chicagotribune--2020-02-13--Fernando Gomez, a former Chicago DEA agent and Evanston cop, sentenced to 4 years for helping drug t

Fernando Gomez, a former Chicago DEA agent and Evanston cop, sentenced to 4 years for helping drug traffickers

Federal sentencing guidelines called for Gomez to spend at least seven years behind bars .
But a term that long @ @ @ @ @ judge said , given Gomez 's public service and cooperation with the investigation .

NEW YORK — A federal narcotics agent was sentenced Wednesday to four years in prison for his role in a decade-long drug conspiracy that involved the smuggling of thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York.
Prosecutors accused Fernando Gomez of infiltrating the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in 2011 and assisting a drug-trafficking ring known for slaughtering its rivals.
Advertisement
Gomez pleaded guilty last year to selling firearms to a high-volume cocaine trafficker while working as a police officer in Evanston.
He also helped La Organizacion de Narcotraficantes Unidos avoid detection from law enforcement, picked up money for the drug ring and improperly accessed DEA records about a cooperator he believed had information about his co-conspirators.
Advertisement
Gomez, a former U.S. Marine, broke down in Manhattan federal court, apologizing for “poor judgment” that he said stemmed from misguided efforts to protect family members involved in the drug trade.
“The government wants you to make an example out of me,” he told U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman. “I'm not that example. I wasn't running around like a cowboy with a badge.”
Furman said he was moved by the agent's contrition but added that Gomez's betrayal of his badge had left a “stain on the Drug Enforcement Administration and all of law enforcement.”
Federal sentencing guidelines called for Gomez to spend at least seven years behind bars. But a term that long would be unjust, the judge said, given Gomez's public service and cooperation with the investigation.
“People are complicated," Furman said, "and Mr. Gomez is a prime example of that.”
The judge said there are unanswered questions about why Gomez joined the DEA in 2011, where he worked until his 2018 arrest.
Prosecutors said he lied during his employment screening, but Furman said the government failed to offer persuasive evidence — beyond the claims of a cooperating witness — that Gomez had become a “double agent” in the traditional sense.
Gomez, 42, had been assigned to the DEA's Chicago field division at the time of his arrest.
Advertisement
“This is a breach of duty,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Pomerantz said, condemning both the “serious actions” Gomez took and his years of silence about La ONU’s drug-trafficking activity.


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--3 students hospitalized after possibly overdosing at West Side school

About five students were found to have overdosed , police said .
An 18-year-old woman and a 17-year old boy @ @ @ @ @ , both in good condition , while a 17-year-old boy ’ s mother took him @ @ @ @ @ in good condition , said Bartoli , in an email .
Another 17-year-old boy declined @ @ @ @ @ fourth 17-year-old boy fled , police said .
Area Central detectives were investigating .

Three students were taken to local hospitals after emergency crews were called to a West Side school because of possible overdoses, officials said.
Emergency crews were called to a school in the 1200 block of South Pulaski Road just after 11 a.m., according to Chicago police spokeswoman Kellie Bartoli.
Advertisement
An Emergency Medical Services Plan 1, which sends at least six ambulances to the scene, was called because of students possibly overdosing, and three students, two 17-year-old boys and an 18-year-old woman, were taken to hospitals, said Larry Merritt, a spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department.
The students were believed to have taken Xanax or a similar prescription medication, Merritt said.
Advertisement
About five students were found to have overdosed, police said. An 18-year-old woman and a 17-year old boy were taken to Loretto Hospital, both in good condition, while a 17-year-old boy’s mother took him to Mount Sinai Hospital, in good condition, said Bartoli, in an email. Another 17-year-old boy declined medical treatment, while a fourth 17-year-old boy fled, police said. Area Central detectives were investigating.
CCA Academy, whose website says it is a campus of Youth Connection Charter School, is located where emergency crews were dispatched. School officials could not immediately be reached for comment.


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--A hard seltzer festival was inevitable and here it comes: Seltzer Land coming to Chicago this spring

Hard seltzer began to catch fire during the summer of 2018 but became an industrywide conflagration in 2019 as the @ @ @ @ @ a whopping 330 percent , generating more than $ 833 million in sales , according @ @ @ @ @ IRI .
The second-biggest hard seltzer brand , Truly , also had a strong 2019 @ @ @ @ @ nearly $ 369 million in sales .

More than 100 seltzers from more than 30 brands will be poured during Seltzer Land, including industry sales leaders and locally made brands. (Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune)
If hard seltzer is a ridiculous passing fad, Chicago is heading toward peak ridiculousness: a hard seltzer festival.
And even if hard seltzer isn’t a ridiculous passing fad, Chicago is heading toward peak ridiculousness: a hard seltzer festival.
Advertisement
In what can only be described as inevitable — at least since hard seltzer affirmed itself as a nationwide sensation last summer — the touring Seltzer Land festival will land in Chicago’s Union Station on May 9.
More than 100 seltzers from more than 30 brands will be poured, including, yes, the juggernaut known as White Claw.
Advertisement
General admission tickets (“three hours of unlimited hard seltzer varietals”) cost $29. VIP tickets (an extra half hour of hard seltzer tasting plus a full 12-ounce can of hard seltzer!) cost $49.
Seltzer Land will also stop in Minneapolis; Brooklyn, New York; Seattle; Nashville, Tennessee; Boston; Philadelphia; Denver; and Austin, Texas.
The festival is the brainchild of New York City-based Cannonball Productions, an event group also behind such cultural events as The Bacon and Beer Classic (coming Oct. 10 to Soldier Field) and Taco Takeover (a taco and tequila festival that doesn’t stop in Chicago).
Kate Levenstien, founder and chief executive officer of Cannonball Productions, said the inspiration for a hard seltzer festival is no different from what accounts for the existence of beer and wine festivals.
“Festivals are the best ways to explore new flavors and figure out what you like,” she said. “There are so many brands to keep up with at this point."
City Water, made by Solemn Oath Brewery, is the Chicago area's first locally made hard seltzer. It launched in the fall. (Josh Noel/Chicago Tribune)
In addition to the powerhouse brands such as White Claw, Truly and the newly-introduced Bud Light Seltzer, regional and local brands have also emerged. Many craft breweries, including Naperville’s Solemn Oath, have also embraced the trend.
Each Seltzer Land event will include regional and local brands, Levenstien said.
Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >
Hard seltzer is generally traced to 2012, with the introduction of Spiked Seltzer, a brand sold to beer industry behemoth Anheuser-Busch in 2016. That was also the year the White Claw and Truly brands debuted. (Spiked Seltzer has since been rebranded as Bon & Viv Spiked Seltzer.)
Advertisement
Hard seltzer began to catch fire during the summer of 2018 but became an industrywide conflagration in 2019 as the White Claw brand family grew a whopping 330 percent, generating more than $833 million in sales, according to Chicago-based market research firm IRI. The second-biggest hard seltzer brand, Truly, also had a strong 2019, growing 180 percent to nearly $369 million in sales.
All along a question has persisted: Is hard seltzer a passing fad (in the vein of Zima) or a cultural shift (such as light beer)?
While a hard seltzer festival would fit into either narrative, most bets are increasingly on continued growth, especially as Anheuser-Busch and White Claw manufacturer Mark Anthony Brands invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the future of hard seltzer.
Levenstien is betting hard seltzer is here to stay, in part because a new generation of drinkers are growing up with it.
“What’s interesting is that one of the target demographics is just becoming legal drinkers,” she said. “You don’t turn a certain age and then suddenly swap what you drink. You can go in and out of personal routine, but this is the foundation of what they drink, and I think it’ll be here for a while.”
jbnoel@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--Red Line trains resume normal service after rubbish fire causes reroute from subway

At the Clark and Division station , one stop south of where the smoke was reported , hundreds of passengers @ @ @ @ @ train and station , with an announcement saying there was smoke of unknown origin .
@ @ @ @ @ were seen texting and asking others for directions downtown .

Passengers wait inside the North/Clybourn CTA Red Line station on Feb. 13, 2020, after reports of smoke caused trains to be rerouted and hundreds of riders to be evacuated from the station and trains at Clark/Division. (Andrew Johnston/Chicago Tribune)
CTA Red Line trains were resuming normal service after a rubbish fire near the North and Clybourn station led to a 45-minute reroute from the State Street subway Thursday morning, authorities said.
Trains were stopped and then rerouted to the elevated structure that connects North Side trains with the Loop starting about 9:20 a.m. and ending about 10 a.m., according to the CTA.
Advertisement
A rubbish fire was already out by the time fire crews arrived on the scene, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt. There were no injuries reported.
Advertisement
[Major Delays] Red Line service is resuming its normal routing, via the subway, btwn Fullerton & Cermak-Chinatown after an earlier reroute. — cta (@cta) February 13, 2020
Red Line trains were rerouted and shuttle service was put in place for about 45 minutes, according to the CTA. Purple Line service also was affected.
At the Clark and Division station, one stop south of where the smoke was reported, hundreds of passengers were told to evacuate the train and station, with an announcement saying there was smoke of unknown origin. Escalators were stopped as people were seen texting and asking others for directions downtown.
“I wish we knew what was going on, I just text my manager. ... I said, ‘I’ll see you whenever I make it there,’” said Olivia Serrano, 33, of the Irving Park neighborhood.
Check the CTA’s website for more travel information.


