chicagosun-times--2020-12-27--Hundreds of Black women gather to show support for Anjanette Young over botched police raid

Hundreds of people , mainly Black women , gathered outside Chicago Police headquarters in the Bronzeville neighborhood Sunday afternoon to express outrage over the botched 2019 raid of Anjanette Young ’ s home .
Lt. Gov .
Juliana Stratton , U.S. Reps. Bobby Rush and Danny Davis , Rev .
Jesse Jackson and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin were among the notable local and state officials who attended the rally on the South Side .
A coalition of women planned this rally after Young ’ s story came to light earlier this month when footage of the erroneous raid of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body-worn camera was broadcasted on CBS , over objections from the city ’ s Law Department .
For about an hour Sunday , demonstrators paced the sidewalks in front of Police Department headquarters , demanding justice for not only Young but for all Black women .
They repeatedly chanted , “ You ’ ve got the wrong house ” — the same statement Young told police more than 40 times while they raided her home .
Some demonstrators carried signs that quoted Young ’ s comments to the media , including , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ It felt like forever.
” Others held poster boards that said , “ I am # AnjanetteYoung ” and “ It could ’ ve been you.
” Many had pinned pink ribbons to their jackets or wore pink accessories as a symbol of solidarity in femininity .
“ We just wanted to just say , in our outrage and our anger , ‘ Hey girl , we with you , ’ ” said organizer Mary Russell-Gardner , who wore a pink scarf and black T-shirt emblazoned with the words “ Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turns at the microphone , most men stood behind the women .
Russell-Gardner described that gesture as “ empowering.
” “ That ’ s what we need , ” she said .
“ Black women ... we ’ ve always been that foundation , that glue for the family .
And so to see us all come together and respond to demand fair justice for another sister ... that was great , that ’ s awesome.
” A dozen officers entered Young ’ s home in February 2019 to execute a search warrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information .
Young , a social worker , stood naked and handcuffed as officers searched her place despite her repeatedly telling them they were at the wrong home .
“ We were outraged , just speechless , can ’ t even fathom what that woman experienced coming into her house naked , ” Russell-Gardner said .
“ So that ’ s the main reason I ’ m out here for this Black woman , Miss Anjanette Young , whom I don ’ t even know , but I felt every pain she felt.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all the officers who participated in the wrongful raid .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced last week that those officers had been assigned to desk duty as the Civilian Office of Police Accountability continues its investigation into the incident .
The organizers also called for police reform and more transparency from the city and the Police Department .
Rush said he sent a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , demanding that he conduct a hearing “ on this travesty , on this invasion , on this attack.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know and inform you that I stand for Black women , my mama was a Black woman , my wife is a Black woman , my daughters are Black women , ” Rush said during his impassioned speech .
“ We will defend Black women , we will place Black women on the pedestal that they deserve .
Black women matter.
” Stratton called for policy reform that better protects Black women and girls .
“ We can not move forward as a society if we do not firmly commit to protecting Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ ... As Black women and girls , we deserve recognition of our humanity and we expect to be respected and safe especially in our own homes.
” Russell-Gardner said this is just the beginning of this coalition of Black women .
She ’ s hoping that Young will get justice and that police reform and better federal and state laws come from Young ’ s story .
“ We ’ re just getting started , ” Russell-Gardner said .
“ This is not a one-and-done .
We ’ re just getting @ @ @ @ @ @

Hundreds of people, mainly Black women, gathered outside Chicago Police headquarters in the Bronzeville neighborhood Sunday afternoon to express outrage over the botched 2019 raid of Anjanette Young’s home.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, U.S. Reps. Bobby Rush and Danny Davis, Rev. Jesse Jackson and City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin were among the notable local and state officials who attended the rally on the South Side.
A coalition of women planned this rally after Young’s story came to light earlier this month when footage of the erroneous raid of her home captured on an officer’s body-worn camera was broadcasted on CBS, over objections from the city’s Law Department.
For about an hour Sunday, demonstrators paced the sidewalks in front of Police Department headquarters, demanding justice for not only Young but for all Black women. They repeatedly chanted, “You’ve got the wrong house” — the same statement Young told police more than 40 times while they raided her home.
Some demonstrators carried signs that quoted Young’s comments to the media, including, “They could have shot me,” and “It felt like forever.” Others held poster boards that said, “I am #AnjanetteYoung” and “It could’ve been you.”
Many had pinned pink ribbons to their jackets or wore pink accessories as a symbol of solidarity in femininity.
“We just wanted to just say, in our outrage and our anger, ‘Hey girl, we with you,’” said organizer Mary Russell-Gardner, who wore a pink scarf and black T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Black women matter.”
When the speakers took turns at the microphone, most men stood behind the women. Russell-Gardner described that gesture as “empowering.”
Mary Russell-Gardner joins a protest of the botched raid on Anjanette Young’s home outside the Chicago Police Headquarters at 3510 S Michigan Ave. in Bronzeville, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
“That’s what we need,” she said. “Black women... we’ve always been that foundation, that glue for the family. And so to see us all come together and respond to demand fair justice for another sister... that was great, that’s awesome.”
A dozen officers entered Young’s home in February 2019 to execute a search warrant, though they were acting on bad information. Young, a social worker, stood naked and handcuffed as officers searched her place despite her repeatedly telling them they were at the wrong home.
“We were outraged, just speechless, can’t even fathom what that woman experienced coming into her house naked,” Russell-Gardner said. “So that’s the main reason I’m out here for this Black woman, Miss Anjanette Young, whom I don’t even know, but I felt every pain she felt.”
Demonstrators called for the immediate firing of all the officers who participated in the wrongful raid. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced last week that those officers had been assigned to desk duty as the Civilian Office of Police Accountability continues its investigation into the incident. The organizers also called for police reform and more transparency from the city and the Police Department.
Young has agreed to meet privately with Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Wednesday morning at Progressive Baptist Church, 3658 S. Wentworth Ave.,“to start the healing process,” her lawyers said in a statement Sunday.
Lightfoot has yet to respond to the invitation, but her office previously reached out to Young’s attorney on Dec. 17 in the hope that the two could speak in person.
Young also invited CPD Supt. David Brown and each of Chicago’s 50 aldermen to attend a forum after the private meeting at the church to address the issues surrounding the case in further detail.
There is no word yet on whether any or all of the officials will attend.
On Sunday, Rush said at the protest that he sent a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., demanding that he conduct a hearing “on this travesty, on this invasion, on this attack.”
“I am here to let you know and inform you that I stand for Black women, my mama was a Black woman, my wife is a Black woman, my daughters are Black women,” Rush said during his impassioned speech. “We will defend Black women, we will place Black women on the pedestal that they deserve. Black women matter.”
Stratton called for policy reform that better protects Black women and girls.
“We cannot move forward as a society if we do not firmly commit to protecting Black women and girls,” Stratton said. “... As Black women and girls, we deserve recognition of our humanity and we expect to be respected and safe especially in our own homes.”
Russell-Gardner said this is just the beginning of this coalition of Black women. She’s hoping that Young will get justice and that police reform and better federal and state laws come from Young’s story.
“We’re just getting started,” Russell-Gardner said. “This is not a one-and-done. We’re just getting started with this issue.”
Contributing: Emmanuel Camarillo


chicagosun-times--2020-12-27--4 teens charged in connection with South Loop carjacking

Four teenage boys are facing charges in connection with a carjacking in the South Loop last week .
Three 17-year-olds @ @ @ @ @ charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to a vehicle , Chicago police said @ @ @ @ @ is also charged with a felony count of possession of a stolen vehicle and a @ @ @ @ @ cannabis .
On Dec. 22 , officers were called for a BMW driver carjacked by @ @ @ @ @ in the 1200 block of South Indiana Avenue , police said .
The suspects allegedly @ @ @ @ @ in the nose with the butt of a gun .
Officers later located the car @ @ @ @ @ in the 4700 block of West Augusta Boulevard in Humboldt Park , police said .
@ @ @ @ @ BMW but were taken into custody a short time later .
Police have responded to @ @ @ @ @ far this year — more than double the number of carjackings in all of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ .

Four teenage boys are facing charges in connection with a carjacking in the South Loop last week.
Three 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old are each charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to a vehicle, Chicago police said. One of the 17-year-olds is also charged with a felony count of possession of a stolen vehicle and a misdemeanor count of possession of cannabis.
On Dec. 22, officers were called for a BMW driver carjacked by four males about 11:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of South Indiana Avenue, police said. The suspects allegedly hit the 60-year-old male victim in the nose with the butt of a gun.
Officers later located the car about 2:30 a.m. Dec. 23 in the 4700 block of West Augusta Boulevard in Humboldt Park, police said. Four males ran from the BMW but were taken into custody a short time later.
Police have responded to at least 1,335 carjackings so far this year — more than double the number of carjackings in all of 2019, according to police data.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-27--The winningest high school basketball programs of the decade: No. 36 DePaul Prep

