chicagotribune--2020-04-15--How to watch and stream ESPN’s ‘The Last Dance,’ the 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the 1

How to watch and stream ESPN’s ‘The Last Dance,’ the 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls

When the project first was announced , it was expected to debut in 2019 .
By the end of 2018 @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t coming out until 2020 .
Eventually it was scheduled to launch June @ @ @ @ @ , but the coronavirus pandemic threw all of that into limbo .
ESPN needed programming @ @ @ @ @ , and fans almost immediately called for the series ’ rollout to be moved up @ @ @ @ @ Production had to be rushed to finish it so it could run sooner .

The Chicago Bulls celebrate their 6th NBA title during a rally in Grant Park on June 16, 1998. From left; Tony Kukoc, Ron Harper, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Mayor Richard M. Daley, coach Phil Jackson and Gov. Jim Edgar. (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)
Want to know how to watch ESPN’s “The Last Dance,” the 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls?
Let’s try to answer your questions about this much-anticipated, long-awaited series.
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I don’t get ESPN and besides, I heard its five-week run ended on ESPN. What can you possibly tell me about “The Last Dance” that would be relevant?
Well, for starters, ABC is going to rerun it for U.S. viewers on free over-the-air broadcast TV, two hour-long episodes at a pop, each Saturday at 7 p.m. CT. That’s ABC-7 here in Chicago. Check your local listings elsewhere.
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Saturday, May 23: Episodes 1 and 2
Episodes 1 and 2 Saturday, May 30: Episodes 3 and 4
Episodes 3 and 4 Saturday, June 6: Episodes 5 and 6
Episodes 5 and 6 Saturday, June 13: Episodes 7 and 8
Episodes 7 and 8 Saturday, June 20: Episodes 9 and 10
OK. I told myself I didn’t care about “The Last Dance,” but now I do. What is it exactly?
“The Last Dance” is an epic documentary from a consortium that includes Mandalay Sports Media, Jordan’s Jump 23, NBA Entertainment, ESPN and Netflix (which holds international rights). Jason Hehir is the director. It focuses on the last of six Bulls championship seasons for Jordan, Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson and also takes into account Jordan’s 14-year run with the team, general manager Jerry Krause and Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. Part of the anticipation is rooted in behind-the-scenes material a documentary crew captured at the time but kept under seal for 22 years.
Is there a narrator?
No.
Who is interviewed?
Too many to list here. Even a pair of former U.S. presidents — Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — plus Air Jordan shoe fan Justin Timberlake and erstwhile Dennis Rodman wife Carmen Electra show up. The short answer is not everyone you could imagine but a lot ... and then some.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 15 Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant look on during free throws during a game at the United Center on Dec. 19, 1997. (Phil Valesquez/Chicago Tribune)
How long have I been hearing about for this thing?
The project was publicly announced in May 2018, so close to two years now.
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Wasn’t this originally scheduled to run in June?
When the project first was announced, it was expected to debut in 2019. By the end of 2018, it was clear it wasn’t coming out until 2020. Eventually it was scheduled to launch June 2 around the NBA Finals, but the coronavirus pandemic threw all of that into limbo. ESPN needed programming with no games to present, and fans almost immediately called for the series’ rollout to be moved up. Just one problem: Production had to be rushed to finish it so it could run sooner.
How much sooner?
Here in the United States, it ran on ESPN each Sunday through May 17. There’s also another version on ESPN2, which is what will air on ABC. The final edit on both wasn’t complete until May 14.
What’s the difference?
There was swearing a-plenty in the ESPN version, earning it a TV-MA rating. That was OK because basic cable is outside Federal Communications Commission purview, so ESPN could let the F-bombs, barnyard epithets and everything else rip. The ESPN2 version ran simultaneously with traditional broadcast standards in mind, earning a TV-14-L rating.
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What if I don’t live in the United States?
Netflix owns the international rights and will make episodes available the day after their ESPN premieres at 7:01 a.m. GMT from April 20 through May 18. But that is only outside the United States.
How do I stream the episodes if I live in the United States?
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They’re available to authenticated subscribers on the ESPN app via mobile and connected TV devices, ESPN.com and ESPN on Demand via cable, satellite and digital multichannel video programming distributors. You have a choice of watching either the TV-MA or sanitized TV-14-L versions of each episode, so look closely at your options before clicking.
“Authenticated subscribers”?
To have access to the stream, you need to be paying someone for access to ESPN. You’ll find when you try to watch that you need to sign in first, showing ESPN that you’re a subscriber and it’s getting its carriage fees.
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Who is Michael Jordan?
OK. Now you’re just messing with us. Go make some popcorn and set your DVR or something.
You don’t happen to have recaps of all 10 episodes, do you?
Indeed we do.
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 1 recap: And now ... Introducing Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ chase for their 6th NBA title ]
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 2 recap: Tension builds between Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls management ]
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 3 recap: How Dennis Rodman joined the Chicago Bulls ]
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 4 recap: Chicago Bulls finally vanquish the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs. And later, Carmen Electra makes an appearance. ]
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 5 recap: Michael Jordan takes a teenage Kobe Bryant under his wing ]
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 6 recap: Michael Jordan defends his gambling and grows weary of constant media scrutiny ]
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 7 recap: Michael Jordan retires after his father’s murder, while Scottie Pippen refuses to enter a playoff game ]
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 8 recap: Michael Jordan finds any fuel he can to ignite the Chicago Bulls’ 2nd 3-peat ]
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 9 recap: Michael Jordan eats some bad pizza and is ‘lightly’ shoved by Reggie Miller ]
[ ‘The Last Dance’ Episode 10 recap: ‘We could have won seven,’ Michael Jordan says after the Chicago Bulls break up ]


chicagotribune--2020-04-15--‘Unprecedented’ number of people turning to GoFundMe as a last resort during pandemic. ‘It’s like yo

‘Unprecedented’ number of people turning to GoFundMe as a last resort during pandemic. ‘It’s like you’re putting your heart out there’

“ I am facing the reality of having to sleep in my car if I can not find something , @ @ @ @ @ a campaign by Rashid , a 24-year-old medical student in Chicago who did not want @ @ @ @ @ Using an alias , he wrote , “ After talking to people they told me @ @ @ @ @ ask for money from people .
So , if you have the means and don @ @ @ @ @ a burden , then please donate .
”

