chicagosuntimes--2020-01-09--Ex-Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg went back to the future — to Nebraska — and feels right at home

But fired is fired .
And the first time it happened to Hoiberg , it hurt like hell .
“ Initially , I wasn ’ t very good at handling it , ” he said this week , recalling those early days after the Bulls kicked him to the curb in December of last season .
“ I had a lot of sleepless nights .
I did a lot of staring at the ceiling in the night.
” It was quite a thing for “ the Mayor ” to sort through the feelings associated with such outright rejection , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next move would be .
The same guy had ruled the sports fields of Ames , Iowa , in his youth , blossomed into a high school “ Mr .
Basketball ” there , become a celebrity at Iowa State — first as a player , later as a coach — right there in his hometown .
When the Bulls hired him early in the 2015 offseason , his reputation was pristine .
He certainly hadn ’ t been fired yet in his life .
Is there anything else quite like it ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hoiberg — who makes his return here Saturday as coach of Nebraska , taking on Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena — move on .
He went back to the future .
Everybody thinks of “ the Mayor ” as an Ames guy .
In fact , his roots in Lincoln , Nebraska , are even deeper .
Hoiberg , 47 , was born in Lincoln .
His mother grew up there .
Both his parents attended Nebraska .
His grandfather was a sociology professor at the school for 30 years .
His other grandfather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ basketball coach for nine seasons in the 1950s and ’ 60s .
“ We ’ ve got a lot of family history in this state , ” Hoiberg said .
Enough for it to feel just like home .
Daughter Paige is starting a job in Chicago at the Big Ten Network .
Son Jack is playing for Tom Izzo at Michigan State .
But twins Sam and Charlie are there in Lincoln , playing varsity ball on one of the best high school teams in the state .
“ High school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to move , ” Hoiberg said .
“ But they ’ re fitting in beautifully .
I ’ m really proud of them.
” About as proud as he was the other day when Jimmy Kubacki came around to share stories of how Grandpa Bush had helped shape his life .
Wait , Jimmy who ?
Kubacki , you see , hit the winning shot in perhaps Nebraska ’ s greatest hoops victory ever — in 1958 against Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas .
Hoiberg says there ’ s no time to keep tabs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highlights or a box score now and then .
He knows all about the 14 three-pointers Zach LaVine hit earlier this season in Charlotte .
He pulls for Lauri Markkanen , “ one of my favorite guys I ’ ve ever coached.
” He doesn ’ t need anyone to tell him that Jim Boylen is struggling .
“ I ’ m always rooting for those guys , ” he said .
And how is his own reputation coming along ?
Look at it this way : It ’ s somewhere between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa State , 2012 ) and “ worst coach in the NBA ” ( ESPN , 2017 ) .
Not that either former distinction matters anymore .
Hoiberg has years of heavy lifting to do with the Huskers ( 7-8 ) , who seem to have been built almost out of nothing .
Hoiberg inherited what can be described as essentially the least accomplished and most incomplete roster in the history of mankind .
There are 14 new faces in all among his players .
After being hired last March , Hoiberg somehow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 days .
But the same team that lost to UC Riverside and Southern Utah to start the season has since knocked off Purdue and Iowa and taken Indiana to overtime on the road .
How about that ?
Things are coming along .
If Hoiberg has his way , the Huskers will make a dramatic , long-lasting move up the Big Ten pecking order .
And he ’ ll be right there , in the place of his birth , overseeing it all .
A man could do far worse .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives inside of your television ?
Every time I turn mine on , there he is calling a game during this White Sox offseason .
Let the record show that Benetti has called more than 30 TV games in all , not counting the Sox , since the start of college football season .
That includes mostly college football and basketball , with a few Bulls assignments mixed in ( there ’ ll be at least four more of those , three in February ) .
When I caught up with the 36-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hoiberg ’ s neck of the woods to call a Michigan State-Minnesota contest .
Benetti had just finished yapping it up with Gophers assistant coach Ed Conroy , a big Sox fan .
Does Benetti ever sleep ?
Relax ?
Kick up his tootsies and have a cream soda ?
“ If you told 16-year-old Jason Benetti , ‘ You could work for ESPN and the White Sox , ’ never would he dream of saying , ‘ Oh , I should cut back , ’ ” he said .
“ This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ career.
” • Illinois ’ 71-70 victory at Wisconsin on Wednesday was its first over the Badgers in 16 tries .
It also marked the first time the Illini , now 3-2 in Big Ten play , have had an above-.500 record in the conference since late in the 2014-15 season .
All this , less than two months after the Illini football team ’ s giant upset of the Badgers in Champaign ?
No wonder fans are stoked .
Then again , some of us are old enough to remember when beating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarkable a feat as picking lint out of one ’ s navel .
“ What I wanted to do was establish a system where we learned how to play basketball , ” the Bulls coach said after Wednesday ’ s unspeakably foul performance in New Orleans .
Translation : I wonder if I ’ d be a good NFL defensive coordinator .
• Let ’ s try this again .
Sure , you can trust the schmo who went 0-4 on his picks for the Wild Card round .
Why not ?

Complain? That wasn’t Fred Hoiberg’s style.
Suffer out loud? Not a chance.
But fired is fired. And the first time it happened to Hoiberg, it hurt like hell.
“Initially, I wasn’t very good at handling it,” he said this week, recalling those early days after the Bulls kicked him to the curb in December of last season. “I had a lot of sleepless nights. I did a lot of staring at the ceiling in the night.”
It was quite a thing for “The Mayor” to sort through the feelings associated with such outright rejection, not to mention the uncertainty about what his next move would be.
The same guy had ruled the sports fields of Ames, Iowa, in his youth, blossomed into a high school “Mr. Basketball” there, became a celebrity at Iowa State — first as a player, later as a coach — right there in his hometown.
When the Bulls hired him early in the 2015 offseason, his reputation was pristine. He certainly hadn’t been fired yet in his life. Is there anything else quite like it?
Ah, well. Not only did Hoiberg — who makes his return Saturday as coach of Nebraska, taking on Northwestern at Welsh-Ryan Arena — move on, he went back to the future.
Everybody thinks of “The Mayor” as an Ames guy. In fact, his roots in Lincoln, Nebraska, are even deeper.
Hoiberg, 47, was born in Lincoln. His mother grew up there. Both of his parents attended Nebraska. His grandfather was a sociology professor at the school for 30 years. His other grandfather, Jerry Bush, was the Huskers’ basketball coach for nine seasons in the 1950s and ’60s.
“We’ve got a lot of family history in this state,” Hoiberg said.
Enough for it to feel just like home.
Daughter Paige is starting a job in Chicago at the Big Ten Network. Son Jack is playing for Tom Izzo at Michigan State. But twins Sam and Charlie are right there in Lincoln, playing varsity ball on one of the best high school teams in the state.
“High school is such a tough [time] to move,” Hoiberg said. “But they’re fitting in beautifully. I’m really proud of them.”
About as proud as he was the other day when Jimmy Kubacki came around to share stories of how Grandpa Bush had helped shape his life. Wait, Jimmy who? Kubacki, you see, hit the winning shot in perhaps Nebraska’s greatest hoops victory ever — in 1958 against Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas.
Hoiberg says there’s no time to really keep tabs on the Bulls, but he eyes the highlights or a box score now and then. He knows all about the 14 three-pointers Zach LaVine made earlier this season in Charlotte. He pulls for Lauri Markkanen, “one of my favorite guys I’ve ever coached.” He doesn’t need anyone to tell him that Jim Boylen is struggling.
“I’m always rooting for those guys,” he said.
And how is his own reputation coming along? Look at it this way: It’s somewhere between Big 12 coach of the year (Iowa State, 2012) and “worst coach in the NBA” (ESPN, 2017).
Not that either former distinction matters anymore. Hoiberg has years of heavy lifting to do with the Huskers (7-8), who seem to have been built almost out of nothing. Hoiberg inherited what can be described as essentially the least accomplished and most incomplete roster in the history of mankind. There are 14 new faces in all among his players. After being hired last March, Hoiberg somehow put all the pieces together in about 30 days.
But the same team that lost to UC Riverside and Southern Utah to start the season has since knocked off Purdue and Iowa and taken Indiana to overtime on the road. How about that? Things are coming along.
If Hoiberg has his way, the Huskers will make a dramatic, long-lasting move up the Big Ten pecking order. And he’ll be right there, in the place of his birth, overseeing it all.
A man could do far worse.
JUST SAYIN’
You ever get the feeling that Jason Benetti lives inside of your TV?
Every time I turn mine on, there he is calling a game during this White Sox offseason.
Let the record show that Benetti has called more than 30 TV games in all, not counting the Sox, since the start of college football season. That includes mostly college football and basketball, with a few Bulls assignments mixed in (there’ll be at least four more of those, three in February).
When I caught up with the 36-year-old announcer Thursday, he was in Jack Hoiberg’s neck of the woods to call a Michigan State-Minnesota contest. Benetti had just finished yapping it up with Gophers assistant coach Ed Conroy, a big Sox fan.
Does Benetti ever sleep? Relax? Kick up his tootsies and have a cream soda?
Short answer: Nope.
“If you told 16-year-old Jason Benetti, ‘You could work for ESPN and the White Sox,’ never would he dream of saying, ‘Oh, I should cut back,’ ” he said. “This is everything I ever wanted out of a career.”
• Illinois’ 71-70 victory at Wisconsin on Wednesday was its first against the Badgers in 16 tries. It was also the first time the Illini, 3-2 in Big Ten play, have had an above-.500 record in the conference since late in the 2014-15 season.
All this, less than two months after the Illini football team’s giant upset of the Badgers in Champaign? No wonder fans are stoked.
Then again, some of us are old enough to remember when beating Wisconsin in either sport was about as remarkable a feat as picking lint out of one’s navel.
Perspective, people.
• Oh, Jim Boylen.
“What I wanted to do was establish a system where we learned how to play basketball,” the Bulls coach said after Wednesday’s unspeakably foul performance in New Orleans.
Translation: I wonder if I’d be a good NFL defensive coordinator.
I am sorry.
In related news, you probably should bet every cent you have on the Seahawks. pic.twitter.com/2J5StuQJz5 — Steve Greenberg (@SLGreenberg) January 5, 2020
• Let’s try this again.
This weekend’s NFL winners: 49ers, Ravens, Chiefs and Seahawks.
Sure, you can trust the schmo who went 0-4 on his picks for the wild-card round. Why not?


