chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--‘A Teacher’: Sensitive and never sensational, streaming series depicts a predatory school affair

On the surface , it sounds like a typical high school romance .
There ’ s a new arrival in town , and she quickly enters into a flirtatious back and forth with a handsome , popular senior who is clearly smitten with her .
A stolen kiss escalates into a backseat tryst on the night of the Homecoming Dance , and from that point on it ’ s full speed ahead with a passionate and complicated and stormy relationship in which both parties become consumed with their feelings for one another .
But here ’ s the thing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a teenage romance — it ’ s a chronicle of an unethical , illegal , predatory , criminal act on the part of a teacher who is grooming her student and taking advantage of him , with no real concern for the immediate and lifelong consequences of her actions .
This is the premise of the new FX on Hulu limited series “ A Teacher , ” which deftly handles the delicate and incendiary material without indulging in sensationalism or titillation .
Writer-director Hannah Fidell , adapting and expanding her 2013 indie film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provocative and resonant and layered treatment of a sensitive subject , with Kate Mara ( “ Pose ” ) and Nick Robinson ( “ Love , Simon ” ) turning in some of the finest work of their respective careers as the teacher in her early 30s and the 17-year-old student whose “ affair ” will impact their lives and the lives of so many around them for years to come .
Mara ’ s Claire is a high school English teacher who returns home to Austin , Texas , for a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Ashley Zuckerman ) , who ’ s still pursuing a fading dream of becoming a rock star and seems less than enthusiastic about Claire ’ s desire to start a family .
Robinson ’ s Eric is a smart , likable kid who lives with his single mother and two younger brothers , and works a part-time job to help make ends meet .
If Eric doesn ’ t get a scholarship , there ’ s no way he ’ ll be able to afford tuition at the University of Texas — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll tutor him .
Within the first couple of episodes , legit tutoring sessions and innocent rides home segue into longing glances , and then Eric kisses Claire and she rebuffs him , but not as firmly as she should — and things spiral out of control at the aforementioned Homecoming Dance when Claire lures Eric into her car , commands him to get into the back seat , and initiates a sexual encounter .
Claire and Eric delude themselves into thinking this is the romance of their lifetimes .
Eric tells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother -- -- -- - man !
” as he looks into the mirror , and Claire blushes and glows like a schoolgirl in the early throes of love .
But she ’ s not .
She ’ s Eric ’ s teacher , and she ’ s an adult , and she is at the controls every step of the way , as the series always makes clear .
Even when Claire and Eric slip away for a getaway weekend at a cabin , complete with sun-dappled shared moments and intense conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) pasts and hot sex , there ’ s an impending sense of doom and darkness , because we know this can ’ t possibly end well .
We ’ re only halfway through the 10-episode run when Claire recklessly and drunkenly confides in her friend and fellow teacher Kathryn ( Marielle Scott ) and Kathryn is horrified and immediately reports the crime .
Instead of dwelling on the scandal and the trial and the immediate consequences , “ A Teacher ” quickly zips forward to the aftermath , with Eric partying hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Claire getting out of jail after serving six months .
We follow them on their separate journeys , as they each spiral into self-destructive behavior , before they eventually cross paths some 10 years after their initial meeting .
The more we know about Claire , the more we understand how damaged she is , and she ’ s not an entirely unsympathetic character — but we never lose sight of the reality she isn ’ t the victim in this story .
Mara turns in finely calibrated work as a woman who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and might never fully come to grips with the damage she inflicted on Eric and others , while Robinson is equally effective as a boy and then a young man permanently wounded by the events of his senior year .
When Eric comes home to Austin for his 10-year high school reunion and sees his brother , who is now 17 , the same age as Eric was when Claire preyed on him , it finally hits him and hits him hard : he WAS just a kid , and Claire should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kid .

On the surface, it sounds like a typical high school romance. There’s a new arrival in town, and she quickly enters into a flirtatious back and forth with a handsome, popular senior who is clearly smitten with her. A stolen kiss escalates into a backseat tryst on the night of the Homecoming Dance, and from that point on it’s full speed ahead with a passionate and complicated and stormy relationship in which both parties become consumed with their feelings for one another.
‘A Teacher’
Untitled New episodes premiere Tuesdays beginning Nov. 10 on Hulu.
But here’s the thing. This isn’t the story of a teenage romance — it’s a chronicle of an unethical, illegal, predatory, criminal act on the part of a teacher who is grooming her student and taking advantage of him, with no real concern for the immediate and lifelong consequences of her actions. This is the premise of the new FX on Hulu limited series “A Teacher,” which deftly handles the delicate and incendiary material without indulging in sensationalism or titillation. Writer-director Hannah Fidell, adapting and expanding her 2013 indie film of the same name, delivers a provocative and resonant and layered treatment of a sensitive subject, with Kate Mara (“Pose”) and Nick Robinson (“Love, Simon”) turning in some of the finest work of their respective careers as the teacher in her early 30s and the 17-year-old student whose “affair” will impact their lives and the lives of so many around them for years to come.
Mara’s Claire is a high school English teacher who returns home to Austin, Texas, for a new gig, accompanied by her husband Matt (Ashley Zuckerman), who’s still pursuing a fading dream of becoming a rock star and seems less than enthusiastic about Claire’s desire to start a family. Robinson’s Eric is a smart, likable kid who lives with his single mother and two younger brothers, and works a part-time job to help make ends meet. If Eric doesn’t get a scholarship, there’s no way he’ll be able to afford tuition at the University of Texas — and so he asks Claire if she’ll tutor him. Within the first couple of episodes, legit tutoring sessions and innocent rides home segue into longing glances, and then Eric kisses Claire and she rebuffs him, but not as firmly as she should — and things spiral out of control at the aforementioned Homecoming Dance when Claire lures Eric into her car, commands him to get into the back seat, and initiates a sexual encounter.
Claire and Eric delude themselves into thinking this is the romance of their lifetimes. Eric tells himself, “I’m the mother------- man!” as he looks into the mirror, and Claire blushes and glows like a schoolgirl in the early throes of love. But she’s not. She’s Eric’s teacher, and she’s an adult, and she is at the controls every step of the way, as the series always makes clear. Even when Claire and Eric slip away for a getaway weekend at a cabin, complete with sun-dappled shared moments and intense conversations about their respective (and equally troubled) pasts and hot sex, there’s an impending sense of doom and darkness, because we know this can’t possibly end well.
We’re only halfway through the 10-episode run when Claire recklessly and drunkenly confides in her friend and fellow teacher Kathryn (Marielle Scott) and Kathryn is horrified and immediately reports the crime. Instead of dwelling on the scandal and the trial and the immediate consequences, “A Teacher” quickly zips forward to the aftermath, with Eric partying hard in his freshman year at UT and Claire getting out of jail after serving six months. We follow them on their separate journeys, as they each spiral into self-destructive behavior, before they eventually cross paths some 10 years after their initial meeting.
The more we know about Claire, the more we understand how damaged she is, and she’s not an entirely unsympathetic character — but we never lose sight of the reality she isn’t the victim in this story. Mara turns in finely calibrated work as a woman who says she made a “mistake” and might never fully come to grips with the damage she inflicted on Eric and others, while Robinson is equally effective as a boy and then a young man permanently wounded by the events of his senior year. When Eric comes home to Austin for his 10-year high school reunion and sees his brother, who is now 17, the same age as Eric was when Claire preyed on him, it finally hits him and hits him hard: he WAS just a kid, and Claire should have known better and let him be a kid.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--Woman dead in Austin house fire

Woman dead in Austin house fire

A woman was found dead in a burning house early Monday in Austin on the West Side .
The fire @ @ @ @ @ at a single-story home in the 5000 block of West Gladys Avenue , according to @ @ @ @ @ .
Responding crews found fire coming from the front of the house with the 34-year-old @ @ @ @ @ said .
She was pronounced dead at the scene .
The Cook County medical examiner @ @ @ @ @ released details about the fatality .
The cause of her death and the fire remain @ @ @ @ @ fire officials .

The death of a woman who was found in a burning house Monday in Austin on the West Side has been ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy.
Officers responding to a fire found the 34-year-old unresponsive about 2:42 a.m. inside a home in the 5000 block of West Gladys Avenue, Chicago police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy found the woman died of multiple injuries from blunt force trauma, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. She was identified as Stephanie Haynes.
The fire blew out the home’s windows. Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Investigators believe someone intentionally started the fire, police said.
Area Four and Arson detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--Man killed in Clearing shooting near Midway: police

A man was found shot to death Monday near Midway Airport in Clearing on the Southwest Side .
Officers responding @ @ @ @ @ gunfire about 2 a.m. in the 4700 block of West 59th Street found the 20-year-old @ @ @ @ @ s seat of a car that apparently hit a tree , according to Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ gunshot wound to his face and was pronounced dead at the scene , police said @ @ @ @ @ examiner ’ s office had not released details about the death .
The circumstances of @ @ @ @ @ investigators have not located any witnesses , police said .
Read more on crime , @ @ @ @ @ s homicides .

