chicagosun-times--2020-10-24--This You Gotta See: NFL puts Sunday best on display with Titans-Steelers, Seahawks-Cardinals

Are the 5-1 Bears Super Bowl contenders ?
Are they at least God ’ s-honest threats to win the NFC North ?
Is this team any good ?
Why is it our confidence seems to be crumbling with every word ?
Man , it ’ s hard to fully buy into these Bears .
We ’ ve taken the eye test six times , and it keeps reading R-E-C-O-R-D S-H-M-E-C-O-R-D .
The Bears have one of the best marks in the league , but they don ’ t steamroll opponents like Derrick Henry and the Titans .
They don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Steelers .
They certainly don ’ t have a superstar running the show like , say , the Seahawks ’ Russell Wilson or the Packers ’ Aaron Rodgers .
Hey , speaking of those four guys — what are you up to Sunday ?
The Bears don ’ t play until Monday .
Sunday , though , is all about legitimately elite teams on display .
The Steelers visit the Titans in a matchup of the AFC ’ s last two unbeaten squads .
The league ’ s only other perfect record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the impressive Cardinals in a key NFC West game .
Packers at Texans also will be televised here , giving Bears fans a chance to watch and root for — unlikely , sure — a second straight miserable outing by Rodgers .
And then the Bears do their thing the next night against the Rams in Los Angeles .
OK , we ’ ll admit it — that might even be a tiny bit fun , too .
And we wouldn ’ t even think of sneezing at 6-1 .
Look , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams are 5-0 .
We ’ ve got to think you ’ re into that sort of thing .
Rodgers goes from last Sunday ’ s nightmare against the wicked Buccaneers defense to a frolicking-in-the-park few hours against the essentially nonexistent Texans defense .
But Deshaun Watson and his guys can go off , too , as they displayed last time out in a 42-36 overtime loss to the Titans .
Few major leaguers have known the kind of postseason disappointment Clayton Kerhsaw knows .
The Dodgers ’ Hall of Fame-bound lefty takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his spectacular — though at times gut-wrenching — career .
It isn ’ t their home turf , but the Seahawks have pretty much run things in Glendale , Ariz. , in recent years .
Some , though , believe the 4-2 Cardinals are actually the best team in the division .
If true , now would be the time to make it more widely known .
Excuse us while we warm up our vocal chords to yell at Matt Nagy for not running the ball enough in this one .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s only first down !
Are you trying to get Nick Foles killed out there ?
Don ’ t you see that froth coming out of Aaron Donald ’ s mouth ?
” Rays vs. Dodgers , Game 6 ( if necessary , 7 p.m. , Fox-32 ) Are these truly the best two teams in baseball ?
Whatever .
These Rays may not ooze talent like the Dodgers or the Yankees — among a few others — but you have to admire the heck out of them for backing up their 60-game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tough-as-nails October .
In a cruel twist , the great Cristiano Ronaldo most likely will be held out for Juventus in the wake of his positive test for COVID-19 .
This is the match of the week in Champions League group-stage play regardless , but no Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi would indeed be a minor tragedy .
Talk about a fine time for the Fire to win their first true road game of the season .
A playoff berth is still there for the taking , if a bit of a reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( if necessary , 7 p.m. , Fox-32 ) How lucky are we if it comes to this ?
The bad news for the Falcons is they ’ ve already lost to the Panthers once this season .
The good news they fired their coach and general manager after that game , so it kind of can ’ t get any worse .
We ’ re not about to guarantee an Illini win , but we ’ ll eat our hats and walk home backward if they allow another quarterback to complete all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Graham Mertz did in the hideous opener .
The Wildcats have won two straight at Kinnick Stadium .
Come to think of it , maybe they should play there more often .
It ’ s fair to question whether or not the Irish deserve to be ranked toward the very top of the polls , but don ’ t hesitate to go all-in with coordinator Clark Lea ’ s playoff-caliber defense .
The last four meetings between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have been grip-your-seat good .
Barkeep ?
We ’ @ @ @ @

Are the 5-1 Bears Super Bowl contenders? Are they at least God’s-honest threats to win the NFC North? Is this team any good? Why is it our confidence seems to be crumbling with every word?
Man, it’s hard to fully buy into these Bears. We’ve taken the eye test six times, and it keeps reading R-E-C-O-R-D S-H-M-E-C-O-R-D. The Bears have one of the best marks in the league, but they don’t steamroll opponents like Derrick Henry and the Titans. They don’t terrorize quarterbacks like T.J. Watt and the Steelers. They certainly don’t have a superstar running the show like, say, the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson or the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.
Hey, speaking of those four guys — what are you up to Sunday?
The Bears don’t play until Monday. Sunday, though, is all about legitimately elite teams on display. The Steelers visit the Titans in a matchup of the AFC’s last two unbeaten squads. The league’s only other perfect record belongs to the Seahawks, who take on the impressive Cardinals in a key NFC West game. Packers at Texans also will be televised here, giving Bears fans a chance to watch and root for — unlikely, sure — a second straight miserable outing by Rodgers.
And then the Bears do their thing the next night against the Rams in Los Angeles. OK, we’ll admit it — that might even be a tiny bit fun, too. And we wouldn’t even think of sneezing at 6-1.
Here’s what’s happening:
SUN 25
Steelers at Titans (noon, Ch. 2)
Look, we already told you both of these teams are 5-0. We’ve got to think you’re into that sort of thing.
Packers at Texans (noon, Fox-32)
Rodgers goes from last Sunday’s nightmare against the wicked Buccaneers defense to a frolicking-in-the-park few hours against the essentially nonexistent Texans defense. But Deshaun Watson and his guys can go off, too, as they displayed last time out in a 42-36 overtime loss to the Titans.
Dodgers vs. Rays, Game 5 (7 p.m., Fox-32)
Few major leaguers have known the kind of postseason disappointment Clayton Kerhsaw knows. The Dodgers’ Hall of Fame-bound lefty takes the mound in the latest all-the-marbles moment of his spectacular — though at times gut-wrenching — career.
Seahawks at Cardinals (7:20 p.m., Ch. 5)
It isn’t their home turf, but the Seahawks have pretty much run things in Glendale, Ariz., in recent years. Some, though, believe the 4-2 Cardinals are actually the best team in the division. If true, now would be the time to make it more widely known.
MON 26
Bears at Rams (7:15 p.m., ESPN)
Excuse us while we warm up our vocal chords to yell at Matt Nagy for not running the ball enough in this one. “Come on, Coach! It’s only first down! Are you trying to get Nick Foles killed out there? Don’t you see that froth coming out of Aaron Donald’s mouth?”
TUE 27
Rays vs. Dodgers, Game 6 (if necessary, 7 p.m., Fox-32)
Are these truly the best two teams in baseball? Whatever. These Rays may not ooze talent like the Dodgers or the Yankees — among a few others — but you have to admire the heck out of them for backing up their 60-game hot streak of a regular season with a tough-as-nails October.
WED 28
Juventus vs. Barcelona (3 p.m., UniMas 60)
In a cruel twist, the great Cristiano Ronaldo most likely will be held out for Juventus in the wake of his positive test for COVID-19. This is the match of the week in Champions League group-stage play regardless, but no Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi would indeed be a minor tragedy.
Fire at Philadelphia (6:30 p.m., Ch. 9)
Talk about a fine time for the Fire to win their first true road game of the season. A playoff berth is still there for the taking, if a bit of a reach.
Rays vs. Dodgers, Game 7 (if necessary, 7 p.m., Fox-32)
How lucky are we if it comes to this?
THU 29
Falcons at Panthers (7:20 p.m., Fox-32, NFLN)
The bad news for the Falcons is they’ve already lost to the Panthers once this season. The good news they fired their coach and general manager after that game, so it kind of can’t get any worse.
SAT 31
Purdue at Illinois (11 a.m., BTN)
We’re not about to guarantee an Illini win, but we’ll eat our hats and walk home backward if they allow another quarterback to complete all but one of his passes like Wisconsin’s Graham Mertz did in the hideous opener.
Northwestern at Iowa (2:30 p.m., ESPN)
The Wildcats have won two straight at Kinnick Stadium. Come to think of it, maybe they should play there more often.
Notre Dame at Georgia Tech (2:30 p.m., Ch. 7)
It’s fair to question whether or not the Irish deserve to be ranked toward the very top of the polls, but don’t hesitate to go all-in with coordinator Clark Lea’s playoff-caliber defense.
Ohio State at Penn State (6:30 p.m., Ch. 7)
The last four meetings between the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have been grip-your-seat good. Barkeep? We’ll have another.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-24--Akiem Hicks is as essential as ever to Bears, and he’s good to go for Rams game

Every time Akiem Hicks looks like he might be slowing down , he snaps back .
That ’ s how he ’ s always been , and the Bears had perfect timing when they swooped in to sign him just as he launched a resurgence in 2016 .
The same defensive tackle who never had more than 4.5 sacks suddenly gave the Bears 23 over his first three seasons .
When it looked like injuries , including a dislocated elbow , would knock him out last season , Hicks stormed back to play through immense pain in their last-ditch shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Time eventually will overtake a 6-foot-4 , 325-pound man who has endured almost 5,000 snaps at one of the most taxing positions in sports , but not yet .
Hicks remains one of the most effective and durable defensive tackles in the NFL as he nears 31 .
And he ’ s still the heart of the Bears ’ defense — perhaps of the team at large .
“ In a good way , he ’ s a big personality , ” coach Matt Nagy said .
“ He ’ s very opinionated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a leader .
When I need to get some advice or ask a question in regards to the pulse of the team and where we ’ re at , he helps out.
” The Bears just aren ’ t the Bears without Hicks .
They were relieved Saturday when he returned to practice after missing time with an illness .
Hicks flew with the team to Los Angeles and will play against the Rams on Monday .
The Bears will need him .
Hicks is an essential , both as a pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tackles are great at both .
When Hicks was out 11 games last season , the pass rush lost its teeth and the run defense buckled .
His healthy return has made a tremendous difference .
Hicks has 3.5 sacks , second on the Bears to Khalil Mack , and he has 15 quarterback pressures , a fumble recovery and a pass deflected at the line .
His 27.5 sacks since arriving in Chicago are third among NFL defensive tackles during that span .
For defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano , Hicks stands among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s had in nearly four decades of coaching .
“ He ’ s right up there , ” Pagano said .
“ You think of Haloti Ngata , who we had in Baltimore .
Just a big , physical , athletic presence inside that dominated people and could push the pocket and win one-on-ones and destroy and wreck a run game .
“ [ Hicks is ] right up there .
His leadership and the way he ’ s playing right now and his focus and determination coming off of last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s just going to continue to get better.
” Hicks is always trending upwardly .
After a disjointed preseason , his playing time increased steadily from 71 % of the snaps in the opener to 87 % last week against the Panthers .
He leads Bears defensive linemen at 79 % for the season .
The next closest is Bilal Nichols at 52 % .
Full bore is the only way Hicks plays .
It ’ s hard to imagine him ever accepting a limited role , and he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not going to be discussed anytime soon .
More likely , with his contract up next season , the Bears will be interested in extending him .
If Hicks can keep playing at this level , they ’ ll want to keep him around as long as possible .

