chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Dear Abby: Boyfriend kindly ordered flowers, but they arrived looking tattered

DEAR ABBY : Is there a delicate way for me to tell my boyfriend not to use the same online floral delivery service again ?
The birthday bouquet he had delivered to me arrived with limp , wilted , torn petals and leaves and broken stems .
It was one of those box-of-flowers deliveries .
I doubt my boyfriend realized they would not arrive in a vase and arranged by a florist .
Instead , they had been packed in a box , without water , with the vase packed alongside , delivered by a regular package courier .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bouquet along with my heartfelt thanks , and while I thanked him as usual , I did not send a picture of the bouquet because I knew he would feel bad — both about the lackluster arrangement , and the money he had spent on them .
I found what I believe was the intended arrangement on the website , and it was lovely — a far cry from what was delivered to me .
I love my twice-a-year flowers ( birthday and Christmas ) , and I don ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am blessed to have such a thoughtful partner .
If flowers were just a one-time gift , I would not even consider mentioning it .
However , with Valentine ’ s Day ( and another flower delivery ) approaching , I wonder if I should let my boyfriend know that it might be better to use a local florist to ensure he is getting his money ’ s worth .
Or should I just cross my fingers that it was a one-off ?
— UNGRATEFUL GIRLFRIEND DEAR “ UNGRATEFUL ” : Tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send him a photo of the flowers he sent as you usually do .
He has a right to know , and it will not make you appear ungrateful .
He may be able to get a refund if the order was mishandled and he had ordered an arrangement in a vase .
And if the vendor is not forthcoming , he may choose to deal with a different one next time .
Please give him the option .
DEAR ABBY : I ’ m one half of a female best friend duo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live with clinical depression , and my friend also has ADHD .
During most of our 20s , neither of us did a good job of coping with these issues , but we were able to laugh it off together .
Now , after putting in a lot of work , I ’ m finally in a healthy place , and I intend to continue getting better from here .
My best friend , however , is managing her own mental health as poorly as ever .
She doesn ’ t have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way I have , and she resents when others try to talk to her about it .
I sense she wishes I was like I used to be .
I ’ m starting to feel like being around her is no longer healthy for me , but I don ’ t know what to do .
I don ’ t have many other friends .
I live out of state from my family , and I still love her dearly .
How should I proceed ?
— SELF-HELPER IN CALIFORNIA DEAR SELF-HELPER @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you seek out new activities , you will meet more people with common interests .
Do not drop her .
Call her periodically to check in , and make a point of inviting her to join you in some of your new interests .
However , if she refuses , do not let it deter you from doing what you must to aid in your healing .
I congratulate you for finding the strength to get the help you needed .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
What teens need to know about sex , drugs , AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “ What Every Teen Should Know.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Teen Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )

DEAR ABBY: Is there a delicate way for me to tell my boyfriend not to use the same online floral delivery service again? The birthday bouquet he had delivered to me arrived with limp, wilted, torn petals and leaves and broken stems. It was one of those box-of-flowers deliveries.
I doubt my boyfriend realized they would not arrive in a vase and arranged by a florist. Instead, they had been packed in a box, without water, with the vase packed alongside, delivered by a regular package courier.
I usually send him a photo of my bouquet along with my heartfelt thanks, and while I thanked him as usual, I did not send a picture of the bouquet because I knew he would feel bad — both about the lackluster arrangement, and the money he had spent on them.
I found what I believe was the intended arrangement on the website, and it was lovely — a far cry from what was delivered to me. I love my twice-a-year flowers (birthday and Christmas), and I don’t want to come across as critical or ungrateful. I am blessed to have such a thoughtful partner.
If flowers were just a one-time gift, I would not even consider mentioning it. However, with Valentine’s Day (and another flower delivery) approaching, I wonder if I should let my boyfriend know that it might be better to use a local florist to ensure he is getting his money’s worth. Or should I just cross my fingers that it was a one-off? — UNGRATEFUL GIRLFRIEND
DEAR “UNGRATEFUL”: Tell your boyfriend why you didn’t send him a photo of the flowers he sent as you usually do. He has a right to know, and it will not make you appear ungrateful. He may be able to get a refund if the order was mishandled and he had ordered an arrangement in a vase. And if the vendor is not forthcoming, he may choose to deal with a different one next time. Please give him the option.
DEAR ABBY: I’m one half of a female best friend duo in our early 30s. We both live with clinical depression, and my friend also has ADHD. During most of our 20s, neither of us did a good job of coping with these issues, but we were able to laugh it off together. Now, after putting in a lot of work, I’m finally in a healthy place, and I intend to continue getting better from here.
My best friend, however, is managing her own mental health as poorly as ever. She doesn’t have the interest or the motivation to help herself the way I have, and she resents when others try to talk to her about it. I sense she wishes I was like I used to be.
I’m starting to feel like being around her is no longer healthy for me, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t have many other friends. I live out of state from my family, and I still love her dearly. How should I proceed? — SELF-HELPER IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR SELF-HELPER: Proceed by continuing to move forward. If you seek out new activities, you will meet more people with common interests. Do not drop her. Call her periodically to check in, and make a point of inviting her to join you in some of your new interests. However, if she refuses, do not let it deter you from doing what you must to aid in your healing. I congratulate you for finding the strength to get the help you needed.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
What teens need to know about sex, drugs, AIDS and getting along with peers and parents is in “What Every Teen Should Know.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Elgin man convicted of sexually assaulting child still at large after skipping trial

A northwest suburban man who skipped his trial last week has been convicted of sexually assaulting a child he knew in 2016 .
Following a four-day trial , a Kane County jury found 37-year-old Mario Piñeda guilty Thursday of seven counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse , all felonies , according to the Kane County state ’ s attorney ’ s office .
Prosecutors said Piñeda sexually assaulted the girl , who was younger than 13 , on multiple occasions in 2016 .
The victim told her parents about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incidents to police .
“ I ’ m proud of this victim for showing the strength to tell her story at her abuser ’ s trial , ” Kane County State ’ s Attorney Joe McMahon said in a statement .
“ Her courage towers over that of Mr. Piñeda , who fled like a coward instead owning up to his selfish crimes.
” Piñeda , who lives in Elgin , last appeared in court on Sept. 20 , 2019 , and was free on $ 20,000 bail , prosecutors said .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 9 when he failed to appear in court for the start of his trial .
Judge Charles E. Petersen set Piñeda ’ s next court date for March 26 for motions , sentencing and forfeiture of bond , prosecutors said .
He faces a mandatory minimum of 42 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and will have to register for life as a sex offender .
Anyone with information about Piñeda ’ s whereabouts is asked to call the Kane County Child Advocacy Center at 630-208-5160 .
Read more on crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homicides .

A northwest suburban man who skipped his trial last week has been convicted of sexually assaulting a child he knew in 2016.
Following a four-day trial, a Kane County jury found 37-year-old Mario Piñeda guilty Thursday of seven counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, all felonies, according to the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.
Prosecutors said Piñeda sexually assaulted the girl, who was younger than 13, on multiple occasions in 2016. The victim told her parents about the assaults and her father reported the incidents to police.
Mario Piñeda Kane County state’s attorney’s office
“I’m proud of this victim for showing the strength to tell her story at her abuser’s trial,” Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said in a statement. “Her courage towers over that of Mr. Piñeda, who fled like a coward instead owning up to his selfish crimes.”
Piñeda, who lives in Elgin, last appeared in court on Sept. 20, 2019, and was free on $20,000 bail, prosecutors said. A new warrant was issued for his arrest Jan. 9 when he failed to appear in court for the start of his trial.
Judge Charles E. Petersen set Piñeda’s next court date for March 26 for motions, sentencing and forfeiture of bond, prosecutors said. He faces a mandatory minimum of 42 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections and will have to register for life as a sex offender.
Anyone with information about Piñeda’s whereabouts is asked to call the Kane County Child Advocacy Center at 630-208-5160.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Lessons the Bears can learn from the NFL’s final 4 teams