A man was found shot to death Monday near Midway Airport in Clearing on the Southwest Side.
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert about 2 a.m. in the 4700 block of West 59th Street found the 20-year-old unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a car that apparently hit a tree, according to Chicago police.
The man had a gunshot wound to his face and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the man as Justin Joseph Gonzalez, of Cicero. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
The circumstances of the shooting remain unknown as investigators have not located any witnesses, police said.
Area One detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--Parents, teachers resist more school closures in North Lawndale

Parents , teachers and alumni of three elementary schools in North Lawndale gathered Monday to voice their opposition to a plan that would close two schools and consolidate the students into a single building .
About 40 people gathered in front of Lawndale Community Academy , 3500 W. Douglas Blvd.
, shouting “ Fund our schools !
” They passed out leaflets to cars as drivers slowed to see the commotion .
Aisha Wade Bey , teacher at Lawndale Community Academy , said the proposed closure of the schools is a “ hate crime ” and demanded Chicago Public Schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here today because you chose to close two schools on the West Side , ” Wade Bey said .
“ The parents have come together and have decided enough is enough — do not close no more schools here on the West Side.
” The North Lawndale Parent and Community Coalition organized the event and believe the closing of Lawndale Community Academy and Crown Community Academy of Fine Arts would further destabilize the neighborhood .
To create the North Lawndale STEAM Partnership Academy — proposed by the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merge the other two schools ’ there .
The new school would focus on science , technology , engineering , arts and mathematics .
The Chicago Board of Education hasn ’ t approved the proposal .
School closures are nothing new in North Lawndale .
In 2013 , the administration of then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel closed 50 schools citywide , including two in the West Side neighborhood .
More recently , the Board of Education voted to close Frazier Preparatory Academy .
Advocates for the merger say enrollment at each of the schools is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to CPS data , the three schools ’ combined population has fallen from 1,328 during the 2010-2011 school year to just 620 for the 2020-2021 school year .
The 53 % drop is a prime reason favor consolidation .
“ If you got three buildings that each hold over 700 students but you only have 200 kids in there , how is that a problem with CPS ?
” Catrina Singletary said .
“ There are not enough children to occupy these buildings and if we can get one new school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how can I not support it ?
” Christel Williams-Hayes , recording secretary for the Chicago Teachers Union , warned those backing the new school to not “ drink the Kool-Aid.
” “ We can ’ t always be excited because somebody is offering us something new , ” Williams-Hayes said .
“ We are already devastated with crime , we are devastated with death .
Give us what we deserve .
Invest in these schools .
Stop taking from us.
” Williams-Hayes , a North Lawndale resident , said when neighborhood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinvestment and crime , which in turn means parents refuse to send their children to neighborhood schools , so enrollment falls further .
That cycle “ must stop , ” she said .
“ They ’ ve taken so much from Lawndale .
So much .
You ride up and down these streets and it ’ s vacant lots door-to-door ” Williams-Hayes said .
“ I watched them close Goldblatt [ Elementary ] School .
You drive down Adams [ Street ] right now , it ’ s vacant .
The entire block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school.
” James Lofton , a Lawndale alumni and parent , said it hurts to know the school ’ s future is uncertain .
“ If they close down the school , ” he said , “ they are closing down the community as well .
”

Parents, teachers and alumni of three elementary schools in North Lawndale gathered Monday to voice their opposition to a plan that would close two schools and consolidate the students into a single building.
About 40 people gathered in front of Lawndale Community Academy, 3500 W. Douglas Blvd., shouting “Fund our schools!” They passed out leaflets to cars as drivers slowed to see the commotion.
Aisha Wade Bey, a teacher at Lawndale Community Academy, said the proposed closure of the schools is a “hate crime” and demanded Chicago Public Schools support community schools.
“We are here today because you chose to close two schools on the West Side,” Wade Bey said. “The parents have come together and have decided enough is enough — do not close no more schools here on the West Side.”
The North Lawndale Parent and Community Coalition organized the event and believe the closing of Lawndale Community Academy and Crown Community Academy of Fine Arts would further destabilize the neighborhood.
To create the North Lawndale STEAM Partnership Academy — proposed by the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council — CPS would remodel Sumner Elementary School and merge the other two schools there. The new school would focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
The Chicago Board of Education hasn’t approved the proposal.
Aisha Wade Bey, who has worked five years at Lawndale Community Academy teaching fifth and sixth graders, speaks with reporters Monday in front of the academy. Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
School closures are nothing new in North Lawndale. In 2013, the administration of then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel closed 50 schools citywide, including two in the West Side neighborhood. More recently, the Board of Education voted to close Frazier Preparatory Academy.
Advocates for the merger say enrollment at each of the schools is dwindling and students need an upgraded facility.
According to CPS data, the three schools’ combined population has fallen from 1,328 during the 2010-2011 school year to just 620 for the 2020-2021 school year. The 53% drop is a prime reason in favor of consolidation.
“If you got three buildings that each hold over 700 students but you only have 200 kids in there, how is that a problem with CPS?” Catrina Singletary said. “There are not enough children to occupy these buildings and if we can get one new school that can support all of these students, how can I not support it?”
Christel Williams-Hayes, recording secretary for the Chicago Teachers Union, warned those backing the new school to not “drink the Kool-Aid.”
“We can’t always be excited because somebody is offering us something new,” Williams-Hayes said. “We are already devastated with crime, we are devastated with death. Give us what we deserve. Invest in these schools. Stop taking from us.”
Williams-Hayes, a North Lawndale resident, said when neighborhood schools are closed, it contributes to disinvestment and crime, which in turn means parents refuse to send their children to neighborhood schools, so enrollment falls further. That cycle “must stop,” she said.
“They’ve taken so much from Lawndale. So much. You ride up and down these streets and it’s vacant lots door-to-door” Williams-Hayes said. “I watched them close Goldblatt [Elementary] School. You drive down Adams [Street] right now, it’s vacant. The entire block was devastated by the closing of the school.”
James Lofton, a Lawndale alumni and parent, said it hurts to know the school’s future is uncertain.
“If they close down the school,” he said, “they are closing down the community as well.”


chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--Linda Rae Sher, Democratic fundraiser who founded Jewish women’s PAC, dead at 73

Funeral services are planned Tuesday for Linda Rae Sher , who in 1980 founded JACPAC , a political action committee based in Highland Park that was the first national Jewish women ’ s PAC .
Ms. Sher — who was a major fundraiser for President-elect Joe Biden and other Democrats — died Sunday of complications from ovarian cancer , according to her friend Marcia Balonick , JACPAC ’ s executive director .
Ms. Sher was 73 and lived on the Gold Coast .
Ms. Sher and JACPAC — the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs — were well-known among Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sher lit up every room she entered with her personality and her intellect , ” U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-California , said .
“ She glowed most when she talked about her family.
” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin , D-Illinois , said : “ I first met Linda Sher when I ran for Congress in 1982 .
Linda arrived at my door like an energy source ready to explode .
She told me she was from JACPAC and wanted to help me win .
She proceeded to stand by me in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all fortunate for Linda ’ s selfless work for and dedication to JACPAC , ” U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Illinois , said .
“ And Democrats across the country and the positive results we ’ ve seen not just last week but over many years are due in no small part to her unrelenting efforts.
” Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said : “ Linda was my good friend and a mentor who warmly welcomed me into her group of women warriors , and she taught me so many life lessons over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was kind and the person who you always wanted on your side in a fight for justice.
” U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider , D-Illinois , whose district includes Highland Park , said Sher ’ s “ leadership with JACPAC was an inspiration in getting me to run for office , and she was an invaluable resource throughout my political career.
” U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky , D-Illinois , said Sher was her “ go to person for politics ” and “ one of the smartest political operatives I ever knew.
” JACPAC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially women , early in their political careers and offering them crucial backing .
It also was one of the first political action committees focused on helping candidates who supported reproductive choice , the separation of church and state , U.S.–Israel relations and gun control .
The organization worked off the theory that “ you reach someone early , you find these people , get in , ” and , even if the contribution was modest , “ you got in when no one else knew who they were , ” Balonick said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because women had a hard time raising money .
… They remembered us because we came in when no one else was.
” Ms. Sher “ was one of the smartest women I knew , ” Balonick said .
She grew up Linda Rae Rosen in Skokie , where she attended Cleveland elementary school and Oakview Junior High .
She devoured every Nancy Drew mystery and “ was a voracious reader , ” her sister Loren Friend said .
“ When my parents said , ‘ Lights out , ’ she would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She graduated from Niles East High School in Skokie and , after attending the University of Colorado Boulder , worked at a stockbroker ’ s office in the Palmolive Building , once known as the Playboy Building , at 919 N. Michigan Ave .
The building was owned by the family of David Sher , her future husband .
After he visited the stockbroker ’ s office to distribute cigars on “ Secretary ’ s Day , ” “ She asked , ‘ Where ’ s my cigar ?
’ ’ ’ their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , ‘ No , you get dinner.
’ ’ ’ Her political activism grew after a trip they took to Israel as newlyweds .
“ That trip inspired her to make it her goal to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship , ” their daughter said .
“ She was a connector of people , making sure good people were introduced to good people.
” “ She knew more about where to eat , what play to see , ” Balonick said .
Even though she was ill , “ She called me last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I got the special Krispy Kreme Halloween doughnuts for my kids.
” Her husband David died before her .
In addition to her daughter and sister , she is survived by her son Adam , her mother Lucille Rosen and two grandchildren .
Ms. Sher ’ s funeral service is to be streamed online starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday at https : //www.goldmanfuneralgroup.com/memorials/linda-sher/4416254/index.php .