When high school basketball fans think back to the 1980s , programs like Quincy , Providence St. Mel , East St. Louis Lincoln and the arrival of city powers King and Simeon are easy to think back on .
The 1990s brought us memorable basketball giants in Peoria Manual and Thornton , a few steamrolling Proviso East teams and the continued dominance of King .
The first 10 years of the 2000s included Glenbrook North , Peoria High and the beginning of a Simeon juggernaut .
Now , with the calendar inching closer to wrapping up an unforgettable 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another decade .
And it ’ s another high school basketball time period to look back on .
Earlier this year we broke down the decade ’ s best teams and best players .
Now , with every season of the past decade complete , it ’ s time to look at the Chicago area programs who won the most .
This list is comprised of the 50 winningest programs over the past 10 years , starting with the 2010-11 season and concluding with the 2019-20 season .
Every team in every class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down in a variety of ways .
But total wins , with winning percentage used as tie-breaker , determined the rankings .
We present No .
36 DePaul Prep today and will add one program a day going forward .
Decade ’ s biggest storyline : The decade was filled with so many highlights .
But the 25-win team in 2018-19 that finished third in the state in Class 3A jumps to the top .
The Perry Cowan-led team fell to Bogan in the state semifinals but bounced back to beat Peoria Manual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlight : The great Tom Kleinschmidt , who returned to DePaul Prep ( formerly Gordon Tech ) as head coach , turned the program into a bonafide area power .
Kleinschmidt ’ s impact can ’ t be overlooked .
Kleinschmidt , who led Gordon Tech to a second-place Class AA finish in 1990 and was a McDonald ’ s All-American as a senior , has averaged 22 wins a season since the change to DePaul Prep in 2014 .
He ’ s emerged as one of the top coaches in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that at one point prior to Kleinschmidt ’ s arrival had lost 36 Catholic League games in a row and had not won a league game in four years .
-DePaul Prep snapped the 36-game Catholic League losing streak in eye-opening fashion with a shredding of a talented St. Joseph team in 2012-13 .
Kleinschmidt always believed that win catapulted his program and was the beginning of the belief and the culture within the program .
-The Rams won 26 games last season , including their sixth regional championship of the decade .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018-19 .
-In the short history of DePaul Prep , Perry Cowan became the all-time leading scorer –– and tops the list of so many other statistical categories .
-Raequan Williams , who was a huge piece of the culture change at DePaul Prep , starred at Michigan State in football and is now playing in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles .

When high school basketball fans think back to the 1980s, programs like Quincy, Providence St. Mel, East St. Louis Lincoln and the arrival of city powers King and Simeon are easy to think back on.
The 1990s brought us memorable basketball giants in Peoria Manual and Thornton, a few steamrolling Proviso East teams and the continued dominance of King.
The first 10 years of the 2000s included Glenbrook North, Peoria High and the beginning of a Simeon juggernaut.
Now, with the calendar inching closer to wrapping up an unforgettable 2020, the end of this month closes out another decade. And it’s another high school basketball time period to look back on.
Earlier this year we broke down the decade’s best teams and best players. Now, with every season of the past decade complete, it’s time to look at the Chicago area programs who won the most.
This list is comprised of the 50 winningest programs over the past 10 years, starting with the 2010-11 season and concluding with the 2019-20 season. Every team in every class throughout the Chicago area will be broken down in a variety of ways. But total wins, with winning percentage used as tie-breaker, determined the rankings.
We present No. 36 DePaul Prep today and will add one program a day going forward.
36. DEPAUL PREP: 191-106
Decade’s biggest storyline: The decade was filled with so many highlights. But the 25-win team in 2018-19 that finished third in the state in Class 3A jumps to the top. The Perry Cowan-led team fell to Bogan in the state semifinals but bounced back to beat Peoria Manual in the third-place game.
Underrated decade highlight: The great Tom Kleinschmidt, who returned to DePaul Prep (formerly Gordon Tech) as head coach, turned the program into a bonafide area power. Kleinschmidt’s impact can’t be overlooked.
Kleinschmidt, who led Gordon Tech to a second-place Class AA finish in 1990 and was a McDonald’s All-American as a senior, has averaged 22 wins a season since the change to DePaul Prep in 2014. He’s emerged as one of the top coaches in the state.
Remember, this was a program that at one point prior to Kleinschmidt’s arrival had lost 36 Catholic League games in a row and had not won a league game in four years.
Player of the Decade:Perry Cowan (2017)
All-Decade Team:Raequan Williams (2015), Perry Cowan (2017), Lance Mosley (2020), Brian Mathews (2021) and TY Johnson (2021)
DePaul Prep’s Raequan Williams (44) backs down St. Ignatius Daniel Ogele (22). Sun-Times file photo
Other decade news and highlights:
-DePaul Prep snapped the 36-game Catholic League losing streak in eye-opening fashion with a shredding of a talented St. Joseph team in 2012-13. Kleinschmidt always believed that win catapulted his program and was the beginning of the belief and the culture within the program.
-The Rams won 26 games last season, including their sixth regional championship of the decade.
-The Rams were Catholic League Blue champions in 2018-19.
-In the short history of DePaul Prep, Perry Cowan became the all-time leading scorer –– and tops the list of so many other statistical categories.
-Raequan Williams, who was a huge piece of the culture change at DePaul Prep, starred at Michigan State in football and is now playing in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-27--Halas Intrigue Episode 148: A blowout and a must-win finale

It ’ s all on the line Sunday : Beat the Packers , and the Bears are in the playoffs @ @ @ @ @ Finley and Mark Potash from Jacksonville to talk about the blowout win that put the @ @ @ @ @ and how that affects the team ’ s long-term plans .
New episodes of “ @ @ @ @ @ published regularly with accompanying stories collected on the podcast ’ s hub page .
You @ @ @ @ @ Halas Intrigue ” wherever you get your podcasts , including Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts @ @ @ @ @ and Stitcher .

It’s all on the line Sunday: Beat the Packers, and the Bears are in the playoffs. Jason Lieser joins Patrick Finley and Mark Potash from Jacksonville to talk about the blowout win that put the Bears in that situation, and how that affects the team’s long-term plans.
New episodes of “Halas Intrigue” will be published regularly with accompanying stories collected on the podcast’s hub page. You can also listen to “Halas Intrigue” wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Luminary, Spotify, and Stitcher.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-27--Three takeaways from the Bears’ blowout victory against the Jaguars

Three takeaways from the Bears ’ blowout victory Sunday against the Jaguars : Former Bears quarterback Mike Glennon was cruising through the first half — he had completed 14 of 17 passes for 106 yards — when he threw an inexcusable interception to Bears linebacker Roquan Smith over the middle .
The Bears kicked a field goal to end the half and rattled off 31 points in a row .
Glennon never got back into rhythm .
‘ ‘ It seemed like it went kind of downhill from there , ’ ’ Glennon said .
‘ ‘ Unfortunately , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there.
’ ’ Glennon completed 24 of 37 passes for 211 yards , with two touchdowns and two interceptions .
Cole Kmet has taken over an every-down role , but tight end Jimmy Graham remains a red-zone weapon .
He caught two touchdown passes , marking the 17th time he has had a multi-touchdown game .
He leads the Bears with eight scores .
Graham said he was concerned about the truncated preseason but called it ‘ ‘ special ’ ’ that he has earned the trust of the coaches and quarterbacks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win games and continue to play in January , ’ ’ he said .
‘ ‘ Because I believe where I belong is in January.
’ ’ It wasn ’ t the return quarterback Nick Foles envisioned when he took a pay cut to facilitate a trade from the Jaguars to the Bears in March , but at least he got into the game .
The Bears inserted Foles in the fourth quarter to , except for one incompletion , hand the ball off .
It marked Foles ’ first action since @ @ @

Three takeaways from the Bears’ blowout victory Sunday against the Jaguars:
Glennon sputters
Former Bears quarterback Mike Glennon was cruising through the first half — he had completed 14 of 17 passes for 106 yards — when he threw an inexcusable interception to Bears linebacker Roquan Smith over the middle. The Bears kicked a field goal to end the half and rattled off 31 points in a row.
Glennon never got back into rhythm.
‘‘It seemed like it went kind of downhill from there,’’ Glennon said. ‘‘Unfortunately, we couldn’t kind of recover from there.’’
Glennon completed 24 of 37 passes for 211 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Graham crackles
Cole Kmet has taken over an every-down role, but tight end Jimmy Graham remains a red-zone weapon. He caught two touchdown passes, marking the 17th time he has had a multi-touchdown game. He leads the Bears with eight scores.
Graham said he was concerned about the truncated preseason but called it ‘‘special’’ that he has earned the trust of the coaches and quarterbacks.
‘‘I’m just trying to win games and continue to play in January,’’ he said. ‘‘Because I believe where I belong is in January.’’
Foles’ return
It wasn’t the return quarterback Nick Foles envisioned when he took a pay cut to facilitate a trade from the Jaguars to the Bears in March, but at least he got into the game. The Bears inserted Foles in the fourth quarter to, except for one incompletion, hand the ball off. It marked Foles’ first action since Nov. 16.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-27--RB David Montgomery is Bears’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2017

JACKSONVILLE , Fla. — Bears running back David Montgomery has had three of the top six games of his career @ @ @ @ @ 95 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against the Jaguars .
That put him @ @ @ @ @ season , making him the Bears ’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Jordan Howard in 2017 @ @ @ @ @ front are doing a hell of a job , ” Montgomery said of the Bears @ @ @ @ @ “ They ’ ve been doing a hell of a job for a long time @ @ @ @ @ those guys .
Me being able to get in a rhythm is not up to @ @ @ @ @ up to those guys up front and they always do that for me.
” In @ @ @ @ @ Montgomery totaled 472 yards at 3.6 per carry .
He has had 529 at 5.6 @ @ @ @ @ five .
The Bears drafted Montgomery in the third round last season hoping he would @ @ @ @ @ .
He had 889 yards rushing as a rookie .

