chicagosun-times--2020-08-15--Blackhawks on brink of elimination after Game 3 loss to Golden Knights

After playing three games against it in five days , the Blackhawks have gained a strong understanding of how the Golden Knights ’ stellar defensive system works .
So far , however , they have failed to prove they ’ re capable of countering it , much less beating it .
Another meager offensive showing in a 2-1 loss in Game 3 on Saturday put the Hawks on the brink of elimination , trailing 3-0 in the series .
‘ ‘ We could ’ ve had way more goals than just one , but they just didn ’ t go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maatta , the Hawks ’ lone goal-scorer .
‘ ‘ [ We had ] a couple of posts , bounces out .
On a better day , those are going to go in .
It ’ s tough now , but it is what it is.
’ ’ The Knights ’ decision to start Marc-Andre Fleury — a weaker goalie than Robin Lehner at this point in his accomplished career — for the first leg of the weekend back-to-back seemingly provided the Hawks with their juiciest chance to get back in the series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his late-2000s self with a spectacular outing and the Hawks ’ attack falling into many of the traps the Knights ’ defense cleverly has set all series killed that opportunity .
Fleury came out aggressively to break up a centering pass to Kirby Dach in the opening minutes , then challenged a good-looking shot by Jonathan Toews on a power play early in the third period .
Patrick Kane should ’ ve beaten him late in the first but hit the post on a gaping net .
Alex DeBrincat enjoyed a promising yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ice en route to eight shots on goal — many of which were high-danger chances — but remained cursed from scoring his first postseason goal .
‘ ‘ I had a lot of good chances , ’ ’ he said , dismayed .
‘ ‘ Just didn ’ t squeak through.
’ ’ The rest of the Hawks largely were squashed by the Knights ’ system , no matter how well they apparently knew it coming in .
Before Game 3 , coach Jeremy Colliton had described in depth the Knights ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which focuses on tying up the puck in the corner and crashing the battle with two or three additional players to win it back .
After the game , however , he offered few specifics as to why the Hawks have been outsmarted by it so often .
‘ ‘ That ’ s what the playoffs are about , ’ ’ he said .
‘ ‘ We make adjustments , they make adjustments .
We knew what they were doing before the series .
It ’ s just [ about ] finding a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upper hand early with a short-handed goal by William Karlsson , then dominated the second period and eventually added an insurance goal from Patrick Brown .
That two-goal deficit appeared — and turned out to be — insurmountable , despite Maatta ’ s tally .
‘ ‘ They got the second goal , and then it ’ s tough , ’ ’ Colliton said .
‘ ‘ It ’ s an uphill battle against a team that makes you work for everything you get.
’ ’ Colliton used Kane as liberally as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racked up nearly 25 minutes of ice time .
Colliton also reinserted rookie defenseman Adam Boqvist into the lineup , but Boqvist ultimately made two blunders that led directly to the Knights ’ second goal .
The Hawks ’ playoff run , which has turned sour as quickly as it ripened , will end Sunday if the Knights can complete the sweep in Game 4 .
‘ ‘ Nobody ’ s going to feel sorry for us , ’ ’ Colliton said .
‘ ‘ We want to be that team that plays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We showed character to come back , but .
.
.
it ’ s a results thing , and we have to find a way to finish it.
’ ’ ‘ ‘ We ’ re down three games , [ and ] tomorrow is a must-win to stay alive , ’ ’ Toews said .
‘ ‘ That ’ s the reality .
That ’ s the way we look at it .
’ ’

After playing three games against it in five days, the Blackhawks have gained a strong understanding of how the Golden Knights’ stellar defensive system works.
So far, however, they have failed to prove they’re capable of countering it, much less beating it.
Another meager offensive showing in a 2-1 loss in Game 3 on Saturday put the Hawks on the brink of elimination, trailing 3-0 in the series.
‘‘We could’ve had way more goals than just one, but they just didn’t go in,’’ said defenseman Olli Maatta, the Hawks’ lone goal-scorer. ‘‘[We had] a couple of posts, bounces out. On a better day, those are going to go in. It’s tough now, but it is what it is.’’
The Knights’ decision to start Marc-Andre Fleury — a weaker goalie than Robin Lehner at this point in his accomplished career — for the first leg of the weekend back-to-back seemingly provided the Hawks with their juiciest chance to get back in the series.
But a combination of Fleury channeling his late-2000s self with a spectacular outing and the Hawks’ attack falling into many of the traps the Knights’ defense cleverly has set all series killed that opportunity.
Fleury came out aggressively to break up a centering pass to Kirby Dach in the opening minutes, then challenged a good-looking shot by Jonathan Toews on a power play early in the third period. Patrick Kane should’ve beaten him late in the first but hit the post on a gaping net.
Alex DeBrincat enjoyed a promising yet fruitless outing. He flew all over the ice en route to eight shots on goal — many of which were high-danger chances — but remained cursed from scoring his first postseason goal.
‘‘I had a lot of good chances,’’ he said, dismayed. ‘‘Just didn’t squeak through.’’
A second-period goal by Patrick Brown proved to be the game-winner for the Knights. Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images
The rest of the Hawks largely were squashed by the Knights’ system, no matter how well they apparently knew it coming in.
Before Game 3, coach Jeremy Colliton had described in depth the Knights’ ‘‘overload’’ system, which focuses on tying up the puck in the corner and crashing the battle with two or three additional players to win it back. After the game, however, he offered few specifics as to why the Hawks have been outsmarted by it so often.
‘‘That’s what the playoffs are about,’’ he said. ‘‘We make adjustments, they make adjustments. We knew what they were doing before the series. It’s just [about] finding a way.’’
The Knights established the upper hand early with a short-handed goal by William Karlsson, then dominated the second period and eventually added an insurance goal from Patrick Brown.
That two-goal deficit appeared — and turned out to be — insurmountable, despite Maatta’s tally.
‘‘They got the second goal, and then it’s tough,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘It’s an uphill battle against a team that makes you work for everything you get.’’
Colliton used Kane as liberally as possible, double-shifting him constantly, as Kane racked up nearly 25 minutes of ice time. Colliton also reinserted rookie defenseman Adam Boqvist into the lineup, but Boqvist ultimately made two blunders that led directly to the Knights’ second goal.
The Hawks’ playoff run, which has turned sour as quickly as it ripened, will end Sunday if the Knights can complete the sweep in Game 4.
‘‘Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us,’’ Colliton said. ‘‘We want to be that team that plays to the end, never quits. We showed character to come back, but . . . it’s a results thing, and we have to find a way to finish it.’’
‘‘We’re down three games, [and] tomorrow is a must-win to stay alive,’’ Toews said. ‘‘That’s the reality. That’s the way we look at it.’’


chicagosun-times--2020-08-16--Gunfire leads to crash on I-80 near Country Club Hills

Shots were fired Sunday morning on Interstate 80 , leading to a crash near south suburban Country Club Hills .
@ @ @ @ @ Dodge Avenger fired shots at a Harvey man ’ s vehicle about 5:15 a.m. on @ @ @ @ @ , Illinois State Police said .
The vehicles collided after the shots were fired , @ @ @ @ @ targeted vehicle off the roadway and into a guardrail on the left shoulder , state @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Dodge hit a light pole and landed in a ditch , state police @ @ @ @ @ the scene .
The 37-year-old Harvey man driving the other vehicle was not injured , @ @ @ @ @ a 32-year-old woman , state police said .
Read more on crime , and track @ @ @ @ @ .

Shots were fired Sunday morning on Interstate 80, leading to a crash near south suburban Country Club Hills.
Someone in a red 2013 Dodge Avenger fired shots at a Harvey man’s vehicle about 5:15 a.m. on westbound I-80 near Pulaski Road, Illinois State Police said.
The vehicles collided after the shots were fired, with the impact sending the targeted vehicle off the roadway and into a guardrail on the left shoulder, state police said.
The shooter’s Dodge hit a light pole and landed in a ditch, state police said. The driver fled the scene.
The 37-year-old Harvey man driving the other vehicle was not injured, nor was his passenger, a 32-year-old woman, state police said.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-16--Illinois records 1,562 new COVID-19 cases, 18 additional deaths

Illinois continued its nearly month-long trend of four-digit caseloads Sunday as state health officials announced another 1,562 people have tested positive for the coronavirus .
Illinois is averaging roughly 1,702 new cases each day this month .
That ’ s about 550 new infections per day compared to July , when an average of 1,150 new cases were being confirmed daily .
This increase has been a cause of concern for Gov .
J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike , who have repeatedly said they ’ re worried the state is heading in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan in July , Pritzker has warned people that if a region surpasses certain thresholds for metrics , including percentage of people testing positive , hospital capacity and rising hospital admissions , then officials will choose to tighten restrictions .
The first region to experience a roll back in its reopening is the Metro East region , which has surpassed an 8 % positivity rate for three consecutive days .
Starting Tuesday , the Metro East region , which includes Bond , Clinton , Madison , Monroe , Randolph , St. Clair and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tighter restrictions , which will mainly affect bars , restaurants and social gatherings .
Under the new mitigation requirements , bars and restaurants will have to close by 11 p.m .
There will be no party buses and all reception halls will be closed .
Group gatherings will be limited to just 25 people or 25 % of the venue ’ s capacity , whichever is less .
State and public health officials have attributed the recent uptick in cases to outbreaks among young people , especially 20- to 29-year-olds who account for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 206,081 total cases .
The vast majority of COVID-19 patients — about 95 % — have recovered .
The new infections announced Sunday account for roughly 4.2 % of the 37,089 test results reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health over the last day .
That raises the state ’ s testing positivity rate over the last week at 4.1 % — the same percentage as last Sunday .
The state has processed more than 3.3 million tests in the last six months .
Health officials on Sunday also announced 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respiratory virus , raising the statewide death toll to 7,744 .
Cook County accounted for half of Sunday ’ s fatalities , which included a Cook County woman in her 30s .
Hospitalizations crept up slightly from Friday .
As of Saturday night , 1,581 coronavirus patients were hospitalized in Illinois , officials said .
Of those patients , 345 were in intensive care units and 116 on ventilators .