Funeral services are planned Tuesday for Linda Rae Sher, who in 1980 founded JACPAC, a political action committee based in Highland Park that was the first national Jewish women’s PAC.
Ms. Sher — who was a major fundraiser for President-elect Joe Biden and other Democrats — died Sunday of complications from ovarian cancer, according to her friend Marcia Balonick, JACPAC’s executive director.
Ms. Sher was 73 and lived on the Gold Coast.
Ms. Sher and JACPAC — the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs — were well-known among Democratic Party leaders in Washington.
Biden said he was “deeply saddened by the loss of Linda Sher and send my thoughts and prayers to her family. Linda was a longtime supporter who helped propel our campaign to victory this November, and I am forever grateful for her support. Linda’s legacy and her work in the name of democracy, peace and justice will live on for generations to come.”
“Linda Sher lit up every room she entered with her personality and her intellect,” U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said. “She glowed most when she talked about her family.”
Linda Rae Sher and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Provided
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said: “I first met Linda Sher when I ran for Congress in 1982. Linda arrived at my door like an energy source ready to explode. She told me she was from JACPAC and wanted to help me win. She proceeded to stand by me in every re-election.”
“We’re all fortunate for Linda’s selfless work for and dedication to JACPAC,” U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said. “And Democrats across the country and the positive results we’ve seen not just last week but over many years are due in no small part to her unrelenting efforts.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said: “Linda was my good friend and a mentor who warmly welcomed me into her group of women warriors, and she taught me so many life lessons over the years. She was as tough as she was kind and the person who you always wanted on your side in a fight for justice.”
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., whose district includes Highland Park, said Ms. Sher’s “leadership with JACPAC was an inspiration in getting me to run for office, and she was an invaluable resource throughout my political career.”
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., said Ms. Sher was her “go to person for politics” and “one of the smartest political operatives I ever knew.”
JACPAC built a reputation for spotting contenders, especially women, early in their political careers and offering them crucial backing. It also was one of the first political action committees focused on helping candidates who supported reproductive choice, the separation of church and state, U.S.–Israel relations and gun control.
The organization worked off the theory that “you reach someone early, you find these people, get in,” and, even if the contribution was modest, “you got in when no one else knew who they were,” Balonick said.
“We worked for women candidates because women had a hard time raising money. … They remembered us because we came in when no one else was.”
Ms. Sher “was one of the smartest women I knew,” Balonick said.
She grew up Linda Rae Rosen in Skokie, where she attended Cleveland elementary school and Oakview Junior High.
She devoured every Nancy Drew mystery and “was a voracious reader,” her sister Loren Friend said. “When my parents said, ‘Lights out,’ she would be under the blanket with a flashlight.”
She graduated from Niles East High School in Skokie and, after attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, worked at a stockbroker’s office in the Palmolive Building, once known as the Playboy Building, at 919 N. Michigan Ave.
The building was owned by the family of David Sher, her future husband. After he visited the stockbroker’s office to distribute cigars on “Secretary’s Day,” “She asked, ‘Where’s my cigar?’ ’’ their daughter Jamie said. “And he said, ‘No, you get dinner.’ ’’
Her political activism grew after a trip they took to Israel as newlyweds.
“That trip inspired her to make it her goal to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship,” their daughter said. “She was a connector of people, making sure good people were introduced to good people.”
Ms. Sher loved the vibrancy of city life.
“She knew more about where to eat, what play to see,” Balonick said. Even though she was ill, “She called me last week to remind me to be sure I got the special Krispy Kreme Halloween doughnuts for my kids.”
Her husband David died before her. In addition to her daughter and sister, she is survived by her son Adam, her mother Lucille Rosen and two grandchildren.
Ms. Sher’s funeral service is to be streamed online starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday at https://www.goldmanfuneralgroup.com/memorials/linda-sher/4416254/index.php.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--White Sox’ Jose Abreu in AL MVP race that’s too close to call

White Sox players have won the American League Most Valuable Player Award four times .
First baseman Jose Abreu could make it five when the Baseball Writers ’ Association of America announces the 2020 award Thursday , but the competition is rugged by the numbers .
Previous Sox winners were second baseman Nellie Fox on the pennant-winning Sox of 1959 and first basemen Dick Allen in 1972 and Frank Thomas in 1993 and ’ 94 .
Abreu is one of three finalists , along with Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez and Yankees jack-of-all-trades DJ LeMahieu .
By Triple Crown numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for decades , Abreu looks golden .
He led the AL with 60 RBI , his 19 home runs ranked second to the 22 by the Yankees ’ Luke Voit and his .317 batting average was fourth among AL qualifiers , trailing LeMahieu ( .364 ) , Sox teammate Tim Anderson ( .322 ) and the Angels ’ David Fletcher ( .319 ) .
Among the finalists , he leads in homers and RBI ahead of Ramirez ( 17 , 46 ) and LeMahieu ( 10 , 27 ) , and his batting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ramirez ’ s ( .292 ) .
Modern metrics offer a different picture .
Numbers such as weighted runs created plus and wins above replacement don ’ t factor RBI .
They ’ re designed to measure individual responsibility , and RBI involve team contributions .
An ability to get on base and extra bases in addition to homers count .
Abreu walked in 6.4 % of his plate appearances to trail LeMahieu ( 8.3 % ) and Ramirez ( 12.2 % ) .
The walks boosted Ramirez to a .386 on-base percentage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of Abreu ’ s .370 .
LeMahieu was the AL OPS leader at 1.011 , with Ramirez ’ s .993 tied with the Angels ’ Mike Trout for second and Abreu fifth at .987 .
Moving a giant step beyond OPS to wRC+ , LeMahieu was the AL leader at 177 , meaning he produced 77 % more offense than the average hitter .
In wRC+ , every offensive event is assigned a weight that correlates to run production .
Singles add more to the chance of scoring than walks , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Results are adjusted for ballparks and opposition , then normalized so 100 denotes an average hitter .
Among the finalists , Abreu was next at 167 , then Ramirez at 163 .
When we get to WAR , defense has to be taken into account .
Ramirez leads the pack , with Fangraphs.com listing him at 1.7 defensive runs to minus-2.1 for LeMahieu and minus-5.4 for Abreu .
Tied up into a nice little fWAR package , Ramirez led the AL at 3.4 to 2.6 for Abreu and 2.5 for LeMahieu , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 and later because of a sprained thumb ) .
Non-finalists Anthony Rendon ( 2.7 ) and Trout ( 2.6 ) , both Angels , fit in with that group , but all three finalists are from playoff teams .
If traditional numbers carry the day , Abreu is the MVP .
But if voters heed today ’ s metrics , WAR leader Ramirez and wRC+ leader LeMahieu have solid cases .

White Sox players have won the American League Most Valuable Player Award four times. First baseman Jose Abreu could make it five when the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announces the 2020 award Thursday, but the competition is rugged by the numbers.
Previous Sox winners were second baseman Nellie Fox on the pennant-winning Sox of 1959 and first basemen Dick Allen in 1972 and Frank Thomas in 1993 and ’94.
Abreu is one of three finalists, along with Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez and Yankees jack-of-all-trades DJ LeMahieu.
By Triple Crown numbers that were the player-rating stats of choice for decades, Abreu looks golden. He led the AL with 60 RBI, his 19 home runs ranked second to the 22 by the Yankees’ Luke Voit and his .317 batting average was fourth among AL qualifiers, trailing LeMahieu (.364), Sox teammate Tim Anderson (.322) and the Angels’ David Fletcher (.319).
Among the finalists, he leads in homers and RBI ahead of Ramirez (17, 46) and LeMahieu (10, 27), and his batting average falls between LeMahieu’s and Ramirez’s (.292).
Modern metrics offer a different picture. Numbers such as weighted runs created plus and wins above replacement don’t factor RBI. They’re designed to measure individual responsibility, and RBI involve team contributions.
An ability to get on base and extra bases in addition to homers count. Abreu walked in 6.4% of his plate appearances to trail LeMahieu (8.3%) and Ramirez (12.2%). The walks boosted Ramirez to a .386 on-base percentage, behind LeMahieu’s .421 but ahead of Abreu’s .370.
LeMahieu was the AL OPS leader at 1.011, with Ramirez’s .993 tied with the Angels’ Mike Trout for second and Abreu fifth at .987.
Moving a giant step beyond OPS to wRC+, LeMahieu was the AL leader at 177, meaning he produced 77% more offense than the average hitter. In wRC+, every offensive event is assigned a weight that correlates to run production. Singles add more to the chance of scoring than walks, so they’re given more weight. Results are adjusted for ballparks and opposition, then normalized so 100 denotes an average hitter.
Among the finalists, Abreu was next at 167, then Ramirez at 163.
When we get to WAR, defense has to be taken into account. Ramirez leads the pack, with Fangraphs.com listing him at 1.7 defensive runs to minus-2.1 for LeMahieu and minus-5.4 for Abreu.
Tied up into a nice little fWAR package, Ramirez led the AL at 3.4 to 2.6 for Abreu and 2.5 for LeMahieu, who missed 10 games (early because of COVID-19 and later because of a sprained thumb). Non-finalists Anthony Rendon (2.7) and Trout (2.6), both Angels, fit in with that group, but all three finalists are from playoff teams.
If traditional numbers carry the day, Abreu is the MVP. But if voters heed today’s metrics, WAR leader Ramirez and wRC+ leader LeMahieu have solid cases.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--Man charged in fatal Austin shooting

Man charged in fatal Austin shooting

An alleged gunman charged in a deadly shooting in Austin over the weekend was ordered held without bail Monday .
Around 2:54 a.m. Saturday , Tyrie Williams and a cohort approached a group of people gathered near a parked car in the 5000 block of West Cortez Street and began firing their weapons , Cook County prosecutors said .
Williams , 25 , allegedly fired in the direction of 22-year-old Tremayne Creighton , and Williams ’ companion shot at a nearby house .
Creighton , who was struck in head and thigh , was transported to Stroger Hospital , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting , responding Chicago police officers found Williams holding a gun in his left hand , prosecutors said .
He was wearing a black hoodie with a white shirt underneath , jeans and light brown shoes — the same outfit the gunman was wearing in a video captured by a POD camera , prosecutors said .
Williams ran from police and fled back down an alley that was about one block north , and two to three blocks east of the shooting , prosecutors said .
As officers chased Williams , they saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later recovered in a grassy section of the alley , prosecutors said .
Williams was eventually apprehended but he allegedly fought with and kicked one of the officers before he was placed into custody .
Investigators recovered 10 shell casings — seven which matched the handgun Williams threw , prosecutors said .
Williams told officers he was left handed when they were performing a gunshot residue test and he was seen on video trying to lick his left hand during the testing , prosecutors said .
The swab of Williams ’ right hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for gunshot residue , prosecutors said .
Williams graduated from high school in 2012 and most recently worked for Mahoney Environmental , an assistant public defender said .
He is expected back in court Dec. 1 .