For the 12th time in 13 years , the Bears are spending championship weekend on the couch .
Here ’ s what they can learn from the four teams — the AFC ’ s Titans and Chiefs and the NFC ’ s 49ers and Packers — set to play for Super Bowl berths Sunday : The Titans benched quarterback Marcus Mariota , the No .
2 overall pick in 2015 , midway through a 16-0 loss in Denver that dropped their record to 2-4 .
His replacement , Ryan Tannehill , has won nine of 12 starts since .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Tannehill last offseason — the Dolphins sent him and a sixth-round pick to the Titans for a fourth- and seventh-rounder , and then the Titans reworked his contract .
Tannehill , who now has 100 career starts , was the perfect backup for a tenuous starter .
And because they had options , the Titans weren ’ t afraid to make a change .
The Bears need to find their own Tannehill to pair with Mitch Trubisky , another No .
2 pick , this offseason — someone who has made more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daniel , the backup the last two seasons , can boast .
Consider : At the time he was benched , Mariota was 94-for-159 for 1,203 yards , seven touchdowns , two interceptions and a 92.3 passer rating .
Through the Bears ’ first six weeks , Trubisky was 103-for-160 for 839 yards , five touchdowns , two interceptions and an 82.8 rating .
If Trubisky does it again , the Bears need someone in line to take his place .
Relying on a backup isn ’ t typically good business .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playoff teams to enter the postseason with a different starting quarterback than they had in Week 1 .
But they proved that making a switch — provided the team has the right guy in the bullpen — can save a spiraling season .
It ’ s only slightly easier to find a Travis Kelce than it is a Patrick Mahomes .
But the Bears — who whiffed on the latter — need to do their best to find the former .
Or even a very poor man ’ s version .
Kelce , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played maybe the most meaningful game of his career Sunday , catching 10 passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns in the come-from-behind win against the Texans .
Combine that with his regular-season stats , and Kelce has caught 107 passes for 1,363 yards .
The Bears ’ entire tight end roster totaled 46 catches for 416 yards .
The tight end position is essential in Chiefs coach Andy Reid ’ s offense , and the same holds for coach Matt Nagy ’ s playbook .
The Bears hope a second surgery on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his hip — will fix discomfort that limited him to five starts this season .
But they can ’ t count on it , particularly given the unproven roster behind him .
Look for the Bears to be aggressive in their pursuit of a pass-catching tight end , first in free agency and then , perhaps , in the draft .
Pricey offseason moves were wildly out of character for a franchise that usually prefers to pay its own players .
But the Packers ’ signing of two outside linebackers — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Redskins ’ Preston Smith — for a combined $ 118 million has proved to be a home run .
Za ’ Darius Smith was sixth in the regular season with 13½ sacks , while Preston Smith was eighth with 12 .
The “ Smith Brothers ” — no relation — provide a punch that the Bears can ’ t match , even with Khalil Mack carrying the sport ’ s largest defensive contract .
The Smiths bring pressure from both edges , while the Bears have spent two years searching for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complained all season that Mack saw double- and triple-teams in every game .
One way to stop that is to produce a pass-rushing threat from the other outside linebacker position .
Leonard Floyd , the team ’ s other starter , has totaled seven sacks in 32 starts over the last two years .
The Bears value his run-stuffing and pass coverage skills .
As he enters the final year of his rookie deal , though , the Bears must find a pass rusher — even one who can play just on passing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three of the 49ers ’ running backs — Tevin Coleman , Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida — posted between 123 and 137 regular-season carries .
Each finished averaging between 38 and 48 rushing yards per game in a 49ers running game that trailed only the historically dominant Ravens .
It didn ’ t matter who was running the ball .
The reason was the men who were blocking for them .
Three of the 49ers ’ five starting offensive linemen in their playoff win against the Vikings were first-round picks : right tackle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , left tackle Joe Staley ( No .
28 ) and left guard Laken Tomlinson ( No .
28 ) , a Lane Tech graduate .
With Kyle Long retiring , the Bears are entering the season without a first-round pick slated to start on the offensive line for the first time since 2002 .
The Bears have brought in a new coordinator and offensive line coach with hopes of reviving the running game .
With three players having signed extensions over the last 2œ years and another , guard James Daniels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second-round pick , the Bears ’ line likely can ’ t be overhauled .
The team should explore adding some new blood , though — even if it ’ s not a first-round player .

For the 12th time in 13 years, the Bears are spending championship weekend on the couch. Here’s what they can learn from the four teams — the AFC’s Titans and Chiefs and the NFC’s 49ers and Packers — set to play for Super Bowl berths Sunday:
TITANS— USE YOUR BULLPEN
The Titans benched quarterback Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, midway through a 16-0 loss in Denver that dropped their record to 2-4. His replacement, Ryan Tannehill, has won nine of 12 starts since.
The Titans found a creative way to trade for Tannehill last offseason — the Dolphins sent him and a sixth-round pick to the Titans for a fourth- and seventh-rounder, and then the Titans reworked his contract. Tannehill, who now has 100 career starts, was the perfect backup for a tenuous starter. And because they had options, the Titans weren’t afraid to make a change.
The Bears need to find their own Tannehill to pair with Mitch Trubisky, another No. 2 pick, this offseason — someone who has made more career starts than the five that Chase Daniel, the backup the last two seasons, can boast.
Consider: At the time he was benched, Mariota was 94-for-159 for 1,203 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions and a 92.3 passer rating. Through the Bears’ first six weeks, Trubisky was 103-for-160 for 839 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions and an 82.8 rating.
If Trubisky does it again, the Bears need someone in line to take his place.
Relying on a backup isn’t typically good business. The Titans were the only one of 12 playoff teams to enter the postseason with a different starting quarterback than they had in Week 1. But they proved that making a switch — provided the team has the right guy in the bullpen — can save a spiraling season.
CHIEFS— FIND A TIGHT END
It’s only slightly easier to find a Travis Kelce than it is a Patrick Mahomes. But the Bears — who whiffed on the latter — need to do their best to find the former. Or even a very poor man’s version.
Kelce, the Chiefs’ star tight end, played maybe the most meaningful game of his career Sunday, catching 10 passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns in the come-from-behind win against the Texans.
Combine that with his regular-season stats, and Kelce has caught 107 passes for 1,363 yards. The Bears’ entire tight end roster totaled 46 catches for 416 yards.
The tight end position is essential in Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s offense, and the same holds for coach Matt Nagy’s playbook. The Bears hope a second surgery on tight end Trey Burton — this time to his hip — will fix discomfort that limited him to five starts this season. But they can’t count on it, particularly given the unproven roster behind him.
Look for the Bears to be aggressive in their pursuit of a pass-catching tight end, first in free agency and then, perhaps, in the draft.
PACKERS—SACKS FROM BOTH SIDES
Pricey offseason moves were wildly out of character for a franchise that usually prefers to pay its own players. But the Packers’ signing of two outside linebackers — the Ravens’ Za’Darius Smith and the Redskins’ Preston Smith — for a combined $118 million has proved to be a home run.
Za’Darius Smith was sixth in the regular season with 13½ sacks, while Preston Smith was eighth with 12.
The “Smith Brothers” — no relation — provide a punch that the Bears can’t match, even with Khalil Mack carrying the sport’s largest defensive contract. The Smiths bring pressure from both edges, while the Bears have spent two years searching for a pass-rushing playmaker opposite Mack.
The team complained all season that Mack saw double- and triple-teams in every game. One way to stop that is to produce a pass-rushing threat from the other outside linebacker position.
Leonard Floyd, the team’s other starter, has totaled seven sacks in 32 starts over the last two years. The Bears value his run-stuffing and pass coverage skills. As he enters the final year of his rookie deal, though, the Bears must find a pass rusher — even one who can play just on passing downs — to complement Mack.
49ERS — BUILD THE LINE
All three of the 49ers’ running backs — Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida — posted between 123 and 137 regular-season carries. Each finished averaging between 38 and 48 rushing yards per game in a 49ers running game that trailed only the historically dominant Ravens.
It didn’t matter who was running the ball. The reason was the men who were blocking for them. Three of the 49ers’ five starting offensive linemen in their playoff win against the Vikings were first-round picks: right tackle Mike McGlinchey (No. 9 overall), left tackle Joe Staley (No. 28) and left guard Laken Tomlinson (No. 28), a Lane Tech graduate.
With Kyle Long retiring, the Bears are entering the season without a first-round pick slated to start on the offensive line for the first time since 2002.
The Bears have brought in a new coordinator and offensive line coach with hopes of reviving the running game.
With three players having signed extensions over the last 2œ years and another, guard James Daniels, two years removed from being a second-round pick, the Bears’ line likely can’t be overhauled. The team should explore adding some new blood, though — even if it’s not a first-round player.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Let marijuana consumption ordinance go up in smoke

It ’ s unsurprising to hear that the marijuana consumption ordinance Mayor Lightfoot ’ s office has been working on was delayed again last week .
Let ’ s hope the delay will give the city an opportunity to realize the proposal to allow recreational consumption in existing tobacco shops poses health risks and is a bad idea .
For starters , marijuana smoke contains its own set of harmful fine particulate matter and chemicals that cause lung irritation , asthma and increased risk of lung infection .
Workers in tobacco shops and other patrons haven ’ t signed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the mind-altering THC in marijuana .
We also don ’ t need to drive business to tobacco shops .
They are doing fine peddling nicotine addiction on their own .
Chicago has a long history of standing up to Big Tobacco and reducing the impact of tobacco-related illness through work like Smoke-Free Chicago .
The City Council doesn ’ t need to send more customers into tobacco shops .
You must be at least 21 to purchase recreational marijuana or tobacco in Illinois .
However , while marijuana dispensaries verify age at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those under purchasing age inside , entrance to tobacco shops isn ’ t so tightly controlled .
We ’ re currently seeing epidemic vaping rates among teenagers and would do well to be mindful not to encourage marijuana exposure as well .
And who will ensure patrons at these proposed consumption sites take public transit to get home safely afterward ?
It seems it would be better if we sent this proposal up in smoke and focus instead on keeping the air clear and smoke free for all Chicagoans .
SEND LETTERS TO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes .
No , President Trump is not pro-life It amazes me that the Rev .
Franklin Graham argues that Donald Trump “ is the most pro-life friendly president in modern history.
” Refugees flee violence .
Trump says , send them back .
Some die .
Who cares ?
Work to improve Obamacare to save even more lives ?
No .
No .
No .
Get rid of it ( but not until after the election ) .
Help stave off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change ?
Oh , no .
It ’ s a hoax .
Enact universal background checks for gun purchases ?
And earn the wrath of NRA leaders ?
Are you crazy ?
Cut back on environmental standards and enforcement ?
Now we ’ re talking .
That should super-charge the economy .
More people will suffer and die ?
Oh , well .
Trump buddies up to the murderous leaders of Russia , Saudi Arabia , Turkey and the Philippines .
Do the lives these thugs snuff out count for nothing ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ executed had it been up to Trump .
Did he apologize after it turned out they were innocent ?
Of course not .
Trump cares about the Almighty Buck and whatever it takes to get re-elected .
He ’ ll be conveniently pro-birth one more time but pro-life ?
Not a chance .