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--Dan Ryan local lanes closed after truck overturns, spills trash near Skyway

A crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway on the South Side blocked traffic early Friday morning .
A garbage truck @ @ @ @ @ 4 a.m. in the outbound lanes of I-94 near the Chicago Skyway , according to @ @ @ @ @ garbage truck overturned and spilled trash across the expressway in addition to leaking fuel .
@ @ @ @ @ contained , but cleanup is ongoing and all local lanes of outbound I-94 remain closed @ @ @ @ @ state police said .
Express lanes and ramps to the Skyway are still open .
@ @ @ @ @ according to state police .

Southbound lanes on the on the Dan Ryan Expressway reopened Friday morning after an overturned garbage truck blocked traffic for more than four hours.
The truck and a pickup collided about 4 a.m. in the outbound lanes of I-94 near the Chicago Skyway, according to Illinois State Police.
The garbage truck overturned and spilled trash across the expressway in addition to leaking fuel, state police said. No injuries were reported.
The fuel leak was contained, and southbound lanes were reopened at 47th Street by 8:45 a.m., according to the Chicago Office of Emergency Management.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--Dear Abby: For 30 years, man’s ashes have been destined for Hawaii

DEAR ABBY : Thirty years ago , a friend of my husband ’ s roommate passed away of AIDS and was cremated .
His family had ostracized him .
I have no idea who they are or where they are .
The roommate left and later died , also from AIDS .
He left his friend ’ s ashes in his old room in my husband ’ s house in the San Francisco Bay area with instructions to scatter them in Hawaii .
The ashes have been sitting reverently in a cardboard box on a shelf in our several homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still together , but getting old .
There is no paperwork of any kind .
All we know about the deceased is his name and the fact that he was a friend .
Before I die , I would like to resolve this problem and arrange for the ashes to have a permanent resting place , preferably in Hawaii .
I have a nephew who lives on the Big Island , where the scattering should take place .
How should I proceed , in light of the no paperwork problem ?
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applaud your caring heart and your determination to carry out this man ’ s last wishes .
I took your question to Joshua Slocum , executive director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance , and this is what he told me : “ There is no impediment to your taking the ashes and placing them where you wish since there are no relatives who have an interest in them .
If you plan to carry them on an airplane , be sure to have them in a scannable container — nothing metal or such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be prevented from seeing inside .
There is no requirement that you carry a death certificate , or any other certificate , with you .
You do not need ‘ papers ’ to walk around with an urn or to travel with one .
“ As far as scattering goes , people scatter ashes all the time .
Cremated remains are sterile calcium and no threat at all to the environment .
While public lands usually discourage , or prohibit by rule , scattering of ashes , it is common practice that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care — there is no such thing as ‘ ashes police.
’ ” DEAR ABBY : I am older and on a fixed income .
At times I still date , and I ’ m not sure how to handle this .
After one or two dinners out or glasses of wine , etc.
, I feel my dates are waiting for me to treat them , and I can ’ t afford it .
I don ’ t know how to explain that I don ’ t have enough money to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving person , and I would love to make them dinner if I knew them better .
One time I brought someone a huge amount of beautiful organic vegetables , but that wasn ’ t enough .
He was really upset I didn ’ t buy him wine on one of the dates .
What to do ?
— REALLY WISH I COULD DEAR REALLY WISH : The person who was really upset that you didn ’ t buy him wine on one of those dates should have been told that you are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t within your budget .
You should also have told him you were reciprocating within your ability .
If he needed a drink that badly , he could have paid for his own .
You ’ re lucky to be rid of him .
In the future , TELL the man you are seeing that after you know him better , you would love to treat him to some home-cooked meals , which might actually be nicer than what you can afford to buy him in a restaurant .
He might appreciate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he doesn ’ t , I think you will be lucky to be rid of him , too .
P.S .
Have you considered paying the tab for a casual breakfast , lunch or a coffee/pastry date instead of dinner ?
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 .
For everything you need to know about wedding planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lovely Wedding.
” Send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby , Wedding Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
( Shipping and handling are included in the price . )

DEAR ABBY: Thirty years ago, a friend of my husband’s roommate passed away of AIDS and was cremated. His family had ostracized him. I have no idea who they are or where they are. The roommate left and later died, also from AIDS. He left his friend’s ashes in his old room in my husband’s house in the San Francisco Bay area with instructions to scatter them in Hawaii.
The ashes have been sitting reverently in a cardboard box on a shelf in our several homes for all these 30 years. We are still together, but getting old. There is no paperwork of any kind. All we know about the deceased is his name and the fact that he was a friend.
Before I die, I would like to resolve this problem and arrange for the ashes to have a permanent resting place, preferably in Hawaii. I have a nephew who lives on the Big Island, where the scattering should take place. How should I proceed, in light of the no paperwork problem? — MIKE IN CALIFORNIA
DEAR MIKE: I applaud your caring heart and your determination to carry out this man’s last wishes. I took your question to Joshua Slocum, executive director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, and this is what he told me:
“There is no impediment to your taking the ashes and placing them where you wish since there are no relatives who have an interest in them. If you plan to carry them on an airplane, be sure to have them in a scannable container — nothing metal or such heavy earthenware that an X-ray scanner would be prevented from seeing inside. There is no requirement that you carry a death certificate, or any other certificate, with you. You do not need ‘papers’ to walk around with an urn or to travel with one.
“As far as scattering goes, people scatter ashes all the time. Cremated remains are sterile calcium and no threat at all to the environment. While public lands usually discourage, or prohibit by rule, scattering of ashes, it is common practice that cannot be stopped. Use discretion and care — there is no such thing as ‘ashes police.’ ”
DEAR ABBY: I am older and on a fixed income. At times I still date, and I’m not sure how to handle this. After one or two dinners out or glasses of wine, etc., I feel my dates are waiting for me to treat them, and I can’t afford it. I don’t know how to explain that I don’t have enough money to do that.
I’m a very giving person, and I would love to make them dinner if I knew them better. One time I brought someone a huge amount of beautiful organic vegetables, but that wasn’t enough. He was really upset I didn’t buy him wine on one of the dates. What to do? — REALLY WISH I COULD
DEAR REALLY WISH: The person who was really upset that you didn’t buy him wine on one of those dates should have been told that you are on a fixed income and it wasn’t within your budget. You should also have told him you were reciprocating within your ability. If he needed a drink that badly, he could have paid for his own. You’re lucky to be rid of him.
In the future, TELL the man you are seeing that after you know him better, you would love to treat him to some home-cooked meals, which might actually be nicer than what you can afford to buy him in a restaurant. He might appreciate both your candor and the food. If he doesn’t, I think you will be lucky to be rid of him, too.
P.S. Have you considered paying the tab for a casual breakfast, lunch or a coffee/pastry date instead of dinner?
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.
For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order “How to Have a Lovely Wedding.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--Pheasant Manicotti: Jack Hennessy brings wild flavor in “Braising the Wild”

Jack Hennessy brings us Pheasant Manicotti this week in “ Braising the Wild , ” mixed with memories from the south suburbs .
Here is the recipe : Ever since my high school days working in Italian restaurants in the south suburbs of Chicago I have been a sucker for expensive Italian cheeses stuffed into pasta .
There ’ s only one thing that could improve such cuisine : grilled pheasant .
How you grill your pheasant is up to you but I enjoy searing my skinless breasts over a charcoal fired topped with some mesquite wood chunks .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pheasant .
( I ’ m not smoking the pheasant—just grilling them with some added smoking wood . )
You want your manicotti noodles on the al-dente side versus the softer side ( but obviously not too hard ) .
On the softer side , you risk them falling apart while stuffing .
Also keep in mind : You ’ re going to be baking these noodles again in the oven , so they ’ ll get cooked a little more after boiling .
As always , inspect your wild game for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite thoroughly inspecting , remind your guests to “ chew slowly.
” 1 teaspoon each of kosher salt , black pepper and granulated garlic Grill pheasant until internal temperature reaches 160 , let cool then hand-shred , removing any shot .
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees .
Boil water and add manicotti noodles .
Remove when they are al-dente ( soft but not falling apart , still slightly firm ) , which might take 8-9 minutes .
Mix 30 ounces of ricotta cheese thoroughly with 2 tablespoons of freshly minced basil , 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pepper , granulated garlic , and grilled shredded pheasant .
Stuffed cooked manicotti shells with ricotta mix and place in oven-safe baking tray .
Cover stuffed manicotti shells with marinara sauce and place in oven for 5 minutes .
Set oven to broil and add 16 ounces shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese and remove tray of manicotti once cheese brown and crisp .
Allow tray to cool a few minutes then serve , garnishing with more freshly minced basil .

