Washington got into it with the Vrdolyak 29 — 28 white aldermen and one Latino — the gallery of the Council chambers was full .
People lined up early to see the show .
Lightfoot traded profanities with Ald .
Ray Lopez ( 15th ) in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council .
She billed the call as an “ update ” on the city ’ s efforts to contain looting and violence in Chicago ’ s neighborhoods .
At one point in the call , as enshrined in a recording that has since been leaked , Lopez complained at length that the city wasn ’ t doing enough .
Then , when the mayor tried to move the conversation along without , to his thinking , addressing his complaints , he insisted that she do so .
“ I think you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what I think , ” Lightfoot said .
If we ’ ve learned anything about Lightfoot , it ’ s that she ’ s a little thin-skinned .
If we ’ ve learned anything about Lopez , it ’ s that Lightfoot can ’ t do anything to please him .
On Wednesday , nine days after Fran Spielman of the Sun-Times broke the story of the phone call , Lightfoot accused Lopez of “ illegally ” taping the call .
He says he didn ’ t , but we think maybe he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him .
We don ’ t see how the mayor can complain about the illegal recording of what was an illegal meeting .
Under the Illinois Open Meetings Act , any gathering of a “ majority of a quorum ” of the City Council — 14 or more members — to discuss public business must be open to the public .
Just a recorded snippet of the 1 1⁄ hour phone call has been leaked .
It ’ s the good part where Lightfoot and Lopez act like babies .
But any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in full , should be made public , given that the meeting should have been open to the public in the first place .
We ’ d like to hear it all , after covering the kids ’ ears .

During a conference call between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the City Council, the mayor and an alderman really got into it, swearing at each other.
This has got to stop.
It is illegal for the mayor and the Council to hold non-public meetings. If the mayor and an alderman want to throw obscenities at each other, in keeping with a long Chicago tradition, everybody should be able to listen in.
The taxpayers of Chicago pay for the entertainment.
Editorials bug Editorials
When Mayor Richard J. Daley screamed at Ald. Leon Despres, the sole independent in the Council for a time in the early 1960s, he did his screaming at public meetings. He would even turn off Despres’ microphone so as not to be interrupted. Then he’d invite the rest of the aldermen to scream at Despres.
When Mayor Harold Washington got into it with the Vrdolyak 29 — 28 white aldermen and one Latino — the gallery of the Council chambers was full. People lined up early to see the show.
Lightfoot traded profanities with Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) in a May 31 phone call with the Council. She billed the call as an “update” on the city’s efforts to contain looting and violence in Chicago’s neighborhoods.
At one point in the call, as enshrined in a recording that has since been leaked, Lopez complained at length that the city wasn’t doing enough. Then, when the mayor tried to move the conversation along without, to his thinking, addressing his complaints, he insisted that she do so.
“I think you’re 100% full of s—-, is what I think,” Lightfoot said.
“Well, f—- you then,” Lopez replied.
If we’ve learned anything about Lightfoot, it’s that she’s a little thin-skinned.
If we’ve learned anything about Lopez, it’s that Lightfoot can’t do anything to please him.
On Wednesday, nine days after Fran Spielman of the Sun-Times broke the story of the phone call, Lightfoot accused Lopez of “illegally” taping the call. He says he didn’t, but we think maybe he did, and if so, good for him.
We don’t see how the mayor can complain about the illegal recording of what was an illegal meeting. Under the Illinois Open Meetings Act, any gathering of a “majority of a quorum” of the City Council — 14 or more members — to discuss public business must be open to the public.
Just a recorded snippet of the 1 1⁄ 2 hour phone call has been leaked. It’s the good part where Lightfoot and Lopez act like babies.
But any and every recording of the call, in full, should be made public, given that the meeting should have been open to the public in the first place.
We’d like to hear it all, after covering the kids’ ears.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-12--Escape to Hennepin Canal: A morning long gone largely alone with beauty and largemouth bass