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Bears running back David Montgomery, who rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against the Jaguars, has had three of the top six games of his career this month.
That put him at 1,001 yards for the season, making him the Bears’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Jordan Howard in 2017.
“The guys up front are doing a hell of a job,” Montgomery said of the Bears’ reshuffled offensive line. “They’ve been doing a hell of a job for a long time now, and I appreciate those guys. Me being able to get in a rhythm is not up to me. It’s up to those guys up front, and they always do that for me.”
In his first nine games, Montgomery totaled 472 yards with a 3.6 average per carry. In his last five, he has 529 yards at 5.6 per carry.
The Bears drafted Montgomery in the third round last season hoping he would be an upgrade over Howard. He had 889 yards rushing as a rookie.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-27--Bears coach Matt Nagy furious as punt returner DeAndre Carter hit in head

JACKSONVILLE , Fla. — In an otherwise pleasant afternoon for the Bears , coach Matt Nagy erupted on the sideline after punt returner DeAndre Carter took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jaguars fullback Bruce Miller midway through the third quarter .
Both players lowered their heads as they collided , and both suffered for it .
Carter looked disoriented as he tried to lunge after his fumble , and Miller left the game with a concussion .
Carter wobbled as the Bears helped him to the sideline , and he was cleared to return after being checked for a concussion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not come quickly enough for Nagy , who was clearly livid even with a mask covering most of his face .
Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano held him back as he yelled at the officials .
“ When that goes on , you always are gon na protect your guys , ” Nagy said .
“ He ’ s a warrior .
He made that catch and run and then it was a vicious hit .
“ I just want to make sure that he was OK , No .
1 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get the call right , which they did .
I credit them for that .
The refs did a great job looking at that.
” Carter returned three punts after the play with Miller .
The Bears have had five punt returners this season , with Carter being signed last month then missing time after testing positive for coronavirus .

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In an otherwise pleasant afternoon for the Bears, coach Matt Nagy erupted on the sideline after punt returner DeAndre Carter took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jaguars fullback Bruce Miller midway through the third quarter.
Both players lowered their heads as they collided, and both suffered for it. Carter looked disoriented as he tried to lunge after his fumble, and Miller left the game with a concussion. Carter wobbled as the Bears helped him to the sideline, and he was cleared to return after being checked for a concussion.
The flag on Miller for unnecessary roughness did not come quickly enough for Nagy, who was clearly livid.
“When that goes on, you always are gonna protect your guys,” Nagy said. “He’s a warrior. He made that catch and run, and then it was a vicious hit.
“I just want to make sure that he was OK, No. 1, and then, No. 2, that they get the call right, which they did. I credit them for that. The refs did a great job looking at that.”
Carter returned three punts after the play with Miller.
The Bears have had five punt returners this season, with Carter being signed last month, then missing time after testing positive for the coronavirus.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Father-and-son first deer: The meaning of the first deer earns Buck of the Week

Hunter Templin , 13 , arrowed a deer with a crossbow in Lake County Saturday evening on his first time hunting .
“ I was so proud of him , very patient , ” his dad Jim messaged .
“ And , as a dad , experiencing that was amazing He can ’ t wait till we go again .
I believe it ’ s our duty as parents to get our kids involved in Outdoors.
” I left the Outdoors capitalized this time because I think it fits .
And maybe I should consider changing the name of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BOTW , the celebration of hunting big bucks and their stories ( the stories matter as this one shows ) around Chicago outdoors , runs Wednesdays in the paper Sun-Times during the season .
The online posting here at https : //chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors goes up at varied days of the week , depending on what is going on the wide world of the outdoors .
This year there is a lot going on .
To make submissions , email ( BowmanOutside @ gmail.com ) or contact me on Facebook ( Dale Bowman ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( @ BowmanOutside ) .

Hunter Templin, 13, arrowed a deer with a crossbow in Lake County Saturday evening on his first time hunting.
“I was so proud of him, very patient,” his dad Jim messaged. “And, as a dad, experiencing that was amazing He can’t wait till we go again. I believe it’s our duty as parents to get our kids involved in Outdoors.”
I left the Outdoors capitalized this time because I think it fits.
And maybe I should consider changing the name of this segment to Deer of the Week.
BOTW, the celebration of hunting big bucks and their stories (the stories matter as this one shows) around Chicago outdoors, runs Wednesdays in the paper Sun-Times during the season. The online posting here at https://chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors goes up at varied days of the week, depending on what is going on the wide world of the outdoors. This year there is a lot going on.
To make submissions, email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com) or contact me on Facebook (Dale Bowman), Twitter (@BowmanOutside) or Instagram (@BowmanOutside).


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Dear Abby: My relationship’s woes make me angry, sad all the time

DEAR ABBY : I know every relationship is different , but how do you know when to stop trying and let go ?
My boyfriend and I have been dating for a year and a half .
Lately all we seem to do is fight or upset each other .
I don ’ t want to call it quits , but I ’ m tired of being angry or sad all the time .
We have been trying to fix our relationship for a while now , but nothing seems to stick .
We haven ’ t been able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation and COVID , but I don ’ t know what else to do .
We have so much potential for having an amazing life and family in the future that I don ’ t want to give up on what could be just because we can ’ t get along right now .
Is love enough to help us through this rough patch ?
Or am I just fooling myself into thinking we can survive together ?
— LOST IN LOVE IN KANSAS DEAR LOST : Many couples — married and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the pandemic and the social isolation it has brought .
Add financial issues into the mix , and the result has been anxiety , depression and disrupted relationships .
These are difficult times , and I hope you and your boyfriend can weather the storm by giving each other the gift of patience and understanding .
The answer to your dilemma may be as simple as returning to normal once the pandemic gets under control .
DEAR ABBY : I am a 68-year-old man .
Yesterday , my girlfriend and I were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young couple was there with a 6-month-old baby in a stroller .
I bent down , smiled , winked , waved at the baby and said , “ Hi there !
” I then told the mother that her baby was beautiful and that I love little kids .
My girlfriend said I was being creepy .
I was shocked .
I said that she knew I liked kids , and she said yes , she knew that , but that I was still being creepy .
Abby , I have two wonderful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having their friends over to our house , which was the place to be back then .
I am still stunned at the accusation , but I now wonder .
Was I out of line and being “ creepy ” ?
— STUNNED IN WASHINGTON DEAR STUNNED : There ’ s a double standard for men interacting with children that women don ’ t face .
But admiring someone ’ s baby and telling the mother her child is beautiful isn ’ t “ creepy.
” Neither is mentioning that you love kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in passing , and there ’ s nothing untoward about it .
DEAR ABBY : Is there a respectful way to dispose of funeral memory books that no one is interested in keeping ?
— CURIOUS DOWNSIZER DEAR CURIOUS : Funeral memory books are similar to guest books .
Mourners sign them so the grieving family will know who attended the service .
If you ’ re familiar with whatever messages were left , there is no need to hang on to them .
If you don ’ t wish to keep them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society , historical society or local archives to see if they would be welcomed .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “ The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.
” To order , send your name and mailing address , plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Anger Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: I know every relationship is different, but how do you know when to stop trying and let go? My boyfriend and I have been dating for a year and a half. Lately all we seem to do is fight or upset each other. I don’t want to call it quits, but I’m tired of being angry or sad all the time.
We have been trying to fix our relationship for a while now, but nothing seems to stick. We haven’t been able to get professional help due to our financial situation and COVID, but I don’t know what else to do.
We have so much potential for having an amazing life and family in the future that I don’t want to give up on what could be just because we can’t get along right now. Is love enough to help us through this rough patch? Or am I just fooling myself into thinking we can survive together? — LOST IN LOVE IN KANSAS
DEAR LOST: Many couples — married and not — have been having relationship problems related to the pandemic and the social isolation it has brought. Add financial issues into the mix, and the result has been anxiety, depression and disrupted relationships.
These are difficult times, and I hope you and your boyfriend can weather the storm by giving each other the gift of patience and understanding. The answer to your dilemma may be as simple as returning to normal once the pandemic gets under control.
DEAR ABBY: I am a 68-year-old man. Yesterday, my girlfriend and I were in a small gift shop. A young couple was there with a 6-month-old baby in a stroller. I bent down, smiled, winked, waved at the baby and said, “Hi there!” I then told the mother that her baby was beautiful and that I love little kids.
My girlfriend said I was being creepy. I was shocked. I said that she knew I liked kids, and she said yes, she knew that, but that I was still being creepy.
Abby, I have two wonderful, successful adult daughters and always enjoyed having their friends over to our house, which was the place to be back then. I am still stunned at the accusation, but I now wonder. Was I out of line and being “creepy”? — STUNNED IN WASHINGTON
DEAR STUNNED: There’s a double standard for men interacting with children that women don’t face. But admiring someone’s baby and telling the mother her child is beautiful isn’t “creepy.” Neither is mentioning that you love kids. Countless people say the same thing in passing, and there’s nothing untoward about it.
DEAR ABBY: Is there a respectful way to dispose of funeral memory books that no one is interested in keeping? — CURIOUS DOWNSIZER
DEAR CURIOUS: Funeral memory books are similar to guest books. Mourners sign them so the grieving family will know who attended the service. If you’re familiar with whatever messages were left, there is no need to hang on to them. If you don’t wish to keep them, offer them to your local genealogical society, historical society or local archives to see if they would be welcomed.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--30 shot, 8 killed in Chicago over holiday weekend