Darryl Henry, 57, and his fiance Kimberly Denise Hemphill, 50, at their apartment in Chicago on April 14, 2020. Darryl Henry, an out-of-work chef, set up a GoFundMe for his fiance's portable oxygen concentrator. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Darryl Henry was running out of time.
For years, his fiancee Kimberly Hemphill dreamed of visiting every famous attraction in Chicago. Hemphill, 50, couldn’t leave the house for more than two hours before her oxygen tank ran out, yet she still clung to the hope that the two of them would go adventuring across the city.
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In March, Henry said, she broke down crying. The widening coronavirus outbreak meant Hemphill, who has chronic emphysema, was indefinitely stuck at home. The wedding in June was postponed. And Henry was laid off and furloughed from his jobs as a chef at the restaurants Kaathis in Lincoln Park and Amber’s Food Cafe in Englewood, leaving the couple without an income.
Henry waited until Hemphill was asleep and created an online fundraiser on the crowdfunding website GoFundMe. In five succinct sentences, he explained the need for $2,500 to buy a portable oxygen concentrator so Hemphill could be outside longer. Then he published their story for the world to see.
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“I tried to do a GoFundMe page just to at least have a smile on her face for a minute,” Henry, 57, said. “It’s kind of depressing and saddening to me to watch her go through this and I can’t support her.”
Darryl Henry, 57, and his fiance Kimberly Denise Hemphill, 50, at their apartment in Chicago on April 14, 2020. Darryl Henry, an out-of-work chef, created a GoFundMe for his fiance's portable oxygen concentrator. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Henry is among thousands of people who have created GoFundMe pages in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Amid record unemployment, the shuttering of small businesses and the intensifying pressures on the health care system, coronavirus-related GoFundMe appeals have made up one-third of recent U.S. campaigns and have raked in more than $120 million globally, according to a company source.
“What we’ve seen is completely unprecedented in volume,” GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan said Monday. “This is an order of magnitude different because it’s a global crisis that’s affecting everybody. And it is affecting every part of society.”
A search for campaigns associated with coronavirus relief in Chicago turns up more than a thousand results, several by families who say they lost loved ones to coronavirus and need help in laying them to rest. One of them had raised more than $20,000 as of Tuesday. They also include charitable causes such as supplying personal protective equipment or meals to hospitals, as well as fundraisers for small businesses and for people who are laying bare their grief over layoffs, overwhelming bills and housing insecurity.
“I am facing the reality of having to sleep in my car if I cannot find something,” says the description of a campaign by Rashid, a 24-year-old medical student in Chicago who did not want his first name used. Using an alias, he wrote, “After talking to people they told me it is not selfish to ask for money from people. So, if you have the means and don’t view it as a burden, then please donate.”
The setup is simple but intrusive. Before creating a campaign, users must upload a photo and state a donation goal. They are encouraged to explain their plight in detail and share the page with others. Donations go directly to the fundraiser’s creator, with an option for donors to add a tip to the GoFundMe company. The company deploys a verification team to review fundraisers for legitimacy.
“When you set up something like that, it’s your last resort,” Rashid said. “It’s actually nerve-wracking. It’s like you’re putting your heart out there, wanting to just have someone help you.”
Rashid ended up raising more than his $2,000 goal for rent money. But Henry has yet to see any donations for his campaign as of Tuesday. “It’s like a crapshoot,” Henry said. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”
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Ashley Shannon’s culinary business, Ashley Eats Chicago, was on the upswing. The 30-year-old had toiled since 2015 to build a reliable client base for her catering, cooking classes and restaurant consulting. After her boyfriend and fellow chef Damond Patterson was killed in a car crash last June, she said he appeared in a dream and urged her to keep going. Last October, she demonstrated her beloved jerk chicken tacos at the Great Food Expo in Rosemont — in front of her three daughters.
Chef Ashley Shannon, founder and owner of Ashley Eats Chicago started a GoFundMe page after seeing her catering gigs dry up due to the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Then the coronavirus hit, leading to a crackdown of large gatherings and a statewide shutdown of sit-in dining at bars and restaurants. Shannon saw about 80% of her income evaporate. Though she understood the necessity of social distancing, “I felt like I was being cheated.”
Used to helping others who were struggling to pay for groceries and bus fare, Shannon was nervous while making her GoFundMe page. Afterward, she tried to avoid checking it too often, worried that she’d jinx it. “I don’t have that much pride to not ask for help, especially with my kids involved,” Shannon said. “I can’t even let them down in any aspect.”
Shannon remains optimistic that she will hold onto her livelihood, whether from her GoFundMe — which has raised only $70 of its $3,000 goal as of Tuesday — or other solutions. And she loves being Chef Ashley more than ever.
“Here in Chicago, we need a lot more in all areas, from us working-class people to the homeless people,” Shannon said. “This pandemic, this era, it's really showing us that it takes a village for all of us to unite, to lean on one another.”
The explosion of GoFundMe campaigns serves as a “living archive” of the gaps in the social safety net, according to Nora Kenworthy, who has published multiple studies on crowdfunding. With 90% of the medical-related campaigns not meeting their goal, according to a study published in 2017, Kenworthy wonders whether well-meaning GoFundMe donations are “just Band-Aids on bullet holes.”
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“It certainly applies in this case where the bullet holes are truly so enormous at this point,” Kenworthy said.
Relying on a crowdfunding platform at this time means competing with many other people for crucial donations, Kenworthy said. People with deeper communications and social media expertise or who present a stand-alone, solvable problem are likelier to succeed, according to her 2017 study.
“People want to contribute to something that they feel like is going to have a positive resolution, where their donation is going to really make an impact,” Kenworthy said. “But we know that's not how complex crisis works. That's not how poverty works.”
Luci Lieu was eight months pregnant when she posted a GoFundMe page in March after her fiance was furloughed from his bartending job at a Gold Coast hotel. She wasn’t sure how they’d make it to May because her fiance’s unemployment check only covered one-third of their rent.
“Our income went very quickly from living comfortably to barely making it in a week,” Lieu, 30, said. “We have a government administration that’s just not for the people. … America likes to tout itself as this rich and powerful place. A lot of the citizens, we just don't feel rich or powerful.”
As of Tuesday, Lieu had yet to net any donations for her $7,000 goal. However, five people did donate about $300 to her PayPal, Cash App and Zelle, preferring instant money transfer payments over GoFundMe.
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Several other GoFundMe campaigners from Chicago who spoke with the Tribune expressed frustration with the extent of government aid efforts, including the $1,200 stimulus check from the federal CARES Act passed in March. Many said it doesn’t begin to cover their expenses.
“There’s so much more need,” said Cadogan, the head of GoFundMe. “We need, as a society, multiple ways of resolving those needs.”
Cadogan said his company is in the process of learning more about campaign outcomes and how to reach communities. GoFundMe.org, the company’s charitable arm, launched a relief initiative last month in partnership with corporations including Yelp to issue grants for small businesses.
“We want to make sure that GoFundMe is accessible and can be successful for every single person who has a need,” Cadogan said. “I am quite sure that we could do more and do a better job.”
Henry, the man trying to crowdfund for a portable oxygen concentrator, wonders if the economic damage wrought by coronavirus has led to his lack of donations. He understands others must make every penny count these days.
He and Hemphill’s future is as uncertain as it was when he first published their story on GoFundMe a month ago. All he knows is that when the outbreak is over, he still plans to marry Hemphill at a barbecue venue, like when they first met and he showed off his cooking while listening to her describe her dream of exploring Chicago.
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“I'm definitely in GoFundMe at the wrong time in my life, at the wrong time in her life,” Henry said. “Sometimes it’s just not for everybody. Not everybody will get a blessing like that. You just have to wait your turn for the next time.”
ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-15--Bears Q&A: Are there any Day 3 quarterback prospects? Could Matt Nagy devise a Taysom Hill-type role

Bears Q&A: Are there any Day 3 quarterback prospects? Could Matt Nagy devise a Taysom Hill-type role for Mitch Trubisky? Does signing Jimmy Graham mean no Cole Kmet?

It ’ s funny you ask this because regular mailbag reader J.M .
Gold , a former first-round draft pick by the Brewers , has been bugging me about this very possibility .
First , I ’ d say there should be no limit to the elements of creativity Nagy can add to the offense .
His imagination is colorful when it comes to play design .
Certainly there are some interesting possibilities , but if Foles wins the starting job , I ’ m not sure this is something you would present to Trubisky while he ’ s competing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Hey , Mitch , we ’ ve got some gadget plays drawn up for you .
How do you like them ?
” That wouldn ’ t go over particularly well as he ’ s doing everything he can to pin down the starting spot .
If Foles wins the job , it might be interesting to consider a few options .
Nagy has put Trubisky and Chase Daniel on the field together at the same time .
Trubisky is an excellent athlete for a quarterback , but he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over defenders regularly or playing on special teams .
That ’ s how Hill first proved his value to the Saints .
Let ’ s see what happens with the competition first , but it wouldn ’ t surprise me to see something creative with two quarterbacks .