PHEASANT MANICOTTI Ever since my high school days working in Italian restaurants in the south suburbs of Chicago I have been a sucker for expensive Italian cheeses stuffed into pasta. There’s only one thing that could improve such cuisine: grilled pheasant. How you grill your pheasant is up to you but I enjoy searing my skinless breasts over a charcoal fired topped with some mesquite wood chunks. This technique adds a subtle smoky flavor to the pheasant. (I’m not smoking the pheasant—just grilling them with some added smoking wood.) You want your manicotti noodles on the al-dente side versus the softer side (but obviously not too hard). On the softer side, you risk them falling apart while stuffing. Also keep in mind: You’re going to be baking these noodles again in the oven, so they’ll get cooked a little more after boiling. As always, inspect your wild game for shot as you hand-shred, and even despite thoroughly inspecting, remind your guests to chew slowly. Ingredients (four servings): One 8-ounce box manicotti noodles (14 shells) 16 ounces grilled pheasant, shredded 30 ounces ricotta cheese 24 ounces favorite marinara sauce 16 ounces mix of shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese 4 tablespoons freshly minced basil 1 teaspoon each of kosher salt, black pepper and granulated garlic Grill pheasant until internal temperature reaches 160, let cool then hand-shred, removing any shot. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Boil water and add manicotti noodles. Remove when they are al-dente (soft but not falling apart, still slightly firm), which might take 8-9 minutes. Mix 30 ounces of ricotta cheese thoroughly with 2 tablespoons of freshly minced basil, 1 teaspoon each of kosher salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, and grilled shredded pheasant. Stuffed cooked manicotti shells with ricotta mix and place in oven-safe baking tray. Cover stuffed manicotti shells with marinara sauce and place in oven for 5 minutes. Set oven to broil and add 16 ounces shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese and remove tray of manicotti once cheese brown and crisp. Allow tray to cool a few minutes then serve, garnishing with more freshly minced basil.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--CHA gave $76M deal to movie studio head’s group while he was an FBI mole

CHA gave $ 76M deal to movie studio head ’ s group while he was an FBI mole Share All sharing options for : CHA gave $ 76M deal to movie studio head ’ s group while he was an FBI mole While secretly recording conversations to help the FBI expose an extortion scheme run by longtime Chicago Teamsters union boss John T. Coli Sr. , the president of Chicago ’ s largest movie studio , Alexander S. Pissios , also had a starring role in another production that could bring him and his partners millions of dollars .
Pissios @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public housing manager The Habitat Co. and Mount Sinai Hospital on a development in North Lawndale , getting the Chicago Housing Authority to approve their proposal for a $ 76 million development on Ogden Avenue including stores , offices and homes .
Records show Pissios and his partners stand to share in more than $ 4 million in fees for developing nearly 11 acres that includes CHA land and also property that Cinespace and the not-for-profit hospital bought from Mayor Rahm Emanuel ’ s City Hall .
Pissios and his partners put that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was secretly working with the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Chicago to investigate Coli in a deal , hoping that would keep him and his wife from being charged with bankruptcy fraud .
The Pissios group submitted its plan to the CHA on March 22 , 2017 .
Nine days later , the U.S. attorney ’ s office gave him a non-prosecution deal , guaranteeing he would face no criminal charges , in exchange for helping them in the Coli investigation .
It ’ s unclear whether the authorities eavesdropped on any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project or were listening only to his conversations with Coli .
CHA and Mount Sinai officials say they haven ’ t been contacted by federal authorities regarding Pissios .
Habitat executives won ’ t talk about Pissios or their project .
Pissios didn ’ t return messages .
Last month , a few days before Christmas , the Pissios group wrapped up a $ 21.78 million financing package for the initial phase of the CHA project , records show .
This part of the housing authority development , which won ’ t include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Cinespace and Mount Sinai .
Pissios has been a member of the hospital ’ s board since 2013 .
The housing authority is helping finance the project , which is getting federal tax incentives and $ 2.5 million from City Hall ’ s “ Neighborhood Opportunity Fund , ” money that Emanuel pledged before leaving office last year .
That taxpayer funding is the latest in a string of government subsidies Pissios has gotten over the past decade despite his financial and legal problems .
He got $ 27.3 million in state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help his uncle launch the West Side movie studio .
Later , Emanuel helped the studio get a property tax cut worth as much as $ 3.4 million .
He also gave the studio permission to close off and take over city streets to create a bigger Cinespace campus , forcing traffic , including CTA buses , to be rerouted .
The studio secured most of that government funding with help from Coli — a powerful union supporter of Quinn and Emanuel — who had been extorting money from Pissios during the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Coli pleaded guilty last summer to extorting $ 325,000 from Cinespace and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities .
That means Pissios won ’ t have to testify as the star prosecution witness at his trial .
Pissios ’ name also has surfaced in the ongoing federal investigation of the collapse of Washington Federal Bank for Savings , which was shut down in December 2017 , days after bank president John Gembara was found hanged in the bedroom of a customer ’ s home in Park Ridge .
When Pissios filed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clout-heavy Bridgeport bank millions of dollars from real estate loans .
It ’ s unclear whether Pissios ever repaid those loans .
Also unclear : how Pissios became a partner with Mount Sinai and with Habitat , which is headed by developer Daniel Levin , who , under a federal court order , had overseen the CHA ’ s scattered-site housing program for 23 years .
Mount Sinai vice president James Bicak says the CHA encouraged the hospital to team with Habitat on the commercial and residential development , which is near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they didn ’ t know who exactly recommended the partnership .
Emanuel has strong ties to Mount Sinai , where his late father , Dr. Benjamin Emanuel , did his medical residency .
The hospital was founded in 1919 by a grandfather of Steven Koch , who was on the hospital ’ s board for 24 years , the last seven of them as chairman .
He resigned that post when he became Emanuel ’ s deputy mayor in 2012 .
The former mayor says he has not been contacted by federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CHA ’ s board , appointed by Emanuel , selected the Habitat , Cinespace and Mount Sinai team in June 2017 even though it gave the group a slightly lower score than it gave Brinshore Development , which also had bid for the work .
CHA officials said they liked that Habitat was working with two major employers in the neighborhood — Cinespace and Mount Sinai — and that their proposal would encompass an extra 5.5 acres , including land they bought from the city .
Among the CHA board members who approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned as chairman last summer , as his lobbying work for ComEd had become part of a federal corruption investigation centering on Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan , D-Chicago .
The CHA board also included vice chairman Craig Chico , brother of former mayoral candidate Gery Chico .
Gery Chico ’ s law firm Chico & Nunes is working for the Habitat , Cinespace and Mount Sinai partnership .
“ CHA ’ s legal department and ethics officer have determined that there was no conflict because vice chair Chico did not stand to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indirectly , from the law firm ’ s role as a retained party , ” according to CHA spokeswoman Molly Sullivan .

While secretly recording conversations to help the FBI expose an extortion scheme run by longtime Chicago Teamsters union boss John T. Coli Sr., the president of Chicago’s largest movie studio, Alexander S. Pissios, also had a starring role in another production that could bring him and his partners millions of dollars.
Pissios’ Cinespace Chicago Film Studios teamed with public housing manager The Habitat Co. and Mount Sinai Hospital on a development in North Lawndale, getting the Chicago Housing Authority to approve their proposal for a $76 million development on Ogden Avenue including stores, offices and homes.
Records show Pissios and his partners stand to share in more than $4 million in fees for developing nearly 11 acres that includes CHA land and also property that Cinespace and the not-for-profit hospital bought from City Hall during Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration.
Pissios and his partners put that plan together during the months-long period he was secretly working with the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago to investigate Coli, hoping that would keep him and his wife from being charged with bankruptcy fraud.
The Pissios group submitted its plan to the CHA on March 22, 2017.
Nine days later, the U.S. attorney’s office gave him a non-prosecution deal, guaranteeing he would face no criminal charges, in exchange for helping them in the Coli investigation.
It’s unclear whether the authorities eavesdropped on any of Pissios’ conversations regarding the development project or were listening only to his conversations with Coli.
CHA and Mount Sinai officials say they haven’t been contacted by federal authorities regarding Pissios. Habitat executives won’t talk about Pissios or their project. Pissios didn’t return messages.
Last month, a few days before Christmas, the Pissios group wrapped up a $21.78 million financing package for the initial phase of the CHA project, records show. This part of the housing authority development, which won’t include any homes, will build new offices for Cinespace and Mount Sinai. Pissios has been a member of the hospital’s board since 2013.
The housing authority is helping finance the project, which is getting federal tax incentives and $2.5 million from City Hall’s “Neighborhood Opportunity Fund,” money that Emanuel pledged before leaving office last year.
That taxpayer funding is the latest in a string of government subsidies Pissios has gotten over the past decade despite his financial and legal problems.
He got $27.3 million in state grants under Gov. Pat Quinn to help his uncle launch the West Side movie studio.
Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel helped Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, 2621 W. 15th Pl., get a property tax cut worth as much as $3.4 million. He also gave the studio permission to close off and take over city streets to create a bigger Cinespace campus, forcing traffic, including CTA buses, to be rerouted. Tyler LaRiviere / Sun-Times
Later, Emanuel helped the studio get a property tax cut worth as much as $3.4 million. He also gave the studio permission to close off and take over city streets to create a bigger Cinespace campus, forcing traffic, including CTA buses, to be rerouted.
The studio secured most of that government funding with help from Coli — a powerful union supporter of Quinn and Emanuel — who had been extorting money from Pissios during the time the studio boss was wearing a wire.
Former longtime Chicago Teamsters union boss John T. Coli Sr.’s guilty plea last summer to extorting $325,000 from Cinespace meant that Alexander Pissios wouldn’t have to testify for the prosecution at his trial. Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times
Coli pleaded guilty last summer to extorting $325,000 from Cinespace and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. That means Pissios won’t have to testify as the star prosecution witness at his trial.
Pissios’ name also has surfaced in the ongoing federal investigation of the collapse of Washington Federal Bank for Savings, which was shut down in December 2017, days after bank president John Gembara was found hanged in the bedroom of a customer’s home in Park Ridge.
When Pissios filed for bankruptcy in 2011, he owed the clout-heavy Bridgeport bank millions of dollars from real estate loans. It’s unclear whether Pissios ever repaid those loans.
Also unclear: how Pissios became a partner with Mount Sinai and with Habitat, which is headed by developer Daniel Levin, who, under a federal court order, had overseen the CHA’s scattered-site housing program for 23 years.
Future site of Ogden Commons development at northwest corner of Ogden Avenue and South Talman Avenue. Apple maps
Mount Sinai vice president James Bicak says the CHA encouraged the hospital to team with Habitat on the commercial and residential development, which is near the hospital. But hospital and CHA officials say they didn’t know who exactly recommended the partnership.
Emanuel has strong ties to Mount Sinai, where his late father, Dr. Benjamin Emanuel, did his medical residency. The hospital was founded in 1919 by a grandfather of Steven Koch, who was on the hospital’s board for 24 years, the last seven of them as chairman. He resigned that post when he became Emanuel’s deputy mayor in 2012.
The former mayor says he has not been contacted by federal authorities regarding Pissios or Coli.
The CHA’s board, appointed by Emanuel, selected the Habitat, Cinespace and Mount Sinai team in June 2017 even though it gave the group a slightly lower score than it gave Brinshore Development, which also had bid for the work. CHA officials said they liked that Habitat was working with two major employers in the neighborhood — Cinespace and Mount Sinai — and that their proposal would encompass an extra 5.5 acres, including land they bought from the city.
Among the CHA board members who approved the deal was John Hooker, who resigned as chairman last summer, as his lobbying work for ComEd had become part of a federal corruption investigation centering on Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago.
The construction site at Ogden Avenue and South Talman Avenue where the Ogden Commons development is planned. The Chicago Housing Authority had hoped the project would be finished by September 2020. But it’s unclear when the development will be completed — or even when construction will begin. Tyler LaRiviere / Sun-Times
The CHA board also included vice chairman Craig Chico, brother of former mayoral candidate Gery Chico. Gery Chico’s law firm Chico & Nunes is working for the Habitat, Cinespace and Mount Sinai partnership.
“CHA’s legal department and ethics officer have determined that there was no conflict because vice chair Chico did not stand to derive any financial benefit, directly or indirectly, from the law firm’s role as a retained party,” according to CHA spokeswoman Molly Sullivan.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--Man punched on Blue Line in Old Irving Park

