chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--‘Income Store’ owner indicted on wire fraud charge for alleged $75M Ponzi scheme

An Illinois man was indicted on a federal fraud charge for operating what authorities are calling a Ponzi scheme that raised $ 75 million .
A criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court accused Kenneth D. Courtright of committing wire fraud through his Monooka-based company , Today ’ s Growth Consultant Inc. , which also operated under a division named “ The Income Store.
” Courtright , who lives in Minooka , was arrested Wednesday and appeared in federal court the same day , according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Northern District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered him released on bond .
TGC , which claimed to build or acquire websites for investors , raised at least $ 75 million from more than 500 investors from January 2017 to October 2019 , according to prosecutors .
Federal officials said TGC promised investors returns of up to 20 % of their initial investment or 50 % or website revenues , but Courtright paid investors with money raised from later investors .
He is also accused of spending investors ’ money to pay his mortgage and a relative ’ s tuition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became unsustainable in December 2019 and the company notified investors of a moratorium on payments because of “ challenges and headwinds ” the business faced , according to the U.S. attorney ’ s office .
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ordered the company ’ s assets frozen on Dec. 30 , the Sun-Times previously reported .
If convicted , Courtright could face a up to 20 years in federal prison , prosecutors said .
Read more on crime , and track the city ’ s homicides .

An Illinois man was indicted on a federal fraud charge for operating what authorities are calling a Ponzi scheme that raised $75 million.
A criminal complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court accused Kenneth D. Courtright of committing wire fraud through his Monooka-based company, Today’s Growth Consultant Inc., which also operated under a division named “The Income Store.”
Courtright, who lives in Minooka, was arrested Wednesday and appeared in federal court the same day, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Jeffrey I. Cummings ordered him released on bond.
TGC, which claimed to build or acquire websites for investors, raised at least $75 million from more than 500 investors from January 2017 to October 2019, according to prosecutors.
Federal officials said TGC promised investors returns of up to 20% of their initial investment or 50% of website revenues, but Courtright paid investors with money raised from later investors.
He is also accused of spending investors’ money to pay his mortgage and a relative’s tuition, prosecutors said.
The scheme allegedly became unsustainable in December 2019 and the company notified investors of a moratorium on payments because of “challenges and headwinds” the business faced, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ordered the company’s assets frozen on Dec. 30, the Sun-Times previously reported.
If convicted, Courtright could face a up to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors said.
Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--Curie basketball coach Mike Oliver removed after allegation of physical altercation with student

Mike Oliver , the longtime boys basketball coach at Curie , has been removed from his position at the school according to Chicago Public Schools .
“ [ Oliver ] was removed from his position following an allegation of a physical altercation with a student , ” CPS spokesperson Michael Passman said in a statement .
“ The CPS Office of Student Protections and Title IX is investigating the allegation and ensuring supports are available to the student.
” The top-ranked Condors are 21-1 this season and have not lost to a school in Illinois .
They won the prestigious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Curie are the defending city champs and have won the city title six times under Oliver .
Oliver , a Curie grad and security officer at the school , led the Condors to the Class 4A state title in 2015-16 .
He was previously suspended by the IHSA in in 2016 and by the CPS in 2014 after an eligibility scandal .
Curie wasn ’ t expected to be among the state ’ s elite teams this season but has surpassed all expectations .
Even Oliver admitted he was surprised with his team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking defense first , ” Oliver said in December .
“ We also have recognized that we have a star [ in Ramean Hinton ] and are understanding our roles around him .
This is a very unselfish team.
” The Condors host Marshall in the second round of the Public League playoffs on Thursday .
Oliver did not coach Curie ’ s last three games , wins against Hazelwood Central , Mo.
, St. Louis Vashon and Harlan .
Assistant coach Larry Wallace has taken over the program .
Oliver and Curie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requests for comment .

Mike Oliver, the longtime boys basketball coach at Curie, has been removed from his position at the school, according to Chicago Public Schools.
“[Oliver] was removed from his position following an allegation of a physical altercation with a student,” CPS spokesperson Michael Passman said in a statement. “The CPS Office of Student Protections and Title IX is investigating the allegation and ensuring supports are available to the student.”
The top-ranked Condors are 21-1 and have not lost to a school in Illinois.
“It’s all false accusations,” Oliver said. “I haven’t done anything wrong. I was doing my job at Curie. That’s all I can say. I’m under investigation.”
Oliver, a Curie grad and security officer at the school, led the Condors to the Class 4A state title in 2015-16. He previously was suspended by the IHSA in 2016 and by CPS in 2014 after an eligibility scandal.
Oliver has compiled a 542-133 record in 27 seasons.
“I’ve worked for CPS in security for 27 years, and I’ve never had an allegation against me,” Oliver said. “I’ve never even had a write-up from a principal or a parent conference.”
The Condors host Marshall in the second round of the Public League playoffs Thursday. Oliver did not coach Curie’s last three games, wins against Hazelwood Central, Mo., St. Louis Vashon and Harlan.
Assistant coach Larry Wallace has taken over the program. Oliver has heard no timeline for when the investigation will be wrapped up.
“I haven’t talked to an investigator yet,” Oliver said. “They are just taking me away from something I like to do. It’s unfortunate I can’t be around the kids I love.”
Arthur Ray Jr. worked alongside Oliver last year when he was the football coach at Curie. He’s currently an assistant football coach at Northwood University.
“[Oliver] would never put his hands on a teenager,” Ray said. “He’s not that type of person. The kids enjoyed him. Even the kids we had incidents with respected him. Never in 100 years would he be that type of guy.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--Up to 5 inches of snowfall starts Wednesday evening in Chicago: forecasters

Snowfall that could drop up to five inches on the Chicago area started during the Wednesday evening commute and could @ @ @ @ @ forecasters said .
The total could be higher if a round of lake-effect snow hits @ @ @ @ @ according to the National Weather Service .
“ That ’ s the big question : @ @ @ @ @ get , ” weather service meteorologist Charles Mott said .
Snow started falling in the @ @ @ @ @ , according to the weather service .
The city deployed 211 plows to start clearing @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Department of Streets and Sanitation .
The Illinois Tollway deployed its @ @ @ @ @ by 5:15 p.m. , the agency said in a statement .
The snow will continue @ @ @ @ @ affect the Thursday morning commute , Mott said .
Totals between 3 and 5 inches @ @ @ @ @ time driving , and definitely pay attention to road conditions , ” Mott said .
@ @ @ @ @ snow there is , roads will be slippery .
”

Snowfall that could drop up to five inches on the Chicago area started during the Wednesday evening commute and could continue until Thursday evening, forecasters said.
The total could be higher if a round of lake-effect snow hits Thursday morning or afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
“That’s the big question: how much snow Chicago will get,” weather service meteorologist Charles Mott said.
Accumulating snow has already begun across portions of the area this afternoon. Snow rates in excess of 0.5 inches per hour continue to be possible under the heavier snow bands. Hazardous driving conditions are ongoing and remain possible through the evening commute. #ILwx #INwx pic.twitter.com/Rn3uKdMtCm — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) February 5, 2020
Snow started falling in the Chicago area after 4 p.m., according to the weather service.
The city deployed 211 plows to start clearing arterial streets about 5 p.m., according to the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
The Illinois Tollway deployed its full fleet of 196 snowplows by 5:15 p.m., the agency said in a statement.
The snow will continue through the night and probably affect the Thursday morning commute, Mott said. Totals between 3 and 5 inches are expected
“Take your time driving, and definitely pay attention to road conditions,” Mott said. “No matter how much snow there is, roads will be slippery.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--Kirk Douglas, Hollywood legend who starred in ‘Spartacus,’ dies at 103