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--Mike Napoli will be David Ross’ ‘Swiss Army knife’ on the Cubs coaching staff: ‘His personality is i

Mike Napoli will be David Ross’ ‘Swiss Army knife’ on the Cubs coaching staff: ‘His personality is infectious’

“ This guy protected David Ortiz in the lineup , so this guy is as well-rounded a coach as you @ @ @ @ @ said of Napoli , 38 , whose career ended after the 2017 season with the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s fresh off the field , so he ’ s relatable to the players @ @ @ @ @ faced these guys .

Mike Napoli was a candidate for the Cubs bench coach position in 2019 that went to Mark Loretta. First-year manager David Ross has found a different way to put his former Red Sox teammate to full use.
“Nap is my Swiss Army knife,” Ross said Wednesday of Napoli, who joined the Cubs staff in December as the quality assurance coach. “He’s the Ben Zobrist of the coaching staff.”
Advertisement
Ross raved about the attributes of the stocky Napoli, who hit 267 home runs during a 12-year career, including 34 for the 2016 Indians team that lost the World Series to the Cubs in seven games.
Ross said Napoli was one of the best baserunners he has seen and will assist third-base coach Will Venable with those duties.
Advertisement
The former catcher and first baseman, who played in three World Series with three teams, also will spread his wisdom to Cubs players.
“This guy protected David Ortiz in the lineup, so this guy is as well-rounded a coach as you can have,” Ross said of Napoli, 38, whose career ended after the 2017 season with the Ranges. “And he’s fresh off the field, so he’s relatable to the players. And he may have faced these guys.
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 >
“It’s easy to pick his brain. He’s got some ideas. He was with multiple organizations, so he sees things done in different ways. He’s very valuable. I plan on sprinkling him in to every area I can.”
Napoli played for the Angels, Rangers (three stints), Red Sox and Indians. He started out as a backup catcher with the Angels and became a middle-of-the-order hitter while playing for managers such as Mike Scioscia and Terry Francona.
“His personality is infectious,” Ross said.
Ross said he appreciated the support Napoli gave him during his pursuit of the Cubs managerial job. He knew of Napoli’s interest in joining the Cubs staff the year before.
“I know where his heart was, and we talked a lot after that,” Ross said.
As for Zobrist, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweeted that the 39-year-old infielder/outfielder is spending time with his children and has no intention of returning.
Advertisement
Ben Zobrist hasn’t announced anything but is at home and has no plans to play. Very nice career: started versatility trend and was rewarded for it, won 2 rings — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 12, 2020
Zobrist left the Cubs in May to attend to his family after he and his wife, Julianna, filed for divorce. He returned for the final month of the season but hasn’t announced his future plans.


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--Neon signs are disappearing from Chicago’s streetscape and skyline. Here’s why.

The buyer paid $ 7,500 for the sign itself and $ 5,000 for its removal , according to Karen Biazar @ @ @ @ @ North Clybourn Group .
Biazar said the intention was never to destroy the sign , @ @ @ @ @ used for a restaurant .

Neon signage used to adorn many buildings in Chicago’s cityscape, from downtown to neighborhood business districts from Howard Street to 111th.
But through the years, many of the signs have disappeared, the victims of closing businesses, high maintenance costs and city fees that some companies aren’t willing or able to pay.
Advertisement
With the signs’ disappearance, a certain electricity and energy has vanished as well, according to Preservation Chicago Executive Director Ward Miller.
“The signs are really a significant feature of our Chicago skyline and we’ve lost quite a few of them over time,” Miller said recently.
Advertisement
This week, a large sign that reads “Car Town, Fine Automobiles, OK’d Cars” that has stood alongside a used car shop at 850 N. Western Ave. for decades is disappearing. What’s left of Car Town is set to be demolished and the sign carted off to a buyer from California.
The buyer paid $7,500 for the sign itself and $5,000 for its removal, according to Karen Biazar, a real-estate consultant with North Clybourn Group. Biazar said the intention was never to destroy the sign, and it will now be used for a restaurant.
While this fate is far better than a scrap yard, its loss will have an impact on the look and feel of the block.
From the 1940s to the 1960s, used car shops and their signs lined Western and Cicero avenues from one end of the city to another, according to Miller.
“I remember being intrigued by the brightness and cheeriness of the signs,” Miller said. “They had a sort of a carnival-like, celebratory atmosphere about them.”
An old dilapidated neon sign stands at the now defunct Car Town used car lot in Chicago on Feb. 11, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Lou Mitchell’s, 565 W. Jackson Blvd., installed its neon and overhanging signs in the early 1950s. One of the restaurant’s current owners, Nick Thanas, said people come from all over the world to take pictures with their signs.
While they may help attract business, the old signs also require a lot of upkeep.
The restaurant recently replaced 114 lightbulbs on its hanging sign, and the specialty bulbs needed for the sign are not cheap, Thanas said.
Advertisement
During his 30 years as an owner, he has replaced every single one of the transformers in the neon sign, each one the size of a small car battery.
To even get a sign in the first place, business owners must pay for a sign permit and public way use permit.
To get an initial sign permit, you need a zoning review and a review from the Buildings Department. An on-site zoning review costs $200, and the Buildings Department review costs between $50 and $1,000, according to the Buildings Department.
University of Chicago Law professor Beth Kregor said the entire process of permitting signs is incredibly complicated. People will buy a business with a historic sign and learn a permit was never issued for the sign.
Advertisement
In addition, public way permits for any sign that extends beyond the building must be renewed by business owners every five years.
Despite the additional expenses, Thanas said the restaurant has never really considered replacing its signs.
No one makes neon signs like his anymore, and more modern LED lights just do not have the same effect, according to Thanas.
“It’s not the same,” Thanas said. “It's the difference between vinyl and CDs.”
Italian Village restaurant, 71 W. Monroe St., in the Loop, is also the proud owner of a large neon sign.
The Capitanini family opened the restaurant in 1927 and installed its sign in 1962. They wanted a sign that read left to right, like a newspaper, instead of up and down like many traditional neon signs.
Advertisement
This unique shape causes the sign to stick far out from the building, making it visible all the way down Monroe, according to General Manager Joe Deininger
The sign used to turn off after hours, but eight years ago, Deininger convinced the Capitaninis to keep it on all night.
Like Lou Mitchell’s, Italian Village has no plans to change its signage.
The real risk of losing iconic signs, like these, comes when owners sell off historic property. Even if the building is protected under a landmark status, the sign may not be, preservationists say. There are two main types of landmark designations in Chicago: landmark buildings and landmark districts.
Landmark district protections could apply to features like signage, but that is not always the case, Miller said.
Advertisement
Sometimes signs are landmarked along with individual buildings, such as the signs on top of the Drake Hotel. Other times, just the building itself is landmarked and not its signs.
The Santa Fe railroad sign that used to sit on top of the Railway Exchange Building, 224 S. Michigan Ave., is an example of the latter.
Preservationists like Miller fought hard for the buildings along Michigan Avenue to be named a historic district. In 2002, their efforts paid off, and a 12-block span of streetwall was designated the Historic Michigan Boulevard District.
In 2012, it was announced the iconic Santa Fe sign would be replaced with a Motorola sign for the building’s new owner.
Miller was shocked to learn the sign was not protected under the landmark district.
The sign is at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois, but moving the sign lost part of the city’s history and continuity, Miller said.
Advertisement
Chicago needs to do more to encourage owners to maintain old signs, possibly through protections or ordinances if landmarks are not an option, Miller said.
“If there is some way to include these ideas and these features into the broader spectrum of landmarks protections, I think that’s worthy of a robust conversation,” Miller said.


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--‘The Masked Singer’ reveals the identity of Miss Monster: Here’s the star under the mask (Hint: She’

‘The Masked Singer’ reveals the identity of Miss Monster: Here’s the star under the mask (Hint: She’s a Chicagoan)

Kangaroo ’ s kid brother voice-over : “ Kangaroo is my older sister by just one year but honestly , @ @ @ @ @ up to her .
Even if she was a drama queen in her teenage years @ @ @ @ @ resilient person I know .
When tragedy hit our family , she was the glue @ @ @ @ @ .
And since then , we ’ ve only gotten closer .
Her grace under @ @ @ @ @ rise above the haters is always something I ’ ve admired .
Hearing her on @ @ @ @ @ praise , I couldn ’ t be more proud .
I love you , sis @ @ @ @ @ .
”