A 46-year-old man was punched in the face Friday on a CTA Blue Line station in Old Irving Park on @ @ @ @ @ attacked the man about 4 a.m. on an outbound Blue Line train , according to @ @ @ @ @ .
The suspect ran off the train at the Montrose station , 4600 W. Montrose @ @ @ @ @ taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition , police said .
No arrests @ @ @ @ @ said .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

A 46-year-old man was punched in the face Friday on a CTA Blue Line station in Old Irving Park on the North Side.
Someone attacked the man about 4 a.m. on an outbound Blue Line train, according to preliminary information from Chicago police. The suspect ran off the train at the Montrose station, 4600 W. Montrose Ave.
The man was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition, police said.
No arrests have been made, police said.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


Chicago-pedia: Sports

Some call it “ Chicago-ese , ” or “ Chicago-speak.
” Whatever you call it , we ’ re capturing it here , in Chicago-pedia — highlighting our local terminology and linguistic quirks ( sometimes with humor and obvious exaggeration ) .
This story is part of a group of stories called SWEETNESS : Chicago Bears great Walter Payton , who ran the football with such elegance and ease , it was a sweet , sweet sight .
PINNERS : Front-stoop baseball game played by Chicago kids in the pre-video game days .
The person “ at bat ” whips @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the fielders behind him or her try to catch it as it bounces back their way .
Singles , doubles , triples and home runs are determined by where the ball lands .
A catch is an out .
16-INCH : Chicago brand of softball played with a ball 16 inches in circumference and no gloves .
Best when played by large , beer-drinking men ( or women ) .
Pitches often are thrown with a spinning arc .
Batting stances can include running up to the ball .
Broken and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The way-cool baseball stadium at Devon and the sanitary canal where wide-eyed kids have gone to play Little League games since forever .
The park was built in the 1930s by Mel G. Thillens , who owned and founded the Thillens check-chasing service .
The Chicago Park District now runs the park under a different name .
WAIT ’ TIL NEXT YEAR : The once-common lament of Cubs fans when it became clear the season would not end with a World Series title .
The verbal white flag can signal a fan ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unbridled anger , sarcastic nature or general hopelessness .
Use has ebbed since the Cubs actually won a World Series , in 2016 , after a century drought .
ROCKY : Not the fictional boxer , but the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks , Rocky Wirtz , who also owns a piece of the Chicago Sun-Times .
WOO WOO : The nickname of Ronnie Wickers , the love-him or hate-him , fully uniformed Cubs fan who constantly chirps “ woo ” after everything he chants at ballgames , bars , parties , etc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Minnesota Vikings .
CLAY MATTHEWS : Former Packers player who badly needs a haircut .
DOUBLE DOINK : Pitiful field goal miss in 2018 when football booted by Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey clunked upright — and then the crossbar — hobbling the Bears .

Some call it “Chicago-ese,” or “Chicago-speak.” Whatever you call it, we’re capturing it here, in Chicago-pedia — highlighting our local terminology and linguistic quirks (sometimes with humor and obvious exaggeration).
DITKA: Canonized in 1986. Later declared deity.
SWEETNESS: Chicago Bears great Walter Payton, who ran the football with such elegance and ease, it was a sweet, sweet sight.
BUDDY: Genius defensive coordinator of ’85 Bears, Buddy Ryan.
Buddy. Susan Smith/For the Sun-Times
PINNERS: Front-stoop baseball game played by Chicago kids in the pre-video game days. The person “at bat” whips a rubber ball into the front steps, and the fielders behind him or her try to catch it as it bounces back their way. Singles, doubles, triples and home runs are determined by where the ball lands. A catch is an out.
16-INCH: Chicago brand of softball played with a ball 16 inches in circumference and no gloves. Best when played by large, beer-drinking men (or women). Pitches often are thrown with a spinning arc. Batting stances can include running up to the ball. Broken and jammed fingers are common.
THILLENS: The way-cool baseball stadium at Devon and the sanitary canal where wide-eyed kids have gone to play Little League games since forever. The park was built in the 1930s by Mel G. Thillens, who owned and founded the Thillens check-chasing service. The Chicago Park District now runs the park under a different name.
Thillens. Susan Smith/For the Sun-Times
WAIT ’TIL NEXT YEAR: The once-common lament of Cubs fans when it became clear the season would not end with a World Series title. The verbal white flag can signal a fan’s eternal optimism, frustrated resignation, unbridled anger, sarcastic nature or general hopelessness. Use has ebbed since the Cubs actually won a World Series, in 2016, after a century drought.
ROCKY: Not the fictional boxer, but the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, Rocky Wirtz, who also owns a piece of the Chicago Sun-Times.
WOO WOO: The nickname of Ronnie Wickers, the love-him or hate-him, fully uniformed Cubs fan who constantly chirps “woo” after everything he chants at ballgames, bars, parties, etc.
Clay Matthews. Susan Smith/For the Sun-Times
CUBS FANS: Chads & Trixies.
BRETT FAVRE: Lousy former quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
CLAY MATTHEWS: Former Packers player who badly needs a haircut.
AARON RODGERS: Boyfriend of Chicago Bears fan Danica Patrick.
DOUBLE DOINK: Pitiful field goal miss in 2018 when football booted by Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey clunked upright — and then the crossbar — hobbling the Bears.
WHITE SOX: Wait till this year.
SOX PARK: 1. A stadium with an identity crisis, with some Chicagoans referring to it by the official name since 2016 — Guaranteed Rate Field — and many still use the previous name: U.S. Cellular or, for short, the Cell. Still, others stick to its old, old name: Comiskey. When in doubt, “Sox Park” works just fine.
2. Major League ballpark known for Disco Demolition night in 1979; for a father-son duo storming the field and attacking a Kansas City Royals coach in 2002; and for a handful of outbursts and fights over the decades in the park’s two different sites.
Sox Park. Susan Smith/For the Sun-Times
BULLS: God-like basketball squad of the 1990s, thanks to Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, among others, with goodwill for the team lingering ever since, no matter how mediocre the season.
SIMEON: Without question, the best high school basketball program in the state over the last two decades, with Jabari Parker, Derrick Rose and Kendrick Nunn just a few of the standouts who made it to the NBA.
BEAR DOWN: Bears, downer.
SUPERFANS: Bears philosophers who aptly observed that 1919 was a “historically atrocious year because it saw the birth of the two great evils of the 20th century: the Packers and Prohibition.”
Superfans. Susan Smith/For the Sun-Times
GRABOWSKI: A hardworking, blue-collar, lunch-pail-carrying grunt, as made famous by Mike Ditka before a Bears playoff game in 1986, when he likened the “fair-haired” Rams to “Smiths” and the Bears to “Grabowskis.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--Jim Tuohy, Chicago writer, raconteur, author of Greylord book, has died at 85