Kirk Douglas , a Hollywood legend whose film credits include “ Spartacus , ” “ Lust for Life ” and “ Champion , ’ has died .
He was 103 .
According to reports , the actor , who suffered a stroke in 1996 but continued to act and had been in relatively good health , died today .
The news was confirmed by his son , actor Michael Douglas , in statement to media outlets : “ It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a legend , an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years , a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.
” The Oscar-nominated actor liked to refer to himself as “ the ragman ’ s son , ” but to most people the cleft-chinned Douglas was the epitome of an old-fashioned movie star .
The chiseled-featured actor with the winning smile left a legacy of dignity , grace and talent in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite a severe stroke in 1996 at aged 85 , which severely affected his ability to speak .
He continued to be a vibrant Hollywood voice — flirting with Anne Hathaway during the 2011 Oscars as well as continuing to write books .
He was married to his second wife , Anne , for more than 60 years .
“ She was the most difficult woman I ever met , ” Douglas told USA TODAY in April 2017 , with Anne chuckling by his side .
( She famously turned the A-lister down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preferring to go home and make herself scrambled eggs . )
It was the German-born Belgian Anne who inspired a lifetime of art collecting , and who also helped clean up Douglas ’ messy finances after they met in 1953 .
“ I think romance begins at 80 , ” he told USA TODAY .
“ And I ought to know , because I live with a girl who would tell you so !
” He romanced his wife into his late 90s .
“ Of course !
I send her a note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She likes that.
” In August 2012 , the rugged star of 1960 ’ s “ Spartacus ” was able to see a restored version of the classic film , 42 years after it was originally released in theaters .
But he was alone on the stage to talk about the film , having outlived his Hollywood contemporaries .
“ If you die young , you have a chance to be a hero , ” he told USA TODAY at the time .
“ If you die of old age , most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong on that point .
The legendary actor and father of actor Michael Douglas was never forgotten .
During a photo shoot for Paramount studio ’ s 100th anniversary , Douglas was one of the most sought-after stars in a galaxy that included everyone from George Clooney to Justin Bieber .
“ Everybody came by to pay respects , ” Douglas said .
“ I felt like a king.
” Clooney would go on to write the forward to Douglas ’ 2012 book ” I Am Spartacus !
Making a Film , Breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his role in overcoming the dreaded communist blacklist of his era .
“ Kirk Douglas is many things .
A movie star .
An actor .
A producer , ” Clooney wrote .
“ But he is , first and foremost , a man of extraordinary character … the kind we always look for at our darkest hour.
” Douglas ’ 1988 autobiography , ” The Ragman ’ s Son ” ( referring to his Russian-Jewish ancestry ) attests to his lean early years growing up in a New York ghetto , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Issur Danielovitch Demsky in 1916 , he nearly drowned at 5 .
It was one of a few close calls the actor had over the years ; in 1991 , a helicopter he was riding in crashed into a small plane .
He suffered a compressed spine .
But Douglas laughed easily when he spoke of death , attributing his easy sense of humor to his mother , whom he quoted on the subject of dying : “ Don ’ t be afraid .
It happens to everyone.
” Though best known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including 2002 ’ s “ A Stroke of Luck , ” in which he chronicled how he beat depression after suffering a stroke and found salvation in his wife , Anne , his family , and in returning to work .
He said he wrote it hoping to help other stroke survivors .
“ Maybe it will help others to deal with depression , ” he said .
After his stroke , with his characteristic trademark self-deprecating humor , he wrote : “ All I could do was babble like a baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech therapist and in a few months I could talk as well as my three-year-old granddaughter , Kelsey.
” Writing the book clearly had a cathartic effect on Douglas .
The following year he starred in one of his final films , ” It Runs in the Family , ” a story of a dysfunctional family living in New York .
The title might also have referred to the acting bug .
The movie starred Douglas , his actor-producer son , Michael , his grandson Cameron and his ex-wife , Diana Dill Douglas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Douglas writes “ I have been so lucky to be an actor .
It has given me fame , money and satisfaction.
” His ascension up the Hollywood ranks came after his athletic college years at St. Lawrence University , where he was a wrestling champion .
Following his graduation , Douglas won an acting scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts .
His first stop was Broadway , followed by a stint in the Navy during World War II .
After the war , he returned to the theater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He married Dill in 1943 , with whom he had two sons , Michael and Joel .
They were divorced in 1951 and he married the Belgian-born Anne Buydens in 1954 , with whom he had two more sons , Peter and Eric .
Eric died in 2004 .
Douglas ’ movie career began after fellow classmate Lauren Bacall urged producer Hal Wallis to give Douglas a screen test .
The test went so well that he was cast in the lead role in 1946 ’ s “ The Strange Love of Martha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of kudos for that performance , he went on to make “ I Walk Alone ” with another future screen legend , Burt Lancaster .
Their chemistry was so potent that they made seven films together , including the western “ Gunfight at the O.K .
Corral ” ( 1957 ) and the political thriller “ Seven Days in May ” ( 1964 ) .
Their last collaboration was in the gangster comedy “ Tough Guys ” in 1986 .
Though they were good pals , Douglas joked at one point : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burt Lancaster .
My luck has changed for the better .
I ’ ve got nice-looking girls in my films now.
” His busiest decades were the ’ 50s and ’ 60s .
Douglas was nominated for an Oscar in 1952 1953 for “ The Bad and the Beautiful ” and again in 1957 for his portrayal of Van Gogh in ” Lust for Life.
” In the following few years he would take on his pivotal roles , as Colonel Dax in the anti-war epic “ Paths of Glory ” ( 1957 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roman empire in “ Spartacus ” ( 1960 ) .
Douglas executive-produced “ Spartacus ” and detailed in his 2011 book , “ I am Spartacus , ” how he was instrumental in breaking the Hollywood blacklist by insisting blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo be given the proper credit for his screenplay .
It was an experience detailed in the 2015 film ” Trumbo , ” starring Bryan Cranston .
” When I hired Dalton Trumbo to write “ Spartacus ” under the pseudonym Sam Jackson , we all had been employing the blacklisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am Spartacus.
” “ It was an open secret and an act of hypocrisy , as well as a way to get the best talent at bargain prices .
I hated being part of such a system.
” He remained busy in the 1960s , starring in a host of films including “ Lonely Are the Brave ” ( 1962 ) in which he played an outlaw cowboy in a contemporary setting , a part he said he considers his best performance , and co-starred with John Wayne in the World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Way ” ( 1965 ) and in the comedy/western “ The War Wagon ” ( 1967 ) .
Douglas had his share of missteps .
He starred in a couple of bombs , including the loopy western “ The Villain ” ( 1979 ) with Arnold Schwarzenegger and ( 1980 ) with Farrah Fawcett .
” I have made almost 90 pictures , ” Douglas said .
“ Lots of them are bad .
Fortunately , I forget the bad pictures.
” He remained a staunch Luddite as he got older .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have a cellphone .
I don ’ t even have a watch , ” Douglas told USA TODAY in 2015 .
“ My wife insisted on buying me a computer .
I know nothing about computers .
But one thing : I love having a place to play solitaire .
I play all the time.
” On his 100th birthday , Anne gifted him his first iPad , and the milestone was celebrated with a starry bash in Beverly Hills , with Steven Spielberg and Don Rickles among the guests present .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ work and was a goodwill ambassador for the U.S. State Department since 1963 .
Nearly two decades later he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the French bestowed him with the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor .
He dedicated a Tel Aviv playground in honor of Yitzhak Rabin , then prime minister of Israel .
But he didn ’ t play favorites .
Douglas was also a friend of King Hussein of Jordan .
Closer to home , he rehabilitated dilapidated playgrounds in inner-city Los Angeles and raised $ 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the hospital for retired Motion Picture Academy workers .
It was named Harry ’ s Haven , after Douglas ’ father .
“ Somebody complained that that made it sound like a saloon , ” he said .
“ That would have made my father very happy , because he used to spend a lot of time in saloons.
” At age 99 , he and Anne donated an additional $ 15 million toward an Alzheimer ’ s care center , bringing their total donations to the Motion Picture & Television Fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he reflected on his charitable efforts .
“ I have given most of my money away because that pleases me , ” he told Variety .
“ I was born a poor boy .
My mother and father came from Russia ; I don ’ t think they could have gotten into the country today .
So I have a lot to be thankful for.
” Perhaps it was this sensitivity to those in need that informed his nuanced performances .
He once said : “ When I play a strong character @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some weakness , and when I play a weak character , I search for some strength.
” Whether playing good guys or bad , he was always convincing and his portrayals consistently powerful .
A devout Jew , after his stroke , Douglas studied the Bible and began to read in depth about Judaism .
Though he had celebrated his bar mitzvah at the traditional age of 13 , he decided to celebrate it again at 83 .
He had learned to read Hebrew as a child .
“ But I never understood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Douglas , who also spoke German and French .
In “ Stroke of Luck , ” Douglas urged readers to seek out prayer .
“ Pray , however you perceive that higher power to be .
Pray , it will help you , ” he wrote , adding that on the Sabbath he prayed over candles in antique candlesticks his mother brought over from Russia .
“ In doing that , I am reminded of my mother , I feel closer to God , to my family and I have increased The Light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Douglas is survived by his wife , Anne , and his sons Michael , Joel , and Peter .