Illinois continued its nearly month-long trend of four-digit caseloads Sunday as state health officials announced another 1,562 people have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Illinois is averaging roughly 1,702 new cases each day this month. That’s about 550 new infections per day compared to July, when an average of 1,150 new cases were being confirmed daily.
This increase has been a cause of concern for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, who have repeatedly said they’re worried the state is heading in the wrong direction. Since reshuffling his reopening plan in July, Pritzker has warned people that if a region surpasses certain thresholds for metrics, including percentage of people testing positive, hospital capacity and rising hospital admissions, then officials will choose to tighten restrictions.
The first region to experience a roll back in its reopening is the Metro East region, which has surpassed an 8% positivity rate for three consecutive days.
Starting Tuesday, the Metro East region, which includes Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties, will have to follow tighter restrictions, which will mainly affect bars, restaurants and social gatherings. Under the new mitigation requirements, bars and restaurants will have to close by 11 p.m. There will be no party buses and all reception halls will be closed. Group gatherings will be limited to just 25 people or 25% of the venue’s capacity, whichever is less.
State and public health officials have attributed the recent uptick in cases to outbreaks among young people, especially 20- to 29-year-olds who account for nearly 19% of the state’s 206,081 total cases.
The vast majority of COVID-19 patients — about 95% — have recovered.
The new infections announced Sunday account for roughly 4.2% of the 37,089 test results reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health over the last day. That raises the state’s testing positivity rate over the last week at 4.1% — the same percentage as last Sunday.
The state has processed more than 3.3 million tests in the last six months.
Health officials on Sunday also announced 18 more Illinois residents have succumbed to the respiratory virus, raising the statewide death toll to 7,744.
Cook County accounted for half of Sunday’s fatalities, which included a Cook County woman in her 30s.
Hospitalizations crept up slightly from Friday. As of Saturday night, 1,581 coronavirus patients were hospitalized in Illinois, officials said. Of those patients, 345 were in intensive care units and 116 on ventilators.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-16--Blame game for weekend downtown melee pits mayor and CPD against activists

A day after a chaotic downtown protest led to 24 arrests , Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday faulted agitators at the event for sparking the violence as activists and key elected officials put the blame squarely on police .
During an interview Sunday morning on CBS ’ “ Face the Nation , ” Lightfoot said “ people have embedded themselves in these seemingly peaceful protests ” and that “ we are absolutely not going to tolerate people who come to these protests looking for a fight and are intending to injure our police officers — and injure innocent people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their First Amendment rights.
” Later Sunday , organizers of Saturday ’ s demonstration to defund the Chicago Police Department and abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement held a series of news conferences at the Wentworth District police station in Fuller Park , where some activists arrested in Saturday ’ s melee were being held .
India Jackson , an organizer with Good Kids Mad City , explained that she and other protesters were left “ running for our lives ” when officers apparently attempted to confine the group in a small area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I was hit multiple times with a baton and I was tear-gassed all while trying to escape the area .
.
.
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The officers claimed that they didn ’ t want us there , but as we tried to leave , they wouldn ’ t let us , ” Jackson said .
“ We were specifically targeted while exercising our right to protest.
” Organizers for another group , Increase the Peace , also accused police of going too far .
“ We were there peacefully protesting , and then they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berto Aguayo , Increase the Peace ’ s co-founder and director .
“ And during the course of events , because of their sustained brutality , yeah , there were people who reacted because there were people getting beat up , they were fighting for their lives and that ’ s what you see on videos .
“ This only happens in dictatorship countries.
” Apparently trying to blunt the criticism , police on Sunday released footage showing protesters donning ponchos , taking out umbrellas and moving collectively toward a police blockade at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video then appears to show a protester lunging toward an officer , setting off violent clashes .
At one point , a 25-year-old demonstrator appears to use a skateboard to strike an officer .
That man was charged with a felony count of aggravated battery to a peace officer on Sunday , authorities said .
A second video of the same incident shows some officers swinging batons at protesters before spraying a chemical irritant into the crowd .
And another video that was widely circulated on social media appears to show dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chicago Police Supt .
David Brown said officers responded “ proportionally ” to “ protect the peaceful protesters.
” He added that 17 officers were hurt , mostly suffering “ bumps and bruises , ” when protesters broke out pepper spray and chucked objects , including “ bottles and bicycles.
” Besides the 25-year-old man , two women , ages 18 and 24 , also were charged with felonies , with one of the women accused of attempting steal a police bodycam that had been ripped off an officer .
In reference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Aguayo defended protesters ’ actions , saying cops have “ created the atmosphere for that to happen .
“ They initiated the attacks , ” he continued .
“ And when people are fighting for their lives , people are going to do whatever they can to survive and that ’ s what they did.
” On Sunday , state Sens .
Robert Peters and Celina Villanueva ; state Rep. Theresa Mah and state Rep. candidate Lakesia Collins ; Alds .
Byron Sigcho-Lopez , Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez and Andre Vasquez ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint letter criticizing the tactics used during what they called a police “ crackdown.
” “ We question the logic of spending police dollars on social media surveillance , pepper spray and riot gear to beat teenagers while the directives of the federal consent decree go unmet and the murder clearance rate remains abysmally low , ” the group wrote .
“ We are wholeheartedly with the protesters who have taken to the streets to demand a future free of violence.
” Increase the Peace organizers haven ’ t filed any complaints about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the important next step , they say , is for Brown and the mayor ’ s office to issue public apologies for “ attacking the innocent citizens of the city and the youths.
” Ja ’ Mal Green , an activist and former mayoral candidate , went a step further and called for Brown ’ s resignation while speaking to reporters Sunday outside the Wentworth District station .
Green said Lightfoot and Brown have responded to mounting calls to defund the department and take officers out of public schools “ with force.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people are fighting against , ” Green said , adding that officers “ grouped up [ Saturday ] like an army ” to “ protect the rich .
”

A day after a chaotic downtown protest led to 24 arrests, Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday faulted agitators at the event for sparking the violence as activists and key elected officials put the blame squarely on police.
During an interview Sunday morning on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Lightfoot said “people have embedded themselves in these seemingly peaceful protests” and that “we are absolutely not going to tolerate people who come to these protests looking for a fight and are intending to injure our police officers — and injure innocent people who just come to be able to express their First Amendment rights.”
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Later Sunday, organizers of Saturday’s demonstration to defund the Chicago Police Department and abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement held a series of news conferences at the Wentworth District police station in Fuller Park, where some activists arrested in Saturday’s melee were being held.
India Jackson, an organizer with Good Kids Mad City, explained that she and other protesters were left “running for our lives” when officers apparently attempted to confine the group in a small area using a tactic known as kettling.
“I was hit multiple times with a baton and I was tear-gassed all while trying to escape the area. . . . The officers claimed that they didn’t want us there, but as we tried to leave, they wouldn’t let us,” Jackson said. “We were specifically targeted while exercising our right to protest.”
Organizers for another group, Increase the Peace, also accused police of going too far.
“We were there peacefully protesting, and then they started attacking the protesters,” said Berto Aguayo, Increase the Peace’s co-founder and director. “And during the course of events, because of their sustained brutality, yeah, there were people who reacted because there were people getting beat up, they were fighting for their lives and that’s what you see on videos.
“This only happens in dictatorship countries.”
Apparently trying to blunt the criticism, police on Sunday released footage showing protesters donning ponchos, taking out umbrellas and moving collectively toward a police blockade at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive.
The following video footage shows the initial incident that sparked yesterday's violence and arrests, as well as the aggravated battery against a CPD officer with a skateboard. More video will be released throughout the day as it is received. pic.twitter.com/oW7Z3oGKSZ — Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) August 16, 2020
The video then appears to show a protester lunging toward an officer, setting off violent clashes. At one point, a 25-year-old demonstrator appears to use a skateboard to strike an officer. That man was charged with a felony count of aggravated battery to a peace officer on Sunday, authorities said.
A second video of the same incident shows some officers swinging batons at protesters before spraying a chemical irritant into the crowd. And another video that was widely circulated on social media appears to show dozens of officers rushing toward a group of protesters.
Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said officers responded “proportionally” to “protect the peaceful protesters.” He added that 17 officers were hurt, mostly suffering “bumps and bruises,” when protesters broke out pepper spray and chucked objects, including “bottles and bicycles.”
Besides the 25-year-old man, two women, ages 18 and 24, also were charged with felonies, with one of the women accused of attempting steal a police bodycam that had been ripped off an officer. Another man, 24, was accused of hitting an officer in the face with a bullhorn and charged with two counts of resisting or obstructing officers.
In reference to the videos shared by the police, Aguayo defended protesters’ actions, saying cops have “created the atmosphere for that to happen.
“They initiated the attacks,” he continued. “And when people are fighting for their lives, people are going to do whatever they can to survive and that’s what they did.”
On Sunday, state Sens. Robert Peters and Celina Villanueva; state Rep. Theresa Mah and state Rep. candidate Lakesia Collins; Alds. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez and Andre Vasquez; and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson released a joint letter criticizing the tactics used during what they called a police “crackdown.”
“We question the logic of spending police dollars on social media surveillance, pepper spray and riot gear to beat teenagers while the directives of the federal consent decree go unmet and the murder clearance rate remains abysmally low,” the group wrote. “We are wholeheartedly with the protesters who have taken to the streets to demand a future free of violence.”
Increase the Peace organizers haven’t filed any complaints about Saturday’s incidents. Instead, the important next step, they say, is for Brown and the mayor’s office to issue public apologies for “attacking the innocent citizens of the city and the youths.”
Ja’Mal Green, an activist and former mayoral candidate, went a step further and called for Brown’s resignation while speaking to reporters Sunday outside the Wentworth District station. Green said Lightfoot and Brown have responded to mounting calls to defund the department and take officers out of public schools “with force.”
“This is the same force that young people are fighting against,” Green said, adding that officers “grouped up [Saturday] like an army” to “protect the rich.”