An alleged gunman charged in a deadly shooting in Austin over the weekend was ordered held without bail Monday.
Around 2:54 a.m. Saturday, Tyrie Williams and a cohort approached a group of people gathered near a parked car in the 5000 block of West Cortez Street and began firing their weapons, Cook County prosecutors said.
Williams, 25, allegedly fired in the direction of 22-year-old Tremayne Creighton, and Williams’ companion shot at a nearby house.
Creighton, who was struck in head and thigh, was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he later died.
Shortly after the shooting, responding Chicago police officers found Williams holding a gun in his left hand, prosecutors said. He was wearing a black hoodie with a white shirt underneath, jeans and light brown shoes — the same outfit the gunman was wearing in a video captured by a POD camera, prosecutors said.
Williams ran from police and fled back down an alley that was about one block north, and two to three blocks east of the shooting, prosecutors said.
As officers chased Williams, they saw him toss a semi-automatic handgun that was later recovered in a grassy section of the alley, prosecutors said. Williams was eventually apprehended but he allegedly fought with and kicked one of the officers before he was placed into custody.
Investigators recovered 10 shell casings — seven which matched the handgun Williams threw, prosecutors said.
Williams told officers he was left handed when they were performing a gunshot residue test and he was seen on video trying to lick his left hand during the testing, prosecutors said. The swab of Williams’ right hand as well as his sweatshirt tested positive for gunshot residue, prosecutors said.
Williams graduated from high school in 2012 and most recently worked for Mahoney Environmental, an assistant public defender said.
He is expected back in court Dec. 1.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--Biden’s expected environmental policies a breath of fresh air for Chicago area Trump critics

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to reverse dozens of Donald Trump ’ s environmental policies while emphasizing a crackdown on polluters in Illinois and beyond .
After four years of Trump ’ s environmental protection rollbacks , an easing of enforcement and favorable policies toward fossil fuel industries , Biden is promising reversals and a clean-energy and climate change agenda .
He also is vowing to address so-called environmental justice communities , low-income and minority areas in Chicago and elsewhere that suffer from high levels of pollution .
Those political pledges are welcome news to some of Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s focus on promoting economic growth has come at the expense of environmental protection through weakened anti-pollution rules and a letup in enforcement .
“ President-elect Biden has clearly signaled he ’ s going to take some very strong Day One actions on environmental and climate change matters , ” said Howard Learner , executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago .
“ Longer term , Trump ’ s Department of Justice has taken a lot of positions in federal courts that are anti-environmental .
I would expect new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positions.
” Learner ’ s group alone has sued the Trump Administration more than 20 times over decisions in clean air and water and other disputes .
He ’ s hopeful that some of these issues will be resolved under Biden , including a fight over clean-air designations in the Chicago area and elsewhere .
Biden ’ s support for clean energy could translate to more federal dollars for Illinois to promote the growing industry , he added .
What ’ s more , Biden has voiced support for Great Lakes initiatives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once proposed should be virtually defunded , Learner said .
In addition to policy , environmental law enforcement is expected to get renewed support from Biden , who will appoint new heads for the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice .
The new EPA director will put a Chicago administrator in charge who will oversee a multistate region .
An analysis last year showed a substantial decrease in pollution inspections at the Chicago office of the EPA , a regional hub that handles pollution issues in Illinois and five other Midwest states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in part because of the pandemic , said a union official representing EPA workers .
Under Trump , EPA also pushed off some pollution enforcement to states .
Finally , the agency often relies on polluters ’ “ self audits.
” “ This administration was not even on the map for enforcement , ” said Nicole Cantello , president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704 .
The union represents around 1,000 EPA employees across the Midwest .
In a statement , EPA says it continues to enforce pollution oversight but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health emergency may affect facility operations and the availability of key staff , contractors and others involved in the important work of complying with the nation ’ s environmental protection laws.
” Biden has signaled he will sign a number of executive orders , including on his first day of taking office .
Trump has completed or attempted to roll back almost 100 environmental rules , including many related to clean air and water .
“ We anticipate executive orders on environmental issues that will be very important and will protect people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an EPA lawyer in Chicago .
For Meleah Geertsma , a Chicago-based senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council , EPA ’ s enforcement muscle can be instrumental in disputes in which local or state authorities fear legal challenges in fights involving polluters .
She said she saw less of that EPA muscle during the Trump Administration .
“ We hope to see more proactive enforcement , ” said Geertsma , who has worked with Southeast Side community groups on a number of pollution concerns .
The City of Chicago and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the weight that EPA has to stand up to polluters , she said .
“ What you ’ d see with a federal enforcer is stronger regulation , ” Geertsma said .
Brett Chase ’ s reporting on the environment and public health is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust .

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to reverse dozens of Donald Trump’s environmental policies while emphasizing a crackdown on polluters in Illinois and beyond.
After four years of Trump’s environmental protection rollbacks, an easing of enforcement and favorable policies toward fossil fuel industries, Biden is promising reversals and a clean-energy and climate change agenda. He also is vowing to address so-called environmental justice communities, low-income and minority areas in Chicago and elsewhere that suffer from high levels of pollution.
Those political pledges are welcome news to some of Trump’s local critics who say the president’s focus on promoting economic growth has come at the expense of environmental protection through weakened anti-pollution rules and a letup in enforcement.
“President-elect Biden has clearly signaled he’s going to take some very strong Day One actions on environmental and climate change matters,” said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago. “Longer term, Trump’s Department of Justice has taken a lot of positions in federal courts that are anti-environmental. I would expect new appointees would take a look at those positions.”
Learner’s group alone has sued the Trump Administration more than 20 times over decisions in clean air and water and other disputes. He’s hopeful that some of these issues will be resolved under Biden, including a fight over clean-air designations in the Chicago area and elsewhere.
The Chicago skyline. Colin Boyle/Sun-Times file photo
Biden’s support for clean energy could translate to more federal dollars for Illinois to promote the growing industry, he added. What’s more, Biden has voiced support for Great Lakes initiatives, including an ongoing restoration program that Trump once proposed should be virtually defunded, Learner said.
In addition to policy, environmental law enforcement is expected to get renewed support from Biden, who will appoint new heads for the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice. The new EPA director will put a Chicago administrator in charge who will oversee a multistate region.
An analysis last year showed a substantial decrease in pollution inspections at the Chicago office of the EPA, a regional hub that handles pollution issues in Illinois and five other Midwest states. The trend is continuing in 2020 in part because of the pandemic, said a union official representing EPA workers. Under Trump, EPA also pushed off some pollution enforcement to states. Finally, the agency often relies on polluters’ “self audits.”
“This administration was not even on the map for enforcement,” said Nicole Cantello, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 704. The union represents around 1,000 EPA employees across the Midwest.
In a statement, EPA says it continues to enforce pollution oversight but also notes that “the COVID-19 public health emergency may affect facility operations and the availability of key staff, contractors and others involved in the important work of complying with the nation’s environmental protection laws.”
Biden has signaled he will sign a number of executive orders, including on his first day of taking office. Trump has completed or attempted to roll back almost 100 environmental rules, including many related to clean air and water.
“We anticipate executive orders on environmental issues that will be very important and will protect people and the Great Lakes,” said Cantello, an EPA lawyer in Chicago.
For Meleah Geertsma, a Chicago-based senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, EPA’s enforcement muscle can be instrumental in disputes in which local or state authorities fear legal challenges in fights involving polluters. She said she saw less of that EPA muscle during the Trump Administration.
“We hope to see more proactive enforcement,” said Geertsma, who has worked with Southeast Side community groups on a number of pollution concerns.
The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois don’t have the weight that EPA has to stand up to polluters, she said. “What you’d see with a federal enforcer is stronger regulation,” Geertsma said.
Brett Chase’s reporting on the environment and public health is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--White Sox’ Luis Robert second to Kyle Lewis in AL Rookie of Year voting

White Sox center fielder Luis Robert was second in American League Rookie of the Year honors , finishing as the runnerup to Mariners center fielder Kyle Lewis , a unanimous choice for the award by Baseball Writers Association of American .
Right-hander Cristian Javier of the Astros was third .
With 30 first-place votes , Lewis finished with 150 points .
Robert had 27 second-place votes and 83 points .
Javier collected 11 points .
Robert finished with a slash line of .233/.302/.436 to go with 11 homers , 31 RBIs and nine stolen bases .
He topped all rookies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AL rookies in home runs .
Brewers right-handed reliever Devin Williams was named NL Rookie of the Year .
Last week , Robert became the first rookie to win a Gold Glove since Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado in 2013 .
While the 23-year-old Cuban ’ s defense was consistent throughout the abbreviated 60-game season , Robert ’ s offense was a tale of two halves .
His name surfaced in some MVP conversations while he was batting .298/.356/.660 with nine home runs in August , earning AL Player of the Month honors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miserably , posting a .136/.237/.173 hitting line with one homer .
He finished the regular season by going 5-for-11 with three runs scored and an RBI in his last three games .

White Sox center fielder Luis Robert was second in American League Rookie of the Year honors, finishing as the runnerup to Mariners center fielder Kyle Lewis, a unanimous choice for the award by Baseball Writers Association of American.
Right-hander Cristian Javier of the Astros was third.
With 30 first-place votes, Lewis finished with 150 points. Robert had 27 second-place votes and 83 points. Javier collected 11 points.
Robert finished with a slash line of .233/.302/.436 to go with 11 homers, 31 RBIs and nine stolen bases. He topped all rookies in RBIs. He and Lewis led AL rookies in home runs.
Brewers right-handed reliever Devin Williams was named NL Rookie of the Year.
Last week, Robert became the first rookie to win a Gold Glove since Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado in 2013. While the 23-year-old Cuban’s defense was consistent throughout the abbreviated 60-game season, Robert’s offense was a tale of two halves. His name surfaced in some MVP conversations while he was batting .298/.356/.660 with nine home runs in August, earning AL Player of the Month honors. But in September, he slumped miserably, posting a .136/.237/.173 hitting line with one homer.
He finished the regular season by going 5-for-11 with three runs scored and an RBI in his last three games.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-09--With Joe Biden unlikely to defund police, will his honeymoon with Chicago activists last?

