chicagosun-times--2020-05-27--Four in 10 CPS students take part in online learning 2 days a week or fewer, new data shows

Newly released and long-awaited data from the nation ’ s third-largest school system shows what many have suspected : In the best circumstances , remote learning has been an uneven and dubious replacement for in-person instruction ; and in the worst , it has left students entirely disconnected from their teachers .
Fewer than 60 % of all Chicago Public Schools students are engaging with online remote learning three or more days per week , data unveiled Wednesday shows .
Vulnerable populations , such as kids who are homeless and black and Latino students whose families have been disproportionately hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on at lower rates .
Tens of thousands of students aren ’ t being reached by their schools at all despite computer and internet access having largely been achieved .
The report , which includes some of the most detailed metrics in the country , measures 294,000 students at district-run schools and focuses on the week of May 11 , the most recently measured time span which also saw the best engagement thus far .
Officials said they don ’ t have access to data for another 60,000 kids who attend charters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ students were successfully contacted by someone at their school at least once the week of May 11 , whether to check in for academic reasons or to offer social and emotional support .
But more than 43,000 students , including a quarter of all high schoolers , weren ’ t reached that week .
Since schools closed , 2,200 students haven ’ t been reached a single time .
“ As an educator , I want to see all kids engaged , ” CPS Chief Education Officer LaTanya McDade said in an interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would love to see .
But I know that remote learning is not perfect .
So my expectation was growth.
” McDade said her goal has been to find populations that aren ’ t seeing week-over-week improvements so CPS officials can use those metrics to identify where to focus their efforts .
Engagement has steadily risen since remote learning started the week of March 13 , when slightly less than half the district logged on three or more days that week .
But the effort to bridge the so-called “ digital divide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessarily translated to online learning for all students .
District officials said 93 % of students now have digital access , including a laptop and internet connection , after more than 100,000 laptops and tablets were passed out .
That ’ s no small accomplishment since mid-April , when one in three students started remote learning without a computer .
At least 15,600 are still learning using paper homework packets , the district said .
Yet 58,000 kids , about a quarter of all students , didn ’ t log onto a Google @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the vast majority of CPS schools — at all the week of May 11 .
Many of those who did log in engaged consistently : More than two-thirds of the 116,000 kids in fourth through eighth grades signed on to Google Classroom or Google Meet at least three times the week of May 11 .
Those grades were the most engaged in the district .
High school students and first- and second-graders drove down those totals , with only about half of high schoolers logging on three or more times the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , engaged at the lowest rate .
Preschoolers and kindergartners were not included in those figures because very few have CPS login credentials .
And the district said there are an unidentified number of students are engaged yet weren ’ t captured by this data because their schools are using online learning platforms other than Google , making engagement there more difficult to track .
So when CPS officials presented the data to the Board of Education at its monthly meeting Wednesday , board vice president Sendhil Revuluri asked whether engagement in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers show .
Shannon Heston , a CPS administrator , said engagement “ is probably a bit higher ” in some cases and “ a bit lower ” in others than the data shows , especially because of the use of platforms that aren ’ t tracked .
But she acknowledged the district wants to see more engagement than just once per week , for example .
“ We need to go deeper in order to understand more , ” she said .
Black and Latino students , who combined make up 83 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at lower rates than other groups , CPS figures show .
Slightly more than 70 % of black students logged on at least once the week of May 11 , while 78.2 % of Latino students did .
By comparison 87 % of white and Asians children went online to learn .
Several social and educational inequities might be contributing to those discrepancies .
Students of color primarily made up populations who didn ’ t have computer or internet access going into the pandemic , such as those who are homeless or come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown people of color largely have been the ones working jobs classified as “ essential , ” meaning those parents might not always be home with their children to help with remote learning .
McDade said it was “ disheartening but not surprising ” to see those factors contribute to lower rates of engagement among students of color .
“ When you look at communities of color and how the pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color , which is the majority of our students , you ’ re also seeing that play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Fewer than two-thirds of homeless students have been online at all .
Special education students and English learners have logged on at slightly higher rates .
Board member Lucino Sotelo said difficult life circumstances for lots of families are leading to lower engagement .
“ There are real situations where both parents are working , they want the best for their children , they ’ re trying their hardest , ” Sotelo said .
“ Now you have other children acting as parents at home , as well .
So there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the empathy and work the teachers are demonstrating through this whole process is tremendously appreciated.
” A third grade teacher at a Southwest Side school , who asked to remain anonymous to speak candidly about her experience , said some of her best students are no longer completing all their work .
Half her class of 27 students is engaged daily , and another 10 are online at least three days a week .
A few have been really difficult to reach .
“ I don ’ t know how to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ In school , we have rewards and things , and you would just miss out on those .
And also [ there was ] the peer pressure of , ‘ All my friends around me are doing their math worksheet , let me go ahead and do mine , too.
’ ” A mother of a young child herself , the teacher said stress levels have reached a boiling point .
She ’ s doing more work to stay connected with students— while feeling she doesn ’ t have enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s learning — with seemingly less of an impact on kids .
“ We ’ re stressed out too , it ’ s not just the kids who are in these situations , ” the teacher said .
“ I ’ m fatigued too.
” Another educator , a first grade teacher at a West Side school , said only about half her students are engaged to the degree they were before remote learning began .
She said she ’ s been going easy on grading on last week ’ s progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ My grades ended up high , but I was exceedingly generous , and basically gave a kid a ‘ C ’ if they ’ d turned in any assignment for a given content area .
I ’ m not sure other people were as lenient .
”