Kirk Douglas, a Hollywood legend whose film credits include “Spartacus,” “Lust for Life” and “Champion,’ has died. He was 103.
According to reports, the actor, who suffered a stroke in 1996 but continued to act and had been in relatively good health, died today. The news was confirmed by his son, actor Michael Douglas, in statement on Instagram, which read in part:
“It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103. To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.”
Jean Simmons and Kirk Douglas in a scene from the iconic 1960 film “Spartacus.” File Photo
The Oscar-nominated actor liked to refer to himself as “the ragman’s son,” but to most people the cleft-chinned Douglas was the epitome of an old-fashioned movie star. The chiseled-featured actor with the winning smile left a legacy of dignity, grace and talent in the wake of his death.
Douglas thrived despite a severe stroke in 1996 at aged 85, which severely affected his ability to speak. He continued to be a vibrant Hollywood voice — flirting with Anne Hathaway during the 2011 Oscars as well as continuing to write books.
He was married to his second wife, Anne, for more than 60 years. “She was the most difficult woman I ever met,” Douglas told USA TODAY in April 2017, with Anne chuckling by his side. (She famously turned the A-lister down for dinner when they first met, preferring to go home and make herself scrambled eggs.)
It was the German-born Belgian Anne who inspired a lifetime of art collecting, and who also helped clean up Douglas’ messy finances after they met in 1953.
“I think romance begins at 80,” he told USA TODAY. “And I ought to know, because I live with a girl who would tell you so!” He romanced his wife into his late 90s. “Of course! I send her a note, and put it on her pillow. She likes that.”
In August 2012, the rugged star of 1960’s “Spartacus” was able to see a restored version of the classic film, 42 years after it was originally released in theaters. But he was alone on the stage to talk about the film, having outlived his Hollywood contemporaries.
“If you die young, you have a chance to be a hero,” he told USA TODAY at the time. “If you die of old age, most of us are forgotten.”
He was wrong on that point. The legendary actor and father of actor Michael Douglas was never forgotten. During a photo shoot for Paramount studio’s 100th anniversary, Douglas was one of the most sought-after stars in a galaxy that included everyone from George Clooney to Justin Bieber.
Actor Kirk Douglas and his wife, Anne, attend the premiere of “Hello Dolly” in 1969 in Los Angeles. Douglas died Wednesday at age 103. AP
“Everybody came by to pay respects,” Douglas said. “I felt like a king.”
Clooney would go on to write the forward to Douglas’ 2012 book ”I Am Spartacus! Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist,” where he described his role in overcoming the dreaded communist blacklist of his era.
“Kirk Douglas is many things. A movie star. An actor. A producer,” Clooney wrote. “But he is, first and foremost, a man of extraordinary character … the kind we always look for at our darkest hour.”
Douglas’ 1988 autobiography, ”The Ragman’s Son” (referring to his Russian-Jewish ancestry) attests to his lean early years growing up in a New York ghetto, the son of illiterate Russian immigrants. Born Issur Danielovitch Demsky in 1916, he nearly drowned at 5. It was one of a few close calls the actor had over the years; in 1991, a helicopter he was riding in crashed into a small plane. He suffered a compressed spine.
But Douglas laughed easily when he spoke of death, attributing his easy sense of humor to his mother, whom he quoted on the subject of dying: “Don’t be afraid. It happens to everyone.”
Though best known as an actor, Douglas wrote 12 books, including 2002’s “A Stroke of Luck,” in which he chronicled how he beat depression after suffering a stroke and found salvation in his wife, Anne, his family, and in returning to work.
He said he wrote it hoping to help other stroke survivors. “Maybe it will help others to deal with depression,” he said. After his stroke, with his characteristic trademark self-deprecating humor, he wrote: “All I could do was babble like a baby, but I worked hard with my speech therapist and in a few months I could talk as well as my three-year-old granddaughter, Kelsey.”
Michael Douglas greets his father Kirk Douglas on the red carpet as they arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party for the 84th Annual Academy Awards in 2012 in West Hollywood, California. Getty AFP/Getty Images
Writing the book clearly had a cathartic effect on Douglas. The following year he starred in one of his final films, ”It Runs in the Family,” a story of a dysfunctional family living in New York. The title might also have referred to the acting bug. The movie starred Douglas, his actor-producer son, Michael, his grandson Cameron and his ex-wife, Diana Dill Douglas.
In ”A Stroke of Luck,” Douglas writes “I have been so lucky to be an actor. It has given me fame, money and satisfaction.”
His ascension up the Hollywood ranks came after his athletic college years at St. Lawrence University, where he was a wrestling champion. Following his graduation, Douglas won an acting scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His first stop was Broadway, followed by a stint in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he returned to the theater and also performed in radio plays. He married Dill in 1943, with whom he had two sons, Michael and Joel.
They were divorced in 1951 and he married the Belgian-born Anne Buydens in 1954, with whom he had two more sons, Peter and Eric. Eric died in 2004.
Douglas’ movie career began after fellow classmate Lauren Bacall urged producer Hal Wallis to give Douglas a screen test. The test went so well that he was cast in the lead role in 1946’s “The Strange Love of Martha Ivers”. After receiving a host of kudos for that performance, he went on to make “I Walk Alone”with another future screen legend, Burt Lancaster. Their chemistry was so potent that they made seven films together, including the western “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” (1957) and the political thriller “Seven Days in May” (1964). Their last collaboration was in the gangster comedy “Tough Guys” in 1986.
Though they were good pals, Douglas joked at one point: “I’ve finally gotten away from Burt Lancaster. My luck has changed for the better. I’ve got nice-looking girls in my films now.”
His busiest decades were the ’50s and ’60s. Douglas was nominated for an Oscar in 1952 1953 for “The Bad and the Beautiful” and again in 1957 for his portrayal of Van Gogh in ”Lust for Life.” In the following few years he would take on his pivotal roles, as Colonel Dax in the anti-war epic “Paths of Glory” (1957) and as the leader of the Roman empire in “Spartacus” (1960).
Douglas executive-produced “Spartacus” and detailed in his 2011 book, “I am Spartacus,” how he was instrumental in breaking the Hollywood blacklist by insisting blacklisted writer Dalton Trumbo be given the proper credit for his screenplay. It was an experience detailed in the 2015 film ”Trumbo,” starring Bryan Cranston.
”When I hired Dalton Trumbo to write “Spartacus” under the pseudonym Sam Jackson, we all had been employing the blacklisted writers,” wrote Douglas in ”I am Spartacus.” “It was an open secret and an act of hypocrisy, as well as a way to get the best talent at bargain prices. I hated being part of such a system.”
He remained busy in the 1960s, starring in a host of films including “Lonely Are the Brave” (1962) in which he played an outlaw cowboy in a contemporary setting, a part he said he considers his best performance, and co-starred with John Wayne in the World War II drama ”In Harm’s Way” (1965) and in the comedy/western “The War Wagon” (1967).
Douglas had his share of missteps. He starred in a couple of bombs, including the loopy western “The Villain” (1979) with Arnold Schwarzenegger and (1980) with Farrah Fawcett.
”I have made almost 90 pictures,” Douglas said. “Lots of them are bad. Fortunately, I forget the bad pictures.”
He remained a staunch Luddite as he got older. “Technology frightens me. I don’t have a cellphone. I don’t even have a watch,” Douglas told USA TODAY in 2015. “My wife insisted on buying me a computer. I know nothing about computers. But one thing: I love having a place to play solitaire. I play all the time.”
On his 100th birthday, Anne gifted him his first iPad, and the milestone was celebrated with a starry bash in Beverly Hills, with Steven Spielberg and Don Rickles among the guests present.
Douglas was also known for his humanitarian work and was a goodwill ambassador for the U.S. State Department since 1963. Nearly two decades later he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the French bestowed him with the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. He dedicated a Tel Aviv playground in honor of Yitzhak Rabin, then prime minister of Israel.
But he didn’t play favorites. Douglas was also a friend of King Hussein of Jordan.
Closer to home, he rehabilitated dilapidated playgrounds in inner-city Los Angeles and raised $2 million for the Alzheimer’s wing at the hospital for retired Motion Picture Academy workers. It was named Harry’s Haven, after Douglas’ father. “Somebody complained that that made it sound like a saloon,” he said. “That would have made my father very happy, because he used to spend a lot of time in saloons.”
At age 99, he and Anne donated an additional $15 million toward an Alzheimer’s care center, bringing their total donations to the Motion Picture & Television Fund to $40 million.
At 100, he reflected on his charitable efforts. “I have given most of my money away because that pleases me,” he told Variety. “I was born a poor boy. My mother and father came from Russia; I don’t think they could have gotten into the country today. So I have a lot to be thankful for.”
Perhaps it was this sensitivity to those in need that informed his nuanced performances. He once said: “When I play a strong character in a movie, I search for some weakness, and when I play a weak character, I search for some strength.” Whether playing good guys or bad, he was always convincing and his portrayals consistently powerful.
A devout Jew, after his stroke, Douglas studied the Bible and began to read in depth about Judaism. Though he had celebrated his bar mitzvah at the traditional age of 13, he decided to celebrate it again at 83.
He had learned to read Hebrew as a child. “But I never understood what I was saying,” said Douglas, who also spoke German and French.
In “Stroke of Luck,” Douglas urged readers to seek out prayer.
“Pray, however you perceive that higher power to be. Pray, it will help you,” he wrote, adding that on the Sabbath he prayed over candles in antique candlesticks his mother brought over from Russia. “In doing that, I am reminded of my mother, I feel closer to God, to my family and I have increased The Light, even if only for a moment.”
Douglas is survived by his wife, Anne, and his sons Michael, Joel, and Peter.
Contributing: Andrea Mandell
Read more at usatoday.com


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--Trump acquitted, impeachment over; the danger of the Dershowitz doctrine

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial ended in an acquittal on Wednesday after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Robert said , “ Senators , how say you , ” and the Republicans in the Senate , except for one , rose to say “ not guilty.
” Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the only Republican to breaks ranks and say Trump was guilty of abuse of power , though not obstruction of Congress .
As Trump ’ s Senate trial solemnly concluded on Day 13 , the only suspense by the time of roll calls on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of West Virginia would side with his Democratic colleagues .
Several of Manchin ’ s Democratic colleagues , clued in , backslapped and hugged him before the votes for sticking with the team .
The chamber was packed for the first time to witness an outcome never in doubt .
There were never the 67 votes needed to convict .
Two members of Trump ’ s 2018 campaign team were in the gallery - manager Corey Lewandowski and his deputy , David Bossie .
I saw Bossie make a fist and pump it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after Roberts declared Trump acquitted .
The third presidential impeachment trial in the nation ’ s history yielded a president emboldened , not humbled .
We saw that in Trump ’ s defiant State of the Union Address on Tuesday night .
Trump is now unrestrained and unrepentant .
That ’ s the dangerous legacy of the Dershowitz doctrine , spawned at the impeachment trial by one of Trump ’ s defense lawyers , retired Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz .
Dershowitz provided a license for future excess from Trump as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president , an extraordinary and expansive view of presidential powers .
Trump was impeached on two articles : abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
The House impeached Trump for pressuring Ukraine to dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden and his son , Hunter .
Hunter had the extraordinarily poor judgment to land a lucrative position on the board of Burisma , a Ukraine energy company , while his father was in office .
Under the Dershowitz doctrine , acting to advance a personal political goal — such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and of itself in the public interest .
” Every public official that I know believes that his election is in the public interest .
And mostly you are right .
Your election is in the public interest , ” Dershowitz said .
He was replying to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz , R-Texas , about whether , as a matter of law , it matters if there was a quid pro quo .
” And if a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment , ” Dershowitz argued .
Citing President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War Dershowitz said when “ Lincoln told General Sherman to let the troops go to Indiana so that they can vote for the Republican party — let ’ s assume the president was running at that point — and it was [ in ] his electoral interest to have these soldiers put at risk the lives of many other soldiers who would be left without their company — would that be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No , because the president , A ) believed it was in the national interest but B ) he believed ... his own election was essential to victory in the Civil War .
Every president believes that .
That is why it is so dangerous to try to psychoanalyze a president , to try to get into the intricacies of the human mind .
Everybody has mixed motives and for there to be a constitutional impeachment based on mixed motives would permit almost any president to be impeached.
” In the Spring of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal law class when I was a fellow at Harvard ’ s Institute of Politics .
Dershowitz was a wildly entertaining professor , a raconteur .
Dershowitz used his own celebrated cases — from Claus von Bülow to Martha Stewart and more — in his class .
“ A confession , ” Dershowitz once told us , “ could be a harmless error.
” Everything , however , can not be explained away by claiming no harm .
We ’ ll see what the Dershowitz doctrine unleashed .
Dershowitz later tried to walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage is done .
The lead House impeachment manager , Rep. Adam Schiff , D-Calif. , in his closing argument , implored Republicans not to take the cover Dershowitz offered .
Do not , Schiff urged , “ fall back on a theory of presidential power so broad and unaccountable that it would allow any occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to be as corrupt as he is .
”

