chicagosuntimes--2020-01-27--When defendants stew in prison for years awaiting appeals, justice is denied

It is mockery of justice when criminal defendants are forced to serve their full prison sentences before their appeals finally are settled , which happens in Cook County all the time .
It is a classic case of justice delayed being justice denied , and Illinois should be embarrassed .
As Frank Main and Andy Grimm reported in Sunday ’ s Chicago Sun-Times , two-thirds of the 1,300 cases the state appeals court for Cook County disposed of in 2018 took at least 782 days to complete .
That ’ s about double the time the American Bar Association says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many of the appeals are filed by individuals who are , in fact , guilty of the crimes they are charged with .
For them , long delays in the appeals process may not matter much .
But a third of those who appeal will prevail by winning an outright acquittal , a new trial or a sentence reduction .
For those people , an appeals process that stretches on for years can be immensely unfair .
They are forced to sit in prison for years , even if eventually they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can come so late that they have served their full sentence .
And if they are pursuing post-conviction relief — a forum in which they seek to call witnesses who weren ’ t called at their original trial — those witnesses may have died or moved away or their memories may have faded .
In Cook County , about two-thirds of appeals take longer than two years to complete .
One in 10 appeals take longer than three years .
Cases have been known to take four or five years until they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , preparing a record for an appeal can take months .
Both the Office of the State Appellate Defender and the State ’ s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor might ask for several delays , delaying an appeal for even more months .
Then each side files briefs , followed by a reply brief , which tacks on more months .
All those delays must seem interminable to a defendant behind bars who knows that he or she is innocent .
It ’ s why the National Center for State Courts has posted this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some ways , appellate delays are especially pernicious.
” Lawyers who work on appeals say the Office of the State Appellate Defender is a well–run office with good lawyers .
The office , they say , simply requires more resources .
We ’ ve been through this before .
In 1994 , the MacArthur Justice Center at Northwestern University Law School sued the state on behalf of hundreds of indigent inmates whose appeals were taking , on average , three years to be decided .
In 1996 , the late U.S. District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trim Office of State Appellate Defender ’ s backlog .
State officials said they would boost the budget .
But the delays have continued .
James Chadd , who took over the state appellate defender ’ s office in 2018 , said the backlog today is 2,742 cases statewide , down from 3,892 cases when he came into the job .
The delays aren ’ t limited to Illinois .
Nationwide , the National Center for State Courts says the time it takes 75 % of appeals to be resolved or reach a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2010 , to 3.2 years in 2016-17 , partly because of a significant increase in the number of extensions granted by judges .
But some states are at least trying to buck the trend .
Colorado , for example , has incentivized court reporters to turn in trial transcripts on time by paying less for late transcripts , which are needed for appeals .
Colorado also has increased funding for appellate prosecutors and defenders and discourages lawyers from filing long briefs .
Judges have prohibited attorneys from obtaining extensions of more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois did impose one small reform last year , weeding out appeals having to do with court costs and fees .
Those disputes now remain at the trial level .
An appeals court is supposed to safeguard justice by correcting for errors made at the trial court level .
But when judges and lawyers drag out an appeal so long that a defendant — guilty or innocent — winds up serving his full sentence all the same , there is only injustice .

It is mockery of justice when criminal defendants are forced to serve their full prison sentences before their appeals finally are settled, which happens in Cook County all the time.
It is a classic case of justice delayed being justice denied, and Illinois should be embarrassed.
Editorials bug Editorials
As Frank Main and Andy Grimm reported in Sunday’s Chicago Sun-Times, two-thirds of the 1,300 cases the state appeals court for Cook County disposed of in 2018 took at least 782 days to complete.
That’s about double the time the American Bar Association says a typical criminal conviction appeal should require.
Many of the appeals are filed by individuals who are, in fact, guilty of the crimes they are charged with. For them, long delays in the appeals process may not matter much.
But a third of those who appeal will prevail by winning an outright acquittal, a new trial or a sentence reduction. For those people, an appeals process that stretches on for years can be immensely unfair. They are forced to sit in prison for years, even if eventually they are found not guilty.
A successful appeal can come so late that they have served their full sentence. And if they are pursuing post-conviction relief — a forum in which they seek to call witnesses who weren’t called at their original trial — those witnesses may have died or moved away or their memories may have faded.
In Cook County, about two-thirds of appeals take longer than two years to complete. One in 10 appeals take longer than three years. Cases have been known to take four or five years until they are resolved.
Under Illinois’ current appeals system, preparing a record for an appeal can take months. Both the Office of the State Appellate Defender and the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor might ask for several delays, delaying an appeal for even more months. Then each side files briefs, followed by a reply brief, which tacks on more months.
All those delays must seem interminable to a defendant behind bars who knows that he or she is innocent. It’s why the National Center for State Courts has posted this quote on its website: “… in some ways, appellate delays are especially pernicious.”
Lawyers who work on appeals say the Office of the State Appellate Defender is a well–run office with good lawyers. The office, they say, simply requires more resources.
We’ve been through this before. In 1994, the MacArthur Justice Center at Northwestern University Law School sued the state on behalf of hundreds of indigent inmates whose appeals were taking, on average, three years to be decided. In 1996, the late U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur ordered the state to trim Office of State Appellate Defender’s backlog.
State officials said they would boost the budget. But the delays have continued. James Chadd, who took over the state appellate defender’s office in 2018, said the backlog today is 2,742 cases statewide, down from 3,892 cases when he came into the job.
The delays aren’t limited to Illinois. Nationwide, the National Center for State Courts says the time it takes 75% of appeals to be resolved or reach a key milestone has increased from 2.5 years in 2010, to 3.2 years in 2016-17, partly because of a significant increase in the number of extensions granted by judges.
But some states are at least trying to buck the trend. Colorado, for example, has incentivized court reporters to turn in trial transcripts on time by paying less for late transcripts, which are needed for appeals. Colorado also has increased funding for appellate prosecutors and defenders and discourages lawyers from filing long briefs. Judges have prohibited attorneys from obtaining extensions of more than a year to file legal briefs.
Illinois did impose one small reform last year, weeding out appeals having to do with court costs and fees. Those disputes now remain at the trial level.
An appeals court is supposed to safeguard justice by correcting for errors made at the trial court level.
But when judges and lawyers drag out an appeal so long that a defendant — guilty or innocent — winds up serving his full sentence all the same, there is only injustice.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-27--NBA postpones Tuesday’s Lakers-Clippers game

LOS ANGELES — NBA has postponed Tuesday game between the Lakers and Clippers at Staples Center .
“ The decision @ @ @ @ @ for the Lakers organization , which is deeply grieving the tragic loss of Lakers legend @ @ @ @ @ Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash on Sunday , ” the league @ @ @ @ @ The game will be rescheduled .

LOS ANGELES — NBA has postponed Tuesday game between the Lakers and Clippers at Staples Center.
“The decision was made out of respect for the Lakers organization, which is deeply grieving the tragic loss of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people in a helicopter crash on Sunday,” the league said in a statement.
The game will be rescheduled.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-27--Evanston teen band revisited in compelling, rockin’ ‘Verböten’

It may be hard to imagine a preteen punk band playing a set at the Cubby Bear , if one is only familiar with the fancied-up , upscaled Wrigleyville of the Ricketts era .
But in 1983 , the neighborhood surrounding Wrigley Field was the epicenter of Chicago ’ s punk-rock scene .
The Cubs were still exclusively playing day baseball ; it would be five more years before the team installed lights at the park .
At night , young punk fans streamed in from the suburbs to hang out around Clark and Belmont , at The Alley and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now replaced by a Target store ) .
The Cubby Bear , just across the street from Wrigley , hosted all-ages shows .
And at one of those shows , opening for Naked Raygun , was a four-piece band of Evanston middle-schoolers who called themselves Verböten .
“ With an umlaut over the ‘ O , ’ ” the 14-year-old lead singer tells her parents , huffily , in the House Theatre of Chicago ’ s sweet and sardonic new musical of the same name .
“ Like Hüsker Dü , but with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s possible that Brett Neveu , the prolific local playwright who penned the book for “ Verböten ” ( enjoying its world premiere at the Chopin Theatre ) inserted the Hüsker Dü reference as a bit of an Easter egg for those in the know .
His co-writer is Jason Narducy , who became Verböten ’ s original guitarist at the age of 10 , and has spent much of his grown-up music career playing and touring with Hüsker Dü ’ s Bob Mould , who produced the 1997 major-label debut of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Verbow .
Narducy , who still makes his home in Evanston , also plays regularly these days with the band Superchunk and with his own project , Split Single .
He wrote all of the songs for “ Verböten ” the show , just as he wrote all the songs for Verböten the band back in the day .
And he ’ s the central character in the play ’ s semi-fictionalized narrative , which has young Jason ( played by Kieran McCabe ) and his bandmates dealing with all sorts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their Cubby Bear gig .
Jason ’ s parents have divorced , and he ’ s chosen to live with his dad ( Ray Rehberg ) so he can stay in the same school , but he ’ s also bottling up more resentment than he can long contain .
( Curiously , we don ’ t meet Jason ’ s mom , but we do get a few glimpses of his new stepfather , played by Jimmy Chung as a well-meaning mensch . )
Tracey ( Krystal Ortiz ) , the lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own well-meaning parents ( Paul Brian Fagen and Jenni M. Hadley ) , and possibly dealing with some stronger angst about being adopted .
Bass player Chris ( Matthew Lunt ) doesn ’ t see much of either of his parents , but has a depressive older sister ( Marika Mashburn ) who ’ s doing her best to turn her teenage brother into an alcoholic .
And drummer Zack ( Jeff Kurysz ) seems to be taking out his feelings about his missing mother on his loving father ( Marc A. Rogers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ written with input from and the blessing of Narducy and his real-life former bandmates Tracey Bradford Chris Kean , and Zack Kantor , smartly supports and subverts its young characters ’ points of view .
You can recognize the gentle absurdity of the kids ’ outsized suburban ennui — the real-life adult versions of these young musicians are probably a little embarrassed by how embarrassed they were of their own parents at this age .
But it ’ s also easy to remember , as adults , that time in your life when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your own parents , but you might have really needed a hug from your friends ’ parents .
Punk rock , like so many subcultures , was about finding a chosen family when you couldn ’ t relate to the family you were given .
Neveu and Narducy ’ s play suggests the rear-view perspective of those who ’ ve grown old enough to recognize that you need both kinds .
Narducy ’ s songs find a nearly perfect balance between the anarchic spirit of early punk and the narrative-moving character work of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rare “ rock musicals ” that genuinely sounds like rock music , instead of a theater composer ’ s shiny approximation of rock ( looking at you , “ Rent ” ) .
Nearly every actor ( including those playing the parents and siblings ) plays multiple instruments , which fits nicely into the House Theatre ’ s artifice-free aesthetic ; if an actor is needed onstage to play an instrument , they simply show up out of character , and it all makes sense in the world director Nathan Allen has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been imagined by scenic and lighting designer Lee Keenan as a multi-level universe of infinite shag-carpet basements .
And if this cast were to go into the studio to record a cast album ?
I would be there to buy the first pressing .