It’s unsurprising to hear that the marijuana consumption ordinance Mayor Lightfoot’s office has been working on was delayed again last week. Let’s hope the delay will give the city an opportunity to realize the proposal to allow recreational consumption in existing tobacco shops poses health risks and is a bad idea.
For starters, marijuana smoke contains its own set of harmful fine particulate matter and chemicals that cause lung irritation, asthma and increased risk of lung infection. Workers in tobacco shops and other patrons haven’t signed up to be exposed to those chemicals or to the mind-altering THC in marijuana.
We also don’t need to drive business to tobacco shops. They are doing fine peddling nicotine addiction on their own. Chicago has a long history of standing up to Big Tobacco and reducing the impact of tobacco-related illness through work like Smoke-Free Chicago. The City Council doesn’t need to send more customers into tobacco shops.
You must be at least 21 to purchase recreational marijuana or tobacco in Illinois. However, while marijuana dispensaries verify age at the door and don’t allow those under purchasing age inside, entrance to tobacco shops isn’t so tightly controlled. We’re currently seeing epidemic vaping rates among teenagers and would do well to be mindful not to encourage marijuana exposure as well. And who will ensure patrons at these proposed consumption sites take public transit to get home safely afterward?
It seems it would be better if we sent this proposal up in smoke and focus instead on keeping the air clear and smoke free for all Chicagoans.
Joel Africk, Wilmette
SEND LETTERS TO: letters@suntimes.com. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes.
No, President Trump is not pro-life
It amazes me that the Rev. Franklin Graham argues that Donald Trump “is the most pro-life friendly president in modern history.”
Refugees flee violence. Trump says, send them back. Some die. Who cares?
Work to improve Obamacare to save even more lives? No. No. No. Get rid of it (but not until after the election). Help stave off the suffering of millions due to coming catastrophic climate change? Oh, no. It’s a hoax. Enact universal background checks for gun purchases? And earn the wrath of NRA leaders? Are you crazy?
Cut back on environmental standards and enforcement? Now we’re talking. That should super-charge the economy. More people will suffer and die? Oh, well.
Trump buddies up to the murderous leaders of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the Philippines. Do the lives these thugs snuff out count for nothing?
The Central Park 5 would have been executed had it been up to Trump. Did he apologize after it turned out they were innocent? Of course not.
Trump cares about the Almighty Buck and whatever it takes to get re-elected. He’ll be conveniently pro-birth one more time but pro-life? Not a chance.
Kevin Coughlin, Evanston


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--We moved back to my old West Side block, and I was a million miles from my dreams

This week ’ s column is the third in a series of excerpts from the author ’ s memoir , “ True Vine : A Young Black Man ’ s Journey of Faith , Hope & Clarity ” Knowing that we would soon be moving to Komensky , I was even more afraid , convinced that if something bad happened once we got there , I would always be the one to blame .
And yet , as I prepared to lead the covered wagon back to “ Dodge City , ” I could not afford to show how concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the women and children .
My stepfather helped me lay the linoleum , and I added the finishing touches to the apartment , tightly bolting the security bars at the back window and back door .
In August 1981 , we moved in ( married by age 20 , with two sons ) .
The apartment was nice .
Everyone , especially ( my wife ) , was impressed with the job I had done .
As Grandmother had promised , she stayed with me , right up until the last wall was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the kitchen windows seemed to wrap its arms around us … Gone was the stench that had filled the apartment .
There were no signs of roaches or mice or any such thing .
The scent of pine cleaner , of fresh paint and new vinyl hung in the air .
But inasmuch as the apartment had undergone a transformation , so had I. I felt a sense of empowerment in seeing the work of my own hands that had turned something so ugly into something so beautiful .
I also felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would I rely on others more than I would rely on myself , though it would still be a while before I learned to apply this lesson to other aspects of my life .
Even with our sparkling new place , life back on Komensky did not start off perfectly .
For a time , we did not have a refrigerator in the apartment .
We had applied for a voucher with Public Aid , which furnished refrigerators to the poor .
In the meantime , we kept our boys ’ milk cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found it necessary to extend my beautification efforts to outside the building .
One day I went next door to Mr. Newell ’ s and borrowed the old man ’ s garden tools .
I dug up the front and back yards , flung grass seed and watered the soil .
In time , we got a refrigerator and the grass began to sprout from the cracked ground where I thought grass might never grow again .
Mr. Newell later admitted he was just as surprised to see grass growing next door again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of our apartment building sprang up .
Miss Hattie , who had lived on the first floor with her two children when we first moved in , had planted them .
It was eerie seeing those beautiful flowers , seeing that by the time they rose up from the ground , Miss Hattie was already dead and buried .
She was found one morning , raped and murdered a few blocks away .
In the months before her murder , she showed signs of mental illness and had taken to displaying obscene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and talking to herself .
In the spectrum of local happenings , her murder raised only a few eyebrows .
As night fell that first evening at our new apartment , I felt strangely at home and as if my young life had already come full circle .
In being back on the block , I also wondered if I would ever leave again .
This much I did know : I was a million miles away from my dreams and back where I had started .
That night , after the boys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lay sleeping , I sauntered through the apartment in my bare feet , twisting the doorknobs and locks .

This week’s column is the third in a series of excerpts from the author’s memoir, “True Vine: A Young Black Man’s Journey of Faith, Hope & Clarity”
Knowing that we would soon be moving to Komensky, I was even more afraid, convinced that if something bad happened once we got there, I would always be the one to blame. And yet, as I prepared to lead the covered wagon back to “Dodge City,” I could not afford to show how concerned I was, for the sake of the women and children.
My stepfather helped me lay the linoleum, and I added the finishing touches to the apartment, tightly bolting the security bars at the back window and back door.
In August 1981, we moved in (married by age 20, with two sons). The apartment was nice. Everyone, especially (my wife), was impressed with the job I had done.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
As Grandmother had promised, she stayed with me, right up until the last wall was painted ...
The sunlight that spilled in from the kitchen windows seemed to wrap its arms around us … Gone was the stench that had filled the apartment. There were no signs of roaches or mice or any such thing. The scent of pine cleaner, of fresh paint and new vinyl hung in the air.
But inasmuch as the apartment had undergone a transformation, so had I. I felt a sense of empowerment in seeing the work of my own hands that had turned something so ugly into something so beautiful.
I also felt a sense of self-sufficiency. Never again would I rely on others more than I would rely on myself, though it would still be a while before I learned to apply this lesson to other aspects of my life.
Even with our sparkling new place, life back on Komensky did not start off perfectly. For a time, we did not have a refrigerator in the apartment. We had applied for a voucher with Public Aid, which furnished refrigerators to the poor.
In the meantime, we kept our boys’ milk cold in a Styrofoam cooler, and I found it necessary to extend my beautification efforts to outside the building.
One day I went next door to Mr. Newell’s and borrowed the old man’s garden tools. I dug up the front and back yards, flung grass seed and watered the soil.
In time, we got a refrigerator and the grass began to sprout from the cracked ground where I thought grass might never grow again. Mr. Newell later admitted he was just as surprised to see grass growing next door again.
Even a bed of flowers in front of our apartment building sprang up. Miss Hattie, who had lived on the first floor with her two children when we first moved in, had planted them. It was eerie seeing those beautiful flowers, seeing that by the time they rose up from the ground, Miss Hattie was already dead and buried.
She was found one morning, raped and murdered a few blocks away. In the months before her murder, she showed signs of mental illness and had taken to displaying obscene behavior in the middle of the street and talking to herself.
In the spectrum of local happenings, her murder raised only a few eyebrows.
As night fell that first evening at our new apartment, I felt strangely at home and as if my young life had already come full circle. In being back on the block, I also wondered if I would ever leave again.
This much I did know: I was a million miles away from my dreams and back where I had started.
That night, after the boys were settled in bed and my wife lay sleeping, I sauntered through the apartment in my bare feet, twisting the doorknobs and locks.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com
Email John Fountain at Author@johnwfountain.com