To understand the devil-may-care way writer Jim Tuohy embraced his existence , consider this one evening in his 82-year-old life .
At an hour when people half a century younger might have curled up on their couches , Mr. Tuohy hopped on a bus and headed downtown to hear a favorite jazz combo .
But he got there early and had just $ 10 .
He ordered a drink — and wondered how he ’ d make his money last all night .
Providence arrived with a lawyer who plopped down on the next stool .
When the attorney found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jim Tuohy who co-wrote “ Greylord : Justice , Chicago Style , ” he ordered drinks for the author and kept them coming .
He wanted to hear all about Operation Greylord , the 1980s bribery probe of Chicago courts that resulted in the convictions of scores of judges , cops and lawyers .
When the jazz group finished at 1 a.m. , Mr. Tuohy got on a bus to go home .
But the driver was new .
Mr. Tuohy guided him through a tricky turn or two .
The driver , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drop him at the Old Town Ale House , a favorite watering hole .
“ Well , it ’ s open till 4 a.m. , and my dad ’ s got a tab there — he can drink , ” said his daughter Michaela Tuohy .
“ And then somebody gives him a lift home .
“ This was just a Tuesday night for my father , ” said his daughter , a 56-year-old police officer .
“ He ’ s 82 years old at that time .
That is more social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a week.
” Mr. Tuohy , 85 , of Lincoln Park , died Wednesday at St. Joseph Hospital .
He developed pneumonia , battled flu , couldn ’ t fight it off and died of kidney failure , according to his daughter and his son Don Tuohy .
He was of a generation of Chicago writers who made the rounds of the Old Town Ale House , the Billy Goat , O ’ Rourke ’ s and Riccardo ’ s , among other bars .
He hung out with Pulitzer Prize-winners Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who once wrote of him on Facebook : “ Jim Tuohy is a great Chicago writer.
” Even in his 85th year , he was organizing quarterly reunions of friends .
“ The Jim Tuohy fan club was huge , ” said writer Vicki Quade , co-creator of the theater comedy “ Late Nite Catechism.
” “ He was a great storyteller , the kind you don ’ t see anymore , ” said his son John , a reporter for The Indianapolis Star , who said people “ told him things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time.
” “ He was just one of the warmest , funniest and really smart guys , ” said Chicago political consultant Don Rose .
“ He was a magnificent writer and one of the great drinking companions of all time.
” And Mr. Tuohy was one of maybe three people immortalized in more than one of the many paintings on the walls of the Old Town Ale House , according to artist Bruce Elliott , who called him “ the gold standard of geriatric barroom drinkers.
” “ He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , co-author of the “ Greylord ” book and former editor and publisher of Chicago Lawyer , where he ran Mr. Tuohy ’ s articles .
“ If he ’ d been in New York , he might have been as famous as Jimmy Breslin.
” The youngest of six kids , he was born in Chicago and spent his early years in Rogers Park .
After 7-year-old Jim ’ s mother died of cancer , his father , Illinois Appellate Court Judge John Marshall Tuohy , moved the family to Barrington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again — Mary Poe , “ a direct descendant of Edgar Allen Poe , ” Mr. Tuohy ’ s daughter said .
After Barrington High School , Mr. Tuohy joined the Marines , though Elliott said , “ He was the most un-Marine-like Marine.
” Around 1960 he married his wife Michaela , who later worked for City Hall ’ s Office of Special Events .
When they separated , he shifted to bars on the North Side , their daughter said , and “ my mom got North Avenue.
” They didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before her death , in 1997 .
After the Marines and a few college stints , Mr. Tuohy shaved a few years off his age and got hired at the City News Bureau of Chicago .
In those pre-Internet days , friends said , he occasionally hinted at a fictitious master ’ s degree or doctorate to keep getting through the doors of Chicago journalism .
In one of his book-jacket blurbs , “ He described himself as the winner of ‘ the coveted Sarsfield Award , ’ ” Warden said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on to work for UPI , the Chicago Sun-Times , CBS and NBC .
He also wrote for the Chicago Reader and New City .
“ His frequent firings could be directly correlated to his frequent late evenings spent in the saloons , ” his daughter said .
“ He liked to have a libation , ’ ’ said his son Don .
“ He kept getting jobs , ” Elliott said , “ because he could write.
” Here ’ s how he started an April 1984 Chicago Lawyer article about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive a hard bargain in Lake County .
Police told Ronnie Starks that if he took a polygraph test and passed he could go free .
He took the test .
He passed .
He got 11 years.
” He captured Royko in an article published in 1997 in New City .
In it , Royko described listening to an unwitting “ blowhard ” who advised him that , to understand Chicago politics , he ought to read a book “ by a guy named Mike Royko.
” Royko told Mr. Tuohy : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grab his and say , ‘ My name is Mike Royko , a -- -- -- .
’ ” “ He was a great investigator , ” said Denise Kane , former inspector general with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services , where Mr. Tuohy worked for a time on contract .
When a 6-year-old reported being sexually abused by his mother ’ s boyfriend , the only information the child had was the man ’ s first name and that he took the boy to a tavern .
When others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuohy kept hunting , dropping in at saloons where he thought he might find the man .
“ Wherever he goes , ” Kane said , “ he asks , ‘ Has [ a man with that first name ] been here ?
’ ” It took six months , but his detective work paid off .
He found the man in a bar , called police.
, and te abuser went to jail , Kane said .
Mr. Tuohy co-wrote several books about Lionel trains .
He also was an assistant basketball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition to his children Michaela , John and Don , he is survived by his sisters Lolita Tuohy and Julia Dolphin Glab , his stepbrother Bill Littlejohn and his longtime companion Kris Jones .
His brothers all died before him , including Bill , who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his Vietnam reporting for the Los Angeles Times .
Mr. Tuohy ’ s wake will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Cooney Funeral Home , 3918 W. Irving Park Rd.
, with a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ W. Deming Pl .

To understand the devil-may-care way writer Jim Tuohy embraced his existence, consider this one evening in his 82-year-old life.
At an hour when people half a century younger might have curled up on their couches, Mr. Tuohy hopped on a bus and headed downtown to hear a favorite jazz combo.
But he got there early and had just $10. He ordered a drink — and wondered how he’d make his money last all night.
Providence arrived with a lawyer who plopped down on the next stool. When the attorney found out he was sitting next to the Jim Tuohy who co-wrote “Greylord: Justice, Chicago Style,” he ordered drinks for the author and kept them coming. He wanted to hear all about Operation Greylord, the 1980s bribery probe of Chicago courts that resulted in the convictions of scores of judges, cops and lawyers.
When the jazz group finished at 1 a.m., Mr. Tuohy got on a bus to go home. But the driver was new. Mr. Tuohy guided him through a tricky turn or two. The driver, grateful, went out of his way to drop him at the Old Town Ale House, a favorite watering hole.
“Well, it’s open till 4 a.m., and my dad’s got a tab there — he can drink,” said his daughter Michaela Tuohy. “And then somebody gives him a lift home.
“This was just a Tuesday night for my father,” said his daughter, a 56-year-old police officer. “He’s 82 years old at that time. That is more social activity in one day than I get in a week.”
Mr. Tuohy, 85, of Lincoln Park, died Wednesday at St. Joseph Hospital. He developed pneumonia, battled flu, couldn’t fight it off and died of kidney failure, according to his daughter and his son Donald Tuohy.
He was of a generation of Chicago writers who made the rounds of the Old Town Ale House, the Billy Goat, O’Rourke’s and Riccardo’s, among other bars. He hung out with Pulitzer Prize-winners Mike Royko, Tom Fitzpatrick and Roger Ebert, who once wrote of him on Facebook: “Jim Tuohy is a great Chicago writer.”
Even in his 85th year, he was organizing quarterly reunions of friends.
“The Jim Tuohy fan club was huge,” said writer Vicki Quade, co-creator of the theater comedy “Late Nite Catechism.”
Jim Tuohy was at the center of a large group of Chicago journalists who regularly met at taverns including the Old Town Ale House, Riccardo’s, O’Rourke’s and the Billy Goat. Vicki Quade
“He was a great storyteller, the kind you don’t see anymore,” said his son John, a reporter for The Indianapolis Star, who said people “told him things they hadn’t told anyone in a long time.”
“He was just one of the warmest, funniest and really smart guys,” said Chicago political consultant Don Rose. “He was a magnificent writer and one of the great drinking companions of all time.”
And Mr. Tuohy was one of maybe three people immortalized in more than one of the many paintings on the walls of the Old Town Ale House, according to artist Bruce Elliott, who called him “the gold standard of geriatric barroom drinkers.”
“He liked to have a libation,’’ said his son Donald.
Rob Warden, co-author of the “Greylord” book and former editor and publisher of Chicago Lawyer, used to run Mr. Tuohy’s articles.
“He was extremely talented,” Warden said. “If he’d been in New York, he might have been as famous as Jimmy Breslin.”
Jim Tuohy holding his Marine-era ID photo. Vicki Quade
The youngest of six kids, he was born in Chicago and spent his early years in Rogers Park. After 7-year-old Jim’s mother died of cancer, his father, Illinois Appellate Court Judge John Marshall Tuohy, moved the family to Barrington, then mostly farms. His father married again — Mary Poe, “a direct descendant of Edgar Allen Poe,” Mr. Tuohy’s daughter said.
After Barrington High School, Mr. Tuohy joined the Marines, though Elliott said, “He was the most un-Marine-like Marine.”
Around 1960 he married his wife Michaela, who later worked for City Hall’s Office of Special Events. When they separated, he shifted to bars on the North Side, their daughter said, and “my mom got North Avenue.” They didn’t get around to a divorce before her death, in 1997.
Jim Tuohy and his wife, Michaela, at O’Rourke’s pub. Jack Lane photo
After the Marines and a few college stints, Mr. Tuohy shaved a few years off his age and got hired at the City News Bureau of Chicago. In those pre-Internet days, friends said, he occasionally hinted at a fictitious master’s degree or doctorate to keep getting through the doors of Chicago journalism.
Jim Tuohy with his daughter, Michaela, and sons John and Donald. Provided photo
In one of his book-jacket blurbs, “He described himself as the winner of ‘the coveted Sarsfield Award,’ ” Warden said. “Sarsfield was his middle name.”
He went on to work for UPI, the Chicago Sun-Times, CBS and NBC. He also wrote for the Chicago Reader and New City.
“He kept getting jobs,” Elliott said, “because he could write.”
Jim Tuohy loved to socialize at bars and could draw conversation out of almost anyone, friends said. Vicki Quade
Here’s how he started an April 1984 Chicago Lawyer article about a wrongful conviction case: “They drive a hard bargain in Lake County. Police told Ronnie Starks that if he took a polygraph test and passed he could go free. He took the test. He passed. He got 11 years.”
He captured Royko in an article published in 1997 in New City. In it, Royko described listening to an unwitting “blowhard” who advised him that, to understand Chicago politics, he ought to read a book “by a guy named Mike Royko.”
Royko told Mr. Tuohy: “I put my hand out, grab his and say, ‘My name is Mike Royko, a------.’ ”
“He was a great investigator,” said Denise Kane, former inspector general with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, where Mr. Tuohy worked for a time on contract.
When a 6-year-old reported being sexually abused by his mother’s boyfriend, the only information the child had was the man’s first name and that he took the boy to a tavern.
When others moved on to new cases, Mr. Tuohy kept hunting, dropping in at saloons where he thought he might find the man. “Wherever he goes,” Kane said, “he asks, ‘Has [a man with that first name] been here?’ ”
It took six months, but his detective work paid off. He found the man in a bar, called police, and the abuser went to jail, Kane said.
Jim Tuohy didn’t need fancy drinks. Beer was fine, friends said. Vicki Quade
Mr. Tuohy co-wrote several books about Lionel trains. He also was an assistant basketball coach at St. Clement school.
In addition to his children Michaela, John and Donald, he is survived by his sisters Lolita Tuohy and Julia Dolphin Glab, his stepbrother Bill Littlejohn and his longtime companion Kris Jones.
His brothers all died before him, including Bill, who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his Vietnam reporting for the Los Angeles Times.
Mr. Tuohy’s wake will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Cooney Funeral Home, 3918 W. Irving Park Road, with a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Clement Church, 642 W. Deming Place.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--4 in custody after violent Lincoln Park robbery attempt

Four people were arrested after allegedly beating and trying to rob a woman Thursday in Lincoln Park on the North @ @ @ @ @ was walking on the sidewalk at 6:12 p.m. in the 1000 block of West Willow @ @ @ @ @ her , according to Chicago police .
One of them announced a robbery and tried @ @ @ @ @ The woman was knocked to the ground during a struggle and the suspects kicked her @ @ @ @ @ take her property , police said .
They then ran toward the North/Clybourn CTA Red @ @ @ @ @ were arrested at the station and charges are pending , according to police .
Area @ @ @ @ @ Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Four people were arrested after allegedly beating and trying to rob a woman Thursday in Lincoln Park on the North Side.
The 27-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk at 6:12 p.m. in the 1000 block of West Willow Street when the males approached her, according to Chicago police. One of them announced a robbery and tried to grab her belongings.
The woman was knocked to the ground during a struggle and the suspects kicked her after they were unable to take her property, police said. They then ran toward the North/Clybourn CTA Red Line station.
All four were arrested at the station and charges are pending, according to police. Area Central detectives are investigating.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--2 teens hurt in Thursday shootings