SHEFFIELD , Ill.—Between launching at 6 a.m. Monday on the Hennepin Canal and returning at noon , Pete Riedesel and I only glimpsed a couple flashes of brightly clothed bike riders on the shoreline path and a handful of shore anglers .
It ’ s hard to disappear that completely in Illinois in public space .
Of course Pete Riedesel pointed out that this stretch of the Hennepin Canal is busier on weekends and busier this spring because of the pandemic shutdown drawing more people going outside .
All the same , it was good to disappear for a morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caught and released 20 largemouth bass , the heaviest going 2 1/2 pounds .
We launched from the Hennepin Canal Parkway main complex area , which includes the Visitor Center , a mile or so south of Exit 45 ( Route 40 ) from Interstate 80 .
It was a two-hour trek for me , an hour for Riedesel , a retired educator in Ottawa who fishes around northern Illinois and Wisconsin ( check his Fishin Friend Guide Service page on Facebook ) .
The Hennepin Canal State Trail is 104.5 miles long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau , Henry , Lee and Whiteside ) .
The canal , built between 1892 and 1907 , is listed in the National Register of Historic Places .
One of my dreams for years was that our family would spend a couple nights and days hiking or biking the trail days and camping at night .
That went over like a rock splashed in a fishing hole .
So I was quite happy to at least fish it with Riedesel .
“ I have always had fun here , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fish , it is so much fun.
” He was right .
Beside plenty of camping and fishing , the canal offers hiking , biking , sightseeing , boating , kayaking and canoeing from multiple parking and access points .
There ’ s even horseback riding and snowmobiling .
Before we launched , Riedesel pointed to a bottle of Vanilla Bug Spray and said we might need it .
But we made it largely bug free .
He started us fishing under the I-80 bridge .
It was startlingly to be in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and brush-lined shores while 18-wheelers rumbled over the bridge and cars hummed .
But we caught small largemouth right away on a mix of topwaters and spinner-type baits .
I hadn ’ t fished with Riedesel in several years , so he tried to catch me up above the din .
Then we were away from the highway and talk flowed naturally .
“ Oh my God , it is so beautiful , ’ ’ he said .
“ You ’ re casting under trees or on weed lines .
They could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Early in the morning , we even caught a couple in the middle ( even there it is only a few feet deep ) .As the sun rose , fish were concentrated in shade or on weed lines .
I enjoyed throwing a frog into the slop and weeds near shore .
It looked like an automatic way to fish it , but I only caught one on a frog ( my first-of-the-year ) .
Our best success was pulling a Texas-rigged worm ( 1/16th-ounce ) or Senko over the weed tops on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the canal , I asked Riedesel , who favors LaSalle and Heidecke lakes and the Illinois River , how he found this place .
“ I was looking for a place to go when I was not fishing with Cameron [ his youngest son ] , ’ ’ Riedesel said .
“ Where is that next place ?
I kinda landed on this one.
” Good place to land .
Even with the wind blowing hard through the shoreline trees , the water was calm .
Well , kind of calm , carp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shore .
It is a good crappie and bluegill water , too .
But we didn ’ t catch either of them .
But I only made a few casts with a spinner and none with a jig .
“ It can be very good , today was average , ” Riedesel said .
As we fished in the building heat , it struck me this is the first time I had been in a boat in Illinois since March 1 when I fished with Jimmy and Chaser Ellison at the Braidwood Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rhythm and ability to skip a Senko under overhanging brush and limbs .
I finally latched into a better largemouth when I skipped a Senko far back under an overhanging tree .
But the largemouth came unhinged just after I pulled it out of the tree and had a good look at it .
On our way back , Riedesel caught a couple more small ones around the I-80 bridge to end the morning .
“ It is remote , just pretty , ” Riedesel said .
I should come back to hike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Click here for information on the Hennepin Canal .
Click here for recreational information on the Hennepin Canal .