It may be hard to imagine a preteen punk band playing a set at the Cubby Bear, if one is only familiar with the fancied-up, upscaled Wrigleyville of the Ricketts era.
But in 1983, the neighborhood surrounding Wrigley Field was the epicenter of Chicago’s punk-rock scene. The Cubs were still exclusively playing day baseball; it would be five more years before the team installed lights at the park. At night, young punk fans streamed in from the suburbs to hang out around Clark and Belmont, at The Alley and the “Punkin’ Donuts” (now replaced by a Target store). The Cubby Bear, just across the street from Wrigley, hosted all-ages shows.
‘Verböten’
Untitled When: Through Mar. 8 Where: House Theatre of Chicago at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division Tickets: $20 – $50 Info: thehousetheatre.com Run time: 2 hours 15 minutes, with one intermission
And at one of those shows, opening for Naked Raygun, was a four-piece band of Evanston middle-schoolers who called themselves Verböten.
“With an umlaut over the ‘O,’” the 14-year-old lead singer tells her parents, huffily, in the House Theatre of Chicago’s sweet and sardonic new musical of the same name. “Like Hüsker Dü, but with one umlaut instead of two.”
It’s possible that Brett Neveu, the prolific local playwright who penned the book for “Verböten” (enjoying its world premiere at the Chopin Theatre) inserted the Hüsker Dü reference as a bit of an Easter egg for those in the know. His co-writer is Jason Narducy, who became Verböten’s original guitarist at the age of 10, and has spent much of his grown-up music career playing and touring with Hüsker Dü’s Bob Mould, who produced the 1997 major-label debut of one of Narducy’s later bands, Verbow.
Narducy, who still makes his home in Evanston, also plays regularly these days with the band Superchunk and with his own project, Split Single. He wrote all of the songs for “Verböten” the show, just as he wrote all the songs for Verböten the band back in the day. And he’s the central character in the play’s semi-fictionalized narrative, which has young Jason (played by Kieran McCabe) and his bandmates dealing with all sorts of fraught family situations in the run-up to their Cubby Bear gig.
Verböten, the teen band, plays their grown-up gig at the Cubby Bear in a scene from the House Theatre of Chicago musical “Verböten.” Michael Brosilow
Jason’s parents have divorced, and he’s chosen to live with his dad (Ray Rehberg) so he can stay in the same school, but he’s also bottling up more resentment than he can long contain. (Curiously, we don’t meet Jason’s mom, but we do get a few glimpses of his new stepfather, played by Jimmy Chung as a well-meaning mensch.)
Tracey (Krystal Ortiz), the lead singer, is mildly embarrassed by her own well-meaning parents (Paul Brian Fagen and Jenni M. Hadley), and possibly dealing with some stronger angst about being adopted. Bass player Chris (Matthew Lunt) doesn’t see much of either of his parents, but has a depressive older sister (Marika Mashburn) who’s doing her best to turn her teenage brother into an alcoholic. And drummer Zack (Jeff Kurysz) seems to be taking out his feelings about his missing mother on his loving father (Marc A. Rogers).
Neveu’s script, written with input from and the blessing of Narducy and his real-life former bandmates Tracey Bradford, Chris Kean and Zack Kantor, smartly supports and subverts its young characters’ points of view. You can recognize the gentle absurdity of the kids’ outsized suburban ennui — the real-life adult versions of these young musicians are probably a little embarrassed by how embarrassed they were of their own parents at this age.
But it’s also easy to remember, as adults, that time in your life when it wasn’t cool to like your own parents, but you might have really needed a hug from your friends’ parents.
Punk rock, like so many subcultures, was about finding a chosen family when you couldn’t relate to the family you were given. Neveu and Narducy’s play suggests the rear-view perspective of those who’ve grown old enough to recognize that you need both kinds.
Narducy’s songs find a nearly perfect balance between the anarchic spirit of early punk and the narrative-moving character work of musical theater. It’s among the rare “rock musicals” that genuinely sounds like rock music, instead of a theater composer’s shiny approximation of rock (looking at you, “Rent”).
Nearly every actor (including those playing the parents and siblings) plays multiple instruments, which fits nicely into the House Theatre’s artifice-free aesthetic; if an actor is needed onstage to play an instrument, they simply show up out of character, and it all makes sense in the world director Nathan Allen has constructed.
It helps that said universe has been imagined by scenic and lighting designer Lee Keenan as a multi-level universe of infinite shag-carpet basements. And if this cast were to go into the studio to record a cast album? I would be there to buy the first pressing.
Kris Vire is a local freelance writer.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-27--Diamondbacks acquire OF Starling Marte from Pirates

PITTSBURGH — Starling Marte is heading to the Arizona Diamondbacks .
The Pittsburgh Pirates sent the two-time Gold Glove outfielder and 2016 All-Star to the Diamondbacks on Monday for prospects Liover Peguero and pitcher Brennan Malone .
The Diamondbacks will receive $ 1.5 million from the Pirates on Sept. 15 as part of the deal , while Pittsburgh obtained $ 250,000 in international signing bonus allocation .
The 31-year-old Marte is coming off a stellar 2019 in which he hit .295 and set career-highs with 23 home runs and 81 RBIs .
He has an $ 11.5 million salary this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 12.5 million team option for 2021 with a $ 1 million buyout .
Marte served as one of the core members of the group that led the Pirates to three consecutive playoff berths from 2013-15 .
He reached the All-Star Game in 2016 but also served an 80-game suspension in 2017 after testing positive for steroids .
The Pirates are in the midst of a rebuild after revamping their leadership structure following a last-place finish in the NL Central in 2019 .
The ascension of outfielder Bryan Reynolds during a breakout rookie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s expected recovery from shoulder issues that limited him to 42 games last season gave Pittsburgh all the flexibility it needed to move Marte .
The Diamondbacks selected Malone with the 33rd overall pick in the draft last season and signed him for a bonus of $ 2,202,200 .
The hard-throwing right-hander was considered one of the top prospects in the Arizona system .
Malone went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven appearances in Class A. Peguero signed in August 2017 for $ 475,000 and hit .326 ( 74 for 227 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five home runs and 38 RBIs in 60 games in the low minors last season .

PITTSBURGH — Starling Marte is heading to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Pittsburgh Pirates sent the two-time Gold Glove outfielder and 2016 All-Star to the Diamondbacks on Monday for prospects Liover Peguero and pitcher Brennan Malone. The Diamondbacks will receive $1.5 million from the Pirates on Sept. 15 as part of the deal, while Pittsburgh obtained $250,000 in international signing bonus allocation.
The 31-year-old Marte is coming off a stellar 2019 in which he hit .295 and set career-highs with 23 home runs and 81 RBIs. He has an $11.5 million salary this year, and his contract includes a $12.5 million team option for 2021 with a $1 million buyout.
Marte served as one of the core members of the group that led the Pirates to three consecutive playoff berths from 2013-15. He reached the All-Star Game in 2016 but also served an 80-game suspension in 2017 after testing positive for steroids.
The Pirates are in the midst of a rebuild after revamping their leadership structure following a last-place finish in the NL Central in 2019. The ascension of outfielder Bryan Reynolds during a breakout rookie season in 2019 and Gregory Polanco’s expected recovery from shoulder issues that limited him to 42 games last season gave Pittsburgh all the flexibility it needed to move Marte.
The Diamondbacks selected Malone with the 33rd overall pick in the draft last season and signed him for a bonus of $2,202,200. The hard-throwing right-hander was considered one of the top prospects in the Arizona system. Malone went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven appearances in Class A.
Peguero signed in August 2017 for $475,000 and hit .326 (74 for 227) with 11 doubles, five triples, five home runs and 38 RBIs in 60 games in the low minors last season.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-27--CTA Blue Line service resumes after smoke reported downtown

Blue Line service is running with delays after reports of smoke near the Jackson station stopped trains Monday .
Crews @ @ @ @ @ to the Jackson Blue Line station , 328 South Dearborn Street for reports of “ @ @ @ @ @ ” the Chicago Fire Department said .
Investigators on the scene determined those reports were @ @ @ @ @ .
Trains were stopped in both directions about 4:11 p.m. , according to the CTA @ @ @ @ @ Service was running with delays between the Damen and Racine stops by 4:33 p.m .