At least eight people were killed and 22 others wounded in citywide shootings over the extended holiday weekend .
In the latest fatal attack , a man was shot to death Monday morning on the Lower West Side .
About 4 a.m. , the man , 57 , was headed south in a vehicle in the 2300 block of South Wood Street when someone in a gold-colored SUV opened fire , striking him multiple times in the back , Chicago police said .
The man was taken to Stroger Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
A person was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Southwest Side .
The male , believed to be between 17 and 20-years-old , was standing in the 5500 block of South Archer Avenue about 9 a.m. , when he was shot multiple times , police said .
He was brought to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with gunshot wounds to his back and shoulder , police said .
He was pronounced dead a short time later .
Earlier Sunday morning , three people were shot , one fatally , in South Chicago , police said .
About 3:55 a.m. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both 36 years old , were outside in the 8300 block of South Paxton Avenue when someone fire shots , Chicago police said .
The woman , later identified as Mariah Thomas , of Harvey , was sitting in a parked vehicle at the time of the shooting and was struck on the body , police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
She was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where she was pronounced dead , police said .
One man was grazed on the neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , and the other man was also shot in the leg .
Both were transported to the same hospital in fair condition .
Saturday night , a man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest in Englewood on the South Side .
He was found in an alley about 10 p.m. in the 7400 block of South Stewart Avenue and pronounced dead at the scene , police said .
A witness told investigators the man was talking to someone in a vehicle when shots were fired .
Hours earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while trying to commit a robbery on the West Side , according to police .
He walked in to a store about 6:50 p.m. in the 3200 block of West Chicago Avenue , pulled out a gun and demanded property , police said .
A store employee , a 29-year-old man , pulled out his own gun and fired shots at the robber , striking him in the chest , police said .
He was taken to Stroger Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
The 29-year-old has a valid concealed-carry license @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun as well as the other man ’ s gun .
On Christmas Day , three people were fatally shot .
The latest attack that day happened in Gage Park on the Southwest Side .
Officers responded about 9:20 p.m. to the 3300 block of West 52nd Street and found a 20-year-old man unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen , police said .
He was pronounced dead at the scene .
About an hour earlier , a man was found fatally shot in Chatham on the South Side .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was found about 8:35 p.m. lying unresponsive after being shot on the side of the street in the 900 block of East 82nd Street , police said .
He was pronounced dead on the scene .
In the weekend ’ s earliest reported fatal attack , a 57-year-old man was gunned down in Grand Crossing on the South Side .
The man was on the sidewalk about 2:30 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Kenwood Avenue when someone fired shots , striking him in the side , abdomen and head , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified as Dwayne Malette , of Roseland , was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he died nearly nine hours later , according to the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office .
An autopsy ruled Malette ’ s death a homicide , saying he died of his injuries .
At least 20 other people were wounded in shootings within city limits between 5 p.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. Monday .
Last weekend , six people were killed and 32 others wounded in shootings across Chicago .
Read more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s homicides .

At least eight people were killed and 22 others wounded in citywide shootings over the extended holiday weekend.
In the latest fatal attack, a man was shot to death Monday morning on the Lower West Side.
About 4 a.m., the man, 57, was headed south in a vehicle in the 2300 block of South Wood Street when someone in a gold-colored SUV opened fire, striking him multiple times in the back, Chicago police said. The man was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A person was killed Sunday morning in Vittum Park on the Southwest Side.
The male, believed to be between 17 and 20-years-old, was standing in the 5500 block of South Archer Avenue about 9 a.m., when he was shot multiple times, police said.
He was brought to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with gunshot wounds to his back and shoulder, police said. He was pronounced dead a short time later.
Earlier Sunday morning, three people were shot, one fatally, in South Chicago, police said.
About 3:55 a.m., a 24-year-old woman and two men, both 36 years old, were outside in the 8300 block of South Paxton Avenue when someone fire shots, Chicago police said.
The woman, later identified as Mariah Thomas, of Harvey, was sitting in a parked vehicle at the time of the shooting and was struck on the body, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. She was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, police said.
One man was grazed on the neck and shot in the leg, police said, and the other man was also shot in the leg. Both were transported to the same hospital in fair condition.
Saturday night, a man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest in Englewood on the South Side.
He was found in an alley about 10 p.m. in the 7400 block of South Stewart Avenue and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. A witness told investigators the man was talking to someone in a vehicle when shots were fired.
Hours earlier, a man was shot and killed while trying to commit a robbery on the West Side, according to police.
He walked in to a store about 6:50 p.m. in the 3200 block of West Chicago Avenue, pulled out a gun and demanded property, police said.
A store employee, a 29-year-old man, pulled out his own gun and fired shots at the robber, striking him in the chest, police said. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The 29-year-old has a valid concealed-carry license, police said. Officers recovered his gun as well as the other man’s gun.
On Christmas Day, three people were fatally shot. The latest attack that day happened in Gage Park on the Southwest Side.
Officers responded about 9:20 p.m. to the 3300 block of West 52nd Street and found a 20-year-old man unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
About an hour earlier, a man was found fatally shot in Chatham on the South Side.
The man, whose age was unknown, was found about 8:35 p.m. lying unresponsive after being shot on the side of the street in the 900 block of East 82nd Street, police said. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
In the weekend’s earliest reported fatal attack, a 57-year-old man was gunned down in Grand Crossing on the South Side.
The man was on the sidewalk about 2:30 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Kenwood Avenue when someone fired shots, striking him in the side, abdomen and head, police said.
The 57-year-old, later identified as Dwayne Malette, of Roseland, was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died nearly nine hours later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. An autopsy ruled Malette’s death a homicide, saying he died of his injuries.
At least 20 other people were wounded in shootings within city limits between 5 p.m. Thursday and 5 a.m. Monday.
Last weekend, six people were killed and 32 others wounded in shootings across Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Richard Roeper: The best TV shows of 2020

Over the last few years , I ’ ve added an increasing number of TV shows to my review schedule as streaming platforms such as Netflix , Hulu , Disney+ and Amazon Prime and the good old-fashioned broadcast networks churn out massive amounts of content — some of it on a par with the very best of cinema .
This is the Platinum Age of Television , and while it would be impossible to keep up with every new series , I sifted through more than 100 titles that debuted in 2021 , and these were my absolute favorites .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theory ” ) has the role of a lifetime as Cassie Bowden , a hot-mess of a flight attendant who wakes up in a luxury hotel suite in Bangkok and discovers the dashing stranger she hooked up with the night before is now a dashing , blood-spattered corpse .
How that happened is a genuine mystery to Cassie , who remembers very little of the night before .
For the remainder of this limited series from HBO Max , Cassie tries to stay one step ahead of investigators while doing her own sleuthing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Michael Huisman ) , who lives inside her head as a sounding board and confidante .
“ The Flight Attendant ” is wickedly funny throughout and becomes surprisingly deep and poignant in later episodes .
See it : On HBO Max .
David E. Kelley ( “ The Practice , ” “ Ally McBeal , ” “ Big Little Lies ” ) delivered an addictively lurid 10-part series to ABC , which means you have to wait A WHOLE ENTIRE WEEK for the next episode , can you believe that !
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
This is a beautifully filmed , well-acted modern Western noir , with Katheryn Winnick and Kylie Burnbury killing it as frenemies who must put aside their differences as they investigate a possible kidnapping ring .
The veteran character actor John Carroll Lynch gives one of the finest performances of his career as a Montana State Trooper who has some , shall we say , unusual views on law and order .
See it : On abc.com , on Hulu and on demand .
New episodes resume Jan. 26 .
John Slattery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything he ’ s in , and in the Fox sci-fi thriller procedural “ NeXt , ” Slattery has his best role since Roger Sterling in “ Mad Men.
” There ’ s nothing particularly original in the premise of this Chicago-made show ( artificial intelligence entity grows exponentially and wants to take over the world ) , but the writing is superb , and Slattery is commanding as a Steve Jobs-esque , socially awkward tech genius named Paul LeBlanc , who has a rare condition that causes excruciating headaches , hallucinations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough sell when he ’ s trying to persuade an FBI Cybercrime Unit there ’ s an A.I .
running amok out there and trying to destroy the world as we know it .
“ NeXt ” is that rare thriller that handles the evolving human relationships at least as well as the action-driven main story .
See it : On Hulu .
This year brought about a bounty of fantastic docuseries , from “ McMillions ” to “ Trial by Media ” to “ The Vow ” to “ Tiger King ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta ’ s Missing and Murdered : The Lost Children.
” If I were doing a Top 25 list , all of those titles would be on the list .
As it is , we have three documentaries in my Top 10 , starting with this three-part series from Netflix about the five crime families that ruled nearly every inch of New York City business in the 1970s and 1980s — and the local and federal government officials who worked tirelessly for years and implemented some wildly creative tactics worthy of a Scorsese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mafia in U.S. history .
Fascinating stuff .
See it : On Netflix .
The terrific and prolific Shonda Rhimes ( “ Grey ’ s Anatomy , ” “ Scandal , ” “ How to Get Away With Murder ” ) hits a glossy home run in her first series for Netflix , which plays like an early 19th century ancestor of “ Downton Abbey , ” but with a lot more diversity and a LOT more sex .
Completely preposterous and wonderfully anachronistic , “ Bridgerton ” features gorgeous people in gorgeous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another , much to our shock and delight .
See it : On Netflix .
Two decades after Lisa Bonet had a supporting role in the Chicago-set , John Cusack-starring feature film “ High Fidelity , ” Bonet ’ s daughter Zoe Kravitz added another A+ performance to her already impressive resume in this gender-switching , modern reboot limited series , which moved the story to New York .
Kravitz is an electric presence as Rob , who owns a record store in Brooklyn and is absolutely sure of her taste in music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes to making decisions about lifestyle and relationships .
“ High Fidelity ” was one of those series that improved with nearly every episode , but alas , Hulu has pulled the plug after one season .
See it : On Hulu .
Arguably the biggest surprise of 2020 TV .
On the surface , Amazon ’ s “ The Wilds ” sounds like a Young Adult version of “ Lost ” meets “ The Truman Show , ” as a diverse group of teenage girls is stranded on a desert island after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolve their differences and work together — or perish .
But show creator Sarah Streicher , the stellar team of writers and the stunningly good ensemble cast have delivered a smart , bold and poignant drama with more than a half-dozen complex and authentic characters .
“ The Wilds ” works as an island-set mystery drama and as an empathetic portrayal of the myriad of challenges faced by teenage girls in today ’ s world .
See it : On Amazon Prime Video .
3 .
‘ I ’ ll Be Gone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark , ” the story of the author ’ s obsession with unmasking the Golden State Killer , was a critical and commercial sensation , and just maybe the best true crime book since Truman Capote ’ s “ In Cold Blood .
Thanks to the efforts of the great documentary director Liz Garbus ( “ Ghosts of Abu Ghraib , ” “ The Fourth Estate ” ) , McNamara ’ s widower Patton Oswalt and a group of professional and amateur sleuths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name was just as compelling .
See it : On HBO Max .
Raise your hand if you anticipated a coming-of-age , period-piece drama about a female chess prodigy in the 1950s and 1960s becoming perhaps the most addictive and binge-worthy series of 2021 .
( No , my hand isn ’ t up .
Hard to type like that anyway . )
Showrunners Scott Frank and Allan Scott captivated millions of instant fans with this limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy in an Emmy-worthy performance as one Beth Harmon , a troubled chess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overcomes sexism at every turn — creating havoc and engaging in self-destructive behavior nearly every step of the way .
From the exquisitely perfect sets to the fantastic use of nearly forgotten pop hits such as “ Along Comes Mary ” by the Association to the cool use of CGI to demonstrate the Beautiful Mind of Beth , “ The Queen ’ s Gambit ” was must-see TV .
See it : On Netflix .
From the moment promos started airing in 2018 for EPSN ’ s 10-part docuseries about Michael Jordan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the basketball world were jumping out of their collective sneakers in anticipation .
Originally slated to debut in the summer of 2020 to coincide with the scheduled NBA Finals , “ The Last Dance ” was moved up to the spring to fill the void left by the pandemic-postponed season , with the first two episodes airing on April 19 , followed by two-episode runs for the next four Sundays .
To say we were hooked is like saying Dennis Rodman was slightly unconventional .
Even though we knew so well how this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last Dance ” was a great sports film , a celebration of basketball brilliance and a tantalizingly effective drama , with Michael Jordan as the larger-than-life , deeply flawed but undisputed king of the court ( and the locker room and the bus , and the present-day record of how things went down ) .
Decades after the fact , Jordan was more competitive dredging up old rivalries , real and self-created , than many pro athletes are on game day .
“ The Last Dance ” was the perfect series for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic , when we weren ’ t sure of what was around the corner .
For two hours on five consecutive Sundays , we could take great comfort in escaping into a world of basketball heroes and villains , who were sometimes one and the same .