chicagosun-times--2020-08-16--House will be called back into session to vote on USPS bill, Pelosi says

WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday she is calling the House back into session this week to vote on a bill prohibiting the U.S .
Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or level of service .
The action comes amid growing concerns that the Trump White House is trying to undermine the agency during the coronavirus pandemic while states expand mail-in voting options .
In a letter to Democratic lawmakers Sunday evening , Pelosi also called on her colleagues to appear at a post office in their district on Tuesday for a coordinated news event .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Postal Service is Election Central .
Americans should not have to choose between their health and their vote , ” she wrote .
Pelosi said House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer would soon announce the legislative schedule for the coming week .
House Democrats were likely to discuss the schedule on a conference call on Monday and were expected to be in session next Saturday , a senior Democratic aide said on condition of anonymity because the plans were private .
Earlier Sunday , Democratic lawmakers demanded that leaders of the Postal Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 on mail delays .
The House Oversight and Reform Committee said it wants to hear from new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and from the chair of the Postal Service board of governors , Robert “ Mike ” Duncan .
With heightened scrutiny of its operations , the agency is now requesting a temporary preelection rate increase , from mid-October through Christmas , although not for first-class letters .
The agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment about whether the two men would appear before the House committee .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distinctive blue mailboxes through mid-November following complaints from customers and members of Congress that the collection boxes were being taken away .
“ Given the recent customer concerns the Postal Service will postpone removing boxes for a period of 90 days while we evaluate our customers ’ concerns , ’ ’ said Postal Service spokeswoman Kimberly Frum .
DeJoy , a major Republican donor and ally of the president who took control of the agency in June , has pledged to modernize the money-losing agency to make it more efficient , and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposed restrictions on transportation and reduced of the quantity and use of mail-processing equipment .
“ The postmaster general and top Postal Service leadership must answer to the Congress and the American people as to why they are pushing these dangerous new policies that threaten to silence the voices of millions , just months before the election , ” congressional Democrats said in a statement announcing the hearing .
The lawmakers included Pelosi of California and New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney , the committee chair , along with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peters , the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , which oversees the Postal Service .
Trump said last week that he was blocking a $ 25 billion emergency injection sought by the Postal Service , as well as a Democratic proposal to provide $ 3.6 billion in additional election money to the states .
The Republican president worries that mail-in voting could cost him reelection .
The money for the post office is intended to help with processing an expected surge of mail-in ballots .
Both funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations over a new coronavirus relief package .
On Saturday , Trump tried to massage his message , saying he supports increasing money for the Postal Service .
He said he was refusing to capitulate to Democrats on other parts of the relief package , including funding for states weighed down by debt accumulated before the pandemic .
But the president ’ s critics were not appeased , contending that Trump has made the calculation that a lower voter turnout would improve his chances of winning a second term .
“ What you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States who is doing everything he can to suppress the vote , make it harder for people to engage in mail-in balloting at a time when people will be putting their lives on the line by having to go out to a polling station and vote , ” said Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt .
Earlier this month , Maloney ’ s committee had invited DeJoy to appear Sept. 17 at a hearing focusing on operational changes to the Postal Service that are causing delays in mail deliveries .
But after Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday that he ’ s starving the agency of money to make it harder to process an expected surge of mail-in ballots , the committee decided to move up their call for the appearance of DeJoy ’ well as the governing board chair .
Funding a cash-strapped Postal Service has quickly turned into a top campaign issue as Trump presses his unsupported claim that increased mail-in voting will undermine the credibility of the election and Democrats push back .
Trump , who spent the weekend at his New Jersey golf club , derided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and defended DeJoy as the right person to “ streamline the post office and make it great again.
” “ Louis he is working very hard , ” Trump said at a news conference Saturday .
“ But as you know , the Democrats aren ’ t approving proper funding for postal , and they ’ re not approving the proper funding for this ridiculous thing they want to do which is all mail-in voting.
” His chief of staff tried on Sunday to counter criticism that Trump was trying to stifle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing him facing a difficult path to reelection against Democrat Joe Biden .
“ I ’ ll give you that guarantee right now : The president of the United States is not going to interfere with anybody casting their vote in a legitimate way , whether it ’ s the post office or anything else , ” Mark Meadows said .
But Democrats said changes made by DeJoy constitute “ a grave threat to the integrity of the election and to our very democracy.
” They asserted that DeJoy “ has acted as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign to cheat in the election , as he launches sweeping new operational changes that degrade delivery standards and delay the mail.
” The agency in the meantime is now seeking a short-term end-of-the-year rate increase , according to a notice filed Friday with the Postal Regulatory Commission .
The reasons : increased expenses , heightened demand for online packages due to the coronavirus pandemic and an expected increase in holiday mail volume .
The plan would raise prices on commercial domestic competitive parcels , including Priority Mail Express , Priority Mail , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parcel Return Service .
No change is expected for first-class letters .
Most of the proposed increases would be less than 10 % .
They range from 24 cents for Parcel Select Service , which starts at $ 3.05 , to a $ 1.50 increase for Priority Mail Express Commercial , which starts at $ 22.75 .
The regulatory commission is expected to decide on the proposals next month .
The Postal Service is the country ’ s most popular government agency with 91 % of Americans having a favorable opinion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center Survey published in April .
“ What concerns me is an all-out attack — they ’ re not even hiding it — by the president of the United States to undermine the United States Postal Service , to underfund it , to allow a mega-donor leading it to overtly do things to slow down the mail , ” said Sen. Cory Booker , D-N.J. Sanders was on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press , ’ ’ while Meadows and Booker appeared on CNN ’ s ” State of the Union.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report .

WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling the House back into session over the crisis at the U.S. Postal Service, setting up a political showdown amid growing concerns that the Trump White House is trying to undermine the agency ahead of the election.
Pelosi is cutting short lawmakers’ summer recess with a vote expected Saturday on legislation that would prohibit changes at the agency as tensions mount. President Donald Trump’s new postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, has sparked nationwide outcry over delays, new prices and cutbacks just as millions of Americans will be trying to vote by mail to avoid polling places during the coronavirus outbreak.
Trump on Monday defended the agency’s embattled new leader, a major Republican donor, but also criticized postal operations and claimed that universal mail-in ballots would be “a disaster.”
“I want to make the post office great again,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” Later at the White House he denied asking for a mail-delivery slow down.
The decision to recall the House, made after a weekend of high-level leadership discussions, carries a political punch. Voting in the House will highlight the issue after the weeklong Democratic National Convention nominating Joe Biden as the party’s presidential pick and pressure the Republican-held Senate to respond. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sent senators home for a summer recess.
“In a time of a pandemic, the Postal Service is Election Central,” Pelosi wrote Sunday in a letter to colleagues, who had been expected to be out of session until September. “Lives, livelihoods and the life of our American Democracy are under threat from the president.”
At an event in Kentucky on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell distanced himself from Trump’s complaints about mail operations. But he also declined to recall senators to Washington, vowing the Postal Service “is going to be just fine.”
“We’re going to make sure that the ability to function going into the election is not adversely affected,” McConnell said in Horse Cave, Ky. “And I don’t share the president’s concerns.”
On Monday, two lawmakers called on the FBI to investigate whether DeJoy or members of the Postal Board of Governors may have committed a crime in slowing the mail.
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., cited reports that mail-sorting machines were being dismantled and policy changes have delayed mail delivery.
“It is not unreasonable to conclude that Postmaster General DeJoy and the Board of Governors may be executing Donald Trump’s desire to affect mail-in balloting,” they wrote in the letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Congress is at a standoff over postal operations. House Democrats approved funds as part of a pending COVID-19 relief package but Trump and Senate Republicans have balked at additional funds for election security. McConnell held a conference call Monday with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and GOP senators on the broader virus aid package.
On Sunday, Democratic lawmakers demanded that leaders of the Postal Service testify at an emergency House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on Aug. 24 on the delays.
The agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but said Sunday it would stop removing its distinctive blue mailboxes through mid-November following complaints from customers and members of Congress that the collection boxes were being taken away.
“Given the recent customer concerns the Postal Service will postpone removing boxes for a period of 90 days while we evaluate our customers’ concerns,’’ Postal Service spokeswoman Kimberly Frum said.
The legislation being prepared for Saturday’s vote, the “Delivering for America Act,” would prohibit the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or level of service it had in place on Jan. 1.
DeJoy, a major Republican donor and ally of the president who took control of the agency in June, has pledged to modernize the money-losing agency to make it more efficient, and eliminated most overtime for postal workers, imposed restrictions on transportation and reduced of the quantity and use of mail-processing equipment.
Trump said last week that he was blocking a $25 billion emergency injection sought by the Postal Service, as well as a Democratic proposal to provide $3.6 billion in additional election money to the states. The money for the post office is intended to help with processing an expected surge of mail-in ballots. Both funding requests have been tied up in congressional negotiations over a new coronavirus relief package.
The president’s critics contend that Trump has made the calculation that a lower voter turnout would improve his chances of winning a second term.
“What you are witnessing is a president of the United States who is doing everything he can to suppress the vote, make it harder for people to engage in mail-in balloting at a time when people will be putting their lives on the line by having to go out to a polling station and vote,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
In announcing the upcoming hearing, congressional Democrats said in a statement: “The postmaster general and top Postal Service leadership must answer to the Congress and the American people as to why they are pushing these dangerous new policies that threaten to silence the voices of millions, just months before the election.”
Funding a cash-strapped Postal Service has quickly turned into a top campaign issue as Trump presses his unsupported claim that increased mail-in voting will undermine the credibility of the election and Democrats push back.
The president’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, tried on Sunday to counter criticism that Trump was trying to stifle turnout with national and battleground state polls showing him facing a difficult path to reelection against Biden.
“I’ll give you that guarantee right now: The president of the United States is not going to interfere with anybody casting their vote in a legitimate way, whether it’s the post office or anything else,” Meadows said.
But Democrats said changes made by DeJoy constitute “a grave threat to the integrity of the election and to our very democracy.”
The agency in the meantime is now seeking a short-term, end-of-the-year rate increase, according to a notice filed Friday with the Postal Regulatory Commission. The reasons: increased expenses, heightened demand for online packages due to the coronavirus pandemic and an expected increase in holiday mail volume.
The plan would raise prices on commercial domestic competitive parcels, including Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, first-class package service, Parcel Select and Parcel Return Service.
Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Jill Colvin in Washington, Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Ky., and Aamer Madhani, reporting from Bedminster, New Jersey, contributed to this report.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-16--Nobody else quite measures up to Big Jim