Blue Line service is running with delays after reports of smoke near the Jackson station stopped trains Monday.
Crews were called about 3:55 p.m. to the Jackson Blue Line station, 328 South Dearborn Street for reports of “a cloud of smoke,” the Chicago Fire Department said.
Investigators on the scene determined those reports were unfounded, fire officials said.
Trains were stopped in both directions about 4:11 p.m., according to the CTA and the fire officials. Service was running with delays between the Damen and Racine stops by 4:33 p.m.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Construction sites burglarized in South Loop, Chinatown: police

Two construction sites were burglarized in January in Chinatown and South Loop .
In each incident , someone entered the @ @ @ @ @ before fleeing , Chicago police said in a community alert .
• Between 4 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ 18 and Jan. 20 , in the 1400 block of South Clinton Street ; and @ @ @ @ @ 19 , in the 2300 block of South Archer Avenue .
Anyone with information is @ @ @ @ @ detectives at 312-747-8380 .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s @ @

Two construction sites were burglarized in January in Chinatown and South Loop.
In each incident, someone entered the sites and took copper wire before fleeing, Chicago police said in a community alert.
The burglaries happened:
Between 4 p.m. and 5 a.m. between Jan. 18 and Jan. 20, in the 1400 block of South Clinton Street; and
About 1:45 p.m. Jan. 19, in the 2300 block of South Archer Avenue.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Elizabeth Warren backs Kim Foxx, calling the prosecutor ‘a champion ... who leads with compassion’

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren is throwing her support behind Cook County State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx , endorsing the incumbent in her heated race for reelection .
“ When Cook County first elected Kim Foxx to the State ’ s Attorney office , it not only gained a seasoned advocate but a champion invested in rethinking the county ’ s approach to criminal justice reform , ” the senator from Massachusetts said in a statement .
“ Kim is an effective public servant who leads with compassion , and I ’ m confident that when reelected , Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the office.
” Warren ’ s endorsement comes less than a week before the Iowa caucuses , the crucial first-in-the-nation winnowing of the presidential field .
Warren was in fourth place in Iowa in a New York Times/Siena College poll released Saturday , the same day the Des Moines Register endorsed her in the race .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders led the Democratic field with 25 % of likely caucus-goers in that poll .
South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg had 18 % , former Vice President Joe Biden had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % .
Warren lost ground from earlier polls , but with the latest survey ’ s error margin of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points , Buttigieg , Biden and Warren were statistically in a dead heat for second place .
Warren ’ s endorsement is the highest profile backing yet for Foxx .
The first-term prosecutor has also drawn support from Gov .
J.B. Pritzker , Mayor Lori Lightfoot , Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle , and Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth .
Three Democratic challengers stand in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those challengers in the March primary are former prosecutor Bill Conway , former 2nd Ward Ald .
Bob Fioretti and ex-prosecutor Donna More .
Last month , the progressive veterans organization VoteVets endorsed Conway , who serves as a U.S .
Naval Reservist intelligence officer .
Former prosecutor Christopher Pfannkuche and retired Cook County Circuit Court Judge Pat O ’ Brien are also in the race , running on the Republican ballot .
Pfannkuche received the endorsement of the city ’ s Fraternal Order of Police .
Warren is the latest nationally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , Grammy-winning singer-songwriter John Legend and Color Of Change PAC , the political action committee of the nation ’ s largest online racial justice group , endorsed Foxx .

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren is throwing her support behind Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, endorsing the incumbent in her heated race for reelection.
“When Cook County first elected Kim Foxx to the State’s Attorney office, it not only gained a seasoned advocate but a champion invested in rethinking the county’s approach to criminal justice reform,” the senator from Massachusetts said in a statement. “Kim is an effective public servant who leads with compassion, and I’m confident that when reelected, Kim Foxx will continue to bring those qualities to the office.”
Warren’s endorsement comes less than a week before the Iowa caucuses, the crucial first-in-the-nation winnowing of the presidential field. Warren was in fourth place in Iowa in a New York Times/Siena College poll released Saturday, the same day the Des Moines Register endorsed her in the race.
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks to guests during a campaign rally at The NewBo City Market on Sunday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. File Photo. Scott Olson/Getty Images
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders led the Democratic field with 25% of likely caucus-goers in that poll. South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg had 18%, former Vice President Joe Biden had 17%, and Warren had 15%.
Warren lost ground from earlier polls, but given the latest survey’s error margin of plus-or-minus 4.8 percentage points, Sanders’ lead could be thin, with Buttigieg, Biden and Warren statistically tied for second.
Warren’s endorsement is the highest profile backing yet for Foxx. The first-term prosecutor has also drawn support from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
In a statement, Foxx said she’s “honored” to get Warren’s endorsement.
“We know our working communities stand to lose the most when exposed to a broken criminal justice system,” Foxx’s statement continued. “Our reform on bond, conviction integrity and cannabis have undoubtedly helped bring more equitable justice to these communities. Having Sen. Warren’s endorsement is a testament to the work we’ve only just started on here in Cook County.”
Three Democratic challengers stand in the way of Foxx and a second term. Those challengers in the March primary are former prosecutor Bill Conway, former 2nd Ward Ald. Bob Fioretti and ex-prosecutor Donna More.
Last month, the progressive veterans organization VoteVets endorsed Conway, who serves as a U.S. Naval Reservist intelligence officer.
Top row, left-right: Democrats Kim Foxx; Bill Conway and Donna More. Bottom row, left-right: Republicans Pat O’Brien and Christopher Pfannkuche and Democrat Bob Fioretti. File Photos. Campaign photos and Ashlee Rezin Garcia and Rich Hein/Chicago Sun-Times
Former prosecutor Christopher Pfannkuche and retired Cook County Circuit Court Judge Pat O’Brien are also in the race, running on the Republican ballot. Pfannkuche received the endorsement of the city’s Fraternal Order of Police.
Warren is the latest nationally known name to back Foxx. Last week, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter John Legend and Color Of Change PAC, the political action committee of the nation’s largest online racial justice group, endorsed Foxx.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Dear Abby: As his wife lives with dementia, man dates her best friend

DEAR ABBY : My mother is in a locked ward of a nursing home because she has Alzheimer ’ s and is a flight risk .
My stepfather has begun dating her best friend .
He doesn ’ t consider it dating because , at 85 , he ’ s no longer capable of having a physical relationship .
However , taking someone to dinner , the theater , church or a movie constitutes a date to me .
People in our small town are talking .
I don ’ t care about that .
It ’ s not their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my stepfather and his lady their relationship , but he no longer visits Mom as often as he used to .
He looks for any excuse not to .
An example : He will say he doesn ’ t want to drive in the rain , then drive in a downpour to go on a date with “ The Other Woman.
” He says Mom forgets he was there five minutes after he leaves , which , unfortunately , is true .
But she lights up when she sees him , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit with him .
She knows he ’ s her husband , and the last time we had a family visit , she snuggled up to him and said , “ I love you.
” Am I wrong to think my stepfather is not fulfilling his vows by neglecting his wife of 25 years ?
I truly do not mind that he ’ s lonely and dating , but I feel he should balance his time between the two women in his life .
— FAIR-MINDED IN TEXAS DEAR FAIR-MINDED : You say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having a social life , and yet you call what he ’ s doing neglect .
Whether your mother is aware of the fact that he ’ s spending time away from her is debatable .
I assume she ’ s receiving excellent care , and that both of you check to ensure it .
Quite frankly , what I think about this is irrelevant .
The person with whom you should discuss this is your stepfather .
Unless you have walked a mile in his shoes , I do not think you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I love my brother , but my sister-in-law , “ Daisy , ” drives me crazy .
Luckily , they live in another state .
I want to see my brother , but getting together always involves his wife .
When they travel to see us , they stay for about a week .
All Daisy wants to do when they are here is shop .
My husband and brother have no interest in going , so it ’ s just the two of us .
My problem is , whatever I buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or , if she sees me wear something she likes , she looks for the same thing to buy .
She thinks it ’ s OK because they live in a different state .
Daisy does this with her other sister-in-law , too , and they live in the same city .
We ’ re both fed up .
What should we do ?
— COPIED IN FLORIDA DEAR COPIED : It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery .
Daisy may be insecure about her own fashion choices , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because this bothers you to the degree that it does , the direct way to deal with it would be to tell Daisy it makes you feel encroached upon .
Either that or , when you take her shopping , tell her you are going along only to keep her company while SHE shops , and keep your wallet in your purse .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angeles , CA 90069 .
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “ The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.
” To order , send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Anger Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: My mother is in a locked ward of a nursing home because she has Alzheimer’s and is a flight risk. My stepfather has begun dating her best friend. He doesn’t consider it dating because, at 85, he’s no longer capable of having a physical relationship. However, taking someone to dinner, the theater, church or a movie constitutes a date to me. People in our small town are talking. I don’t care about that. It’s not their business.
I don’t begrudge my stepfather and his lady their relationship, but he no longer visits Mom as often as he used to. He looks for any excuse not to. An example: He will say he doesn’t want to drive in the rain, then drive in a downpour to go on a date with “The Other Woman.” He says Mom forgets he was there five minutes after he leaves, which, unfortunately, is true. But she lights up when she sees him, and it gives her a moment of joy to visit with him. She knows he’s her husband, and the last time we had a family visit, she snuggled up to him and said, “I love you.”
Am I wrong to think my stepfather is not fulfilling his vows by neglecting his wife of 25 years? I truly do not mind that he’s lonely and dating, but I feel he should balance his time between the two women in his life. — FAIR-MINDED IN TEXAS
DEAR FAIR-MINDED: You say you don’t begrudge your stepfather having a social life, and yet you call what he’s doing neglect. Whether your mother is aware of the fact that he’s spending time away from her is debatable. I assume she’s receiving excellent care, and that both of you check to ensure it.
Quite frankly, what I think about this is irrelevant. The person with whom you should discuss this is your stepfather. Unless you have walked a mile in his shoes, I do not think you should judge him.
DEAR ABBY: I love my brother, but my sister-in-law, “Daisy,” drives me crazy. Luckily, they live in another state.
I want to see my brother, but getting together always involves his wife. When they travel to see us, they stay for about a week. All Daisy wants to do when they are here is shop. My husband and brother have no interest in going, so it’s just the two of us.
My problem is, whatever I buy, she buys the same thing. Or, if she sees me wear something she likes, she looks for the same thing to buy. She thinks it’s OK because they live in a different state. Daisy does this with her other sister-in-law, too, and they live in the same city. We’re both fed up. What should we do? — COPIED IN FLORIDA
DEAR COPIED: It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Daisy may be insecure about her own fashion choices, which is why she copies yours.
Because this bothers you to the degree that it does, the direct way to deal with it would be to tell Daisy it makes you feel encroached upon. Either that or, when you take her shopping, tell her you are going along only to keep her company while SHE shops, and keep your wallet in your purse.
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.
Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in “The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--ATM stolen from business on the Near West Side