The Tribune’s Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.
Do you see the possibility of utilizing both Nick Foles and Mitch Trubisky throughout the course of a game, similar to what we have seen in New Orleans with Drew Brees/Taysom Hill or in Baltimore with Lamar Jackson/Robert Griffin. Do you think Matt Nagy would be open to this? Might be a chance to exploit some of Mitch’s athleticism. — Mike, Madison, Wis.
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It’s funny you ask this because regular mailbag reader J.M. Gold, a former first-round draft pick by the Brewers, has been bugging me about this very possibility. First, I’d say there should be no limit to the elements of creativity Nagy can add to the offense. His imagination is colorful when it comes to play design. Certainly there are some interesting possibilities, but if Foles wins the starting job, I’m not sure this is something you would present to Trubisky while he’s competing to be the No. 1 quarterback: “Hey, Mitch, we’ve got some gadget plays drawn up for you. How do you like them?” That wouldn’t go over particularly well as he’s doing everything he can to pin down the starting spot. If Foles wins the job, it might be interesting to consider a few options. Nagy has put Trubisky and Chase Daniel on the field together at the same time. Trubisky is an excellent athlete for a quarterback, but he’s not like Hill in terms of running over defenders regularly or playing on special teams. That’s how Hill first proved his value to the Saints. Let’s see what happens with the competition first, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see something creative with two quarterbacks.
[ Brad Biggs’ NFL mock draft 2.0, from picks No. 1 to No. 50 ]
You’ve mentioned numerous times that the Bears should wait to find a strong safety in later rounds as opposed to drafting Grant Delpit, Jeremy Chinn or another top-five safety who will likely be there in the second round despite the clear void. Your argument, as I understand it, is twofold:
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1. History will repeat and Ryan Pace will strike late-round starting safety gold for the third time. Although, I must mention the other two starters (Adrian Amos, Eddie Jackson) were picked earlier than the sixth round, where Pace will be drafting. More importantly, Pace didn’t develop those safeties, Vic Fangio did, and now it’s up to Chuck Pagano. Thoughts on this?
2. That there is “value” to be had in later rounds and therefore the Bears should address cornerback, receiver and/or offensive line with those second-round picks. And while I agree corner is a huge concern, I just don’t see a step-right-in starter falling to them there unlike with the other positions of need. However, let’s leave that alone for argument’s sake and just say that they will get the best available at the position of need there in corner.
So now my question: In your opinion, where is this “value” you speak of at strong safety in the fifth, sixth, seventh rounds? What are some names of those you see that can step in right away and allow Jackson to move back deep where he’s most successful and can also play in the box against formidable running attacks in Green Bay, Minnesota, etc. As you can see, clearly I’m of the opinion that the Bears should be addressing safety earlier with better talent or with a reliable free agent in Eric Reid or Tony Jefferson. I’m in no way anchored to that position. — Will, Marysville, Calif.
There’s a lot to chew on here. For starters, you need to take positional value into account. Safety isn’t going to rank high, and when teams do prioritize that position, it’s because they need a free safety with range to help defend the modern passing games. The Bears have that player in Jackson. They made a huge investment in the position in extending Jackson’s contract in January. The Bears lack depth at cornerback, and it is much easier to find starting safety talent on Day 3 of the draft than it is starting cornerback talent. I’m not saying you can’t identify a future star at cornerback in the later rounds, but there is plenty of data to prove that starting safeties, particularly box safeties, are plentiful on Day 3 and can develop as first-year starters. I get that you’re hung up on finding a safety, but what are the Bears going to do if something happens to Kyle Fuller? They’re in big trouble if he goes down, and that’s why I can’t ignore cornerback as a pressing need heading into the draft. They need more talent and depth and must address that before they sort through what to do at safety.
I get that Fangio and Ed Donatell, the secondary coach he took with him to Denver, developed the young safeties who were Day 3 hits for Pace. We haven’t seen Pagano work with a potential rookie starting safety.
Who are some young options? In this space, I’ve pointed to Cal’s Jaylinn Hawkins and Mississippi State’s Brian Cole as potential Day 3 box safety options. Notre Dame’s Alohi Gilman and Michigan’s Khaleke Hudson come from major programs and project as box safeties who will be selected in the final rounds. The Bears will be able to sort through options and find a player with traits they believe translate to what they want to do.
Mississippi State's Brian Cole might be a safety the Bears could target on Day 3 of the NFL draft. (Michael Conroy/AP)
As far as veteran options, the Bears went that route with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix last season and are snug on salary-cap space. Most people seem comfortable with the idea of a draft pick competing with Deon Bush for the starting job. I’ve been asked about Jefferson nearly every week for two months and addressed that possibility numerous times, including last week. Not one person who has inquired about Jefferson has referenced the fact he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in October. Ravens coach John Harbaugh indicated at the time there could be additional damage as well. So I don’t know if Jefferson will be ready for the start of the season, and I kind of doubt any team would take a chance on him until he can be evaluated medically.
Is it possible the Bears are completely enamored with Delpit or someone like him and could select a safety in Round 2? You learn never to say never, but there are too many factors pointing them, and therefore us, in a different direction as we try to forecast what is ahead. The last factor I will mention is the Bears’ collection of Day 3 draft picks will look better if they wind up trading down in Round 2.
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Do you think the size of a team’s front office equates with a winning organization over time? I’m sure the starting quarterback is a factor obviously, but I’m wondering how the Bears front office is organized compared to the other teams around the league. — Joe C., Naperville
Not necessarily. The Patriots haven’t had a robust front office for the last 20 years, and they’ve managed to do pretty darn well. That being said, the Bengals have operated with one of the smaller staffs, often using position coaches to cover many pro days in the scouting process. I can tell you that when Phil Emery took over as Bears general manager in 2012, he increased the size of the scouting staff and it has grown even larger since Ryan Pace took over in 2015. Any shortcomings the Bears have on the field are not due to a lack of staffing off the field. The Bears have not cut corners under Chairman George McCaskey. That’s a tired excuse that was well-earned by the organization decades ago but no longer applies.
[ How Chicago athletes like Tarik Cohen and Kyle Long are entertaining fans during quarantine — while also staying competitive ]
With Nick Foles in the fold to compete with Mitch Trubisky, coupled with other positional needs, I don’t see the Bears taking a QB early in the draft. I understand that later-round QBs rarely work out, but you don’t know unless you take a shot. There are some later-round possibilities that do intrigue me should the draft fall in that direction for the Bears. The ones that interest me most are James Morgan of Florida International, Anthony Gordon of Washington State and Cole McDonald of Hawaii. Which of these three do you like the most and think fits the Bears scheme the best? — Rob A., Tijeras, N.M.
I agree it is unlikely the Bears will draft a quarterback early in the draft. I am of the mind that they need to start taking shots at the position in the later rounds, though. Even if they don’t come away with a long shot who emerges as a starting candidate down the road, perhaps they can eventually begin to populate that No. 2 role with a drafted and developed quarterback of their own. It has been forever since the Bears had a homegrown backup quarterback if you don’t count Trubisky taking over for Mike Glennon one month into the 2017 season.
As far as the three prospects you referenced, Gordon might be the most intriguing. He has to benefit somewhat from the success of the quarterback he followed at Washington State, Gardner Minshew. I say that because Minshew was a sixth-round pick by the Jaguars who was able to prove that the NFL game wasn’t too big for him when he was called on to replace an injured Nick Foles last season. Gordon isn’t the same prospect as Minshew, but he had a ton of college production in the same offense. Much of the Air Raid offense is predicated on pre-snap reads of where the ball is going, and Gordon managed that. He has a quick release and is good in the short to intermediate game where the ball has to come out in a rhythm. He doesn’t have a great frame and isn’t going to challenge every blade of grass on the field with superior arm talent. He doesn’t play as well off-schedule as Minshew, but Gordon is an interesting Day 3 pick because so many of the Air Raid passing concepts are in the NFL now.
McDonald possesses a funky throwing motion. He does get the ball out quickly and he moves well inside the pocket. He’s really fast for a quarterback but he has average arm talent. NFL coaches will want to tinker with the mechanics of his throwing motion.
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Morgan has gotten some buzz since the combine in February and has a big-time arm. He’s definitely intriguing when you think about a Day 3 quarterback trying to climb through the ranks in the NFL. Morgan doesn’t move great in the pocket, and for that reason I think Gordon might be the most interesting of these three for the Bears.
[ Pressure points: Why the Bears believe Robert Quinn’s finishing touch can elevate their defense ]
If you had to guess about the three positions most likely to be addressed in Round 2, what would they be? — @darrylconrad
If the Bears keep both of their second-round picks — or trade down but still pick twice in Round 2 — the top three positions of need are cornerback, wide receiver and offensive line. I would list cornerback as their greatest need, and you can interchange the other two depending on which prospects you can get. In other words, if you love a lineman, grab him knowing it’s a great draft for wide receivers. If you’re not really smitten with any of the linemen, don’t pass on the chance to add a really good wide receiver to an offense that had trouble moving the ball and scoring last season. The Bears had a fundamental problem getting the ball in the end zone, and a wide receiver who can make an impact would help them solve that issue better than an interior offensive lineman.
Why hasn’t the team addressed the cornerback position via free agency? With guys like Dre Kirkpatrick, Eli Apple and Logan Ryan available, these seem like better options than a rookie draft pick. — @geoffgefferson1
Free-agent signee Artie Burns, left, should be in the mix for the Bears cornerback vacancy. (Steven Senne/AP)
The Bears did sign Artie Burns to a one-year contract for the minimum salary, and early in the offseason they won out in a competitive market for former CFL all-star Tre Roberson. So they have some players in the mix with Kevin Toliver. Apple was going to sign with the Raiders but reportedly didn’t check out medically. Kirkpatrick and Ryan represent experienced options that are seeking work, but I firmly believe the Bears are better off seeing if they can add a starting-caliber cornerback via the draft or at least a player with traits that could lead him to a starting role a year from now. After the draft, the Bears can explore the market at need positions such as cornerback, offensive line, safety, you name it. Wouldn’t you prefer them to explore the draft first?
Was there any talk in new CBA discussions about increasing the amount of players per team? Always feels like there’s one or two cuts I hate but understand based solely on maximum player limits. — @jackrsalo
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You are getting deep into the roster if the 54th and 55th players, the last two guys cut, create a level of consternation. Typically teams are always churning the bottom of the roster anyway, so the final eight or so players can be shuttled in and out. Teams are permitted to promote two players from the practice squad to the active roster to create a 55-man roster, with the game-day roster size bumped up from 46 to 48, provided at least one of the additions is an offensive lineman. The practice squad expands from 10 to 12 this season and will be at 14 beginning in 2022. More jobs. More opportunities for development.
What is the virtual offseason program going to look like for the Bears? Can they use this time to improve? — Wes C., Rockford
That’s a good question. The NFL and NFLPA reached agreement Monday on parameters for voluntary offseason workout programs. The good news is the Bears will not have to start late. They were scheduled to begin their program April 20, with teams that hired a new head coach slated to open April 6, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all NFL facilities. Those teams with new coaches now can get extra time on the back end instead of the normal head start. The agreement between the league and the players union allows for three consecutive weeks of virtual football gatherings between April 20 and May 15. That includes classroom film work and online workout programs.
The coaches who are technologically savvy, including position coaches and assistant position coaches, might be able to present material in much the same way it would be done in a meeting room. This is a chance for quality control assistants, coaches at the bottom rung in the football world, to really stand out. Some veteran coaches are plenty tech-savvy, and some are just plain lost if it goes much beyond watching film. Reality is there won’t be any team work on the field, and that hands-on work is what’s really important. But in terms of reviewing film and installing stuff in a virtual manner, sure, the Bears will be able to get busy.
[ Spotty Wi-Fi? Interruptions from the kids? Conducting the NFL draft from home will be a bit of a circus. ]
The league and the NFLPA had to hammer away at this because players throughout the league have offseason workout bonuses tied to their participation in the voluntary workouts. Typically, a player is required to be present for 85% of the workouts, or sometimes even 90%, to trigger the payment. By my count, the Bears have at least 12 players due to earn offseason workout bonuses, topped by cornerback Kyle Fuller’s $500,000 payment. Danny Trevathan has a $200,000 bonus, and eight players are scheduled to trigger $100,000 bonuses: Allen Robinson, Eddie Goldman, Charles Leno, Bobby Massie, Akiem Hicks, Trey Burton, Buster Skrine and Eddie Jackson. So provided they show up virtually, they will be in line to make some money.
I haven’t seen a big change in Vegas for the Bears with any of the moves they’ve made so far. Year after year they seem to be off by only one most of the time on the O/U. I sure see no reason yet to think they make the playoffs this season that isn’t pollyannaish. Am I off base? — @rynelancer
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It looks like most shops have the over/under for Bears victories at 8½. Oddsmakers are generally pretty good at what they do. They set the line with a goal of attracting an even amount of money on both sides, and the over/unders for the Bears have been pretty close to their actual win total the last five seasons.
2019: over/under 9 wins; actual record 8-8
2018: over/under 6½ wins; actual record 12-4
2017: over/under 5½ wins; actual record 5-11
2016: over/under 7 wins; actual record 3-13
2015: over/under 7 wins; actual record 6-10
I can understand your pessimism, particularly if you’ve regularly wagered on them to hit the over. Their victory total has gone under in four of the last five years. The Bears are really high on Nick Foles coming in to compete for the starting quarterback job, but they didn’t make moves that would move the needle nationally during free agency. Without a first-round pick, it’s unlikely that oddsmakers would look at them much differently two weeks from now. I’ve been pretty clear that I believe the Bears will be very good on defense again this season. If they can make significant gains on offense, they have a chance to compete for a playoff spot. Keep in mind, the NFL has watered down the playoffs, adding a seventh team in each conference. So seven of the 16 NFC teams will be in the postseason. While I think that’s akin to playing poker with too many wild cards, it is what it is. We’ll see how it shakes out. If you like the Bears to go over 8½ wins this season, then you’re figuring they have a good chance of being in the postseason mix.
The Bears need to build up that O-line. Do you see anyone in free agency they should be looking at? — @aray1122
It’s about the draft right now. The Bears are a week away from the opportunity to add young talent on cost-controlled deals. You have seen free agency basically come to a halt around the league because teams are dialed in on the draft. There will be more free agents two weeks from now, too, as some teams cut veterans they believe they replaced with draft picks. It’s prudent for the Bears to see what help they can provide the line (and other positions) in the draft and then reconsider where they might be a little light in terms of competition. That’s when it would make sense to contemplate a veteran swing tackle option or perhaps an interior swing player.
What’s the deal with the A-Rob extension? — @ogle_mj
Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson picks up a big gain against the Giants on Nov. 24, 2019, at Soldier Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune)
I took last week off from addressing the Allen Robinson situation in the mailbag because I’ve covered just about every angle. I don’t have a date for when this will be completed, and things really haven’t gotten rolling on this yet. The Bears can create a small amount of 2020 cap space by signing Robinson to an extension, but that depends on how they craft the deal, and at this point they haven’t deemed that cap space necessary. That was the only compelling reason to do a deal near the start of the league year. When has general manager Ryan Pace typically finalized contract extensions? During training camp or just before the season. Kyle Long, Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Charles Leno and Cody Whitehair all got new contracts wrapped up during that window. I wrote in late November that a new contract for Robinson was one of the most important items for Pace to tackle. There’s a lot of time for this to play out and no reason to panic. Keep in mind, the Bears would have the franchise tag at their disposal if they can’t reach an agreement with Robinson before next March.
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From Robinson’s standpoint, I don’t believe he should be in a rush to do a deal. He’s looking to maximize his earning potential, not enter into a hurried agreement when he has leverage as the team’s only consistent offensive performer the last two seasons.
I understand anti-Mitch Trubisky conversation, but why is there so much love for Matt Nagy? If the offense stumbles again this year (regardless of who is under center) and time-management decisions cost scores, can we finally pile on Nagy? He is not getting enough criticism in my opinion. — @bbq_n_beer
Nothing is stopping you from piling on now if that’s where you want to place more blame for an 8-8 season that was well short of expectations the 12-4 division champions of 2018 created. Nagy has been criticized and hasn’t shied away from that. He has to do a better job putting some of the complementary offensive pieces into places where they can make an impact, and after canning the coaches in charge of the running game, Nagy must ensure the Bears are more effective on the ground this season. I don’t think he has run from criticism, though. He’s two years into a five-year contract, and if you reversed the two years, Bears fans would be delighted right now.
Why does the front office seem to only concentrate on one side of the ball? The Bears have always had good to dominating defenses but lackluster offenses. When will they take offense as seriously as defense? — @navy_brat_1972
That’s a misnomer that the Bears have not invested in the offense. According to spotrac.com, they have used 46.16% of the salary cap on defense and 45.16% on offense. That’s pretty darn close. They do seem to have a better strike ratio with investments on the defensive side, but that is not always the case. They’ve certainly made significant investments on offense this offseason with the trade for quarterback Nick Foles, the signing of tight end Jimmy Graham and an expected contract extension for wide receiver Allen Robinson.
If the Bears choose to address the WR/DB positions with their first two picks like they did in your initial mock draft, could you see them signing a veteran guard in post-draft free agency like Josh Kline to fortify the right guard spot? — @bearsest1920
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There will be veterans available after the draft, and Kline, whom the Vikings cut last month, remains on the market. The way I see it, unless the Bears draft a lineman in the first two rounds, they likely will have to sign a veteran as competition for a roster spot. Germain Ifedi has been told he will compete for the right guard spot. So that leaves a void at the swing tackle position. Let’s say they draft a potential right guard in Round 2. In that scenario, maybe Ifedi can compete to be the swing tackle. Ifedi, Alex Bars and Rashaad Coward appear to be in the current mix at right guard. Specifically regarding Kline, I don’t know what kind of grade the Bears have on him. The offensive line has been one of the Vikings’ biggest issues the last two seasons, and they released him. I realize Kline has name recognition because he’s a veteran with a lot of starting experience, but that’s not a positive sign for his career trajectory. He very well could have a couple of years of quality football left in him. But when it comes to this point in the offseason, many veterans on the street are there for a reason.
[ Column: Offensive lineman Germain Ifedi checks all the boxes for the Bears. And his 1-year deal might light a fire under him. ]
Do you think Ryan Pace will move up, as he always seems to do, into the first round to target an impact player? If so, how much are their two seconds worth in Round 1 or how far could they move up? — @themaxconnor1
I would be surprised if the Bears traded up in Round 2 this year, and I would be very surprised if they traded all the way up into Round 1. I’ve gone over this multiple times in the mailbag already. If they packaged the two second-round picks (Nos. 43 and 50), the Bears couldn’t get much higher than about No. 21 or 22 in Round 1 — and that is if they even could get a deal done. Pace needs more picks this year. If the Bears hit, they can get some really good players in Round 2. Would you call them “impact” players? That depends. It’s impossible to say they would get an impact player with the 21st or 22nd pick either. That’s why they should stay put or look to trade down.
Now that the Bears have Jimmy Graham, do you think drafting Cole Kmet at either 43rd or 50th is entirely out of the question? — @joey__bradley
I’m not sure Graham’s addition plays a role in what they do in the draft. He’s 33, and in a best-case scenario he will be around for only two seasons. Is drafting Kmet entirely out of the question? No. It depends on how the Bears evaluate him in a weak draft class for tight ends. I don’t know that we will see a tight end come off the board in the top 50 picks. As much of an emphasis as the Bears put on the position, you can’t rule it out. They have more 2020 salary-cap space devoted to tight ends than any other team in the league. That’s what happens when you overpay Graham and project with Trey Burton and overpay him too. Unless the Bears have a really strong grade on Kmet, I think they have to look elsewhere, and I say that in general, without really considering the Graham addition.
There were a couple of questions this week about the possibility of drafting a tight end in general. The best chance for the Bears to potentially select one is if they execute a trade down with one of their second-round picks and add depth to the middle rounds. Currently they go from the No. 50 pick all the way to No. 163. If they flip one of those Round 2 picks, they can pick up some action before No. 163 and perhaps take a shot at a tight end who has quality traits and can be developed. I would hesitate to believe they can find a tight end prospect in the middle rounds who is NFL-ready on Day 1.
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Any chance Ryan Pace has considered a strategy for the 2020 draft if it appears there will be no 2020 NFL season? Draft back? Trade for 2021 picks? Trade players on short contracts? No one seems to be considering this as a real possibility. — @canuckboy670am
The first problem with this scenario is the draft is happening April 23-25. It’s totally unreasonable to expect any clarity before then on the chances of the 2020 NFL season happening. We’re in a day-to-day world, and while I don’t have grand expectations the COVID-19 pandemic will clear anytime soon, who knows where we will be in mid-May, mid-June, mid-July and all the way to mid-September, when football should be getting started? The second and much larger problem with your scenario is what happens to Pace and the Bears if there is a season? Most of the regular mailbag contributors are demanding a bounce-back season for the Bears and want to pin Pace’s future to the team’s 2020 performance. How could you hold him accountable for 2020 if you asked him to draft for 2021 and beyond with the thinking that the coronavirus would put the whammy on the NFL this year? I get what you’re saying, but Pace and the Bears need to move forward with the idea there will be football this year because if there is (and let’s hope like heck we do see football in 2020), they have some real needs to fill.
Just how bad is Bobby Massie’s contract? — @cityoftrees2
Who said it was bad? Massie isn’t coming off the best season and he missed the final five games with a high ankle sprain, but that doesn’t make his contract bad. In fact, the Bears got a relative bargain when they re-signed Massie in January 2019, about a week after the 2018 regular season ended. Massie was two months from becoming an unrestricted free agent but chose to re-sign without even exploring the open market. In other words, the Bears got him for what some considered slightly below market value. The Bears will pay Massie $7 million this season with a $6.9 million base salary that is fully guaranteed and a $100,000 workout bonus. I don’t know what you think veteran starting offensive tackles are earning these days, but this leaves Massie a good distance from the high-rent district. The guaranteed money in the deal is exhausted at the end of this season, and then the Bears can pay as they go if they desire. Massie, 30, is under contract for $8 million in 2021 and has a track record for durability. How he performs this season will determine his future. If he plays well and remains healthy, that $8 million for 2021 could look like a bargain. If the Bears aren’t happy with him, they can go in a different direction.