Over the last few years, I’ve added an increasing number of TV shows to my review schedule as streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Amazon Prime and the good old-fashioned broadcast networks churn out massive amounts of content — some of it on a par with the very best of cinema. This is the Platinum Age of Television, and while it would be impossible to keep up with every new series, I sifted through more than 100 titles that debuted in 2020, and these were my absolute favorites.
Cassie (Kaley Cuoco) has a mystery to solve on “The Flight Attendant.”
Kaley Cuoco (“The Big Bang Theory”) has the role of a lifetime as Cassie Bowden, a hot-mess of a flight attendant who wakes up in a luxury hotel suite in Bangkok and discovers the dashing stranger she hooked up with the night before is now a dashing, blood-spattered corpse. How that happened is a genuine mystery to Cassie, who remembers very little of the night before. For the remainder of this limited series from HBO Max, Cassie tries to stay one step ahead of investigators while doing her own sleuthing with the help of the dead guy (Michiel Huisman), who lives inside her head as a sounding board and confidant.
“The Flight Attendant” is wickedly funny throughout and becomes surprisingly deep and poignant in later episodes. See it: On HBO Max.
David E. Kelley (“The Practice,” “Ally McBeal,” “Big Little Lies”) delivered an addictively lurid 10-part series to ABC, which means you have to wait A WHOLE ENTIRE WEEK for the next episode, can you believe that!
It’s been worth the wait every week. This is a beautifully filmed, well-acted modern Western noir, with Katheryn Winnick and Kylie Bunbury killing it as frenemies who must put aside their differences as they investigate a possible kidnapping ring. The veteran character actor John Carroll Lynch gives one of the finest performances of his career as a Montana state trooper who has some, shall we say, unusual views on law and order. See it: On abc.com, on Hulu and on demand. New episodes resume Jan. 26.
John Slattery plays a tech genius convinced that an A.I. will destroy the world on “NeXt.” Fox
John Slattery is one of those actors who elevates everything he’s in, and in the Fox sci-fi thriller procedural “NeXt,” Slattery has his best role since Roger Sterling in “Mad Men.” There’s nothing particularly original in the premise of this Chicago-made show (artificial intelligence entity grows exponentially and wants to take over the world), but the writing is superb, and Slattery is commanding as a Steve Jobs-esque, socially awkward tech genius named Paul LeBlanc, who has a rare condition that causes excruciating headaches, hallucinations and deep paranoia — which makes it a tough sell when he’s trying to persuade an FBI Cybercrime Unit there’s an A.I. running amok out there and trying to destroy the world as we know it. “NeXt” is that rare thriller that handles the evolving human relationships at least as well as the action-driven main story. See it: On Hulu.
This year brought about a bounty of fantastic docuseries, from “McMillions” to “Trial by Media” to “The Vow” to “Tiger King” to “Be Water” to “Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children.” If I were doing a Top 25 list, all of those titles would be on the list.
As it is, we have three documentaries in my Top 10, starting with this three-part series from Netflix about the five crime families that ruled nearly every inch of New York City business in the 1970s and 1980s — and the local and federal government officials who worked tirelessly for years and implemented some wildly creative tactics worthy of a Scorsese movie in the biggest investigation of the Mafia in U.S. history. Fascinating stuff. See it: On Netflix.
The terrific and prolific Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” “How to Get Away With Murder”) hits a glossy home run in her first series for Netflix, which plays like an early 19th century ancestor of “Downton Abbey,” but with a lot more diversity and a LOT more sex. Completely preposterous and wonderfully anachronistic, “Bridgerton” features gorgeous people in gorgeous settings doing mostly ugly things to one another, much to our shock and delight. See it: On Netflix.
Rob (Zoe Kravitz) knows her music on “High Fidelity.” Hulu
Two decades after Lisa Bonet had a supporting role in the Chicago-set, John Cusack-starring feature film “High Fidelity,” Bonet’s daughter Zoe Kravitz added another A+ performance to her already impressive resume in this gender-switching, modern reboot limited series, which moved the story to New York. Kravitz is an electric presence as Rob, who owns a record store in Brooklyn and is absolutely sure of her taste in music — but on wobbly ground when it comes to making decisions about lifestyle and relationships. “High Fidelity” was one of those series that improved with nearly every episode, but alas, Hulu has pulled the plug after one season. See it: On Hulu.
Fatin (Sophia Ali) is one of the teens stranded after a plane crash on “The Wilds.” Amazon Studios
Arguably the biggest surprise of 2020 TV. On the surface, Amazon’s “The Wilds” sounds like a Young Adult version of “Lost” meets “The Truman Show,” as a diverse group of teenage girls is stranded on a desert island after the plane crashes, and they must resolve their differences and work together — or perish. But show creator Sarah Streicher, the stellar team of writers and the stunningly good ensemble cast have delivered a smart, bold and poignant drama with more than a half-dozen complex and authentic characters. “The Wilds” works as an island-set mystery drama and as an empathetic portrayal of the myriad of challenges faced by teenage girls in today’s world. See it: On Amazon Prime Video.
The late Michelle McNamara’s “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark,” the story of the author’s obsession with unmasking the Golden State Killer, was a critical and commercial sensation, and just maybe the best true crime book since Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood. Thanks to the efforts of the great documentary director Liz Garbus (“Ghosts of Abu Ghraib,” “The Fourth Estate”), McNamara’s widower Patton Oswalt and a group of professional and amateur sleuths, the limited series of the same name was just as compelling. See it: On HBO Max.
Chess prodigy Beth (Anya Taylor-Joy) encounters sexism throughout the 1950s and 1960s on “The Queen’s Gambit.” Netflix
2. ‘The Queen’s Gambit’
Raise your hand if you anticipated a coming-of-age, period-piece drama about a female chess prodigy in the 1950s and 1960s becoming perhaps the most addictive and binge-worthy series of 2020. (No, my hand isn’t up. Hard to type like that anyway.) Showrunners Scott Frank and Allan Scott captivated millions of instant fans with this limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy in an Emmy-worthy performance as one Beth Harmon, a troubled chess genius who becomes a global sensation and overcomes sexism at every turn — creating havoc and engaging in self-destructive behavior nearly every step of the way. From the exquisitely perfect sets to the fantastic use of nearly forgotten pop hits such as “Along Comes Mary” by the Association to the cool use of CGI to demonstrate the Beautiful Mind of Beth, “The Queen’s Gambit” was must-see TV. See it: On Netflix.
From the moment promos started airing in 2018 for EPSN’s 10-part docuseries about Michael Jordan and the 1990s Bulls dynasty, Chicago and the basketball world were jumping out of their collective sneakers in anticipation. Originally slated to debut in the summer of 2020 to coincide with the scheduled NBA Finals, “The Last Dance” was moved up to the spring to fill the void left by the pandemic-postponed season, with the first two episodes airing on April 19, followed by two-episode runs for the next four Sundays.
To say we were hooked is like saying Dennis Rodman was slightly unconventional. Even though we knew so well how this story would turn out, “The Last Dance” was a great sports film, a celebration of basketball brilliance and a tantalizingly effective drama, with Michael Jordan as the larger-than-life, deeply flawed but undisputed king of the court (and the locker room and the bus, and the present-day record of how things went down). Decades after the fact, Jordan was more competitive dredging up old rivalries, real and self-created, than many pro athletes are on game day.
“The Last Dance” was the perfect series for those early, uncertain, harrowing early weeks of the pandemic, when we weren’t sure of what was around the corner. For two hours on five consecutive Sundays, we could take great comfort in escaping into a world of basketball heroes and villains, who were sometimes one and the same. See it: On Netflix.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Pending Chicago projects can relieve the pandemic blahs