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Police seek suspect in Gary bank robbery

Authorities are asking for the public ’ s help identifying the person who robbed a bank Thursday in Gary , @ @ @ @ @ , the male suspect walked into the People ’ s Bank , 1801 W. 25th @ @ @ @ @ teller a note demanding money and implying that he had a weapon , according to @ @ @ @ @ .
The teller handed over cash from a drawer and the robber ran out the @ @ @ @ @ .
He was about 5-foot-3 , carried a camouflage book bag and wore a camouflage @ @ @ @ @ Chicago Bulls baseball cap , black pants and white shoes .
Anyone with information about @ @ @ @ @ is asked to call Sgt .
William Fazekas at 219-881-1210 or the crime tip line @ @ @ @ @ on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Authorities are asking for the public’s help identifying the person who robbed a bank Thursday in Gary, Indiana.
About 3 p.m., the male suspect walked into the People’s Bank, 1801 W. 25th St., and handed the teller a note demanding money and implying that he had a weapon, according to a statement from Gary police.
The teller handed over cash from a drawer and the robber ran out the front door, police said. He was about 5-foot-3, carried a camouflage book bag and wore a camouflage bubble coat, a camouflage Chicago Bulls baseball cap, black pants and white shoes.
Anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect is asked to call Sgt. William Fazekas at 219-881-1210 or the crime tip line at 866-274-6347.
Police released surveillance images of the suspect in a robbery Jan. 16, 2020, at the People’s Bank at 1801 W. 25th St. in Gary, Indiana. Gary police
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and the battle for Democratic progressives

The most ominous conflict emerging in the Democratic presidential nominating contest is not a fight over policy .
It ’ s the deep divide in the progressive movement : Warren vs. Sanders .
After many months of congeniality , relations between the party ’ s progressive stalwarts have soured .
First , came a Politico report that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ Iowa operatives were pushing negative talking points about Sen Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts .
Then , news broke that in a private meeting in 2018 , Sanders told Warren a woman could not win the presidency .
Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Warren refused to shake Sanders ’ hand and told him , “ You called me a liar.
” We will never know what really happened between the two .
But the fact that Warren betrayed that private conversation shows she ’ s willing to play hardball to win .
The left has sprung into action to head off a political conflagration .
By Thursday , 18 progressive groups announced a new national coalition .
The “ Progressives Unite 2020 ” campaign argues that if Warren and Sanders continue their infighting , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That would pave the way for a moderate candidate , like former Vice President Joe Biden or perhaps , South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg .
The group ’ s website pledges to work to “ focus our fight for the nomination against candidates supported by the corporate wing , instead of fighting each other.
” They are pleading that Warren , Sanders and their supporters play nice and keep their eye on the ball — defeating President Donald J. Trump in November .
The left is trying to head off their Armageddon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the real Armageddon would come if the Democratic Party nominates a weak sister — or brother — who can ’ t handle President Donald J. Trump .
Here ’ s what they should be asking : If Sanders and Warren can ’ t work out their differences now , how can they hope to woo voters in the primaries and general election ?
How will they attract moderate voters with platforms like free tuition and single-payer medical plans that are impractical , unworkable and will never pass muster in Congress ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment .
Warren and Sanders are U.S. senators .
Beginning Tuesday , they will also become jurors in Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
They will be stuck at their desks in the Senate chamber , silenced as the trial unfolds .
Some experts predict the proceedings could stretch out for weeks , even collide with the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire ’ s Feb. 11 primary .
How do they stay in play as those contests close in ?
Warren and Sanders are polling well in those early states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The demographics there are overwhelmingly white .
Neither has shown they can break through in the contests to come , such as South Carolina and Nevada .
In South Carolina , Biden has enjoyed a polling lead for months .
Their uber-progressive platforms aim to amplify the masses at the expense of the rich , in ways that could radically alter our democracy .
They are polling well because they have captured the hearts of the left .
But they are competing for nearly identical bases .
Both of them plan to win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they split the progressive vote in the 2020 primaries , both lose .
Is it about their ideals , or is it about “ I ?
”

The most ominous conflict emerging in the Democratic presidential nominating contest is not a fight over policy.
It’s the deep divide in the progressive movement: Warren vs. Sanders.
After many months of congeniality, relations between the party’s progressive stalwarts have soured. First, came a Politico report that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Iowa operatives were pushing negative talking points about Sen Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
Then, news broke that in a private meeting in 2018, Sanders told Warren a woman could not win the presidency. Warren confirmed it.
During Tuesday’s televised debate, Sanders denied it.
As the debate ended, Warren refused to shake Sanders’ hand and told him, “You called me a liar.”
We will never know what really happened between the two. But the fact that Warren betrayed that private conversation shows she’s willing to play hardball to win.
The left has sprung into action to head off a political conflagration. By Thursday, 18 progressive groups announced a new national coalition.
The “Progressives Unite 2020” campaign argues that if Warren and Sanders continue their infighting, they will alienate and split the progressive vote. That would pave the way for a moderate candidate, like former Vice President Joe Biden or perhaps, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.
The group’s website pledges to work to “focus our fight for the nomination against candidates supported by the corporate wing, instead of fighting each other.”
They are pleading that Warren, Sanders and their supporters play nice and keep their eye on the ball — defeating President Donald J. Trump in November.
The left is trying to head off their Armageddon — a moderate candidate winning the nomination. But the real Armageddon would come if the Democratic Party nominates a weak sister — or brother — who can’t handle President Donald J. Trump.
Here’s what they should be asking:
If Sanders and Warren can’t work out their differences now, how can they hope to woo voters in the primaries and general election?
How will they attract moderate voters with platforms like free tuition and single-payer medical plans that are impractical, unworkable and will never pass muster in Congress?
There’s the little matter of impeachment. Warren and Sanders are U.S. senators. Beginning Tuesday, they will also become jurors in Trump’s impeachment trial.
They will be stuck at their desks in the Senate chamber, silenced as the trial unfolds. Some experts predict the proceedings could stretch out for weeks, even collide with the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire’s Feb. 11 primary.
How do they stay in play as those contests close in?
Warren and Sanders are polling well in those early states, but so what if they prevail? The demographics there are overwhelmingly white. Neither has shown they can break through in the contests to come, such as South Carolina and Nevada. In South Carolina, Biden has enjoyed a polling lead for months.
Their uber-progressive platforms aim to amplify the masses at the expense of the rich, in ways that could radically alter our democracy.
They are polling well because they have captured the hearts of the left. But they are competing for nearly identical bases.
Both of them plan to win. Neither will step aside.
If they split the progressive vote in the 2020 primaries, both lose.
Is it about their ideals, or is it about “I?”
Follow Laura S. Washington on Twitter @MediaDervish
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Burglary, attempted burglary reported minutes apart in North Center

A burglar stole from one business and attempted to get into another minutes apart this week in North Center .
@ @ @ @ @ suspect broke in through the rear door and took the cash register , Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ case , the suspect tried to force open the front door but failed .
Both @ @ @ @ @ and 4:29 a.m. Jan. 12 in the 1800 block of West Irving Park Avenue , @ @ @ @ @ of the suspect wasn ’ t available , police said .
Anyone with information is @ @ @ @ @ detectives at 312-744-8263 .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s @ @

A burglar stole from one business and attempted to get into another minutes apart this week in North Center.
In one case, the suspect broke in through the rear door and took the cash register, Chicago police said. In a second case, the suspect tried to force open the front door but failed.
Both incidents happened between 4:20 a.m. and 4:29 a.m. Jan. 12 in the 1800 block of West Irving Park Avenue, police said.
A description of the suspect wasn’t available, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Area North detectives at 312-744-8263.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--2 men wounded in Austin shooting

2 men wounded in Austin shooting

Two men were shot Saturday in Austin on the West Side .
They were standing on the sidewalk about 12:33 @ @ @ @ @ of North LaPorte Avenue when someone in a red sedan opened fire , Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ 24 and 19 , were both taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition , @ @ @ @ @ were shot in the leg .
No one is in custody as Area North detectives @ @ @ @ @ crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Two men were shot Saturday in Austin on the West Side.
They were standing on the sidewalk about 12:33 a.m. in the 200 block of North LaPorte Avenue when someone in a red sedan opened fire, Chicago police said.
The men, 24 and 19, were both taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition, police said. They both were shot in the leg.
No one is in custody as Area North detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--All eyes on Javy Baez as Cubs approach spring with possibility of long-term deal in play