SHEFFIELD, Ill.—Between launching at 6 a.m. Monday on the Hennepin Canal and returning at noon, Pete Riedesel and I only glimpsed a couple flashes of brightly clothed bike riders on the shoreline path and a handful of shore anglers.
It’s hard to disappear that completely in Illinois in public space.
Of course Pete Riedesel pointed out that this stretch of the Hennepin Canal is busier on weekends and busier this spring because of the pandemic shutdown drawing more people going outside.
All the same, it was good to disappear for a morning and have some decent fishing. We caught and released 20 largemouth bass, the heaviest going 2 1/2 pounds.
We launched from the Hennepin Canal Parkway main complex area, which includes the Visitor Center, a mile or so south of Exit 45 (Route 40) from Interstate 80. It was a two-hour trek for me, an hour for Riedesel, a retired educator in Ottawa who fishes around northern Illinois and Wisconsin (check his Fishin Friend Guide Service page on Facebook).
The tone for the main Hennepin Canal Parkway main complex area is set right away at the launch. Dale Bowman
The Hennepin Canal State Trail is 104.5 miles long in five counties (Rock Island, Bureau, Henry, Lee and Whiteside). The canal, built between 1892 and 1907, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
One of my dreams for years was that our family would spend a couple nights and days hiking or biking the trail days and camping at night. That went over like a rock splashed in a fishing hole. So I was quite happy to at least fish it with Riedesel.
“I have always had fun here,” he said. “There is so many places to fish, it is so much fun.”
He was right.
Beside plenty of camping and fishing, the canal offers hiking, biking, sightseeing, boating, kayaking and canoeing from multiple parking and access points. There’s even horseback riding and snowmobiling.
Before we launched, Riedesel pointed to a bottle of Vanilla Bug Spray and said we might need it. But we made it largely bug free.
He started us fishing under the I-80 bridge. It was startlingly to be in this idyllic ribbon of calm water between tree- and brush-lined shores while 18-wheelers rumbled over the bridge and cars hummed. But we caught small largemouth right away on a mix of topwaters and spinner-type baits.
I hadn’t fished with Riedesel in several years, so he tried to catch me up above the din. Then we were away from the highway and talk flowed naturally.
“Oh my God, it is so beautiful,’’ he said. “You’re casting under trees or on weed lines. They could be anywhere.”
He meant that literally. Early in the morning, we even caught a couple in the middle (even there it is only a few feet deep).As the sun rose, fish were concentrated in shade or on weed lines.
I enjoyed throwing a frog into the slop and weeds near shore. It looked like an automatic way to fish it, but I only caught one on a frog (my first-of-the-year). Our best success was pulling a Texas-rigged worm (1/16th-ounce) or Senko over the weed tops on the bottom.
As we worked down the canal, I asked Riedesel, who favors LaSalle and Heidecke lakes and the Illinois River, how he found this place.
“I was looking for a place to go when I was not fishing with Cameron [his youngest son],’’ Riedesel said. “Where is that next place? I kinda landed on this one.”
Good place to land. Even with the wind blowing hard through the shoreline trees, the water was calm. Well, kind of calm, carp were spawning and raised a ruckus on shore.
It is a good crappie and bluegill water, too. But we didn’t catch either of them. But I only made a few casts with a spinner and none with a jig.
“It can be very good, today was average,” Riedesel said.
Pete Riedesel holds one of the better largemouth bass caught and released Monday on the Hennepin Canal. Dale Bowman
As we fished in the building heat, it struck me this is the first time I had been in a boat in Illinois since March 1 when I fished with Jimmy and Chaser Ellison at the Braidwood Lake opener.
It’s been a different year.
At least I found my rhythm and ability to skip a Senko under overhanging brush and limbs.
I finally latched into a better largemouth when I skipped a Senko far back under an overhanging tree. But the largemouth came unhinged just after I pulled it out of the tree and had a good look at it.
It was time.
On our way back, Riedesel caught a couple more small ones around the I-80 bridge to end the morning.
“It is remote, just pretty,” Riedesel said.
I should come back to hike and camp solo. Sort out 2020.
Click here for information on the Hennepin Canal. Click here for recreational information on the Hennepin Canal.


chicagosun-times--2020-06-12--Man missing from Park Forest found in Matteson

85 shot , 24 fatally , over Chicago ’ s most violent weekend of 2020 More than half of the @ @ @ @ @ shot on Sunday as the city reeled from violent protests Saturday night that led to @ @ @ @ @ implementation of a curfew .

Pvt. Travis King entered the North while on a civilian tour of a Korean border village July 18, becoming the first American detained in the North in nearly five years.