What a year , eh ?
When it started , the public discourse was about impeachment , and who even remembers that now ?
A persistent , invisible threat to life and livelihood will tend to make you forget former cares and reorder priorities .
In 2020 , the pandemic altered life so profoundly that for many Chicagoans , their relationship to each other and to city institutions changed .
For many , work has been severed from a traditional place to do it , surrounded by colleagues or from standard commuting patterns .
Much has been written about whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give way because of the pandemic .
Luckily , trends have a way of smoothing out over time .
For every tech worker who decamps for Idaho or rustic Michigan , somebody else will toy with the option but stay put , whether it ’ s because a small-town music scene isn ’ t any good or there ’ s a real deficit in health care just about anywhere beyond metro areas .
For Chicago , 2021 is shaping up as a year to get back on its feet — a real positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back confidence , and capital is sure to follow .
The city needs investment across its neighborhoods .
Perhaps the lessons from this year ’ s demonstrations over social injustice will be fresh enough to ensure that investments are more equitable .
Construction plans being laid in various communities offer signs of urban revival — not calling it “ renewal ” — with a notable involvement from nonprofit organizations .
Here are a few proposals somewhat unique : • At 2500 S. Wabash Ave. , the developer who built the Wit Hotel at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 30 million e-sports arena called Surge .
Scott Greenberg , president of Lincolnshire-based ECD , is promising an IMAX-like experience in virtual reality for up to 1,200 gamers and those who watch them .
The site is just the other side of I-55 from McCormick Place .
Greenberg also plans a parking and retail site at 2601 S. Wabash to serve the facility .
Ald .
Pat Dowell ( 3rd ) and neighborhood groups back the plan , so city approval should come soon .
Greenberg is aiming for mid-2022 completion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ before these ventures pop up in old department stores in the suburbs .
• Last week , I reported the Chicago Cubs are eyeing the old Silver Shovel site , nearly 21 acres at Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue , for a baseball-oriented youth academy .
The Cubs ’ plan will be evaluated against other proposals for the site , because the city invited developer interest .
But the Cubs could be a welcome lift for Lawndale families .
The site is associated with a 1990s scandal over illegal dumping that spoke volumes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • On a similar theme is a proposal for a North Austin Community Center at 1830 N. LeClaire Ave. , a venture of the By the Hand Club for Kids and Grace and Peace Fellowship .
The nonprofit developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives is managing the project using New Markets Tax Credits .
Its president , David Doig , said the $ 30 million facility could be ready by summer 2022 .
It will include indoor turf fields , basketball and volleyball courts , and space for after-school programs .
The Lawndale and North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lori Lightfoot ’ s Invest South/West program , for which other plans are in the works .
City officials have gotten proposals to enhance three commercial strips in Austin , Englewood and Auburn Gresham .
The interest in Austin — the 5200 block of West Chicago Avenue — and Englewood ’ s nexus at 63rd and Halsted streets , appeared the strongest .
Reviews will determine which proposals are real .
The mayor ’ s signature program was a rebranding of some stuff that would have occurred anyway , but she deserves credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appealing to their competitive natures .
Sometimes rebranding is good psychology .
Finally , for those tracking the big deals , consider that Sterling Bay expects to break ground in early 2021 on the first building at its Lincoln Yards site , a lab complex for medical researchers .
Sterling Bay leads the megaprojects race .
Behind it is Related Midwest and its South Loop site known as The 78 , where the state has set aside funds for a $ 250 million University of Illinois tech research center .
Watch it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deferrable project in a budget crunch .
Need something else to look forward to ?
CNI ’ s Doig , a spark behind the Pullman revival , said he ’ s looking ahead to Labor Day 2021 and the dedication of the Pullman National Monument .
He ’ d like to have President-by-then Joe Biden there with former President Barack Obama , who created the historic district , provided all can safely gather .
It would celebrate the neighborhood ’ s place in the fight for better wages and working conditions .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wouldn ’ t that be a party ?

What a year, eh? When it started, the public discourse was about impeachment, and who even remembers that now?
A persistent, invisible threat to life and livelihood will tend to make you forget former cares and reorder priorities. In 2020, the pandemic altered life so profoundly that for many Chicagoans, their relationship to each other and to city institutions changed. For many, work has been severed from a traditional place to do it, surrounded by colleagues or from standard commuting patterns.
Much has been written about whether the glue that binds cities together will give way because of the pandemic. Luckily, trends have a way of smoothing out over time. For every tech worker who decamps for Idaho or rustic Michigan, somebody else will toy with the option but stay put, whether it’s because a small-town music scene isn’t any good or there’s a real deficit in health care just about anywhere beyond metro areas.
Chicago Enterprise bug Chicago Enterprise
For Chicago, 2021 is shaping up as a year to get back on its feet — a real positive, all things considered. It brings back confidence, and capital is sure to follow. The city needs investment across its neighborhoods. Perhaps the lessons from this year’s demonstrations over social injustice will be fresh enough to ensure that investments are more equitable.
Construction plans being laid in various communities offer signs of urban revival — not calling it “renewal” — with a notable involvement from nonprofit organizations. Here are a few proposals somewhat unique:
• At 2500 S. Wabash Ave., the developer who built the Wit Hotel at 201 N. State St. is touting a $30 million e-sports arena called Surge. Scott Greenberg, president of Lincolnshire-based ECD, is promising an IMAX-like experience in virtual reality for up to 1,200 gamers and those who watch them. The site is just the other side of I-55 from McCormick Place. Greenberg also plans a parking and retail site at 2601 S. Wabash to serve the facility. Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) and neighborhood groups back the plan, so city approval should come soon. Greenberg is aiming for mid-2022 completion. Might as well get started on this before these ventures pop up in old department stores in the suburbs.
• Last week, I reported the Chicago Cubs are eyeing the old Silver Shovel site, nearly 21 acres at Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue, for a baseball-oriented youth academy. The Cubs’ plan will be evaluated against other proposals for the site, because the city invited developer interest. But the Cubs could be a welcome lift for Lawndale families. The site is associated with a 1990s scandal over illegal dumping that spoke volumes over how poor neighborhoods get treated.
• On a similar theme is a proposal for a North Austin Community Center at 1830 N. LeClaire Ave., a venture of the By the Hand Club for Kids and Grace and Peace Fellowship. The nonprofit developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives is managing the project using New Markets Tax Credits. Its president, David Doig, said the $30 million facility could be ready by summer 2022. It will include indoor turf fields, basketball and volleyball courts, and space for after-school programs.
The Lawndale and North Austin projects would be victories for Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Invest South/West program, for which other plans are in the works. City officials have gotten proposals to enhance three commercial strips in Austin, Englewood and Auburn Gresham. The interest in Austin — the 5200 block of West Chicago Avenue — and Englewood’s nexus at 63rd and Halsted streets, appeared the strongest. Reviews will determine which proposals are real.
The mayor’s signature program was a rebranding of some stuff that would have occurred anyway, but she deserves credit for funneling developers toward neglected sites and appealing to their competitive natures. Sometimes rebranding is good psychology.
Finally, for those tracking the big deals, consider that Sterling Bay expects to break ground in early 2021 on the first building at its Lincoln Yards site, a lab complex for medical researchers. Sterling Bay leads the megaprojects race.
Behind it is Related Midwest and its South Loop site known as The 78, where the state has set aside funds for a $250 million University of Illinois tech research center. Watch it, though. It’s an easily deferrable project in a budget crunch.
Need something else to look forward to? CNI’s Doig, a spark behind the Pullman revival, said he’s looking ahead to Labor Day 2021 and the dedication of the Pullman National Monument. He’d like to have President-by-then Joe Biden there with former President Barack Obama, who created the historic district, provided all can safely gather. It would celebrate the neighborhood’s place in the fight for better wages and working conditions.
After the year we’ve been through, wouldn’t that be a party?


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Vaccine’s unbalanced rollout: Few South, West side residents get COVID shots so far

