chicagotribune--2020-03-04--Dating after divorce: When you know it’s time for a new relationship

It ’ s important not to punish the next person for the mistakes the last person made , and be @ @ @ @ @ the new person is different , said Shirley Baldwin , a life coach , relationship @ @ @ @ @ Get What You Want from Your Man.
” Don ’ t assume that this person @ @ @ @ @ controlling or will be ( insert issue you had in your previous relationship ) .
@ @ @ @ @ could destroy your new relationship , or you could turn it into a copy of @ @ @ @ @ said .

Tari Mack touches up her makeup before going to a friend's holiday party with her date on Dec. 7, 2019. Mack, who is going through a divorce, said she felt like her marriage was emotionally over for a while before the separation, so she wanted to jump right into dating. (Camille Fine / Chicago Tribune)
Tari Mack, a 44-year-old mom of two from Evanston, Illinois, has been separated for two years after being married for seven.
Mack, who is going through a divorce, said she felt like her marriage was emotionally over for a while before the separation, so she wanted to jump right into dating.
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“For the first 1½ years, I wanted to find someone who could see me, to have fun,” she said.
“We lose ourself in marriage. We get caught up with taking care of the family, taking care of the husband. It was fun to focus on myself and get attention from men,” said the clinical psychologist and author of “Every Relationship is a Test.”
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But Mack said she knew she wasn’t ready for a big, serious relationship.
So how do you know when you’re ready to date again after divorce? And if you think you’re ready, how do you deal with all the baggage?
According to the latest Pew Research Center study, 40 percent of new marriages include at least one partner who had been married before, and 20 percent of new marriages are between people who have both been previously married. There have been a total of 42 million adults who have been married more than once, up from 22 million in 1980, and this number had tripled since 1960.
The tricky part about dating post-divorce is that it tends to be intertwined with children, exes, in-laws and heartbreak. And there are no rules.
But, there are some steps you can take to make this transition go a little smoother, said Rosalind Sedacca, a divorce and co-parenting coach, and founder of the Child-Centered Divorce Network.
Sedacca suggested that before dating again, ask yourself questions including: Did you learn the lessons you needed to learn so you don’t repeat past mistakes? Are you emotionally comfortable and ready to move on? Are you feeling clear and complete regarding your divorce?
“Dating won’t resolve anger, conflicts and insecurities, so do the inner work first before getting out into the dating world, regardless of how long it takes,” Sedacca said.
She said that after a divorce, you should explore lessons and “gifts” you received from that divorce. For example, there may have been experiences during your previous relationship that you could use to help navigate future relationships. Perhaps you allowed your ex to take advantage of you. How can you not let this happen in the future? To help, Sedacca said to see a therapist or coach, and to join a support group.
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Moving past this learning stage could take a few months or it could take a few years.
Everyone is ready to date again at a different time, regardless of the length of their previous relationship, said Eric Resnick, a dating coach and professional dating profile writer with Profile Helper.
He’s been helping divorced singles get back to dating for the past 15 years, and he’s seen some people who are ready to date a week after separation, and he’s also helped some who aren’t ready three years after the divorce papers are signed.
So how do you know when you’re ready?
“You will reach a point where you start to feel like you want to let someone new into your life,” Resnick said.
If you try dating and you aren’t ready, you’ll know very quickly, he said. You might get attached too easily because you’re simply looking for a replacement or because you’re lonely. Or you may reject everyone you meet because you keep comparing them to your ex.
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Even if you think you’re ready immediately after a separation, it’s best to take some time to process your emotions and remember what it’s like to be on your own, said Adina Mahalli, a certified mental health consultant with Maple Holistics. It’s important to relearn who you are as a person, and emotionally separate from your ex before you can figure out what you’re looking for from a new potential partner.
“Once you feel that you are no longer looking back and, rather, you’re looking toward the future, you can start looking to date again,” Mahalli said.
This may seem scary if you’ve been out of the dating world for a while, especially if you’re used to being with one person for a long time.
You may be afraid you’ll end up in another abusive or negative relationship, but dating can also be a beautiful way to get to know yourself again, said Katie Ziskind, a licensed marriage family therapist in Connecticut.
She suggested letting go of expectations, and pretending you’re going out with a new friend.
Therapy could help you understand why and how you chose your previous partner, and it can help you learn how to attract a healthy partner this time.
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It’s important not to punish the next person for the mistakes the last person made, and be open to the fact that the new person is different, said Shirley Baldwin, a life coach, relationship expert and author of “Get What You Want from Your Man.” Don’t assume that this person will cheat, will be controlling or will be (insert issue you had in your previous relationship). By doing this, you could destroy your new relationship, or you could turn it into a copy of your old one, she said.
Dating post-marriage can also be complicated by children and by additional family members, and this should be taken into consideration. Mahalli said not to underestimate the impact dating will have on your children.
The first rule of thumb is to not introduce any dates to your children until you’re serious about your new partner. If you share custody, this means not going out with that person when your children are in your care.
“Leaving them to go date while they’re staying with you for the weekend can make them feel unimportant and undervalued,” Mahalli said. Even if your child pretends to be too cool to show you that he or she cares about you leaving for a date during visitation, it probably still affects them, she said.
Mack has been navigating the post-marriage confusion for two years, and she said she’s finally ready to be in a real relationship again.
“The first year and a half was about kissing someone for the first time, having new experiences,” she said.
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Now?
“I’m tired of just meeting person after person; I’m ready to find a life partner again.”
Danielle Braff is a freelance writer.


chicagotribune--2020-03-04--Court rules that nuns, priests can build school, nursing home, brewery and winery in McHenry County

The Fraternite , which began with claims of a religious vision in France in 1977 , has its Mother House @ @ @ @ @ in Chicago ’ s Austin neighborhood .
It is also known for running the St. @ @ @ @ @ in Wilmette .
It already operates a seminary for friars and priests and a convent @ @ @ @ @ site near Marengo , but members , most of whom are nuns , want to @ @ @ @

A nun from the Fraternite Notre Dame monastery tends to the landscaping around the church in Coral Township on July 21, 2015. A judge has ruled the order may build a boarding school, nursing home, gift shop, brewery and winery on its grounds. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Over the objections of some McHenry County officials and residents, a judge has ruled that an order of nuns and priests may build a boarding school, gift shop, brewery and winery on its grounds, writing that opposition to the proposal revealed “the good, the bad and the ugly” of the community.
The consent decree is based on an agreement between Fraternite Notre Dame and the McHenry County state’s attorney, and brings a resolution to years of acrimony and legal battles.
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In 2015, the County Board voted 20-3 to reject the proposed development after hearing neighboring residents’ concerns that the development would increase traffic and might jeopardize water quality. After the Fraternite filed a federal lawsuit, State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally negotiated an agreement with the group and referred it to the board. But the board never voted on the new proposed agreement, leaving it to Kenneally to decide on the deal.
The Fraternite, which began with claims of a religious vision in France in 1977, has its Mother House and runs a soup kitchen in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. It is also known for running the St. Roger Abbey French Organic Patisserie in Wilmette. It already operates a seminary for friars and priests and a convent for nuns on its rural site near Marengo, but members, most of whom are nuns, want to expand there substantially.
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Fraternite Notre Dame's campus in Marengo, March 4, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
In his opinion issued Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Iain Johnston criticized the board for “shirking a fundamental duty” to hold a hearing and vote on the new agreement.
McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks said the board rejected the proposed development before he took office on the advice of the prior state’s attorney, Lou Bianchi, who argued that the rejection was legally defensible.
Franks said he didn’t think the opposition was based on religious bigotry, but that the commercial development was not appropriate for land zoned for agriculture, and should have been fought in court.
But after a public hearing at which the nuns’ expert witnesses testified that the development would not impair traffic or water quality, and the county did not offer expert testimony, Kenneally advised that the county would likely lose the case if it went to trial.
“The state’s attorney (office) made the mess,” Franks said. “Let them clean up the mess.”
Franks also questioned whether the order has the financial resources to build and operate such an extensive development. The Fraternite members deferred comment to their attorney, who could not immediately be reached. Kenneally stood by the agreement and deferred comment to the judge’s order.
In the ruling, the judge found that the county had violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The federal law prevents the government from imposing a substantial land use burden that obstructs the free exercise of religion without a compelling government interest and without trying less restrictive measures.
The court held its own public hearing on the matter, in October 2019, at which more than two dozen people spoke, and many others wrote letters objecting that the commercial development was inappropriate for a rural area next to a residential subdivision.
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The judge wrote that “religious bigotry” years ago, in the form of vandalism of vehicle brake lines and lug nuts, and desecration of religious buildings and statues on the site formed a “painful backdrop” to the case.
While some neighbors objected to alcohol being served on the site, the judge noted that a golf course down the road serves alcohol and offers video gambling.
Some speakers also objected that the Catholic religious order was not Catholic enough, because it is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, while others suggested that Catholic corruption tainted the order, the judge wrote.
The judge criticized board member Mary McCann for accusing Kenneally of placing his own Catholic religious convictions as the “basis” for the agreement, though the judge saw “no evidence” of that.
Under the agreement, Fraternite attorney Joan Ahn said, the order agreed not to seek permission for a proposed nursing home for three years, at which point the members may re-apply for approval.
“Generally, they’re happy with the results,” Ahn said of the nuns. “They’re looking forward to moving past the lawsuit and going back to their core religious mission.”
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The religious order will limit the amount of outbound delivery traffic, and will keep 60% of the 125-acre site undeveloped open space. The gift shop could sell beer, wine and pastries, with a tasting room if it receives a required license to serve liquor.
A key concession the order made was to waive attorney fees of more than $250,000. Had it gone to trial and won, the judge wrote, the group probably could have gotten more than $1 million in lawyer fees from the county.
The agreement also provides that the Fraternite will seek not any services or money from the local school districts.
McCann said she only objected to Kenneally’s legal opinion, not his religious beliefs, saying that an outside expert on the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act advised that the county could win parts of the case.
She objected that the order’s original proposal has grown substantially to include a three-story, 84,000-square-foot school and dormitory for 80 K-12 students, and a 15,000-square-foot barn to include the brewery, winery and canning — three times the size of the original proposal. The agreement does not require the Fraternite to start construction within any time limit, and allows construction to cover a period of five years, far longer than the usual two years, McCann said.
McCann would have liked the board to reject the agreement and hold a new public hearing. Any development would still have to go through normal design, code and permit requirements.
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“Religious belief has nothing to do with this,” McCann said. “This is a land issue.”
rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-04--A beginner’s guide to growing nutritious, delicious microgreens in your kitchen