Newly released and long-awaited data from the nation’s third-largest school system shows what many have suspected: In the best circumstances, remote learning has been an uneven and dubious replacement for in-person instruction; and in the worst, it has left students entirely disconnected from their teachers.
Fewer than 60% of all Chicago Public Schools students are engaging with online remote learning three or more days per week, data unveiled Wednesday shows. Vulnerable populations, such as kids who are homeless and black and Latino students whose families have been disproportionately hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, are logging on at lower rates. Tens of thousands of students aren’t being reached by their schools at all despite computer and internet access having largely been achieved.
The report, which includes some of the most detailed metrics in the country, measures 294,000 students at district-run schools and focuses on the week of May 11, the most recently measured time span which also saw the best engagement thus far. Officials said they don’t have access to data for another 60,000 kids who attend charters.
The data shows about 85% of students were successfully contacted by someone at their school at least once the week of May 11, whether to check in for academic reasons or to offer social and emotional support. But more than 43,000 students, including a quarter of all high schoolers, weren’t reached that week. Since schools closed, 2,200 students haven’t been reached a single time.
District: Data shows growth
“As an educator, I want to see all kids engaged,” CPS Chief Education Officer LaTanya McDade said in an interview. “Ultimately that’s what I would love to see. But I know that remote learning is not perfect. So my expectation was growth.”
McDade said her goal has been to find populations that aren’t seeing week-over-week improvements so CPS officials can use those metrics to identify where to focus their efforts.
Engagement has steadily risen since remote learning started the week of March 13, when slightly less than half the district logged on three or more days that week.
But the effort to bridge the so-called “digital divide” during that time hasn’t necessarily translated to online learning for all students.
District officials said 93% of students now have digital access, including a laptop and internet connection, after more than 100,000 laptops and tablets were passed out. That’s no small accomplishment since mid-April, when one in three students started remote learning without a computer. At least 15,600 are still learning using paper homework packets, the district said.
Yet 58,000 kids, about a quarter of all students, didn’t log onto a Google digital learning site — the platform used in the vast majority of CPS schools — at all the week of May 11.
Many of those who did log in engaged consistently: More than two-thirds of the 116,000 kids in fourth through eighth grades signed on to Google Classroom or Google Meet at least three times the week of May 11. Those grades were the most engaged in the district.
High school students and first- and second-graders drove down those totals, with only about half of high schoolers logging on three or more times the week of May 11. Seniors, by far, engaged at the lowest rate.
Preschoolers and kindergartners were not included in those figures because very few have CPS login credentials. And the district said there are an unidentified number of students are engaged yet weren’t captured by this data because their schools are using online learning platforms other than Google, making engagement there more difficult to track.
So when CPS officials presented the data to the Board of Education at its monthly meeting Wednesday, board vice president Sendhil Revuluri asked whether engagement in reality is better or worse than these numbers show.
Shannon Heston, a CPS administrator, said engagement “is probably a bit higher” in some cases and “a bit lower” in others than the data shows, especially because of the use of platforms that aren’t tracked. But she acknowledged the district wants to see more engagement than just once per week, for example.
“We need to go deeper in order to understand more,” she said.
Allegra Coleman (left), a student at Lane Tech High School, studies at her South Shore home with her brother, Alexandré, a student at the private De La Salle Institute, in March. Provided
Inequities impacting students of color
Black and Latino students, who combined make up 83% of the district, have engaged at lower rates than other groups, CPS figures show. Slightly more than 70% of black students logged on at least once the week of May 11, while 78.2% of Latino students did. By comparison 87% of white and Asians children went online to learn.
Several social and educational inequities might be contributing to those discrepancies.
Students of color primarily made up populations who didn’t have computer or internet access going into the pandemic, such as those who are homeless or come from low-income families.
Studies have also shown people of color largely have been the ones working jobs classified as “essential,” meaning those parents might not always be home with their children to help with remote learning.
McDade said it was “disheartening but not surprising” to see those factors contribute to lower rates of engagement among students of color.
“When you look at communities of color and how the pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color, which is the majority of our students, you’re also seeing that play out in the data,” McDade said.
Fewer than two-thirds of homeless students have been online at all. Special education students and English learners have logged on at slightly higher rates.
Board member Lucino Sotelo said difficult life circumstances for lots of families are leading to lower engagement.
“There are real situations where both parents are working, they want the best for their children, they’re trying their hardest,” Sotelo said. “Now you have other children acting as parents at home, as well. So there’s a lot of dynamics, and the empathy and work the teachers are demonstrating through this whole process is tremendously appreciated.”
Teachers express frustration
A third grade teacher at a Southwest Side school, who asked to remain anonymous to speak candidly about her experience, said some of her best students are no longer completing all their work. Half her class of 27 students is engaged daily, and another 10 are online at least three days a week. A few have been really difficult to reach.
“I don’t know how to get more kids engaged,” the teacher said. “In school, we have rewards and things, and you would just miss out on those. And also [there was] the peer pressure of, ‘All my friends around me are doing their math worksheet, let me go ahead and do mine, too.’”
A mother of a young child herself, the teacher said stress levels have reached a boiling point. She’s doing more work to stay connected with students— while feeling she doesn’t have enough time to help with her own kid’s learning — with seemingly less of an impact on kids.
“We’re stressed out too, it’s not just the kids who are in these situations,” the teacher said. “I’m fatigued too.”
Another educator, a first grade teacher at a West Side school, said only about half her students are engaged to the degree they were before remote learning began. She said she’s been going easy on grading on last week’s progress reports to give kids credit for trying.
“My grades ended up high, but I was exceedingly generous, and basically gave a kid a ‘C’ if they’d turned in any assignment for a given content area. I’m not sure other people were as lenient.”


chicagosun-times--2020-05-27--‘Windy City Rehab’ star wants lawsuit over $1.33M Bucktown home tossed out of court

Reality TV star Alison Victoria is fighting back against a lawsuit filed by a couple who bought a $ 1.33 million Bucktown home featured on the show “ Windy City Rehab , ” arguing that their complaints are without merit and should be thrown out of court .
In motions filed last week , an attorney for Victoria — whose real name is Alison Victoria Gramenos — argued the lawsuit should be dismissed and the other side should be sanctioned by the court .
Attorney Daniel Lynch called the allegations in the suit “ misleading and baseless ” in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that Victoria ’ s business , Alison Victoria Interiors , and Discovery Inc. ’ s HGTV network were dragged into it “ in an effort to create negative press attention ” and bully Victoria into settling with the buyers .
The buyers of the white brick home at 1700 W. Wabansia Ave. filed a lawsuit in April against Victoria and co-star Donovan Eckhardt and their companies and contractors , alleging fraud and shoddy work and demanding a full refund .
The suit also asks for a permanent injunction to force HGTV to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it is “ deceptive ” to portray them as “ superstar experts.
” Their complaint mainly deals with a garage behind the property that homebuyers Shane Jones and Samantha Mostaccio wanted renovated so Mostaccio could have space for her pilates training business and to make videos for her fitness business .
The couple claims the garage work wasn ’ t properly finished , and the work that was done was without a building permit , leading the city to shut down the site .
The lawsuit notes other problems the couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the kitchen not up to code ; water infiltrating exterior walls of the home and garage ; poorly pitched landscaping ; cracked concrete load-bearing columns on the corner of the house ; and a “ sewage ” odor and mold in the basement .
Lynch says Victoria ’ s contractor was trying to complete repairs when Jones barred him from the property .
He adds that it ’ s not possible to claim theoretical losses from the fitness business .
Lynch is asking for sanctions again the plaintiffs and their attorney , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ is so inaccurate , factually inconsistent and deliberately misleading ” that the court should take action .
“ Plaintiffs and their counsel took a straightforward dispute and complicated it for improper reasons .
There was a final inspection scheduled , and Plaintiffs cancelled it on the day it was to be conducted .
Then , plaintiffs ’ counsel filed a complicated 130-page complaint with thirteen numbered counts seeking damages that are not recoverable , ” Lynch said in his emailed statement to the Sun-Times .
The difficulties faced in renovating the home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House of Horrors.
” At one point on the show , a worker screams , “ There is a big leak in the garage.
” When Victoria sees the water pouring in through the deck , she exclaims , “ Oh my god.
” Lynch says that because that episode aired before the house was purchased , “ any claim that those matters were concealed from plaintiff makes no sense.
” He added that the couple closed on the house after getting an inspection and going over a final punch list .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed , a new expert was hired who generated an entirely new punch list .
There is nothing in the contract that allows that.
” Attorney Nicole Daniel of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP of Chicago , who is representing the home buyers , declined to comment Wednesday .
Eckhardt and the attorney for subcontractor Ermin Pajazetovic did not respond to emails seeking comment .
Eckhardt and Pajazetovic are tangled up in separate litigation involving two other properties that are not part of the show .
And Victoria has publicly split with her former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain suspended from seeking any new building permits in the city , a city Buildings Department spokeswoman said Wednesday .
The suspensions will remain in effect until they correct all code issues with previous projects .
The 1700 W. Wabansia lawsuit claims Victoria and Eckhardt , who paid $ 780,000 for the property and sunk another $ 520,000 into renovations , were desperate to unload the home .
It is the second lawsuit filed by purchasers of a home on “ Windy City Rehab.
” The couple that bought a home at 2308 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Victoria and Eckhardt in December , alleging problems with leaks and shoddy work .
Victoria has said the second season of “ Windy City Rehab ” is expected to air in July .