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial ended in an acquittal on Wednesday after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts said, “Senators, how say you,” and the Republicans in the Senate, except for one, rose to say “not guilty.”
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah was the only Republican to breaks ranks and say Trump was guilty of abuse of power, though not obstruction of Congress.
As Trump’s Senate trial solemnly concluded on Day 13, the only suspense by the time of roll calls on two articles was whether Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia would side with his Democratic colleagues.
He did.
Opinion bug Opinion
Several of Manchin’s Democratic colleagues, clued in, backslapped and hugged him before the votes for sticking with the team.
The chamber was packed for the first time to witness an outcome never in doubt. There were never the 67 votes needed to convict.
Two members of Trump’s 2016 campaign team were in the gallery - manager Corey Lewandowski and his deputy, David Bossie. I saw Bossie make a fist and pump it slightly to mark Trump’s victory after Roberts declared Trump acquitted.
The third presidential impeachment trial in the nation’s history yielded a president emboldened, not humbled. We saw that in Trump’s defiant State of the Union Address on Tuesday night.
Trump is now unrestrained and unrepentant.
That’s the dangerous legacy of the Dershowitz doctrine, spawned at the impeachment trial by one of Trump’s defense lawyers, retired Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz.
Dershowitz provided a license for future excess from Trump as he offered up, in his defense of the president, an extraordinary and expansive view of presidential powers.
Trump was impeached on two articles: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The House impeached Trump for pressuring Ukraine to dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. Hunter had the extraordinarily poor judgment to land a lucrative position on the board of Burisma, a Ukraine energy company, while his father was in office.
Under the Dershowitz doctrine, acting to advance a personal political goal — such as re-election to public office — is in and of itself in the public interest.
“Every public official that I know believes that his election is in the public interest. And mostly you are right. Your election is in the public interest,” Dershowitz said. He was replying to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, about whether, as a matter of law, it matters if there was a quid pro quo.
“And if a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment,” Dershowitz argued.
Citing President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War Dershowitz said when “Lincoln told General Sherman to let the troops go to Indiana so that they can vote for the Republican party — let’s assume the president was running at that point — and it was [in] his electoral interest to have these soldiers put at risk the lives of many other soldiers who would be left without their company — would that be an unlawful quid pro quo?
“No, because the president, A) believed it was in the national interest but B) he believed ... his own election was essential to victory in the Civil War. Every president believes that. That is why it is so dangerous to try to psychoanalyze a president, to try to get into the intricacies of the human mind. Everybody has mixed motives and for there to be a constitutional impeachment based on mixed motives would permit almost any president to be impeached.”
In the Spring of 2004, I audited Dershowitz’s criminal law class when I was a fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics.
Dershowitz was a wildly entertaining professor, a raconteur. Dershowitz used his own celebrated cases — from Claus von Bülow to Martha Stewart and more — in his class.
I dug up my notes.
“A confession,” Dershowitz once told us, “could be a harmless error.”
Everything, however, cannot be explained away by claiming no harm. We’ll see what the Dershowitz doctrine unleashed.
Dershowitz later tried to walk back his Trump defense. But the damage is done.
The lead House impeachment manager, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., in his closing argument, implored Republicans not to take the cover Dershowitz offered. Do not, Schiff urged, “fall back on a theory of presidential power so broad and unaccountable that it would allow any occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to be as corrupt as he is.”


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--CPS watchdog admits he drove employees ‘excessively hard,’ urges mayor to appoint another ‘outspoken

CPS watchdog admits he drove employees ‘excessively hard,’ urges mayor to appoint another ‘outspoken IG’

The inspector general of the Chicago Public Schools admitted Wednesday he was a “ demanding and frequently impatient boss ” who sometimes drove his employees “ excessively hard ” — leading the mayor to ask him to step down .
Nicholas Schuler , who announced his decision to quit his post on Monday , also said he was suspicious that when complaints surfaced against him that he might have been targeted for removal by people hoping to get a more friendly watchdog — which is why he urged Lori Lightfoot to choose “ a completely independent and outspoken IG ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of the month .
Schuler , 52 , the schools watchdog since 2014 , resigned with two years remaining in his mayoral appointment .
In a single-sentence email , he initially said he was proud of what he had accomplished in the office , which included investigations that shamed two former CPS CEOs , landing one in prison .
In Wednesday ’ s statement , Schuler denied allegations he led a “ toxic workplace ” in a complaint submitted anonymously to CPS in April , saying they were “ exaggerated.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was a demanding and frequently impatient boss , and drove my employees hard , sometimes excessively hard , to achieve what they achieved .
My tough management style led to complaints by employees , some of which I think were justified.
” He said Lightfoot asked for his resignation after the Board of Education received a report in December containing findings from an outside law firm the former board president hired to investigate him .
Schuler did not return messages Wednesday seeking comment .
A CPS spokesman could not be reached .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which CPS released late Wednesday in response to a public records request , described “ bullying , intimidation , violent threats , narcissism , unstable behavior , verbal abuse , ” and accused Schuler of “ threatening to kill ” someone whose name was redacted from the document .
The complaint was undated , but was likely submitted sometime after late 2018 when Schuler took over investigations of CPS employees accused of sexual abuse or harassment .
“ This is the person you want running child assault investigations ?
” the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear about who investigates the office of the schools watchdog , and unlike the city , CPS has no policy laying out a process for handling complaints .
Schuler said the city needs to lay out the process for investigating complaints against his office .
He said he could have contested a firing in court but stepped aside “ so that the morale of the entire office could improve as quickly as possible and everyone could fully concentrate on the oversight and student-protection missions of the office.
” But he didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgruntled about “ my willingness to speak frankly and publicly about our work ” took advantage of the complaints against him .
“ Accordingly , I can ’ t discount the possibility that some within CPS seized upon the complaints against me in a calculated way with hopes of getting an IG more to their liking , ” he said .

The inspector general of the Chicago Public Schools admitted Wednesday he was a “demanding and frequently impatient boss” who sometimes drove his employees “excessively hard” — leading the mayor to ask him to step down.
Nicholas Schuler, who announced his decision to quit his post on Monday, also said he was suspicious that when complaints surfaced against him that he might have been targeted for removal by people hoping to get a more friendly watchdog — which is why he urged Lori Lightfoot to choose “a completely independent and outspoken IG” to replace him when he leaves office at the end of the month.
Schuler, 52, the schools watchdog since 2014, resigned with two years remaining in his mayoral appointment. In a single-sentence email, he initially said he was proud of what he had accomplished in the office, which included investigations that shamed two former CPS CEOs, landing one in prison.
In Wednesday’s statement, Schuler denied allegations he led a “toxic workplace” in a complaint submitted anonymously to CPS in April, saying they were “exaggerated.” But he also admitted: “I was a demanding and frequently impatient boss, and drove my employees hard, sometimes excessively hard, to achieve what they achieved. My tough management style led to complaints by employees, some of which I think were justified.”
He said Lightfoot asked for his resignation after the Board of Education received a report in December containing findings from an outside law firm the former board president hired to investigate him.
Schuler did not return messages Wednesday seeking comment. A CPS spokesman could not be reached.
2nd complaint surfaces
The second of two complaints against Schuler, which CPS released late Wednesday in response to a public records request, described “bullying, intimidation, violent threats, narcissism, unstable behavior, verbal abuse,” and accused Schuler of “threatening to kill” someone whose name was redacted from the document. The complaint was undated, but was likely submitted sometime after late 2018 when Schuler took over investigations of CPS employees accused of sexual abuse or harassment. “This is the person you want running child assault investigations?” the letter asks.
State law isn’t clear about who investigates the office of the schools watchdog, and unlike the city, CPS has no policy laying out a process for handling complaints.
Schuler said the city needs to lay out the process for investigating complaints against his office. He said he could have contested a firing in court but stepped aside “so that the morale of the entire office could improve as quickly as possible and everyone could fully concentrate on the oversight and student-protection missions of the office.”
But he didn’t rule out that someone at CPS, disgruntled about “my willingness to speak frankly and publicly about our work” took advantage of the complaints against him.
“Accordingly, I can’t discount the possibility that some within CPS seized upon the complaints against me in a calculated way with hopes of getting an IG more to their liking,” he said.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--1 dead, 3 hurt in West Garfield Park pin-in crash: officials

A man was killed and three other people were injured Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash on the West Side .
@ @ @ @ @ 11:53 a.m. in the 3800 block of West Lake Street , according to Chicago police @ @ @ @ @ Larry Merritt said crews responded to a pin-in crash at the intersection of Hamlin Boulevard @ @ @ @ @ 58-year-old man was taken to Stroger Hospital , where he was pronounced dead , authorities @ @ @ @ @ were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital , according to Merritt .
Police said two of @ @ @ @ @ but the third person ’ s condition was not immediately known .
The Cook County @ @ @ @ @ has not released details on the death .