Marchers shouted “ defund the police !
” during huge protests in Chicago and across America this year , but President-elect Joe Biden isn ’ t likely to do that , according to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel , an unofficial Biden campaign adviser , and others .
During his campaign , Biden said he didn ’ t support defunding police .
He said he ’ d spend $ 300 million to hire cops and provide training as long as police departments met “ basic standards of decency.
” Black Lives Matters , which led protests over George Floyd ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s victory in cities across America .
“ But if their agenda is not met , there will be protests again , ” said Fred Waller , former chief of operations for the Chicago police .
Biden needs to thread a needle between his tough law-and-order stance of the 1990s and activists ’ calls for extensive police reform , Waller said .
Asked whether there ’ s any chance the president-elect would push to defund police , Emanuel — who worked with him in Congress and when Biden was vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been clear in that .
No.
” Asked how Biden might still appease the Black Lives Matter movement , Emanuel said , “ The attorney general appointment and the head of the civil-rights division will be key.
” Civil rights activists in Chicago say they ’ re focused for now on what President Donald Trump will do next .
“ If Trump continues to enact an attempted coup through the courts , we must be ready to demonstrate our power in the streets , through mass actions , ” Black Lives Matter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden ’ s victory comes as the Chicago Police Department is struggling to enact reforms and hold supervisors more accountable .
Barbara West — the deputy superintendent who was overseeing police reforms called for in a federal consent decree — retired this year after only a few months in that new job .
Police Supt .
David Brown ’ s chief of staff Robert Boik , a civilian , was named acting deputy superintendent for that position Nov. 2 .
Meanwhile , CompStat , the weekly meeting at which commanders were grilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent crime , recently was ended .
The department is looking to “ retool ” the program , which could be relaunched next year , police sources said .
Smaller CompStat meetings have continued at the city ’ s five area commands .
The Biden campaign focused on the types of reforms the Chicago Police Department has been slowly enacting .
His platform included revitalizing the Community Oriented Policing Services program , which pays for additional officers and “ training on how to undertake a community policing approach.
” Biden also pledged to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while still reducing crime , to root out discrimination in the justice system and to push for rehabilitation .
He said he ’ d spend $ 20 billion to spur states to shift their priorities from incarceration to crime prevention and $ 1 billion a year to improve the juvenile justice system .
Ald .
Anthony Beale ( 9th ) , former chairman of the Chicago City Council ’ s Police Committee , said he expects Biden to “ leave it to states and local municipalities to decide ” whether to defund police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s going to even touch it , ” Beale said .
But the alderman said he doesn ’ t think Biden is headed for an early showdown with Black Lives Matter .
“ I think they ’ ll give him an opportunity to come up with a strategic plan and leave it up to local municipalities , ” he said .
The police department released a one-line statement Monday saying the police and the mayor ’ s office “ look forward to working closely with the incoming administration on shared priorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the residents that they serve.
” Trump frequently has blasted Chicago and other “ liberal-run cities ” for their crime problems .
Early this year , he launched Operation Legend in Chicago to make more federal gun arrests .
Trump and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have traded insults on Twitter .
“ But Biden can work with her , ” a City Hall insider said .
Lightfoot ’ s “ star rises the farther away you get from Chicago , ” the source said , pointing to her role earlier this year as chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Conference of Mayors .
One source in politics said some in Chicago hope former President Barack Obama will help focus Biden on the city ’ s crime problems .
“ Obama kind of forgot about Chicago when he was president , ” the source said .
“ Maybe he will become more involved behind the scenes.
” Waller said he worries that whatever Biden does regarding police won ’ t be enough for some .
“ My biggest fear is that a lot of anti-police sentiment will go on in the @ @ @ @ @ @

Marchers shouted “defund the police!” during huge protests in Chicago and across America this year, but President-elect Joe Biden isn’t likely to do that, according to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, an unofficial Biden campaign adviser, and others.
During his campaign, Biden said he didn’t support defunding police. He said he’d spend $300 million to hire cops and provide training as long as police departments met “basic standards of decency.”
Black Lives Matters, which led protests over George Floyd’s killing and other police-involved deaths, celebrated Biden’s victory in cities across America.
“But if their agenda is not met, there will be protests again,” said Fred Waller, former chief of operations for the Chicago police.
Biden needs to thread a needle between his tough law-and-order stance of the 1990s and activists’ calls for extensive police reform, Waller said.
Fred Waller, former chief of operations for the Chicago Police Department. Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times
Asked whether there’s any chance the president-elect would push to defund police, Emanuel — who worked with him in Congress and when Biden was vice president — said Monday, “He has been clear in that. No.”
Asked how Biden might still appease the Black Lives Matter movement, Emanuel said, “The attorney general appointment and the head of the civil-rights division will be key.”
Civil rights activists in Chicago say they’re focused for now on what President Donald Trump will do next.
“If Trump continues to enact an attempted coup through the courts, we must be ready to demonstrate our power in the streets, through mass actions,” Black Lives Matter and the group Lifted Voices said last week.
Biden’s victory comes as the Chicago Police Department is struggling to enact reforms and hold supervisors more accountable.
Barbara West — the deputy superintendent who was overseeing police reforms called for in a federal consent decree — retired this year after only a few months in that new job. Police Supt. David Brown’s chief of staff Robert Boik, a civilian, was named acting deputy superintendent for that position Nov. 2.
Meanwhile, CompStat, the weekly meeting at which commanders were grilled about what they’re doing to prevent crime, recently was ended. The department is looking to “retool” the program, which could be relaunched next year, police sources said. Smaller CompStat meetings have continued at the city’s five area commands.
The Biden campaign focused on the types of reforms the Chicago Police Department has been slowly enacting. His platform included revitalizing the Community Oriented Policing Services program, which pays for additional officers and “training on how to undertake a community policing approach.”
Biden also pledged to reduce the number of people in prison while still reducing crime, to root out discrimination in the justice system and to push for rehabilitation. He said he’d spend $20 billion to spur states to shift their priorities from incarceration to crime prevention and $1 billion a year to improve the juvenile justice system.
Ald. Anthony Beale (9th), former chairman of the Chicago City Council’s Police Committee, said he expects Biden to “leave it to states and local municipalities to decide” whether to defund police. “I don’t think he’s going to even touch it,” Beale said.
But the alderman said he doesn’t think Biden is headed for an early showdown with Black Lives Matter.
“I think they’ll give him an opportunity to come up with a strategic plan and leave it up to local municipalities,” he said.
The police department released a one-line statement Monday saying the police and the mayor’s office “look forward to working closely with the incoming administration on shared priorities and issues facing our police officers and the residents that they serve.”
Trump frequently has blasted Chicago and other “liberal-run cities” for their crime problems. Early this year, he launched Operation Legend in Chicago to make more federal gun arrests.
Trump and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have traded insults on Twitter.
“But Biden can work with her,” a City Hall insider said. Lightfoot’s “star rises the farther away you get from Chicago,” the source said, pointing to her role earlier this year as chairman of a working group on policing for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
One source in politics said some in Chicago hope former President Barack Obama will help focus Biden on the city’s crime problems.
“Obama kind of forgot about Chicago when he was president,” the source said. “Maybe he will become more involved behind the scenes.”
Waller said he worries that whatever Biden does regarding police won’t be enough for some.
“My biggest fear is that a lot of anti-police sentiment will go on in the streets,” he said.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-10--Dear Abby: Man I love treats me like a friend, and I can’t stand it

DEAR ABBY : I met a wonderful man who was 14 years older who treated me like I have never been treated before .
He opened doors for me , took me on actual dates , paid for things , met all my friends and family , and took me on my first vacation at 39 years old .
He was very cuddly and such a gentleman .
He even introduced himself as my “ boyfriend ” to some of my friends .
Seven months ago , we had our first argument and he asked me how I felt about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he returned with , “ I like you a lot.
” He said he didn ’ t feel as strongly as I did and doesn ’ t want a relationship .
When we broke up shortly after , he said he wanted to be friends .
But he still called and invited me over for sex regularly for the next six weeks .
I was very hurt , but I finally cut ties because emotionally I couldn ’ t handle it .
He still wants to be friends but I can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me and wants the benefits of being together without the labels .
It has been more than two months and I ’ m heartbroken .
If I call him , he answers and talks like we are the best of friends , and it kills me .
How do I get over him ?
Is it worth trying to see if we will work out ?
— BROKEN IN UTAH DEAR BROKEN : This “ gentleman ” made clear that his feelings for you are not as strong as those you have for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is honest about wanting nothing more than the status quo .
If you ’ re willing to settle for being only FWB — which , I suspect , you have too much intelligence and self-esteem to do — go along with what he ’ s offering ( which is very little ) .
But if you do , know full well that it won ’ t “ work out.
” DEAR ABBY : My husband and I own a condo in a building with 22 units .
Because of COVID , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs stating “ rules ” throughout the building .
The rules are typical for these trying times , but the number of signs is obsessive .
Many of the residents dislike the signs , but my husband was the one who wrote a nasty letter to the HOA about how many are posted .
The board member who was responsible for posting the signs was a friend of mine .
Her feelings were hurt , and she has made some snide remarks about the letter .
A group of women meet weekly for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are both part of that group .
I feel caught in the middle .
My husband has had a hard time getting over being mad about the signs , and I know the HOA member is angry at him .
I just want to go to happy hour and drink and gossip .
Why can ’ t we all just get along ?
— IN THE MIDDLE DEAR IN THE MIDDLE : We are living in trying times , and many people — your husband included — aren ’ t their better selves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fulfilling its obligation to the community by posting health and safety signs .
They are meant to educate not only homeowners but also visitors to the building , but too often they tend to become like “ wallpaper ” and are ignored .
You are not caught in the middle .
Your husband owes that woman an apology for getting snarky .
But it probably won ’ t happen unless you insist upon it .
( If it doesn ’ t , you can always do it “ for ” him the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
To receive a collection of Abby ’ s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays , send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet , P.O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: I met a wonderful man who was 14 years older who treated me like I have never been treated before. He opened doors for me, took me on actual dates, paid for things, met all my friends and family, and took me on my first vacation at 39 years old. He was very cuddly and such a gentleman. He even introduced himself as my “boyfriend” to some of my friends.
Seven months ago, we had our first argument and he asked me how I felt about him. I said I loved him and he returned with, “I like you a lot.” He said he didn’t feel as strongly as I did and doesn’t want a relationship.
When we broke up shortly after, he said he wanted to be friends. But he still called and invited me over for sex regularly for the next six weeks. I was very hurt, but I finally cut ties because emotionally I couldn’t handle it. He still wants to be friends but I cannot. He still will do anything for me and wants the benefits of being together without the labels.
It has been more than two months and I’m heartbroken. If I call him, he answers and talks like we are the best of friends, and it kills me. How do I get over him? Is it worth trying to see if we will work out? — BROKEN IN UTAH
DEAR BROKEN: This “gentleman” made clear that his feelings for you are not as strong as those you have for him. You are involved with someone who is honest about wanting nothing more than the status quo. If you’re willing to settle for being only FWB — which, I suspect, you have too much intelligence and self-esteem to do — go along with what he’s offering (which is very little). But if you do, know full well that it won’t “work out.”
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I own a condo in a building with 22 units. Because of COVID, one of the HOA board members has posted signs stating “rules” throughout the building. The rules are typical for these trying times, but the number of signs is obsessive. Many of the residents dislike the signs, but my husband was the one who wrote a nasty letter to the HOA about how many are posted.
The board member who was responsible for posting the signs was a friend of mine. Her feelings were hurt, and she has made some snide remarks about the letter. A group of women meet weekly for happy hour, and she and I are both part of that group. I feel caught in the middle. My husband has had a hard time getting over being mad about the signs, and I know the HOA member is angry at him. I just want to go to happy hour and drink and gossip. Why can’t we all just get along? — IN THE MIDDLE
DEAR IN THE MIDDLE: We are living in trying times, and many people — your husband included — aren’t their better selves right now. The HOA board was fulfilling its obligation to the community by posting health and safety signs. They are meant to educate not only homeowners but also visitors to the building, but too often they tend to become like “wallpaper” and are ignored.
You are not caught in the middle. Your husband owes that woman an apology for getting snarky. But it probably won’t happen unless you insist upon it. (If it doesn’t, you can always do it “for” him the next time you all meet for happy hour.)
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-10--‘Hillbilly Elegy’ a sure bet for Oscar love, and deservedly so