Most microgreens are harvested after seven to 14 days , when they are 1 to 3 inches tall at the @ @ @ @ @ development .
Some are harvested at the seed leaf ( cotyledon ) stage , which @ @ @ @ @ leaves to emerge at germination .
The true leaves will be the second set of @ @ @ @ @ better match the appearance of the plant ’ s mature leaves .

Microgreens are difficult to find in stores, but easy to grow on your own. (Chicago Botanic Garden)
I am interested in using more microgreens and would like some advice on how to grow them at home.
–Tim Appleton, Highland Park
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Microgreens are the sprouted seeds of various edible vegetables and herbs grown in small, shallow containers. Routinely used by fine dining chefs, microgreens have intense flavors while adding visual appeal to dishes. They are also concentrated in nutrients, so they are good for you, too. They are difficult to find in stores and expensive to buy, but easy to grow year-round indoors.
Start by choosing a small, shallow container such as a seed flat, or repurpose a plastic takeout food container. You only need about an inch (2 inches maximum) of a well-drained growing medium designed for containers. The container you choose must have drainage holes in it. It is critical that the soil be kept moist throughout the process.
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Moistening the growing medium before filling your containers is recommended. Using seed trays with water wells underneath is the perfect way to keep the medium consistently moist throughout the growing period. Otherwise, check your containers daily and mist when the soil begins to look dry.
Very small seeds like lettuce can be sprinkled on the surface of the growing medium, misted and covered with a clear plastic lid until they sprout. Larger seeds will need to be sown ¼- to ⅛-inch deep — you can also accomplish this by sifting the growing medium over the seeds once the seeds are spread on the surface.
The container should be located in a spot that is at least 60 degrees. Consider using a heat mat for starting seeds to speed up and improve the rate germination.
The microgreens do not need fertilizer. A water mister is handy for moistening the soil without dislodging the seeds. Place a clear lid or plastic wrap that transmits light over the container to increase humidity until the seeds sprout. Ventilate the covered seeds daily, especially in bright conditions.
You can get consistent good results by growing the microgreens under grow lights for 12 to 14 hours each day. A fluorescent fixture hung on a chain works best, as you can adjust the level to keep the light at the optimum 8 to 12 inches above the seedlings.
A kitchen window is another option to use, though you may have trouble getting consistent results because of inconsistent temperatures due to drafts and the quality and quantity of sunlight in the winter. South and west exposures should work well for winter, and north and east for summer. Experiment some to see what works best for you, with the main thing being a large amount of bright, indirect light.
Most microgreens are harvested after seven to 14 days, when they are 1 to 3 inches tall at the first true leaf stage of development. Some are harvested at the seed leaf (cotyledon) stage, which is the first set of leaves to emerge at germination. The true leaves will be the second set of leaves that develop and will better match the appearance of the plant’s mature leaves.
Use a pair of kitchen shears to cut off the seedlings at the growing medium level as you need them. The microgreens will keep for three or four days in a zip-lock bag or sealed container in the refrigerator.
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You should not need to wash the greens if you use an organic growing mix and clean scissors for harvesting. The plants are growing for a short period of time and in a controlled environment, so there should rarely be issues with dust or soil clinging to the greens.
Seed companies will have microgreen mixes and varieties available for you to purchase. A wide variety of plants will work to grow as microgreens, including beets, radish, celery, basil, dill, lettuce, arugula, chives and cilantro.
Plants in the Brassica genus are great ‘starter’ microgreens. Check the seed packet for tips on how to grow that specific green, as some greens are more finicky than others and need special attention. Arugula seeds, for example, do better if they are sown sparsely rather than crowded together. Germination rates that are above 95% and listed on the seed packet will increase your likelihood of success.
Tim Johnson is director of horticulture for the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe.
ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-04--Investors lost more than $100 million in The Income Store’s alleged website development scheme. They

Investors lost more than $100 million in The Income Store’s alleged website development scheme. They may have to settle for the websites.

A Chicago federal judge Thursday will consider whether to approve a two-tiered distribution of assets that would give the more @ @ @ @ @ money through The Income Store a chance to apply for their websites in lieu of @ @ @ @ @ and letting them get back to the business of everything from selling car washing products @ @ @ @ @ .

The Income Store’s website development scheme allegedly bilked investors out of more than $100 million with false promises of endless returns and internet riches.
But with less than $2 million in assets remaining from what federal investigators called a “classic” Ponzi scheme, investors may soon have the option to take possession of their websites instead of seeking pennies on the dollar in a cash distribution.
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A Chicago federal judge Thursday will consider whether to approve a two-tiered distribution of assets that would give the more than 500 investors who lost money through The Income Store a chance to apply for their websites in lieu of cash, expediting the process and letting them get back to the business of everything from selling car washing products to giving advice on beekeeping.
“We don’t have money at this time,” said Melanie Damian, the court-appointed receiver for The Income Store’s assets. “What we have are the websites, and many investors want the benefit of their bargain — they want the websites they purchased from The Income Store.”
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Kenneth Courtright, 49, who operated The Income Store out of his Minooka home, is facing civil and criminal charges in the alleged scheme, which lured investors with annual returns of up to 20% if they paid a six-figure “upfront fee” used to build and operate websites. The scope of the alleged fraud has grown from an initial estimate of $75 million since the complaints were filed.
In reality, returns were primarily funded by paying early investors with money raised from later investors until the Ponzi scheme became “unsustainable,” according to a civil complaint filed in December by the Securities and Exchange Commission against Courtright and Today’s Growth Consultants, better known as The Income Store, for alleged securities fraud.
Courtright was arrested in February on criminal fraud charges after the FBI launched a separate investigation last year into The Income Store.
On Monday, the court approved preliminary injunctions freezing Courtright’s business and personal assets until the civil case is resolved.
Attorneys representing Courtright did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Damian said Tuesday that The Income Store took in $144 million from investors from January 2017 until it was shut down by federal authorities in December. She alleged it paid out “no more” than $40 million to investors, leaving them out about $100 million.
Courtright allegedly spent some of the investor funds to pay his mortgage and school tuition for a family member.
As to the rest of the money, “there’s not much” left, Damian said.
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The liquidation value of the remaining personal and business assets is “less than $2 million,” Damian said, making the distribution of websites a more viable option for some investors.
"Many of the investors want the websites in their control for a variety of reasons,” she said. “For some investors, the website is attached to their business, or they were providing content for it. So we’re giving them the opportunity to have that now.”
The Income Store created and operated more than 3,100 mostly obscure websites for investors, ranging from KeepingCarsClean.com, a waterless car washing ecommerce site, to HoneyBeeStings.com, an ad-supported site for beekeepers.
The websites generated about $9 million in advertising and product sales revenue through October 2019 — far less than The Income Store paid to investors over the same time, according to the federal complaints.
Damian said in a court filing Friday the websites cost about $80,000 a month to operate in a stripped-down business model that has enabled them to break even under her watch. But she said continued operation will eventually drain the estate’s “minimal funds” without a process that permits investors to claim ownership of the websites “assigned” to them by The Income Store.
Beyond the SEC’s planned distribution of assets, some investors are seeking another avenue to recover their losses. In February, a lawsuit seeking class-action status was filed in Chicago federal court against Heartland Bank and PNC Bank — the two primary financial institutions used by The Income Store — for allegedly financing and facilitating the fraudulent scheme.
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In Friday’s filing in the SEC case, Damian said she “continues to investigate” whether the estate might be able to recover money for investors from third parties associated with Courtright or The Income Store. She declined to say Tuesday if that includes the two banks named in the class-action lawsuit.
“We do intend to bring certain claims against third parties that I can’t yet discuss,” Damian said. “Hopefully there will be greater recovery through those other claims.”
rchannick@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--'Are there any more babies inside?’: 1-year-old girl dead, at least 8 others hurt in West Lawn house