The Winston & Strawn law firm holds an annual holiday reception at the Drake Hotel that for decades was a measure of the lasting influence and prestige of its chairman , James R. Thompson , the former governor of Illinois .
The governor would position himself at the head of a large ballroom , usually with his wife , Jayne , at his side , while former members of his staff and political circle waited in a receiving line with the firm ’ s younger lawyers for a chance to pay their respects .
Long after Thompson left the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room would still be full of the state ’ s movers and shakers , many of them having achieved that status with the help of the man they ’ d all come to see .
Although my only connection was as a journalist who had covered him a long time , I went to last year ’ s party thinking it might be my last chance to talk to him .
But when I arrived , I learned he wasn ’ t there and had attended only sporadically in recent years because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death Friday , there won ’ t be another opportunity .
In the same way older Chicagoans meant Richard J. Daley whenever they said “ The Mayor , ” even long after his death , I ’ m part of a generation in Illinois politics that always had Thompson in mind when they said “ The Governor.
” He was my point of reference , the model for how the job was to be done , which is not to overlook the flaws in his approach or the mistakes that resulted from it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed there was room in this state for a moderate Republican who could work with Democrats to try to solve problems and make government work .
He also seemed to have fun at it , a characteristic often sorely missed in the decades since .
“ He didn ’ t demonize the other side .
He knew he needed to work with them , and they needed to work with him , ” Jim Prescott , his former Chicago press secretary , said Sunday .
Everyone who has followed after Thompson is judged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was a Chicago school finance crisis or the threatened departure of the White Sox to Florida , Thompson understood how to manipulate the levers of power to accomplish his goals .
“ He did things .
Thompson was a doer , ” said Greg Baise , who served in his cabinet as state Transportation Secretary , managed his 1986 reelection and went on to run the Illinois Manufacturers Association .
When most people talk about Thompson ’ s legacy , they point to the concrete edifices like the new Sox stadium , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCormick Place .
But I always think of the people he helped elevate to positions of influence , not just in politics and government , but also in the legal profession , the courts and the business world .
Thompson had an eye for talent that started in his days as U.S. Attorney and continued through his four terms in Springfield .
“ He really took a tremendous amount of pride in choosing good people , ” said Mike Lawrence , who covered Thompson as a reporter before becoming Jim Edgar ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose careers where promoted by Thompson are well-known to Chicagoans : Dan Webb , Ty Fahner , Tony Valukas , Sam Skinner .
Then there are the judges : James Zagel , Joel Flaum and Ilana Rovner to name a few .
On the political side , the list of Thompson ’ s products starts with Edgar , his director of legislative affairs , who went on to succeed him as governor .
Then , for better or worse , there ’ s George Ryan , his lieutenant governor , who later ascended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison .
Thompson also plucked Jack O ’ Malley from obscurity to help make him Cook County state ’ s attorney .
Baise is one of Thompson ’ s political products .
Although he lost his only run for elective office for state treasurer in 1990 , he fashioned a very successful career as a lobbyist and political consultant .
Baise is one of a group of Thompson ’ s former traveling aides , affectionately known as the “ bag boys , ” who learned the game of politics at the governor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a campaign to defeat the constitutional amendment for a graduated income tax , and even as someone who disapproves of his goal , I have to admire the skills he brings to the task .
Thompson believed in political patronage , a point on which we diverge .
He was especially shrewd in developing a system of what came to be known as pinstripe patronage — leveraging state business to lawyers , bankers , architects and engineers , most of whom symbiotically helped him raise campaign money .
For someone who made his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thompson had the oddest ethical blind spots , such as taking a gift of $ 500 in cash from a Teamsters official he considered a friend and setting aside gifts he wanted on a shelf at a Chicago antique store so that other people could buy them for him .
They don ’ t make them like Jim Thompson anymore , and maybe that ’ s for the best , but I will always be glad I got to see him in action .

The Winston & Strawn law firm holds an annual holiday reception at the Drake Hotel that for decades was a measure of the lasting influence and prestige of its chairman, James R. Thompson, the former governor of Illinois.
The governor would position himself at the head of a large ballroom, usually with his wife, Jayne, at his side, while former members of his staff and political circle waited in a receiving line with the firm’s younger lawyers for a chance to pay their respects.
Long after Thompson left the governor’s office in 1991, the room would still be full of the state’s movers and shakers, many of them having achieved that status with the help of the man they’d all come to see.
Although my only connection was as a journalist who had covered him a long time, I went to last year’s party thinking it might be my last chance to talk to him. But when I arrived, I learned he wasn’t there and had attended only sporadically in recent years because of his health. With Thompson’s death Friday, there won’t be another opportunity.
In the same way older Chicagoans meant Richard J. Daley whenever they said “The Mayor,” even long after his death, I’m part of a generation in Illinois politics that always had Thompson in mind when they said “The Governor.”
He was my point of reference, the model for how the job was to be done, which is not to overlook the flaws in his approach or the mistakes that resulted from it.
But for 14 years, Thompson showed there was room in this state for a moderate Republican who could work with Democrats to try to solve problems and make government work. He also seemed to have fun at it, a characteristic often sorely missed in the decades since.
“He didn’t demonize the other side. He knew he needed to work with them, and they needed to work with him,” Jim Prescott, his former Chicago press secretary, said Sunday.
Everyone who has followed after Thompson is judged by the standard he set.
Whether it was a Chicago school finance crisis or the threatened departure of the White Sox to Florida, Thompson understood how to manipulate the levers of power to accomplish his goals.
“He did things. Thompson was a doer,” said Greg Baise, who served in his cabinet as state Transportation Secretary, managed his 1986 reelection and went on to run the Illinois Manufacturers Association.
When most people talk about Thompson’s legacy, they point to the concrete edifices like the new Sox stadium, the remade Navy Pier and the expanded McCormick Place.
But I always think of the people he helped elevate to positions of influence, not just in politics and government, but also in the legal profession, the courts and the business world.
Thompson had an eye for talent that started in his days as U.S. Attorney and continued through his four terms in Springfield.
“He really took a tremendous amount of pride in choosing good people,” said Mike Lawrence, who covered Thompson as a reporter before becoming Jim Edgar’s press secretary.
Most of the lawyers whose careers where promoted by Thompson are well-known to Chicagoans: Dan Webb, Ty Fahner, Tony Valukas, Sam Skinner. Then there are the judges: James Zagel, Joel Flaum and Ilana Rovner to name a few.
On the political side, the list of Thompson’s products starts with Edgar, his director of legislative affairs, who went on to succeed him as governor. Then, for better or worse, there’s George Ryan, his lieutenant governor, who later ascended to the top office before going to prison. Thompson also plucked Jack O’Malley from obscurity to help make him Cook County state’s attorney.
Baise is one of Thompson’s political products. Although he lost his only run for elective office for state treasurer in 1990, he fashioned a very successful career as a lobbyist and political consultant.
Baise is one of a group of Thompson’s former traveling aides, affectionately known as the “bag boys,” who learned the game of politics at the governor’s side.
Baise is now running a campaign to defeat the constitutional amendment for a graduated income tax, and even as someone who disapproves of his goal, I have to admire the skills he brings to the task.
Thompson believed in political patronage, a point on which we diverge. He was especially shrewd in developing a system of what came to be known as pinstripe patronage — leveraging state business to lawyers, bankers, architects and engineers, most of whom symbiotically helped him raise campaign money.
For someone who made his reputation legitimately as a corruption-busting prosecutor, Thompson had the oddest ethical blind spots, such as taking a gift of $500 in cash from a Teamsters official he considered a friend and setting aside gifts he wanted on a shelf at a Chicago antique store so that other people could buy them for him.
They don’t make them like Jim Thompson anymore, and maybe that’s for the best, but I will always be glad I got to see him in action.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-16--Teen wounded in Rogers Park shooting

Teen wounded in Rogers Park shooting

A teenage boy was shot Sunday in Rogers Park on the North Side .
The 17-year-old was shot in the @ @ @ @ @ the 2000 block of West Chase Avenue , Chicago police said .
He was taken @ @ @ @ @ Evanston , where he was in good condition .
Further details were not immediately available @ @ @ @ @ , and track the city ’ s homicides .