chicagotribune--2020-04-14--Ask Amy: Mom's rants cause family rift

Ask Amy: Mom's rants cause family rift

While I lean toward the center , my views align toward the people she is calling deranged and stupid .
@ @ @ @ @ me to attend college as one of her greatest mistakes because they `` brainwashed me @ @ @ @ @ even sure how that 's possible ) .
This university is an academically great school @ @ @ @ @ at the other extreme of the political spectrum from her current position .

Dear Amy: My mom has gotten very political over the last four years. She posts up to 25 articles a day on social media, each one containing commentary about how deranged, stupid, unethical, and/or ignorant the other side is.
While I lean toward the center, my views align toward the people she is calling deranged and stupid. She views "allowing" me to attend college as one of her greatest mistakes because they "brainwashed me" (I'm not even sure how that's possible). This university is an academically great school that's known to be at the other extreme of the political spectrum from her current position.
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She also has regrets about my upbringing and not indoctrinating me toward her views.
I unfriended her on social media, as have many other family members who don't want to see her ranting. Because of her extreme views, we have almost no relationship anymore.
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Now, she's telling people that she doesn't understand why I've cut her off (she used to enjoy seeing my pictures on social media). She also mentioned to my sister that it's sad that I won't talk politics with her. She doesn't see any correlation between her hourly rantings about how deranged my views are, and my not wanting to be around her.
Is there anything I can do? Am I wrong for not wanting to subject myself to this?
— Annoyed
Dear Annoyed: My reaction is: Yep, you're good!
Look at it this way: If your mother posted 25 times a day about knitting, or cats, or her LEGO projects -- and then shamed you for not engaging with her specific interests at her volume and on her timetable, then you'd probably find it prudent to back away. This might be less about political ranting, then about ranting plus personal putdowns.
You're making rational choices about distancing yourself from someone who seems to have lost interest in you as a person.
In addition to this rational distancing on social media, you should very politely decline to engage with others who want to pass along your mother's views about you.
I do NOT think you should completely shut yourself off from your mother, however. I hope you will continue to contact her and attempt to engage in more neutral topics. (You could email her some of the same photos you are posting on social media.)
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Nor do I think that you should declare politics off the table. However, if she escalates into "ranting," you can say, "Well, Mom, I've enjoyed our conversation, but it looks like you're done listening, so I'll catch up with you later."
Dear Amy: My husband and I now have our three young-adult children living with us -- all refugees from living in densely populated cities where we all believe they would have been more at risk for contracting COVID-19.
We live in a suburban area and (so far) have not dealt with many severe cases of the virus in our county.
Our problem seems dumb, considering how serious things are right now but my husband and I are both working full time from our home offices, while our kids have all (unfortunately) been furloughed from their jobs.
We understand that they have all been very thrown by recent events, but overall -- as a group -- they aren't stepping up at home.
I end my workday and enter the main part of the house to be greeted by three adults, all lounging and comfy, and waiting for dinner. The sink is full of snacking dishes. You get the picture.
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What can we do to turn this around?
— Overworked
Dear Overworked: It's time to have a family meeting. Because of the (so-far) fairly open-ended aspect of our mutual national confinement, you should all assume that it will last longer than you think. This is not a vacation. It is not spring break from college. This is real life.
Develop a chore chart. Ask people to volunteer for various tasks (including cooking dinner), on a schedule. Tell them all quite clearly that they have until 5 p.m. to lie in their own filth, but that at the end of each workday, you expect to emerge from your office into a tidy house.
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 >
Dear Amy: I got such a kick out of reading your "Best Of" column about two times when you were pranked!
One correction: The "Seinfeld" episode one prank letter was based on guest-starred Keith Hernandez. Hernandez never played for the Yankees (as you stated). He played for the Mets.
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— Fan
Dear Fan: That was an unforced error. Thank you!
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(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.)
Copyright 2019 by Amy Dickinson
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency


chicagotribune--2020-04-14--We watched the 1st 8 episodes of ESPN’s 10-part ‘Last Dance’ documentary on the 1997-98 Chicago Bull

We watched the 1st 8 episodes of ESPN’s 10-part ‘Last Dance’ documentary on the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls— and it’s exactly what sports fans need

Even those who would cast him as a villain , however , may find it uncomfortable watching Krause hooted down @ @ @ @ @ a team celebration dancing aboard a charter flight .
That said , he was an @ @ @ @ @ and he rarely did himself any favors when he dug in his heels .

The Chicago Bulls celebrate their 6th NBA title during a rally in Grant Park on June 16, 1998. From left; Tony Kukoc, Ron Harper, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Mayor Richard M. Daley, coach Phil Jackson and Gov. Jim Edgar. (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)
Stubbornness made Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls as great as they were, and it ultimately drove them apart.
That’s one takeaway from “The Last Dance,” the much-anticipated 10-part ESPN documentary on Jordan’s 1997-98 NBA season and the Bulls era it brought to a close.
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Director Jason Hehir repeatedly circles back during the series — which begins at 8 p.m. Sunday, unspooling two hour-long episodes weekly through May 17 — to highlight the dogged determination and steadfastness of Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, coach Phil Jackson and general manager Jerry Krause.
Again and again, the story of the season that completed the second three-peat by the 1990s Bulls returns to how and why these men held tightly to their worldviews and, for better and worse, their refusal to let go of past hurts.
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Greatness, “The Last Dance” suggests, comes from not only talent, but also friction, pain, hard work and firm ideas about how things should be.
At a time when ESPN and other outlets are struggling to fill the sports-less void, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic’s disruption of, well, everything, “The Last Dance” is exactly what fans need.
It’s both a perfect diversion and a tribute to shared sacrifice.
[ Tell us your favorite Chicago Bulls memories in our Bulls Fans group ]
For those who lived through and loved the Jordan years with the Bulls, it’s a trip down memory lane, peppered with forgotten details such as the hard-luck household from which Pippen emerged and who Scott Burrell was.
Those Bulls teams were covered heavily and covered well, so there may not be many revelations.
(One of the more amusing exceptions: Actress Carmen Electra hiding in Rodman’s Las Vegas hotel room when Jordan came to retrieve the wayward rebounder, who overextended what was supposed to be a 48-hour leave from the team.)
But for those too young or who somehow failed to pay attention at the time, it’s a terrific primer on just how special those Bulls teams and the rivals that tried to stop them were.
Viewers looking for societal insights, as found in ESPN’s similarly epic-length, Oscar-winning “O.J.: Made in America,” will come away disappointed.
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Brief asides lightly address tangents such as Jordan’s famous “Republicans buy sneakers too” crack. But this production from ESPN, NBA Entertainment, Mandalay Sports Media, Jump 23 and Netflix, which will distribute it internationally, is squarely in the stick-to-sports camp.
Another documentary will have to deal with subjects such as the stress NBA success can put on a marriage or the overseas factories producing Nike Air Jordan shoes.
When former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton appear, it’s for apolitical reasons. Obama talks about being a Bulls fan living in Chicago in the Jordan days. Clinton, a former Arkansas governor, recalls seeing a young, pre-NBA Pippen play in the state.
You might wonder why singer Justin Timberlake was chosen to reflect on the phenomenon of Air Jordans, but the documentary moves on before you’re likely to come up with a very good answer.
The biggest surprise of “The Last Dance” isn’t that Hehir got so many of his 100-plus interviewees — especially the media-wary and reclusive-of-late Jordan — to open up on camera, though that’s impressive.
Far more unexpected is that the much-ballyhooed, previously unseen trove of behind-the-scenes material captured by an NBA Entertainment crew embedded with Jordan and the team all season is not as integral as expected.
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So excited to officially share the news: The Last Dance - Coming April 19th! @espn -- and outside of the US on @netflix #thelastdance #thewaitisover🍿🏀 pic.twitter.com/5s0p0OWyDD — Estee Portnoy (@esteep) March 31, 2020
There are some closed practices, a few unspectacular closed-door Jordan conversations, scenes on team planes and at least one instance of hanging with Jordan in his hotel suite while he seeks refuge from the ever-present adoring throngs.
But much of the crew’s material in “The Last Dance” seems to be following Jordan through crowds, tracking him and other Bulls through arena corridors and showing assorted buses and cars arriving or departing facilities.
It’s the interviews, both Hehir’s and archival ones, that hold this thing together.
ESPN made only eight of the 10 parts available for review, a byproduct of moving up the premiere date from June to help fill its pandemic programming void. The series is launching before the final two hours have been completed.
So while we know how it ends, we can only guess in what light those events will be cast.
Krause — who died in 2017, six months before Hehir secured Jordan’s cooperation — is one of the few principals who wasn’t interviewed for the project. The Bulls GM is heard and seen in archival materials but often shown on the fringes and a target of derision.
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Even those who would cast him as a villain, however, may find it uncomfortable watching Krause hooted down as he attempts to join a team celebration dancing aboard a charter flight. That said, he was an easy mark to start, and he rarely did himself any favors when he dug in his heels.
Chicago Tribune Sports Weekdays A daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
Players and coaches win championships, but those with subpar organizations behind them rarely do.
[ How to watch and stream ESPN’s ‘The Last Dance,’ the 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls ]
Krause was at odds with Jordan, Jackson, Pippen and company, but he also brought them together and gave them a common antagonist, especially during that last season together.
It was long understood that Jordan — the gravity-defying basketball superstar hawking footwear, phone service, soft drinks, cars, underwear and fast food — had a killer instinct.
His adoring public was so dazzled by his winning smile, though, it barely acknowledged how sharp his teeth could be. “The Last Dance” is most impressive when it gets past the artifice.
Jordan’s feats are most impressive when he is shown to be human, able to bruise and be bruised. Sometimes, in fact, he’s downright mean and unapologetic.
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“When people see this, they are going say: ‘Well, he wasn’t really a nice guy. He may have been a tyrant,’ ” Jordan says in an extended, emotional sound bite about pushing teammates that plays like a soliloquy. “Well, that’s you — because you never won anything.”
Stubborn as a bull, still, and yet so, so great.


chicagotribune--2020-04-14--Teen, dog gunned down in Little Village neighborhood, police say

The shooting on Keeler was one of three shootings to occur on the city ’ s West Side on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ , a gunman inside a black SUV traveling east on Jackson Boulevard fired on another @ @ @ @ @ of South Homan Avenue , police said .
A passenger in a vehicle was struck @ @ @ @ @ and was treated at an area hospital in good condition .
But a short time @ @ @ @ @ was dropped off at Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to the head , police @ @ @ @ @ of his injuries .

A 17-year-old boy and a dog were fatally wounded Tuesday afternoon in the city’s Little Village neighborhood in one of three West Side afternoon shootings, police said.
The victim, originally believed to be a young adult, was walking the dog in the 2800 block of South Keeler Avenue around 3:30 p.m. when both were hit by the gunshots.
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The boy was struck multiple times in the body and once in the head, police said. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries. He was later identified as Juan Martinez, a 17-year-old who lived on the same block where he was slain. The dog of an unknown breed was also dead at the scene. Police did not give a description of the gunman.
The shooting on Keeler was one of three shootings to occur on the city’s West Side on Tuesday. About an hour earlier, a gunman inside a black SUV traveling east on Jackson Boulevard fired on another vehicle in the 300 block of South Homan Avenue, police said. A passenger in a vehicle was struck once in the right forearm and was treated at an area hospital in good condition. But a short time later, a 37-year-old man was dropped off at Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. He later died of his injuries.
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It wasn’t immediately clear if the slain victim was an intended target or struck by a stray bullet.
Around 3:30 p.m., a 32-year-old man reported to police that he was shot in the thigh in the 1100 block of North Lorel Avenue by an unknown gunman who approached him and opened fire. The man was taken to Stroger in good condition.
No arrests had been made in any of the shootings.


chicagotribune--2020-04-14--Cops probe deaths of attorneys — husband and wife — found in their Oak Park home. ‘Compassionate ...

Cops probe deaths of attorneys — husband and wife — found in their Oak Park home. ‘Compassionate ... welcoming ... they were interested in helping people.’