'Are there any more babies inside?’: 1-year-old girl dead, at least 8 others hurt in West Lawn house fire

Riley told the women they could come inside her home , and the woman holding the baby passed the child @ @ @ @ @ the baby on to Ledezma , who brought the child inside .
Riley then found @ @ @ @ @ bring out to the family , and other neighbors also started to give them clothing @ @ @ @

Workers prepare to board up a house in the 6000 block of South Kenneth Avenue in Chicago, following an overnight fatal fire on March 4, 2020. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Two women dressed in pajamas ran from the burning bungalow early Wednesday, one of them carrying a baby and the other one crying.
“Are there any more babies inside?” asked Ana Riley, who lived across the street in the West Lawn neighborhood.
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"There are two more inside,” one of the women said.
“She was crying, just crying, because she didn’t know what to do," Riley said later. “It was just bad. I wanted to go inside (the burning home) and help them. … The flames came out so fast and the smoke came out. I didn’t know what to do.”
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As Riley and her daughter comforted the women, firefighters arrived and Riley told them two babies were still inside. They carried out two small bodies covered in soot. One of the girl’s arms hung by her side as paramedics performed CPR.
A 1-year-old girl was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn from smoke inhalation, fire officials said. A 2-year-old girl was in critical condition and “fighting for life,” the Chicago Fire Department said in a tweet.
2359 still alarm 6040 S Kenneth 1 1/2 story ordinary 35 X 50 fire in the front attic space 9 total patients 8 transports all to Christ 1 y/o Red critical, 2y/o Red critical, 5 month red serious, 12y and 14 y/ yellow stable 1 adult male red stable, 1 adult female red stable, pic.twitter.com/ze3BkFN4j3 — Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) March 4, 2020
Seven other people were injured. A 5-month-old boy, a 22-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were taken to hospitals also in critical condition. A 12-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl, a 28-year-old woman and a 40-year-old woman were all in good condition, the department said. The two adults refused medical treatment, the rest were taken to Christ Medical Center.
The fire apparently started in the front attic area of the 1½-story brick house in the 6000 block of South Kenneth Avenue around midnight, according to Chicago police and the Chicago Fire Department.
Riley, 54, said she came home after work and began to watch the Investigation Discovery channel. About 30 minutes later, she smelled smoke through her cracked window. She first checked her next-door neighbor’s house but didn’t see anything, she said. Then she walked to the backyard and saw the reflection of flames in a window facing the house across the street.
“I came outside and heard someone scream, ‘Help, help!' ” she said.
Riley had her daughter Selena Ledezma, 24, call the Fire Department and they headed across the street, she said. “I was just hoping everyone got out because it was all orange,” Ledezma said. “I was panicking. … It was so scary.”
About five minutes after Ledezma made the call, trucks started to arrive and firefighters went into the home and found the children. The fire was extinguished just after 1 a.m., according to fire officials. The cause remains under investigation.
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Workers prepare to board up a house in the 6000 block of South Kenneth Avenue in Chicago, following an overnight fatal fire, March 4, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Riley and her daughter came outside again after the last firetruck left about 1:30 a.m. They watched as investigators walked up the steps inside the brick home and shined a light around the attic, which was burned open. The sound of water dripping within the house could be heard from the other side of the street.
Ledezma was having trouble sleeping because the image of the top floor’s air conditioner exploding kept replaying in her head, she said.
The family who they helped are good neighbors, Riley said. They moved in about a year ago. She didn’t know them well, but they always made sure to say hi whenever they saw each other.
A Google Maps image captured last September shows three adults sitting on the home’s front steps. One is holding a swaddled infant. Another is propping up a baby in diapers on the adult’s left knee while another child wearing a pink shirt stands on the ground, appearing to keep balance by holding the right one.
pfry@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @paigexfry


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Man, 70, dies by suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in Hyde Park, says fire department

A alarm went off around 9:20 p.m. inside an apartment building in the 800 block of East 53rd Street , @ @ @ @ @ Peoples Gas and Chicago Fire Department responded .
While clearing the building , CFD found @ @ @ @ @ turned on , which caused the alarm to sound .

A 70-year-old man was found dead in a Hyde Park apartment unit Tuesday night after the Chicago Fire Department responded to a carbon monoxide alarm, authorities said.
An alarm went off about 9:20 p.m. inside an apartment building in the 800 block of East 53rd Street, according to Chicago police. Peoples Gas and the Chicago Fire Department responded. While clearing the building, CFD found a unit with a stove turned on, which caused the alarm to sound.
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Across the hall in a separate unit, the man was found unresponsive, police said. Preliminary information suggests he died of carbon monoxide poisoning, but the Cook County medical examiner’s office will determine the official cause of death.
Fire Department Deputy District Chief Curtis Hudson identified the man as 70 years old. His name has not been released.
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There were no other reported injuries, according to police. The incident is under investigation.
pfry@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @paigexfry


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Ask Amy: DNA proves he's a dad, but where is the mom?

Dear Papa : You are genuinely motivated to help your son , but -- rather than speculate about the identity @ @ @ @ @ exposing a group of strangers to the shock of this ( potentially incorrect ) information @ @ @ @ @ to first go to the county where he was born and fill out a petition @ @ @ @ @ access to his own adoption records ( his adoptive parents may want to help him @ @ @ @

Dear Amy: A few years ago, I submitted my DNA on an ancestry site. Last year, I received an email from a newly discovered son, "Joe." Joe was adopted at birth and had received minimal information about his mother, although she left information that the father (me) was unaware of the pregnancy. (I was in college at the time. I am currently in my 70s).
Joe's DNA test confirmed my paternal relationship. I welcomed the information and have established a long-distance relationship (as have my wife and other children).
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I now am fairly certain that I know the identity of Joe's birth mother. I wanted to get her permission before I disclosed her name to Joe, but have discovered that she died several years ago.
Through internet searches I have discovered the names of her other children, all born after Joe.
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I think I can now tell Joe everything I know, so he can perhaps learn more about his birth mother (and receive possibly valuable medical history) through her other children. He could suggest that they submit their DNA to confirm the relationship.
Your thoughts?
— DNA Papa
Dear Papa: You are genuinely motivated to help your son, but -- rather than speculate about the identity of his birth mother, exposing a group of strangers to the shock of this (potentially incorrect) information, you should advise him to first go to the county where he was born and fill out a petition with the court to have access to his own adoption records (his adoptive parents may want to help him with this).
People who register to have their DNA tested and entered into a databank do so with some awareness that they might be in store for some surprises. In my (limited) circle, I know several men (like you) who have discovered -- or been discovered -- by offspring. And, like you, all seem to have welcomed this news.
People placing children for adoption also have the legal right to their own privacy. They have tackled a very painful dilemma, which is worlds away from yours.
"Joe" should go through legal channels. He should also be patient -- because, given the ubiquity of these DNA databases, there is a likelihood that he will receive more "pings" and notifications that he has additional DNA matches.
I might advise you toward more proactive disclosure if Joe was facing a serious inherited illness, but that doesn't seem to be the case, here.
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Dear Amy: A couple of weeks before Christmas, my oldest son called with the news that his family planned to come home after Christmas.
I was elated as the last time my three sons have been together for this holiday was over 10 years ago, and never since all the grandkids have been born.
The only issue was a very big condition: They needed to have a "quiet" area of the house for his mother-in-law, who lives with them.
She is bipolar and needs her sleep.
We live in a small tri-level home and I was not sure how this would work!
The MIL could not go to her son's or her husband's family to stay, either (a very strange situation).
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We weren't sure what to do, so we offered to give them the house -- they could divide up the three bedrooms as they saw fit, and we would stay in a hotel.
Well, they didn't come. It was very sad for me.
Do you think we were out of line?
— Sad Mom and Nana
Dear Sad: You offering your entire home to this group was not out of line -- it was very generous. You should assume that your son simply couldn't face the prospect of putting you out of your house during the visit.
I hope you can approach this with compassion toward this family. Yes, you are sad that they couldn't visit. But they have a lot on their plate, and it sounds as if they are doing their best.
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Dear Amy: As a six-time Grammy, I appreciated your response to the "Loving Grandma," who asked about disciplining grandchildren in her home.
Ask Amy Daily No-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
Yes, we need to reinforce parent's rules and play as a team for the kids.
As a retired teacher and principal, I question the specific punishment laid down. A child defaced a book. Treats were withheld. Eating has nothing to do with being irresponsible with objects. An appropriate punishment would be for the child to do extra chores and work with the parents to replace the defaced book.
— Grammy GoGo
Dear Grammy: Absolutely. Thank you for the insight.
(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
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Copyright 2019 by Amy Dickinson
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Blackhawks’ 4-goal barrage in the 2nd period sends them to a 6-2 win over the Ducks