Every time Akiem Hicks looks like he might be slowing down, he snaps back.
That’s how he always has been, and the Bears had perfect timing when they swooped in to sign him just as he launched a resurgence in 2016. The same defensive tackle who never had more than 40 sacks suddenly gave the Bears 23 in his first three seasons.
When it looked like injuries, including a dislocated elbow, would knock him out last season, Hicks stormed back to play through immense pain in the Bears’ last-ditch shot to stay in the playoff hunt.
Time eventually will overtake a 6-4, 325-pound man who has endured almost 5,000 snaps at one of the most taxing positions in sports, but it hasn’t yet. Hicks remains one of the most effective and durable defensive tackles in the NFL as he nears 31.
And he’s still the heart of the Bears’ defense — perhaps of the team at large.
“In a good way, he’s a big personality,” coach Matt Nagy said. “He’s very opinionated, which I like. He’s a leader. When I need to get some advice or ask a question in regards to the pulse of the team and where we’re at, he helps out.”
The Bears just aren’t the Bears without Hicks. They were relieved Saturday when he returned to practice after missing time with an illness. Hicks flew with the team to Los Angeles and will play against the Rams on Monday.
The Bears will need him. Hicks is an essential, both as a pass rusher and run stopper. Few defensive tackles are great at both. When Hicks was out 11 games last season, the pass rush lost its teeth and the run defense buckled. His healthy return has made a tremendous difference.
Hicks has 3.5 sacks, second on the Bears to Khalil Mack, and he has 15 quarterback pressures, a fumble recovery and a pass deflected at the line. His 27 sacks since arriving in Chicago are third among NFL defensive tackles during that span.
For defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, Hicks stands among the most respected and impressive players he has had in nearly four decades of coaching.
“He’s right up there,” Pagano said. “You think of Haloti Ngata, who we had in Baltimore. Just a big, physical, athletic presence inside that dominated people and could push the pocket and win one-on-ones and destroy and wreck a run game.
“[Hicks is] right up there. His leadership and the way he’s playing right now and his focus and determination coming off of last year is really good. And I know it’s just going to continue to get better.”
Hicks is always trending upward. After a disjointed preseason, his playing time increased steadily from 71% of the snaps in the opener to 87% last week against the Panthers. He leads Bears defensive linemen at 79% for the season.
Full bore is the only way Hicks plays. It’s hard to imagine him ever accepting a limited role, and he’s playing so well right now that it’s not going to be discussed anytime soon. More likely, with his contract up next season, the Bears will be interested in extending him. If Hicks can keep playing at this level, they’ll want to keep him around as long as possible.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-24--Vehicle strikes 3 Notre Dame students, killing 2, in Indiana

SOUTH BEND , Ind .
— A vehicle struck three University of Notre Dame students , killing two of them early Saturday in the northern Indiana city that ’ s home to the university ’ s campus , the school ’ s president said .
South Bend police said the vehicle hit three pedestrians before crashing into a house just after 4 a.m .
The driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators , police said .
The Rev .
John Jenkins , Notre Dame ’ s president , said first-year students Valeria Espinel , 19 , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rojas , 19 , from Santa Cruz de la Sierra , Bolivia , were killed .
A sophomore was hospitalized , he said in a news release .
“ On behalf of the entire Notre Dame community , I express our deepest condolences and pray that our students ’ families and friends may find God ’ s grace and solace after so shattering a loss , ” Jenkins said .
“ We also pray for a full recovery of our student who remains hospitalized as a result of the accident.
” The intersection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have sidewalks and the Stadium Club Apartments — home to several Notre Dame upperclassmen and graduate students — is located nearby , the South Bend Tribune reported .

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A vehicle struck three University of Notre Dame students, killing two of them early Saturday in the northern Indiana city that’s home to the university’s campus, the school’s president said.
South Bend police said the vehicle hit three pedestrians before crashing into a house just after 4 a.m. The driver remained at the scene and was cooperating with investigators, police said.
The Rev. John Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, said first-year students Valeria Espinel, 19, from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Olivia Lara Rojas, 19, from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, were killed. A sophomore was hospitalized, he said in a news release.
“On behalf of the entire Notre Dame community, I express our deepest condolences and pray that our students’ families and friends may find God’s grace and solace after so shattering a loss,” Jenkins said. “We also pray for a full recovery of our student who remains hospitalized as a result of the accident.”
The intersection where the students were struck does not have sidewalks and the Stadium Club Apartments — home to several Notre Dame upperclassmen and graduate students — is located nearby, the South Bend Tribune reported.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-24--1 killed, 1 critically injured in hit-and-run on Lake Shore Drive

A person was killed and another critically injured Thursday after a BMW hit their motorcycle and drove away on Lake @ @ @ @ @ Loop .
A female driving a 2008 BMW struck the motorcycle about 8:05 p.m. as @ @ @ @ @ 700 block of South Lake Shore Drive , Chicago police said .
The female then @ @ @ @ @ motorcycle ’ s driver , a 40-year-old man , and his passenger , a female @ @ @ @ @ , were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition , police said .
The @ @ @ @ @ Friday , and an autopsy ruled his death an accident , according to the Cook @ @ @ @ @ office .
The BMW ’ s owner was called to the scene shortly after , @ @ @ @ @ female driver was borrowing his car , police said .

A person was killed and another critically injured Thursday after a BMW hit their motorcycle and drove away on Lake Shore Drive in the South Loop.
A female driving a 2008 BMW struck the motorcycle about 8:05 p.m. as they drove north in the 700 block of South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago police said. The female then fled the scene.
The motorcycle’s driver, a 40-year-old man, and his passenger, a female whose age was not known, were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, police said.
The man died from his injuries Friday, and an autopsy ruled his death an accident, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
The BMW’s owner was called to the scene shortly after, and told officers that the female driver was borrowing his car, police said.
The Chicago Police Major Accidents Unit is investigating.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-24--Arlo Guthrie, citing health, says he’s retired from touring

LOS ANGELES — You can get anything you want at Alice ’ s Restaurant .
But it appears we ’ ve seen Arlo Guthrie tell us that in person for the last time .
In lengthy posts on his Facebook page and website , the 73-year-old folksinger announced Friday he is retiring from performance immediately .
He ’ s canceled numerous shows he had planned around the country for the next year and said he won ’ t be booking any more .
“ It ’ s been a great 50-plus years of being a working entertainer , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage shows are no longer possible , ” he said in the statement titled “ Gone Fishing.
” Guthrie did not respond to email and phone messages asking to elaborate but indicated in his statement that health issues played a major role .
He said he ’ d suffered two strokes in recent years , including a serious one that hospitalized him for several days last year .
The son of folk music legend Woody Guthrie rose to overnight fame in 1967 with the release of “ Alice ’ s Restaurant Massacree , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how his Thanksgiving Day 1965 arrest for littering kept him out of the Army during the Vietnam War .
As he finger-picked a maddeningly memorable tune over and over on his acoustic guitar , Guthrie related how he ’ d mocked the local police chief who arrested him , appeared before a blind judge who couldn ’ t see the photos submitted as evidence against him and berated his draft board for concluding he “ wasn ’ t moral enough to join the Army and burn women and kids ’ houses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s gone on to record more than 30 albums , write several children ’ s books and occasionally appear in television shows and films , including playing himself in the 1969 movie “ Alice ’ s Restaurant.
” “ A folk singer ’ s shelf life may be a lot longer than a dancer or an athlete , but at some point , unless you ’ re incredibly fortunate or just plain whacko ( either one or both ) it ’ s time to hang up the ‘ Gone Fishing ’ sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who frequently declined to play “ Alice ’ s Restaurant Massacree ” for audiences over the years , had planned to perform it at next year ’ s shows .
He had played it at New York ’ s Carnegie Hall in 2019 at what he ’ d previously announced would be the last of his 50 Thanksgiving weekend shows at that venerated music hall .
But the day before , ironically on Thanksgiving , he suffered the second and more severe of his strokes .
Two days later he was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of physical rehabilitation .
By the next year , he was back on his feet and back on tour when the coronavirus pandemic struck .
He estimated Friday he ’ d recovered about 80 percent of his health by then , but following months of idleness from the road , he decided it was time to stop .
In July he released a new song , Stephen Foster ’ s “ Hard Times Come Again No More , ” and indicated Friday that his retiring from the stage doesn ’ t mean he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In fact , I hope to be a thorn in the side of a new administration pretty soon , ” he said in a veiled reference to President Donald Trump .