An ATM was stolen Tuesday from a business on the Near West Side .
About 3:20 a.m. , someone used @ @ @ @ @ the front glass of a business in the 1400 block of West Taylor Street , @ @ @ @ @ then took the ATM from the front of the store , put it in a @ @ @ @ @ west on Taylor Street then north on Ashland Avenue , police said .
No one @ @ @ @ @ Central detectives investigate .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s @ @

An ATM was stolen Tuesday from a business on the Near West Side.
About 3:20 a.m., someone used a large rock to break the front glass of a business in the 1400 block of West Taylor Street, Chicago police said.
They then took the ATM from the front of the store, put it in a dark-colored sedan and sped off west on Taylor Street then north on Ashland Avenue, police said.
No one is in custody as Area Central detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--9 shot, 2 fatally Monday in Chicago

9 shot, 2 fatally Monday in Chicago

Nine people were shot , two of them fatally , Monday in Chicago including a 47-year-old man who was found fatally shot in Back of the Yards on the South Side .
Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert about 8:20 p.m. in the 4500 block of South Hermitage Avenue , where they found him in the driver ’ s seat of a parked vehicle , Chicago police said .
He had a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead on the scene , police said .
The Cook County medical examiner ’ s office hasn ’ t released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in custody as Area Central detectives investigate .
A 15-year-old boy found dead in West Chesterfield on the South Side appears to have shot himself , police say .
He was found unresponsive about 7:50 a.m. with a gunshot wound to his face in an alley in the 9400 block of South Prairie Avenue , police said .
The teen was pronounced dead at the scene , police said .
A law enforcement source said the gunshot wound appears to be self-inflicted .
Police , who initially said they were conducting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are conducting a death investigation .
In non-fatal shootings , three people were wounded in a shooting in Garfield Park on the West Side .
They were shot about 8:12 p.m. in the 3800 block of West Gladys Avenue , police said .
A 38-year-old man was struck in the leg and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition , police said .
Two other people , a 16-year-old-boy and 22-year-old man , took themselves to Rush Hospital and later transferred to Stroger Hospital .
The teen was hit in the leg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The 22-year-old was shot in the pelvic region and is in serious condition .
No one is in custody as Area North detectives investigate .
A few blocks away , a 39-year-old man was wounded when he was shot in Garfield Park on the West Side .
About 8:12 p.m. he was in the 3000 block of West Gladys Avenue when he heard gunfire and felt pain , police said .
The man was struck in the leg and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition , police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Area North detectives investigate .
An infant was shot in Uptown on the North Side .
The baby was shot in the head about 7:38 p.m. in the 800 block of West Leland Avenue , police said .
A male walked into Weiss Hospital with the child who was later was taken to Lurie Children ’ s Hospital , police said .
The baby is in “ serious but stable ” condition , police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a tweet .
A crime scene wasn ’ t found at Leland and Clarendon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort through the initial reports ” about the incident , Guglielmi said .
Area North detectives are investigating the male ’ s initial report that he was being shot at on the street , police said .
A 20-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side .
He was on the street about 6:56 p.m. in the 4600 block of South Francisco Avenue when someone approached him and shot at him , police said .
The man was grazed in the head and was taken to Mount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
No arrests have been made as Area Central detectives investigate .
A 68-year-old man was wounded when he was shot in his vehicle in Garfield Park on the West Side .
He was in his vehicle about 2:05 a.m. in the 400 block of South Pulaski Road when a light-colored vehicle with two people inside drove up , police said .
The driver of the vehicle fired shots , striking the man in the shoulder and sped off northbound on Pulaski .
The man drove to the 300 block of South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police said .
He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition .
No one is in custody as Area North detectives investigate .
Monday ’ s shootings come after a weekend where two people were killed and 14 others were wounded .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Nine people were shot, two of them fatally, Monday in Chicago including a 47-year-old man who was found fatally shot in Back of the Yards on the South Side.
Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert about 8:20 p.m. in the 4500 block of South Hermitage Avenue, where they found him in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle, Chicago police said.
He had a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead on the scene, police said.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office hasn’t released details about his death.
No one is in custody as Area Central detectives investigate.
A 15-year-old boy found dead in West Chesterfield on the South Side appears to have shot himself, police say.
He was found unresponsive about 7:50 a.m. with a gunshot wound to his face in an alley in the 9400 block of South Prairie Avenue, police said.
The teen was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
A law enforcement source said the gunshot wound appears to be self-inflicted.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed his death.
Police, who initially said they were conducting a homicide investigation, said Monday morning they are conducting a death investigation.
In non-fatal shootings, three people were wounded in a shooting in Garfield Park on the West Side.
They were shot about 8:12 p.m. in the 3800 block of West Gladys Avenue, police said.
A 38-year-old man was struck in the leg and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition, police said. Two other people, a 16-year-old-boy and 22-year-old man, took themselves to Rush Hospital and later transferred to Stroger Hospital.
The teen was hit in the leg and is in good condition, police said. The 22-year-old was shot in the pelvic region and is in serious condition.
No one is in custody as Area North detectives investigate.
A few blocks away, a 39-year-old man was wounded when he was shot in Garfield Park on the West Side.
About 8:12 p.m. he was in the 3000 block of West Gladys Avenue when he heard gunfire and felt pain, police said.
The man was struck in the leg and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition, police said.
No one is in custody as Area North detectives investigate.
An infant was shot in Uptown on the North Side.
The baby was shot in the head about 7:38 p.m. in the 800 block of West Leland Avenue, police said.
A male walked into Weiss Hospital with the child who was later was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital, police said. The baby is in “serious but stable” condition, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a tweet.
A crime scene wasn’t found at Leland and Clarendon, but police are working to “sort through the initial reports” about the incident, Guglielmi said.
Area North detectives are investigating the male’s initial report that he was being shot at on the street, police said.
A 20-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in Brighton Park on the Southwest Side.
He was on the street about 6:56 p.m. in the 4600 block of South Francisco Avenue when someone approached him and shot at him, police said.
The man was grazed in the head and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition, police said.
No arrests have been made as Area Central detectives investigate.
A 68-year-old man was wounded when he was shot in his vehicle in Garfield Park on the West Side.
He was in his vehicle about 2:05 a.m. in the 400 block of South Pulaski Road when a light-colored vehicle with two people inside drove up, police said. The driver of the vehicle fired shots, striking the man in the shoulder and sped off northbound on Pulaski.
The man drove to the 300 block of South Pulaski, where officers were summoned, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in fair condition.
No one is in custody as Area North detectives investigate.
Monday’s shootings come after a weekend where two people were killed and 14 others were wounded.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Missing man last seen at Woodlawn nursing home located

A 75-year-old man who was last seen more than two weeks ago at a nursing home in Woodlawn on the @ @ @ @ @ .
Samuel Jackson was last seen Jan. 8 at the Parkshore Estates , 6125 S. @ @ @ @ @ a missing person alert from Chicago police .
Police cancelled the alert about 10 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ been located .

A 75-year-old man who was last seen more than two weeks ago at a nursing home in Woodlawn on the South Side has been located.
Samuel Jackson was last seen Jan. 8 at the Parkshore Estates, 6125 S. Kenwood Ave., according to a missing person alert from Chicago police.
Police cancelled the alert about 10 p.m. Monday, saying Jackson had been located.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Employee stabbed stopping shoplifters in Avondale

A 27-year-old male employee was stabbed Monday attempting to stop a pair of shoplifters in Avondale on the Northwest Side @ @ @ @ @ two males tried to leave Walgreens , 3424 W. Belmont Ave. , with beer they @ @ @ @ @ were approached by the male employee , Chicago police said .
One of the men @ @ @ @ @ stabbed him in the hand before both of them ran from the store , dropping @ @ @ @ @ , police said .
The employee was taken to Community First Hospital for treatment , @ @ @ @ @ in good condition .
No one is in custody as Area North detectives investigate .
@ @ @ @ @ and track the city ’ s homicides .