Leave it to Javy Baez to transform himself from the league ’ s most exciting , conspicuous player during the baseball season to under the radar during Cubs Convention a few months later .
They don ’ t call him “ El Mago ” for nothing .
But if Baez seems like more of a footnote these days than a bigfoot during a do-little winter for the Cubs – and an afterthought amid the more pressing Kris Bryant trade rumors – don ’ t make the mistake of taking your eye off the All-Star shortstop .
The Cubs ’ 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest Cubs story of the winter even as they wrap up the annual convention without the usual splashy move or storyline to showcase for 3½ months of offseason work .
It would also make Baez the biggest signpost for the Cubs ’ longer term plans for a next championship window .
The Cubs began talks with Baez on a long-term extension early in the offseason , according to sources , and while no deal has been struck , indications suggest it ’ s possible something might yet get done by the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ ve got my mind on bringing the team to the playoffs , ” Baez said , reluctant to talk about how talks have gone or whether he ’ s optimistic about an agreement .
“ If it happens , I ’ ll be grateful to be a Cub for my entire career , ” he said .
“ Hopefully , it happens .
And if not , I feel happy with everything that happened here.
” The two-time All-Star wouldn ’ t comment in detail beyond that .
Neither would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navigate a winter of great transition , including a manager change , but of little player movement since a disappointing 84-win season in 2019 .
But contract extension talks have been on a parallel track to trade talks for the front office since the offseason began .
And Baez appears the last possible extension candidate for the current cycle .
Catcher Willson Contreras said he hasn ’ t been approached ; and sources say the same goes for Bryant and left fielder Kyle Schwarber .
“ I ’ d say we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it ’ s a long process , ” team president Theo Epstein said Friday when asked about his optimism level regarding possible extensions before the season starts .
“ We ’ ve had some productive talks but obviously nothing to the point where we can get anything done.
” Baez , 27 , earned a sizable role in the Cubs core during the 2016 championship season after several years of popping in and out of trade rumors .
By 2017 he was an everyday player and in 2018 the powerful league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Christian Yelich for the MVP .
And he ’ s not only the shining light in the middle of their infield these days but also in the middle of some of the team ’ s marketing plans going forward .
During a panel discussion Saturday on plans for the Cubs ’ new Marquee Network , a network exec outlined programming that included what amounts to a “ Javy Cam ” positioned on the infield for an up-close look at his pregame work at short .
The network ’ s February launch timing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unveiling of a Statcast defensive metric – infield Outs Above Average – that has Baez ranked tops in the majors , just ahead of Rockies ’ third baseman Nolan Arenado .
If the long-term benefits for the Cubs of a multi-year deal with Baez are self-evident , the short-term ramifications might have been cleared when he and the club avoided arbitration last week with a $ 10 million deal for 2020 – pushing the start of a potential extension into 2021 .
The Cubs are maneuvering around a tight payroll in 2020 caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threshold in 2019 .
Because annual average values of contracts are used to calculate luxury-tax liability , a Baez extension — which likely would be more than double his 2020 contract in AAV – would almost certainly force the Cubs into significant salary-dump mode .
Baez , who said the thumb injury that sidelined him the final month is not a problem as he does his normal winter workouts and hitting , reiterated this weekend what he has season many times before : that he wants to play his entire career with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departure of the manager who let “ Javy be Javy ” and grow into a star , Baez lauded the hiring of former teammate David Ross and talked about returning to the postseason with him .
“ This is a team that when Joe [ Maddon ] came , everything changed , ” Baez said .
“ We got what we wanted .
It was bring the championship to Chicago .
And that ’ s our new goal again , try to make the playoffs and try to bring that championship back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extension that assures Baez being in the middle of whatever comes next ?
Maybe the splashy move of the winter that arrives with the spring ?
“ Hopefully , if it happens [ it happens ] before the season , ” Baez said .
“ If not , there is no pressure .
“ When the right deal comes we ’ ll be ready for it .
”

Leave it to two-time All-Star shortstop Javy Baez to transform himself from the majors’ most exciting player during the baseball season to an off-the-radar dude with a cool new haircut during the Cubs Convention a few months later.
They don’t call him ‘‘El Mago’’ for nothing.
But if Baez seems like more of a footnote these days than a bigfoot during a do-little winter for the Cubs — and an afterthought amid the more pressing trade rumors involving third baseman Kris Bryant — don’t make the mistake of taking your eye off him.
Baez, the runner-up in the 2018 National League MVP voting, might yet wind up as the biggest Cubs story of the winter and the biggest signpost for the team’s longer-term plans for a next championship window.
Sources said the Cubs began talks with Baez on a long-term extension early in the offseason, and, while no deal has been struck, indications suggest it’s possible something might yet get done by the time the regular season opens March 27.
‘‘I’ve got my mind on bringing the team to the playoffs,’’ said Baez, who was reluctant to talk about how negotiations have gone or whether he’s optimistic about an agreement. ‘‘If [the extension] happens, I’ll be grateful to be a Cub for my entire career. Hopefully it happens. And if not, I feel happy with everything that happened here.’’
Baez wouldn’t comment in detail beyond that. Neither would top team officials as they try to navigate a winter of great transition, including a managerial change, but one of little player movement since a disappointing 84-victory season in 2019.
But extension talks have been on a parallel track to trade talks for the front office since the offseason began. And Baez appears to be the last possible extension candidate for the current cycle. Catcher Willson Contreras said he hasn’t been approached, and sources said the same goes for Bryant and left fielder Kyle Schwarber.
‘‘I’d say we’ve moved the ball forward a little bit, but it’s a long process,’’ president Theo Epstein said when he was asked Friday about his optimism level regarding possible extensions before the season starts. ‘‘We’ve had some productive talks, but obviously nothing to the point where we can get anything done.’’
Baez, 27, earned a sizable role in the Cubs’ core during the 2016 World Series championship season after several years of popping in and out of trade rumors. He became an every-day player in 2017 and led the NL in RBI on his way to finishing second to the Brewers’ Christian Yelich in MVP voting in 2018.
And he’s not only the shining light in the middle of the Cubs’ infield these days; he’s also in the middle of some of the team’s marketing plans going forward.
During a panel discussion Saturday about plans for the Cubs’ new Marquee Sports Network, a network exec outlined programming that included what amounts to a ‘‘Javy Cam’’ that will be positioned on the infield for an up-close look at his pregame work at short.
The network’s launch timing next month also happens to align with the recent unveiling of a Statcast defensive metric — infield outs above average — that has Baez ranked No. 1 in the majors, just ahead of Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.
If the long-term benefits for the Cubs of a multiyear deal with Baez are self-evident, the short-term ramifications might have been cleared when he and the team avoided arbitration last week with a $10 million deal for 2020. That would push the start of a potential extension to 2021.
The Cubs are maneuvering around a tight payroll in 2020 caused by luxury-tax considerations after exceeding the threshold in 2019.
Because average annual values of contracts are used to calculate luxury-tax liability, an extension for Baez — which likely would be more than double his 2020 contract in AAV — almost certainly would force the Cubs into significant salary-dump mode.
Baez, who said the thumb injury that sidelined him for the final month of last season isn’t a problem as he does his normal winter workouts and hitting, reiterated this weekend what he has said many times before: He wants to play his entire career with the Cubs.
Even as he watched the departure of manager Joe Maddon, who let ‘‘Javy be Javy’’ and enabled him to grow into a star, Baez lauded the hiring of former teammate David Ross and talked about returning to the postseason with him.
‘‘This is a team that, when Joe came, everything changed,’’ Baez said. ‘‘We got what we wanted. It was bring the championship to Chicago. And that’s our new goal again: try to make the playoffs and try to bring that championship back to Chicago.’’
Maybe that starts with an extension that would assure Baez of being in the middle of whatever comes next? Maybe the splashy move of the winter that arrives with the spring?
‘‘Hopefully if it happens, [it happens] before the season,’’ Baez said. ‘‘If not, there is no pressure.
‘‘When the right deal comes, we’ll be ready for it.’’


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Meet the lineup for Marquee Sports Network, which includes former Cubs manager to Lou Piniella

The Cubs might not have signed any major-league players for their current roster this offseason , but they ’ ve inked plenty of All-Star talent for Marquee Sports Network , including the lovable Lou Piniella .
During a panel at Cubs Convention on Saturday , team president of business operations Crane Kenney announced 13 hires who will make up tentative lineup for Marquee , which is expected to launch next month .
Piniella , one of the network ’ s more surprising hires , will work as a part-time analyst .
After a brief visit , Marquee general manager Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ more than interested ” in joining the network .
“ [ He ] looks great and sounds great , ” McCarthy said .
“ We ’ re going to have a lot of fun with Lou.
” Along with Piniella , the Cubs incorporated several other familiar faces into their list of talent , including dynamic broadcast duo Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies .
The two will be periodically joined by a rotating cast of former Cubs players who will serve as analysts , including fan favorites Mark DeRosa , Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all wanted to be a part of it and to bring that color to our fans and their perspectives , ” Kenney said .
“ Len and JD do a great job , but to put a hitter in the box with JD to talk pitcher versus hitter about a situation , it creates more energy and more fun.
” Other hires for the network include NFL Network ’ s Cole Wright , who will be the pre- and postgame show host , and former Rockies field reporter Taylor McGregor .
Fox ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do some play-by-play and studio work .
Here ’ s a look at the Marquee lineup as of Saturday : Len Kasper , play-by-play — Has been in the Cubs ’ broadcast booth since 2005 Jim Deshaies , analyst — Has been Kasper ’ s partner-in-crime in the booth since 2013 Taylor McGregor , field reporter — Spent the last two seasons working as the Rockies ’ field reporter in Colorado , where her late father was an executive for 10 years Ryan Dempster , studio host , analyst — A two-time All-Star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Off the Mound ” show to Marquee Rick Sutcliffe , analyst — Known as the Red Baron , three-time All-Star and 1984 Cy Young award winner , plans to split time working for ESPN and Marquee Carlos Pena , analyst — Played 14 seasons in the majors and previously worked as an analysts for NESN Mark DeRosa , analyst — Fan favorite from the ‘ 07 and ‘ 08 Cubs who went to back-to-back playoffs , expected to still work for MLB Network Doug Glanville , analyst — Former major-league outfielder who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC Sports Chicago and ESPN Lou Pinella , analyst — “ Sweet Lou ” is coming out of retirement to do some part-time work as an analyst Dan Plesac , analyst — After 18 years in the majors , Plesac has built himself a career as a successful baseball analyst for MLB Network Jason Hammel , analyst — This will be the former Cubs pitcher ’ s first broadcast gig Chris Myers , play-by-play , studio host — Emmy award-winning sportscaster with three decades of broadcast experience who was endorsed by Bill Murray