A man was killed and three other people were injured Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash on the West Side.
The two-vehicle crash happened at 11:53 a.m. in the 3800 block of West Lake Street, according to Chicago police.
Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt said crews responded to a pin-in crash at the intersection of Hamlin Boulevard and Lake Street.
Ezell Ricky Island, 54, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Autopsy results confirmed he died of multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, and ruled his death an accident, the medical examiner’s office said.
Three other adults were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, according to Merritt.
Police said two of those people were stabilized, but the third person’s condition was not immediately known.
The CPD Major Accidents unit is investigating.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--With 86% of Iowa caucus results reported, Pete Buttigieg narrowly leads, followed by Bernie Sanders

NEW YORK — Pete Buttigieg clung to a slight lead over Bernie Sanders in a new batch of vote totals released by the Iowa Democratic Party on Wednesday , two days after the state hosted its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses .
The race remained too early to call with 86 % of precincts reporting .
Buttigieg led Sanders by 1.3 percentage points in state delegate equivalents .
Much of the political world has already shifted its attention to next-up New Hampshire , which holds the first primary election in the Democrats ’ 2020 nomination fight on Tuesday .
Iowa officials attributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown has undermined the impact of the Iowa ’ s election , which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum heading into subsequent primary contests .
The two early leaders — Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , and Vermont Sen. Sanders — are separated by 40 years in age and conflicting ideology .
Sanders , a 78-year-old self-described democratic socialist , has been a progressive powerhouse for decades .
Buttigieg , a 38-year-old former municipal official , represents the more moderate wing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first openly gay candidate to earn presidential primary delegates .
The Democrats ’ primary fight intensified in New Hampshire on Wednesday as Biden took aim at both Iowa front-runners .
The former vice president suggested that Sanders was unelectable and would hurt other Democrats on the ballot this fall should he represent the party in the general election .
Biden also charged that it would be “ a risk ” to nominate Buttigieg because he hasn ’ t been elected to a higher office than South Bend mayor .
Speaking at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was focused on the issues .
He said a shift in emotion from “ guilt and doom ” to pride is needed to propel the nation forward on climate change .
This is a developing story .
Check back for updates .

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Democratic National Committee on Thursday called for a “recanvass” of the results of the Iowa caucuses, saying it was needed to “assure public confidence” after three days of technical issues and delays.
”Enough is enough,” party leader Tom Perez wrote on Twitter.
With 97% of precincts reporting, Pete Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are nearly tied for the lead, and both candidates have declared themselves victorious in the contest. The Associated Press has not called the race.
The Iowa Democratic Party apologized for technical glitches with an app that slowed down reporting of results from Monday’s caucuses and has spent the week trying to verify results. However, it was unclear if the state party planned to follow the directive of the national leader to recanvass those results. Iowa chairman Troy Price suggested in a statement Thursday that he would only pursue a recanvass if one was requested by a campaign.
The caucus crisis was an embarrassing twist after months of promoting Iowa as a chance for Democrats to find some clarity in a jumbled 2020 field. Instead, after a buildup that featured seven rounds of debates, nearly $1 billion spent nationwide and a year of political jockeying, caucus day ended with no winner and no official results.
Campaigning in New Hampshire, Sanders called the Iowa Democratic Party’s management of the caucuses a “screw-up” that has been “extremely unfair” to the candidates and their supporters.
“I really do feel bad for the people of Iowa,” said Sanders, who added that it was “an outrage that they were that unprepared.”
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a news conference at his New Hampshire campaign headquarters Thursday in Manchester, New Hampshire. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Iowa marked the first contest in a primary season that will span all 50 states and several U.S. territories, ending at the party’s national convention in July.
The trouble began with an app that the Iowa Democratic Party used to tabulate the results of the contest. The app was rolled out shortly before caucusing began and did not go through rigorous testing.
The problems were compounded when phone lines for reporting the outcomes became jammed, with many callers placed on hold for hours in order to report outcomes. Party officials said the backlog was exacerbated by calls from people around the country who accessed the number and appeared intent on disrupting the process.
“There was a moment in the night where, it became clear, ‘Oh, the phone number just became available to the entire country,’” said Iowa state Auditor Rob Sands, who was answering calls for the party. “It was a pretty big problem.”
Enough is enough. In light of the problems that have emerged in the implementation of the delegate selection plan and in order to assure public confidence in the results, I am calling on the Iowa Democratic Party to immediately begin a recanvass. — Tom Perez (@TomPerez) February 6, 2020
President Donald Trump relished the Democratic turmoil.
“The Democrats, they can’t count some simple votes and yet they want to take over your health care system,” Trump said at a White House event Thursday celebrating his impeachment trial acquittal. “Think of that — no, think of that.”
The chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown seems sure to blunt the impact of Iowa’s election, which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum heading into subsequent primary contests. But without a winner called, Democrats have quickly turned their focus to New Hampshire, which holds the next voting contest on Tuesday.
The results released so far show Buttigieg and Sanders locked in an exceedingly close contest. They lead Sen. Elizabeth Warren, as well as former Vice President Joe Biden and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
The two early leaders, Buttigieg and Sanders, are separated by 40 years in age and conflicting ideology.
Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, left, in Des Moines, Iowa, last month; Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, right, in Sioux City, Iowa, last month. File photos. AP Photos
Sanders, a 78-year-old self-described democratic socialist, has been a progressive powerhouse for decades. Buttigieg, a 38-year-old former municipal official, represents the more moderate wing of the Democratic Party. Buttigieg is also the first openly gay candidate to earn presidential primary delegates.
Sanders narrowly lost the Iowa caucuses in 2016 to Hillary Clinton and pushed the party to make changes to the process this year, including releasing three different sets of results: a tally of candidate support at the start of the caucuses, their levels of support after those backing candidates with less than 15% got to make a second choice and the number of state delegate equivalents each candidate receives. The AP will determine a winner based on state delegates.
Given the tight race, former DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile said the party needs to “get this right” so the eventual nominee isn’t saddled with questions of legitimacy.
“It’s a combination of embarrassment and not being prepared for the various mishaps that can take place when you try to do something new and different,” she said.
Party activist John Deeth, who organized the caucuses in Iowa’s most Democratic county, Johnson, said he welcomed a recanvass and would help as needed.
“It makes sense to look everything over again and get it right,” he said.
Deeth said that he believed the review would uncover some data entry errors as well as some math and rounding errors in how delegates at each precinct were awarded. Volunteers running the precincts did their best, he said, but likely made some minor mistakes.
Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writers Ryan J. Foley in Iowa City, Iowa, Will Weissert in Manchester, N.H., and Bill Barrow in Atlanta contributed to this report.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--High school basketball scores

High school basketball scores

Man on bond for attempted murder of ex-girlfriend returns to Hammond and kills her : prosecutors Sylvia Williams was found @ @ @ @ @ her mobile home with seven bullets in her body : five from the Wednesday shooting @ @ @ @ @ murder attempt .

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--2020-02-05--Ohio State is again tops in Big Ten football recruiting

Ohio State is back on top in Big Ten recruiting , with Ryan Day wrapping up his first full signing class Wednesday with a letter of intent from the two-time Michigan high school player of the year .
Michigan , Penn State and Nebraska followed the Buckeyes in the Big Ten composite rankings compiled by 247Sports .
The Big Ten has nine teams among the top 40 nationally for the first time , including five in the top 25 — Ohio State ( No .
5 ) , Michigan ( No .
14 ) , Penn State ( No .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 ) and Wisconsin ( No .
25 ) .
Last year was the first time since 2010 that Ohio State ’ s class was not judged best in the Big Ten .
The Buckeyes were transitioning from Urban Meyer to Day and slipped to third behind Michigan and Penn State .
“ It ’ s been great to recruit a whole class from beginning to end , ” Day said on the Big Ten network .
“ We ’ ve done a great job in Ohio but also have done a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 25-man class includes 17 four- or five-star prospects on the heels of a 13-1 season that ended in the College Football Playoff .
One of the four-stars is Carlos Martinez of Muskegon , Michigan , who held off signing in December when co-defensive coordinator and his primary recruiter Jeff Hafley was named head coach at Boston College .
Martinez hit it off with new coordinator Kerry Coombs during a meeting last month , and that allowed the Buckeyes to fend off late bids from LSU and Oregon , among others .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , expects to play defensive back for the Buckeyes .
Michigan stood pat with 23 December signees , including 14 four-stars .
The Wolverines had hoped to land Under Armour All-America offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua of Baltimore , but he de-committed two weeks ago and signed with Baylor .
Penn State has 11 four-star players in its 27-man class .
The top-rated player is linebacker Curtis Jacobs of Glen Burnie , Maryland , the No 34 player in the nation by 247Sports .
Three-star running back Jordon Simmons of Power Springs , Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio announced his retirement after 13 seasons .
The Spartans signed 19 players in December and added two more Wednesday to what , at No .
10 in the Big Ten , is their lowest-ranked class since the 2007 group assembled during the John L. Smith-to-Dantonio transition .
Nebraska , coming off two straight losing seasons under Scott Frost , continues to build with a class ranked fourth in the Big Ten and first in the West Division for the second straight year .
The Cornhuskers landed nine four-star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Lawrence , Kansas , the top player .
Wisconsin , Iowa , Minnesota put together their best classes in more than a decade and join Nebraska and Purdue in the top 40 nationally .
BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo said Frost and Purdue coach Jeff Brohm have recruited at a higher level than their predecessors , and Wisconsin ’ s Paul Chryst and Iowa ’ s Kirk Ferentz have made changes to upgrade their recruiting operations .
Minnesota ’ s P.J .
Fleck is building momentum , and Northwestern ’ s Pat Fitzgerald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in center Peter Skoronski of Park Ridge , Illinois .
“ The West is going to be highly competitive , ” DiNardo said .
Maryland has a top-six class in the Big Ten for the second time in three years , largely because of the surprise December signing of five-star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett .
The 6-foot , 208-pound Jarrett , out of St. John ’ s College High in Washington , D.C. , is the top slot receiver prospect in the country .
He de-committed from LSU in one of the biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s first class in his return to Rutgers is made up of 23 players and ranked 13th in the Big Ten , ahead of only Illinois .
Among the new players are six transfers , including four who have appeared in a combined 104 games for Power Five schools .
Aron Cruickshank , who ran back two kicks for touchdowns for Wisconsin and was sixth nationally in kick returns , is from New York City and was looking to play closer to home .
Safety Brendon White , who played the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defensive MVP of the 2019 Rose Bowl win over Washington .
Two others are graduate transfers .
Defensive tackle Malik Barrow started his career at Ohio State before transferring to Central Florida and played four games there last season .
Defensive lineman Michael Dwumfour , a New Jersey native , started two games and played in eight others for Michigan .
White and Barrow were at Ohio State at the same time Schiano was the Buckeyes ’ defensive coordinator ( 2016-18 ) , and Schiano had tried to recruit Cruickshank to OSU .