“ Last time they were here , it was a tricky game , ” Colliton said before the game about @ @ @ @ @ Jan. 11 .
“ We ( didn ’ t have ) a great start , @ @ @ @ @ game went on ( and ) took over in the second period .
”

The Blackhawks looked like a playoff team in a tune-up against a struggling team in Tuesday night’s 6-2 win against the Ducks, but they did not gain ground in the wild-card standings.
The Jets also won Tuesday to hold onto the second wild-card slot, though the Canucks have lost three in a row and play wild-card hopeful Arizona on Wednesday.
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For the Hawks, however, Tuesday night’s win at the United Center — marked by a phenomenal performance by the second line of Alex Nylander, Dylan Strome and Patrick Kane — gave them their third straight win and justified holding out hope of still making the playoffs.
“They’re not going to quit,” coach Jeremy Colliton said. “They’re never going to give up. There’s been multiple times through the year where people could have said and probably did say this group is dead and buried.
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“But there’s lots of games left, lots of home games left, and we’ve shown we’re resilient.”
Here are three takeaways from Tuesday night’s game.
1. It was only a matter of time before Dylan Strome got ‘off the schneid.’
Dylan Strome was the star of the night with 3 points, racking up two goals and an assist, all in the second period.
He was due. Strome hadn’t scored a goal since Jan. 5 against the Red Wings. He suffered a right ankle sprain the next game and went on injured reserve until Feb. 1 against the Coyotes. He showed signs of warming up with assists in back-to-back games against the Blues and Lightning last week.
“It was a long time,” he said. “Obviously, scoring right before I was injured and then getting injured and missing a bunch of games and then playing a bunch and I hadn’t scored since, like, early January, or something.”
He added, “I appreciate you guys not asking about it all the time. That was nice, actually. I knew, obviously. It’s nice to get off the schneid tonight and it felt pretty good.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford defends the net during the second period. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Strome scored his first goal when Duncan Keith’s shot from the blue line bounced off the end wall and back to Strome. Patrick Kane found him streaking to the net on his second goal.
Coach Jeremy Colliton said it’s Strome’s work in the defensive zone and away from the puck that sets up scoring opportunities.
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“He’s been getting better and better over the last few weeks, more and more active away from the puck,” Colliton said. “I think playing center, he’s been really good I think in D-zone. … It’s obviously been a point of emphasis for him to really be good down there, so he can get out of there and play in the offensive zone.”
2. Alex Nylander had his 15 seconds of fame.
Alex Nylander has had his dry spells, but when the rookie gets hot he gets out. Nylander scored with less than two minutes to go in the second and assisted to Patrick Kane 15 seconds later, showing the benefits of playing on a line with Kane and Dylan Strome.
“Of course, I’ve got another level, but it was also nice to get those goals and playing with the line today,” he said. “We just need to build off that and obviously we can get better.”
That chemistry has been built through practices and shows up intermittently in games.
“Everybody wants the puck, we all want to play the puck too, so we work really well together...” Nylander said. “Just need to keep going to the net when Kaner has it and he finds me and Stromer in the open places.”
Before Nylander’s goal, his ninth of the season, Adam Boqvist disrupted Danton Heinen before he could get a shot off.
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“Boqqie made a great play to lift the guy’s stick and the puck just squirted up there,” Strome said.
Heinen regained the puck but overshot his pass to Sonny Milano — right to Nylander. Nylander had a 2-on-1 going with Jonathan Toews but goaltender John Gibson faded toward Toews, creating an open lane for Nylander.
“Just fake the shot a little bit and go backhand,” Nylander said of his goal. “He was coming out a little bit, waiting for the shot obviously because it was a 2-on-1, but it was nice to get that one.”
After Nylander’s 15 seconds, coach Jeremy Colliton sat his line with Kane and Strome, and “Kaner’s like, why are you taking us off?” Colliton said.
“I’m like, well two goals on one shift, what are you going to do?”
3. The real test comes Thursday against the Oilers.
Let’s face it: If it wasn’t for the Kings the Ducks would be the worst team in the Western Conference. But the Oilers are nipping right at the Golden Knights’ heels in the Pacific Division. The Oilers beat the Stars, another contender, 2-1 in overtime on Tuesday and are on a three-game streak.
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If the Blackhawks have any hopes of beating the odds to clinch a wild-card spot, they can’t afford to lapse into complacency like coach Jeremy Colliton saw for a stretch in the first period against the Ducks.
“First 10 minutes, I thought we were aggressive and did a lot of good things. The second 10, didn’t love as much,” he said. “I thought we turned the puck over and gave them some free chances.”
The Hawks have been searching for consistency all season, and Dylan Strome said alternating between long stretches home and on the road might have something to do with it.
“I feel like we’re a pretty streaky team,” he said. “When we win one or two in a row we feel like we go on a little bit of a run and we’re playing some good hockey. Obviously, the counter to that is that we’ve lost four or five in a row at points. … It’s been a little bit of an odd season but lots of time left.”
Alex Nylander saw reasons for optimism from Tuesday night’s game.
“We’re playing more together in the D-zone, we’re helping each other out, talking more, getting more clean plays out of the D-zone, which leads to better offense,” he said. “We’re getting the pucks to the net, more guys are coming to the net, and we’re playing an overall solid game.”
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Here is more coverage from the game.
The Blackhawks battered Ducks goaltender John Gibson with four goals in the second period — two of them 15 seconds apart — and coasted to a 6-2 win Tuesday at the United Center.
Backup goaltender Malcolm Subban made a brief debut for the Hawks in the third period after Corey Crawford took a knee to the head from Ryan Getzlaf. Crawford returned about a minute later.
Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton said there was some miscommunication about whether it was mandatory for Crawford to leave the game and be checked out for a possible concussion.
“He felt fine,” Colliton said. “He didn’t feel anything in his head.”
Crawford missed substantial time in each of the previous two seasons because of concussions.
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“Yeah, I think it was trainer’s discretion,” Crawford said. “It was more my neck than anything. It was one of those ones where you feel it for a few seconds and it was fine after.”
The Hawks flashed some of their young talent with two goals by Dylan Strome and one apiece by Drake Caggiula and Alex Nylander.
Colliton has preached consistency and getting off to fast starts, and the Hawks took advantage of a slightly younger Ducks team.
“Last time they were here, it was a tricky game,” Colliton said before the game about the Hawks’ 4-2 win Jan. 11. “We (didn’t have) a great start, we got better as the game went on (and) took over in the second period.”
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On Tuesday he wanted to see the Hawks look “real sharp off the bat but have a 60-minute game in mind where we’re going to wear them down.”
This time the Hawks got sharp play from the outset and a dominant second period, led by their youth movement.
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About two minutes into the game, Caggiula tipped in a goal set up by 19-year-old rookies Adam Boqvist and Kirby Dach.
Dach weaved in front of the Ducks’ Christian Djoos as Caggiula circled behind him and dropped down to the net. Dach passed to Boqvist at the top of the circle, and he made a nice pass through traffic to find Caggiula for an easy tip-in to Gibson’s stick side.
Strome led off the second-period barrage with a bit of good fortune. Duncan Keith’s shot bounced off the boards to Strome, who flipped it in. The Ducks answered with a goal by Danton Heinen, but Strome scored his second goal shortly after starting a shift when Patrick Kane found him streaking to the net.
Kane helped put the game away when he scored his 29th goal of the season 15 seconds after Nylander’s unassisted goal.
Ryan Miller replaced Gibson to start the third period and gave up the Hawks’ final goal to David Kampf.


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Patient at University of Chicago Medical Center tests negative for coronavirus; 4 cases total in Ill

Patient at University of Chicago Medical Center tests negative for coronavirus; 4 cases total in Illinois

On Monday , the third and fourth cases in Illinois were reported : A husband and wife in their 70s @ @ @ @ @ , but the results still needed to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control @ @ @ @ @ was being treated at Northwest Community Hospital and his wife was under quarantine at home @ @ @ @ @ other cases in Illinois have been confirmed by the CDC .

Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas, Lisa Schencker

Paca Kujtim of Arlington Heights self-administers a COVID-19 test in his car at the Arlington International Racecourse on March 31, 2021 in Arlington Heights. Kujtim was getting testing as a precaution for upcoming travel. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
A patient being treated at the University of Chicago Medical Center for a suspected coronavirus case has tested negative for the virus, hospital officials said Tuesday night. That leaves a total of four reported COVID-19 cases in Illinois.
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On Monday, the third and fourth cases in Illinois were reported: A husband and wife in their 70s both tested positive for coronavirus, but the results still needed to be confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The man was being treated at Northwest Community Hospital and his wife was under quarantine at home, officials said. Two other cases in Illinois have been confirmed by the CDC.
University of Chicago Medical Center spokeswoman Lorna Wong said the hospital has been “preparing for this eventuality” since coronavirus first became a global public health threat in January.
“Senior hospital leadership and leaders from our infectious diseases and infection prevention teams, along with other expert clinicians, are working closely with local, state and federal health officials and continue to apply up to date recommended guidelines,” she said in an emailed statement.
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). According to the CDC, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. (Brenda Clarke/Dreamstime/TNS)
On Monday, Arlington Heights School District 25 said two staffers and two students would be staying home as a result of possible exposure to a person who is related to a hospital worker who encountered a patient with coronavirus.
At least 15 states have reported cases of coronavirus. At least nine people have died from the disease in Washington state, officials announced Tuesday. Several of the cases, and deaths, in Washington state have been among patients at a nursing facility.
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[ Field Museum, Art Institute enact COVID-19 travel bans for staff ]
The disease has hit at least 70 countries, with 90,000 cases and 3,100 deaths. The vast majority of cases and deaths have been in China. While the number of new cases recorded daily in that epicenter country has declined for weeks, the virus continues to spread fast in South Korea, Iran and Italy, prompting increased travel warnings and restrictions.
Most cases of COVID-19 seem to be mild, said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, during a call with reporters Tuesday. A report out of China suggests that serious illness occurs in about 16% of cases, though people who are older and have underlying health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, are about twice as likely to develop serious cases as younger, healthier people, she said.
As of Monday evening, there were more than 100 cases of coronavirus in the U.S., including those who tested positive by their local health departments and those whose positive results have been confirmed by the CDC.
Of those cases, 22 were travel-related, 11 were spread person-to-person and the causes of 27 others were still under investigation. An additional 48 cases were among repatriated Americans, such as from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
As of Monday, 102 people in Illinois had been tested for the virus. The state health department said Tuesday it was watching a total of about 250 people for symptoms, including some of those who’ve already been tested.
The state has a hotline people can call with questions or to report suspected cases, 800-889-3931. They can call the Office of Consumer Health Insurance at 877-527-9431 about their insurance coverage.
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Check back for updates.
kdouglas@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @312BreakingNews
[ Surfaces? Sneezes? Sex? Here’s how the coronavirus can and cannot spread. ]


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Arbitrator ruled the Cubs did nothing ‘nefarious’ in delaying Kris Bryant’s MLB debut

“ He had a philosophy of player development that he had followed at that point for 14 years as the @ @ @ @ @ baseball operations at two big-market baseball clubs , ” the decision said .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ produce a single example before or since of a first-year minor league player whom Epstein @ @ @ @ @ of a true rookie who started the season on the 25-player roster .
The association @ @ @ @ @ minor league and spring training numbers were exceptional , even unprecedented , but it can @ @ @ @ @ adherence to a philosophy that had proven successful is evidence of bad faith motivation .
@

Arbitrator Mark Irvings accepted Theo Epstein’s rationale for delaying Kris Bryant’s debut at the start of the 2015 season, concluding there was no proof of “a nefarious motive” by the Cubs president of baseball operations to delay the third baseman’s eligibility for free agency.
In a 42-page decision obtained by The Associated Press, Irvings accepted Epstein's explanation that injuries to Mike Olt and Tommy La Stella prompted the timing of Bryant's call-up to the Cubs in April 2015. Had Bryant been brought up one day earlier, he would have been eligible for free agency after the 2020 season. Instead, he will be eligible after the 2021 season.
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"The association could not satisfy its burden of proving that the Cubs' assignments of Bryant were done in bad faith to mask service time manipulation," Irvings wrote. "Given this finding, there is no need to resolve, and this decision does not address, the global issue of whether clubs have the right to manage service time to delay a player's achievement of the service benchmarks for salary arbitration and free agent eligibility."
Hearings were held last Oct. 21-23, with a final day Nov. 6. Irvings issued his decision to the parties on Feb. 4, but it was not made public.
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Now a three-time All-Star third baseman, Bryant hit .425 with nine homers in 40 at-bats during spring training in 2015. Hampered by a sore shoulder, he made three errors in eight games, a factor cited by Epstein as among the reasons for having Bryant start the season at Triple-A Iowa.
"The fact that Bryant amassed the worst fielding percentage of any third baseman in baseball during spring training cannot be ignored," Irvings wrote.
Olt started for the Cubs at third base on opening day and La Stella in the second game. La Stella strained an oblique muscle on April 10 and Olt was hit on his right wrist by a pitch the following day, then diagnosed with a fracture on April 15.
Bryant batted .321 with three homers in seven games at Iowa. The Cubs were off on April 16, and Bryant was brought up to make his debut against San Diego on April 17. If Bryant had been called up a day earlier, he would have had exactly six years of major league service — the time needed for free agency — by the end of the 2020 season.
Epstein said service time was a secondary consideration, Irvings said.
"The association was not able to produce memos, emails or texts from Epstein to show he had a nefarious motive at variance with his public comments," Irvings wrote, adding that "unforeseen events had forced Epstein's hand."
“He made a decision based on what he concluded were the acute needs of the major league team, even though it posed a risk to the development of his top prospect,” Irvings added. “The debatable wisdom of that decision cannot be the grounds for finding that Epstein lacked a basis in fact or reason for keeping Bryant with Iowa until April 17.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 21 Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
The players’ association has been critical of teams’ actions that have delayed eligibility for salary arbitration and free agency. Union head Tony Clark has said the matter will be brought up in bargaining for the labor contract that follows the current deal, which expires in December 2021.
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"Epstein's explanations cannot be discounted as pretextual or dishonest. While other baseball people could certainly have decided that Bryant should have been put on the opening day roster, Epstein had bases in both fact and reason for reaching a different conclusion," Irvings wrote.
“He had a philosophy of player development that he had followed at that point for 14 years as the person in ultimate control of baseball operations at two big-market baseball clubs,” the decision said. "The association was not able to produce a single example before or since of a first-year minor league player whom Epstein brought up in September or of a true rookie who started the season on the 25-player roster. The association is correct that Bryant's minor league and spring training numbers were exceptional, even unprecedented, but it cannot be said that consistent adherence to a philosophy that had proven successful is evidence of bad faith motivation."
Selected by the Cubs with the second overall pick on the 2013 amateur draft, Bryant was voted National League MVP in 2016 as the Cubs won the World Series for the first time since 1908. The 28-year-old agreed in January to an $18.6 million, one-year contract.
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Attempting to show there had been service time manipulation, the union cited a Feb. 26, 2015, email from Cubs director of major league scouting Kyle Evans to general manager Jed Hoyer suggesting talks to trade outfielder Ryan Sweeney to Toronto early in the season as a way of clearing a roster spot for Bryant. It also cited a March 20 remark to Bryant by farm system director Jaron Madison about why Bryant was walking through the minor league side of the complex when he had not been assigned there "yet," and a text from Evans to Epstein and Hoyer predicting Bryant would homer and made an "unreal play" in the outfield during an exhibition game "just to be more of a pain."
The union also referred to a slide made for Epstein's presentation to Cubs ownership on March 19, 2015, that indicated Bryant would be under club control through 2021. Irvings said the Epstein's presumptive position and was "not evidence of deceit."
"Epstein stated that a player's development and the acute needs of the major league club, not the impact on a player's service time accrual, dictated the timing of the initial call-up. He said there is too much uncertainty about future service time accrual to make decisions based on arbitration and free agent eligibility," Irvings wrote. "Epstein testified that Bryant had not made the necessary defensive improvements during spring training that might have caused Epstein to go against his presumption that Bryant, like all other top prospect rookies in his 13 years as a general manager, would start the season in AAA."
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The Cubs started the 2015 season 5-3 and finished 97-65, earning a wild-card berth. They advanced to the NL Championship Series before getting swept by the New York Mets.
"Ensuring Bryant's multiyear success was of much greater competitive benefit to the club than perhaps enhancing the chances of the team winning a few extra games at the beginning of the season," Irvings wrote. "The fact that the team won five of their first eight games before Bryant was called up was a further indication that Epstein's calculation was a reasonable, and even in retrospect a successful, balancing of short and long term competitive goals."
In a holding that could be cited in future grievances, Irvings ruled that "while this award will not reach the broader issue of whether a club can base a roster decision solely on the desire to delay free agency, the concept of good faith and fair dealing is relevant for purposes of this narrower analysis."
“The association has not proven that ... Epstein acted in bad faith,” Irvings said. “Repeatedly from the emergence of the Bryant as the top minor league prospect, Epstein articulated his belief that Bryant would presumptively start the 2015 season in AAA.”