2 teens hurt in Thursday shootings

Two teenagers were wounded in the two reported shootings Thursday in Chicago .
A 19-year-old man was shot in the elbow in Lawndale on the West Side .
He was on the sidewalk about 5 p.m. in the 1300 block of South Sawyer Avenue when a vehicle approached him and someone inside opened fire , Chicago police said .
He took himself to Mount Sinai Hospital , where his condition was stabilized .
The teen was in a lot about 3:30 p.m. in the 7500 block of South Colfax Avenue when someone fired shots in his direction , police said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been struck .
He showed up at Jackson Park Hospital shortly before 6 p.m. and his condition was stabilized .
Officers responded to reports about the gunfire on Colfax about 3:33 p.m. and saw two males shooting , police said .
One of the suspected shooters was taken into custody after a brief foot chase , while the other ran off .
A weapon was recovered and charges are pending .
Five people were hurt in gun violence incidents across the city on Wednesday .
Read more on crime , and track @ @ @ @ @ @

Two teenagers were wounded in the two reported shootings Thursday in Chicago.
A 19-year-old man was shot in the elbow in Lawndale on the West Side.
He was on the sidewalk about 5 p.m. in the 1300 block of South Sawyer Avenue when a vehicle approached him and someone inside opened fire, Chicago police said. He took himself to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.
Hours earlier, a 17-year-old boy was shot in South Shore.
The teen was in a lot about 3:30 p.m. in the 7500 block of South Colfax Avenue when someone fired shots in his direction, police said. He ran away and realized he had been struck. He showed up at Jackson Park Hospital shortly before 6 p.m. and his condition was stabilized.
Officers responded to reports about the gunfire on Colfax about 3:33 p.m. and saw two males shooting, police said. One of the suspected shooters was taken into custody after a brief foot chase, while the other ran off. A weapon was recovered and charges are pending.
Five people were hurt in gun violence incidents across the city on Wednesday.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--Man charged with selling drugs to Lake Forest High School students

A man has been charged with selling drugs to students at Lake Forest High School from his north suburban home @ @ @ @ @ , was arrested Wednesday after authorities executed a search warrant at his home in the @ @ @ @ @ in Lake Forest and found psilocybin mushrooms , marijuana and 31 containers of THC vape @ @ @ @ @ statement from Lake Forest police .
The investigation started when authorities received tips that Lawrence @ @ @ @ @ the house to students at the nearby school , 1285 N. McKinley Road in Lake @ @ @ @ @ The school was placed on a “ soft lockdown ” for about 10 minutes while @ @ @ @ @ Lawrence is charged with unlawful possession of psilocybin mushrooms and cannabis with intent to deliver @ @ @ @ @ mushrooms and cannabis , all felonies , police said .
His next court date is @ @ @ @ @ according to Lake County court records .
Read more on crime , and track the @ @ @ @ @

A man has been charged with selling drugs to students at Lake Forest High School from his north suburban home.
Sage Lawrence, 22, was arrested Wednesday after authorities executed a search warrant at his home in the 300 block of Noble Avenue in Lake Forest and found psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana and 31 containers of THC vape cartridges, according to a statement from Lake Forest police.
Sage Lawrence Lake Forest police
The investigation started when authorities received tips that Lawrence was selling drugs out of the house to students at the nearby school, 1285 N. McKinley Road in Lake Forest, police said. The school was placed on a “soft lockdown” for about 10 minutes while police searched the home.
Lawrence is charged with unlawful possession of psilocybin mushrooms and cannabis with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of psilocybin mushrooms and cannabis, all felonies, police said.
His next court date is scheduled for Jan. 23, according to Lake County court records.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--Missing 15-year-old girl last seen in Park Manor located safely

CHA gave $ 76M deal to movie studio head ’ s group while he was an FBI mole Cinespace Chicago @ @ @ @ @ and his partners — The Habitat Co. and Mount Sinai Hospital — stand to share @ @ @ @ @ fees on a deal Mayor Rahm Emanuel ’ s Chicago Housing Authority appointees gave them @

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--2020-01-10--Trump, Iran and who’s to blame for 176 deaths on a downed Ukrainian jet

And now we have seen it again .
A few days ago , we wrote an editorial expressing gratitude that no American lives were lost in Iran ’ s airstrikes on U.S. forces early Wednesday in the wake of President Donald Trump ’ s decision to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
But now we have learned that the lives of completely innocent people from seven other countries — 176 lives to be exact — likely were lost to the fog of war .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday became the latest world leader to blame the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on one of the Iranian missiles launched during the attack to avenge Soleimani ’ s death .
Once an investigation is complete , Pompeo said he is “ confident that we and the world will take appropriate action as a response.
” Our questions to Pompeo are these : Shouldn ’ t we be taking “ appropriate action ” against ourselves as well ?
Aren ’ t we indirectly to blame for the loss of these civilian lives ?
Yes , we know Soleimani fomented violence in the Middle East and was responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump administration has yet to present a convincing argument that the general had to be killed to stop an immediate threat to our nation .
On Friday on Fox News , where nobody ’ s about to ask a tough question , Trump said that Soleimani was plotting attacks on four U.S. embassies .
We don ’ t buy it .
Had Iran launched such attacks , it would have invited all-out war , which its tepid retaliation for the general ’ s killings — harming nobody in missile attacks on two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no stomach for .
Iran found a way to avoid war even after the United States killed Soleimani .
Clearly it was not about to attack four American embassies before then .
The whole thing sickens and saddens us .
As we see it , the lesson of the last week is that the Trump administration was wildly irresponsible in deciding to kill Soleimani at this time , however reprehensible the general was .
And to talk about retaliation again — for Iran ’ s shooting down of the Ukrainian jet plane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the BBC , the 176 victims included 82 Iranians , 63 Canadians , 11 Ukrainians , 10 Swedes , four Afghans , three Britons and three Germans .
When there ’ s war , the whole world loses .

In war, innocent people always die.
And now we have seen it again.
A few days ago, we wrote an editorial expressing gratitude that no American lives were lost in Iran’s airstrikes on U.S. forces early Wednesday in the wake of President Donald Trump’s decision to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Editorials bug Editorials
But now we have learned that the lives of completely innocent people from seven other countries — 176 lives to be exact — likely were lost to the fog of war.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday became the latest world leader to blame the crash of the Ukrainian jet outside Tehran on one of the Iranian missiles launched during the attack to avenge Soleimani’s death.
Iran late Friday announced it had shot down the airliner “unintentionally.” A military statement carried by Iranian state media said the plane was mistaken for a “hostile target.”
Once an investigation is complete, Pompeo said he is “confident that we and the world will take appropriate action as a response.”
Our questions to Pompeo are these: Shouldn’t we be taking “appropriate action” against ourselves as well? Aren’t we indirectly to blame for the loss of these civilian lives?
Yes, we know Soleimani fomented violence in the Middle East and was responsible for hundreds of American deaths. But the Trump administration has yet to present a convincing argument that the general had to be killed to stop an immediate threat to our nation.
On Friday on Fox News, where nobody’s about to ask a tough question, Trump said that Soleimani was plotting attacks on four U.S. embassies.
We don’t buy it. Had Iran launched such attacks, it would have invited all-out war, which its tepid retaliation for the general’s killings — harming nobody in missile attacks on two military bases in Iraq — shows it has no stomach for.
Iran found a way to avoid war even after the United States killed Soleimani. Clearly it was not about to attack four American embassies before then.
The whole thing sickens and saddens us. As we see it, the lesson of the last week is that the Trump administration was wildly irresponsible in deciding to kill Soleimani at this time, however reprehensible the general was. And to talk about retaliation again — for Iran’s shooting down of the Ukrainian jet plane — is hypocritical and absurd.
According to the BBC, the 176 victims included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Britons and three Germans.
When there’s war, the whole world loses.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--Armed robberies reported in South Shore

Armed robberies reported in South Shore

Police are warning South Side residents of a series of armed robberies reported in recent weeks in South Shore .
@ @ @ @ @ men approached someone on the street or sidewalk , pulled out a handgun and demanded @ @ @ @ @ .
• About 8:20 p.m. Dec. 22 in the 1700 block of East 71st Street @ @ @ @ @ 30 in the 7000 block of South Stony Island Avenue • About 1:45 a.m. Jan. @ @ @ @ @ of East 71st Street • About 4:30 p.m. Jan. 7 in the 1900 block of @ @ @ @ @ were described as two men between the ages of 18 and 30 , standing 5-foot-10 @ @ @ @ @ pounds .
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380 .
@ @ @ @ @ and track the city ’ s homicides .