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead, if you have not watched Season 3, Episode 3 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired Feb. 12 on Fox.
Chaka Khan, I feel for you. The iconic singer and songwriter, who had been disguised as Miss Monster, was the next celebrity to be eliminated on Season 3 of “The Masked Singer.”
Advertisement
The artist behind hits such as "I'm Every Woman," "I Feel For You" and "Through the Fire" became the third celebrity to be unmasked on Wednesday night, following previous reveals of hip-hop star Lil Wayne and comedian/"The Price is Right" host Drew Carey. Khan was voted off despite impressing the show's panelists with her legendary voice.
"I could have gone on forever and ever," Khan told Variety, which chose the singer last October as one of its "Power of Women" honorees. "I was disappointed that it ended so fast."
Advertisement
Khan, who also competed on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2015, said she was approached by the "Masked Singer" producers to participate on the show, and agreed to do it because "I thought it would be something different, and new and fun. And thus I did it."
Was it fun? "It was a new experience," she said. "A real new experience for me." Khan admitted the Miss Monster costume was a bit difficult to navigate. But "it was more difficult to be standing in that costume, doing nothing. Some of them are cumbersome. This was a heavy, cumbersome one. But we did make adjustments and we got it to fit." She chose the Miss Monster costume to appeal to a younger crowd.
On Wednesday's episode, Khan-as-Miss-Monster performed "You Don't Own Me," by Lesley Gore. In the two previous weeks, she sang "Something to Talk About" by Bonnie Raitt and "Fancy" by Bobbie Gentry.
The panelists had figured out early on that Miss Monster was a legendary singer -- but ultimately, only Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke properly guessed it was Khan.
Host Nick Cannon and. Chaka Khan in the "Masking for a Friend: Group" episode of THE MASKED SINGER airing Wednesday, Feb 12 (8:00-9:01 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (Michael Becker/FOX / HANDOUT)
"I just have to say, I have studied your voice so much, I'm so deeply inspired by you," Scherzinger said after Khan was revealed. Thicke said he was thrown off by the fact that she didn't hit some of her signature notes. Host Nick Cannon said he figured out it was Khan from the start: "I knew it the whole time! I heard that iconic voice. How did you guys not hear?"
Among other guesses by the panelists, Ken Jeong thought it was Reba McEntire, while Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg chose Queen Latifah, and guest Leah Remini named Mary Wilson.
"You went online, and a great deal of people knew it was me," Khan said. "And a lot of my family members knew it was me."
Now that she's done both "Masked Singer" and "Dancing with the Stars," Khan said her celebrity reality TV days may be behind her. "It's too strenuous and cray cray for me," she said. "I'm just a simple girl really. I enjoyed parts of it, especially when I was working it out and people knew it was me anyway. But I'm just going to stick more to what I do and my comfort zone. I won't be wearing any big monster costumes anymore."
Advertisement
With Miss Monster out of the running, it means that the final three contestants on Wednesday's episode, titled "Masking For A Friend: Group A," now move on to what's being called the "Super Nine," the final round in Season 3 after Groups B and C next compete.
The Valentine's Day-themed episode opened with the four final Group A contestants performing the Kiss song "Rock & Roll All Nite."
Opening the show, host Nick Cannon acknowledged its major Super Bowl boost on Sunday: "There are more eyes on us than ever. It was water cooler talk at its finest, with the biggest reveal in 'Masked Singer' history."
Also in the episode, Cannon promoted the "Masked Singer" live tour, which takes place this summer. (Read more about it here.)
As for the remaining Group A contestants, here's how White Tiger, Turtle, and Kangaroo performed on night three:
Turtle
Song: "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" by Shawn Mendes
Advertisement
Turtle voice-over: “Man, I’m having a shell of a good time on this show being whomever I want. I would never have gotten here without the people who supported my dream. Like my favorite teacher from high school, Ms. S.”
Ms. S voice-over: “Turtle was in my 9th grade bio class. I’m not surprised he’s on the show because he always came into my class singing. He’s the most driven student I ever had. Last year I ran into him and he recognized me. I was so proud to see everything he’d achieved. But he was still like that same sweet, humble kid. Turtle, good luck on the show. I hope you have the time of your life.”
Valentine message for Nicole: “Hey Nicole, I’ll never forget the morning we spent together. It was turtle-y awesome.”
Panel guesses: Nick Lachey, Jaden Smith, Hunter Hayes
Kangaroo
Song: "Diamonds," by Rihanna
Kangaroo voice-over: “I’m so humbled to be here in the Group A championships. I wasn’t sure I’d make it this far. But now, after hearing all the panelists’ love, I feel empowered to fight my way into the Super Nine. Especially with all the support from my family.”
Advertisement
Kangaroo’s kid brother voice-over: “Kangaroo is my older sister by just one year but honestly, I’ve always looked up to her. Even if she was a drama queen in her teenage years, she is the most resilient person I know. When tragedy hit our family, she was the glue that held us all together. And since then, we’ve only gotten closer. Her grace under pressure and her ability to rise above the haters is always something I’ve admired. Hearing her on this stage receiving all this praise, I couldn’t be more proud. I love you, sis. Knock em dead tonight.”
Valentine message for Leah: “We’ve sat at the same table, and your courage has inspired me.”
Panel guesses: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Lindsay Lohan, Jordin Sparks
White Tiger
Song: “We Will Rock You,” by Queen
White Tiger voice-over: : “Look who’s still here! Shocked? Me too. I knew going into this competition I was never going to be the best singer. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me. I’ve always known how to work a crowd. And that’s been my strategy all along. But don’t take my word for it. Here’s a good friend who can back that up.”
White Tiger’s college buddy voice-over: “White Tiger and I were college roommates freshman year. And man was that guy fun. This one time, we went out and met these smokin’ hot ladies at the club. There were so many dudes there that White Ty-Ty knew exactly what to do to edge out our competition. He told the girls we were professional dancers of the Magic Mike variety, and on the spot he and I made up this ridiculous routine. Before we knew it, all the ladies were cheering us on. The other dudes didn’t stand a chance. Smell what I’m cookin'? Seems like El Tigre is still winning over the crowd, and the rest of the competition better watch out. Because when he commits to something, he doesn’t stop until he wins.”
Advertisement
Valentine message for Jenny: “Jenny, I’m wild about you. But I know your husband will appreciate this card even more.”
Panel guesses: Rob Gronkowski, Fabio, Joe Manganiello


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--One man killed, another wounded in apparent drug-related shootout in car in Gage Park

Three people were in the car in the 5300 block of South Albany Avenue around 10:20 p.m. when a person @ @ @ @ @ fire and struck a 27-year-old man in the front seat while the car was moving @ @ @ @ @

Chicago police were trying to piece together what happened after one man was killed and another wounded from a burst of gunfire inside a car in Gage Park.
Three people were in the car in the 5300 block of South Albany Avenue around 10:20 p.m. when a person in the back seat opened fire and struck a 27-year-old man in the front seat while the car was moving, according to police.
Advertisement
The 27-year-old fired back, possibly striking the gunman in the backseat before running out of the car, police said. A friend took him to Holy Cross Hospital, then he was transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.
Around the same time, police found a 20-year-old man at the Gage Park location with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was with two other people when someone inside the car started shooting, police said.
Advertisement
The 20-year-old was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died. His identity has not been released.
A police source said the shooting likely stemmed from narcotics, but detectives have yet to figure out the chain of events.
At the crime scene on West 53rd Place and Albany, two officers guarded a triangle of yellow crime tape over a quiet sidewalk corner. There were no shell casings to be found, but tire marks crossed the snow-covered ground.
A silver sedan with its driver’s seat open was parked in front of the Holy Cross Hospital emergency room, guarded by more officers and a Chicago police forensic services van.
ayin@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--Happy hour deals in Chicago, Feb. 13-19

Happy hour deals in Chicago, Feb. 13-19

More than 100 strong ales , barrel-aged brews and sours are available to sample for $ 20 from noon to @ @ @ @ @ annual Vintage Beer Festival at Delilah ’ s ( 2771 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-472-2771 ) @

The sliders at Smoke Daddy (Smoke Daddy)
Thursday, Feb. 13
Hayden Hall (333 S. Wabash Ave.) offers $7 glasses of wine and $19 bottomless cocktails from 4-6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 14
Lottie’s Pub (1925 W. Cortland St. 773-489-0738) offers 50-cent wings and $4 Corona and Corona Light, White Claw and glasses of house wine from 4-7 p.m.
Advertisement
Saturday, Feb. 15
More than 100 strong ales, barrel-aged brews and sours are available to sample for $20 from noon to 5 p.m. at the 22nd annual Vintage Beer Festival at Delilah’s (2771 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-472-2771).
Sunday, Feb. 16
Funkenhausen (1709 W. Chicago Ave. 312-929-4727) offers $6 garlicky pretzels and $5 16-ounce boots of Krombacher Pils from 3-6 p.m.
Advertisement
Monday, Feb. 17
Smoke Daddy (3636 N. Clark St. 773-227-2583) offers $4 domestic cans, $5 chili, $6 drafts and $7 Tito’s mixers from 3-6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Remington’s (20 N. Michigan Ave. 312-782-6000) offers $2 oysters, $4 sliders and $5 draft beers and select glasses of wine from 4-6 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 19
Estelle’s (2013 W. North Ave. 773-782-0450) hosts a fundraiser for the West Town Youth Bike Program where $1 from every Half Acre beer ($6.50-$8) purchased from 7-9 p.m. will benefit the cause.


chicagotribune--2020-02-14--Unfair press for the pangolin? Brookfield Zoo experts fear possible coronavirus links may further th

Unfair press for the pangolin? Brookfield Zoo experts fear possible coronavirus links may further threaten this at-risk animal

The American public has only become aware of threats against the pangolin in the last decade or so , Zeigler @ @ @ @ @ ’ s popularity appears to have soared in that time , with dozens of YouTube @ @ @ @ @ getting hundreds of thousands of page views .
A pangolin debuted in a 2016 episode @ @ @ @ @ Wild Kratts , ” rescued by the show ’ s protagonists before nearly becoming an @ @ @ @ @ smoothie .