A teenage boy was shot Sunday in Rogers Park on the North Side.
The 17-year-old was shot in the abdomen about 4:05 p.m. in the 2000 block of West Chase Avenue, Chicago police said. He was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was in good condition.
Further details were not immediately available.
Area Three detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-16--‘The Office’ actor feels the love — and some racism — as he sets up Stanley spinoff

Leslie David Baker , the Chicago actor known for his role as the grouchy Stanley Hudson on the hit NBC comedy “ The Office , ” is no stranger to racist attacks online .
But Baker found himself on the receiving end of a particularly vicious tirade after launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund a pilot for an “ Office ” spin-off called “ Uncle Stan.
” “ We ’ re living in an age in time where there is this movement , ” Baker says .
“ We would have thought that these issues would have been rectified years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As a matter of fact , they ’ ve gotten worse.
” Instead of ignoring the hateful words , Baker says he found a place where they might make a positive impact : On his Instagram page for the world to see .
“ You can not fight racism and combat those types of stereotypical attitudes if you pretend that they don ’ t exist , ” he says .
“ All too often in America , people have been so concerned about being made to feel uncomfortable , because they aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baker , a Chicago native and Loyola University grad , adds he hopes that his social media post shows people that racism hasn ’ t gone away – it has moved online .
“ It ’ s not riding down the street in the hood with the burning cross , but instead it ’ s been replaced with the new technology , ” he said .
“ We think that the old photographs that we see of people being persecuted on the way to school in the South and trying to vote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of those people have died out .
They haven ’ t died out .
They got married .
They had children .
They had grandchildren , great grandchildren .
But they took those beliefs with them , and in many cases , they have not altered those beliefs.
” Since his post , Baker has shared messages of support from fans on his Instagram Stories and says many of his “ Office ” co-stars , including Rainn Wilson , Jenna Fischer , Angela Kinsey and Kate Flannery , have either reached out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media .
But he says reactions to his post overall have been mixed , with some accusing the actor of perpetuating racism by exposing it .
“ That ’ s like blaming somebody who gets mugged for being mugged and daring to talk about it , ” he said .
“ If you ’ re on the receiving end of a racist diatribe , and then you pretend that it doesn ’ t exist , that does not help people learn from it.
” Baker added that he hopes his post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism .
“ Racism doesn ’ t care whether or not you ’ re an actor on TV or if you won awards , ” he said .
“ This is something that faces minorities on any job , not just because they ’ re in show business.
” Baker says he was motivated to pursue a show called “ Uncle Stan , ” centered on his character Stanley , after encountering numerous fans of “ The Office ” who all had the same question : What happened to Stanley after the sitcom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At its close Saturday , Baker ’ s Kickstarter campaign had garnered $ 336,450 , surpassing its goal of $ 300,000 .
Baker says the pilot picks up with Stanley ’ s nephew Lucky , a widower in Los Angeles , asking his uncle for help raising his two young children and managing a motorcycle and flower shop .
Baker says his former “ Office ” cast members will be invited to participate .
“ I kept getting asked the same questions over and over about the character of Stanley , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is he doing now ?
Does he still do crossword puzzles ?
He went to Florida and retired and was supposedly doing woodwork .
Is he still doing that ?
What is his journey ?
’ According to the audience , they didn ’ t feel that his journey was over yet , so we ’ re gon na see where that takes us.
” The show ’ s description on Kickstarter says Stanley will clash with other big personalities working at Lucky ’ s shop and that Stanley will have a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon-to-be engaged .
Now that Baker and his collaborator Sardar Khan have met their fundraising goals , the next step , Baker says , is to meet with their writers and casting director to discuss plans for moving forward with a quality pilot .
Though “ Uncle Stan ” is not yet attached to a network , Baker hopes that soon will change .
“ [ The fans ] want to see what happened next , and with any luck , we will give them the ‘ What happens next ?
’ scenario @ @ @ @ @

Leslie David Baker, the Chicago actor known for his role as the grouchy Stanley Hudson on the hit NBC comedy “The Office,” is no stranger to racist attacks online.
But Baker found himself on the receiving end of a particularly vicious tirade after launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund a pilot for an “Office” spin-off called “Uncle Stan.”
“We’re living in an age in time where there is this movement,” Baker says. “We would have thought that these issues would have been rectified years, decades ago. They have not. As a matter of fact, they’ve gotten worse.”
Instead of ignoring the hateful words, Baker says he found a place where they might make a positive impact: On his Instagram page for the world to see.
“You cannot fight racism and combat those types of stereotypical attitudes if you pretend that they don’t exist,” he says. “All too often in America, people have been so concerned about being made to feel uncomfortable, because they aren’t confronted by racist behavior.”
Baker, a Chicago native and Loyola University grad, adds he hopes that his social media post shows people that racism hasn’t gone away – it has moved online.
“It’s not riding down the street in the hood with the burning cross, but instead it’s been replaced with the new technology,” he said. “We think that the old photographs that we see of people being persecuted on the way to school in the South and trying to vote in the ’60s, we think that all of those people have died out. They haven’t died out. They got married. They had children. They had grandchildren, great grandchildren. But they took those beliefs with them, and in many cases, they have not altered those beliefs.”
Since his post, Baker has shared messages of support from fans on his Instagram Stories and says many of his “Office” co-stars, including Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey and Kate Flannery, have either reached out to him privately or expressed support publicly on social media.
But he says reactions to his post overall have been mixed, with some accusing the actor of perpetuating racism by exposing it.
“That’s like blaming somebody who gets mugged for being mugged and daring to talk about it,” he said. “If you’re on the receiving end of a racist diatribe, and then you pretend that it doesn’t exist, that does not help people learn from it.”
Baker added that he hopes his post will prompt people to take action against racism.
“Racism doesn’t care whether or not you’re an actor on TV or if you won awards,” he said. “This is something that faces minorities on any job, not just because they’re in show business.”
Baker says he was motivated to pursue a show called “Uncle Stan,” centered on his character Stanley, after encountering numerous fans of “The Office” who all had the same question: What happened to Stanley after the sitcom’s series finale in 2013? At its close Saturday, Baker’s Kickstarter campaign had garnered $336,450, surpassing its goal of $300,000.
Leslie David Baker (left) appeared with B.J. Novak and the rest of the “Office” cast until 2013. NBC
Baker says the pilot picks up with Stanley’s nephew Lucky, a widower in Los Angeles, asking his uncle for help raising his two young children and managing a motorcycle and flower shop. Baker says his former “Office” cast members will be invited to participate.
“I kept getting asked the same questions over and over about the character of Stanley,” he said. “ ‘Well, what is he doing now? Does he still do crossword puzzles? He went to Florida and retired and was supposedly doing woodwork. Is he still doing that? What is his journey?’ According to the audience, they didn’t feel that his journey was over yet, so we’re gonna see where that takes us.”
The show’s description on Kickstarter says Stanley will clash with other big personalities working at Lucky’s shop and that Stanley will have a “lady friend” with whom he is soon-to-be engaged.
Now that Baker and his collaborator Sardar Khan have met their fundraising goals, the next step, Baker says, is to meet with their writers and casting director to discuss plans for moving forward with a quality pilot. Though “Uncle Stan” is not yet attached to a network, Baker hopes that soon will change.
“[The fans] want to see what happened next, and with any luck, we will give them the ‘What happens next?’ scenario,” says Baker.
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosun-times--2020-08-16--Republican congressman sounds alarm over QAnon, stepping up his crusade against conspiracy theories

Rep. Adam Kinzinger , R-Ill. , sounding the alarm over “ bad actors like QAnon , ” on Sunday stepped up his crusade against conspiracy theories after QAnon follower Marjorie Taylor Greene won a Georgia Republican primary last week and is poised to win a seat in Congress in the heavily GOP district .
QAnon-at-a-glance : The Southern Poverty Law Center , an organization fighting hate and extremist groups said the QAnon conspiracy theory “ asserts that pro-Trump forces will soon take down the so-called deep state.
” In May , Kinzinger , in a video titled “ Unplug the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at warning off people of baseless claims peddled by conspiracy theorists .
Following the Greene nomination , Kinzinger said in part in a Tweet , there is “ no place in Congress for these conspiracies.
” He followed up in a Sunday video headlined “ What is QAnon ” and in an interview with CNN ’ s “ Reliable Sources ” host Brian Stelter .
Kinzinger said on CNN , in trying to debunk a conspiracy theory with someone , “ You ’ re never going to offend somebody over onto your side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offend somebody away from something that they believe , in fact that emboldens them .
“ So I think it ’ s understanding that they ’ re still human , and if you believe in this conspiracy theory stuff , especially QAnon , do some independent research , there ’ s a lot of stuff debunking it , including all the predictions that didn ’ t come true .
And now the new “ Q ” stuff reads like basically a tarot card reader who gives you something so vague that it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next month.
” Kinzinger said the key is for Democrats and Republicans to denounce extremism in their own party “ because that ’ s where it ’ s effective.
” In his QAnon video , Kinzinger , who represents the 16th District just south of Chicago and lives in Channahon , said , “ If you know someone who buys into these theories , don ’ t hate them .
Show them that humanity can actually live together with different opinions .
If you believe these theories , I ’ d actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and do it with an open mind.
” Kinzinger implored other leaders to speak out .
“ I ’ d ask every leader to put aside the avoidance of short term pain to save our country in the long term .
”