Police are warning South Side residents of a series of armed robberies reported in recent weeks in South Shore.
In each case, two men approached someone on the street or sidewalk, pulled out a handgun and demanded property, Chicago police said.
The robberies happened:
About 8:20 p.m. Dec. 22 in the 1700 block of East 71st Street
About 4:45 p.m. Dec. 30 in the 7000 block of South Stony Island Avenue
About 1:45 a.m. Jan. 4 in the 2100 block of East 71st Street
About 4:30 p.m. Jan. 7 in the 1900 block of East 71st Street
The suspects were described as two men between the ages of 18 and 30, standing 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-1 and weighing 150-170 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop brand is heading out to sea with Celebrity Cruises

For Gwyneth Paltrow , spending time at sea can be healing and boats can feels like an escape .
” I love being on the water , I love being by the water and I love being in the water , ” she tells USA TODAY .
“ And I think , energetically , it ’ s very cleansing to be near the sea or in the sea.
” Now , Paltrow ’ s modern lifestyle brand , Goop , which focuses on six pillars including wellness and travel , is going to sea .
Goop has partnered with Celebrity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ venture .
The new experience will take place on a Celebrity Apex sailing scheduled to depart from Barcelona on Aug. 26 and to sail around the Mediterranean until Sept. 6 .
After everyone ’ s had a few days to relax , “ Goop at Sea , ” a one-day experience , will debut Aug 30 .
It ’ s inspired by the company ’ s ” In Goop Health , ” wellness summits .
They feature sessions and discussions with field experts on new ideas and philosophies focused on emotional and physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Los Angeles and San Francisco .
“ We ’ ve had massive success with In Goop Health , our wellness summit that translates goop ’ s content into a tangible , high-touch experience , ” Paltrow said in a release .
” This partnership with Celebrity Cruises allows us to bring Goop to new audiences and to meet readers where they are.
” The brand ’ s “ DNA ” is based in curiosity , which is also essential to travel , she noted in the announcement : ” With goop at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that adventurous spirit with a series of transformative experiences led by a few of our most-trusted wellness practitioners and healers.
” While the idea to partner with Celebrity Cruises was brought up by a mutual friend that had connections with the cruise line , the idea of having an experience on the water was already percolating in Paltrow ’ s mind .
“ It was funny because we had talked about as we were thinking about different formats for ‘ In Goop Health , ’ we thought ‘ wouldn ’ t it be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one day ?
’ and this randomly came up the following week so I took it as a good sign , ” Paltrow adds .
Celebrity Cruises , which touts itself as a modern luxury line , advertises on their website ways to stay fit and focus on wellness while onboard .
And Celebrity Cruises ’ ship Celebrity Apex , which will start making trips from Southhampton starting in April , is exactly the right setting for “ Goop at Sea , ” Peter Giorgi , the cruise line ’ s vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a release .
“ Every aspect of the Edge Series award-winning design and the curated onboard offerings have been designed to bring the outside in , making the ship a wellness retreat in its own right , ” Giorgi said .
As a result , the partnership has worked very well , according to Paltrow .
“ They really understood what our capabilities are and what we would be able to bring to a program , ” she notes .
While the program ’ s exact details are still being worked out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lineup of seminars including ” The Mind Session , ” “ The Body Session ” and “ The Soul Session ” following an opening keynote speech .
During the keynote , Goop ’ s chief content officer , Elise Loehnen , will introduce Paltrow , who will then lead a conversation about her own wellness journey , the lessons she ’ s learned , where her curiosities lie and what she ’ s looking forward to next .
Paltrow says she ’ s not sure how much time she will personally spend onboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being finalized .
Goop has a permanent store in London and ships to the United Kingdom , France , Italy and Germany , but Paltrow thinks that this initiative will bring Goop to a new community on the continent .
“ I ’ m very excited for the idea of doing it in Europe and reaching people who have that kind of adventurous spirit , ” she explains .
The ship makes stops in ports of call including Provence , Monte Carlo , Santa Margherita , Nice , Rome and Naples , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ Goop at Sea ” program only lasts one day , “ Goopified perks ” from Paltrow ’ s team and Celebrity Cruises will pop up through the entire “ wellness ” sailing , such as menus curated by Goop ’ s food editor and other surprises .
Pop-up wellness experiences will also be incorporated throughout the cruise and shore excursions .
Goop at Sea tickets , on sale now , are available for an additional $ 750 to guests who book suite accommodations .
As for the future of “ Goop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will see how the first experience goes .
“ If it resonates for the guest and it feels like a good ( collaboration ) , then it ’ s definitely a partnership we ’ d like to expand on for sure , ” she explains .
“ For Goop , we like to test everything out .
”

For Gwyneth Paltrow, spending time at sea can be healing and boats can feels like an escape.
”I love being on the water, I love being by the water and I love being in the water,” she tells USA TODAY. “And I think, energetically, it’s very cleansing to be near the sea or in the sea.”
Now, Paltrow’s modern lifestyle brand, Goop, which focuses on six pillars including wellness and travel, is going to sea.
Goop has partnered with Celebrity Cruises for Goop’s first at-sea venture. The new experience will take place on a Celebrity Apex sailing scheduled to depart from Barcelona on Aug. 26 and to sail around the Mediterranean until Sept. 6.
After everyone’s had a few days to relax, “Goop at Sea,” a one-day experience, will debut Aug 30. It’s inspired by the company’s ”In Goop Health,” wellness summits. They feature sessions and discussions with field experts on new ideas and philosophies focused on emotional and physical health and wellness, in different cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco.
“We’ve had massive success with In Goop Health, our wellness summit that translates goop’s content into a tangible, high-touch experience,” Paltrow said in a release. ”This partnership with Celebrity Cruises allows us to bring Goop to new audiences and to meet readers where they are.”
The brand’s “DNA” is based in curiosity, which is also essential to travel, she noted in the announcement: ”With goop at Sea, we’ll be invoking that adventurous spirit with a series of transformative experiences led by a few of our most-trusted wellness practitioners and healers.”
While the idea to partner with Celebrity Cruises was brought up by a mutual friend that had connections with the cruise line, the idea of having an experience on the water was already percolating in Paltrow’s mind.
“It was funny because we had talked about as we were thinking about different formats for ‘In Goop Health,’ we thought ‘wouldn’t it be fun to do it on a boat one day?’ and this randomly came up the following week so I took it as a good sign,” Paltrow adds.
Celebrity Cruises, which touts itself as a modern luxury line, advertises on their website ways to stay fit and focus on wellness while onboard.
And Celebrity Cruises’ ship Celebrity Apex, which will start making trips from Southhampton starting in April, is exactly the right setting for “Goop at Sea,” Peter Giorgi, the cruise line’s vice president and chief marketing officer, explained in a release.
“Every aspect of the Edge Series award-winning design and the curated onboard offerings have been designed to bring the outside in, making the ship a wellness retreat in its own right,” Giorgi said.
As a result, the partnership has worked very well, according to Paltrow.
“They really understood what our capabilities are and what we would be able to bring to a program,” she notes.
While the program’s exact details are still being worked out, the experience is likely to include a lineup of seminars including ”The Mind Session,” “The Body Session” and “The Soul Session” following an opening keynote speech. During the keynote, Goop’s chief content officer, Elise Loehnen, will introduce Paltrow, who will then lead a conversation about her own wellness journey, the lessons she’s learned, where her curiosities lie and what she’s looking forward to next.
Gwyneth Paltrow attends the In goop Health Summit San Francisco 2019. Getty Images for goop
Paltrow says she’s not sure how much time she will personally spend onboard the Apex since the details are still being finalized.
Goop has a permanent store in London and ships to the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany, but Paltrow thinks that this initiative will bring Goop to a new community on the continent.
“I’m very excited for the idea of doing it in Europe and reaching people who have that kind of adventurous spirit,” she explains. The ship makes stops in ports of call including Provence, Monte Carlo, Santa Margherita, Nice, Rome and Naples, according to Celebrity Cruises’ website.
While the “Goop at Sea” program only lasts one day, “Goopified perks” from Paltrow’s team and Celebrity Cruises will pop up through the entire “wellness” sailing, such as menus curated by Goop’s food editor and other surprises. Pop-up wellness experiences will also be incorporated throughout the cruise and shore excursions.
Goop at Sea tickets, on sale now, are available for an additional $750 to guests who book suite accommodations.
As for the future of “Goop at Sea,” Paltrow says they will see how the first experience goes.
“If it resonates for the guest and it feels like a good (collaboration), then it’s definitely a partnership we’d like to expand on for sure,” she explains. “For Goop, we like to test everything out.”
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--The email about ‘ghost workers’ and ‘rape’ that could bring down Mike Madigan’s empire

“ He has kept his mouth shut on Jones ’ ghost workers , the rape in Champaign and other items .
He is loyal to the Administration.
” That ’ s from an email sent by House Speaker Michael Madigan ’ s consigliere and ultimate Statehouse insider , Mike McClain , to Gov .
Pat Quinn ’ s chief legislative liaison , Gary Hannig , and Quinn ’ s former chief of staff , Jerry Stermer , at 2:04 pm on July 31 , 2012 .
The message came to light after WBEZ reporters Tony Arnold and Dave McKinney filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emails between McClain and gubernatorial chiefs of staff during the last ten years .
McClain was trying to save the job of fellow Quincy resident and state employee Forrest Ashby , who was facing disciplinary action the following day by the state ’ s Department of Corrections .
To my eyes , it sure looks like McClain was weaponizing the cover-up of alleged multiple felonies involving ghost-payrolling and rape to protect his guy .
And this is very , very important to keep in mind : McClain had to believe that Hannig and/or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and understood that the exposure of those crimes would severely damage Gov .
Quinn ’ s administration , or his pitch couldn ’ t possibly work .
Neither Hannig nor Stermer replied to McClain ’ s email , but Ashby ’ s disciplinary meeting was postponed and McClain sent a follow-up email on August 1st : “ I do not know what happened but I know nothing happens accidentally.
” He then thanked both men .
I have so many questions : 1 ) Who is the rapist and how would the possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encourage ” the Quinn administration to help McClain ’ s guy ?
3 ) What kind of a person weaponizes a rape cover-up for patronage ?
4 ) What kind of a person puts that sort of thing into a FOIA-able email ?
5 ) Did the Quinn administration put its finger on the scale after McClain ’ s implied threats ?
6 ) If McClain would go that far over the top with the governor ’ s chief of staff and chief legislative liaison , what did he write in his internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the feds ?
The answer to that last question , according to sources within ComEd , is “ a lot.
” The man overshared .
Hold on to your shorts .
This blockbuster WBEZ story has rocked the House Democratic world like nothing else that has come before , and for good reason .
McClain ’ s obvious penchant for saying things he shouldn ’ t via email ( the “ magic ” lobbyist list , the “ magic ” spreadsheet of contribution bundlers , funneling money to the brother of Speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of sexual harassment and fired , etc.
, etc . )
might bring down the entire empire .
Madigan ’ s press secretary wouldn ’ t comment on the record , but House Majority Leader Greg Harris told me : “ The reference to a rape coverup is shocking .
It is good that the governor ’ s office has referred this to the appropriate authorities for further action.
” Gov .
Pritzker , whose campaign hired Ashby to do faith-based outreach at McClain ’ s request , forwarded the case to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
” This email is horrific and troubling , ” said Rep. Sara Feigenholtz , D-Chicago .
“ Since when should someone be rewarded for covering up a rape ?
Women deserve respect not cover-ups .
The Champaign County state ’ s attorney and people with the proper authority should open up an investigation and start handing out subpoenas to get to the bottom of this.
” After some initial hesitation , the Champaign County state ’ s attorney ( a Democrat ) has agreed to investigate and claimed Friday that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state police and the U.S. attorney in her area .
I would add , we also need to know if those “ Jones ’ ghost workers ” are still on the state payroll and who put them there and who this “ Jones ” is .
I have my suspicions , but that ’ s all .
McClain was Madigan ’ s top guy for decades .
He acted in Madigan ’ s name the entire time .
Madigan has denied knowledge of anything in that 2012 McClain email .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top advisor apparently had significant dirt on the Quinn administration and he was kept totally in the dark .
Proving otherwise , however , could be very difficult if not impossible .
When George Ryan was elected governor , I said his friends would damage him much more than his enemies .
That eventually happened to Ryan and it ’ s clear to anyone with eyes that the same thing is happening to Madigan .