The Cubs might not have signed any significant players for their roster this offseason, but they’ve inked plenty of All-Star talent for Marquee Sports Network, including former manager Lou Piniella.
During a panel Saturday at the Cubs Convention, president of business operations Crane Kenney announced 13 hires who will make up the tentative lineup for Marquee, which is expected to launch next month.
Piniella, one of the more surprising hires, will work as a part-time analyst. After a brief visit with him, Marquee general manager Mike McCarthy said the 76-year-old former Cubs manager was ‘‘more than interested’’ in joining the network.
‘‘[He] looks great and sounds great,’’ McCarthy said. ‘‘We’re going to have a lot of fun with Lou.’’
Several other familiar faces also will be seen on the network, including the TV broadcast duo of Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies. They periodically will be joined by a rotating cast of former Cubs who will serve as analysts, including fan favorites Mark DeRosa, Ryan Dempster and Rick Sutcliffe.
‘‘They all wanted to be a part of it and to bring that color to our fans and their perspectives,’’ Kenney said. ‘‘Len and JD do a great job. But to put a hitter in the box with JD to talk pitcher versus hitter about a situation, it creates more energy and more fun.’’
Other hires include NFL Network’s Cole Wright, who will host the pregame and postgame shows, and ex-Rockies field reporter Taylor McGregor. Fox’s Chris Myers is expected to do some play-by-play and studio work.
Here’s a look at the Marquee lineup as of Saturday:
Len Kasper, play-by-play: Has been in the Cubs’ broadcast booth since 2005.
Jim Deshaies, analyst: Has been Kasper’s partner-in-crime in the booth since 2013.
Cole Wright, studio host: Chicago-area native previously worked at NFL Network.
Taylor McGregor, field reporter: Spent the last two seasons working as a field reporter for the Rockies, for whom her late father was an executive for 10 years.
Ryan Dempster, studio host, analyst: Two-time All-Star and budding comedian will bring his ‘‘Off the Mound’’ show to Marquee. Still will work for MLB Network, too.
Rick Sutcliffe, analyst: Known as the ‘‘Red Baron,’’ the three-time All-Star and 1984 National League Cy Young Award winner plans to split time working for ESPN and Marquee.
Carlos Pena, analyst: Played 14 seasons in the majors and previously worked as an analyst for NESN. Will work for MLB Network, too.
Mark DeRosa, analyst: Fan favorite from the 2007 and 2008 Cubs, who went to the playoffs in each of those seasons, still is expected to work for MLB Network.
Doug Glanville, analyst: Former major-league outfielder has worked as an analyst for NBC Sports Chicago and ESPN.
Lou Piniella, analyst: ‘‘Sweet Lou’’ is coming out of retirement to do some part-time work as an analyst.
Dan Plesac, analyst: After 18 seasons in the majors, he has built himself a career as an analyst for MLB Network.
Jason Hammel, analyst: This will be the former Cubs right-hander’s first broadcast gig.
Chris Myers, play-by-play, studio host: Emmy Award winner with three decades of broadcast experience was endorsed by Bill Murray.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Trump legal team sends Senate fiery response to impeachment summons

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ’ s legal team is sending the Senate a fiery response to its impeachment summons , outlining the defenses it expects to use in the upcoming trial .
Trump ’ s Saturday answer to the Senate ’ s formal impeachment summons calls the two articles of impeachment passed by the House last month “ a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.
” The document offers a taste of the rhetoric expected to be deployed by the president ’ s defenders in the Senate .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election , now just months away , ” the filing states .
Two people close to the president ’ s legal team outlined the filing in advance on the condition of anonymity .
House Democrats were preparing to outline their case for removing President Donald Trump from office in a legal brief , as opposing sides in the impeachment case look ahead to the opening of the historic trial in the Senate .
Trump on Friday appointed several nationally known lawyers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the proceedings , set to open Tuesday afternoon .
The submission of the legal brief follows the latest revelations in the case against Trump .
Democrats on Friday released more information — documents , text messages , audio and photos — turned over by Lev Parnas , an indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani .
The release included multiple photos of Parnas , a Soviet-born Florida businessman , posing with Giuliani or Trump or Donald Trump Jr. , the president ’ s son .
It included messages between Parnas and a staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Trump ally who opposes the president ’ s impeachment by the House .
Parnas appeared to be connecting the staff member to Ukrainian officials who pushed unfounded corruption allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden .
The documents also raised more questions about the surveillance and security of former Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
In them , an unidentified individual with a Belgian country code appears to describe Yovanovitch ’ s movements .
The document release followed Thursday ’ s announcement by the Government Accountability Office that the White House violated federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Ukraine , which shares a border with a hostile Russia .
In response , the White House disagreed and said it does not have to follow decisions by the accountability office because it is an arm of Congress .
White House officials also have noted that Trump eventually sent the $ 400 million in aid to Ukraine .
But the GAO report and Parnas documents intensified the pressure senators have been under to call more witnesses for the trial , a major source of disagreement between Democrats and Republicans that has yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has instructed officials to disregard subpoenas from Congress seeking for them to appear as witnesses or turn over documents or other information .
Trump on Friday named Ken Starr , the prosecutor whose investigation two decades ago led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton , along with former Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz , to his defense team .
The additions bring experience in the politics of impeachment as well as constitutional law to Trump ’ s made-for-TV legal team .
Both Starr and Dershowitz have been fixtures on Fox News Channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dershowitz said he will deliver constitutional arguments defending Trump from allegations that he abused his power .
Trump is also accused of obstructing Congress as it sought to investigate pressure he applied on Ukraine ’ s president to announce an investigation into Trump ’ s political rivals as the president withheld the security aid and a White House meeting as leverage .
Trump says he did nothing wrong and argues that Democrats have been out to get him since before he took office .
A legal brief from the White House laying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense was due by noon Monday , and White House attorneys and Trump ’ s outside legal team have been debating just how political the document should be .
Some in the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , that the pleadings must be sensitive to the Senate ’ s more staid traditions and leave some of the sharper rhetoric exhibited during the House proceedings to Twitter and cable news .
Dershowitz is a constitutional expert whose expansive views of presidential powers echo those of Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s partisan battles after leading the investigation into Clinton ’ s affair with a White House intern .
The House impeached Clinton , who then was acquitted at his Senate trial .
Trump is expecting the same outcome from the Republican-led chamber .
Still , the lead roles for Trump ’ s defense will be played by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow , who also represented Trump during special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation .
Dershowitz sought to play down his role in the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the team , saying he would be present for just about an hour to make the constitutional arguments .
“ I ’ m not a full-fledged member of the defense team , ” he told “ The Dan Abrams Show ” on SiriusXM .
White House lawyers succeeded in keeping Trump from adding House Republican lawmakers to the defense team , but they also advised him against tapping Dershowitz , according to two people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions .
They ’ re concerned about the professor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the financier who killed himself in a New York City jail cell last summer while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges .
A Fox News host said on the air that Starr would be parting ways with the network as a result of his role on the legal team .
Other members of Trump ’ s legal defense include Pam Bondi , the former Florida attorney general ; Jane Raskin , who was part of the president ’ s legal team during Mueller ’ s investigation ; Robert Ray , who was part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; and Eric D. Herschmann of the Kasowitz Benson Torres legal firm , which has represented Trump in numerous cases over the last 15 years .
Giuliani , a former New York-based federal prosecutor , told The Associated Press the president had assembled a “ top-notch ” defense team and he was not disappointed at being excluded from it .
Giuliani , who many in the White House blame for leading Trump down the path to impeachment by fueling Ukraine conspiracies , had previously expressed interest in being on the legal team .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on being a potential witness .
Trump was impeached by the House in December .
Senators were sworn in as jurors Thursday by Chief Justice John Roberts , who will preside over the trial .
Starr , besides his 1990s role as independent counsel , is a former U.S. solicitor general and federal circuit court judge .
More recently , he was removed as president of Baylor University and then resigned as chancellor of the school in the wake of a review critical of the university ’ s handling of sexual assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his resignation was the result of the university ’ s board of regents seeking to place the school under new leadership following the scandal , not because he was accused of hiding or failing to act on information .
Dershowitz ’ s reputation has been damaged in recent years by his association with Epstein .
One of Epstein ’ s alleged victims , Virginia Roberts Giuffre , has accused Dershowitz of participating in her abuse .
Dershowitz has denied it and has been battling in court for years with Giuffre and her lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Guilt by Accusation , ” rejecting her allegations .
Giuffre and Dershowitz are also suing each other for defamation .