LOS ANGELES — You can get anything you want at Alice’s Restaurant. But it appears we’ve seen Arlo Guthrie tell us that in person for the last time.
In lengthy posts on his Facebook page and website, the 73-year-old folksinger announced Friday he is retiring from performance immediately. He’s canceled numerous shows he had planned around the country for the next year and said he won’t be booking any more.
“It’s been a great 50-plus years of being a working entertainer, but I reached the difficult decision that touring and stage shows are no longer possible,” he said in the statement titled “Gone Fishing.”
Guthrie did not respond to email and phone messages asking to elaborate but indicated in his statement that health issues played a major role. He said he’d suffered two strokes in recent years, including a serious one that hospitalized him for several days last year.
The son of folk music legend Woody Guthrie rose to overnight fame in 1967 with the release of “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” a hilarious 18-minute talking blues ballad about how his Thanksgiving Day 1965 arrest for littering kept him out of the Army during the Vietnam War.
As he finger-picked a maddeningly memorable tune over and over on his acoustic guitar, Guthrie related how he’d mocked the local police chief who arrested him, appeared before a blind judge who couldn’t see the photos submitted as evidence against him and berated his draft board for concluding he “wasn’t moral enough to join the Army and burn women and kids’ houses and villages after being a litterbug.”
He’s gone on to record more than 30 albums, write several children’s books and occasionally appear in television shows and films, including playing himself in the 1969 movie “Alice’s Restaurant.”
“A folk singer’s shelf life may be a lot longer than a dancer or an athlete, but at some point, unless you’re incredibly fortunate or just plain whacko (either one or both) it’s time to hang up the ‘Gone Fishing’ sign,” he said Friday.
Guthrie, who frequently declined to play “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” for audiences over the years, had planned to perform it at next year’s shows. He had played it at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2019 at what he’d previously announced would be the last of his 50 Thanksgiving weekend shows at that venerated music hall.
But the day before, ironically on Thanksgiving, he suffered the second and more severe of his strokes. Two days later he was in the hospital and later underwent several days of physical rehabilitation.
By the next year, he was back on his feet and back on tour when the coronavirus pandemic struck. He estimated Friday he’d recovered about 80 percent of his health by then, but following months of idleness from the road, he decided it was time to stop.
In July he released a new song, Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times Come Again No More,” and indicated Friday that his retiring from the stage doesn’t mean he’ll go away completely.
“In fact, I hope to be a thorn in the side of a new administration pretty soon,” he said in a veiled reference to President Donald Trump.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--17 shot, 4 fatally, in Chicago this weekend

At least four people have been killed and 13 others injured in shootings across Chicago since Friday evening .
The latest fatal attack left a man dead Saturday evening in Humboldt Park on the West Side .
The 31-year-old was sitting in a vehicle about 10:10 p.m. in the 900 block of North Lawndale Avenue when someone approached in a gray-colored vehicle and fired shots , Chicago police said .
The man was struck in the chest and leg , and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
Earlier Saturday evening , a man was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South Side .
About 8:24 p.m. , the 30-year-old was arguing with someone in the 100 block of West Swann Street when a fight broke out and the other person pulled out a gun and fired shots , Chicago police said .
The man was struck in the leg and pronounced dead at the scene .
A suspect was taken into custody .
A 32-year-old man was killed in a shooting Saturday afternoon in Roseland on the Far South Side .
He was sitting in a car about 4:30 p.m. in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone pulled up in a vehicle and fired shots , Chicago police said .
The man was struck in the back of the head and multiple times throughout his body .
He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn , where he died .
Earlier Saturday , another man was killed in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side .
Officers responding to a call of shots fired about 3:15 a.m. found the man facedown bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds in the 1300 block of North Harding Avenue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mt .
Sinai Hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
The man was identified as Roberto Morales Galindo , 47 , the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said .
In non-fatal shootings , two people were wounded Sunday at a home in East Garfield Park on the West Side .
Officers responding to a call of shots fired about 3:35 a.m. found a 21-year-old woman lying next to the entrance of a home in the 3200 block of West Maypole Avenue , Chicago police said .
The woman had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mt .
Sinai Hospital in critical condition .
A 27-year-old man showed up to the hospital later with a gunshot wound to his thigh , saying he had been shot at the same location , police said .
He was in good condition and refused to answer any more questions about the shooting .
Two people were wounded in a shooting Saturday morning on the South Side .
Officers responded about 11:40 a.m. to the 1100 block of East 87th Street and found a male with gunshot wounds to his chest and lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to the University of Chicago Medical center .
His condition was not immediately known .
Later , another male showed up at Trinity Hospital with a gunshot wound from the same incident , police said .
His condition was stabilized .
Earlier Saturday morning , two Chicago police officers were injured after a man who was shot while driving in Lawndale slammed into their squad car .
About 10:33 a.m. , a 20-year-old man was traveling in the 700 block of South Independence Boulevard when someone opened fire , striking him in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The man continued driving , ignored a stop sign and crashed into a squad car .
Two officers in the car were taken to Stroger Hospital , where they were stabilized , police said .
The man who was shot was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition .
About 7:50 p.m. , a 28-year-old man was in a home in the 7900 block of South Saginaw Avenue when someone walked up to him and fired shots , striking him in the ear and leg , police said .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center in good condition .
At least seven more people have been wounded in citywide shootings so far this weekend .
On Thursday , 12 people were shot throughout the city , two of them fatally .
Last weekend , 33 people were shot , seven of them fatally , in Chicago .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Seven people were killed and 16 others injured in shootings across Chicago over the weekend.
In the weekend’s last fatal shooting Sunday evening, a man was found with a gunshot wound to the head on the West Side. The 25-year-old was found under train tracks about 7:30 p.m. in the 1900 block of South St. Louis Avenue, Chicago police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Over an hour earlier, a man was killed in a shooting in Brainerd on the South Side. The 64-year-old was talking to someone he knew about 6:15 p.m. in a car in the 9000 block of South Laflin Street when shots were fired, police said.
Lawrence McNeal was struck in the face and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was later pronounced dead, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Earlier, a suspected burglar was killed by a homeowner in Marquette Park on the Southwest Side. About 11:15 a.m., the man, believed to be in his 40s, was shot dead by the homeowner during a burglary in the 7100 block of South Mozart Street, police said.
Saturday night, a man was killed in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side. Daryl Hampton, 31, was sitting in a vehicle about 10:10 p.m. in the 900 block of North Lawndale Avenue when someone approached in a gray-colored vehicle and fired shots, officials said. Hampton was struck in the chest and leg, and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Earlier Saturday, a man was shot to death in Fuller Park on the South Side. About 8:24 p.m., 30-year-old Shamar Rice was arguing with someone in the 100 block of West Swann Street when a fight broke out and the other person pulled out a gun and fired shots, officials said. Rice was struck in the leg and pronounced dead at the scene. A suspect was taken into custody but later released without charges.
Hours earlier, a 32-year-old man was killed in a shooting Saturday afternoon in Roseland on the Far South Side. Deshawn McKinney was sitting in a car about 4:30 p.m. in the 11400 block of South Calumet Avenue when someone pulled up in a vehicle and fired shots, officials said. McKinney was struck in the back of the head and multiple times throughout his body. He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he died.
Earlier Saturday, another man was killed in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side. Officers responding to a call of shots fired about 3:15 a.m. found Roberto Morales Galindo, 47, facedown bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds in the 1300 block of North Harding Avenue, officials said. He was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In non-fatal attacks, two people were shot at a home in East Garfield Park on the West Side. Officers responding to a call of shots fired about 3:35 a.m. found a 21-year-old woman lying next to the entrance of a home in the 3200 block of West Maypole Avenue, police said. The woman had been shot multiple times and was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
A 27-year-old man showed up to the hospital later with a gunshot wound to his thigh, saying he had been shot at the same location, police said. He was in good condition and refused to answer any more questions about the shooting.
Saturday morning, two people were wounded in a shooting on the South Side. Officers responded about 11:40 a.m. to the 1100 block of East 87th Street and found a male with gunshot wounds to his chest and lower back, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical center. His condition was not immediately known. Later, another male showed up at Trinity Hospital with a gunshot wound from the same incident, police said. His condition was stabilized.
The weekend’s earliest reported shooting left a man wounded Friday evening in South Chicago. About 7:50 p.m., a 28-year-old man was in a home in the 7900 block of South Saginaw Avenue when someone walked up to him and fired shots, striking him in the ear and leg, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
At least 11 other people were wounded in citywide shootings between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
Last weekend, 33 people were shot, seven of them fatally, in Chicago.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Dear Abby: My sister avoids talking to anyone in the family, and we don’t know why