A 27-year-old male employee was stabbed Monday attempting to stop a pair of shoplifters in Avondale on the Northwest Side.
About 8:35 p.m., two males tried to leave Walgreens, 3424 W. Belmont Ave., with beer they did not pay for and were approached by the male employee, Chicago police said.
One of the men pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the hand before both of them ran from the store, dropping the beer at the exit, police said.
The employee was taken to Community First Hospital for treatment, police said. He is in good condition.
No one is in custody as Area North detectives investigate.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--McConnell says he doesn’t have enough votes to block new witnesses

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told senators privately Tuesday he does not yet have the @ @ @ @ @ in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
That ’ s according to a @ @ @ @ @ meeting of GOP senators and granted anonymity to discuss it .
McConnell convened the meeting @ @ @ @ @ legal team made its closing arguments in the trial .
At this point , the @ @ @ @ @ of potential defections .
But there are still several days before any potential witness vote @ @ @ @ @ decision to call more witnesses would need 51 votes to pass .
With a 53-seat @ @ @ @ @ afford to lose three Republicans to prevent more debate over witnesses .

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told senators privately Tuesday he does not yet have the votes to block new witnesses in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial.
That’s according to a Republican familiar with a closed-door meeting of GOP senators and granted anonymity to discuss it.
McConnell convened the meeting shortly after Trump’s legal team made its closing arguments in the trial.
At this point, the GOP leader faces a handful of potential defections. But there are still several days before any potential witness vote would be taken.
A decision to call more witnesses would need 51 votes to pass. With a 53-seat majority, Republicans can only afford to lose three Republicans to prevent more debate over witnesses.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--CTA Blue Line service resumes after person on tracks halts trains between Damen and Racine

CTA Blue Line service resumed after an “ unauthorized person on the tracks ” halted trains between Damen and Racine @ @ @ @ @ .
Service was suspended about 5:24 p.m. , CTA said .
Trains began moving with @ @ @ @ @ hour later , CTA said .
A man had fallen onto the tracks from what @ @ @ @ @ medical emergency , ” according to the Chicago Fire Department .
He was taken to @ @ @ @ @ serious but stable condition.
” The man wasn ’ t electrocuted , and he wasn @ @ @ @ @ train , fire said .

CTA Blue Line service resumed after an “unauthorized person on the tracks” halted trains between Damen and Racine during the evening rush Tuesday.
Service was suspended about 5:24 p.m., CTA said.
Trains began moving with delays less than a half hour later, CTA said.
A man had fallen onto the tracks from what appeared to be a “medical emergency,” according to the Chicago Fire Department. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in “serious but stable condition.”
The man wasn’t electrocuted, and he wasn’t hit by a train, fire said.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Chicago high school basketball scores: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020

In study of nation ’ s 75 largest cities , Chicago ranks next to last in fiscal health Based on @ @ @ @ @ Truth in Accounting gives Chicago an `` F '' with a debt burden of $ @ @ @ @ @ s $ 37,100 per taxpayer .
New York ranked last , with $ 186.7 billion @ @ @ @ @ taxpayer .

Chicagoans are brutal critics when our city is on the screen. One wrong intersection or misplaced neighborhood, and we turn up our noses. ‘The Fugitive,’ now celebrating its 30th anniversary, gets it right.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Why the 49ers didn’t think Patrick Mahomes made sense at the No. 2 pick in 2017, either

AVENTURA , Fla. — The Bears didn ’ t think Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was worth the second pick of @ @ @ @ @ did the 49ers — who traded the pick to the Bears , who drafted Mitch @ @ @ @ @ Shanahan explained Tuesday why they didn ’ t consider Mahomes in that spot .
“ @ @ @ @ @ a freak , could make any throw , had the ability to anything , ” @ @ @ @ @ was a little bit different situation for us .
We had the second pick in @ @ @ @ @ feel like from all the intel that you get and stuff that he was gon @ @ @ @ @ A contributing factor , Shanahan said : the pending free agency , a year later @ @ @ @ @ with whom he worked in Redskins .
The 49ers wound up trading for Jimmy Garoppolo @ @ @ @

AVENTURA, Fla. — The Bears didn’t think Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was worth the second pick of the 2017 draft. Neither did the 49ers — who traded the pick to the Bears, who drafted Mitch Trubisky.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan explained Tuesday why they didn’t consider Mahomes in that spot.
“[He] was just a freak, could make any throw, had the ability to anything,” he said. “That was a little bit different situation for us. We had the second pick in the draft, did not feel like from all the intel that you get and stuff that he was gonna go that high.”
A contributing factor, Shanahan said: the pending free agency, a year later, of Kirk Cousins, with whom he worked in Redskins. The 49ers wound up trading for Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017 instead.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Pilots can sometimes feel pressure when flying celebrity clients

LOS ANGELES — The pilot in the foggy-weather helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant was well-acquainted with the skies over Los Angeles and accustomed to flying celebrities .
Ara Zobayan , 50 , had spent thousands of hours ferrying passengers through one of the nation ’ s busiest air spaces and training students how to fly a helicopter .
Friends and colleagues described him as skilled , cool and collected , the very qualities you want in a pilot .
His decision to proceed in deteriorating visibility , though , has experts and fellow pilots wondering if he flew beyond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure to get his superstar client where he wanted to go played a role in the crash .
Jerry Kidrick , a retired Army colonel who flew helicopters in Iraq and now teaches at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott , Arizona , said there can be pressure to fly VIPs despite poor conditions , a situation he experienced when flying military brass in bad weather .
“ The perceived pressure is , ‘ Man , if I don ’ t go , they ’ re going to find somebody who will fly this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and six other passengers were killed along with the pilot Sunday morning when the chartered Sikorsky S-76B plowed into a cloud-shrouded hillside in Calabasas as the retired NBA star was on his way to a youth basketball basketball tournament in which Gianna was playing..
The last of the nine bodies was recovered Tuesday .
National Transportation Safety Board investigators have said Zobayan asked for and received permission from air traffic controllers to proceed in the fog .
In his last radio transmission before the helicopter went down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid a cloud layer .
Investigators have yet to establish the cause of the crash and have not faulted his decision to press on or explained why he chose to do so .
Randy Waldman , a Los Angeles helicopter flight instructor who viewed tracking data of the flight ’ s path and saw a photo of the dense fog in the area at the time , speculated that Zobayan got disoriented in the clouds , a common danger for pilots .
He said Zobayan should have turned around or landed but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his destination , an occupational hazard for pilots often referred to as “ got-to-get-there-itis ” or “ get-home-itis.
” “ Somebody who ’ s a wealthy celebrity who can afford a helicopter to go places , the reason they take the helicopter is so they can get from A to B quickly with no hassle , ” Waldman said .
“ Anybody that flies for a living there ’ s sort of an inherent pressure to get the job done because if too many times they go , ‘ No , I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weather ’ s getting bad or it ’ s too windy , ’ ... they ’ re going to lose their job.
” Helicopter pilot Kurt Deetz said he flew Bryant dozens of times over a two-year period ending in 2017 , often to games at Staples Center , and never remembered the Lakers star or his assistants pressing him to fly in bad weather .
“ There was never any pressure Kobe put on any pilot to get somewhere — never , never , ” Deetz said .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do your job .
I trust you.
’ ” Deetz said that he flew with Zobayan a half-dozen times and that he was familiar with airspace and terrain around Los Angeles and knew “ the back doors ” — alternative routes in case of trouble , such as changes in the weather .
Others who knew Zobayan praised him as unflappable and skilled at the controls .
“ Helicopters are scary machines , but he really knew what he was doing , ” said Gary Johnson , vice president of airplane parts manufacturer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Zobayan about 30 times in roughly eight years .
“ I wouldn ’ t do it unless he was the pilot.
” The NTSB ’ s Jennifer Homendy said investigators in the crash that killed Bryant will be looking at everything , from the pilot ’ s history and actions to the condition of the helicopter .
“ We look at man , machine and the environment , ” she said .
“ And weather is just a small portion of that.
” Zobayan , was chief pilot for the craft ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also was a flight instructor , had more than 8,000 hours of flight time and had flown Bryant and other celebrities several times before , including Kylie Jenner .
Island Express has had three previous helicopter crashes since 1985 , two of them fatal , according to the NTSB ’ ’ s accident database .
All involved flights to or from the company ’ s main destination of Santa Catalina Island , about 20 miles off the Southern California coast .
In 2008 , three people were killed and three injured when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it came in for a landing on the island .
Investigators said the chopper lost power , probably as a result of cracking in turbine blades inside the engine .
In 1985 , an Island Express helicopter returning from the island collided with another chopper near a landing pad in Los Angeles .
One person died and 11 were injured .
The Federal Aviation Administration warns helicopter pilots that it is their job to decide whether to cancel a flight because of bad weather or other risks , and to have a backup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight .
Bret Mosher , a commercial jet pilot in the Los Angeles area , said some plane owners pressure him to fly solo rather than with the added expense of another pilot .
“ Typically these owners , they are successful people in business , they ’ re type-A personalities .
They are make-it-happen , get-it-done personalities , ” Mosher said .
“ A couple of them have said half-joking and half-serious -– well , probably more than half-serious — ‘ Aren ’ t you tough enough ?
’ or ‘ Aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ or ‘ Aren ’ t you good enough ?
’ ”