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., sounding the alarm over “bad actors like QAnon,” on Sunday stepped up his crusade against conspiracy theories after QAnon follower Marjorie Taylor Greene won a Georgia Republican primary last week and is poised to win a seat in Congress in the heavily GOP district.
QAnon-at-a-glance: The Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization fighting hate and extremist groups said the QAnon conspiracy theory “asserts that pro-Trump forces will soon take down the so-called deep state.”
In May, Kinzinger, in a video titled “Unplug the Rage Machine,” took a crack at warning off people of baseless claims peddled by conspiracy theorists.
Following the Greene nomination, Kinzinger said in part in a Tweet, there is “no place in Congress for these conspiracies.” He followed up in a Sunday video headlined “What is QAnon” and in an interview with CNN’s “Reliable Sources” host Brian Stelter.
Kinzinger said on CNN, in trying to debunk a conspiracy theory with someone, “You’re never going to offend somebody over onto your side. You’re never going to offend somebody away from something that they believe, in fact that emboldens them.
“So I think it’s understanding that they’re still human, and if you believe in this conspiracy theory stuff, especially QAnon, do some independent research, there’s a lot of stuff debunking it, including all the predictions that didn’t come true. And now the new “Q” stuff reads like basically a tarot card reader who gives you something so vague that it will absolutely fit into something that happens in the next month.”
Kinzinger said the key is for Democrats and Republicans to denounce extremism in their own party “because that’s where it’s effective.”
In his QAnon video, Kinzinger, who represents the 16th District just south of Chicago and lives in Channahon, said, “If you know someone who buys into these theories, don’t hate them. Show them that humanity can actually live together with different opinions. If you believe these theories, I’d actually encourage you to do your own research and do it with an open mind.”
Kinzinger implored other leaders to speak out. “I’d ask every leader to put aside the avoidance of short term pain to save our country in the long term.”


chicagosun-times--2020-08-17--Dear Abby: I never had feelings for my friend, until he got in a relationship

DEAR ABBY : I am a 21-year-old woman who hasn ’ t been very lucky when it comes to relationships .
My first real relationship wasn ’ t until I was 20 , and it didn ’ t last too long .
I have “ talked ” to quite a few guys , but they never went past the “ getting to know you ” stage .
I was able to figure out things I wanted and didn ’ t want in a relationship .
My best friend for the last eight years has always been there to help me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has all the qualities I ’ m looking for in someone .
He ’ s smart , funny , honest , caring and is literally a male version of me .
When we were younger , he told me he had feelings for me , but I only saw him as a friend .
Everyone would tell us we should be together , but I ignored it .
After years of knowing I didn ’ t feel the same way , he gave up trying to progress our friendship into something more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want to get romantically involved because I value his friendship too much and I didn ’ t want to lose him .
He recently started a relationship with someone , and it made me realize I might have romantic feelings for him that I haven ’ t had before .
I don ’ t know what to do .
Please help .
— TOO LATE IN TEXAS DEAR TOO LATE : The longer you remain silent , the greater the chances that your friend ’ s new relationship could develop into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualities you think are special about him ( minus the one about being your “ clone ” ) .
Then follow it up with the fact that it wasn ’ t until he started this new romantic relationship that you realized you have those kinds of feelings for him .
Better late than never .
DEAR ABBY : Last month , I found out a friend of mine was going to be living out of his van .
I couldn ’ t let him do that , so I offered him my second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He told me Uber doesn ’ t pay much , and he couldn ’ t afford half the $ 1,700-a-month rent , so we agreed he would pay what he could , roughly $ 200- $ 300 of the $ 1,700 .
I said it was OK because I didn ’ t take him in for money purposes .
I did it to help a friend in need , and I had spare space .
I quickly found out that he ’ s a hoarder .
His entire bedroom is full of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anime , books , etc.
, not furniture or a TV ) , so much so that he ’ s been sleeping on my living room couch .
He also spends all his time at home and Ubered only the last two days of the month to make the $ 200 to pay me .
I guess my question is , our agreement was $ 200- $ 300 a month , which he paid , but does finding out he ’ s working only two days a month to make it change our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PUPPY IN HAWAII DEAR TOOK : May I point out that when you took this “ puppy ” in , it wasn ’ t so he ’ d be sleeping on your couch but in the spare room ?
He shouldn ’ t be using YOUR living room or YOUR couch for sleeping .
Because you put this freeloader on the lease — for what reason , I can not fathom — you may need an attorney to get him out of there .
Rather than working two days a month to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he should be driving enough hours to accumulate a down payment on a place of his own .
To say that your kindness has been taken advantage of is an understatement .
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 .
What teens need to know about sex , drugs , AIDS and getting along with peers and parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Know.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Teen Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: I am a 21-year-old woman who hasn’t been very lucky when it comes to relationships. My first real relationship wasn’t until I was 20, and it didn’t last too long. I have “talked” to quite a few guys, but they never went past the “getting to know you” stage.
I was able to figure out things I wanted and didn’t want in a relationship. My best friend for the last eight years has always been there to help me get through some pretty hard times. He has all the qualities I’m looking for in someone. He’s smart, funny, honest, caring and is literally a male version of me.
When we were younger, he told me he had feelings for me, but I only saw him as a friend. Everyone would tell us we should be together, but I ignored it. After years of knowing I didn’t feel the same way, he gave up trying to progress our friendship into something more. I always told him I didn’t want to get romantically involved because I value his friendship too much and I didn’t want to lose him.
He recently started a relationship with someone, and it made me realize I might have romantic feelings for him that I haven’t had before. I don’t know what to do. Please help. — TOO LATE IN TEXAS
DEAR TOO LATE: The longer you remain silent, the greater the chances that your friend’s new relationship could develop into something serious. Tell him all the qualities you think are special about him (minus the one about being your “clone”). Then follow it up with the fact that it wasn’t until he started this new romantic relationship that you realized you have those kinds of feelings for him. Better late than never.
DEAR ABBY: Last month, I found out a friend of mine was going to be living out of his van. I couldn’t let him do that, so I offered him my second bedroom and put him on the lease.
He told me Uber doesn’t pay much, and he couldn’t afford half the $1,700-a-month rent, so we agreed he would pay what he could, roughly $200-$300 of the $1,700. I said it was OK because I didn’t take him in for money purposes. I did it to help a friend in need, and I had spare space.
I quickly found out that he’s a hoarder. His entire bedroom is full of his boxes of stuff (manga, anime, books, etc., not furniture or a TV), so much so that he’s been sleeping on my living room couch. He also spends all his time at home and Ubered only the last two days of the month to make the $200 to pay me.
I guess my question is, our agreement was $200-$300 a month, which he paid, but does finding out he’s working only two days a month to make it change our agreement? — TOOK IN A LOST PUPPY IN HAWAII
DEAR TOOK: May I point out that when you took this “puppy” in, it wasn’t so he’d be sleeping on your couch but in the spare room? He shouldn’t be using YOUR living room or YOUR couch for sleeping.
Because you put this freeloader on the lease — for what reason, I cannot fathom — you may need an attorney to get him out of there. Rather than working two days a month to pay that minuscule amount of rent to you, he should be driving enough hours to accumulate a down payment on a place of his own. To say that your kindness has been taken advantage of is an understatement.
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.
What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosun-times--2020-08-17--Transit’s fate tied to trust — and probably federal cash

Five months into our pandemic , the endless-loop , “ Groundhog Day ” aspect of the experience weighs heavily on the mind .
Mine at least .
Maybe yours , too .
There ’ s still just as much uncertainty about key questions as there was in March .
When will there be a vaccine or effective treatment are the big ones , of course , but there are others .
How soon before we mingle without a care ?
Will school routines permanently change ?
Can the decimated service industries recover ?
How will workplaces adapt and will the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Throw in a virus and spasms of looting and people start doubting what binds them to city life .
One great lure for Chicago hangs in the balance : public transit .
The systems are starved of ridership revenue and sales taxes because of the economic shutdowns , and we don ’ t know how soon people will board a crowded bus or train again .
As work returns , will they all get into cars and worsen gridlock ?
“ No one is heading back to the office in droves .
People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phased approach to this , ” said Leanne Redden , executive director of the Regional Transportation Authority .
The agency has been talking to the CTA , Metra and Pace , plus business groups such as the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce , to develop campaigns to get people back on public transit .
So far , that ’ s amounted to lots of signs about cleanliness , masks and social distancing .
Jack Lavin , CEO of the chamber , said about two-thirds of employers report their workers depend on public transit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ word ‘ trust ’ keeps coming up , ” Lavin said .
Highway traffic has been picking up , but the ridership statistics are still bleak for the transit services , according to RTA data .
Metra , tied to downtown commuters , is off 90 % from last year ’ s pace , right where it was early in the pandemic .
The CTA has seen an uptick but is still down about 70 % on average with bus and rail factored together .
Pace has lately improved to about a 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has cost the services $ 900 million this year , but they ’ ve been able to share $ 1.4 billion from the federal CARES Act .
The money has allowed the CTA to maintain a regular schedule for those needing to get somewhere , at the cost of sending empty buses all over the city .
Redden said the CARES money should last into early 2021 for the transit agencies , but more federal help will be needed if the pandemic doesn ’ t let up .
“ 2021 will be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next federal bill , ” she said .
Otherwise , the systems have little choice .
“ They don ’ t have a lot of levers to pull , only service cuts and fare increases , ” Redden said .
CTA spokesman Brian Steele said the agency is developing a “ business toolkit ” that employers can use to persuade staff to use public transit again .
It will highlight an intense cleaning regimen and use of longer trains and , in some cases , larger , accordion-style buses to reduce crowding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling us that , yes , work-from-home will continue .
It ’ s entirely possible , maybe probable , that it will continue into next year , ” he said .
But the appeal of a pro-transit campaign or any drive to get commuters back to an office depends on confidence .
Patrick Caruso , CEO of the downtown building manager L.J .
Sheridan & Co. , said nearly all employers with remote workers are telling people to stay out of the office if they feel unsafe coming in , a message connected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A lot depends on whether this thing gets worse .
What ’ s the fall going to look like ?
” he said .
Like other building managers , L.J .
Sheridan has been obsessive about cleaning .
But Caruso said people understand that might not be enough .
“ We can ’ t keep them 100 % safe from the virus .
I can ’ t clean enough .
I can ’ t separate enough .
Am I going to tackle somebody if they get on an elevator with three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kevin Purcell , president of leasing and management services at MB Real Estate , is more hopeful , seeing a gradual return to normal commuting patterns as people grasp that it ’ s safe to come back .
He also said most employers won ’ t embrace work-from-home over the long term , believing it detrimental to productivity and teamwork .
For transit agencies , “ it ’ s going to take some time , and it probably takes good news on the vaccine front to get most people back , ” Purcell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine or more federal cash .
Otherwise , those empty CTA buses are steering toward a financial cliff .

