chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--With Grammy nomination and new album, Gloria Gaynor says God is key to her life, music

NEW YORK — Gloria Gaynor sees the hand of God in every aspect of her life , particularly when it comes to the tune that may be the most famous disco song every created .
Gaynor recalls when she first was presented with “ I Will Survive , ” it was intended to be the B-side of another song , meaning it wasn ’ t the one that was promoted to be a hit .
She clearly remembers calling it a stupid decision , and lobbied for “ I Will Survive ” to get top billing , which won over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ ve always believed that God told them , ‘ Look , sit down , write a song , hold onto it , I ’ m gon na send you somebody , ” she said .
“ A ( nother ) divine appointment .
… it was meant to be the core of my purpose.
” Gaynor won her first and only Grammy for “ I Will Survive ” in 1980 .
Now , 40 years later , she has a chance to add two more trophies to her collection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Testimony , ” which is nominated for best roots gospel album , and “ Talking About Jesus , ” which is up for best gospel performance .
She ’ s giddy to get back in the Grammy mix .
“ I ’ m waiting to see the fashions , of course , everybody all dressed and looking wonderful and feeling good and happy and all of that , ” she said of the Jan. 26 ceremony , “ and hoping , of course , that I win at least one Grammy , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both.
” Gaynor spoke to The Associated Press recently about her nominations , persevering in the music industry despite health challenges and her divine connection to her most famous song .
Q .
What made you want to do a gospel album ?
A. I just wanted to share the love and the knowledge of Christ through my music .
I felt that that was what I was called to do .
Q .
This album is comprised of new material , some which you co-wrote ; even the song “ Amazing Grace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made you decide to go that route ?
A .
Well , I kind of feel like I ’ ve always been a bit innovative .
I mean , if somebody writes a song that I want to sing and they ’ ve put something in it with bad grammar , I can ’ t sing it .
I just have to fix it .
I just do it .
And I wasn ’ t trying to fix “ Amazing Grace ” except that I was trying to make it fit my life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the original , my testimony than the original writing of it .
And so that ’ s why we went that way with it .
Q .
What has it been like to not only have the Grammy nominations after all this time , but also have this type of success ?
A .
Well , I did an album some time ago and I ’ ve felt that I just kind of ran out ahead of God .
And , you know , when you do that , you find yourself out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t do well at all .
And then when this album happened and the success came so quickly and was so quickly received and people were writing me not only telling me that they enjoyed the music , but that the songs were ministering to them ... this was my purpose to do all this through the music .
So I ’ ve felt , yeah , I was right this time .
This is God ’ s timing and I ’ m on point .
Q .
What has “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years .
A .
At first it was something that I was singing for other people .
And then as time went on , different things happened to me and it became my mantra as well .
And through the death of my mother , through the death of all of my siblings , through my divorce , I mean , when I did my divorce , I did a marathon version ... ( laughs ) .
So the song has really meant a lot to me as well as to other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve experienced what the song can do for you .
Q .
This song has endured for so long , but have you ever been frustrated that this was your biggest song ?
A .
At first I thought , you know , this is a double-edged sword .
People think I ’ m not able to sing anything else except “ I Will Survive.
” They don ’ t want to hear anything else .
...
I ’ m not sick of the song , but I wish they would recognize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I ’ ve recorded so many other great songs .
And then when I came to the understanding that it was the core of my purpose and I kind of settled in and thought , Yeah , I ’ m OK. As the song says , “ It is well with my soul.
” Q.
You ’ ve also endured a lot physically as well , with several back surgeries .
How are you doing today ?
A. I ’ ve had five back surgeries and each one has stopped me for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threatened to stop me for good .
.. With a lot of prayer and a lot of faith , we found a doctor out in California who did this wonderful surgery , two surgeries on me , two totaling 18 hours and put 12 rods in my back .
And now I ’ m pain free ... .
I ’ m still performing .
And I do better on stage and I do in everyday life .
That is why I give credit to God and to the audience that he brings me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my audience really sustains me during that period of time that I ’ m on stage .
And it ’ s just a wonderful time for me .
I always leave the stage hoping that the audience has had as good a time as I did .
Q .
Could you see yourself making more dance music ?
A .
Well , the only dance music I ’ m planning on doing is music that to which you can dance it like David danced , dance unto the Lord .

NEW YORK — Gloria Gaynor sees the hand of God in every aspect of her life, particularly when it comes to the tune that may be the most famous disco song every created.
Gaynor recalls when she first was presented with “I Will Survive,” it was intended to be the B-side of another song, meaning it wasn’t the one that was promoted to be a hit. She clearly remembers calling it a stupid decision, and lobbied for “I Will Survive” to get top billing, which won over the songwriters of the now classic song.
“I’ve always believed that God told them, ‘Look, sit down, write a song, hold onto it, I’m gonna send you somebody,” she said. “A(nother) divine appointment. … it was meant to be the core of my purpose.”
Gaynor won her first and only Grammy for “I Will Survive” in 1980. Now, 40 years later, she has a chance to add two more trophies to her collection thanks to her first gospel album “Testimony,” which is nominated for best roots gospel album, and “Talking About Jesus,” which is up for best gospel performance. She’s giddy to get back in the Grammy mix.
“I’m waiting to see the fashions, of course, everybody all dressed and looking wonderful and feeling good and happy and all of that,” she said of the Jan. 26 ceremony, “and hoping, of course, that I win at least one Grammy, would be awesome if I could win them both.”
Gaynor spoke to The Associated Press recently about her nominations, persevering in the music industry despite health challenges and her divine connection to her most famous song.
Q. What made you want to do a gospel album?
A. I just wanted to share the love and the knowledge of Christ through my music. I felt that that was what I was called to do.
Q. This album is comprised of new material, some which you co-wrote; even the song “Amazing Grace” is a new tune. What made you decide to go that route?
A. Well, I kind of feel like I’ve always been a bit innovative. I mean, if somebody writes a song that I want to sing and they’ve put something in it with bad grammar, I can’t sing it. I just have to fix it. I just do it. And I wasn’t trying to fix “Amazing Grace” except that I was trying to make it fit my life. And the more my story than the original, my testimony than the original writing of it. And so that’s why we went that way with it.
Q. What has it been like to not only have the Grammy nominations after all this time, but also have this type of success?
A. Well, I did an album some time ago and I’ve felt that I just kind of ran out ahead of God. And, you know, when you do that, you find yourself out there by yourself. So it didn’t do well at all. And then when this album happened and the success came so quickly and was so quickly received and people were writing me not only telling me that they enjoyed the music, but that the songs were ministering to them ... this was my purpose to do all this through the music. So I’ve felt, yeah, I was right this time. This is God’s timing and I’m on point.
Q. What has “I Will Survive” meant to you over the years.
A. At first it was something that I was singing for other people. And then as time went on, different things happened to me and it became my mantra as well. And through the death of my mother, through the death of all of my siblings, through my divorce, I mean, when I did my divorce, I did a marathon version ... (laughs). So the song has really meant a lot to me as well as to other people. I fully understand because I’ve experienced what the song can do for you.
Q. This song has endured for so long, but have you ever been frustrated that this was your biggest song?
A. At first I thought, you know, this is a double-edged sword. People think I’m not able to sing anything else except “I Will Survive.” They don’t want to hear anything else. ... I’m not sick of the song, but I wish they would recognize that I could do something else, that I’ve recorded so many other great songs. And then when I came to the understanding that it was the core of my purpose and I kind of settled in and thought, Yeah, I’m OK. As the song says, “It is well with my soul.”
Q. You’ve also endured a lot physically as well, with several back surgeries. How are you doing today?
A. I’ve had five back surgeries and each one has stopped me for a minute. ... The last one threatened to stop me for good. .. With a lot of prayer and a lot of faith, we found a doctor out in California who did this wonderful surgery, two surgeries on me, two totaling 18 hours and put 12 rods in my back. And now I’m pain free .... I’m still performing. And I do better on stage and I do in everyday life. That is why I give credit to God and to the audience that he brings me, because the love that comes from my audience really sustains me during that period of time that I’m on stage. And it’s just a wonderful time for me. I always leave the stage hoping that the audience has had as good a time as I did.
Q. Could you see yourself making more dance music?
A. Well, the only dance music I’m planning on doing is music that to which you can dance it like David danced, dance unto the Lord.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Chicago State falls to Grand Canyon

Chicago State falls to Grand Canyon

Allessandro Lever scored 25 points and grabbed six rebounds and Grand Canyon beat host Chicago State 78-64 on Thursday night @ @ @ @ @ Conference win of the season .
Mikey Dixon scored 17 points and made four assists @ @ @ @ @ points for the Antelopes ( 6-11 , 1-2 ) , who shot 55 percent from @ @ @ @ @ 44 ) in handing the Cougars their 10th straight loss .
Jovan Blacksher Jr. had @ @ @ @ @ scored 19 points and Amir Gholizadeh hit 4 of 8 3-pointers and scored 17 points @ @ @ @ @ , 0-5 ) .
Solomon Hunt had four assists .
Grand Canyon matches up against @ @ @ @ @ on Saturday .
Chicago State plays Cal State Bakersfield at home on Saturday .