Biggie, a pangolin at the Brookfield Zoo, moves in his enclosure on Feb. 13, 2020. World Pangolin Day is Saturday. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Animal enthusiasts across the globe on Saturday will celebrate the ninth annual World Pangolin Day, designated to help protect what is believed to be the most illegally trafficked mammal on Earth.
Yet the festivities come in the wake of some bad press for this already at-risk animal. While research isn’t at all conclusive, some scientists in China have preliminarily named the highly poached pangolin as the possible transmitter of coronavirus to humans, potentially linking the rare and enigmatic creature to a public health epidemic that has killed more than a thousand globally and sickened 15 in the United States as of Thursday.
Advertisement
Now those working to save this intriguing, scale-covered mammal fear that anxiety over the new virus that originated in Wuhan, China, could further threaten the pangolin, whose eight species native to Asia and Africa range from vulnerable to critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
“You can get an overreaction, that’s a possibility, that if the right information isn’t provided there would be a growing fear of pangolins out there, no matter where they are,” said Bill Zeigler, senior vice president of animal programs at the Brookfield Zoo.
Advertisement
The Brookfield Zoo is among the few institutions in the United States that care for pangolins, which first arrived there in 2016. The gentle, reclusive animal seems to resemble an anteater, snake and armadillo all in one. It is the only mammal covered in an armor of keratin scales, known to roll up in a ball as its main protection against predators.
The zoo now houses a dozen white-bellied tree pangolins, a species indigenous to Africa. A male named Biggie is on display in the exhibit “Habitat Africa! The Forest.” The others are kept in private for breeding, zoo officials said.
Along with six other institutions, the zoo launched the Pangolin Consortium several years ago to help study and protect this lesser-known animal.
“This is a group of species that very little is known about,” Zeigler said. “Until recently we knew little about their reproductive physiology, how they communicate with one another. How do they meet? How do males and females find one another to breed? Can they survive in disturbed habitats?”
Brookfield Zoo's pangolin Biggie briefly moves around in his enclosure on Feb. 13, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)
Although internationally protected, the pangolin is illegally hunted for its prized meat as well as its scales, which are purported to cure a litany of ailments in the traditional medicine of various cultures. A report released earlier this week by the Wildlife Justice Commission warned the recent increase in trafficking of pangolins has reached “unprecedented levels.”
Citing preliminary genetic testing, researchers at a Chinese university earlier this month suggested the pangolin could be a “potential intermediate host” of coronavirus, possibly spreading the disease from bats to humans.
Many independent scientists have questioned these findings, saying more data are needed to draw any definitive conclusions.
The theory, though, ignited a spectrum of reactions on social media.
Advertisement
“Kill them all if we wanna stay alive … I love animals but that thing gotta go,” someone commented on the Twitter page of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a multigovernment treaty designed to protect vulnerable wildlife.
However, some expressed hope that poaching might decrease if the demand for pangolin meat and scales dwindled over potential coronavirus fears.
“Humans need to learn (a) lesson … animals don’t exist just for our consumption or abuse,” read another tweet.
Brookfield Zoo has various activities planned for World Pangolin Day, including several talks about the pangolin hosted by animal care experts. Kids can make pangolins out of pine cones ― the shape and texture mimicking the animal’s scaly frame — at the Hamill Family Play Zoo.
Zoo officials are also asking the public to sign a petition in support of Illinois legislation that would ban the sale, trade and distribution of pangolin products statewide.
The American public has only become aware of threats against the pangolin in the last decade or so, Zeigler said. But the animal’s popularity appears to have soared in that time, with dozens of YouTube videos of the mysterious creature getting hundreds of thousands of page views. A pangolin debuted in a 2016 episode of the PBS cartoon “Wild Kratts,” rescued by the show’s protagonists before nearly becoming an ingredient in a health food smoothie.
Advertisement
The pangolin has emerged as a poster child of sorts for the conservation movement, Zeigler said, in part due to its curious appearance and demeanor that many find adorable.
“If you’ve ever seen a pangolin pup on the back of its mother, this is just too cute of an animal to not be concerned about," he said. "This is an animal that you look at and go, ‘My God, how does this animal survive out there?’ We need to protect it. It’s cuddly. It’s cute.”
Two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Illinois, though both patients — a woman who recently traveled to Wuhan and her husband, who contracted it from her — were discharged from the hospital to home isolation earlier this month. Fifteen coronavirus cases had been confirmed across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Internationally, the virus has infected about 60,000 people, with more than 1,300 deaths.
Most health experts in the United States, however, say the risk of contracting coronavirus here is very low, and the flu is still a far more dangerous and ubiquitous threat.
Zeigler cautioned against alarm at any initial research connecting the pangolin to coronavirus, arguing that more definitive studies are necessary. He added that he hopes for a coronavirus vaccine as well as other methods to counter the person-to-person spread of the disease.
“There is the concern out there for the future of the pangolin,” he said. “My hope is that we’re able to create a vaccine and protect people, and stop the spread of this particular event. And at the same time, maintain and protect pangolins.”
Advertisement
eleventis@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @angie_leventis


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--Ask Amy: New mother-in-law wants DIL to love her

It is inappropriate for you to share details of your separation from your husband with this new family member , @ @ @ @ @ or expect ) her emotional support .
Presumably , the husband you are separated from @ @ @ @ @ Your emotional needs feel like a demand ; this puts a lot of pressure on @ @

Dear Amy: I am a first-time mother-in-law.
We are a close family. We have always kept in touch with one another on a regular basis, even after the kids left home.
Advertisement
My son and new daughter-in-law live about 90 minutes away.
My daughter-in-law seems content to keep contact to a minimum. This includes discussing/celebrating important events -- both happy and sad.
Advertisement
For example, I am going through a difficult separation from my husband. I have told my daughter-in-law that it would mean a lot to me to hear from her, to know that she is concerned about me.
When I expressed my feelings to her, she claimed I was telling her "how" to love me. I told her that a loving family should be able to express their needs to each other.
I was not allowed a mother/son dance at their wedding because she lost her father and I was told it would be too difficult for her to watch us dance.
I did dance with my son at the end of the evening, and she mumbled to me that she didn't mean to be "an ass..." about the dance.
They are now expecting their first child, and my son called to tell me the baby will be born with a heart defect and will need surgery at some point.
He asked me to wait a day before calling her.
I called her and left a message. She didn't return the call or text me.
I don't understand why she keeps me at arm's length.
Advertisement
She knows I hold them close to my heart. She is not close to her mother. They rarely speak, and she has said this is fine with both of them, but I am not that kind of mom! How can I bring her closer to me?
— Heartbroken Mom
Dear Heartbroken: First, you need to figure out how to be less heartbroken, and more patient and understanding toward a young woman who might not know how to be intimate in the way that you are intimate.
It is inappropriate for you to share details of your separation from your husband with this new family member, and to ask for (or expect) her emotional support. Presumably, the husband you are separated from is her new father-in-law. Your emotional needs feel like a demand; this puts a lot of pressure on her.
She has no father and a distant relationship with her mother.
You should not tell her how to love you. Instead, you should show her how a patient, compassionate, loving and good-humored mother behaves.
Advertisement
You should not expect a call back from an anxious, pregnant daughter-in-law with a frightening diagnosis who has already admitted that she doesn't always know how to behave.
Approach her with the goal to build a friendship. Don't pressure her to be a daughter to you. She's not ready!
Your DIL needs to be able to trust that you won't overreact or transfigure her dramas into yours. This requires that you both learn to behave differently.
Dear Amy: Is there an acceptable way to ask people on the plane or in a waiting room if they are contagious?
I'm not sure what I'd do if they said "yes," but perhaps they would make more of an effort to cover up their coughs -- or use cough drops!
— Rather Not Get Sick
Advertisement
Dear Rather Not: As of this writing, the coronavirus, which originated in China, is spreading.
Children are (quite appropriately) taught to cough and sneeze into their elbows. This technique is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov). The CDC also recommends coughing into a tissue and then throwing the tissue away.
If you are in a physician's waiting room, you should assume that someone near you who is coughing is contagious.
This is from the CDC website: "Cough etiquette is especially important for infection control measures in healthcare settings, such as emergency departments, doctor's offices, and clinics."
A polite way to remind someone to cover their cough would be to say, "It seems that you are sick. Would you mind covering your cough?"
Dear Amy: In a previous column, you recommended "relocating" a trio of squirrels that were tormenting a new homeowner.
Advertisement
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 >
In many states, it is illegal to relocate wild animals. The squirrels were there before the homeowner. They get first dibs.
— Squirrel Lover
Dear Lover: Thank you. These squirrels were being fed by a neighbor. The U.S. Department of Agriculture strongly discourages feeding wild animals.
If these neighbors didn't feed the squirrels, they might relocate themselves.
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
Advertisement
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--Senn High School teacher under investigation after students say he confronted them for sitting durin

Senn High School teacher under investigation after students say he confronted them for sitting during national anthem

The 17-year-old student , whom the Tribune is not naming because she is a minor , told the Tribune that @ @ @ @ @ an assembly at the end of January , first asking her if her legs were @ @ @ @ @ , a senior , told him that she chose to remain seated because of her @ @ @ @ @ got offended , '' interrupted her and made the remark .