`` He was one of the brightest lawyers I had ever met , ” Evans said .
“ He was @ @ @ @ @ same time .
He met people who were just people on the street who were @ @ @ @ @ the same kind of vigor ( with which ) he met others much higher in @ @ @ @ @ ”

Steve Schering, Jeremy Gorner, Annie Sweeney, John Keilman

Friends and neighbors sing during a vigil for Thomas E. Johnson and Leslie Ann Jones in Oak Park on April 15, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Two prominent attorneys were found dead in their Oak Park home Monday night under what authorities called “suspicious circumstances,” though police Chief LaDon Reynolds said there was no reason to think that others in the community are at risk.
[ Update: Medical examiner rules death of Oak Park attorneys homicides, reports couple was stabbed to death ]
The Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the victims as Thomas E. Johnson, 69, and his wife, Leslie Ann Jones, 67. They have three adult children, but a neighbor said they lived by themselves in a home in the 500 block of Fair Oaks Avenue.
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Johnson was particularly well-known for his work as a hearing officer for the Chicago Police Board, but those who knew the couple said they were as devoted to their community as they were to the law.
“They were the best neighbors,” said Jeanne Gallo, who lived across the street from the family for more than two decades. “They were compassionate, they were welcoming and they were interested in helping people. They were not ‘me’ or ‘I’ people. They were ‘you’ and ‘we’ people.”
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Attorney Leslie Ann Jones, left, and her husband, fellow attorney Thomas Johnson, were found dead inside their Oak Park home on April 13, 2020. Authorities said the deaths are considered to be under "suspicious circumstances." (Don Sorsa)
Reynolds said police were called to the home about 7:30 p.m. Monday for a welfare check. Officers found the couple dead inside, he said.
“Preliminary information gathered at the scene indicates that the deaths occurred under suspicious circumstances,” he said in a video released by the village. “However, none of the injuries appear to be self-inflicted.”
He added that police “have no information to suggest that there’s any risk to the neighborhood or community. However, in an abundance of caution, we’ve increased patrols and police visibility in the area.”
The West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, a consortium of police officers from west suburban Cook County, is investigating the case. The medical examiner’s office scheduled autopsies for Tuesday.
Johnson and Jones, both graduates of Harvard Law School, were partners in the downtown law firm Johnson, Jones, Snelling, Gilbert & Davis. Jones, who also had degrees from Yale, the University of Chicago and Northwestern, specialized in health care, civil rights and real estate law, while Johnson worked on issues of social justice and corporate accountability, litigating cases all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Tom and Leslie were both exceptionally gifted lawyers,” said Anne Davis, a partner at the firm. "Part of their gift was to keep it simple. Each of them could process complicated information with exceptional speed and agility, but they each had interests far beyond the law and each had a profound gift for friendship.”
Among Johnson’s clients were coal miners seeking black lung benefits and children from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood who sued the state for tighter regulation of gun sales, saying they had suffered trauma from witnessing shootings.
Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans said he knew Johnson for about 40 years. Johnson represented Evans when he was a South Side alderman in the 1990s during a hotly contested reelection bid against challenger Toni Preckwinkle, who ultimately prevailed.
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Johnson also represented the late Mayor Harold Washington for a time; Evans was Washington’s floor leader in the City Council.
"He was one of the brightest lawyers I had ever met,” Evans said. “He was thoughtful and generous at the same time. He met people who were just people on the street who were happy to support Harold with the same kind of vigor (with which) he met others much higher in terms … of titles.”
But Johnson was perhaps best known for his role on the Police Board. Since 1991, he served as a quasi-judge presiding over disciplinary hearings — trials for Chicago police officers fighting the most serious allegations of misconduct that could lead to firings or lengthy suspensions — that included some of most high-profile in the city’s history.
Last year, he oversaw the hearings for four officers accused of covering up the investigation into the 2014 Laquan McDonald shooting. He presided over the hearing of an officer who shot and killed 55-year-old Bettie Jones and 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier during a confrontation with LeGrier in 2016.
Johnson also oversaw the hearings for four officers involved in the 1999 killing of LaTanya Haggerty, a 26-year-old computer programmer who was fatally shot by an officer who thought she was raising a gun.
“Tom was an outstanding hearing officer and a wonderful man,” Police Board President Ghian Foreman said in a statement. “All of us on the board admired and respected Tom’s deep knowledge of the law and commitment to fairness. His work was of the highest caliber. Most importantly, he was in our eyes and by all accounts a thoughtful, kind, and caring man.”
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Daniel Herbert, a lawyer who represents Chicago police officers, defended numerous cases in front of Johnson. The two became friends, Herbert said, especially through their affinity for the sport of wrestling.
Herbert said Johnson used to watch over young people from broken homes who were part of wrestling and baseball programs in the Chicago area.
“He literally saved their lives from just helping them out financially, legally,” Herbert said. “He became a father figure for a lot of these kids.
"There were a lot of kids that he saved that were just at the end of their rope in high school," Herbert added. "These kids turned out to be amazing human beings with great jobs and great families, great community leaders. His tentacles have reached into so many great areas with his philanthropic work. The world is a much better place because of him."
Herbert also described Johnson as an avid White Sox fan who had a brilliant legal mind and was "absolutely fair."
“Me and him had a good friendship, but it never affected his fairness when doing his job or his judgment in any way," Herbert said.
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Jones was also known for her charitable efforts. Philip S. Snelling, one of her law partners, said she was involved with the arts council in Oak Park and was a longtime board member of Hephzibah Children’s Association, a nonprofit that provides intensive therapeutic care for severely traumatized children.
“When my husband coached baseball with Tom, they made sure we had a Hephzibah kid on the team,” Gallo said. “That’s who they were. They were just so about other people.”
Chicago Tribune reporters Madeline Buckley and Megan Crepeau contributed.
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
jgorner@chicagotribune.com
asweeney@chicagotribune.com
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jkeilman@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-14--Skokie maintains highest number of COVID-19 cases in suburban Cook County; cases double in Niles

The village of Skokie continued to report the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases within suburban Cook County this week @ @ @ @ @ doubling in neighboring Niles over the last seven days , according to health department data @

The village of Skokie continued to report the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases within suburban Cook County this week, with cases more than doubling in neighboring Niles over the last seven days, according to health department data.
On Tuesday, the Skokie Health Department reported a total of 263 confirmed COVID-19 cases, a 57% increase from the previous week’s total of 168.
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Skokie continued to lead suburban Cook County in the number of confirmed cases of the virus, followed by Des Plaines with 227, Evanston with 186 and Glenview with 179.
The village of Niles reported 103 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, which is 157% higher than the 40 cases that were reported a week earlier on April 7, according to data from the Cook County Department of Public Health.
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Several other suburban communities also saw their numbers of COVID-19 cases double or nearly double from the previous week, health department data shows.
The following shows the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases within several North and West suburban Cook County communities as of April 14, with a comparison to the cases reported a week earlier on April 7:
Des Plaines: 227, up from 111
Glenview: 179, up from 131
Evanston: 186, up from 128
Niles: 103, up from 40
Oak Park: 109, up from 69
Park Ridge: 90, up from 58
Elmwood Park: 81, up from 40
Morton Grove: 67, up from 35
Lincolnwood: 60, up from 32
Franklin Park, 54, up from 30
Northlake: 31, up from 17
Harwood Heights: 29, up from 14
Norridge: 30, up from 14
River Grove: 27, up from 19
Rosemont: 15, up from 6
River Forest: 15, up from 9
Updated Cook County health department data can be found at ccdphcd.shinyapps.io/covid19.
The Cook County Department of Public Health reports data for all municipalities in the county with the exception of Chicago, Skokie, Evanston, Oak Park and Stickney Township, which have their own local health departments.
As of Tuesday, the Skokie Health Department reported seven COVID-19 related deaths within the community, and the Evanston Health Department reported five. The Oak Park Public Health Department reported a total of three deaths believed to be linked to COVID-19.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as of Tuesday 23,247 people across the state had tested positive for COVID-19 and 886 people had died. A total of 110,616 tests were administered, according to the department.
jjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @Jen_Tribune


chicagotribune--2020-04-14--Peregrine falcons return to nest on Evanston Public Library rooftop and you can watch it all from it

Peregrine falcons return to nest on Evanston Public Library rooftop and you can watch it all from its ‘Falcon Cam’

The formerly endangered peregrine falcons are often regarded as the “ fastest bird in the world , ” according to @ @ @ @ @ of Ornithology at Cornell University .
Their flight speed can reach 67 mph when pursuing @ @ @ @ @ speed is 24 to 33 mph .
But speeds of 238 mph have been calculated @ @ @ @ @ — wings closed — to catch prey .

A nesting pair of peregrine falcons has returned to the Evanston Public Library rooftop, and residents sheltering at home during the coronavirus pandemic can watch the action on the library’s webcam.
Fay, a female falcon, appears to have returned for her fourth year nesting at the library. She is not banded but her plumage pattern indicates it is indeed Fay, said library spokeswoman Jill Schacter.
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Squawker, the male, has returned for what appears to be the 15th year. He is banded and his identity confirmed, Schacter said.
Already falcon watchers have counted three eggs in the falcon’s scrape, Schacter said. They were spotted the mornings of April 4, 6 and 9.
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“We’ve had incredible response from the community,” Schacter said, noting that families who watched the falcons in the past are tuning into the webcam as they shelter in place at home.
In 2017, Fay and Squawker incubated three eggs on top of the library. But by mid-June of that year, one chick, or eyas, had died, one egg didn’t hatch and the falcons abandoned the nest, flying off with the last remaining living eyas, library officials said at that time.
In 2018, the two reconnected and successfully fledged four eyases. In 2019, the pair fledged two eyases.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calls the peregrine falcon “one of nature’s swiftest and most beautiful birds of prey.”
The formerly endangered peregrine falcons are often regarded as the “fastest bird in the world,” according to information from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University. Their flight speed can reach 67 mph when pursuing prey, and average cruising speed is 24 to 33 mph. But speeds of 238 mph have been calculated when the bird is diving — wings closed — to catch prey.
The birds typically nest on cliffs between 25 and 1,300 feet high, according to the Cornell Lab. Nesting sites also can include silos, skyscrapers, churches and other manmade towers. They mainly eat other birds, with sizes ranging from hummingbirds to sandhill cranes.
Peregrine falcon populations previously dwindled in the United States, but the bird was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999, according the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Evanston Public Library hosts a “Falcon Cam” on its website where viewers can keep watch over the nest.