Allessandro Lever scored 25 points and grabbed six rebounds and Grand Canyon beat host Chicago State 78-64 on Thursday night for its first Western Athletic Conference win of the season.
Mikey Dixon scored 17 points and made four assists and Carlos Johnson had 15 points for the Antelopes (6-11, 1-2), who shot 55 percent from the field (24 of 44) in handing the Cougars their 10th straight loss. Jovan Blacksher Jr. had six rebounds.
Rajeir Jones scored 19 points and Amir Gholizadeh hit 4 of 8 3-pointers and scored 17 points for Chicago State (4-16, 0-5). Solomon Hunt had four assists.
Grand Canyon matches up against Kansas City on the road on Saturday. Chicago State plays Cal State Bakersfield at home on Saturday.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Loyola rolls past Southern Illinois 64-48

Marquise Kennedy had 17 points off the bench to lead Loyola to a 64-48 win over Southern Illinois on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ .
Tate Hall had 16 points for the Ramblers ( 12-6 , 4-1 Missouri Valley @ @ @ @ @ won four of their last five games .
Keith Clemons added 13 points .
Cameron @ @ @ @ @ Eric McGill had 14 points for the Salukis ( 8-10 , 2-3 ) .
Marcus @ @ @ @ @ nine rebounds .
Loyola plays Illinois State on the road on Sunday .
Southern Illinois @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday .

Marquise Kennedy had 17 points off the bench to lead Loyola to a 64-48 win over Southern Illinois on Thursday night at the Gentile Center.
Tate Hall had 16 points for the Ramblers (12-6, 4-1 Missouri Valley Conference), who have won four of their last five games. Keith Clemons added 13 points. Cameron Krutwig had five assists.
Eric McGill had 14 points for the Salukis (8-10, 2-3). Marcus Domask added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Loyola plays Illinois State on the road on Sunday. Southern Illinois takes on Drake at home on Sunday.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Assessment finds Obama Center could adversely affect historic boulevards

The Obama Presidential Center will change characteristics of a stretch of boulevards that qualify the area for the National Register of Historic Places , according to an updated report on the project ’ s impact on the surrounding area .
The final report , prepared for the Federal Highway Administration , said the center will “ alter , directly and indirectly , characteristics ” of the Chicago Park Boulevard System , which includes parts of the Jackson Park Historic Landscape District and Midway Plaisance .
The boulevard system was not listed as a historic property in a previous impact report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm the historic landscape include “ proposed changes to the Midway Plaisance , [ Obama Presidential Center ] site development , and certain roadway closures , ” the report said .
“ Other components of the undertaking will deviate from the historic design and have primarily negative effects , such as the Hayes Drive reconfiguration and the changes along Marquette Drive and Cornell Drive.
” Those changes have sparked debate between the foundation and groups worried about the center ’ s effect on the historic landscape of the area .
Only three buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the area .
Others — including Hyde Park High School , the Stony Island Arts Bank and the Island Terrace Apartment Building — would not be adversely affected by the presidential center .
The Obama Foundation was not immediately available for comment .
The report issued Thursday is an updated look at the effects of the Obama Presidential Center on historic Jackson Park .
A July report found the presidential center would have an “ adverse impact ” on the South Side park .
That findings put pressure on the Obama Foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lightfoot , who would have to order the foundation to make those changes .
The Federal Highway Administration said in July the project would decrease “ the historic property ’ s overall integrity by altering historic , internal spatial divisions that were designed as a single entity ” by the park ’ s renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted .
The report concluded the “ size and scale of new buildings ” would “ diminish the intended prominence of the Museum of Science and Industry building and alter the overall composition and design @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built areas.
” “ The combined changes diminish the sense of a particular period of time within the historic property and impact the integrity of feeling , ” the July report said .
The release of the revised assessment report begins a review period for consulting parties to formally disagree with the findings .
Written objections must be received by 5 p.m. Feb. 18 .

The Obama Presidential Center will change characteristics of a stretch of boulevards that qualify the area for the National Register of Historic Places, according to an updated report on the project’s impact on the surrounding area.
The final report, prepared for the Federal Highway Administration, said the center will “alter, directly and indirectly, characteristics” of the Chicago Park Boulevard System, which includes parts of the Jackson Park Historic Landscape District and Midway Plaisance.
The boulevard system was not listed as a historic property in a previous impact report.
Components of the project that would harm the historic landscape include “proposed changes to the Midway Plaisance, [Obama Presidential Center] site development, and certain roadway closures,” the report said.
“Other components of the undertaking will deviate from the historic design and have primarily negative effects, such as the Hayes Drive reconfiguration and the changes along Marquette Drive and Cornell Drive.”
Those changes have sparked debate between the foundation and groups worried about the center’s effect on the historic landscape of the area. Only three buildings may be affected by the changes proposed to the area.
Others — including Hyde Park High School, the Stony Island Arts Bank and the Island Terrace Apartment Building — would not be adversely affected by the presidential center.
The report issued Thursday was an updated look at the effects of the Obama Presidential Center on historic Jackson Park.
“We appreciate the thoroughness of federal agencies in this process. As we near the end of the Section 106 process, we want to thank the many consulting parties and stakeholders across the city who have helped shape the opportunity we have with the [Obama Presidential Center],” an Obama Foundation spokeswoman said.
A July report found the presidential center would have an “adverse impact” on the South Side park.
The Federal Highway Administration said in July the project would decrease “the historic property’s overall integrity by altering historic, internal spatial divisions that were designed as a single entity” by the park’s renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
Plans to mitigate the adverse effects will be developed through the Section 106 process. All federal review processes are expected to conclude in summer 2020.
The report concluded the “size and scale of new buildings” would “diminish the intended prominence of the Museum of Science and Industry building and alter the overall composition and design intent of balancing park scenery with specific built areas.”
“The combined changes diminish the sense of a particular period of time within the historic property and impact the integrity of feeling,” the July report said.
The release of the revised assessment report begins a review period for consulting parties to formally disagree with the findings. Written objections must be received by 5 p.m. Feb. 18.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Driver suffering ‘medical emergency’ crashes into a Starbucks, injuring 5 in McHenry

Police say a medical emergency caused a driver to slam his pickup truck into a Starbucks coffee shop Thursday in northwest suburban McHenry , pinning an employee under the truck and injuring four others .
About a dozen people were inside the Starbucks when a 53-year-old Lakemoor man crashed his Dodge Ram through the wall of the building , at 4305 W. Elm St. , according to McHenry police spokesman Patrick Polidori .
He was driving west on Elm Street and left the road at Oak Drive after suffering a “ medical emergency , ” according to Polidori , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing patient privacy .
He struck an SUV in the Starbucks ’ drive-through before crashing into the building about 4:40 p.m. Five people were injured at the scene , including a 21-year-old Starbucks employee who was pulled out from under the truck by firefighters , Polidori said .
The employee taken by helicopter in critical condition to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville , where their condition is now reported as “ fair , ” Polidori said Friday morning .
Three others , including another employee and the driver , were taken to Northwestern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or good condition , Polidori said .
A fifth person was treated and released at the scene .
The driver was treated for minor injuries , and will not be cited or charged , Polidori said .
Building inspectors indicate the shop is still structurally sound and can be repaired , Polidori said .
The shop will be shut down for an extended period of time , he said .
In a statement , Starbucks said , “ We are deeply saddened this happened at one of our stores .
Our focus right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and customers impacted.
” A spokesperson for the company declined to comment further .

Police say a medical emergency caused a driver to slam his pickup truck into a Starbucks coffee shop Thursday in northwest suburban McHenry, pinning an employee under the truck and injuring four others.
About a dozen people were inside the Starbucks when a 53-year-old Lakemoor man crashed his Dodge Ram through the wall of the building, at 4305 W. Elm St., according to McHenry police spokesman Patrick Polidori.
He was driving west on Elm Street and left the road at Oak Drive after suffering a “medical emergency,” according to Polidori, who declined to specify the type of emergency citing patient privacy.
He struck an SUV in the Starbucks’ drive-through before crashing into the building about 4:40 p.m.
Five people were injured at the scene, including a 21-year-old Starbucks employee who was pulled out from under the truck by firefighters, Polidori said.
Personnel work at the scene in McHenry, Ill. where a vehicle drove into the Starbucks Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. Patrick Kunzer/Daily Herald via AP
The employee taken by helicopter in critical condition to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where their condition is now reported as “fair,” Polidori said Friday morning.
Three others, including another employee and the driver, were taken to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital and listed in fair or good condition, Polidori said. A fifth person was treated and released at the scene.
The driver was treated for minor injuries, and will not be cited or charged, Polidori said.
Building inspectors indicate the shop is still structurally sound and can be repaired, Polidori said. The shop will be shut down for an extended period of time, he said.
In a statement, Starbucks said, “We are deeply saddened this happened at one of our stores. Our focus right now is supporting our partners (employees) and customers impacted.” A spokesperson for the company declined to comment further.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Roeper’s Oscar predictions: ‘Best picture’ is ‘1917’ vs. ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’