LOS ANGELES — The pilot in the foggy-weather helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant was well-acquainted with the skies over Los Angeles and accustomed to flying celebrities.
Ara Zobayan, 50, had spent thousands of hours ferrying passengers through one of the nation’s busiest air spaces and training students how to fly a helicopter. Friends and colleagues described him as skilled, cool and collected, the very qualities you want in a pilot.
His decision to proceed in deteriorating visibility, though, has experts and fellow pilots wondering if he flew beyond the boundaries of good judgment and whether pressure to get his superstar client where he wanted to go played a role in the crash.
Jerry Kidrick, a retired Army colonel who flew helicopters in Iraq and now teaches at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, said there can be pressure to fly VIPs despite poor conditions, a situation he experienced when flying military brass in bad weather.
“The perceived pressure is, ‘Man, if I don’t go, they’re going to find somebody who will fly this thing,’” Kidrick said.
Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and six other passengers were killed along with the pilot Sunday morning when the chartered Sikorsky S-76B plowed into a cloud-shrouded hillside in Calabasas as the retired NBA star was on his way to a youth basketball basketball tournament in which Gianna was playing.. The last of the nine bodies was recovered Tuesday.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators have said Zobayan asked for and received permission from air traffic controllers to proceed in the fog. In his last radio transmission before the helicopter went down, he reported that he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer.
Investigators have yet to establish the cause of the crash and have not faulted his decision to press on or explained why he chose to do so.
Randy Waldman, a Los Angeles helicopter flight instructor who viewed tracking data of the flight’s path and saw a photo of the dense fog in the area at the time, speculated that Zobayan got disoriented in the clouds, a common danger for pilots.
He said Zobayan should have turned around or landed but may have felt the pressure to reach his destination, an occupational hazard for pilots often referred to as “got-to-get-there-itis” or “get-home-itis.”
“Somebody who’s a wealthy celebrity who can afford a helicopter to go places, the reason they take the helicopter is so they can get from A to B quickly with no hassle,” Waldman said. “Anybody that flies for a living there’s sort of an inherent pressure to get the job done because if too many times they go, ‘No, I don’t think I can fly, the weather’s getting bad or it’s too windy,’ ... they’re going to lose their job.”
Helicopter pilot Kurt Deetz said he flew Bryant dozens of times over a two-year period ending in 2017, often to games at Staples Center, and never remembered the Lakers star or his assistants pressing him to fly in bad weather.
“There was never any pressure Kobe put on any pilot to get somewhere — never, never,” Deetz said. “I think he really understood professionalism. `You do your job. I trust you.’”
Deetz said that he flew with Zobayan a half-dozen times and that he was familiar with airspace and terrain around Los Angeles and knew “the back doors” — alternative routes in case of trouble, such as changes in the weather.
Others who knew Zobayan praised him as unflappable and skilled at the controls.
“Helicopters are scary machines, but he really knew what he was doing,” said Gary Johnson, vice president of airplane parts manufacturer Ace Clearwater Enterprises, who had flown with Zobayan about 30 times in roughly eight years. “I wouldn’t do it unless he was the pilot.”
The NTSB’s Jennifer Homendy said investigators in the crash that killed Bryant will be looking at everything, from the pilot’s history and actions to the condition of the helicopter. “We look at man, machine and the environment,” she said. “And weather is just a small portion of that.”
Bryan Esparaza and her daughter Amelia, 4, pause in front of a mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna in Los Angeles. David Crane/The Orange County Register via AP
Zobayan, was chief pilot for the craft’s owner, Island Express Helicopters. He also was a flight instructor, had more than 8,000 hours of flight time and had flown Bryant and other celebrities several times before, including Kylie Jenner.
Island Express has had three previous helicopter crashes since 1985, two of them fatal, according to the NTSB’’s accident database. All involved flights to or from the company’s main destination of Santa Catalina Island, about 20 miles off the Southern California coast.
In 2008, three people were killed and three injured when an Island Express helicopter was destroyed as it came in for a landing on the island. Investigators said the chopper lost power, probably as a result of cracking in turbine blades inside the engine.
In 1985, an Island Express helicopter returning from the island collided with another chopper near a landing pad in Los Angeles. One person died and 11 were injured.
The Federal Aviation Administration warns helicopter pilots that it is their job to decide whether to cancel a flight because of bad weather or other risks, and to have a backup plan in case weather worsens during the flight.
Bret Mosher, a commercial jet pilot in the Los Angeles area, said some plane owners pressure him to fly solo rather than with the added expense of another pilot.
“Typically these owners, they are successful people in business, they’re type-A personalities. They are make-it-happen, get-it-done personalities,” Mosher said. “A couple of them have said half-joking and half-serious -– well, probably more than half-serious — ‘Aren’t you tough enough?’ or ‘Aren’t you trained well enough?’ or ‘Aren’t you good enough?’”


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Frank Lloyd Wright famed architecture school to close

SCOTTSDALE , Ariz. — The architecture school that architect Frank Lloyd Wright started nearly 90 years ago is closing , officials announced Tuesday .
The School of Architecture at Taliesin , which encompasses Wright properties in Wisconsin and Arizona , will shutter in June .
The school ’ s governing board said in a statement the “ gut-wrenching decision ” was made after no agreement could be made with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to keep operating the school .
Specific details about the negotiations between the school and foundation were not disclosed .
“ This is a sad and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students and staff and the architecture community , ” said Dan Schweiker , chairperson of the Board of Governors .
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation , which is a separate entity , said in its own statement that the school did not have a sustainable business model .
The boards of both organizations had come up with a proposal to keep the school going through the end of July 2021 .
The foundation would have donated use of Taliesin and Taliesin West to the school .
But the school ’ s board didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The decision left the foundation ’ s board “ disappointed.
” ” We continue to stand ready to assist in making sure that this change occurs in the best interests of the students , ” said Stuart Graff , the foundation ’ s president and CEO of the foundation .
To fill the void , the foundation said it plans to expand its educational programs for K-12 grades and professionals .
Both sites will also continue operating tours .
Wright launched the architecture school in 1932 .
He and his young apprentices would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Green , Wisconsin and Taliesin West in Scottsdale , Arizona .
The school currently has 30 students .
It will remain open for the spring semester .
School officials say they are working on an agreement with Arizona State University ’ s design school to allow those students ’ credits to transfer .
Until Wright ’ s death in 1959 at age 91 , Taliesin West was the famed architect ’ s winter home and laboratory .
The original Taliesin , Wright ’ s primary home in Spring Green , was named after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means “ shining brow.
” Both retreats were among eight Wright-designed buildings recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites in July .

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The architecture school that architect Frank Lloyd Wright started nearly 90 years ago is closing, officials announced Tuesday.
The School of Architecture at Taliesin, which encompasses Wright properties in Wisconsin and Arizona, will shutter in June. The school’s governing board said in a statement the “gut-wrenching decision” was made after no agreement could be made with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to keep operating the school. Specific details about the negotiations between the school and foundation were not disclosed.
“This is a sad and somber day for our school, our students and staff and the architecture community,” said Dan Schweiker, chairperson of the Board of Governors.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which is a separate entity, said in its own statement that the school did not have a sustainable business model. The boards of both organizations had come up with a proposal to keep the school going through the end of July 2021. The foundation would have donated use of Taliesin and Taliesin West to the school. But the school’s board didn’t unanimously approve the plan. The decision left the foundation’s board “disappointed.”
”We continue to stand ready to assist in making sure that this change occurs in the best interests of the students,” said Stuart Graff, the foundation’s president and CEO of the foundation.
This 2017 photo shows the drafting room at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, the winter home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the architecture school he founded. AP
To fill the void, the foundation said it plans to expand its educational programs for K-12 grades and professionals. Both sites will also continue operating tours.
Wright launched the architecture school in 1932. He and his young apprentices would split their time between Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin and Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The school currently has 30 students. It will remain open for the spring semester. School officials say they are working on an agreement with Arizona State University’s design school to allow those students’ credits to transfer.
Until Wright’s death in 1959 at age 91, Taliesin West was the famed architect’s winter home and laboratory. The original Taliesin, Wright’s primary home in Spring Green, was named after a 6th century Welsh bard whose name means “shining brow.”
Both retreats were among eight Wright-designed buildings recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites in July.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Bears punter Pat O’Donnell: 8-8 Bears season not ‘up to our expectations’

MIAMI BEACH , Fla.— Robbie Gould went to practice at the University of Miami on Tuesday and Facetimed someone he knew would appreciate his location : Bears punter Pat O ’ Donnell , who spent his last year of college kicking for the Hurricanes .
“ They did the field right , ” O ’ Donnell said .
“ They put the 49ers logo on the field.
” O ’ Donnell still keeps in touch with the former Bears kicker , and figures he might track down either him or Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce , with whom he played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grew up in South Florida and still lives here .
He can ’ t imagine what playing in the Super Bowl in his hometown would be like — but was quick to point out next year offers a somewhat similar opportunity .
Next year ’ s Super Bowl is in Tampa , which is an easy drive for his friends and family .
The Bears need work to get there , though O ’ Donnell swore there was some momentum gained from ending the season with a win against a Vikings team playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been the heartbeat of the locker room : ‘ Things need to change , ’ ” he said .
“ Things obviously weren ’ t up to our expectations … it ’ s not like we ’ re happy with our 8-8 season .
”