chicagotribune--2020-04-14--Jim Frey, former manager and GM who led the Chicago Cubs to their first 2 division titles, dies at 8

Jim Frey, former manager and GM who led the Chicago Cubs to their first 2 division titles, dies at 88

“ The Chicago Cubs are saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Frey , a central figure in our @ @ @ @ @ moments of the 1980s , ” the Cubs said in a statement .
“ Upon @ @ @ @ @ 1984 season , Jim took over a club that had not had a winning record @ @ @ @ @ return the Cubs to postseason play , leading the team to the NL East title @ @ @ @ @ 39 years , earning NL Manager of the Year honors along the way .
As @ @ @ @ @ constructed a playoff club in 1989 to again land the Cubs in the postseason five @ @ @

Cubs manager Jim Frey watches the action from the dugout at Wrigley Field on June 20, 1985. (CHICAGO TRIBUNE)
The Cubs legacy of Jim Frey, the former manager and general manager who died this week, includes two National League East titles and a questionable decision that might have prevented the Cubs from putting away the Padres in the 1984 playoffs.
Less known but no less significant was an observation that unlocked Ryne Sandberg’s power and helped him become one of the greatest players in franchise history.
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“Don’t you think you can hit the ball out of the park now and then?” Sandberg recalled Frey suggesting during spring training in 1984 after watching the 24-year-old second baseman spray the ball to all fields to take advantage of his running skills.
Frey devised a drill that Sandberg used to work on his power during the second half of spring training, and he more than doubled his home-run total to 19 while winning the 1984 NL Most Valuable Player Award and finished with 282 homers in a Hall of Fame career.
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Sandberg reflected fondly on Frey’s influence Tuesday, two days after Frey died at 88. The cause of death wasn’t disclosed, although former Cubs executive and longtime friend Ned Colletti visited Frey at his home in Florida in December and said Frey’s health had declined in recent years.
“The Chicago Cubs are saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Frey, a central figure in our club’s most memorable moments of the 1980s,” the Cubs said in a statement. “Upon being named manager for the 1984 season, Jim took over a club that had not had a winning record since 1972 and immediately helped return the Cubs to postseason play, leading the team to the NL East title and first playoff appearance in 39 years, earning NL Manager of the Year honors along the way. As our general manager, he constructed a playoff club in 1989 to again land the Cubs in the postseason five years later.
“We join the baseball community in mourning Jim’s passing and send our condolences to his family and friends.”
Hall of Famer Joe Torre remembers former @Royals and @Cubs manager Jim Frey, who passed away at the age of 88: pic.twitter.com/aZ7sxAOIZp — MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) April 14, 2020
Returning the Cubs to the postseason in his first year as their manager was a crowning achievement for Frey, who had guided the Royals to the World Series four years earlier.
“This ballclub has suffered for 39 years, and that’s long enough,” Frey said after the Cubs clinched the division title. “Everybody said this club had a monkey on its back. Now the monkey’s off.”
Frey was criticized for his handling of the pitching staff after the Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five NL Championship Series. Specifically, he was questioned for not moving up Rick Sutcliffe and Steve Trout, the Games 1 and 2 winners, to pitch Games 4 and 5.
The Padres rallied to win the next three games and advance to the World Series.
The loss gnawed at several players, including left fielder Gary Matthews. At the 2014 Cubs Convention, Matthews shared a recent discussion he had with Sandberg.
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“I asked (Sandberg), ‘How often do you think about that ‘84 loss at San Diego?’ ” Matthews told the crowd. “He said, ‘Every day.’ It’s something that doesn’t leave you. You can be having the greatest time, and that moment will pop up.”
Sandberg marveled over Frey’s teachings, which he sculpted in the Orioles organization as a scout, instructor and minor-league manager before joining Earl Weaver’s coaching staff in 1970.
“Jim watched me that spring (in 1984) for about seven to 10 games before he took me aside and made changes to take advantage of my 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame,” Sandberg said.
To prove a point, Frey conducted a batting-practice drill in which, if a fastball was down the middle or on the inside part of the strike zone, Sandberg was instructed to pull the ball 20 feet over the tarp down the left-field line.
The drill made Sandberg less susceptible to low, inside fastballs, and veterans Larry Bowa, Ron Cey and Bill Buckner implored him to trust Frey because of his background with the Orioles and Weaver, who adored the three-run home run.
In the second game of the season, Sandberg homered on an inside fastball off stingy Giants closer Greg Minton to secure an 11-7 victory.
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“That went a long way with me,” said Sandberg, adding that Frey managed George Brett when he batted .390 for the Royals in 1980 and was Darryl Strawberry’s hitting coach during his Rookie of the Year season with the Mets in 1983. “I was all ears listening to him.”
Sandberg produced 74 extra-base hits in 1984 to go with a .314 batting average and a league-leading 114 runs.
Frey, hampered by an injury-plagued pitching staff, was fired midway through the 1986 season and served as a radio commentator the next season.
Jim Frey addresses questions at a Wrigley Field news conference held to announce his hiring as Cubs general manager on Nov. 11, 1987. (John Swart / AP)
In a stunning development, the Cubs in November 1987 named Frey to replace Dallas Green as general manager, and he quickly hired Don Zimmer, a childhood friend from Cincinnati, as manager.
Frey put his stamp on the Cubs roster, but some of his early moves backfired. He traded Hall of Fame closer Lee Smith to the Red Sox for pitchers Al Nipper and Calvin Schiraldi. And he dealt outfielder Keith Moreland to the Padres for Hall of Fame reliever Goose Gossage, whose best days were behind him.
Undeterred, Frey traded young slugger Rafael Palmeiro and pitcher Jamie Moyer to the Rangers in a blockbuster deal that brought hard-throwing left-handed reliever Mitch Williams to the Cubs.
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Williams saved 36 games in 1989 and helped the Cubs win their second division title in six seasons before the Giants eliminated them in the NLCS in five games.
Williams struggled the next season and eventually was dealt to the Phillies, while Palmeiro and Moyer blossomed in the American League. The Cubs replaced Frey with Larry Himes after the 1991 season.
Seven years later, Frey became involved with the Somerset (N.J.) Patriots of the independent Atlantic League and served as vice chairman during their formative years.
“Jim had countless contributions to the Somerset Patriots as one of our first supporters over two decades ago,” Patriots Chairman Emeritus Steve Kalafer said in a statement Tuesday. “We wouldn’t be who we are as an organization without his guidance early on.”
Colletti, who was working in Philadelphia as a hockey writer in the 1970s, would make the quick trip to Baltimore to visit Frey, who would return the favor.
“Dallas Green was instrumental in getting me started (as a Cubs public relations official in 1982) with my dad dying and giving me a chance to come home,” said Colletti, who went on to become general manager of the Giants (1996-2005) and Dodgers (2006-14). “Two years later, Jim comes along.
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“From that moment on, Jim gave me more opportunities (in transitioning from media relations to baseball operations). At some point in life you’re going to need help and someone who believes in you and trusts you. No one believed in me more than Jim Frey.”
Jim Frey, left, talks with Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, right, and marketing director John McDonough at the 2004 Cubs Convention. (Charles Cherney / Chicago Tribune)
Born in Cleveland on May 26, 1931, Frey was a high school teammate of Zimmer’s at Western Hills in Cincinnati before playing 14 minor-league seasons for six organizations as a left-handed-hitting outfielder. He won two batting titles and was the 1957 Texas League MVP but never reached the majors.
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Frey would have earned a spot on the Cardinals’ 1958 opening-day roster had it not been for a left shoulder injury. That spot went to Curt Flood, who became a staple of the Cardinals’ three World Series teams in the 1960s.
According to Cincinnati freelance writer Gary Schatz, Frey had a real estate license and was ready to shift careers until his wife, Joan, whom he dated in high school, persuaded him to accept an offer from the Orioles in 1964 as a minor-league instructor, manager and scout.
Frey replaced Whitey Herzog as Royals manager in 1980 and led them to their first World Series appearance in his first season. They lost to the Phillies, managed by Green, in six games.
The Royals fired Frey weeks after play resumed in August following the 1981 strike.
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“If there was a player who did something he didn’t like, he had no problem telling him what he thought,” recalled Colletti, now a scout with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.
Frey had a 323-287 managerial record, including a 196-182 mark in 2½ seasons with the Cubs.
The Cubs gave Frey the home plate from the 1984 and 1989 seasons, and Frey gave his 1984 prize to Colletti with a signed message: “To the Colletti Family, Remember the good times, Jim Frey.”


chicagotribune--2020-04-14--Video shows attack on Cook County Jail guards by detainees that left 3 officers injured, 1 hospitali

Video shows attack on Cook County Jail guards by detainees that left 3 officers injured, 1 hospitalized

The officer got out of the cell , but the fight continued outside , where Jeffries allegedly choked him until @ @ @ @ @ is also is believed a sock filled with bars of soap was used to attack @ @ @ @ @ said .