DEAR ABBY : My older sister , “ Olive , ” moved to the West Coast three years ago .
My parents , my two older siblings and I live on the East Coast .
During this past year , Olive has grown more and more distant from us .
She always has an excuse when we try to set up a group Facetime or even a phone call .
This has happened dozens of times now .
Most recently , our extended family set up a Zoom call with about 30 of us .
Everyone was able to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including all my cousins and aunts and uncles .
Olive , however , said she will “ be there next time ” because she needed to do some mulching around her house and wanted to start limiting her screen time .
My parents , siblings and I have each talked with her directly about how blowing us off is hurtful and painful , yet she continues to do it .
At this point , everyone is fed up , especially Mom , who got hung up on twice while trying to address these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do ?
We can not seem to get through .
— FED-UP BROTHER DEAR BROTHER : Do you know why your sister moved to the West Coast ?
Was it job-related , or could it have been that she needed space and didn ’ t feel she could have it if she lived geographically closer ?
Because her withdrawal has become increasingly overt over the past year , it ’ s important that someone understand what is driving it .
A relative other than your mother ( who got hung up on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should give her a call and , in as gentle a manner as possible , explain the family is worried about her and ask if anything is wrong that any of you can help with .
She may be having a difficult time emotionally , or she may simply be craving some space .
But you won ’ t know until someone can get a straight answer .
DEAR ABBY : My husband ’ s sister is morbidly obese , and we are very concerned about her health .
We know her weight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she were drowning in a lake instead of in fat , we would try to throw her the same kind of lifeline .
We feel compelled to express our concern about her health .
We know that how this is approached can make a big difference .
We both feel she would benefit by seeing a counselor to confront life issues that may have caused her overeating .
Can you please suggest a way to phrase it ?
We love her and want her to live a long and healthy life .
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister-in-law is well aware that she is dangerously heavy , so this is a subject you can address only once without causing a rift in the family .
The message might be accepted better if it came from her brother , and it should be phrased something like this : ” I hope you know how much I love you .
My wife and I are deeply concerned about your weight because we ’ re afraid we might lose you .
If there are issues that have caused this , would you consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If your doctor can ’ t refer you to someone qualified , we can ask ours for some names .
And if what I have said is hurtful , I sincerely apologize and hope you will forgive me .
I won ’ t bring up the subject again.
” Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
To receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays , send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: My older sister, “Olive,” moved to the West Coast three years ago. My parents, my two older siblings and I live on the East Coast. During this past year, Olive has grown more and more distant from us. She always has an excuse when we try to set up a group Facetime or even a phone call. This has happened dozens of times now.
Most recently, our extended family set up a Zoom call with about 30 of us. Everyone was able to make at least a portion of it, including all my cousins and aunts and uncles. Olive, however, said she will “be there next time” because she needed to do some mulching around her house and wanted to start limiting her screen time.
My parents, siblings and I have each talked with her directly about how blowing us off is hurtful and painful, yet she continues to do it. At this point, everyone is fed up, especially Mom, who got hung up on twice while trying to address these problems with Olive. What else can we do? We cannot seem to get through. — FED-UP BROTHER
DEAR BROTHER: Do you know why your sister moved to the West Coast? Was it job-related, or could it have been that she needed space and didn’t feel she could have it if she lived geographically closer? Because her withdrawal has become increasingly overt over the past year, it’s important that someone understand what is driving it.
A relative other than your mother (who got hung up on twice) who is close to Olive should give her a call and, in as gentle a manner as possible, explain the family is worried about her and ask if anything is wrong that any of you can help with. She may be having a difficult time emotionally, or she may simply be craving some space. But you won’t know until someone can get a straight answer.
DEAR ABBY: My husband’s sister is morbidly obese, and we are very concerned about her health. We know her weight is a delicate topic, but if she were drowning in a lake instead of in fat, we would try to throw her the same kind of lifeline.
We feel compelled to express our concern about her health. We know that how this is approached can make a big difference. We both feel she would benefit by seeing a counselor to confront life issues that may have caused her overeating. Can you please suggest a way to phrase it? We love her and want her to live a long and healthy life. — SCARED FOR SISTER-IN-LAW
DEAR SCARED: Your sister-in-law is well aware that she is dangerously heavy, so this is a subject you can address only once without causing a rift in the family. The message might be accepted better if it came from her brother, and it should be phrased something like this:
”I hope you know how much I love you. My wife and I are deeply concerned about your weight because we’re afraid we might lose you. If there are issues that have caused this, would you consider talking to a counselor about them? If your doctor can’t refer you to someone qualified, we can ask ours for some names. And if what I have said is hurtful, I sincerely apologize and hope you will forgive me. I won’t bring up the subject again.”
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Keepers Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Fish farming is no environmental nightmare

David McGrath ’ s recent op-ed in the Sun-Times misinforms and overlooks the facts about the sustainability of offshore aquaculture and its minimal environmental impact .
The aquaculture industry utilizes science-based practices to most efficiently produce farm-raised seafood , which helps protect and preserve our natural resources in a changing climate .
Proper siting , management , monitoring and the use of modern technologies , such as artificial intelligence and machine learning , have made aquaculture a safe and environmentally sound approach to increasing the world ’ s growing seafood supply .
We must produce 30 million tons of seafood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasing consumption of seafood .
With a far lower environmental impact than any terrestrial means of meat production , aquaculture is one of the most efficient methods of producing animal protein .
There is an increasing set of scientific evidence that demonstrates the low impact of farmed fish production on the environment .
A study released in 2019 from the University of Miami School of Marine and Atmospheric Science found minimal environmental impacts to the surrounding waters from properly sited fish-farming operations .
Also last year , in a State of the Science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of Congress , the Aquarium of the Pacific ’ s Seafood for the Future program reported that shellfish and seaweed aquaculture help clean the water , which improves water quality and supports healthy ocean environments and shorelines .
Their research also shows that seaweed aquaculture may help counter the effects of ocean acidification .
Support for offshore aquaculture in federal waters is growing .
Bipartisan federal legislation was recently announced that would authorize a fair and judicious permitting process , environmental protections and oversight for aquaculture to thrive in the U.S. As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities should have an accurate representation of aquaculture ’ s sustainability .
Illinois voters are either set to vote on the so-called “ Fair Tax ” amendment , or they have already voted through early voting .
Let ’ s hope everyone votes “ no ” to this fiscal insanity , which is simply a blank check with no real government accountability built in .
If this tax hike amendment was truly meant to help Illinois taxpayers at middle or lower income levels , then there would be meaningful pension reform and property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there would be more talk , concurrently , about consolidation of the excessive units of expensive government that exist in Illinois .
Instead of meaningful reforms proposed to go along with this laughably named “ Fair Tax , ” all voters hear from the pro-tax hike crowd is that regardless of party affiliation , Illinois needs a more progressive tax system .
Malarkey !
What Illinois really needs is a government that can better manage the money it already brings in .
I hope most voters realize that millionaires and billionaires won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes .
They already enjoy many corporate tax loopholes bestowed upon the businesses they own , which is how many got to be millionaires and billionaires in the first place .
And they most certainly will begin living in their sunny , out-of-state vacation homes and making their permanent residences outside of Illinois .
So who , then , will really be getting a tax increase when those with clever accountants and lawyers advise them well about how to legally dodge the new taxes , the billionaires or you ?
If you guessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then you ’ ll vote no on the misleading tax hike amendment that lacks meaningful government accountability .

David McGrath’s recent op-ed in the Sun-Times misinforms and overlooks the facts about the sustainability of offshore aquaculture and its minimal environmental impact.
The aquaculture industry utilizes science-based practices to most efficiently produce farm-raised seafood, which helps protect and preserve our natural resources in a changing climate.
Proper siting, management, monitoring and the use of modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, have made aquaculture a safe and environmentally sound approach to increasing the world’s growing seafood supply. We must produce 30 million tons of seafood to keep up with population growth and increasing consumption of seafood.
SEND LETTERS TO: letters@suntimes.com. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes. Letters should be 350 words or less.
With a far lower environmental impact than any terrestrial means of meat production, aquaculture is one of the most efficient methods of producing animal protein.
There is an increasing set of scientific evidence that demonstrates the low impact of farmed fish production on the environment. A study released in 2019 from the University of Miami School of Marine and Atmospheric Science found minimal environmental impacts to the surrounding waters from properly sited fish-farming operations.
Also last year, in a state of the science briefing on U.S. Marine Aquaculture prepared for members of Congress, the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Seafood for the Future program reported that shellfish and seaweed aquaculture help clean the water, which improves water quality and supports healthy ocean environments and shorelines. Their research also shows seaweed aquaculture may help counter the effects of ocean acidification.
Support for offshore aquaculture in federal waters is growing. Bipartisan federal legislation was recently announced that would authorize a fair and judicious permitting process, environmental protections and oversight for aquaculture to thrive in the U.S.
As momentum builds for the industry, American communities should have an accurate representation of aquaculture’s sustainability.
Sean J. O’Scannlain, President & CEO, Fortune Fish & Gourmet, Bensenville
The rich won’t ever pay a Fair Tax
Illinois voters are either set to vote on the so-called “Fair Tax” amendment, or they have already voted through early voting. Let’s hope everyone votes “no” to this fiscal insanity, which is simply a blank check with no real government accountability built in.
If this tax hike amendment was truly meant to help Illinois taxpayers at middle or lower income levels, then there would be meaningful pension reform and property tax reform attached to it. Also, there would be more talk, concurrently, about consolidation of the excessive units of expensive government that exist in Illinois.
Instead of meaningful reforms proposed to go along with this laughably named “Fair Tax,” all voters hear from the pro-tax hike crowd is that regardless of party affiliation, Illinois needs a more progressive tax system. Malarkey! What Illinois really needs is a government that can better manage the money it already brings in.
I hope most voters realize millionaires and billionaires won’t be paying the new progressive taxes. They already enjoy many corporate tax loopholes bestowed upon the businesses they own, which is how many got to be millionaires and billionaires in the first place. And they most certainly will begin living in their sunny, out-of-state vacation homes and making their permanent residences outside of Illinois.
So who, then, will really be getting a tax increase when those with clever accountants and lawyers advise them well about how to legally dodge the new taxes, the billionaires or you? If you guessed you, Joe and Jane middle-class taxpayer, then you’ll vote no on the misleading tax hike amendment that lacks meaningful government accountability.
Angela Rose, LaGrange Park


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--11 more chief judge’s employees, 3 more juvenile detention residents test positive for COVID-19

Eleven more employees in the Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County have tested positive for the coronavirus , along with three residents of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center .
The positive test results have all come in since Monday , according to a statement from the chief judge ’ s office .
The employees who tested positive include a sitting judge who works in the Leighton Criminal Courthouse , 2650 S. California Ave. , and six JTDC employees .
The other employees who tested positive work at the Adult Probation Department in the Skokie Courthouse , the Juvenile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adult Probation Office at the Criminal Court Administration building , the judge ’ s office said .
Additionally , three more juvenile residents at the JTDC have tested positive for COVID-19 , bringing the total number of residents who have tested positive to 36 , according to the judge ’ s office .
Most of those cases have been asymptomatic .
So far , 115 employees in the Office of the Chief Judge have tested positive for the coronavirus , including five judges and 50 employees at the JTDC , the judge ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office said they have informed anyone who may have come into contact with the people who recently tested positive , and that any areas they visited have been “ thoroughly cleaned and sanitized .
”