“He has kept his mouth shut on Jones’ ghost workers, the rape in Champaign and other items. He is loyal to the Administration.”
That’s from an email sent by House Speaker Michael Madigan’s consigliere and ultimate Statehouse insider, Mike McClain, to Gov. Pat Quinn’s chief legislative liaison, Gary Hannig, and Quinn’s former chief of staff, Jerry Stermer, at 2:04 pm on July 31, 2012.
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
The message came to light after WBEZ reporters Tony Arnold and Dave McKinney filed Freedom of Information Act requests for all emails between McClain and gubernatorial chiefs of staff during the last ten years.
McClain was trying to save the job of fellow Quincy resident and state employee Forrest Ashby, who was facing disciplinary action the following day by the state’s Department of Corrections.
To my eyes, it sure looks like McClain was weaponizing the cover-up of alleged multiple felonies involving ghost-payrolling and rape to protect his guy.
And this is very, very important to keep in mind: McClain had to believe that Hannig and/or Stermer knew about those allegedly covered-up crimes and understood that the exposure of those crimes would severely damage Gov. Quinn’s administration, or his pitch couldn’t possibly work.
Neither Hannig nor Stermer replied to McClain’s email, but Ashby’s disciplinary meeting was postponed and McClain sent a follow-up email on August 1st: “I do not know what happened but I know nothing happens accidentally.”
He then thanked both men.
I have so many questions:
1) Who is the rapist and how would the possibility of his exposure, um, “encourage” the Quinn administration to help McClain’s guy?
2) What’s this “Jones’ ghost workers” thing about?
3) What kind of a person weaponizes a rape cover-up for patronage?
4) What kind of a person puts that sort of thing into a FOIA-able email?
5) Did the Quinn administration put its finger on the scale after McClain’s implied threats?
6) If McClain would go that far over the top with the governor’s chief of staff and chief legislative liaison, what did he write in his internal ComEd emails that have all been subpoenaed by the feds?
The answer to that last question, according to sources within ComEd, is “a lot.” The man overshared. Hold on to your shorts.
This blockbuster WBEZ story has rocked the House Democratic world like nothing else that has come before, and for good reason. McClain’s obvious penchant for saying things he shouldn’t via email (the “magic” lobbyist list, the “magic” spreadsheet of contribution bundlers, funneling money to the brother of Speaker Madigan’s alderman after he was accused of sexual harassment and fired, etc., etc.) might bring down the entire empire.
Madigan’s press secretary wouldn’t comment on the record, but House Majority Leader Greg Harris told me: “The reference to a rape coverup is shocking. It is good that the governor’s office has referred this to the appropriate authorities for further action.”
Gov. Pritzker, whose campaign hired Ashby to do faith-based outreach at McClain’s request, forwarded the case to the state office of executive inspector general.
”This email is horrific and troubling,” said Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago. “Since when should someone be rewarded for covering up a rape? Women deserve respect not cover-ups. The Champaign County state’s attorney and people with the proper authority should open up an investigation and start handing out subpoenas to get to the bottom of this.”
After some initial hesitation, the Champaign County state’s attorney (a Democrat) has agreed to investigate and claimed Friday that she was working with the Illinois attorney general, the state police and the U.S. attorney in her area.
I would add, we also need to know if those “Jones’ ghost workers” are still on the state payroll and who put them there and who this “Jones” is. I have my suspicions, but that’s all.
McClain was Madigan’s top guy for decades. He acted in Madigan’s name the entire time. Madigan has denied knowledge of anything in that 2012 McClain email. But it just seems unlikely to me that his top advisor apparently had significant dirt on the Quinn administration and he was kept totally in the dark.
Proving otherwise, however, could be very difficult if not impossible.
When George Ryan was elected governor, I said his friends would damage him much more than his enemies. That eventually happened to Ryan and it’s clear to anyone with eyes that the same thing is happening to Madigan.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Send letters to: letters@suntimes.com.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-10--When I needed $300 for college, I had one person to depend on: Myself

This week ’ s column is the second in a series of excerpts from the author ’ s memoir , “ True Vine : A Young Black Man ’ s Journey of Faith , Hope & Clarity ” I had a pocketful of cash , money I had saved for books and incidentals .
I worked at the notorious Cabrini-Green housing project through the Mayor ’ s Summer Youth Program , supervising youths who lived there .
Working there gave me a deeper appreciation for K-Town and its relatively minor brand of poverty and despair compared to Cabrini .
Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the teenagers I supervised to see a movie at a downtown theater , only to discover that many of them had never been downtown before , even though it was just a few blocks away… There were no fences barring the residents of Cabrini from entering downtown , only the fences inside their heads… But their bondage first took up residence in their own minds .
That was the lesson I would take with me from my summer job .
I was about to learn another , more painful , lesson .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on campus , Mama called me into the living room as I was packing .
“ I don ’ t know how to tell you this , ” she began .
“ We don ’ t have the money to pay your school bill.
” I still owed the university about $ 700 in tuition from the previous semester that I had to pay before registering for fall classes .
Earlier in the summer , Mama had told me that she was going to take care of the bill and not to worry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we just don ’ t have it , ” she continued .
Her words were slow .
Her head was bowed , and her eyes drifted from mine to the floor .
“ It doesn ’ t look like you ’ re going to be able to go back to school.
” “ What ?
” I asked , feeling as if I had been slapped .
“ What do you mean ?
Did you ask Grandmother ?
And Grandpa ?
” “ They said they don ’ t have it , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calculations inside my head .
…I still had one more check coming in two weeks that would be enough to tide me over until my job on campus kicked in .
“ Ma , all I need is $ 300 , ” I said .
“ Do you think someone will let you borrow $ 300 ?
” I went to my bedroom feeling stunned .
I wondered why Mama had waited so long to let me know she might not be able to pay the bill .
…I suspected that Mama was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that time and money had simply run short… I figured somebody would loan Mama a measly $ 300 .
I had seen preachers raise more than that with a quick pass of the collection plate .
I figured that somebody in the family would come through .
The thought eased my worries .
A short while later , Mama summoned me back to the living room .
“ John , everybody I called said they don ’ t have it , ” Mama said , her words ringing hollow .
I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mama , or , for that matter , me , the money to return to school unless it was the case that Mama was plum borrowed out and considered a bad risk .
Whatever the case , I could not comprehend the sudden lack of resources in a family in which the majority were homeowners with decent-paying jobs .
I always figured that they might have taken up a collection at True Vine for a young needy college student .
Slowly , the idea of not being able to go back to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with great pain… For weeks , I walked around dazed .
Eventually , I found some sobriety and solace in understanding that the only person I could truly depend on was myself .

This week’s column is the second in a series of excerpts from the author’s memoir, “True Vine: A Young Black Man’s Journey of Faith, Hope & Clarity”
I had a pocketful of cash, money I had saved for books and incidentals. I worked at the notorious Cabrini-Green housing project through the Mayor’s Summer Youth Program, supervising youths who lived there. Working there gave me a deeper appreciation for K-Town and its relatively minor brand of poverty and despair compared to Cabrini.
Once during the summer, I had taken the teenagers I supervised to see a movie at a downtown theater, only to discover that many of them had never been downtown before, even though it was just a few blocks away…
Columnists bug Columnists In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.
There were no fences barring the residents of Cabrini from entering downtown, only the fences inside their heads… But their bondage first took up residence in their own minds. That was the lesson I would take with me from my summer job.
I was about to learn another, more painful, lesson.
A few days before I was due back on campus, Mama called me into the living room as I was packing. “I don’t know how to tell you this,” she began. “We don’t have the money to pay your school bill.”
I still owed the university about $700 in tuition from the previous semester that I had to pay before registering for fall classes. Earlier in the summer, Mama had told me that she was going to take care of the bill and not to worry.
“I’m sorry, we just don’t have it,” she continued. Her words were slow. Her head was bowed, and her eyes drifted from mine to the floor. “It doesn’t look like you’re going to be able to go back to school.”
“What?” I asked, feeling as if I had been slapped. “What do you mean? Did you ask Grandmother? And Grandpa?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“And?”
“They said they don’t have it,” Mama said.
I began doing the calculations inside my head. …I still had one more check coming in two weeks that would be enough to tide me over until my job on campus kicked in. “Ma, all I need is $300,” I said. “Do you think someone will let you borrow $300?”
“I don’t know, John. I’ll ask,” Mama said.
I went to my bedroom feeling stunned. I wondered why Mama had waited so long to let me know she might not be able to pay the bill. …I suspected that Mama was probably too ashamed to tell me, and that time and money had simply run short…
I figured somebody would loan Mama a measly $300. I had seen preachers raise more than that with a quick pass of the collection plate. I figured that somebody in the family would come through. The thought eased my worries.
A short while later, Mama summoned me back to the living room. “John, everybody I called said they don’t have it,” Mama said, her words ringing hollow.
I have never understood why no one would loan Mama, or, for that matter, me, the money to return to school unless it was the case that Mama was plum borrowed out and considered a bad risk.
Whatever the case, I could not comprehend the sudden lack of resources in a family in which the majority were homeowners with decent-paying jobs. I always figured that they might have taken up a collection at True Vine for a young needy college student.
Slowly, the idea of not being able to go back to school began to settle in and filled me with great pain…
For weeks, I walked around dazed. Eventually, I found some sobriety and solace in understanding that the only person I could truly depend on was myself.
Send letters to letters@suntimes.com
Email John Fountain at Author@Johnwfountain.com