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Family of Interstate 57 crash victim releases statement of thanks: ’Stephanie believed in love'

“ Stephanie was a woman of deep faith .
We know that God will carry us through this extraordinarily difficult @ @ @ @ @ lay our beloved Stephanie to rest , ” according to the statement released by her @ @ @ @ @ also aware that more difficult times are ahead as the young man whose impaired driving @ @ @ @ @ will be going to trial .
We will keep him and his family in our @ @ @ @ @ what Stephanie would have wanted .
Stephanie believed in love , even for those who @ @ @ @ @

The family of a south suburban woman killed in a horrific crash last week released a statement thanking the public for their support, saying the bighearted wife and mother would have shown compassion for the man accused of killing her.
Stephanie “Val” Anselmo, 39, of Park Forest, was killed early Friday when a speeding car struck the rear of her vehicle, sending it over a concrete barrier on Interstate 57. A DeKalb man was later charged with reckless homicide and aggravated DUI.
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Anselmo’s family said she was a devoted wife and mother to a young son, who also worked as an inspector with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and was returning home from work when she was killed.
Stephanie “Val” Anselmo in an undated photo. (Family photo)
“Stephanie was a woman of deep faith. We know that God will carry us through this extraordinarily difficult time as we prepare to lay our beloved Stephanie to rest,” according to the statement released by her family. “We are also aware that more difficult times are ahead as the young man whose impaired driving caused Stephanie’s death will be going to trial. We will keep him and his family in our prayers, as that is what Stephanie would have wanted. Stephanie believed in love, even for those who have wronged you.”
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William Hogsett, who along with his wife became friends with Anselmo as students at Blackburn College in downstate Carlinville, agreed that she would have shown concern for the young man accused of causing her death. “Part of what made Steph so special was her huge heart and love for people,” Hogsett said in an email.
Anselmo’s family also thanked law enforcement and members of the public who donated to a GoFundMe page set up on their behalf.
In court Sunday, prosecutors said Tevin Washington was driving about 85 mph in a 2016 white Dodge Challenger on southbound I-57, when he changed lanes behind Anselmo’s braking 1999 silver Jeep SUV. His vehicle crashed into the rear of the Jeep, causing it to burst into flames and go over the concrete barrier, prosecutors said.
The airborne vehicle plunged down onto tracks owned by the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. Anselmo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Washington was released after posting $15,000 bail, but is expected to return to court Thursday at the Markham courthouse.
Funeral arrangements for Anselmo are pending.
wlee@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @MidNoirCowboy


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Trial for killing of police Cmdr. Paul Bauer opens with claim of self-defense opposing the image of

Trial for killing of police Cmdr. Paul Bauer opens with claim of self-defense opposing the image of an ‘executed’ Chicago hero

Kamin also acknowledged the episode for Legghette began when he declined to speak to two people he did recognize as @ @ @ @ @ to stop him for appearing to urinate in public on Lower Wacker Drive .
Legghette @ @ @ @ @ said , then a few moments later once he got to the street level he @ @ @ @ @ chasing him for an unknown reason .

Shomari Legghette, 47, gestures as he walks out of the courtroom on Oct. 28, 2020, after being sentenced in the first-degree murder of Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
One of the most high-profile police murder trials in recent Chicago history opened Tuesday with lawyers giving jurors two starkly different views of the two figures at the center of the case: slain police Cmdr. Paul Bauer and Shomari Legghette, his alleged killer.
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Prosecutors portrayed Bauer as the pride of his department, a devoted officer needlessly gunned down while trying to tackle Legghette, a cowardly criminal who opened fire out of fear cops would discover his bulletproof vest, his cocaine and his 9 mm Glock.
But a defense lawyer painted Bauer’s death as just the opposite: Bauer was the one who was aggressive and out of control, and Legghette was just a low-level “street hustler” who acted in self-defense when a man he did not know was a police officer attacked him out of nowhere.
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Bauer’s February 2018 slaying, in broad daylight in a stairwell in the Loop, shocked Chicago. Legghette, a 46-year-old four-time felon, was quickly arrested and scorned as the product of the kind of lenient justice system Bauer often criticized.
Two years later, Legghette sat at a table in a courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building as his trial for the slaying began. Feet away were rows of uniformed police officers there to support a fallen comrade, ranking prosecutors including State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and Bauer’s widow, Erin, flanked by her family and supporters.
As Assistant State’s Attorney Risa Lanier described Bauer’s last moments, as a cop on-duty and answering the call to pursue a fleeing suspect, a young police officer in the gallery wiped away tears.
Legghette “executed” Bauer, Lanier said, after he led police on a foot pursuit through parts of downtown.
“He did so for no reason other than his own desperate attempts to avoid the police, to avoid custody, to avoid being detained, to avoid what even began as an attempt to have a simple conversation,” Lanier said.
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After attending a training that morning, Bauer gave chase with his handcuffs unholstered and his radio at full volume, Lanier said — an attempt to blunt any arguments that Legghette did not know Bauer was a cop.
“He would answer the call and perform the functions of a Chicago police officer for the very last time,” she said.
Her opening remarks were precise and animated. The veteran prosecutor rolled her hands over each other as she described Legghette and Bauer tumbling into the stairwell, and snapped her fingers sharply while she described the volley of gunfire.
In his opening statement, Scott Kamin, Legghette’s attorney, described the shooting as a clear-cut case of self-defense. Legghette did not know that Bauer was a police officer, he said, promising jurors that they would hear Legghette’s story, in his own words, from the witness stand. .
Kamin admitted his client was a low-level drug dealer, and said he was in the area to meet a woman he was eyeing as a girlfriend and then get back to hustling his neighborhood.
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Kamin also acknowledged the episode for Legghette began when he declined to speak to two people he did recognize as officers, cops who attempted to stop him for appearing to urinate in public on Lower Wacker Drive. Legghette began to leave, Kamin said, then a few moments later once he got to the street level he sensed that someone might be chasing him for an unknown reason.
Shortly after that, Legghette would encounter Bauer, Kamin said, while still not realizing that he was the target of police officers. He at first thought maybe the strange man in a blue winter coat — Bauer — was an attorney running to make it to court on time, or perhaps someone was after him related to his drug dealing, Kamin said.
Kamin said Bauer’s coat covered his police uniform. Legghette meanwhile was wearing body armor and had a gun for protection because of his work in the dangerous drug trade.
Bauer ran after Legghette and pushed him down the stairwell, then put him in a chokehold, Kamin said.
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“What Mr. Legghette did in firing at this guy who’s choking him, I mean, it was reasonable,” Kamin said.
“He’s upset about the incident, too, he’s never shot anybody in his life,” Kamin said. " … He never used this gun before, that was a normal person being upset. Normal person who deals drugs, maybe does other crimes, I don’t know."
By not making it clear that he was a police officer, “Cmdr. Bauer brought it on himself,” Kamin said.
Legghette sat at the defense table with his seat leaned back so far that from some angles his head was barely visible.
In a surprising note, Kamin’s opening statement hinted that Legghette may testify he was not the only person to fire gunshots in the stairwell that day.
After firing at Bauer to get him to release the chokehold, Kamin said, Legghette “hears some more shooting, but he doesn’t know what that is … then they stop, OK, they stop, somebody is at the top of the stairwell telling him to surrender.”
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Police, prosecutors and witnesses have never said that anyone but Legghette fired shots that day. But in a letter he wrote to ABC-7, Legghette reportedly wrote that he believes Bauer was actually killed by friendly fire from police.
To guard against jurors believing that claim, prosecutors asked four civilian witnesses Tuesday if they saw any police fire their weapons after the first volley of gunshots echoed from the stairwell.
All of them said no, though each described hearing the boom of gunshots echoing from the stairwell.
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“To hear that was completely a shock to my system,” Scott Verhey said. “I’m guessing at least five shots, and very quick, it was like a single burst.”
Also testifying Tuesday was Chicago police Cmdr. Warren Richards, who attended training with Bauer the morning before he died.
Prosecutors showed him the portrait of Bauer that has since become famous, displayed in shop windows and on posters around the city in his memory for months after his death. Bauer is in full uniform, his head tilted, smiling.
“That’s Paul Bauer,” Richards said, his voice growing hoarse.
“Were you friends?” Assistant State’s Attorney John Maher asked.
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“Yes, sir,” Richards said. “Proudly.”
The trial is expected to continue into next week.
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[ Trial of man accused of killing Cmdr. Paul Bauer won’t include past incidents involving officer ]
[ Family of Chicago police commander killed in the line of duty sues online gun marketplace ]
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chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Jury awards more than $5 million to man who contends torture at the hands of Burge detectives led to

Jury awards more than $5 million to man who contends torture at the hands of Burge detectives led to false confession

“ For Mr. Wrice , just having a jury come back and say , ‘ We believe you .
We @ @ @ @ @ in the basement of Area 2 .
We believe that Byrne and Dignan did this @ @ @ @ @ most unbelievable feeling , because he ’ s been called a liar for so many @ @ @ @ @ .