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s legal team issued a fiery response Saturday ahead of opening arguments in his impeachment trial, while House Democrats laid out their case in forceful fashion, saying the president betrayed public trust with behavior that was the “worst nightmare” of the founding fathers.
The dueling filings previewed arguments both sides intend to make once Trump’s impeachment trial begins in earnest Tuesday in the Senate. Their challenge will be to make a case that appeals to the 100 senators who will render the verdict and for an American public bracing for a presidential election in 10 months.
“President Donald J. Trump used his official powers to pressure a foreign government to interfere in a United States election for his personal political gain,” the House prosecutors wrote, “and then attempted to cover up his scheme by obstructing Congress’s investigation into his misconduct.”
Trump’s legal team, responding to the Senate’s official summons for the trial, said the president “categorically and unequivocally” denies the charges of abuse and obstruction against him.
“This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away,” the president’s filing states.
Stripped of legalese and structured in plain English, the documents underscored the extent to which the impeachment proceedings are a political rather than conventional legal process.
They are the first of several filings expected in coming days as senators prepare to take their seats for the rare impeachment court.
Senators swore an oath to do “impartial justice”’ as the chamber convenes to consider the two articles of impeachment approved by the House last month as Trump’s presidency and legacy hangs in balance.
One Republican whose votes are closely watched, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, acknowledged Saturday the political pressure bearing on them.
“I’m going to take my constitutional obligations very, very seriously,” she told reporters from Anchorage on a call.
The House’s 111-page brief outlined the prosecutors’ narrative, starting from Trump’s phone call with Ukraine and relying on the private and public testimony of a dozen witnesses — ambassadors and national security officials at high levels of government — who raised concerns about the president’s actions.
The House managers wrote: “The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths.”
The Trump team called the two articles of impeachment “a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.”
Trump’s team encouraged lawmakers to reject “poisonous partisanship” and “vindicate the will of the American people” by rejecting both articles of impeachment approved by the House.
The Senate is still debating the ground rules of the trial, particularly the question of whether there will be new witnesses as fresh evidence emerges over Trump’s Ukraine actions that led to impeachment.
New information from Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, is being incorporated in the House case. At the same time, Senate Democrats want to call John Bolton, the former national security adviser, among other potential eyewitnesses, after the White House blocked officials from appearing in the House.
Read the House memo on President Trump’s impeachment trial:
With Republicans controlling the Senate 53-47, they can set the trial rules — or any four Republicans could join with Democrats to change course.
Murkowski told reporters she wants to hear both sides of the case before deciding whether to call for new witnesses and testimony.
“I don’t know what more we need until I’ve been given the base case,” Murkowski said.
The House’s impeachment managers are working through the weekend and will be at the Capitol midday Sunday to prep the case.
Trump’s answer to the summons was the first salvo in what will be several rounds of opening arguments. Trump will file a more detailed legal brief on Monday, and the House will be able to respond to the Trump filing on Tuesday.
Trump’s team led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, is challenging the impeachment on both procedural and constitutional grounds, claiming Trump has been mistreated by House Democrats and that he did nothing wrong.
The filings came a day after Trump finalized his legal team, adding Ken Starr, the former independent counsel whose investigation into President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment, and Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor emeritus who intends to make constitutional arguments.
White House attorneys and Trump’s outside legal team have been debating just how political Monday’s legal brief laying out the contours of Trump’s defense should be.
Some in the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that the pleadings must be sensitive to the Senate’s more staid traditions and leave some of the sharper rhetoric exhibited during the House proceedings to Twitter and cable news.
One Democratic aide said Saturday that Trump’s initial filing read more like a Trump campaign fundraising email than a legal document.
People close to the Trump legal team said Cipollone would deliver the president’s opening argument before the Senate and that Sekulow would follow. Starr and Dershowitz would have “discrete functions” on the legal team, according to those close to the legal team, who were not authorized to discuss the strategy by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Attorney Alan Dershowitz leaves federal court in New York in December 2019. AP Photo/Richard Drew
At issue in the impeachment case are allegations that Trump asked Ukraine to announce an investigation of Democratic political rival Joe Biden at the same time the White House withheld hundreds of nearly $400 million in aid from the former Soviet republic as it faces a hostile Russia at its border.
The Government Accountability Office said last week the administration violated federal law by withholding the funds to Ukraine. The money was later released after Congress complained.
The House brief said, “President Trump’s misconduct presents a danger to our democratic processes, our national security, and our commitment to the rule of law. He must be removed from office.
Trump’s attorneys argue that the articles of impeachment are unconstitutional in and of themselves and invalid because they don’t allege a crime.
Under the Constitution impeachment is a political, not a criminal process, and the president can be removed from office if found guilty of whatever lawmakers consider “high crimes and misdemeanors.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Big win in Big East: DePaul stuns No. 5 Butler

Paul Reed scored 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting , Jalen Coleman-Lands added 20 and DePaul upset No .
5 Butler 79-66 on Saturday at Wintrust Arena .
Coleman-Lands was 3 for 5 from 3-point range and freshman Romeo Weems had 11 points as the Blue Demons knocked off a team ranked in the top five for the first time since beating No .
5 Kansas on Dec. 2 , 2006 .
After a disappointing 0-4 start in the Big East , with close losses to Seton Hall and Villanova , DePaul ( 13-5 , 1-4 ) , left little doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that its nonconference season wasn ’ t a fluke .
The 12-1 start included road wins at Iowa and Minnesota and a victory at home against last season ’ s national runner-up , Texas Tech .
Butler , which was coming off a home loss to Seton Hall on Wednesday , never led and trailed by double digits the entire second half .
The Bulldogs gave up a season-high 44 first-half points , the most since giving up 34 in a loss to Baylor .
Reed and DePaul wasted no time getting started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumped out to a 22-6 lead .
Reed , who scored 13 of DePaul ’ s first 17 points on 5-for-5 shooting , showcased all dimensions of his game .
The 6-foot-9 junior made a 3 to give DePaul a 15-6 lead , and then on the next possession , he had a dunk that was set up by Charlie Moore .
Darious Hall had a steal and layup to cap off the DePaul run .
Reed continued his hot shooting by burying another 3 .
Reed picked up his second foul on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first half .
He played sparingly the remainder of the half .
That ’ s when Butler chipped away at DePaul ’ s lead .
Tucker ’ s 3 got Butler to 35-31 , but Coleman-Lands was fouled on a 3-point attempt , connecting on all three free throws , and Weems made a 3 as time expired to give DePaul a 44-34 lead at the half .
Reed finished with 18 in the half on 6-for-6 shooting .
Butler : As DePaul found out , the Big East is unforgiving this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Seton Hall on Wednesday and the blowout loss to DePaul , the Bulldogs have to face Villanova next .
DePaul : The Blue Demons showed perseverance after dropping a tough overtime loss at Villanova on Tuesday .
With the convincing win over Butler , DePaul proved to be in the mix for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2003-2004 season .
Butler : At No .
14 Villanova on Tuesday .

Paul Reed scored 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting, Jalen Coleman-Lands added 20 and DePaul upset No. 5 Butler 79-66 on Saturday at Wintrust Arena.
Coleman-Lands was 3 for 5 from 3-point range and freshman Romeo Weems had 11 points as the Blue Demons knocked off a team ranked in the top five for the first time since beating No. 5 Kansas on Dec. 2, 2006.
After a disappointing 0-4 start in the Big East, with close losses to Seton Hall and Villanova, DePaul (13-5, 1-4), left little doubt against Butler (15-3, 3-2) that its nonconference season wasn’t a fluke. The 12-1 start included road wins at Iowa and Minnesota and a victory at home against last season’s national runner-up, Texas Tech.
Butler, which was coming off a home loss to Seton Hall on Wednesday, never led and trailed by double digits the entire second half. The Bulldogs gave up a season-high 44 first-half points, the most since giving up 34 in a loss to Baylor.
Kamar Baldwin led Butler with 16 points and Jordan Tucker added 13.
Reed and DePaul wasted no time getting started against the Bulldogs. The Blue Demons jumped out to a 22-6 lead. Reed, who scored 13 of DePaul’s first 17 points on 5-for-5 shooting, showcased all dimensions of his game. The 6-foot-9 junior made a 3 to give DePaul a 15-6 lead, and then on the next possession, he had a dunk that was set up by Charlie Moore.
Darious Hall had a steal and layup to cap off the DePaul run. Reed continued his hot shooting by burying another 3. Reed picked up his second foul on an offensive call with 6:05 left in the first half. He played sparingly the remainder of the half.
That’s when Butler chipped away at DePaul’s lead. Tucker’s 3 got Butler to 35-31, but Coleman-Lands was fouled on a 3-point attempt, connecting on all three free throws, and Weems made a 3 as time expired to give DePaul a 44-34 lead at the half. Reed finished with 18 in the half on 6-for-6 shooting.
BIG PICTURE
Butler: As DePaul found out, the Big East is unforgiving this season. After a tough home loss to Seton Hall on Wednesday and the blowout loss to DePaul, the Bulldogs have to face Villanova next.
DePaul: The Blue Demons showed perseverance after dropping a tough overtime loss at Villanova on Tuesday. With the convincing win over Butler, DePaul proved to be in the mix for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2003-2004 season.
UP NEXT
Butler: At No. 14 Villanova on Tuesday.
DePaul: Hosts No. 25 Creighton on Wednesday.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Bail denied for man charged in shooting that wounded 13 at Englewood party