The theme of the 92nd annual Academy Awards should be : “ Congratulations to us !
” Hollywood loves movies about Hollywood — and films about successful or aspiring figures in the entertainment and media worlds .
Of this year ’ s 20 acting nominees , 11 are playing characters with showbiz or media ties : Leo and Brad as actor and stuntman in “ Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , ” Charlize and Margot as anchor and producer in “ Bombshell , ” Adam and Scarlett as theater director and actress in “ Marriage Story , ” Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood , ” Renee as an iconic singer-actress in “ Judy , ” etc.
, etc .
Heck , even Joaquin ’ s madman in “ Joker ” dreams of becoming a standup comedian and appears on a popular late-night talk show .
Hollywood ’ s love affair with itself no doubt will be a contributing factor to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences making an absolutely dreadful and wrongheaded choice for best actress , and I think you can see where I ’ m going with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expecting the academy to make some safe and uninspired selections in a handful of other categories , to wit : • “ Little Women ” will win for best costume design even though it can ’ t be all that hard to come up with period-piece outfits for yet another version of this oft-told tale .
The most creative work in this category was from the designers on “ Jojo Rabbit , ” who came up with hilariously colorful outfits mocking the strutting-peacock arrogance of wannabe Nazi leaders .
• “ Bombshell ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the admittedly impressive transformation of Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman into Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson .
But the makeup , in particular , in “ Joker ” was an integral factor in marking the title character ’ s descent from oddball eccentric to full-blown sociopath .
• The editing in “ Parasite ” was pure genius , but “ Ford v Ferrari ” will win because it ’ s easier to appreciate all those cool cuts of intense racing sequences .
On the upside , this could be one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s at least a gambler ’ s outside chance of an upset in three of the four acting categories — and the best picture race , with a whopping nine contenders , is nearly as wide open as the Democratic presidential primary contest .
With three weeks until the Feb. 9 Oscars , here ’ s my look at the competition , including predictions in all 24 categories : Pugh gave a breakout performance in “ Little Women.
” Robbie continued to burnish her already impressive resume as the emotional center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have been a cliched depiction of a middle-class , middle-aged American mom in “ Richard Jewell ” and turned it into something heartbreaking and special .
Johansson did the best work of her career in “ Jojo Rabbit , ” striking just the right notes as a young German mother working for the resistance in World War II .
But this is Dern ’ s year .
And while it ’ s just my second-favorite performance in this group , the margin is razor-thin , and I ’ ll join all those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nominated : Tom Hanks , “ A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood , ” Anthony Hopkins , “ The Two Popes , ” Al Pacino , “ The Irishman , ” Joe Pesci , “ The Irishman , ” and Brad Pitt , “ Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
” Talk about a Mount Rushmore of iconic names .
You ’ d be hard-pressed to find a more star-laden group of nominees in any acting category this century .
One could make the case for any of these performances taking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a two-man race between Pesci and Pitt .
I found Pesci ’ s chilling , low-key performance in “ The Irishman ” to be at least as impressive as his far more volatile gangster performances in “ Goodfellas ” and “ Casino , ” but Pitt did career-best work in “ OUTIH.
” The extended sequence at the Spahn Ranch was my favorite scene in any movie last year .
There ’ s no denying the effort and energy that Zellweger poured into her portrayal of Judy Garland in a hokey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was more impersonation than full performance .
Doesn ’ t matter .
Just as Rami Malek was the preordained best actor winner last year for the even cornier and cheesier Freddy Mercury biopic “ Bohemian Rhapsody , ” Zellweger is the biggest favorite , by far , in any major category this year .
Nominated : Antonio Banderas , “ Pain and Glory , ” Leonardo DiCaprio , “ Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , ” Adam Driver , “ Marriage Story , ” Joaquin Phoenix , “ Joker , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Popes.
” DiCaprio was so funny and vulnerable and touching in “ Once Upon a Time in Hollywood , ” but he ’ s already got a gold trophy for “ The Revenant.
” Banderas in “ Pain and Glory ” and Pryce in “ The Two Popes ” fall into the time-honored category of “ fine performances by beloved actors with no real chance of winning.
” Driver solidified his standing as arguably the most in-demand actor of his generation with his scalding and raw work in “ Marriage Story ” — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
This stellar list of nominees reflects the overall strength of 2019 as arguably the best year of the decade for movies .
It wouldn ’ t be an outrage if ANY of these titles took the crown — though I ’ d say “ Ford v. Ferrari , ” “ Jojo Rabbit , ” “ Little Women , ” “ Marriage Story ” and “ Joker ” are the relative longshots .
I think it comes down to “ 1917 ” vs. “ Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
” ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the International Film category , and there ’ s probably too much old-school resentment of Netflix for “ The Irishman.
” ) Don ’ t be surprised if “ 1917 , ” one of the best films ever made about World War I , comes on top , as the academy loves these types of serious , prestige projects .
But not quite as much as they love those movies about themselves .
Will win : “ Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
” Should win : A four-way tie between “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ 1917 ” and “ Parasite.
” The rest of my predictions :

The theme of the 92nd annual Academy Awards should be: “Congratulations to us!”
Hollywood loves movies about Hollywood — and films about successful or aspiring figures in the entertainment and media worlds.
Of this year’s 20 acting nominees, 11 are playing characters with showbiz or media ties: Leo and Brad as actor and stuntman in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Charlize and Margot as anchor and producer in “Bombshell,” Adam and Scarlett as theater director and actress in “Marriage Story,” Tom as a TV personality in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” Renee as an iconic singer-actress in “Judy,” etc., etc.
ACADEMY AWARDS BEAT THE CRITIC BEAT THE CRITIC Submit your Academy Awards predictions in our contest at suntimes.com/beatthecritic.
Heck, even Joaquin’s madman in “Joker” dreams of becoming a standup comedian and appears on a popular late-night talk show.
Hollywood’s love affair with itself no doubt will be a contributing factor to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences making an absolutely dreadful and wrongheaded choice for best actress, and I think you can see where I’m going with that one.
I’m also expecting the academy to make some safe and uninspired selections in a handful of other categories, to wit:
“Little Women” will win for best costume design even though it can’t be all that hard to come up with period-piece outfits for yet another version of this oft-told tale. The most creative work in this category was from the designers on “Jojo Rabbit,” who came up with hilariously colorful outfits mocking the strutting-peacock arrogance of wannabe Nazi leaders.
“Bombshell” will win the makeup and hair Oscar for the admittedly impressive transformation of Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman into Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson. But the makeup, in particular, in “Joker” was an integral factor in marking the title character’s descent from oddball eccentric to full-blown sociopath.
Joaquin Phoenix seems destined to be the best actor winner and deservedly so — but the makeup in “Joker” also should be recognized. Warner Bros.
The editing in “Parasite” was pure genius, but “Ford v Ferrari” will win because it’s easier to appreciate all those cool cuts of intense racing sequences.
On the upside, this could be one of the most unpredictable Oscars in recent memory. There’s at least a gambler’s outside chance of an upset in three of the four acting categories — and the best picture race, with a whopping nine contenders, is nearly as wide open as the Democratic presidential primary contest.
With three weeks until the Feb. 9 Oscars, here’s my look at the competition, including predictions in all 24 categories:
Best supporting actress
Laura Dern is a likely best supporting actress winner for her performance as a lawyer representing a divorcing woman (Scarlett Johansson) in “Marriage Story.” Netflix
Nominated: Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell,” Laura Dern, “Marriage Story,” Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit,” Florence Pugh, “Little Women,” and Margot Robbie, “Bombshell.”
Pugh gave a breakout performance in “Little Women.” Robbie continued to burnish her already impressive resume as the emotional center of “Bombshell.” Bates took what could have been a cliched depiction of a middle-class, middle-aged American mom in “Richard Jewell” and turned it into something heartbreaking and special. Johansson did the best work of her career in “Jojo Rabbit,” striking just the right notes as a young German mother working for the resistance in World War II. But this is Dern’s year. And while it’s just my second-favorite performance in this group, the margin is razor-thin, and I’ll join all those in applauding Dern’s well-deserved moment.
Will win: Laura Dern.
Should win: Scarlett Johansson.
Best supporting actor
Nominated: Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes,” Al Pacino, “The Irishman,” Joe Pesci, “The Irishman,” and Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Talk about a Mount Rushmore of iconic names. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more star-laden group of nominees in any acting category this century.
One could make the case for any of these performances taking the gold, but I think it’s a two-man race between Pesci and Pitt. I found Pesci’s chilling, low-key performance in “The Irishman” to be at least as impressive as his far more volatile gangster performances in “Goodfellas” and “Casino,” but Pitt did career-best work in “OUTIH.” The extended sequence at the Spahn Ranch was my favorite scene in any movie last year.
Will win: Brad Pitt.
Should win: Brad Pitt.
Best actress
In the best actress race, the momentum is behind Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland in “Judy.” Roadside Attractions
Nominated: Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet,” Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story,” Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women,” Charlize Theron, “Bombshell,” and Renée Zellweger, “Judy.”
There’s no denying the effort and energy that Zellweger poured into her portrayal of Judy Garland in a hokey, overwrought biopic — but I still think it was more impersonation than full performance.
Doesn’t matter. Just as Rami Malek was the preordained best actor winner last year for the even cornier and cheesier Freddy Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Zellweger is the biggest favorite, by far, in any major category this year.
Will win: Renee Zellweger.
Should win: Charlize Theron.
Best actor
Nominated: Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory,” Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Adam Driver, “Marriage Story,” Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker,” and Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes.”
DiCaprio was so funny and vulnerable and touching in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” but he’s already got a gold trophy for “The Revenant.” Banderas in “Pain and Glory” and Pryce in “The Two Popes” fall into the time-honored category of “fine performances by beloved actors with no real chance of winning.”
Driver solidified his standing as arguably the most in-demand actor of his generation with his scalding and raw work in “Marriage Story” — but his Oscar moment will come another day.
Joker wins the hand.
Will win: Joaquin Phoenix.
Should win: Joaquin Phoenix.
Best picture
“1917,” starring Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay, is the sort of prestige project the academy loves to honor as best picture. Universal Pictures
Nominated: “Ford v Ferrari,” “The Irishman,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Joker,” “Little Women,” “Marriage Story,” “1917,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “Parasite.”
This stellar list of nominees reflects the overall strength of 2019 as arguably the best year of the decade for movies. It wouldn’t be an outrage if ANY of these titles took the crown — though I’d say “Ford v. Ferrari,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Little Women,” “Marriage Story” and “Joker” are the relative longshots.
I think it comes down to “1917” vs. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” (The academy will reward “Parasite” in the International Film category, and there’s probably too much old-school resentment of Netflix for “The Irishman.”) Don’t be surprised if “1917,” one of the best films ever made about World War I, comes on top, as the academy loves these types of serious, prestige projects.
But not quite as much as they love those movies about themselves.
Will win: “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Should win: A four-way tie between “OUATIH,” “The Irishman,” “1917” and “Parasite.”
The rest of my predictions:
Best director
Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite.”
Adapted screenplay
“Little Women.”
Original screenplay
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Cinematography
“1917.”
Costume Design
“Little Women.”
Editing
“Ford v Ferrari.”
Makeup and hairstyling
“Bombshell.”
Original score
“1917.”
Original Song
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocketman.”
Production design
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Sound editing
“1917.”
Sound mixing
“1917.”
Visual effects
“Avengers: Endgame.”
Animated feature
“Toy Story 4.”
Documentary
“American Factory.”
International film
“Parasite.”
Animated short
“Hair Love.”
Documentary short
“Learning to Skateboard.”
Live action short
“A Sister.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Yoga exercises can help with digestion, bloating