Eleven more employees in the Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County have tested positive for the coronavirus, along with three residents of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
The positive test results have all come in since Monday, according to a statement from the chief judge’s office. The employees who tested positive include a sitting judge who works in the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, 2650 S. California Ave., and six JTDC employees.
The other employees who tested positive work at the Adult Probation Department in the Skokie Courthouse, the Juvenile Probation Department at the JTDC and the Adult Probation Office at the Criminal Court Administration building, the judge’s office said.
Additionally, three more juvenile residents at the JTDC have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of residents who have tested positive to 36, according to the judge’s office. Most of those cases have been asymptomatic.
So far, 115 employees in the Office of the Chief Judge have tested positive for the coronavirus, including five judges and 50 employees at the JTDC, the judge’s office said.
The judge’s office said they have informed anyone who may have come into contact with the people who recently tested positive, and that any areas they visited have been “thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Man arrested after fatal police shooting in Little Village charged with attempted murder: police

The man who was arrested Friday following the fatal police shooting of a 25-year-old man in Little Village has been @ @ @ @ @ connection with the shooting that prompted officers to the scene .
Saul Zaragoza , 25 @ @ @ @ @ first-degree murder , aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful use of a firearm by @ @ @ @ @ , which left a male with a graze wound to the head , Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ report of shots fired about 12:30 p.m. , officers responded to the 3700 block of @ @ @ @ @ where they encountered the vehicle suspected in the shooting , police said .
After the @ @ @ @ @ pole , officers fatally shot 25-year-old Marc Nevarez during “ an armed encounter ” as @ @ @ @ @ foot .
Zaragoza was found in the crashed vehicle and taken into custody after a @ @ @ @ @ .
A used handgun was allegedly found in the vehicle with him .
Read more @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s homicides .

A convicted felon who was riding in a car driven by a man who was killed by Chicago police after the pair allegedly fled from officers following a shooting in Little Village last week was ordered held without bail.
Saul Zaragoza, 25, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful use of a firearm by a felon for a shooting that left a graze wound to a man’s head.
Following an initial report the shots fired about 12:30 p.m. Friday, officers responded to the 3700 block of West of 26th Street, where they saw the vehicle tied to the shooting — the car Zaragoza was in — fleeing the scene at a high speed, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. The officers followed the silver sedan through an alley before it struck another vehicle and crashed into a utility pole, prosecutors said Sunday.
La Voz Sidebar 2023 Lea este artículo en español en La Voz Chicago.
Zaragoza, of Berwyn, was stopped by officers as he tried to exit the back passenger side of the sedan, prosecutors said.
Meanwhile, the sedan’s driver, 25-year-old Marc Nevarez, bolted from the vehicle with a fully loaded revolver in hand, prosecutors said. A brief on-foot chase ensued before an officer fatally shot Nevarez in the lower back, prosecutors said.
Zaragoza, who was on parole for a 2010 armed robbery case after serving less than half of his initial 21-year sentence, admitted to being in the vehicle, but accused Nevarez of firing the gun through the rear passenger window.
However, prosecutors said the evidence “directly contradicts” Zaragoza’s claim. A semi-automatic handgun with an empty clip was recovered floorboard in plain view within arm’s reach of where Zaragoza was seated, prosecutors said. Investigators also found six shell casings on the street of the initial shooting that match the caliber of that handgun.
Zaragoza is expected back in court Tuesday.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-24--Brett Phillips hits walk-off single to lift Rays past Dodgers 8-7, tie World Series

ARLINGTON , Texas — Brett Phillips squatted on the field crying , and Randy Arozarena was on the ground slapping his hands on home plate .
Tears of joy , smacks of celebration — and a crucial , wild win for the scrappy Tampa Bay Rays .
Light-hitting Phillips delivered a tying single off Kenley Jansen with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning that turned into the game-ending hit when the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the ball twice , allowing Arozarena to score and lift the Rays to an 8-7 victory Saturday night to even this suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Center fielder Chris Taylor misplayed Phillips ’ ball in right-center for an error and chased it down while Kevin Kiermaier scored the tying run .
Arozarena kept charging around third base but stumbled and fell well before reaching home .
He was able to get up and score when catcher Will Smith looked up too early and missed the relay throw , letting it squirt toward the backstop while Arozarena dived on top of the plate .
“ Once I saw Randy slip , I was like ‘ Aw , shoot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ and then he missed the ball , ” Phillipes said .
“ I don ’ t know what happened but then he scored .
The next thing I know , I ’ m airplaneing around the outfield and I get dogpiled and here I am.
” Jansen came on in the ninth for the Dodgers and struck out Yoshi Tsutsugo before a single by Kiermaier , the longest-tenured Rays player .
Arozarena , the rookie who earlier hit his postseason record ninth homer earlier , drew a two-out , full-count walk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A 26-year-old from Seminole , Florida , Phillips was drafted by Houston and played for Milwaukee and Kansas City before Tampa Bay acquired him in August for a minor leaguer .
Touted for his outfield defense , he hasn ’ t hit much in the majors , ending the regular season with a career .202 average in 153 games .
He had been 0 for 2 in the postseason and hadn ’ t batted since Game 3 of the AL Division Series on Oct. 7 .
Phillips was left off the AL Championship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , writing up phony scouting reports on a clipboard touting Arozarena before dancing against him in battles after the team locked up the AL pennant .
“ What a great team effort on this win .
It took almost 28 guys , ” Phillips said .
“ That ’ s what special about this team .
Just all come together , our one goal is to win .
We don ’ t rely on one guy .
It takes everyone , and man , baseball is fun .
”

ARLINGTON, Texas — Brett Phillips squatted on the field crying, and Randy Arozarena was on the ground slapping his hands on home plate.
Tears of joy, smacks of celebration — and a crucial, wild win for the scrappy Tampa Bay Rays.
Light-hitting Phillips delivered a tying single off Kenley Jansen with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning that turned into the game-ending hit when the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the ball twice, allowing Arozarena to score and lift the Rays to an 8-7 victory Saturday night to even this suddenly dramatic World Series at two games each.
“Golly, what a special moment,” Phillips said.
Center fielder Chris Taylor misplayed Phillips’ ball in right-center for an error and chased it down while Kevin Kiermaier scored the tying run. Arozarena kept charging around third base but stumbled and fell well before reaching home.
He was able to get up and score when catcher Will Smith looked up too early and missed the relay throw, letting it squirt toward the backstop while Arozarena dived on top of the plate.
“Once I saw Randy slip, I was like ‘Aw, shoot, at least we tied it up,’ and then he missed the ball,” Phillipes said. “I don’t know what happened but then he scored. The next thing I know, I’m airplaneing around the outfield and I get dogpiled and here I am.”
Jansen came on in the ninth for the Dodgers and struck out Yoshi Tsutsugo before a single by Kiermaier, the longest-tenured Rays player. Arozarena, the rookie who earlier hit his postseason record ninth homer earlier, drew a two-out, full-count walk to set up the wild final play.
A 26-year-old from Seminole, Florida, Phillips was drafted by Houston and played for Milwaukee and Kansas City before Tampa Bay acquired him in August for a minor leaguer. Touted for his outfield defense, he hasn’t hit much in the majors, ending the regular season with a career .202 average in 153 games. He had been 0 for 2 in the postseason and hadn’t batted since Game 3 of the AL Division Series on Oct. 7.
Phillips was left off the AL Championship Series roster but shined as a cheerleader, writing up phony scouting reports on a clipboard touting Arozarena before dancing against him in battles after the team locked up the AL pennant.
“What a great team effort on this win. It took almost 28 guys,” Phillips said. “That’s what special about this team. Just all come together, our one goal is to win. We don’t rely on one guy. It takes everyone, and man, baseball is fun.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-24--Pence to keep up travel despite contact with infected aide

WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence plans to maintain an aggressive campaign schedule this week despite his exposure to a top aide who tested positive for the coronavirus , the White House said Saturday .
Pence himself tested negative , his office said .
Under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria , the vice president is considered a “ close contact ” of his chief of staff , Marc Short , but will not quarantine , said spokesman Devin O ’ Malley .
O ’ Malley said Pence decided to maintain his travel schedule “ in consultation with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel.
” Those guidelines require that essential workers exposed to someone with the coronavirus closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a mask whenever around other people .
O ’ Malley said Pence and his wife , Karen , both tested negative on Saturday “ and remain in good health.
” After a day of campaigning in Florida on Saturday , Pence was seen wearing a mask as he returned to Washington aboard Air Force Two shortly after the news of Short ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled to hold a rally on Sunday afternoon in Kinston , NC .
Pence , who has headed the White House coronavirus task force since late February , has repeatedly found himself in an uncomfortable position balancing political concerns with the administration ’ s handling the pandemic that has killed more than 220,000 Americans .
The vice president has advocated mask-wearing and social distancing , but often does not wear one himself and holds large political events where many people do not wear face-coverings .
By virtue of his position as vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The White House did not address how Pence ’ s political activities amounted to essential work .
Short ’ s diagnosis comes weeks after the coronavirus spread through the White House , infecting President Donald Trump , the first lady , and two dozen other aides , staffers and allies .
Short , Pence ’ s top aide and one of his closest confidants , did not travel with the vice president on Saturday .
Pence ’ s handling of his exposure to a confirmed positive case stands in contrast to how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when a close aide and a member of her campaign plane ’ s charter crew tested positive for the virus earlier this month .
She took several days off the campaign trail citing her desire to act out of an abundance of caution .
Saskia Popescu , an infectious disease expert at George Mason University , called Pence ’ s decision to travel “ grossly negligent ” regardless of the stated justification that Pence is an essential worker .
“ It ’ s just an insult to everybody who has been working in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ I also find it really harmful and disrespectful to the people going to the rally ” and the people on Pence ’ s own staff who will accompany him .
“ He needs to be staying home 14 days , ” she added .
“ Campaign events are not essential .
”

WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence plans to maintain an aggressive campaign schedule this week despite his exposure to a top aide who tested positive for the coronavirus, the White House said Saturday.
Pence himself tested negative, his office said. Under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, the vice president is considered a “close contact” of his chief of staff, Marc Short, but will not quarantine, said spokesman Devin O’Malley.
O’Malley said Pence decided to maintain his travel schedule “in consultation with the White House Medical Unit” and “in accordance with the CDC guidelines for essential personnel.” Those guidelines require that essential workers exposed to someone with the coronavirus closely monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a mask whenever around other people.
O’Malley said Pence and his wife, Karen, both tested negative on Saturday “and remain in good health.”
After a day of campaigning in Florida on Saturday, Pence was seen wearing a mask as he returned to Washington aboard Air Force Two shortly after the news of Short’s diagnosis was made public. He is scheduled to hold a rally on Sunday afternoon in Kinston, NC.
Pence, who has headed the White House coronavirus task force since late February, has repeatedly found himself in an uncomfortable position balancing political concerns with the administration’s handling the pandemic that has killed more than 220,000 Americans. The vice president has advocated mask-wearing and social distancing, but often does not wear one himself and holds large political events where many people do not wear face-coverings.
By virtue of his position as vice president, Pence is considered an essential worker. The White House did not address how Pence’s political activities amounted to essential work.
Short’s diagnosis comes weeks after the coronavirus spread through the White House, infecting President Donald Trump, the first lady, and two dozen other aides, staffers and allies.
Short, Pence’s top aide and one of his closest confidants, did not travel with the vice president on Saturday.
Pence’s handling of his exposure to a confirmed positive case stands in contrast to how Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris responded when a close aide and a member of her campaign plane’s charter crew tested positive for the virus earlier this month. She took several days off the campaign trail citing her desire to act out of an abundance of caution.
Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease expert at George Mason University, called Pence’s decision to travel “grossly negligent” regardless of the stated justification that Pence is an essential worker.
“It’s just an insult to everybody who has been working in public health and public health response,” she said. “I also find it really harmful and disrespectful to the people going to the rally” and the people on Pence’s own staff who will accompany him.
“He needs to be staying home 14 days,” she added. “Campaign events are not essential.”


chicagosun-times--2020-10-24--Horoscope for Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020

Horoscope for Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020

Caution : Avoid shopping or making important decisions until 8 p.m. Chicago time .
After that , the moon moves from Aquarius into Pisces .
Most of this day is a moon alert , which means restrict your spending to food and postpone important decisions .
However , most moon alert times are creative times because you can think out of the box .
You might work with your hobbies .
Or you might see practical solutions to shared property ?
Discussions with partners and close friends are strong and focused .
Someone has something they want to say to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend .
Nevertheless , most of this day is a moon alert , which means just tread water .
Agree to nothing important .
People notice you , whether you want this or not .
You might be talkative about your health , your job or a pet .
Be smart and keep in mind that most of today is a moon alert , which means don ’ t shop ( except for food ) and don ’ t volunteer for anything .
This is a lovely , creative day !
Enjoy playful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In particular , anything to do with the arts or any creative activity that you might want to explore will go well .
Note : Today is a moon alert ; therefore , don ’ t shop .
( Except for food . )
This is a good day to relax at home .
Avoid important decisions .
Avoid shopping in person or online except for buying food .
( See moon alert . )
You might discuss home repairs or how to make things run more smoothly at home .
This makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days are good for buying wardrobe items — but not today !
( See moon alert . )
This is a poor day to shop for anything other than food .
Transportation delays and mixed-up communications are classic .
Allow extra time to cope with the unexpected .
Don ’ t expect to accomplish much because not only is there a moon alert today , it is also Mercury retrograde .
A double whammy !
Be glad your socks match .
Avoid financial decisions as well as shopping .
( Except for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Please be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert .
Nevertheless , this is a lovely day to schmooze with others .
Enjoy the company of friends , especially artistic , creative people .
You will also like to be involved with groups .
Don ’ t volunteer for anything !
This is a good day to stay in the background .
Keep your head down and your powder dry .
Be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert .
Don ’ t promise anything to anyone and don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with bosses , parents and teachers but keep things light .
If you can travel , it will please you because you want to do something different .
Before you commit to anything or spend any money , be aware that there is a moon alert most of today .
Instead , enjoy your popularity with others .
Have a great time !
Be careful about shopping or financial matters because the moon pulls you to money ideas .
Nevertheless , most of this day is a moon alert , which means don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food . )
It ’ s a lovely day to schmooze with friends !
Today the moon is in your sign and it is a moon alert for most of the day .
Your emotions will be heightened .
Take it easy .
Enjoy warm , friendly times with others , especially partners and close friends .
It ’ s a friendly day !
If Your Birthday Is Today Singer , songwriter Katy Perry ( 1984 ) shares your birthday .
You love the arts and you enjoy people .
Nevertheless , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn for a fun-loving year ahead !
You will be more popular and will enjoy warm friendships .
You will also be more grateful for your life and will appreciate the everyday happiness and beauty around you .
This year is the time for an important choice .
Choose wisely .

Moon Alert
Caution: Avoid shopping or making important decisions until 8 p.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Aquarius into Pisces.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Most of this day is a moon alert, which means restrict your spending to food and postpone important decisions. However, most moon alert times are creative times because you can think out of the box. You might work with your hobbies. Or you might see practical solutions to shared property?
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Discussions with partners and close friends are strong and focused. Someone has something they want to say to you, especially an ex-partner or old friend. Nevertheless, most of this day is a moon alert, which means just tread water. Agree to nothing important.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
People notice you, whether you want this or not. You might be talkative about your health, your job or a pet. Be smart and keep in mind that most of today is a moon alert, which means don’t shop (except for food) and don’t volunteer for anything.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
This is a lovely, creative day! Enjoy playful activities with kids. Enjoy socializing. In particular, anything to do with the arts or any creative activity that you might want to explore will go well. Note: Today is a moon alert; therefore, don’t shop. (Except for food.)
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
This is a good day to relax at home. Avoid important decisions. Avoid shopping in person or online except for buying food. (See moon alert.) You might discuss home repairs or how to make things run more smoothly at home. This makes life easier for everyone.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
The next few days are good for buying wardrobe items — but not today! (See moon alert.) This is a poor day to shop for anything other than food. Transportation delays and mixed-up communications are classic. Allow extra time to cope with the unexpected.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Don’t expect to accomplish much because not only is there a moon alert today, it is also Mercury retrograde. A double whammy! Be glad your socks match. Avoid financial decisions as well as shopping. (Except for food.) You know the drill.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Please be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert. Nevertheless, this is a lovely day to schmooze with others. Enjoy the company of friends, especially artistic, creative people. You will also like to be involved with groups. Don’t volunteer for anything!
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
This is a good day to stay in the background. Keep your head down and your powder dry. Be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert. Don’t promise anything to anyone and don’t volunteer for anything. Enjoy socializing with bosses, parents and teachers but keep things light.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
If you can travel, it will please you because you want to do something different. Before you commit to anything or spend any money, be aware that there is a moon alert most of today. Instead, enjoy your popularity with others. Have a great time!
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Be careful about shopping or financial matters because the moon pulls you to money ideas. Nevertheless, most of this day is a moon alert, which means don’t shop! (Except for food.) It’s a lovely day to schmooze with friends!
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today the moon is in your sign and it is a moon alert for most of the day. Your emotions will be heightened. Take it easy. Enjoy warm, friendly times with others, especially partners and close friends. It’s a friendly day!
If Your Birthday Is Today
Singer, songwriter Katy Perry (1984) shares your birthday. You love the arts and you enjoy people. Nevertheless, you are secretive. It’s your turn for a fun-loving year ahead! You will be more popular and will enjoy warm friendships. You will also be more grateful for your life and will appreciate the everyday happiness and beauty around you. This year is the time for an important choice. Choose wisely.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-24--Ramsey, Anderson lead Northwestern in rout of Maryland