Doctors , nurses and other health care workers who live near downtown or on the North Side stepped forward in large numbers to get vaccinated for COVID-19 , while a smaller number of the city ’ s South Side and West Side residents got the shots .
The findings , from city data for the first 12 days of vaccinations along with census information showing where health care workers live , point to a trend of Chicago doctors living in more affluent areas showing up in sizable numbers to get inoculated while technicians and other lower-paid health care workers living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not get the shots .
The numbers signal the challenge ahead for Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago public health officials who have said they expect resistance from minority residents who may distrust the vaccination process .
Health care workers are the first in line to receive the shots , and city officials hope Black and Latino nurses , doctors and others will set the example for the broader population in communities of color .
“ This is exactly the challenge , ” Dr. Allison Arwady , the city ’ s public health chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our whole plan here in Chicago is really about equity , and it ’ s about recognizing there is a lot of extra work that needs to go in to see a map that shows equitable vaccine uptake.
” Arwady said she was “ not at all surprised this is how the very first week of data look ” but added , “ I am confident that it will improve as more vaccine is available both within hospitals , but , importantly , when we move beyond hospitals.
” A large concentration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wealthiest neighborhoods in Chicago were vaccinated between Dec. 15 and 26 , according to city data .
There were 20,091 vaccinations of Chicago residents in total .
The largest numbers were in ZIP codes that include Near North Side , Lake View , Lincoln Park , South Loop and Wicker Park .
The 60611 ZIP code had the most number of vaccinated people with 1,297 .
The Near North Side ZIP code is more than 70 % white , with a median income of almost $ 107,000 , and includes the Magnificent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is among those in the city with the highest number of doctors and physicians , according to a city analysis of census data .
Health care workers living just West and South of the Loop and on the North Side made up the next largest concentration of vaccinations .
Conversely , with the exception of Hyde Park , South and West side ZIP codes showed the lowest numbers .
The far South Side ZIP code 60628 ( which includes Roseland ) showed only 97 residents were vaccinated .
The West Side ZIP codes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and 60639 ( Belmont Cragin ) are the hardest-hit areas in the city for virus infections .
Only 401 health care workers living in these two areas were vaccinated by the middle of last week .
The city ’ s largest hospitals are administering most of the shots , thousands at each of the biggest systems , and representatives from several , including Loyola Medicine , Rush University Medical Center and University of Chicago , said they offered vaccines to frontline workers that include doctors , nurses and a number of other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and paramedics .
None of the hospitals broke down which type of workers got the shots .
Arwady said she heard from hospitals that many doctors and nurses were eager to be the first to be inoculated , but city health officials are pressing for widespread vaccinations .
“ We said right from the beginning , ‘ Please do not just focus on your doctors and nurses , ’ ” Arwady said .
“ Focus on everybody who ’ s in COVID wards and in the ICU and the emergency department.
” Suspicions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black and Latino residents , said Dr. Marina Del Rios , director of Social Emergency Medicine at University of Illinois Health .
“ There ’ s a lot of mistrust that has to be addressed even among people in the health care field , ” Del Rios said .
“ The question is what are hospitals doing to educate their own staff ?
” Del Rios was the first person in Chicago to receive the vaccine , which she said was at the invitation of the city as part of a public event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care workers receiving the shot .
On the Far South Side , Roseland Community Hospital vaccinated about 50 workers by the middle of last week — ranging from doctors to housekeeping employees — each day since Dec. 19 , said Elio Montenegro , an administrator at the hospital .
Most workers want the vaccine , but some are “ taking a wait-and-see attitude , ” Montenegro said .
At Sinai Health System , which includes Mount Sinai Hospital in the North Lawndale area , about 800 workers at its hospitals and clinics were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ associate director of inpatient pharmacy and respiratory services .
Patel said some concerns about the vaccine have been alleviated by pharmacists who have met with workers to answer questions about it .
David Ernesto Munar , the president and CEO of Howard Brown Health , said it will be important to follow data on vaccinations in the coming weeks .
“ It will be really important for the city to continue to move forward with the vaccination with a lens on equity and a recognition that Black and Brown communities continue to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Munar said Brett Chase ’ s reporting on the environment and public health and Elvia Malagón ’ s reporting on social justice and income inequality are made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust .

Doctors, nurses and other health care workers who live near downtown or on the North Side stepped forward in large numbers to get vaccinated for COVID-19, while a smaller number of the city’s South Side and West Side residents got the shots.
The findings, from city data for the first 12 days of vaccinations along with census information showing where health care workers live, point to a trend of Chicago doctors living in more affluent areas showing up in sizable numbers to get inoculated while technicians and other lower-paid health care workers living in predominantly Black and Latino communities did not get the shots.
The numbers signal the challenge ahead for Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago public health officials who have said they expect resistance from minority residents who may distrust the vaccination process. Health care workers are the first in line to receive the shots, and city officials hope Black and Latino nurses, doctors and others will set the example for the broader population in communities of color.
“This is exactly the challenge,” Dr. Allison Arwady, the city’s public health chief, said in an interview. “Our whole plan here in Chicago is really about equity, and it’s about recognizing there is a lot of extra work that needs to go in to see a map that shows equitable vaccine uptake.”
Arwady said she was “not at all surprised this is how the very first week of data look” but added, “I am confident that it will improve as more vaccine is available both within hospitals, but, importantly, when we move beyond hospitals.”
A large concentration of health care workers living in the whitest, wealthiest neighborhoods in Chicago were vaccinated between Dec. 15 and 26, according to city data. There were 20,091 vaccinations of Chicago residents in total.
The largest numbers were in ZIP codes that include Near North Side, Lake View, Lincoln Park, South Loop and Wicker Park.
The 60611 ZIP code had the most number of vaccinated people with 1,297. The Near North Side ZIP code is more than 70% white, with a median income of almost $107,000, and includes the Magnificent Mile and Streeterville.
The ZIP code is among those in the city with the highest number of doctors and physicians, according to a city analysis of census data.
Health care workers living just West and South of the Loop and on the North Side made up the next largest concentration of vaccinations. Conversely, with the exception of Hyde Park, South and West side ZIP codes showed the lowest numbers.
The far South Side ZIP code 60628 (which includes Roseland) showed only 97 residents were vaccinated. The West Side ZIP codes 60629 (West Lawn and Chicago Lawn) and 60639 (Belmont Cragin) are the hardest-hit areas in the city for virus infections. Only 401 health care workers living in these two areas were vaccinated by the middle of last week.
The city’s largest hospitals are administering most of the shots, thousands at each of the biggest systems, and representatives from several, including Loyola Medicine, Rush University Medical Center and University of Chicago, said they offered vaccines to frontline workers that include doctors, nurses and a number of other workers, including respiratory therapists, technicians and paramedics. None of the hospitals broke down which type of workers got the shots.
Arwady said she heard from hospitals that many doctors and nurses were eager to be the first to be inoculated, but city health officials are pressing for widespread vaccinations.
“We said right from the beginning, ‘Please do not just focus on your doctors and nurses,’” Arwady said. “Focus on everybody who’s in COVID wards and in the ICU and the emergency department.”
Suspicions about medical research and vaccines persist among Black and Latino residents, said Dr. Marina Del Rios, director of Social Emergency Medicine at University of Illinois Health.
“There’s a lot of mistrust that has to be addressed even among people in the health care field,” Del Rios said. “The question is what are hospitals doing to educate their own staff?”
Del Rios was the first person in Chicago to receive the vaccine, which she said was at the invitation of the city as part of a public event to show a diverse group of health care workers receiving the shot.
A nurse shows a container of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine after it was used to vaccinate the first five staff members at Roseland Community Hospital on Dec. 17, 2020. Scott Olson/Getty
On the Far South Side, Roseland Community Hospital vaccinated about 50 workers by the middle of last week — ranging from doctors to housekeeping employees — each day since Dec. 19, said Elio Montenegro, an administrator at the hospital. Most workers want the vaccine, but some are “taking a wait-and-see attitude,” Montenegro said.
At Sinai Health System, which includes Mount Sinai Hospital in the North Lawndale area, about 800 workers at its hospitals and clinics were vaccinated, said Tejal Patel, the associate director of inpatient pharmacy and respiratory services.
Patel said some concerns about the vaccine have been alleviated by pharmacists who have met with workers to answer questions about it.
David Ernesto Munar, the president and CEO of Howard Brown Health, said it will be important to follow data on vaccinations in the coming weeks.
“It will be really important for the city to continue to move forward with the vaccination with a lens on equity and a recognition that Black and Brown communities continue to be underserved and need to be a priority,” Munar said
Contributing: Caroline Hurley
Brett Chase’s reporting on the environment and public health and Elvia Malagón’s reporting on social justice and income inequality are made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Police exchange gunfire with man in Washington Park, no injuries reported

Chicago police exchanged gunfire Sunday with a man in Washington Park while responding to reports of shots fired in the @ @ @ @ @ shootout happened about 10:20 p.m. in the 5100 of block of South Prairie Avenue , @ @ @ @ @ ShotSpotter alert came upon two males in a dark-colored SUV , Chicago police said .
@ @ @ @ @ , someone in the passenger seat opened fire at them , prompting one officer to @ @ @ @ @ police .
No one is believed to have been struck , police said .
The @ @ @ @ @ the SUV have not been taken into custody , but a weapon was recovered on @ @ @

Chicago police exchanged gunfire Sunday with a man in Washington Park while responding to reports of shots fired in the South Side neighborhood.
The shootout happened about 10:20 p.m. in the 5100 of block of South Prairie Avenue, where officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert came upon two males in a dark-colored SUV, Chicago police said.
As officers approached the SUV, someone in the passenger seat opened fire at them, prompting one officer to return fire, according to police.
No one is believed to have been struck, police said. The shooter and the driver of the SUV have not been taken into custody, but a weapon was recovered on the scene.
Area One detectives are investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Early numbers on Chicago’s vaccine rollout show extra effort is a must on South and West sides

On Dec. 15 , health care workers across Chicago began receiving the city ’ s first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine .
Within days , doctors and other health care workers from high-income , largely white communities near downtown and on the North Side showed up in large numbers to get shots at the hospitals where they work .
By Dec. 26 , the greatest number of vaccinations citywide were of doctors and other health care workers from the Near North Side and in Lake View , Lincoln Park , South Loop and Wicker Park , an analysis by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But for workers living in lower income and working class neighborhoods of color on the South and West sides , the picture looked much different .
From Dec. 15 through 26 , the fewest vaccinations in the city were of health care workers from the mostly Black Far South Side ; and from West Lawn , Chicago Lawn and Belmont Cragin , neighborhoods with large Latino populations .
Both areas have among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the city .
The analysis is a stark reminder of the extra effort that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccination for communities of color .
Chicago and Illinois can not beat back COVID-19 and end the pandemic unless vaccination becomes the rule , not the exception , in every part in our city .
Indeed , every Chicagoan who is ready and willing to be vaccinated — starting with front-line workers — has a role to play in learning some of the science behind vaccines and , in turn , persuading reluctant family and friends to get their shots .
As Dr. Marina Del Rios , the director of social emergency medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first Chicagoan to be vaccinated , told the Sun-Times : “ There ’ s a lot of mistrust that has to be addressed even among people in the health care field.
” We ’ re hoping that city officials are proven correct in the coming weeks , when they predict that the numbers will become more equitable .
On Monday , health care workers at Esperanza Health Center , which serves the Latino community on the Southwest Side , became the first Chicagoans to receive the Moderna vaccine .
Public rollouts like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , experts have said .
“ We ’ re following up now with all 35 of our hospitals to say ‘ How much of your staff have you gotten through ?
’ ” Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Monday .
“ We ’ re working on an individual level with each hospital to make sure that we ’ re not just talking about doctors and nurses , that we ’ re talking about the whole range of health care professionals who work in that hospital setting.
” But no one can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work still to come .
That ’ s especially true for Black Americans .
They are at the highest risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 yet , according to polls , are consistently more reluctant than whites or Latinos to take a coronavirus vaccine .
The experience of Black health care workers — be they doctors , nurses , lab technicians , janitors or cafeteria staffers — can make a big difference in persuading skeptics .
Chicago and Illinois have their own vaccine distribution plans .
Chicago ’ s includes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been vaccinated with local leaders to help build trust in the community as a whole .
Meanwhile , Illinois is among those states that have a large Black population but no clear , specific strategy for vaccine outreach to Black residents , a ProPublica investigation has found .
The state plans to work with community leaders , urging them to get vaccinated publicly and to explain why they trust the vaccine , a spokesperson tells us .
There ’ s no time to waste , as David Hodge , associate director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care , points out to ProPublica .
He ’ s urging Black and Brown leaders to take action now .
“ We ’ re not in a position right now to be patient , ” Hodge said .
“ We ’ re not in a position to sit on the sidelines .
We have to make it happen .
”