If you feel bloated or full after lunch at work , and you ’ re stuck at your desk , you may think the only thing you can do is sit it out and wait until your stomach settles down .
Or , maybe you pop an over-the-counter pill to help aid in digestion , or take digestive enzymes .
Regardless , if you ’ re looking for a better digestion boost , you can incorporate the following yoga poses into your afternoon to help get things moving and reduce gas and bloating .
These poses can be done after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them each for 5 breaths .
You ’ ll breathe in and out through your nose to help calm and soothe the body .
Twists help improve digestion because they compress and then release the digestive track and the intestines .
Sometimes the digestive system can become stagnant , so bringing fresh blood into this area of the body will help with digestion .
To perform a seated twist , start by sitting up nice and tall at your desk , relax your shoulders and pull your naval in toward your spine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hold this position for 5 breaths .
Then switch to the left .
Compressing your stomach can also help improve digestion and get things moving .
Simply hug your right knee into your chest and hold for 5 breaths .
As you breathe out , allow your knee to come in further into your stomach .
Then switch and hug the left knee in towards your chest .
You can also bring both knees into your chest .
This pose is good for releasing gas , too .
Finally , to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can move into Child ’ s Pose .
If you ’ re sitting at your desk , simply round forward and reach your arms in front of you onto your desk .
Allow your low back to relax and breathe deeply .
As you breathe in , you want to fill up your stomach so that it presses against your legs .
As you breathe out , think about your stomach becoming smaller and moving away from the legs .
Stay here for 5 breaths .
If you are on the floor or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll come down onto your knees and open the knees wide .
Then gently shift back so that your glutes are reaching over your heels .
Extend your arms out in front of you and relax the shoulders .
Breathe for 5 deep breaths .
Stephanie Mansour wants you to ‘ “ step up ” your fitness regimen .
Mansour coaches private clients in weight loss , provides fitness/health/lifestyles advice on national TV shows , and offers her free 21 Day Challenge online .
Check out her fitness tips every Sunday in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And visit her website at stepitupwithsteph.com .

If you feel bloated or full after lunch at work, and you’re stuck at your desk, you may think the only thing you can do is sit it out and wait until your stomach settles down.
Or, maybe you pop an over-the-counter pill to help aid in digestion, or take digestive enzymes. Regardless, if you’re looking for a better digestion boost, you can incorporate the following yoga poses into your afternoon to help get things moving and reduce gas and bloating.
These poses can be done after every meal, and focus on holding them each for 5 breaths. You’ll breathe in and out through your nose to help calm and soothe the body.
Seated Twist
Stephanie Mansour in the final position of a twisting chair pose, part of her yoga detox workout. Brian Ernst/Sun-Times
Twists help improve digestion because they compress and then release the digestive track and the intestines.
Sometimes the digestive system can become stagnant, so bringing fresh blood into this area of the body will help with digestion.
To perform a seated twist, start by sitting up nice and tall at your desk, relax your shoulders and pull your naval in toward your spine. Then, slowly rotate to the right and hold this position for 5 breaths. Then switch to the left.
Single Knee Hug
Stephanie Mansour in final position of a single knee hug, part of her yoga for digestion workout. Brian Ernst/Sun-Times
Compressing your stomach can also help improve digestion and get things moving.
Simply hug your right knee into your chest and hold for 5 breaths. As you breathe out, allow your knee to come in further into your stomach. Then switch and hug the left knee in towards your chest. You can also bring both knees into your chest. This pose is good for releasing gas, too.
Child’s Pose
Health and fitness expert Stephanie Mansour in child’s pose, part of her yoga for digestion workout. Brian Ernst/Sun-Times
Finally, to help release gas and reduce bloating, you can move into Child’s Pose.
If you’re sitting at your desk, simply round forward and reach your arms in front of you onto your desk. Allow your low back to relax and breathe deeply. As you breathe in, you want to fill up your stomach so that it presses against your legs. As you breathe out, think about your stomach becoming smaller and moving away from the legs. Stay here for 5 breaths.
If you are on the floor or on a yoga mat, you’ll come down onto your knees and open the knees wide. Then gently shift back so that your glutes are reaching over your heels. Extend your arms out in front of you and relax the shoulders. Breathe for 5 deep breaths.
Stephanie Mansour wants you to ‘“step up” your fitness regimen. Mansour coaches private clients in weight loss, provides fitness/health/lifestyles advice on national TV shows, and offers her free 21 Day Challenge online. Check out her fitness tips every Sunday in the Well section of the Chicago Sun-Times. And visit her website at stepitupwithsteph.com.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Chicago high school basketball scores: Friday, Jan. 17, 2020

‘ Windy City Rehab ’ host says she ’ ll buy back home from unhappy couple that sued her , @ @ @ @ @ of the $ 1.36 million Lincoln Square home have sued Alison Victoria and her partner @ @ @ @ @ plagued with problems .

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--2020-01-17--Chicago high school basketball scores: Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Man reported missing from South Shore found safe

5 wounded , including 3 children , in shooting at an East Garfield Park barbershop Three boys , ages 11 @ @ @ @ @ were taken to Stroger Hospital , where their conditions were stabilized .


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Trump brings in experienced legal team for impeachment defense