EVANSTON — Peyton Ramsey sure seemed comfortable in his new surroundings .
Northwestern looked like a team out to prove its struggles last season were nothing more than an unpleasant aberration .
It all added up to one lopsided victory and a milestone for coach Pat Fitzgerald .
Ramsey threw for 212 yards in his Northwestern debut , Drake Anderson ran for 103 and the Wildcats gave Fitzgerald his 100th victory , pounding Maryland 43-3 on Saturday night .
Northwestern raced to a 30-3 halftime lead and racked up 537 total yards .
It was just the sort of start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing for the conference championship in 2018 to finishing last in the Big Ten West .
Ramsey , a graduate transfer from Indiana , completed 23 of 30 passes .
He threw for a touchdown and scrambled for another score .
It was a promising start for a quarterback who helped lead the Hoosiers to their first eight-win season a year ago and is trying to solidify a weak spot for Northwestern last season .
The offense appeared in sync with the new quarterback .
“ Credit to our preparation and credit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ramsey said .
Fitzgerald saw a quarterback making the right reads , showing poise .
He was impressed not just by what he saw in the game but in the months leading up to it .
“ For a young man that ’ s been in our program now for months , even though he ’ s got years of experience in the Big Ten , to see that his teammates elected him a captain speaks to his leadership and speaks to who he is , ” Fitzgerald said .
“ Really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a 37-yard TD run .
A.J .
Hampton helped set up a touchdown with an interception .
Charlie Kuhbander kicked three field goals .
And Fitzgerald , by far Northwestern ’ s winningest coach , got a milestone win to open his 16th season at his alma mater .
“ It ’ s an honor , ” he said .
“ It ’ s humbling .
It ’ s about our players , it ’ s about our staff .
It ’ s about our players ’ families , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So many people contributed to this.
” Maryland opted to start Alabama transfer Taulia Tagovailoa at quarterback over redshirt freshman Lance LeGendre .
And he struggled in a big way .
Tagovailoa was 14 for 25 for 94 yards and three interceptions .
And the Terrapins opened coach Mike Locksley ’ s second season on a familiar note after losing nine of their final 10 games in 2019 .
“ He ’ s our quarterback , ” Locksley said .
“ He earned the right to be the starting quarterback , did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best chance to win.
” Northwestern held the Terrapins to just 207 yards while dominating the time of possession ( 37:21-22:39 ) .
After Maryland ’ s Joseph Petrino kicked a field goal on the game ’ s opening drive , the Wildcats took control in a hurry .
Ramsey led a 75-yard march , with Isaiah Bowser scoring from the 1 .
Hampton then intercepted a pass along the left sideline near midfield .
And a scrambling Ramsey reached across the goal line as he was dragged to the ground on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 1:31 left in the first quarter .
Kuhbander kicked a 43-yard field goal to bump the lead to 14 with just over nine minutes left in the half .
Anderson made it 24-3 with 5:43 remaining , when he burst through a hole in the line and got few good blocks on his 37-yard TD , and the Wildcats didn ’ t have to wait long to score again .
They took over at the Maryland 23 after Isaiah Jacobs muffed the kickoff and Cam Porter recovered the ball .
That led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he added a 43-yarder as the half ended .
“ It was crucial .
That ’ s the one thing we preached all offseason — the time that we had together and during spring ball before we were unfortunately sent home .
We were preaching on starting fast .
We came together in the offseason and really attacked it and made that the forefront and the focus.
” — Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher on opening with a lopsided win .
Maryland : A bad outing all around for the Terrapins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Big Ten East with a 1-8 record in conference play last year .
Their most recent winning season was in 2014 .
And if they ’ re going to change that , they have plenty of work to do .
Northwestern : The Wildcats want to show last season was not a sign of things to come .
This was a good start .

EVANSTON — Peyton Ramsey sure seemed comfortable in his new surroundings. Northwestern looked like a team out to prove its struggles last season were nothing more than an unpleasant aberration.
It all added up to one lopsided victory and a milestone for coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Ramsey threw for 212 yards in his Northwestern debut, Drake Anderson ran for 103 and the Wildcats gave Fitzgerald his 100th victory, pounding Maryland 43-3 on Saturday night.
Northwestern raced to a 30-3 halftime lead and racked up 537 total yards. It was just the sort of start the Wildcats were seeking after going from playing for the conference championship in 2018 to finishing last in the Big Ten West.
Ramsey, a graduate transfer from Indiana, completed 23 of 30 passes. He threw for a touchdown and scrambled for another score.
It was a promising start for a quarterback who helped lead the Hoosiers to their first eight-win season a year ago and is trying to solidify a weak spot for Northwestern last season. The offense appeared in sync with the new quarterback.
“Credit to our preparation and credit to our game plan, for sure,” Ramsey said.
Fitzgerald saw a quarterback making the right reads, showing poise. He was impressed not just by what he saw in the game but in the months leading up to it.
“For a young man that’s been in our program now for months, even though he’s got years of experience in the Big Ten, to see that his teammates elected him a captain speaks to his leadership and speaks to who he is,” Fitzgerald said. “Really proud of his performance today.”
Anderson had a 37-yard TD run. A.J. Hampton helped set up a touchdown with an interception. Charlie Kuhbander kicked three field goals. And Fitzgerald, by far Northwestern’s winningest coach, got a milestone win to open his 16th season at his alma mater.
“It’s an honor,” he said. “It’s humbling. It’s about our players, it’s about our staff. It’s about our players’ families, it’s about our staff’s families. So many people contributed to this.”
Maryland opted to start Alabama transfer Taulia Tagovailoa at quarterback over redshirt freshman Lance LeGendre. And he struggled in a big way.
Tagovailoa was 14 for 25 for 94 yards and three interceptions. And the Terrapins opened coach Mike Locksley’s second season on a familiar note after losing nine of their final 10 games in 2019.
“He’s our quarterback,” Locksley said. “He earned the right to be the starting quarterback, did the things that we thought would give us the best chance to win.”
DOMINANT START
Northwestern held the Terrapins to just 207 yards while dominating the time of possession (37:21-22:39). After Maryland’s Joseph Petrino kicked a field goal on the game’s opening drive, the Wildcats took control in a hurry.
Ramsey led a 75-yard march, with Isaiah Bowser scoring from the 1. Hampton then intercepted a pass along the left sideline near midfield. And a scrambling Ramsey reached across the goal line as he was dragged to the ground on a 12-yard touchdown, making it 14-3 with 1:31 left in the first quarter.
Kuhbander kicked a 43-yard field goal to bump the lead to 14 with just over nine minutes left in the half. Anderson made it 24-3 with 5:43 remaining, when he burst through a hole in the line and got few good blocks on his 37-yard TD, and the Wildcats didn’t have to wait long to score again.
They took over at the Maryland 23 after Isaiah Jacobs muffed the kickoff and Cam Porter recovered the ball. That led to a 23-yard field goal by Kuhbander, and he added a 43-yarder as the half ended.
QUOTABLE
“It was crucial. That’s the one thing we preached all offseason — the time that we had together and during spring ball before we were unfortunately sent home. We were preaching on starting fast. We came together in the offseason and really attacked it and made that the forefront and the focus.” — Northwestern linebacker Paddy Fisher on opening with a lopsided win.
THE TAKEAWAY
Maryland: A bad outing all around for the Terrapins, who went 3-9 overall and finished sixth in the Big Ten East with a 1-8 record in conference play last year. Their most recent winning season was in 2014. And if they’re going to change that, they have plenty of work to do.
Northwestern: The Wildcats want to show last season was not a sign of things to come. This was a good start.
UP NEXT
Maryland: Hosts No. 21 Minnesota on Friday night.
Northwestern: Visits Iowa on Oct. 31.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Chicago native Wilton Gregory’s historic appointment stirs pride in area Catholics who claim him ‘as

Chicago native Wilton Gregory’s historic appointment stirs pride in area Catholics who claim him ‘as our own’

When Pope Francis on Sunday elevated Chicago native Wilton Gregory to cardinal — the first African American to get the appointment — the joy was shared by local Catholics .
“ Gregory deserves the role with his work in the Church , ” said Dr. Michael Murphy , the director of Catholic studies at Loyola University of Chicago , who was “ overjoyed ” when he heard Sunday ’ s news .
He said he ’ s met Gregory on several occasions and believes the cardinal-elect is “ deeply talented ” and “ very holy.
” “ He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ background is , ” said Murphy , the director for Loyola ’ s Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage .
The 72-year-old Gregory , who was born in Chicago and ordained a priest here in 1973 , was one of 13 new cardinals named by Pope Francis in a surprise announcement from his studio window that overlooks St. Peter ’ s Square in Rome .
“ With a very grateful and humble heart , I thank Pope Francis for this appointment which will allow me to work more closely with him in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Gregory said in a statement following the news from the Vatican .
Gregory has more than earned his spot on the Catholic church ’ s most senior governing body .
Before becoming a central figure in leading the church ’ s response to a sex abuse scandal by Catholic clergy , Gregory served as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview and was a faculty member at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein .
After serving as a master of ceremonies to Cardinals John Cody and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ auxiliary bishop in Chicago in 1983 and later was installed as the bishop of Belleville in 1994 .
A decade later , Gregory , who served as the head of the U.S. Conference of Bishops , was appointed bishop of Atlanta before he was named bishop of Washington , D.C. last year .
This June , Gregory made national headlines slamming President Donald Trump for using the Saint John Paul II National Shrine as a backdrop for a photo .
Gregory ’ s appointment comes after a summer of racial reckoning in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bishops from his region in acknowledging the church ’ s “ sins and failings ” on racial justice .
“ Prayer and dialogue , alone , are not enough .
We must act to bring about true change , ” the group said in a joint statement in June .
Cardinal Blase Cupich said he was “ grateful ” for the pope ’ s appointment of Gregory .
“ While we take particular pride in this recognition of a dedicated priest , whom we are proud to claim as our own we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compassionate , thoughtful pastor when our nation and the world are in desperate need of healing and courageous leadership , ” Cupich said in a statement .
While Murphy believes Gregory earned the elevation to cardinal on his own merit , he also believes his appointment was a thoughtful move by the pope .
“ [ Pope Francis ] knows what this means at this moment ... to have Cardinal Gregory inhabit this role , ” Murphy said .
“ And it ’ s a statement of the Church to say , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t exactly pinpoint why it took so long for an African American to reach the ranking of a cardinal .
However , he said : “ There ’ s not as many Black bishops as there should be.
” About 3 million of the nation ’ s 69 million Catholics are African American , according to the national bishops ’ conference .
With that , only 250 of the 36,500 priests in the U.S. are Black priests , and there are only five active Black bishops .
Gregory was one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a U.S. diocese , according to the conference .