Ohio State is back on top in Big Ten recruiting, with Ryan Day wrapping up his first full signing class Wednesday with a letter of intent from the two-time Michigan high school player of the year.
Michigan, Penn State and Nebraska followed the Buckeyes in the Big Ten composite rankings compiled by 247Sports.
The Big Ten has nine teams among the top 40 nationally for the first time, including five in the top 25 — Ohio State (No. 5), Michigan (No. 14), Penn State (No. 15), Nebraska (No. 20) and Wisconsin (No. 25).
Last year was the first time since 2010 that Ohio State’s class was not judged best in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes were transitioning from Urban Meyer to Day and slipped to third behind Michigan and Penn State.
“It’s been great to recruit a whole class from beginning to end,” Day said on the Big Ten network. “We’ve done a great job in Ohio but also have done a great job from coast to coast.”
Day’s 25-man class includes 17 four- or five-star prospects on the heels of a 13-1 season that ended in the College Football Playoff. One of the four-stars is Carlos Martinez of Muskegon, Michigan, who held off signing in December when co-defensive coordinator and his primary recruiter Jeff Hafley was named head coach at Boston College.
Martinez hit it off with new coordinator Kerry Coombs during a meeting last month, and that allowed the Buckeyes to fend off late bids from LSU and Oregon, among others. Martinez, a quarterback in high school, expects to play defensive back for the Buckeyes.
Michigan stood pat with 23 December signees, including 14 four-stars. The Wolverines had hoped to land Under Armour All-America offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua of Baltimore, but he de-committed two weeks ago and signed with Baylor.
Penn State has 11 four-star players in its 27-man class. The top-rated player is linebacker Curtis Jacobs of Glen Burnie, Maryland, the No 34 player in the nation by 247Sports.
DANTONIO DEPARTURE
Three-star running back Jordon Simmons of Power Springs, Georgia, delayed his signing a day after Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio announced his retirement after 13 seasons.
The Spartans signed 19 players in December and added two more Wednesday to what, at No. 10 in the Big Ten, is their lowest-ranked class since the 2007 group assembled during the John L. Smith-to-Dantonio transition.
RISE OF THE WEST
Nebraska, coming off two straight losing seasons under Scott Frost, continues to build with a class ranked fourth in the Big Ten and first in the West Division for the second straight year. The Cornhuskers landed nine four-star players, with offensive lineman Turner Corcoran of Lawrence, Kansas, the top player.
Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota put together their best classes in more than a decade and join Nebraska and Purdue in the top 40 nationally. BTN analyst Gerry DiNardo said Frost and Purdue coach Jeff Brohm have recruited at a higher level than their predecessors, and Wisconsin’s Paul Chryst and Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz have made changes to upgrade their recruiting operations.
Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck is building momentum, and Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald signed his first four-star in two years in center Peter Skoronski of Park Ridge, Illinois.
“The West is going to be highly competitive,” DiNardo said.
FEAR THE TURTLE
Maryland has a top-six class in the Big Ten for the second time in three years, largely because of the surprise December signing of five-star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett.
The 6-foot, 208-pound Jarrett, out of St. John’s College High in Washington, D.C., is the top slot receiver prospect in the country. He de-committed from LSU in one of the biggest surprises this signing period.
SCHIANO’S SECOND FIRST CLASS
Greg Schiano’s first class in his return to Rutgers is made up of 23 players and ranked 13th in the Big Ten, ahead of only Illinois. Among the new players are six transfers, including four who have appeared in a combined 104 games for Power Five schools.
Aron Cruickshank, who ran back two kicks for touchdowns for Wisconsin and was sixth nationally in kick returns, is from New York City and was looking to play closer to home. Safety Brendon White, who played the last three seasons at Ohio State, was defensive MVP of the 2019 Rose Bowl win over Washington.
Two others are graduate transfers. Defensive tackle Malik Barrow started his career at Ohio State before transferring to Central Florida and played four games there last season. Defensive lineman Michael Dwumfour, a New Jersey native, started two games and played in eight others for Michigan.
White and Barrow were at Ohio State at the same time Schiano was the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator (2016-18), and Schiano had tried to recruit Cruickshank to OSU.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-06--Dear Abby: Two years after her first bridal shower, niece has another

DEAR ABBY : My niece on my husband ’ s side was engaged to be married two years ago .
There was a bridal shower , and everyone gave gifts or gift cards .
Two weeks after the shower , the wedding was canceled because of the groom-to-be ’ s infidelities .
The shower gifts and gift cards were never returned nor was anyone reimbursed .
The same niece is getting married to someone else now .
Another shower is being given for her .
Everyone on her side of the family is invited .
Are we required to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shower and not give a gift ?
Should we all just not attend ?
Please help .
— ALREADY GAVE ONCE DEAR ALREADY GAVE : Any unopened gifts from the first shower should have been returned to the givers .
Because they weren ’ t , you are not “ required ” to give the bride another gift .
However , if you plan to attend this shower , in my opinion , you should not go empty-handed .
DEAR ABBY : Last week , I was in my college ’ s cafe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a test .
I looked toward a group of guys that hang out there and made eye contact with a guy friend I ’ ve known since preschool .
He made his way to my table , sat down and we started talking about classes and whatnot .
Suddenly , he changed the subject and asked me if I was seeing anyone .
I said no , and he blurted out that he ’ s in love with me !
He said he has loved me for a very long time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that I ’ m too harsh and doubt myself .
Then he said he wants me to give him a chance .
The thing is , I don ’ t like him that way and never have .
He ’ s not the type of guy I ’ m attracted to .
How do I go about rejecting him without losing him as a friend ?
— FRIEND ZONE IN WASHINGTON STATE DEAR FRIEND ZONE : Tell him the truth — that you like him , too , but only as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find someone soon who can reciprocate his romantic feelings .
He may not like the message , but he will respect you for your honesty and for not wasting his time .
DEAR ABBY : I have many older friends , and when we go out for lunch or dinner , all they talk about is their aches and pains and other medical stuff .
I will always be their friend and support them , but sometimes it ’ s such a downer , they even get depressed listening to each other .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ change the conversation to happy subjects while being sensitive at the same time ?
— HAPPY SUBJECTS ONLY DEAR HAPPY : Older people sometimes dwell on their aches , pains and other medical stuff because they have little else to occupy their minds .
If you are sensitive , you will listen sympathetically for a period of time , then propose you all change the subject to something more upbeat — and SUGGEST something .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .
To order “ How to Write Letters for All Occasions , ” send your name and mailing address , plus check or money order for $ 8 ( U.S. funds ) , to : Dear Abby — Letter Booklet , P.O .
Box 447 , Mount Morris , IL 61054-0447 .
Shipping and handling are included in the price .