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has assembled a made-for-TV legal team for his Senate trial that includes household names like Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr , the prosecutor whose investigation two decades ago resulted in the impeachment of Bill Clinton .
The additions on Friday bring experience in the politics of impeachment as well as constitutional law to the team , which faced a busy weekend of deadlines for legal briefs and other documents before opening arguments begin on Tuesday .
The two new Trump attorneys are already nationally known both for their involvement in some of the more consequential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their regular appearances on Fox News , the president ’ s preferred television network .
Dershowitz , a former Harvard professor , is a constitutional expert whose expansive views of presidential powers echo those of Trump .
Starr is a veteran of partisan battles in Washington , having led the investigation into Clinton ’ s affair with a White House intern that brought the president ’ s impeachment by the House .
Clinton was acquitted at his Senate trial , the same outcome Trump is expecting from the Republican-led chamber .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s defense will be played by White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow , who also represented Trump during special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s Russia investigation .
There are some signs of tension between the president ’ s outside legal team and lawyers within the White House .
The White House would not confirm the fuller roster of the president ’ s lawyers Friday , and some officials there bristled that the announcement was not coordinated with them .
A legal brief laying out the contours of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , was still being drafted , with White House attorneys and the outside legal team grappling over how political the document should be .
Those inside the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that the pleadings must be sensitive to the Senate ’ s more staid traditions and leave the sharper rhetoric to Twitter and cable news .
White House lawyers were successful in keeping Trump from adding House Republicans to the team , but they also advised him against tapping Dershowitz , according to two people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal discussions .
They ’ re concerned because of the professor ’ s association with Jeffrey Epstein , the millionaire who killed himself in jail last summer while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges .
Dershowitz confirmed his role in a series of tweets on Friday , saying , he would “ present oral arguments at the Senate trial to address the constitutional arguments against impeachment and removal.
” Dershowitz said of himself : “ While Professor Dershowitz is nonpartisan when it comes to the Constitution — he opposed the impeachment of President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — he believes the issues at stake go to the heart of our enduring Constitution.
” A Fox News host said on the air that Starr would be parting ways with the network as a result of his role on the legal team .
Other members of Trump ’ s legal defense include Pam Bondi , the former Florida attorney general ; Jane Raskin , who was part of the president ’ s legal team during Mueller ’ s investigation , and Robert Ray , who was part of the Whitewater investigation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House last month on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress , stemming from his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic rivals as he was withholding security aid , and his efforts to block the ensuing congressional probe .
Senators were sworn in as jurors on Thursday by Chief Justice John Roberts .
The president insists he did nothing wrong , and he complains about his treatment daily , sometimes distracting from unrelated events .
On Friday , as Trump welcomed the championship LSU football team to the Oval Office for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen “ a lot of presidents , some good , some not so good .
But you got a good one now , even though they ’ re trying to impeach the son of a bitch .
Can you believe that ?
” While the president speaks dismissively of the case , new revelations are mounting about his actions toward Ukraine .
The Government Accountability Office said Thursday that the White House violated federal law in withholding the security assistance to Ukraine , which shares a border with hostile Russia .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , Lev Parnas , has turned over to prosecutors new documents linking the president to the shadow foreign policy being run by Giuliani .
The voluble Giuliani is not expected to play a formal role on the impeachment defense legal team , according to one official .
The GAO report and Parnas documents have applied fresh pressure to senators to call more witnesses for the trial , a main source of contention that is still to be resolved .
The White House has instructed officials not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses or other information .
Views on it all are decidedly mixed in the Senate , reflective of the nation at the start of this election year .
“ I ’ ll be honest , a lot of us do see it as a political exercise , ” Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa told reporters on a conference call .
“ The whole process has really been odd or unusual or bizarre in some mannerisms .
... ” Others spoke of the seriousness of the moment .
“ Totally somber , ” tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sits next to Sen. Elizabeth Warren , one of four senators running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump in the fall , and said they agreed their “ overwhelming emotion was sadness.
” All said they will be listening closely to all arguments .
As she filed for re-election Friday in West Virginia , GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito told reporters , “ I think it ’ s been a very politicized process to this point and the president hasn ’ t had a chance to present his side.
” Starr , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is a former U.S. solicitor general and federal circuit court judge .
More recently , he was removed as president of Baylor University and then resigned as chancellor of the school in the wake of a review critical of the university ’ s handling of sexual assault allegations against football players .
Starr said his resignation was the result of the university ’ s board of regents seeking to place the school under new leadership following the scandal , not because he was accused of hiding or failing to act on information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaged in recent years by his association with Epstein .
One of Epstein ’ s alleged victims , Virginia Roberts Giuffre , has accused Dershowitz of participating in her abuse .
Dershowitz has denied it and has been battling in court for years with Giuffre and her lawyers .
He recently wrote a book rejecting her allegations , called “ Guilt by Accusation.
” Giuffre and Dershowtiz are also suing each other for defamation , each saying the other is lying .

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has assembled a made-for-TV legal team for his Senate trial that includes household names like Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr, the prosecutor whose investigation two decades ago resulted in the impeachment of Bill Clinton.
The additions on Friday bring experience in the politics of impeachment as well as constitutional law to the team, which faced a busy weekend of deadlines for legal briefs and other documents before opening arguments begin on Tuesday.
The two new Trump attorneys are already nationally known both for their involvement in some of the more consequential legal dramas of recent American history and for their regular appearances on Fox News, the president’s preferred television network.
In this Feb. 22, 2018 file photo, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaks to reporters outside the West Wing in Washington. President Donald Trump’s legal team will include Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr, the former independent counsel who led the Whitewater investigation into President Bill Clinton, according to a person familiar with the matter. AP
Dershowitz, a former Harvard professor, is a constitutional expert whose expansive views of presidential powers echo those of Trump. Starr is a veteran of partisan battles in Washington, having led the investigation into Clinton’s affair with a White House intern that brought the president’s impeachment by the House. Clinton was acquitted at his Senate trial, the same outcome Trump is expecting from the Republican-led chamber.
Still, the lead roles for Trump’s defense will be played by White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, who also represented Trump during special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
There are some signs of tension between the president’s outside legal team and lawyers within the White House. The White House would not confirm the fuller roster of the president’s lawyers Friday, and some officials there bristled that the announcement was not coordinated with them.
In this Dec. 2, 2019 file photo, Attorney Alan Dershowitz leaves federal court, in New York. President Donald Trump’s legal team will include former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr, the former independent counsel who led the Whitewater investigation into President Bill Clinton, according to a person familiar with the matter. The team will also include Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general. AP
A legal brief laying out the contours of the Trump defense, due at noon on Monday, was still being drafted, with White House attorneys and the outside legal team grappling over how political the document should be. Those inside the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that the pleadings must be sensitive to the Senate’s more staid traditions and leave the sharper rhetoric to Twitter and cable news.
White House lawyers were successful in keeping Trump from adding House Republicans to the team, but they also advised him against tapping Dershowitz, according to two people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions. They’re concerned because of the professor’s association with Jeffrey Epstein, the millionaire who killed himself in jail last summer while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Dershowitz confirmed his role in a series of tweets on Friday, saying, he would “present oral arguments at the Senate trial to address the constitutional arguments against impeachment and removal.”
Dershowitz said of himself: “While Professor Dershowitz is nonpartisan when it comes to the Constitution — he opposed the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and voted for Hillary Clinton — he believes the issues at stake go to the heart of our enduring Constitution.”
In this May 8, 2014, file photo, then Baylor University President Ken Starr testifies at the House Committee on Education and Workforce on college athletes forming unions. in Washington. President Donald Trump’s legal team will include former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr, the former independent counsel who led the Whitewater investigation into President Bill Clinton, according to a person familiar with the matter. The team will also include Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general. AP
A Fox News host said on the air that Starr would be parting ways with the network as a result of his role on the legal team.
Other members of Trump’s legal defense include Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general; Jane Raskin, who was part of the president’s legal team during Mueller’s investigation, and Robert Ray, who was part of the Whitewater investigation of the Clintons.
Trump was impeached by the House last month on charges of abuse of power and obstructing Congress, stemming from his pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democratic rivals as he was withholding security aid, and his efforts to block the ensuing congressional probe.
Senators were sworn in as jurors on Thursday by Chief Justice John Roberts.
The president insists he did nothing wrong, and he complains about his treatment daily, sometimes distracting from unrelated events. On Friday, as Trump welcomed the championship LSU football team to the Oval Office for photos, he said the space had seen “a lot of presidents, some good, some not so good. But you got a good one now, even though they’re trying to impeach the son of a bitch. Can you believe that?”
While the president speaks dismissively of the case, new revelations are mounting about his actions toward Ukraine.
The Government Accountability Office said Thursday that the White House violated federal law in withholding the security assistance to Ukraine, which shares a border with hostile Russia.
At the same time, an indicted associate of Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Lev Parnas, has turned over to prosecutors new documents linking the president to the shadow foreign policy being run by Giuliani. The voluble Giuliani is not expected to play a formal role on the impeachment defense legal team, according to one official.
The GAO report and Parnas documents have applied fresh pressure to senators to call more witnesses for the trial, a main source of contention that is still to be resolved. The White House has instructed officials not to comply with subpoenas from Congress requesting witnesses or other information.
Views on it all are decidedly mixed in the Senate, reflective of the nation at the start of this election year.
“I’ll be honest, a lot of us do see it as a political exercise,” Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa told reporters on a conference call. “The whole process has really been odd or unusual or bizarre in some mannerisms. ...”
Others spoke of the seriousness of the moment.
“Totally somber,” tweeted Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut. He sits next to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of four senators running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump in the fall, and said they agreed their “overwhelming emotion was sadness.”
All said they will be listening closely to all arguments.
As she filed for re-election Friday in West Virginia, GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito told reporters, “I think it’s been a very politicized process to this point and the president hasn’t had a chance to present his side.”
Starr, besides his 1990s role as independent counsel, is a former U.S. solicitor general and federal circuit court judge.
More recently, he was removed as president of Baylor University and then resigned as chancellor of the school in the wake of a review critical of the university’s handling of sexual assault allegations against football players. Starr said his resignation was the result of the university’s board of regents seeking to place the school under new leadership following the scandal, not because he was accused of hiding or failing to act on information.
Dershowitz’s reputation has been damaged in recent years by his association with Epstein. One of Epstein’s alleged victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, has accused Dershowitz of participating in her abuse. Dershowitz has denied it and has been battling in court for years with Giuffre and her lawyers. He recently wrote a book rejecting her allegations, called “Guilt by Accusation.”
Giuffre and Dershowtiz are also suing each other for defamation, each saying the other is lying.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--With U of I tuition rising, Pritzker strikes deal so more low-income students can attend tuition-fre

With U of I tuition rising, Pritzker strikes deal so more low-income students can attend tuition-free

Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Friday announced a deal with the University of Illinois Board of Trustees to expand its free tuition program — just a day after the board voted to hike tuition for in-state freshmen .
The board on Thursday approved its first tuition increase in six years .
It means freshmen entering the university this fall would pay 1.8 % more to attend the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses and 1 % more to attend the Springfield campus .
It also included hikes in fees and room and board rates or up to 3.65 % .
Speaking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pritzker said he personally asked the board to expand its free tuition program for low-income families in light of the hike .
“ I asked them to lift the income threshold for the Illinois Commitment program by an additional 10 % , and they will institute this for the coming school year , ” Pritzker said .
“ That means now , more than half of the households in this state will qualify for free tuition.
” The program provides scholarships and grants to cover tuition and campus fees for students who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of up to $ 61,000 , which is considered to be the median income in the state , according to the university .
Room and board costs are not covered by the program .
The program will now include financial aid for family incomes of up to $ 67,000 , according to the governor ’ s office .
Pritzker said the change will be implemented this month .
“ People who are applying for the new school year , in the fall , will be able to access that 10 % increase , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said 30 % of students in the current freshman class , as well as new transfer students , were eligible for the Illinois Commitment program .
This academic year , the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has given out more than $ 100 million in aid — and alumni and donors have doled out another $ 17 million for scholarships .
Collectively , the three universities have given out about $ 230 million in aid a year , the university said .
The university said base tuition for in-state undergraduates next fall will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year in Urbana-Champaign ; by $ 192 to $ 10,776 in Chicago ; and by $ 97.50 to $ 9,502.50 in Springfield .
Costs for many programs , including business and life sciences , can be thousands of dollars higher .
Campus fees in Urbana will increase 2.5 % , to $ 3,162 per year , while Chicago ’ s fees will rise 1 % to $ 3,340 per year .
Undergraduate room-and-board costs in Urbana , based on the standard double-occupancy room and meal plan , will rise $ 394 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university said .
In Chicago , costs will increase $ 293 to $ 11,553 per year .
In Springfield , fees and room and board rates at Lincoln Hall , for example , will be unchanged .
U. of I .
President Tim Killeen — who on Thursday also saw his salary increased from $ 700,000 to $ 835,000 with a new four-year contract — said the change in tuition follows a five-year freeze for in-state undergraduates .
Killeen said it will provide a “ responsible level of support for a faculty hiring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality keeps pace with record-high enrollment .
”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday announced a deal with the University of Illinois Board of Trustees to expand its free tuition program — just a day after the board voted to hike tuition for in-state freshmen.
The board on Thursday approved its first tuition increase in six years. It means freshmen entering the university this fall will pay 1.8% more to attend the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses and 1% more to attend the Springfield campus. It also included hikes in fees and room and board rates of up to 3.65%.
Speaking at an unrelated bill signing in Chicago, Pritzker said he personally asked the board to expand its free tuition program for low-income families in light of the hike.
“I asked them to lift the income threshold for the Illinois Commitment program by an additional 10%, and they will institute this for the coming school year,” Pritzker said. “That means now, more than half of the households in this state will qualify for free tuition.”
The program provides scholarships and grants to cover tuition and campus fees for students who are Illinois residents and have a family income of up to $61,000, which is considered to be the median income in the state, according to the university. Room and board costs are not covered by the program.
The program will now include financial aid for family incomes of up to $67,000, according to the governor’s office.
Pritzker said the change will be implemented this month.
“People who are applying for the new school year, in the fall, will be able to access that 10% increase,” the governor said.
The university said 30% of students in the current freshman class, as well as new transfer students, were eligible for the Illinois Commitment program. This academic year, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has given out more than $100 million in aid — and alumni and donors have doled out another $17 million for scholarships. Collectively, the three universities have given out about $230 million in aid a year, the university said.
The university said base tuition for in-state undergraduates next fall will increase by $218 to $12,254 a year in Urbana-Champaign; by $192 to $10,776 in Chicago; and by $97.50 to $9,502.50 in Springfield. Costs for many programs, including business and life sciences, can be thousands of dollars higher.
Campus fees in Urbana will increase 2.5%, to $3,162 per year, while Chicago’s fees will rise 1% to $3,340 per year.
Undergraduate room-and-board costs in Urbana, based on the standard double-occupancy room and meal plan, will rise $394, to $11,168 per year, the university said. In Chicago, costs will increase $293 to $11,553 per year.
In Springfield, fees and room and board rates at Lincoln Hall, for example, will be unchanged.
U. of I. President Tim Killeen — who on Thursday also saw his salary increased from $700,000 to $835,000 with a new four-year contract — said the change in tuition follows a five-year freeze for in-state undergraduates. Killeen said it will provide a “responsible level of support for a faculty hiring initiative started this year to ensure academic quality keeps pace with record-high enrollment.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--In Chicago, yesterday’s reform is tomorrow’s reform

As any Chicagoan knows , the longer you hang around the railroad tracks , the more likely you are to see the train heading back from whence it came at full speed with the engine still on the same end — raising a question of whether it is going backward or forward .
We ’ re speaking metaphorically here , because as it happens , there are a number of items in the news right now that raise this very point .
I refer in particular to three stories that would seem to have nothing in common : • Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the practice of the state suspending driver ’ s licenses to punish people for unpaid parking tickets and such ; • Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle proposing to give herself and the board more power over the county ’ s hospital system ; and • New city Planning and Development Chief Maurice Cox emphasizing the need to return the long abandoned former U.S. Steel South Works site to some sort of industrial use instead of pushing for housing development as the solution .
As it happens , I ’ ve been hanging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point to have witnessed all three of those trains headed purposefully in the opposite direction .
Let ’ s start with the one where I ’ m fairly confident our elected leaders are now pointed in the right direction and moving forward .
That ’ s the legal change that does away with the overly-punitive practice of using driver ’ s license suspensions as the hammer to force Illinois residents to pay fines owed to local municipalities for parking violations and such .
From now on , suspensions will be reserved for moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can remember when these non-moving violation suspensions were enacted as a way to help local governments crack down on “ deadbeats.
” Over a period of time with the addition of late fees and interest , the practice morphed into a revenue generator for cash-strapped local governments looking to balance budgets .
And in the process , a lot of poor people were put in a position where they couldn ’ t afford to pay their fines , even if they wanted , then found themselves in even more serious legal jeopardy every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the store or the doctor .
As Pritzker explained , it was a practice that reinforced “ cycles of instability.
” State Sen. Omar Aquino , D-Chicago , was one of the chief sponsors of the new License to Work Act .
Aquino is 32 years old and has been a member of the legislature for fewer than four years at this point , so he wasn ’ t on the scene when these “ get-tough ” laws were enacted .
But he allowed that in discussing the measure with his fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they had probably voted previously in favor of the very practices he was now seeking to undo .
Back then , as I recall , lawmakers thought it was a logical way to get everyone to pay up , not fully appreciating the consequences .
Even now , I ’ m sure someone will argue the change will lead to a resurgence in “ deadbeats , ” although Aquino notes the city still has other enforcement methods it can use , including the Denver boot and vehicle impoundment .
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice of pounding the poor further into the dirt .
Now to the train whose direction leaves me uncertain : Preckwinkle ’ s plan to re-exert control over the county health system .
It was just over a decade ago that local leaders backed by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin came together to pry the Cook County Hospital , Provident Hospital and their related facilities out from under the direct control of the county ’ s politicians .
At the time , an unpopular Board President Todd Stroger was at the helm of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reform that placed the county ’ s public health system under the purview of an independent board .
Now Preckwinkle says she needs to have more control of that board for purposes of “ communication , accountability and transparency , ” in the process eliminating some of that independence .
It ’ s a definite case of reversing course , but remains to be seen whether it ’ s also a sensible one .
Then there ’ s that beautiful South Works site on the city ’ s south lakefront , 415 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A residential development , the emphasis in recent years , would look great .
So would anything that brings jobs to an area that once relied on the location as its economic engine , as others have sought .
Sometimes , though , you just have to get the train back on the tracks .