A second man charged in connection with a mass shooting that left 13 people injured last month at a house party in Englewood on the South Side was ordered held without bail .
Keilon Jones , 25 , is charged with one felony count each of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm for the Dec. 22 shooting in the 5700 block of South May Street , according to Chicago police .
Jones , who lives in Englewood , was arrested about 12:10 p.m. Thursday in the 13900 block of South Indiana Avenue in Riverdale after detectives identified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police said .
Police have said the shooting started amid a dispute inside the house at a party honoring the memory of Lonell Irvin , a 22-year-old man shot dead in April during an attempted carjacking in the Loop .
The first shots were fired in the house , and two people appeared to shoot “ randomly ” at fleeing guests , Chicago Police Chief of Patrol Fred Waller told reporters after the shooting .
A total of 13 people , ranging in age from 19 to 48 , were wounded , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately after the shooting .
Those in critical condition included a 16-year-old boy .
Marciano White , 37 , was arrested in the hours after the shooting and charged with a felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon as an armed habitual criminal , authorities said .
He remains in custody on $ 300,000 bail .
According to Cook County court records , White has two prior felony convictions , a 2006 narcotics conviction and another in 2007 for possession of cocaine .
Jones was ordered held without bail during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cook County court records .
His next court date was set for Jan. 23 .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Bail was denied Saturday for a man charged in a shooting that wounded 13 people last month during a party at an Englewood apartment building.
Keilon Jones, 25, faces counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm in the Dec. 22 shooting, which occurred during a party for Lonell Irvin, a 22-year-old man shot to death in April during an attempted carjacking in the Loop, on what would have been Irvin’s 23rd birthday, according to Chicago police.
All the male guests at the party, including Jones, were patted down when they arrived at the home in the 5700 block of South May Street, Cook County prosecutors said at his initial hearing on the charges Saturday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
Jones did not have a weapon on him during the pat-down but later obtained a gun and fired shots at two people standing near the front door of the apartment; both returned fire, but neither had been identified as of Saturday, prosecutors said.
Jones ran out the back door of the home and continued shooting, striking a person in the thigh and buttock outside the building, prosecutors said.
Keilon Jones Chicago police
Shortly after, a police POD surveillance camera recorded Jones circle back to the block in his girlfriend’s Mazda, slowing down so that he could aim his gun at one of the shooting victims, who fired nine shots at Jones, prosecutors said.
Thirteen people between the ages of 16 and 48 were wounded during the shooting, leaving four of them in critical condition, the Sun-Times previously reported.
Detectives recovered 20 shell casings from the scene and found bullet holes in the Mazda when it was recovered two weeks later, prosecutors said.
After the shooting, Jones and his girlfriend drove to St. Bernard Hospital, where he sought treatment for a gunshot wound.
Jones, of Englewood, was arrested Thursday in the Riverdale neighborhood after he was identified as one of the shooters, according to police.
He was denied bail during the hearing Saturday, and his next court date was set for Jan. 23, court records show.
Marciano White Chicago police
Jones is the second man to face charges in connection with the shooting.
Marciano White, 37, was arrested in the hours after the shooting and charged with a felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon as an armed habitual criminal, authorities said. He remained in custody Saturday on $300,000 bail.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Teen girl killed in Englewood shooting

Teen girl killed in Englewood shooting

A 17-year-old girl was fatally shot Friday in Englewood on the South Side , according to police .
Camerie K. @ @ @ @ @ vacant lot about 6:30 p.m. in the 6700 block of South Parnell Avenue when three @ @ @ @ @ pulled up , Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner ’ s office said @ @ @ @ @ and one of them fired shots .
Crawford , who lived in Bronzeville , was @ @ @ @ @ s Hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the head , neck and back @ @ @ @ @ was pronounced dead at 7:55 p.m. An autopsy conducted Saturday confirmed that she died of @ @ @ @ @ said .
Her death has been ruled a homicide .
The males fled in the @ @ @ @ @ No one is in custody as Area South detectives investigate .
Read more on crime @ @ @ @ @ ’ s homicides .

A 17-year-old girl was fatally shot Friday in Englewood on the South Side, according to police.
Camerie K. Crawford was standing in a vacant lot about 6:30 p.m. in the 6700 block of South Parnell Avenue when three males in a silver-colored sedan pulled up, Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. They got out, and one of them fired shots.
Crawford, who lived in Bronzeville, was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the head, neck and back, authorities said. She was pronounced dead at 7:55 p.m.
An autopsy conducted Saturday confirmed that she died of her gunshot wounds, officials said. Her death has been ruled a homicide.
The males fled in the sedan, police said. No one is in custody as Area South detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--Chicago digs out from sloppy snowstorm, but bitter cold front to bring subzero windchills

Chicagoans were met with warmer temperatures , melting snow and sloppy roads on Saturday , but strong wind gusts and bitterly cold air are poised to sink the area into a deep freeze into Sunday , according to the National Weather Service .
Winds of up to 45 mph from the northwest are expected to pelt the area , leading to blowing and drifting snow , according to a winter storm warning .
Bone-rattling gusts could create windchills of 15 to 25 below zero , forecasters said .
Some freezing rain and snow showers hit parts of the Chicago area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicted to plummet by up to 20 degrees by 6 p.m. , forecasters said .
Saturdays high temperatures hit the upper 30s , but could sink to a low of just 5 degrees after the sun sets .
That could rapidly freeze the slush and snow left behind after a storm socked the region Friday night , wreaking havoc on travel times at the city ’ s airports and snarling the evening commute .
By Saturday morning , 3.1 inches of snow were recorded at O ’ Hare Airport , with 2.6 inches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FAA issued a ground stop at O ’ Hare Friday that pushed back hundreds of flights .
Midway was not affected by the stop , but both airports reported hundreds of cancellations as snow and ice blanketed the area .
Operations were crawling back to order Saturday morning , but 247 flights cancellations were reported at O ’ Hare y the afternoon , with delays averaging 19 minutes , according to the city ’ s Department of Aviation .
Midway reported 30 flight cancellations with average delays of less than 15 minutes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the Sunday morning windchill dropping to minus-15 degrees .
Cook County government is reminding residents that warming centers are available during the daytime for those without adequate heating in their homes .

Chicagoans were met with warmer temperatures, melting snow and sloppy roads on Saturday, but strong wind gusts and bitterly cold air are poised to sink the area into a deep freeze into Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
Winds of up to 45 mph from the northwest are expected to pelt the area, leading to blowing and drifting snow, according to a winter storm warning. Bone-rattling gusts could create windchills of 15 to 25 below zero, forecasters said.
Some freezing rain and snow showers hit parts of the Chicago area into the afternoon, as temperatures are predicted to plummet by up to 20 degrees by 6 p.m., forecasters said. Saturdays high temperatures hit the upper 30s, but could sink to a low of just 5 degrees after the sun sets.
Pedestrians carry their suitcases as they step on muddy snow in downtown Chicago on Jan. 18, 2020, the morning after a winter storm brought snow, rain and below-zero windchills. Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
That could rapidly freeze the slush and snow left behind after a storm socked the region Friday night, wreaking havoc on travel times at the city’s airports and snarling the evening commute. By Saturday morning, 3.1 inches of snow were recorded at O’Hare Airport, with 2.6 inches at Midway, officials said.
The FAA issued a ground stop at O’Hare Friday that pushed back hundreds of flights. Midway was not affected by the stop, but both airports reported hundreds of cancellations as snow and ice blanketed the area.
Operations were crawling back to order Saturday morning, but 247 flights cancellations were reported at O’Hare y the afternoon, with delays averaging 19 minutes, according to the city’s Department of Aviation. Midway reported 30 flight cancellations with average delays of less than 15 minutes.
Dangerously cold temperatures are expected early Sunday, with the Sunday morning windchill dropping to minus-15 degrees.
Cook County government is reminding residents that warming centers are available during the daytime for those without adequate heating in their homes.