An attack in a maximum-security division of the Cook County Jail early Tuesday left one guard in the hospital and two others injured, according to the sheriff’s office.
Criminal charges against two detainees who allegedly instigated the attack in Division 9 are under review by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, that office confirmed.
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A guard passing out breakfast about 3:40 a.m. let out detainee Dante Jeffries to get a glass of water; when he returned, he allegedly grabbed the guard by the neck and dragged him into his cell, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.
The officer got out of the cell, but the fight continued outside, where Jeffries allegedly choked him until he was unconscious. It is also is believed a sock filled with bars of soap was used to attack the guard, the office said.
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Jeffries is accused of grabbing the officer’s keys and giving them to his cellmate Sharelle Sims, who opened at least one other cell door to let a third detainee out, according to the office.
The ensuing melee only ended when a sergeant armed with a taser arrived on the scene, according to the sheriff’s office. One of the three correctional officers attacked remains hospitalized as of Tuesday afternoon.
Jeffries, 30, is behind bars awaiting trial on charges he shot a Chicago police officer who responded to a cellphone store robbery in Back of the Yards in 2017. Sims faces charges of being an armed habitual criminal and unlawful gun possession, according to the sheriff’s office.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-14--Temporary pay cuts. Big projects postponed. Truck manufacturer Navistar joins the ranks of companies

Temporary pay cuts. Big projects postponed. Truck manufacturer Navistar joins the ranks of companies prepping for a tough economic road ahead

With increasing frequency , companies in industries other than those directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic — retail , hospitality @ @ @ @ @ for financial hits to their bottom lines as workers lose jobs , spending is curtailed @ @ @ @ @ trouble paying their bills .
Nationally , 6.6 million people filed initial claims for unemployment @ @ @ @ @ ended April 4 , on top of 6.8 million claims a week earlier .

An International ProStar high-rise sleeper tractor is parked in July at the Navistar manufacturing plant in Melrose Park, on Jan. 9, 2020. (Brian Ernst / Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune)
Navistar International is instituting temporary pay cuts, postponing big projects and delaying pension contributions to preserve cash as economic uncertainties tied to the coronavirus pandemic extend into more industries.
The Lisle-based manufacturer said U.S.-based salaried, nonunionized employees will take temporary pay cuts of 10% to 30%, beginning April 20 through Dec. 31, with the deferred pay reinstated with interest by March 15, 2021.
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Navistar also will defer $162 million in pension contributions until 2021, reduce contractors’ work weeks by 20% and postpone 30% of capital expenditures, among other actions.
It also is extending the closure of its truck assembly plant in Springfield, Ohio, announced in March, through early May as a result of component supplier constraints. The moves, announced Tuesday, follow previous decisions to defer merit salary increases and 401(K) company match contributions until next year.
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With increasing frequency, companies in industries other than those directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic — retail, hospitality and services — are preparing for financial hits to their bottom lines as workers lose jobs, spending is curtailed and people and companies have trouble paying their bills. Nationally, 6.6 million people filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits during the week ended April 4, on top of 6.8 million claims a week earlier.
Last week, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon predicted "a bad recession” in his widely read letter to shareholders. On Tuesday, the bank reported a plunge in first-quarter profits and said it was setting aside billions of dollars to cover potential loan losses from credit cards and loans to businesses.
On Monday, Ford Motor Co. said it expects a $600 million first-quarter loss.
Navistar’s cutbacks will save roughly $300 million in cash through the end of its fiscal year on Oct. 31, the company said in a news release. It did not respond to requests for comment.
“Navistar is not immune to the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Troy Clarke, Navistar CEO and president, said in the news release.
Clarke will have 35% of his base pay, which was $1.05 million in 2019, deferred until next year, when he will get it back with 6% interest, according to regulatory filings. Clarke’s total compensation in 2019, including performance-based incentives. was $7.8 million, according to regulatory filings.
In late March, Navistar withdrew its 2020 financial and industry guidance of revenues in the range of $9.25 billion to $9.75 billion. Also last month, the company reported a first-quarter net loss of $36 million.
Earlier this year, Volkswagen’s commercial truck unit, Traton, made an unsolicited $2.9 billion cash offer to take over Navistar.
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crshropshire@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-04-15--Ask Amy: People ponder ways to give back

However , assuming that these payments find their way into many bank accounts , I urge you -- and anyone @ @ @ @ @ to consider donating your stimulus check to a worthy nonprofit that helps people in your @ @ @ @ @ go to Foodnet Meals on Wheels in my home county of Tompkins Co , New @ @

Dear Amy: I'm in my mid-30s. I am married, with no kids.
My mortgage payment is low, my student loans are paid off, and both my husband and I work for "essential" businesses -- I in the defense sector (working from home), and he in infrastructure.
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We aren't rich, but in comparison to so many families, we are in an enviable situation during this crisis.
Right now, I don't need a stimulus check. Since I'll get one anyway, what can I do with it to help during this pandemic?
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— So Far, So Good
Dear So Far: As of this writing, stimulus payments have not started arriving.
However, assuming that these payments find their way into many bank accounts, I urge you -- and anyone else in this position -- to consider donating your stimulus check to a worthy nonprofit that helps people in your community. My funds will go to Foodnet Meals on Wheels in my home county of Tompkins Co, New York.
Meals on Wheels (mealsonwheelsamerica.org) delivers nutritious meals to homebound seniors and is a Godsend in the many small and isolated villages in the rural area where I live -- especially now.
Because of the pandemic, the need has grown, and in my area, Meals on Wheels has already delivered two-weeks' worth of frozen meals to their clients, in case the organization itself is forced into quarantine.
Healthy social distancing dictates that volunteers cannot closely connect with clients in the way they are used to doing, but these volunteers are valued "first responders," as they visit elders whose own family members may not be able to get to them because of the current travel restrictions.
To help those on the other end of the generational spectrum, Save the Children is partnering with No Kid Hungry to distribute funds to local communities in order to ensure that the estimated 22 million schoolchildren who rely on school lunches for daily nutrition have access to food during this pandemic.
Check Savethechildren.org to see how you can help.
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Dear Readers: I recently heard from Karl Pillemer, author of "30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans." (2011, Avery). Pillemer, a professor of gerontology at Weill Cornell Medicine, interviewed over 1,000 elders for his 10-year research project. This is a great time to absorb some of the lessons they imparted.
Following is an excerpt from a recent interview with the Cornell Chronicle. Pillemer notes: "The elders can provide us with the long view, confirming in a literal sense that 'this, too, shall pass.'"
"I met Holocaust survivors, refugees from many of the early 20th century's other major conflicts, and people who lost everything in the Depression," Pillemer said. "By the time I sat with them 40, 50, 60, or 70 years later, they had built comfortable, often successful and fulfilling lives. Their message was extraordinarily clear: Crises occur, societies change, and, with resilience, we recover and move on."
"Focusing on what your future can be a decade or more from now can provide an antidote to worry, the elders advise. This lesson is also a reminder: Present actions are the future stories of how we survived. What story do we want to tell?
"If you want to help yourself, the elders said, help others. Pillemer noted that their own poor families helped out even poorer ones during the Great Depression. They remember World War II as a time when communities came together, and everyone joined hands and hearts to support one another at home.
"Generously assisting other people to the extent that we can is a major way people are able to feel a sense of control, whether that was helping other people during the Great Depression or assisting the war effort during WWII. Generously helping others is a very good, self-interested strategy."
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Dear Amy: I'm responding to a question a while back from "Wondering Diners." These two lucky people were eating out and were dumbfounded when a stranger paid for their meal.
I had a similar experience a few years ago. My wife and I went to a steakhouse for dinner. After we ordered, a server informed us that a gentleman on the other side of the room had paid for our meal. I was wearing a cap with "Korean War Veteran" printed on it.
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 >
I wanted to thank him, but he had already left.
I am so grateful there are a few nice people left in the world.
— Proud Veteran
Dear Proud: It feels good to be able to thank veterans for service to the country.
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Get the latest no-nonsense advice for better living delivered to your inbox every morning with our Ask Amy newsletter. Sign up here.
(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.)
Copyright 2019 by Amy Dickinson
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency


chicagotribune--2020-04-15--Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu declares for the NBA draft: ‘I’m 100% locked in’

The sophomore guard can receive feedback from NBA teams and return to Illinois if he withdraws before the NCAA ’ @ @ @ @ @ maintaining eligibility .
In the video announcement , which he presented as a string of @ @ @ @ @ that he has not hired an agent , though players now are permitted to and @ @ @ @ @ long as they cut ties .

Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu declared for the NBA draft Wednesday evening, making the announcement with a video posted on his Twitter account.
The sophomore guard can receive feedback from NBA teams and return to Illinois if he withdraws before the NCAA’s June 3 deadline for maintaining eligibility. In the video announcement, which he presented as a string of text messages, Dosunmu wrote that he has not hired an agent, though players now are permitted to and still return to college as long as they cut ties.
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“This was a tough decision,” the messages on the Twitter video said. “I’m not sure what the (NBA draft) date is. But I’m 100% locked in. Whenever they announce a date I’m prepared. 30 GMs are going to see what I’m made of. Straight ice in my veins.”
Dosunmu has mentioned the idea of leaving Illinois early for the NBA since his commitment ceremony as a Morgan Park senior.
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The 6-foot-5 Dosunmu led Illinois to its best record (21-10) in a decade this past season, averaging team highs of 16.6 points and 3.3 assists. The Illini were headed for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014, but postseason play, including most of the Big Ten Tournament, was canceled to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Dosunmu’s game-winning shots and court swagger made him a fan favorite in Champaign. After a victory against Iowa in the regular-season finale at the State Farm Center, Dosunmu lingered on the court, soaking in the cheers.
His possible departure puts Illinois’ 2020-21 roster further in question.
Center Kofi Cockburn, who won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award, declared for the NBA draft April 8. Sophomore guard Alan Griffin transferred to Syracuse, and reserve wing Tevian Jones also entered the transfer portal.
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With guard Andres Feliz out of eligibility, if Dosunmu and Cockburn leave, the Illini will have lost four of their top five scorers.
Illinois has signed four-star guard Andre Curbelo and three-star forward Coleman Hawkins for the Class of 2020. The Illini also have a commitment from four-star Morgan Park guard Adam Miller, a top-40 national recruit.
The spring signing period for basketball began Wednesday, but Illinois did not announce a signing by Miller.
Mock NBA drafts seem to vary on where — and if — Dosunmu would be selected.
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The NBA suspended its season March 11 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The combine (May 21-24) and draft (June 25) are in question as many states have enacted shelter-in-place orders.
Dosunmu expressed his appreciation for Illinois fans.
“The two years I’ve spent at Illinois, I wouldn’t trade that for anything,” the video messages read. “You guys have helped me get where I am now.”