Reality TV star Alison Victoria is fighting back against a lawsuit filed by a couple who bought a $1.33 million Bucktown home featured on the show “Windy City Rehab,” arguing that their complaints are without merit and should be thrown out of court.
In motions filed last week, an attorney for Victoria — whose real name is Alison Victoria Gramenos — argued the lawsuit should be dismissed and the other side should be sanctioned by the court.
Attorney Daniel Lynch called the allegations in the suit “misleading and baseless” in an emailed statement to the Chicago Sun-Times and said that Victoria’s business, Alison Victoria Interiors, and Discovery Inc.’s HGTV network were dragged into it “in an effort to create negative press attention” and bully Victoria into settling with the buyers.
The buyers of the white brick home at 1700 W. Wabansia Ave. filed a lawsuit in April against Victoria and co-star Donovan Eckhardt and their companies and contractors, alleging fraud and shoddy work and demanding a full refund.
The suit also asks for a permanent injunction to force HGTV to take Victoria and Eckhardt off the air, saying it is “deceptive” to portray them as “superstar experts.”
Their complaint mainly deals with a garage behind the property that homebuyers Shane Jones and Samantha Mostaccio wanted renovated so Mostaccio could have space for her pilates training business and to make videos for her fitness business. The couple claims the garage work wasn’t properly finished, and the work that was done was without a building permit, leading the city to shut down the site.
The lawsuit notes other problems the couple says they found, including electrical outlets in the kitchen not up to code; water infiltrating exterior walls of the home and garage; poorly pitched landscaping; cracked concrete load-bearing columns on the corner of the house; and a “sewage” odor and mold in the basement.
The home at 1700 W. Wabansia Ave. in Bucktown was featured in an episode called “House of Horrors.” Sun-Times
Lynch says Victoria’s contractor was trying to complete repairs when Jones barred him from the property. He adds that it’s not possible to claim theoretical losses from the fitness business.
Lynch is asking for sanctions again the plaintiffs and their attorney, whom he argues filed a lawsuit that “is so inaccurate, factually inconsistent and deliberately misleading” that the court should take action.
“Plaintiffs and their counsel took a straightforward dispute and complicated it for improper reasons. There was a final inspection scheduled, and Plaintiffs cancelled it on the day it was to be conducted. Then, plaintiffs’ counsel filed a complicated 130-page complaint with thirteen numbered counts seeking damages that are not recoverable,” Lynch said in his emailed statement to the Sun-Times.
The difficulties faced in renovating the home were featured in an episode titled “House of Horrors.” At one point on the show, a worker screams, “There is a big leak in the garage.” When Victoria sees the water pouring in through the deck, she exclaims, “Oh my god.”
Lynch says that because that episode aired before the house was purchased, “any claim that those matters were concealed from plaintiff makes no sense.”
He added that the couple closed on the house after getting an inspection and going over a final punch list.
“Then, just before the lawsuit was filed, a new expert was hired who generated an entirely new punch list. There is nothing in the contract that allows that.”
Attorney Nicole Daniel of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP of Chicago, who is representing the home buyers, declined to comment Wednesday.
Eckhardt and the attorney for subcontractor Ermin Pajazetovic did not respond to emails seeking comment.
Eckhardt and Pajazetovic are tangled up in separate litigation involving two other properties that are not part of the show. And Victoria has publicly split with her former co-star Eckhardt.
Both Victoria and Eckhardt remain suspended from seeking any new building permits in the city, a city Buildings Department spokeswoman said Wednesday. The suspensions will remain in effect until they correct all code issues with previous projects.
The 1700 W. Wabansia lawsuit claims Victoria and Eckhardt, who paid $780,000 for the property and sunk another $520,000 into renovations, were desperate to unload the home.
It is the second lawsuit filed by purchasers of a home on “Windy City Rehab.”
The couple that bought a home at 2308 W. Giddings St. in Lincoln Square sued Victoria and Eckhardt in December, alleging problems with leaks and shoddy work.
Victoria has said the second season of “Windy City Rehab” is expected to air in July.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-27--Gov. Pritzker calls George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis ‘a call of action’ for all: ‘People deserve

Gov. Pritzker calls George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis ‘a call of action’ for all: ‘People deserve to breathe’

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday spoke out against the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , saying “ being black in America can not be a death sentence.
” “ As a white elected official , I feel a special responsibility to speak out today and to own that obligation that I have to shape public policy in a more equitable direction , ” Pritzker said at a COVID-19 briefing in East St. Louis in downstate Illinois .
“ Being black in America can not be a death sentence .
But it is .
And it ’ s dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a police officer had his knee on the 46-year-old African American man ’ s neck .
Captured on video , the incident prompted protests and the firings of four officers .
Pritzker said he felt compelled to address Floyd ’ s death , as well as the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery , who was shot and killed in February while jogging near his home in Georgia , and Breonna Taylor , who was killed by police officers in her home in Kentucky in March .
Pritzker also made reference to Christian Cooper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police on him as he was bird watching in Central Park has become viral .
Pritzker said the four incidents represent events that have happened too many times .
“ Yet we as people have not yet found the humanity to stop these vile horrid acts from happening , to truly contend with the racism that permeates our society .
and then to root it out , ” he said .
The Democratic governor said something must be done to “ change that reality to make it so that men like George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner gasping for air in broad daylight , one moment alive , and the next moment , gone .
Pritzker noted the events have happened in the midst of a pandemic that has already disproportionately impacted people of color .
“ This moment must become a call of action to Illinoisans , for Americans , to see the humanity in every person , no matter their race , their religion , their socio-economic status , or their sexual orientation , ” Pritzker said .
“ To George Floyd , to his family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday spoke out against the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, saying “being black in America cannot be a death sentence.”
“As a white elected official, I feel a special responsibility to speak out today and to own that obligation that I have to shape public policy in a more equitable direction,” Pritzker said at a COVID-19 briefing in East St. Louis in downstate Illinois. “Being black in America cannot be a death sentence. But it is. And it’s dangerous to pretend otherwise.”
Floyd died Monday after a police officer had his knee on the 46-year-old African American man’s neck. Captured on video, the incident prompted protests and the firings of four officers.
Pritzker said he felt compelled to address Floyd’s death, as well as the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot and killed in February while jogging near his home in Georgia, and Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police officers in her home in Kentucky in March. Pritzker also made reference to Christian Cooper, whose video of a woman calling the police on him as he was bird watching in Central Park has become viral.
Protesters gather in Minneapolis in response to the death the day before of George Floyd in police custody. Four Minneapolis officers involved in the arrest of Floyd, a black man who died in police custody, were fired Tuesday, hours after a bystander’s video showed an officer kneeling on the handcuffed man’s neck, even after he pleaded that he could not breathe and stopped moving. Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP
Pritzker said the four incidents represent events that have happened too many times.
“Yet we as people have not yet found the humanity to stop these vile horrid acts from happening, to truly contend with the racism that permeates our society. and then to root it out,” he said.
The Democratic governor said something must be done to “change that reality to make it so that men like George Floyd are not killed on a street corner gasping for air in broad daylight, one moment alive, and the next moment, gone.
“People deserve to breathe,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker noted the events have happened in the midst of a pandemic that has already disproportionately impacted people of color.
“This moment must become a call of action to Illinoisans, for Americans, to see the humanity in every person, no matter their race, their religion, their socio-economic status, or their sexual orientation,” Pritzker said. “To George Floyd, to his family, may his memory be for a blessing.”