Students at Senn High School led a protest and sit-in, calling for the removal of a teacher there on Feb. 12, 2020, in Chicago. Student Tionda Cobb filmed the protest. (Tionda Cobb)
A Senn High School teacher accused of telling a Latina student to “go back to your country” during an assembly last month has been removed from the classroom as Chicago Public Schools investigates whether the teacher violated the district’s anti-discrimination policy, according to officials.
In a letter sent to parents Thursday, Senn Principal Mary Beck said that “new information came to light” as the district’s Office of Student Protections and Title IX opened an investigation, prompting it “to remove this individual from working in our school.”
Advertisement
“At the conclusion of OSP’s investigation, a final determination will be made regarding whether it is appropriate for this individual to return to Senn," Beck wrote. “I will update the school community when a final determination is made.”
The employee has been assigned to stay at home with pay pending the outcome of the investigation, according to district spokesman James Gherardi.
Advertisement
The incident under review was reported by a student after the teacher allegedly confronted her for remaining seated as the national anthem played during an assembly on Jan. 30.
The “alleged actions of the teacher in question run counter to our beliefs and priorities as a school district,” Gherardi said in an emailed statement. The district recently learned about the alleged comments, which included "unacceptable language that violated the district’s anti-discrimination policy.”
The 17-year-old student, whom the Tribune is not naming because she is a minor, told the Tribune that the teacher approached her during an assembly at the end of January, first asking her if her legs were broken. When the student, a senior, told him that she chose to remain seated because of her beliefs, the teacher “got offended," interrupted her and made the remark about her
The student, who said she is Mexican American and was born in the United States, said she was distressed by the encounter and felt that the teacher, whom she hasn’t had as an instructor, racially profiled her. She said she was ultimately asked to leave the assembly for causing a disruption.
“I, personally, was very offended,” the student said, “a little bit upset, angry and disgusted. … Educators aren’t supposed to let their political beliefs get in the way of their jobs.”
The student and another senior, 18-year-old Tionda Cobb, who was approached by the same teacher for sitting during the anthem, said they sent an email to school Principal Mary Beck detailing what happened.
“We were silently exercising our rights, our beliefs, and our opinion,” Cobb wrote in the email, which she provided to the Tribune. She also wrote that the teacher asked her if she gets free lunch and told her that she had no respect for people who have died for this country.
Advertisement
The two students said they organized a protest at the Edgewater high school Wednesday because they felt the principal failed to adequately respond to the situation.
During the protest, which was captured in photos and video posted on social media, students are seen sitting in a main hallway, chanting, banging on a drum and calling for the removal of the teacher.
Police were called and arrested a 15-year-old student who allegedly pushed a school administrator during the demonstration when a fight broke out, officials said.
Beck sent an email to parents Wednesday, acknowledging the protest and saying that concerns regarding the staff member were brought to her attention several weeks ago. Beck wrote that she could not elaborate on the issue, but insisted that she “immediately handled it in accordance with CPS policy,” according to the email.
“Today, members of our student body chose to stage a ‘sit in’ in order to exercise their student voice,” she wrote. “This protest was organized by a group of students who wanted to raise concerns regarding a previous experience they had with a staff member."
Beck said she met with the students directly involved in the encounter and brainstormed solutions to improve feelings of student safety and expression for the future.
Advertisement
Beck wrote that the students also raised concerns about “past incidents,” which will now be investigated immediately. The 17-year-old student said other students had complained about the same teacher before.
Counselors and social workers are available at the school to help students process emotions related to the recent events, Beck said.
echerney@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--5 takeaways from Cubs spring training Thursday, including Jon Lester’s tunnel vision and Adbert Alzo

5 takeaways from Cubs spring training Thursday, including Jon Lester’s tunnel vision and Adbert Alzolay’s vegetarian diet

“ But that can change tomorrow .
So , right now , we 'll play this year , figure out @ @ @ @ @ and figure out the rest when that comes .
Right now , I just want @ @ @ @ @ World Series this year .
”

MESA, Ariz. — Here are five takeaways from Cubs’ spring training Thursday, the second official day of camp.
1. Jon Lester isn’t thinking beyond this season, which he hopes is a return to form.
Lester has an option for 2021 that automatically vests if he pitches 200 innings in 2020. The veteran left-hander hasn’t accomplished that feat since 2016.
Advertisement
Nevertheless, Lester, 36, sets 200 innings as an annual goal and remains focused on rebounding this season. He was 13-10 with a 4.46 ERA in 31 starts in 2019.
“Hopefully I’ll have a good year, and (the contract talk) will be null and void and we (won’t) talk about it. If I don’t, I’m sure we’ll sit down, but I said I’m worried about this year.”
Advertisement
Lester then repeated a line used by friend and former teammate John Lackey.
“And when it's all said and done, you probably won't know it's all said and done,” Lester said. “I just probably won't show back up for spring training the next year.”
Lester said he signed a six-year, $155 million contract in December 2014 with the hope that the 2021 option would take care of itself.
“After that, I can't predict, let alone what's going to happen tomorrow, for two years down the road,” Lester said. “Right now I feel good physically. Obviously that's a big factor in what I decide to do.
“But that can change tomorrow. So, right now, we'll play this year, figure out next when it comes, and figure out the rest when that comes. Right now, I just want to try to win a World Series this year.”
2. David Ross is using Jon Lester as a role model.
David Ross, the Cubs’ new manager, was a teammate of Jon Lester’s with the Cubs in 2015-16 and the Red Sox in 2008 and 2013-14. Lester joked about having experience being pulled from a start by Ross when Ross was catching.
Ross said he will lean on Lester to set an example for the Cubs’ younger pitchers, and not just because of the veteran pitcher’s three World Series rings and 190 wins.
Advertisement
“His words, his actions carry so much weight in the locker room,” Ross said. “I was there not long ago when it did, and even more so with the young guys in that locker room.
“He sets a great example for those guys, the way he works, the consistency. He’s truly at work when he walks in the door. He comes in with a work mentality. I love it about him.”
3. Adbert Alzolay is in the shape of his life thanks to his new bride and his new diet.
Rookie pitcher Adbert Alzolay has turned heads with a lean frame he credits to a vegetarian diet under the supervision of his new bride, Diana.
“I’ve been feeling perfect,” said Alzolay, who started the diet about the time he got engaged. “I just wanted to try something different this offseason to see what can change.
“And the benefit I’m getting from that diet to my body to my performance, I think it’s really helping me.”
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 >
Alzolay said he’s lost 10 pounds and feels “stronger, healthier, more mobile and can recover faster.”
Advertisement
4. Bench coach Andy Green used one Cub as an example for his players.
In addition to organizing workouts, Andy Green has made an instant impact with players. The Cubs’ new bench coach managed the Padres for the last four seasons.
Ross reluctantly shared a story in which Green, then a coach with the Diamondbacks, motivated first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to become a better defender.
”He showed Paul Goldschmidt video of Anthony Rizzo before he won his Gold Glove Award (in 2017),” Ross said. “So that tells you where Andy Green holds some of our players in respect to the other side. That’s a real positive. He’s done a lot for me on other teams and what to expect already.”
5. Jon Lester has turned the page on the Astros sign-stealing scandal.
Jon Lester shrugged when asked about the penalties assessed against the Astros for electronically stealing signs. The Astros tagged Lester for seven runs and eight hits in 5⅔ innings of a 9-6 Cubs loss on May 28, 2019.
“I think you guys know me well enough that if I knew something was going on, I probably would have walked over and had a conversation with their dugout,” Lester said. “I didn’t hear anything. The Commissioner’s office says otherwise, and like I said, we’ll move on from it.”
“Everybody can point fingers and all they want, but they screwed up. They got punished for it, and now we move on.”


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--1 pitch. 84 mph. That’s all 1 White Sox fan needed — in the snow, no less — to win a trip to spring

1 pitch. 84 mph. That’s all 1 White Sox fan needed — in the snow, no less — to win a trip to spring training.

“ I just tried to throw it as hard as I could , and it hurt a little bit , @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s the first time in probably a couple years I ’ ve picked @ @ @ @ @ like going out in freezing cold temperatures and letting her rip .
”

Tom Higgins of Darien, Ill, competes in the White Sox Speed Pitch Challenge. Higgins threw the fastest pitch of the day at 84 mph and won a trip for two to spring training games in Arizona. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)
Michael Kopech’s fastball, conservatively, clocks in at about 95 mph — on a bad day.
Most of the 50 contestants in the White Sox’s second Speed Pitch Challenge on Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field clocked in at considerably less.
Advertisement
But Tom Higgins’ 84 mph pitch was enough to earn him a VIP trip for two to Glendale, Ariz., to get a behind-the-scenes tour of spring training and attend two exhibitions against the Cubs and Dodgers.
And while nothing says baseball quite like a few inches of snow blanketing the ballpark and wind chills hovering around zero, Higgins brought the (relative) heat.
Advertisement
He just couldn’t bring the location.
“I couldn’t throw any strikes,” Higgins, 29, said. “But I’ve always been able to throw it hard, which is the point here.”
Higgins, an electrician from Darien, played baseball at Marist and was a catcher at Benedictine University.
“I play a lot of 16-inch softball in the summer, so my arm stays in shape,” he said. “I probably haven’t thrown anything since November.”
That’s not entirely true. Higgins didn’t go into the competition completely cold. His warm-up routine? Throwing a few snowballs, appropriately enough.
Outside of Higgins, speeds ranged from the low 40s to high 70s — not quite Bugs Bunny’s perplexing slow ball, but not smoke either.
Accuracy was hard to come by, but John Doran was an early front-runner with a 75 mph attempt. Doran, an anchor and sports reporter for the Fox affiliate in Green Bay, put his pitch right down the middle of the target mat hanging in the visitors bullpen.
“I just tried to throw it as hard as I could, and it hurt a little bit,” he said. “That’s the first time in probably a couple years I’ve picked up a baseball. Nothing like going out in freezing cold temperatures and letting her rip.”
Advertisement
Contestants largely came from die-hard Sox territory, such as Beverly, Burbank and Northwest Indiana. One who hailed from the North Side received a half-hearted boo.
Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, the Marian Catholic nun with a 12-6 curveball in her arsenal, opened the competition with a ceremonial first pitch.
Sister Mary Jo is back! The #SoxSpeedPitch Challenge is underway. pic.twitter.com/wBtXSlWgbv — Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 13, 2020
“As a religious sister, people just assume that the church is the cathedral, but I love stadiums,” Sobieck said. “It’s just a perfect environment today for something like this. It’s absolutely gorgeous.”
Sobieck gave some pitching tips to fellow first pitcher Mary Ruich, the Sox employee who last year went viral for a first-pitch attempt that hit a team photographer’s camera.
No cameramen were harmed this time, and Ruich has a good sense of humor about it thanks to a voicemail she received from an ill neighbor.
“He’s laughing hysterically and he says: ‘Mar? Mar? Was that you? It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. I almost fell out of the recliner,’ ” she said. “When he said that, I almost fell over myself because my neighbor being happy about it and everybody approaching me with happiness and laughter was good.”