Stanley Wrice, left, holds a news conference with his daughter Gail Lewis after being released from the Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Illinois, on Dec. 11, 2013. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
A federal jury on Tuesday awarded $5.2 million to a man who spent more than three decades in prison for a brutal 1982 gang rape he said he confessed to after being tortured by detectives under disgraced former police Cmdr. Jon Burge.
After an eight-day trial, the jury deliberated for about seven hours before finding in favor of Stanley Wrice on claims that detectives John Byrne and Peter Dignan violated his constitutional rights when they beat him with a flashlight and length of rubber hose in the basement of the Area 2 police headquarters.
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The jury found in favor of the detectives on a third claim that his right to a fair trial was violated.
In addition to $4 million in compensatory damages against the city, the jury ordered that Dignan and Byrne each pay $600,000 in punitive damages out of their own pockets.
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As the verdict was read in U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber’s courtroom, Wrice let out an excited gasp and several supporters broke out into wide smiles. Speaking to reporters later in the lobby of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, Wrice was asked if he had any immediate plans.
“A lotta beer!” he said, laughing. “A lotta beer.”
Wrice’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, said the verdict “sends a message” to the Lightfoot administration, which decided to take the case to trial even though the city has officially acknowledged the legacy of torture wrought by Burge and his men.
While she expects the city to appeal the verdict and delay any payment of the award, Bonjean said it was a victory for Wrice to know that he was finally heard.
“For Mr. Wrice, just having a jury come back and say, ‘We believe you. We believe this happened to you in the basement of Area 2. We believe that Byrne and Dignan did this,’ ... is the most unbelievable feeling, because he’s been called a liar for so many years,” Bonjean said.
In a statement Tuesday evening, the city’s Law Department said it was “assessing next steps.”
“We believe the award, while significantly less than the plaintiff sought, is nonetheless inconsistent with the jury’s finding that no evidence was fabricated or suppressed,” the statement read.
Wrice was arrested for his alleged role in a horrific assault that took place in his second-floor attic in the early-morning hours of Sept. 9, 1982, records show.
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According to Chicago police, the 33-year-old victim was repeatedly raped, then beaten and burned with a hot clothes iron, a fork and other material Wrice and friends had set on fire.
At his trial in 1983, Wrice alleged that Byrne and Dignan repeatedly beat him in the basement of the then-Area 2 police headquarters on the South Side, forcing him to confess. He was convicted despite those claims and sentenced to 100 years in prison.
Burge and his “midnight crew” of detectives have since been widely discredited. A special prosecutor’s report substantiated widespread claims of abuse in the 1970s and ’80s, and Burge was convicted of federal perjury and obstruction of justice charges for lying under oath about the torture. In addition, lawsuits by dozens of victims have cost city taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
Stanley Wrice, center, takes a photo with his lawyers Heidi Linn Lambros, left, and Jennifer Bonjean after being released from the Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Illinois, on Dec. 11, 2013. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)
In December 2013, Circuit Judge Richard Walsh threw out Wrice’s conviction after concluding that Byrne and Dignan had tortured him into confessing and then covered up the abuse. The two former detectives had asserted their Fifth Amendment rights when called to testify before Walsh.
The next day Wrice walked out of Pontiac Correctional Center after 31 years behind bars, and a special prosecutor dropped the criminal charges against him.
Police, meanwhile, continued to maintain that there was plenty of evidence that they had the right guy.
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In 2014, Wrice was denied a certificate of innocence by Cook County Judge Thomas Byrne, who concluded that eyewitness testimony and physical evidence recovered at the crime scene all “powerfully” pointed to Wrice’s guilt.
Bonjean said that even if Wrice’s innocence was still in question in the minds of some, his mistreatment at the hands of Byrne and Dignan was medically documented and left no doubt that his conviction could not stand.
Instead, Bonjean said, the city spent more than $2 million defending the case, not including the fees of outside lawyers that have yet to be calculated. And now taxpayers are on the hook for $5.2 million more.
“It is outrageous,” she said. "They could’ve resolved this case years ago and they chose not to. We were told to pound sand."
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Dallas Keuchel treated the White Sox to a $25,000 dinner, plus precautions the team is taking with c

Dallas Keuchel treated the White Sox to a $25,000 dinner, plus precautions the team is taking with coronavirus. 3 takeaways from spring training.

“ It was a great evening , ” Renteria said .
“ Everybody shared their thankfulness that he ... and @ @ @ @ @ time to be part of the whole organization , getting us together and embracing the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been around , he ’ s done some really good things .
I @ @ @ @ @ , but it worked very well with everyone and I think everybody appreciated it .
@

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Several of the top White Sox prospects stood out in Tuesday’s 6-5 loss to the Athletics at Camelback Ranch.
Luis Robert went 1-for-2 with a walk, leading off the first with a single, stealing second and scoring on Nicky Delmonico’s home run. Nick Madrigal was 1-for-3 with an RBI single in the fifth. Andrew Vaughn had an RBI double in the eighth.
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All Andrew does is hit. pic.twitter.com/n5xoak3SNA — Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 3, 2020
Edwin Encarnacion went 0-for-2 in his return from back stiffness. It was his first game since Feb. 25.
Here are three takeaways from Tuesday.
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1. Dallas Keuchel bonded with his new teammates over dinner.
Dallas Keuchel wanted to get to know his new organization, so he took as many people as he could to a recent dinner at a steakhouse near the spring training facility.
The new Sox starting pitcher discussed the dinner, first reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
“It was a good opportunity to get to know some of the guys away from the field,” Keuchel said Tuesday. “You go on throughout your day, sometimes it’s hard to put a face to a name or a name to a face. And it was nice to get everybody out together.
“Spring training is tough because (there are) so many bodies. (I) thought about doing it for just the pitchers (and) catchers. But then I was like, ‘Well, I don’t really know a whole lot of people, so let’s get to know some of these minor-league guys and give them a taste of what a big-league dinner is all about.’ ”
According to the report, every player in the major-league clubhouse, attendants, trainers, equipment managers, secretaries, bat boys and the entire coaching staff and front office were invited. There were close to 125 people, including wives and girlfriends, at a cost of about $25,000.
“I got a lot of help from (director of team travel) Ed (Cassin), and he did a great job,” Keuchel said. “We gave guys about four or five days’ notice. It was a family event; you could bring your kids or whatever. It was mainly just, ‘Hey, let’s have some fun for a couple hours and show up at the ballpark early again.’
“I told Ed I wanted the whole menu available. Obviously, with 150 to 200 people, it’s kind of tough for the kitchen. So they had a pre-made menu, but it was really nice and we had open bar and open wine. Nobody really went out of control. I was hoping some guys did just for the sake of it.”
Keuchel signed a three-year, $55.5 million deal with the Sox in the offseason.
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Manager Rick Renteria said the team appreciated the gesture.
“It was a great evening,” Renteria said. “Everybody shared their thankfulness that he ... and his family would take the time to be part of the whole organization, getting us together and embracing the White Sox family. He’s been around, he’s done some really good things. I have never seen that before, but it worked very well with everyone and I think everybody appreciated it.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 32 White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
According to the report, Keuchel’s mother, Teresa, told the team, “Playoffs or die,” with an expletive added.
“I had her say that it’s the playoffs or die this year,” Keuchel said. “And she added the choice words at the end I had her say for the sake of humor.”
2. James McCann is enjoying the reunion with his old college teammate.
Dallas Keuchel expressed joy in having the chance to pitch to former college teammate James McCann on Monday against the Padres. They were teammates at Arkansas in 2009.
McCann also got a kick out of the reunion.
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“It was a lot of fun,” McCann said Tuesday. “He threw the ball really well. Catching him in college is something that I’ll always remember, especially now where we are in our careers, being able to look back. Those are fond memories. I definitely enjoy being able to catch him more than having to hit off him, I know that.”
McCann has handled the bulk of catching duties with the regulars during exhibition games as Yasmani Grandal continues to recover from a mild left calf strain.
The Sox, meanwhile, signed reliever Zach Putnam to a minor-league contract. The right-hander is in the minor-league camp. Putnam has spent portions of seven seasons in the majors, including with the Sox in 2014-17. He last pitched in the majors in 2017.
3. The White Sox are taking precautionary steps with coronavirus.
Rick Renteria said Major League Baseball has offered guidance about precautionary steps for the possible spread of coronavirus.
“Major League Baseball has put out something for all of us just to be aware of in terms of washing our hands, coughing into your sleeve, try to stay away from shaking too many people’s hands,” Renteria said. “(Pound) knuckles a little bit more.
“Obviously everyone is concerned because you don’t want anything like that to occur and you don’t want to spread it. Just being mindful, hygiene-wise, and make sure that you’re mindful of others as well.”


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Contractor who appeared on ‘Windy City Rehab’ facing new fraud allegation

Pajazetovic and Gramenos appear to still be in business together .
Space Builders is listed as general contractor on some @ @ @ @ @ list Gramenos as the owner , including a permit issued in November for 1924 W. @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s one of four properties where the city said it found “ @ @ @ @ @ and is pursuing civil action .