You hear the term “ Oscar bait ” thrown around in conjunction with movies such as Ron Howard ’ s “ Hillbilly Elegy , ” and the phrase seems to carry with it an air of cynicism , as if to imply the filmmakers deliberately set out to make the kind of movies that attract the interest of the Motion Picture Academy .
First , why is that such a bad thing ?
It ’ s the equivalent of an NFL team deliberately building a team with an eye towards getting to the Super Bowl , or an author striving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are worse motives one can rely on to launch a project .
So , yes , “ Hillbilly Elegy ” IS the kind of movie will get Oscar ’ s attention , and it ’ s possible Glenn Close will win best supporting actress after seven acting nominations without a victory and Amy Adams will win best actress after six nominations but no wins .
At the very least , they ’ re near locks to be nominated for their great work , as is the movie itself .
Based on J.D @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same name from 2016 , “ Hillbilly Elegy ” is a beautifully constructed , unforgiving , heart-tugging family epic about three generations of the Vance family , who have relocated to Middletown , Ohio , but have deep roots in the Appalachian hill country of Jackson , Kentucky .
They ’ re the kind of family that will cuss and holler and do physical and emotional damage to one another without a second thought — but if an outsider refers to them as “ rednecks , ” well , that outsider will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cold stare and a dressing-down .
“ [ The hills are ] where my people come from , ” says J.D .
Vance ( Gabriel Bass ) , who has made it all the way to Yale Law School by 2011 , but can never truly break free from the hold of his family , in particular his mother Bev ( Amy Adams ) , who was once a promising student herself but had to give up her dreams to raise her children as she battled addiction and psychological troubles .
“ Hillbilly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early 2010s to the mid-1990s , where young J.D .
( Owen Asztalos ) is trying his best to have a normal childhood , with friends and baseball cards and schoolwork — but that ’ s impossible with a mother who experiences drastic and sometimes violent personality swings , one minute smiling and singing and showering her children with affection , the next smashing things and hitting and screaming at the top of her lungs .
It ’ s a toxic , abusive environment .
In Adams ’ tour de force performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pain in Bev ’ s eyes any time she ’ s hurt or disappointed , and we know what ’ s coming : She ’ ll hurt someone else in a tragically misguided effort to mitigate her own pain .
When Bev tells her son , “ When I get out of [ rehab ] , I ’ m going to make a real home for us , ” we can tell not even Bev believes that lie any more .
On occasion , Bev ’ s outbursts can be comical , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) wants to talk to her boyfriend on Easter and says to her mom , “ It ’ s Kevin , ” and Mom replies , “ I don ’ t care if it ’ s the Baby Jesus , it ’ s Easter goddammit , get your ass in here !
” Much more often , Bev ’ s horrific lapses in judgment and her serial relapsing are deadly serious business .
She ’ s her own worst enemy , as she gets fired from her job as a nurse , becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and alienates young J.D .
to the point where the boy goes to live with Bev ’ s mother .
Mamaw Vance is played by an almost unrecognizable Glenn Close in a masterful , screen-commanding , pitch-perfect performance .
Mamaw ’ s a tough old bird — her favorite movie is “ Terminator 2 ” and she ’ ll casually flip you a double bird and invite you to “ perch and swivel ” — but she ’ s determined to help J.D .
break the generational cycle of abuse and disappointment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it takes to really make something of himself — if his mother doesn ’ t drag him down with her first .
Close and Adams carry this film , but we also get outstanding work from Owen Asztalos and Gabriel Bass as the young and college-age J.D.
, respectively ; the veteran character actor Bo Hopkins as Mamaw ’ s husband ( yes , everyone calls him Papaw ) ; Haley Bennett as J.D.
’ s older sister Lindsay , and Freida Pinto as J.D.
’ s supportive girlfriend , Usha , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened to him and he knows it .
Director Howard isn ’ t one for flashy tricks and gimmicks , but he displays his usual deft touch for the material , whether we see a montage of the various generations of the Vance family , dating back more than a hundred years , or when a funeral procession through town results in every single bystander stopping , doffing hat and standing silently .
“ Why do they do that , Mamaw ?
” asks young J.D .
“ Because we ’ re hill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reply .
“ We respect our dead .
”

You hear the term “Oscar bait” thrown around in conjunction with movies such as Ron Howard’s “Hillbilly Elegy,” and the phrase seems to carry with it an air of cynicism, as if to imply the filmmakers deliberately set out to make the kind of movies that attract the interest of the Motion Picture Academy.
First, why is that such a bad thing? It’s the equivalent of an NFL team deliberately building a team with an eye towards getting to the Super Bowl, or an author striving to create a Pulitzer Prize-winning book. There are worse motives one can rely on to launch a project.
‘Hillbilly Elegy’
Untitled Netflix presents a film directed by Ron Howard and written by Vanessa Taylor, based on the book by J.D. Vance. Rated R (for language throughout, drug content and some violence). Running time: 115 minutes. Opens Wednesday at local theaters and Nov. 24 on Netflix.
So, yes, “Hillbilly Elegy” IS the kind of movie will get Oscar’s attention, and it’s possible Glenn Close will win best supporting actress after seven acting nominations without a victory and Amy Adams will win best actress after six nominations but no wins. At the very least, they’re near locks to be nominated for their great work, as is the movie itself.
Based on J.D. Vance’s best-selling memoir of the same name from 2016, “Hillbilly Elegy” is a beautifully constructed, unforgiving, heart-tugging family epic about three generations of the Vance family, who have relocated to Middletown, Ohio, but have deep roots in the Appalachian hill country of Jackson, Kentucky. They’re the kind of family that will cuss and holler and do physical and emotional damage to one another without a second thought — but if an outsider refers to them as “rednecks,” well, that outsider will be lucky to escape with only a cold stare and a dressing-down.
“[The hills are] where my people come from,” says J.D. Vance (Gabriel Basso), who has made it all the way to Yale Law School by 2011, but can never truly break free from the hold of his family, in particular his mother Bev (Amy Adams), who was once a promising student herself but had to give up her dreams to raise her children as she battled addiction and psychological troubles. “Hillbilly Elegy” toggles back and forth from the early 2010s to the mid-1990s, where young J.D. (Owen Asztalos) is trying his best to have a normal childhood, with friends and baseball cards and schoolwork — but that’s impossible with a mother who experiences drastic and sometimes violent personality swings, one minute smiling and singing and showering her children with affection, the next smashing things and hitting and screaming at the top of her lungs. It’s a toxic, abusive environment.
In Adams’ tour de force performance, we can see the flicker of pain in Bev’s eyes any time she’s hurt or disappointed, and we know what’s coming: She’ll hurt someone else in a tragically misguided effort to mitigate her own pain. When Bev tells her son, “When I get out of [rehab], I’m going to make a real home for us,” we can tell not even Bev believes that lie any more.
Bev (Amy Adams) can be caring mother one minute and a shrieking monster the next. Netflix
On occasion, Bev’s outbursts can be comical, as when her daughter Lindsay (Haley Bennett) wants to talk to her boyfriend on Easter and says to her mom, “It’s Kevin,” and Mom replies, “I don’t care if it’s the Baby Jesus, it’s Easter goddammit, get your ass in here!” Much more often, Bev’s horrific lapses in judgment and her serial relapsing are deadly serious business. She’s her own worst enemy, as she gets fired from her job as a nurse, becomes involved in a series of questionable relationships and alienates young J.D. to the point where the boy goes to live with Bev’s mother.
Mamaw Vance is played by an almost unrecognizable Glenn Close in a masterful, screen-commanding, pitch-perfect performance. Mamaw’s a tough old bird — her favorite movie is “Terminator 2” and she’ll casually flip you a double bird and invite you to “perch and swivel” — but she’s determined to help J.D. break the generational cycle of abuse and disappointment in the family. J.D. has what it takes to really make something of himself — if his mother doesn’t drag him down with her first.
Close and Adams carry this film, but we also get outstanding work from Owen Asztalos and Gabriel Bass as the young and college-age J.D., respectively; the veteran character actor Bo Hopkins as Mamaw’s husband (yes, everyone calls him Papaw); Haley Bennett as J.D.’s older sister Lindsay, and Freida Pinto as J.D.’s supportive girlfriend, Usha, who is the best thing that has ever happened to him and he knows it.
Director Howard isn’t one for flashy tricks and gimmicks, but he displays his usual deft touch for the material, whether we see a montage of the various generations of the Vance family, dating back more than a hundred years, or when a funeral procession through town results in every single bystander stopping, doffing hat and standing silently. “Why do they do that, Mamaw?” asks young J.D. “Because we’re hill people, honey,” comes the reply. “We respect our dead.”