DEAR ABBY: My niece on my husband’s side was engaged to be married two years ago. There was a bridal shower, and everyone gave gifts or gift cards. Two weeks after the shower, the wedding was canceled because of the groom-to-be’s infidelities. The shower gifts and gift cards were never returned nor was anyone reimbursed.
The same niece is getting married to someone else now. Another shower is being given for her. Everyone on her side of the family is invited. Are we required to give gifts again? Can we attend the shower and not give a gift? Should we all just not attend? Please help. — ALREADY GAVE ONCE
DEAR ALREADY GAVE: Any unopened gifts from the first shower should have been returned to the givers. Because they weren’t, you are not “required” to give the bride another gift. However, if you plan to attend this shower, in my opinion, you should not go empty-handed.
DEAR ABBY: Last week, I was in my college’s cafe, minding my own business and studying for a test. I looked toward a group of guys that hang out there and made eye contact with a guy friend I’ve known since preschool. He made his way to my table, sat down and we started talking about classes and whatnot. Suddenly, he changed the subject and asked me if I was seeing anyone. I said no, and he blurted out that he’s in love with me! He said he has loved me for a very long time, that I am perfect in his eyes, and that I’m too harsh and doubt myself. Then he said he wants me to give him a chance.
The thing is, I don’t like him that way and never have. He’s not the type of guy I’m attracted to. How do I go about rejecting him without losing him as a friend? — FRIEND ZONE IN WASHINGTON STATE
DEAR FRIEND ZONE: Tell him the truth — that you like him, too, but only as a friend, and hope he will find someone soon who can reciprocate his romantic feelings. He may not like the message, but he will respect you for your honesty and for not wasting his time.
DEAR ABBY: I have many older friends, and when we go out for lunch or dinner, all they talk about is their aches and pains and other medical stuff. I will always be their friend and support them, but sometimes it’s such a downer, they even get depressed listening to each other.
What’s the best way to change the conversation to happy subjects while being sensitive at the same time? — HAPPY SUBJECTS ONLY
DEAR HAPPY: Older people sometimes dwell on their aches, pains and other medical stuff because they have little else to occupy their minds. If you are sensitive, you will listen sympathetically for a period of time, then propose you all change the subject to something more upbeat — and SUGGEST something.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
To order “How to Write Letters for All Occasions,” send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $8 (U.S. funds), to: Dear Abby — Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-06--Fact-check: Ives a few months off in her claim about Casten’s call for Trump’s impeachment

President Donald Trump ’ s legal team and his supporters argue Democrats in Congress fueled by partisan politics began making a case for impeaching Trump the day he took office .
Illinois Republican congressional candidate Jeanne Ives last week took a similar jab at Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove , who holds the west suburban 6th Congressional District seat she wants .
A press release from Ives ’ campaign states Casten “ demanded the impeachment of the Republican President before the Mueller report was even released.
” That ’ s a reference to Special Counsel Robert Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s interference in the 2016 election , including possible ties between Trump ’ s campaign and Russian officials .
A redacted version of Mueller ’ s report released on April 18 affirmed the Trump campaign thought it would benefit from Russia ’ s election interference .
But the report did not establish coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia .
It also detailed the president ’ s efforts to curtail the nearly two-year probe .
Casten was critical of Trump during this time but the freshman congressman did not announce his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two months after Mueller ’ s report was made public .
And , even then , he did not say he would vote yes on articles of impeachment drawn up by the House until December .
“ I didn ’ t run for Congress to impeach the President , ” Casten said in a June 20 press release that noted he had read the report and was alarmed by its findings .
“ But I also ran for office because I felt the people of my District deserved transparency from their elected representative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much thought and careful deliberation , I support opening an impeachment inquiry into the President of the United States.
” So we contacted Ives ’ campaign to find out what she was referencing .
Instead of providing evidence showing Casten had gone public with his support for impeachment prior to the release of Mueller ’ s report , spokeswoman Kathleen Murphy highlighted a different point on the timeline .
“ He didn ’ t wait for Mueller ’ s congressional testimony , ” Murphy wrote in an email .
“ Casten was only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he could get to support a position he ’ s had from the day Trump was elected : removing Trump from office .
As soon as the Mueller report was released , he ran screaming into the public square to declare it what he wished upon a star it would be rather than what it actually was.
” Murphy also claimed Casten voiced support for impeachment before he was even elected , pointing to a 2018 Sun-Times candidate questionnaire in which he stated that “ strong and plentiful evidence ” of Russian election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is imperative that the Mueller investigation into this matter be allowed to continue to its conclusion without obstruction from the White House or interference by Congress , ” Casten continued , a passage Murphy highlighted .
However , Casten made no call for impeachment in his Sun-Times response .
And at several points during his 2018 campaign when he was asked where he came down on the issue , he stopped short of advocating for the House to take that course .
Casten later called for an inquiry when such a move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats .
As a freshman Democrat who flipped a district held by Republicans for nearly five decades , he was one of the first vulnerable members of his party to take that stance .
The House introduced two articles of impeachment against Trump on Dec. 10 , 2019 .
Those articles say Trump wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and a debunked conspiracy related to the 2016 election .
They also say Trump withheld security aid and a White House meeting to pressure Zelensky , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Dec. 12 , Casten announced in a tweet he would vote in favor of impeachment .
Ives said Casten “ demanded the impeachment of the Republican President before the Mueller report was even released.
” Mueller ’ s report was released on April 18 , 2019 .
Casten called for an impeachment inquiry on June 20 , 2019 , and announced publicly he would vote in favor of impeachment on Dec. 12 , 2019 .
So Ives ’ timeline doesn ’ t track .
FALSE — The statement is not accurate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six PolitiFact ratings and how we select facts to check .
The Better Government Association runs PolitiFact Illinois , the local arm of the nationally renowned , Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking enterprise that rates the truthfulness of statements made by governmental leaders and politicians .
BGA ’ s fact-checking service has teamed up weekly with the Sun-Times , in print and online .
You can find all of the PolitiFact Illinois stories we ’ ve reported together here .
“ The Russia investigation and Donald Trump : a timeline from on-the-record sources ( updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 24 , 2019 “ The Mueller report : What you need to know , ” PolitiFact , April 18 , 2019 “ I sat through 6 hours of town halls .
Here ’ s what I learned about impeachment , ” Politico , Oct. 6 , 2019

Kiannah Sepeda-Miller — Better Government Association

President Donald Trump’s legal team and his supporters argue Democrats in Congress fueled by partisan politics began making a case for impeaching Trump the day he took office.
Illinois Republican congressional candidate Jeanne Ives last week took a similar jab at Democratic U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove, who holds the west suburban 6th Congressional District seat she wants.
A press release from Ives’ campaign states Casten “demanded the impeachment of the Republican President before the Mueller report was even released.”
That’s a reference to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s account of his investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, including possible ties between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials.
A redacted version of Mueller’s report released on April 18 affirmed the Trump campaign thought it would benefit from Russia’s election interference. But the report did not establish coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. It also detailed the president’s efforts to curtail the nearly two-year probe.
Casten was critical of Trump during this time, but the freshman congressman did not announce his support for launching an impeachment inquiry until two months after Mueller’s report was made public. And, even then, he did not say he would vote yes on articles of impeachment drawn up by the House until December.
“I didn’t run for Congress to impeach the President,” Casten said in a June 20 press release that noted he had read the report and was alarmed by its findings. “But I also ran for office because I felt the people of my District deserved transparency from their elected representative. That’s why, after much thought and careful deliberation, I support opening an impeachment inquiry into the President of the United States.”
So we contacted Ives’ campaign to find out what she was referencing. Instead of providing evidence showing Casten had gone public with his support for impeachment prior to the release of Mueller’s report, spokeswoman Kathleen Murphy highlighted a different point on the timeline.
Then Republican state Rep. Jeanne Ives holds a news conference at Trump Tower during her 2018 run for governor. File photo . Erin Brown/Sun-Times
“He didn’t wait for Mueller’s congressional testimony,” Murphy wrote in an email. “Casten was only interested in getting whatever thinly veiled contrivance he could get to support a position he’s had from the day Trump was elected: removing Trump from office. As soon as the Mueller report was released, he ran screaming into the public square to declare it what he wished upon a star it would be rather than what it actually was.”
Murphy also claimed Casten voiced support for impeachment before he was even elected, pointing to a 2018 Sun-Times candidate questionnaire in which he stated that “strong and plentiful evidence” of Russian election interference could not be ignored.
“It is imperative that the Mueller investigation into this matter be allowed to continue to its conclusion without obstruction from the White House or interference by Congress,” Casten continued, a passage Murphy highlighted.
However, Casten made no call for impeachment in his Sun-Times response. And at several points during his 2018 campaign when he was asked where he came down on the issue, he stopped short of advocating for the House to take that course.
Casten later called for an inquiry when such a move was beginning to gain traction among House Democrats. As a freshman Democrat who flipped a district held by Republicans for nearly five decades, he was one of the first vulnerable members of his party to take that stance.
Democrat Sean Casten, left, celebrates with U.S. Rep Bill Foster during an election night party at the IBEW Hall in Warrenville in 2018. Brian Hill/Daily Herald
The House introduced two articles of impeachment against Trump on Dec. 10, 2019. Those articles say Trump wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and a debunked conspiracy related to the 2016 election. They also say Trump withheld security aid and a White House meeting to pressure Zelensky, then obstructed Congress to cover it up.
On Dec. 12, Casten announced in a tweet he would vote in favor of impeachment.
Our ruling
Ives said Casten “demanded the impeachment of the Republican President before the Mueller report was even released.”
Mueller’s report was released on April 18, 2019. Casten called for an impeachment inquiry on June 20, 2019, and announced publicly he would vote in favor of impeachment on Dec. 12, 2019. So Ives’ timeline doesn’t track.
We rate her claim False.
FALSE — The statement is not accurate.
Click here for more on the six PolitiFact ratings and how we select facts to check.
The Better Government Association runs PolitiFact Illinois, the local arm of the nationally renowned, Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking enterprise that rates the truthfulness of statements made by governmental leaders and politicians. BGA’s fact-checking service has teamed up weekly with the Sun-Times, in print and online. You can find all of the PolitiFact Illinois stories we’ve reported together here.
Sources
Press release, Jeanne for Congress, Jan. 29, 2020
“The Russia investigation and Donald Trump: a timeline from on-the-record sources (updated),” PolitiFact, last updated July 24, 2019
“The Mueller report: What you need to know,” PolitiFact, April 18, 2019
Press release, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, June 20, 2019
Tweet, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, Dec. 12, 2019
Email, Ives spokesperson Kathleen Murphy, Feb. 1, 2020
“6th Congressional District Democratic nominee: Sean Casten,” Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 13, 2018
“U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam says Trump isn’t Abe Lincoln, Sean Casten calls president a ‘walking disaster,’” Chicago Tribune, Aug. 22, 2018
“Illinois Democrats Reps. Sean Casten, Jan Schakowsky call for Trump impeachment inquiry,” Chicago Sun-Times, June 20, 2019
“I sat through 6 hours of town halls. Here’s what I learned about impeachment,” Politico, Oct. 6, 2019
“Timeline: The Trump impeachment inquiry,” PolitiFact, last updated Jan. 22, 2020