On Dec. 15, health care workers across Chicago began receiving the city’s first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
Quickly, a potentially troubling pattern emerged.
Within days, doctors and other health care workers from high-income, largely white communities near downtown and on the North Side showed up in large numbers to get shots at the hospitals where they work. By Dec. 26, the greatest number of vaccinations citywide were of doctors and other health care workers from the Near North Side and in Lake View, Lincoln Park, South Loop and Wicker Park, an analysis by the Sun-Times’ Brett Chase and Elvia Malagón found.
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But for workers living in lower income and working class neighborhoods of color on the South and West sides, the picture looked much different. From Dec. 15 through 26, the fewest vaccinations in the city were of health care workers from the mostly Black Far South Side; and from West Lawn, Chicago Lawn and Belmont Cragin, neighborhoods with large Latino populations. Both areas have among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the city.
The analysis is a stark reminder of the extra effort that will be needed to ensure high rates of vaccination for communities of color.
Chicago and Illinois cannot beat back COVID-19 and end the pandemic unless vaccination becomes the rule, not the exception, in every part in our city.
Indeed, every Chicagoan who is ready and willing to be vaccinated — starting with front-line workers — has a role to play in learning some of the science behind vaccines and, in turn, persuading reluctant family and friends to get their shots.
As Dr. Marina Del Rios, the director of social emergency medicine at University of Illinois Health and the first Chicagoan to be vaccinated, told the Sun-Times: “There’s a lot of mistrust that has to be addressed even among people in the health care field.”
We’re hoping that city officials are proven correct in the coming weeks, when they predict that the numbers will become more equitable.
On Monday, health care workers at Esperanza Health Center, which serves the Latino community on the Southwest Side, became the first Chicagoans to receive the Moderna vaccine. Public rollouts like that can be a powerful public information tool, experts have said.
“We’re following up now with all 35 of our hospitals to say ‘How much of your staff have you gotten through?’” Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Monday. “We’re working on an individual level with each hospital to make sure that we’re not just talking about doctors and nurses, that we’re talking about the whole range of health care professionals who work in that hospital setting.”
Outreach to the community
But no one can lose sight of the hard and necessary work still to come. That’s especially true for Black Americans. They are at the highest risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 yet, according to polls, are consistently more reluctant than whites or Latinos to take a coronavirus vaccine.
The experience of Black health care workers — be they doctors, nurses, lab technicians, janitors or cafeteria staffers — can make a big difference in persuading skeptics.
And potentially, saving their lives.
Opinion Newsletter
Chicago and Illinois have their own vaccine distribution plans. Chicago’s includes a strategy to pair health care workers who have been vaccinated with local leaders to help build trust in the community as a whole.
Meanwhile, Illinois is among those states that have a large Black population but no clear, specific strategy for vaccine outreach to Black residents, a ProPublica investigation has found. The state plans to work with community leaders, urging them to get vaccinated publicly and to explain why they trust the vaccine, a spokesperson tells us.
There’s no time to waste, as David Hodge, associate director of education at Tuskegee University’s National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care, points out to ProPublica. He’s urging Black and Brown leaders to take action now.
“We’re not in a position right now to be patient,” Hodge said. “We’re not in a position to sit on the sidelines. We have to make it happen.”
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com


chicagosun-times--2020-12-28--Take it from Bill Smith: It’s never too late to learn a lesson well taught

Many years ago , back when Illinois was considered a wilderness , before the nation even had a Bill of Rights , the leaders of this country proclaimed the following : “ Religion , morality and knowledge , being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind , schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.
” The words are contained in a document called the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 , passed by the Congress of the Confederation of the United States .
I am willing to bet most people never heard of it .
This document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive area west of the Ohio River that would one day include not only Illinois , but Ohio , Indiana , Michigan , Wisconsin and part of Minnesota .
Two years earlier the Land Ordinance of 1785 had been passed setting out how lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were to be surveyed and sold .
Townships were created and sectioned off .
Section Sixteen in each township was set aside for the maintenance of public schools .
The land could be sold or leased for the purpose of funding education .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787 , quoting from the documents without referring to any paperwork , is also the fellow who explained to me how public school funding worked in Illinois .
About two-thirds of your property tax bill on average goes to fund public education in this state , although in some communities that percentage is much higher .
All of this is important stuff , but back when I was younger , I didn ’ t much care .
The fellow who changed my mind thought there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and didn ’ t , especially newspaper reporters .
One day , he urged me to attend a talk by state School Supt .
Robert Leininger in the suburbs of Chicago .
During that talk , Leininger explained why the system of funding public schools in Illinois was a mess : Unfair , discriminatory , damaging to students and harmful to homeowners and business owners .
No one seemed to care much , Leininger said , including the governor who appointed him .
After the meeting , Dr. Bill Smith , the fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of public education in the country and Illinois and urged me to attend the meeting , laughed .
He was always laughing .
He would impart some bit of knowledge to people , just drop it like a gem falling from a necklace , and chuckle as it sparkled on its way down .
Others might not appreciate its value at the time , but Dr. Smith knew .
He had been the school superintendent of Alsip-Hazelgreen School District 126 for 31 years .
He was a proud product of the Chicago Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Army during the Korean War , and become a schoolteacher .
He created an all-ages spelling bee in Orland Park that lasted for more than 40 years .
The inspiration for that came from “ Little House on the Prairie ” books that Smith read to his three daughters growing up .
Thousands of Chicago area residents would participate over the four decades .
He drew maps of the U.S. freehand in chalk on school playgrounds to help children learn the state capitols .
Before there was a Google search , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know everything .
He never stopped teaching until the day he died in November at the age of 92 .
He was patient with the ignorance of others .
He tolerated their reluctance to learn .
He was an educator .
As the year 2020 ends and 2021 stares us in the face , I hope people resolve to learn something new every day .
Or , at the very least , listen to those who actually know something .
It is my way of honoring Dr. Smith .

Many years ago, back when Illinois was considered a wilderness, before the nation even had a Bill of Rights, the leaders of this country proclaimed the following:
“Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.”
The words are contained in a document called the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, passed by the Congress of the Confederation of the United States.
I am willing to bet most people never heard of it.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
This document established a set of rules for the massive area west of the Ohio River that would one day include not only Illinois, but Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota.
Two years earlier the Land Ordinance of 1785 had been passed setting out how lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were to be surveyed and sold. Townships were created and sectioned off.
Section Sixteen in each township was set aside for the maintenance of public schools. The land could be sold or leased for the purpose of funding education.
The man who told me about the Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787, quoting from the documents without referring to any paperwork, is also the fellow who explained to me how public school funding worked in Illinois.
About two-thirds of your property tax bill on average goes to fund public education in this state, although in some communities that percentage is much higher.
All of this is important stuff, but back when I was younger, I didn’t much care. The fellow who changed my mind thought there was a lot of stuff people should know and didn’t, especially newspaper reporters.
One day, he urged me to attend a talk by state School Supt. Robert Leininger in the suburbs of Chicago. During that talk, Leininger explained why the system of funding public schools in Illinois was a mess: Unfair, discriminatory, damaging to students and harmful to homeowners and business owners.
No one seemed to care much, Leininger said, including the governor who appointed him.
After the meeting, Dr. Bill Smith, the fellow who had told me about the history of public education in the country and Illinois and urged me to attend the meeting, laughed.
He was always laughing.
He would impart some bit of knowledge to people, just drop it like a gem falling from a necklace, and chuckle as it sparkled on its way down. Others might not appreciate its value at the time, but Dr. Smith knew.
He had been the school superintendent of Alsip-Hazelgreen School District 126 for 31 years. He was a proud product of the Chicago Public School system, had served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and become a schoolteacher.
He created an all-ages spelling bee in Orland Park that lasted for more than 40 years. The inspiration for that came from “Little House on the Prairie” books that Smith read to his three daughters growing up. Thousands of Chicago area residents would participate over the four decades.
He drew maps of the U.S. freehand in chalk on school playgrounds to help children learn the state capitols. Before there was a Google search, there was Bill Smith. He seemed to know everything.
He never stopped teaching until the day he died in November at the age of 92. He was patient with the ignorance of others. He tolerated their reluctance to learn. He was an educator.
As the year 2020 ends and 2021 stares us in the face, I hope people resolve to learn something new every day. Or, at the very least, listen to those who actually know something. It is my way of honoring Dr. Smith.
I can hear him laughing.
Write Phil Kadner at: PhilKadner@gmail.com
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.