Five months into our pandemic, the endless-loop, “Groundhog Day” aspect of the experience weighs heavily on the mind. Mine at least. Maybe yours, too.
There’s still just as much uncertainty about key questions as there was in March. When will there be a vaccine or effective treatment are the big ones, of course, but there are others.
How soon before we mingle without a care? Will school routines permanently change? Can the decimated service industries recover? How will workplaces adapt and will the office even be there for some?
Throw in a virus and spasms of looting and people start doubting what binds them to city life. One great lure for Chicago hangs in the balance: public transit. The systems are starved of ridership revenue and sales taxes because of the economic shutdowns, and we don’t know how soon people will board a crowded bus or train again. As work returns, will they all get into cars and worsen gridlock?
Chicago Enterprise bug Chicago Enterprise
“No one is heading back to the office in droves. People are taking a sort of staged, phased approach to this,” said Leanne Redden, executive director of the Regional Transportation Authority.
The agency has been talking to the CTA, Metra and Pace, plus business groups such as the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, to develop campaigns to get people back on public transit. So far, that’s amounted to lots of signs about cleanliness, masks and social distancing.
Jack Lavin, CEO of the chamber, said about two-thirds of employers report their workers depend on public transit. “There are trust issues. That word ‘trust’ keeps coming up,” Lavin said.
Highway traffic has been picking up, but the ridership statistics are still bleak for the transit services, according to RTA data. Metra, tied to downtown commuters, is off 90% from last year’s pace, right where it was early in the pandemic. The CTA has seen an uptick but is still down about 70% on average with bus and rail factored together. Pace has lately improved to about a 50% drop.
Redden said the pandemic has cost the services $900 million this year, but they’ve been able to share $1.4 billion from the federal CARES Act. The money has allowed the CTA to maintain a regular schedule for those needing to get somewhere, at the cost of sending empty buses all over the city. Redden said the CARES money should last into early 2021 for the transit agencies, but more federal help will be needed if the pandemic doesn’t let up.
“2021 will be a tough year. We need transit in the next federal bill,” she said.
Otherwise, the systems have little choice. “They don’t have a lot of levers to pull, only service cuts and fare increases,” Redden said.
Leanne Redden Provided
CTA spokesman Brian Steele said the agency is developing a “business toolkit” that employers can use to persuade staff to use public transit again. It will highlight an intense cleaning regimen and use of longer trains and, in some cases, larger, accordion-style buses to reduce crowding.
“The business community has been telling us that, yes, work-from-home will continue. It’s entirely possible, maybe probable, that it will continue into next year,” he said.
But the appeal of a pro-transit campaign or any drive to get commuters back to an office depends on confidence.
Patrick Caruso, CEO of the downtown building manager L.J. Sheridan & Co., said nearly all employers with remote workers are telling people to stay out of the office if they feel unsafe coming in, a message connected to both the pandemic and the looting. “A lot depends on whether this thing gets worse. What’s the fall going to look like?” he said.
A sign on a L platform reminds riders to wear a face mask. CTA
Like other building managers, L.J. Sheridan has been obsessive about cleaning. But Caruso said people understand that might not be enough. “We can’t keep them 100% safe from the virus. I can’t clean enough. I can’t separate enough. Am I going to tackle somebody if they get on an elevator with three other people?” he said.
Kevin Purcell, president of leasing and management services at MB Real Estate, is more hopeful, seeing a gradual return to normal commuting patterns as people grasp that it’s safe to come back. He also said most employers won’t embrace work-from-home over the long term, believing it detrimental to productivity and teamwork.
For transit agencies, “it’s going to take some time, and it probably takes good news on the vaccine front to get most people back,” Purcell said.
So it’s a vaccine or more federal cash. Otherwise, those empty CTA buses are steering toward a financial cliff.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-17--64 shot, 5 fatally, across Chicago this weekend