chicagosun-times--2020-05-28--Dear Abby: Fiance knows I’m wary of his dogs, but adopts another

DEAR ABBY : I need your advice about a problem I ’ m facing with a man I ’ ve been dating almost four years .
When I met “ Jeff , ” he had two older Yorkshire terriers .
Both were very territorial and relieved themselves in the house .
I told him I was concerned about moving in with him because of his out-of-control dogs , and he understood .
They were older dogs , and I knew one day they would pass , so I waited patiently .
Then Jeff ’ s neighbor passed away , leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it has become a bigger issue than the first two .
The new dog is very aggressive .
It tries to bite me and won ’ t let me into certain rooms in the house !
I expressed my concern to Jeff , but nothing has been done .
We are currently engaged but living separately .
I told Jeff that we need to live together before getting married , so I gave him an ultimatum — try to find a home for the new dog and I ’ ll move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and nothing has been done .
At this point , I suspect that he adopted the third dog without me knowing in order to prevent me from moving in .
I feel like he chose the new dog over me !
What do I do ?
— OVERLOOKED HUMAN IN CALIFORNIA DEAR OVERLOOKED HUMAN : Listen to your intuition and accept that where you are concerned , Jeff has a commitment problem .
If he wanted you to live with him , he would not have taken in an aggressive animal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sending you a strong message .
From where I sit , you may have devoted enough time to a romance that ’ s going nowhere .
Give Jeff a choice : Kennel train the dog or the romance is over .
DEAR ABBY : My husband and I are 58 and getting ready to celebrate our first wedding anniversary .
We knew each other in college , but were just friends back then .
After college , we married others and raised children .
We stayed married to our spouses for close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago , started an affair and divorced our partners .
Neither of us is proud of this .
My adult children have accepted my husband .
His refused to accept me , and only one of them has a relationship with him .
He was out of town recently , and I caught him in a lie about having invited a female former colleague to lunch with him .
I was shocked and hurt because this is how our relationship started .
He has apologized , but I can ’ t get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it has caused a rift between us .
He has always been honest with me , so I wonder why he lied about this woman .
I know I ’ m in no position to judge others .
I can ’ t afford counseling , and we don ’ t belong to a church for spiritual help .
I suffer from depression and anxiety ( I am under the care of a doctor and take medication ) but can not shake the sadness .
How can I ever trust my husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MOUNTAINS DEAR HURTING HEART : In light of the way your affair with your husband began , he may have lied because he was afraid of upsetting you .
A way to start this very necessary conversation would be to tell him how shaken you are that he wasn ’ t truthful and try to get him to explain why he thought he had to lie .
You should also ask if he thinks there is anything awry in your marriage .
If he tells you nothing is wrong and there is nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If after that , you are still feeling insecure , ask the doctor who is treating your depression and anxiety to suggest some low-cost mental health/counseling services in your community .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
To order “ How to Write Letters for All Occasions , ” send your name and mailing address , plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Letter Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: I need your advice about a problem I’m facing with a man I’ve been dating almost four years. When I met “Jeff,” he had two older Yorkshire terriers. Both were very territorial and relieved themselves in the house. I told him I was concerned about moving in with him because of his out-of-control dogs, and he understood. They were older dogs, and I knew one day they would pass, so I waited patiently.
Then Jeff’s neighbor passed away, leaving a dog. He adopted that dog, and it has become a bigger issue than the first two. The new dog is very aggressive. It tries to bite me and won’t let me into certain rooms in the house! I expressed my concern to Jeff, but nothing has been done.
We are currently engaged but living separately. I told Jeff that we need to live together before getting married, so I gave him an ultimatum — try to find a home for the new dog and I’ll move in.
That was two years ago, and nothing has been done. At this point, I suspect that he adopted the third dog without me knowing in order to prevent me from moving in. I feel like he chose the new dog over me! What do I do? — OVERLOOKED HUMAN IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR OVERLOOKED HUMAN: Listen to your intuition and accept that where you are concerned, Jeff has a commitment problem. If he wanted you to live with him, he would not have taken in an aggressive animal. Without saying it in words, he is sending you a strong message. From where I sit, you may have devoted enough time to a romance that’s going nowhere. Give Jeff a choice: Kennel train the dog or the romance is over.
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are 58 and getting ready to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. We knew each other in college, but were just friends back then. After college, we married others and raised children. We stayed married to our spouses for close to 30 years.
We reconnected eight years ago, started an affair and divorced our partners. Neither of us is proud of this. My adult children have accepted my husband. His refused to accept me, and only one of them has a relationship with him.
He was out of town recently, and I caught him in a lie about having invited a female former colleague to lunch with him. I was shocked and hurt because this is how our relationship started. He has apologized, but I can’t get over the fact he lied to me, and it has caused a rift between us. He has always been honest with me, so I wonder why he lied about this woman.
I know I’m in no position to judge others. I can’t afford counseling, and we don’t belong to a church for spiritual help. I suffer from depression and anxiety (I am under the care of a doctor and take medication) but cannot shake the sadness. How can I ever trust my husband again? — HURTING HEART IN THE MOUNTAINS
DEAR HURTING HEART: In light of the way your affair with your husband began, he may have lied because he was afraid of upsetting you. A way to start this very necessary conversation would be to tell him how shaken you are that he wasn’t truthful and try to get him to explain why he thought he had to lie. You should also ask if he thinks there is anything awry in your marriage.
If he tells you nothing is wrong and there is nothing he would change, believe him. If after that, you are still feeling insecure, ask the doctor who is treating your depression and anxiety to suggest some low-cost mental health/counseling services in your community.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-28--A soft launch for Steve Carell’s celestial sitcom ‘Space Force’