As any Chicagoan knows, the longer you hang around the railroad tracks, the more likely you are to see the train heading back from whence it came at full speed with the engine still on the same end — raising a question of whether it is going backward or forward.
We’re speaking metaphorically here, because as it happens, there are a number of items in the news right now that raise this very point.
I refer in particular to three stories that would seem to have nothing in common:
• Gov. J.B. Pritzker signing legislation to stop the practice of the state suspending driver’s licenses to punish people for unpaid parking tickets and such;
• Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle proposing to give herself and the board more power over the county’s hospital system; and
• New city Planning and Development Chief Maurice Cox emphasizing the need to return the long abandoned former U.S. Steel South Works site to some sort of industrial use instead of pushing for housing development as the solution.
As it happens, I’ve been hanging around the tracks long enough at this point to have witnessed all three of those trains headed purposefully in the opposite direction.
Let’s start with the one where I’m fairly confident our elected leaders are now pointed in the right direction and moving forward.
That’s the legal change that does away with the overly punitive practice of using driver’s license suspensions as the hammer to force Illinois residents to pay fines owed to local municipalities for parking violations and such.
From now on, suspensions will be reserved for moving violations, as originally intended.
I can remember when these non-moving violation suspensions were enacted as a way to help local governments crack down on “deadbeats.”
Over a period of time with the addition of late fees and interest, the practice morphed into a revenue generator for cash-strapped local governments looking to balance budgets.
And in the process, a lot of poor people were put in a position where they couldn’t afford to pay their fines, even if they wanted, then found themselves in even more serious legal jeopardy every time they needed to drive to work, the store or the doctor.
As Pritzker explained, it was a practice that reinforced “cycles of instability.”
State Sen. Omar Aquino, D-Chicago, was one of the chief sponsors of the new License to Work Act.
Aquino is 32 years old and has been a member of the legislature for fewer than four years at this point, so he wasn’t on the scene when these “get-tough” laws were enacted.
But he allowed that in discussing the measure with his fellow legislators he spoke with several who admitted they had probably voted previously in favor of the very practices he was now seeking to undo.
Back then, as I recall, lawmakers thought it was a logical way to get everyone to pay up, not fully appreciating the consequences.
Even now, I’m sure someone will argue the change will lead to a resurgence in “deadbeats,” although Aquino notes the city still has other enforcement methods it can use, including the Denver boot and vehicle impoundment.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has also been a proponent of stopping the practice of pounding the poor further into the dirt.
Now to the train whose direction leaves me uncertain: Preckwinkle’s plan to re-exert control over the county health system.
It was just over a decade ago that local leaders backed by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin came together to pry the Cook County Hospital, Provident Hospital and their related facilities out from under the direct control of the county’s politicians.
At the time, an unpopular Board President Todd Stroger was at the helm of the county, making it easier to approve a reform that placed the county’s public health system under the purview of an independent board.
Now Preckwinkle says she needs to have more control of that board for purposes of “communication, accountability and transparency,” in the process eliminating some of that independence.
It’s a definite case of reversing course but remains to be seen whether it’s also a sensible one.
Then there’s that beautiful South Works site on the city’s south lakefront, 415 acres begging for decades to be developed.
A residential development, the emphasis in recent years, would look great. So would anything that brings jobs to an area that once relied on the location as its economic engine, as others have sought.
Sometimes, though, you just have to get the train back on the tracks.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--George Ryan on Chicago Bears training camp move: ‘Time marches on’

Now that Da Bears announced this week they are hauling their training camp this summer back to the Chicago area ( Halas Hall in Lake Forest ) after an 18-year stint in downstate Bourbonnais , former Gov .
George Ryan had to chuckle .
“ Well , at least we ’ ve had the 18-year bragging rights for bringing the Chicago Bears downstate , ” chirped Ryan , who was hugely instrumental in the Bears moving their training camp from Wisconsin to his backyard stomping grounds near Kankakee in 2002 .
• Kickoff : Ryan ’ s success was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ M. Daley to renovate Soldier Field , which began in 2002 and completed in 20 months .
• Timeout : “ The guys on the team were good citizens , ” said Ryan .
“ Dr .
John Bowling , Olivet ’ s president , told me all the bikes they bought to drive around town and the campus — and all the TVs they bought for their rooms ... the guys gave away to the locals after practice was over each year , ” said Ryan .
“ They were terrific.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate to see this move happen , but I get it ... time marches on , ” added Ryan , who refused to verify old rumors the Bears managers loved the Olivet Nazarene University training in Bourbonnais because it would keep the players on campus and from rolling around bars .
“ I think we had an ideal training camp .
...
It wasn ’ t that far from home .
But business is business .
I get it , ” Ryan said .
So how does Ryan respond to reports fan engagement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of the move ?
“ Heck , I don ’ t know about that , ” said Ryan .
“ I just know I don ’ t remember ever going to watch the Bears training camp , but I could ’ ve gone once.
” It ’ s no secret the Brit tabloid press attempted to slice and dice Meghan Markle shortly after she became the wife of Prince Harry , younger brother of the heir to the throne of England .
It seems even her fingernails got thwacked .
One British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also known as the Duchess of Sussex , was guilty of breaking a major aristocratic rule of etiquette by wearing “ dark ” nail polish .
As racist and gross as that comment is — the Brit press goes bonkers over photographing imperial jewelry worn on the fingers of British royalty — especially those of former commoner Kate Middleton , who now sports the 12-carat oval blue sapphire engagement ring of the late legendary Princess Diana , mother of her husband , Prince William .
So in case you are wondering what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on stately duty , it ’ s a clear blush polish with the fingernail tips in clear view .
( They are also trimmed short and squared off . )
Now aren ’ t you glad you read Sneed .
It ’ s no secret Da Donald loves Twitter ... and apparently Twitter loves him back .
Sneed reported in January 2017 that President Donald Trump had 22.3 million Twitter followers a year after he was elected .
Now fast forward to January 2020 , and the president has racked up an additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s new total as of Thursday to a whopping 71.1 million !
While various analyses have claimed that between 20-55 percent of his followers aren ’ t real , that is still a ton of followers .
• Backshot : Back in 2017 , Trump only followed 41 others and had discarded basketball legend Earvin “ Magic ” Johnson from his list after he tweeted his support for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton .
• Upshot : The Trumpster now follows 47 Twitter users .
Get well wishes to Amy Ryan , wife of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son Homer ( George Jr. ) who had been recovering at UChicago Medicine from a stroke .
.
.
.
I spy : Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hosted a cancer fundraiser at TAO Chicago on Thursday .
.
.
.
Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp spotted at Chicago Cut .
.
.
.
A rare spot : Former Gov .
Jim Thompson lunching at Harry Caray ’ s eatery on Kinzie .
.
.
.
White Sox legend Ron Kittle at Harry Caray ’ s at Water Tower last Thursday .
.
.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Segel , 40 ; Kevin Costner , 65 ; and James Smith , the ageless father of new daughter Ava .
.
.
.
Sunday ’ s birthdays : Dolly Parton , 74 ; Shawn Johnson , 28 , and Shawn Wayans , 49 .

Go Bears!
Bye-bye and boo hoo Bourbonnais!
Now that Da Bears announced this week they are hauling their training camp this summer back to the Chicago area (Halas Hall in Lake Forest) after an 18-year stint in downstate Bourbonnais, former Gov. George Ryan had to chuckle.
“Well, at least we’ve had the 18-year bragging rights for bringing the Chicago Bears downstate,” chirped Ryan, who was hugely instrumental in the Bears moving their training camp from Wisconsin to his backyard stomping grounds near Kankakee in 2002.
Kickoff: Ryan’s success was the result of negotiations with former Mayor Richard M. Daley to renovate Soldier Field, which began in 2002 and completed in 20 months.
result of negotiations with former Mayor to renovate Soldier Field, which began in 2002 and completed in 20 months. Timeout: “The guys on the team were good citizens,” said Ryan. “Dr. John Bowling, Olivet’s president, told me all the bikes they bought to drive around town and the campus — and all the TVs they bought for their rooms ... the guys gave away to the locals after practice was over each year,” said Ryan. “They were terrific.”
Olivet’s president, told me all the bikes they bought to drive around town and the campus — and all the TVs they bought for their rooms ... the guys gave away to the locals after practice was over each year,” said Ryan. “They were terrific.” Down & out: “I hate to see this move happen, but I get it ... time marches on,” added Ryan, who refused to verify old rumors the Bears managers loved the Olivet Nazarene University training in Bourbonnais because it would keep the players on campus and from rolling around bars.
“I think we had an ideal training camp. ... It wasn’t that far from home. But business is business. I get it,” Ryan said.
So how does Ryan respond to reports fan engagement during training camp may decline as the result of the move?
“Heck, I don’t know about that,” said Ryan. “I just know I don’t remember ever going to watch the Bears training camp, but I could’ve gone once.”
(Yes, George, you sure did. Check out the photo!)
The Royal nails . . .
Blimey!
It’s no secret the Brit tabloid press attempted to slice and dice Meghan Markle shortly after she became the wife of Prince Harry, younger brother of the heir to the throne of England.
It seems even her fingernails got thwacked.
Yep.
One British journo who covers the royals declared Markle, also known as the Duchess of Sussex, was guilty of breaking a major aristocratic rule of etiquette by wearing “dark” nail polish.
As racist and gross as that comment is — the Brit press goes bonkers over photographing imperial jewelry worn on the fingers of British royalty — especially those of former commoner Kate Middleton, who now sports the 12-carat oval blue sapphire engagement ring of the late legendary Princess Diana, mother of her husband, Prince William.
Kate Middleton wears the engagement ring of Diana, Princess of Wales, Tuesday Nov. 16, 2010. The couple wed in 2011. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) AP
So in case you are wondering what nail polish is the royal preference while on stately duty, it’s a clear blush polish with the fingernail tips in clear view. (They are also trimmed short and squared off.)
Now aren’t you glad you read Sneed.
The numbers game . . .
Tally ‘em up.
It’s no secret Da Donald loves Twitter ... and apparently Twitter loves him back.
Sneed reported in January 2017 that President Donald Trump had 22.3 million Twitter followers a year after he was elected.
Now fast forward to January 2020, and the president has racked up an additional 48.8 million followers, bringing Trump’s new total as of Thursday to a whopping 71.1 million!
While various analyses have claimed that between 20-55 percent of his followers aren’t real, that is still a ton of followers.
Backshot: Back in 2017, Trump only followed 41 others and had discarded basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson from his list after he tweeted his support for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
from his list after he tweeted his support for presidential candidate Upshot: The Trumpster now follows 47 Twitter users.
Sneedlings . . .
Get well wishes to Amy Ryan, wife of former Gov. George Ryan’s son Homer (George Jr.) who had been recovering at UChicago Medicine from a stroke. . . . I spy: Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hosted a cancer fundraiser at TAO Chicago on Thursday. . . . Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp spotted at Chicago Cut. . . . A rare spot: Former Gov. Jim Thompson lunching at Harry Caray’s eatery on Kinzie. . . . White Sox legend Ron Kittle at Harry Caray’s at Water Tower last Thursday. . . . Saturday’s birthdays: Jason Segel, 40; Kevin Costner, 65; and James Smith, the ageless father of new daughter Ava. . . . Sunday’s birthdays: Dolly Parton, 74; Shawn Johnson, 28, and Shawn Wayans, 49.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--2 teens missing from Gage Park found safe