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--The March 1960 Starved Rock murders and convicted killer Chester Weger's parole attempts

On March 14 1960 , three Chicago-area women set out for a hike at Starved Rock State Park near Utica , Ill .
They never returned .
Here 's a look back at their case and the man who was convicted of the crime .
Lillian Oetting , 50 , Frances Murphy , 47 , and Mildred Linquist , 50 , leave their Riverside homes in suburban Chicago for a four-day vacation at Starved Rock State Park near Utica , Illinois .
They check into the Starved Rock Lodge and ate lunch before heading out on an afternoon hike through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ framed by a scenic waterfall and high rock walls .
The women , wives of prominent Chicago businessmen , are never seen alive again .
Frances Murphy from left , Mildred Lindquist and Lillian Oetting went to Starved Rock State Park near Utica , Illinois for a mini-vacation on March 14 , 1960 .
( Family photos ) The lodge in which the three women were staying at Starved Rock State Park is seen March 16 , 1960 .
( Chicago Tribune historical photo ) A photo developed from film in Lillian Oetting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Frances Murphy at Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County on March 14 , 1960 .
The three Riverside women were later killed in the park .
( Chicago Tribune historical photo ) Chester Weger , a 21-year-old dishwasher at Starved Rock Lodge who is married with two children , arrives at work with scratches on his face , lodge employees later tell police .
Weger claims he was writing letters at the lodge at the time of the murders .
The women 's bodies are discovered in a cave .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ bludgeoned to death , each having injuries consistent with suffering more than 100 blows .
Authorities believe the killer or killers caused the catastrophic head injuries by swinging a frozen tree limb that was found nearby and stained with blood .
The scene near a cave in St. Louis Canyon at Starved Rock State Park where the bodies of three women were found on March 16 , 1960 .
The women had been missing for two days .
( Jim Mescall/Chicago Tribune ) William Morris , the chief of Illinois State Police , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near a cave where three bodies were found in March 1960 .
`` Because of the small amount of blood inside the cave and the large amount outside the cave , state police theorized the killer may have left the women in the clearing and fled the canyon , returning later to drag the bodies into the cave , '' the Tribune reported in March 1960 .
( Jim Mescall/Chicago Tribune ) Investigators begin nonstop surveillance on Weger after finding lengths of twine -- similar to that used to bind the hands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the lodge , which had been used by Weger .
They also say Weger matches the description of an assailant who reportedly bound a teenage girl with twine then raped her in a nearby park just months before the Starved Rock killings .
Sgt .
W. T. Hall of the State Police shows the twine that was wrapped around the wrists of two of the three Riverside women slain in Starved Rock State Park in March 1960 .
( Jim Mescall/Chicago Tribune ) Weger confesses to the murders and leads investigators in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weger knew things only the killer could have known , such as the fact that a red-and-white airplane flew over the canyon the day of the murders .
`` I was taking a walk thru the woods when I turned into the canyon and I spotted them coming toward me .
I got the idea to rob them .
I grabbed at what I thought was a purse one of the women was carrying .
The strap broke . ''
Chester Weger , right , shows state troopers how he tied the wrists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the triple murder at Starved Rock State Park on Nov. 17 , 1960 .
( Val Mazzenga/Chicago Tribune ) A LaSalle County grand jury indicts Weger for the murder of the three Riverside women and names him in three other incidents charging robbery , larceny , assault with a deadly weapon and rape in two crimes in Matthiessen State Park , just three miles from Starved Rock .
Weger is convicted in the murder of Lillian Oetting .
The jury -- made up of seven women and five men -- fixes his punishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismayed upon learning that Weger could be eligible for parole in 20 years .
As he 's led out of court , two sheriff 's deputies report hearing Weger say , `` You 'll never hold me . ''
`` We though we were inflicting a penalty worse than the electric chair . ''
On his 22nd birthday , Chester Weger , is convicted of the murder of Lillian Oetting in a LaSalle County courtroom on March 3 , 1961 .
( Jack Mulcahy/Chicago Tribune ) Weger is sentenced to life imprisonment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hoffman rejects Weger 's plea for a new trial a few months later .
Later , prosecutors , citing Weger 's life sentence , opt against trying him for the other two women 's deaths .
Weger is taken to the Illinois state penitentiary in Joliet to begin his life sentence .
He 's assigned prison number 48223 .
Chester Weger is photographed by prison guard W.E .
Woodward as Weger enters Joliet Prison on April 4 , 1961 .
( Steve Marino/Chicago Tribune ) While serving a life sentence , Weger pens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a Chicago Tribune reporter .
In it , Weger proclaims his innocence .
`` Now there 's nothing in the world that I needed bad enough to kill for on March 14 , 1960 . ''
Weger is granted parole on his 24th try , in a 9-4 vote .
State officials are seeking to have Weger evaluated under the state 's sexually violent persons law , which allows for continued civil commitment if a person is deemed sexually violent .
Mary Pruett - the younger sister of Chester Weger - quotes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois Prisoner Review Board for his release in the infamous 1960 Starved Rock murders .
“ One day we ’ ll see him walking home .
I just hope my brother does not die in prison.
” pic.twitter.com/aq2S8Cs81H — Christy Gutowski ( @ ChristyGutowsk1 ) November 21 , 2019