Five people were killed and 59 others were injured by gunfire across Chicago over the weekend .
A 12-year-old boy and six teenagers were among those wounded .
Last weekend saw 40 people shot across the city , four of them fatally , and ended with widespread looting in the downtown area following the shooting of 20-year-old Latrell Allen by Chicago police during an alleged exchange of gunfire in Englewood .
• A man was shot to death and two others were injured early Monday in Little Village on the Southwest Side .
They were on the sidewalk about 12:50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trumbull Avenue when someone in a black sedan fired shots , Chicago police said .
A 29-year-old man was shot in the chest and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he died .
A 20-year-old man was hit in the abdomen and a 27-year-old man was struck in the leg .
Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition .
• The latest fatal attack left a man dead Sunday morning in Avondale on the Northwest Side .
Officers found him unresponsive in the driver ’ s seat of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 3600 block of West Belmont Avenue , Chicago police said .
The man , thought to be in his mid-20s , had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene .
• Saturday night , another man was killed and a teenage boy was injured in Homan Square on the West Side .
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert found 18-year-old Tamyreon Jordan lying on the sidewalk about 10:25 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Flournoy Street , police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lived in Homan Square , had gunshot wounds to his chest and head and was pronounced dead at the scene .
A 14-year-old boy was also shot in the left arm and was driven to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition , police said .
He told investigators he was standing on the sidewalk when he heard gunshots and felt pain .
• Friday night , a man was killed in Morgan Park on the Far South Side .
Jeremy Curry , 28 , was found unresponsive at 11:17 p.m. with gunshot wounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver ’ s seat of a parked car in the 1100 block of West 110th Place , officials said .
The Morgan Park resident was pronounced dead at the scene .
• About three hours before that , a 48-year-old man was found with a fatal gunshot wound Friday in West Pullman on the Far South Side .
Officers found Charles L. McFee about 8:13 p.m. in the 11600 block of South Peoria Street with a gunshot wound to the chest , authorities said .
McFee , who lived in West Pullman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Oak Lawn .
Six other minors have been injured in the weekend ’ s gun violence .
• Most recently , a 15-year-old boy was shot early Monday in South Shore .
Officers responding to reports of shots fired at 3:14 a.m. in the 7300 block of South South Shore Drive found him on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his right shoulder , police said .
He was taken to Comer Children ’ s Hospital in good condition .
• Sunday afternoon , a 17-year-old boy was shot in Rogers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teen was shot in the abdomen about 4:05 p.m. in the 2000 block of West Chase Avenue , police said .
He was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston , where he was in good condition .
• A 16-year-old was shot Saturday evening in Bronzeville on the South Side .
Several people got out of a dark-colored vehicle about 10 p.m. and shot the teen as he stood outside in the 500 block of East 47th Street , police said .
He was struck in the leg and taken to Comer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition was stabilized , • Early Saturday morning , a 17-year-old boy was shot in West Lawn on the Southwest Side .
He was on the sidewalk with a group of people at 12:14 a.m. in the 3600 block of West 70th Street when a male got out of a white SUV and started shooting , according to police .
The boy was shot in the leg and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition .
The shooter got back in the SUV and fled the scene .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour earlier in Back of the Yards on the South Side .
The 16-year-old was outside at 11:48 p.m. Friday in the 4400 block of South Hermitage Avenue when he heard gunshots and felt pain , police said .
He told investigators he didn ’ t see the shooter or know where the shots came from .
He was hit in the hip and went to Stroger Hospital on his own in fair condition .
• Earlier that evening , a 12-year-old boy was shot in Woodlawn on the South Side .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8:10 p.m. in the 6400 block of South Ellis Avenue when he was shot in the leg , police said .
He was hospitalized in fair condition .
• In other nonfatal shootings , three people were shot early Monday in East Garfield Park on the West Side .
They were in a vehicle about 1:45 a.m. in the 3900 block of West Ferdinand Street when four male suspects unleashed gunfire , police said .
A 26-year-old man was shot in the shoulder , police said .
A 22-year-old woman was shot in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hit in the shoulder .
They were all taken to Stroger Hospital , the man in critical condition and the women in good condition .
• About half an hour before that , another triple shooting happened in Homan Square on the West Side .
Two men , both 23 , were sitting on the steps of a building at 12:13 a.m. in the 3600 block of West Polk Street when four males approached and opened fire , according to police .
One man was shot multiple times and taken to Mount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other was hit in the left ankle and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
A 25-year-old woman nearby was also shot in the foot and went to Mount Sinai Hospital on her own in fair condition .
• Another shooting left three people , including a 61-year-old man , injured Sunday night in Fifth City on the West Side .
He and two women , 30 and 56 , were on the sidewalk about 9:17 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Van Buren Street when someone in a dark-colored sedan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30-year-old woman was grazed in the shoulder , and the 56-year-old was struck in the hand .
The younger woman was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition , and the older woman declined medical attention .
The man was shot in the arm and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition .
• Three more people were wounded , one critically , Sunday afternoon in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side .
About 1:15 p.m. , three men , 19 , 20 and 22 , were in an alley in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they were approached by a group of people who pulled out guns and opened fire , police said .
The 19-year-old was struck in the back and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition .
The 20-year-old was struck in the elbow and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition .
The 22-year-old was grazed by a bullet on his buttocks and refused treatment .
• An expressway shooting Saturday morning left two women hurt , one of them critically , on the Eisenhower Expressway in Austin on the West Side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-290 near Laramie Avenue , according to Illinois State Police .
A 25-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition , Chicago Fire Department officials said .
The other woman , 21 , was taken to the same hospital in fair-to-serious condition .
• The weekend ’ s first shooting injured a 20-year-old man Friday in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side .
He was sitting on a front porch about 6:35 p.m. in the 3000 block of West 44th Street when someone in an SUV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition .
At least 35 other people were shot in Chicago between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Seven people were killed and 57 others were injured by gunfire across Chicago over the weekend.
A 12-year-old boy and six teenagers were among those wounded.
Last weekend saw 40 people shot across the city, four of them fatally, and ended with widespread looting in the downtown area following the shooting of 20-year-old Latrell Allen by Chicago police during an alleged exchange of gunfire in Englewood.
Monday morning
A man died in a triple shooting early Monday in Little Village on the Southwest Side. They were on the sidewalk about 12:50 a.m. in the 2400 block of South Trumbull Avenue when someone in a black sedan fired shots, Chicago police said.
Kevin Garcia, 29, was shot in the chest and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. A 20-year-old man was hit in the abdomen and a 27-year-old man was struck in the leg. Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.
Sunday
A man was killed and two others were hurt, Sunday afternoon in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side. About 1:15 p.m., three men, 19, 20 and 22, were in an alley in the 3000 block of West 44th Street when they were approached by a group of people who pulled out guns and opened fire, police said.
Alexis Rivera, 19, was struck in the back and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. The 20-year-old was struck in the elbow and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition. The 22-year-old was grazed by a bullet on his buttocks and refused treatment.
Another man was killed Sunday morning in Avondale on the Northwest Side. Officers found him unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a vehicle at 5:05 a.m. in an alley in the 3600 block of West Belmont Avenue, Chicago police said. The man, thought to be in his mid-20s, had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released by authorities.
Saturday
Saturday night, another man was killed and a teenage boy was injured in Homan Square on the West Side. Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert found 18-year-old Tamyreon Jordan lying on the sidewalk about 10:25 p.m. in the 3500 block of West Flournoy Street, authorities said. Jordan, who lived in Homan Square, had gunshot wounds to his chest and head and was pronounced dead at the scene. A 14-year-old boy was also shot in the left arm and was driven to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition, police said. He told investigators he was standing on the sidewalk when he heard gunshots and felt pain.
Friday
Friday night, a man was killed in Morgan Park on the Far South Side. Jeremy Curry, 28, was found unresponsive at 11:17 p.m. with gunshot wounds to his arm and chest in the driver’s seat of a parked car in the 1100 block of West 110th Place, officials said. The Morgan Park resident was pronounced dead at the scene.
A couple hours earlier, a 19-year-old man was shot to death, and another man was wounded in Lawndale.
Michael Pittman and another man, 26, were on the street about 9:30 p.m. in the 4000 block of West 18th Street when someone in a vehicle fired shots, authorities said. Pittman was struck in the head and died days later.
The 26-year-old was struck in the leg and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition, police said.
Before that, a 48-year-old man was found with a fatal gunshot wound Friday in West Pullman on the Far South Side. Officers found Charles L. McFee about 8:13 p.m. in the 11600 block of South Peoria Street with a gunshot wound to the chest, authorities said. McFee, who lived in West Pullman, was pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
Minors injured
Six other minors have been injured in the weekend’s gun violence.
Most recently, a 15-year-old boy was shot early Monday in South Shore. Officers responding to reports of shots fired at 3:14 a.m. in the 7300 block of South South Shore Drive found him on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his right shoulder, police said. He was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition.
Sunday afternoon, a 17-year-old boy was shot in Rogers Park on the North Side. The teen was shot in the abdomen about 4:05 p.m. in the 2000 block of West Chase Avenue, police said. He was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was in good condition.
A 16-year-old was shot Saturday evening in Bronzeville on the South Side. Several people got out of a dark-colored vehicle about 10 p.m. and shot the teen as he stood outside in the 500 block of East 47th Street, police said. He was struck in the leg and taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where his condition was stabilized,
Early Saturday morning, a 17-year-old boy was shot in West Lawn on the Southwest Side. He was on the sidewalk with a group of people at 12:14 a.m. in the 3600 block of West 70th Street when a male got out of a white SUV and started shooting, according to police. The boy was shot in the leg and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition. The shooter got back in the SUV and fled the scene.
Another teenager was shot about half an hour earlier in Back of the Yards on the South Side. The 16-year-old was outside at 11:48 p.m. Friday in the 4400 block of South Hermitage Avenue when he heard gunshots and felt pain, police said. He told investigators he didn’t see the shooter or know where the shots came from. He was hit in the hip and went to Stroger Hospital on his own in fair condition.
Earlier that evening, a 12-year-old boy was shot in Woodlawn on the South Side. He was with a group of males about 8:10 p.m. in the 6400 block of South Ellis Avenue when he was shot in the leg, police said. He was hospitalized in fair condition.
Other nonfatal attacks
In other nonfatal shootings, three people were shot early Monday in East Garfield Park on the West Side. They were in a vehicle about 1:45 a.m. in the 3900 block of West Ferdinand Street when four male suspects unleashed gunfire, police said. A 26-year-old man was shot in the shoulder, police said. A 22-year-old woman was shot in the leg, and an 18-year-old woman was hit in the shoulder. They were all taken to Stroger Hospital, the man in critical condition and the women in good condition.
About half an hour before that, another triple shooting happened in Homan Square on the West Side. Two men, both 23, were sitting on the steps of a building at 12:13 a.m. in the 3600 block of West Polk Street when four males approached and opened fire, according to police. One man was shot multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition. The other was hit in the left ankle and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition. A 25-year-old woman nearby was also shot in the foot and went to Mount Sinai Hospital on her own in fair condition.
Another shooting left three people, including a 61-year-old man, injured Sunday night in Fifth City on the West Side. He and two women, 30 and 56, were on the sidewalk about 9:17 p.m. in the 3300 block of West Van Buren Street when someone in a dark-colored sedan fired shots, police said. The 30-year-old woman was grazed in the shoulder, and the 56-year-old was struck in the hand. The younger woman was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, and the older woman declined medical attention. The man was shot in the arm and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.
An expressway shooting Saturday morning left two women hurt, one of them critically, on the Eisenhower Expressway in Austin on the West Side. The women were shot at 4:13 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-290 near Laramie Avenue, according to Illinois State Police. A 25-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, Chicago Fire Department officials said. The other woman, 21, was taken to the same hospital in fair-to-serious condition.
The weekend’s first shooting injured a 20-year-old man Friday in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side. He was sitting on a front porch about 6:35 p.m. in the 3000 block of West 44th Street when someone in an SUV shot him in the leg, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition.
At least 33 other people were shot in Chicago between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-17--Boy, 15, shot in South Shore

Boy, 15, shot in South Shore

A teenage boy was injured in a shooting Monday in South Shore .
Officers responding to reports of shots fired @ @ @ @ @ 7300 block of South South Shore Drive found the 15-year-old on the sidewalk with a @ @ @ @ @ shoulder , Chicago police said .
He was taken to Comer Children ’ s Hospital @ @ @ @ @ said he was uncooperative with investigators and did not provide further details about the shooting @ @ @ @ @ custody as Area One detectives investigate .
Read more on crime , and track the @ @ @ @ @

A teenage boy was injured in a shooting Monday in South Shore.
Officers responding to reports of shots fired at 3:14 a.m. in the 7300 block of South South Shore Drive found the 15-year-old on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his right shoulder, Chicago police said. He was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition.
Police said he was uncooperative with investigators and did not provide further details about the shooting.
No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-17--3 shot in East Garfield Park

3 shot in East Garfield Park

Three people were wounded when they were shot Monday in East Garfield Park on the West Side .
A 26-year-old @ @ @ @ @ and an 18-year-old woman were in a vehicle about 1:45 a.m. in the 3900 block @ @ @ @ @ a gray sedan pulled up , Chicago police said .
Four males got out of @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
The man and 18-year-old woman were each struck in the shoulder @ @ @ @ @ hit in the leg .
They were all taken to Stroger Hospital , police said @ @ @ @ @ critical condition , and the women were in good condition .
No one is in @ @ @ @ @ investigate .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Three people were wounded when they were shot Monday in East Garfield Park on the West Side.
A 26-year-old man, a 22-year-old woman and an 18-year-old woman were in a vehicle about 1:45 a.m. in the 3900 block of West Ferdinand Street when a gray sedan pulled up, Chicago police said.
Four males got out of the car and unleashed gunfire, police said. The man and 18-year-old woman were each struck in the shoulder. The other woman was hit in the leg.
They were all taken to Stroger Hospital, police said. The man was in critical condition, and the women were in good condition.
No one is in custody as Area Four detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-08-17--3 hurt in Homan Square shooting

3 hurt in Homan Square shooting

Three people were shot Monday in Homan Square on the West Side .
Two men , both 23 , were @ @ @ @ @ a building at 12:13 a.m. in the 3600 block of West Polk Street when four @ @ @ @ @ , according to Chicago police .
One man was shot multiple times and taken to @ @ @ @ @ condition , police said .
The other was hit in the left ankle and taken @ @ @ @ @ condition .
A 25-year-old woman nearby was also shot in the foot , police said @ @ @ @ @ Sinai Hospital on her own in fair condition .
No one is in custody as @ @ @ @ @ Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Three people were shot Monday in Homan Square on the West Side.
Two men, both 23, were sitting on the steps of a building at 12:13 a.m. in the 3600 block of West Polk Street when four males approached and opened fire, according to Chicago police.
One man was shot multiple times and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, police said. The other was hit in the left ankle and taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.
A 25-year-old woman nearby was also shot in the foot, police said. She went to Mount Sinai Hospital on her own in fair condition.
No one is in custody as Area Four detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.