Given the Netflix comedy series “ Space Force ” is a re-teaming of “ The Office ” showrunner Greg Daniels and star Steve Carell in a workplace comedy with a supporting cast including John Malkovich , Lisa Kudrow , Ben Schwartz , Jane Lynch and Patrick Warburton , you could say my expectations were sky-high , maybe even SPACE high .
Mission only partially accomplished .
While “ Space Force ” benefits from Carell ’ s impeccable comedic timing and his uncanny ability to play yet another character who ’ s often an insufferable buffoon with not a speck of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the big-budget slapstick set pieces are mildly funny when they should be Mel Brooks funny , and the shifts in tone from farce to sincere drama are often sudden and jarring .
Don ’ t get me wrong ; I enjoyed “ Space Force.
” The roughly half-hour episodes zip by and elicit a steady stream of smiles and chuckles .
It ’ s just with all the credentials of the main contributors , we hoped for greatness and got … pretty good .
Carell plays Mark Naird , a decorated pilot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Air Force .
Instead , much to the amusement of the Chief of Naval Operations ( Jane Lynch ) , the Commandant of the Marine Corps ( Patrick Warburton ) and Naird ’ s longtime nemesis , Gen .
Kick Grabaston ( Noah Emmerich ) , Secretary of Defense John Blandsmith ( Dan Bakkedahl ) tabs Naird to be the first Chief of Space Operations .
“ POTUS wants to make some changes , ” says Blandsmith .
“ He ’ s tweeting about it in five minutes .
… Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , runs through our space satellites .
POTUS wants complete dominance , boots on the moon by 2024 .
To that end , the president is creating a new branch , Space Force , which Mark will run .
… This is not a joke , he said ‘ boots on the moon , 2024.
’ Actually , he said ‘ boobs on the moon , ’ but we believe that to be a typo.
” ( Not exactly subtle in the jabs at President Trump — and yet Trump isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s just “ POTUS ” this and “ POTUS ” that . )
Mark , his wife Maggie ( Lisa Kudrow ) and their rebellious teenage daughter Erin ( Diana Silvers ) relocate from D.C. to Wild Horse , Colorado , the semi-secret new home base for Space Force .
( To say the adjustment is bumpy for Maggie and Erin is a massive understatement , but we ’ ll leave the spoilers out of it . )
Save for the occasional interlude with Maggie or Erin , “ Space Force ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a much grander scale than “ The Office ” or “ Parks and Recreation , ” with Carell ’ s Gen. Naird as a far more powerful but no more competent version of Michael Scott .
John Malkovich is as entertainingly eccentric as you ’ d expect him to be as Dr. Adrian Mallory , the Strangelove-esque chief scientist at Space Force , who is appalled by Naird ’ s inability to grasp even simple physics but can ’ t deny the general has a certain likability and loyalty to his troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African-American Space Force pilot who could become the first person in a half-century to set foot on the lunar surface and is considering making her first words , “ It ’ s great to be BLACK on the moon.
” Ben Schwartz does his hipster d-bag thing as F. Tony Scarapiducci , the social media director for Space Force .
Jimmy O. Yang is the nerdy but likable Dr. Chen Kaifang .
The veteran character actor Don Lake is terrific as the one-star Gen. Brad Gregory , who ’ s basically a receptionist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about being wildly overqualified for the job .
It ’ s a good group of actors and they have an easy , pleasant dynamic together .
Even though they ’ re working against the backdrop of a massive mission control and billion-dollar projects , they ’ re not unlike the employees of a mid-sized regional paper company in Scranton , Pennsylvania .
It ’ s just that instead of Staples , their chief rival is China .
Diana Silvers ( “ Booksmart ” ) is a natural presence as the teenage Erin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit socially awkward and prone to making really bad decisions , e.g.
, she ’ s dating a young Russian ( Alex Sparrow ) who ’ s working with Space Force but could be a double agent .
As Mark gently points out to his daughter , it might be possible he ’ s dating her to get close to , you know , THE HEAD OF SPACE FORCE .
On the bittersweet side , the late , invaluable Fred Willard scores major laughs as Mark ’ s father , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his son and in particular his granddaughter on the phone .
All of Willard ’ s scenes are just that : He ’ s on the phone , never in the same room with the other principal actors .
And he ’ s nothing short of brilliant .
As he always was .

Given the Netflix comedy series “Space Force” is a re-teaming of “The Office” showrunner Greg Daniels and star Steve Carell in a workplace comedy with a supporting cast including John Malkovich, Lisa Kudrow, Ben Schwartz, Jane Lynch and Patrick Warburton, you could say my expectations were sky-high, maybe even SPACE high.
Mission only partially accomplished. While “Space Force” benefits from Carell’s impeccable comedic timing and his uncanny ability to play yet another character who’s often an insufferable buffoon with not a speck of self-awareness, the humor is hit-and-miss, the big-budget slapstick set pieces are mildly funny when they should be Mel Brooks funny, and the shifts in tone from farce to sincere drama are often sudden and jarring. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed “Space Force.” The roughly half-hour episodes zip by and elicit a steady stream of smiles and chuckles. It’s just with all the credentials of the main contributors, we hoped for greatness and got … pretty good.
‘Space Force’
Untitled Available for streaming starting Friday on Netflix
Carell plays Mark Naird, a decorated pilot and four-star general hoping to become the Secretary of the Air Force. Instead, much to the amusement of the Chief of Naval Operations (Jane Lynch), the Commandant of the Marine Corps (Patrick Warburton) and Naird’s longtime nemesis, Gen. Kick Grabaston (Noah Emmerich), Secretary of Defense John Blandsmith (Dan Bakkedahl) tabs Naird to be the first Chief of Space Operations.
“POTUS wants to make some changes,” says Blandsmith. “He’s tweeting about it in five minutes. … Our nation’s Internet, including Twitter, runs through our space satellites. POTUS wants complete dominance, boots on the moon by 2024. To that end, the president is creating a new branch, Space Force, which Mark will run. … This is not a joke, he said ‘boots on the moon, 2024.’ Actually, he said ‘boobs on the moon,’ but we believe that to be a typo.” (Not exactly subtle in the jabs at President Trump — and yet Trump isn’t specifically mentioned in the series. It’s just “POTUS” this and “POTUS” that.)
Mark, his wife Maggie (Lisa Kudrow) and their rebellious teenage daughter Erin (Diana Silvers) relocate from D.C. to Wild Horse, Colorado, the semi-secret new home base for Space Force. (To say the adjustment is bumpy for Maggie and Erin is a massive understatement, but we’ll leave the spoilers out of it.) Save for the occasional interlude with Maggie or Erin, “Space Force” is essentially a workplace comedy, albeit on a much grander scale than “The Office” or “Parks and Recreation,” with Carell’s Gen. Naird as a far more powerful but no more competent version of Michael Scott.
Erin (Diana Silver), teenage daughter of Gen. Naird, must adjust to the family’s transfer from D.C. to Colorado. Aaron Epstein/Netflix
John Malkovich is as entertainingly eccentric as you’d expect him to be as Dr. Adrian Mallory, the Strangelove-esque chief scientist at Space Force, who is appalled by Naird’s inability to grasp even simple physics but can’t deny the general has a certain likability and loyalty to his troops. Tawny Newsome is Angela, an African-American Space Force pilot who could become the first person in a half-century to set foot on the lunar surface and is considering making her first words, “It’s great to be BLACK on the moon.” Ben Schwartz does his hipster d-bag thing as F. Tony Scarapiducci, the social media director for Space Force. Jimmy O. Yang is the nerdy but likable Dr. Chen Kaifang. The veteran character actor Don Lake is terrific as the one-star Gen. Brad Gregory, who’s basically a receptionist for Gen. Naird but is oddly cheery about being wildly overqualified for the job.
It’s a good group of actors and they have an easy, pleasant dynamic together. Even though they’re working against the backdrop of a massive mission control and billion-dollar projects, they’re not unlike the employees of a mid-sized regional paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It’s just that instead of Staples, their chief rival is China.
Diana Silvers (“Booksmart”) is a natural presence as the teenage Erin, who’s smart and beautiful but a bit socially awkward and prone to making really bad decisions, e.g., she’s dating a young Russian (Alex Sparrow) who’s working with Space Force but could be a double agent. As Mark gently points out to his daughter, it might be possible he’s dating her to get close to, you know, THE HEAD OF SPACE FORCE.
On the bittersweet side, the late, invaluable Fred Willard scores major laughs as Mark’s father, who is losing his faculties but still loves talking to his son and in particular his granddaughter on the phone. All of Willard’s scenes are just that: He’s on the phone, never in the same room with the other principal actors. And he’s nothing short of brilliant. As he always was.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-28--Person arrested after Gresham carjacking, crash on I-57