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-06--Light snow and messy roads contribute to hazardous conditions Thursday morning

Although Chicago saw only one inch of snow fall overnight , driving conditions remained hazardous for Thursday morning commuters .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ t reach the 5 inches the National Weather Service warned of on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ the weather service advised drivers to “ use extra caution and leave extra time to @ @ @ @ @ current batch of snowfall is expected to taper off by about 1 p.m. , but @ @ @ @ @ fall periodically throughout the Chicago area until Saturday , the weather service said .
Thursday @ @ @ @ @ to peak at 32 degrees and fall to a low of 25 , the weather @ @ @ @ @ weather will continue throughout the rest of the week , until the temperature rises into @ @ @ @ @ .

Although Chicago saw only one inch of snow fall overnight, driving conditions remained hazardous for Thursday morning commuters.
Though the total accumulation didn’t reach the 5 inches the National Weather Service warned of on Wednesday, the snowfall was enough that the weather service advised drivers to “use extra caution and leave extra time to reach their destination.”
Marc Williams shovels snow outside his Ukrainian Village neighborhood home as snow falls across Chicago during the morning commute, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times
The current batch is expected to taper off by about 1 p.m., but the snow will continue to fall periodically throughout the Chicago area until Saturday, the weather service said.
Thursday’s temperatures are expected to peak at 32 degrees and fall to a low of 25, the weather service said. The frigid weather will continue throughout the rest of the week, until the temperature rises into the high 30s on Sunday.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-06--3 robberies reported on same Bronzeville block

Three people were robbed last month on the same block of King Drive in Bronzeville on the South Side .
@ @ @ @ @ walked up to a female walking alone and grabbed their purse or handbag before fleeing @ @ @ @ @ The suspect , a man in his 20s , used a gun to threaten the @ @ @ @ @ The robberies happened Jan. 23 , Jan. 24 and Jan. 26 in the 4700 block @ @ @ @ @ police said .
All three robberies were committed in the afternoon or evening .
Anyone @ @ @ @ @ call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380 .

Three people were robbed last month on the same block of King Drive in Bronzeville on the South Side.
In each incident, someone walked up to a female walking alone and grabbed her purse before fleeing, Chicago police said. The suspect, a man in his 20s, used a gun to threaten the victim in one robbery.
The robberies happened Jan. 23, Jan. 24 and Jan. 26 in the 4700 block of South King Drive, police said. All three robberies happened in the afternoon or evening.
Anyone with information is asked to call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--Wisconsin confirms 1st case of new virus from China

MADISON , Wis. — A Wisconsin resident who returned from a trip to China last week has been sickened with a new virus that originated there , becoming the first confirmed case in the state and the 12th in the U.S. , health officials said Wednesday .
The adult patient went straight from the Madison airport to the University of Wisconsin Hospital emergency room to be tested for the virus and they have remained in isolation at home ever since , Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said .
“ They are doing well , ” Rhodes-Conway said .
“ They are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain there until testing shows they no longer have the coronavirus.
” State and local officials declined to release more details about the person , including their age and sex .
The person lives in Dane County , where the capital city of Madison and the flagship University of Wisconsin campus is located , but officials would not say where exactly .
The person had mild symptoms , including fever , cough and shortness of breath , but is “ doing well ” and recovering at home , said Dr. Ryan Westergaard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Health Services Bureau of Communicable Disease .
The patient was tested for the coronavirus because they had traveled to Beijing , China , within two weeks , said Dr. Nasia Safdar , director of infection control at UW Health .
The person arrived in Madison on Jan. 30 , said Janel Heinrich , director of public health for Madison and Dane County .
Positive test results from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came back on Wednesday morning .
People who were on the same flights with the person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and contacted by their local health departments , said Amanda Kita Yarborough , an epidemiologist with the Madison Dane County Health Department .
Health officials said those who came into direct contact with the infected person , including UW emergency room staff who interacted with the patient , are also being evaluated .
“ The risk to Wisconsin residents in general is extremely low , ” Westergaard said .
The University of Wisconsin-Madison , home to more than 40,000 students , banned student travel to China last week .
The hospital where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Symptoms of the virus include fever , cough , and difficulty breathing .
They range from having a mild illness , like the common cold , to severe pneumonia requiring hospitalization .
Health officials believe it can take up to two weeks for someone who is infected to show symptoms .
The outbreak of the new type of coronavirus has infected more than 24,500 people globally , with all but a couple of hundred of those in China .
There have been 490 deaths in China but none in the U.S. Other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in California , one in Massachusetts , one in Washington state , one in Arizona and two in Chicago .
The virus is a member of the coronavirus family that ’ s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that caused outbreaks in the past .
Governments have rushed to get their citizens out of China , which is orchestrating history ’ s largest anti-viral campaign by blocking 50 million people from leaving Wuhan , the center of the outbreak , and nearby areas .
A growing number of Chinese cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartments .

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin resident who returned from a trip to China last week has been sickened with a new virus that originated there, becoming the first confirmed case in the state and the 12th in the U.S., health officials said Wednesday.
The adult patient went straight from the Madison airport to the University of Wisconsin Hospital emergency room to be tested for the virus and they have remained in isolation at home ever since, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said.
“They are doing well,” Rhodes-Conway said. “They are still in isolation at home and will remain there until testing shows they no longer have the coronavirus.”
State and local officials declined to release more details about the person, including their age and sex. The person lives in Dane County, where the capital city of Madison and the flagship University of Wisconsin campus is located, but officials would not say where exactly.
The person had mild symptoms, including fever, cough and shortness of breath, but is “doing well” and recovering at home, said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer in Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services Bureau of Communicable Disease.
The patient was tested for the coronavirus because they had traveled to Beijing, China, within two weeks, said Dr. Nasia Safdar, director of infection control at UW Health. The person arrived in Madison on Jan. 30, said Janel Heinrich, director of public health for Madison and Dane County. Positive test results from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came back on Wednesday morning.
People who were on the same flights with the person are in the process of being identified and contacted by their local health departments, said Amanda Kita Yarborough, an epidemiologist with the Madison Dane County Health Department.
Health officials said those who came into direct contact with the infected person, including UW emergency room staff who interacted with the patient, are also being evaluated.
“The risk to Wisconsin residents in general is extremely low,” Westergaard said.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison, home to more than 40,000 students, banned student travel to China last week. The hospital where the patient was treated is located on campus.
Symptoms of the virus include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. They range from having a mild illness, like the common cold, to severe pneumonia requiring hospitalization. Health officials believe it can take up to two weeks for someone who is infected to show symptoms.
The outbreak of the new type of coronavirus has infected more than 24,500 people globally, with all but a couple of hundred of those in China. There have been 490 deaths in China but none in the U.S. Other cases of the pneumonia-like virus include six in California, one in Massachusetts, one in Washington state, one in Arizona and two in Chicago.
The virus is a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that caused outbreaks in the past.
Governments have rushed to get their citizens out of China, which is orchestrating history’s largest anti-viral campaign by blocking 50 million people from leaving Wuhan, the center of the outbreak, and nearby areas. A growing number of Chinese cities are discouraging people from even leaving their apartments.


chicagosuntimes--2020-02-05--Buttigieg, Sanders nearly tied as Iowa caucus results narrow

NEW YORK — New results from the Iowa Democratic caucuses show Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders nearly tied with almost all the votes counted .
But the race remained too early to call early Thursday with 97 % of precincts reporting .
Iowa officials attributed their delay in results for Monday ’ s caucuses to technical problems .
The chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown has undermined the impact of Iowa ’ s election , which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum heading into subsequent primary contests .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , former Vice President Joe Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Much of the political world has already shifted its attention to next-up New Hampshire , which holds the first primary election in the Democrats ’ 2020 nomination fight on Tuesday .
Iowa officials attributed their delay to technical problems .
The chaos surrounding the reporting breakdown has undermined the impact of Iowa ’ s election , which typically rewards winners with a surge of momentum heading into subsequent primary contests .
The two early leaders — Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , and Vermont Sen. Sanders — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and conflicting ideology .
Sanders , a 78-year-old self-described democratic socialist , has been a progressive powerhouse for decades .
Buttigieg , a 38-year-old former municipal official , represents the more moderate wing of the Democratic Party .
Buttigieg is also the first openly gay candidate to earn presidential primary delegates .
The Democrats ’ primary fight intensified in New Hampshire on Wednesday as Biden took aim at both Iowa front-runners .
The former vice president suggested that Sanders was unelectable and would hurt other Democrats on the ballot this fall should he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden also charged that it would be “ a risk ” to nominate Buttigieg because he hasn ’ t been elected to a higher office than South Bend mayor .
Speaking at a candidate forum in New Hampshire , Buttigieg was focused on the issues .
He said a shift in emotion from “ guilt and doom ” to pride is needed to propel the nation forward on climate change .
This is a developing story .
Check back for updates .