Yet another fraud allegation has surfaced in the legal drama surrounding the popular HGTV renovation series “Windy City Rehab.”
A company behind a Lakeview project has until the end of March to gather what it says is “substantial evidence” to back up its claim that affidavits signed by contractor Ermin Pajazetovic and notarized by his wife were used to “fraudulently extract loan proceeds ... for work that was never performed” at 612 W. Stratford Pl.
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Attorney Timothy Patenode, who represents 612 West Stratford LLC and Lakeside Bancorp, was given 28 days by a judge Tuesday to prepare a counterclaim to a lawsuit brought by Pajazetovic’s Space Builders company in late December.
In that suit, Pajazetovic contended he was owed $108,500 for work done at the Stratford location. Pajazetovic alleged that Donovan Eckhardt “fraudulently and wrongfully collected and kept money due to Space Builders for construction work that Space Builders had performed as part of a scheme to defraud Space Builders.”
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Pajazetovic’s company was hired by the general contractor on the project, Eckhardt’s Greymark Development Group, according to court filings. Pajazetovic’s company was also hired by Greymark for a separate project on Orchard Street in Chicago.
In a court filing responding to the lawsuit, Patenode noted that “for each project, Greymark hired Space Builders. Eckhardt and Pajazetovic also worked together on a HGTV show called ‘Windy City Rehab’ in which properties around the city of Chicago were rehabbed.”
Patenode declined to comment on who is behind the Stratford LLC. Eckhardt is listed as the owner on a 2018 city building permit application, the most recent available, for 612 W. Stratford Pl.
Eckhardt has not responded to Tribune requests for comment. Pajazetovic’s attorney Telly Stefaneas said at Tuesday’s hearing that Eckhardt could not be found to be served paperwork in the Stratford lawsuit. He and Pajazetovic declined to comment afterwards. Another hearing is scheduled for April 16.
The Stratford and Orchard properties have not been featured on “Windy City Rehab.” Show host Alison Victoria Gramenos is not named in the Stratford lawsuit, and she told the Tribune in a January email that the suit “has nothing to do with me, my show ‘Windy City Rehab’ or HGTV.”
Gramenos has sought to distance herself from Eckhardt, her business partner for the show’s first season which aired in early 2019. Gramenos and Eckhardt ran into problems obtaining building permits last year after the Department of Buildings said it found a slew of violations at some of their properties.
Pajazetovic and Gramenos appear to still be in business together. Space Builders is listed as general contractor on some recent building permit applications that list Gramenos as the owner, including a permit issued in November for 1924 W. Berenice Ave. in North Center. That’s one of four properties where the city said it found “dangerous and unsafe conditions” and is pursuing civil action.
Gramenos, Eckhardt and Pajazetovic are defendants in a fraud lawsuit brought by a Lincoln Square couple unhappy with the work done to their home, which was featured on the first season of “Windy City Rehab.”
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Gramenos, meanwhile, is suing a notary public she says forged her name on financial documents related to “Windy City Rehab” homes. The notary public, Adriana Rodriguez, has denied Gramenos’ claims.
Despite the legal troubles, Season 2 of “Windy City Rehab” is expected to premiere this summer.
tswartz@tribpub.com


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Kris Bryant says being mic’d up during a game was ‘awesome’ but probably wouldn’t fly in the regular

Kris Bryant says being mic’d up during a game was ‘awesome’ but probably wouldn’t fly in the regular season. 4 takeaways from Cubs camp.

Asked if it was distracting hearing voices in his ear while at the plate , Bryant said he tried to @ @ @ @ @ then be kind of quiet.
” But during his second at-bat , the mic went @ @ @ @ @ hear everyone else .

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Here are four takeaways from Cubs spring training Tuesday.
1. The wave of baseball’s future is having players mic’d up for games.
Kris Bryant enjoyed playing with a mic on during ESPN’s all-access game Monday, calling it “one of the most fun games I’ve ever played.”
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Bryant and Anthony Rizzo were mic’d up with the ESPN broadcasters, leading to some interesting conversations.
“It was awesome, a perfect time to do it,” Bryant said. “Spring training games are normally relaxed. It was pretty cool to have two (players) doing it too.”
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Asked if it was distracting hearing voices in his ear while at the plate, Bryant said he tried to interact between pitches “and then be kind of quiet.” But during his second at-bat, the mic went out and he could only hear everyone else.
“Rizz and them kept talking, and all I had was the thing in my ear,” he said. “I was like, ‘This is the weirdest thing ever.’ It’s weird. Usually when you’re hitting, it’s all like white noise, like not really there. It was pretty cool.”
Could this work in the regular season?
“Probably not,” he said. “I’m just thinking of someone on the infield doing it and they boot a ball and you lose the game. Imagine that. … As much as it is awesome and the fans would love it, I don’t think it would work.
“Maybe if you had a coach or someone on the bench that’s not really involved in the game that day. But it’s more fun when you have the actual person on the field talking to each other.”
2. Jose Quintana’s spring training debut had its ups and down.
Jose Quintana made his first Cactus League start Tuesday against the Rockies at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, allowing three runs on three hits over two innings.
Quintana got a late start this spring because of the flu but said he felt “great” afterward despite a rocky beginning.
Kyle Schwarber muffed a Trevor Story fly ball that was ruled a double before Charlie Blackmon cranked an RBI double and Nolan Arenado homered.
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“I felt at the start I was in bullpen mode,” Quintana said, “and then I started to pitch, making my pitches and hitting my spots.”
Quintana is coming off a poor finish to 2019 in which he posted a 12.51 ERA in his last four starts and lasted only 13⅔ combined innings. He’ll be a free agent after this season and is motivated to have a strong 2020.
“I worked a lot to be better,” he said of his offseason training routine. “I’m exactly where I want to be. This game has given me a lot of information, and every time I go to the mound now, I’ll have my best stuff.”
The Cubs need Quintana to return to form if they hope to contend.
“In general I think everybody is real motivated this year,” manager David Ross said. “A little bit of a letdown (last year) from what the expectations are around here. Guys seem to be hungry. Contract years always play into things. Sometimes it can backfire — you put too much pressure on yourself.
“But in general the workload, the effort, the mental focus and continuing to develop new pitches and try to strengthen their game can be really powerful, and ‘Q’ is in that box for me.”
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Quintana changed the grip on his changeup this spring for more up-and-down action, going from a two-seam to a four-seam grip.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 21 Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
3. The race for the fifth rotation spot could last all spring.
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Tyler Chatwood and Alec Mills have looked strong in the competition to be the fifth starter with three scoreless innings apiece.
Chatwood is considered the favorite, and Mills, who is out of options, could slide into the bullpen if he doesn’t win the spot. Colin Rea and Adbert Alzolay are long shots.
But there’s plenty of time left, and David Ross said he hasn’t thought about whether the competition might go down to the final week of camp.
“There’s a lot of options in that area, so no sense making a decision on the third (of March),” he said. “We’ve got a long way to go. I want to hit ‘play’ on this thing too, but we’ve still got guys developing and guys that are still a little behind.”
4. Manuel Rodriguez’s MRI results were better than expected.
An MRI on Manuel Rodriguez’s right biceps revealed a Grade 2 sprain, much to the Cubs’ relief. They haven’t determined a rehab program.
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The 23-year-old pitching prospect, who posted a 3.45 ERA at Class A Myrtle Beach last year, was throwing 98 to 99 mph in camp and had impressed David Ross with his poise.
“He was pitching in the Mexican professional league early on, so the environment doesn’t seem to affect him,” Ross said.


chicagotribune--2020-03-03--Coby White named Eastern Conference rookie of the month after a record stretch in February

“ I think just confidence , being aggressive , ” White said Saturday after dropping 22 points off the bench @ @ @ @ @ Coming in , just being aggressive and don ’ t force it , just let @ @ @ @ @ My teammates have been trying to find me a lot since I ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ so it ’ s really them .
They helped me out a lot .
They @ @ @ @ @ my ear , telling me ( to ) keep being aggressive when I miss shots @ @

Coby White’s rookie season had a few thrilling moments early on but nothing like the extended groove he has been in the last few weeks.
White on Tuesday was named Eastern Conference rookie of the month for February. He averaged 20.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists in nine games, shooting 43.3% overall and 41.1% on 3-pointers — all career highs.
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White finished second in scoring among rookies for the month, trailing only Pelicans phenom Zion Williamson, who was named Western Conference rookie of the month after averaging 25.7 points. No Bulls player had been named rookie of the month since Nikola Mirotic in March 2015.
White’s hot streak featured one of the best stretches for any rookie or reserve this season, a three-game stretch Feb. 22-25 during which he scored 33 points on back-to-back nights against the Suns and Wizards and followed it up with a career-high 35 points against the Thunder. White made history by becoming the only rookie in NBA history with three straight 30-point games off the bench.
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“I think just confidence, being aggressive,” White said Saturday after dropping 22 points off the bench against the Knicks. “Coming in, just being aggressive and don’t force it, just let it come to me. My teammates have been trying to find me a lot since I’ve been on a hot streak, so it’s really them. They helped me out a lot. They’re just staying in my ear, telling me (to) keep being aggressive when I miss shots.”
Those performances ignited the team at a time when injuries left the Bulls lineup in shambles.
For about a week last month, the Bulls had seven rotation members out with injuries and were left with nine available players. It paved the way for White, who turned 20 last month, to receive increased playing time (30.6 minutes per game). He made the most of it despite coming off the bench.
White has yet to be inserted into the starting lineup, but he has become a regular fixture in the closing lineups, which he said recently matters to him more.
White’s career began with such exciting highs during the first month of the season that it made for a letdown in the months that followed. In December, he admitted to hitting the proverbial rookie wall, struggling to adjust to the rigorous demands of the NBA schedule in his first season.
But White, the No. 7 pick in last year’s draft, pushed through and began putting in extra work with the coaching staff. Now he is starting to look like one of the Bulls’ biggest bright spots.