chicagosun-times--2020-11-10--‘Echo Boomers’ a nifty little gem about crooks with a cause

The young actors playing activist burglars in “ Echo Boomers ” must have had a blast making this movie .
You get to smash up houses in spectacular fashion time and again , AND you get to share scenes with the great Michael Shannon doing his Michael Shannon burning intensity thing , and if that ’ s not a master class in acting then I just don ’ t know .
Set in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs but filmed mostly in Salt Lake City ( wait , what ) save for a few days of pickup shots filmed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boomers ” is “ a true story , if you believe in such things , ” says the title card , though I don ’ t remember hearing about a group of recent college grads pulling off dozens of robberies of million-dollar homes in 2013 , the year the movie is set .
After we see a montage of news reports and talk show discussions about how millennials , aka Echo Boomers , are struggling to find work and make a place in this world , we see Patrick Schwarzenegger ’ s Lance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Lesley Ann Warren ’ s journalist ( the credits identify her only as “ Author ” ) , who wants to give Lance the opportunity to tell his side of the story .
Guess that spoils any questions about where this story will wind up , eh ?
Flashback to a few months earlier , with Lance arriving in Chicago at the invitation of his cousin Jack ( Gilles Geary ) , who has promised Lance a job “ in acquisitions.
” It ’ s been rough sledding for Lance , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the art world ever since graduating from college but has hit nothing but dead ends , so he ’ s eager to take the gig , no questions asked .
Next thing we know , Lance is given a cool skeleton mask and a pair of gloves and is literally along for the ride as a gang of millennials breaks into a posh home , takes everything of value and sprays the wall with graffiti making them sound like modern-day Robin Hoods .
Maybe you should have asked a few questions after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gang was founded by Alex Pettyfer ’ s Ellis and Hayley Law ’ s Allie , who started robbing homes as some sort of political statement about the effed-up world their parents have left them , but now seem to be in it mostly for the money and the instant gratification they pursue in the form of drinks and drugs and more drinks and more drugs ( not to mention the highs they experience every time they pull off another job ) .
Everyone in the group has a back story explaining why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vandalism each time out ; for example , one of them had a horrible childhood and always seeks out family photos to smash and destroy .
Still , it ’ s tough to feel empathy for this bunch , most of whom come across as entitled little jerks who think the world owes them something and have decided they ’ ll take what they want without earning it .
Even the initially likable Lance becomes something of a chest-thumping d-bag .
Still , we stay involved with “ Echo Boomers , ” thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visuals and the promise of another scene involving Michael Shannon ’ s Mel , who runs a legitimate business but has a lucrative side gig in providing the gang with the names and addresses of wealthy Chicagoans and suburbanites with seven-figure homes loaded with material goods .
Director Seth Savoy ( who co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Bernhardt and Jason Miller ) displays real talent and infuses “ Echo Boomers ” with a kinetic flash that suits the material .
It would be an upset to learn Savoy isn ’ t a huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Quentin Tarantino , and such films as “ The Town ” and “ Heat.
” This is a nifty little gem in the heist genre , with the familiar message about the perils of greed and always wanting more and more and even more .
The Echo Boomers don ’ t know when to stop , and we know where that will land them .
The Chicago premiere of “ Echo Boomers ” begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Chi-Town Movies drive-in , 2343 S. Throop St. Tickets : eventbrite.com

The young actors playing activist burglars in “Echo Boomers” must have had a blast making this movie. You get to smash up houses in spectacular fashion time and again, AND you get to share scenes with the great Michael Shannon doing his Michael Shannon burning intensity thing, and if that’s not a master class in acting then I just don’t know.
Set in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs but filmed mostly in Salt Lake City (wait, what) save for a few days of pickup shots filmed in the city last March, “Echo Boomers” is “a true story, if you believe in such things,” says the title card, though I don’t remember hearing about a group of recent college grads pulling off dozens of robberies of million-dollar homes in 2013, the year the movie is set.
‘Echo Boomers’
Untitled Saban Films presents a film directed by Seth Savoy and written by Savoy, Kevin Bernhardt and Jason Miller. Rated R (for drug use and pervasive language). Running time: 94 minutes. Opens Friday at the Music Box Theatre.
After we see a montage of news reports and talk show discussions about how millennials, aka Echo Boomers, are struggling to find work and make a place in this world, we see Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Lance on the phone in prison, talking to Lesley Ann Warren’s journalist (the credits identify her only as “Author”), who wants to give Lance the opportunity to tell his side of the story. Guess that spoils any questions about where this story will wind up, eh?
Flashback to a few months earlier, with Lance arriving in Chicago at the invitation of his cousin Jack (Gilles Geary), who has promised Lance a job “in acquisitions.” It’s been rough sledding for Lance, who has been trying to land a job in the art world ever since graduating from college but has hit nothing but dead ends, so he’s eager to take the gig, no questions asked. Next thing we know, Lance is given a cool skeleton mask and a pair of gloves and is literally along for the ride as a gang of millennials breaks into a posh home, takes everything of value and sprays the wall with graffiti making them sound like modern-day Robin Hoods.
Maybe you should have asked a few questions after all, Lance.
We learn the gang was founded by Alex Pettyfer’s Ellis and Hayley Law’s Allie, who started robbing homes as some sort of political statement about the effed-up world their parents have left them, but now seem to be in it mostly for the money and the instant gratification they pursue in the form of drinks and drugs and more drinks and more drugs (not to mention the highs they experience every time they pull off another job). Everyone in the group has a back story explaining why they indulge in a particular form of vandalism each time out; for example, one of them had a horrible childhood and always seeks out family photos to smash and destroy. Still, it’s tough to feel empathy for this bunch, most of whom come across as entitled little jerks who think the world owes them something and have decided they’ll take what they want without earning it. Even the initially likable Lance becomes something of a chest-thumping d-bag.
Still, we stay involved with “Echo Boomers,” thanks to the excellent performances, the eye-popping visuals and the promise of another scene involving Michael Shannon’s Mel, who runs a legitimate business but has a lucrative side gig in providing the gang with the names and addresses of wealthy Chicagoans and suburbanites with seven-figure homes loaded with material goods.
Ellis (Alex Pettyfer, left) co-founded the gang, which gets tips from Mel (Michael Shannon) on the best homes to invade. Saban Films
Director Seth Savoy (who co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin Bernhardt and Jason Miller) displays real talent and infuses “Echo Boomers” with a kinetic flash that suits the material. It would be an upset to learn Savoy isn’t a huge fan of the works of Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino, and such films as “The Town” and “Heat.” This is a nifty little gem in the heist genre, with the familiar message about the perils of greed and always wanting more and more and even more. The Echo Boomers don’t know when to stop, and we know where that will land them.
The Chicago premiere of “Echo Boomers” begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Chi-Town Movies drive-in, 2343 S. Throop St. Tickets: eventbrite.com


chicagosun-times--2020-11-10--Snap judgment: Bears RB Ryan Nall gets his shot in David Montgomery’s absence

There wasn ’ t much good offensively for the Bears in their 24-17 loss to the Titans on Sunday , and their situation got worse with running back David Montgomery suffering a concussion .
That leaves the Bears with Cordarrelle Patterson , Ryan Nall and Artavis Pierce as their only running backs .
And Nall , who had never played more than seven snaps in a game , made the most of that opportunity .
Nall played a career-high 10 snaps , and while he didn ’ t get any carries , he caught all four passes thrown his way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also scored his first NFL touchdown .
The Bears probably won ’ t know until late in the week whether they ’ ll have Montgomery against the Vikings on Monday , but if they don ’ t , it might be Nall playing ahead of Patterson .
Here are more notes on how the Bears split up playing time in the Titans game : It ’ s good to see coach Matt Nagy following through on his commitment to play second-round pick Cole Kmet more .
Rookie tight ends usually need time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Kmet has potential .
He played a season-high 47 % of the snaps .
That said , Nick Foles didn ’ t throw the ball his way .
It ’ s still a positive sign for the Bears that Kmet is ready for that large of a role .
His surge has meant diminished opportunity for veteran Demetrius Harris , who played just 8 % of the snaps .
It was his second game in a row under 10 % .
Everyone wants outside linebacker Robert Quinn to play more , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those snaps for them to matter .
He was in on a season-high 75 % of the defensive snaps , which was quite a surprise after averaging 46 % his first seven games , but had no sacks or quarterback hits .
“ We ’ re working on trying to get his reps in the right spot , ” outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino said Monday .
“ We ’ ve got a number that we ’ re trying to hit .
I ’ ve been a little bit below that number through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to drive that number up a little bit yesterday .
“ I ’ m trying to give him more of an opportunity to get into a rhythm .
Again , as we go back and look at it , the most important thing is that we get him doing what he does best most often .
That ’ s the process that we ’ re in.
” Quinn had a strip sack on his first snap of the season , but none since .
He has drawn some attention away from Khalil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6.5 sacks .
The Bears don ’ t have a clear No .
2 receiving option after Allen Robinson .
Fifth-round pick Darnell Mooney appears to be emerging , but he ’ s still a rookie .
While Robinson caught seven passes for 81 yards Sunday , no one else cracked 60 .
Here ’ s how the snaps were distributed : Ridley , in his season debut , caught two passes for 23 yards including an 18-yard catch on third-and-16 in the third quarter .
He will likely continue to play a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Without defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris , who is likely headed to injured reserve , the Bears need someone to step up alongside Akiem Hicks ( 91 % of the snaps Sunday ) and Bilal Nichols ( 67 % ) .
In addition to playing Quinn more , the Bears split the rest of the d-line snaps this way : That trio was pretty solid .
That ’ s a season high for Urban , who had three tackles and a quarterback hit .
McCullers , who came off the practice squad for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edwards had his second sack of the season .
Five defensive players played the entire game ( 55 snaps ) : cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Jaylon Johnson , safeties Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson and linebacker Roquan Smith .
Gipson has missed one snap all season , and Smith has missed two .