A person was arrested after a carjacking in Gresham led to a crash on Interstate 57 on the South Side @ @ @ @ @ a blue 2009 Dodge Charger while it was parked at a gas station about 12:30 @ @ @ @ @ of West 87th Street , Chicago police said .
He pointed a gun at a @ @ @ @ @ seat and ordered her out of the car .
The carjacker fled in the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ , police said , before being taken to Chicago police custody .
No injuries were @ @ @ @ @ Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

A person was arrested after a carjacking in Gresham led to a crash Thursday on Interstate 57 on the South Side.
The male hopped into a blue 2009 Dodge Charger while it was parked at a gas station about 12:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of West 87th Street, Chicago police said. He pointed a gun at a 32-year-old woman in the passenger seat and ordered her out of the car.
The carjacker fled in the vehicle but later crashed on I-57, police said, before being taken to Chicago police custody.
No injuries were reported, police said.
Charges are pending.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-28--Bears betting on athleticism of seventh-round pick Arlington Hambright

Maybe it was because Arlington Hambright had played only six games as a junior .
Or perhaps it was because he ’ d been a member of three teams in a four-season span — Garden City ( Kan. ) Community College , Oklahoma State and , as a senior , Colorado .
Still , it surprises Darrin Chiaverini , the Buffaloes ’ offensive coordinator , that Hambright wasn ’ t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine .
“ Just given his size and how athletic he is , ” Chiaverini said .
“ Obviously , making the transition from Oklahoma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost in the transition .
He was definitely worthy.
” The Bears proved that when they drafted the 6-5 , 300-pound offensive lineman in the seventh round last month .
Hambright started 11 games at left tackle last year , but he could play guard in the NFL , too .
He ’ ll need that versatility to make the team .
One thing he already has is athleticism .
At Colorado ’ s pro day on March 11 , he ran a 4.97-second 40-yard dash that would have ranked fourth among linemen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press reps would have been sixth , while his 9-foot , 1-inch broad jump would have ranked No .
14 .
Had Hambright posted those numbers at the Combine , he wouldn ’ t have been available in the seventh round , when the Bears made him the 226th player — and the 22nd tackle — drafted .
“ He definitely allowed us to be really good in the outside zone game world , better in the screen game world , because we ’ re able to get him out on screens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s so athletic in space that he ’ s able to eat up linebackers and safeties and corners.
” The Buffaloes graded him with 68 knockdown blocks .
“ I played with a bunch of guys in the NFL , and he ’ s as athletic as anybody that I played with , ” Chiaverini said .
“ So I think that will give him a chance to stick.
” Sticking around would be a new experience for Hambright , who played high school football in Bellville , Mich. , and joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , the team went 11-0 and won the National Junior College Athletic Association national title .
He redshirted at OSU in 2017 , then started the first five games of 2018 before hurting his ankle .
After graduating in 2018 , he transferred to play his senior season at Colorado , which was then led by former Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker .
“ All three different places I learned different things , ” Hambright , who turned 24 in January , said last month .
“ Garden City Junior College , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I had to grow up .
I matured a lot there .
“ Then at Oklahoma State I just got used to the next level , the Power 5 level .
… And then Colorado , I learned a lot from Coach Tucker and my offensive line coach.
” The Bears are betting than new offensive line coach Juan Castillo will be influential in the development of Hambright and fellow seventh-round offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons .
Both general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy have raved about Castillo since he took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been unable to coach a single player on the field since , because of the coronavirus .
Hambright already has one connection in Chicago — Chiaverini ’ s twin brother Ryan cohosts “ Windy City Live ” on ABC7 .
The brothers have laughed about how Hambright is going from one of their cities to the other .
Darrin Chiaverini , who spent four years as an NFL player , cautions against Hambright using the Combine snub as motivation .
He knows Hambright will find other ways to push himself .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the front end , ” he said .
“ But going through NFL training camps , they ’ re long , it ’ s hot .
You ’ re going to be tired and sore .
At the end of the day it ’ s got ta come from inside .
I don ’ t think it can be a lot of external motivation .
It ’ s got to be more internal motivation .
... “ The biggest advice I ’ d give him is to get in your playbook — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best friend .
”

Maybe it was because Arlington Hambright played only six games as a college junior. Or perhaps it was because he’d been a member of three teams in a four-season span — Garden City (Kansas) Community College, Oklahoma State and, as a senior, Colorado.
Still, it surprises Buffaloes offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini that Hambright wasn’t invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this winter.
“Just given his size and how athletic he is — obviously, making the transition from Oklahoma State to Colorado, maybe something got lost in the transition,” Chiaverini said. “He was definitely worthy.”
The Bears backed that up when they drafted the 6-5, 300-pound offensive lineman in the seventh round last month.
Hambright started 11 games at left tackle last year, but he could play guard in the NFL, too. He’ll need that versatility to make the team. One thing he already has is athleticism. At Colorado’s pro day on March 11, he ran a 4.97-second 40-yard dash that would have ranked fourth among linemen at the NFL Combine. His 29 bench press reps would have been sixth, while his 9-foot, 1-inch broad jump would have ranked 14th.
Had Hambright, who turned 24 in January, posted those numbers at the combine, he wouldn’t have been available in the seventh round, when the Bears took him as this year’s 226th player — and 22nd tackle.
“He definitely allowed us to be really good in the outside zone game world, better in the screen game world, because we’re able to get him out on screens,” Chiaverini said. “And he’s so athletic in space that he’s able to eat up linebackers and safeties and corners.”
The Buffaloes credited him with 68 knockdown blocks.
“I played with a bunch of guys in the NFL, and he’s as athletic as anybody that I played with,” Chiaverini said. “So I think that will give him a chance to stick.”
Sticking around would be a new experience for Hambright, who played high school football in Bellville, Michigan, before joining Garden City in 2015. The next year, the Broncbusters went 11-0 and won the National Junior College Athletic Association national title.
Hambright redshirted at Oklahoma State in 2017, then started the first five games of 2018 before hurting his ankle. After graduating in 2018, he transferred to play his final season at Colorado, which was then led by former Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker.
“All three different places, I learned different things,” Hambright said last month. “Garden City Junior College, my freshman year, I just knew that I had to grow up. I matured a lot there. Then, at Oklahoma State I just got used to the next level, the Power 5 level. . . . And then Colorado, I learned a lot from Coach Tucker and my offensive line coach.”
The Bears are betting that new offensive line coach Juan Castillo will be influential in developing Hambright and fellow seventh-round offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons. Both general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy have raved about Castillo since he took over in January — though he’s been unable to coach a single player on the field because of the coronavirus.
Hambright already has one connection in Chicago. Chiaverini’s twin brother, Ryan, cohosts “Windy City Live” on ABC7. The brothers have laughed about how Hambright is going from one of their cities to the other.
Darrin Chiaverini, who spent four years as an NFL receiver, cautions against Hambright using the combine snub as motivation. He knows Hambright will find other ways to push himself.
“You might be able to do that on the front end,” he said. “But going through NFL training camps — they’re long. It’s hot. You’re going to be tired and sore. At the end of the day, it’s got to come from inside. I don’t think it can be a lot of external motivation. It’s got to be more internal motivation. . . .
“The biggest advice I’d give him is to get in your playbook — and be your line coach’s best friend.”