On March 14 1960, three Chicago-area women set out for a hike at Starved Rock State Park near Utica, Ill. They never returned. Here's a look back at their case and the man who was convicted of the crime then released from prison on Feb. 21, 2020.
March 14, 1960 Lillian Oetting, 50, Frances Murphy, 47, and Mildred Linquist, 50, leave their Riverside homes in suburban Chicago for a four-day vacation at Starved Rock State Park near Utica, Illinois. They check into the Starved Rock Lodge and ate lunch before heading out on an afternoon hike through St. Louis Canyon, a popular attraction framed by a scenic waterfall and high rock walls. The women, wives of prominent Chicago businessmen, are never seen alive again. Frances Murphy from left, Mildred Lindquist and Lillian Oetting went to Starved Rock State Park near Utica, Illinois for a mini-vacation on March 14, 1960. (Family photos) The lodge in which the three women were staying at Starved Rock State Park is seen March 16, 1960. (Chicago Tribune historical photo) A photo developed from film in Lillian Oetting's camera shows Mildred Lindquist, left, and Frances Murphy at Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County on March 14, 1960. The three Riverside women were later killed in the park. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
March 15, 1960 Chester Weger, a 21-year-old dishwasher at Starved Rock Lodge who is married with two children, arrives at work with scratches on his face, lodge employees later tell police. Weger claims he was writing letters at the lodge at the time of the murders.
March 16, 1960 The women's bodies are discovered in a cave. They were bound, partially nude and bludgeoned to death, each having injuries consistent with suffering more than 100 blows. Authorities believe the killer or killers caused the catastrophic head injuries by swinging a frozen tree limb that was found nearby and stained with blood. The scene near a cave in St. Louis Canyon at Starved Rock State Park where the bodies of three women were found on March 16, 1960. The women had been missing for two days. (Jim Mescall/Chicago Tribune) William Morris, the chief of Illinois State Police, and Sgt. W.T. Hall investigate near a cave where three bodies were found in March 1960. "Because of the small amount of blood inside the cave and the large amount outside the cave, state police theorized the killer may have left the women in the clearing and fled the canyon, returning later to drag the bodies into the cave," the Tribune reported in March 1960. (Jim Mescall/Chicago Tribune)
Mid-April 1960 A third lie detector test given to Weger fails to link him in the crime. A foot-by-foot search is conducted of St. Louis Canyon by state police and conservation workers on April 2, 1960. The team was looking for more clues in the triple murder that occurred the month before. (Tom Kinahan/Chicago Tribune)
September 1960 Investigators begin nonstop surveillance on Weger after finding lengths of twine -- similar to that used to bind the hands of the slain women -- in a toolshed near the lodge, which had been used by Weger. They also say Weger matches the description of an assailant who reportedly bound a teenage girl with twine then raped her in a nearby park just months before the Starved Rock killings. Sgt. W. T. Hall of the State Police shows the twine that was wrapped around the wrists of two of the three Riverside women slain in Starved Rock State Park in March 1960. (Jim Mescall/Chicago Tribune)
Sept. 23, 1960 Weger fails a series of polygraph tests.
Nov. 16, 1960 LaSalle County State's Attorney Harland Warren orders Weger's arrest. Chester Weger's wife, Jo Ann, second from right, sits with relatives, including the sister of Chester Weger, Mary Ann Weger, right, as Jo Ann waits to visit her husband in the LaSalle County Jail on Nov. 16, 1960. (Howard Borvig/Chicago Tribune)
Nov. 17, 1960 Weger confesses to the murders and leads investigators in a reenactment of them. Prosecutors said Weger knew things only the killer could have known, such as the fact that a red-and-white airplane flew over the canyon the day of the murders. "I was taking a walk thru the woods when I turned into the canyon and I spotted them coming toward me. I got the idea to rob them. I grabbed at what I thought was a purse one of the women was carrying. The strap broke." -- Chester Weger, in his confession (Chicago Tribune front page, Nov. 18, 1960) Chester Weger, right, shows state troopers how he tied the wrists of Lillian Oetting and Mildred Lindquist in the triple murder at Starved Rock State Park on Nov. 17, 1960. (Val Mazzenga/Chicago Tribune)
Nov. 18, 1960 A LaSalle County grand jury indicts Weger for the murder of the three Riverside women and names him in three other incidents charging robbery, larceny, assault with a deadly weapon and rape in two crimes in Matthiessen State Park, just three miles from Starved Rock.
Nov. 19, 1960 Weger repudiates his confession.
Nov. 22, 1960 Weger says threats of electrocution and an offer of a "deal" by LaSalle County authorities impelled him to confess to the Starved Rock State Park triple murder.
Dec. 19, 1960 Claiming he was frightened into confessing by threats of death in the electric chair, Weger pleads not guilty in the Starved Rock State Park triple murder.
Feb. 7, 1961 Weger's 3-year-old daughter, Becky, is barred from attending her father's murder trial to prevent the jury from being swayed by her big blue eyes, golden curls and "winsome smile." Chester Weger, center, visits with his daughter Becky, 3, and wife, Jo Ann, during a recess at his trial for the murder of three women at Starved Rock State Park on Jan. 30, 1961. (Arnold Tolchin/Chicago Tribune)
Feb. 27, 1961 After three hours of cross-examination, Weger denies any involvement in the murder of three women at Starved Rock State Park. "I never killed anybody." -- Chester Weger, testifying in LaSalle County Circuit Court Women were a big majority of the overflow crowd outside the courtroom in Ottawa on Feb. 27, 1961, as they arrived too late to see Chester Weger, defendant in the Starved Rock Park slaying trial, take the witness stand in his own defense. Deputy Sheriff William Dummet is barring the doorway to late-comers. Weger repudiated his confession in the slaying. (AP)
March 3, 1961 Weger is convicted in the murder of Lillian Oetting. The jury -- made up of seven women and five men -- fixes his punishment at life imprisonment. Two jurors become dismayed upon learning that Weger could be eligible for parole in 20 years. As he's led out of court, two sheriff's deputies report hearing Weger say, "You'll never hold me." "We though we were inflicting a penalty worse than the electric chair." -- Nancy Porter, a juror in the Chester Weger trial On his 22nd birthday, Chester Weger, is convicted of the murder of Lillian Oetting in a LaSalle County courtroom on March 3, 1961. (Jack Mulcahy/Chicago Tribune)
April 3, 1961 Weger is sentenced to life imprisonment for Lillian Oetting's murder and Judge Leonard Hoffman rejects Weger's plea for a new trial a few months later. Later, prosecutors, citing Weger's life sentence, opt against trying him for the other two women's deaths. Weger is taken to the Illinois state penitentiary in Joliet to begin his life sentence. He's assigned prison number 48223. Chester Weger is photographed by prison guard W.E. Woodward as Weger enters Joliet Prison on April 4, 1961. (Steve Marino/Chicago Tribune)
Sept. 28, 1962 The Illinois Supreme Court upholds Weger's conviction and life sentence.
Feb. 8, 1963 Rape and robbery charges stemming from 1959, are dismissed since Weger was not brought to trial on the charges within four months of his arrest, as required by law.
April 17, 1963 The state gives a variety of reasons for abandoning efforts to get the death penalty for Weger, including the reluctance of some juries to impose the death sentence. (Chicago Tribune, April 18, 1963)
April 20, 1963 While serving a life sentence, Weger pens an autobiography and gives the 48-page manuscript to a Chicago Tribune reporter. In it, Weger proclaims his innocence. "Now there's nothing in the world that I needed bad enough to kill for on March 14, 1960." -- Chester Weger, in his handwritten autobiography (Chicago Tribune, April 21, 1963)
July 8, 2004 DNA testing on items, including Weger's coat and hair found in the victims' fists, shows the evidence has been contaminated. After Weger's conviction in 1961, and after appeals were exhausted, prosecutors allowed school groups, civic clubs and student journalists to handle and examine the evidence. (Chicago Tribune, July 9, 2004)
June 2007 Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich denies Weger's clemency petition.
Dec. 15, 2016 Weger, Illinois' third longest-held inmate in a state prison, is denied parole in an 11-2 vote. Chester Weger during an interview in Pinckneyville Correctional Center on Dec. 6, 2016. Weger was convicted in the 1960 triple homicide of three Riverside women at Starved Rock State Park. He is seeking parole for the 24th time when his case appears before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)
Nov. 29, 2018 Weger falls one vote short of winning his release from prison -- his 23rd time denied parole. Starved Rock killer falls one vote short of parole after nearly 60 years in prison - me and @MikeRiopell keep up on this fascinating, tragic case https://t.co/uACCa4eDZJ — Christy Gutowski (@ChristyGutowsk1) November 29, 2018
Nov. 21, 2019 Weger is granted parole on his 24th try, in a 9-4 vote. State officials are seeking to have Weger evaluated under the state's sexually violent persons law, which allows for continued civil commitment if a person is deemed sexually violent. Mary Pruett - the younger sister of Chester Weger - quotes her deceased mom while pleading with the Illinois Prisoner Review Board for his release in the infamous 1960 Starved Rock murders. “One day we’ll see him walking home. I just hope my brother does not die in prison.” pic.twitter.com/aq2S8Cs81H — Christy Gutowski (@ChristyGutowsk1) November 21, 2019
Feb. 13, 2020 Weger's release from prison had been delayed 90 days after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul 's office sought to have him evaluated under the state's Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act. The law requires proof that a person suffers from a mental disorder, and that it is substantially probable he or she will commit acts of sexual violence as a result. A spokesperson for Raoul's office said experts who evaluated Weger found he did not meet the legal criteria, and so they will not file a petition in court arguing he should be involuntarily committed. Under the law, Weger could have been held indefinitely in a secured facility in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services for sex offender treatment.
Feb. 21, 2020 Weger, 80, is released from Pinckneyville Correctional Center. "They ruined my life. They locked me up for 60 years for something I've never done." -- Chester Weger, after his release from prison The infamous Starved Rock killer was freed at about 8:30 am after 60 years in prison. Reporters weren’t allowed on property but caught up w/Chester Weger as he headed to Chicago. At 80, he complained of arthritis and being allegedly railroaded but was happy to be free w/family. pic.twitter.com/3COZq5mRSJ — Christy Gutowski (@ChristyGutowsk1) February 21, 2020


chicagotribune--2020-02-13--Double-jeopardy claim for Jussie Smollett could hark back to landmark case against mob hit man

In ordering a special prosecutor in the Smollett case last summer , Toomin echoed what he ’ d said in @ @ @ @ @ that since State ’ s Attorney Kim Foxx had not properly recused herself from the @ @ @ @ @ was essentially invalid from start to finish .
Prosecutors could use the ruling to argue @ @ @ @ @ legal jeopardy for Smollett in the first place .