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Robbie Gould went to practice at the University of Miami on Tuesday and FaceTimed someone he knew would appreciate his location: Bears punter Pat O’Donnell, who spent his last year of college kicking for the Hurricanes.
“They did the field right,” O’Donnell said. “They put the 49ers logo on the field.”
O’Donnell still keeps in touch with the former Bears kicker and figures he might track him down or Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, with whom he played collegiately at Cincinnati, for lunch this week.
O’Donnell grew up in South Florida and still lives in the area. He can’t imagine what playing in the Super Bowl in his hometown would be like — but was quick to point out next year offers a somewhat similar opportunity. Super Bowl LV will be in Tampa, which is an easy drive for his friends and family.
The Bears need work to get there, though O’Donnell swore there was some momentum gained from ending the season with a victory against a Vikings team playing backups.
“I think that’s been the heartbeat of the locker room: ‘Things need to change,’ ” he said. “Things obviously weren’t up to our expectations . . . it’s not like we’re happy with our 8-8 season.”
Passing on Patrick
The Bears didn’t think Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was worth the second pick of the 2017 draft.
Neither did the 49ers — who traded the pick to the Bears, who drafted Mitch Trubisky.
Coach Kyle Shanahan explained why they didn’t consider Mahomes in that spot.
“[He] was just a freak, could make any throw, had the ability to do anything,” he said. “That was a little bit different situation for us. We had the second pick in the draft, did not feel like from all the intel that you get and stuff that he was gonna go that high.”
A contributing factor, Shanahan said: the pending free agency, a year later, of Kirk Cousins, with whom he worked on the Redskins. The 49ers wound up trading for Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017 instead.
Not quite the Orange Bowl
Niners safety Jimmie Ward was one of the stars of the undefeated NIU team that lost to Florida State in the 2013 Orange Bowl — at the same site as Sunday’s Super Bowl.
This will feel different.
“It’s what you dream about as a child,” Ward said.
It didn’t always seem possible. He finished the previous three seasons on injured reserve with forearm, arm and shoulder injuries. Save a finger injury that cost him his first three games, though, he has been healthy this season — and has started every remaining game at free safety.
“I just kept my head up and just kept working,” he said.
Bears add Roberson
The Bears signed Calgary Stampeders cornerback Tre Roberson. It is the largest compensation deal to leave the Canadian Football League in 11 years, according to ESPN.
Roberson played quarterback at Indiana and Illinois State. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings in 2016, spending most of the year on their practice squad. The Bears have Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara under contract for next season, though they could part with the latter with minimal financial penalty.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Bears’ Eddy Pineiro expects team to sign kicker for offseason competition

MIAMI BEACH , Fla. — At some point in the next few months , the Bears will probably sign a kicker .
Eddy Pineiro is ready for it .
He certainly made progress in his first season with the Bears and got the endorsement of general manager Ryan Pace at the end of it , but Pineiro figures he ’ ll have to fight for the position again this offseason .
“ Last year I had to compete against eight different guys , so I don ’ t think that ’ s going to change , ” Pineiro told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not eight again , but I definitely expect competition .
If I ’ m the only guy , that would be a blessing , but I expect competition .
They ’ ve always got guys to compete against you.
” And when he sees a kicker signing pop up on his phone ?
“ Then we ’ ll go to war like I did with Elliott ( Fry ) , ” Pineiro said with a laugh .
“ We ’ ll go back to war .
Should be fun.
” Pineiro won a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year and dispatched Fry by mid-August .
The Bears believed they found the man who could cure their kicker doldrums in the aftermath of the Double Doink and they surged with confidence when Pineiro made a 53-yard game winner against the Broncos in Week 2 .
It got rocky in a hurry .
Pineiro pinched a nerve in his kicking knee in the weight room the following week and worried that it might cost him his job .
Not only was his health in question , but the Bears could keep their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Raiders if they cut Pineiro that early in the season .
“ I told the coaches , ‘ Don ’ t bring anybody in .
If I have to kick with one leg , I ’ ll kick with one leg , ’ ” Pineiro said .
“ I worked so hard for the opportunity to have that spot and I didn ’ t want some injury to take that away from me .
“ It happened to me in Oakland ... Of course that was in my mind .
I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that again.
” Pineiro kicked through the pain without missing a game — the Bears had punter Pat O ’ Donnell handle kickoffs temporarily — and felt back to normal by midseason .
Still , his performance was choppy .
He opened the season 9 for 10 on field goals , then sputtered through four-game stretch in which he missed four field goals and an extra point , and coach Matt Nagy was cautious about letting him try long attempts .
That slump included a miss from 41 yards that cost the Bears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rallied to finish the season 9 for 9 , closing it with a game winner against the Vikings .
His 82.1 field goal percentage ranked 18th in the NFL and was up from Cody Parkey ’ s 76.7 percent in 2018 .
“ The goal the whole time was to hit on a young kicker that we can grow , and we feel like we ’ ve done that with Eddy , ” Pace said a few days later .
But one season isn ’ t enough to master cold-weather kicking .
Pineiro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is still adjusting to the temperature and the merciless winds of Soldier Field .
Conquering that is the next step to solidify his standing with the Bears .
“ Soldier Field takes people ’ s jobs , ” he said .
“ My goal is for it not to take my job , so I ’ m going to keep fighting and practicing and keep going as many times as I can to kick at Soldier Field .
”

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — At some point in the next few months, the Bears probably will sign a kicker.
Eddy Pineiro is ready for it.
He certainly made progress in his first season with the Bears and got the endorsement of general manager Ryan Pace at the end of it, but Pineiro figures he’ll have to fight for the position again this offseason.
“Last year I had to compete against eight different guys, so I don’t think that’s going to change,” Pineiro told the Sun-Times. “Hopefully it’s not eight again, but I definitely expect competition. If I’m the only guy, that would be a blessing, but I expect competition. They’ve always got guys to compete against you.”
And when he sees a kicker signing pop up on his phone?
“Then we’ll go to war like I did with Elliott [Fry],” Pineiro said with a laugh. “We’ll go back to war. Should be fun.”
Pineiro won a wild, prolonged competition for the job last year and dispatched Fry by mid-August. The Bears believed they found the man who could cure their kicker doldrums in the aftermath of the double-doink, and they surged with confidence when Pineiro made a 53-yard game-winner against the Broncos in Week 2.
It got rocky in a hurry. Pineiro pinched a nerve in his kicking knee in the weight room the following week and worried that it might cost him his job. Not only was his health in question, but the Bears could keep their seventh-round pick instead of sending it to the Raiders if they cut Pineiro that early in the season.
“I told the coaches, ‘Don’t bring anybody in. If I have to kick with one leg, I’ll kick with one leg,’ ” Pineiro said. “I worked so hard for the opportunity to have that spot and I didn’t want some injury to take that away from me.
“It happened to me in Oakland . . . Of course that was in my mind. I didn’t want it to end like that again.”
Pineiro kicked through the pain without missing a game — the Bears had punter Pat O’Donnell handle kickoffs temporarily — and felt back to normal by midseason.
Still, his performance was choppy. He opened the season 9-for-10 on field goals, then sputtered through a four-game stretch in which he missed four field goals and an extra point, and coach Matt Nagy was cautious about letting him try long attempts. That slump included a miss from 41 yards that cost the Bears the game against the Chargers.
Pineiro rallied to finish the season 9-for-9, closing it with a game-winner against the Vikings. His 82.1 field-goal percentage ranked 18th in the NFL and was an improvement from Cody Parkey’s 76.7 percent in 2018.
“The goal the whole time was to hit on a young kicker that we can grow, and we feel like we’ve done that with Eddy,” Pace said a few days later.
But one season isn’t enough to master cold-weather kicking. Pineiro, who grew up in nearby Kendall, Florida, is still adjusting to the temperature and the merciless winds of Soldier Field. Conquering that is the next step to solidify his standing with the Bears.
“Soldier Field takes people’s jobs,” he said. “My goal is for it not to take my job, so I’m going to keep fighting and practicing and keep going as many times as I can to kick at Soldier Field.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-28--Amateur Athletic Union names Pullman center its Midwest base

The Amateur Athletic Union , which sponsors events in 45 sports across the U.S. and Canada , said Tuesday it has designated the Pullman Community Center as its Midwest headquarters , promising events and programs that will draw visitors and jobs to the South Side community .
The AAU said it will work with the Chicago Sports Alliance , its largest licensed event operator , to schedule tournaments , leagues and year-round programs at the center , 10355 S. Woodlawn Ave .
The property is part of the old Ryerson Steel site that nonprofit developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives has turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Monday , Ald .
Anthony Beale ( 9th ) said Amazon plans to build a shipping location next door to the Pullman Community Center , although a company source said there is no final deal .
Jo Mirza , AAU national treasurer , said the center will be part of an AAU campaign to increase sports participation among youths who face socio-economic or other hardships .
“ This is going to be the sports center of the Midwest , ” he said .
The facility is ideal for the AAU because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from neighboring states , he said .
“ It ’ s an amazing facility and will be the model for future programs like this in amateur sports .
The place is just fertile ground for growth , ” Mirza said .
At 135,000 square feet , the center has three hardwood courts and turf fields for indoor play .
But under the agreement with AAU , it will have 12 basketball courts that convert to 24 volleyball courts for events starting later this year .
The agreement stipulates the AAU will hold its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events in Pullman .
Although it is called a Midwest headquarters , there is no permanent job estimate attached to the agreement .
The AAU largely operates through volunteer organizations that run the individual sports .
But Mirza said the development is a positive sign for the neighborhood ’ s economy , as it will attract visitors .
Beale echoed that theme in a statement .
“ We ’ re terribly excited because the PCC continues to demonstrate that it not only can be a state-of-the-art athletic facility providing a safe and nurturing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an engine for economic development and opportunities that are essential to building a strong , sustainable community , ” he said .
Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives has said it intends to develop a hotel on the Pullman site to serve the athletic center and surrounding businesses , such as Method Home Products , two Gotham Greens produce greenhouses and a Whole Foods Midwest Distribution Center .
The hotel also could serve Pullman ’ s National Historic Monument site and Porter Museum .
It ’ s expected the AAU ’ s sponsors and former stars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer camps and clinics at the center .
One player the AAU said will be involved is Gabby Williams of the WNBA ’ s Chicago Sky .