chicagosun-times--2020-05-28--11 shot, 2 fatally, Wednesday in Chicago

Eleven people were shot , two of them fatally , Wednesday in Chicago .
In the day ’ s latest fatal shooting a 33-year-old man was killed in West Woodlawn on the South Side , according to police .
He was outside about 1:25 a.m. in the 6200 block of South Eberhart Avenue , when two people in a passing vehicle opened fire , striking him several times in the back and arm , Chicago police said .
The man was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead .
The Cook County medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martell White .
He lived in Englewood .
About an hour prior , two teenage boys were shot , one fatally , near Little Village on the Southwest Side .
The boys , 16 and 17 , were in a vehicle about 12:10 a.m. when someone inside a passing black sedan fired shots at them on South Cicero Avenue , police said .
The 16-year-old was struck in the torso , while the older boy was grazed in the back , police said .
A friend took the teens to MacNeal Hospital , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical condition .
The 16-year-old was pronounced dead at 1:23 p.m. at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood , according to the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office .
In non-fatal shootings , a man was wounded in South Chicago .
The 27-year-old was outside about 10:10 p.m. in the 8700 block of South Marquette Avenue when someone in a black SUV pulled up and opened fire , police said .
The man was shot twice in the leg and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was wounded in a shooting in Archer Heights on the Southwest Side .
The 21-year-old was walking down the street at 6:53 p.m. when someone fired shots from the back seat of a black SUV in the 4100 block of West 41st Street , according to police .
He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition .
A man was shot Wednesday afternoon in the entrance of a store in South Deering on the South Side .
Someone opened fire about 12:25 p.m. from inside the store in the 10600 block @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entered , according to police .
The 37-year-old man was hit in the shoulder and tried to run northbound , police said .
The male shooter followed and fired the gun again before running westbound on 106th .
He was taken to Trinity Hospital , where his condition was stabilized , police said .
Wednesday morning , a 17-year-old boy was shot in Cragin on the Northwest Side .
He was walking in the 3100 block of North Laramie Avenue about 9 a.m. when someone in a passing vehicle fired shots , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later at Belmont and Leclaire avenues and took him to Illinois Masonic Medical Center , according to the Chicago Fire Department .
He was treated for two gunshot wounds to his buttocks , police said .
His condition was stabilized .
Hours earlier , an 18-year-old woman was wounded in a drive-by in Old Irving Park on the Northwest Side .
About 5:05 a.m. , she was the passenger of a vehicle when a black vehicle pulled up alongside her in the 4400 block of West Irving Park Road , began honking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She was struck on the right side of her head and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious condition , police said .
Two people were wounded in a shooting in South Chicago on the South Side .
About 2:28 a.m. , two males were walking in the 8400 block of South Buffalo Avenue when someone opened fire , police said .
The first male was grazed by a bullet on his left forearm and the second male received a buckshot wound to his face and neck , police said .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene .
Less than half an hour prior , a man was critically wounded after being shot in West Englewood on the South Side .
The 33-year-old was walking about 2 a.m. in the 2000 block of West 69th Place when someone shot him in the back , police said .
An acquaintance dropped the man off at Holy Cross Hospital , police said .
He was later transferred to Mt .
Sinai Hospital in critical condition .
Twenty people were shot , three of them fatally , Tuesday in Chicago .
Read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city ’ s homicides .

Eleven people were shot, two of them fatally, Wednesday in Chicago.
In the day’s latest fatal shooting a 33-year-old man was killed in West Woodlawn on the South Side, according to police.
He was outside about 1:25 a.m. in the 6200 block of South Eberhart Avenue, when two people in a passing vehicle opened fire, striking him several times in the back and arm, Chicago police said. The man was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified him as Martell White. He lived in Englewood.
About an hour prior, two teenage boys were shot, one fatally, near Little Village on the Southwest Side.
The boys, 16 and 17, were in a vehicle about 12:10 a.m. when someone inside a passing black sedan fired shots at them on South Cicero Avenue, police said.
The 16-year-old was struck in the torso, while the older boy was grazed in the back, police said. A friend took the teens to MacNeal Hospital, where the younger boy was listed in critical condition.
The 16-year-old was pronounced dead at 1:23 p.m. at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
In non-fatal shootings, a man was wounded in South Chicago.
The 27-year-old was outside about 10:10 p.m. in the 8700 block of South Marquette Avenue when someone in a black SUV pulled up and opened fire, police said. The man was shot twice in the leg and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
Earlier in the evening, a man was wounded in a shooting in Archer Heights on the Southwest Side.
The 21-year-old was walking down the street at 6:53 p.m. when someone fired shots from the back seat of a black SUV in the 4100 block of West 41st Street, according to police. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.
A man was shot Wednesday afternoon in the entrance of a store in South Deering on the South Side.
Someone opened fire about 12:25 p.m. from inside the store in the 10600 block of South Torrence Avenue as the male entered, according to police.
The 37-year-old man was hit in the shoulder and tried to run northbound, police said. The male shooter followed and fired the gun again before running westbound on 106th.
He was taken to Trinity Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.
Wednesday morning, a 17-year-old boy was shot in Cragin on the Northwest Side.
He was walking in the 3100 block of North Laramie Avenue about 9 a.m. when someone in a passing vehicle fired shots, police said.
Paramedics picked him up minutes later at Belmont and Leclaire avenues and took him to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Chicago Fire Department.
He was treated for two gunshot wounds to his buttocks, police said. His condition was stabilized.
Hours earlier, an 18-year-old woman was wounded in a drive-by in Old Irving Park on the Northwest Side.
About 5:05 a.m., she was the passenger of a vehicle when a black vehicle pulled up alongside her in the 4400 block of West Irving Park Road, began honking and then opened fire, police said.
She was struck on the right side of her head and taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious condition, police said.
Two people were wounded in a shooting in South Chicago on the South Side.
About 2:28 a.m., two males were walking in the 8400 block of South Buffalo Avenue when someone opened fire, police said.
The first male was grazed by a bullet on his left forearm and the second male received a buckshot wound to his face and neck, police said. They both refused medical attention and left the scene.
Less than half an hour prior, a man was critically wounded after being shot in West Englewood on the South Side.
The 33-year-old was walking about 2 a.m. in the 2000 block of West 69th Place when someone shot him in the back, police said.
An acquaintance dropped the man off at Holy Cross Hospital, police said. He was later transferred to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
Twenty people were shot, three of them fatally, Tuesday in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-28--5 in custody after 2 men, 62 and 72, robbed on Red Line