Actor Jussie Smollett leaves the Cook County Jail on March 16, 2022, after he was ordered to be released pending appeal of his conviction and 150-day sentence. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)
At first blush, the criminal cases against Jussie Smollett and Harry “The Hook” Aleman would seem to have little in common.
One involves a minor celebrity who gained international notoriety for allegedly staging a hoax hate crime on himself. The other was a shadowy Outfit enforcer who twice stood trial for the 1972 gangland slaying of a union steward.
Advertisement
But even though Aleman’s decidedly more serious case unfolded decades — and worlds — apart from Smollett’s, it now provides an intriguing look at the legal pathway prosecutors might use to block Smollett’s attempts to get the new charges against him thrown out of court on double-jeopardy grounds.
And linked to both cases is the same Cook County judge — Michael Toomin.
Advertisement
In 1997, Aleman became the first defendant in U.S. history to be retried on murder charges after having been acquitted at trial. In a landmark decision, Toomin ruled that the Constitution’s double-jeopardy protections didn’t apply to Aleman because the original judge had been bribed.
Fast-forward 23 years, where there promises to be a legal fight over whether new disorderly conduct charges filed against the actor Tuesday violate those same double-jeopardy protections. Lawyers for Smollett are expected to argue the new charges represent prosecutors unfairly taking another bite of the apple, as the actor first was charged last year in a case that eventually was dropped amid controversy.
But legal experts told the Tribune that defense argument is likely to fail, and point to Aleman’s case as Exhibit A.
[ Actor Jussie Smollett faces new disorderly conduct charges in alleged fake attack ]
In ordering a special prosecutor in the Smollett case last summer, Toomin echoed what he’d said in the Aleman case, ruling that since State’s Attorney Kim Foxx had not properly recused herself from the investigation, the entire case was essentially invalid from start to finish. Prosecutors could use the ruling to argue there was never any real legal jeopardy for Smollett in the first place.
“That first (Aleman) trial was a sham trial because he really wasn’t in jeopardy, the case was fixed,” said K.S. Galhotra, a former supervisor in the Cook County public defender’s office now in private practice. “This is sort of along those lines … because Judge Toomin said it was a void prosecution, the case can begin anew."
'The Hook’
Aleman was one of the Chicago Outfit’s most feared hit men, a ruthless enforcer who could bring a wayward gambler or anyone else who’d run afoul of the mob back in line with one hard stare from his notoriously coal-black eyes.
Harry Aleman, center, flanked by his wife, Ruth, and his attorney, leaves court in 1977 after being acquitted of murder. (Chicago Tribune file photo)
Nicknamed “The Hook” for his mean left fist while growing up in Chicago’s Taylor Street neighborhood, Aleman was suspected in brazen executions of victims sitting in front of their homes, stepping out of cars, or dining in restaurants with their family. Others were found blindfolded and tortured, stuffed in car trunks, stabbed in the neck with a broken mop handle.
But it was the Sept. 27, 1972, shotgun slaying of Teamsters dockworker William Logan that eventually brought Aleman down — and made legal history. It was the first criminal case in the country where a defendant who was initially acquitted was retried on the same charge, a move that seemingly violated the long-held legal principle against double jeopardy.
Advertisement
Aleman’s first murder trial ended in acquittal in 1977, when Cook County Circuit Judge Frank Wilson cleared him in a bench trial despite testimony from Aleman’s friend and alleged accomplice, Louis Almeida.
More than a decade later, crooked mob attorney Robert Cooley, who had begun cooperating with federal investigators as part of a sweeping undercover probe dubbed Operation Gambat, admitted he delivered the $10,000 payment to Wilson.
When Aleman was recharged in Logan’s murder in 1993, prosecutors knew they were in for a legal fight over whether they had violated double-jeopardy protections. The case landed before Toomin, at the time a circuit judge sitting at the 26th and California courthouse.
In 1994, in what was hailed as a first-in-the nation ruling, Toomin held that the bribe paid to Wilson had so fundamentally tainted the first trial that it could be considered a “sham,” invalidating any double-jeopardy protections afforded to Aleman. Toomin said he’d researched the issue going back centuries but could not turn up a single case offering any legal precedent.
Aleman was convicted by a jury at the retrial in 1997 and sentenced by Toomin to serve up to 300 years in prison. He died in 2010 at age 71, while serving out his sentence in a downstate prison.
Advertisement
Smollett’s legal challenges
A special Cook County grand jury on Tuesday indicted Smollett on six counts of disorderly conduct alleging he orchestrated a racist and homophobic attack on a frigid night in downtown Chicago in January 2019.
The allegations were nearly identical to charges brought — and then mysteriously dropped — by Foxx’s office last year. Foxx had recused herself from overseeing the prosecution, revealing she’d had contact with a member of Smollett’s family early in the investigation at the request of Tina Tchen, Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff.
But in appointing attorney Dan Webb as special prosecutor last year, Toomin wrote that Foxx botched the recusal by handing the reins to her top deputy. Because the recusal was invalid, the entire process played out without a real prosecutor at the helm, he wrote.
"Discerning members of the public have come to realize that the ‘recusal that really wasn’t’ was purely an exercise in sophistry,” Toomin wrote.
The ruling was reminiscent of his decision in the Aleman case because it essentially invalidated the entire prosecution. Legal experts said the similarities may be the strongest shield prosecutors have against any attempts to get Smollett’s new case thrown out.
“Toomin wrote a brilliant opinion in Aleman," veteran defense attorney Richard Kling said. “It … came to the conclusion, no jeopardy, no double jeopardy.”
Advertisement
The experts did raise a few possible avenues for Smollett’s attorneys to challenge the new indictment — but all of them likely would be long shots even without Toomin’s finding, they said.
Smollett’s attorneys hinted months ago that any new charges would violate his double-jeopardy protections. But those only kick in once a guilty plea has been entered or a trial has begun, experts said.
Alternately, Smollett’s attorneys could argue that last year’s agreement to drop charges counts as a binding contract, similar to a formal plea, Kling said. New charges would violate that agreement.
Advertisement
Or the defense could try to throw out the case based on the legal principle that prosecutors cannot bring new charges based on the same alleged incident without potentially violating the defendant’s right to a speedy trial.
But that may not be successful either, experts said, since the first case was dropped altogether and a new set of prosecutors is starting over completely.
“There’s a lot of angles (the defense) can play, I just don’t think any of them are going to pan out,” Galhotra said.
Advertisement
Smollett is scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 24 at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
Meanwhile, his attorneys have steadfastly maintained his innocence, and last year rebuffed attempts to negotiate a formal plea. If they couldn’t get a full dismissal, they told the Tribune last year, they would take the case all the way to trial.
If they maintain that position, both sides are in for an extensive fight over the actual evidence. And Smollett’s attorneys have already laid out much of their case in public, largely by attacking the credibility and motivations of two key prosecution witnesses, brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo.
The brothers told police and a grand jury that Smollett paid them to stage the attack.
The actor’s attorneys have argued in previous filings that the brothers’ story was just a frame-up to avoid culpability for their actual attack on Smollett.
Advertisement
But those arguments will only play out in a courtroom if the defense fails in its attempts to toss out the new case altogether. And as the Aleman case showed, claiming a double-jeopardy violation likely won’t do the trick.
After Toomin’s ruling in 1994, then-Cook County State’s Attorney Jack O’Malley said double-jeopardy was “amongst the most recognized, yet most commonly misunderstood, doctrines in our law.”
"Everyone thinks they know what double jeopardy is, and very few people do,” he said.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
jmeisner@chicagotribune.com


chicagotribune--2020-02-12--Amazon pays $50 million for former Old Chicago amusement park and megamall site

Amazon ’ s redevelopment of the property would bring a 21st century use to a site best known for the @ @ @ @ @ , which opened to fanfare in 1975 but closed in 1980 .
The venue had @ @ @ @ @ and a concert venue , but it failed after running up costs and struggling to @ @ @ @ @

Despite its short run, Robert Brindle's Old Chicago drew hundreds of thousands to the turn-of-the-century themed indoor amusement park and shopping center in Bolingbrook. Opened in 1975 as a year-round destination for families, the park quickly went bankrupt because of low attendance and lack of commercial interest. The park closed in 1980 and was demolished six years later. While all that remains of the park is a street in its name, Old Chicago served as a conceptual blueprint for successful amusement park malls nationwide. In this photo from 1975, Dixieland bands were part of the free entertainment in the shop-lined New Orleans square at Old Chicago. (Frank Harris / Chicago Tribune)
Online retail giant Amazon has paid more than $50 million for the former site of Old Chicago, an indoor amusement park and mall in Bolingbrook that predated massive experiential shopping centers like Minnesota’s Mall of America.
Advertisement
Amazon’s purchase likely paves the way for the site to become the latest in an already vast network of Amazon distribution centers throughout the Chicago area.
Amazon’s redevelopment of the property would bring a 21st century use to a site best known for the short-lived heyday of Old Chicago, which opened to fanfare in 1975 but closed in 1980. The venue had amusement rides, circus performers and a concert venue, but it failed after running up costs and struggling to keep visitors coming back.
Advertisement
The massive Old Chicago structure featured a 16-story dome and was demolished in 1986.
Seattle-based Amazon on Jan. 21 paid $50.5 million for the site, according to Will County property records.
The 119-acre site is along the east and west sides of Illinois Route 53, just south of Interstate 55. The site’s address is 200 Old Chicago Drive.
The seller was Atlanta-based Cox Automotive, which in November shut down the Manheim Arena Illinois auto auction center on the site. Cox laid off 223 workers and offered 170 employees jobs in south suburban Matteson.
CBRE broker Matt Ishikawa represented Cox in the sale.
Amazon declined to comment on its plans for the site but said in an email that the purchase “provides us with the flexibility to quickly respond to our future network needs.”
[ Remembering the Chicago amusement parks that filled summertime with thrills and spills and water ]
With relatively easy access to interstates 55, 355, 80 and 88, the land is well located for a massive distribution center.
Advertisement
The e-commerce company has opened more than 20 warehouse facilities in Illinois within the past four years, according to supply chain and logistics consulting firm MWPVL International.
In January, the Tribune reported Amazon was planning a distribution center on another site formerly known for entertainment. Amazon leased a three-building, 623,000-square-foot distribution center on the former site of the Maywood Park horse track just west of the city in Melrose Park.
The former Old Chicago site is about three times larger.
The idea of combining shops, amusement park rides and live entertainment under a single roof was innovative when Old Chicago opened in 1975. Canada’s West Edmonton Mall and the Mall of America, which combine shopping with attractions like rides, mini golf, escape rooms and aquariums, wouldn’t open until 1981 and 1992, respectively.
But Old Chicago was “troubled from the get-go,” said Neil Stern, senior partner with Chicago-based retail consultancy McMillanDoolittle, who recalls visiting the indoor amusement park as a kid. “It was never economically viable.”
Advertisement
The $20 million, 500,000-square-foot building cracked while under construction, leading to cost overruns. A trapeze artist fell to his death in front of hundreds of spectators. Six Flags Great America opened just one year later in Gurnee, creating competition.
Nor was its location in then-remote Bolingbrook ideal. A 1975 photo shows Old Chicago’s massive dome rising above a field and farm buildings along I-55.
While it had roughly 200 shops, they were designed to host small boutiques, not big, name-brand destination stores, and two years after opening, occupancy had fallen to 54%. Old Chicago drew 2 million visitors in its first year, but just 900,000 in 1977, the Tribune reported at the time.
Old Chicago’s original owners sought bankruptcy protection roughly a year after opening. New owners invested $6 million in improvements, but it closed in 1980.
Advertisement
There have been only a handful of similarly massive, entertainment-driven malls since, Stern said. Three — Mall of America, West Edmonton Mall and New Jersey’s American Dream Mall, which partially opened last year with attractions including an indoor skill hill — are owned by the same firm, Triple Five Group.
“You have to get everything just perfect about it — the right location, the right mix, filling a hole in the market. I think it’s absolutely doable, but it’s not like these have taken over the world,” he said.
rori@chicagotribune.com
lzumbach@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @Ryan_Ori