The Amateur Athletic Union, which sponsors events in 45 sports across the U.S. and Canada, said Tuesday it has designated the Pullman Community Center as its Midwest headquarters, promising events and programs that will draw visitors and jobs to the South Side community.
The AAU said it will work with the Chicago Sports Alliance, its largest licensed event operator, to schedule tournaments, leagues and year-round programs at the center, 10355 S. Woodlawn Ave.
The property is part of the old Ryerson Steel site that nonprofit developer Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives has turned into a business and community hub. On Monday, Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) said Amazon plans to build a shipping location next door to the Pullman Community Center, although a company source said there is no final deal.
Jo Mirza, AAU national treasurer, said the center will be part of an AAU campaign to increase sports participation among youths who face socio-economic or other hardships.
“This is going to be the sports center of the Midwest,” he said. The facility is ideal for the AAU because it is well-equipped and accessible to groups coming from neighboring states, he said.
Jo Mirza, Amateur Athletic Unions national treasurer Amateur Athletic Union
“It’s an amazing facility and will be the model for future programs like this in amateur sports. The place is just fertile ground for growth,” Mirza said.
At 135,000 square feet, the center has three hardwood courts and turf fields for indoor play. But under the agreement with AAU, it will have 12 basketball courts that convert to 24 volleyball courts for events starting later this year.
The agreement stipulates the AAU will hold its Midwest Championship basketball tournament and other recurring events in Pullman.
Although it is called a Midwest headquarters, there is no permanent job estimate attached to the agreement. The AAU largely operates through volunteer organizations that run the individual sports.
But Mirza said the development is a positive sign for the neighborhood’s economy, as it will attract visitors.
Beale echoed that theme in a statement. “We’re terribly excited because the PCC continues to demonstrate that it not only can be a state-of-the-art athletic facility providing a safe and nurturing environment, but it can also be an engine for economic development and opportunities that are essential to building a strong, sustainable community,” he said.
Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives has said it intends to develop a hotel on the Pullman site to serve the athletic center and surrounding businesses, such as Method Home Products, two Gotham Greens produce greenhouses and a Whole Foods Midwest Distribution Center. The hotel also could serve Pullman’s National Historic Monument site and Porter Museum.
It’s expected the AAU’s sponsors and former stars now in the NBA and WNBA will offer camps and clinics at the center. One player the AAU said will be involved is Gabby Williams of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-29--Dear Abby: My fiance chats with women and trades photos, lies about it

DEAR ABBY : After a long relationship , “ Eric ” and I plan on getting married very soon .
My problem is , Eric is secretive .
He keeps his phone right next to him , and before he walks into the house , he sits in his car , clearing his history .
I know he looks at porn , and I ’ m not happy about it , but it ’ s the other things I ’ m angry and confused about .
He secretly has social media .
I know he ’ s been sending pictures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send pictures to him .
Isn ’ t that cheating ?
I think secret phone and video calls to women is cheating .
I saw an image of a woman ’ s private parts on his phone , and he told me lies about it .
When I have confronted him about chatting with the other women , he gets angry and withdraws .
One woman even sent me their chat history , and he lied about that , too .
Abby , I love my man , but I feel he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what else to do as there ’ s a wedding soon .
— DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS DEAR DESPERATE : I have sad news for you .
Eric isn ’ t “ your ” man .
From your description , you are sharing him with heaven only knows how many others .
You already know he has a problem with the truth .
When you tried to do something about it , he became emotionally abusive .
This is what your future will be if you marry him .
I have only three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I sincerely hope you will take them to heart : CANCEL THE WEDDING !
DEAR ABBY : How do you know if a friend is actually a “ frenemy ” ?
I think my friend “ Gwen ” may be one .
I successfully started a second career and was doing well , but Gwen had no interest in hearing about it .
She also announced her engagement on my wedding day , which diverted attention away from me on my special day .
I went through a difficult time because several family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither supportive nor particularly sympathetic .
Her lack of response made things even harder for me .
I no longer feel like I can share my successes about saving money or getting raises , because this “ friend ” would be threatened by it .
I almost felt Gwen was happy when I was struggling , because it made her better than I was .
Is it OK to let people go ?
Is this a real friend ?
— FRIEND OR FOE IN CALIFORNIA DEAR F. OR F. : Gwen appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If those are qualities you value in a friend , my advice is to look elsewhere .
Friends celebrate their friends ’ successes and reach out to offer comfort when they suffer losses .
It is not only OK to let people like Gwen drift away , but it is also healthy .
DEAR ABBY : My neighbor has a 17-year-old daughter .
Fifteen weekdays a month she and a boy from school come home for 30 to 50 minutes during the noon hour .
( Five days a month she comes home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dad are both at work .
Do you think her parents should know about the “ nooners ” at their house ?
— NOSY NEIGHBOR IN NORTH CAROLINA DEAR NEIGHBOR : Yes , I do think you should casually ask if they are aware of it .
However , when you do , make sure not to sound accusatory or judgmental — just “ curious.
” Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

DEAR ABBY: After a long relationship, “Eric” and I plan on getting married very soon. My problem is, Eric is secretive. He keeps his phone right next to him, and before he walks into the house, he sits in his car, clearing his history. I know he looks at porn, and I’m not happy about it, but it’s the other things I’m angry and confused about.
He secretly has social media. I know he’s been sending pictures of himself to women, and they send pictures to him. Isn’t that cheating? I think secret phone and video calls to women is cheating. I saw an image of a woman’s private parts on his phone, and he told me lies about it. When I have confronted him about chatting with the other women, he gets angry and withdraws. One woman even sent me their chat history, and he lied about that, too.
Abby, I love my man, but I feel he’s cheating. I don’t know what else to do as there’s a wedding soon. — DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS
DEAR DESPERATE: I have sad news for you. Eric isn’t “your” man. From your description, you are sharing him with heaven only knows how many others. You already know he has a problem with the truth. When you tried to do something about it, he became emotionally abusive. This is what your future will be if you marry him.
I have only three words of advice for you, and I sincerely hope you will take them to heart: CANCEL THE WEDDING!
DEAR ABBY: How do you know if a friend is actually a “frenemy”? I think my friend “Gwen” may be one.
I successfully started a second career and was doing well, but Gwen had no interest in hearing about it. She also announced her engagement on my wedding day, which diverted attention away from me on my special day.
I went through a difficult time because several family members passed away, and Gwen was neither supportive nor particularly sympathetic. Her lack of response made things even harder for me. I no longer feel like I can share my successes about saving money or getting raises, because this “friend” would be threatened by it. I almost felt Gwen was happy when I was struggling, because it made her better than I was.
Is it OK to let people go? Is this a real friend? — FRIEND OR FOE IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR F. OR F.: Gwen appears to have neither good judgment nor empathy. If those are qualities you value in a friend, my advice is to look elsewhere. Friends celebrate their friends’ successes and reach out to offer comfort when they suffer losses. It is not only OK to let people like Gwen drift away, but it is also healthy.
DEAR ABBY: My neighbor has a 17-year-old daughter. Fifteen weekdays a month she and a boy from school come home for 30 to 50 minutes during the noon hour. (Five days a month she comes home by herself.) Her mom and dad are both at work. Do you think her parents should know about the “nooners” at their house? — NOSY NEIGHBOR IN NORTH CAROLINA
DEAR NEIGHBOR: Yes, I do think you should casually ask if they are aware of it. However, when you do, make sure not to sound accusatory or judgmental — just “curious.”
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.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-29--‘Suspicious’ blaze at Loop salon under investigation: fire officials

The Chicago Fire Department is investigating a fire of “ suspicious origin ” at a salon in the Loop .
@ @ @ @ @ a.m. to the Image Nails , Facial and Wax Shop , 203 W. Lake Street @ @ @ @ @ fire in the front area of the shop , authorities said .
The fire was @ @ @ @ @ after officials arrived on scene .
Someone broke the front windows of the shop and @ @ @ @ @ officials said .

The Chicago Fire Department is investigating a fire of “suspicious origin” at a salon in the Loop.
Fire officials responded about 3 a.m. to the Image Nails, Facial and Wax Shop, 203 W. Lake Street, for calls of a fire in the front area of the shop, authorities said. The fire was put out about 20 minutes after officials arrived on scene.
Officials investigate a fire of “suspicious origin” at Image Nails, Facial and Wax Shop. Chicago Fire Department
Someone broke the front windows of the shop and started the blaze, fire officials said.
An investigation is ongoing.