Five people were arrested for allegedly robbing a 62- and 72-year-old man Thursday on a Red Line train on the @ @ @ @ @ were on a southbound train about 12:12 a.m. when one person punched the 62-year-old in @ @ @ @ @ bag , Chicago police said .
Others in the group dragged the 72-year-old to the @ @ @ @ @ as well .
The robbers got off the train at the 47th Street station and @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
They got off again at 35th Street , where officers took @ @ @ @ @ they tried to flee .
Charges are pending against four minors and one adult , @ @ @ @ @ on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Five people were arrested for allegedly robbing a 62- and 72-year-old man Thursday on a Red Line train on the South Side.
The men were on a southbound train about 12:12 a.m. when one person punched the 62-year-old in the face and took his bag, Chicago police said. Others in the group dragged the 72-year-old to the ground before taking his bag as well.
Related Three teens charged in Red Line robbery on South Side
The robbers got off the train at the 47th Street station and jumped on a northbound train, police said. They got off again at 35th Street, where officers took five people into custody as they tried to flee.
Both men refused medical treatment, police said.
Charges are pending against four minors and one adult, police said.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-28--Crowd tries to free man arrested while police break up repast in Lawndale, 5 in custody

Five people are in custody after a crowd tried to free a man who was detained while police dispersed a @ @ @ @ @ on the West Side .
About 10:30 p.m. , officers arrived to the 2700 block @ @ @ @ @ find about 100 people outside attending a repast , Chicago police said .
A man @ @ @ @ @ officers as they broke up the gathering and tossed the weapon under a nearby vehicle @ @ @ @ @ said .
Officers caught up to the man and placed him in a police cruiser @ @ @ @ @ by a large crowd who tried pulling on the doors to get him out , @ @ @ @ @ , four more people were taken into custody , police said .
No injuries were @ @ @ @ @ crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Five people are in custody after a crowd tried to free a man who was detained while police dispersed a memorial service Wednesday in Lawndale on the West Side.
About 10:30 p.m., officers arrived to the 2700 block of West Flournoy Street to find about 100 people outside attending a repast, Chicago police said.
A man with a gun ran from officers as they broke up the gathering and tossed the weapon under a nearby vehicle as he fled, police said.
Officers caught up to the man and placed him in a police cruiser, but were soon surrounded by a large crowd who tried pulling on the doors to get him out, according to police.
Eventually, four more people were taken into custody, police said. No injuries were reported.
Charges were pending Thursday morning.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-05-28--Woman, 24, missing from South Loop located

Cook County courts extend COVID-19 precautions into July , further delaying most criminal , civil cases Chief Judge Timothy Evans @ @ @ @ @ the courts operations in mid-June , according to a early draft of the order that @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .

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


chicagosun-times--2020-05-28--South and west suburban properties to get break in assessments to reflect COVID-19 impact

The Cook County Assessor ’ s Office is planning to adjust some south and west suburban property assessments by as much as 12 % for single family homes and as much as 15 % for multi-family homes due to the coronavirus pandemic .
For commercial properties in the county , the assessor ’ s office is making a “ range of adjustments ” in the complex formula it uses to calculate assessments , based on how much the businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis .
That could range from little or no change for grocery stores , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal is to cap rates that are often used as a factor in determining property values , according to a report titled Cook County Assessor ’ s COVID-19 Adjustments to Property Assessments in the South and West Suburbs .
The median adjustment the office may give for single-family homes and condominiums is a little over 10 % , but ranges from an 8 % reduction to as much as a 12.2 % reduction .
For multi-family homes , that median adjustment figure was 13.1 % — and the range for potential reductions was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the report .
To put that in context , a home with an initial estimated value of $ 200,000 , and a COVID-19 adjustment of 10 % , would have an estimated market value of $ 180,000 by the assessor ’ s office .
That assessed value is one of the factors that helps to determine the homeowners ’ eventual property tax bill .
The report comes after Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced last month that all homes , businesses and other real estate parcels could see their property values adjusted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market .
The first-term assessor said analysts in his office are looking for data from natural disasters and other economic crises to understand what could happen to property values in Cook County , but even with those comparisons , the challenge coronavirus presents is unmatched .
“ This is different because , for all of us to be safe and to get ahead of [ coronavirus ] , we ’ ve had to shut down so many different sectors of the economy and economic activity , ” Kaegi said at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be mindful of all of that and try to reflect as best we can with the data that we have how the crisis is affecting different people ’ s lives , ” Kaegi said .
“ We know that we won ’ t be perfect in that — the future is a little bit unknown , and how this crisis unfolds is uncertain , but we ’ re going to be doing the best we can .
We figure it ’ s better to do that , rather than proceed as if nothing @ @ @ @

The Cook County Assessor’s Office is planning to adjust some south and west suburban property assessments by as much as 12% for single family homes and as much as 15% for multi-family homes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
For commercial properties in the county, the assessor’s office is making a “range of adjustments” in the complex formula it uses to calculate assessments, based on how much the businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. That could range from little or no change for grocery stores, to significant reductions for neighborhood restaurants.
The goal is to use data to develop assessments that reflect the current COVID-19 economic effects, according to a report titled Cook County Assessor’s COVID-19 Adjustments to Property Assessments in the South and West Suburbs.
Arthur Paris, owner of Carnival Grocery in Oak Park, places fresh meat in a cooler wearing gloves and a mask in April. Brian Ernst/Sun-Times file
The median adjustment the office may give for single-family homes and condominiums is a little over 10%, but ranges from an 8% reduction to as much as a 12.2% reduction. For multi-family homes, that median adjustment figure was 13.1% — and the range for potential reductions was between 10% and 15.2%, according to the report.
To put that in context, a home with an initial estimated value of $200,000, and a COVID-19 adjustment of 10%, would have an estimated market value of $180,000 by the assessor’s office.
That assessed value is one of the factors that helps to determine the homeowners’ eventual property tax bill.
The report comes after Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced last month that all homes, businesses and other real estate parcels could see their property values adjusted to help reflect COVID-19’s effect on the market.
The first-term assessor said analysts in his office are looking for data from natural disasters and other economic crises to understand what could happen to property values in Cook County, but even with those comparisons, the challenge coronavirus presents is unmatched.
Empty sidewalk in front of suburban bungalows in Berwyn in March. Brian Ernst/Sun-Times file
“This is different because, for all of us to be safe and to get ahead of [coronavirus], we’ve had to shut down so many different sectors of the economy and economic activity,” Kaegi said at the time.
“We’re trying to be mindful of all of that and try to reflect as best we can with the data that we have how the crisis is affecting different people’s lives,” Kaegi said. “We know that we won’t be perfect in that — the future is a little bit unknown, and how this crisis unfolds is uncertain, but we’re going to be doing the best we can. We figure it’s better to do that, rather than proceed as if nothing had happened.”