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--The Fran Spielman Show

The Fran Spielman Show

Join veteran City Hall reporter Fran Spielman as she interviews Chicago ’ s biggest movers and shakers .
Each week @ @ @ @ @ a local leader , politician or policymaker to get the inside scoop on the latest @ @ @ @

Join veteran City Hall reporter Fran Spielman as she interviews Chicago’s biggest movers and shakers. Each week, Fran sits down with a local leader, politician or policymaker to get the inside scoop on the latest news in Chicago.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-17--Brandon Saad ‘ready to go,’ could return for Blackhawks against Maple Leafs

TORONTO — Two days shy of a month since his ugly-looking ankle injury Dec. 19 in Winnipeg , the Blackhawks ’ Brandon Saad returned to full practice Friday .
He could potentially rejoin the lineup Saturday against the Maple Leafs .
“ I ’ m in good shape and ready to go , ” Saad said .
Coach Jeremy Colliton said Friday a decision hadn ’ t been made yet on Saad playing Saturday , but implied it is highly likely he will play at least one of the three remaining games before the All-Star break .
The 27-year-old forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any of his seven prior NHL seasons , so the 12-game-and-counting absence is an unfamiliar and not particularly pleasant experience .
“ It ’ s tough , sitting and watching from home , ” he said .
“ Mentally , the biggest thing is staying in the season .
Because you ’ re going to rink every day , you ’ re doing your rehab [ and ] you ’ re away from the guys , it almost feels like you ’ re in summer training or the season ’ s over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hockey to be played.
” The Hawks fared shockingly well without him , winning eight of those 12 games .
Saad was the other wing for the first weeks of the Jonathan Toews-Dominik Kubalik first line , too , and that duo has exploded even more — into one of the hottest in the league — without him .
Nevertheless , the Hawks will undoubtedly benefit from Saad ’ s return , as he had been arguably the team ’ s most reliable puck-carrier and chance-generator through the first two months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on-ice shot attempt ratio and ranks second ( behind Kubalik ) in on-ice scoring chance ratio .
“ He ’ s been great all year for us , ” Colliton said .
“ Really strong on the puck , and he can carry it from zone to zone .
It ’ s a big benefit to us defensively , just because when he does get it anywhere above the dots — in ‘ D ’ zone typically — it [ always ] does enter their end somehow .
That really helps us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
Doesn ’ t seem to matter who he plays with , he produces.
” That last point is important , because it seems unlikely Saad will rejoin the first line right now .
Colliton , in fact , called him “ a good piece to move around.
” The third-line wing alongside Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat , which has been occupied quietly by traditional center David Kampf , is one logical landing spot .
Drake Caggiula , who missed two months with his concussion , said his time off helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a way that he wouldn ’ t have had time for if healthy .
Saad didn ’ t enjoy as lengthy a period of practicing that Caggiula did , but was able to work on his upper-body strength .
“ You really don ’ t have that much time during the season , it ’ s more maintenance , so I feel strong , I feel good , ” Saad said .
“ And then getting back out on the ice , you ’ re working with the skills coach and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is different avenues , you just try to improve what you can.
” The morale impact of Saad ’ s return may be just as big as the tangible one , too .
“ We ’ ve made some great strides as a team , ” Toews said .
“ When we start getting some of our key guys back in the lineup — Saader being one of them — it ’ s only going to give us another boost.
” Note : The Hawks recalled 21-year-old rookie forward Brandon Hagel from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his NHL debut before the break .
“ [ We ] definitely brought him here with the intention that he would get in at some point , ” Colliton said .

TORONTO — Almost a month after his ugly-looking ankle injury Dec. 19 in Winnipeg, winger Brandon Saad returned to full practice Friday.
He could rejoin the Blackhawks’ lineup Saturday against the Maple Leafs.
“I’m in good shape and ready to go,” Saad said.
Coach Jeremy Colliton said a decision hadn’t been made but implied it’s highly likely he’ll play in at least one of the three games before the All-Star break.
Saad, 27, had never missed more than four games in any of his seven previous NHL seasons, so the 12-game-and-counting absence proved to be an unfamiliar — and not particularly pleasant — experience.
“It’s tough, sitting and watching from home,” he said. “Mentally, the biggest thing is staying in the season. You’re going to the rink every day, you’re doing your rehab [and] you’re away from the guys, so it almost feels like you’re in summer training or the season’s over. But there’s still lots of hockey to be played.”
The Hawks fared well without him, winning eight of those 12 games. Saad was the other wing for the first weeks of the Jonathan Toews-Dominik Kubalik first line, too, and that duo has erupted even more — into one of the hottest in the league — without him.
Nevertheless, the Hawks clearly will benefit from Saad’s return. He arguably had been the team’s most reliable puck-carrier and chance-generator through the first two months.
Saad still leads Hawks forwards in on-ice shot-attempt ratio and ranks second (behind Kubalik) in on-ice scoring-chance ratio.
“He’s been great all year,” Colliton said. “Really strong on the puck, and he can carry it from zone to zone. It’s a big benefit to us defensively, just because when he does get it anywhere above the dots — in ‘D’ zone typically — it [always] does enter their end somehow. That really helps us, and he’s been producing. No matter who he plays with, he produces.”
That last point is important because it seems unlikely that Saad will rejoin the first line. Colliton, in fact, called him “a good piece to move around.”
The third-line wing alongside Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat, which has been occupied quietly by traditional center David Kampf, is one logical landing spot.
Drake Caggiula, who missed two months with his concussion, said his time off helped him work on his game in a way that he wouldn’t have had time for if healthy. Saad didn’t enjoy as lengthy a period of practicing as Caggiula did, but he was able to work on his upper-body strength.
“You really don’t have that much time during the season — it’s more maintenance — so I feel strong, I feel good,” Saad said. “And then getting back out on the ice, you’re working with the skills coach and that aspect of the game. So it is different avenues; you just try to improve what you can.”
The impact on team morale that Saad’s return will have might be just as big as the tangible effect.
“We’ve made some great strides as a team,” Toews said. “When we start getting some of our key guys back in the lineup — [Saad] being one of them — it’s only going to give us another boost.”
Note: The Hawks recalled rookie forward Brandon Hagel, 21, from the AHL on Thursday. He could make his NHL debut before the break.
“[We] definitely brought him here with the intention that he would get in at some point,” Colliton said.


chicagosuntimes--2020-01-18--4 charged in connection with police chase on Lake Shore Drive and crash near McCormick Place

Four men have been charged in connection with a police chase Tuesday that ended with a crash near McCormick Place .
Carey Hinton , 27 , and Deonte Hill , 23 , each face two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon , a count of being in possession of a stolen vehicle , possession of more than 500 grams but less than 2,000 grams of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance , all felonies , Chicago police said .
Dezerhea McGee , 21 , and Isiah Space , 20 , each face one count of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , possession of more than 500 grams but less than 2,000 grams of marijuana , both felonies , as well as a misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing in a vehicle , police said .
Officers spotted a stolen vehicle speeding about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday and followed it on Lake Shore Drive , police said .
The vehicle then lost control and crashed into a barrier near McCormick Place .
Isiah Space tried to run from the crash , but was taken into custody , police said .
The other three men were taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were they were listed as being in serious-to-critical condition , Chicago fire officials said .
They have since been stabilized .
A search of the vehicle found weapons and drugs , police said .
All four men appeared in court for bail hearings Thursday and are due back in court again Jan. 21 , according to Cook County court records .
Space and Hill were released on recognizance bonds , while McGee was released after posting bail .
Hinton remains in custody on $ 15,000 bail , according to the Cook County sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

Four men have been charged in connection with a police chase Tuesday that ended with a crash near McCormick Place.
Carey Hinton, 27, and Deonte Hill, 23, each face two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, a count of being in possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of more than 500 grams but less than 2,000 grams of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance, all felonies, Chicago police said.
Dezerhea McGee, 21, and Isiah Space, 20, each face one count of being in possession of a controlled substance, possession of more than 500 grams but less than 2,000 grams of marijuana, both felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing in a vehicle, police said.
Isiah Space Chicago police
Officers spotted a stolen vehicle speeding about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday and followed it on Lake Shore Drive, police said. The vehicle then lost control and crashed into a barrier near McCormick Place.
Isiah Space tried to run from the crash, but was taken into custody, police said. The other three men were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center were they were listed as being in serious-to-critical condition, Chicago fire officials said. They have since been stabilized.
A search of the vehicle found weapons and drugs, police said.
All four men appeared in court for bail hearings Thursday and are due back in court again Jan. 21, according to Cook County court records. Space and Hill were released on recognizance bonds, while McGee was released after posting bail.
Hinton remains in custody on $15,000 bail, according to the Cook County sheriff’s office.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.