When Pope Francis on Sunday elevated Chicago native Wilton Gregory to cardinal — the first African American to get the appointment — the joy was shared by local Catholics.
“Gregory deserves the role with his work in the Church,” said Dr. Michael Murphy, the director of Catholic studies at Loyola University of Chicago, who was “overjoyed” when he heard Sunday’s news. He said he’s met Gregory on several occasions and believes the cardinal-elect is “deeply talented” and “very holy.”
“He’s the right choice no matter what his background is,” said Murphy, the director for Loyola’s Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage.
The 72-year-old Gregory, who was born in Chicago and ordained a priest here in 1973, was one of 13 new cardinals named by Pope Francis in a surprise announcement from his studio window that overlooks St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
“With a very grateful and humble heart, I thank Pope Francis for this appointment which will allow me to work more closely with him in caring for Christ’s Church,” Gregory said in a statement following the news from the Vatican.
Gregory has more than earned his spot on the Catholic church’s most senior governing body. Before becoming a central figure in leading the church’s response to a sex abuse scandal by Catholic clergy, Gregory served as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview and was a faculty member at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein. After serving as a master of ceremonies to Cardinals John Cody and Joseph Bernardin, Gregory was ordained an auxiliary bishop in Chicago in 1983 and later was installed as the bishop of Belleville in 1994.
A decade later, Gregory, who served as the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was appointed archbishop of Atlanta before he was named archbishop of Washington, D.C. last year.
This June, Gregory made national headlines slamming President Donald Trump for using the Saint John Paul II National Shrine as a backdrop for a photo.
Gregory’s appointment comes after a summer of racial reckoning in the U.S. during which Gregory joined eight fellow bishops from his region in acknowledging the church’s “sins and failings” on racial justice.
“Prayer and dialogue, alone, are not enough. We must act to bring about true change,” the group said in a joint statement in June.
Cardinal Blase Cupich said he was “grateful” for the pope’s appointment of Gregory.
“While we take particular pride in this recognition of a dedicated priest, whom we are proud to claim as our own we are also moved that Pope Francis chose this compassionate, thoughtful pastor when our nation and the world are in desperate need of healing and courageous leadership,” Cupich said in a statement.
While Murphy believes Gregory earned the elevation to cardinal on his own merit, he also believes his appointment was a thoughtful move by the pope.
“[Pope Francis] knows what this means at this moment ... to have Cardinal Gregory inhabit this role,” Murphy said. “And it’s a statement of the Church to say, ‘We stand with you.’”
Murphy can’t exactly pinpoint why it took so long for an African American to reach the ranking of a cardinal. However, he said: “There’s not as many Black bishops as there should be.”
About 3 million of the nation’s 69 million Catholics are African American, according to the national bishops’ conference. With that, only 250 of the 36,500 priests in the U.S. are Black priests, and there are only five active Black bishops. Gregory was one of only two African Americans who currently leads a U.S. diocese, according to the conference.


chicagosun-times--2020-10-25--Chicago has to get creative — and firm — about finding ways to save money

It ’ s time to put a lot of Chicago ’ s sacred cows out to pasture .
On Thursday , Mayor Lori Lightfoot vowed to take on two of them : the use of three employees per garbage truck and minimum staffing rules for Chicago Fire Department equipment .
It was a good start , but a lot more cows got ta go , too .
Lightfoot made this public commitment at a time when Chicago is being hammered by the pandemic , with city revenues dropping and taxpayers facing a $ 94 million property tax increase next year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property taxes be allowed to rise by the rate of inflation every year after to avoid the yo-yo impact of crazy big hikes all at once .
We can ’ t argue against a tax hike , or against the mayor ’ s threat of layoffs .
Not in this time of economic crisis .
But as we wrote more than a year ago , when skyrocketing pension obligations were squeezing the city ’ s spending plans , there are many smart ways Chicago can spend less money .
“ Many of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have known about since the last fiscal crisis , and we let that last crisis go to waste , ” Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson told us on Friday .
“ We do not have the luxury of letting this crisis go to waste.
” Here are seven ways Chicago could cut costs , though in several cases it will take tough collective bargaining negotiations .
• A hard look at the Fire Department budget .
Chicago already has started moving away from the old rule of requiring five firefighters per truck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permitted to leave a firehouse with four .
But the City Council traditionally has not examined the Fire Department budget as closely as some other agency budgets to achieve savings , in part because firefighters have a strong political voice in the city .
As the number of calls for ambulances goes up , the number of calls for fire trucks has declined .
Often , an emergency health call is answered by a fire truck instead of an ambulance because the department has not been reshaped to match changing needs .
Reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help make the department more efficient and save money .
In a 2011 report , Ferguson estimated the savings would be more than $ 63 million a year .
• Garbage crews .
Does Chicago really need three workers per garbage truck ?
On some blocks you can see three-person municipal crews in the alley while a single-person commercial garbage truck drives by to make a pickup at an apartment complex .
City crews might work 12 to 14 alleys a day , which is a busy schedule , but the rules could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let the driver get out and help pick up garbage .
• City clerk and city treasurer .
Eliminating the independently elected offices of city clerk and city treasurer could save money .
These two officials perform administrative functions that could be handled within the mayor ’ s office by the chief financial officer , comptroller and budget office .
• Contract renewals .
Some big contracts are given extensions year after year without returning to the City Council for a rebid .
Rebidding these contracts might save significant money .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Search warrant reform .
Poorly executed search warrants cost the city millions of dollars in lawsuits , usually because police go to the wrong address or don ’ t show warrants and point guns at innocent people .
Rewrite the rules and review the approval process .
• Management fees .
The city spends millions of dollars to manage pension investments .
Trimming those expenses could give the city a fiscal shot in the arm .
The city should look at turning more to private fund managers .
• Motor truck drivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truck drivers than it needs to .
Like garbage truck drivers , the motor truck drivers don ’ t get out of their trucks .
They drive other workers to small jobs and then drive them back , requiring a larger crew than necessary .
In 2011 , Ferguson estimated the city could save $ 18 million a year by getting rid of unneeded truck driver positions .
Even a rule change that says drivers are allowed to assist laborers could save significant money .
Lightfoot should consider , as well , joining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reserve to make low-interest , long-term loans of 20 to 50 years available to cities and states that are dealing with the pandemic crisis .

It’s time to put a lot of Chicago’s sacred cows out to pasture.
On Thursday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot vowed to take on two of them: the use of three employees per garbage truck and minimum staffing rules for Chicago Fire Department equipment.
It was a good start, but a lot more cows gotta go, too.
Lightfoot made this public commitment at a time when Chicago is being hammered by the pandemic, with city revenues dropping and taxpayers facing a $94 million property tax increase next year. The mayor has also proposed that property taxes be allowed to rise by the rate of inflation every year after to avoid the yo-yo impact of crazy big hikes all at once.
We can’t argue against a tax hike, or against the mayor’s threat of layoffs. Not in this time of economic crisis. But as we wrote more than a year ago, when skyrocketing pension obligations were squeezing the city’s spending plans, there are many smart ways Chicago can spend less money.
Editorials bug Editorials
“Many of these things are elephants in the room that we have known about since the last fiscal crisis, and we let that last crisis go to waste,” Chicago Inspector General Joe Ferguson told us on Friday. “We do not have the luxury of letting this crisis go to waste.”
Here are seven ways Chicago could cut costs, though in several cases it will take tough collective bargaining negotiations.
A hard look at the Fire Department budget. Chicago already has started moving away from the old rule of requiring five firefighters per truck. In some instances, trucks are permitted to leave a firehouse with four. But the City Council traditionally has not examined the Fire Department budget as closely as some other agency budgets to achieve savings, in part because firefighters have a strong political voice in the city.
As the number of calls for ambulances goes up, the number of calls for fire trucks has declined. Often, an emergency health call is answered by a fire truck instead of an ambulance because the department has not been reshaped to match changing needs. Reducing minimum staffing requirements without compromising safety would help make the department more efficient and save money. In a 2011 report, Ferguson estimated the savings would be more than $63 million a year.
Garbage crews . Does Chicago really need three workers per garbage truck? On some blocks you can see three-person municipal crews in the alley while a single-person commercial garbage truck drives by to make a pickup at an apartment complex. City crews might work 12 to 14 alleys a day, which is a busy schedule, but the rules could be changed, for example, to let the driver get out and help pick up garbage.
. Does Chicago really need three workers per garbage truck? On some blocks you can see three-person municipal crews in the alley while a single-person commercial garbage truck drives by to make a pickup at an apartment complex. City crews might work 12 to 14 alleys a day, which is a busy schedule, but the rules could be changed, for example, to let the driver get out and help pick up garbage. City clerk and city treasurer . Eliminating the independently elected offices of city clerk and city treasurer could save money. These two officials perform administrative functions that could be handled within the mayor’s office by the chief financial officer, comptroller and budget office.
. Eliminating the independently elected offices of city clerk and city treasurer could save money. These two officials perform administrative functions that could be handled within the mayor’s office by the chief financial officer, comptroller and budget office. Contract renewals . Some big contracts are given extensions year after year without returning to the City Council for a rebid. Rebidding these contracts might save significant money. It also could open the door to competition.
. Some big contracts are given extensions year after year without returning to the City Council for a rebid. Rebidding these contracts might save significant money. It also could open the door to competition. Search warrant reform . Poorly executed search warrants cost the city millions of dollars in lawsuits, usually because police go to the wrong address or don’t show warrants and point guns at innocent people. Rewrite the rules and review the approval process.
. Poorly executed search warrants cost the city millions of dollars in lawsuits, usually because police go to the wrong address or don’t show warrants and point guns at innocent people. Rewrite the rules and review the approval process. Management fees . The city spends millions of dollars to manage pension investments. Trimming those expenses could give the city a fiscal shot in the arm. The city should look at turning more to private fund managers.
. The city spends millions of dollars to manage pension investments. Trimming those expenses could give the city a fiscal shot in the arm. The city should look at turning more to private fund managers. Motor truck drivers. The city pays more for municipal truck drivers than it needs to. Like garbage truck drivers, the motor truck drivers don’t get out of their trucks. They drive other workers to small jobs and then drive them back, requiring a larger crew than necessary. In 2011, Ferguson estimated the city could save $18 million a year by getting rid of unneeded truck driver positions. Even a rule change that says drivers are allowed to assist laborers could save significant money.
Lightfoot should consider, as well, joining with other leaders to get the Federal Reserve to make low-interest, long-term loans of 20 to 50 years available to cities and states that are dealing with the pandemic crisis.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.