There wasn’t much good offensively for the Bears in their 24-17 loss to the Titans on Sunday, and their situation got worse with running back David Montgomery suffering a concussion.
That leaves the Bears with Cordarrelle Patterson, Ryan Nall and Artavis Pierce as their only running backs. And Nall, who had never played more than seven snaps in a game, made the most of that opportunity.
Nall played a career-high 10 snaps, and while he didn’t get any carries, he caught all four passes thrown his way and finished with 35 yards. He also scored his first NFL touchdown.
The Bears probably won’t know until late in the week whether they’ll have Montgomery against the Vikings on Monday, but if they don’t, it might be Nall playing ahead of Patterson.
Here are more notes on how the Bears split up playing time in the Titans game:
Kmet tracker
It’s good to see coach Matt Nagy following through on his commitment to play second-round pick Cole Kmet more. Rookie tight ends usually need time, but the Bears are desperate for playmakers, and Kmet has potential.
He played a season-high 47% of the snaps. That said, Nick Foles didn’t throw the ball his way.
It’s still a positive sign for the Bears that Kmet is ready for that large of a role. His surge has meant diminished opportunity for veteran Demetrius Harris, who played just 8% of the snaps. It was his second game in a row under 10%.
Empty snaps for Quinn
Everyone wants outside linebacker Robert Quinn to play more, but he has to do something with those snaps for them to matter.
He was in on a season-high 75% of the defensive snaps, which was quite a surprise after averaging 46% his first seven games, but had no sacks or quarterback hits.
“We’re working on trying to get his reps in the right spot,” outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino said Monday. “We’ve got a number that we’re trying to hit. I’ve been a little bit below that number through the first eight weeks. We were able to drive that number up a little bit yesterday.
“I’m trying to give him more of an opportunity to get into a rhythm. Again, as we go back and look at it, the most important thing is that we get him doing what he does best most often. That’s the process that we’re in.”
Quinn had a strip sack on his first snap of the season, but none since. He has drawn some attention away from Khalil Mack, however, and Mack has 6.5 sacks.
Receiver allocation
The Bears don’t have a clear No. 2 receiving option after Allen Robinson. Fifth-round pick Darnell Mooney appears to be emerging, but he’s still a rookie. While Robinson caught seven passes for 81 yards Sunday, no one else cracked 60.
Here’s how the snaps were distributed:
Robinson, 95%
Mooney, 87%
Anthony Miller, 69%
Riley Ridley, 21%
Ridley, in his season debut, caught two passes for 23 yards including an 18-yard catch on third-and-16 in the third quarter. He will likely continue to play a decent-sized role Monday with Javon Wims suspended.
D-line update
Without defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris, who is likely headed to injured reserve, the Bears need someone to step up alongside Akiem Hicks (91% of the snaps Sunday) and Bilal Nichols (67%).
In addition to playing Quinn more, the Bears split the rest of the d-line snaps this way:
Brent Urban, 42%
Daniel McCullers, 36%
Mario Edwards, 24%
That trio was pretty solid. That’s a season high for Urban, who had three tackles and a quarterback hit. McCullers, who came off the practice squad for that game, had four tackles. Edwards had his second sack of the season.
Keeping it 100
Five defensive players played the entire game (55 snaps): cornerbacks Kyle Fuller and Jaylon Johnson, safeties Eddie Jackson and Tashaun Gipson and linebacker Roquan Smith.
Gipson has missed one snap all season, and Smith has missed two.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-10--Arson suspected in fire at East Side auto shop: police

Chicago police believe someone intentionally started a fire Tuesday at an auto shop in the East Side neighborhood .
Someone @ @ @ @ @ ” to damage six-to-eight vehicles about 3:05 a.m. in the parking lot of a shop @ @ @ @ @ South Avenue L , according to Chicago police .
No one was injured and no @ @ @ @ @ police said .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides @

Chicago police believe someone intentionally started a fire Tuesday at an auto shop in the East Side neighborhood.
Someone used “an incendiary device” to damage six-to-eight vehicles about 3:05 a.m. in the parking lot of a shop in the 9900 block of South Avenue L, according to Chicago police.
No one was injured and no one is in custody, police said.
Arson detectives are investigating the incident.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-11-10--4 killed, 13 wounded Monday in citywide shootings

Seventeen people were shot , four of them fatally , Monday in Chicago .
The latest fatal shooting left a man dead Monday evening in Rogers Park on the North Side .
About 7 p.m. , the 20-year-old was in the back seat of a vehicle in the 6700 block of North Newgard Avenue when someone approached and fired shots after an exchange of words , Chicago police said .
The man was struck in the chest and taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston , where he was pronounced dead .
Just over an hour earlier , two men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attack in Humboldt Park on the West Side .
They were on a corner about 5:50 p.m. in the 3600 block of West Division Street when someone fired shots from a black Chevy Equinox , Chicago police said .
One man , 32 , and another , 25 , were both struck in the head and pronounced dead at the scene , police said .
The third man , 26 , was struck in the leg and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition .
Early Monday , a man was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Clearing on the Southwest Side .
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert for gunfire about 2 a.m. in the 4700 block of West 59th Street found the 20-year-old unresponsive in the driver ’ s seat of a car that apparently hit a tree , according to Chicago police .
The man had a gunshot wound to his face and was pronounced dead at the scene .
In non-fatal shootings , a man and woman were wounded Monday night in Fernwood on the South Side .
The pair , both 27 , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone pulled up next to them at a stop sign in the 500 block of West 103rd Street and opened fire , Chicago police said .
The man was struck in both his legs while the woman was shot in the back .
They drove to Little Company of Mary Hospital , where both were listed in fair condition .
A 16-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting earlier Monday evening in Little Village on the Southwest Side .
He was involved in a drug deal about 8 p.m. in the 1900 block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot in the leg , according to Chicago police .
He took himself to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he was in good condition .
Less than an hour before that , two men were shot in Lawndale on the West Side .
They were in the 3600 block of West 16th Street about 7:10 p.m. when someone opened fire , Chicago police said .
One man , 28 , was shot in the chest and thigh , while another , 34 , was struck in the foot and hip .
Both were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition .
Two teenage boys were critically wounded in a shooting Monday afternoon in the same neighborhood .
They were on the sidewalk about 3:46 p.m. in the 1800 block of South St. Louis Avenue when someone unleashed gunfire , Chicago police said .
A 17-year-old was struck in the chest and leg , while the other boy , 16 , was shot in the foot and arm .
Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition .
On Monday morning , a woman was shot on the Eisenhower Expressway on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 3:52 a.m. in the westbound lanes of I-290 near Homan Avenue , according to Illinois State Police .
The woman was driven to a hospital with injuries that weren ’ t thought to be life-threatening .
The day ’ s first reported shooting happened in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side .
A 20-year-old man was getting out of a vehicle shortly after 1 a.m. in the 3100 block of West 40th Place when he heard gunshots and realized he was hit , according to Chicago police .
He was taken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gunshot wound to the foot .
Three other people were wounded Monday in separate shootings across the city .
Over the weekend , 43 people were shot in Chicago , six of them fatally .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Seventeen people were shot, four of them fatally, Monday in Chicago.
The latest fatal shooting left a man dead Monday evening in Rogers Park on the North Side.
About 7 p.m., the 20-year-old was in the back seat of a vehicle in the 6700 block of North Newgard Avenue when someone approached and fired shots after an exchange of words, Chicago police said. The man was struck in the chest and taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was pronounced dead.
Just over an hour earlier, two men were killed and another was wounded in an attack in Humboldt Park on the West Side.
They were on a corner about 5:50 p.m. in the 3600 block of West Division Street when someone fired shots from a black Chevy Equinox, Chicago police said.
One man, 32, and another, 25, were both struck in the head and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The third man, 26, was struck in the leg and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.
Early Monday, a man was found shot to death near Midway Airport in Clearing on the Southwest Side.
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert for gunfire about 2 a.m. in the 4700 block of West 59th Street found the 20-year-old unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a car that apparently hit a tree, according to Chicago police. The man had a gunshot wound to his face and was pronounced dead at the scene.
In non-fatal shootings, a man and woman were wounded Monday night in Fernwood on the South Side.
The pair, both 27, were in a vehicle about 10:45 p.m. when someone pulled up next to them at a stop sign in the 500 block of West 103rd Street and opened fire, Chicago police said. The man was struck in both his legs while the woman was shot in the back. They drove to Little Company of Mary Hospital, where both were listed in fair condition.
A 16-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting earlier Monday evening in Little Village on the Southwest Side.
He was involved in a drug deal about 8 p.m. in the 1900 block of South Troy Street when he was shot in the leg, according to Chicago police. He took himself to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was in good condition.
Less than an hour before that, two men were shot in Lawndale on the West Side.
They were in the 3600 block of West 16th Street about 7:10 p.m. when someone opened fire, Chicago police said. One man, 28, was shot in the chest and thigh, while another, 34, was struck in the foot and hip. Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition.
Two teenage boys were critically wounded in a shooting Monday afternoon in the same neighborhood.
They were on the sidewalk about 3:46 p.m. in the 1800 block of South St. Louis Avenue when someone unleashed gunfire, Chicago police said. A 17-year-old was struck in the chest and leg, while the other boy, 16, was shot in the foot and arm. Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
On Monday morning, a woman was shot on the Eisenhower Expressway on the West Side.
The shooting happened at 3:52 a.m. in the westbound lanes of I-290 near Homan Avenue, according to Illinois State Police. The woman was driven to a hospital with injuries that weren’t thought to be life-threatening.
The day’s first reported shooting happened in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side.
A 20-year-old man was getting out of a vehicle shortly after 1 a.m. in the 3100 block of West 40th Place when he heard gunshots and realized he was hit, according to Chicago police. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition with a gunshot wound to the foot.
Three other people were wounded Monday in separate shootings across the city.
Over the weekend, 43 people were shot in Chicago, six of them fatally.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.